Role

Chapter 8

Sulye was born near Balator to parents who worked in the Fields southeast
of that village. Her parents were freed slaves, though their status as
freedmen afforded them a lifestyle that was only barely distinguishable
from what they had known prior to being freed. Still, free was free, and
they were generally thankful and contented.

Sulye, however, was not. Happy and contented that is. Given her parents
poverty and the realities of farming life, she was forced to contribute to
the farming effort even from a young age. Whether it was picking dates,
working a wine press, or sowing seeds, even children can be helpful.
Sulye took no joy in it, though. To her, the tasks were monotonous. Was
she a beast, that she should be treated so? It was a constant source of
strife for the family.

The one bright spot for her, as she matured, was the presence of Magdan.
Magdan was a human orphan boy being raised by Jaragh in the village north
of where Sulye and her parents farmed. When he could slip away, he would
often visit the farmlands. At first Sulye merely knew him as "that odd
boy from the village", but the two soon became fast friends. Whenever
they could, they would sneak out and scour the small world they both
called home in search of some adventure or another.

Magdan, likely owing to Jaragh's influence, wanted nothing more than to be
a proper knight and perhaps become a soldier in the Fortress of Light.
Though he had endured much hardship, he was nevertheless a kind child, and
grateful for the generosity Jaragh had shown him. He was respectful of
authority, and always strove to do the right thing. In short, he was the
polar opposite of Sulye. So great was her affection for him, though, that
Magdan actually inspired Sulye to be "better" than she was. She enjoyed
infrequent success, but he nevertheless continued to be an inspiration.