Christopher Botkin

Water Music Christopher Botkin

Imagine you are Monwyrt. You were born in the mountain caves of a rigidly communal culture, selected at birth to be a hunter. Without any tribal concept of love or family, you were raised on the slopes outside in the hunters' school, while others were raised in the caves, to become miners or craftsmen. Like the legendary hunter Smaelaer before you, your natural talents make you the most successful hunter of the tribe. You run further, you hunt longer, you always find game -- or it finds you. You always surpass your quota, much to the envy of the other hunters. One day, your talents draw the attention of the lore-master. She sends you on an errand far from the caves -- so far other hunters dare not go -- to a forbidden region of myth and mystery. She asks only that you report to her what you find there. It seems a pointless journey -- until myths and mysteries become real, and leave you in doubt of your true purpose. They called Smaelaer insane, and he was condemned for it. But if Smaelaer was insane, then, perhaps,