The Roads That Carry My Name (Part 1)

A sweeping ballad sung by a woman, tender in its memories and strong in its chorus

Verse 2 — Fina, 2010
In Fina, with the new year come,
I took the magistrate’s chair;
With lessons learned and steady quill,
I gave each matter care.
And Kael became my companion there,
Our lives awhile entwined;
By April, as High Magistrate,
Still greater work was mine.

Chorus
City by city, I carried my name,
Through love and through leaving, through ashes and rain.
My quill in my keeping, my life in my hands,
I sought a place for myself in those lands.
When one road was ended, another began—
A woman of Scribes, and a daughter of Rarn.

Verse 3 — Returning to Rarn
September brought me home again
To serve where I was born;
High Magistrate beneath the walls
That I had known since dawn.
Then battle took the city down,
And scattered all I knew;
For nine long months, I wandered on,
With no home to return to.

Verse 4 — Fina and Turia
In twelve, I came to Fina’s halls,
And took my work once more;
The bench still held a place for me
Beyond that familiar door.
Then March brought Turia, thirteen,
Another magistrate’s day;
I set my papers on the desk
And learned the city’s ways.

Verse 5 — A Family on Cos
By June, upon the Isle of Cos,
I served beside the sea;
And there the Beattie family
Made room among them for me.
A daughter with another name,
Another hand to hold—
By August, back in Turia,
Our household’s life unfolded.

Verse 6 — The Roads of 2014
In Abydos, Chief Magistrate,
I welcomed in the year;
Then Telnus called in February,
With more disputes to hear.
In March, to Turia once again,
My scrolls went with me there;
So often had I packed them now,
Yet still I packed with care.

Verse 7 — Cities That Never Grew
In April, Aetos offered me
A magistrate’s new start;
But streets we hoped would fill with life
Remained a dream apart.
Then Atria, in the month of May,
Held hopes that faded too;
I waited for those towns to grow,
Then gathered what was due.

Verse 8 — Whitewater and Tyros
Whitewater came in June that year,
My father’s settlement;
As Head and High Magistrate,
My working days were spent.
When Father closed it, on we went;
To Tyros came our home.
By February, fifteen,
Another bench had met my own.

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Verse 1 — A Daughter of Rarn In Rarn, beneath my father’s roof, My childhood days were spent; I learned the ways of ink and scroll Before I knew what leaving meant. I could not see the roads ahead, The cities yet unknown, Or all the times I’d have to learn To make a place my own. Verse 2 — Fina, 2010 In Fina, with the new year come, I took the magistrate’s chair; With lessons learned and steady quill, I gave each matter care. And Kael became my companion there, Our lives awhile entwined; By April, as High Magistrate, Still greater work was mine. Chorus City by city, I carried my name, Through love and through leaving, through ashes and rain. My quill in my keeping, my life in my hands, I sought a place for myself in those lands. When one road was ended, another began— A woman of Scribes, and a daughter of Rarn. Verse 3 — Returning to Rarn September brought me home again To serve where I was born; High Magistrate beneath the walls That I had known since dawn. Then battle took the city down, And scattered all I knew; For nine long months, I wandered on, With no home to return to. Verse 4 — Fina and Turia In twelve, I came to Fina’s halls, And took my work once more; The bench still held a place for me Beyond that familiar door. Then March brought Turia, thirteen, Another magistrate’s day; I set my papers on the desk And learned the city’s ways. Chorus City by city, I carried my name, Through love and through leaving, through ashes and rain. My quill in my keeping, my life in my hands, I sought a place for myself in those lands. When one road was ended, another began— A woman of Scribes, and a daughter of Rarn. Verse 5 — A Family on Cos By June, upon the Isle of Cos, I served beside the sea; And there the Beattie family Made room among them for me. A daughter with another name, Another hand to hold— By August, back in Turia, Our household’s life unfolded. Verse 6 — The Roads of 2014 In Abydos, Chief Magistrate, I welcomed in the year; Then Telnus called in February, With more disputes to hear. In March, to Turia once again, My scrolls went with me there; So often had I packed them now, Yet still I packed with care. Verse 7 — Cities That Never Grew In April, Aetos offered me A magistrate’s new start; But streets we hoped would fill with life Remained a dream apart. Then Atria, in the month of May, Held hopes that faded too; I waited for those towns to grow, Then gathered what was due. Chorus City by city, I carried my name, Through love and through leaving, through ashes and rain. My quill in my keeping, my life in my hands, I sought a place for myself in those lands. When one road was ended, another began— A woman of Scribes, and a daughter of Rarn. Verse 8 — Whitewater and Tyros Whitewater came in June that year, My father’s settlement; As Head and High Magistrate, My working days were spent. When Father closed it, on we went; To Tyros came our home. By February, fifteen, Another bench had met my own. Chorus City by city, I carried my name, Through love and through leaving, through ashes and rain. My quill in my keeping, my life in my hands, I sought a place for myself in those lands. When one road was ended, another began— A woman of Scribes, and a daughter of Rarn.

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