Dinner with the Darq Mihn Warrior

"I said, Yurin mei wai ode wah mihn," Xan repeated for her once more. To everyone there, it sounded like he was calling her an old woman. Only the three elements mage understood what he said. "The greetings of an arrogant warrior!" She exclaimed. "Ei Shtandt uhn der vode sal der magerim v'darq mihn yechid b'unah tie fer der coah v'dereq sal tuv." She replied. "Anu shtandt yechid b'unah tie. Anu chehr coah v'dereq sal tuv." He replied.

"All warriors bow! You stand before a warrior of the old path of the ancestors!" The mage commanded. Even the chief of the village, her husband, who just arrived bowed as she commanded. No one, not even the chief, understood what a warrior of the old path of the ancestors was. However, he knew his arrogant wife. If she said to do something it was because it must be done.

"Young Darq Mihn, why have you come to the Ubaste Village?" She asked. "I am on the Yuden Tiul," he said. "The Yuden Tiul, I have never met a warrior on the sacred journey," she said. "It is commanded by the ancestors," he said. "Indeed," she nodded. "May I know your name and the land of your origins," she asked.

"I am Elam son of King Bar Lin, a Prince of the Three Cities, Darq Mihn on the path of the ancestors," he announced. "You are a prince from the Three Cities? The son of King Bar Lin! A mighty father with the strength of Three Cities. Pardon me, but I heard the Three Cities fell as well as its king and all of the royal sons," she said.

"Indeed, it has fallen. I was there and barely escaped with my life. My father commanded me to begin the Yuden Tiul and to rebuild the Three Cities when my strength allowed it," he said. "He died against the Sitim Demons defending the lands of the rivers. He was a great hero, a true Darq Mihn," she said.

Her husband the village chief was shocked. He had never seen his wife show respect to another. She not only showed respect to this boy's father but even showed sympathy and warmth to the boy! Both of his daughters were also stunned. To call their mother arrogant and overbearing was an understatement.

"May I know der Grate Nomin sal A'Magerah?" Xan asked. "Fey Morgana, A'Magerah sal Usaq Magerim. Magerah sal diera so resh," she answered. "I offer a greeting of blood," Xan said as he cut his finger with a small knife he carried with him. "I receive the blood," the three elements mage responded. With a wave of her fingers and complex movements of her fingers, she caused the blood to float before her and it produced an image of the three cities and his father, King Bar Lin.

"The blood is the blood of Bar Lin of the Three Cities, you are the prince of the Three Cities. The blood testifies you are the blood of the Darq Mihn. You are a Darq Mihn Sair of a Darq Mihn Kyunik," she said. Xan and the Three Elements Mage traded formal greetings. "Mage Morgana, I have traveled for many months and have not seen civilization for some time. If it will not seem impertinent, I would like to find lodgings and rest," he said.

"Of course, you must stay with us in the Chief's quarters, in our guest house," she said. Xan nodded his head respectfully. Only Xan and Morgana understood what was going on. The others, including Morgana's husband and her daughters, were confused. Morgana turned and Xan followed her back to the Chief's quarters. The others quickly followed after the mysterious pair.

Leading the way, Morgana leads the group to the Village Chief's home. Walking around the back. A small guest house stood separate from the chief's home. It had two floors and shaped like a cylinder with flared out sections for the upper and lower roofs. It was a light blue color with yellow highlights and stood out from the green trees and grasses. There was nothing to complain about from the outside.

Walking in, the decorations reminded him of the homey feel of his grandparents' farm. The air smelled fresh and what he loved the most were the quilts he found on the beds. There was a study, a Babylonian style toilet on the outside, and a washroom with a heated tub on the inside. Tables and chairs of wood were in the small dining area, and there were even a few comfortable couches and sofas in the salon. The small house even had a little library.

After seeing Xian's pleased look, Morgana politely withdrew. Xan immediately went to the hot tub to take a bath and to relax. After the bath, he going to go to the kitchen to make some food. When he entered the common room, the young woman, the chief, and Morgana's daughter was making dinner for him. Some of the dishes were already prepared. Surprised, Xan smiled and greeted the young woman. Her little sister was not present, the two of them were alone. With the food ready, the young woman set a place for two and they sat down to eat together.

"My mother asked me to prepare some food for you. She said you were tired from your journey and we must treat you well," she said. "I do not know your name," Xan grumbled. Normally, he would have engaged in polite discussion with the young woman but that wasn't the personality he crafted for Elam.

Xan created many personas for himself to help him on his journey to realize his ambitions. Some of the identities were throwaways; while others were prepared before he left the Superior Crafting Guild. Otrera researched possible identities and collected the data from her scans of the planet on their journey. She had a detailed history and was up-to-date on current happenings all over this world.

Identities such as Elam son of Bar Lin of the Three Cities; were carefully taken over for Xan's purposes so there wouldn't be any contradictions. There were also important features each identity had. This was was a Darq Mihn Warrior. This identity, especially as he continued to rise in power, would be very useful in the future.

Xan needed all of these identities because they would allow him access to organizations it would normally take years to infiltrate. He and Otrera also updated the "Man of a thousand faces" mask. Not only could they create more than a thousand unique faces, but they were also able to hide and change his aura. Matching personality with the appropriate aura was important. He was wearing a suit more than a mask.

"My name is Mehi," she said. "My father is the village chief, he is called: Pabas son of Puma, a Lion man," she told him. Xan nodded without saying anything. He continued to eat in silence. Occasionally he would burp or fart. He was a barbarian warrior, after all. After a while, Mehi's face became troubled. "Your mother sends you with a message?" he asked.

"Yes, my mother asks you if," she began to say. "I already have a first wife, you could only be my second wife at best. That is if you become a great mage. You have pursued the wrong path. you are not a warrior, but you have tremendous potential as a mage," he said. Mehi was shocked into silence.

"How did you know my mother's question was about a marriage alliance?" she asked. "She knows of the Darq Mihn Warriors and understands our potential, especially when it comes to producing offspring. Mages and Warriors have a long and deep relationship with each other. At least, the mages and warriors of the ancient path. Your mother, Morganna, is an outstanding mage. Of course, she would want a marriage alliance. She understands that by combining a fierce warrior with a powerful mage an outstanding battlemage can be born.

This is why she married your father. She hoped to give birth to a battle mage but so far that hasn't happened. She still hopes to have a battle mage in the family even if it's her grandchild. Before we can marry you must become a great mage. I can help you with this. Now, leave, I'm tired and wish to rest," Xan said.

Mehi understood this warrior was a man of few words. She knew many men like him in the village. They were always sparing with words, but their actions were always bold and their character was loyal. She quietly cleaned up the dishes and left Xan to his rest.

After she left, Xan finally breathed out as she walked away from his dwelling. "She's finally gone!" he said to himself. "Now I can be me for a little while, being a simple-minded brute is so difficult. Even with my current low intelligence I found pretending to be that dumb a real challenge," he said.

"I expect I'll be invited over to meet with the mage woman and her husband tomorrow. Then, I'll be able to accomplish my goal. These missing people and desolate villages are very compelling," he said. "I just hope I get to meet a zombie!"