Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

314 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
thou deny thy successors the joy of my dancing? And if I do not live to have children, how
will thine own children find such joy? Please, sir, would not an earthworm serve the needs of
the robinlings just as well? Kieran looked into the eyes of the caterpillar and knew that he
could not feed her to the robins. Carefully, he placed her beneath her mulberry bush and
continued his search.
Near a rushing brook, Kieran found a flat stone that, when moved, revealed a juicy earthworm
enjoying the cool moist earth. "Aha." he thought. "As nice as the caterpillar may have been,
this truly seems a more fitting meal for young robins." He had no sooner plucked the
earthworm from it's cool abode (where it had been frantically trying to burrow away from
him), when he heard a voice so faint he might have imagined it: "Kind sir," he thought he
heard, and Kieran looked in his hand. The worm continued: "I am but a lowly creature, it's
true, but might I plead such case that I have?" Kieran rolled his eyes skyward as the worm sat
up and seized its chance. "I am not a lowborn worm like others you might find. No, I am a
prince among earthworms. I come from an ancient lineage. My ancestors burrowed the earth
when fires belched from black pits throughout these lands. I command millions like myself.
Were it not for my loyal followers, you, good sir, would be up to your neck in leaves, tree
trunks and mouldy carcasses. I'll make a bargain with you. If you release me and choose,
instead, a pathetic grub for the robinlings, I will dispatch an entire clan of earthworms to keep
your foreyard clean and sweet-smelling for as long as ye shall live." The earthworm looked
hopefully at Kieran (while calculating the distance to the ground). "Good sir, what say ye?"
Kieran was beginning to lose his patience, but, seeing the value of the earthworm's offer,
decided that a grub would, indeed, make a tasty morsel for the young robins. He returned the
earthworm to its moist haven and carefully replaced the flat stone above it.
And, true to his desire, a short while later, in a forest glade, beneath a wide slab of discarded
bark, Kieran chanced upon that which he sought: a fat white grub that would grow the
robinlings into beautiful songsters. He plucked it from its hiding place and set forth. It was a
beautiful day, indeed.
II.
Nearby, in stately Trowbridge, King Caladan did live with his lovely daughter, Einlea. The
princess was the apple of the old man's eye and the crown jewel of his small kingdom. He
looked upon her with the blind pride of a doting father, and she, for her part, did naught but
bask and flourish in his bounty. Trowbridge was quiet now, the chief sounds being the clatter
of cart wheels and the cries of street vendors, but it was not always so. Three years earlier
there had been trouble with Carthan to the west. It was not much, a border dispute, but the
king persuaded a wizard named Loziard to come to Trowbridge in his employ, to aid him in
the contest. Loziard was unknown by all in Trowbridge and kept to himself within the palace,
coming and going as he pleased. When Trowbridge prevailed, with almost no loss of life,
there was joyous celebration for days and weeks thereafter.
Time passed, yet Loziard remained. The King, not wanting to seem ungrateful, said nothing,
but became increasingly discomforted with the wizard's presence and wished for his
departure. On Einlea's twentieth birthday, King Caladan called for a celebration and holiday
through all his land. Unknown to his subjects, he intended to proclaim his retirement and the
transference of his crown to his beautiful daughter. Out of politeness, and nothing more, he
invited the wizard Loziard to aid him in devising a proper speech. Loziard was furious. He
paced his chamber, his black brows knitted with intensity that would have soured any cow's