With his family in bed asleep,Tomar sat at his desk and went over the reports of the last few week. They were all reports of strange man-like beast in the forest around New Keanna. Tomar knew the forest very well and had no idea where they came from. They hadnt been here long that he knew. Only a few weeks. The problem was that the road into New Keanna wasn't safe anymore for anyone to travel. Supplies had to be flown in now from the ships in the bay. And that took time. Besides, now no one was safe outside the gate and that had to be remedied. So far six people including Aramis and Jack had been attacked. There injuries ran from broke bones to slashes and cuts. So far no one had been killed, but that was just luck. Soon someone would be noticed missing and there remains would be found during a search. Tomar knew it was time it do something.A sound from the front entrance caught his attention. Someone was knocking at the door. Tomar got up and went to see who it was. He opened the door and found Aramis there with a grim look on his face.
" What can I do for you this late?" He asked his new friend.
" Can I come in? "He asked. Tomar stood aside and waved him in. Aramis followed Tomar to the study and sat down.
" Everyone's sleeping." He told Aramis. "So quietly. What can I help you with?"
"Tomar, I just had the strangest dreams and I don't know what to make of it." Aramis said. " I dreamed of gods, but they seemed so familiar to me and called me brother. And a woman, she was so beautiful and evil. She could kill millions without a thought."
" Maybe I should call Cutter. This is his area. Dreams and omen.." Tomar sat up. "He might be able to tell you what its all about."
"If you want, but I was told in the dream to come to you." Aramis told him.
"What?" This caught his attention. " Me? Why?"
" They said you would help if I mention Blessa." Tomar fell back from his chair. Aramis rushed to help him up.
" Did you say Blessa?" He got back to his feet and righted his chair.
" Yeah. Who is she?" Aramis sat back.Tomar told him all about Jayce and the Salvation stone. How he had sworn for them all to protect there world and the people. And that they had decided to honor the pledge Jayce made. Blessa had been the angel Jayce had talked and made his promise to. Aramis listened closely as Tomar talked. He still wondered why the people in his dream, seemed so familar. Maybe they were his family. Maybe he was projecting his real family into his dream.He had no idea, but he knew he would find out. But first he had to deal with the evil woman in his dream. Alea told him he and the dragons had to find her and stop her before she turned the world into one massive cemetery. Somehow he had to get the dragons to help him. But how? Maybe all he had to do was ask for there help. These were good people, and if what Tomar just told him was true, its there job. Maybe if he helped them with a problem, they would help him. He looked at the desk and saw the drawing of the beast that chased them into the city. If he helped get rid of them, just maybe they would give him the help he needed.
" Tomar." He said. " What are these thing?"
" I don't know. They look like men, only much more savage." Tomar pulled the drawing closer so they could both see it better.
" Did anybody notice anything strange about them?"
"You mean other then they were suddenly here?" Tomar said. " Hmmm. Yes, a few people told me they were covered in dirt, and they has a strange smell."
" Yes," Aramis said. "They smelled like dirt. Like miners smell. Do you have a mine near?"
"Yes. Winterhaven is mining a new vein of iron near here in the forest. They shut it down cause of some accident, Three men were found dead."
" Have they? Do you know what happened?" Aramis asked.
" Dreik went to check, but they wouldn't let him in." Tomar told him. " He didn't like their answers. but we leased them the land and Rage promised no interference."
" I think maybe we should check this out." Aramis stood up and handed Tomar his red leather jacket. Tomar took it,
" You think its that important?"
" When did the creatures start showing up?" Aramis asked.
" Right after they open the mine." Tomar put the jacket on and started toward the door." I'll call Dreik and Cutter. They'll want to come."
" I'll wake Jack."
Tomar opened the door and a smiling Jack was standing there.
" Did I just hear my name?"
" How does he do that?" Tomar asked.
" Magic." Jack told them as he followed them out.
Gaia took the lead as the walk through the dense forest. Trees, bushes and shrubbery all moved themselves aside as they past. That was the power of an earth dragon. After Gaia came Cheshire and Cutter, then Jack, and finally Aramis and Blaze.
" We're here."
They all kept down and looked through the brush. They could see all kinds of mining equipment outside a cave craved out of the hill. There wasn't a soul in sight, but there was stray scraps of clothing scattered around. Boots, gloves, Aramis saw packs that the miners would have bought with them. There were also those magic lanterns dwarf's use for light deep in their mines.
" See these?" Gaia said picking up a lantern. He held it out. " These are very expensive . Nobody would just leave them here on the ground. Look around, there are all kinds of things these men need. Something bad happened here. It was a sudden attack."
They all looked around for any other evidence. All kinds of personal items were scattered around. Jack called out to them. He had found something.
" What is it?" Cutter asked.
" Drag marks." Gaia knelt down to examine them. " They lead into the mine."
" Look here," Blaze called. "Footprints. Big footprints."
Cheshire came over and caught the scent and begin to growl and hiss. Everyone watched as he padded off toward the mine entrance.
" He wants us to follow." Blaze told them. Aramis, Jack and the three dragons slowly followed Cheshire into the mine. On his way Aramis picked up a miners torch. Dreik showed him how it worked and they were off. All through the mine they found equipment scattered, but they kept following the drag marks. They came to a crossroad that split in three directions. There the drag marks stopped.
" Now what?" Jack asked. " Should we split up?"
" No." Cutter said. " We follow Cheshire. He knows where he's going."
" And if we get lost?"
" I know the way out." Gaia said." I can't get lost in a cave. Come on. Lets go. He's on a scent."
Cheshire tugged and pulled Cutter down a passage way. The air down here had a funny smell. Stale, Like dirt. Different then what they had smelled so far. Cheshire began to growl louder. Suddenly he ripped loose and leaped to his left. Gaia, Cutter and Blaze saw the beast man as Cheshie attacked it. He bite him in the shoulder and injected his venom. The creature howled in pain as the paralysis took hold and it fell back. Behind him stood five more beast men. They charged at them snarling and reaching out to grab them. Aramis took a step back and raised his hands and sent a pulse of power at them. All five were thrown back off there feet.
" Everybody back!!" Blaze sent out a stream of flame to block the beast men in. They all scrambled back into the passage they came from scorched by his flame. The only one left was the one Cheshire bit. Cutter went over and checked him out. His pulse was stable for now, but not for long.
" Can you find out where their coming from?" Blaze asked .
" If theres a mind in here I'll find it." Cutter sat down in front of the beast and put his hand on the beasts temple. Deep into the beast mind he slipped. Past the hunger instinct, Past the survival instinct. There he found something that didn't belong there. A memory of a beautiful woman and a command to find pages? The beast didn't understand but he knew what to look for. He hadn't found it yet so the rest of the beast were still looking. Cutter withdrew from his mind and got up. " Well?" Blaze asked, " Where did he come from?"
Cutter stood there and looked at them. He had no idea what to tell them. He thought there was no way they would believe him. It was way to far fetched to be true. But he had no choice but to tell them what he saw.
" I know where they are from." Cutter told them. "But that's not the important part. Its what there doing here and who sent them. There looking for something. Pages it seems."
" What?" Aramis asked. " What kind of pages?"
" I don't know. but i think we better find them." Cutter told them. " They seem to be important."
" To who?" Blaze wanted to know. He and Jack walked over to the others. Who was the question they needed to know.
"I saw a woman in his mind." Cutter said. " She was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. But I could feel the evil in her. And her hunger for power."
Aramis looked at Blaze with a shocked gaze. All color had drained from his face.
" Its her. The woman from your dream?"
" Yes." Aramis said. " It sounds like it. Cutters right. Whatever shes searching for, we have to find. We cant let her get it."
" Then lets not waste anymore time talking. I'm pretty sensitive to magic, and I'm guessing these pages will be powerful magic." Jack said. " How about you Cutter? I'm betting you are to."
" Your right. I feel strong magic from you both." Cutter said.
" Then we split up and search. Cutter take Gaia and Cheshire with you." Jack suggested. "Blaze come with me and Aramis. We need to hurry. The beast are searching to."
Off they went in separate directions to search the many passages and shafts of the mine. Jack kept his senses open for the slightest indications of anything magical. He could feel the beast men close to them so he tried to make sure they didn't meet. Not that he feared them, he just didn't feel they had time for the conflict. Aramis held the lantern for light as they made there way around. A strong smell assaulted there senses suddenly. It was a smell of death. Turning a corner they found out what it was., There in the middle of the passage they found the dead miners. They stopped for a second.
" Theres nothing we can do for them now." Blaze said. " Keep moving."
" Wait I feel something." Jack held out his hand and turned toward the east passage. " This way."
Jack followed the trail he had found to a wall. There didn't seem to be a way past .
" Its here." Jack said. " Whatever it is. its there."
Suddenly a roar came from behind them. The beast men had found it to. Blaze and Jack turned to confront the oncoming threat. A group of seven or eight beast attacking them
" Aramis, Your gonna have to get it."
Fire erupted around Blaze's fist as he swung for the nearest beast. He delivered a burning blow to its face and turned for the next. Jack, with his speed slammed blow after blow into the crowd knocking them back off there feet. Quickly he pulled a sword and started stabbing at them. Aramis knew he didn't have much time. How was he to get through the wall? He though maybe the magic he used to repel things could attract whatever's in there. He reached out to the wall and started to activate the magic when he bumped his hand into nothing, There was no wall. He reached in and found a hole there. Aramis felt around and found a rolled up scroll. He pulled it out and told the others.
" I've got it!!." Aramis saw the crowd of beast man and blasted them out of the way As Blaze sent his flames out.
" No stop!!." Aramis screamed. " Don't kill them!!"
" Its to late." Blaze said. " Come on, we're clear. I've called the others. Gaia's gonna seal this cave. He's showed me the way out."
They ran through the twists and turns until the saw light from the opening and dashed out. Gaia, Cutter and Cheshire were waiting outside. They ran out to meet them.
" Gaia. Please don't do this. " Aramis said." There has to be another way. There were under someones control. Cutter tell him."
" He's right." Cutter said. " If you seal them in, you'll kill them. And there innocent creatures scared to death."
" Then what do yo want to do?" Blaze asked. " We cant let them wander the road attacking everybody."
"Maybe Toric can help." Cutter said." He and I can get them to someplace safe."
" Ok." Gaia told them. " I'll put food in there and bar the entrance. Its up to you to take care of them Cutter."
"Thank you." Aramis told them." Now we have to tell Rage and Jandar whats going on." Blaze said. " This has gotten serious."
No comments:
Post a Comment