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The Rebel Archer

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Morio, whose family came from north of Kasland, was known as an expert shot with his bow. In his time, the northern chiefs of Klarnos were seeking to dominate the region of Far Manioch, on the other side of the Klann Mountains. Gesla, the invading overchief of raised a pole in a town's central square - now lost to the wars that stemmed from this time - hung his hat on top of it, and demanded that all the townsfolk bow before the hat. When Morio and his son passed by the hat without bowing to it, he was arrested.

“What do you mean? Why should I bow to an empty hat?” asked Morio.

The soldiers who had seized made no reply, but for their captain. “It is Gesla’s orders. Whoever passes by must show their loyalty to Klarnos, and bow to his hat. Those who disobey will be executed.”

A crowd had gathered about the little group, and a low murmur now went up as a party of men on horseback clattered into the marketplace – the overchief himself had arrived. His beetling brows knitted together. “What is happening here?” said Gesla. “Why have you arrested this man?”

“He refuses to pay homage to your hat, my lord,” said the soldiers. “It is Morio, the marksman.”

“Ah, I have heard of your skill with the bow,” said Gesla. “Now, let us see if the tales are true. Take that boy and tie him to yon linden tree." Morio watched in horror as his son was dragged from him, and bound to the trunk.

“Now set this persimmon on his head, and if you can split that apple with your arrow I will spare your life.”

When Morio heard these words he went pale. “I cannot do that!” he said. “What if I miss? I cannot aim at my own child.”

“Then he shall be killed in your sight,” said Gesla. “Come, I wish to see a display of your skill.”

Slowly Morio drew two arrows from his quiver, and set one in his belt. The second he fitted to his bow, and set it upon his shoulder. A moment later a loud cheer arose among the bystanders; the fruit had been pierced through the centre, and fell in two equal pieces.

“A mighty shot!” said Gesla. “But tell me – why did you take two arrows?”

“If the first arrow had hurt my child I would have killed you with the second,” said Morio.

Gesla was angered, and had Morio bound. He was brought to Gesla's ship to be taken to his stronghold at Lod, south into Klarnos. As a storm broke on the headland around which they sailed, the soldiers were afraid that their boat would capsize, and unbound Morio, asking him to steer. Morio succeeded, but made use of the opportunity to escape, jumping from the boat at the site now known as the Brash Bowman's Leap. In the months to come, Morio would organise the folk of Far Manioch, his other countrymen and even the local elemental courts into a rebellion that would eventually culminate in the Battle of Three Marches, driving the Klarnorians south again. The oath taken each to the other is famous in Aluvian myth, and has come to be the oath taken the heads of the March families upon the succession of a new ruler:

We shall be a single People of brethren,

Never to part in danger nor distress.

We shall be free, just as our fathers were,

And rather die than live in slavery.

We shall trust in the one highest God

And never be afraid of human power.

In retreat, Gesla came again to meet his foe, albeit from a distance. As he passed with the tattered remnants of his army, a single arrow fell from the heavens to transfix the brash overchief through the heart. His ribcage splintered, the fletching was undeniable. It was the second arrow that Morio had saved for him since the day at that lost town.