Kynara Dayreen

Tradition and liberal thinking came together in battle at the port of Etebrin. It was not often that a trading town, where foreigners were allowed, saw the heads of elven clans, but everything seemed to be leading to war. The streets had been filling up with warriors for a week now. They boarded ships and set sail towards the mainland. Others came to replace them.

On one of the fair-weather days, a spectacle unravelled before the bystanders. There were quite a few onlookers, after all, avangard constructs were being loaded into the cargo holds – huge colossus’ made of magic and metal, war machines created by the very best enchanters of Keledanis.

The loading process was personally watched over by the clan heads of the masters from all over the island. They did not gather together often, and turned what was meant to be a mere routine procedure into a competition. Each of them strived to demonstrate just how far his clan advanced in the chosen field. Constructs which fly, constructs equal to dragons in terms of physical strength, constructs akin to walking shields and many more.

One of the younger enchantresses, Kynara, approached the head of her clan. Her slender body was enclosed in living armour, and behind her back rested a pair of large, iridescent wings, like those of a dragonfly. If it weren’t for her visible face, she could have been mistaken for a construct.

– Mistress! – The elf offered a deep bow – Please, have a look at my invention. It is a simple construct. It is not difficult to create and it does not require elaborate spells of control. It is in symbiosis with the one who wears it and protects him as heavy armor would!
Kynara straightened out her wings and with the buzzing hum of a dragonfly hovered one foot above the ground.
– Revolting! – The clan head grimaced. – Do you wish to become akin to our enemies? Immediately remove and destroy this atrocity!
– But mistress, are the crabs which take in sea flowers in their pincers repulsive to nature too then? And what of the birds that clear out dragon teeth from remnants of food?
– What audacity is this I hear? Kynara of the Dayreen line, you are hereby banished from the Copper Leaf clan!
The student lowered herself to the ground. Her wings dropped helplessly, and the head of the clan turned and marched away.
– Young Dayreen? – The enchantress, deep in her dismal thoughts, did not notice as she was approached by a figure in a green mantle, accompanied by honor guards.
Kynara dropped to her knee, realizing that Tinwe herself stood before her, the supreme commander of all of Keledanis’ forces, and such a high standing person addressing her by her first name caused her to fall into revering disarray.
– Do not be saddened, Dayreen, – the hand of the great elven woman lay down on her shoulder. – I share your vision of nature, and your construct may be useful in the coming war.
These words were better than the warmest of praise she could have received, and Kynara’s breath was taken away. But Tinwe’s next words astonished her even more.
– Gather a war party. I give you my blessing for this. In battle you may earn a name for yourself, and in the future, perhaps, a new clan shall appear, and you will be the one to give it its name.