Starq's Start

Starq Joiner dreamed of a raven, cawing in warning and plucking at a spider with its beak. Starq Joiner awoke to two bulbous eyes staring into his. He seized a candlestick and swiped at the creature, knocking it onto his arm, where the rat-sized arachnid bit him. He then knocked it to the floor and killed it, where it disappeared in a little flare of black flame.

Starq told his parents that morning, who advised that he see a doctor. His father went with him. His mother seemed not quite as surprised as she should have been.

In the market square, in Dr. Walknaught's office, stood not Dr. Walknaught but a red-haired halfling, who was seeing patients and prescribing healing potions. He pronounced Starq to be magical (were there any dragons in the family?), and the bite non-magical, and upon pressing let him see Dr. Walknaught in the back room who was laid up with a broken leg. Dr. Walknaught assured Starq and his father that the bite was not spreading poison. Relieved, they went home. Mr. Joiner told his son that they'd go back to the marked the next day, for it was time that Starq chose his trade and found a place for his apprenticeship.

That night Starq dreamed again of the raven. That day he found the raven, who spoke Elvish, as he went to speak to the halfling Condros Silverfingers again. Condros said he'd take him on as an apprentice and bring him back to the city of Culdin, which had the famous Rival Schools of Sorcerers and of Wizards. Before making a final decision, Starq went to speak to his great-grandfather, whom he was suddenly suspecting of being a dragon. The old but hale man told him to use his gift for good. So, Starq packed his things in a well-made chest and left for the continent of Durille with Condros, who'd finished selling all his healing potions from his aborted search for the Gates of Sunstair.