The Haruspex
.....Cassandra
Born in Torvaldsland, 6 weeks past the winter solstice, from an early age Cassandra was fascinated by Her Father's runes, and quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude for reading them, and other signs as well.
When She was in Her third summer, Her Father was killed in a fight with a Kur, and Her Mother left Torvaldsland for Her birthplace far in the South, taking Cassandra to The Plains of Turia, where She had kin among the Wagon People. There, Her Mother took another Free Companion, a Haruspex who encouraged Cassandra's interest in the omens.
An inquisitive Child, Cassandra could be found trying Her hand at whatever caught Her attention at the moment: breaking bosk to harness, weaving, leather-working, throwing a bola, or any number of other crafts or activities. She could almost never be found where Her parents had left Her, and members of the Camp quickly became familiar with the site of the blonde haired little Girl, and with the voices of Her frustrated Parents as They tried to find Their wayward Child.
When She was five, Her Parents were killed in a raid, and She was pretty much raised by the Camp from that point on. In the permissive atmosphere of of the Wagon People, and with no One to really answer to, Cassandra quickly developed a strong sense of independence and self-reliance.
In Her seventh year, Her life changed yet again. Riding a kaiila that She shouldn't have been riding, simply because She shouldn't have been riding it, She found Herself within sight of the gates of Turia. Curious, She approached, only to have Her mount attack the Guards when They raised Their weapons.
Hearing the ruckus, the Captain of the Guard came running, followed by several armed Men, All of Whom stopped in Their tracks, laughing until tears rolled down Their faces at the spectacle of the diminuitive Girl fighting to keep the enraged kaiila from killing the Guards.
When it became clear that She had lost all control of the beast, the Captain risked His own life to pull Her from its back, and, riderless, the kaiila was driven from the city gates. It eventually made its way back to the Wagons. A search ensued, and the kaiila was backtracked to the city gates, leading the conclusion that Cassandra had most likely been taken as a slave.
The Captain, however, discovering that Cassandra was an orphan, and bemused by Her feisty and independent attitude, had taken Her into His household, to raise as His own Daughter.
The years passed, and Cassandra grew to young adulthood in the city, although Her foster-father was never quite able to to succeed in making a proper city dweller of Her, as Her heart was ever on the Plains. Understanding this, He gifted Her with a young kaiila, which She raised and trained, and which She rode out onto the Plains whenever She was able, giving severe headaches and several ulcers to the retainers Who had the duty of protecting Her.
Eventually, Cassandra attracted the attention of a suitor, a wealthy Merchant, Who approached Her foster-father about a Contract. Feeling that it was time for His wild child to settle down, Her Guardian began negotiations, despite Her objections to the match.
The evening before Her ceremony was to take place, Cassandra retired to Her chambers early... and packed. When the house was quiet, She slipped outside, and to the stables, where She saddled Her kaiila, and, with the aid of a bota of drugged kalana, slipped out of the city.
Alone, Cassandra wandered the Plains, trusting in the whispers of the wind and the good sense of Her kaiila, one or the other of which eventually led Her to an abandoned wagon. It was in good condition, although the axles needed greased, and it still contained various goods, apparently having been abandoned during an early blizzard on the move to the winter feeding grounds. Claiming it for Her own, Cassandra set up housekeeping.
Life was good. She had time to study the omens, to meditate, to think...and, most importantly, She was free of city walls, out where the wind blew strong and clean. All that marred this time of Her life were the dreams...dreams that would wake Her in the night, and fade before She could capture them, but which left Her feeling restless, and alone.
With the help of Her kaiila, Slepnyr, Cassandra captured enough young bosk to train a team, and continued Her travels, eventually coming across a Kassar Wagon Camp, where She hoped to make a home for Herself.
Unfortunately, however, She soon discovered that this Camp had lost touch with the old ways, and that a Haruspex was not welcome among Them; although, had She denied Her calling to the omens, and created a different niche for Herself, She would have been welcomed there. Despite the strong urgings of a Man Who had taken a fancy to Her, Cassandra could not bring Herself to deny Who and what She was, and, disillusioned, She left the Kassars, again wandering the Plains with only Her kaiila and bosk for company, shunning human contact.
Then, one day, She happened upon a small camp, just a few wagons, bearing the banner of the Paravaci. Suddenly feeling lonely, She approached hesitantly, and was welcomed. With great trepidation, She told the Ubar there that She was a Haruspex, news that seemed to delight Him. Feeling that She had found a place in which Her skills would be honored, Cassandra settled in, and for a long time felt that She had truly returned home.
Outwardly, Her life was going well. She made friends...the Merchant, Nyx; Thoron, the misplaced Northerner; Kurzon, the one-eyed Hunter; and many more, including Braden, the Ubar of the Paravaci, from Whom She purchased a slave that had caught Her eye, a wicked wench called elora, whom She renamed lyria. For a time, She was content, Her life filled with laughter, good Friends, and the best slave on all of Gor. And yet, for all the honor and esteem in which She and Her skills were held, something seemed to be missing, and She began to feel the old restlessness returning.
And then the dreams returned, stronger this time, clearer. Dreams of tall mountains of stone and ice, of frigid blue waters, of cold fresh winds, and of houses of stone and sod.
And the dreams were not only in Her sleep: the visions returned on the words of Her Friends, Thoron and Kurzon, dancing on the rolling accents of Their voices, stirring in Her a deep yearning for something She could almost remember, almost name.
When Her Friends spoke of returning to Their northern home, Her heart leapt, for the visions suddenly became clear. Although She would miss the Plains that had been part of Her life for so long, something from the North called to Her, sang in Her very blood, and She knew that She must go with Them.
With deep regret She parted from the Ubar of the Paravaci to journey northward, ever seeking Her home.
