Once Triton, Now Wey.

“Broadcasting to you from 323 light-years away, from the grandeur of one of earth’s brightest stars; that’s right, Thunderheads, I’m on the North Star!

“Can I say it’s gorgeous here?  Of course I can.  It’s gorgeous here!  That’s what the North Star is; it’s gorgeous.  It’s a gorgeous day.  I’m in a gorgeous town, surrounded by gorgeous people.  Dare I say I’m in a dream.  But I’m not!  I’m really here.  All courtesy of my imagination and a truly psychedelic and super-sonic Einstein-Rosen bridge.

I’m joined today by my dear dear friend, the mysterious Mr. H.H.E, and the Honorable Mayor, Dooey Delano Strowd.  And behind us are the fine people of Nis.  Say hello everyone!”

“HELLOOOO!” the towns people said with verb.

“How’s that for a shout-out from 1.89875544 x 10¹⁵ miles away??  Now Mayor Strowd, why don’t you tell my friends back home about your small town.  It’s pronounced Nis, right?  And you’re located…  Hold on; let me check my notes.  Oh yes, here we go.  The First Prong, am I right?”

“Why yes you are!” Strowd said beaming.  “Nis is the first of the First, as we like to say.  And can I just say on behalf of us Weyeans how much of an honor it is to have you!  And your friends back home!”

“Trust me, Mayor; the honor is all mine.  Now back to what you said, ‘…the first of the First.’  Meaning what?”

Strowd responded.  “Of course.  Meaning that Nis is the first town ever settled on the First Prong; the Isle of Wey has three Prongs you know, like a fork.  We’re actually the oldest town the Isle has.”

“Really??”

“Over 2500 years-old!” Strowd said looking back at all of his proud constituents.

“Do you hear that Thunderheads?  Over 2500 years-old!  Amazing.  Please, Mayor; tell us more.”

“Well there’s so much,” Strowd said tugging at his slightly tight and white blazer, “I hardly know where to start.”

“Where should he start everybody?!”

“Tell them the legend of Lady Wey square!” shouted the crowd.

“What do you say Mayor?  The legend of Lady Wey square, seems to be the crowd favorite.  And it sounds delicious.”

“It’s a sad story really,” Strowd said recalling, “And yet heroic.  Our lands share a dark past, Mr. Jaime…a dark past.  And the Thunderlands weren’t always as they are now, united under one Queen.  We were divided.  And defenseless.  But about 2000 years ago, the Thunders were formed.”

“And what are the Thunders?  — For my friends back home.”

“Well,” Strowd said burrowing his bushy brow, “they’re war academies really, established to train our best and brightest in all aspects of what it means to defend one’s homeland.  But like I said, those days were dark.  And the dark nearly won the day, even with the Thunders around to defend us.”

“But certainly the dark didn’t win, otherwise you wouldn’t be telling me this story.  Am I wrong?”

“No, Mr. Jaime.  But only because of the love and courage of the Lady Wey.  They say she struck a bargain with the Triunes; they’re our Gods you see.  They say she bought time, by appealing to the Gods to appeal to the trees…”

“What trees?  These trees??”

“No,” corrected Strowd, “Other trees, trees far more ancient than these.  They say her appeal was heard, and the trees devoured the dark, pushing it back while our forces were able to regroup.  They say it was her bargain that turned the tide.”

“And this Lady Wey, she was from Nis?”

Strowd’s reply was telling; the Lady Wey meant much to him and his people.   “She was.”

“And is this statue her’s?”

“It is.  It is her memorial and so is this square.  As is the reason the Isle was renamed after her.  We were once Triton, you see.  Now we are Wey.  Have been for nearly 2000 years, and will be till time no longer is.”

“Wow.  To mean so much to so many that they rename a country after you.  Incredible.  The Legend of Lady Wey…  Thank you, Mayor!  Thank you, Nis!  And thanks to Mr. H.H.E, without whom none of this would be possible.  Well, Thunderheads, time to sign off.  These fine folks promised me something called Acerbus Ale!  This has been your intrepid author, coming to you live from the Thunderlands.  Until next time!”

Inkling #8:

What is The Seven Thunders?  It is the bargain struck.  It is an old foe renewed.  And it is what happens when our defenses decay.