The Glittering Torc of Tempests

 
My name is Aulikki Kaarne, although I am sure that you have never heard of me. I am not surprised by that or anything else, for that matter. At least, not anymore.

Ever since I was young, I was fascinated by the stories told by travelers, stories of grand adventures, beautiful cities, and magic that exceeded one’s wildest dreams. As a girl, I dressed up in scraps of leather left over from the leatherworker making armor, swinging a rather large branch around as I pretended to be a noble adventurer myself. I grew older, though, and began to lose that passion for what laid beyond my city. I started wearing the tight, heavy dresses that I was expected to wear and cramming my feet into heeled slippers that were much too small for me. Such was how a lady should act, when she is of the aristocracy.

I did not learn magic or slay ferocious animals, nor did I venture outside of my city to know that those beyond my realm held much of the same institutions that I was already familiar with. I learned to enjoy the life of a noblewoman and scoff at any who told tall-tales of their adventures. But most of all, I fell in love. He was beautiful, and tall, and his hair laid just perfectly at all times. I might have even called myself shallow, but he was all of those things and still not even remotely in my class. Yes, indeed, he was, as my mother called him, a “dirty peasant boy.” If that were to stop me, though, it did not try hard enough.

I went to him every chance I had, and found that he too was in love with me as I was with him. He did not care that I was wealthy and frequented the duke’s court, he saw that small part of me that I thought had been extinguished. That miniscule flame that still wanted for more, for adventure. So he would let me kick off those horrid shoes and unfasten my bodice and take me on his ugly kuna beyond the reaches of the city where the wildflowers grew as tall as a person. I knew no greater happiness than when I was with him, feeling his strong arms around me as we laid and watched the striking blue sunset across the ocean.

It should not have been a shock to me when he asked for my hand in marriage, but it was. It was so forbidden for us to be together at all, and he had such confidence and gusto as he presented me with the most fabulous little compass I had ever seen. It did not have any directions inscribed on it, only a small hand that seemed to be fixed at the center without any support. He told me that it was a compass given to his family from Celestia itself, its only use to show one their true love. I looked upon it, and the arm indeed pointed toward me. Me! I took it from him and it immediately pivoted toward him. I was never more in love than I was right then. Of course I told him that I would marry him, even if my parents stood against me.

I told my parents what I was going to do, and to my surprise they took no issue with it. I feel that they must have simply given up trying to fight with me on it, which did not bother me in the least. My mother offered to take me to Akelor to pick out a wedding gown, and I was not about to refuse. Akelor, bright and beautiful, I had been told. It was where all the noble ladies got their dresses from for such special occasions. We decided to walk, as it seemed silly to take a carriage only that far. We walked quite a ways before our eyes were drawn to a humble Amanthir merchant on the side of the road, a large stall-cart overflowing with shimmery shiny trinkets and baubles of all sorts. Although we had someplace to be, we felt drawn to the display.

“My, such beautiful ladies out for a stroll on this fine day. Come, indulge yourself in a slight bit of window shopping.”

The man smiled at us as he gestured to the cart. Mother scanned the items, but I could tell that nothing particularly caught her attention.

“Today only, everything is half price. Everyone should leave with something, you wouldn’t want to miss this steal of a bargain, would you?”

He saw that I had not looked too hard, yet. I looked to him, and for a moment I thought I saw his black eyes glint red. I decided that it was just the sun reflecting off of something. I looked at his wares, each one carefully positioned on the shelves or hung neatly from pegs. All of a sudden, my eyes latched onto a necklace that held the most exquisite sapphire stone. It looked as if the seas roiled within its crystal lattice.

“I see you’ve got your eye on that one, don’t you?”

He was beside me, much closer than I thought he ought to be. For some reason, that did not bother me. I turned to him, tearing my gaze from the jewel, for I had questions.

“This necklace, why does it appear to be full of the ocean?” I did not know any other way to put it.

“Why, love, that’s the Torc of Tempests. It’s said that whosoever wears it will gain unmatched command of the seas, besting even the power of Mora herself. Also, between you and me, the fellow who sold this to me had no idea what it was worth. I’ve had it appraised, and it is worth more than the largest ruby in all of Fa Cas. You do know that their rubies are flawless, don’t you? The most expensive jewels a person could buy.”

“Incredible.”

I longed for it. That tiny fire inside of me hungered for the adventure of commanding the seas. I thought of my love, who dreamed of becoming a sailor, and knew that such an artifact would help with that. I lost myself in though over how I would put that to use.

“Remember, everything’s half price today.”

I could feel him like he was whispering his sensual words directly against my neck. My mind jerked away from the amulet and I was struck with a moment of clarity.

“I really shouldn’t make any purchases today. I am on my way to purchase my wedding dress, you see.”

“Oh, I see. I understand. Well, how about this? You should at least put it on for a moment. You know, to give yourself that small moment of having it. Here, I’ll help you put it on.”

I watched him take it off the rack and felt his hands come under my hair as he clipped the two ends together. The crystal sat perfectly on my chest, right beneath my collarbone, and the rush I felt when it touched me could only have been the intense magical power it held flowing through me. It took my breath away, in the best of ways.

“Oh my, oh goodness. Love, you have got to see yourself. Truly, you are stunning.”

I barely registered him lift the fabric that hung over the mirror, it sitting at the perfect height for me to suddenly see myself in all my radiant glory. The torc seemed to glow in the morning light, each facet of its crystal throwing light in every direction. I was in love with it, perhaps more in love with it than I had ever been with any other object I had ever seen.

“Well, I know that you wish to be off. I’ll take it back so you can be on your way.”

I felt him at my side again, and my head whipped around to see him before he could touch me. I needed that amulet. It was mine.

“No, I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to purchase this. How much coin do you wish for it?”

“Coin? Oh no, I don’t wish for your coin, love.”

“Then what must I pay for this item?”

I should have known by the way his lips curled that he wished to take something far more valuable than coin, but I do not think my wits were entirely about me.

“Hm, what about that bothersome shadow?”

He pointed to the ground behind me where my shadow shaded the road.

“You wish to have my shadow? Ha!” I could not keep from laughing at that. It was such a stupid thing to want, I thought. “If you wish to have it, you may have that in exchange for this marvelous necklace.” I returned my eyes to my reflection in the mirror as I touched my fingers to the gemstone.

“Yes, I find shadows to be quite charming. So, you will agree to exchange your rather dark shadow for this most stunning jewelry?”

“Yes. I agree to this exchange.”

“Are you sure? Remember, a deal is a deal. I don’t accept refunds, returns, or exchanges. The Torc of Tempests will be yours forevermore, love.”

“Yes. Yes! That is what I want.”

“A good choice, my lady. Nevermore will your shadow haunt you, and evermore will you have the power to control the very seas.”

I did not notice my shadow disappear from behind me, nor did I care at the time. All that concerned me was my fabulous new necklace that I wished to use at the earliest possible time. He brought the cloth back over the mirror, breaking its hold upon me, and I turned to my mother. She complimented my jewel, as she ought to, and we were on our way. We traveled to Akelor and I ordered my dress, an elaborate article befitting the new goddess of the seas. I wished nothing more than to run to my love and show him my purchase, so that he might be happy that his dream of sailing would become reality sooner than he realized.

Although, as I have discovered, shadows are rather important. Upon returning home, I sought him out at his dreary farmhouse and described my day in more depth than truly necessary. It was only after he turned and walked completely away from me in the middle of my spiel did I realize that he did not know that I was there. I tapped his shoulder, smacked his arm, screamed as loud as I possibly could, but he did not notice me.

I tried all that I could think of to alert him to my presence, but it was all for naught. I decided then to go home, as surely he would be more aware the next day. As I traveled the streets, everyone who walked near to me did not move out of my path, but instead knocked into me as if I was not there at all. I went into my home and wished to speak to my mother, but she did not notice me either. It was then that I understood that I did not merely give away a bothersome darkness wrought from the sun being blocked from my body.

When giving away a shadow, one must understand what purpose a shadow truly serves. I learned this the hard way, and now I will never again be seen by anyone. I am not seen and I am not heard, not by those I love, strangers on the street, or even the sun itself. I am alive, still, but living a life so mournful that it is difficult to properly put it to words. If only to add to my disappointment, the Torc of Tempests was not an artifact capable of commanding the seas as that merchant had told me. It was simply a gemstone, the sea trapped inside it merely an expertly laid glamour.

So, take my tale as a warning, all who find themselves drawn to a mystical cart full of wondrous things. Consider what you are receiving, and consider even further that which you are asked to surrender. I know now that I was snickered by the Baron of Beguiling Exchanges, his talent for pawning off worthless items on foolish mortals worked upon me and stripping me of everything I held dear. I will never again block the light of the sun, no one will ever again see or hear me, but this is only my tale. I know that you will be much more cautious.