The smithy was a dirty place. It was a hot and tiring place to work. But it was honorable. Unlike some things a boy could be forced to do, working the metal was clean. And it put a good craft in his hands to engage both his mind and his soul.

But it wasn't enough.

Haki knew he was lucky to work at the forge. He knew he was lucky to even be alive. The Khar'ea had swept through the land when he was more than a hand of years but less than two hands. They took his sisters, of course. Killed his father. But his mother hid him and preserved herself and the smithy by means Haki did not like to think about.

Even after the Khar'ea left, life did not return to normal. I could not. Too many were dead. Too many taken. Haki burned for revenge. But he understood that it was unlikely. Nobody knew where the Khar'ea had gone. Nobody wanted to follow to find out.

When Haki had three hands of years, a Warrior of the Eshin arrived in the district from the Court of the King who lived far away in the City of Ghobhal. The Warrior talked to no one. But he rode the district from corner to corner and in the end, stopped at the forge belonging to Haki's mother.

"Woman," he called. And Haki's mother went out to him. "The time is arrived."

His mother knelt in the dirt and wept. She said no words. She merely wept. Haki stared at her in bewilderment then looked at the Warrior. "Leave her alone!," he yelled. "She never hurt you."

The Warrior stared at Haki for many minutes before replying. "She weeps for you, boy. And because her part is done. You will follow me." The Warrior began to ride slowly toward the west. He did not wait and he did not look back. But it was clear that he expected Haki to follow.

"Mother, what is this about?," Haki asked.

"It is what your were born to," she replied. "It is why you had to be saved."

Haki did not understand what she meant. But she would not explain further.

"When it is time for you to know, you will know," was all she would say.

"Then I must go?," he asked. But he knew the answer and turned to follow the Warrior.