Chapter II: Within the Walls of Koidassa̤

A long line of worthy ancestry in time found expression in two brothers who, with their families, occupied the residence of an estate known as Koidassa̤; and truly their home was one of love, tranquillity and contentment. Lûvon, the elder, and Damma̤, the younger brother, were sons of one of the most distinguished families of a southern land, known in their time as the province Fondelek, a region then, as now, sufficiently fertile to sustain a dense population. A son cemented the union of Lûvon and his admirable wife, Tillēne; and a daughter, fair and sweet as a Rodel bud, graced the marriage of Damma̤ and his beautiful and gracious spouse, Avanna̤.

The two families were as one in all that concerned their happiness and interests. No thought of a separateness of residence ever occurred to any member of either family. Generation after generation of the Nyassa̤s had lived, loved, and gone into the Silence within the walls of the great edifice Koidassa̤, which was so stanchly built as to defy time and the elements.

Lûvon and Tillēne, also Damma̤ and Avanna̤, were united in marriage in the same hour; but through Andûmana̤'s creative power, Inva̤loû, the boy, came into existence two years earlier than He bestowed upon Damma̤ and Avanna̤ a daughter, who from her earliest infancy was regarded as wondrously beautiful. The passing years added new charms to a countenance and form of surpassing loveliness; yet no more admirable were they than the gracious and fine nature which animated her expressive face and lighted the depths of her empurple eyes. And now that childhood was merging into maidenhood, Frona̤ Nyassa̤ presented a personality so uncommon as to attract the attention and admiration of all beholders. There was about her a subtle charm and a nameless something which set her apart from other girls of her age but did not in any manner detract from her ingenuous simplicity, which was a noticeable trait of her character. Being of a mixed race she inherited the golden hair, fair skin and empurple eyes of her beautiful mother; but in form, stature and mental traits she greatly resembled her stately father, who was of the dark skinned race of Wend.

Inva̤loû, the dark eyed, dark skinned, dusky haired boy, was noticeably like his Wend father, who was a man of great nobility of feature, form and bearing: a man whose just, gentle, loving nature found full expression in his beloved son, who in his approaching manhood promised a complete fulfillment of all the hopes and desires of his fond parents.

By their parents Inva̤loû and Frona̤ were regarded as children, as indeed they yet were,—but as children whose footsteps were nearing the threshold of maturity. Their future held for them and their nearest and dearest ones such immeasurable sorrow that I, who relate this story of their trials, shrink with tearful eyes and reluctant speech from its recital. That I relate it at all is that we of a happier time may remember and appreciate the merciful kindness of our Creator, who, through His boundless love for us, hath declared that no more shall His offending children offer themselves, or be offered as atonement for sin to appease His righteous wrath because of their transgressions of His laws. That we who so love our cherished ones that all else is as nothing shall hold them in our embraces as in our hearts until Death, the Inexorable One, shall woo them into perpetual Silence, is such a priceless blessing that with every thought of our minds, with every breath of our lives, we should remember and adore Andûmana̤'s mercy for His ungrateful and thoughtless children. May this little story be to all who may read it a reminder of their duty to Him who hath so tempered justice with mercy that the dread past is dead and gone forever. If this end may be attained I, Decimon Hûydas, shall not have written in vain.