[donaldscrankshaw] Donald: The History of the Domini: Part II

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Posted by Donald:
The History of the Domini: Part II
http://www.donaldscrankshaw.com/posts/1158801264.shtml


   This is the second part of Randall Aurelius's unpublished draft of The
   History of the Domini. Randall's work may seem brief to those familiar
   with the lengthy works of the Philosophers, but this is a result of
   his deliberate care rather than a lack thereof. Rumors and legends
   concerning the early days of the Domini were plentiful when Randall
   first wrote this history. Randall forswore writing the more unreliable
   stories, and did his best to only relate what was solidly known or at
   least reasonably surmised. It is only due to his great care that his
   work came as close to an accurate recounting as it did.
     _________________________________________________________________

                         The History of the Domini
                            by Randall Aurelius

   Part II: The Exodus
   The Shades and the other slaves who had joined them were far from
   unified. The Shades themselves were divided. Their structure as a
   loose network of independent cells had protected them from the
   Malwerâs ferocious hunt, but left them with no hierarchy or
   leadership. There was fierce infighting, especially between those who
   had participated in the Malwer-hunting, and those who believed it to
   be as bad as anything the Malwer had done. Many wanted to fight
   against the Malwer and free all the humans from their grasp, while
   others thought that those who had now escaped should flee beyond the
   reach of their former masters. The mundane humans overwhelmingly
   wanted to flee.
   In the end, the Shades split. About half remained behind to fight,
   joined by a few humans who hated their Malwer masters worse than the
   Shades. The remaining quarter led the vast majority of the humans to
   try to find a land far from the Malwerâs rule. They headed north, to
   warmer climes.
   If the Shades expected the people to be grateful, there were sorely
   mistaken. Most of the former slaves blamed the Shades for the
   situation they were in, and they all feared their power. They shunned
   the Shades, and even the Shadesâ own families wanted nothing to do
   with brothers, sons, and husbands who had been inducted. They were
   wise to do so, since, while the people were too afraid of the Shades
   to threaten them directly, they harassed and in some cases even harmed
   their families. The Shades soon discovered that they had as much need
   to protect their identities from their fellow humans as from the
   Malwer. The fear and resentment of the Shades even extended to those
   with the ability to learn, once it was discovered that there were many
   untrained humans among the exiles.
   The Shades made several decisions during this time that has continued
   to shape the Order to this day. Only young men were taken to be
   trained, lest they take fathers and husbands from their families. They
   were taken in secret, so that there would be no reprisals against
   their families, and they were required to make a clean break with
   their old lives, as any contact put their acquaintances at risk. Not
   all the young men were willing, but they understood that once it was
   discovered they had the ability, they were outcasts. Finally, women
   were not taken. There were fewer women than men among the escaped
   slaves, and the Shades realized that the long-term survival of the
   independent humans would require children. They also worried that if
   they recruited women with the ability, they might deplete the number
   of boys with it in future generations. It should also be remembered
   that in these ancient days that the egalitarian impulses which are
   rare outside of the Philosophers even now was practically unheard of.
   The Shades saw themselves as warriors, and they did not believe that
   women were suited for their task.
   Eventually, the independent humans moved beyond the reach of the
   Malwer Sovereignty, and settled in a land to the west of it, likely
   where the Novar Empire is now. Information trickled to them from the
   Shades and the humans who had remained behind to fight. While these
   warriors had been wholly unsuccessful in a direct assault, they still
   managed to cause difficulty for the Malwer, and to assist many among
   the remaining slaves who wished to escape. Meanwhile, the exodus of
   slaves had triggered internal turmoil among the Malwer, and the
   infighting would keep them occupied for years to come.
     _________________________________________________________________

   This is the latest 597 words of a 1,440 word short story in progress.