The Vow of Raqua
I was born under the name Raqua Gransteed. And my earliest years were crushed beneath it. From my earliest days it two facts were clear; I was to uphold the family name by bringing sons into the world and that my failure to live up to expectations would lead to my death or banishment.
My father was the head of the Gransteed clan, a large band of warriors who rode Dragons into battle. They were the pride of our Kingdom of Stonehearth. I only asked once about riding such a Dragon myself, such was my father’s anger at the implication.
And to spite my mother’s best attempts, I learned the same arts as my brothers. I could catch any prey with a single bowshot. With a meager dagger taken from the kitchen I could lay my brothers into the dirt with my swordplay. Though, it wouldn’t get much use till later in my life, I did pick up sewing and stitching. Endless lessons piled upon niceties and protocol about how to conduct oneself in court.
Then, came the night I learned.
We had been moved to Father’s fortress for several months due to an assassination attempt on my brothers in the capital. The assassin was caught long before we were in danger but it had taken time to unmask the true culprit.
I remember my father almost breathing a sigh of relief as we departed for the capital. He felt I’d grown too accustomed to the armory. Shining the pieces of armor happily for hours as I had. I’d even managed to sneak in a feel for the weight of a real sword and I’d have an idea of what to practice with when I got hom.
My guiltiest pleasure was a dagger the commissar had snuck me. It’s double edged gleam and sharp edges were a sight to behold. We rode in our carriage with my brothers complaining about the cold of winter the whole way.
All at once the world spun and shook. Our carriage screamed to a stop, burying me in adolescent youth. Hands unfamiliar pried us all free and quickly trapped us on the snowy ground.
“Well, we got something special here,” A gruff voice announced. My eyes widened as the ash gray skin of our attackers became visible under the half moon. Drow, dark elves, our hated cousins! And, worse yet, we’d been ambushed!
One soldier in black armor each held us to the ground. The Commander who had spoken before crouched down in front of my mother’s face, “Now, you’ve all lucked out. I know the head of your clan will let you all die rather than pay for your ransom. So, you all will be responsible for it if you want to live.”
“Please,” My mother pleaded, “I’ll do whatever you want and you can take everything from the carriage. Just spare us.”
“Mmmm, that should keep these guys going but I’m thinking that as Captain, it ain’t enough for me…”
With that, the soldier had my mother picked up and pulled into the carriage. Several minutes passed. The snow left my body numb almost as much as the knee pressed into my back. I watched the carriage start to shake and gritted my teeth. Strange sounds came out of it.
Unable to take it, I slid one hand free and reached into my dress. Producing the dagger, I cut the Drow holding me. His recoil let me slip free. I rushed at the carriage to help my mother, ignoring my brother’s protests.
Then, the world went dark.
Before I woke, I was aware of how my body hurt. Mostly in my stomach but plenty elsewhere. I was greeted by the somber face of my father. HIs familiar coldness fell on me, “You’ve disappointed me, Raqua.”
As he rose to stand, a family servant moved to stand by the bed. I tried to weakly explain, “M-mother…”
“Your mother did what she could to protect her children. You made it all for naught in your case.”
The door opened and closed behind him. I recognized the chamber as an infirmary at the fortress. Taking my hand in her’s, the servant explained, “The Drow, they, defiled you, Raqua. I’m so sorry.”
I looked away to see the moon shining down through a window. So, I had failed to live up to the Gransteed name? Banishment, Death or else something would await me. I was alone.
Yet, my teeth grinded against each other. Not from the pain of my body. No, something deeper in me broke. And I swore, “Then I won’t be a Gransteed. I will be Raqua!”
That day saw the end of me being beholden to high society. I would forge my own path and find my own way to do what the precious Gransteeds never could! I made a vow and I seek to fulfill it to this day.
My father was the head of the Gransteed clan, a large band of warriors who rode Dragons into battle. They were the pride of our Kingdom of Stonehearth. I only asked once about riding such a Dragon myself, such was my father’s anger at the implication.
And to spite my mother’s best attempts, I learned the same arts as my brothers. I could catch any prey with a single bowshot. With a meager dagger taken from the kitchen I could lay my brothers into the dirt with my swordplay. Though, it wouldn’t get much use till later in my life, I did pick up sewing and stitching. Endless lessons piled upon niceties and protocol about how to conduct oneself in court.
Then, came the night I learned.
We had been moved to Father’s fortress for several months due to an assassination attempt on my brothers in the capital. The assassin was caught long before we were in danger but it had taken time to unmask the true culprit.
I remember my father almost breathing a sigh of relief as we departed for the capital. He felt I’d grown too accustomed to the armory. Shining the pieces of armor happily for hours as I had. I’d even managed to sneak in a feel for the weight of a real sword and I’d have an idea of what to practice with when I got hom.
My guiltiest pleasure was a dagger the commissar had snuck me. It’s double edged gleam and sharp edges were a sight to behold. We rode in our carriage with my brothers complaining about the cold of winter the whole way.
All at once the world spun and shook. Our carriage screamed to a stop, burying me in adolescent youth. Hands unfamiliar pried us all free and quickly trapped us on the snowy ground.
“Well, we got something special here,” A gruff voice announced. My eyes widened as the ash gray skin of our attackers became visible under the half moon. Drow, dark elves, our hated cousins! And, worse yet, we’d been ambushed!
One soldier in black armor each held us to the ground. The Commander who had spoken before crouched down in front of my mother’s face, “Now, you’ve all lucked out. I know the head of your clan will let you all die rather than pay for your ransom. So, you all will be responsible for it if you want to live.”
“Please,” My mother pleaded, “I’ll do whatever you want and you can take everything from the carriage. Just spare us.”
“Mmmm, that should keep these guys going but I’m thinking that as Captain, it ain’t enough for me…”
With that, the soldier had my mother picked up and pulled into the carriage. Several minutes passed. The snow left my body numb almost as much as the knee pressed into my back. I watched the carriage start to shake and gritted my teeth. Strange sounds came out of it.
Unable to take it, I slid one hand free and reached into my dress. Producing the dagger, I cut the Drow holding me. His recoil let me slip free. I rushed at the carriage to help my mother, ignoring my brother’s protests.
Then, the world went dark.
Before I woke, I was aware of how my body hurt. Mostly in my stomach but plenty elsewhere. I was greeted by the somber face of my father. HIs familiar coldness fell on me, “You’ve disappointed me, Raqua.”
As he rose to stand, a family servant moved to stand by the bed. I tried to weakly explain, “M-mother…”
“Your mother did what she could to protect her children. You made it all for naught in your case.”
The door opened and closed behind him. I recognized the chamber as an infirmary at the fortress. Taking my hand in her’s, the servant explained, “The Drow, they, defiled you, Raqua. I’m so sorry.”
I looked away to see the moon shining down through a window. So, I had failed to live up to the Gransteed name? Banishment, Death or else something would await me. I was alone.
Yet, my teeth grinded against each other. Not from the pain of my body. No, something deeper in me broke. And I swore, “Then I won’t be a Gransteed. I will be Raqua!”
That day saw the end of me being beholden to high society. I would forge my own path and find my own way to do what the precious Gransteeds never could! I made a vow and I seek to fulfill it to this day.