Blessed are the Meek
Alberon, the story goes, desired the witchcraft of the Pacharia. As a man, it was to him - as it is to all of his gender - denied.
So Alberon passed out of the sight of men and returned as the Lady of Pain. He dressed as a sturdy fishwife and went unto the Pacharia to learn their ways.
Alberon was found out, and the Pacharia strung him up from a hawthorn plant. The Green Lady would or could not cut him down, but Alberon’s first consort did - for a hideous price that has never been disclosed.
Still, Alberon has the womanly art of witchcraft, and he sometimes puts it to use, appearing as a beggar-woman and dispensing cures, love potions, talismans and hexes to those who show ‘her’ kindness.
In fact, the itinerant is one of eleven recognised forms in which Alberon appears. The others are: the newly-wed, the squire, the goliard, the handmaiden, the Doge (leading to some confusion, hijinx and paternity disputes), the elf-catcher, the mother, the father, the widow and the Lord of Pain.
The similarity of these forms to the twelve gods of the Undying Cycle has not gone unnoticed, but the conclusions vary - is Alberon coopting the cycle, or paying homage to it, or somehow influenced by it outside of his control?
Connections
- The goliards of the Sacred Foot are heterodox adherents of Alberon unloved by the Temple Indivisible (20.04).
- Alberon appeared to Jarmond of the Knife eleven times, including once as a blacksmith (which does not appear to be among the recognised forms)
Hooks
- How could Alberon study with the Pacharia if he cannot leave the city?
- Who are the Pacharia?