Legends of Belariath

Nahari

Nahari was born the only one in her flock of white swans that did not change from gray to white. This became apparent after the first molt, and true to their traditions, she was hated, shunned, and pitied, as well as mis-trusted for her Gray feathers. She walked lonely and alone in her large flock, with none who truly wished her company.

One day, while still a young swan, perhaps 9 molts past, she was teased by her broodmates, and ran to cry deep in the forest surrounding her home. A merchant found her and took her, knowing she would fetch a king's ransom as he traveled the kingdoms of the east.

Frightened of everyone and everything, understanding nothing, not even the language at first, her subservient nature, fostered by her own people in her earliest days stood her in good stead for her new role as exotic pet and slave. The merchant, wiser than most, taught her the ways of grace and nobility, and then sold her to the palace. She was further trained there, though never touched, for in that land, such an exotic and beautiful creature could only be touched by the King, and he was an older man, appreciating her for other talents than physical.

She was taught to serve and entertain, to sing, to play the strange harps of that land, which fit well with her softly trilled voice...and the birds that she would sometimes convince to sing harmony with her. Some even termed her the King's NightBird, for she would sing him to sleep on the most heated and tense of nights.

Then, when she had reach a blossomed womanhood, rumors of war came to the land. A young empire west of the kingdom had found reason to find fault with the king. In a last ditch effort to save his skin...the king packed his most precious of possessions in a tribute, to the empire and it's nobles. An ambassador was sent ahead..with word to expect the tribute...that the Emperor and his nobles might be appeased and cease the threat of war.

Unfortunately, word leaked out of the route the caravan of kingly gifts would take. It was attacked, raided by thieves who cared not if war descended. The one called the King's NightBird, Nahari to those who chose to speak her name, survived, though the knowledge of to whom the key to her magically locked belt had gone, died with the old merchant that was to once more deliver her to a new residence. Hiding from the bandits that she had seen do things that stained her cheeks charcoal, she changed into her swan form and managed to escape them completely...only to find herself lost in the empire that the caravan had almost reached...and seperated from the other survivors.

She traveled on to Nanthalion, knowing that was the end of her caravans route, and once there, searched for the one who had been given her key. Barador, then head of Unigo, found her, placed her in a collar to the tower, and then she was given to the care of Halfmoon who had the belt removed and began her training of how to best please the magi of the tower. Dakiras was next..and continued some of her training, before Halfmoon once more took over.

When Umbara was built, it was decided to send her with that, while her slave sister Jaycee stayed with Unigo.

To her, serving is her honor, as she was taught in the eastern kingdoms. If she wonders who might have held the key, she no longer speaks of it, not wishing to dishonor the collar and Umbara by her questions.

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