The last Irekei Well Tender fell with a thud into the desert sands surrounding the merchant town known as Haven. Ajantis looked around to his brothers and sisters, satisfied at the cleansing that had just taken place.
Ajantis spoke, "My brothers. It has occured to me that I have not revealed to you what I remember of my childhood. This well here has stirred old memories.
He stepped over the charred remains of one of the well guards towards his companions, and seated himself among their ranks.
"Let us see. It was long ago. From the recesses of my mind, I can recall images of a well camp much like this one. I was born a slave to the desert elves. I do not know much of my father and mother. My father was slain defending my village when I was not yet of this world. My mother died a slave, when I was but a child. I remember the devil men barking at me to sift through the sand, and bring water from their wells to their tents. I could have escaped at any moment, but I feared for my mother's health and remained in the encampment to assure that she was safe. She was very weakened from the constant beatings she endured.
There was one Irekei... he was unlike the others. Not only because he was the only child of the village... he was different. I remember him bringing my mother and I water and food. I fear we would have perished if it were not for his actions. I never found out why he did it. Perhaps he took a liking to me because i was the only other child in that desert encampment. We grew close, the Irekei boy and I. We even played together on nights when the moon was especially dark, when all were asleep. He would sneak past the guards to my tent and somehow was able to get me out unnoticed. We would explore the surrounding deserts, inacting adventures.
For a time, I forgot what his people had done to mine. I was able to call him friend. We had made nicknames for eachother. He called me Ajantis. He told me stories of a fair-skinned adventurer who travelled to his city often to trade with his people. One time his village was attacked, and the adventurer even came to the village's aid. He decided this would fit me well, since that was the only fair-skinned person he had enjoyed the company of before myself.
For him, I chose the name Ravenhart Darkmoon. He was able to traverse the desert with the ease of a bird in flight and was able to hide in the shadows as a jet-black raven in the night. I also remember, from my childhood, a loyal raven my father kept as a companion. No name could suit this Irekei, strangely, my only friend, any better.
Darkmoon came to mind because unlike the other villagers, he did not worship the Dragon. He detested the nightly prayers that he was forced to perform for a being in which he had no faith. To his people, the blazing moon represented the power of the Dragon, but in Raven's heart, the moon was dark, his faith in the wyrm extinguished.
One night, he told me how he and his family were planning an escape from the encampment in the following night. It turns out his father and mother did not worship the Dragon either. They had been merchants in Khar, and were captured by a fanatical group of Dragon Worshippers. They were forced to serve as well tenders for the Raider's encampment. Ravenhart told me that he was trying to arrange for the escape of my mother and I as well. After our playful 'adventure' was over, we turned to the village. We saw flame columns rising from the tents. As we ran closer to the village we began to hear screams and clashing steel. It turns out that the Temple of the Sacred flame had come to cleanse the village. All of the devil men were slain. The slave tents also caught fire and I thank the All-Father that my mother was consumed by the Holy Flame and died a death of righteousness rather than a death through murder.
Suddenly i heard the harsh Irekei voice of the village Chief,'Foolish human! I know you called on these men in the night to masacre us. By the Dragon, you will be destroyed!' I fell to the floor cringing, when suddenly i saw a glimmer travel across the night sky towards the Irekei Chief before me. I realized they were daggers illuminated by the dark moon's light. Suddenly the the Irekei Chief let out a scream as his hand was pierced by one of the blades. His weapon dropped to the floor and he looked for his assailant. There was nothing there. As he had his back turned, I ran to a Brother Templar to call for help. The Templar proceeded to swiftly deliver a cleansing to the Chief and the night grew quiet after his final breath was uttered, faded in the desert wind. I knew what had happened. Ravenhart saved my life!
The Templar asked me my name, and i hesitated. After a moment I replied, 'Ajantis Darkmoon.' This is when the Temple took me in and raised me to be a Templar just as that which had saved me. But this is a story for another day. After we set our roots in the desert and I returned to these sands, my mind wonders what has become of this Ravenhart. I appologize for taking so much time away from our cleansing."
Ajantis gazed skyward at the barely visible moon. "The moon is especially dark this night, brothers. Stay close."
Ajantis hesistates a moment and then rises, turning to the new installment of Irekei that arrive at the encampment to draw water."You arrive just in time to be cleansed, Devil men!"