Part One
تطهير النفس والصلب
The cleansing of soul and steel
الماضي الصفوف من الخيام
Dawn lit the hillside as Zuhair walked past the rows of tents that swarmed the outer walls of Oleg’s trading part. The grass was still wet from the morning dew as he reached the top. The servant of Sarenrae spread his prayer rug out before him, facing south toward Qadira. He was relieved to see that Akiros had already risen and made his way here.
زهير ركعت بجانب الرجل ذوي البشرة الداكنة
Zuhair knelt beside the dark skinned man named Akiros. He was a quiet man, broken in spirit and lost in what Zuhair presumed was prayer and self-reflection.
وكان زهير قادرة على تعلم اجزاء وقطع من قصة الرجل
The days since the Staglord fell, Zuhair was able to learn bits and pieces of the man's story. Akiros hailed from satrap Qadira, in the Kelesh Empire. A former Paladin of Sarenrae, he served in the empire until his faith faltered. What happened to cause him to lose faith, Zuhair did not know. The faith-wound was a festering sore within the ex-paladin, and he did not want to push the man away. Akiros fled the holy lands, going to a place where the gods sway did not govern the people. His skill with the blade quickly landed him a high position under the Staglord. Complacency kept him there, committing and condoning acts that he once punished others for doing.
شاهد زهير له في صمت لفترة
Zuhair watched Akiros in silence for a time, then whispered his morning prayer in the kelish tongue, "Lady Dawnflower, we ask for you guidance…” For Akiro’s benefit, he spoke his prayer this morning instead of just thinking them.
بعد الصلاة ، أدرك زهير الساعدين مع مواطنه.
After the prayers, Zuhair grasped forearms with his countryman. He spoke in his native Kelish tongue, “Brother. I leave again this morning to finish searching the woods for the lost temple, but I have something I wish for you to do while I’m gone.”
قاد زهير اعادته الى فورت لأوليغ
Zuhair led him back into Oleg’s fort, to a side of the keep that Jhod was righteously smiting nails into the wooden frame of the future shrine. “I would like you to assist Jhod in constructing this shrine to the gods. Sarenrae must commune with Erastil, if we are to bring her light to these lands. So add her influence here.”
رجل الظلام ضربة رأس في العودة ، واختار رسميا حتى مطرقة
The dark man nodded in return and solemnly picked up a hammer and joined Jhod. Zuhair smiled as his new friend took the first steps on the path to redemption.
