FINGERLING
And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.' And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: 'I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.' And they all answered him and said: 'Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.' Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it... The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
*
The place-between-the-seasons - Year 1
*
"Who are you?" the boy asked peering up at the stranger. His protectors had made it quite clear that he was safe from harm, this place being guarded with many powerful wards and charms. "I haven't seen you before."
The man in question was older and average in height, bearded and clothed in a dusty traveling robe. All of these attributes marked him as not one of the people of this place. As a whole they were tall, extremely meticulous at all times and regardless of their actual age, quite youthful looking and clean shaven. They called themselves the Nephilim. The boy had not seen a wrinkled face or a single gray hair since the day he had seen his parents slain.
The man smiled at the boy, white teeth showing in his tanned features. "I am sometimes called Traveler."
"That's a strange name." the boy replied, eyes squinting.
"Yes, I suppose it is," replied the man.
"What do you want?" the boy asked, his inflection making it more a command than a question.
"What do I want?"
"Yes, what do you want - why are you here?" The boy's voice rose as he put his hands on his hips.
"Oh, I suppose I'm here to meet you." the man replied.
"Why?"
"Why? That is not so simple to answer, young master. I suppose it will have to suffice to say that I wanted to see what kind of boy you were."
Eyes wide and leaning forward the boy pressed him, "But why do you want to do that?"
"Ahhh," the man let out a deep breath. "I heard a story about the High King and also heard that his son did not share his fate. This was of interest to me. I had not seen the High King in quite some time and missed him. I hoped his son would be like his father was."
"You knew my father?" The boy was leaning so far forward the man thought he might topple at any moment.
"I first met your father the day he was born. He and I became close friends and conversed often. I was also well acquainted with his father. Your father was a bit different than your grandfather though. Your grandfather liked me, but regretfully did not listen to my counsel."
The boy took a moment to reconsider the stranger. His grandfather died when his father had barely reached the age of twenty. If this stranger, 'Traveler' spoke the truth, he was older than he appeared. His little brows knotted as he concentrated.
Finally he blurted out, "You are a wizard!"
"I'm a wizard?" The man smiled again. His was the kind of smile that engaged all of his face and not just the mouth, unlike the Nephilim who rarely smiled. When they did their smiles never reached their eyes. However, Traveler's eyes danced a little jig and his cheeks dimpled deeply.
It was an infectious smile, one that invited you to join the fun and smile back.
"Yes, a wizard." The boy continued, his features becoming more serious, "You travel the lands and you give advice to High Kings. You are a wise wizard."
"Well, I do travel, but I'm not a wizard. I know no magic spells, nor do I treat with demons."
"You're not a wizard?" the boy asked as his face fell.
"No, I'm not. I am my father's son. He would not want me to be one.
"
The boy's features perked up at that statement. "You still do what your father wants you to do?"
"Of course," Traveler answered, "I will do his will eternally. I have no desire to rebel against my father."
"My father wanted me to learn how to be a High King, but he can't tell me what to do now. The Fair People want to teach me, but I'm quite sure they don't know everything I need to learn."
"I'm sure of it too." Traveler paused for a moment. "Is that what you want? To learn how to serve as High King?"
"Yes, it is."
"Would you like me to tell you what I know of your father, and his father? Perhaps it will help you."
"Yes, I think I would like that very much."
"Then I shall." The Traveler put his arm over the shoulder of the young boy and continued, "I will have to come and go. I can stay in this place for only a while at a time. I must go about my father's business. I will return whenever I can though, and tell you what I know."
* * *
Weyland - Year 66
*
The place-between-the-seasons - Year 1
*
"Who are you?" the boy asked peering up at the stranger. His protectors had made it quite clear that he was safe from harm, this place being guarded with many powerful wards and charms. "I haven't seen you before."
The man in question was older and average in height, bearded and clothed in a dusty traveling robe. All of these attributes marked him as not one of the people of this place. As a whole they were tall, extremely meticulous at all times and regardless of their actual age, quite youthful looking and clean shaven. They called themselves the Nephilim. The boy had not seen a wrinkled face or a single gray hair since the day he had seen his parents slain.
The man smiled at the boy, white teeth showing in his tanned features. "I am sometimes called Traveler."
"That's a strange name." the boy replied, eyes squinting.
"Yes, I suppose it is," replied the man.
"What do you want?" the boy asked, his inflection making it more a command than a question.
"What do I want?"
"Yes, what do you want - why are you here?" The boy's voice rose as he put his hands on his hips.
"Oh, I suppose I'm here to meet you." the man replied.
"Why?"
"Why? That is not so simple to answer, young master. I suppose it will have to suffice to say that I wanted to see what kind of boy you were."
Eyes wide and leaning forward the boy pressed him, "But why do you want to do that?"
"Ahhh," the man let out a deep breath. "I heard a story about the High King and also heard that his son did not share his fate. This was of interest to me. I had not seen the High King in quite some time and missed him. I hoped his son would be like his father was."
"You knew my father?" The boy was leaning so far forward the man thought he might topple at any moment.
"I first met your father the day he was born. He and I became close friends and conversed often. I was also well acquainted with his father. Your father was a bit different than your grandfather though. Your grandfather liked me, but regretfully did not listen to my counsel."
The boy took a moment to reconsider the stranger. His grandfather died when his father had barely reached the age of twenty. If this stranger, 'Traveler' spoke the truth, he was older than he appeared. His little brows knotted as he concentrated.
Finally he blurted out, "You are a wizard!"
"I'm a wizard?" The man smiled again. His was the kind of smile that engaged all of his face and not just the mouth, unlike the Nephilim who rarely smiled. When they did their smiles never reached their eyes. However, Traveler's eyes danced a little jig and his cheeks dimpled deeply.
It was an infectious smile, one that invited you to join the fun and smile back.
"Yes, a wizard." The boy continued, his features becoming more serious, "You travel the lands and you give advice to High Kings. You are a wise wizard."
"Well, I do travel, but I'm not a wizard. I know no magic spells, nor do I treat with demons."
"You're not a wizard?" the boy asked as his face fell.
"No, I'm not. I am my father's son. He would not want me to be one.
"
The boy's features perked up at that statement. "You still do what your father wants you to do?"
"Of course," Traveler answered, "I will do his will eternally. I have no desire to rebel against my father."
"My father wanted me to learn how to be a High King, but he can't tell me what to do now. The Fair People want to teach me, but I'm quite sure they don't know everything I need to learn."
"I'm sure of it too." Traveler paused for a moment. "Is that what you want? To learn how to serve as High King?"
"Yes, it is."
"Would you like me to tell you what I know of your father, and his father? Perhaps it will help you."
"Yes, I think I would like that very much."
"Then I shall." The Traveler put his arm over the shoulder of the young boy and continued, "I will have to come and go. I can stay in this place for only a while at a time. I must go about my father's business. I will return whenever I can though, and tell you what I know."
* * *
Weyland - Year 66
