The Adventures of Avery Dameron

This is the first complete psuedo-novel I ever wrote while in high school. I've been meaning to dust it off and rewrite it in a setting completely my own for possible publication. I am going to print it as it was written some 20+ years ago. Maybe you can give me your opinion on whether its worth the time to salvage or if I should scrap it and start over.

P.S. As I am editing this for publication here it has come to my attention that I seem to have written the Forrest Gump of Fantasy. I dont know if any of you have ever read the book Forrest Gump but I personally found it to be one of the worst books I've ever read. The film bares little resemblance to the book. I've always wondered how they were able to turn that book into an academy award winning movie but they did. So even though this isnt a great work it shows theres still hope for it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Adventure's of Avery Dameron


Chapter 1
---------


It was a very special day, for both Chalithra and Alak, it was their fifth birthday. They were completely different in personality, as was shown in their choice of preferred names. He preferred to use his human name, Avery, while she preferred her drow name, Chalithra. But, one thing that they both shared, was incredible Infravision, which spanned, three hundred feet.

Even though they were young, they had already excelled remarkably. They both had already learned to read, write, and speak: Common, Drow Subterranean Trade, Elven, Halfling, Dwarven, Centaur, Drow, and Underdark. Avery had also learned: Human Sign, Drow Silent, and Bronze Dragon, all by the age of four. During this time in his life, he was also quite an accomplished artist. He painted a few portraits, for a couple of the major houses in Eryndlyn. Even though he have only painted a total of fourteen portraits, they were considered some of the cities most prized possessions.

Valas, also taught him how to swim, use a rope, trail others, cook, and sense the direction, that he was facing. Those were accomplishments never before known. He seemed to hunger for knowledge. His most recent lessons were, juggling and how to tumble.

Valas peeked into their play room. He saw Avery teaching Chalithra, human sign. She seemed to becoming quite good at it, much to Avery's amusement. Valas told Avery later, that it looked to him, as if he liked to teach others as well as, he liked learning himself.

Valas had to duck to enter the room, his giant nine foot six inch frame, was too tall for the doorway. He wore a loose, one-piece, jump-suit, which had been made, specially for him.

His giant size was due to an experiment, that he had been part of. One that killed, everyone involved including the Magic User conducting it, all but Valas, who was found as he is now with incredible strength.

They alphabetically signed hello to him, which he gladly returned. Avery did a forward roll, and stood in front of him.

"Good, I see that you have been practicing." He smiled like a proud father. "Are you ready to get fitted for your party?"

"Yes." Then Avery added as a second thought. "Do you think that I will have enough time to finish my work, before the party?"

"Yes sir, there should be ample time. Let us go now."

Valas, escorted them to the palace seamstress. She did the final adjustments to their outfits, and then sent them on their way. Valas and Avery dropped Chalithra off at her room, and then, they went to Avery's.

There, he worked on his painting, that he was doing for Chalithra's present. It was a wonderful portrait of Chalithra, and their mother, standing under a clear night sky.

While he finished the final touches on the painting, his outfit arrived. Valas placed it on his bed, and then left to dress for the party. After finishing the painting, Avery dressed, and then waited for Valas to return. Valas and Avery arrived at the banquet room, there was several people there, that Avery didn't recognize. But the three human men, stood out.

Malice, Avery's oldest sister was conversing with them. Curiosity finally got the best of Avery, and he walked over to them. Malice smiled as she saw him coming.

"Alak, I'm glad you chose to come hither. I would like to introduce you to my friends, they will be assisting Valas in your training." Malice turned to a short man in a kimono, carrying a katana. "This is Sho Hakaru, he is a Bushi. That is a type of fighter."

"May I say it is a great pleasure to meet the most honorable Alakson." The man spoke with a strange accent.

"Please, call me Avery." He eyed the katana. "I would like to learn how to use this weapon. Will you please teach me?

"Hai Averyson, I will teach you that and much more."

"Thank you sir. I hope, that I will prove, that I am a student worthy of your knowledge." They bowed to each other.

Next Malice turned to a tall man in chain mail, carrying a composite long bow.
"This is Dirk, he is a Ranger."

"I will train thee, to be a great armorer." He spoke in a deep voice. "Will you also teach me how to use a bow and hunt?" Avery said hopefully. "Any knowledge that I possess, is thine m'lord."

"And this, is my closest friend Jakkar, he is a Bard." The young man smiled.

"Sir, what is a Bard?" He looked at the man, with a puzzled expression. The young man's smile grew.

"A Bard is an entertainer. I act and play music for money."

"Oh." Avery said with complete comprehension. "Will you teach me? Please?"

"I would be honored my young Lord. Assuming that no one objects."

He looked at Malice as he spoke, waiting for a sign, of whether or not he should have offered his services. Avery noticed his hesitation, so he pulled the man off to the side.

"Don't worry, mother wants me to have the best of both worlds. And I think that you are the best." Avery winked at the man as he spoke. "In any case, it will give you, and Malice more time to visit."

The man stared intently at him. "What do ye mean?" His expression turned to puzzlement.

"Please sir, I may be a child, but I saw how she looked at you, and how you looked at her. She really likes you, and you equally like her. I hope that with any luck, you will be allowed to be her consort."

"Are thou sure that I'll be teaching thee, and not the other way around?" Avery gave him a knowing smile. "Sometimes, the teacher becomes the student. Can we start first thing tomorrow morning?"

"Yes, as soon as thou are ready. Just come and get me, and we'll start your training."

"I Thank you, kind sir. Now I think that we should go back to the party. I will speak with you early, tomorrow morning. Until then."

Jakkar nodded, and then he returned to where Malice and the other humans were talking. Avery went to his mother, and hugged and thanked her for her gift, then he had the guards bring in his gift for Chalithra.

Everyone watched in awe as they uncovered the painting. Everyone remarked at its beauty, and applauded Avery's vision of what he had never witnessed. The only one who didn't care for it, was Chalithra.

"Why do you mock me!" She ripped the painting. "I hate you. Stay away from me, you foul creature. You're demon spawn, and I never want to speak to you again."

The girl ran crying out of the room. Avery stood stunned in the middle of the room, then he looked at his mother.

"What did I do wrong?" Avery fought back the tears as he spoke.

"I think that she misunderstood, I'll talk to her."

"No mother please don't. She spoke her true feelings tonight, and no amount of talk, will change how she feels. I will take my leave of you. Mommy, I still love you." Avery turned and left, Valas followed behind him.

His mother's heart melted, that was the first time he had ever told her that he loved her. The way he said it, made her realize that inside that intellectual mind of his, he was still a child, like he was supposed to be. They walked to his room without speaking. When they arrived, Avery silently dismissed Valas, and then prepared for bed. It was then, that he chose never again to paint.