It started, as these things so often do, with a death. Well, it did not so much start as begin. Actually, begin would probably be too strong a word for it.
The young man who had been killed was not really like the thousands of young men (and maybe one or two young women who have disguised themselves as young men – because this is a law of causality and has to happen) who routinely come down (or up, or from) various highlands and downlands and swamplands to the big city in order to make it…big.
What was different about this young man was that
a) He had been raised in humbler than humble surroundings
b) He had a sword which had been presented to him under mysterious circumstances and which was quite possibly magical.
c) Despite his humbler than humble surroundings, he was well fed and well built with a beautiful complexion and absolutely no facial flaws whatsoever.
d) His parentage was unknown (baby left outside a doorstep with lightning shaped scar on forehead sort of thing)
e) He practically drips destiny and fate from every pore on his body.
f) He was dead.
Because of factors (a) to (e), it was obvious that this young man with absolutely no education in statecraft and warcraft and law and lore was destined for great things, eg saving a princess and winning a kingdom, or, saving a kingdom and winning a princess – after which he would rule for many a year and the kingdom would enjoy a period of prosperity like never before. Because of factor (f) the law of absolute certainty of destiny was disproved. Just because you are destined to do great things does not mean that you actually get to achieve them.
Which means that it did not in fact start with a death. It ended with a death.
Thus, this is a very short story indeed.
The young man who had been killed was not really like the thousands of young men (and maybe one or two young women who have disguised themselves as young men – because this is a law of causality and has to happen) who routinely come down (or up, or from) various highlands and downlands and swamplands to the big city in order to make it…big.
What was different about this young man was that
a) He had been raised in humbler than humble surroundings
b) He had a sword which had been presented to him under mysterious circumstances and which was quite possibly magical.
c) Despite his humbler than humble surroundings, he was well fed and well built with a beautiful complexion and absolutely no facial flaws whatsoever.
d) His parentage was unknown (baby left outside a doorstep with lightning shaped scar on forehead sort of thing)
e) He practically drips destiny and fate from every pore on his body.
f) He was dead.
Because of factors (a) to (e), it was obvious that this young man with absolutely no education in statecraft and warcraft and law and lore was destined for great things, eg saving a princess and winning a kingdom, or, saving a kingdom and winning a princess – after which he would rule for many a year and the kingdom would enjoy a period of prosperity like never before. Because of factor (f) the law of absolute certainty of destiny was disproved. Just because you are destined to do great things does not mean that you actually get to achieve them.
Which means that it did not in fact start with a death. It ended with a death.
Thus, this is a very short story indeed.
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