Sturdy Var—number two and mortar-man of the 4th Platoon, Oratay Company, 17th Stavrian Armour-and-Spirit Regiment—had a reputation as a thoughtful, quiet fellow. His mother died giving birth to this big-boned little giant. Everyone expected him to grow enormous, and at first the exceptionally large child towered over his contemporaries. But after thirteen his growth slowed, and by twenty he had barely reached four cubits. Var was raised in the household of Noah and Nil. His cousins were like brothers to him, but Aunt Gaya never took his mother’s place; she was noticeably colder to little Var than to her adored twins. So, when his training began at the Drobogor Outpost, he preferred to stay there at weekends. While the other children went home, he took great pleasure in wandering aimlessly through the empty barracks, roaming the woodlands, or tagging along with one of the old oratai from the men’s house, helping with their unhurried, elderly occupations. Most of all, though, Var loved to visit the old women and widows in the matrons’ towers. He never missed the visiting days when men were allowed across the women’s threshold. Here they fed him, asked him questions, patted his cheeks and heated the bathhouse for him alone. Here, at least, quiet Var was everybody’s favourite.
Var Gurevich’s Oratay Physical Record
Height — 4 cubits, 2 nails
Reach — 138 nails
Combat weight — 220 measures
Marching weight — 340 measures
Combat run — 7 minutes 12 seconds
Mortar-bomb throw — 194 sweeps
Marksmanship — 7 points
