Vashj, part 2

A church…

Vashj made her way down the road, feet slapping against the mud. The rain poured even harder, drenching her clothing right down to the skin…and bone. Lost in her thoughts, and astonished simply to be alive, some of the more…unappealing…changes to her body had escaped her. The veil that blurred her memories was pierced as if by a scream in the night; a scream that should have been coming from Vashj as she stared at her elbows in disgust. There, where once there had been lithe limbs covered by pristine skin was nothing but bone. She should be screaming in pain. Yet she felt nothing. Nothing that is but disgust. Disgust for her body, as much as disgust for the many things she had been and done in her life. It was the pain of those deeds, of who she had been, that seared her to the depths of her very soul. As memories returned, each one made her wish she could rip it from her mind. The pain that filled her for the wrongs she had done to her kinsman was nothing compared to what she had done to her god.

Her God…Elune…

She had turned her back not merely on her kinsman, but on her god. She had watched from the ramparts of the royal palace as demons tore the heart out of the land, and a people that were at the heart of that land. She followed her queen blindly, believing the world was being “purified” of corruption; not realizing that it was she and those like her who were at the heart of that corruption. She watched as the priestess’ of Elune died in battle, and died horribly, being ripped apart by demons. She had watched, and done nothing.

The followers of Elune. She had once counted herself in their number. Vashj realized that even if faith was in her head, it was never in her heart. She had seen those who dedicated there very lives to Elune ripped apart, as the land was ripped apart. If Elune was God, or even a god, how could she allow that?

“ How, Vashj asked herself, could she even tolerate ME to exist?”

“What’s that? Came a voice in answer.

Vashj looked up and saw a short man in long brown tattered robes, blocking her way. So lost in her thoughts was she, that she nearly ran into someone, not realizing that she had arrived at her destination. Before she could reply, the robed man continued.

“Talkin’ tae yerself are ye? Well I suppose a few hundred years in a tomb will have ye doin’ that. Ye best come inside out of this rain. Ye’ll be catchin’ yer death of cold otherwise eh?”

With a laugh he lead her inside the small church. There she found rows of pews inside what had become a worn down building. The building was sorely in need of repairs. Then again, so was she.

“Rest yer bones there next to the fire there, said the short man pointing to a small fire pit just to one side. Jus’ don’t get too close. Ye would nae want tae be lighten yerself on fire would ye? Fire is like that. It has a hard time tellin’ kindlin’ from bones. Ye will have tae be a bit more observant from now on. An’ I don’t just mean how ye nearly ran into me back there…the thing is most of the young ones like yerself ferget that they don’t feel things any more. No nerve endings don’t ya know. So ye’ll have tae be more careful from now on. Let yerself dry out and ye’ could go up in a puff o’ smoke!”

He sat down next to Vashj and looked her up and down, then referred to a small scrap of paper he pulled from an inner pocket of his robe.

“well, he continued…the name is Simon…mine that is not yours. I see from my schedule here that ye’ used to be known as ‘Vashj’ is that short fer somethin’ ? Sounds like it is. Well, no matter. Say you are a tall one aren’t you? I’ll jus’ be you used to be an elf eh? “

“Yes, I…” Vashj tried to interrupt but was cut off by the incessant chatter from the little man.

“No matter, no matter.. continued Simon. Don’t let that trouble you. No matter what ye were afore…good or bad, rich or poor we are all equals now. Look at me! I used tae be a dwarf! Well you know how the old expression goes…’we’re all the same under the skin’? Well now we are living proof’ he said with a loud guffaw. Actually UNLIVING proof I should say.”

Simon referred back to his paper. He read and shook his head for some time. The he looked back up at Vashj.

“Says here ye used tae be a HIGH elf! Well ms high an’ mighty elf…’ fer certain ye will have a lot tae atone fer. So I would say it’s off tae the priest trainer wi’ you. She’s right at the back o’ the church. Now get! Afore I ferget meself an’ dredge up some ol’ wounds.”

Vashj turned and headed off to the back of the church. Simon watched her turn and go. More to himself than anyone else, Simon added after her…

“I will have a bone tae pick wi’ ye later…and that’s fer sure.”