Chapter One: Section 5: A decision of experience.

           Shendar Frosmien turned back to face the council of seven.  The council sat in a simple half circle in front of the too large fireplace.  Though fall had only just begun, there was already a nip in the air and a low fire burned, warding off the evenings chill.  Glasses full of wine sat largely ignored and untouched.  Intensity played across every face revealing the strongest of feelings. 
           "I will not stand for this outrage,"  Shendar Frosmien bellowed suddenly causing the council to jump, "There is no stronger student than Sonya.  How dare you deny her the right to test."
          "At you ease Stendoran, we do not mean to give insult," said the regal man in the center, "we understand that she has the knowledge, strength, and abilities to be Shendar, we are just not sure whether she has the understanding necessary.  You, yourself, have detailed many of the questions she has asked.  Many of these questions are easily understood by most, if not all, of our first year students.  Yet, she continues to ask them," In a more gentle voice he continued, "we have begun to wonder whether raising her here has sheltered her to much from the real world.  How can one truly understand evil if one has never met it?  While one may have studied how an orc treats captives, one can not fully comprehend just how heinous it is until he has seen what is left after the fact.  We do not find that Sonya has that experience.  She is the first student we have ever had that has never left the confines of our temple, and, yet you propose that we give her the mantle of Shendar and send her into a world she does not comprehend and has never seen?  Surely you see the folly of this?"
            "Shendar Astrun, I understand your concern, but how do you propose we give her this comprehension without sending her out to learn it first hand?"  Holding up his hand to forestall any answer, Shendar Frosmien continued, "I do not need to remind you that no student leaves the temple unless they are put out and banished or they have become Shendar.  That is the law.  That is what we must follow.  To do otherwise would put the lie to all that we have taught.  With out law there is chaos.  Even the king must follow his own law or it is no law, but a means of oppression.  That being said, I see no other way but to see that she be allowed to attempt the trials, be named Shendar, as there is no doubt that she can pass them, and then to set her on a course to receive this experience.
             "Surely you can see this as well as I," He continued passion filling his words, "How do you think she will react if we tell her we have no more we can teach her, but we can not let her take the trials?  We must give her the chance."
            Silence settled on the room as thoughtful frowns appeared on the faces of the council.  Shendar Astrun rose and walked behind his chair with the rest of the council following him.  Stendoran stood silently with his hand clasped before him.  Was he being foolhardy in his passionate arguing for Sonya?  He had never had any student grasp the complexities that lie within his philosophical teaching with such ease.  All her instructors said the same.  In every thing Sonya did she excelled.  Yet, Shendar Astrun was right, Sonya was naive and too trusting.  She had no understanding of the world outside the temple walls.  She had knowledge, but she had no understanding.  She could repeat the history of many of the lands, yet she could not understand why some children played in the street in rags on one block while on the next there could be a wealthy merchant.  She could understand greed to a certain degree, but couldn't grasp how someone could have the means to prevent suffering and not do so. 
              Stendoran also grasped the important fact that, should the council prevent Sonya from testing, Sonya would consider the council corrupt.  And by all her teaching she would be correct.  There was no ambiguity in the law.  Sonya may be humble enough not to mention that she was ready for the test, but there was no denying that she knew where she stood.  No Shendar that had been in the temple for more than a week doubted that Sonya would easily pass the trials.  The fact that Shendar visiting assumed Sonya was Shendar after speaking with her for even short periods.
               While it was true that the council could put off this decision for another year on the grounds of age, it changed nothing.  Students simply were not put out of the temple until they were either Shendar or banished.  Stendoran studied his feet, his eye somehow drawn to a small thread that was working its way loose from the toe of his shoe.  As the thread wavered with the movements of the air, he was suddenly struck by a lesson he had given years ago.
               "Shendar Astrun," he practically shouted.  The council went silent and turned unhappy stares toward Stendoran, "I apologize for interrupting, but I just had an epiphany."
               The council slowly returned to their seats.  Astrun gestured for Stendoran to continue.  "Bear with me as I give a brief history lesson.  About three hundred years ago, toward the end of the reign of King Shangui of Cartenhinge, the king's son was being trained to rule his people.  The king, who you know was raised from the commoners and had no noble blood, was worried that his son would have no understanding of the common man and would thus be a poor ruler.  He did the only thing he could.  He banished his only son.  The king told only three of his scouts why he had done so.  No one else was to know, not even his son.  The prince was stripped of his titles and money, dressed in rags, and thrown out into the city.  The three scouts were secretly sent to follow and protect the son, but only from death.  The son used the skills he had learned as a prince to find employment as a guard for caravans, and then to run these caravans.  At the end of three years, The prince had become a merchant of decent standing and was invited to meet the king.  The king then invited him back and named him his successor.  The prince became King Darshon the Kind."
              "We know this story, Stendoran," Astrun interrupted, "what relevance does it have to our situation?  Surely you aren't suggesting that we do this to Sonya?"
              "No, no, not at all," Stendoran chuckled, "what I suggest is that we offer her a way of gaining the experience she needs.  A way that does not violate law, yet, allows us to put her into the world to gain the experience she needs.  While the king used banishment, we shall find another means."
              "I assume you have something in mind?"
              "Of course.  We simply have her attend a Shendar Corven as he messenger for a period of a year.  We will just make sure the right Shendar Corven is chosen and that he takes her where she will gain the experience needed."
              "Shendar Frosmien, you have a devious mind," Astrun chuckled, "I am glad you are not the enemy.  It shall be as you say.  You shall see to it and are responsible for it.  We will reconvene on this matter on Winters Fall in one year."
               "Thank you, Shendar Astrun, it will be as you say.  May the light shine on you and keep you."
               "May the light shine on you and keep you."
              Shendar Frosmien bowed and hurriedly left the room.  A smile crossed his face as he realized he had just found a way for a student to leave the temple without being Shendar or banished.  Now he only had to find a Shendar Corven wise enough and experienced enough to handle Sonya.  He also had to explain to Sonya her new job.  He was dreading both tasks and couldn't decide which would be tougher.  The truth was, telling Sonya would be the tougher.  With that thought in mind, he went to the kitchens.  Better to work on a full stomach.

Chapter one: Section two: Good Byes

      Argus sat the bowl of fruit on the well worn and simple table in what was his kitchen.  Arranna sat opposite him waiting expectantly for him to join her. 
     "What troubles you father?" Sonya asked quietly.  Her eyes, wide in innocence, dug into his soul.  He knew that what he was to tell her would not be easy.
      Ass he sat down and poured her a glass of wine, he sighed as he looked into his glass.  "I must go to the temple in Firishon.  The Shendar Corven there has passed and I have been selected to replace him."  He paused and looked up into her eyes.  Instead of the pain and accusation he expected, he saw only expectation and joy and a gentle smile on her lips.  "Does it please you that I leave you, daughter?  Does it not sadden you that it will not be until you complete your training that I see you again?  I tell you news that saddens me deeply and you smile.  Am I that harsh?"
     Sonya's face registered confusion and hurt, "No father, I am glad for you.  I will surely miss you and it does pain me, but I am more glad for you than for the pain I feel for myself.  You are most deserving of this and I no longer require your care," reaching across the table, she placed a hand on his arm, "though I do enjoy it, and you have become a much better cook, you have made me quite able to care for myself."
     "I am sorry, daughter," he spoke softly, "I am torn.  I wish so much to be with you and watch over you, but I must also do my duty."
    "You have, father, you have.  Though you are not my birth father, I could wish for no better father than you.  My only concern with this is who will keep you from trouble and do your laundry if I am not there?" she finished with a giggle.
     "I was doing my own laundry long before you were able to dress yourself, thank you," he replied with a laugh.
     "When do you leave?  I must make sure you receive a proper send off."
    "I leave in two hours, I can wait no longer than that if I am to reach Nargina before nightfall.  I will miss you daughter."
     "Two hours!  How can I prepare you for your journey in such short a time?,"  Sonya took a look around the room and saw his pack against the wall for the first time,  "I see you are prepared already.  You already knew you were leaving and failed to tell me.  Why did you wait?  Did you fear I would love you less or is it that you felt I would try and keep you here?"
      "Daughter, I did not tell you because I could not face my own pain," Argus stared at the table, tears welling in his eyes, "You became my world after Claras died.  Now I am leaving that world to join a new one.  Though I wish only to watch you grow, I can no longer be selfish.  You have become a fine young woman and I am honored to have you as my daughter.  Be at peace, and know that I will always be your father.  I will write every chance I get and I look forward to reading your letters as well.  There are weekly couriers and I expect a letter on each one, just as you may expect one.  I also trust that when you finish your testing you will visit me."
       Sonya stood and crossed to where he sat.  Enfolding him in her arms in a strong hug, she simply held him as her tears began to flow.  "I will, father.  I will study even harder knowing that I will see you all the sooner for it.  Now, let us get you ready for travel.  I will clean your apartments and ensure the rest of your clothing and items follow you."
     They were silent as Sonya helped Argus don his armor and tie the bedroll and travel necessities onto the pack mule.  A small contingent of six other clerics were waiting on him as he took the reins of his horse.  Sonya crossed to him and gave him a lingering hug.
    "Take care, father," she said softly through the knot in her throat, "May the light keep you and guide you.  Peace be upon you in your journeys and may they be quick and safe."
    "Peace be upon you, daughter, may you be blessed in the light and in your days."
     Not trusting himself to look at her with out tears blinding him, Argus mounted and rode out of the temple grounds.  Sonya watched from the gate until long after the dust settled and the group was no more than a speck on the horizon. 
      "The light keep you and shelter you," she whispered as she turned into the yard wiping tears from her eyes, "The light keep you."