tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508823788635780202024-03-12T22:04:45.311-04:00The Dragons of Keannaon the world of keanna dragons,werewolves,vampires,elves and demons exist. its an adventure story with love,battles,sword and sorcery where dragons are the real heroes and protector of the world.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-60760045253185094202019-10-26T20:20:00.001-04:002019-11-17T21:57:17.821-05:00The Ghost of Yesterday. 22<span id="docs-internal-guid-515d0bee-7fff-6ecd-0946-909e5c2d5ca3"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The day was quiet and Bram again was alone. Yes, he was alone but he was getting used to it. For once, the voices were being quiet, but in Bram’s mind, he thought they were all away, which gave him a great bit of relief. Sometimes he thought their bickering and abuse would drive him crazy. But not today. Bram still wished Jemald and his son Lon were there to enjoy his conquest with him. Jemeld’s memory for a second made him smile. Her beauty always made him stop and feel the joy of her heart. There wasn’t anything he would deny his love. They could both have any dream or they could think of. But they were not there with him, and he didn’t understand why. It had to be her father and damned his interference. He never liked Bram no matter what he could do for Jemald. They never understood that he could make her a Queen. Bram could have everyone bow to her, but that didn’t matter. Not to Valerian all, he would ever be was a monster. If a monster is all they thought he was then a monster is what he would be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram stood up a made his way out if the throne room. When he made his exit from the throne room, Prince Dersaran was there with all the other warlocks he had fought and put down. For a minute, Bram thought he would have to fight them again. But they sneered at him and stepped aside as he passed. He knew all of witches, warlocks, and wizards here. At one time, he had fought them all. He could remember each battle. What was funny is he couldn’t remember what happened after the battles. He knew he won but he thought they all died. If they were dead, how are they here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram shook the memories from his head. He didn’t have time to think about dead witches and warlocks, he had an empire to build. From the throne room, he walked down the hall pass two guards and up the stairs to the master bedroom. He pushed open the door and the smell of Jemeld’s perfume grabbed his attention. The room smelled like violets and lavender, Jemeld’s</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">favorite perfume. He loved that smell. At always made his heart beat faster and his blood pressure rise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His head was in the clouds as he stepped into the room. He walked to the balcony and pulled the doors open. The day was dark and cloudy, but that’s not what Bram saw. To him, it was clear and beautiful. The birds were singing and there was a nice warm breeze. Just the kind of day Jemeld liked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re right my love. It is a beautiful day.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a smile in his heart, Bram turned to see Jemeld standing at the dressed in a gray gown with a lighter gray veil covering her face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Where have you been?” Bram asked. “I have men out searching all over Fay Shrea for you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You knew where I was.” She said in a sweet heartbreaking tone. “You sent us there,”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It doesn’t matter.” He said as he walked over and kissed her. “You’re back now and that’s all that matters.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m here for now.” She pulled herself out of his arms. “You killed my father.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram stood there watching her as she turned away from him. When she turned back as she passed the mirror.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I had no choice. I know he was hiding you from me.” Bram was upset and he didn’t like being questioned. “ I warned him. I warned all of them. All he had to do was tell me where you were and I would leave them in peace. But no, they had to do it the hard way. They’re sorry now.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They are all dead now.” She screamed at him. “My sister is the last Ammath fairy alive. Do you understand what that means? At means for the rest of her life, she will be alone.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t care about your family,” Bram said. “I have a destiny to think about. We will be the emperors of these lands.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They will stop you,” Jemeld said. “The Dragons won’t let you rule. They will stop you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram stomped his way across the room to stand right in Jemeld’s face. One would think she would be scared of her husband, but she wasn’t. She stood there staring up into his eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Than I will kill them.” He screamed down at her. “I will kill anybody I have to.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram turned away to walk to his desk. His staff sat there, he grabbed it and turned back to Jemeld. He started to say something to her, but she was gone. He looked all around the room, but there was no one there but him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It doesn’t matter.” He said. “She will be back begging for me to take her back.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With his staff in hand, Bram walked to the balcony and he said a simple spell and he disappeared. As the new emperor, he had a lot to do before his coronation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Undercover of dark and dirty shadows, Bram stepped out to spy on the city of Dakath. It had been years since the last time he was here, but not much had changed. The market was just as busy as he remembered and it was just as loud. Shopkeepers still walked the lanes calling out their wares. People still pushed and pulled at each other trying to pry things from the hands of each other’s hands. He saw men fighting over pieces of polished armor. And the women were just as bad carrying small clubs to beat down the competition. Cloaked in shadow, Bram walked the market streets. He didn’t see anything interesting, but he knew it would soon all be his. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As he entered the market he looked left to see the different hardware vendors. On the right men and women sold vegetables and livestock. The sound of Dera crying for freedom echoed through the streets. Around their stalls, children gathered to throw rocks at the poor beast. For a second, Bram thought he would show these brats what it would be like if they were the ones locked up in the stalls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As he mumbled a silent spell, Bram disappeared from the market and reappeared in a swirl of smoke in the center of the king’s courtyard. The guards coughed choking on the arid smoke. When the smoke cleared, Bram Thorne was there standing on the steps of the castle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Stop wizard!” A sergeant called as he pulled his sword free of its scabbard. With a look of disgust, Bram turned to face them. Each warrior came at Bram with he sword out and ready to strike him down. Bram looked at them he swung his arm out at them. A force like a giant invisible hand swept out throwing them all off their feet. A few broke their legs, on some, it was the arm. But some it just knocked the air out of them. As Bram took another step up towards the entrance, they came at him to attack. The first came at him with his sword raised to chop him down. Bram flicked out with a finger. That small move sent the guard flying into the wall where he was smashed to fall off the wall dead. Two more warriors came in to attack. As they charged at him, he called out another spell. Swords slammed into Bram’s robe where they snapped like twigs and fell from their bruised hands. Bram took another step and more warriors came out to challenge him. As he flushed his hands out, the guards fell to the for with agonizing pain. Bram stepped over the fallen bodies and made his way into the castle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he stepped through the door, a spasm of pain hit him as he fell to his knees. Gritting his teeth, Bram cast a spell that would reflect the pain back on the mage that sent it at him. When the pain let up, Bram climbed back on his feet. He brushed the dirt from his robe and started into the castle. As he started in, Bram heard someone scream from his left. Bram smiled thinking it was good for whoever it was that set the pain on him. With the wave of his hand, he sent them flying into the gate where iron spikes stabbed into their bodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From a floor high over Bram’s head, the king of Dakath watched as his men died. He could see all the broken bodies spread all the way back to the castle’s entrance. He knew he was in trouble. He had more men and they would defend him to their death, but they were spread all through Dakath and the troops that were there were dying as they fought. Soon there would be no one left here in the castle to fight except him. He knew there wasn’t any hope of surviving this battle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slow and calm he turned and walked his way back to his throne room. Though Bram had come through the marketplace without anyone’s notice, an alarm had gone off in Tampyl, the city mage’s palace workroom. He warned the king that someone powerful and dangerous was on the way in through the marketplace. He promised he’d meet the intruder as he made his way through the castle, but he could feel that whoever it was, they were very powerful and he had no hope of defeating them. The king thanked Tampyl and dismissed him. There was no need for the mage to die. He would be needed after this was all over to help put the city back together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With his sword across his lap, Keto Diecen III sat down to wait as Bram made his way up to the throne room. He was glad that his family was away visiting the Queen’s family. They would rule when he was gone. While he waited for the intruder, he said a prayer to Aramis to keep his family safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Bram passed through the ghettos of Dakath, gray clouds below in and it started to rain. The wind grew from a summer breeze to hurricane force. Trees were knocked over and slammed into buildings as lightning cried out of sky striking one house after the next. Rain poured down flooding all the lowlands and sweeping away the small homes of the poor. People ran from their simple homes to find refuge in the high hills where they would be safe. From his stern look as he walked through Dakath’s market, people could tell something bad was about to happen. A church bell rang out a warning to the citizens to make haste leaving the city. Crowds ran like madmen for the city gates. Women wrapped their children in their arms as they cried and prayed for salvation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Bram Thorne reached the throne room door, he pushed it open and stood there as the wind blew his robes out. His hair blew back making him look more intense and power-mad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As he stepped into the throne room an arrow shot down from a high place over the throne. With a flick of his finger, Bram sent it in a boomerang motion around the room then back to stab the archer in his fleeing back. That was the last of the king’s men in the castle. There was no one else left to fight but the king.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Bram walked in, the king sat up proudly in his throne. He looked over to watch him walk in down the aisle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Your sitting on my throne,” Bram said with a smile on his crooked face. “You should get off before I get annoyed.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is my throne,” The king said calmly. “And I rule here in these lands.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram stepped over to the foot of the throne looked up at King Keto. He’s bold Bram thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But not very smart.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram raised his hand and sent a bolt of power at the west sidewall. When the bolt hit the wall It exploded sending debris all over the throne room. The king didn’t even bat an eye. The warlock didn’t scare him. Bullies never do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Was that supposed to scare me?” King Keto laughed. “Your not the first power-mad fool to come knocking at my door.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fool?” Bram stuttered in anger. “You dare to make fun of me?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s about time someone put you in your place.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That may be but it won’t be you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Kill me if you want but this won’t be the end,” King Keto said as he stood up. “Others will come to challenge you. They will come and you will go down in the mud like the worm you are.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram stood there with his mouth. He was surprised at the nerve of the king. Suddenly he started to laugh hysterically. Keto reached into his pocket and pulled out a blaststone from Torcin. He aimed and took his first shot at the Warlock. It shot from the stone and hit Bram near the chest area of his robe. Bram screamed out surprised, then fell to the floor. Keto started to walk over to kick the warlock, but he coughed and climbed up on his knees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well done your majesty,” Bram said as he got on his feet. “Now it’s my turn.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a quick flaring of his arms, Bram summoned a hurricane wind out of the gray skies. It blew at a speed of 75 to 100 hundred miles an hour. Keto took refuge behind his throne which was bolted to the castle floor. The desk and chairs of his court ministers took off into the air crashing into the walls. Tapestries were sailing through the air like wild kites in a tornado. Bram's hair blew making him look like a wild hermit at war with the north wind. As he laughed he sent bolts of power out to strike at his imaginary enemies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You thought me to weak to fight back.” He yelled to his foes. “This is not my first time in Dakath.I know it you out there Molis.” He yelled. “I would smell your deception anywhere.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keto listened as Bram screamed at his unknown enemy. It's true that Dakath once was ruled by a powerful Warlock. That was Molis Diecin, his great great grandfather. But how would he know about his great grandfather? He warlock can’t possibly be that old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just than. Bram heard a familiar rack of laughter on the wind. It was a laugh Bram hadn’t heard in over a hundred years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[You found me, Bram Thorne.] Molis said as he appeared out of the wind. [You beat me once. Let’s see if you can do it again.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Molis floated closer to Bram, his eyes blared with a golden glow and beams of heat shot out at Bram. Thrilled and surprised, Bram raised his hands to create a force shield in front of him. As the beams hit his shield, Molis started to laugh as he switched to a force blast to crush Bram into the wall. Bram let out a grunt of surprise as he was slammed into the wall. As he recovered, he got back to his feet with an evil smirk on his face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dead two hundred years,” Bram said. “And you use that same old spells.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[You want something new?] Molis said. [Hows this?]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Molis raised his hands a golden split appeared in the air and a monstrous insect crawled out. It had huge claws and gray armor covering its body. It turned to look at Molis, then moved on to Bram Thorne.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its speed for something that big was amazing. Like a grasshopper, it jumped at Bram. Reacting quickly, Bram shot out with a force blast that sent the insect creature flying off at Bram’s side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bram created a huge spear of light and sent it up and out to stab into its side armor. As the insect creature thrust out with a bottom leg. It pushed itself out to right itself on its legs. As the spear of light came at the creature, it spit a blast of sticky paste as the spear and sent it flying off into the wall where it stuck until it melted the webbing and fell to the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[How do you like my new friend?] Molis yelled. [We met in the underworld and I thought of you.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It figures,” Bram said as his hands took on a green glow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Keto watched Bram fight a cattle with himself, he wondered what the hell was going on?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This battle started between the warlock and him. Now he seemed to be fighting with himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keto wasn’t sure who he wanted to win. Him or him. It was confusing. One thing he did know was now was his chance to get out of there before him or they figured out what was going on. With the hurricane winds gone, Keto pushed his way through the debris and ran for the door. He thought he should stay and try killing the warlock himself, but that might give the warlock a chance to see him again. Better to live to fight another day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Bram fought his invisible enemy, Keto ran through the castle grabbing things he thought were important. He loaded it all on a horse and he was gone. He would see the warlock again. And when he did, Keto would win back his city.</span></div>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-60021250253125478692019-10-16T19:29:00.002-04:002019-10-27T12:18:32.154-04:00Two for one. 21<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With Rowyn, Hoddie and Yarden at his side, Niro followed the trail deeper into Eventide. They were being followed every since they crossed the border into Eventide. The way was clear, but somewhere out there, something was watching them. Hoddie and the Princess rode along on Sima's back as she scented the air for a clue as to who was following them. Hoodie had an idea, but until he saw their mystery tail.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">"How long are we going to wait to see who's back there?" Hoddie asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">"Not that much longer." Niro said. "We can't lead whoever it is to Eventide."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">"Not if we want any hope to be welcome in Eventide." Hoddie said as he looked back hoping to spot whoever was back there. Thought the trail looked clear, Hoodie noticed Yarden and Myor was missing. Surely they could turn the spy out.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">On the left Yarden in his beast form dashed through the forest. On the other side, Myor with his flames held close to him advanced on the spy from behind. From tree to tree Myor hopped silently. In his darker form, Myor moved silently. His wings were sharp as they cut quietly through the forest. With a quiet nod, he ordered Yarden on for the attack. Yarden attacked. He moved like white lighting as he leaped out of the forest with his claws ready for battle. Yarden slashed out then dived back down into the ground. The beast was big and covered with dirt. As Yarden swung at it, small pieces of its body were tossed off to the side. Whatever it was, made a loud grunt as it reached its long arm out the grab the Yeti. As the hand closed over an empty place, Yarden dived down into the ground. His fingers became solid for a second as he dragged himself through the liquid soil. He moved slowly, he picked his way out of the ground, Yarden watched Myor drop in and slammed his solid wing into the creature. The creatures body exploded as Myor’s wing made contact with its body. As mud it laid there on the ground after the attack. As Niro and Hoddie rode up. Its started to bubble and get hard as it pulled itself back together to attack.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What is this thing?” Hoddie yelled as he jumped from Sima’s back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“It's another one of Bram’ elemental things.” Rowyn said as she darted up and blasted the thing with her stinger. “We have to destroy it fast or it will pull pieces of the ground into itself.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Niro rode up, he jumped from the saddle and pulled his hammer from his side and hit the thing blowing it to pieces that rained down all over the area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Is that it?” Hoddie asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“We’re not that lucky.” Niro said as the mud thing started to pull itself back together. “Blast it with cold.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yarden leaped out of the ground and blew a blast of frigid air at the mud monster. As it grew, the muddy dirt in the creature started to freeze. Icicles form all over the monster. It moved slower and slower still pulling chunks of frozen ground into itself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“NOW!” Niro shouted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As white hot flames blew out from Myor, Niro spun his hammer in the air than struck the </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Monster a mighty blow that blew it into dust that full all over the forest. Shaking the dirt and ice out of hair,Yarden shifted back to his human form and picked mud off his coat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“I think we’re getting good at this.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The spring season was on but it wasn’t easy to see. First of all the Snow cactus were in bloom. The pretty white flowers were budding from the tops of the thorny plants. That means the harvest season was on. Snow cactus were very important to the Torcians. It was the main ingredient needed for making the numbing salve used in all surgical procedures. It was important to put patients to sleep, but without the salve every cut the.surgeons would make would be agony. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Torcin had fields of cactus to harvest. It would take the whole season to gather what they would need to satisfy what they would sell as a pain reliever. Snow cacti only grew in one place, that was what made Torcin so important to the south. The country's main export item was the production of numb salve and message stones and the training of the people’s healers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Zander March made his way out of Torcin’s main gate of Torcin, he called for Torchy to meet him at the sledyard where he would be saddled or fitted for his harness. He heard Torchy’s mental call. The had been together since the day the Snowdoy was born. Snowdogs are extremely loyal to their Human partners. They are presented at born to a partner then bonded for life. In fact there was only one case known where a Snowdog abandoned his partner. But that was special and the Snowdogs were abused by their partner and attached to a dragon who from then on raised them with loyalty.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Zander had a busy day planned. He worked all day in the Snow cactus fields picking cactus blades. Now he was on his way to the lab to start this years salve brewing.Today he measured out the cactus and the oils to be mixed. This was the hard part. If he got the measurements wrong, he could be stuck with a mixture he couldn’t use. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Zander stepped from the path to the gate, he headed into the kennel. Snowdogs lay all around him in separate stalls. Touchy had two stalls in the front where Zander could get in and out in a hurry. He never knew how his day was gonna until he got the salve brewing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From the gate to the kennel, Zander said good morning to Penna, Touchy’s kennel mate.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[Aiya Pretty one.] Zander sent. [I hope your morning is good.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[Good day Zan.] Penna sent as she moved over to let him scratch her bark [No pups yet. Touchy is nervous. Eager is he to have pups.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[Not as eager as I am.] Zander sent. [I love Snow pups.] </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Penna didn’t understand. Everyone loves her pups. He would get many favors when he passed them out. Zander chuckled at her curious mood, he loved explaining things to her. Her curiosity always made him laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As he passed her stall, Touchy’s empty stall came into view. In the corner of the stall, Zander found Touchy’ collar. It must be to tight because he kept taking it off.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[No like collar.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Zander turned as Touchy came trotting into the stall. His tail wagged as he licked at his face. Zander put his arms around his Snowdogs neck and sent feelings of affection to him. Touchy bared his throat to his partner. Zander knew the Snowdog loved him and would always be there. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Zander rubbed Touchy’s back, he felt a strange notion go through the Snowdogs mind. This had never happened before. He could tell the Snowdog things but Touchy had never even tried anything like this before. It must be important he thought if Touchy wanted him to see it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Zander took the saddle off the stall wall and put it on Touchy’s back. The Snowdog sent a picture to picture to Zander’s mind.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[OK. show me.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Grabbing the saddle horn, Zander pulled himself up into the seat. With a mental push he had the Snowdog take him out into the frozen tundra. With blowing in his scarf wrapped face, Zander asked Touchy where they were gonna. Again he got the same picture in his mind. That meant Touchy didn’t know how to explain. He got that whatever it was, there was magic there.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“That will have to do.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Zander sat back and let Touchy take him wherever he wanted. They passed the frozen lake of C’larriss Zander started to feel the magic. It was like a constant buzz that went threw his mind getting stronger and stronger, After the forest, Touchy ran out into the Snow cactus fields. For a quick second, Zander looked back and saw a trio of Snowmen run out onto the Snow Cactus field after them. Turning back, Zander sent the picture of the Snowmen to Touchy to warn him of the danger. With a grunt, Touchy bore down picking up speed. Behind them, one of the snowmen grabbed a mound of snow and launched it at them. Dashing to the left, Touchy started a zig zag pattern across the field of special plants. As the snowball flew at them, Zander pulled a blaststone from his coat and took off a shot over his shoulder. The shot sped out through the cold air with perfect aim and hit the snowball dead center. It blew up and rained snow down on the field. As Touchy jumped off the cactus field, he dropped down near a cave. Suddenly Zanders ears started to ring. He looked at the cave and realized this was where Touchy had been trying to take him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[Stay.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Zander jumped from Touchy’s back and ran into the cave. There was something here that Touchy thought he should see. Zander didn’t know how much time he had, so he ran in hoping whatever it was, he would have no problem finding it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The cave was dark and cold. Zander could hear the screeching of bat coming from deep in the back. Zander couldn’t see very much in the cave, but he had something with him that would provide all the light he would need. In his inner breast pocket, Zander had something the northern Dwarves made that would be very important to his search. Taking off his gloves, he reached in and took a clear crystal stone out of his pocket. Cupping the blaststone in the warmth of his hand, Zander activated the stone and light flared out to cover everything within a few feet of Zander.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As he started out on his search, there was an invisible flash of light just a step ahead of where Zander was standing. Invisible to him, Aramis, the god of life popped in to walk in front of Zander. Aramis smiled as he turned and said something to the medic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“There is something I need for you to do for me.” Aramis said. “Something I want you to give to a friend.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As the sun rose over the eastern mountains, Quyyn slipped out from the clouds heading for Torcin in the Kensi glacier. Ranjer and Quyyn were here looking for the last two rings from Bram Thorne’s collection. Bram’s collection wasn’t exactly right. These two rings had never really been in the warlocks collection.They were all made by the same warlock, but these rings had been hidden so no one ever had the chance to use them. These rings were made for Vitale and his wife. Muerte. They were very special rings meant to give the gods more power over their subjects than they were meant to have. Vitale thought the rings should be destroyed and never used, but it wasn’t possible to destroy them. Vitale had tried for years, but he never could destroy them. Instead he was going to hide them somewhere they would never be found.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">First he hid them somewhere deep under the ocean. But they were found by a Mer and brought to the surface. Vitale got his ring back, the problem was, so did Muerte. She got her ring and used it before Vitale could get it from her. Now, there are places on Keanna that would never be able to support life again, but that was Muerte’s crime, and he would always feel guilty about that. Vitale found the rings again. This time he put them somewhere that no mortal would ever be able to find. The bottom of the ocean would not do. But there was somewhere he could put them to be safe.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Quyyn dropped down out of the sky, he felt a familiar call ringing out in his mind. It was Tug, the lead dog in the Torcin kennel. He sensed Quyyn coming north and was eager to meet a brother of the dragon Alpha. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Quyyn circled the kennel, Tug came out to stand in front to greet him when they came down to land. It only took a few minutes for Quyyn to land. Once he did, Ranjer came down off his back and waved as Quyyn made his shift.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tug sat patient as the two came walking out to the kennel. They’re smell was the same and he hadn’t smelled them in a few years.He hadn’t seen the two Keannians since he had returned home to lead the pack. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Anxious, Tug kneeled than pawed at the ground happy to see his friends. As they came over, Tug gave off a short bark sat back and stumped in greeting. Quyyn rubbed his head and neck.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Aiya.” Quyyn smiled as Tug hopped in recognition. “It's good to see you again.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tug huffed than licked his hand. They were here to see Xander Corden, the governor of Torcin.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tug recognized that mental picture and turned in to lead them into the city.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From the city gates, Tug pawed at the Snowdog key to the city. The gate recognized his print and opened gate. The outer hall was well lite and warm. Quyyn and Ranjer hopped out of their travelling coats and hung them on the spacious rack that lined the wall by the entrance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[Xander.] sent with a picture of the young governor. Tug nodded and led them into the city.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The outer halls on Torcin were lined with pictures of the governors in the past from Xander and his brother Drew to Janos Roja, Smith Harper and Lakor Medgar governor’s from the past. As they came out of the tunnel at the main gate, Quyyn was surprised at all the new editions of the city. The market distract was huge now. Many had gave their support for the building. They not only granted their support, but they gave their time for all the building. There were at least eight blocks added to the market distract and four to the citizen caverns. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Tug led them in, Xander came out of his office to greet them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Aiya.” Xander said as he hugged them. “I see Tug has taken you on a tour of the new stuff. I’ll bet he didn’t show you the new kennels or the new pups.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They all looked over to the embarrassed Snowdog. He didn’t understand what made the kennels important enough that they should be shown. Snowdogs didn’t have pride, but they did know the differences of one dog to the next.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What brings you here?” Xander asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“There is something here we have to retrieve,” Ranjer said. “It's very important.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“And you don’t want to discuss it with us?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“No.” Quyyn said as they walked through the market distract. “We have no problem with telling you anything you want to know.Last time Uncle Jayce was here, he was looking for a Dragon talisman. What we’re looking for is much older and incredibly more powerful. I’m not sure if you even know it’s here. It’s called the Ring of Life and Death. It's one of Bram Thorne’s elemental rings.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">At the mention of Bram Thorne, Xander’s eyes opened in shock.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“You know it?” Ranjer asked. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“We never heard of the rings, but we do know Bram Thorne.” Xander said. “He has been up here not that long ago.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Something bad happened?” Quyyn said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Yeah.” Xander said with a terrible look. “He came up here looking for something and killed a whole tribe of Kensi. We only found out when three Kensi came to our city really badly injured. We took them in and went back to investigate what they told us. The tribe was a city of Yetians in Mada Mountains. The warlock destroyed the whole cavern they lived and killed the entire tribe. Only a female and two of her children survived.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Were they named Pek?” Ranjer asked with crossed fingers. He knew the answer before Xander could answer. It had to be Yarden’s family.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Why yes it is.” Xander said with questing eyes. How could they possibly know that?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Two of our friends are from up here.” Quyyn said. “We’ve heard this story already. A Yetians and a Phoenix. I’m glad Yarden’s family is safe. He will be relieved to hear the news.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“They have been cared for.” Xander said. “But what of the rings?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Bram got one ring.” Xander said. “I’m sure he had no idea there were more than one ring. Do you know where to find it?” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“No.” Quyyn told them. “All I know is that it will find us.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They stopped at a bench and table next to a food vendor. The smells here were incredible. They could smell fresh Dera roasting with vegetables and some kind of biscuit. Ranjer just remembered that he hadn’t eaten since yesterday. But would Torcin have where he ate?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Xander looked up at Ranjer and saw how he was looking at the vendor. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Hold on a minute.” He said as he turned and walked over to the vendor. Xander talked with him for a few minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What’s going on?” Quyyn asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“No idea.” Ranjer said.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A later minute later Xander came back and took a seat at the picnic table with utensils rolled in napkins. Xander passed out the rolled flatware.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What’s this for?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“You eat with them.” Xander said. “We call them forks and spoons.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ranjer looked at him as if he was joking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Its to eat with.” Xander got up and went to the vendor and came back with a tray of drinks and passed them out. As he sat back down, Ranjer tapped his arm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“How did you know?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“The Dera.” He said. “Misko is one of the best cooks in Torcin. His dera is known from here all the way down into Afee. “Your hungry. I could tell that just with a look. Dinner will here in a minute.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As dinner was served, Zander and Touchy arrived back at the kennels. Zander was tired. He had been in the caves searching in the cave for hours.Zander thought he had been in the caves for hours. He had wondered back and forth through what looked to him to be an endless maze.Everytime he thought he was lost, he would pass something that told his exactly where he was. These caves had to have been in three floors. There was fresh water and mushrooms that were delicious. At one point he thought he was exhausted. He laid down and thought he had a nap, but when he finally left the cave, Touchy told him it had only been a few minutes. How that was possible, Zander had no idea, but since he still had to brew the potion, he was glad,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">After what felt to Zander like four hours, he found himself in a huge cavern that had a pool of ice water with a clear waterfall. Zander sat down and cooled himself off. He dipped his hands in the water and came up with the sweetest water he had ever drank. It made him feel completely rested. Like he could go on here for another six hours if he had to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As he walked around the cavern something twinkled under the waterfall. He almost didn’t see it through all the light and gold pieces that sparkled in the pool. Zander untied his pants and took off the gray cotton shirt he was wearing. He sat at the pools side and pulled his pants off. With his clothes neatly folded and put away from getting wet, he stepped into the water and dived into the pool. At first he thought the water was cold. It was when he was drinking it, but now it was as warm as his body heat. Comfortable, Zander swam out to the middle of the pool and dived down to the bottom. Though it should be dark, somehow the pool was lit up like a beach cove. There was coral in many different shapes. Seaweed and water plants hung out like plants and vegetation on the grounds and in the forest. There were clownfish and angelfish swimming beside him. Zander smiled as a three foot rainbowfish swam past him. Fish weren’t the only things in the water. There were turtles and clams and shrimp here too. As he floated around in the pool, Zander saw a small shark swim past him. The pool was amazing. It had to have channels that ran down under the ice and out to the ocean. But how was it being warmed? It had to be some kind of magic.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Looking around, Zander saw what at first he thought were small bright fish swimming all through the pool. But now that he was in the water he recognized the gold and silver chunks spread all through the pool. There must be a fortune in treasure here. As he looked around, Zander saw a flash of color coming from under the waterfall. He wondered what it was. Swimming up, Zander broke the surface, took a few deep breaths and dived down again. The falls were just a few feet ahead of him. Zander swam under the water until he was right under the falls. Looking around he saw the purple flash again. As he pushed himself up onto a shelf under the falls, Zander saw it, the purple thing. It wasn’t a fish or a colorful stone, it was the gem of a ring. He reached out and picked it up. As soon as he touched it, he could feel its magic. It was very powerful and it was old. Zander had no idea how old. Maybe he wasn’t supposed to know. It wasn’t here for him. He knew that right away. He was supposed to pass it on to someone. And that was just what he would do.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Up here in the north the days run long, almost 96 hours long. The people of Torcin kept busy doing repairs, setting traps and taking care of the Snowdogs. Doing repairs was necessary, that's just the way it was up here. Snowdogs were needed up here. They did search parties, delivered anything that came up there by dragon or boat. They were used to hunt and for any and all travelling. The last thing on that list was trapping. Traps were used to get fur That means food and clothing. Everyone up here has one fur coat or two. There are a few ways to get fur. You could hunt for it. But that takes time. One could use Snowdog fur. And if your not squeamish, there's Snowmen. Though its best, it's not easy to shave Snowmen, or kill them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Once Zander met his contact, he got the info and Tug swept them all away. With the ring concealed in his pocket went out to the main gate. There he helped bring in a herd of dera. Once that was done he heard the call of a dragon he rushed over to see who it was.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Zandar stepped out of the gate, a blast of fire shot out from somewhere and almost burned his eyes out. Zandar knew now it would be better if he knew who was out there before he dived in. Standing to the side, Zandar opened his mind it see if he knew was here fighting. With his mind opened, Zander sent a probe out to see what was going on. Like a burning arrow, Zandar’s probe shot out from the wall he was using as a shield.There was a burning man out there firing lightning bolts at anything that moved. The other combatant shot firebolts at him and the bright man. They were both tall, one had a flaming halo over his head while the other had a nest of lightning showing over his shoulder. As Heatwave lay there in the fire he saw visions shot in and out of the flames. Fire pixies danced in flames while fireflies stole bits and pieces of Heatwaves magic. Though he was not awake, Heatwaves directed the flame. They burned higher and higher forcing the elemental to back away. Lightning had no power over the heat. Energy tried but the flames never lost much heat. What it did was turned the hot flames into cold blue heat. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Quyyn launched himself high in the flames, cool heat danced all over his body. Quyyn had done this once before while his father directed his flames into a long straight beam of frigid energy. Quyyn didn’t understand. His father was a red dragon. A heat dragon. How did Quyyn end up with bold energy? Could it have something to do with his mate, Sky? Sky was a Snow Phoenix. Could that have influenced his magic? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Drygyn blasted the elementals, Ranger spun his own spell.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“From dark to light and back again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From weak to strong with pain again,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I triple the power of Drygyn’s cold.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To make him strong and fast again.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As Drygyn’s cold shot out at the flaming creature, Flame focussed his magic into a web of fire. The flame in the cold heat reached out and touched Quyyn’s magic. He shot blast after blast at Damir, but it didn’t seem to matter to Damir. He looked as if he were at home in the cold. Maybe that’s it. Maybe he should switch up and use heat. In Drygyn’s brain a switch closed and his cold energy closed. Drygyn took a deep breath and fired. Flamed shot with such power that Quyyn was almost knocked over. As his shock faded away, intense with hot heat blated out at </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Damir. With a terrible scream of pain, The elementals shot up into the sky and vanished. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What just happened?” Quyyn asked. They were gone. All that was left was a scorched spot in the grass.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“What did you do?” Ranjer asked. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Me? I didn’t do anything. It was your spell that did all this.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ranjer had to admit it probably was his magic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“We should get back.” Ranjer said. “We need someone with a better understanding of my magic to solve this one.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You mean my Father?” Ranjer looked at him as if he was crazy. “OK, Get the ring and let’s go</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">””</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">DO TO FACT THAT BLOGGER IS NOT POSTING CORRECTLY. ALL MY STORIES WILL FIND A NEW HOME. ONCE I FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT WILL , I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">THANKS FOR BEING HERE FOR ALL THE YEARS.
JANDAR TYR</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-70382345751545222542019-09-16T12:00:00.000-04:002019-10-19T17:37:53.799-04:00For Life and Death, 20<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">As the sun dropped down in the west, Bram Thorne sat fidgeting in the old emperors throne. Though the voices were giving him peace right now, he knew it wouldn't last for long. They would be back to torment him soon enough. The constant babel and nagging would one day drive him crazy, but that's one of the prices he would have to pay for being the most powerful warlock in Taggitia.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[What makes you think you are one of the most powerful warlocks here in Taggitia?] A voice said.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Because I am.] Bram answered with pride. [If there was someone out there more powerful than me, they would come here to call me out.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">For a second there was total silence, Bram thought it was because they agreed with him, Then all the voices started laughing at him. They laughed so hard, Bram jumped up out the throne and fell on the floor. He lay there with his hands covering his ears, but he knew that wouldn't stop the laughing. Nothing could stop them, As long as he kept the rings, the voices would be there to torment him. Bram had fought and argued with the voices for years, but he still had no idea how to shut them out of his mind.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Once he thought, maybe if he couldn't hear the voice would fade away. Bram pulled a dagger out of his robe. That brought on another burst of laughter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[You think we're in your ear?] A voice said. [Your not as powerful as you think. But go ahead, bust your ear drums and see what happens.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">He put the dagger back in his robe and went on with his day. The voices continued, and he hated it , but there was nothing he could do except destroy the rings and that would limit his powers. That is if the rings could be destroyed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Bram had the rings for more than twenty years. He found the first one in a cave somewhere off the coast of Taggitia. He had been searching for a place to rest when he found the bones of what he thought was a noble. The rags it was wearing looked expensive. It had three other rings on the left hand and some kind of pendant around its neck. As Bram kicked it over he saw the jewelry. Two of the rings were gold with intricate shapes that went around the outside of the rings. The third ring had a purple stone set in the silver metal work. Bram picked up the arm of the skeleton and shook the dust and sand off it. He looked closer at the rings. The ring with the purple stone was glowing, Bram inhaled with surprise as he broke off the three ring fingers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[What a find.] He thought as he took the rings off the finger bones and tossed the arm away. He looked around and found a boulder to sit on. As he sat down to rest, he gazed down at the three rings. The purple stoned ring gave off emanations of power. The other two were cold and lifeless. Bram tossed the gold rings away and slipped the ring om his finger. At first it was to big, then as he stared down at it on his finger, it resized to grip him tightly. Bram tugged and pulled at it trying to get it off. Then he heard laughter echoing through his head.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Who are you to disturb my rest?]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Bram stood up and jumped back with his set for attack. He looked around and saw there was no one here except him in the cave. He shook his head thinking he was hearing things.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[You are hearing things.] A voice said. [Me.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Who's there?" Bram ducked and powered up a spell. There was someone here and he would find them if it took all night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[No you won't.] The voice said. [You couldn't find me if I was standing on your toes.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Show yourself coward!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[I'm right here!] The voice said sounding as if it was right over his shoulder. Bram spun around and let loose his spell. A power bolt shot out from him and hit the walk off to the right..</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] The voice laughed. [And you call yourself a powerful Warlock!]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"I am a warlock!" Bram shouted. He balled his fist up. "Who are you? Come out and I'll prove it to you!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[My name is Corlis Nicosent. You couldn't beat me if my hands were tied up behind me.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Come out and i'll prove it!" Bram screamed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Very well.] Corlis said. [I'll come out and fight you. But if I win, you will wear that ring for the rest of your life.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"What If I win?" Bram asked him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Then I will be your slave forever.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Bram thought about it for a minute. He knew somewhere this was a trap. But his ego had to prove he was the stronger of the two. So he had to accept. With a nod, Bram accept the propitiation. He took a step back and looked around for his opponent. The ring flashed purple and Bram covered his eyes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">When he looked up there man standing in front of his dressed in what looked like the rage the bones wore only they were new. The warlock had jet black hair and a thin mustache. His eyes blazed with a silver glow and there was a twitch in his right eye. He was a little taller then Bram and he had to have at least one hundred pounds on Bram. His tunic was grey with some kind of mystical symbols on it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Are you ready?" He smiled with a crooked look in his face. Bram nodded his head yes. "Then have at it!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Bram reached out his hand and sent a pulse of power at the warlock. With one hand out stretched Corlis formed a shield to block the pulse,then with the other he sent a line of energy out like a whip to shrike at Bram. As he ducked the glowing whip, Bram jumped up and sent lightning bolts out at Corlis. The first one hit the ground right next to where Corlis was standing. the second one hit a foot to the left of Corlis position.The third one stuck him dead on in the chest. Before Corlis could pull himself together, Bram sent a series of small rocks at him. Like a meteor shower, the rocks rained down on Corlis. He took hits one after another crashing down on his shield. He fell down to one knee holding his shield out to keep the strikes from hitting him. With one hands holding his shield up, Corlis cast a spell that opened the ground beneath Bram. Bram smiled, the warlock just made his first big mistake. Bram was a master at using elementals. He called a boulder to rise up and catch him as he called a tidal wave of water in to drown Corlis. As Corlis swam trying to keep his head above water, Bram grabbed the warlock in a fist made of solid water. he smashed him again and again into the cave wall. Holding Corlis high above the water, Bram banished the water back to the nearest lake. Corlis choked and spit out water as he hacked for air.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Have you had enough?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Yes." Corlis said. "You win. Now you will never get the ring off your finger."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">In a flash Corlis disappeared. Bram looked for him as he tried again and again to get the ring off.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[The power of the ring is yours to command.] Corlis laughed at him. [But your trapped with me for the rest of your life.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"As my slave." Bram said with a grin. He was proud of this win. "You have to do what I want."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"No." Corlis said. "I don't have to do anything you say. But I will torment you forever. You will never get me to shut up."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Bram damned him again and again, but it didn't help. He's been babbling since the day he found the ring. Bram didn't care, but he did want some privacy in his head, and one day he will quiet the voices</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Want to make a bet on that?] Corlis said sounding mischievous. [I'll give you good oods.] </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Go away.] Bram moaned.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Poor baby wants to be alone.] Corlis mucked him in a baby voice. As Bram stepped away from his throne, a baby bottle appeared in his hand. [Want me to change your diappy?]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"I said SHUT UP!!!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Corlis and a few others burst out in laughter. Bram stormed out of the throne room and headed down through the palace. He had four of his rings, but that left six rings out there somewhere and he meant to find them. He took the staircase down heading to the door in the side of the stair case. he reached for the handle and gave it a tug. Locked. That was not a problem. He reached for the door handle, this time he mumbled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Acesseo." The door lock popped open and Bram went in and started on his way down into the lower levels of the castle. As Bram walked down the staircase he heard something. A roar. The roar was deep like a Lion or some kind of big cat. Just to be careful, Bram sent out a probe for anything he could run into down there. The smell down there was pretty bad. All the urine and feces that had built up over the years, the body odors and those that died here. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">As Bram moved down taking slow steps, he thought about the last time he had been down here. It was three years before he found the eighth ring. The Emperor had sent a league of his guards out into the city to find him. Bram had just returned from out west. He was looking for one of the last two rings, either the ring of life or death. These were two of the most powerful rings. The rings of life and death was forged by his brother Tenol the god of war and presented to Aramis some time before Muerte was exiled to the underworld. By then her hate had driven her crazy. All she wanted was to give the world her gift of death. Once the world was dead, she would take the Underworld from Lord Nestor and rule over the dead forever. The ring was meant to counter her madness. But Aramis found a way to defeat her with the help of Angela and the ring was never used. Instead. Aramis hid them somewhere he thought no one would ever find them. But he was wrong, there would come a day when the rings would be needed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"> The day was warm and it felt cool as Quyyn with Ranjer on his back rode the currents north to begin their search. In Quyyn's head there was a map that world lead them to a high peak north of Torcin. His uncle Aramis came to him and offered his help. He promised to lead Quyyn and Ranjer to the place where they would find the lost rings. They had no idea where they would be going, but they had absolute thrust in Uncle. He would never lead them to a place of danger. That is if he could help it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">They flew a straight course north pass Torcin then they turned west towards the home of the Myor the Phoenix and the Yetisans..Ranjer held onto Quyyn tightly, It seems he was afraid of heights. Quyyn couldn't believe that. He had seen Ranjer flying was with Jandar, Rage and a few others. So why is he so afraid now?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Cousin, what's wrong?] He asked. [This is not the first time your flying. I know that.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[I don't know how.] Ranjer said. [but there is something out there watching us.] </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Where?] Quyyn said as he gazed all around them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[What or whoever it isn't here physically.] Ranjer looked out at the clouds with glowing eyes. [It's one of my talents. I can always feel it when I'm being probed. I can block it if you want.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Can you tell who it is?] </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Ranjer closed his eyes a let his mind feel the probe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[It's not a friend.] Ranjer said. [The mind is to cluttered. It's like a hundred people screaming at once.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Its Bram Thorne,] Quyyn said. [Can you tell where he is? Does he know where we are going?]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[I don't think so, but he might figure it out. He's close. I can almost feel his breath on my neck. What do we do?]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[We go on.] Quyyn said. [We have to beat Bram there, then if he wants the rings, he'll have to take it from us.]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Up ahead, Ranjer saw a mountain. It was really tall making others around look like bumps on the horizon. Quyyn hadn't told Ranjer where they were going. He just asked Ranjer saying they were going north. Yarden asked if he could join them saying he wanted to check and see if any of his family survived Bram's attack. Watching from the side, Ranjer shook his head then sent a message out to Quyyn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">[Tell him we're not going anywhere close to Mada.] Ranjer sent. [Time is important, We have to get back before Bram's attacks.] </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Quyyn explained that they will have to keep a close look out for Bram or anyone that might be out here under his orders. Between his crew and Bram the rings are all counted. With only the rings of life and death still missing. Yarden, understood why he couldn't go, but that didn't mean he liked it. Ranjer packed a tent, some rations and his sword. Now he was ready to go.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Where should we meet you?" Bly asked.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"We still don't know what happened to Jemeld." Ranjer said.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"You may not know," Bly said. "But I know. that bastard killed her and I will prove it."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"That's right Bly, we don't have enough to prove he did it." Quyyn said directing his comment to Bly. "We have to prove she died by his hand, or this could turn into a war. We can't let that happen."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Then what do we do?" Rowyn asked.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"We find someone that can prove she's dead" Hoodie said. "We need Elves. Royal elves."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"The closest is royal elves are in Eventide." Niro said. "We my find someone up there that can help us."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Be careful." Ranjer said. "Elves don't like people who trespass on their land. We'll meet you in Eventide." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">As Aron stepped out of his suite, alarms were ringing out all through the Eventine tree palace. Guards were running all through the tree making their way to their battle station. Aron stopped a guard and asked him what the problem was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Someone broke out of the dungeon." He said and ran off. Someone broke out? That has to be Caius. Aron ran on down the hall to closest shift that went down to the dungeons. He stepped in and told it where he wanted to go. The door mechanism flashed and Aron was off. The Tree shifts in Eventide were unique. Magical they went to all the different shafts of each of the cities trees. Not only did they move up and down, it moved side to side taking you wherever you want in the tree.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Aron told the tree he needed to be in the dungeon. The tree flash as it moved by connection point in the tree. As the dungeon was a last stop. when it got there it flashed two times then stopped. Aron stepped out of the treevator and found he was standing at the main entrance station to Eventide's dungeon . As he stepped in, lights flashed and the siren blared out loudly. In front of him was the guard station where seven dead guards and two wounded elfs with stun staff pointed at him called for him to stop and be recognized. With his hands up he looked at the seven dead bodies. As a prince of the house he has to find a way to stop this before he killed anyone else. As he was scanned by one guard he was recognized as a son of Eventide. The guards stepped back but they kept their weapons held ready to be fired.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Who's in charge down here?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"I am." A guard with a star on each shoulder. "I'm Capt Ajjar. what can I do for you?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Nothing Captain. It's what I can do for you."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Captain Ajjar tilted his head not really understanding what he was talking about. Then just as he was about to speak, Caius stepped out holding a knife to Ajjars neck. "</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Nobody move." Caius tightened his grip on the knife. "You are a prince of these land's am I right?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Yes." Aron said. "Let him go and I will take you anywhere you want."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"You mean that?" Caius gave him a devious smile. "On your honor?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Yes. " Aron said through gritted teeth. This was the only thing he could do to stop Caius from killing anyone else. Caius pushed the captain away from and ordered Aron to move over to him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"What are you going to do now?" Aron asked. "There are hundreds of warriors to pass before we're out of Eventide, and don't forget Evindal. He will do what he needs to, to get me back."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">"Then all you have to do to get your freedom is simple. Find Jemeld."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“And if I find her?” Aron asked. “Than what? You will never bother Eventide and its allies again? Do you swear at you word?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Caius thought about that for a minute. It really didn’t matter. These Elves could never be much of a threat to him. What does a few Elf colonies matter to him. He would have all of Keanna to rule. “</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Caius reached over and placed a hand on Aron’s shoulder. In a flash his twinkle went from sparks to a blazing shower of light particles. Like a dazzling torch they shot up into the sky.heading north following Aron’s lead. Aron was amazed at the power Caius was showing. He doubted there were many on Keanna with the power to rival his.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">From high over Eventide they shot north, Aron watched as the mighty forest of Eventide flashed beneath them. In minutes they were over the border and into Aesar. Aron wondered what the light elves if Aesar thought from their hazy clouds. They probably thought it was the work of the Gods. Like a shooting star they flew over Aesar and into Droth, the land of the dark elves. Aron hoped their blazing trail would scare the dark ones into their caves to hide for the next twenty years. After the last years with the Darkshade, Aron hoped they would suffer forever. From Droth, Aron told Caius to turn east. With a slight twist of his body, Caius turned east and dropped down out of the clouds. Beneath them was Lake Charlipyn. This they both knew was a land of the Mer. Though the lake was bigger than Eventide and Droth put together, there were three different Mer tribes. Living here in peace. The main and largest city was Silvryn. Silvryn was known for the pearls they harvest three times a year. The city was the home of a large tribe of Corral Elves. Brothers to the Corral Elves of Dree. The pearls of Silvryn were famous all over Keanna and known to bring luck to anyone that owned them legitimately. In other words, if you bought or was presented with a string of pearls, they would bring luck. But if you stole them, your luck would be disastrous, and the only way to break the curse is to be forgiven by a royal from the house of Silvryn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">High over Silvryn, Aron pointed down to a small island in the middle of the lake, Caius looked down wondering what Aron was pointing at.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“There.” Aron said. “Do you see the island below us? That’s where we are going.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">The island was serine with willows and palm trees. There were sunflowers and lilies and blue white and yellow roses growing all through the island. It was beautiful Aron thought. The perfect to rest. Caius circled his way down to land somewhere he saw there was a clearing. As they came down to land, Aron watched Caius. He had no idea how he would react to a place like this. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Caius looked all around him. What was this place? He had never seen anything like this before. There were flowers of all colors. This place was almost unbelievable. The greenery, the brook, and the animals made it look like a home for the Gods.He knew he couldn’t do anything to corrupt this place. For a minute, Caius stayed quiet. He felt that the sound of his voice could somehow make this place dirty. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Why are we here?” Caius asked in a low voiced..</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“You wanted to find Jemeld Thorne.” Aron said boldly. “She is here.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Where?” Caius side. “I see nothing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“She is here.” Aron smiled. ‘Open your heart. Can’t you feel her?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Caius walked around the meadow walking carefully to make sure he didn't disturb a single blade of grass. Yes, he did believe him. She was here.He could feel her presence all around him in the air and the field.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“She’s dead.” Caius said sadly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Yes.” Aron said. “He killed her thinking she was just another voice.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“But I am here to find her and bring he back.” Caius looked up at Aron. “How am I to do that?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">‘Aron looked around, than he bent over and picked up a small stone.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Bring this to him.” Aron reached out to hand him the stone. “Give it to him, he will understand.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“But will that please him, or drive him further down into his delusions?” Caius took the stone. He knew he couldn’t give it to Bram. It would destroy his fragile sense of reality. He would have to find another way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Yes.” Aron said nodding. “”You have the answer. Will you keep your word?” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“Your free and I won’t bother anyone in your Elven lands.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“That’s a wise choice.” Aron said as he stepped away from Caius. “I would rather you go to war with you.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“But what if you did?” Caius said smiling deviously. “I know you are a Warlock Do you think you can beat me?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“I’m sure of it.” Aron spun around and vanished in a flash of light.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">“We shall see.” Snapped his fingers and shot into the air leaving nothing but a sparkling</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"> trail.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-36456929830325010832019-06-19T10:15:00.001-04:002019-09-22T15:06:11.554-04:00The Search. 19As Caius stood outside Sorrowdown's main gate, he turned and looked back at what was left of the Paratus empire capital. Bram Thorn had filled his body with Elemental energy. His only question now was, what next? How was he to find Jameld Thorn? The first place he should look is Ammath. As a princess, her father would feel responsible to keep the crazy Warlock away from her. But would he hide her in Ammath? Probably not. Then where else might he hide her? Probably somewhere in Fay Shrea. The Queen's castle.<br />
With a destination in mind, Caius whistled and his horse came trotting out to him. As he reached for the reins, it neighed and bucked trying to get away from him. He pulled it close to calm it down then jumped up into the saddle. The horse screamed as his hot legs came in contact with its body and set it on fire. As the horse bucked, Caius was thrown up out of the saddle and into the air. Like a flaming arrow, Caius shot up into the sky. Thinking he could somehow slow his fall, he spread his arm and changed the direction of his flight. He turned up, then sailed left then right and circled the city. As Caius stated up at the sun, he couldn't believe he was flying. Maybe the deal he made with Bram wasn't as bad as he thought. If somehow he could keep the powers Bram had given him, he would have to find a way to kill the crazy bastard. Caius turned east and headed out to Fay Shrea. The eastern course he was flying would take him to pass Ammath and over Eventide. From there he would turn a little south and drop down to look for the floral cities and gardens of fairyland.<br />
As he passed Aesar and Ganymede, Caius thought about what he knew about the Ammath. He didn't know much about Ammath except that it was a very old country. Its history went out beyond a thousand years as one of the oldest of the Fae. As Faire, the Ammath was about five inches tall with the strength of a fully grown human. They had an electrostatic sting powerful enough to overcome a full sized bull.<br />
Aesar looked as normal as ever. In Aesar, Elves went about their day like it was just another day. In the palace of the high lord, it was time for the guards to change there post. Caius watched as the filed out and made their way all around the palace. As he flew on, the lakeside border of Ganymede appeared below him. Ganymede was the home of a species of Coral Elves. They were distant cousins to Dree and Aquilona. Ganymede's lake had a fifteen mile tunnel that connected Lake Gany to the Shyr Ocean. One had to be a true Prince or General to navigate the twists and turns of the Agis Tunnel.<br />
From the air, Caius could see the homes and market place of the city. It looked undamaged, citizens made their way about their daily chores from farming to ranching. As Caius got closer to the border, things changed. Farms and small ranches were burned and devastated. This had to be the work of Bram and his mad vengeance.<br />
Like an arrow he shot himself out over the devastated land. From what he saw, every tree, all the vegetation had been ripped up out of the ground. No Fairy could possibly still live here, and if they did, they would be to weak to even stand. Jameld can't be here. Then where do I go next? Caius had no idea where to go. There had to be someone out there the Sharpwing's were close to<br />
"Where do I look next you crazy Bastard!!!" Caius screamed. You destroyed Ammath. Where could she be?]<br />
[You watch your mouth.] Bram answered. [Go to Eventide.]<br />
[My thanks Master Thorn.] Caius sent as he locked him mind an shut the warlock out.<br />
[Your words are no comfort to me.] Thorn sent to him. [Just get in and get her out.]<br />
With a nod Caius turned was toward Eventide.<br />
<br />
With no idea where to head next, Myor, Quynn, Ranjer, Bly and Rowyn sat in a comfortable pentagon deep in concentration. They're purpose was to find Bram's rings. Leda Redhelm was dead, that meant Bram had one more ring. It also meant he had somewhere between four to six rings and there wasn't much time to mess around. Once he had eight rings he would be almost unstoppable, he would attack. With our count at five, we had to find the next ring to keep him from gaining the advantage.<br />
With his eyes closed, Quyyn was deep in concentration. He had more on his mind than the rings. Where was his parents? Had Bram captured them? Where they in trouble? He didn't know and he had to admit, it was hard keeping him mind on Bram when there was so much at home to worry about. With Bram back on his mind, Quyyn sank himself back into the search. Suddenly there was a voice.<br />
[Quynn.]<br />
[Yes?] He answered the familiar call. [Uncle? Is that you?]<br />
[Yes.] Aramis answered. [I am here to do you a favor. I can help with your search.]<br />
[How Uncle?] He asked.<br />
[The rings you are searching for are the rings of Life and Death. I will show you where my ring is and Angela will show you how to find hers.]<br />
[Thank you Uncle.]<br />
[Don't thank me yet.] Aramis sent. [This won't be easy. There will be two tasks to accomplish before you get the rings. You will have to be brave and intelligent to gain possession of the rings.]<br />
[We will do our best.] Quyyn said with a smile.<br />
[We are counting on you.]<br />
At that moment, Quyyn smiles as he opened his eyes.<br />
"I know where the rings are."<br />
<br />
Like a Phoenix, Cauis burning his way across the sky. He streaked south from Aesar toward Eventide. Caius didn't know much about Eventide except that the people were High Forest Elves. They lived in great tree cities and worshiped Alee and the great mother Rhea. He also knew the Eventide's were close to the Dragons. How, he wasn't sure but there were many stories told about how the Dragons were the protectors of the Elven nation. That meant going into Eventide using force wouldn't be a good idea<br />
As Caius rode the heat thermals south, he noticed how the trees had gone from regular tall trees to giants. The forest here looked magnificent. There were fields of colorful flowers and trees that stood hundreds of feet tall with sparkling lights that ran all through the them. Caius looked down. He was amazed at how sharp his vision had become. He could see Elves moving all through the trees. They pruned away dead branches for fire wood, they watered and picked fruit for their tables.<br />
As he watched, a line of Elves came out of a entrance high in a tree. They carried picks and saws and tools that looked to be used in construction. Most of them wore green, except the leader who wore brown. Caius dropped down to land on a branch not far from where they were going. The second they saw him, they stopped and gathered together to talk. They were all tall, a little over six feet with helmets that covered long white hair. All their ears were pointed and their eyes looked exotic. As Caius approached, the one dressed in brown stepped out to confront him.<br />
"Aiya Stranger." He said as he bowed but never took his eyes off of Cauis. They obviously didn't trust him. Caius saw weapons come out as he got nearer. He held out his hands trying not to look dangerous. "Who are you?"<br />
"My name is Cauis Pius." Caius said as he bowed. "I'm here searching for a friend."<br />
"You are trespassing." The brown garbed Elf said. "I don't know how you got here but you are in violation of all our laws. If you are here looking for any answers, you should have crossed the border, then requested an audience with our king. King Evindal is fair, he would have listened and tried to help you."<br />
"But I've betrayed your trust." Cauis said. "Take me to your king. I will ask my questions. If he answers, I will be grateful. If he decides I am to be punished, I will bow to his decision."<br />
"My name is Tasar Sharian." The Elf said as they gathered around Cauis. "If you speak the truth. There my still be a chance."<br />
Surrounded by the Elven workers, Cauis followed them though the tree city. Using private branches, they moved down then above the crowded branches through the city. Elven citizen watched them as they moved heading for the largest tree in the center of the city. As they approached the royal tree's front gate, Tasar walked ahead to talk with the palace guards. The guards looked over to Caius with a suspicious look. More Elves that don't trust him. That's pretty smart Caius thought, since usually he wasn't very trustworthy. Under different conditions, Caius would have come in blasting everything in his way. But not today. War with the Dragons wouldn't get him what he was after.<br />
When Tasar was finished talking with the guards, one guard went into the palace while Tasar and the other guards came walking back to them.<br />
"A message explaining what has happened is on the way into the Palace." Tasar said. "Meanwhile unfortunately, your under arrest. Please come quietly, we don't want to have to fight you."<br />
As the guards all pulled their weapons, Caius hand came up and started to glow. If he fought them now, he wasn't sure if he would even make it out of Eventide alive. He had his Elemental powers but there were six guards there to fight. He could kill a few, but there was still a chance they might get a spear in his back before he could get to them all. Live today to fight tomorrow. Caius let go of the power building through his system. He would trust in the king to be fair, he could always free himself later in the night if he has to. Caius raised his hands and let them take him into custody.<br />
"I hope you plan to feed me." Caius said as they turned him around and marched him away. "I'm starving."<br />
<br />
As Aron jumped up in bed, he screamed out in terror. There was someone here in Eventide with evil on they're mind. He wiped the sweat from his brow and leaped from the bed heading for the door. As he turned the knob he looked down at his naked body. Aron turned around and went for his clothes in the bureau next to the bed. Elan might like to see him running around naked, but he was pretty sure his brother Evindal, the king wouldn't care to see it.<br />
Dressed in a dark green tunic and black leggings, Aron headed out of the bedroom suite. From their bedroom, Aron headed down to the dining hall to see who was up at this hour. As he walked through the halls, he saw a few of the guards doing their rounds keeping the family safe. Other then the king and queen, Adanar and Emrel was home. Seven and Jake were at home in the Dragon city. Elan was back in Darkshade finishing their move to Eventide. Most of the Darkshade citizens had chosen to make the move with them. The only one still in Darkshade was Hasmera, Liat's prophetess mother and a few of the old house staff. Though she was instrumental in the fall of Darkshade, she refused to leave saying she would die here in her home.<br />
As Aron entered the dining hall, he saw Evindal sitting at the head of the table surrounded by books, paper scrolls and two of his advisers. One Elven and the other a Dwarf. When he looked up, he smiled and called his youngest brother over to join them.<br />
"Man erin gwanur." Evindal said. "Are you hungry? We have fresh klah and aes rolls that are just out of the oven."<br />
"Thank cin." Aron took a plate and went to the serving station and took two rolls. He poured himself a hot cup of klah and went and sat down.<br />
"So how is the building going?" Evindal asked. "We have a lot of people to place her in the city. will there be enough space?"<br />
"Yes your Majesty." Garrik Stonehelm said. "We're going to extend the city adding twenty five trees. That will be more then enough room."<br />
"Have you been out to take a look Aron?"<br />
"Yes." Aron answered. "Elan and I were out there with a few of the families so they can choose where they would live."<br />
"What did they think?"<br />
"Well, other then the heights." Aron said. "They were pretty impressed. Kel Orama asked if him and a few of Darkshades warriors could join the city guards."<br />
Aubrom Nierde exhaled what to Aron sounded like an objection. He turned to look at Aubron.<br />
"Majesty." Aubrom said. "Don't you think it would be wise to let them get more acquainted with us before we add them to our fighting force?"<br />
"No." Evindal said sternly. "I think they deserved to be a part of their no homes. We have many new warriors and bakers and builders that want to be a part of Eventide. Don't you think they deserve the right to make a living? How would you like it if it had been us that lost our homes. Wouldn't you want to get into their laws so you can practice law again?"<br />
Aubron sat there in silence. He wouldn't agree or disagree to what the King was saying. Evindal shook his head. He was sorry for what he was about to do.<br />
"Aubron Niedre, your dismissed from your service in Eventide. If you can't be fair to our new arrivals, I can use you here."<br />
"But Sire?" He stammered.<br />
"Your dismissed." Evindal stood up and walked to the call bell and rang it. In a minute, a guard came in to answer the king's call. "Take Aubron Niedre home to pack his things, then escort him out of Eventide. He can take any family that wants to go with him."<br />
"Your Majesty." Aubron pleaded. "I meant no disrespect."<br />
"What you meant was cold pig headed prejudice against our new citizens. I can't have that here. Not ever! Aiya. Take him away."<br />
As Aubron was led out of the dining hall, Aron looked to his brother.<br />
"Was that necessary?"<br />
"Yes." Evindal said. "I can't have people that think that way here in my service. I won't have our home poisoned by people like Talsara Darkshade. She was going to kill you and Elan for falling in love. Do you have any idea how heart broken I would be? I may not have known you, but I would have felt it. So would all of our family. Then I would have gone to war."<br />
Tears burned their way down out of Aron's eyes.. He had never had a real family when he was growing up. But now he had Elan and the Eventide's to love for the rest of his life He got up and hugged Evindal and cried into his shoulder.<br />
"I love you Brother."<br />
"I love you too." Evindal hugged him and squeezed him tight. Aron, what brought you down here this<br />
morning? It wasn't the klah, I know that."<br />
"I had a bad dream."<br />
"What kind of dream?" Evindal asked. Now Evindal was getting suspicious. He knew there were dreams in his family. Ryel and Zaos had them and so did Emrel and Adanar. So, yeah, he was interested to hear about his dream.<br />
"It wasn't really a dream." Aron tried to explain. "It was a feeling. There is someone here that shouldn't be. Someone that represents danger to us."<br />
"Do you know who it is?"<br />
"No" Aron said. "But it would be a stranger. That I'm sure of."<br />
Evindal dismissed Garrik then came back to sit across from Aron. He had a servant bring him a fresh cup of klah. He added sugar and cream then took a sip. That's how klah should always taste.<br />
"Would you recognize him if you saw him again?"<br />
"Yes." Aron said. He thought back to the dream. He had dark hair with a small scar over his right eye. "I'd know him if I see him again. "Then follow me."<br />
"Then follow me." Evindal picked up his klah and drank it down. He wiped his mouth then stood up an headed out of the dining hall. Once Aron caught up they headed out across a branch way to a chute that would take the down through the tree levels to a lower section four tree's out from where they had started. Aron had seen most of the levels of the royal tree, but this place he didn't recognize. There were guards posted all through the hollow tree tube that was Eventide's prison. As they entered the prison, three guards snapped to attention. Evindal called the lead Sargent to come up and present himself to his king. A middle aged Elf marched out to stand in front of the king.<br />
"Sargent Hiarr." He said as he snapped a salute to the king. "At your service."<br />
"We have a guest that was found out in the new part of the city."<br />
"Yes Sire." The Sargent answered. "We have him settled on the second tier."<br />
"Take us to him."<br />
With another salute, the Sargent turned and lead them on into the prison. Eventide prison was nothing like most prisons in Taggitia. It wasn't dark and depressing and dirty, King Tanyl had rebuilt the prison during his reign making it bright and comfortable. He had done this after serving time in Darkshade's death hold of a prison. He knew Eventide had to have a prison, but it didn't have to be a place to die.<br />
From the main guard post, they went up the circular path to the second tier where the they moved into the four rows of holding cubicles. They were cleaned and made comfortable daily. The prisoners here didn't suffer, they were kept clean well fed,<br />
As they walked into the rows of cells, Aron looked in and saw prisoners with books reading and some had tutors that were teaching them how to read and write and use numbers. Aron was impressed by what he saw. Though he had never been in a prison, he knew this was very different then the prisons in other lands.<br />
"Father reworked our prison years ago after he returned from his time in Darkshade's prison." Evindal explained. "We have one of the most peaceful prisons in Taggitia. I'll make sure it stays that way."<br />
On the last row of cells, they found what they were looking for. They stopped at a cell where the occupant sat leaning back in a lounge chair. His hands were folded across his stomach and his eyes were closed.<br />
"Is this him?" Evindal asked.<br />
"Yes Sire. He was found deep back in the new construction area. We asked how he got there, but he didn't answer."<br />
When the guard started talking, Caius opened his eyes. He looked out to see King Evindal at his door, he stood up and moved over to give the king a proper greeting.<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Good morning your majesty.” Caius bowed to the king. “My name is Caius Pius. I came here to ask the royal family for a favor.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A favor?” Evindal looked at his with a bit of suspicion.”You trespass into our land to ask for a favor? That’s not the way to gain favor in my eyes.”</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” Caius said. “I went about this all wrong. I should have came into your land and asked for an audience at your border, I wasn’t thinking when I arrived in your lands. I beg for your forgiveness.”</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is this the one you spoke of?” Evindal asked Aron in the Elven tongue. “He doesn’t seem so threatening.”..</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t be fooled by his good manners.” Aron warned his brother. “I’ve scanned him. He has more power than you would believe in that muscled body.”</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What would you suggest I do?”</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“See what he wants.” Aron suggest.</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What can we do for you?” Evindal asked as he moved closer to the cell door. He looked Caius over wondering if he had any hidden weapons.</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-df1769d8-7fff-2644-0e90-5f534dced9a3">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I came here looking for a fairy princess.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There are no fairies here.” Evindal said.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thank you for your honesty.” Caius said. “But still, you might know where I can find her.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We might.” Evindal crossed his arms waiting to hear who Caius was looking for. “Who are you looking for?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m looking for Jameld Thorn.” Caius said. “She is the wife of Bram Thorn. He wants her back home where she belongs.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Aron heard the name of the princess, his opened in shock. He who she was and where she wasn't sure the master would like the answer they gave him. Yes, Eventide knew who BramThorn was and what he had done to Taggitia, but the mad warlock might want revenge for hid dead wife. The problem with that is he's the one responsible for her death. Yes, him and his mad rings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[What is ii Aron?] Evindal sent to his brother after he caught Aron's second of distress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[Brother, I think we have a problem.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-41855803092285457732016-11-13T11:48:00.003-05:002019-10-04T16:08:38.115-04:00Mirror, Mirror on the wall. 18As the clock struck the fourteenth hour, Bram sat quietly staring down at the flaming pyre in the center of the room. It had been hours since he had returned from Valturm. He thought the dragons would be here waiting for him, but so far there was no sign of them anywhere near Sorrowdown. Where could they be? With his mystic flame, he had searched Vasagi, the home of the Vampires and the forest land of Tir Na, the Werewolf haven. With great care he had sent his probe into Winterhaven, being very careful to stay clear of the council building. Though he knew Insa wouldn't be there, there were others that he knew would detect his presence. Others of both the dark and the light persuasion.<br />
From Winterhaven, Bram moved on to Aspara Bough, the land of the Fairies and Elves. The first village he spotted was busy with life. Both male and female fairies buzzed around going from place to place. The air was full of the sound of bells and chimes. Bram cringed at the sound of the Fairies hated music language. It always set his nerves on the edge. From high above, Bram slowly sent his probe down into the glade of the Fae. He kept a careful lookout to be sure he hadn't been detected. Moving slowly with care he went from flower to flower listening intently for any news. First, he heard of the Gremlin invasion to the Blueberry patch. A young fairy dressed in green and yellow with a daisy headdress said it was touch and go for a while, but when the red and black armored warriors arrived to back up our forces, the dark little beasties had no choice but to run. The daisy said right after that, Queen Nula arrived and set about to heal the wounded. She thanked the Red and Black warriors and promised her aid whenever they needed our help. The little brown oak fairy seemed pleased to hear that. It mumbled something Bram didn't understand, then nodded and was on its way. Bram started on heading toward a village by a small pond hoping for more news. In his head, the voices were arguing over what he should do. Most of the voice said he should just give up. They said what little power he had would never be enough to defeat the Fairy Queen. But Bram cared nothing about the fairies unless they got in his way. Then they would all see his anger.<br />
Satisfied that the dragons hadn't been there, Bram pulled his probe back to Sorrowdown. On his throne, he opened his eyes and stepped down and walked to the huge mirror that had been set in the audience chamber of the Sorrowdown empire. This was the biggest mirror in all of the empire. Midoa had it made special just for his throne room. The glazer that made his mirror was a master sorcerer and he linked the mirror with two of his enemies. Their souls to this day were still trapped in the speculum, looking for a way out.<br />
As Bram stood in front of the mirror, he watched as one of the spirits rammed and beat at the glass trying to escape. Bram just smiled as he relished the pain in the spirit's eyes. He knew it wanted its freedom. Maybe one day he would free them. But they would have to earn their freedom. Right now what he needed was information. If they could supply him with the right answers, he might think about granting their wish.<br />
<br />
"Mirror mirror on the wall.<br />
I call those who are trapped to tell me all.<br />
Information is what I need.<br />
From those who wish to beg or plead.<br />
<br />
As Bram stared into the looking glass, it started to ripple and blur. The mirror grew hazy as two faces appeared. One was old with a long black beard and a scar above his right eye. The other was younger with a very pale look on his face. Bram could feel the fear pouring from him like heat from a torch. The younger spirit started to wail and cry as he was called forth. With a snap of his finger, Bram silenced the morose phantom and sent him back into the mirror. The other one stared out at Bram looking as if it were annoyed with his intrusion.<br />
[So you are the new master of Sorrowdown.] He said turning his nose up. [Well don't expect me to bow down to you, it's not going to happen. I didn't bow to that fool Midoa, I won't bow to you.]<br />
"You will bow if that's what I want," Bram said as he twitched and snarled at the specter. "If you ever want your freedom, you will do my bidding."<br />
[I've been here in the mirror a long time.] He said with a dismissive look. [I've heard many promises over the years. Win or lose, you will be the same as all the rest. So why should I bother helping you?]<br />
"Who are you?" Bram asked.<br />
"You'd like me to tell you my name wouldn't you?" The spirit sneered. "Then you would have power over me. You will have to do better than that,"<br />
Bram thought for a minute. He was right. This mage has been in the mirror for years. Maybe over a thousand years. There was no torture Bram could use that would force him to follow his commands.<br />
No lie would convince him either. The was only one way, only one thing that the spirit wanted that could make him obey. Bram would have to free him from his mirror prison and then trust him not to run. As Bran stared into the mirror deep in thought, the spirit moved closer staring back at him. From the table that sat right next to the mirror, Bram pulled a dagger with an 8-inch blade. He took a step forward to stand right in front of the mirror and held out his arm. After pulling back his sleeve Bram put the blade to his pale wrist.<br />
"I swear to you on this, the tenth day of Sular. I, Bramble Tiberius Thorn will free your soul from its eternal prison in the mirror on the completion of the tasks that I set for you. I pledge this with my blood and my soul. Do you accept?"<br />
[Yes.] The spirit smiled with a devious grin. [I accept your offer. Now what is it you want me to do?]<br />
"First. what do I call you?"<br />
[You may call me Drekkar." The spirit bowed to him. [Drekkar Manzati.]<br />
Bram smiled, for he knew that was not his real name. It was only a moniker he was using for the time being, but he would obey his orders and that was the what he wanted. Turning away from the mirror, Bram stepped back then faced Drekkar.<br />
"You are free." He said. "You can come out of the mirror now."<br />
Drekkar stepped closer to the mirror and raised his hand to touch its glassy surface. Usually, the intense pain would radiate out causing Drekkar to fall back screaming. But this time there was no pain. He felt a slight resistance, like stepping out from water into the air. But no pain. Smiling, he pushed on through to stand on the other side free at last. Seeing Drekker step out of the mirror, the other spirit tripped there made a mad rush to get out. Unfortunately, the spell that Bram had used was only for Drekkar. When the young spirit crashed into the mirror, the spell that had been keeping them there snapped back on and tore through his body sending wave after wave of pain into him. He fell back away from the mirror screaming as Bram pulled the curtain down to cover it.<br />
As Bram turned back to Drekkar, the voices in his head were screaming out at him, taunting him and scolding him for what he had done.<br />
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!!!!"<br />
Drekker stared at him not believing what he's seeing. At that moment he knew Bram was another madman that was in control of him. He smiled thinking this might not be as hard as he thought. All he had to do was to tell him what he wanted to hear and Drekkar would get his freedom finally.<br />
"I thank you for my freedom, as limited as it is." He bowed. "I'm grateful to be out of the mirror."<br />
"Limited is right." Bram said as he sat down behind the emperor's desk. "I will give you a chance to earn your freedom. Follow my orders and do everything that I ask and I will give you your freedom and much more."<br />
"How do I know I can trust you?" Drekkar asked.<br />
"You can't." Bram said as he smiled at the wizard. "I'm very unpredictable. Hot-headed and impulsive. At least that's what I've been told."<br />
"You're just misunderstood." Drekkar sneered. "They just don't understand your point of view. You're right and everybody else is wrong and you're going to show them all the great mistake they're making by taking over all of Keanna. Then they will see."<br />
"Don't patronize me!" Bram slammed his fist down on the desk. "I know what I'm doing and it's not insane. I'll show them all. I'll make them all see what I can do!"<br />
"Yes, you will. What is it you want from me? Why am I here?"<br />
"I want you to find the rest of my rings." Bram held up his hand to show him three rings on his right hand. One was gold with a ruby fitted in the center. Another was silver with an emerald. The last ring was either brass or bronze with a large topaz crafted into it with a small diamond. Drekkar leaned closing to examine them. He could feel the power radiating out from them.<br />
"Interesting." He said, "Very powerful. With these, you just might able to even beat the Dragons. I'm guessing that is what you have planned,"<br />
"Not just the Dragons." Bram sat back in his chair. "I have much higher aspirations."<br />
"I see." Drekkar stroked the hair on his chin. "I will do what you ask. My only request is that when you do face your final battle, I want to be there to see your enemies defeated. Do you agree?"<br />
"Fine," Bram said in a dismissive tone. "Just find my rings and get them back to me."<br />
"How many rings are missing?"<br />
"Seven." Bram told him. "There are ten total."<br />
"Do you know where any of them are?"<br />
"Yes." Bram said with a evil grin. "Find my enemies and you will find my rings."<br />
<br />
It was dark by the time Caius arrived at the gates of Sorrowdown. Most of the fires had burned out and the city looked deserted. Caius climbed down from his horse and pulled his sword from its scabbard. The rider had said there was a slave revolt that tore the city apart, but Caius had a feeling there was more to it than that, There was somebody here. He could feel the eyes watching him from behind the dark ruins. With his sword drawn and ready, Caius slowly made his way into the city. He kept a close watch as he stopped at the gatehouse and took one of the unlit torches. From his bag, he took a fire kit and struck the stone to the flint. In two strikes the torch caught fire and Cauis was ready to go see what still lives in Sorrowdown. He walked down the main avenue keeping a close watch on the three store buildings that lined the street. Every now and then he saw a flicker of movement in the window. He wasn't sure if it was man or beast up there, but he did know that it was dangerous. From the city gates, Caius moved in through the ghettos that surrounded the outer areas of Sorrowdown. These were three or four story buildings that house the lower class citizen and the workers of the city. Caius moved quickly through there avoiding all the blocked lanes and climbing over any downed and ruined buildings. The next part of Sorrowdown was the marketplace. Once this was a flourishing metropolis with vast amounts of commerce. You could find almost anything you needed from the slave market to the stalls that sold the spring harvest and livestock. There were numerous blacksmiths, cartsmiths, builders, carpenters, silversmiths, tinker, tailors, and jewelers. But now all the stalls were empty with whatever wares that had been there, gone or smashed into the dirty floor of the stall. It was quiet as Caius looked around. There were no barkers calling out their wares, no scruffy kids there pickpocketing or stealing from the stall. There was nothing here now except rats, stray dogs. Sorrowdown was a dead empire. But most of the buildings were still standing, the fires hadn't totally destroyed the city. If Caius could lay claim to what was left of the empire, then he could be Sorrowdown's new emperor.<br />
From the marketplace, Caius moved on into the housing part of the city. He walked down the lane passing house after house. He passed the old Herkalus estate and his parents old home. Looking at the front gardens of the manor, he remembered sparring with his friends in the back courtyard. Back then, he and his friends were real bullies to some of the younger children. They harassed them at school, in the bathhouse, and in the market. Nowhere in Sorrowdown was safe, there were even times when they could bully them in their own homes. But that seemed like a long time ago, though it was only last month.<br />
From the housing estates, Caius moved on until he came to the gates of the governor's manor. The gates hung open swinging in the breeze. Caius remembered that once he swore this would one day be his home. He had dreams of the day when he would come and force Pius and his entire house out and into the stadium to face the gladiators and whatever wild beast they had that season. Then the crowds would cheer as they watched the old fool Pius get torn to shreds while he cried for mercy. But there would be none. Not for him or anyone from his house.<br />
As he made his way through the gates, Caius stopped inching his sword out as he searched the court. His ears were sharp for the sound of warriors moving through the burned-out remnants of his palace. His eyes were searching all around for traps or an ambush. Once he was convinced there was nothing there, Caius continued on. From the palace, Caius headed on and into the dilapidated building where Sorrowdown's Senators use to argue over the new laws. The building was three stories tall and made of marble that had been shipped down the river by Stone Elves from the quarries of Thewis. As Caius stepped into the auditorium. he felt the remnants of past arguments being screamed across the floor by long-dead Senators, his father included. Sorrowdown had better days. It was Caius's plan to bring that all back some day with himself as the new Emperor.<br />
"I don't think so!" Echoed all through the auditorium as Bram appeared from a great flash of smoke and lightning.<br />
With his hand on the hilt of his sword, Caius stepped up to challenge the Warlock.<br />
"Who are you?" He said with a demanding voice.<br />
"Don't you recognize me?" Bram said as he stepped closer to Caius. "I am Sorrowdown's emperor. You should be on your knees when you address me."<br />
Caius looked at the wild looking Warlock. His hair was frizzled and he had a twitch in his dark eyes. His robe looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. No court Warlock would ever present himself looking so dirty and shabby. But there was also a spark of power that blazed in his eyes. Caius thought he'd better be careful dealing with this one.<br />
Kneeling, Caius took his hand from his weapon, but his eyes never left the Warlock.<br />
"My apologies great one, How can I serve you?"<br />
"Go kill yourself you sniveling suck up!" Bram shouted. "Shut up!"<br />
Caius stared at the Warlock. He didn't know what to make of his last statement. Is he crazy, or is it some plot to throw me off? Either way, Caius couldn't trust him, but he had better follow his instructions.<br />
"My Empress," Bram said conjuring a vision in the air of his wife. "She is missing. I want you to find her and bring her to me."<br />
"Do you know where I can find her?" Caius stared at the vision of beauty and wondered how he had managed to get her to marry him.<br />
"She is the daughter of an fairy king!" Bram laughed almost choking on his own spit. "Look in the land of the dark fairy's. Her father may have hidden her with relatives that I know nothing about."<br />
[Dark fairys.] Caius thought. [That could be anywhere from Akkar in the east to Veverell overseas. She could be impossible to find.]<br />
"How will I know her if I find her?"<br />
"She will be the most beautiful maiden you have ever seen." He stopped and gave Caius a suspicious look. "Can we trust this one? He might find Jameld and run off and try and keep her."<br />
"You have my word." Caius bowed his head to the warlock. "I will bring her back to you."<br />
"Swear on your life." Bram barked as he advanced on Caius with his staff glowing with power. "We will trust you if you swear on your life."<br />
Caius looked into the eyes of the mad warlock. He didn't want to make any promises, but it seemed like the only way he could get anywhere with him.; He would have to make the promise then figure out some way to get out of it.<br />
"I swear." he said raising his right hand. "I will find her."<br />
"Take what ever gold or gems you think you may need, You have one year." Bram lowered his staff and touched Caius on his head. "Bring her back to me within one year or, pay the price of failure. now leave us to our work."<br />
Caius grabbed his saddle bag and filled it with gold and gems from the warlocks stash, Then he left the warlock screaming at himself about something he didn't even understand. He didn't care if he never saw the mad bastard again. The only problem was, the promise. Caius had a feeling he had just made the biggest mistake in his life. He could walk away and forget both Bram and Jameld, but what would happen in a year? If I don't find her am I going to drop dead one night while I'm eating my dinner?<br />
[Yes.] cackled Bram in Caius head. [Did you think you could take my gold and just run away? Find my Jameld or you will die in one year. She is the daughter of Valerian Sharpwing. She is a Princess of the Ammath. She has the shape of an angel and a voice like sunshine. Her hair is silver with streaks of powder blue. She has morning blue twinkling in her eyes. My Jameld could sing the rays from the sun and make the moon dance"<br />
"You make her sound so lovely." Caius smiled. "I can see how much you love her. I will find her for you. I may die looking, but I'm going to try and find her."<br />
As Caius left Sorrowdown's throne room, Caius stopped and looked back. He knew the sorcerer was insane, but then there's a lot of madness going on in the life of a warlock. One had to be mad to commit his life to the study of the mystical arts. But this one was really bat shit. Either he's really powerful or, the madness has taken control. Now, Caius had to find the madman's wife. That might be harder then one might think. In fact, there might be a reason she's missing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-60013317039203427092016-06-16T00:04:00.002-04:002019-08-10T17:23:14.791-04:00Gromor the Grim. 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The trip from Mystwinter to Valturm took only a few hours by air. Below, Niro and Hoddie followed on horse back with Yarden running at their side. They traveled by night keeping themselves hidden to sleep during the day. They passed many Dwarven villages as they traveled and found a few of them in ruins. Bly flew into the first village with Rowyn to investigate. The village was covered in mud. The houses and buildings were all splattered with dirt and the streets were a like a river of mud and debris. This was obviously the work of one of Brams elementals. The second was much bigger, more like a small town with a seaport and a very large market and business district. As Niro, Hoddie and Yarden rode in they looked around and saw the dead bodies of hundreds of cattle and Dwarves spread all through the streets. Hoddie jumped down from Akhrua's back and slipped his hand into his cloak and grabbed one of his daggers. The town looked as if a hurricane had dropped down on it. Every tree had been ripped out from the ground and tossed through the air. Most of the houses had been completely demolished and the homes that still stood were all severely damaged.<br />
"I think we're to late." Hoddie said as he kicked an old wagon wheel onto the side of the road. "He's already been through here."<br />
"We should look for any survivors." Niro suggested. "There could be people here trapped in the debris."<br />
"I hope not." Yarden said. He turned his nose away from the awful smell of rotting flesh. "If there's anyone buried in here, not even my sensitive nose would be able to find them."<br />
"We should look anyway." Niro said. "Just to be safe."<br />
For hours they picked through the debris. They went through the remnants of each and every house, shop and building. Niro lifted massive walls and dug through great mounds of debris until they were all exhausted. It wasn't until the last house that they heard something to give them hope.<br />
Yarden had been picking through what was left of one of the many shops when he heard a soft moan. His ears perked up and he stopped for a second to listen. It wasn't very loud, as a matter of fact he actually thought it was one of the many crows that had been picking at the dead until he heard a second cry.<br />
"There's something here!" He shouted to the others. Niro and Hoddie hurried over to see what he had found.<br />
"What is it?" Hoddie asked.<br />
"I heard something over there." The Yetisan pointed to a small mound of broken wall. He had started digging through it when he saw a piece of yellow material sticking out of the wall.<br />
"Help me lift this."<br />
Niro came in and reached down and grabbed the side of the wall and heaved it up and flipped it off to the side. Beneath the wall they found a Dwarven man lying there unconscious. His clothing was all covered with blood and they could see both his legs were broken.<br />
"Don't touch him!" Niro said as he held Hoddie back. "He needs a healer, call Rowyn and the others."<br />
A few minutes later, Rowyn and Bly came flying in to land right beside them. As soon as she saw the dwarf, Rowyn knelt down at his side and held her hands over him. A golden glow spread out from her into the dwarf filling his body with her healing power. The dwarfs breathing became a little more sturdy as his eyes started to flicker.<br />
"He has excessive damage to his heart and lungs." She said sadly. "All his ribs are broken and his legs. I have started his body to heal. Now all he needs is someplace safe where he can rest."<br />
"Can you wake him?" Bly asked. "He might be able to tell us what happened here."<br />
"I can try." Rowyn moved her hand up to his head. In a few seconds he woke up and his eyes opened and he made a soft moan.<br />
"Aiya Sir." Bly said softly. "Don't try to move. Your body's been crushed and there is a great deal of damage. We are trying to heal you but the damage is to quite severe. You will heal in time, but now you need to rest."<br />
"Mmmmmmm!!" He moaned with a weak smile. "I thank you for your help."<br />
"My name is Bly." She told him. "These are my friends. Can you tell me your name and what happened here?"<br />
"Aye lass." He coughed. "My name is Gromor Kilgore. I am the second son of Gozurim Kilgore and the master of Kilgore mountain the third richest silver mine in all of Hernborim. I have the honor to yield the mighty Scourgebane forged over a thousand years ago in the heart of Kilgore mountain. I have always been a proud and strong warrior able to claim many victories for my clan, but on this day it was my heart that was my downfall."<br />
"Tell us what happened Gromor." Niro took Hoddie's water skin and put it to Gromor's mouth and gave him a sip of Goblin wine. Gromor winced at the powerful taste.<br />
"Thank you Lad. That was a powerful brew made for a dwarf. Now where was I? Oh yes. It had been a busy day in Valturm. I came in with five of my warriors intending to challenge Leda Redhelm, the mistress of Valturm for her hand in marriage. This was my sixth challenge. Three I lost, two I fought her until the judges declared a tie to our battle. In a tie, Mistress Leda as the challenged gets to make her own choice whether to accept my proposal or to refuse me.<br />
As we arrived at the city gate, we were greeted by Thorid Ironbrand, chief Gatemaster of Redhelm keep.<br />
"Hail Gromor Kilgore." Thorid called from his post at the top of the gate wall. "We are honored to have you back at Redhelm Keep. To what do we own the honor of your visit?"<br />
"I come again with a new petition for the hand of your mistress Leda." Gromor called back. "This time I have added mithral to my armor. I won't be so easy to defeat this time."<br />
"You can make your challenge if that is your wish Gromor." Thorid said as he pulled the switch to open the gate. "But me thinks the result will always be the same. She will win and you will lose. Mistess Leda's heart will always belong to her dead mate Egon. No one else with ever share her bed. You should accept this and find another who is more interested in your petition."<br />
Gromor grumbled and turned his horse on away from Thorid and his unwanted advise. He had been watching Leda all his life, from back when they had both been young and training in Valturn's city guards straight up to the day she and Egon took the mating ritual, That was one of the worst days of his life. That day he stood in the crowd of her mating ceremony and watched as the woman he loved promised her life to another. It was a dark day for him indeed. And worst of all, being from Valturn's closest neighbor, Gromor had to swear his friendship to this revel for his love. Everyday he had to watch as they rode out and hunted together. They laughed and practiced battle strategies looking so happy together. Gromor had even fought at Egon's side in many encounters with the Dark Elves and the attacking Goblins on Valturns eastern border. If only his hammer could make one accidental slip.<br />
On the day Egon died, Gromor had been many miles away in Lands End negotiating with the diggers for new terms in their contract. He had wrapped up all his business and was on the road back home when a rider intercepted him with the news about the Troll attack on Valturn. The rider said that three Goblin troops had invaded the northern border of Hernborim near the county of Grostein, west of Valturn. Leda and Egon Redhelm along with troops from both Valturn and Grostein had rode out to intercept the Goblins before they could make it to Grostein and the first of Hernborims many iron and copper mines located in the northern mountains. The report said that Leda caught the Goblins off guard as they were attacking Grostein. She had surrounded the city and slipped in during the night and wiped out two troops of Goblins.<br />
Egon on the other hand didn't have the same luck as his mate. As Egon and his troops marched north, a troop of Gobins caught him as he tried to sneak into the city of Rokonar to try and defend the city's iron mines. The fighting was fierce, Egon armed with his battle hammer and dagger took down 16 Goblins before the unfortunate blow that broke his helmet and crushed his skull. His first lieutenant was able to save the mines and rescue his body and get it back to Valturn so Leda could give her mate a proper Dwarven funereal.<br />
Now that Egon was dead, Gromor saw this as his chance to make his way back into the Battle mistress's life. After waiting a proper amount of time for grieving, Gromor packed his warriors and made his way to Valturn.<br />
From Valturns city gate, Gromor guided his men through the lush forest pass the lumber yards full of tall red and white pines. The sweet smell of fresh tree sap and flowers filled the cool morning breeze.<br />
Rabbits and other small wild life scampered and ran away as they made their way along the long twisted road. As they traveled, Gromor went over his petition over and over in his head. He was convinced that this time, Leda would hear that what he was saying was coming from his heart. He would pledge to her half a years worth of silver from his mine. Twenty horses from his prize stable and his heart forever more. Surely this time she would give in and accept his proposal.<br />
As Gromor and his warriors rode in through Valturn, the skies grew grey and the wind started to blow more fiercely. Thunder cracked far off in the distance scaring the horses. Gromor pulled back on the reins and tried to sooth his small mount and keep it under control. Beside him, Onar Oakbranch grabbed his arm and pointed out over the horizon.<br />
"Gromor." He said. "Look!! Something attacks that village!<br />
Gromor looked out and sure enough, something was flying around over the village ahead of them sending lightning bolts down into the village.<br />
"By Hekkeal's beard!!" His hand went quickly to the hammer at his side. "That be Leda's village!"<br />
"Sure as we stand here it is!" Onar said. "But what is that in the sky attacking? A Banshee?"<br />
"I know not." Gromor said. "But this be my chance. If we can kill it, Leda will be in debt to me. She will have no choice but to accept my petition. Gather your weapons, we're riding in!"<br />
With Scourgebane set and ready, Gromor slapped his pony into a charge and set his warriors on into the ride for Leda Redhelm's heart.<br />
<br />
High in the afternoon sky, right over the village that housed the manor house of Leda Redhelm, huge gray clouds boiled and rumbled. From deep inside, an hysterical laugh could be heard between thunder and lightning strikes. On the ground, Dwarves ran for the cover of the great trees in the forest while warriors set about loading and firing bank after bank of arrows and missles into the clouds at the attacking magi in the sky. Diamond tipped arrows were launched at Bram as he dropped down to blast again and again at the village. Smoke filled the sky and fires blazed out from each burning building as the Dwarves fought trying to save their homes from destruction. Any Dwarf with water magic had been ordered in to try and stop the fires but it was to late. Every time Bram saw a magi directing his water spells, he would launch a new set of strikes down at the poor unfortunate little wizard. The village lawns were littered with the bodies of the dead, both magi and warriors.<br />
With his ring back on his finger and Leda dead, revenge was all that was on his mind. Bram would make them all pay for what had been done to him. Calling on the powers of the ring of Air, Bram sent strike after strike down on a group of Dwarves set high on the burning manor house firing iron bolts at him. Between lightning strikes, Bram ducked and dodged the iron bolts that were coming with uncanny precision. Closer and closer the iron arrows came to him making him fly higher or drop lower out of their range. He wasn't sure which, but one of those Dwarves was magically guiding their shots and protecting them at the huge mounted crossbow. If he didn't figure out which one it was, they would soon find their mark and he would be hit and that would end his revenge.<br />
[Give up now.] Screamed a voice in his head. [You don't deserve revenge. Your the threat these people are running from. Just let it go and let Nestor take you back down to your punishment.]<br />
"Never!!" Bram screamed. "I will never give in! I will destroy them all and make Tagittia mine!!<br />
Switching his vision over to second sight, Bram looked down on his attackers. One Dwarf standing just to the side handing each bolt over to the Dwarves manning the crossbow had a bright blue glow about him. That Dwarf had to be the one guiding the attack. Swerving to avoid two arrows, Bram lifted himself high up in the sky then called on the power of his energy ring. He set himself into a dive then formed a shield of power in front of him. Arrows came in and pinged off to the side as he dived down. Below he could see the Dwarves setting two huge bolts in to the crossbows and taking aim at him. At that moment, Bram let loose with the power of the Energy ring. The wizard of the group fell screaming to the rooftop and grabbed his head. In seconds the wizard started twitching and convulsing as the energy inside him started building to a critical point. As Bram called on his lightning for a final strike at the warriors, the wizard exploded into a thousand pieces which rained down all over the roof. With his protection gone, the Dwarves tried for two last shots at Bram, but it was to late. Lightning struck down at them, frying them all in place.<br />
With a final blast of hysterical laughter, Bram turned back up into the afternoon sky and headed out toward the white pine forest. Below him, Gromor and his warriors charged in with their weapons out and ready for battle. As the mad magi sailed over the Dwarves, Gromor ordered his warriors to attack. Onar leaped from his horse and grabbed his crossbow and bolts and took careful aim. As Bram flew overhead, Onar let fly with his first iron bolt. The bolt sailed straight up into the sky and hit Bram burying itself deep in his right shoulder.<br />
"Arrrggh!!!" Bram screamed. With the bolt buried deep in his shoulder, Bram twist and turned in the air and fell frailing into the pine forest floor eager and ready to<br />
Grabbing Scrougebane, Gromor called for his warriors.<br />
"Your aim as always is true." He smacked Onar on his back. "Now on to victory!"<br />
Climbing back into their saddles, they kicked the horses into a charge down into the pine forest. Gromor eager and ready to prove himself and claim victory and the hand of Leda Redhelm.<br />
Stunned and in pain. Bram pushed himself up into a sitting position. His shoulder ached as be reached up to touch the iron bolt in his upper chest. But there was no time for pain right now. That bolt had come from somewhere out beyond the pines. That meant the enemy was close, just out through the trees and heading in to destroy him. Bram stood up, then reached up and grabbed the bolt. He gritted his teeth and pulled it out.<br />
"ARRRRGH!!!" He screamed out. He looked down at the bloody bolt in his hand, then let it drop to the ground. As he looked up, Gromor and his warriors were charging down on him.<br />
"Come little warrior!" He growled as he raised his hand and summoned the power of his energy ring. "I have something for you!"<br />
Pulse bolts of energy blasted out from his hand as he cackled his hysterical laugh. One, two, three bolts flew out at the incoming warriors. Gromor quickly urged his steed right, then left to avoid the oncoming danger. The power bolts missed him by a hair but the same couldn't be said about the warriors behind him. One blast flew off and hit a pine tree off to the left, but the other two struck their Dwarf target knocking them back off their horses. Two of Gromor's warriors were down, but that wouldn't stop him. He took a deep breath and roared out a challenge as he jumped off his horse to confront his enemy. Bram threw up his hands and formed a shield just in time to keep from being brained by Scrougebane. As Gromor's hammer rebounded off the shield, Gromor spinned around slamming his weapon down again and again trying to break through the Warlocks power shield. Each blow caused intense pain to radiate through Bram's head. He fell back to his knees overwhelmed by the pain as the voices in his head screamed for him to surrender. But Bram would never surrender. Not as long as there was still life in his body.<br />
As Onar and Gromor's last warrior reached the battle, Bram jumped to his feet. He reached out with a paralyzing spell and grabbed the three warriors and held them in a tight grip.<br />
"How dare you attack me!!" He screamed at them as he held them suspended high in front of him. "Don't you know who I am?"<br />
I know who you are." Gromor shouted as he struggled to free himself. "Just another little wizard who thinks he has the power to rule Taggitia. But your wrong. It takes more then power to rule here. It takes courage, strength and compassion. Three things you know nothing about. You may defeat me and the rest of the Dwarven nation, but there are others you will have to face."<br />
"You mean the Dragons? Bram laughed at the thought. "Your dragons don't scare me. I have faced them before, but this time I will be ready for them and all their tricks."<br />
"Have a care Wizard." Gromor moaned. He was in desperate pain. His ribs were cracked and his arm was shattered. Right now all that was in his mind was Leda. He had to find a away to get back and warn her of this mad man. He could be at her door in just a few hours.<br />
"It's to late little Gromar." Bram snickered. "I know what you are thinking and I have already seen the battle maiden Leda Redhelm. What remains of her is there by the old camp fire. I took back the ring she stole from me, but I will let you live to tell the dragons that I am coming for them and their families. I plan to kill them all and anyone that stands with them. Taggitia will be mine, then the rest of Keanna will fall. Now go and deliver my message."<br />
With that said, Bram raised him high over the trees, and threw him into the forest.<br />
"And that was the last I saw of Bram Thorn." Gromor said. "When I woke up I was here lying among these flowers all bloody and broken. I figured the wolves would soon be here to put an end my misery, but instead, you found me."<br />
"That's quite a story." Ranjer said. "Do you know how much time has passed since Bram put you here?"<br />
"Yes." Gomor nodded. He looked up at the sky, then turned back to Ranjer, Bly, Quynn and Niro. "We rode into Valturm at high noon yesterday. It had to be at least an hour later that we engaged the Warlock."<br />
That means Bram has at least a days distance ahead of us." Niro told them. "We can still catch him if we hurry."<br />
"No." Quynn said shaking his head. "Your thinking like a warrior. Bram has magic. He doesn't need a horse to travel. He can port anywhere he wants in a blink."<br />
"Then how are we to track him?" Niro asked.<br />
"We don't." Ranjer said. "We find the rings. Bram will find us when he's ready."<br />
"Then where are we going next?" Bly asked.<br />
"First we have to take Gromor back to the village. Then we move on after the next ring. Rowyn and Myor will show us the way."<br />
After they finished talking, Niro carefully lifted Gromor and carried him back to the horses. They all knew there was no way Gromor could ride horse back in his condition. So Niro and Hoddie fashioned a sturdy sling for him to lay in. With a quick spell from Quynn, the sling was made to ride on air waves so there would be no bouncing around. In an hour they had Gromor safely back at home and in the hands of his servants. Gromor had their provisions re stocked and they said their good byes and were off on the search for the next ring.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-82308520013330371092016-04-16T12:21:00.000-04:002019-10-04T17:50:52.990-04:00Trouble at Home. 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in New Keanna, Emrel hurried through the manor carrying clean sheets and a vial of Dragon flower serum to Seven and Toric's suite. The time for the birth of her child was getting near and she wanted to be prepared for it. Toric, like most men was absolutely useless right now. He spent most of his time pacing and worrying about impossible complications that Macan had already assured him wouldn't happen. Seven had sent him to visit his mother back at the Collector's compound just to keep him busy and out of their way.<br />
With the wives of Blaze and Graym, Tara and Rose and Athene there to help with the baby's birth, Emrel felt they could handle any problems that might arise magical or medical. And she was almost right in her thinking. These four could handled anything they would need with the birth of the baby, but there were other problems that might just be over their heads.<br />
It was a beautiful day and Seven was laying in bed in her suite with her legs up and ready to give birth. Her contractions were coming at about five minutes apart, and Athene and Tara told her the baby would be there soon. Rose was there sitting at the side to take over if there were any medical complications the others couldn't handle. Emrel was there to hold her hand and to try and keep her calm. She had brought in their mothers Dragon flower potion to ease the pain of the contractions. Dasyra Eventide had always sworn that the potion was the one thing that helped her in the birth of all her nine children. The Dragon flower potion had been an old family secret of the Eventide clan. It was used for pain relief and for healing after the birth. Dragon flowers were a very rare flower that only grew in two places. In the enchanted groves of Eventide and in the magical hollow of Aspara Baugh, in Queen Nuala's garden.<br />
Seven had been drinking Dragon flower tea for an hour and her contraction pains had dulled down to something that she could handle.<br />
"The time is near." She said as sweat ran down her face. "The baby will be here soon."<br />
"Yes." Athene smiled as she placed a hand on Seven's belly. "He will be a handsome boy just like his father with strong elven traits."<br />
"And what about dragon?" Seven asked as a surge of pain hit her. "Will he be a dragon?"<br />
"Elena will be a very strong dragon." She said. "She will do things that make us all proud."<br />
"Elena?" Emrel smiled. "That was our grandmothers name!"<br />
"Yes." Seven said. "That's the name that Toric picked out."<br />
Seven smiled as Emrel wiped the sweat from her brow. Now the only question was what kind of dragon, but that didn't really matter as long he is healthy.<br />
As Athene moved her hand around Seven's stomach, the smile on her face suddenly changed. Seven didn't see it, but Emrel did.<br />
"What is it?" she asked. "Is there a problem? Should I get Macan back in here?<br />
"No." Athene said shaking her head. "But he missed something."<br />
"What? Is the baby alright?"<br />
"Yes." Athene looked up at Seven. "They're fine."<br />
Seven laid back relieved. Then what Athene had just said hit her.<br />
"They?" Seven pushed herself up. "You said they're fine. What are you saying?"<br />
"I have a surprise for you Seven." Athene smiled and looked into here eyes. "Elena is not alone. She has two brothers with her."<br />
"What?" Seven squeezed Emrel's hand hard. "Brothers?"<br />
"Why not? Your a twin and twins always have multiples when they have children. You're having triplets. Three sons and they will be here soon."<br />
Seven wanted to scream with joy and tell Toric the good news, but another contraction hit her sending ripples of soft pain through her body. Emrel reached into Seven's mind to help her with the pain. She soothed her mind and sent loving relief to her sister in her time of need. The pain ebbed to a point where Seven could relax a bit. She was almost ready to give birth to Elena, the first of her three children.<br />
<br />
Down in the bay, a small fishing boat from Winterhaven sat in the cool blue water with their nets cast out fishing for red chested Sunfish, a delicacy in Winterhaven and the surrounding area. Their hold was almost full, it had been a good day. The captain of the ship, Braga Kolias was at the wheel calling out orders to the three men that manned the fishing nets. Tilkin Rinlar had had a hard day hauling in nets and shoveling fish into the hold. His face had been burned by the sun and his hands were raw from pulling on the nets. Tilkin wasn't usually a fishermen. He was a farmer by trade, but he had lost his land to a gambling debt. A full house beat his three of a kind and he had bet heavy. He lost everything he owned that night and put himself on the streets of Winterhaven. His cousin had found him work on the fishing boat to hold him until they could find a way to get him back on his feet. He never liked fishing, not even when he went out with his family. It always made him sick the rocking of the boat on the waves. Even the smell of fish turned his stomach and grossed him out. But this was all the work he could find and he would need money to bet with if he wanted to get his home back.<br />
As Tilkin stood at the rail of the boat pulling up the net, he gazed out over the water. He was hoping to see one of the Mermaids that swam in the bay and played with the sailors. He could use a pretty distraction. Something young and sweet to take his mind off his troubles. As he stared out, he saw something surge in the water. It looked like a bump that was moving through the waves. It could be a Mermaid he though for a minute. Then he realized it was to big to be a Mer person. It could be a whale, they swam in the bay a lot. But a whale would be bobbing in and out of the water, not swimming straight in towards the cliffs. Tilkin dropped the net and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. whatever that thing is, it was just about to the boat. They had to get off the boat before it crashed into it.<br />
"Braga! Tilkin yelled. "Get off the boat! Something is coming at us!"<br />
Tilkin reached out and grabbed the rail and jumped just as something crashed into the boat and it exploded into pieces. Fish and debris rained down into the water as a great surge hammered past them. Tilkin floundered in the waves trying to stay a float as the monster barreled pass. From under the sea, he saw a great tail as it sped toward the cliff. Something was heading for the Dragon city. And whatever it is, it's big.<br />
<br />
The sun was high and it was looking like a beautiful day as Tobyn Avenda started on his way up onto<br />
the walls of New Keanna. Today was his fifth day on watch over the gates of the city. It was a job his father Graym had gotten for him and he planned to take it very serious. Tobyn, a medium sized teen with brown hair and gray piercing eyes and his father the Shadow Angel hadn't been getting alone very well lately. His grades had been down lately in school and he had been lost in class. Confused actually, but it wasn't his fault magic history and ancient studies didn't interest him. But Graym thought as one of the founders of the city, his son should help set an example for the rest of the young and excel at everything. Tobyn tried, he tried very hard but he sometimes he just couldn't grasp what the teacher was saying. It was like the words would get all jumbled in his mind and they just didn't connect. Sometimes he thought there was something seriously wrong with him. His best friends Luca Rudd, Blaze's son and Quynn Tyr was sweeping through their classes like wildfire and so was Tobyn's sister Jocea. They tried to help, but it didn't work. He seemed to be the only one having these problems. It was embarrassing. He was the oldest of all the children in New Keanna and simple lessons seemed to elude him and he didn't know how he could fix it. He wished there was someone to talk to. Quynn was his usual anchor, but he was away with Ranjer on some strange mission. He wished there was some way he could talk with him and get his confidence back.<br />
After seeing Tobyn's last grades, Graym had given him a stern look. He sat him down in his study for a talk.<br />
"Can you explain this?" He asked.<br />
"I can't understand what Master Aeson is talking about." Tobyn said. "Father, it's like he's talking a different language that I just don't understand."<br />
"How can that be?" Graym asked him. "I've reviewed his classes and they seem simple enough to me. You're just not trying.<br />
"I try father." Tobyn threw up his hands in frustration. "I try very hard. In the beginning I understand, but as he gets deeper into his lecture, his word jumble up in my head and I get lost. Quynn said there's a look in my eyes like I was far away, but I'm not. I'm right there but I just don't understand."<br />
"Then maybe school isn't for you." Graym looked at him with disappointment. He had such high hopes for him. Tobyn had always seemed so bright. "You are to report to Captain Stroker for training. Maybe a little hard work marching and standing guard will clear that thick head of yours. I want you there first thing in the morning. Do I make myself clear?"<br />
"Yes father." Tobyn looked down at the floor as he turned and left his fathers office. Out side his mother waited to comfort him. But Tobyn would have none of that. He didn't want to be comforted, not after he saw that look on his fathers face. He just pushed away and ran off. Rose called after him.<br />
"Tobyn! Wait!"<br />
But he didn't stop. He ran for the door and was gone out of their apartment. Rose grabbed the handle to the office door and pushed it open and went in furious at her husband.<br />
"Graym Sewell Avenda!! Do you see what you've done to your son? "<br />
Graym stood up to calm her down and explain.<br />
"No!" She yelled. "Not this time. You do the battles out there with the dragon's and I take care of the children, that was your promise. Now because your son is having trouble, instead of listening and trying to help, you yelled at him in disappointment. Don't you know that boy worships you! Did you know that while you were away back in Dansport, he sat at the window staring out looking for you for months!"<br />
"But.."<br />
"But nothing!" She slammed her hands on his desk. "Has it occurred to you maybe there is something wrong and that's why he's doing so bad!!"<br />
Graym looked at his angry wife. That thought had never occurred to him. He always thought his children to be perfect, unable to do any wrong.<br />
"Graym." She said after calming down a bit. "Tobyn is sixteen summers old. He's becoming a man and he isn't the perfect little boy that plays with his toy dragons anymore. He has to learn responsibility and patience and he has to learn these things from you. He has to learn to be a man before he can be a warrior. Aeson and the other teachers can't teach him these things, only his father can and that's you! If there is something wrong, we'll figure that out but don't let him hide away feeling like his father doesn't love him."<br />
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!" Graym jumped from his seat. "I never said I didn't love him!"<br />
"But that's what he heard." She said softly. "Children read more into your words then what you might be trying to say. He heard your anger and your disappointment more then your words. Get up out of that chair and go find him. Right now, he is the most important thing in your life."<br />
Graym stood up and walked around the desk to kiss her and tell her she was right and he was sorry, but she stopped him with a hand.<br />
"Go find Tobyn now!"<br />
<br />
Graym searched for hours for Tobyn. He checked with Blaze to see if he was there, but neither Tobyn or Luca was there. Tara, said the boys had been there for a few minutes, but Tobyn had seemed upset and they left. Then he checked with the rest of the manor, but they were no where to be found. Frustrated, Graym checked with Dreik and that's when he got the notice that Jandar and Rage wanted to see all the Dragon's and Shadoe's for what he called an emergency. There was trouble in a far off land and Rage wanted all hands ready to go. He thought it might be that important.<br />
When Graym tried to explain this to Rose, she just turned away and told him to go. She would find Tobyn and do whatever she had to to deal with the problem, but she wanted him to know how disappointed she was with him.<br />
"Go be a hero." She said with venom in her voice. "I will take care my children."<br />
Graym tried to reassure her that he would fix this when he returned.<br />
"That's IF you return." She slammed their bedroom door shut in his face leaving him standing there looking confused. Graym shook his head and grabbed Retribution, he opened the doors to the balcony and took off to meet the others for the mission.<br />
<br />
For the next few weeks, Tobyn joined Captain Stroker in his training class for the city guard. He worked hard at sword training and learning the rules the guards needed to know and the responsibility's of standing a watch. He wanted to show his father he wasn't a complete failure. Captain Stoker worked him hard, pitting him against boys his age, then older men in the guards. He learned the discipline and the technique of one and two handed warfare, then moved up to the next level of training which was unarmed hand to hand. There, he did well. He went home each night bruised and sore, but it was worth it if he could gain his fathers respect back. Each night his mother would prepared a nice hot bath for him with a touch of foxglove and a pinch of numbweed to sooth his pain. He knew she was still mad at father for what he had said, but Tobyn couldn't shake the feeling that it was all because of him, and that made him work harder each day to learn as much as he could.<br />
The next morning as Tobyn started on his way across the wall, he looked out and saw something strange in the bay. It looked like a water dragon, but that isn't possible. Nautica was away with father and Maxius died in the Shyr fighting for Aqualona. Could it be something else? Whatever it is, its big and heading right for the cliffs of Kolvir. That means it will be in the city in less then an hour.<br />
Tobyn turned from the wall and ran to the gong set at the stairway. He grabbed the hammer and started banging the alarm. Captain Stroker came running out from the guard house to see what the threat could be.<br />
"There!" Tobyn pointed out into the bay. "Something's heading in to attack!!"<br />
"That looks like a whale." Stroker said dismissing him. "Nothing to worry about."<br />
"Excuse me sir but that is no whale. And its not a dragon either. We're about to be attacked!!"<br />
"Nonsense." Stroker said annoyed. "Maybe your father Graym is right. Maybe this isn't for you. You're relieved of your post. Go home and find a girl to play with."<br />
When Tobyn heard his father's name, he lost his composure. He grabbed Stroker by the front of his tunic and pulled him to the wall.<br />
"That is not a whale." He pointed to the mound in the water heading their way. "And if you won't do something, I will!!"<br />
Tobyn let go of the captain and took off down the stairs. He had to get to Denner in the Manor before it was to late to warn them of the attack. Running with all his speed, Tobyn made his way through the city and to the Manor. He busted in the front door yelling for Denner and anyone else that was there.<br />
"What is all the noise about?" Denner asked as he came out of his and Nautica's apartment. Tobyn ran up the stairs to him.<br />
"We're under attack! Something big is coming out of the bay!!"<br />
Denner looked to Tobyn and saw the fear in his eyes. He ran back into his apartment and grabbed his sword.<br />
"Show me!"<br />
Together they ran back to the wall where Denner gazed down and saw the creature rise out of the water and start its way up the cliffs.<br />
"CAPTAIN STROKER!!" He yelled. "We're under attack! Get your men ready for battle!"<br />
Captain Stroker gave Tobyn and mean look then called for archers to man the wall. In a few minutes, fifty archers were shooting down at the climbing beast. Arrows hit it and sank deep into its flesh, but it kept on climbing.<br />
"Tobyn." Denner said. "We need more help. I need you to go and see if Shayn and Ono are back from Tir Na. Get them here fast."<br />
"Yes sir!" Tobyn said. "What are you going to do?"<br />
"I'm going to try and stop it from getting into the city. You should go! Hurry!!"<br />
As Tobyn watched, Denner shifted forms and became a huge ferocious Griffen. He spread his wings and launched himself out off the wall.<br />
Tobyn took off down from the wall and headed back to the Manor to look for the two princes. He prayer they were back or they all might be in big trouble. In his mind, he was screaming out for Quynn to come home and help them.<br />
<br />
It had been a busy morning as Quynn, Ranjer and the others stopped to rest. They had been traveling south all night and they were just about to enter the Dwarven lands. Bly, Niro and Rowyn were busy setting up camp. They had decided Myor and Quynn needed time to sleep. Ranjer and Hoddie had gone out to hunt up something to eat while Quynn and Myor relaxed. Suddenly a voice screamed out in Quynn's head causing him to fall back in pain. Quynn grabbed his head and concentrated on the voice trying to see who it was calling out to him. He knew it wasn't his parents, both Jandar and Rage would find a more subtle way to contact him. It had to be someone else familiar to him. Quynn listened to the call, then he recognized Tobyn Avenda's familiar mental touch. Something dire must be going on. He had a panicked sound to his call.<br />
[Tobyn. What is it? What's wrong?]<br />
[Quynn?] Came his answer. [Is that you?]<br />
[Yeah, its me. What's wrong? Are you ok?]<br />
[No!] He sent. [New Keanna is under attack. We need help. There's no one here except Mr. Denner and he can't fight that thing alone.]<br />
[What's attacking the city?] Quynn asked him.<br />
[I don't know what it is.] Tobyn said. [But its huge and climbing the cliffs to the city. My mother and sister are here and Ariel is about to have her baby. You have to come back and help!]<br />
Quynn knew there was no time for him to fly back. By the time he got there, the city could be torn to pieces. There had to be another way. Another Dragon he could call that was closer and could go to the city's aid. Tempus and Professor Insa were in the academy. They were to far away, Torch and his clan were in Slovinia, again to far away. That only left Gird in the Egg chamber. He wouldn't be any help, he's to small. They needed something bigger. Then and idea hit him. It was risky, but it just might work.<br />
[Tobyn.] Quynn sent. [I need you to do something. It's a bit scary, but it might save the city if you succeed.]<br />
[What is it?]<br />
[Do you remember the cave I showed you when we were ten? The one with all the jewels and gold in it?]<br />
[You mean that haunted cave where Gird lives?]<br />
[Yes.] Quynn sent. [I need you to go in there. I know it's scary, but there's something in there that might help if you can find it.]<br />
[What?] Tobyn asked.<br />
[You hurry and get there. I'll tell you once your in. Be quick.]<br />
Tobyn hurried out of the Manor and made his way to the the west end of the city. As he ran, he could hear screams and roars from Denner and the creature as they battled just out beyond the wall. Tobyn hoped Denner could hold the monster until he could find whatever Quynn was sending him for.<br />
As he approached the entrance to the cave, Tobyn took the key he had found in the Manor and put it in the locked gate and turned it. The lock clicked and the gate swung open and Tobyn went in. At the entrance there was a barrow filled with unlit torches. Tobyn grabbed one and lit it from the torch at the entrance and went in.<br />
It was hot and humid in the cave, almost like an oven. Tobyn slowly walked in holding the torch high to keep the shadows back and away from him. He passed mounds of gold and silver coins. There were bars of platinum and bronze with huge stones of obsidian and jade scattered all through the cave entrance. Tobyn wiped the sweat from his brow and moved on. He really didn't like this cave. He had a real scare here when he was younger. Quynn had tried to show him the cave, when this huge bat winged creature had come out. Tobyn ran screaming from the cave. Quynn tried to explain that it was just the caves guardian, but Tobyn refused to come back here. Until now.<br />
As Tobyn moved deeper into the cave, he saw the abundance of riches there. Huge diamonds and emeralds. Ruby's the size of his head and sapphires like melons. He was amazed at the riches stored there. He had no idea the city had such riches.<br />
Suddenly something called out to him in his head. He thought for a second it was Quynn, but the voice was different then his old friends.<br />
[WHO WALKS IN THE CHAMBER OF SECLUSION? SPEAK NOW OR BE JUDGED AS A THIEF AND DESTROYED.]<br />
"My name is Tobyn Avenda. Prince Quynn sent me here to find help for the city."<br />
[WHAT AILS NEW KEANNA YOUNG SON OF THE SHADOW ANGEL?]<br />
"You know my father?" He asked.<br />
[WE KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, INCLUDING YOU. BUT TELL US NOW WHY YOU ARE HERE?]<br />
"The city is being attacked and there isn't anyone here to protect it accept Mr. Denner. Right now he is fighting out there all alone. Prince Quynn sent me here to get help."<br />
[YOU ARE VERY BRAVE YOUNG TOBYN. YOU COME HERE EVEN THOUGH YOU FEAR THIS PLACE.]<br />
"This is my home." He said. "My fear means nothing when New Keanna is in trouble. I will go fight the monster myself if that is what it takes to save the city."<br />
[INDEED IT IS.] The voice said. [BUT YOU WILL HAVE HELP. STEP FORWARD. WE HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU IF YOU WILL ACCEPT IT.]<br />
Tobyn stepped forward as a Sunstone the size of his head started to glow and shake. Tobyn picked it up and his life changed in a flash.<br />
<br />
Out beyond the city walls, Denner dived down to attack the monstrous creature ascending the cliff towards New Keanna, It was huge, bigger then any Dragon he had ever seen. It was covered with scales but built like a man with two massively muscled arms and two sturdy legs. It hand claws that had to be at least five feet long and a great barrel of a chest. It had a fish like head with deep black eyes and a mouth full of jagged teeth that could swallow one of the city's biggest wagons in one gulp. Denner estimated the thing had to be more then fifty feet tall with flippers and fist that could devastate New Keanna if he didn't stop it. His Griffin form wasn't big enough to do any real damage, so he shifted to a Red Dragon form. He knew he wouldn't be as strong or powerful as Rage or Blaze, but he had to try. That thing had to be stopped before it tore down the whole city.<br />
As Denner dived, he took a deep breath filling his dragon lungs with air. He could feel the chemical reaction deep in his chest as the air turned into a flammable gas. He narrowed his wings and ducked beneath the Bog things swipe at him then aimed for its chest and released his blast. Flames shot out from his maw and blasted at the monster's chest as he sped pass. It howled in pain as its chest caught fire. As smoke rose up at it's face, it started to beat it the flames with its wet moss covered hand. In seconds the flames were out and it turned its attention back to the battle just as Denner was coming turned to attack again. Reaching back, the Bog thing threw out its hand and launched a mass of mud and moss into the air at Denner. He turned just in time to keep from flying right into it. The mud flew pass him and crashed into the wall knocking men back and off the wall.<br />
As Denner turned back to the Bog thing, it reached out and smacked him sending him tumbling through the air. He opened his wings to slow and steady himself, but he was to late. He hit the wall with a crash and fell down knocked out onto the ground. The Bog monster roared and with heavy steps, headed straight in for the kill. All it would take would be a few stomps and Denner would be dead and the city would open for the attack.<br />
<br />
With a sudden stab of pain, Seven screamed out as she leaned forward to push. It was time for Elena to make her entrance into the world. Emrel held tight as Seven squeezed her hand. Athene sat ready between her legs whispering a pray to Aramis the god of life for a safe birth. In her mind, Athene heard her mother warn her of what was going on at the gate.<br />
[The city is under attack.] She said. [A dangerous man is trying to get his revenge on New Keanna for his own past mistakes.]<br />
[Mother!] Athere sent. [This is not the time. Neither Ariel, Emrel or I can go out to fight!]<br />
[I know Sweetheart. Steps have been taken to protect you. But you must hurry. If all three are not born in the next ten minutes, none will live.]<br />
[Then make sure your help is able to hold the attack away from here and I will bring them into the world!]<br />
Just then, Elena's head crowned and she pushed her way out into the world. Athene gently reached out and guided her as she pushed out and fell safely into her hands. Athene whispered a soothing sound to her as she cut the umbilical and held hee up for Aramis to bless. A light shined in through the window and touched the baby, and it started to cry.<br />
"What is hee full name?" She asked.<br />
"Elena Dasyra Norstin." Seven said as she smiled and Emrel wiped her sweaty brow.<br />
"Aiya Elena Dasyra Norstin." She presented the baby to the gods. "Welcome to our clan. We must send word to Toric that he is now a father."<br />
"He knows." Seven said as she laid back and the pain started again. "He is on his way home. I think Elaric is coming!"<br />
Athene looked down to see another head crowning. Quickly she passed Alaric over to Rose, who wrapped him in a soft blanket, then Athene got ready for the next birth.<br />
"Push." Athene told her.<br />
Emrel lifted her into a sitting position and Seven pushed out allowing Elaric his chance to enter the world. The baby slid out right into Athene's waiting hands. Shew reached over and took a blanket to wrap him in.<br />
"He is very handsome." Athene said. "What are you naming him?"<br />
"Elaric Jakari Norstin." Seven said. "He's named after Jake."<br />
"Aiyi Elaric Jakari Norstin." Athene lifted him for his blessing. Aramis shined his light down on the baby as its made its first cry. "Welcome to our clan!"<br />
Rose took both babies and held them down for Seven to see.<br />
"Aren't they beautiful! You should be so proud."<br />
"I am." Seven said. She relaxed for a second knowing she still had one more to go. "But there's one more. Toric Rensan is waiting for his chance at life."<br />
Rose took the babies to a cradle Seven had made for Elena and put them in to sleep. Emrel promised to conjure two more when they were done and Seven could get some rest. Just then there was a knock at the door and Syrune Brightsong hurried in to tell them about the attack. Seven pushed away the blankets and started to get up. Emrel stopped her and pushed her down.<br />
"Where do you think your going?"<br />
"To protect the city." She said. "I'm a Dragon, I'm responsible."<br />
"Not today." Athene said. "Your about to deliver a baby, or did you forget. You can barely walk much less fly or fight. Someone else will have to get to it. Trust the gods, they won't let us down."<br />
"I hope not because here comes Toric!!"<br />
Emrel grabbed on as Seven strained to push the last baby out. As Athene watched, she saw the baby's bottom crown and stop as it was stuck in the birth canal. Rose rushed to Sevens side and told her to stop pushing.<br />
"Somethings wrong." She said. "The baby's coming out the wrong way! Don't push, just breathe easy."<br />
"We should call Macan." Emrel said. "He'll know what to do."<br />
"I know what to do." Rose said. "We'll have to use magic. Athene can do it."<br />
"How?" She asked. "What should I do?"<br />
"Put your hands on her stomach and close your eyes." Rose guided Athene's hands to her belly. "Do you feel the baby?"<br />
"Yes." Athene said. She had her hands right over baby Toric's body. "I can feel it right here."<br />
"I want you to visualized the baby, can you do that?"<br />
"Yes, I see him." She smiled.<br />
"Now, bring him out carefully. Concentrate, he'll come to you."<br />
Athene summoned her magic and called out to the baby. Seven's belly started to glow and Toric disappeared out of her womb and reappeared in Athene's arms crying.<br />
"Aiya Toric Ransen. Welcome to our clan."<br />
<br />
After Seven and the babies were safe and in the care of Emrel, Athene shifted and took off out the window and headed to the wall. She saw the Bog monster coming toward the wall as she flew in. The guards were all gathered on the wall firing arrow after arrow into its hulking body causing absolutely no harm at all. As she reached the wall, she spotted Denner laying passed out at the foot of the wall. The monster was heading right for him. Athene flew up and hovered before the creature and spread her arms to cast her first spell. She shot an bolt of lightning at the monster, causing it to stumble back a few steps and fall to its knees. It climbed back up on its feet and looked at her and roared and threw another moss ball at her. Athene dived down out of the way and sent a power blast behind her as she flew pass the monster. Howling the Bog thing quickly spun around and cast a moss wall in front of Athene. Unable to avoid it, Athene flew right into it and found herself stuck like a fly in a web. The Bog thing roared out in triumph beating its chest. With Denner and Athene down. it was now free to attack the city. With a triumphing grunt, it headed in to smash Athene, then on to Denner and New Keanna.<br />
The monster took three steps and reached for Athene, when suddenly something roared and a blast of hot burning sand streaked out and hit it in the face. The Bog thing fell stumbling back as a bronze Dragon with huge wings and a thorny ridged brow came flying out of the city to attack. Sandstorm flew in and snatched Athene from the moss wall and carried her back to the wall.<br />
Shocked, but comfortable in the claws of a Dragon, Athene let the Dragon put her down on the wall.<br />
[Thank you for the save.] She sent. [But who are you? I know all the Dragon's in our clan, I've never seen you before.]<br />
[I am Sandstorm.] He sent. [You make sure Mr. Denner is alright. Let me deal with this thing.]<br />
[That thing is big.] She sent. [You won't be able to destroy it alone. Keep it occupied while I check on Denner. We'll be there to help in just a minute.]<br />
[Yes ma'am.]<br />
With Athene safe on the wall, Sandstorm launched himself back into the sky. He flew straight up, then turned to dive at the Bog monster. As he dived, Sandstorm roared and sent a tremendous wave of heat down at the Bog thing. It tried to cover its face from the blast and took another step back. Sandstorm dived until he was just about over head, turned up and smashed down with its tail. The arrow head shape at the end of his tail smashed down and split the Bog thing right down the middle. It screamed as it stumbled around swinging its arms trying to hold itself together.<br />
Sandstorm roared in triumph, He thought it was all over and he had won. Then he looked down and saw his mistake. The monster was not done. It was pulling itself back together. Its torso had already reformed and the head was filling back in.<br />
<br />
Down at the foot of the wall, Athene had dropped down to check on Denner. She lifted him into a sitting position, them smacked his face litely to wake him up. Denner opened his eyes and moaned in pain.<br />
"What happened?" He asked as he looked up at her. "Athene?<br />
"Yes." She said. "You were in a battle. Something attacked the city. It must have hit you and knocked you out."<br />
"A big ugly mud thing." He reached up and rubbed his head. "What happened to it?"<br />
"It's right there!" She pointed to the thing fighting Sandstorm.<br />
Denner looked up and saw the Bronze and the Bog thing in battle.<br />
"Who the blazes is that?<br />
"I don't know." Athene said. "But he called me ma'am and you mister. Whoever he is, I think he knows us."<br />
"He fights pretty good." Denner said as he got up. "But I think he'll need our help. You ready?"<br />
"Let's go." Athene smiled.<br />
Taking a running start, Denner jumped into the air and shifted back to Dragon form. He grabbed Athene and put her on his back and headed into the battle. Like an arrow they charged right in. Sandstorm had turned in flight as he saw them coming so he was out of the way when they started to blast the monster. Athene raised her hand and sent a blast of power at the Bog monster while Denner took a deep breath to get his fires burning again. Her blast hit the thing making it scream. As they streaked pass, Denner let go with his flames. The Bog thing beat at the flames, then jumped for Denner. Denner swerved to the left, then flew around the monster shooting flame. It burned with intense heat as they started up for another pass.<br />
[Your flame isn't hot enough to kill this thing.] Sandstorm sent. [And neither is my hot sand. But if we blast it together all three of us, we might be able to take it down.]<br />
[Good idea.] Athene sent.<br />
[I'll go left, you go right and we'll hit together.] Sandstorm banked left for a turn and Denner went right. They both turned and came back at the monster. Moss balls flew like arrows at Denner as he zoomed in at the monster.<br />
[On three.] Sandstorm sent. [One, two, THREE!!]<br />
Heat and hot sand flew at the Bog thing tearing into its mossy body. At the same time from the other side, Denner blasted it with his flames and Athene with her power blast. The creature screamed as pieces of it burned and tore off away from it's body. It grew smaller and smaller as they kept on with their attack until there was nothing left but the man that had been buried under all that moss and magic. He looked up at them and said something and fell over dead.<br />
Denner and Sandstorm circled then landed on the field outside of the city. Denner shifted and he and Athene walked over to the body.<br />
"I never would have guessed there was a man under all that muck." Denner said. "What did he say before he died. I didn't hear him."<br />
[He said thank you.] Sandstorm sent. He shook his head and stared down at them.<br />
"Thank you for your help." Athene smiled. "We would not have been able to defeat him without it."<br />
[You're welcome.] Sandstorm sent. [But it's my city too. It was my duty to fight.]<br />
"Who are you stranger?" Denner asked. "I feel like I know you."<br />
[You do.]<br />
Sandstorm shifted and Tobyn Avenda was standing there in brown and tan leathers.<br />
"Tobyn?" Denner looked at him in complete shock. "How? what?..."<br />
"I think Graym is in for a big surprise." Athene laughed. She reached out and hugged Tobyn. "Welcome to our clan Sandstorm.<br />
<br />
It was early evening when Quynn woke up. Myor was there on the other side of the fire and Ranjer was next to him sleeping. Yarden, Bly and Rowyn were also asleep while, Niro and Hoddie stood guard. As he sat up, he remember the dream he had just had. So Tobyn is now a Dragon, Quynn smiled. Good for him. He deserved the honor. What disturbed Quynn was the Bog monster. There was a man buried in that thing. It could only have come from one person. Bram Thorn. He would have to tell the others when they woke up. But now, he needed more rest. They still had a lot to do and a long way to go before this would be over.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-34905060358119597802016-02-15T03:02:00.002-05:002019-10-16T19:24:47.312-04:00Revenge. 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things had been quiet in Bellshore since Ranjer left. Nadir had made what peace he could with the people of Bellshore and all the other surrounding villages. He released all his prisoners and tried to right some of the wrongs he had done while under the influences of the ring. He repaired homes and paid out gold from his treasury to the city and its people, but he knew that wouldn't be enough to gain back the people's trust. That would take years, until then he would just have to do his best to prove himself.<br />
It was a cold gray gloomy day as Nadir went from field to field clearing stones, tree trunks and turning the soil in Bellshore. He was tired but the work had to be done if the people were to have any chance at a harvest next year. Beside him, villagers worked spreading seeds and bulbs in each row. He used his magic to enrich the soil and repair what tools the people had broken. After hours of work, Nadir re directed an underground stream to connect to a set of wells and he was done for the day. It had been a long day and he was glad it was over.<br />
The city gates weren't far away and Nadir thought it was a nice day to walk and get some exercise. Spring flowers were just coming out and there was a cool breeze to ease his tired mind. Nadir walked and watched as two bees danced from flower to flower collecting pollen to take back to the hive. As he watched, two tree nymph came dancing out of the forest. They bowed to him and waved then started a beautiful dance with their green and yellow silk scarves. They jumped and darted in and out from tree to tree laughing and singing a sweet merry song. Nadir stopped and took a seat on a boulder to watch their wonderful merriment.<br />
As he watched, the sky started to go from clear to cloudy, then suddenly that cool gentle breeze became cold and harsh. The two nymphs stopped dancing and ran for their trees. Nadir stood up and looked up into the cloudy sky. He knew this turn of the weather was to sudden to be natural. It had to be attack of some kind on him. Suddenly a bolt of lightning came hurling down and struck the boulder he had been sitting on. Nadir jumped to the side to avoid getting hit by the raining debris.<br />
"Who attacks?" he yelled out. "Come out and show yourself!!<br />
As Nadir watched, the wind picked up blowing furiously all around him. A swirling air funnel dropped down to land twenty feet from where he stood. As he watched it started to slow down until there was a tall thin man dressed in rags standing in front of him.<br />
"Who are you?" Nadir asked. "What do you want?"<br />
"I am Solaris." It said in a echoy voice. "Are you Nadir Payne?"<br />
"Yes I am."<br />
"I have come for the ring." It said. "My master wants it back. Give it to me."<br />
"I don't have any rings." Nadir said as he readied himself for a fight. "Who is your master."<br />
"I serve Bram Thorn. Master of the Nine Rings Wisdom. Where in the ring?"<br />
"Wisdom?" Nadir laughed. "There's nothing wise about that ring. More like torment.<br />
"Then you do know of the ring?" The winds started to pick up and blow even harder. "Where is the ring."<br />
"In hell I hope!" Nadir turned and started to walk away. Solaris hurled a bolt of wind at him. It struck Nadir on the shoulder causing a huge bruise and spun him around. Nadir grabbed his shoulder and backed away from Solaris.<br />
"I will ask you once again." Solaris stepped forward with lightning buzzing out from his raised fist. "Where is the masters ring?"<br />
Nadir was in pain but he wasn't helpless. He knew spells that he thought were just as powerful as Solaris. He cast out with his hand and sent a bolt of power at Solaris. It hit him and knocked him back off his feet.<br />
"I may not have that damned ring." Nadir said as power started to surround him. "But I'm not afraid of you!"<br />
"Then you will die!" Solaris rose up spinning into a small tornado. Lightning flashed out striking trees and rocks all around Nadir. Nadir sent another bolt it the Air Elemental, it passed right through it. Solaris started to laugh as a bolt of fire came flying one of the sky. It hit Nadir and set his robes ablaze.<br />
"Did I forget to tell you I am not alone?" Suddenly a great being of fire appeared and dropped down next to Solaris. "Meet Ember, now where is the ring?"<br />
"Somewhere where you will never find it!" Nadir fired two bolts at the Elementals. One at each of the Elementals. One hit the Fire Elemental and blew him to bits. The other hit Solaris and disrupted his air flow dropping him out of the air. Nadir dowsed his burning robes and took a step toward the ragged man, planning to encase him in a force bubble when suddenly he exploded in flames. The Fire Elemental had reformed and attacked sending a torrent of heat and flames at Nadir. The Wizard screamed as his body burned while the two Elementals laughed. In minutes the flames were sucked into his lungs and the Wizard of Bellshore fell to the ground dead. Solaris got up and ran to Nadir's burning corpse. <br />
"You fool!" he shouted at Ember. "You weren't supposed to kill him! We don't have the ring! The master will punish us for this!"<br />
"Then we don't go back." Ember said. "We have power, we can go somewhere else far from here."<br />
"You think he won't find us?" Solaris screamed. "If we don't go back, we will forever be hiding from every shadow and storm. Every bit of fire or rain. All the elements will be after us for the rest of our lives. We have no choice but to return."<br />
"Then let's go and get this over with." Ember lifted off into the air. "How bad can it be?"<br />
Solaris spread his arms and let his winds take him up into the air. He had failed Bram, his only hope now was to find the ring, or whoever had the ring. Maybe that would please the master.<br />
<br />
From the Roann peaks, Quynn flew east with Yarden and Myor on his back. Ranjer in his raven form flew at his side. The trip was to be straight and fast since they were worried about what Bram might be up to. They passed the Willow Mire and the Fionn woods then turn toward Fay Shrea. The last time Ranjer had messaged Bly and the other's, they were in Mystwinter looking for Eldar Mystwinter and the ring he possessed. He wondered what had happened. Did they find the ring? Once they were pass the Fairy lands and in the Eleven lands, Ranjer had Quynn turn towards Mystwinter.<br />
The forest around Mystwinter looked it had been ravaged. Trees were torn down and the ground looked like some great giant had come along and scooped a large trench out of the ground. Somehow, there had been some kind of disaster here.<br />
"What in Rimnar's name did this?" Yarden said as he watch Elves doing their best to help the broken and damaged greenery. There were scorched and burned trees and bushes, whole fields looked as if they had been set ablaze. This had to be horrible to the forest Elves. "Could there have been a battle here?"<br />
"My guess is Bram Thorn." Myor told him. "He was here looking for his ring."<br />
"But Rowyn and Bly was." Now he was worried about their friends. "We have to hurry down there."<br />
[Bly!!] Quynn sent. [Are you here? Is everything alright?]<br />
[Yes.] She answered. [We're fine and very glad to hear from you. Where are you?]<br />
[About to land in Mystwinter.]<br />
[We'll meet you near the trench.] She said. [It's time we move on.]<br />
Ok.]<br />
Quynn circled then set down near the trench. Myor and Yarden climbed down and him and Ranjer shifted back to their normal forms. While they waited, looked at the ruined forest.<br />
"This is terrible." Yarden said. "My people love nature. If this had happened to us, we would be looking for someone to punish. There would be war."<br />
"My father's would be upset too." Quynn said. "Dreik would lose his mind. So many trees destroyed, he would have felt their pain."<br />
"We'll figure something out." Ranjer said.<br />
"We better." Niro said as he rode up with Hoddie behind him. Rowyn and Bly flew down out of the trees. "If we don't, this will keep happening."<br />
"I'm glad your all safe." Quynn said. He went to Bly and hugged her. "We were worried."<br />
"As were we." Rowen smiled. "Did you get the rings?"<br />
"We found two." Myor held out his hand showing them the rings. He had the ring of water and light.<br />
"That makes four rings." Hoddie said. "There's still five out there. Do we know which one's Bram found?"<br />
"Well." Rowyn sat down with Niro. "We know he has Eldar's ring of fire and we know he has the ring he found in Yarden's cavern. That's all we know for sure." <br />
"Then we should go check the last two members of the original group." Bly said. "Leda Redhelm and,,,"<br />
"Manius Regulus." Niro said very grimly. "My father's betrayer."<br />
"Do you know what happened to Manius?" Ranjer asked.<br />
"No. I never knew him, but I did know his son Caius." Niro explained. "He was a cruel one. He took pleasure in torturing anyone he thought was from a lower family since he was related to Midoa. I didn't like him."<br />
"Were they still in Sorrowdown when it fell?" Bly asked.<br />
"No, I don't think so." Niro thought back. "Regulus was rewarded for his betrayal. He was promoted and sent somewhere. I'm not sure where. Sorrowdown had many outpost spread out through the empire. There were a few outside. Maybe we should go back and check the records."<br />
"You think he as a ring, don't you?" Quynn came over to stand in front of Niro. "Or is it just revenge?"<br />
"Oh I hate him alright." Niro said. "But yes, I think he has a ring. I think he set my family up for a fall, then ran to wait out the emperor. He knew my father would fight and probably kill Midoa. Then he could come back and claim the empire by right of ascension."<br />
"Doesn't look like that's going to work out for him." Ranjer smiled. "You destroyed the Empire."<br />
"No." Niro stopped him. "I destroyed Sorrowdown. The empire still stands. But I'm not done yet. I will destroy it completely with a little help from my friends."<br />
"You want us to help you bring down the empire?" Hoddie said. He looked up at his new friend. "My people wouldn't go anywhere near Sorrowdown. They used us in the arena with no chance for freedom. I'll help."<br />
"We'll help if we can." Ranjer said. "But Bram is our primary mission. He comes first."<br />
"I agree." Niro stood up and shook Ranjer's hand. "'You have my word. Bram Thorn comes first, then the empire will fall."<br />
"Let's get back to finding those Rings." Quynn said. "Rowyn, Myor, which way?"<br />
"West to Hernborin." Myor said. "To the Dwarves."<br />
<br />
After Quynn, Ranjer and their friends left the area of the trench, Caius stepped out from behind the trees. He had heard all that was said about his father and he knew it was all true. Manius had betrayed Niro's family. He had turned on him the moment they returned with all kinds of lies, and it worked. The Emperor declared Vibius and his family enemies of the state and confiscated all their holdings. Niro was sent into the gladiator camps and his mother Helen was hanged. All the while, Manius Regulus took his family and his reward and moved on to Parandor Keep where he was put into the post of Governor.<br />
Now Caius had heard Niro take an oath of vengeance. That meant he and his friend would be coming for him and his father. Well let them come. Caius rubbed the ring on his finger. He would have something waiting for them.<br />
<br />
As Quynn and the other's gathered their stock and readied themselves for the trip to Hernborin, Bram Thorn was busy sending out his Elementals to many of the different kingdoms of Taggitia to demand any and all magical rings be turned over to him. To emphasize his point, he ordered his minions to destroy the cities temples to their patron gods.<br />
In Snaea Clana, a Faerie kingdom. Bram's Thunder Elemental attacked the temple of Alee, shattering the walls and bringing down the marble pillars. With it's mighty scream it devastated the temple and sank it into the ground. Above their heads, the skies bumbled in protest. The Gods had heard and saw the carnage.<br />
In far off Oselela. A land of Humans. A being of light flashed down into the halls of King Lyniodis. He ordered the king to relinquish all magical rings in his possession. The King ordered his men to attack and in a flash, they were all dead. Stricken down by flashes of lightning. King Lyniodis threw down every ring he owned and begged for mercy. The Elemental laughed and sent a bolt at the king frying him where he stood. With the king dead, the Elemental went on to attack the Temple of Alea the Goddess on the moon. Lightning streaked down to rain on the temple shattering the roof and caving the whole structure in. As Alea looked down on what was left of her temple, a tear ran down her face. She knew this was the work of only one mad man. Bram Thorn. He had taken her daughter and disobeyed her mate. His madness had to end, he was to dangerous to be allowed to continue. Fortunately, she already had things in the works to bring him down.<br />
<br />
Everything was quiet as they made their way from Mystwinter west through Aloevan and down to Hernborin. While they traveled, Yarden told Niro and Hoddie about what had happened in Bellshore and the Roann Peaks. He told them about Gnark and what he had told them about the origin of his ring. Both Hoddie and Niro wondered if the was a dead mystics soul trapped in their rings. Neither had ever heard anything from their rings. So far they had been strangely quiet.<br />
Above their heads, Rowyn rode quietly along on Quynn's back. She had gotten a lot of rest back in Mystwinter and was ready for whatever was over the next border. Bly flew down to land on Rowyn's shoulder and sat down.<br />
"You seem quiet." She said. "Is anything wrong?"<br />
"I'm not sure." Rowyn said. "Something feels wrong. Like we're heading into danger or something. I can't describe the feeling."<br />
[Myor.] Bly sent out. [Are you feeling anything?]<br />
[No,] He sent to all of them. [Just a little anxious. Everything feels....]<br />
Then suddenly there was a powerful cry in Rowyn and Myor's mind, like a thousand minds crying out in pain. Myor started to shift back to his Human form and fall out of the sky. Ranjer dived down and did something they all thought was impossible. He shifted to a handsome bronze Dragon and caught Myor.<br />
[RANJER!!] Quynn called out. [How can this be?]<br />
[What?"] He said as he landed and released Myor and shifted back to his normal form. [I caught him, that's all.]<br />
As Quynn landed, Niro and Hoddie rode up on Akhrua with Yarden at their side. They jumped down off the horse.<br />
"Did I just see a Dragon?" Niro asked.<br />
"Of course you did." Ranjer said annoyed. "Quynn's been flying over head all day."<br />
"No." Yarden said as he came closer to them. "We saw a bronze Dragon, Quynn is silver and black. It wasn't Quynn."<br />
"It was Ranjer." Quynn said. "I don't know how, but he shifted into a Dragon. He was the Bronze Dragon!"<br />
"It's not possible." Ranjer laughed. "You're all seeing things. I'm no Dragon."<br />
"Then how did you save Myor?" Quynn asked his cousin. "Your Raven form can't carry someone so heavy, How did you catch him and land safely? That is impossible for a Raven."<br />
"The real question is what made Myor fall?" Niro asked as he went to check on Princess Rowyn. She was sitting on the side next to Myor as Bly tended to her. "Are you alright? What happened?"<br />
"There was pain." She said in a faint voice, "So much pain. He's hurting people looking for his rings. He tears down the god's temples and desecrates the land. He must be stopped."<br />
"We'll stop him." Hoddie assured her. "All of us and our next stop is Hernborim. We should get moving before he beats us there."<br />
With Myor on Quynn's back and Rowyn taking to the air, they moved on into the Dwarven lands.<br />
<br />
It was a long ride for Caius back to Sorrowdown. He really had no idea where to start looking for Bram so he thought he might as well start where it all had started for his father. When he reached the outer walls of the city, he saw it was in ruins. This is what Niro had done to his city. The walls were down in many places and he could still smell the smoke from the burned out buildings.<br />
Caius tied up his horse and headed in through the gates of Sorrowdown. All the outer buildings of the city looked as if they had been torn down by hand. He guessed it must have been the city slaves taking their revenge on the Empire. There were skeletal remains scattered all through the area. Dead guards in what was left of the city armor lay by the gates where they had been killed along with some of their attackers.<br />
As Caius moved on, he began to see the burned out buildings. The market place and the slave auction pens had been ripped apart, and in the center of the pens he found Emperor Midoa's body hanging from the the main auction building.<br />
The city seemed quiet but Caius could feel there was someone here watching him. He put his hand to his sword and moved on through the city. His first stop was his parents old manor. It hardly looked the same. The iron gates around the property looked like it had been ripped apart and the building was over grown with ivy that hung from the roof and climbed the walls everywhere. The front door had been knocked down and all the statuary of Midoa and his royal consort in the front yard had been smashed. Caius stepped into the manor and saw everything was in ruins. All the furniture had been destroyed and the floor was littered with leaves and broken plate ware and clothing. Further in he found there was three burned bodies laying in the broken fireplace. Caius was glad his family had left Sorrowdown months before any of this had happened.<br />
Turning away, Caius left the manor and headed down the road that lead to the royal palace. He passed many manors and home of his neighbors and they were all in the same condition. As he neared the palace, he felt it again. Like eyes were everywhere staring down at him from above and in the shadows. From the side of buildings and deep in the ruined manors. Every now and then, he even thought he could hear whispering coming from right over his shoulder. He would turn as quickly as he could, but there was no one there.<br />
The palace was about two miles ahead and the sun was just going down behind the mountains of the Silver Hills. With his hand still on his sword, Caius moved carefully down the road watching the shadows for any movement. He passed the last of the manors and entered the avenue where all the military officers were housed. All of these apartment building were in the worse shape. Not one building was untouched, most had been torched and burned to the ground. There were soldier, slaves and gladiators remains scattered all along the road decaying where they fell.<br />
As Caius made his way toward the palace, he heard something growling behind him. He turned and found the biggest, ugliest dog thing come walking out from between two buildings. It was the size of a pony and cover with what looked like mud and dried dead grass. Caius took a step back as it looked at him and started to back. Loose clomps of mud fell from his side with each step it took forward toward him. Caius grabbed his sword and pulled it free of its scabbard and stood ready for the attack. With a mighty leap, the Mud dog attacked. It dived at him barking and snarling with its fore claws out stretched to attack. Caius with both hands, swung his sword and sliced it right down the center of the Mud dogs nose cutting it in two. It crashed to the ground and struggling as it tried to push itself back to its feet. Caius re sheathed his sword and turned to leave thinking the beast disabled and defeated. Then he heard something that made him turn back. There was growling again coming from behind him. Quickly he turned back. The two pieces of the Mud dog were reforming. Already the two heads had re formed and as he watched, the body expanded and the legs were growing. Caius turned and ran, he wanted to get to the palace before the two Mud dogs could get after him. As he ran, he could hear the barking getting closer. The Mud dogs were after him. Caius poured on more speed. He took a quick glance to his left. Two more Dogs came running from out off a torn down building. To his right, another one came snarling and foaming from its mouth. Caius pulled his sword and slashed at the closest Mud dog, then grabbed it and threw it back in the path of the oncoming freak dogs. The first two ran straight into the withering body and fell. The others leaped it and kept coming. Caius made it to the doors of the palace, ran in and slammed them shut behind him. He grabbed a coat rack and snapped it in two and shoved it through the handles locking the Mud dogs out. They hammered again and again into the door but it was built to withstand a siege, even their strong lunges couldn't bring it down.<br />
With a sigh, Caius relaxed knowing he was safe and those monsters couldn't get through the door to get him. He wondered what other monsters he might find here in Sorrowdown. He was confident he was up to defeating anything he ran into.<br />
"Maybe not everything."<br />
Caius turned and pulled his sword when he heard the voice behind him. There stood and older man in dirty gray robes. He cast out his hand at Caius. The sword flew from his hand to slide across the marble floor and bang against the wall.<br />
"You won't be needing that son of Midoa." Bram laughed as he walked in to meet Caius. "Tell me, what is the son of my enemy doing here? Have you come seeking your death?"<br />
"No," Caius said. "I'm here to reclaim my empire."<br />
"Your empire?" Bram lifted his hand and pointed at Caius. He lifted up with his arms held out suspended in the air before Bram. "The Paratus empire is dead, just like you little warrior."<br />
"You can kill me if you want." Caius said calmly. "But without me, you won't kill your enemies and you will never get back what your looking for."<br />
"And what am I looking for?" Bram walked out in front of Caius. He didn't trusts the emperor's blood. He knew them to be liars. "What can you offer me?"<br />
"I know where to find the rings." Caius said. "And I could bring them to you, for a price."<br />
"I could just kill you." Bram said as he thought about the proposition. "But you interest me. I will listen to your proposition."<br />
"I will get your rings back for you." Caius said. "All of them. And I will lead your enemies right to you so you can destroy them."<br />
"And what do you want for this favor?"<br />
"My empire back." Caius looked down at Bram. "And the power to get my revenge on an old friend."<br />
Bram thought about what Caius was asking. He could always get rid of him after he retrieved the rings. He wouldn't need him after that. Let the boy do the hard work then kill him. He is a Parantus after all, one of his enemies.<br />
"I will give you what you ask for. "Bram said. "But if you fail me, you will pay."<br />
Bram reached out a took a hold of Caius by his leg and started his spell.<br />
<br />
FIRE, ICE, LAND AND SEA.<br />
POWERS OF THE ELEMENTS<br />
I GIVE TO THEE.<br />
TO FIND MY RING.<br />
AND RETURN TO ME.<br />
NOW SWEAR YOUR SOUL.<br />
AND GIVE IT TO ME.<br />
<br />
Then Caius started to scream as Bram filled his body with the power of the Elements. Lightning blazed as ice and fire combined to filled his body and mind. Rocks streaked up from the ground to form into armor to cover his face, legs, arm and chest. His eyes began to glow crimson red as sparks began to flicker out. Smoke and steam seeped out all around him as he staggered back against the wall.<br />
He looked down at his armor encased hands and screamed again as flames erupted from his palms.<br />
"What have you done to me?"<br />
"You wanted power." Bram laughed. "I gave you power. Now I have one more trick for you. This is what will happen if you fail me."<br />
Bram flared out with his hands and increased power in Cauis. Flames and lightning started to shoot out from his body as he started to overload and burnout.<br />
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! STOP!!!!!"<br />
Bram dropped his hands and the power started to stabilize. Cauis fell to the floor still smoking and breathing hard.<br />
"I can destroy you anytime I want to." Bram pointed out. "It does not matter where you are, so don't fail me. Now go find my rings."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-11029817225011053162015-11-14T03:09:00.001-05:002019-09-18T09:38:42.247-04:00The Elementals. 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">It was dark as Quynn, Ranjer, Yarden and Myor made their way through the mountains of Roann. The only light came from Myor as he streaked brightly between the peaks. With Myor in the lead lighting the way, they searched the peaks until they found the cave that Myor had seen with his mind probe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[There.] He pointed to a ledge to the opening as he circled around the peak. [That's our entrance.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Quynn flew down and was the first to land. Yarden and Ranjer jumped from his back as Myor set down.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"How far down do we have to go?" Ranjer asked as he looked into the dark hole.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You're not afraid of the dark?" Yarden asked with a smile. "Are you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"No." Ranjer said. "I can see just fine. I was wondering what’s down there."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I guess we'll find out." Quynn said as he stepped into the cave. "Can you still find the ring?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I got us this far." Myor said. "We're going to have to go down and find it. I know it's here."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I'll lead." Yarden said. "My nose can help us make our way through these tunnels."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">With Yarden in the lead, they made their way through the twist and turns of the dark tunnels. They passed amazing rock formations and walls lined with all kinds of gems and precious metals. They saw veins of gold, silver and platinum. They saw iron and bronze. Quynn made a remark about how the Dwarves of Lands’ End would love a chance to mine in this cave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">They found an underground river that raged into a set of falls then pooled into a great lake. Yarden called a stop and went fishing for huge trout that they cooked in the campfire for lunch. While they ate, they heard strange growling noises coming from somewhere in the darkness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"What is that?" Quynn asked. He stood up and walked out away from the fire and gazed into darkness. Dragons usually live deep down in caves, so the darkness was nothing to Quynn. He saw huge rodents skittering all about through the cave. But that can't be what growled. Quynn looked deeper, then looked up. There were strange white bats all over the ceiling of the cave. They were no threat to them. As Quynn turned to go back to the campfire, something shot out of a side cave and attached to his leg and pulled him off his feet. Falling on his back, Quynn looked up and saw a ten-foot half mantis, half spider come lurching out of the darkness toward him. It was a Flashclaw. He had heard tales about them from his father, but he'd never seen one before. The Flashclaw stood like a Praying Mantis, it was black as the night with red stripes that ran across its thick exoskeleton with two front main appendages for stabbing and slicing its prey. Its lower body was more spider like but covered in black armor and it moved on six crab like legs. It also had a spider’s spinneret and a deadly bite that injected acid into its victims.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">As the Flashclaw advanced on Quynn, he struggled with the web trying to rip it loose from his leg. With a chattering squeal, it raised its spiked leg to stab down into Quynn. Without thinking, Quynn shifted and bellowed out a blast of flame that sent it scuttering back away from him. As Quynn ripped the webs off and climbed to his feet, the Flashclaw started to scream an ear piercing yell. Ranjer, Myor and Yarden came running from the fire as four more came charging out of the cave. Yarden shifted and dived in and grabbed the closest Flashclaw by its forelegs and slammed it into the cave wall then threw it out into the lake. He reached out and tore a stalagmite free from the ground and waded in swinging it like a club. Myor and Quynn started blasted the giant bugs with their flames while Ranjer fired energy bolts. Soon, one by one the Flashclaws died or ran off back into the caves where they had come from.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"We should hurry and find the ring." Ranjer said. "Those thing will be back and there will be a lot more of them."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Then let's get moving." Quynn said. "And fast."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">With Yarden back in the lead, they ran on through the tunnel. They ran through another tunnel filled with giant rats. Myor took the lead there and blasted the tunnel with fire to clear the way so they could pass. Finally, they came to a huge chamber with a high ceiling covered with diamonds and a green phosphorescent alga. Yarden stopped them just before they entered. He sniffed the air and frowned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"There's something alive in there." He said. "And it smells worse than a whole colony of Kensi."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Someone needs to go in and see what's in there." Myor suggested. He stepped to the entrance and gazed in. "Someone who can slip in unnoticed."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"That's not me." Yarden moved over to a boulder and sat down. "I can merge with ice and snow but not rock. That would take someone with powers over rock, or maybe someone who can become invisible."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Invisible?" Quynn said turning to his cousin Ranjer. "How about a mist? Would that work?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Me?" Ranjer looked at them surprised, his gray eyed flashed red.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You can slide in as mist and see exactly what's living in there." Quynn explained. "Then we can figure how to get in and what to do."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I guess that will work." Ranjer took off his bag and handed it over to Quynn and walked to the entrance to the chamber. He closed his eyes and summoned the air and water particles from all around to cover him as he dissolved into the mist and flowed into the chamber.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">The chamber was huge, big enough to fit a small city in. A small river flowed through the center and the walls on each side were lined in tiers with rooms and apartments dug into the walls. Ranjer slid in low to the ground and spread himself out so he could explore every part of the chamber. He found areas where there were small cooking fire pits had been build in many of the rooms with crude knives and other cooking utensils. In many rooms, he found sleeping furs piled in what he thought might be some kind of nest or den. Yarden was right. There was something living in here, and from what Ranjer found, it looked like it might be a whole tribe. But a tribe of what? Ranjer had no clue.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[What do you see in there?] Quynn asked from the outer chamber.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[It's a really big cave.] He sent. [There are cook fires and furs for sleeping. I found what looks like plates and bowls and a lot of old gnawed bones.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[What about the ring?] Myor asked. [Do you see it anywhere?]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[No.] He sent. [I don't see anything like a ring, but I haven't been able to search very much. This chamber is really big. It could be anywhere in here.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Ranjer searched the apartments one at a time. He went from level to level going through sleeping furs and everything else he saw but still no ring. Then from deep in the back of the chamber, something moved. Ranjer drifted up towards the roof of the chamber, then to the back where he thought he heard the noise. There was something there. It was huge and covered with long hair all over its body. At first, Ranjer thought it was some kind of bear, then it lumbered out grunting into the chamber and he recognized it. It was a Troll, but not like the Trolls back at home. At home the forest Trolls were big hairless brutes that scavenged and attacked travelers on the road or from under bridges. This one was different. Though it was hairy, it wore clothing and its eyes had a strange glow. Ranjer got the feeling this thing was much more intelligent just forest Trolls. And there was something else. Something on its hand sparkled. Ranjer slowly drifted down for a closer look. Then he saw it. It was wearing a ring!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Just as he was about to message the others that he had found the ring, the Troll turned and looked up in his direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Fe Fi Fo Fum." The troll swept his hand up at Ranjer. The water in the caves river sprouted up and rushed at him. Ranjer's mist form absorbed the water molecules making him to dense to hold his form. Struggling to keep himself together, Ranjer fell to land at the Trolls feet. "I smell the blood of a foreign one. Who dares invades the chamber of Gnark?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Gnark reached down and grabbed Ranjer and threw him across the floor the chamber. Ranjer crashed to the ground and rolled into the wall where he lay there unconscious. Feeling Ranjer's panic, Quynn shifted and rushed in to Ranjer to stand over him and Gnark charged. Quynn took a deep breath and blew out a torrent of flames that stopped Gnark and forced him back. As Myor and Yarden joined Quynn, Gnark lifted both arms over his head forcing the river to shoot out at them in a blast of hard water. The water struck Yarden, he was knocked back to the entrance in a muddy heap. Myor raised a shield to protect himself and Ranjer from the water. Quynn launched himself over the top of the shield at Gnark, his claws out stretched as he reached for the Troll. In response, Gnark swept the water around and formed a barrier between him and Quynn's razor sharp claws. Quynn roared out his frustration and beat against the solid wall of water. There had to be a way to get through to fight the Troll. He had to get that ring back. It was the only way if they were to have a chance at beating Bram Thorn.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Bram Thorn?" Gnark lowered his hands. "I see a name in your mind little dragon. It is a name I know. Bramble Thorn is alive?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[Yes.] Quynn settled down and shifted to his Human form. "He escaped from his prison in the Underworld and he's returned and swore revenge on the people of Taggitia. So far he destroyed Ammath and all of its people but one. He raided a cavern in Mada looking for one of his rings and killed everyone that lived there. A whole Yetisian clan dead. He poisoned the corn crops of Diva and murdered all its people and there are many more in his way."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Gnark dropped the water wall and stepped in to confront Quynn and Myor. He waved his hand at Yarden and sent a gentle rain of clean water to shower the Yetisian and wake him up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Your friend will be alright." He turned in toward the cavern. "Follow me."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Leaving Yarden and Ranger sleeping peacefully, they followed Gnark to a crystal set in a wall by the furthest dwelling in the cavern. Gnark stood in front of the crystal and waved his hand in front of it. As the crystal flashed to life, scenes of life in the undersea city of Mabin streaked by. They saw a Mer wizard with a young apprentice at his side as he worked for the betterment of the citizens. He cured the sick and eradicated many diseases. He used his magic to protect and to fight many enemies of the city. He did his best to teach compassion, honor and bravery to his young eager apprentice until one day that apprentice learn that the wizard had met a new young initiate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"On that day." Gnark explained. "The apprentice learned jealousy. He thought his master had turned against him and planned to leave all his magic knowledge to the one he thought to be his rival. Of course, he was wrong. The new initiate was actually meant for a city far away were the master hoped they would be friends and allies. But friendship was not one of Bram Thorn's strong suits. Neither was patients or faithfulness. No matter how hard Aenon tried, certain lessons just escaped Bram's comprehension. Lessons that would be important if he was to be made a master."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Quynn and Myor listened well. Some of what Gnark was saying explained Bram's rage and so much more. His cold heart and his stubbornness, his hate for those he thought had more power. It all started here.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Then the final day of judgement was on the two students." Gnark gestured at the crystal and it showed them standing on a island undergoing their final test. "Young Christian worked hard and passed every test Aenon put to him, but Bram's anger was so high, he couldn't concentrate and failed miserably. Aenon passed on the ring of knowledge to the boy and congratulated him. That was when Bram's anger became out of control and he struck. He cast out his spell, an evil spell that ripped all the life and magic from both Christian and Aenon infused it into the ring. It gave the ring great power over the water and drove the two minds in it to insanity."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"This is the first of Bram's nine Rings of Madness." Gnark held up the ring. "They are the rings that drove him mad. I have been able to free Christian from his hellish prison and he is now here resting in peace. But Aenon is still insane and in the ring and very dangerous to he who wears the ring. He has his moments of clarity but they are few and unpredictable. I will give you the ring, but you must promise me two things. One, you will never put the ring on and two, you won't allow Bram to get it. I want your word, both of you."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"We promise." They said together. Then as he handed Quynn the ring, Quynn asked a question. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"But what of you and the other Trolls here? Won't you lose your magical protection."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Do not fear for my people." Gnark smiled. "Christian will protect our cavern."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Together they walked back to where Yarden was waking up with Ranjer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"He is at peace but he is still here. He will always be here with us. This is his home, don't worry about us, you have enough with Bram on the loose in the world. His madness is a threat to all the people of Tagittia."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Thank you Gnark." Myor bowed to the Troll. "Tagittia is in your debt."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Fare you well young heroes." Gnark nodded. "May the gods always be at your side."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">With Yarden and Ranjer awake and back on their feet, Myor led them back up and out of the cave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Where to now?" Yarden asked as he enjoyed the night air of the mountains.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I think we should go find the others." Quynn said. "And see how they're doing."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"How about we rest tonight and start out fresh in the morning." Myor dropped tired and pulled his robe closed around him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You're not worried what Bram might be doing?" Ranjer asked. "I can tell you he's not resting. He might be attacking someone else right now."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Myor moaned his frustration but he knew Ranjer was right. They should hurry back. Myor got back up on his feet to get ready to fly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I'll tell you what." Ranjer said. "You ride on Quynn and I'll fly. You can rest on the ride back."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Fine." Myor said. "Let's get moving. We have a long way to go."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18px;">The night was dark and hot as Bram Thorn entered what was left of Sorrowdown. All its citizens had fled after the slave revolt and the preceding riot. The slaves had set the city on fire in revenge for the years they had spent under the yoke of Sorrowdown and their cruel masters, before they ran off to the freedom of the forest and beyond hoping to never see the city again. All that was left were small bands of roving scavengers looting what was left of the market place and the burnt out abandoned homes of the city's nobles.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">As Bram entered the city, a small gang of men watched as he pushed his way through the debris that littered the main road into town. From the way he carried himself, they thought him to be an easy mark. Just another noble who had come back to see what was left of his house and property. As far as they could see, he had no warriors with him for protection, it didn't even look like he was armed at all. Just a mad man raving to himself about his losses as he searched for his belongings. The men snickered under their breath thinking how easy this was going to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Splitting into two groups, one went to the left hidden by small burnt out buildings while the other went right thinking they would trap the stranger between them and rob him of whatever gold and jewelry he had. As they waited to attack, they could hear him screaming obscenities at no one as he walked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">In seconds he would emerge from between the two ruined buildings. There were four men waiting with swords ready on each sides. They raised their swords ready as they listened to his angry ranting. The stranger walked straight up the road, his arms flailing about in crazy gestures. From each side the men charged out at him to attack. He ignored them until the last second then thrust out with both arms grabbing the men up in his spell. They rose up into the air trapped in the coils of magic like the tentacles of some mystic octopus as they fought for their freedom. Below, Bram Thorn's mad laughter echoed out through the ruins of the dead ex-empire city.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You like the others thought me weak and helpless." Bram reached out and squeezed them in his spell. "You were wrong. I am as powerful today as I was the day I was killed."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">The men screamed and cried out for mercy. Bram laughed harder enjoying their moment of fear and pain. He walked out to stand under them as they struggled against the spell trying to free themselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You want mercy; I’ll will show mercy." He said as he casually strolled beneath them drooling in madness. "But I require something in return for my generosity. I will spare all your miserable lives but you must serve me."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">The men in the grips of his spell all cried out their objections. They screamed out their denials and renewed their fight to free themselves from his magic. Back and forth they swung in the air as Bram laughed below them and applied more power to the spell. It squeezed harder, soon they could hardly breathe and had no choice but to accept his conditions. Bram through back his head and cackled as he turned and threw his hands up into the air. The eight men caught up in his spell screamed as they descended to the ground and the change began.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Though I don't have the right rings." Bram said. "I still have enough control over the elements for this. You will be my elemental warriors. Two of you will be fire, two will be wind, two will be water and to will be soil."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">As he chanted, two men screamed and burst into flames. Their clothing and the air all around them burned as the fire fused into their bodies turning them into fire Elemental's. One by one, the men changed. The first two to fire, then two to air, then water and soil until eight Elemental's stood in front of Bram ready to follow his every order.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You will do." He said as he walked around inspecting his work. "Who is your Master?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You are." One of the fire elemental's stepped forward dripping sparks and dropped of lava. "Bram Thorn is our master."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Follow me." Bram turned and headed into Sorrowdown. He passed through the lower city were the people of the lower casts, the marketplace and the ruins of the Emperor's arena stood to the part of the city were those who owned land lived. Not quite the rich or the nobles, but the working class. From there he moved on to the garden part of the city were the nobles live. The villas and manses made of marble, brick and cement with lavish gardens and unique architecture and decoration. The roads here were paved and usually kept clean by slave labor but now the whole area was in chaos from the riot. This area was the home of the pampered and the privileged with the palace of the Emperor on the highest level and Bram's destination.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">He led them in through the tore down fence and into the courtyard of the palace. From there with a wave, Bram swept open the doors and went into his new home. He looked around and smiled satisfied with his choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[You don't deserve this.] A voice said. [You should be down in the ghetto with the rest of the trash living in the mud. You’re a pig!]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Shut up." Bram mumbled to himself. "I don't want to hear it."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[And I don't care what you want, you crazy bastard,] The voice laughed. [You did this to yourself, now suffer for your misdeeds.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I SAID BE QUIET!!!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[Yeah yeah yeah. Fuck you.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Bram lost control and sent a bolt of energy at a wall blasting it out. The voices just laughed at him provoking him even further.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[Weak fool!]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Angry, Bram closed his mind and headed further into the palace to the Emperor's throne room where he made himself at home. He called in the air elemental to attend him. The curtains blew as the being of air blew in through the hole in the wall. As it landed down in front of Bram, it bowed to its Master. The change had turned him blue and transparent. He wore rags that blew in the winds that swirled around him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"You called Master?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Yes." Bram said. "I think I will call you Solaris. I have a job for you my Elemental warriors. There are people I want you to kill."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"As you wish my Master." Solaris bowed his head. "Just tell me who and where."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"There is a man in a small town called Bellshore." Bram leaned forward. "He has something I want. A ring. I want him punished for stealing my ring. Take Embar, one of the flames with you and get it back for me and kill the thief."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Your wish is our command." Solaris said. "Is there anything else?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Yes, find me one more from the city. There is one more element I need as a guard."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Yes my master."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">He lifted his arms and started to spin into a small vortex and disappeared through the broken wall. Bram started laughing again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18px;">As the sun set to the west, Hoddie and Niro used their strength to help the Elves dig out and rescue anyone still buried by the damage of Bram's storm. Sima's delicate nose led them from house to house where he showed them where to dig to locate any buried survivors. Rowyn spent the night lending her magic in the healer tents tending to the wounded while Bly kept watch with a group of Mystwinter's guards for looters thinking to raid the damaged city.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">By morning, everything had settled down and Mystwinter was quiet. Niro woke up and did his morning business then went looking for his friends. He found Rowyn sleeping in the healer tent. Passed out from exhaustion while Hoddie stood guard at the door. The Goblin nodded a greeting and made a motion spooning to his mouth. He was hungry and didn't want to leave his watch on the princess while she slept. Niro waved then went to the dining tent and picked up some bread and cheese and a bowl of beef stew and brought it back to Hoddie. He took the pack and thanked Niro for the breakfast and started eating. Niro took a seat next to him as Hoddie handed him some bread and cheese.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"What are you thinking?" He asked as he spooned stew into his mouth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I was thinking about where we should be heading next." Niro said. "Any ideas?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Bly wants to go find Bram." Hoddie said. "But I'm not sure that's a good idea. We have four out of nine rings. I don't think that's enough. Don't forget, he broke out of the Underworld with no rings at all. Now he has at least two that we know of. He could have more."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"So that means so far know four rings have been found." Niro folded the towel the cheese and bread had been wrapped in and stuck it in his sleeve. "There are still three out there somewhere for us to find. I wonder where the next one is?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"It's in Hernborim." Bly said as she flew in to land on Niro's knee. "A Dwarf has it. We have to head into Dwarf country and find Leda Redhelm. I just hope Bram doesn't find her first."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Hernborim is the south." Niro said. He lifted Bly then got to his feet. "We'll have to book passage across Lake Goras. It might be a good idea to find Tarron and Marissa and get them back here first. They can arrange passage for us. Is there anyway to trace Eldar's spell to find them?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"We'll have to ask Rowyn when she wakes up." Hoddie said. He turned to Bly. "You should get some rest. You've been on guard all night. When Rowyn wakes up, we'll come get you, then we can get moving."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"No." She shifted to her larger size and guided them out of the healer tent and to a turned over bench. Niro flipped it over and they sat down. "I get my energy from the sun, I don't need much sleep. What I need is some kind of action and I have an idea about how to find the king and queen."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"What were you thinking?" Hoddie asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"All magic is done with different colored lines of energy and power." She explained. "Any spell can be traced, undone, unraveled or reversed if you can see and follow the lines."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I understand that." Niro said. "My tutor back home told me all about it, but I never had the ability to touch or manipulate the lines. I can see them, but I can't get them to work for me."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"But in a way, I can." Bly said. "Let me explain. I can't see them, but if you can show me which lines to use, I can reverse Eldar's spell. It's going to hurt like hell, but I can do it."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Why don't we just wait and let Rowyn do it?" Hoddie asked. He looked from Niro to Bly. "She's more adept for magic?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Rowyn spent the night exhausting herself using her magic to heal." Bly explained. "When she wakes up, she'll still be very weak. It'll take her hours until she has enough power, and in her weakened condition, it could kill her."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"If I know our princess, she'll still want to do it." Hoddie agreed. "I think she's done enough for now. You're right, we should do this now before she wakes up. What do you need?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Just Niro and the room they were in when the spell was cast." As she explained, Sima came over and laid down next to Niro. He put his hand down and rubbed her head. "If you can keep everyone clear of the throne room, it shouldn't take us too long."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I will have Captain Nierde place a few of his guards on the the palace gates." Hoddie stood up. "They will keep everyone out to give you time to work on Eldar's spell. I'll stay here and watch over Rowyn until she wakes up, then we'll come and find you."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Keep Sima here with you." Niro said as he and Bly got to their feet. "All the magic might frighten her if she follows us."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[Not scared of magic.] Sima sent. [But I stay by princess.]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">[Good girl.] Niro hugged the cat and he and Bly headed to what was left of Mystwinter palace.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">They stopped at the gate and waited for Captain Nierde and his warriors. When they arrived, Bly explained what they were planning to do. She told them that just as the storm had hit Mystwinter, Eldar had sent King Tarron and Queen Marissa away to somewhere he thought they would be safe from Bram Thorn.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"But you have no idea where he sent." Captain Nierde looked from Bly to Niro. "You don't even know if they made it or not. Lord Eldar could have sent them straight into the heart of Mount Mornmist for all you know."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"It's possible." Niro said confused. "But why would he want to do that? Eldar didn't seem like the type to be disloyal to Mystwinter or Tarron. I can't imagine he would do anything to hurt the king."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Eldar is second in line to the throne." Nierde said aggitated. "Brothers kill each other for such advancements. That we all know is the history of royal siblings."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"But here in Mystwinter?" Bly objected shaking her head. "Mystwinter has always had the noblest of royal families, loyal and true to each other. Eldar would never betray or hurt his king. Tarron is safe, that I can promise you. We just have to find him and bring him home."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I beg your pardon Lady Bly." Captain Nierde bowed down to Bly. "The storm and all the troubles have put my mind on edge. I meant no disrespect."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"These are hard times Captain. All I ask is that you trust us a little more and we will try and bring your king and queen home to Mystwinter. Can you do that for Mystwinter?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I will trust you." Capt. Nierde promised. "Without you and your friends, Mystwinter would be in ruins. Bring our king home safe."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"We will do our best."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">With Capt. Niedre and his men on guard, Bly and Niro headed into Mystwinter palace. From the entrance, they made their way through the ruined palace. They went over and around huge piles of rubble, broken fancy furniture and over large gaps in the floor until they made it up and into the throne room. Once inside, Niro switched to a visual spectrum that was sensitive to magic. All around the room he saw red, green and blue bands of magic. There were all kinds of spells active to the room."Whoa!" He said. "There are centuries of magic here. Spells on all the windows and doors, even some of the furniture has been enchanted."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Do you see the spell Eldar used?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Not yet." Niro walked further in closer to the throne. "I see Bram's spells. His spells are black. Stay away from the throne, it's has a very dark and gloomy glow to it."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Can we undo it?" She asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I wouldn't touch it." Niro shook his head. "I don't have the training to try taking that spell apart. That's death magic, very tricky. It could backfire and kill us both."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Then move on. Where should we look next?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Over here." Niro said from behind the throne. "These spells are purple. This has to be Eldar's magic."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Bly came over and put her hand on Niro's shoulder. Suddenly she could see the spells through his eyes. She looked around the room and saw all the other spells. Most of them were of colors but in more duller shades. The spell behind the throne was of a more deep, richer shade of purple."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"The richer the shade." Niro said. "The more recent the spell. This spell here was cast in less then twenty four hours. See how the spell traces that specific shape in the air. This part here is the point of origin. This last part here is the destination. All you have to do is touch the destination, then trace it back to the origin and we'll know where he sent Tarron. Then we can reverse the spell and bring them back."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"It's that simple?" Bly was surprised. "I can do that."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"But can you do it without touching any other lines?" Niro looked up at her."That's where it takes skill and precision. If you touch any of the other lines, you totally disrupt the spell and anything could happen. Do you still think you can do it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Bly studies the intricate design. There were many twists and turns and the lines at some points came really close, but she thought she could do it. All she had to do was be very careful, move slowly and don't let anything break her concentration.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"So how do we start?" Bly rubbed her hands together anxious to get started. Niro could see the excitement written across her face. She seemed in a rush and that was her first mistake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Slow down." He said. "You have to relax and be calm. Magic is all about precision, clarity and control. If you plan to trace the spell, you should listen up."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"OK." Bly raised her hands giving in to Niro's advice. "What should I do first?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"First I want you to sit down and study the spells design. I want you familiar with every twist and turn. Every line, loop and curve until you can see it with your eyes closed, then you can start. Now take a seat."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Bly sat down in front of the spell and with her finger, traced out each line in her mind until they glowed in her memory. She went over and over each line learning its length and thickness until the spells exact measurements and dimensions were committed to her memory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Do you see it in you mind?" Niro asked. "Each line, each turn, can you follow it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Then it's time to start." Niro's voice was strong and firm. "Reach out and touch the top corner. Don't move yet, just feel the power of the spell. Let it's power flow into you and through you. Take control of it, make it obey your command. Now we can begin, follow the first line, slow and careful."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">With her finger, Bly slowly followed the line straight across, then made the first turn as sparks started to flare up. She worked slow and carefully through each line and turn as the power kept building. With every inch she felt the power intensifying. It felt like electricity building through her hand. It was beginning to burn. She was three quarters of the way through and not sure if she could make it all the way to the end. Then there was a sudden flash that caught Bly completely by surprise but it didn't stop her progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Standing behind her, Niro jumped as something blasted out of the spell into the air above Bly. As he watched, it streaked out like a storm and rolled all across the ceiling then formed itself into a face made of energy and sent a blast down at Bly. Moving with incredible speed, Niro pulled his ax from his side and dived in front of Bly. The blast streaked in and came at Niro like a bolt of lightning. Focusing all his strength, Niro swung out with Stormfury and batted the blast off to crash into the ceiling.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I am Voltar." Buzzed the Elemental. "And I have been sent here to kill you."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"We'll see about that!" Niro yelled as he threw Stormfury. It hit the Electric Elemental then bounced back, hit another wall then returned to him. "Don't stop. Finish the spell or it could kill you!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Niro leaped high and slashed through the elemental. It howled in pain and fired more strikes at him. Spinning his weapon, he caught each strike with the head of Stormfury then cast out with his earth ring causing pieces of broken masonry to fly up and attack the Elemental. Like arrows straight from the bow of a centaur, bricks and rocks flew at the elemental. They didn't cause and damage, but for a second they did distract it. That was all the time Niro needed. He run forward to the throne and leaped up at the Elemental with Stormfury raised to attack. Like the hammer of a god it crashed down onto the electrical beast sending sparks raining all over the room. Weakened by Stormfury's magic, the Elemental fell. It howled as it tried to get back up to attack. Thinking quickly, Niro grabbed a rope that was laying in a huge puddle of water and tossed one end at the fallen electric entity grounding it causing it to flared up and exploded as he dived away to safety. As he sat up in the smoky room, his first thought was for Bly. He turned to the throne to find her just finishing the last turn of Eldar's spell.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"I know where they are." She said as she fell back exhausted.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Good." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Niro stood up and brushed away ash from the explosion then looked back to where the Elemental had fallen. There on the floor lay what was left of a man. He was badly burned and dying. Bly and Niro went and side at his side.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Who is he?" Bly asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"This is what came out of the spell to attack us." Niro said. "He was an Elemental."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Bram did this." She said. "Somehow he used Eldar's spell to trap us. He knew we would be coming here."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;">"Then he might go after Quynn and the others to get the rings they're searching for. We better go find them."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-2446238421785480262015-11-01T22:56:00.002-05:002019-09-18T09:43:58.369-04:00Mystwinter. 13In his study, Nadir Payne sat and watched scenes flash by in has mirror of neighboring Farcross. He saw Tobias Gara as he went for place to place talking with the high ranking noble of that city. He knew Tobias was plotting against him. He was building a force to come to Bellshore and attack Nadir. They wanted his secret, his power. His ring.<br />
[Yes.] Said the voice in his mind. [Tobias his always been jealous of you. He never liked you.]<br />
"That's not true." Nadir said. "He's my friend. I have nothing he wants."<br />
[You have me.] It said. [He wants me. He wants my power. He's going to come here and take me unless you stop him.]<br />
"NO!" Nadir got up and waved his hand in front of the mirror cutting off the images. He turned and went to the window and looked out at the sleepy city of Bellshore. There were very few people out on the streets of the city except his guards. Nadir had set a curfew on the city a little over a year ago after his sister Celia had betrayed him and went to Farcross to plot with Tobias to over throw him. But he had caught her when she was trying to sneak back into the city. He knew she had come back to make sure the gates would be open for the attack. Now she lay in the dungeon with all the other traitors he had caught in the city. The mayor and the city council, all of them were down there in the dungeon.<br />
[That's right. you can't trust anyone but me!]<br />
"Quiet!" Nadir yelled. "I need peace and quiet to think!"<br />
[All you need is me.] Said the voice. [I know what's best for you.]<br />
"I said SHUT UP!" He screamed sending a bolt of energy out to crash into a wall and blowing a hole through it. With a groan, Nadir walked out of his study. He was tired of all this. The voice and the responsibility of the city and its people. He just wanted to sleep. Sleep for a thousands years.<br />
"BUT THEY JUST WON"T LET ME SLEEP!"<br />
[You can sleep when our work is done. Right now we have to much to do, to many enemies to defeat. Like the Vampire in the dungeon. You know he is only the first. Soon more will cone. Mark my words.]<br />
Who is he? Nadir thought. Why is he here? Could he be here as an advance for an attack? But why would the Vampires want to come all the way out here when they have their own lands to rule over?<br />
[BECAUSE THEY'RE AFTER ME!!!]<br />
"SHUT UP!" Nadir screamed pulling at his hair. "JUST SHUT UP!!!"<br />
From his upstairs hall, Nadir stormed his way down through his tower to the lower floors then down into the dungeons below. The smell down there was horrible from so many unclean and unkempt people. He kept his prisoners fed but that was about all the care he had given them. Care for the prisoners had been Jukal and Celia's responsibility until they had become prisoners themselves. Now with them in cells, the only attendant down in the dungeons were a small team of men from Bellshore's guard force.<br />
As Nadir walked through the halls, he was disgusted but the conditions down there. It was cold and dirty. It was dark, wet and crowded. This was no place for humans to have to live, even if they were prisoners. Nadir stopped and looked around. He hadn't been down here in more then three years. He had sent prisoners here, but he had no idea that the conditions were so bad. What was he thinking?<br />
[All these people deserve to be right here.] The voice said. [They are your enemies. Why do you care what conditions they live in. They will all die soon anyway.]<br />
Ignoring the voice, Nadir moved on until he found the cell they guards had put the Vampire in. He took a key from the nook at the side of the cell and went in. There he found the Vampire along with his sister Celia and his ex apprentice Jukal chained to the wall. Celia didn't look well. Her hair had gone gray and was matted, she looked thin and pale. And so did Jukal. He looked like he was starving to death. This was his family. What had he done?<br />
[What have YOU done?] The voice screamed. [They did it!! They betrayed you! Have you forgotten both of them were plotting against you! Stop being so weak!!]<br />
"SHUP UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!"<br />
As he screamed, Celia pulled herself into a ball and tried to hide herself in fear. Jukal also pulled away.<br />
"Who are you Vampire?" He asked Ranjer." Why are you here?"<br />
"My name is Prince Ranjer Dragomir Zlenka Tyr." Ranjer stood up. " I am the second son of King Valkar Zlenka of Yadessa and ward to King Drake Tyr of Tir Na and I want to know why you locked me here in this dungeon?"<br />
"You are here because I caught you spying on be out near the river." Nadir said. "Why were you there?"<br />
"Spying?" Ranjer said. "Was I really? You caught me standing in the river. I WAS coming to the rescue of those children that Gator thing attacked. I would have introduced myself had you not attacked me and given me a chance."<br />
[He lies!] the voice said. [He's after me!]<br />
"Quiet!"<br />
Ranjer stepped back his eyes narrowed at Nadir as he smacked himself in the head. Ranjer knew what was going on. It was the ring.<br />
"Who is he talking to?" Celia asked terrified of her own brother. Jukal tried to get up and limped out a few feet.<br />
"Why are you here Ranjer Tyr?" Nadir asked. "I have no quarrel with with the Vampires or the Werewolves. What do you want?"<br />
"I want that." Ranjer pointed to the ring on Nadir's left hand. "I know what it is."<br />
[SEE!] The ring screamed in his head. [I TOLD YOU HE WAS HERE FOR ME! KILL HIM NOW!!]<br />
Nadir raised his hands ready to fight and blast Ranjer. Ranjer just spread his arms with his palms up.<br />
"I'm not here to fight you." Ranjer said. "I'm here to save you, to keep you from becoming as bad as the monster that the man that owned the ring was. Do you know who owned that ring before you? I'm here to take it and put it some place where it can never hurt anybody again."<br />
[HE LIES!] The ring screamed! [KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW!!]<br />
Nadir grabbed his head and staggered back away from Ranjer to the wall near Celia. As afraid of her brother as she was, she still loved him very much and wanted to help him. She got up and wrapped her arms around him and tried to comfort him. When she touched Nadir, the ring reacted. It sent out a pulse of power that threw her away and back against the wall. Celia hit the wall, screamed and fell to the floor.<br />
[KILL HER!!!] The ring screamed to Nadir. [KILL HER NOW!! DO NOT LET HER TOUCH US AGAIN!!]<br />
"NOOOOO!!" Nadir yelled. He grabbed the ring and tore it off his finger and threw it against the wall and ran to Celia. "Take it! Get it away from me!"<br />
The second he took off the ring, the spell on the cell dropped and Ranjer and Jukal felt their magic return to them. Ranjer shifted to mist and the chains on his legs slipped off. He turned to go pick up the ring and realized Jukal already had it in his hand. Jukal stood there staring down at the ring as it glowed brightly. He could already hear it trying to talk to him.<br />
"If you put that ring on." Ranjer looked deeply in Jukak's eyes. "This will all start again, but this time it will be you hurting people. I know your mad with Nadir but the ring caused all this, not him. But if you put that ring on, you may become even worse then he was. Is that what you want?"<br />
"No." He reached out and put the ring in Ranjer's hand. "I don't want anything to do with that damned ring. I'd give up my magic before I let it do to me what it did to Nadir."<br />
"I'm sorry Jukal." Nadir sat there hugging Celia. "I didn't know it would turn me into a raving lunatic. If I had known, I would never have put it on. Who's ring was it anyway?"<br />
"It belonged to a warlock named Bram Thorne." Ranjer told them. "But it was made by another warlock who he killed to get it. It's still possessed by the warlock who forged it. My friends and I, were trying to collect all of his rings before he gets them and turns Taggitia into a wasteland of death."<br />
"Then take it please." Nadir said as he helped Celia to her feet. "And get it away from Bellshore and let us heal ourselves from the madness it put us through."<br />
[Ranjer] Quynn sent. [We're here. Do you need help?]<br />
[No Cousin. I'll met you at the river in twenty minutes.]<br />
With the ring of light in his pocket, Ranjer said good bye to Jukal and Celia and made Nadir promise to release all his prisoners from the dungeon. He accepted Nadir's apologies and followed Jukal out to the court yard of the tower, shifted to his condor form and was off to meet Quynn and the others. His flight took less then ten minutes and he was flying in to join his friends.<br />
As he touched down and shifted back to his normal formal, Ranjer went to meet the others. Quynn grabbed him in a big hug.<br />
"You had me so worried when I woke and found you were gone."<br />
"Well I got this so I guess it was a good thing," He held out the ring to Myor. "Where do we go next?"<br />
"We head for the next ring." Myor told them. He sat down and closed his eyes to orient himself on the next location. His mind traveled up and out of the valley of Bellshore. It flew out over the mountains then turned south east deeper into the tall peaks of Roann. There, Myor saw a cave carved into the side on a mountain and he streaked straight toward it. From there he dived down into the cave and moved through a tunnel into a cavern where he found a series of structures carved into the side of the cave walls. There he stopped. Myor knew the ring was somewhere in this cavern. He opened his eyes and looked up at Quynn, Ranjer and Yarden.<br />
"I know where to go." He climbed up on his feet. "We go southeast. We're going underground."<br />
<br />
The sun had just risen as the clocks in the enchanted high towers of Mystwinter chimed 6 am to started the new day. The priest of Ayduin were out as usual saying their prayers to the morning sun while the adepts worked to make sure all altars and temples were set for the days activity. In the royal palace of Mystwinter, breakfast was on a tray and being served to the royal family as Eldar the oldest brother of King Tarron made his way through the city and into the palace. He greeted the guards at the families private entrance, then stopped in the kitchen and ordered his breakfast to be sent to his office. From there he went to the kings office and spoke to the kings secretary and issued orders for the kings visit to Fay Shrea later in the week. He was to visit Eventide, Nacnar and Bellas before going north to Winterhaven and Yadessa. It would be Eldar's job to set up travel arrangements and organize protection and make arrangements with each city for his visit and housing.<br />
Once in his office, Eldar started work going over the weeks reports on trouble around Mystwinter's borders and any and all matters of criminal activity. Once he was done with the reports, his decisions and advise would go to King Tarron for his final decisions and judgments. With breakfast finished and all the reports for the week read, Eldar went to see his brother the king and his wife for their daily visit.<br />
"Quel amrun tan." Tarron smiled as he finished his breakfast and pushed his plate away. "How fares the empire today?"<br />
"All is well." Eldar smiled. He came in and kissed the Queen good morning then took a seat at the kings side. "We had a problem with Gremlins raiding in Aesar and Halfar but I sent troops to round them up. Both cities report the problem has been taken care of."<br />
"Very good." King Tarron smiled. "Those Gremlins can be such a pest. Anything else?"<br />
"Well, Baron Erlan of Conell and his neighbor Baron Ievos are fighting again." Eldar poured a cup of coffee and took a sip. "Those two can never seem to agree on anything."<br />
"What are they fighting about this time?" Tarron asked.<br />
"Land of course." Eldar said. "They both claim that small piece of land by the river that runs right between their property's. One runs cattle and the other sheep. Neither wants the other to use it to water their livestock. I had to stop them from dueling over it last week."<br />
"I will take care of it." Tarron said. "I'll declare the river as royal property so they both have no reason to fight over it. They either agree to share it or go find another way to water their animals."<br />
"Good idea." Eldar nodded. "I'll have a decree ready for you to sign later today. Oh, before I forget. You should have a talk with Sir Jhaarteal. Lady Mavrel came to see me yesterday."<br />
"Stop." Tarron held up his hand. "I know what this is all about and she's right. I can't allow him to continue acting in such a manner. But I'm not quite sure what I can do other then demote him for conduct. And if I do that, he will be completely humiliated."<br />
"I understand." Eldar agreed. "But something must be done before this situation is really knocking at our door. We have to protect Lady Mavral and her children's honor too. I don't want to see that house fall from this."<br />
As they talked, Queen Marissa had gotten up and walked to the window and noticed the gray skies and a storm moving in. She looked hard at the sky thinking this wasn't right.<br />
"There's a storm moving in." She called to her husband and his brother. Then she turned to look at the Elemental globe that sat on the mantle over the fireplace on the other side of the room. It glowed bright and golden indicating clear and sunny weather. She looked again at the storm. It was dark and rumbled with lightning flashing through the clouds. Then, as she watched, a lightning bolt flashed down and struck a tower causing it to explode into flames. Tarron and Eldar jumped from their chairs and rushed to the window.<br />
"By Rimnar!" Tarron stared out as the tower burned. "What in the world happened?"<br />
As they watched, lightning stared to streak down, striking again and again all over Mystwinter. In a matter of minutes fire raged all through the city. Wind exploded, blowing like a hurricane, fanning the fire to an even higher degree as the people of Mystwinter ran trying to find cover. In three quick strikes, the road out of Mystwinter exploded sending people flying all around. Eldar pulled Tarron and Marissa away from the window just as the wind sent a piece of rubble crashed into it.<br />
"This is no natural storm!" Eldar said. "There's magic behind this. Quick, you have to get out of here to somewhere safe!"<br />
"How?" Tarron asked him. "The road out of Mystwinter is gone! We can't ride in this with the wind tossing everything around!"<br />
"You go like this!" Eldar stepped back and raised his hands and started gathering his magic. "Take care brother, I'll come find you when this is over!"<br />
<br />
FROM HERE TO THERE.<br />
AND PLACE TO PLACE.<br />
FROM MYSTWINTER'S PALACE.<br />
TO SOMEWHERE SAFE.<br />
I SEND YOU NOW WITH SPEED AND HASTE.<br />
I SEND YOU NOW AWAY FROM THIS PLACE.<br />
<br />
As Marissa and Tarron hugged each other, Eldar's spell swept them up in a swirl of light and took them away. With a final prayer for their safety, Eldar turned and ran as rocks and debris rained down through the palace. He ducked and he dodged as he ran through the palace. He used his magic to levitate a heavy beam off of two guards and helped them out of the palace, then headed out into the front courtyard.<br />
With his shields protecting him from the wind and lightning, Eldar looked around to see if anyone needed help. Off in the distance, he saw a group of people hiding in the remnants of one of the gate houses from the palaces front gate. With the wind blowing like it was, there wasn't anything he could do. They were trapped for now. He had to think of some way to stop the storm or Mystwinter was doomed.<br />
Thinking quickly, Eldar went through what he knew about storms. He knew that warm moisture rising into cold clouds caused storms. So if he sent a strong enough blast of heat up into the storm, he should be able to disrupt it's rotation and put an end to the storm. He himself didn't have the power for such a blast, but he knew something that did,.<br />
Reaching in his pocket, Eldar pulled out a golden ring that had a huge bright red ruby set in it. He rarely ever wore this ring because of who it once belonged to. This was one of Bram Thorn's possessed Elemental rings. Eldar slide the ring on his finger and before he could do anything, a voice rang out in his head.<br />
[Aiya Elf.] Eldar felt a cold chill run through his body. [I knew one day something would drive you to put me on. I will obey your command and work for you, but there is a price.]<br />
"I don't have time to make bargains with you." Eldar shouted as the wind sent a wagon wheel to crash into his shield. "Mystwinter is being destroyed and this is my only hope to save it."<br />
[Then agree to my terms.] It said. [They are very simple. Kill Bram Thorn.]<br />
"Bram Thorn is already dead!" Eldar. "He died many years ago!"<br />
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Just agree to those terms. If he should even find a way to come back, you must kill him.]<br />
"I AGREE!!" He said. "NOW BLAST THIS STORM!!!!"<br />
Like a streak of lightning, a bolt of heat blasted out from the ring and went up straight to the heart of the storm. The clouds rumbled and boiled as the heat of the blast evaporated the moisture rolling through the storm cloud. As Eldar watched, the winds died down and the lightning stopped. The dark clouds cleared and sunlight shined through the parting clouds. As Eldar dropped his shields, the Elves hiding in the gate house stuck their heads out and looked up at the sun. All around the devastated kingdom, Elves started coming out to start searching for anyone hurt in the storm. It took all day but by nightfall, most of the fires were out and though there were still many ruined buildings to search, people started to relax.<br />
Eldar returned to the palace and made his way in to the throne room. Half the castle had been blasted to rubble and the household staff were still busy cleaning up. Eldar stood at the throne and looked at the blasted out walls. Precious family heirlooms lay scattered everywhere burned by fire. He sat on the throne and sat back and looked out through the hole in the ceiling. He didn't understand what had happened. He knew they had enemies, but who could be strong enough to control such a storm.<br />
"I could."<br />
Suddenly there was an explosion right in front of Eldar. He shielded his eyes and leaped away trying to keep from being blinded by the blast or hit by the flying debris. With the dust cloud billowing all around, Eldar stepped out to see who it was that had attacked Mystwinter. As the dust cleared, a tall man in dark robes with wild straggly hair stepped out into view. Eldar stared at him in shock, he couldn't believe what he saw.<br />
"Hello Eldar." Bram Thorn smiled. "You have something that belongs to me, and I want it back!"<br />
<br />
The hour was late and the forest was dark as Niro, Bly, Rowyn and Hoddie made their way down the road to Mystwinter. They had ridden hard all day trying to keep up with Bly and Rowyn up in the air. Now Akhrua was tired and they were hungry, so they had stopped for a short break before moving on. Bly and Rowyn had decided to scout ahead while Niro and had their quick lunch. Now it was night and they were back on the road. Bly was eager to get to Mystwinter. She had been having this terrible feeling all day that something was wrong and they should hurry. Now they were almost there. Mystwinter was only a few miles ahead.<br />
As they walked, Sima started acting strange, scenting the air and growling. Niro reached out and run his hand over her back.<br />
"What is it Sima?" He asked his feline companion. "What's bothering you?"<br />
[Smoke.] She sent. [Something burns.]<br />
"It could be the cooking fires of Mystwinter." Hoddie said. "We are close to the city."<br />
[Not food.] Sima sent. [Me smell fear and smoke. And blood.]<br />
"I don't like the sound of that." Niro unbuckled Stormfury. "Bly, you should go up through the trees to check on the city. There might be trouble ahead."<br />
"I will be back shortly." She shrank down to her fairy form and zipped up into the trees for a look. She waved between branches until she made it to the very top of the trees and looked east at the city of Mystwinter.<br />
[By Serina's sword!] She sent. [This can't be!!]<br />
"What is it?" Niro called up to her.<br />
[Mystwinter burns!! It's in ruins!]<br />
They knew that couldn't be a coincident. It could only mean one thing. Bram Thorn had been here. Someone had to get to the palace and see how Eldar and the royal family was. Bly flew down and hovered before Niro and Hoddie.<br />
"I'm taking Rowyn and we're going to the palace to check on Eldar." Bly said nervously. "You and Hoddie hurry. We might need help fast."<br />
"Go!!" Niro said as he jumped on Akhrua's back and pulled Hoddie up behind him. Rearing up on his hind legs, Akhrua galloped off down the road toward the smoking city.<br />
High up over the forest Rowyn and Bly sped toward the smoldering city. Down below they saw city wizards as the conjured and directed water from the river at various fires around the city. Elves in lines with buckets dowsing houses and shops that were burning. There was a big gaping crater that run through the city, Elves were using ropes to climb down and search for survivors. Rowyn had never seen such devastation before in her life. She so wanted to go and help the people but there really wasn't that much she could add to what they were doing. She had magic, but nothing she strong enough to do much good here.<br />
[Bly.] She called to her companion. [Is there anything we can do to help here?]<br />
[We can go and see how the royal family came through this.] Bly answered. [They may need our help. Look ahead, there's the palace in ruins.]<br />
Ahead they saw what was left of Mystwinter's beautiful five tower palace. Only two towers were still standing. Lightning had blasted the other three towers to rubble. Scorch marks blackened the ground in the places where the lightning had hit. Dead Elves lay scattered and piled all around the gates of the palace.<br />
As Bly and Rowyn reached the front gate, they saw palace guards and a few of the house staff running a make shift hospital out in the front courtyard. Any and all healers from around the area were they busy tending to all the wounded and hurt victims of the tragedy. Rowyn dropped down to land with Bly perched on her shoulder. They went to a guard they saw helping direct citizens to were they could find food, first aid and maybe even lost relatives.<br />
"Excuse me." Rowyn said. "Can you tell me what happened here?"<br />
The Elf looked up at them. His arm was bandage and there were bandages wrapped around his head and chest. They could tell he was in pain. Rowyn reached out and touched his arm sending warm healing strength all through his body. The look of pain faded away and he sighed with relief and smiled.<br />
"Diola lle arwen en amin." He smiled and bowed to them. "Now I can breathe much better."<br />
"I wish there was more I could do." Rowyn said with a small smile. "What happened here?"<br />
"There was a storm." He said. "It came at us with no warning. One minute the sun was shining and the next, lightning and wind was blasting everything. We tried to run but it was already too late and there was no where to hide."<br />
"What about the king and queen?"" She asked. "Did they make it to safety?"<br />
"I don't know." He said. "I saw Lord Eldar out here helping people for a little while, but I haven't seen King Tarron or Queen Marissa. I hope they're somewhere safe. They will be needed to help rebuild."<br />
"Lord Eldar." Bly said. "Did you see where he went?"<br />
"Back into the palace." He told them. "But that was more then an hour ago."<br />
"We're going in to check on him." Bly flew up to hover in front of the guard. "We have friends on their way here. A Human and a Goblin, please don't be afraid and let them pass when they get here."<br />
"I'll send out the word to let them in." The guard said. "Be careful going in, the floors can't be very stable and there are a lot of blocked passages and fallen walls."<br />
"We will." Rowyn said as they lifted off and flew up into the castle ruins. Together they went from room to room looking for any of the royals. They saw many bodies and a few wounded. Rowyn healed those she could, but there were some buried that they couldn't get to. Rowyn made a mental note where they were then sent a message to Niro and Hoddie to hurry. Niro answered telling her they were right outside and coming in. With Niro on his way, Bly took off to search while Rowyn stayed to help with the rescues.<br />
From the third floor, Bly flew down and searched the second floor and the royal offices. There were dead guards and officers of the court but none of the royal family. Having been in Mystwinter castle once before, Bly knew the throne room was located on the main floor. She flew out a window and went down and in through a kitchen window. From the kitchen and into the pantry, Bly zipped into the main hall to where the great doors to the throne room were. She flew down to the floor to land then shifted to her larger size which had the strength to push open the doors. With the doors open, Bly carefully walked in. The floor in front of her had collapsed and had fallen down into the dungeon area. Bly spread her wings and sailed across the gaping hole and moved on into the throne room. As she looked around, she saw the devastation of the throne room. All the window were gone and the east wall had been blown apart. All the furniture had been swept all through the room and most of it was broken to pieces. King Tarron's throne was located in the rear of the room to the north. Bly flew on to the knocked over throne hoping that maybe Eldar and the king and queen had taken shelter in one of the protected rooms behind the throne.<br />
When Bly reached the throne, she started for the back rooms when she heard a moan. There was someone's legs sticking out from behind the throne. She hurried over and pushed the throne out of the way and found Lord Eldar Mystwinter laying there his body all crushed and broken,<br />
[Rowyn!] Bly called out as she got down and lifted Eldar's head into her lap. [I found Eldar. He's hurt, I need your help fast!]<br />
[I'm coming!]<br />
"It's to late for me." He opened his eyes and looked up at Bly. She wiped blood from his mouth as he coughed. "Bly, he took the ring. He came and he brought the storm. Bly, he used it and he destroyed Mystwinter. You have to stop him before he can destroy everything."<br />
"Eldar, where's the king and queen?"<br />
"I sent them away." He said weakly. "Find him and destroy him....<br />
Then Eldar Mystwinter let go of his last breath and died.<br />
As Rowyn, Niro and Hoddie ran into the room, they found Bly sitting on the floor cradling Eldar's body.<br />
"We're to late." She said. "Bram's been here and he killed Eldar and took the ring."<br />
"What about the king and queen?" Rowyn asked.<br />
"They're safe." She said. "Eldar sent them away before Bram attacked him."<br />
"Now what do we do?" Hoddie asked.<br />
"We do as Eldar said." She laid Eldar down and covered him with one of the Mystwinter tapestry's. "We find Bram Thorn and we destroy him."<br />
<br />
On the outskirts of Mystwinter, Canius Regulas watched as the elves worked to clean up after the terrible storm. Word had gone out through the survivors of the death of Lord Eldar and how a Fairy, a Human, a Goblin and a Sky Elf were at the palace healing and helping with the recovery of some of the people trapped in the devastated city . Canius had no doubt that it was Niro and his friends. He was going to watch and wait and follow them. He would let them collect as many rings as they could find, and then he would strike and take them. All he needed was time, and that was on his side.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-91968955706356049892015-10-25T17:51:00.000-04:002019-10-27T12:14:26.780-04:00The Ring of Light. 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the full moon started its climb into the night sky, Bruego D'aurk started his preparation for powering and attuning the unicorn horn to himself. This was his second attempt at the ritual, the first being interrupted by the Goblin and his elf companion. Having failed at that attempt, Buego knew this was his last chance. The horn would be useless as a weapon if the spell was cast any more then ten minutes after the last quarter cycle. That gave Bruego thirty minutes and not a second more.<br />
His altar had been set up and the two of three sacrifices had been made. His third kill had been a Goblin he had found out on patrol alone. It had been quick and easy and he was on his way back to the altar to start the ritual with his live sacrifice. He had wanted to use Kranko but there wasn't time to fetch him from the dungeon.<br />
With the Goblin in a paralyzing hold hovering behind him, Bruego made his way back to the dark altar he had constructed. He looked up and smiled as he saw the moon was almost in the right position as he pushed his way through the jungle. As he stepped through the bushes into the clearing where the altar was, Bruego was shocked to find his altar had been destroyed. No longer was it dedicated to the dark magic he had placed on it. Someone had re made it and dedicated it back to Tyree.<br />
"No!" He shouted. "This can not be!"<br />
"It can and it is." Said a voice from high up in the trees. Bruego turned just as Rowyn came flying down and sent a blast at him. Sweeping his hand around, Bruego pushed the Goblin out to block her blast and then dived to the side. As he got back up on his feet, he cast a quick force shield in front of him to protect himself.<br />
"You again!" He said raising his hands ready to fight. "You destroyed my altar! Now the horn is useless to me! For that, I will kill you and use your bones for my next weapon!"<br />
Bruego reached back and formed a power ball and hurled it at Rowyn. She drew back and tried to lift off into the trees but got tangled in a branch and fell back right in to the path of the power ball. Rowyn looked up then raised her hands to try and form a shield but it was to late. As the power ball was about to hit her, Niro jumped out and used his elemental ring to raise a slab of soil to intercept the ball. The power ball hit the soil shield and dirt exploded and rained down on all them. With dirt in his eyes, Bruego backed away blinded for a second. Niro saw that as a chance to attack. He raised his ax and leaped at Bruego slamming it down on his power shield. Bruego screamed as the ax hit his shield and cracks started to spread out from its center. Dropping the shield, Bruego thrust out with a force blast at Niro knocking him back into the trunk of a huge tree where he fell down to his knees. As Bruego ready a spell to blast Niro, Sima came flying out of the jungle and landed on his back. Bruego screamed as Sima sank her teeth into his shoulder. Pain ripped through his body. Bruego sent a pulse of energy radiating out from his body the blasted Sima off his back. As he tried to stand up, Rowyn tried to trap him in a cage of magic.<br />
As the cage formed around Bruego, Hoddie, Kranko and several of his Goblin warriors came barreling out of the jungle to surround them. Kranko stepped forward and saw Bruego his the cage.<br />
"You have failed Orc." He said. "Slug is in the dungeon and I am still chief of the Bloodfangs. It is you who is prisoner now."<br />
"You think this will hold me!" He cast out with another bolt and destroyed Rowyn's cage. "You have made a real enemy today. I am to weak to deal with you now but mark my words. I will be back and I will make you pay. I will kill you all and that is a promise!"<br />
Surrounded by Goblins on his right and Rowyn, Niro and Sima to the right, Bruego used his last bit of magic and disappeared in a flash of light leaving the unicorn horn laying on Tyree's altar. Rowyn went over a picked up the horn and stared down at it.<br />
"Do you see what that monster did?" She said sadly. "He killed three satyrs and at least two unicorns all for a weapon. One he thought would help him conquer Fay Shrea. How sad."<br />
"Orc's aren't known for their compassion." Kranko said as he and Hoddie joined her and Niro.<br />
"Neither were Goblins." Hoddie said. "But look how that's changing."<br />
"Yes." Kranko nodded. "Our people are learning though, very slowly."<br />
"Father." Hoddie introduced his new friends. "This is princess Rowyn Windstar of Pelorda and Niro Herkalus of Sorrowdown."<br />
"Windstar? Herkalus?" Kranko frowned. "I know these names. Your father is King Philibar and yours is General Vibuis Herkalus. Interesting that the three of you should meet in the forest."<br />
"You knew my father?" Niro was surprised. His father had never mentioned knowing any Goblins. But then there was a lot Niro was learning about his fathers past.<br />
"Yes," Kranko said. "We met shortly after I took over the clan from Bog. There was a mad man threatening all of Fay Shrea and the rest of Taggitia. We had to defeat him and put him down."<br />
"To bad he didn't stay down"<br />
As they all looked around, and saw a blue and red spark come flying from over the trees to hover in front of Kranko.<br />
"Bly?" He said. "Bly Sharpwing?"<br />
"Aiya old friend." She shifted to her larger size and set herself down. "I'm afraid we're here to bring you bad news."<br />
"We?" Kranko looked around. "Who is we?"<br />
"I'm not alone." She explained. "Quynn and Ranjer Tyr are with me along with Myor Arynn and Yarden Pek from up north."<br />
As Kranko looked from Bly to Rowyn and Niro, he had a strange feeling he knew what this was all about. Yes, he did know the parents of some of the young ones around him and those that follow Bly. He had been with their parent in a battle to take down a certain warlock,<br />
"Bram Thorne." Kranko said. "This has something to do with him, doesn't it?<br />
"Yes." Bly nodded. "Somehow, he managed to escape from the underworld and he's after us. Tomz Acros is dead and so is my father."<br />
"What does he want?"<br />
"He wants us dead." She said. "All of us that were there when he died. And he wants his rings."<br />
Kranko looked at the ring on his finger It was one of Bram's elemental rings. The ring of shadow. He had taken it from Bram after he died and held on to it all these years. Now with Bram back among the living, he wondered if maybe he should give it to Hoddie as he always planned to. Maybe to can help to catch the crazy bastard.<br />
"And why are you here?" He asked. "Are you here to warn me or do you plan to find him and put him back in his grave?"<br />
"I plan to avenge my father's death." Her eyes started to glow red. "I'm going to send him back to the underworld and this time to stay, but I need help. You helped us defeat him once, I'm hoping you'll help us again."<br />
"No." Kranko shook his head. "I can't, I'm far too busy here, but I have an even better idea. Take my son. He's smart, good with a knife, he'll be a valuable asset against that mad man."<br />
"OK." She turned to Rowyn. "Your father sent me here for you too. He said you could help find him."<br />
"I have certain talents that might help. And if my father wants me to help, I'll go with you."<br />
"What about Niro?" Hoddie asked.<br />
"He should go too." Kranko told them.<br />
"Why?" Bly asked. "Who is he?"<br />
"He's the son of our old friend General Vibius Herkalus." Kranko lifted Niro's hand. "And he wears Bram's earth ring. Your father was one of the men that killed Bram. You have a stake in this too."<br />
"Then I agree." Bly walked to Niro and shook his hand. "Bram will be after you to."<br />
Looking down at his hand, Kranko looked at the black stone ring on his finger. It was Bram's Shadow ring. It was time he passed it on to his son. He slid it off his finger and turned to Hoddie.<br />
"Hodgodde, take this." He handed him the ring "It's what Bram is after. It has a power of great shadow. Go with Bly and the others and stop that crazy bastard before he turns Blood Tooth into an empty cavern of death.<br />
"I will Father." Hoddie took the ring then dripped Kranko's hand. "I will make you proud."<br />
"I already am proud." Kranko stepped back to talk to Bly and the others. "I'll strengthen the patrols and talk with the Eventides and Queen Nuala. All we can do is keep a watch for him. Where are you heading next?"<br />
"I've split the team in two." She explained. "Myor took Quynn, Ranjer and Yarden and they are going after one of the lost rings. I'm taking this group to Mystwinter."<br />
"Then you should get moving." Kranko shook hands all around. "Mystwinter is three days away. Magaan a taklaan lhuukaan."<br />
With that said, Kranko watched as Bly led her team away. Chonk stepped over to stand beside Kranko.<br />
"He's going to be alright." He said. "He can do this."<br />
"I know." Kranko put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "He's very special."<br />
<br />
The day was warm and it was late in the afternoon as Quynn and Myor flew side by side heading west. After Bly had left for Gaymere, Myor took the others on a search for the first of the missing elemental rings. With his eyes closed he had cast out for the location of the closest ring and felt a pull to the west. He explained that he wouldn't be able to find the exact location, but he could get them within a few miles of it then they would have to look carefully.<br />
From Dorlanth they headed west with Myor in the lead and Yarden on his back. Quynn and Ranjer followed close behind. They passed over the plains of Tarlok where the tribal Tarlins live then over the Misty Mountains and down through Grigg forest where Myor sent word to land.<br />
After finding a secluded clearing big enough for the two to land, they set down and set up a small camp where they could rest. It had been a long flight and both Myor and Quynn was tired.<br />
"I can feel there's a ring very close." He said. We should rest a little while then go find it. There's a river for water just over there to the north."<br />
"I'll get the water." Ranjer said. he collected everyone's water bottle. "I'll do a little scouting while I'm out there."<br />
"Be careful." Quynn said as he pulled out the blankets and made himself someplace comfortable to rest.<br />
"I can go out hunting." Yarden put down his pack. "Get a fire started and I will be back shortly with something to eat."<br />
With the water bottles over his shoulder, Ranjer started off through the forest following the sound of the river ahead. It had been a tough day, they had flown to Dorlanth and met Jayce's mate JP. He had asked for their help with the coming threat the Minotaur. After meeting Myor and Yarden, they agreed to help. It had been a rough fight, but Yarden had been successful and defeated the monstrous beast. Now they were out with Myor after the first of the elemental rings.<br />
From the campsite, Ranjer followed the sound of rushing water to the river. He went in and stooped down and filled each bottle one by one. As he waited for the last one to fill he looked up to see five young kids playing in the shallow water. Ranjer smiled as he watched remembering his days back in Tir Na playing in the forest and Savage Creek where he and Tof went fishing. He knew all that could be destroyed if Bram Thorne had his way. He's going to attack New Keanna, and once he does that, Tir Na will have to join the fight against him and war will again rage all over Taggitia and no one will be safe.<br />
As he watched, something in the water caught his attention. A slight ripple in the water, and something underwater started moving towards the kids. A chill went through Ranjer as he concentrated and peered down closer at the water. There was something down there swimming towards the children. It was big, longer then twelve feet and shaped almost like an alligator but its legs and arms were longer like they were meant for walking and grabbing. Instead of paws, Ranjer could see it had webbed feet and hands. This wasn't your average alligator, this was something else. Dropping the water bottles, Ranjer dived in and swam out to try and intercept the underwater invader. As soon as he slipped beneath the surface, his body started to adapt to the water. Gills formed in his neck and his hands and feet became webbed. It seemed Queen Anemone's of Aquilona's spell to make him amphibious was going to be permanent. Like a Mer man he sped forward and tried to catch up with the monstrous intruder. But it was way to far away for him to catch it. As he swam, Ranjer watched as the thing opened its mouth and snapped it close on the first of the children. Blood ran the river red as the boy thrashed and was pulled underwater and chomped quickly down by the creature. Ranjer screamed out in his mind in rage. He tried to quicken his speed to stop it as it reached for the second child, but he was still to far away to do anything to help the girl. With a snap of its powerful jaws, the creature bite her in half then tossed her aside and kept going after the three heading for the shore.<br />
As Ranjer struggled to reach the beast, it climbed out the water and went for the terrified children huddled together on the river's edge. Spell after spell went through his mind as he swam but he know he wouldn't be able to cast any of them until he was out of the water. By then he would be too late to save the children. All he would be able to do was avenge their deaths.<br />
As the snarling thing reached for the kids, a bolt of energy came streaking out of the sky. Like a hammer it hit the Gator thing in its chest and knocked him back into the water. As it crawled back up on the shore, an older man dressed in white robes with white hair holding a staff with a glowing head floated down to land between the creature and the children.<br />
"Get back Mazus Nox." He held out a shining hand as he descended to the ground. "You will not touch anymore of our children!"<br />
"You know my name?" Snarled the Gator man. "And who may I ask are you white one?"<br />
"I am Nadir Payne." The wizard said. "And Bellshore is my home and the people are mine. You are not welcome here."<br />
"I see." Mazus sneered. "If you know my name, then you know you can not stop me. Your petty white magics can not stand against one as powerful as me."<br />
"We shall see about that." Nadir raised his hand and sent a blast at Mazus. With amazing speed Mazus dived out of the path of the bolt and leaped at Nadir and spun around and tried to hit him with his tail. Holding out his staff with two hands, Nadir intercepted blow then spun his staff and slammed it down on Mazus's tail. The Gator man bellowed out in pain, and then he swung his closed fist out at the Wizard. Nadir ducked the blow. His speed for an old man surprised Ranjer, but he wasn't fast enough. Mazus turned and kicked out at the Wizard. This time the blow connected and sent him sailing back on the sandy beach. Laughing, Mazus leaped at Nadir with his claws out and ready to tear into his chest. As Nadir saw Mazus coming at him, he raised his hand. On his fourth finger there was a ring. It was a white ring. It flared to life and a great blast of white light flared out and hit Mazus. He screamed as the light tore into his body. His scales began to sizzle as the light burned through it. Then his flesh caught fire and his body was consumed by the over powering illumination.<br />
Ranjer stood there in the river astonished as the ashes of the Gator man rained down on the Wizard. Nadir stood up and dusted himself off then turned and looked out and saw Ranjer. Before Ranjer could move or say a word, Nadir cast out with another blast of light and hit Ranjer knocking him out cold.<br />
<br />
High in the bright sunny sky, Quynn lay in a cloud and made love to Sky his handsome Snow Phoenix love. They kissed as they rolled through the clouds and held each other close. Quynn looked deeply into Sky's blue eyes and still couldn't they had found each other. Sky kissed him again and smiled.<br />
"You're my destiny." Sky said. "Nothing could have kept us apart for long."<br />
"And nothing ever will." Quynn kissed his hand and squeezed it.<br />
"Then you have to be careful Melamin." Sky said as he ran his hand along Quynns face. "Your quest is dangerous. There will be many dangers before you can come back home to me."<br />
"I will be careful mela en coiamin."<br />
"Then you better wake up." Sky said. "Ranjer is in trouble. He needs your help now. Wake up!"<br />
With a final kiss on his lips, Quynn jumped up wake and looked around for Ranjer. He wasn't there. Yarden and Myor were sitting at the fire picking at the last pieces of the rabbits Yarden had caught while hunting.<br />
Quynn threw off the blankets and hurried to the fire.<br />
"Where's Ranjer?<br />
"He went for water a little while ago." Myor said. "I was just about to wake you up. He should have been back by now."<br />
"He must have run into some kind of trouble." Yarden said as he dropped the rabbit carcass and got up. "You better try calling him."<br />
[Ranjer?] He sent out. [Ranjer, where are you?]<br />
There was no answer. Quynn tried again but there still was no answer.<br />
"We have to go find him." He turned to Yarden, "Can you track him?"<br />
"I'll find him." Yarden smiled and shifted to his Yeti form and went down and started sniffing the ground. It took a few seconds, then he found something. [We go that way.]<br />
<br />
A bright light flared in Ranjer's face as he woke up. He opened his eyes just a bit so he could get use to the brightness of the lighting in the room. He was in a white room and it was completely round. He tried to move he reached up to shield his eyes as he looked around. His feet were chained. He could stand but he couldn't move any more than a few feet and he wasn't alone. There were two other people imprisoned in the room. He sat up.<br />
"Where am I?"<br />
"You're a prisoner." A grey haired bearded man chained across from him said. "In Nadir Payne, the white wizard's dungeon. Who are you stranger?"<br />
"My name is Ranjer." Ranjer rubbed head aching head. "Wow, my head hurts. What am I doing here? Why am I chained up?"<br />
"Nadir brought you in an hour ago." Said a woman to his left. "You must be another of his enemies."<br />
"Me?" Ranjer tried to stand and fell back. "I don't even know him. I saw him battle that Gator thing that attacked the children by the river, but I never said a word to him."<br />
"Well, he thinks you're an enemy." The man said. "So here you are, and you will stay here until he decides to kill you. And he will kill you. He kills all his enemies"<br />
"I don't understand. I'm not his enemy." Ranjer climbed to his feet and stood against the wall. "And white wizards aren't evil. They don't kill. Something's wrong here."<br />
"It's Nadir." The woman said. "He's what's wrong. Bellshore use to be such a peaceful place. Nadir was our wizard, our guardian, but many years ago, he changed and started taking control of everything. We're like his slaves now."<br />
"It's got to be that ring." Ranjer said to himself. Then he looked up at the woman. She was an older lady dressed in raggedy peasant clothes. "You seem to know him very well. Who are you?"<br />
"My name is Celia Payne." She said to Ranjer as shuffled around to make herself more comfortable. "Nadir is my brother. This is Jukal Floris, he was my brothers apprentice until he turned on us."<br />
Ranjer looked at them stunned. If Nadir had one of Bram's rings, then he could have had it more than eighteen years. Maybe more. Bly said he had died twenty years ago. How long has this been going on?<br />
"He may be a wizard." Ranjer said. "But I have magic too, and I'm not staying here."<br />
Concentrating, Ranjer tried to shift forms. Nothing happened. Now he was beginning to get scared. Next he tried to change his body into a Vampire mist and that failed. He closed his eyes then opened them again to use his other senses to look for magic spells in the room. There were green, red, and blue power lines running all through the room in spells that would take him years to unravel. His magic was going to be useless here.<br />
"You can relax." Jukal said. "If your trying magic, it won't work in here. Nadir has this cell wrapped in so many spells it would take someone very powerful to break them."<br />
"How did all this start?" Ranjer asked as he sat back down, "How does a White wizard go so wrong."<br />
"It all started years ago." Jukal said. "Bellshore was a happy place. We really had no enemies or wild things out in the forest. Nadir had clear all threats out years ago. The last problem we had was Polan Dressak's Black Armours. We even managed to void the war with that Dark Elven Queen Talsara Darkshade. Life here was good. I spent my days at Nadir's side learning spells and incantations. He taught me the ways of nature and now to use the power of the sun and Keanna. I learned how to read the stars and to commune with nature. Then one day, Nadir found something while he was out in the forest."<br />
"What was it?" Ranjer asked though he was pretty sure he knew what it was.<br />
"I don't know." Jukal said. "Nadir seemed pretty excited about. He locked himself away in his study with it, but he wouldn't let be see it or tell me what it was. That's when he started to change. He became suspicious of everything and thought everyone was spying on him. Little things began to annoy him, really silly things and he would explode in anger. After a few months his anger became so out of control, so unpredictable that the people of Bellshore stopped trusting him or coming to him and they came to me. When Nadir saw that, he saw me as a rival and an enemy. He thought I was trying to steal his power and his place as Bellshore's Mage. Now I have not achieved the rank of a true wizard yet so even if I wanted to, I couldn't take his place. But that didn't matter to Nadir. His anger and jealously was so great that I became a target for his wrath. "<br />
Jukal stopped there and took a drink from a pan of dirty water. He took a deep breath, then continued with his story.<br />
"I knew Nadir was acting strange." He said, "It was nothing new, he'd been acting strange for three or four years so far but he was my Master and I trusted him. I would have done anything for him including die for at that point. But that day he had sent me to Tobias Gara, he's a Wizard in neighboring Farcross with a message. When I came back, the second I stepped into his study to report back to him, He hit me with a spell that seared my brain and my soul so bad that it took over a year before I even knew who I was. When I woke up I, was here with no memory, no magic, no identity. I had nothing."<br />
"This is where my story starts." Celia said. "Like Jukal, I knew something was wrong with Nadir for a long time. He stopped eating, he didn't sleep. All he did was sit in his study locked away. But I could hear him talking in there. I knew there was no one in there with him so I thought he was communicating with someone through magic. As far as I knew it could have been anyone, but I kept hearing this laugh that sent a chill right through me. By this time Nadir started looking gaunt and pale. I mean much paler then usual. He hardly ever went out and when he did, it was at night. He just seemed to me like he was getting dark. I thought maybe he had been dabbling in the dark arts. I know a bit about magic, I'm not as talented as Nadir or Jukal but I can work smalls spells and I have my magic sight. One day I looked at Nadir and I saw this dark aura beginning to spread out from him. That's when I knew I had to do something to save my brother before the darkness totally took him over."<br />
Ranjer could see the worry and the fear in both Jukal and Celia's eyes. He could tell they both still loved Nadir no matter what he had done. He hoped he hadn't slipped to far into the influences of that ring and there was still a way to save him. But that would all depend on one thing. He he used his power to kill an innocent. If he had, there might be no way back from the darkness.<br />
"I arranged with the blacksmith to have two horses saddles for me and Angus." Celia continued. "He's one of the more able men from Bellshore. We rode out late after midnight for Farcross where we met with Nadir's old friend Tobias, the same wizard Jukal had visited before he disappeared. I asked him, many questions and found out that he actually had not talked with Nadir since he sent Jukal to see him and he wanted to know why Nadir hadn't answered his request. I told him of my suspicions and Tobias said he would look in to it. I told him to be careful, Nadir was not the same man he had known all these years and that he had changed. When I returned home, Nadir was waiting for me. Somehow he knew where I had been and he accused me of plotting against him. He attacked me and Angus. We fought back but Nadir is so much more powerful then I am and eventually he blow right through my shields and took us captive. I haven't seen Angus since that day."<br />
"How long ago was that?" Ranjer asked.<br />
"That was a little over a years ago." She said sadly. "I've been here for at least a years. Jukal has been here longer. We have no idea what's happened to Bellshore or Tobias, but I'm afraid of what Nadir might had done since our capture."<br />
From their description, Ranjer guessed that Nadir could only have had the ring for no then two or three years. That was plenty of time for his mind to be corrupted but with luck, Nadir's soul might be strong enough to keep him from doing anything to drastic. Now if only he could find a way to contact Quynn and the others. He would need their help to get out of the cell and to get that ring off Nadir's finger.<br />
"Why all the questions Ranjer?" Jukal asked, "You're a stranger here, What does it matter to you?"<br />
"If I want to get out of here." Ranjer said. "I have to know why I'm here and who it is that's holding me. If I have to fight Nadir, I want to know who I'm fighting. My teachers taught me to know your enemy before you fight."<br />
"Wise words." Jukal said. "Even if they are useless."<br />
"I wouldn't say useless." Ranjer got himself in a comfortable seated position then closed his eyes. "First we get out of this dungeon, then we worry about beating Nadir."<br />
"And how do you plan to get out?" Celia asked him. "You can't use your magic."<br />
"With a little help from friends." Ranjer smiled with his eyes still closed,"You'd be surprised at what you can do,"<br />
With his eyes closed, Ranjer centered his mind on Quynn. He had tried earlier to reach him but for some reason he couldn't get through. This time he knew he had to because pretty soon Quynn would realize he was missing and come looking for him. He had to warn him about Nadir.<br />
Ranjer fastened on his best memories of his cousin. The day he was born, hold his as a baby. He remembered the first time Quynn made the shift to his dragon form and how happy he was and the day he met Sky and saved him from Janx Develos. With those memories clear in his mind, Ranjer called out to Quynn.<br />
[Quynn!!]<br />
[I'm here Cousin.] Came the answer. [Where are you? Are you alright?]<br />
[I'm in a city called Bellshore.] Ranjer sent. [It can't be far from the campsite. A white wizard named Nadir Payne is holding me captive. Be careful, he has one of Bram's rings and he's not in his right mind.]<br />
[We're on our way.]Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-37262534318505725772015-08-29T23:46:00.001-04:002019-10-16T20:27:04.863-04:00Goblins, Goblins Everywhere. 11 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the morning sun rose high in the east, Niro, Hoddie and Rowyn made their way out of the forests of Fay Shrea. Before them, to the south of Fay Shrea was Eventide. To the west, Hoddie told them was his home, Gaymere.<br />
As they stood at the split of the two roads, Hoddie turned to Rowyn and Niro.<br />
"This is it." He said. "It's your last chance to change your minds. From this point on we enter Gaymere. I'm going on but neither of you have too. You have no connection to us Goblins. What happens to my people is not your responsibility. You can turn back."<br />
"No." Rowyn shook her head. "You're wrong. You're going against Bruego D'aruk. He has to pay for what he did in Pelordra and I have to get that unicorn horn from him before he can use it to kill your father or anyone else."<br />
"And you?" Hoddie turned to Niro.<br />
Niro thought for a second as Sima stepped up to rub against his leg.<br />
[I follow you.] She sent to Niro.<br />
"My father told me to go to Pelordra." He said. "Only she can take me there so I have to follow her. My sword and ax will be with you."<br />
"Then follow me."<br />
Unlike Eventide, the road into Gaymere was dark and thick with heavy foliage. No sunlight slipped in through the heavy canopy of trees overhead and the air was thick and hot with the smell of rotting vegetation. Sima was in the front with Hoddie armed with his daggers right behind her. Rowyn was in the middle while Niro kept watch on the back.<br />
Though dark, the forest was loud and alive with the sounds of the night. They walked for hours hearing the sound of twigs snapping under their feet, frogs croaking somewhere off in a distant pond, crickets chirping and a wolf howling to his lunar night mistress. Though it seemed peaceful, from his years of training and living in Gaymere, Hoddie could pick out and identify each and every sound. He could tell the difference between a wolfs howl and enemies signaling between each other and tonight the moon was full but the howls were all wrong. They had the wrong pitch to be wolves howls. As Sima started to growl, Hoddie slowed down to let the others catch up with him.<br />
"We're being watched."<br />
"I know." Niro whispered. "Sima says there's five out there watching us."<br />
"I counted four." Hoddie said and nodded ahead to the left and right side of the trail. "We can't avoid them, they'll just come at us from the back if we get pass them."<br />
"Then we go straight ahead." Rowyn stepped out and walked pass Hoddie heading down the trail.<br />
"Hold on Princess." Niro hurried forward. "Let us go first."<br />
He looked down at Sima and sent her a quiet message to camouflage herself and follow through the thick bush of the forest. With his sword in hand, Niro took the lead. He watched for the slightest movement of the trees as he walked. He felt the light breeze as it blew across his face. He waited for the hint of movement as they slipped through the denseness of the forest. Then just as they reached a group of oaks, he heard a soft buzzing and ducked as the first Goblin arrow streaked pass his ear. Niro and Hoddie dived to the side as the Goblins rushed out to attack. Rowyn spread her wings and leaped up into the trees and conjured a bow and took aim at the first Goblin coming at them. Her arrow streaked down straight into its chest knocking it back dead into the mud. As three more Goblins charged, Hoddie leaped out with his twin daggers flashing ans sliced into another Goblin. Just as a third Goblin was about to brain Hoddie, Sima grabbed it and pulled it screaming into the under bush. That left one coming at Niro. Just as Niro crossed swords with the Goblin, another stepped out of the forest.<br />
"Hold your swords!"<br />
Niro took a step back as a Goblin dressed in bone armor walked out to stand beside his companion.<br />
"Hoddie Fearfist." He said. "What brings you into the land of the Black Skulls?"<br />
"Koxir Mugwart." Hoddie stood up. "This is Bloodfang territory, your clan has no claim here. I know there is no honor in the Black Skull clan but if its war you want, Kranko will be glad to give it to you."<br />
"See there is where you are wrong." Koxir reached up and took off his Orc skull helmet. "We Black Skulls do not fear Kranko Fearfist or the Bloodfangs, would you like to know why?"<br />
"Yes." Hoddie said curious. "Please tell me why."<br />
"Because Kranko Fearfist no longer sits on the high seat of the Bloodfangs."<br />
"You lie!!" Hoddie jumped out to dive in and attack Koxir. Niro grabbed him and pulled him back.<br />
"Let him go Human." Koxir sneered at them. "I fear no Bloodfang, let him come and face his death."<br />
"I'll let him go." Niro said. "But first, answer a few questions. What have you dome to Kranko?"<br />
"We Black Skulls haven't touched Kranko." He said. "But we will take advantage of his absence and take the land that the Bloodfangs hold."<br />
"Bruego." Hoddie said. "That damned Orc again. He did this."<br />
"I know nothing about an Orc." Koxir pulled his sword and stepped out. "Now, let him face me and his death."<br />
Niro stepped aside and let Hoddie go.<br />
"I'll be right back." Hoddie smiled as he pulled his daggers and went out to meet Koxir. The Goblin laughed when he saw that all Hoddie was armed with were his two daggers. He wasn't even wearing any kind of strong armor. He put his helmet back on, then turned to the one warrior he had left.<br />
"Give him your sword." He ordered. "He needs a proper weapon to fight with."<br />
"No." Hoddie smiled. "This will do."<br />
"Then have at it!!"<br />
Koxir charged at Hoddie. He raised his blade for a strike at Hoddie's neck intending to chop down at him. Calmly Hoddie took a step to the side and in one swift motion, he slipped his dagger blade right between the third and fourth rib and into Koxir's heart. Koxir barely felt it until he turned saw the dagger sticking out of his chest. He took two steps toward Hoddie and fell at his feet.<br />
Hoddie looked up at the warrior looking down in shock at his dead leader.<br />
"Well?" Hoddie went and pulled his dagger from Koxir's chest. "Leave us and live or join him in death. It's up to you."<br />
The warrior slid his sword back into its sheath and turned and ran off into the forest.<br />
"Wise choice."<br />
"Bruego has your father." Rowyn said as she joined them. "How do we find him?"<br />
"Sima can track him." Niro said. "If we have something of his to get a scent from."<br />
"This cloak was my fathers. Would that do?"<br />
"No." Niro shook his head. "It has your scent, we need something only your father wore."<br />
"For that, we're going to have to go to Blood Tooth and his private cave." Hoddie told them. "And I'll have to go in by myself."<br />
"Agreed." Rowyn said. "We'll find a safe place to wait and maybe do a quick search of the area while we wait."<br />
"Fine." Hoddie picked up his pack and heaved it onto his shoulder. "Just stay out of sight. It won't be good if you get caught spying on Blood Tooth."<br />
<br />
Deep in the ever dark forest of Gaymere, there was a five mile long, quarter mile deep chasm in the ground. This was Blood Tooth, the home of the Bloodfang clan. Blood Tooth was said to be the creation of a long dead dragon that took his claws and gouged out the rip in the surface of Keanna in a great rage. Goblins had found it and built homes and tunnels all through it over thousands of years then spread out through the lands around it to create Gaymere. Over the years, many clans had fought over control of the Tooth. Some won, some lost. Sometime the loser would leave and find a new place to live, sometimes they didn't and were made slaves of the victor.<br />
Like Orcs, Goblin society was ruled by the strongest and murder and betrayal was very common. Most Goblin rulers ruled by fear and intimidation, but all that had started to change when Kranko Fearfist became the chief in Blood Tooth. <br />
You see years ago in a place far away, Kranko had learned of a thing called honor and it changed him. His heart was no longer ruled by hate and greed. He had ambition, yes, but he thought there was another way to go about getting want he wanted then murder and backstabbing. He started to talk and teach other Goblins about honor. He had many fights and many duels, and somehow he always managed to fight fair and come up on top until his fight with Bog Fanggore the chief of the Bloodfangs and overlord of the Goblin nation.<br />
For a year Bog had heard rumors of a Goblin teaching warriors of something new and totally contrary to the Goblin way. He heard whispers of the crazy scheme called honor but dismissed it as a weakness that any true Goblins would never accept. But as time went by, the talks about Kranko and his honor grew louder and louder until Bog could ignore it no more. He ordered Kranko brought to him in chains to stand for his judgement.<br />
Beaten and bloody, Kranko was dragged through Blood Tooth and tossed on the ground in front of Bogs bone throne. Bog looked down on him as the small arena where he held court filled up with Goblins to watch Bog put an end to Kranko and his ludicrous concept of honor.<br />
Kranko stood up to face Bog on his throne as the charges were read. Bog charged him with sedition and conspiracy. He stood and called Kranko a traitor to the Goblin nation and he sentenced him too death. But one of Bog's own lieutenants stepped out and objected to Bog's sentence. He said as a senior warrior under the laws of the clan and tribe, Kranko had the right of combat. If he wished, he could challenge Bog to a battle to be chief of the Bloodfang clan. Kranko accepted and made the challenge. The warrior asked if he was sure he wanted to make the challenge. He reminded him that if he lost, not only would he be put to death, but his family would also suffer the same fate. Kranko accepted and still made the challenge. As Bog accepted, the arena was prepared for the battle.<br />
The battle was to be fought to the death in two challenges. First with swords and if no one won that, they would move on to clubs. As the battle started, Kranko faced off with Bog and fought with honor while Bog used every dirty trick he could think of. He threw dirt in Kranko's face, he used weapons other then the one allowed in battle. He even had someone in the crowd stick out his leg and try and trip Kranko. But Kranko was fast. He dodged the dirt, deflected the dagger and with a smart kick at the right moment, he broke the ankle of the interfering bystander. Then time was called and each opponent was given two minutes to rest and switch weapons to clubs or hammers. Though most of the crowd cheered for Bog, there was a number that stood on Kranko's side. The warrior who had objected and spoke out for Kranko was Chonk Bonegrinder. By speaking out for Kranko, he knew he had signed his death warrant. Bog would have him killed if he won the battle. His only chance was to side now with Kranko and support him in any way he could. From his own arsenal, Chonk brought out his father's hammer and gave it to Kranko with his pledge to stand by him win or lose. It seems his honor concept was working and some were starting to believe and accept it.<br />
When the call came to fight, Kranko charged in with his hammer ready. Bog fought with every trick he knew, but it just was not to be his day. Kranko wore him down and after thirty minutes of battle, Kranko's hammer struck Bog on the shoulder and spun him around and into a blow to his face that split open his head. As Kranko stood exhausted in triumph, one of Bog's men charged out with his sword raised high aiming for Kranko's back. Like a shot, Chonk was there to defend his new chief. He intercepted the blow and sank his dagger into the heart of the attacker.<br />
That was the first day of Kranko's rein as the chief of the Bloodfang clan. It was never easy. Not many accepted his concept of honor but in time, they learned to respect Kranko and they learned what honor meant and how it could benefit there lives. But of course there were those who refused and would always plot behind his back. Kranko didn't care, he had his honor and his allies and his secret which kept him and his son safe.<br />
<br />
It was dark by the time Hoddie had made it to the first tunnels of Blood Tooth. There were four Goblins on sentry at the tunnel. Hoddie had no idea what had happened and why his father had lost his place as the chief, so he didn't know how safe it was for him to be in Blood Tooth. He pulled the hood of his enchanted cloak over his head and concentrated on the changes he wanted to make in his appearance. His nose grew longer and his mouth twisted, his eyes bulged and his back became hunched. Hoddie pulled a small pocket mirror from his pouch and check to make sure he was unrecognizable. With a little concentration, he added a thick scar across his face and was satisfied with his look.<br />
With a sword at his side, Hoddie stepped out and walked down the trail to the tunnel to Blood Tooth. In his mind he quickly went over what he would tell the guards that would get him pass them and into Blood Tooth.<br />
"Haakhec." Hoddie said with a nod as he approached the four warriors. "I am here to seek council with the chief of the Bloodfang clan. I have an opportunity that he will find profitable."<br />
The four Goblins looked at him, then at each other. One stepped out with a short spear leaning against his shoulder.<br />
"Who are you?" He asked. "What clan are you from?"<br />
Hoddie's first thought was to name the Black Skulls. But he wasn't sure if they were involved in this in some way. Maybe a clan they had never heard of might be a better idea. He thought quickly for a second.<br />
"I am Goboc, son of Tuluk Blacktooth of the clan Greyclaw." Hoddie puffed out his chest with pride.<br />
The four Bloodfangs looked at him and scratched their heads as if they had never heard the name before. Hoddie frowned.<br />
"You have heard of the Greyclaws?" He said annoyed. "We defeated the Stinkbreaths and the Grimfangs, We tore out their hearts to grind in the mud. It was wondrous bloody war for all to sing about. Surely you have heard the songs?"<br />
"Aye!" A warrior nodding vigorously and punched one of his companions. "We have, the songs were glorious. The battles must have been great."<br />
"They were." Hoddie smiled. "Now who am I to see? Who is the chief of the Bloodfangs?"<br />
The warrior smiled at Hoddie and at that moment, Hoddie knew they had something in mind.<br />
"You said you had something that would be profitable?" He smiled and handed his spear to one of his companions. "What could you have that could be profitable to Slug Fearfist?"<br />
When Hoddie heard that name, he lost concentration for a second, and his image blurred. Without giving the warriors a chance to react, Hoddie dived into them and grabbed a hammer and smashed it down in two quick blows knocking out two warriors. Dropping the hammer, Hoddie grabbed his daggers and as he dived between the two shocked warriors, stabbed them both in the heart. After he wiped his daggers clean, he dragged the four and hid them in the forest then returned to the tunnel and started on his way in.<br />
Once in the tunnel, Hoddie stopped for a second and concentrated on making himself invisible. He stepped into a small crevice and thought about what he had learned from the warriors. Slug Fearfist was the chief. Slug Fearfist was his uncle. His father's brother. If he was the chief, that meant he was the one in league with Bruego D'aruk. He had betrayed his own brother to an Orc, one of their oldest enemies. Hoddie was so angry, he almost punched the tunnel wall. But he knew breaking his hand wasn't going to help his father, so he stepped out and started on his way down into the heart of the Blood Tooth.<br />
<br />
Invisible from sight, Hoddie made his way down and into the tunnels. At first he didn't see very many Goblins, but after a few turns he entered into the main Cavern and looked down into Blood Tooth from a balcony high above.. What he saw sent a shock through his entire body.<br />
Blood Tooth was usually a very busy society with Goblins doing many different tasks. Like most communities, there were hunters, and smiths, Kranko had even set up schools for the young. The Goblins had come a long way since Kranko took over as chief, and they had prospered. But now that Slug had taken over, thing had changed.<br />
As Hoddie looked out at Blood Tooth, he saw hundreds of warriors preparing for war. Forges burned out in the open making swords and hammers. Timber from the forest had been cut down for spears, clubs and ax and hammer handles. There were warriors everywhere pounding each other and beefing up for war. Blood Tooth hadn't been like this since Bog was chief.<br />
Seeing this, Hoddie could think of only one reason for such preparations, Bruego and Slug were planning to move out of Gaymere and attack someone. It could be the Elves, the Fairies or even the Orcs or Humans. Bruego was planning something and Hoddie had to find a way to keep the Goblins out of it or everything his father had fought all these years for would be wasted.<br />
Pulling his cloak tighter around him, Hoddies started down through the forges and gathered warriors being careful not to let anyone touch him. He slipped passed the guards and made his way to the entrance to the lower levels where only the chief and his family had access. At the entrance, two Goblin warriors stood guard. As Hoddie approached He realized he knew them. It was two of his uncles toadies, Gruen and Gronk Maul. Two twin brothers that always did his dirty work. They were pretty dull minded so Hoddie didn't think he'd have much of a problem getting pass them. Especially with the help of his cloak. Ducking to the side, Hoddie concentrated on a change in his appearance. He went from invisible to the mirror image of his uncle Slug. Slug Fearfist unlike his brother Kranko was a sloppy looking Goblin with jowls and a belly. He wasn't really much of a fighter but with the Goblins that followed him, he didn't have to be.<br />
Disguised as Slug, Hoddie walked over to the Maul brothers who snapped to attention.<br />
"Get out of my way." He said waving them aside.<br />
Like two obedient dogs they stepped aside and let him pass. Hoddie stepped on the spiral staircase and started on his way down. As he walked down the stairs, he slipped back into invisibility so no one on the lower levers would see him coming.<br />
Shrouded in invisibility, Hoddie went from room to room, from apartment to apartment looking for his father. He search his own personal rooms and the rooms his father use. He moved on to search Chonk's rooms and those of his mate to find nothing. That meant either his father wasn't there in Blood Tooth or he was in the dungeon.<br />
Just as Hoddie was about to head down to the dungeon, He heard a familiar voice coming out of Chonk's room.<br />
"Yes." He heard. "Kranko and Chonk are well guarded, there's no way that ugly little bastard could reach his father in the dungeon no matter who is helping him. You go finish your ritual, I have Blood Tooth well in hand."<br />
"Good." A more gravely voice said. "When I'm done, and I have the power I need, we march. Be ready."<br />
Hoddie knew those voices. It was Slug and Bruego and he was right. His father is still down here. Now he had a choice, he could help his father or go after Bruego. Well that would be a easy choice. He would have to leave Bruego to Niro and Rowyn since they had the magic to fight him with. Hoddie's best move would be to free his father. Well the the dungeon it is. He headed back up to the cavern above to go to the dungeons to help his father win back his clan. He hoped Rowyn and Niro were ready for Bruego D'aruk.<br />
<br />
The moon shined bright as Niro and Sima crept through the forest. Sima was alert to every sound and smell around them. She had the scent of the band of Goblins that kept watch on the trail and steered Niro away from them. Tonight, their mission was to locate any and all Goblin watches so they could avoid being seen by them. So far they had found eight watch sites with Goblin guards. Niro relayed the location back to Rowyn, who waited in a hidden spot each time they found one.<br />
As Sima and Niro did they're search, they came across a hidden little pocket clearing. In the center of the clearing, Niro found a small altar with strange carving and symbols etched all around it and something dead in the center. This didn't look to Niro like something the Goblins would make. As far as he knew, most Goblins worshiped Tyree, and this didn't look like what one would sacrifice to Tyree. It looked more like something dedicated to something much darker.<br />
[Rowyn.] Niro sent out. [I think I found something.]<br />
[What is it?]<br />
[It's an altar.] He walked around it looking more closely.<br />
[Forget it.] She sent. [There are a few of Tyree's altars scattered all through Gaymere. Goblins like to worship out in the open.]<br />
'[I don't think this is one of Tyree's altars.]<br />
[Why?] She asked.<br />
[There's a dead satyr here as an offering. I don't think Tyree would like that.]<br />
For a minute, Rowyn was silent. Niro could feel her confusion.<br />
[Stay there.] She said. [I'm coming to join you. I need to see this altar.]<br />
Niro and Sima stepped back into the forest to keep hidden in case a Goblin patrol wandered by. A few minutes later, Rowyn came flying down out of the trees to join them.<br />
"Show it to me."<br />
"It's right over here." Niro pushed his way through the bushes to show her the altar. Rowyn stepped out and studied the alter and it's poor sacrifice. It was a round slab of granite with black ash etchings of dark symbols. There were four unlit black candles and the body of a dead satyr.<br />
"Bruego is here." She said. "This is his altar."<br />
"That's what I thought." Niro said. "What do you want to do with it?"<br />
"We destroy it then give the altar and this poor soul back to Tyree." Niro bent down and picked up the satyr body and put it aside. Then he took out his ax and slammed it down on the granite block smashing it to pieces. Niro and Sima dug a grave in the spot where the altar had been and Niro placed the body in the grave. Together, they buried the satyr.<br />
<br />
FROM THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT.<br />
TO THE YOUNG AND FREE.<br />
WE RETURN WHAT IS YOURS.<br />
TO THE GREAT GOD TYREE.<br />
WE CLEANSE THIS SOUL<br />
AND SET IT FREE.<br />
WE DEDICATE THIS LAND<br />
AND RETURN IT TO THEE.<br />
<br />
As Rowyn and Niro watched, grass sprouted to cover the grave and beautiful flowers grew in a circle around the edges of the grave. Then in the center, a patch of glowing lilies of red and white bloomed. Tyree accepted the satyr and this was his way of saying thank you.<br />
"I guess he likes it." Niro smiled. "Now what do we do?"<br />
"We wait." Rowyn went and sat back where she could watch the grave. "He will come, and when he does, we will be here waiting."<br />
<br />
It was cold and dark in Blood Tooth's dungeon as Hoddie creeped through the aisle. Usually there wasn't very many prisoners down there. Kranko didn't like this place, he had spent time here when Bog was the chief. He had swore only to send his worst enemies into imprisonment, but now it seemed he was back behind bars.<br />
With his daggers in hand, Hoddie slowly went up and down the aisle of the dungeon. He saw many of his fathers warriors here, the cells were all full now. Searching he went from cell to cell until he saw a familiar face. Chonk Bonegrinder lay bound hand and foot in and single cell. Hoddie stopped and studied the lock on the door then pulled from his pouch two thin needle like picks and started working on the lock. Seconds later he slowly swung the door open and went in and knelt and covered Chonks mouth before he could make a sound.<br />
Slipping back the hood on his cloak, Hoddie pulled Chonk up so he could see him.<br />
"Hodgodde?" He said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"<br />
"Saving your butt." Hoddie said. "Do you know where my father is?"<br />
"Yes." Chonk said as Hoddie untied him. "He's here in the dungeon. Your uncle plans to use him for some kind of sacrifice."<br />
"Not if I have anything to say about it." He helped Chonk up on his feet. "Can you walk?"<br />
"I can do better then that." He smiled. "I can fight that fat bastard, just give me a sword."<br />
"Here." Hoddie pulled a sword from under his cloak and handed it to Chonk. "We have to get everyone free from these cells. Do you know where the key is? It would take to long for me to pick all the locks."<br />
"The guard has them." Chonk said stretching his arms and legs and swinging the sword. "If I make a little noise, I can get him in here. He'll come in and try and give me a kick, I'll have a surprise waiting for him."<br />
"Good." Hoddie said. "Where's my father's cell?"<br />
"Straight up on the left. Go, I'll meet you there once I have the keys."<br />
Hoddie nodded then turned to leave.<br />
"Hoddie." Chonk quietly called him back. "It's good to see you here. He will be proud."<br />
Hoddie smiled and left to find his father. He quickly ran up a few cells and turned left and found a cell with two warriors standing guard. He pulled his hood back over his head and vanished from sight then pulled his daggers and slowly walked on to the cell. Just as he reached the cell, Chonk started screaming. The two guards stepped away from the front of the cell and Hoddie attacked. With two lightning strikes, he slashed the throats of the two guards and they crumpled to the ground. Hoodie stopped and listened as the guard came in to see why Chonk was screaming.<br />
"Shut up in there!" He heard. Then he heard the cell down open and a sudden grunt of surprise. Hoddie smiled as he went to work on Kranko's cell door. He opened it and rushed in to find his father laying still on the floor. Knelling, Hoddie lifted him up into a sitting position.<br />
"Father." He reached up and touched him between the eyes. "Father, wake up it's me. Wake up please!"<br />
Kranko's face was all bruised. His lip was split, his eyes were bulging and there was a huge lump on his head. Hoddie reached in his pouch for his emergency supplies and took out his one and only healing potion. He uncorked the vial and tipped it to Kranko's mouth and poured it in. The golden brew flowed in sending its warm healing effect through Kranko's body. As Hoddie watched, his swollen eyes and the lump seemed to just melt away and go down. The split lip sealed and his eyes fluttered then opened. He moaned and looked up into to sons eyes.<br />
"Hoddie?" He looked around. "What happened? Where am I?"<br />
"You're in the dungeon in Blood Tooth father." Hoddie smiled relieved that he would be OK. "They took you prisoner."<br />
"What are you doing here?"<br />
"He came to get us out you old fool." Chonk came in followed by a hand full of Goblin warriors. "I told you the boy would make you proud, now get your ass up. We have a score to settle."<br />
"Slug?" Hoddie stood and helped his father to his feet.<br />
"He has help." Hoddie told them. "There's a Orc wizard out there trying to take Gaymere and the rest of Fay Shrea. I have friends out there after him, but we have to stop Slug and get Blood Tooth back under control."<br />
"I need a weapon." Kranko frowned. Chonk handed him a hammer he had taken from the guard room. "No one touches Slug. Leave him too me. Let's go take the Tooth back!"<br />
<br />
The forges of Blood Tooth burned hot as Slug screamed orders to his weapons makers to work harder. He wanted sharper and stronger swords. He wanted hammers and spears that would equal anything the Elves could bring against him. Between his warriors and Bruego's magic they expected to take more then Blood Tooth. He wanted to prove he was better than Kranko and that he deserved to be overlord of the Goblins.<br />
With the enormous Swel Warhand at his side, Slug made his way through Blood Tooth to the arena where the bone throne of the chief sat. There he had planned to give his new lieutenants the locations for the morning attack.<br />
With his chest puffed out and his fat belly hidden behind tight armor, Slug walked out and stepped up on the dais where the throne sat. He looked out at the gathering of Goblins and smiled a devious grin. He had won. The throne was his and Kranko now lay beaten and bounded deep down in his dungeon. He cleared his throat to talk to the crowd.<br />
"Ghec dager!" He raised his fist into the air. "Kranko is no more and tomorrow we march for my glory!!"<br />
"Think again Worm!!"<br />
Slug turned to find Kranko walking in and up on to the dais with Chonk and Hoddie at his side. Shocked to see his brother free, Slug turned to the left looking for a way to escape and was stopped by five of Kranko's warriors charging in.<br />
Refreshed by the healing potion, Kranko walked out and stood opposite Slug and Swel on the dais.<br />
"So you want to take my place as chief of the Bloodfangs do you?" Kranko said his voice echoing through the arena. "You think you have the strength to hold all the clans under your leadership? And all of you will back his claim for my throne?"<br />
The warriors out in the crowd murmured to each other whispering back and forth. So far none of them stepped forward preferring to let Kranko and Slug decide who would rule. Then a tall warrior stepped out.<br />
"There is only one way to decide who rules." He said.<br />
"I agree." Kranko said. "If you want the throne Slug, make the challenge and pick up a weapon. Face me brother or forfeit your claim."<br />
"The throne is already mine Kranko." Slug laughed. "There is no need for a challenge. I have already won."<br />
"You have won nothing Slug." The warrior shouted. "You have not proven your strength, or wisdom to lead. All you have proven is that you have no honor and that you would ally us with one of our worse enemies. You think we didn't know about the Orc. Make the challenge Slug or suffer the price of treason. If you win, you will be chief. If you lose, you die."<br />
Slug looked out at the gathered assembly of Goblin leaders. He knew he had no choice and he had to make the challenge or they would all denounce him and he would be stoned to death by the whole Bloodfang clan. His only hope was if he could substitute Swel for himself in the challenge. Swel could fight in his stead and be his champion.<br />
"I will meet your challenge." Slug sneered at Kranko and stepped beside the huge Swel. "Since you make the Challenge, I get to choose the mode of combat. And I choose combat by surrogate. I choose Swel Warhand as my champion."<br />
Swel stepped forward rattling the dais as he walked. He dropped his hammer at Slugs feet and folded his arms across his chest and groaned at them. Out in the crowd the Goblins started whispering to each other surprised at Slug's strange announcement. There had never been a challenge like this before and they weren't sure if it should be allowed.<br />
"You have it confused brother." Kranko said. "I don't make the challenge, I am the rightful chief of the Bloodfang clan. The challenge is yours, but I will accept it and fight Swell."<br />
"You can't fight Kranko." Said a warrior standing in the front of the dais. "If you accept his challenge then you have to choose another to fight for you. The challenge is for surrogates."<br />
"I will fight." Chonk said. He pulled his sword out and stepped out in front of Kranko to challenge Swel.<br />
"No." Hoddie put a hand on Chonk's shoulder to stop him. "A son should always stand at his fathers side. I will fight for him."<br />
Kranko looked at his son with pride though he wasn't sure this was a good idea. Swel stood at least two feet taller then Hoddie and was packed with muscles. He hoped the boy was fast because that would save his life.<br />
"Are you sure?" Kranko asked.<br />
"I am." Hoddie took off his cloak and handed it to his father. He pulled his daggers and spun them in his hands.<br />
"Take my sword." Chonk said pushing it out to Hoddie.<br />
"I don't need it." He walked out to meet Swel out in front of the dais. "These are all I need."<br />
The crowd moved back as the two combatants stepped down into the arena to battle. A warrior wearing old armor with a red strike on it stepped out.<br />
"This is a challenge of the leadership of the Bloodfang clan." He said. "The winner will not only be our chief, but he will be chief over all the clans in Gaymere until another beats him in the challenge. The loser will die today. Do you understand?"<br />
"Yes." Hoddie said as Swel just nodded an acknowledgement.<br />
"Then let the battle begin!!"<br />
As the warrior stepped back and out of the way, Swel pulled his sword and charged at Hoddie. He raised it and went for a quick kill. Hoddie waited until he was about to strike then spun to the left and reached out and carved a slice down Swel's back as he passed. Swel stumbled and turned hardly noticing the pain from the cut. As he flexed his muscles, Swel took a fighting stance and moved in on Hoddie. Holding his sword with two hands, he stabbed then swung down. Hoddie stepped to the side then twirled and kicked out at Swel's knee. As it folded and Swel started to fall, Hoddie kicked up and hit him in the chin. Swel fell back and Hoddie was on him stabbing into his shoulder three times then leaping back as Swel's sword sliced through the spot he had he had been in.<br />
With a loud guttural yell, Swel was back on his feet and charging at Hoddie. Now he was hurt and angry. Like a ram he ran at Hoddie and hit him hard. Hoddie went flying back to land on his back with the air knocked out of him. With a mighty roar, Swel dived on him with his sword raised ready to impale him. With lightning like reflexes, Hoddie swung out with his daggers and sliced trough Swel's throat then rolled as fast as he could to get out from under him.. Swel slammed into the ground next to Hoddie clutching his throat as the blood sprayed all over the ground. As Hoddie got up, Swel kicked a few times then lay still.<br />
"The challenge is done." The warrior said as he stepped up on the dais next to Kranko. "You are chief."<br />
All the warriors standing around the arena went down on one knee and bowed to Kranko. He turned to Slug who stood there trembling and kicked him off the dais.<br />
"You challenge has failed." He said. "You die tonight."<br />
"No!" Slug screamed and pulled a sword. "I am chief here! I rule this clan! I command you to kill them now!!"<br />
Kranko leaped across the sword from Slug then cracked him in the head with the hilt. Slug fell knocked out cold.<br />
"Take him to the dungeons." Kranko commanded. "Let him sit and stew for a while. We have an Orc to deal with."<br />
As the warriors dragged Slug out, Kranko took his place on the throne and called his son over.<br />
""You have friends outside?"<br />
"Yes Father." Hoddie answered. "They may need help to defeat the Orc."<br />
"Then let's go and help them."<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-69685134371661630022015-08-16T23:24:00.001-04:002019-06-24T14:20:51.727-04:00North meets South. 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The sun had just risen from the east as Myor and Yarden made their way down from the cold northern mountains. Yarden hadn't said very much while they traveled. He responded to everything Myor said, but didn't added much or even try to hold a conversation. Myor guessed he was still in shock from what had happened to his family. They would have to talk soon. Where they were going, Yarden would need all his wits about him. This wasn't the time for mourning.<br />
From Casthor in the north, they had traveled down past Torcin through the cold wastelands without being attacked by either Snowman or Kensi. Once out of the barren north and into warmer climates, Myor and Yarden flew east over the trails up and over the Runtalian mountains and down into the lands of the Pascan giants. Yarden seem amazed at the sights he was seeing. Everything here was new to him. The high grasses and all the different plant and flowers, even the animals here were different from the cold wastelands. Myor was glad to instruct him on what he was seeing as they traveled, describing everything Yarden pointed out.<br />
"It's all so different from home." Yarden said as they sat and had lunch. "Everything here is so alive."<br />
"Without ice and snow." Myor said as he finished eating and put away his supplies. "Life moves much faster then back home. This is what we're fighting for. To keep not just our people safe, but all life."<br />
"And Bram is that much of a threat?"<br />
"You saw what he did to your people." Myor stood up. "Imagine what will happen in a large city full of people. Imagine what he will do to get what he wants."<br />
Yarden took a last drink and headed off to join Myor on the road. They went on from the land of the Giants and down into the Human country of Satria.<br />
Satria was a country of farmers and small villages with fruit trees and lots of fields of wheat and corn. As they traveled down the road, they saw many fields over ripe and over grown beyond ready to be harvested. Myor looked closely at the fields then walked in to have a look at the over gown corn stalks.<br />
"Is something wrong?" Yarden asked from the side of the road.<br />
"Yes." Myor said as he reached up a plucked an ear to inspect. "This corn should have been harvested weeks ago."<br />
"Corn?" Yarden said, he had never seen anything like it before. "What is it?"<br />
"It's a vegetable." Myor peeled back the layers of leaves that covered the corn then suddenly threw it to the ground. "Ewwwwwwwwww!!! Its covered with mold!!!"<br />
He checked another and found the same thing. Then he went from stalk to stalk and realized the whole field was full of moldy corn.<br />
"This whole field has to be destroyed." He said as he went back out to join Yarden. "It can't be helped."<br />
"Why?" Yarden asked.<br />
"Because this mold is everywhere." He explained. "It's poisonous and if its eaten, people will die."<br />
"It's to late." Someone said from behind them. "People have already died."<br />
Myor and Yarden turned to find a young weak looking boy of about fifteen coming out of the corn field. He staggered over to them and fell forward in Yarden's arms.<br />
"Help us please!"<br />
Yarden took him and laid him on the side away from the infected corn field. He put a hand on his head and felt the heat from the fever radiating out from him. The boy was tall for his age with dull looking red hair that they knew would be shining, if he was healthy. His skin was pale and sweaty and he had a sick smell rising from his shallow breathing.<br />
"This boy is very sick." Yarden said. "I think he's going to die. We have to help him."<br />
"Give him to me." Myor reached out and took the boy in his arm. He held him close and pulled his cloak around them and bowed his head. As Myor held him, he started to glow. A subtle heat rose all around him and poured into the sick boy. As Myor held him, he struggled for a second then relaxed as his breathing stabilized. In minutes, color returned to the boys face and his fever broke. Myor held the boy for a few more minutes until he opened his eyes and smiled up at him.<br />
"How do you feel?" Myor opened his arms and sat the boy down.<br />
"I feel better." He said as he sat up. "How did you do that? I thought I was going to die."<br />
"You were very sick." Yarden handed him a water skin to have a drink. "Drink this."<br />
The boy took it and drank deeply then gave it back to Yarden.<br />
"My name is Brent. I live with my family in Diva, a village not to far from here."<br />
"Is that where you got sick?" Myor asked.<br />
"Sick!!" Brent jumped to his feet. "I almost forgot! Yes, everyone's sick in Diva. My mother and father, you have to come help before its to late!"<br />
<br />
As Myor entered Diva with Yarden and Brent, the smell of rot and death was over powering. The bodies of dead villagers lay scattered everywhere. Brent steered them around and through the village to a cottage off to the rear near the back cattle fields.<br />
"Is everyone here dead?" Yarden asked.<br />
"No." Brent said quietly. "Many people left to get away from the mold, but they didn't get far. Most of them are still close by. Me and a few of my friends have been trying to take care of the, that is until we got sick. I don't know how many of us are left."<br />
"How did this start?" Myor asked. "How long has the mold been growing?"<br />
"Two weeks." Brent said as they reached his cottages door. "Every since that crazy old man came here looking for his ring."<br />
Suddenly Myor felt cold inside. A crazy man looking for a ring, that could only be one person. Bram Thorn had been here. But what had he done? This looked almost like the sickness that Polan Dressak had spread across Taggitia so many years ago. How could Bram be responsible?<br />
As Brent opened the door, Myor looked into the darkness that was his home. The smell was awful. It was like rotting vegetation, Yarden gagged for a second before entering, then turned away refusing to go in.<br />
"Its OK." Brent said. "I can hardly stand the smell myself. I'll go in and open some windows and let fresh air in, but I have to be careful. The sun light hurts their eyes."<br />
Though the smell was horrible, the darkness wasn't something that would bother either Yarden or Myor. Stepping closer to the door, Myor peered into the cottage. The whole cottage was very nice and built into two rooms. One on the first lever which was a small kitchen and family room with a large bed set far back against the furthest wall. In the bed, there was two dead bodies.<br />
"Brent." He called out. "Come back!"<br />
"No!" He cried. "My parents are here in the bed. You can heal them just like you healed me. Please, you have to try!"<br />
"It's too late." Myor stepped in and went to Brent to guide the crying boy out. "They would want you away from here. Come, we have to see if anyone else is alive here."<br />
From house to house and farm to farm they searched each house and found only the dead. Brent found his friends huddled together dead in a small barn outside of the village.<br />
"Bram Thorn did this?" Yarden asked as he looked back at the dead village. "This is insane. All for a ring?"<br />
"Who knows what insane reason he had. All I know is we have to stop him at all cost."<br />
"What do we do about Diva?" Yarden asked. "And all that moldy corn."<br />
"Watch Brent." Myor said. "He knows this area. Find someplace safe out beyond Diva and I'll meet you there."<br />
"What are you going to do?" Brent asked.<br />
"I'm going to get rid of this curse."<br />
Myor stepped off away from them then shifted to his Phoenix form and leaped off into the sky with his wings ablaze.<br />
"By Rimnar!!" Brent said as Myor rose up into the sky. Yarden smiled and lead Brent away.<br />
"Come on." He said. "Show me how we get away from here."<br />
Myor circled Diva until he saw Yarden and Brent were far enough away, then he dived down into the corn fields and sent his flames to burn everything. He went to each field and all the orchards and burned everything. Then he flew into Diva and put his flames to each house, shop and barn. Myor made sure by the time he left the village, not one building was standing.<br />
[And so ends Bram's mold.]<br />
<br />
"This is ridiculous." Ranjer said from Quynn's back. "We should be out looking for Bram or the rings not searching the north for, who are we looking for?"<br />
[King Philibar sent us north.] Quynn sent. [He knows this Bram better than we do. I think we should listen to his advise.]<br />
"What advise? All he said was to go north. We've been flying around up here for two days, where are we suppose to be going?"<br />
"How about the city below?" Bly pointed down at a bright walled city. "This as good a place as any to start looking."<br />
Quynn and Ranjer looked down. The city below looked like a pretty prosperous land surrounded by a wall like most kingdoms in Taggitia. There were farms and ranches with many different crops and livestock in the surrounding area. Many roads and trails led into the city from three different directions. People could be seen traveling in and out of the city going about their daily business. High on a hill in the back of the city sat a tall beautiful palace. Five tall slim towers formed and almost perfect barrier that framed around the marvelous castle connected by soft white stone. Tall, wide windows scattered thinly around the wall in perfect symmetry along with gaps of various sizes for archers and other forms of defense. As they circled, Quynn noticed something about the city that made him more at ease. Outside the gates of the city, placed about twenty feet apart, there were statues of dragons lining the wall. It didn't look threatening attacking dragons, It was more like they were praising them.<br />
As Quynn gazed down on the city he wondered what this handsome city was. It looked peaceful, like a wonderful place to live. He hoped Bram hadn't been here. He would hate to see this place in ruins.<br />
Circling above the towers, Quynn roared to announce his presence, then dropped down just inside the cities gates. Ranjer jumped from his back as Bly flew down to sit on his shoulder. Shifting to his human form, Quynn stepped over to join them as a crowd began to gather around them. Dressed in regal attire, a handsome gray haired man stepped out to greet them.<br />
"Aiya en creoso!" He smiled holding out his hand to Quynn. "We are pleased to be honored by the visit of a Dragon and his companions. My name is Pasker Dent, I'm an elder in counsel to King Tobias Bratt. Come in and rest, the king will want to welcome you to Dorlanth."<br />
"Dorlanth, King Tobias?" Ranjer looked at Quynn. "That sounds familar."<br />
Quynn shrugged as he shook hands with the elder who led them out and into the city of Tranda, capital of Dorlanth.<br />
From there, Pasker escorted them down through the city's marketplace where there were stalls that sold everything thing from weapons to food stocks. There were corrals where pigs, cattle and horses were sold in auction to the highest bidder.<br />
Next Pasker showed them the blacksmith shops where elaborate weapons were fashioned and forged for anyone who could pay the price. There were a number of mid level mages worked with the blacksmiths adding different spells to weapons when needed.<br />
"Very impressive." Bly said. "I see quality work being done here."<br />
"Yes." Pasker said beaming with pride. "Only in Winterhaven or certain places in Aspara Baugh can you find better work. Come, this way. Someone would like to meet you."<br />
From the smith's lane, Pasker took them up through the city into the housing area. It was beautiful and clean and comfortable looking. People laughed and looked very happy here as they went on about they're lives. As they reached the palace, Pasker spoke to sentries at the gates who stepped aside to open the gates and let them into Bratt palace.<br />
As they walked into the bright halls of Bratt palace, Quynn almost thought he was home. The palace was warm and inviting with stone pillars and bright wood paneling lining the halls. Portraits of past ancestors lined the hall that led to the kings audience chamber.<br />
As Pasker led them into the audience chamber, there was a handsome dark haired man waiting there anxiously pacing back and forth. When he saw them, he ran pass Pasker to Quynn shouting questions.<br />
"Where is he?" He asked agitated. "Is he hurt? Tell me he's OK please!"<br />
"Who are you talking about?" Ranjer asked confused.<br />
"Jayce!" He said. "I haven't heard from him in almost two weeks. That's not like him."<br />
"Of course!" Ranjer smacked the side of his head. "That's why Dorlanth sounds familiar to me! You're JP, Jayce's mate! This is the city he keeps so secret. Relax, as far as we know, he's fine."<br />
"He went off somewhere with my parents." Quynn explained. "On a mission. He'll be home when they're done."<br />
"I thought you were here to tell me something had happened to him." JP relaxed and smiled at them. "I've been really worried since I haven't spoke to him in so long."<br />
"No," Bly said shaking her head. "We're here looking for someone. A stranger to your city."<br />
"A Phoenix by any chance?" JP stopped, then turned back to look at them. "A Phoenix and a Yetisan came in this morning with a young boy from somewhere up north. They were talking about some crazy warlock killing the boys whole village."<br />
"Asam Arynn?" Bly asked. She flew up and hover in front of JP anxious for an answer.<br />
"No." A voice said from behind them. They all turned to see Myor and Yarden standing in the doorway. "I'm his son Myor and this is Yarden Pek of the Mada mountains. We've been expecting you. I think we should get out of Tranda, our presence here could draw Bram to this city."<br />
"He's right." Bly said. "We don't want to see him come here. To many lives at stake."<br />
"Then if what Myor has been telling us is true." JP said. "You should go. But before you do, there's something I need your help with."<br />
"What's that?" Ranjer asked.<br />
JP walked to the cabinet on the other side of the room, then turned back to Quynn and the others. He took a deep breathe then started his story.<br />
"A few months ago while hunting in the forest north of here almost on the edge of Dorlanth." JP explained. "A hunting party found a village a lot like Diva completely empty of all its people. The village had been torn up like some great battle had taken place but there were no bodies found anywhere. The hunters searched everywhere for miles around and nothing. No bodies, but they did find a trail. Footprints, rather large footprints that went deep in the forest to a cave. Now we know the giants of Pascan didn't live to far away, but we have been at peace with them for years. King Katic is a friend to us. He would never break his treaty, nor would his son. Its just not in their interest. They know we are under the protection of Jayce and the Dragons."<br />
"Now." JP continued. "Once my hunters found the cave, they went in to see what was in there. Only one man made it out of that cave and he was found with this."<br />
JP opened the cabinet to reveal a huge horn. It looked like a bulls horn but enormous. If that horn had come from a bull, it would have to be twice the size of a regular bull.<br />
"Have you ever seen anything like this before?" He asked. He stepped aside as Bly and Myor came over to investigate. The horn was about two feet long and almost as thick as a dragon's. As Myor examined it, he realized it wasn't the entire horn. It was just the end. Whatever the horn had come from must have been huge.<br />
"It looks like a dragon horn." Quynn said as he reached out and touched it. "But its not."<br />
"How do you know?" Ranjer asked.<br />
"Trust me." Quynn said. "Its not. I'd know if it was."<br />
"Then none of you know what it could be?"<br />
"Afraid not." Ranjer said. "But I get the feeling there's more?"<br />
""I'm afraid you're right." JP closed the cabinet. "Not far from here is Paiget Keep. Its a small outpost and lookout station. Its usually manned with six men. Yesterday, two men staggered in from the post."<br />
"Where are the other four?" Myor asked.<br />
"Dead." Yarden said. "Whatever that horn belongs to, its coming here. At the rate its moving it'll be here tonight."<br />
"How do you know that?" Ranjer asked. "They could be lost like the villagers. How do you know they're dead?"<br />
"I can sense the beast." Yarden said. "Its anger and rage as it comes closer. I feel it coming."<br />
"I can have my men ready in an hour." JP got up and started for a rope to ring for an aide to send orders to the cities guards."<br />
"No." Quynn stopped him. "Your under the protection of the Dragons and a Dragon will deal with this."<br />
"And a Vampire." Ranjer smiled.<br />
"And a Phoenxian and a Yetisan." Myor nodded.<br />
"We all will." Bly zipped up and around the room to land on JP's shoulder. "If your men can guard the city, we'll go stop the monster before it tears through your gates."<br />
<br />
The night was dark and quiet as something huge and powerful pushed its way through the trees towards the walls of Tranda. A grizzly bear had been napping in the bush after its dinner, it woke up annoyed by the sudden sound of something big passing by its sleeping place. It stuck its head up, then stepped out to challenge the invader that had dared to wake him. The bear roared its challenge as it faced his opponent and charged in to attack. With a single swing, the invader knocked it away smashing the bears maw and breaking its jaw. The bear whined in pain as it limped away back to his cave to die of starvation.<br />
<br />
In the dark forest outside of the walls of Tranda, Quynn gathered his friends to discuss how they should go about attacking Dorlanth's intruder.<br />
"Bly." He called her over. She lit on Ranjer's shoulder. "I want you to fly out and circle the area from above. Whatever's out there should be pretty big. You should have no problem spotting it. Ranjer, you and Yarden are our best trackers. See if you can find a scent on the wind. We'll draw it to someplace safe where we can trap it."<br />
"Trap it?" Myor looked at Quynn confused. "Just trap it?"<br />
"Until we know what it is and why it's attacking. I think trapping is best. As you know, not all monsters are really monsters. Lets not kill something that we might fine to be innocent later."<br />
"I guess that's reasonable." He agreed. "What would you like me to do?"<br />
"You're my last line of defense." Quynn said. "If it gets to the gate, stop it anyway you can."<br />
Shifting form, Myor flew up and perched himself on the wall to keep watch. Bly flew up and off high over the forest to start her aerial search. Ranjer and Yarden each walked off out onto the road with their noses high, trying to find a strange scent on the wind. Yarden moved from left to right breathing in the scents of the forest and Tranda. He smelled the cook fires of the guards on the other side of the wall and the scent of a wolf hunting rabbits not to far off. Then he smelled blood from a wounded bear and its fear as it moved through the forest. Then something caught his attention. There was a heavy musky animal scent coming in on a breeze from the north. It was like nothing he had ever smelled before. It was foul like something from the pits of the cave bats in the deep mountain caverns.<br />
Yarden hurried back to Quynn just as Ranjer caught the scent. He wrinkled his nose as he sniffed the air.<br />
"Do you smell that?" He asked Yarden. "I smell blood and something weird."<br />
"I smell it." Yarden said. "Its coming from that way, north of here."<br />
[Bly.] Quynn sent out. [Do you see anything?]<br />
[Something is moving through the forest fast heading straight for Tranda.] She sent.<br />
[Can you see it?]<br />
[No.] She said. [But its big. Trees are being knocked over like blades of grass. If you hurry, we can intercept it before it gets to Tranda. Just follow my signal, its not that far.]<br />
Running into the forest, Quynn and Ranger shifted to their wolf form while Yarden took his yeti form. Through the trees and over fallen logs and over grown bushes they ran through the dark. They leaped over a stream and hopped a deep ravine following Bly's mental signal to a small clearing in the forest. There they stopped as the heavy sounds of footsteps rang out through the night. Ranjer growled as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He shifted to man-wolf and stood up on his hind legs. Quynn took his human form and readied a spell for whatever was about to come crashing out of the trees.<br />
[OK.] Quynn sent to Bly. [I need to know whats out there.]<br />
[I don't know.] She sent. [The trees are so thick, I can't see a thing. But whatever it is, your about to find out because here it comes!!]<br />
As Quynn, Ranjer and Yarden watched, something howled and two trees went flying to the side to crash off in the distance. Quynn and Ranjer stepped back as a nine foot Minotaur came howling out of the trees bellowing with rage. It had the head of a bull with two huge horns and the body of a massive man. It had cloven feet and red eyes that glared at them with anger. It took one look at Yarden and lowered its head and charged.<br />
"What is that?"<br />
"Its a Minotaur!!" Quynn said surprised. <br />
Ranjer dived out of the way. Beating his chest, Yarden stood his ground as the Minotaur came at him. When it reached him, Yarden raised his hands and grabbed it by the horns and heaved with all his might and threw it to the side. Enraged, the Minotaur scrambled to its feet and swung out with its club like fist and hit Yarden in the chest knocking him back to his knees. Ranjer growled and got ready to leap on the Minotaur's back.<br />
[Do not interfere!] He yelled. [He is mine!]<br />
With a howl, Yarden leaped at the Minotaur and hammered him with blow after blow with his closed fist. The Minotaur howled in pain and rage as it staggered back trying to avoid the blows but Yarden kept them coming. With a mighty force, the Minotaur lunged out crashing into the Yeti and with enormous strength, he hooked him with his horns and threw him. As he flew through the air, Yarden spun himself around upright and crashed into the trees off to the side. Though dazed for a second, Yarden was back on his feet and charging in for his next attack.<br />
Off to the side, Quynn and Ranjer watched the two powerful combatants fight. Bly flew down and circled them ready to blast the Minotaur if Yarden went down.<br />
"I think this could go on all day." Ranjer said. "Is there anyway we could help him?"<br />
"I don't think he wants our help." Quynn told his cousin. "In fact I think if we intervene, he might attack us."<br />
[I would.] Yarden sent. [Just stay out of it and let me fight.]<br />
With his great strength, the Minotaur grabbed Yarden in a bear hold and started squeezing. Yarden had just enough time to get his arms up to his chest when the Minotaur grabbed him. He pushed back with all his strength until he broken the hold, then he quickly hit the Minotaur on both sides of its head, then sent a upper cut at its chin that sent it flying back to land in the mud. As Yarden stepped up and stood over the Minotaur, it weakly tried to get up, then fell back and slowly shifted to human. When Yarden looked back down, there was a medium sized dark haired naked man laying there. Yarden raised his head and howled as he pounded his chest in triumph.<br />
Quynn and Ranjer came over and looked at the unconscious man, then up at Yarden.<br />
"Who is he?" Ranjer asked.<br />
"I have no idea." Quynn said. "But he's obviously not just a mad beast."<br />
"What do we do with him?"<br />
"I can keep him sleeping for now, but we have to turn him over to JP." Quynn said. "Then it'll be up to the king to decide what to do with it."<br />
"It fought well." Yarden said as he shifted back to his albino form. "Someone should go check out where he came from, perhaps there's a reason for him being here."<br />
"I agree." Bly said. "I don't feel any evil from it, just confusion and anger. I'll fly back to Tranda and talk with JP."<br />
"You don't think Bram had anything to do with this?" Ranjer frowned. He looked to Bly "Do you?"<br />
"It's possible." She said. "When it comes to him, anything is possible."<br />
"So what do we do?" Quynn asked.<br />
"I think we should move on." Bly said. "We still have to find Rowyn, and Bram is out there doing who knows what."<br />
"So where do we look?" Ranjer asked.<br />
[I can find her.] Myor said from his perch on the gate. [Right now she's in Gaymere, and I think there's an Orc involved.]<br />
"An Orc?" Ranjer gave them all a serious look. "If there's an Orc, we should hurry. She may be in trouble."<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-31266332377109214542015-05-12T18:28:00.000-04:002019-06-23T12:41:45.575-04:00The Mission. 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pa2Eod6_t_A/VXEERsd5eQI/AAAAAAAABLs/saZvx6l49dc/s1600/winged_city_by_alayna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pa2Eod6_t_A/VXEERsd5eQI/AAAAAAAABLs/saZvx6l49dc/s320/winged_city_by_alayna.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
It was dark in the deep forest of Fay Shrea as Niro and Akhrua made there way down the narrow trail. With his ax in his hand, he was alert to every sound, every twig that snapped in the distance. Something was out there watching him, stalking him. He could feel the danger in the air all around him, it was so thick it felt like a blanket wrapped around him. As he walked, something in the shadows off to his left moved. Niro's eyes followed its trail as it slipped from tree to tree diving in and out of the thick foliage. As Niro watched, a head popped up out of the bushes. It was small, child size but he could tell it was no child. Whatever it was, its skin had a greenish color and it was hairless and had to small horns on its head. As it looked around, Niro ducked behind a huge tree to hide then looked out to see what was out there hunting.<br />
It was a small creature no more then four feet tall. It was naked except for a ragged loincloth and a harness it wore around its chest. On its back it had two leathery wings that looked to weak to lift its body very high. It had pointed ears, a long narrow tail and dark dead looking eyes. Its worst attribute of all were the needle like teeth in its mouth. They were teeth meant for only one thing, ripping meat apart.<br />
As Niro watched, a few more heads popped out and started gibbering as they ran off into the forest. Whatever they were, Niro knew they were hunters and they were after something.<br />
Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was something else, but for some reason, Niro wanted to see what it was that they were after.<br />
Quietly he tied Akhrua's reins to a tree and he slipped into the forest and followed the little green hunters. With Stormfury in his hand, he followed them making sure not to alert them to his presence. It wasn't long until he found himself standing in the bush next to a clearing where ten of the little green hunters danced and chanted around a huge fire. Niro wasn't sure what they were doing. Maybe dancing and giving praise to whatever god they worshiped.<br />
As the little green men danced and frolicked, from a grass hut, four of them carried a huge cauldron out and placed it in the center of the fire. They were about to start cooking dinner. Niro couldn't help but feel sorry for whatever poor animal they had caught and were about to stew. But that was the nature of the hunt.<br />
As Niro turned to leave, he heard a scream. No animal screamed like that. As he looked back, they dragged a young winged girl out from the hut screaming and struggling to be free. Right behind her, tied hand and foot came a Goblin cursing and biting at the little hands that held him. They took them out and lay them on the side of the hut to be ready to be cooked alive.<br />
Niro knew he had to do something. He couldn't let that girl get hurt, but he was alone and they were more of them then he could handle by himself. He was going to need some kind of help.<br />
[I help.]<br />
Niro jumped when he suddenly heard the voice ringing in his head. He looked around to see who had spoke to him, but there was no one anywhere around.<br />
"Who's there?" Niro whispered gripping his ax ready to attack.<br />
[I Sima.] The voice said. [I come to help Niro.]<br />
"Who are you?"<br />
[Friend.]<br />
He didn't know why, but for some reason Niro felt he could trust this stranger. The voice in his head seemed to be female and it just gave him a feeling of friendship and strength. Besides, he really didn't have much choice if he wanted to save the girl. If this was all the help he would get, it'll have to do.<br />
"Ok Sima." Niro looked back into the camp. The girl and the Goblin were laying tied just outside the hut. He had to some how get them free, then they could help in the escape. "If you can get in there and free the girl, we can try and get her to safety, I'll try and keep the hunters occupied."<br />
[Grinders.] The voice said. [Hunters, Grinders. Sima obey.]<br />
With Sima on her way, Niro looked around for something that he might be able to use to help with the diversion. He needed some way to keep the Grinders attention away from the hut and their captives. He figured he had two choices. He could run in and attack drawing the Grinders to him, or he could start tossing boulders and trees, raining destruction down on them. Then another idea hit him and he smiled.<br />
<br />
Fear filled Hoddie's mind as he lay there and watched the Grinders dance in front of the fire and the cooking pot. He knew that was where they planned to put him and Rowyn. There were to be dinner for the tribe and there was nothing either of them could do about it. If only there had been some kind of warning before the attack. He knew they could have fought them off. With her spells and his bow and sword, they could have easily driven them back running into the forest. But it was to late now. His weapons were useless to him now with his hands tied and Rowyn knocked out. They were in deep trouble with no way out.<br />
As Rowyn lay there unconscious, a Grinder hopped over and grabbed her by a leg. With drool running from its mouth, it bent down and started to lick her. Disgusted, Hoddie kicked out with both legs and kicked it away from her. With a whelp, it ran off rubbing it's back. Just then something came slowly creeping out from behind the hut casting its shadow over Hoddie. He tried to turn his head but his vision was blocked. But he could feel there was something behind him. He could feel its breath on his neck. Then he felt something weird. Something was chewing on the ropes holding his hands behind him. As the ropes broke, Hoddie quickly untied his feet, then turned to thank his savior.<br />
As he turned to thank the stranger, Hoddie realized he was staring into a set of eyes that seemed to float there in front of him. Who was this invisible stranger with cat like eyes? Surprised, Hoddie stepped back and fell, tripping over his own feet. Before he could get to his feet, a huge Puma appeared and stood over him with its face held close to his.<br />
[No move.] It said. Hoddie stared, his mouth hung open in surprise. [Sima here to help. Stay down. I free the girl.]<br />
Hoddie shook his head signaling he understood, then lay back down with his hands behind him. He could get up and try and get to Rowyn and untie her bonds, but if just one of the Grinders saw him, all would be lost. They would be killed right there on the spot. But there was another way. Perhaps this Sima could help them.<br />
On padded paws, Sima quietly made her way over to where Rowyn lay. She nudged her over a bit so she could reach her tied hands and carefully started chewing on the vines that kept her down. As she chewed, Rowyn started to wake up. Sensing how scared she must be, Sima reached out with her mind and touched Rowyn's fairy psyche gently.<br />
[No fear Princess. I here to help. Stay still.]<br />
As she opened her eyes, Rowyn looked around then remembered where she was. When she saw the Grinders her heart jumped in fear. A scream crept up into her throat, then she felt Sima's message to be calm.<br />
[Help here. Just wait. Watch forest for Niro.]<br />
As the Grinders chanted and danced around the blazing inferno, something moved in the forest. At first it was just a low moan, but as the fire snap, crackled and popped it grew louder and louder until it could be heard over the chanting. Like cracks of thunder, the moaning rolled through the camp striking fear into the Grinders. Grabbing their weapons, the Grinders hurried to the edge of their camp.<br />
First the bushes in the forest started to quiver, then the trees started shaking. The moaning had turned into a howl that chilled Hoddie to the bone. Then boulders came flying out over the trees to crash into the Grinders huts smashing them to rubble.<br />
Chaos ran through the camp as the Grinders panicked and scampered about. Like little savages they hoot and hollered at the invader coming for the forest, As Rowyn and Hoddie watched, a huge tree like creature stomped it's way out of the forest howling like mad. The ground shook with each great step it took. It reached out and ripped a tree from the ground and waded in swatting Grinders from the air.<br />
At that moment, Hoddie jumped to his feet. Quickly he ducked into the hut behind him and grabbed his weapons and supplies and ran out to Rowyn.<br />
"Where's the Puma?"<br />
[Here.] Sima appeared next to Rowyn. Hoddie had known she was big, but he didn't expect to see a puma the size of grizzly bear standing next to Rowyn. He didn't know what to make of her. Why was she here helping them?<br />
[I help Niro. We help you.]<br />
"Who's Niro?" Rowyn asked Hoddie. He shrugged.<br />
"I don't know. But If he can get us out of here, he can be a friend of mine."<br />
[That, Niro.] Sima pointed to the tree creature battling the Grinders. [We help.]<br />
Raising her head, Sima roared and leaped out to join the tree creature. Catching a Grinder in her jaws, she shook it and threw its broken form aside. then swatted two more as they attacked her. Niro covered in tree bark, vines and leaves used a huge branch as a club and batted the little Gremlins away. With his bow in hand, Hoddie took aim and quickly fired a series of shots dropping the Grinders all around Sima and Niro. Joining the fight, Rowyn spread her wings and took off into the air. Now with her hands free, she sent jolts of energy out zapped the little flyers out of the air.<br />
Overwhelmed by the attack, they knew when they were beaten. The Grinders started abandoning the camp for the safety of the forest. Soon they were all gone and Rowyn, Hoddie and Niro stood alone by the fire,<br />
Niro lifted the bark he had wrapped around himself away and tossed it into the blaze revealing his muscled form then turned to the others. Sima padded over to stand next to Niro.<br />
"Is everyone OK?" He asked. "Is anyone hurt?"<br />
"We're fine now." Rowyn smiled at him. "Thank you warrior, that was close. If you hadn't come we would have been their dinner."<br />
"Thank Sima." Niro rubbed the puma's head. "She found you. She told me where you were."<br />
"Interesting pet you have there." Hoddie said with his hand still on his sword. "Where did you get it?"<br />
"Her name is Sima." Niro frowned. "And she's not a pet, she's my friend."<br />
"Don't mind him." Rowyn shook her wings brushing dirt off of them. "Goblins are a very suspicious lot. He's glad you're here too. I am Rowyn Windstar of Pelordra, he's Hodgodde Fearfist from Graymere. Sima told us your name is Niro?"<br />
"Pelordra?" Niro couldn't believe his luck. Here he was out of his mind searching and Sima took him right to where he needed to be without even being told. Maybe now he could get some answers. "You know King Philibar?"<br />
"Yes." Rowyn answered. She looked at Niro a little suspiciously. "He's my father. Do you know him?"<br />
"No." Niro shook his head. "But I've been sent to find him by my father. He told me to seek out Philibar of Pelordra. Only he couldn't point me on my way to my destiny."<br />
"It's a long way to Pelordra from here Niro." Hoddie picked up his pack and slipped its straps over his shoulder. He put the bow in its place. "Especially for one who can't fly. You have a hard journey ahead of you."<br />
"It's much harder then that I'm afraid." Rowyn explained. "Pelordra is not your average city. There are no roads that lead there and you can only gain entrance by invitation and that's not easy."<br />
Niro thought for a moment. His life had been turned around, scrambled and destroyed and he had no idea why. His entire family was now dead and the only answers were in Pelordra. There had to be a way for him to get there. Then he had an idea.<br />
"What brings you two out here into the forest of Fay Shrea?" Niro asked. "Maybe we can help each other."<br />
Hoddie walked around Niro looking him over. He thought they could use a warrior with them with what was ahead. He was obviously strong and brave. Maybe not to smart, but it wouldn't matter if they did all the thinking. He looked at Rowyn.<br />
"What do you think?" He asked. "Should we trust him?"<br />
"He saved our lives. " She said. "And he could have kept on his way. And besides, I like his eyes. I get an air of honor from him. I think we should trust him."<br />
"What do you know about Orcs?" Hoddie asked as they left the abandoned Grinder camp.<br />
<br />
The sky was blue and the breeze was warm as Dragonwolf dropped down out of the sky over Pelordra. On his back Ranjer was in heaven. He loved flying since the first time Rage had taken him for a ride through the clouds of Tir Na. The sun on his face, the wind in his hair. He loved being airborne, the freedom that flight gave him.<br />
Flying next to them, Bly caught sight of the high gleaming towers of Pelordra and the magical forest that surrounded it. With a wave she signaled that they had reached their destination. Angling his wings, Dragonwolf dropped down to land right inside the walls of the city. As he touched down, Ranjer jumped off his back and Quynn shifted forms.<br />
"So this is Pelordra." Ranjer looked up at the marvelous sight of the city in the center of a mountain. Pelordra wasn't like regular Keanna cities. Everything had been built high up in the towers. There was no traffic at ground level in the city, but when they looked up, they saw the sky filled with flying Elves all moving from tower to tower high in the air.<br />
As Quynn, Ranjer and Bly watched the aero acrobatics, two Elves came in circling over their heads. Launching herself up into the air, Bly flew up to greet them. They talked for a few minutes, then they came down to where Quynn and Ranjer waited. Dressed in green and brown, the Sky Elf warriors gently set down and bowed to Quynn and Ranjer. Bly set herself on Quynn's shoulder.<br />
"These warriors are going to escort us to King Philbar at the palace." She told them. "They will carry you."<br />
"I can fly us there." Quynn said. "I can carry us all."<br />
"No." Bly stopped him. "Keep your Human form, this is Sky Elf land. We need their help, let's honor their kings wishes."<br />
"Fine." Quynn give in. "We'll do as you say."<br />
Stepping up behind Quynn and Ranjer, the two Elves wrapped their arms around their waist then spread their wings and took off into the air.<br />
Rising higher and higher, they flew between the towers. Ranjer was amazed at the beauty of the Elven architecture. The pastel blues, greens and yellows in their high homes. The flowing lush gardens of the handsome balconies on each level of each tower. Ranjer had seen the magical city of Winterhaven and the beautiful tree city of Eventide, but Pelordra he thought was even more beautiful.<br />
Not far ahead, they saw the highest tower of them all. This Quynn knew had to be the palace of the king. With expert precision, the two warriors came down and lightly set them down on the balcony. Having set them down, one of the warriors left and went into the palace,<br />
"There's nectar set out if you are thirsty." The warrior in green guided them to a small table set with refreshments. "Enjoy it please. The king will be out to see you in a few minutes."<br />
On the balcony there was a beautiful garden with many different tropical flowers and a round white table carved out of something that looked like ivory. It had six stool type chair with five crystal goblets and a silver pitcher. Ranjer went to the table and poured him and Quynn a drink then handed it to him.<br />
"This is great!" Quynn said after taking a sip. They sat down. "What's in it?"<br />
"It's made from the glands of certain flowers we grow in Lanayh." Philibar said as he stepped out onto the Balcony. Quynn and Ranjer jumped up off their stool spilling their drink in their lap. Bly flew up off of Quynn's shoulder to land and grow to her larger size. She bowed as he stepped up to the table.<br />
"Arael'sha!" Philibar held out his open arms and smile. "I was told there was a fairy here to see me, but I never dreamed it might be my old friend."<br />
The king took her in his arms and gave her a gentle hug. As they separated, he looked at his other two guest.<br />
"This one his the look of the wild in him. Its a familiar look." Philibar turned to Ranjer.<br />
"Your majesty, my I present Prince Ranjer Zlenka, the son of King Valkar of Yaddessa."<br />
"You have your father's eyes." He reached out and they griped each others wrist. "And you? Dragon I think. You must be the son of Rage and Jandar."<br />
"Quynn Tyr." Quynn bowed to the king. "Honored to meet you."<br />
"Have a seat." King Philibar took his seat and poured himself a drink. "Now tell me. What brings you all the way out here to Pelordra?"<br />
"We bring bad news I'm afraid" Bly looked at the king with a somber look. "He's back. Bram Thorn is back."<br />
Philibar dropped his goblet. It fell and shattered on the floor. He looked down at Bly with fear in his eyes.<br />
"Are you certain of this?"<br />
"I saw him with my own eyes." She said. "Its him, he killed my father and destroyed my home and all my people."<br />
"That's not all." Quynn added. "He killed Tomz Acros."<br />
The natural tanned look on King Philibar's face became pale. He knew Tomz Acros and Valerian Sharpwing were not easy foes to defeat. As crazy as Bram had been, he was one of the most dangerous warlocks he had come against and it had taken more then just his magic to stop him. If he was back, death might have made him even stronger then he had been in the past. Their only hope would be to find his rings and keep him from gaining his full power. They would need help to do that, if there was still time.<br />
"Do the others know?" Philibar asked. He stood up and walked to the rail of the balcony and stared out at his city.<br />
"No." Bly said. "After Bram attacked my home, I escaped, I headed straight for Jandar and Rage."<br />
"But my parents are away right now." Quynn explained. "They had left just the day before she arrived."<br />
"Well, call them." He insisted as he turned back at them. "This is of the utmost importance. We'll need them in this fight."<br />
"I've tried many times. I don't know what's wrong. No ones answering my calls."<br />
"What about Valkar?"<br />
"After he learned of the death of Tomz." Ranjer said. "Father sent us to you. He said you were the one we needed to speak to."<br />
"You will need more then my help to defeat him." Philibar explained. "You will need my daughter Rowyn, she can represent me. But first, find Asam Arynn, he can help you find the missing rings.You will also need the rest of the original team that defeated Bram in the past. Rowyn can find anyone that has one of Bram's rings, that's the only way your going to stop him. But be warned, where you're going will be dangerous. Bram's rings are what drove him to madness. They have a mind of their own. Do not trust them."<br />
"Do you know where we might find her?" Quynn asked nervously. "Or the rings?"<br />
"Rowyn is out hunting a killer that invaded our forest and killed many of the unicorn." He explained. "You should start your search in the north, Asam lives in Casthor in the frozen valley. I'll find Rowyn and send her after you. You are welcome to stay here tonight, but you should be on your way in the morning. You will face many dangers on your journey. Some you will see coming and some may come from within. My advice to you is to look into the hearts of both your friends and your foes to find the truth. Then you will know who to trust."<br />
"How are we suppose to find this Asam person?" Quynn asked confused. "There are a lot of frozen valleys up in the frozen wastelands. We could search for months and still find nothing."<br />
"If you go north." Philibar smiled. "He will find you. Trust me."<br />
The talk was lite, and the meal was short. When ever one had finished, Philibar call for one of his house maids to show them to a room where they could rest for the night. As the maid led them away, Philibar pulled Bly aside to talk.<br />
"Find everyone from our original team." He said. "Warn them that he's back. It may already be to late for some of them."<br />
"I will." Bly assured him.<br />
"These are bad times Bly. With the Dragon's gone, Bram will be very hard to defeat. Find the rings, for all our sake's before he does."<br />
<br />
From Parandor, Caius rode all night. His father had told him the story all about Bram and what they had done to him by Midoa's order. Now he was back for his revenge. Manius had heard what had happened in Sorrowdon. He had heard how Midia had died at the hands of his old friend. The same friend that he had betrayed and sent his family into ruin. But he had no idea if Vibius had any help from Bram. Did Bram help with the escape? Manius didn't think so, but he could have had a hand in there in another way. So far as Manius knew, Vibius had one of Bram's rings. Sooner or later, he would have to find Vibius to get his ring back, and if Caius could find Vibius and get the ring from him, he would have a better chance at getting the throne of what was left of the Sorrowdown Empire.<br />
Caius rode by night and rested during the day. He kept a watch for any travelers and question anyone he met. During his ride he found many refugees from the burned down city of Sorrowdown that gave him information. He learned more of Midoa's death from a man who claimed to have be a senator of Sorrowdown. He said he had been in the arena when Midoa died, and witnessed the revolt of the slaves.<br />
From a solider of the arena, Caius learned about another slave that had been instrumental in the fall of Sorrowdown. When asked what the slaves name was. He was told it was Niro Herkalus. Caius smiled when he heard that name. He recognized it immediately. Niro Herkalus was the son of General Vibius Herkalus. Caius remembered him well. They had both had the same tutor when Manius and his family still lived in Sorrowdown. Caius remembered Niro as a weak boy, more interested in studying mathematics and history then the arts of warfare. Niro had been bullied by Caius and some of the other young nobles. He was surprised to hear that he had ended up in the arena and shocked to hear he had done well. A lot must have changed since Caius left Sorrowdown. He wondered what had happened to change Niro's study interest. With the news about Niro, Caius pushed on. He still needed to find out what had happened to General Vibius. If he was out there somewhere with Niro, Caius would have to find them and eliminate them as a threat.<br />
Late that night as Caius rode down the road to Sorrowdown, he saw the glow of many campfires burning in the distance. Caius rode as close as he thought he could without revealing himself and stopped and tied down his horse. With his sword at his side, Caius crept through the forest and around the camp keeping his eyes and ears open for sentries. Hidden in the dark, Caius watches as slaves set about setting up camp. They built comfortable places to sleep and set up a perimeter to keep out any animals or invaders. Men went out to hunt while others gathers water and any vegetation they could find that was edible.<br />
From his hiding place, Caius watched as two men worked to finished their site. As they lit the campfire, they talked about the escape.<br />
"I was barely able to get free from my chains when the guards were on us." One said. "I was lucky. All I had to fight with was my chains until after I was able to kill the first guard, then I had his sword and was ready to fight."<br />
"Did you see the Emperor die?" The other warrior asked as he stacked fire wood.<br />
"Yes." He said. "But we still have work to do. I'll tell you about if when we're done and ready to eat. Let me get water and then we can rest."<br />
As Caius watched. the tall warrior with two water jugs headed out and into the forest. He kept low and stepped out and followed him. Off in the distance, Caius heard the sound of running water, there was a stream with fresh cold water. The warrior walked out into the knee deep center and sank his jug down to fill them.<br />
Silently Caius crept up around the warrior and surprised him with a dagger to his throat.<br />
"Make a sound and it will be your last." Caius dragged him from the stream and threw him down on the waters edge then jumped on him.<br />
"Whether you live or die depends on your answers to my questions." Caius held the dagger point to his throat. "Who killed the Emperor?"<br />
"General Herkalus." He choked out. "His sword ended the Emperor's life."<br />
"You see this with your own eyes?" Caius asked.<br />
"Yes."<br />
"And what happened to the General?"<br />
"I don't know." He said louder. Caius pushed the dagger harder against his neck to quiet him.<br />
"Quiet or I cut your throat." Caius warned him. "What happened then? Who led the revolt out of Sorrowdown?"<br />
"It was the General's son Niro. He gathered us and led us to the gates and our freedom."<br />
"Is he here in the camp?"<br />
"No." He whispered. "I saw him take a horse and head south toward Fay Shrea."<br />
"Thank you."<br />
With a flick of his wrist, Caius sliced through his throat and held him down until he bled out and stopped struggling. Rinsing the blood from his hands, Caius dragged the warriors body to the side where he covered him in dead leaves then headed back to retrieve his horse. Fay Shrea was his destination. Niro was out there somewhere and he had to find him.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-91607866642264357832015-05-01T02:35:00.000-04:002019-09-22T19:14:55.512-04:00Myor Rising. 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From his tower in Casthor in the frozen tundra of the Athtar ice plains, Asam Arynn stared intently into a blazing pyre. All day long he had this nagging feeling that something was wrong. He felt there was disaster reaching out and trying to touch his soul. He had tried reading the bones of his old Naga enemy but they kept telling him the same thing. That danger was near and getting closer every day. Frustrated Asam looked for more information. He dug through his chest and found his Ouija board and decided it had always served him well, he would to give it a try.<br />
Drawing a six pointed star, Asam placed the board in the center and sat crossed legged to ask his questions. His first was what was the danger? There was no answer. The question was to direct to be answered. His next question was could Casthor be attacked. With his hands folded in his lap, Asam watched as the planchette slowly slid across the board to the YES in the top left corner. With that answer, Asam wonder who it could be that would attack the city. Was it their old enemy the Naga? It moved to the opposite side to the NO. Was it the Snowmen or the Kensi? The planchette didn't move, that meant no. It could take all day going through the list of possible attackers. This was the wrong line of questioning. Maybe he should concentrate on how to stop it. With that thought, the planchette slipped across the board to the YES. Now he was getting somewhere. So the answer was to somehow stop an attack on Casthor.<br />
Alerting the king at this stage was a waste of time since, all he really had was a feeling and the answers of the Ouija board. He would need some kind of proof of danger for him to take action. Maybe the board had an answer.<br />
"How do I get proof of danger?" He asked.<br />
As Asam looked down, the planchette slid down to the letters and started spelling something out. It moved down to the M, then to the Y and over to the O and then the R and stopped.<br />
"Myor?" Asam stared down at the board in shock. How could this be? Myor was his oldest son, his apprentice. He had strong magic, possibly even stronger then his own, but how could he possibly stop whatever was coming. Especially since even Asam had no idea what the trouble was. He needed more information. He needed to know what this was all about before he let his son get involved in it. There had to be someone, one of his friends or allies that knew what it was. It was time he reached out to them to learn what he could.<br />
Getting to his feet, Asam walked out to his study where his altar to Aramis had been built. The fire was low so Asam mumbled an ancient spell and made it burst out to flare up and blaze high. He stared into the fire thinking back on the allies he had made in the past three hundred years. He knew many of his oldest friends had passed away, but there were still the Elves, Vampires, Fairies and a few others still alive. The first person that came to his mind was Valerian Sharpwing, king of the Ammath fairy's. Valerian was on old trusted friend for over two hundred years. If anyone knew anything, he would know.<br />
Closing his eyes, Asam concentrated on Ammath. He visualized the beautiful fairy community with its azure bluebells, bright yellow sunflower and daffodils, white, pink and red tulips and many different wildflowers all flowering around the city. As Asam opened his eyes, he was shocked to see the city in total ruin. All the flowers were dead and the city had been crushed and burned. In his mind he called out for Valerian but there was no answer. Asam couldn't find anyone there still alive, and was horrified to find bodies of dead fairies everywhere. Whatever had destroyed Ammath had to be the danger that threatened Casthor.<br />
After Valerian, Asam tried his friend Tomz Across of Prafa with no success. Then he tried another friend, one that always answered. He tried reaching Jandar Tyr, one of the two kings of the Dragons. In his mind deep down he could feel his presence, but again there was no answer. This worried him. The Dragons were the protectors for all of Taggitia. If there was danger in the lands, they should be there to fight it. There had to be someone he could find that could help.<br />
<br />
Panting with exhaustion, the white shadow dived from snow dune to snow dune as fast as he could. Only minutes behind him he could hear the growls of the Kensi as they gave chase coming closer and closer by the minute. He dived into the ice as one took a swipe at him and resurfaced a few feet away right in the path of a huge Snowman. As it swing its great ice fist down to smash him he dived back down into the ice. Pain speared through his leg as the fist clipped his descending foot as it slipped into the ice. He dived deep breathing shallow twisting and turning as he looked for somewhere safe to emerge and get away from the enemies chasing him. To the left the Kensi howling tearing at snow dunes looking for him. To the right, Snowmen waited pounding the ice sending painful ripples of vibrations down trying to drive him back to the surface. The pain tore through him pounding like a hammer. He needed to surface out of the ice. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stand staying down merged in the ice. His mind was screaming out in pain. He needed help soon or he would die down there.<br />
<br />
As Myor sat in meditation, waves of fear and pain suddenly stabbed into his head. He felt like he was suffocating deep down in the ice of the tundra while Snowmen and Kensi stood over him hunting him. But Myor Arynn knew it wasn't him that was buried in the ice. It was his friend Yarden Pek, and he was in serious trouble. He could feel Yarden getting weaker by the second.<br />
Jumping to his feet, Myor ran to the window and opened it and dived out. As he fell he spread his arms and triggered the change and shifted his form from human to his Phoenix form. His arms stretched and powerful fiery red and gold wings formed. His body become bird like with talons, a beak and a long blazing tail. Like a star he shot out across the tundra to the west where Yarden was trapped beneath the ice.<br />
As he approached, Myor gazed down and saw the Kensi hauling Yarden from out of the ice. Exhaustion must have taken its toll until Yarden had no choice but to surface. Being to weak to fight, they were able to grab him and haul him out onto the open bed of ice.<br />
With his friend in danger, Myor let loose a call that rattled the snow caps. As the Snowmen looked up at him, he fired a series of fireballs down to rain on them. Like cannon blasts, the fireballs came searing down and blasting the first two Snowmen into pieces. Surprised by the attack, two Snowmen howled and raised their fist and charged Myor. With his wings out stretched, Myor flew right at them letting the heat of his wings burn right though them.<br />
As Myor touched down on the tundra, he shifted back to his human form to face the Kensi. Myor stood a little under six feet, he was thin about 125 lbs dressed in black trousers and tunic with a long red and gold coat. His hair was wild and spiked streaked in red, black and blond looking like flames that crowned his head. Myor was very handsome with strong features and pointed ears. His face was framed with the spots common to the men of the Phoenician race.<br />
Between Yarden and Myor there were five Kensi, each armed with a club and the strength of a wild beast. Myor stood ready. He flexed his Phoenician muscles and sent flames flaring out from his hands.<br />
Snarling, the Kensi attacked. Leaping into action a Kensi charged in snarling and snapping reaching out with clawed hands to grab Myor. Raising his hand, Myor sent a burst of flame right in its face. The beast man howled in pain to blind the beast. It ran off with its fur blazing with flames.<br />
With three more Kensi facing him, Myor formed a sword of flame and attacked. Holding the sword with two hands, Myor charged swinging up slicing into the lead Kensi from groin to its chin. It's stomach split open spilling its gut on the ice. The second Kensi came in with its club swinging for Myors head. Countering, Myor's sword came up and met the club and cut right through it. Spinning around, Myor sank his sword into the beast chest searing a smoking hole right through its heart. In shock the Kensi fell back and was dead before its body hit the ice.<br />
Standing over Yarden, the last Kensi looked at Myor then back down at Yarden and growled. From the look in its eyes, Myor knew what was about to happen. It had one enemy there in its hands and if it was going to die, it would take Yarden with him. Sneering it raised its club over its head ready to deliver a death blow..<br />
There was no way Myor could make it to Yarden in time to stop the Kensi from crushing his head. But with his powers, he didn't have to be close to stop the beast. His only problem was that Yarden was very close and could get hurt, but he had to take the chance.<br />
"Yarden!" He yelled. "Get down under the ice!!"<br />
Still groggy, but aware of what was going on around him, Yarden heard his friends warning. Reaching in for his last bit of strength, Yarden phased himself and slipped down into the ice. With Yarden out of the way, Myor sent a blast of fire and heat at the Kensi turning it into a burning pyre. As the Kensi breathed in the fire, heat seared its lungs. For a few seconds it staggered about trying to get air, then it fell smoldering to the ground.<br />
With the Kensi and the Snowmen out of the way, Myor scanned the horizon for any more threats. He wanted to be sure there was no one else to fight before he called Yarden back up to safety. Once he was sure, he signaled him it was safe to come up. Still weak from the chase, Yarden's hand slowly came trembling up out of the ice. From the way it moved, Myor could tell he was to weak to pull himself back up to the surface. Reaching down, Myor clasped hands with Yarden and pulled. Slowly his arm came free, then his head and shoulder. Soon his entire white furred body lay on the ice and Yarden gasped for air. As he opened his eyes and recognized Myor, and made the shift back to his normal form. Yarden like all his people was very tall at six feet six inches and muscular. His skin was pale almost as white as his long flowing hair. From living in the dimly lit caverns, his eyes were yellow, able to see very well in the dark.<br />
"Breathe easy." Myor helped him to sit up, then checked him over for any injury's and healed his cuts and bruises. "They're all dead now, your safe. What are you doing all the way out here, you could have been killed?"<br />
"Looking for you." Yarden said feeling stronger. He took Myor's hand as he helped him up. "I need your help. Something really bad has happened."<br />
Just then, they heard a howl from not far off in the distance. More Kensi had caught their scent and were rallying for an attack. Yarden could smell them on the wind, they were getting close.<br />
"We should get out of here." He said. "More Kensi are coming."<br />
"Can you run? Casthor isn't that far away."<br />
"Go!" Yarden made the shift to Yeti. [I'll follow you.]<br />
Turning east, Myor started running, then he spread his arms and shifted to his Phoenix form and took off into the sky and flew east with Yarden running right behind him.<br />
<br />
At the gates to the city, Asam waited for Myor to return. All the scrying and searching had led him to one answer. He had no idea how, but his magic had told him somehow, his son would have the answers he was looking for. He had gone to Myor's study expecting to find him deep in meditate, and discovered he was missing. A simple locations spell found him out on the frozen tundra surrounded by Kensi and Snowmen in the middle of a battle. For a second Asam thought he should go help him but a few Kensi and Snowmen should be no trouble for his very capable son. What was he doing out there? Asam looked a little closer for an explanation. That's when he noticed the young Yeti laying behind the Kensi. He must be a friend. It was just like Myor to rush out to a friends rescue. This shouldn't take long. He would meet him at the gate when he returned.<br />
As Myor and Yarden reached the golden gates of Casthor, the sentry bowed with recognition and let them in. The golden city of Casthor with its high spires and towers was a magnificent place. The roads were all made of marble as were the many beautiful buildings. Palm trees lined each street reaching high to grab the magnified sun light of the crystal domed city.<br />
As Myor led Yarden into the city, Asam made his way down from the wall that surrounded the city. He caught them just after Yarden took his normal form dressed in nothing but a loincloth.<br />
"A friend Myor?" Asam looked him up and down and frowned.<br />
"Yes father." They stopped to greet him. "This is Yarden Pek. He's Yetisian from the Mohn mountains to the west. It seems he needs my help with something."<br />
"Aiya friend Yarden." Asam bowed. "Welcome to Casthor. I think we should find you something to wear. We can't have you walking through the city like that."<br />
With a snap of his fingers, a white linen tunic and cotton pants with gold trim appeared on Yarden. Yarden spread his arms and looked down at himself pleased. He had never had real clothes before.<br />
"That's better." Asam smiled. "He looks very handsome, don't you think so Myor?"<br />
"Yes father, He is. But I don't think he came all this way for a new suit. Yarden has something he wants to tell us."<br />
"Yes,yes,yes." Asam said. "And I need to talk with you about something very important. Let's go home where we can be more comfortable and Yarden can talk in private."<br />
<br />
Back in Arynn Tower, Asam led Yarden to a lounge where he could rest while Myor made them a pot of gingerberry tea to help sooth his frazzled nerves. With his tray in hand, Myor stepped in, sat it down and poured Yarden and Asam a cup.<br />
"Sip on this." Asam said as he blew on the hot drink. "It has magically qualities. It'll help you relax and focus your thoughts."<br />
Myor grabbed a chair and pulled it over and sat down. Yarden's face had a calm glow as he sipped his tea.<br />
"Now." He asked. "What's so important you braved the tundra alone to find me?"<br />
Slowly and calmly, Yarden told them about his day and what happened in the caverns. He told them of the smoke he saw rising over the mountains then what he found when he reached the caverns. He recalled the bodies of the Yetisian warriors and all his dead people. Then he told them of the old mage that had caused all the death and destruction.<br />
"And you have no idea who it was?" Myor asked.<br />
"None." Yarden shook his head. "There are a few mages in Torcin, but this man was crazy out of his mind."<br />
"Many warlocks are a little mad." Asam told them. "It comes with the profession. It can't be helped."<br />
"No." Yarden cut him off. "You don't understand, He wasn't a little mad, he talked, no, screamed at himself while tearing the place up searching for something."<br />
Myor opened his mouth to speak but Asam held out his hand and stopped him.<br />
"What was he looking for?" Asam asked. Now he was very interested. "Did he find it?"<br />
"It was small. A ring I think, hidden in the statue of Rocca Kah. Why, is that important?"<br />
"I need to see this old warlock." Asam put down his tea. "This could be very important. Myor, you can find the image in Yarden's head and show it to me."<br />
Myor stood up and pulled his chair out and placed it in the center of the room. "Sit here Yarden."<br />
"Is this going to hurt?" Yarden took his place in the chair looking nervous and fidgeting around.<br />
"Relax." Myor smiled placing his hand on Yarden's forehead. "You won't feel a thing."<br />
Closing his eyes, Myor held out his hand palm up aimed at the closest wall and started his spell.<br />
<br />
FROM YOUR MIND TO MINE.<br />
MY THOUGHTS TO YOURS.<br />
THE PAST TO SEE.<br />
WHAT HAPPENED TO THY.<br />
<br />
With a snap of his fingers, Asam doused the lights and darkened the glass dome over head. From Yarden's mind his days experience flowed into Myor and he projected the image on the wall. First they watched as Yarden stalked the caribou out on the snowy plains. Then the scent of smoke caught Yarden's attention and he saw the smoke coming from the mountains. Yarden shook his head and the scene changed as he ran through the caverns and tunnels of the Mada clan. They saw the dead and burned Yetisians scattered all through the village.Yarden shook his head again and suddenly he was standing outside of the Hall of Elders where he heard someone was tearing the place apart. Yarden merged with the ice and slipped in staying deep in the ice, but close enough to the surface to see who had destroyed the Mada caverns. As he watched, a strange man with gray hair and tattered robes raged through the chamber arguing with himself.<br />
The second Asam saw the old warlock, he jumped up out of he seat and moved closer to the image on the wall.<br />
"No!" He said as he watched the statue being blasted and the warlock pick something up. "He's dead, this isn't possible."<br />
With a wave of his hand, Myor stopped the images and froze the scene with the warlock screaming into the air.<br />
"Father, you know who that is?"<br />
"Yes." Asam turned to face Myor and Yarden. "I know him very well."<br />
"Who is he?" Yarden asked. "And where's my family and the rest of my clan?"<br />
"I'm sorry Yarden." Asam was over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "But I think they're all dead. He's done it before, his madness drives his rage to kill, and he's killed hundreds."<br />
"That can't be!!" Yarden jumped out of his chair knocking it over. Tears burned in his eyes. "My mother, my brothers, they can't be dead!! They're just missing. They must have ran off when he attacked, they can't be dead!!"<br />
"We can check if you want." Asam said sadly. "With luck they may have made it to Torcin and safety, but If they did, I think they would have reached out and made contact by now. I know Xander Corden very well, I'll contact him and see if they're there. But I think you should face the truth for now and accept it. They are gone."<br />
Yarden looked as if his world had just died and he was about to explode with grief. He couldn't understand how this could have happened. His people weren't war like. There were warriors, sure for there protection, but they had never attacked anyone, not even the Kensi or Snowmen. Why had this crazy warlock come to his home, and why kill everyone?<br />
Asam saw the anguish burning through Yarden and he knew he had to try and explain. He had them both sit down and he poured another cup of tea. He didn't know if either of them would understand what he was about to tell them, but if that really was Bram Thorn, then he would need their help to defeat him.<br />
"The warlocks name is Bram Thorn." He said. "And it all started long ago in a land call Fay Shrea. Sit back and I'll tell you why he must be destroyed."<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-24713406237887496772014-09-16T11:00:00.001-04:002019-10-20T14:13:08.709-04:00Fire and Ice. 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Far to the west of Sorrowdown, Fay Shrea and Tir Na, at the foot of the mountains of Meir sat Parandor Keep. Parandor Keep was a fortress settlement established over a hundred years ago by the senate and emperor of Sorrowdown during its last great bid at expansion. To the east of Sorrowdown was the land of the Yadessa. The Emperor didn't like Baron Valkar's land being so close to his, but war with them might possibly devastate Sorrowdown and the vampires would not be an enemy easy to defeat. To the south of that was Fay Shrea and Tir Na with the Elves and Dwarfs below that. All three like the vampires magical, and a war Sorrowdown wasn't sure it could win.<br />
To the north was the city of Winterhaven. It was very peaceful and it didn't have much of an army, but its magic was beyond compare. From the walls, the Mages of Winterhaven could curse or blast Sorrowdown's army into dust, so invasion there was out of the question. But to the west lay open lands and human settlements that could be absorbed into the empire so, west it was. After many years and battles, everything from the gates of Sorrowdown and west to the Meir mountains became a part of the Sorrowdown Empire.<br />
It was late in the evening and the moon was high as a lone exhausted rider led his tired mount the last few steps to the gate of the keep before collapsing. From a post on the wall, a guard watched and saw the rider. When the stranger fell, the guard called down and alerted the gate watch of the strangers presence. The gates were opened and two guards came out and carried the man in while another led the exhausted horse limping to a place where it would be watered and rest.<br />
In the gate house the guards recognized the uniform of the rider as that of Sorrowdown. This guard most have ridden all night with some important message for Manius Regulus, governor of Parandor and the towns and villages around it.<br />
At his desk in his study, Manius Regulus sat going over the city's daily reports. Work had to be done on the city's water system. Crops this quarter were down from last year and the arena floor needed repair. All boring everyday problems that faced the governor in running a city on a daily basis.<br />
As Manius picked up the sheet concerning the monthly taxes, he rubbed his eyes and stood up. Pushing his chair aside he walked over to the table and picked up the decanter of wine and poured himself a glass. After taking a sip, he frowned. The wine was warm and not to his taste. Well that would be easy to fix. Placing the glass and decanter back on the table, Manius reached out and waved his left hand over the wine. A blue glow emanated from the ring on his finger and a wave of icy cold chilled the wine to the perfect temperature.<br />
Just then there was a knock at his door.<br />
"Come in." He called as he sat back down sipping his wine. At the door a young dark haired man of about eighteen dressed in a white toga trimmed in purple the color of the Pius family entered. "Caius, I'm busy. What is it?"<br />
"We have a visitor." Caius Aurius walked to his father and dropped the helmet of the rider on the desk. Manius stared down at the helmet.<br />
"What does Midoa want now?" He pushed the helmet off the desk to roll across the floor. "More men for his games? Taxes, what is it now?"<br />
"I don't know father." Caius picked up the dented helmet. "But whatever it was, he rode his horse to death to get here."<br />
"Interesting." Manius folded his hands in front of him while twisting the ring on his finger. "Where is this visitor?"<br />
"In the gate house."<br />
"Come with me." Manius got up, grabbed a cloak and left the study. It was a short walk through the keep to the gatehouse where he found the guard laying on a bunk looking like he was at deaths doorway.<br />
"Everybody out." Manus commanded. "Caius, you stay."<br />
One by one the guards in the room filed out and Caius shut the door behind them. Manius grabbed a stool and went and sat beside the wounded guard.<br />
"You have something to tell me." He said. "What is it?"<br />
"Midoa is dead." The guard moaned.<br />
"How? How did my cousin died?"<br />
"He was killed by Vibius Herkalus in his viewing stand in the arena."<br />
"Damn!" Manius cursed. "Midoa was supposed to kill that bastard."<br />
"He failed." The guard told them. "But Vibius is dead now. Dead by the Emperors own hand."<br />
"And he sent you with a message for me?"<br />
"Yes." He tried to sit up. "He said to tell you that Bram was back and that he would be coming for you, the ring and your son."<br />
"Message received." Manius pulled a dagger from his belt and plunged it into the guards heart.<br />
"Father!!"<br />
"He's nothing." Manius walked to the door and pulled it open. He talked to the guard on the other side then pulled Caius out. "We have things to do."<br />
Without another word, Caius followed his father from the gate house. He had seen that look in his fathers eyes and knew better then to ask any questions. From the gate house they went back through the city to Parandors old senate building. Since the Emperor had abolished the senate, the building was now used for offices of officials Midoa or Manius had appointed. After issuing orders to one of his generals, Manius called for Malipius, Parandors head of the Mage guild then took Caius to his office suite.<br />
"Father, what is going on?"<br />
"Trouble." He told Caius. "And opportunity if what that guard told us is true."<br />
"What do you mean?".<br />
Just then there was a knock at the door and Malipius Didius Otho was let in. Malipius was not an old man, but his use of the dark arts has sipped his youth until he looked almost ancient and crooked. He was dressed like most dark mages in dark robes and he had an air of mystery about him. Using a cane, Malipius hobbled forward to stand in front of the seated consul and his son.<br />
"Hail Midoa." He weakly lifted his hand in salute. "You sent for me?"<br />
"Yes." Manius looked up at the Mage. "You are the most powerful mage that serves me here. I have a few questions for you."<br />
"What can I do for you Sire?"<br />
"Sire?" Manius looked at him lifting an eyebrow. "Why do you call me that?"<br />
"Sorrowdown is in flames." He said with a faraway look in his eyes. "Midoa is dead. You and your son are now all that is left of the Pius line. That makes you the emperor if you make the move now. If not, the empire will crumble. The time you have been waiting for is here."<br />
Manius smiled. These were just the answers he was hoping for. He had the men and forces to pull the empire back together under his name. There was just one more question.<br />
"And what of Bram Thorn?"<br />
As Malipius heard that name, all the blood drained from his face. His body began to tremble and his mouth opened with a groan. That faraway look in Malipius's eye turned into a crazed glare then a cold cackle rang out. Manius jumped to his feet and pushed Caius behind him as he grabbed a sword from a rack on the wall.<br />
"Sorrowdown empire will never exist under your pathetic role Manius Regulus. You and your son will either be puppets under my control or you will be dead like Midoa. This is your only warning. I, Bram Thorn am coming for my revenge!!"<br />
Suddenly Malipius laughter turned into screams of pain. Malipius fell to the floor as his body began to contort. Bending backwards, a loud crack echoed through the room as the Mage's back snapped and Malipius died with a final scream.<br />
"Father! What was that? Is he dead?"<br />
"That was just what I was afraid of." Manius threw his sword down at Malipius body. "He was possessed."<br />
"By what?"<br />
"Not what." Manius looked at his son. "Who. Bram Thorn to be exact. The craziest warlock that ever lived, and died."<br />
"I don't understand."<br />
"Sit down." He walked back to his desk. "I have a story to tell you."<br />
<br />
It was early in the morning before the sun rose over the horizon when the smell of fear drifted out through the air. Fear and something else. Hunger. As Sima padded her way through the forest, she smelled something was on the hunt and it had caught the scent of prey. Like the hunter she was, Sima followed the scent. It was a familiar scent. One that was always there in Lanayh, The scent of an elf and it was scared. Sima cocked her head and took in the second scent. That of the hunter. It was a wild scent. One that wasn't usually found in Lanayh but there were a few here. She knew that smell well. It was one of her oldest enemies. An enemy she had battled many times before and never an easy battle. it was a Garmr out hunting in Lanayh.<br />
With the hair on her neck raised, Sima slowly made her way through the bush. The smell of fear burned her senses driving her on. Garmr were ravenous hunters that once on a scent, never turned until they they had fed and their bellies were full. They were huge black dog beast usually kept by goblins as trackers because of their great hunting skills.<br />
Finding the trail left by the Garmr was easy. They had a scent like no other beast. Sima followed it into a heavily thick area then heard a sudden scream. Gathering herself, Sima leaped over the bushes to find the Garmr advancing on a young Sky elf who's wing hung down from his back looking damaged. With one look at the scared elf, something in Sima's heart said no. She would not allow this innocent elf, one of the many who lived their lives just to protect this forest and every animal in it from harm. She had seen them help and care for everything in the the forest from a sick and diseased trees to a wounded mad bear. she would not let the Garmr hurt the elf in any way.<br />
Gathering her strength, Sima roared and made a mighty leap which put her right in between the advancing Garmr and its intended prey. With the way barred, Sima roared her challenge to the great dog beast and held herself ready for its attack. Surprised but unfazed by the big cat, the Garmr attacked. It came in snapping at Sima's throat for a quick kill. But Sima was no novice to battle. She twisted under the attack and leaped on the Garmr's back as it tried to turn back at her. Her claws ripped wide and deep scratches as she bit into its neck. The Garmr howled out in pain as it shook and tried to shake the cat off its back. Diving to the ground it rolled trying to crush Sima. With lightning speed she jumped off and was ready when the Garmr got back to its feet.<br />
As it stood snarling at Sima, she pawed the ground sharpening her claws for the next attack. Sima's eyes never left the Garmr as she paced in front of the scared elf. Her muscles were tight, then they jumped at each other. As Sima and the Garnr clashed, Sima's teeth went right to the Garnr's thoat and she bit down crushing its windpipe. It shook struggling to shake her off and get breath into its lungs but Sima held tight. It wasn't long before it gasped its last breath. Sima had won.<br />
Dropping the dead Garmr, Sima turned to the elf as it drew itself back. As Sima tilted her head, she laid down and began to clean her wounds. Surprised that the Puma wasn't attacking, the elf stood up and carefully held out his hand to Sima. After taking a sniff, Sima began to lick the elf's hand.<br />
"You just saved my life Sima." The elf sat down in front of her as Sima looked back panting. "I knew you had the heart I was looking for. I have a reward for you."<br />
The Elf stood up and in a flash of blinding light it disappeared and a handsome blond man in glowing golden robes appear. Standing in front of the big cat was now the sun god Alee. He reached out and touched Sima right between the eyes. Suddenly her mind became sharper. She looked up at Alee and knew something in her had changed. She had grown bigger, stronger and faster and much more clearer in her mind.<br />
"How do you feel Sima?"<br />
[Strong.] She stood wondering where that had come from. How was it that she now understood everything he was saying. [Who bright man?]<br />
"My name is Alee." He said. "And I have something I want you to do. I want you to find someone for me and help him. Be his guide. Will you do that for me?"<br />
[Yes Sun man.] Sima didn't know how, but she knew exactly who the bright man was and what he wanted. She would help him.<br />
"Good." He ran his hand through the tan fur on her head. "Find Niro and be his guide. Help him be the hero I know he can be."<br />
<br />
At the edge of Sorrowdown, Bram Thorn stood and watched as the city burned. He could sense that what he was looking for wasn't here. The Emperor was dead, he knew that. Someone had beaten him here so he couldn't get his revenge on Midoa Cassius Pius, the man who had ordered his death. But the men who had carried out the order were still out there and so was their families. He would make them suffer for what they had done to him.<br />
As he watched the flames blow in the wind, a wagon of people who had made it out of the city pulled up along the road.<br />
"Aiya Stranger." Called a man from the front seat. "If you seek Sorrowdown, you can see it is no more. It was burned to the ground by escaping slaves. We gave them shelter and food and this is how they repay our kindness. I pray a pox will fall on every last one of them and shrivel their manhood. We head for Parandor keep for safety. What say you?"<br />
Bram barely looked at them. He just raised his hand and sent a blast of fire at them and incinerated them screaming. As Bram looked at the smoldering ashes, the name Parandor kept running through his mind. He began to laugh and disappeared.<br />
<br />
In the freezing land of Aerola, far to the west of Kensor, the sun shined brightly on the snowy dunes of the plain. A great white arctic caribou stepped out from behind a huge snow mound and stopped to take a scent of the air. Sensing no danger, it bent down and started scraping at the ground to get to the tender leaves of grass beneath the snow. Off to the left, hidden among the dunes of snow, Yarden Pek watched and waited for his chance to attack. Yarden was young, pure white furred Yeti of the Mada clan from the nearby Mohn Mountains. He had been out all morning tracking caribou and had finally managed to get one separated from the herd. He was being very careful. He knew that the slightest sound or hint of his scent would alert the beast of his presence and it would bolt. He had to be slow and take his time making his approach if he was to make a kill today.<br />
Slowly he inched his way out of the dunes keeping the wind coming from the north. He prayed to Kearn the winter god to keep the winds in his favor for just a few more minutes. All he had to do was make it a few more feet to his prey and with his icy touch, he could send his ice running through the caribou's blood and bring the beast down with a frozen heart.<br />
Hugging the ground, Yarden merged with the snow and ice and crept inch by inch forward. His claws were exposed and ready. He had blocked out everything around him except for the caribou. He didn't see the polar bear that watched from the distance and he didn't hear the rumble coming from behind him until the ground began to shake. Then the caribou lifted its head sensing danger and bolted away. Yarden dropped back into solid form and sat up and watched as the caribou trotted off across the field. That was when he felt the vibrations in the snow and looked back to see smoke rising from the mountains. As Yarden put his hand to his brow to shield his eyes from the glare, he realized the smoke was rising from just where the entrance to the clan caverns were. Something was wrong back at the Mada Caverns. He had left mother and his younger brother there sleeping when he went out to hunt. He wasn't sure of what exactly the smoke meant, but he knew it wasn't coming from any cooking fires. They used the heat from the mountains heart to cook and forge weapons and other metal objects. And since the Yetisans don't need heat, a fire in the mountain could only mean one thing. Trouble.<br />
The closer Yarden got to the caverns, the thicker the smoke came billowing out. He could smell the smoke as he ran and something else. He smelled fear and blood in the air. Yarden quickened his pace leaping from cliffs edge to the next trail as his fear grew. Moving at his top speed, it took him less then ten minutes to make it up to the cavern entrance. As he came around the trails bend, the smell of blood filled his senses. He hurried on to the hidden gates, then stopped when he saw two smoking bodies lying by the gate. Horrified, he looked down at the two smoldering heaps. It was Zuri and Kenton Pah. Two brothers that had been standing watch at the gate for years. Their fur was scorched down to the flesh and there was a look of absolute horror on what was left of their faces.<br />
Fear pushed Yarden on. Something powerful had done this and whatever it was, it had gone into the gates and down to the city.<br />
Hurrying on, Yarden couldn't help but wonder who could have done this. It couldn't have been the Snowmen who so frequently tried to get into the city. They were made of snow, they couldn't handle fire. It couldn't have been the Kensi, those savage beastmen were afraid of fire too What about the Humans? Could they be responsible? Yarden couldn't see how that would be possible. The Yetisan had been friends with the people of Torcin for over one hundred years. They traded with them and their children even attended their schools. There was no reason they would attack, it just didn't make any sense. But if not them, then who could it be?<br />
As Yarden hurried down the tunnel, he made the turn and went down and enter the main cavern which housed the people of the Mada clan. It was hard to see anything, smoke filled the cavern burning his eyes but Yarden did see the burning bodies of Yeti warriors everywhere. Scared, he ran on screaming for someone to come tell him what had happened here. As he searched, he went from the market area to the homes further back praying he wouldn't find any of his family. It wasn't long before he found himself on the lane where his family lived. He stopped at his open door afraid to go in. Afraid of what he might find.<br />
Slowly Yarden pushed the door open and stepped in. The homes and shops in Mada cavern had all constructed from a series of chambers in the caves. The ceiling were all of different heights. Some homes had three or four rooms, some had more. Orbs of light glowed from high up casting low levels of light through all the chambers and halls. As Yarden stepped into his home, he could see things scattered everywhere. Chairs knocked over, broken plates and mugs on the floor and a bowl with the vegetables his mother had been preparing for tonight's dinner crushed and trampled. Fear for his family turned his stomach as he searched each room afraid of what he might find.<br />
He went from room to room searching closets and under beds and found nothing. There was no one there. Yarden stopped, he looked down and at his feet there was a sketching of him with his mother and his two brothers. He picked it up and hung it back in its place on the wall. Where were they? He tried to think. Where would they go if there was trouble. His mother would take the boys and go to Levin the Elder. He would know what to do.<br />
Running out from his mother's apartments, Yarden dashed through the streets. He went up the lane and made a turn four blocks up passing dead and burning warriors along the way. At the fountain in the center of Mada, Yarden heard a huge explosion that shook the cavern raining debris down from the upper levels. Looking up, he saw smoke pouring from the hall of Elders. Whatever had attack them, must still be up there.<br />
Yarden was scared. He knew he was no match for whatever had attacked the clan, but if there was any way to avenge all the dead Yeti, he would have to find out what had attacked and why. Merging with the ice, Yarden stepped into the ice wall and made his way up to the higher levels. He stuck to the walls not going to deep into the ice so he would have no trouble seeing who the enemy was. Once on the top level where the Hall of Elders was, Yarden stopped before he entered. He said a quick prayer to Kearn to give him strength and luck, then slipped into the hall moving very slow.<br />
What was once a thing of beauty and pride, the hall of Elders was now in total ruin. Where once the walls were made of beautiful gleaming ice crystal, shining like diamond, now black soot and ash covered large portions on the wall. The twin rows of statues of the elders had been smashed and lay in pieces all around the chamber. Only one statue was left standing. In the front of the chamber, front and foremost of them all stood the statue of Rocca Kah the first elder and the Yeti that brought the clan to the Mohn mountains. As Yarden moved in for a closer look, something moved out beyond the ice wall. There was someone in the room. It was a human, he looked strange, he wore tattered black robes and he had long gray scraggly hair. Yarden knew right away this was a wizard of some sort. As he watched, he could see he was talking. No, he was screaming but there was no one else in the room but him. No matter how hard he tried, Yarden couldn't hear what he was saying but he was obviously mad and looking for something.<br />
As Yarden watched, the Mage shook his fist at Rocca Kah screaming something then stopped. He stepped closer looking up into the statues eyes, then sent a bolt of energy that blew its head off. It shattered into a thousand pieces and fell all around the mad mage. He through back his head laughing hysterically kicking through the derbies until he found something. A ring, it had been set as one of Rocca's eyes. Satisfied with his find, the Mage turned and faced Yarden. Afraid he had been found, Yarden moved further back into the ice ready to dive into the glacier if he had too. As he looked back the Mage made a gesture with his hands and disappeared in a flash of darkness.<br />
With the Mage gone, Yarden slid out from his icy hiding place and looked around at the devastation he had caused. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Who was the mad Mage and what was it that he had found? Where were the rest of his people? Yarden needed answers and only a human could give them to him. He had to go to Torcin, he had friends there. Maybe Xander Cordan could help him find his family and friends, Maybe he could help figure out who the Mage was. Torcin was about a day’s run away. Yarden returned to home and packed what he thought he might need then left sealing the caverns gates behind him. As he looked back at the snowy gates to Mada, Yarden remember someone he had met while hunting a few years ago. Someone not too far away. Maybe there was someone else up here on the tundra that could help. Maybe he should go to Casthor.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-79041987624732834192014-06-02T21:03:00.000-04:002019-10-20T13:57:38.056-04:00The Thief, the Warrior and the Princess. 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Today was one of the worst days in the
life of Rowyn Syndra Windstar, princess of Pelordra. It had started easy.
Simple as a matter of fact. She woke up, d</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ressed</span><span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> and greeted her father King Philibar Windstar.
They had breakfast on the balcony of his palace in Pelordra. Philibar was the
ruler of a elven nation of sky elves. Sky elves were a race of winged elves
created in the early days of Keanna when Aramis went by the name of Vitale.
They were created as forest elves but were favored by Alee the sun god after he
fell in love with a beautiful elven maiden. As a gift, Alee granted her and her
descendants with the gift of flight and certain avian attributes.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sky elves were tall, thin and strong with different colored
feathers on each elf. Rowyn had blue feathered wings with black stripes. On her
head she had white hair with light blue feathers. Lovely elven features, the
long ears, red lips and bright eyes. She wore a pretty blue short dress with
lace up sandal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sitting at a backless chair, Rowyn ate a lite breakfast of fruit,
breads and vegetable while she waited for her father to come down to eat.
All around her birds of all types flew in and ate the crumbs she spread out for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hearing a rustle overhead, Rowyn watched as her father sailed down
from his tower to join her. Closing his wings on his back, King Philibar
smiled, kissed his daughter and sat down pushing his plate away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Not hungry?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I've been up for hours." He said. "I'm really not
hungry."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rowyn looked at him surprised. Sky elves were always hungry. It took a lot to power the wings on their back. Something must be wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What is it father? I can tell when something’s bothering
you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rowyn looked into her father’s brown eyes. He looked exhausted.
She wonder if he had gone to bed at all last night. Philibar looked up at the
cloud beneath the rim of the city. Pelordra was called the cloud city, but it
was actually built into the side of a mountain where they could fly in and out
easily. The city had been established here centuries ago after a war with a
nation of Dark elves. There were no roads that led to Pelordra. They wanted the
city to be someplace walking or marching troops could never reach again and
they found the perfect spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">High in the southern mountains of Fay Shrea on one of the highest
extinct volcano peaks, there was a catacomb of caves. Over the years these
caves were expanded and molded into a towering city few other than the sky
elves who lived there had ever seen. This was Pelordra and the city called
Windstar. Its elven people lived in the caves and all around the mountain top
with very little use for anyone else. There they worshipped Alee and tended to Lanayh, the little forest valley that sat in the volcanic bowl where they lived
in harmony with nature. As all elves drew their magic from nature, trees, lakes
and the land, Sky elves drew their power from the birds and other animals that
lived in their forest. They shared their life force with the life of the
forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Rowyn watched Philibar he stood and went to the balcony and
looked out at the mountains around them. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue
with cotton clouds hanging all around the mountain. But Rowyn was sure her father
hadn't seen any of that. He had a distant look in his eyes; she wondered where
his mind really was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Father."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He just stared off into the sky not hearing her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Father!" She called louder. "Where are you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I'm sorry Blue jay." He turned smiling at her. "I
have a lot on my mind today. A king's life is never easy."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Neither is the life of a princess." Getting up, Rowyn
went to stand with her father. "I know something is bothering you, I can
help if you share it with me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">King Philibar frowned for a moment looking into his daughters’
eyes. She was very wise for her age and capable of some amazing magic. Maybe
she could help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"We have a problem." Philibar pulled two chairs from the
table. He pushed one over to Rowyn and sat down on the other. "Three days
ago while flying through Lanayh, Daylor and I found something that disturbed me
to my core. We found a dead unicorn. It wasn't just dead, it had been
butchered, it's horn removed and not by an animal. Nothing here would dare kill
one of the sacred animals. The cuts were to even, to precise. Someone had
somehow made their way into our forest to hunt. A few days later, Daylor and I
again went out to check the forest and found two dead satyrs with another dead
corn. They looked as if someone had chased them down, cornered them and hacked
them to death with swords. We searched for hours, all night but found nothing.
Then last night Daylor went out by himself to see what he could find. I found
his body this morning, dead like the satyrs. Something has invaded our home and
I need to find out who it is."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Daylor?" Rowyn cried. She couldn't believe what
she was hearing. She had known Daylor all her life. He was the one who
taught her to ride unicorns. They had been promised to each other for
marriage since birth. "How can this be? He's dead?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"His body is below wrapped and ready for the funeral
rite." King Philibar told her sadly. "I'm sorry Blue jay, I know how
much he meant to you. I'll have his armor brought here so he can be prepared to
go into the Life tree for his final rest. But I need someone I trust to
investigate the killings. I can't send warriors in; it would violate all our
laws for Elven warriors to fight anything in Lanayh. But you’re not a warrior.
You have magic that can help find out who's behind the killings."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"And once I find out who it is." She asked. "What
do I do?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I don't have to tell you what to do." King Philibar
leaned forward to look her in her blue eyes. "You are the royal princess
of Pelordra. Our family has lived and ruled here since Alee showed us our new
home. You do what you have to, to protect your home. Just do not break Alee's
law and kill in Lanayh."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I understand Father." Rowyn stood and kissed her father’s
cheek. "I will not disappoint you. I will make Pelordra safe again."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Rowyn." King Philibar place a hand on her shoulder.
"There's one more thing. I found this with Daylor's body."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He reached into his cloak and pulled something out and handed it
to her. It was a silver dagger. It looked old and used. In its hilt on one side
there was a cracked sapphire and one the other side the stone was missing. It
didn't look sharp at all. She touched it and ran her finger along its dull
edge. Whoever owned it could only use it for stabbing but it could help her
find its owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Thank you father." She smiled. "This will
help."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Spreading her wings, Rowyn leaped off the balcony and into the
sky. She let the wind fill her wings and flew back up through the towers back
to her bed room. There she collected her bow and quiver, a healing potion just
in case and a cloak to wrap around her to hide her wings. Sky elves were unique,
not seen very often and you can never tell how someone might react to the unknown.
With her things collected, Rowyn went to the royal kitchens and gathered some
rations. Not knowing how long this might take, she took enough bread,
vegetables and wine for four days, then flew off into Lanayh to begin her
search.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The forest of Lanayh was beautiful filled with oaks, maples, elms
and fruit trees. There was a small pond and a lake with water nymphs that played every
day. Being enchanted, almost every flower and plant could be found in all
forest lands in Fay Shrea and Pelordra was no exception. Roses, lilies, pansies
and snap dragons of all colors filled the fields and glades. There were two
different temples in Lanayh. One to Alee and the other to the earth goddess
Rhea who helped create this haven for the elves. This was one of the most
peaceful elven places in Fay Shrea like the glades of Eventide and Aspara Bough, the home of the
fairy queen. Each with its own different magic and enchantment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Rowyn set herself before Rhea's temple, she bowed to show her
respect, then walked out onto the beautifully tended lawn. She sat down, folded
her wings to her back and took out the dagger and looked it over. It was an old
weapon made for a much bigger hand then hers. Bigger than a Human or Elf, maybe
an Orc or a Goblin. There was writing along the edge of the dull blade.
Rowyn looked at it closely. She knew this language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Rega ut kil, uruk ut e'ga" Rowyn read. "Love to
die, kill to live."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This was the language of the Orcs. Rowyn would know it anywhere.
That meant, Orcs had somehow made their way into Pelordra. But how? There were
no roads that climbed the mountain and as far as she knew. Orcs couldn't fly. The
only way left would be some kind of transport spell and Pelordra was supposed
to have wards to keep such spells from working. Could Pelordra's magic be
failing or could the Orcs have found some way to override their wards? Whichever it was there was two ways she could go from here. She could either
wait to see if they returned or, she could try a location spell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Waiting would mean they would be back to hunt again. She didn't
want anything else here to be hurt so she would have to try locating the owner
of the dagger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Placing the dagger on the ground in front of her, Rowyn sat back
and began to concentrate on the spell she would use. There were two ways to go
about this. She could just try and transport herself straight to the Orc who
owned the dagger. But that would be dangerous. Besides the fact that the
transport might kill her because of the wards, suddenly appearing in the middle
of a group of deadly Orcs would not be the smartest thing to do. But what if
she cast the spell to lead her to the owner instead. Then she could find out
exactly how they were getting in to Pelordra. This seemed the wiser of her
choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">HERE TO THERE, WHAT'S LOST IS FOUND.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">THERE TO HERE AND ROUND AND ROUND.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">LEAD ME ON TO THE OWNER RIGHT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">LEAD ME ON, SHOW ME THE LIGHT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As sparks of magic gathered around the dagger, it rose up off the
ground and hovered in front of Rowyn. Getting to her feet, Rowyn gave it the
final command to start it's search for its owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Go find your master."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Spinning around, the dagger took off and flew out into the forest.
Spreading her wings, Rowyn leaped into the air to follow keeping the dagger
well in view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Over Rhea's temple it flew on pass Alee's temple. From there it
went out and over the lake and into the fruit trees. Maneuvering through the
trees it flew on into a set of hills and the ridges of the extinct volcano that
housed the elven city. As Rowyn gazed down, she saw the side of the mountain
with its crags and ridges. It was spotted with many dark spots she knew could
only be caves. They were not caves dug out to house the populace. If elves
lived here, the whole ridge would have been carved in a decorative fashion. No,
no one lived here. In fact it didn't look like anyone had ever been here
before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dropping down into the floor before the cavern wall, Rowyn gazed
up at the walls all around her. There were walkways and ledges all along the
ridge. And each ridge was dotted with dark areas. Leaping up, Rowyn flew up to
a higher level. There she realized the dark areas were caves. Hovering in front
of a cave on the second level she saw the dagger spinning while it waited for
her to catch up. As she approached the dagger, point first it streaked down
into a dark cave. Adjusting her pack on her back, Rowyn looked back at the sun
and said a little prayer to Alee and flew on into the cave of darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As Alea made her nightly ride across the dark sky, Niro lay
under a huge oak and dreamed haunting dreams of fighting in Sorrowdown’s arena.
He tossed and turned as he fought battle after battle in the hot sands. Then
after the fighting was done, he would be chained and beaten and raped by a
laughing Grimmer. He dreamed of screaming in the night from the pain and the
hate he had for the city that was once his home. Then in shining armor his
father charged in and ripped him loose from his chains, gave him a weapon and
fought with him side by side in the arena against unbeatable odds. Just as they
thought the fighting was over, a spear came out of the shadows and pierced
Vibius heart and he fell as Niro woke screaming. Jumping up with his axe in his
hand, Niro looked all around for an enemy to kill. Finding nothing in the quiet
night, Niro sighed and sat down to relax. So much had happened to him in the
last year of his life. He lost his home and his family, he had been made a
slave and his body had been tortured in unspeakable ways. But he was free now
and all that was behind him in horrible memories and an exciting future stood
before him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The first part of the future was to begin here somewhere. He had
to find Pelordra, an elven city here in Fay Shrea. But where in all of Fay
Shrea was Pelordra? He had never heard of it before. Niro knew it was here
somewhere but where? North, east, west or south? Should he head deeper into the
forest, up to the mountains, to the coast or underground? Were they dark elves,
forest elves or sea elves? Niro had no idea. He had to find someone who could
give him a clue as to where Pelordra would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Climbing to his feet, Niro tucked Stormfury into his belt and went
to get his horse from the field where he had left it grazing. It was a
beautiful tan horse with a white mane and socks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Aiya my friend." Niro reached up and stroked the horses forehead. "We may have a long journey ahead of us. I think you deserve a
name. Something strong with meaning. How about Akhrua. It means warrior."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Akhrua neighed and stomped butting his head into Niro's hand
searching for a treat. From his bag, Niro took one of the apples he had picked
earlier and fed it to Akhrua. While the horse munched, Niro placed his bag
behind the saddle then climbed on and urged Akhrua back out on the road deeper
into Fay Shrea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was dark as Hodgodde Fearfist quickly picked his way through
the forest outside of the entrance to the underground Dark elf city of Katar.
He had taken a commission from Midoa, emperor of Sorrowdown to steal certain
elven jewels from the royal house and get them to Sorrowdown. Hoddie had made
his way in through the dark underground tunnels past many monsters, guardian
beast and warriors to the gates of the city. With stealth and skill he slipped
into the city pass many guards and city citizens, through the dark cobblestone
lanes to the walls of the palace. Looking left then right to be sure he hadn't
been seen, Hoddie donned special gloves and a cloak made by dwarven magic to
camouflage himself. After stretching, he started climbing the wall to the first
balcony. These would be staff quarters. He peeked over the rail to make sure
the apartment was empty. It wasn't. In the bed slept a young maid. Quietly
Hoddie hopped the railing and made his way to the door, opened it a crack and
looked out. The hall outside was dimly lit by glow orbs. From what Hoddie could
see, whoever lived here had to be very rich. The hall was very richly furnished
with silk and satin drapery. The chairs and tables were made from highly
polished oak and mahogany. On the floor there were rugs woven of a golden
colored spun wool. He smiled. This was not what most Goblins lived with but he
could get to like such surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">His next move was to get out of the staff quarters and to somehow
get to the royal treasure chamber. He knew there was no way a Goblin could make
it that far. Somewhere between here and the chamber, there would be guards and
if he was spotted they would be on him in seconds. He would need a disguise and
that was what the cloak was for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Moving back into the bedroom, Hoddie went to the sleeping girl. He
took off his cloak and carefully laid it over the sleeping slave. Triggered by
the warmth of the sleeping girl’s body, the cloak began to glow. Satisfied that
the magic was working, Hoddie carefully took it off her and slipped the hood
over his head and wrapped it around himself. As he gazed down, he saw that he
now had the appearance of the girl. With dark hair and pretty brown eyes, she
had a very sensual figure and a sweet smile, Hoddie hoped this human female
could get him where he had to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Opening the door, Hoddie stared out. He passed a few girls who
looked at him strangely. As they moved on he watched the way they moved, the
swaying of their hips. That must be what attracted their stares. He walked like
a Goblin. But Hoddie had been using the cloak for years. He was use to
imitating others and mimicking there ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like the maiden he now resembled, Hoddie made his way down the
hall swaying his hips in a seductive way. From the slave quarters he went down
the hall and up the stairs to the floor to where the offices and throne room
was. As he looked in on the master of this house, Aeson Revsen sat surrounded
by elves in noble attire and argued over some piece of land somewhere in the
underground city. Nothing to concern Hoddie. His objective was on the next
floor where the valuables would be found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Moving on, Hoddie made his way down the hall to the next set of
stairs passing by two elven guards talking in the hall. One stopped and turned
to look at him. For a second Hoddie was afraid he was going to reach out and
grab him. That would mean trouble. While the cloak could make him look exactly
like the person who last wore it, it could do nothing for his voice if he had to
speak. That was why the girls form was so dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With a smack on his back, the guard turned his attention back
to his conversation and Hoddie quickly moved on. Finding the staircase, Hoddie
looked to make sure there was no one behind him then he started up the stairs.
Quietly step by step, he slowly made his way up. There were no voices
coming from above which meant no more guards which he thought to be strange. He
knew this floor would hold the treasure vault so there should be guards up here
somewhere. But if there were no more guards, then Lord Revsen must have some
other kind of security up there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Hoddie reached the top of the stairs, he looked around. There
were two glow orbs set for light on each side of a circular room with two doors.
There was only one way up or down, that meant if somehow his presence was
detected, he would have to get out the way he came in, and he would have to pass
the guards coming to find him. His cloak would be no protection for even a maid
would be stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The entryway to the treasure room had no furniture. No tables or
chairs, no tapestry or wall hangings. Just two great steel doors. All Hoddie
had to do was get across the room and somehow get the doors open. But that wouldn't
be as simple as it sound. Between him and the door, there had to be at least
twenty feet. The floor was covered from the stairs to the door with a pattern
of lines like a maze. As He stood there thinking, Hoddie realized the pattern
was more than just decoration. He reached down and touched the floor and felt
heat radiating up from the pattern. It must be elven magic. Elven magic is a
lot stronger than most Goblin magic but some Goblins were still very sensitive.
Closing his eyes, Hoddie switched to a more sensitive mode of vision. As he
opened his eyes he gazed down and looked at the pattern. Nothing had changed,
no magic showed in the lines but he had a feeling that one touch and his raid
would be discovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Stepping lithely on the first line, he felt the magic run up his
legs. They tingled like a thousand pin pricks stabbing into him. Carefully he
went on moving down the line through each turn and twist. As he moved, each
step became harder and harder until the sweat ran down his back. He knew he
couldn't stop, if he did the magic would over take him and he would be caught.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pushing on, Hoddie made the last turn and stepped off the pattern
right between the two doors. Dropping down, he sat for a minute to rest. He
listened for any sign that he had been discovered. There was nothing, no bells
or alarms, no sound of armed elves rushing to the vault. After taking a rest,
Hoddie stood and examined the two doors in front of him. They were large steel doors. Hoddie knew they had been built by Dwarven hands. That meant a
completely different magic if any. As he examined the lock, he realized they weren't magical. With the lock picks from his kits, Hoddie carefully worked on
the door until he heard the sound of the lock clicking open. With a sigh of
relief, he pulled the door open and stepped into the vault.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">All around him in the vault, there were piles of gold, diamonds, rubies
and almost every kind of gem ever mined. There was armor fashioned from silver and
gold, rings, bracelets and tiaras. There were cups and dishes made of precious
materials and all kinds of riches spread all over the room. Hoddie smiles and
rubbed his hands together. He had done it! He had broken into the vault of one
of riches elves in Fay Shrea. Now all he had to do was find what he had come
for and get out of there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Emperor Midoa had hired Hoddie to steal for him three jewels
called the Stars of Fortis. The Stars of Fortis were three gems. A diamond, a
ruby and an emerald the size of a fist. It was said that the man that could
control these gems could even control the gods of Fortis. Only the
superstitious would believe that tale but he didn't care what Midoa believed as long as he paid him the price they agreed on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Digging through mounds of gold and chest after chest of jewelry, he finally found a silver box the size of a loaf of bread. He sat down on
the floor and took his picks and started working on the lock. In his expert
hands, he had it open in less then a minute. As he opened it, light shined out
putting a glow on his smiling face. One by one he took out the three gems and
held them to examine them. Just as he thought, they were flawless. Placing them
carefully back in the silver box, he put them in his pack and turned to
leave. As he took his first step out of the vault, his foot made connect with
the pattern and he started his way through the maze and freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Covered with sweat and exhausted, Hoddie took the last step and
started down the steps back through house Revsen. As he walked, he thanked the
gods for his luck. All he had to do was make it down one more floor and back in
to the slave quarters where the ropes for his escape still hung.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As he passed the throne room, Hoddie heard great laughter. With no
one watching, he stopped to listen at the door to see if there was any more
secrets he could learn. After all, gossip was a thief's best source of
information. They just might be talking about something that interest Hoddie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So the city burns you say." There was almost joy in
Lord Revsen's voice. "What of Emperor Midoa? Did he escape?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Midoa is dead." Someone said. "I saw him die by
the hands of Vibius Herkulas, one of his old generals. He was stabbed in the
heart and his body was thrown into the pit to be trampled in the escape of
slaves."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lord Revsen burst out in laughter and ordered wine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Bring wine!" He shouted to one of his maids. "This
is a cause to celebrate! Midoa and his land of degradation is no more. All the
Elves, werewolves, vampires and humans that died as slaves in his barbaric
games can now rest in their graves. Let's pray no one like Midoa ever gets to
turn another Keannian city into a center of slavery. Here's to freedom!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Damn" Hoddie started away from the throne room. This
was bad news. With Midoa dead, he would have to either put the Stars back, or
find himself another buyer for the gems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sneaking down through the house, he made it easily to the room of
the sleeping maid. He took a gold coin from his pocket and pressed it into the
girls hand and he was gone out of the window. With Midoa dead, he would have to
find another very rich patron to buy the Star. In all of Fay Shrea, he could
think of only one place to check. The one human city in Fay Shrea, Black
Hallow. The city of thieves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As the silver dagger sailed through the dark cave, Rowyn stayed
close behind following every twist and turn the dagger made. She dodged between
stalactites that hung down from thew ceiling and passed pillars the reached high.
She saw underground waterfalls with pure clear sparkling water that ran into
deep rivers and crystals that glowed brightly the caves darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It wasn't long before Rowyn saw some kind of soft light coming from
ahead of her. Slowing down she reached out with her magic and grabbed the
dagger before it could get to far away from her. With gentle fluttering of her
wings she turned a corner and found herself in a great domed chamber. Looking
around she saw a huge light in the center of the chamber. Such beauty shined
all around her from the crystals that looked like stars in the night sky. But
what was the light? Where was it coming from? Flying in closer, Rowyn hovered
over the glowing orb to examine it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Whatever it was, it had to be some kind of magic because it wasn't
fire. She didn't feel any heat coming from it. She knew it couldn't be a star.
Though it did look like one, she knew this wasn't what she saw shining down at
night. It must be some magic she had never seen before. As she looked at it,
she felt the dagger in her hand trying to pull away. It wanted to go to the
light. Could this be some sort of magic door? Could this be how the Orcs were
getting into Lanayh? There was only one way to find out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Stuffing the dagger into her sash, Rowyn said a prayer to Alee
then opened her wings and dived straight into the light. As soon as she entered
the light, sun shields dropped down over her eyes to keep her from being
blinded. A warm feeling spread through her entire body making her feel stronger
than usual. In just a few seconds she felt the coolness of the night around
her. She had made it through the orb and come out, somewhere else. As Rowyn
looked back, she noticed the orb she had passed through was much smaller now.
Instead of being the size of a door, it was now less then half a foot in
length. To small for her to pass through. She wondered how the Orcs could possibly
make it through to get in to the cave. And where was she?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Looking around, Rowyn knew this wasn't Ardia, land of the Orcs.
She saw tall oaks and elms. There were huge mushrooms and beautiful gossamer
willows that could only be found in one place. She was somewhere in Fay Shrea.
That was the only place gossamer willows grew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Spreading her wings, Rowyn took off into the night sky with the dagger at her side to lead her on her search.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In a camp to the east of the gossamer grove where the orb of light
sat, Bruego D’aruk fitted the last horn he had collected the night before from
Lanayh onto the ornate handle he was crafting. It had taken him a few visits
and many dead unicorns to find the exact right unicorn old enough and strong
enough for what he wanted. And what was it he wanted? After years of trying to
take control of Ardia, Bruego was now convinced he had been wasting his time.
Even if he could do battle with Yagar E'mrak and win, he would have other
enemies lined out and waiting their turn at him and sooner or later, one of the
would defeat him. It would be much better to seek out somewhere else he could
rule with little or no competition at all and he had just the perfect place to
start. Goblins. They were not as strong or as smart as an Orc. Their lands held
riches far beyond that of the Orcs, and it wouldn't matter to anyone if he used
them in his battles to take as much of Fay Shrea as he could get. All he would
need is a weapon powerful enough to bring the Goblins to their knees in front
of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bruego knew no physical weapon would do. There were magical swords
and other weapons that could be of use, but getting them would be near
impossible. None of the Salvation weapons would be useful to him. By their
nature, they couldn't be used for conquest. And like all the Dragon talismans,
they were in the hands of the Dragons and their allies and out of his reach. So
what other magical item could he get? Queen Nuala's wand would be perfect, but
the army that protected her home, again was more then he could hope to handle.
Lord Larins cane? He wonder what had happened to that after his defeat. Its
magic of coercion was just what he needed. If he had it, a simple spell might
turn the Goblins will right over to him. Unfortunately, Bruego had no idea what
had become of the cane. The Dragons might have it or King Valkar or the
Werewolf king Tof might have it. Wherever it was, it was lost to him. His only
other choice was to make his own magical weapon, and to do that, he would need
something powerful to start with like the ashes of a phoenix or a unicorn horn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bruego, having spent years being taught by Gorak Ra 'Enar and he knew that
a unicorn’s horn like a dragon tooth or bone held great amounts of magic and could be used to fashion a very
powerful weapon. Deadly spears and daggers had been made in the past
with the tip of a dragon’s fang or talon and wands of enormous power
from unicorn horn. With the right horn, he knew he could make such a weapon
again. It had taken him a number of trips into the last sanctuary of the
unicorns, Pelordra to kill the right unicorn. A male older than one hundred
years of age with a horn that looked as if it were made of pure moon light.
Legend had it that such a horn if taken at night under the right moon could be
made into a devastating weapon for good or evil. It had taken him weeks. He
went in under a new moon, a half moon and a crescent moon and killed. His
first was a young unicorn with a pearly horn. His second was older and male but
the moon must have been wrong because as soon as he took the horn, it crumbled
in his hand. His third trip he ran into trouble. That was the night he met the
Sky elf and surprise him with a bolt to the back. Anger at being discovered,
Bruego slashed and cut the elf to pieces, just like he had done to the satyrs
that tried to protect the corn on his second trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On his later trip, Bruego had a feeling that night would be
different. The moon was full and shined down on Lanayh almost giving it a glow.
Wisps of the will floated around giving everything a ghostly appearance. Bruego
stalked into the night staying quiet to keep from giving away his presence. He
saw nymphs dancing at lake side and satyrs chasing after them in their nightly
games. Bruego wanted to raise his bow and send shaft after shaft into them, then
howl at the moon but they were not his target tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On a hill just beyond the lake where the nymphs danced, he settled
himself down to wait. He knew the unicorn would be attracted by the
innocence of young nymphs, and he would get his chance at his prize. His wait
wasn't long. As the mist slipped in to cover the grounds around the lake, a
beautiful nymph danced across the surface of the silver lake. Her frail dress
was almost transparent made from the spray of the splashing waves. As she
danced back and forth weaving her hypnotic spell on the satyrs that watched
from the shoreline, a proud buck of a unicorn came walking through the glade
to the lake. He stopped for a second as he caught the scent of young innocence
in the air. He turned toward the lake and got his first glimpse of the natural
beauty of nature. Stepping out towards the lake, the unicorn started humming a
mesmerizing tune to go with the movement of the nymphs dance. With his eyes and
his mind focused on the nymphs's dance, the unicorn trotted out to the edge of
the lake where he continued his song. Everything in the forest sat still as Bruego watched and listened to the scene at the lake. It was like some hypnotic
wonderful sight out of fantasy right there for the world to see. Then suddenly
a strange sound cut into the song of the unicorn. A whisper, a whistle as the
bolt from a Orc crossbow streaked through the air and ripped into the chest of
the unicorn. It reared up on its hind legs and screamed out its pain and last dying breath,
then fell dead at the edge of the lake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Bruego leaped out of the forest to the dead carcass of the
unicorn, the nymph dived down into the water. The satyrs watching on the shore
all scattered back into the forest and the only sound left was the sound of
laughter as the Orc slit open the unicorns head and ripped out its horn. Seeing
the glow of the magical horn in his hand, Bruego kicked the dead unicorn out of
his way then went back to the orb and the safety of his camp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now with the horn ready, and the mystical carvings all set, Bruego
was ready for the last step in his preparations. He stepped out and placed the
horn down in the center of the intricate diagram he had drawn in the clearing.
Backing away he waved to Nurm Greyrot his Goblin aide to come to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yes Master?" He said. "Is all ready? What should
I do?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"All is ready." Bruego sneered. "All I have left to
do is cast the spells to make the wand my own then Kranko Fearfist nor any
other will be able to stop me from ruling over all the Neither’s in Fay Shrea. I
will be master of Fay Shrea!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yes Master!!" Nurm hopped around in glee. "And you
won't forget your faithful Nurm when you kill that nasty Kranko. You will make
me the leader of my own clan."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You just make sure I am not disturbed." Bruego kicked
at Nurm. "If anything breaks my concentration, I won't be able to cast
this spell again until the next cycle of the moon."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yes Master." Nurm moved away to let his master work his
magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It had been three days Hoddie had been on the road to the Thieves
city of Black Hallow to find a buyer for the Stars of Fortis. He was tired and
hungry, he needed rest and something to eat. After stopping and setting up
camp, he went off in the forest to h</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">unt. With three fat rabbits in the bag
on his back, he headed back to his camp to eat. Hoddie knew he was deep
in the forest far from any roads, there shouldn't be anyone else out here but
him. He pushed his way through to the edge of a clearing where he could </span><span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 18px;">get some sleep. Suddenly off in the distance he heard something. Someone was there. Sneaking out to peer through the bushes, he </span><span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">found an Orc and a Goblin he know to be a sniveling weasel talking by a fire. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Being a thief and a trader of information, Hoddie listened in on
what was being said. That's when he heard a name spoken that he was very familiar
with and found himself interested in what the two were talking about. The Orc
spoke of Kranko Fearfist, the overlord of all the Goblins in Gaymere, the land
of Goblins and Hoddie's own father. Kill Kranko? Hoddie was pretty mad with his father over his objections to his profession, but he damn sure wasn't about to stand by and let and Orc and Nurm
Greyrot murder him.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Taking the bag off his back, Hoddie reached to his side and slid his
sword from its scabbard. He watched as Nurm walked around to the other side of
the clearing, then pulled his cloak over his head for camouflage. Nurm was a
sly untrusting rat of a Goblin who had fought with Kranko many times, but he
was also a very dangerous fighter. Hoddie knew Nurm would use any dirty trick
he could to fight him. If he wanted to live through this fight, he would have
to be very careful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Bruego started his spell, something in the shade of blue
fluttered down to land litely on a tree branch. With the dagger tugging in her
hand, Rowyn dismissed the spell she had put on it and stuck it in her sash. As
she watched the Orc, his hands moved in arcane circles over something laying on
the ground in front of him. As Rowyn looked down, she was shocked to see what it was. It was
the severed horn of a unicorn. She saw red as anger filled her heart. She had
found the one who had killed Daylor and the unicorns of Lanayh. From what she
saw, he was a mage. Good she thought. He better be a damned good one. As she listened
to the Orc and his Goblin talk, she learned of some strange plan he had to take
over the Neither races of Fay Shrea and make himself some kind of king. She
knew if he was able to finish the spells he was working on the horn, he would
have a weapon that might just be powerful enough to make his dreams come true.
There was only one way to stop him. She needed to stop his spell and get the
horn away from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like a thief in the night, Hoddie stepped out with his sword in
hand. His hope was to sneak up on Nurm from behind and strike him down then put
his dagger in the Orcs back. It wasn't a very honorable plan, but for now it
was his best hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Slowly and carefully, Hoddie crept out towards his opponent. He was
just about there, three more steps and Nurm would be taking his last gasp of
breath. As Hoddie raised his sword, something dropped out of the trees and made
Nurm turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Master!" He screamed. "We are under attack!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Throwing off his cloak, Hoddie dived in to jab at Nurm's chest. With
his rusted sword, Nurm deflect the blow and sent his own series of thrust and
jabs at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Hodgodde Fearfist!" Nurm snarled as they circled.
"You cursed son of a jackal! How fortunate I should meet you
here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"And a good thing to Nurm Greyrot." Hoddie snarled. "I heard your plan. My father should have killed you when he had the chance,"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yes he should have." Nurm laughed. "But worry not. I
will thank him when I stab this very blade through his chest when I take his
life from him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I think not!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Hoddie rushed in, his sword weaved and spun at Nurm pushing him
back into Bruego as they fought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">With her hand raised, Rowyn sent a blast of magic at Bruego
interrupting his spell casting. He looked up just as she flew down sending another
blast at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Murderer!!" She screamed as her feet touched the ground
facing Bruego. "You invaded my home, killed the sacred unicorns and killed
my fiancée! You will pay for your crimes!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Damn you fucking elf!" Bruego grabbed Nurm and pushed him
at Rowyn then grabbed the horn. "You interrupted my casting. Now I must
wait and start again!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Not if I can help it." Rowyn stood next to Hoddie with
her hands raised ready to send a bolt at the Orc. "Give me the horn."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You want this?" Bruego held it out for them to see.
Quickly he stuffed it in his belt and made a gesture over the head of Nurm as
he tried to get to his feet. "How about I give you this instead."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"MASTER, NO!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Raising his hands, Bruego grabbed the Goblin in his power then
thrust him out flying at them. As Hoddie and Rowyn ducked, Bruego slammed his
hands together forcing his magic all through Nurm's body causing him to scream
as he body began to expand then explode sending his blood and body parts flying
all over them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"We will meet again." He said cackling with laughter.
"This is just the beginning."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">With that, the Orc disappeared in a flash of lightning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Damn!!" Hoddie wiped the gore from his face and looked
around for the Orc. "Where did he go?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Who are you Goblin?" Rowyn backed away from him.
"Are you with them?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Of course not." Hoddie re sheathed his sword. "I was
trying to kill them before you so boldly interrupted. The Orc has plans to kill
my father. Now he's gone and I'll have to go after him damn it!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I have a debt I owe the Orc." Rowyn held out her hand.
"I'm Princess Rowyn Windstar and I'm coming with you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"This will not be an easy road Princess." Hoddie looked at
her with doubt. "Are you sure you wish to do this? There will be killing
involved. That is not something a princess should dirty her hands with."<br />"I can manage." Rowyn looked at him with mistrust. "I may be a princess, but I'm tougher then I look."<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I'm Hodgodde Fearfist." Hoddie reached out and shook her
delicate hand. "Son of Kranko Fearfist of Gaymere. We should get some
rest. We have a long way to go and not much time. We have to get the horn back
before he completes his spell. And if that means killing him, then that is what I will do."<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-58510780320448427032014-05-26T23:05:00.003-04:002019-06-27T23:33:30.551-04:00Death of a Hero. 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKHzriURgno/VAjrWM_v3FI/AAAAAAAAAzY/4Dr-t8f-uI8/s1600/burning_vampire_by_xiox231-d51ytjr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKHzriURgno/VAjrWM_v3FI/AAAAAAAAAzY/4Dr-t8f-uI8/s1600/burning_vampire_by_xiox231-d51ytjr.jpg" /></a></div>
As Quynn, Ranjer and Bly sat in the kitchen of the Manor, Toric helped Ariel in and led her to a comfortable seat. Pregnant, she sat down and placed her hands on her stomach then looked at the three young ones.<br />
"Now what's this all about?" She asked.<br />
"It's about someone from the past." Bly explained from her seat on Quynn's shoulder. "Have you heard of Bram Thorn?"<br />
"Vaguely." Toric handed Ariel a cold drink. "I remember Jandar telling me something about a crazy warlock Valkar sent them to see about. Something about an Elemental I think. But if I remember it right, he's suppose to be dead."<br />
"He is." Bly said."Or he was. Somehow he's returned from the underworld and he wants revenge on all of us who sent him there."<br />
"And by us." Ariel put down her cup. "I'm guessing you mean Jandar and Rage?"<br />
"Yes." Bly nodded her head. "Jandar, Rage, all the Dragons and everybody responsible for his death and their families."<br />
"That's a lot of people." Toric whistled. "Is he that powerful?"<br />
"I believe he is." She said tearfully. "Three days ago he came to Fay Shrea. To Ammath where my father was the king. We are a warrior race of fairy. One of the most powerful of all the fairy kingdoms. He killed my father and everyone else in Ammath and destroyed our home. I am now the last Ammath fairy on Keanna."<br />
"By the gods!" Quynn said in shock. "We're so sorry. What can we do to help?"<br />
"I need your fathers to help me send him back to the underworld." Bly explained. "If we don't stop him, he'll be after all of us."<br />
"You better warn them." Toric told Quynn. "Have them return as fast as possible."<br />
"I've been trying." Quynn said."I'm not getting any kind of response."<br />
"Nothing?" Ariel asked. "Can you feel them at all?"<br />
"I can feel them." Quynn stood and went to the window to look out. "I can always feel them. I feel my dads, Ono, Shayn and all the others. I just can't reach them."<br />
"What about Jax?" Toric asked. "Can you reach him?"<br />
"Nothing." Quynn shook his head. "He's not answering either. Maybe it's me."<br />
"No." Ariel shook her head. "I'm not getting anything either. Looks like for now, your on your own."<br />
"Me?" Quynn turned surprised at what he had just heard." What's that mean?"<br />
"As much as we would like to help." Toric said. "We can't go. The babies due any day now. She can't even fly right now. It's up to you and Ranjer to help, if he agrees to help you."<br />
"Of course I'll help." Ranjer stepped up. "We're family. We can stop and tell Tof where I'm going. I'm sure he won't mind."<br />
"Valkar too." Ariel cut in. "Go there first. He might have more information on this Bram. You do know who else was involved in Bram's death right? You know who he'll be hunting?"<br />
"Yes, I know who he'll be after." Bly told them. "Your right. We should go to Yadessa next. He'll be after Tomz Acros of Prafa."<br />
"Then you should get going." Toric helped Ariel up. "This Bram my be crazy, but I don't think he'll be wasting anytime."<br />
"Keep trying your fathers." Toric shook Ranjer's hand as Quynn hugged his aunt Ariel. "We'll keep trying too and get New Keanna ready just in case Bram try's to pay us a visit."<br />
"What if he does?" Quynn stopped worried. "Maybe we should stay."<br />
"Don't worry about us." Ariel smiled. "New Keanna has it's own defenses and we're not weaklings with magic. There are others here who can help should he show his face here. You go warn the others and stop him from killing anyone else."<br />
<br />
After collecting a few things from the pantry, Quynn, Ranjer and Bly stepped outside the gates of New Keanna. Quynn handed the bag to Ranjer and stepped out to shift to his Dragonwolf form. Climbing on his back, Ranjer gave him word he was ready to go.<br />
"Next stop." Bly said as she took off into the sky. "Vasagi, city of Vampires.<br />
<br />
As the sun went down behind the Ryk Mountains behind Prafa, Tomz Acros woke up and pushed the lid from the cold box he had slept in. He hated sleeping like this, but this was the price he had to pay for his time as a Nightwalker. That and he lost the ability to be up during the day, and he now had to tend with the thirst. Jandar and Valkar had done all they could for him, but he had drank human blood. There was no way around that. He now had to live with the failings of the Nightwalkers until they found some way to lift the curse.<br />
Though Tomz had been excused and pardoned for his treachery and he had shown his bravery in the fight with Lord Larin and many difficulties afterwards, he was still watched by many in Prafa. He was still a Nightwalker after all and Baron Gaelich did keep a close eye on him.<br />
His diet was now purely cattle blood and he had to swear a magical oath to never drink human, vampire, or any other intelligent beings blood again. And that made him cranky a lot. He also suffered from headaches but with powders and potions from apothecary's, he got along day by day.<br />
From his window while sipping his daily supply of blood, Tomz watched the last wisps of the sun go down. Today was to be a busy day. All the repairs were finally finished in Prafa and Adam and Athene had invited him to go with them to inspect the new city wall. Gorak's cave had been turned into a tomb for all the Nightwalkers that had been killed in the final raid on Prafa. It was his job to check on it to make sure that the seal was still intact. This job he would do alone for no one else in the city wanted to go near the place. Not with all the protection spells Jandar and Gannon on placed on the site.<br />
Dressing and combing his hair, Tomz took a final look in the Necro mirror that sat on the wall over his dressing table. He looked at his image. The redness in his eyes was all gone. All traces of Lord Larin's spell were gone from his body. But he was still a little transparent in the mirror. Another effect on his Nightwalker curse. Grabbing a cloak from the hook by the window, Tomz donned it and through open the window and breathed in the cool night air.<br />
"Well, on with it." He said as he made the shift to his condor form and leaped into the night sky. As the cool air ripple through his feathers, Tomz once again thanked the gods for his reprieve. He couldn't help but think if it wasn't for Athene, he to would have been staked out outside the wall and burned with the rest of the Nightwalkers. If he hadn't saved Adam and Athene's life, he would be dead. There would've been no mercy shown him in the Underworld and he still might have a price to pay when he finally died.<br />
From Prafa manor Tomz flew on over the city. Over the newly renovated market place to the new houses built in the western part of the city. From there he flew over the new wall. It was twice as high as the old one with a walkway around the top and a ramp that spiraled around from the ground with entrances to the three levels in the wall. The wall had covered look out post placed in six alternating spots on each level which gave them a view of the area all around the city with no blind spots. Adam had designed most of the improvements to the city and done a very good job. But the tomb had been all Tomz and Valkar. Valkar wanted the place demolished. He wanted the cave destroyed and the remnants scattered to the winds. But Jandar and Tomz knew that wouldn't do it. The remains could still be resurrected if you knew the right spells, and there are many out there who knew what to do. Tomz convinced Valkar that it would be better to salt the ground and keep watch. That way anything that rose from the mass grave would be to weak and deformed to be much of a threat to them.<br />
So from the wall, Tomz flew on into the hill to where the tomb was. From the air he could see all the bands of magic that surround the tomb. Red and green bands of energy with purple bands that covered the entrance. Tomz came down to land just outside of the magic ring in front of the cave. After shifting he cast out with the spell that allowed him to get close enough to inspect the seals on the cave door.<br />
Once close he checked the spells and found nothing there had been disturbed. Relieved he stepped back and out of the magical ring.<br />
"Aiya." Came a voice out of no where. Tomz turned to see a short dark haired man walking towards him out of the forest. He was dressed in dark pants and a gray tunic. He looked familiar. As Tomz looked at him, he realized this was not a citizen of Prafa. He was not a vampire. What was he doing here?<br />
"Aiya stranger." Tomz looked at him suspiciously. "Are you lost? This is a forbidden place. You should not be here."<br />
"Forgive me." The strangers said as he bowed. "I have been away for quite a long time. Things are so different from when last I was up and around."<br />
"Have you been sick?" Tomz asked as he came closer. He looked in his eyes. There was something there. He couldn't put a finger on it but there was something about this man that made Tomz uncomfortable.<br />
"Not sick." He smiled. "No. I was a prisoner in a horrible place."<br />
"I understand." Tomz said. "Prafa and Yadessa has had some experience with being trapped lately. But freedom can always be found if you look hard enough."<br />
The old man laughed hysterically. Tomz stepped back further not sure what this crazy man had on his mind.<br />
"You don't understand." He said. "I was in hell and you helped put me there!"<br />
"Who are you?" Tomz asked. Now he knew this was no random meeting. He was in trouble.<br />
"Don't you remember me Tomz Acros." The man raised his hands and flames erupted in bursts. "You and your friends came to my home and destroyed me! You killed me and sent me to hell. Now it's Bram Thorn's turn to destroy you!!"<br />
Hearing that name, Tomz reached and grabbed for his sword. He dived into the air with vampire speed and attacked Bram. But the speed of a vampire was no match for Bram's fire. Like a flamethrower, intense flames enveloped Tomz's body and set him a blaze. He screamed from the searing pain that ripped through his body. As he opened his mouth and scream, flames went in and seared his lungs from the inside. Tomz fell to the ground and rolled trying to extinguished the flames, but it was to late. Fire was the mortal enemy of all vampires and he burned to his death. His last thought in life was a screaming warning to his king. All he could send was one word.<br />
[Bram!!]<br />
<br />
In his royal bedroom in Shadowvyn,Valkar slept and dreamed of days long ago. Velusia was still his queen and the boys were all still young. Rejek was practicing sword play with one of the guards while Azeal played with his little brother Ranjer. Valkar and Velsia watched and talked with members of the court while musicians played soft music in the background. From the side, Valkar saw Velsia's father watching and whispering something into someones ear. It gave him shivers. There was something cruel about that man that Valkar didn't trust. He waved him forward for questions he needed answered about how things were going with the Werewolves. As he approached Valkar he stopped and bent forward to speak. That's when he heard it.<br />
[Bram!!]<br />
Valkar jumped up in his bed with the voice echoing through his mind. He knew that voice. It was Tomz and he sounded like he was in pain. Valkar threw off his blankets and got up out of bed. He tried calling out to Tomz, but there was no answer. He would have to check with Arturus or Athene to have them go find him.<br />
Just then there was a knock at the door. Valkar slipped on a robe and went to answer the knock. It was Amar the butler.<br />
"Pardon Sire." He said bowing. "But there are guess here from New Keanna who say they need a word with you. They say it's urgent."<br />
"Dragons?" Valkar stretched. "Show them to the breakfast table. I'll be right there."<br />
"Yes sir."<br />
Quickly Valkar dressed. He hadn't seen Jandar or Rage in a few months since Azeal and Tanis had left to visit their friends from Pentanthin on the island to the east. He wondered what had brought the Dragon kings to Yadessa today.<br />
Dressed and ready, Valkar went down to greet his guest. As he stepped through the door and saw Quynn and his son Ranjer, his heart filled with joy.<br />
"Ranjer!!" He grabbed him in a huge hug wrapping his arms around him. "It's good to see you. What are you doing here?"<br />
"Hi Dad!" He felt so comfortable in his fathers arms. He hadn't been back to Yadessa to see him since before Azeal left. "We came to see if we could get your help with something."<br />
"Have a seat." Valkar waved to chairs for them all. "I thought it was you fathers Quynn. How are they?"<br />
"I don't know." He said as they sat down. "I can't find them."<br />
Valkar stopped and looked up at him. "What do you mean?"<br />
"Right now they aren't answering my calls." Quynn explained. "I'm not worried. I don't think it's anything serious. But that's not why we're here."<br />
"Then what is it?" Valkar was curious now. He picked up his fork and lifted some eggs to his mouth and started chewing.<br />
"Do you remember someone named Bram Thorn?"<br />
At the sound of that name, Valkar choked on his eggs spitting them out. He dropped his fork and looked at the three sitting across from him.<br />
"How do you know that name? What's going on?"<br />
"You do know Bram Thorn?" Bly said. "I have something to tell you.<br />
With that she explained what had happened back at her home to all her people. When she was done, Valkar called out for Tovar Orsa. In less then two minutes Tovar was there to answer his king.<br />
"Tovar, call Baron Gaelich and Athene." He ordered. "I want them to go find Tomz Acros right now. I think he may be in trouble."<br />
"Yes Sire." Tovar went to the window and stared out into the morning clouds. "No one's seen Tomz since last night. Adam is going to check the tomb. That's where he said he was going. He was suppose to meet them last night to inspect the wall only he never showed up."<br />
"That's not like him." Valkar pushed his plate away and got up. "Tomz is very punctual. Yes, I know Bram Thorn. He's a crazy elemental warlock that's suppose to be dead. Many years ago that crazy bastard started a rampage all around Taggitia. He attacked fairies, elves, humans and anyone else that got in his way. We sent a group to bring him down."<br />
"I was a part of that group." Bly said. "It didn't go as planned."<br />
"Yeah I know." Valkar said. "He wasn't suppose to die. We had plans to take care of him without killing him but a few in the party took in in their own hands and stabbed him to death. Now somehow he's back and we have to deal with him."<br />
"We found him." Tovar called out.<br />
"Good." Valkar relaxed.<br />
"No." He finished. "It's not good. Tomz is dead. He's been burned to death. It looks like the sun killed him but it was the middle of the night."<br />
"Damn!!" Valkar stood up and kicked his chair. "The warlock did it."<br />
"What do we do?" Ranjer asked looking at the vampire king. This was all becoming a little to serious for him. All he wanted to do was to take his cousin home and forget all this craziness.<br />
"You find him and put an end to his madness."<br />
"US?" Quynn jumped up. "You mean me and Ranjer?"<br />
"And Bly and the others." Valkar sat down.<br />
"What others?"<br />
"Bly?" Valkar turned to the fairy. "Do you understand?"<br />
"Yes your majesty." She nodded and turned to Quynn and Ranjer. "There were eleven of us in the original party. We have to find them and they will help us to defeat Bram and send him back to the Underworld."<br />
"There's something you don't know." Valkar leaned forward to explain things to them. "When Bram was killed, he had been searching for the eight Elemental rings of Tamalon. Tamalon was a lost city of incredibly powerful magi that legend says lived thousands of years ago. Not very much information can be found about them, but what we do know is that they had total control of the eight elements of magic. They could control the land and sea, and fire and water with ease. But to them, that wasn't enough. They had to learn to control it all, so in time they learned how to work with sound, shadow light and energy. Chief among the Tamalon warrior magi was a man named Abras Grazar. Abras Grazar was one of the most powerful of Tamalon. He had a set of eight rings that could control the elements of Tamalon magic. Like I said, not much is known about Tamalon, but through the memories of a few of the elder dragons we know that Tamalon was destroyed by a thousand year war and Abras Grazar fell when his castle was over run by their enemy. I'm not sure how Bram Thorn figured it out, but he found five of Grazars rings and learned how to control them. Before he died he had been searching for the other three rings. I don't know if he knew where they are, I hope not. Anyway when he was defeated and killed, his rings disappeared. He wants them back. Find who took the rings and get them back and find the three lost rings. Then you can destroy both him and the rings and end all this madness. Are you up for the challenge?"<br />
Quynn looked at Ranjer who looked completely overwhelmed. He shrugged passing decision back to Quynn. He didn't have to ask Bly, she had come to them to start the whole thing. Well if this was to be their quest, then bring it on.<br />
"Where do we go next?" Quynn asked.<br />
"Pelordra." Valkar smiled his approval. "Go see King Philibar Windstar of the sky elves. He'll know who took the rings and how to kill Bram. Be careful boys, Jandar, Rage and Tof will kill me if anything happens to you."<br />
<br />
All hell had broken loose in Sorrowdown. In every large house, every palace, the slaves were in revolt. They grabbed knives and pitchforks and whatever they could to fight there way to freedom. Sorrowdowns troops went from street to street trying to quell the fighting but there were more slaves in Sorrowdown then there were troops. Fires burned all over the city and rioting ran through the streets. The market place had been ripped apart and the slave block burned to the ground. You couldn't tell free man from slave on the streets and soon Emperor Midoa would be found hanging from his palace balcony. The coliseum was in flames. There would never be another gladiatorial game there and Niro had made it to his horse and was riding out of the dying city.<br />
Without food or water Niro rode as far as he could to put as much distance as he could between Sorrowdown and himself. After a while he stopped got off and guided his horse off to the side of the road. He looked back and saw a huge cloud of smoke over where Sorrowdown should be. He swore he would never again walk the streets of his home town again. He would find a new life of adventure out here somewhere. But first, he had to figure out what his father had been talking about. He had said something about a great future. Doing what? Fixing what mistake? And how did Regulus Manius betray him? Niro looked down at the ring his father had given him on his finger. It was a silver ring with a green stone set in its center. It had some kind of intricate writing on it in a lovely design. As Niro stared into it, a spark seemed to gleam in the stone and he felt a slight shake in the ground. His horse bucked feeling the trembling in the ground. Niro held the reins calming the horse until the ground stopped shivering. As the ground calmed, he looked again at his ring. He had a feeling it had something to do with that quake.<br />
Looking around, Niro realized he had ridden out and away from the human settlement and had entered into Ashgrove the first of the Elven lands in the area. In front of him was the beginning of Fay Shrea, the enchanted elven forest that went on for hundreds of miles to the north and the west, home of elves, fairy, goblins, leprechauns and many other magical folk. Vibius had told him to go find King Philibar Windstar of the Sky elves in Pelordra. Niro had never heard of Pelordra or of sky elves, but there his experience outside of Sorrowdown and with the other races of Keanna was very limited. He had been taught about elves and dwarfs, he had even seen trolls and a dark elf in the games. He had been a pale vicious fighter defeated only by a gladiator with something special on his side. It took magic to bring down the dark elf. Magic stronger then his own.<br />
Now as he looked into the forest he realizes he would come face to face with some of these creatures. He pulled the axe his father had given him and looked at it. It really didn't look like much. About two feet in length. It had a wooden shaft with a red and blue band just beneath the silver axe head. What made it special was that when he held it in his hands, Niro could feel it filling his body with strength. Back in Sorrowdown, he had stabbed a man through his chest then lifted him like a rag doll and threw him more then twenty feet. But that would've been just adrenaline. There was only one way to be sure.<br />
Walking over to the side of the road, Niro found a set of huge boulders sitting off in the grass. They looked heavy. He couldn't possibly move any of them. Planting his feet firmly, Niro pulled the axe from it's hook on his belt. He could feel the strength rippling through his arms. He raised it over his head then slammed it down on the boulder. With a mighty crack like thunder, the boulder split right down the center into two pieces. Niro stood back and smiled. No ordinary axe could have done that. It might have chipped off a piece, but no normal axe could split that rock it two. Now he had one more test. Clipping it back to his belt, Niro bent down and grabbed the second boulder.<br />
"There's no way I should be able to lift this." He said. "But let's see what happens."<br />
Lifting with his legs, Niro easily picked up the boulder and held it for a minute, then tossed it to the side. As it hit the ground, trees shook and there was loud noise.<br />
"That was easy." He looked at his hands turning them over. They looked perfectly normal, not even dirty. Pulling the axe from his belt, he placing it to the side, Niro rubbed his hands together then reached down and nudged the next boulder. It had to weight hundreds of pounds and it wouldn't budge. Picking up and re attaching the axe to his belt, Niro again tried moving the stone. With ease he flipped it over and rolled it back further into the grass.<br />
"Now that's some kind of magic." He smiled. "Now my only problem is how to find King Philibar. I think I'm going to need some help and I guess I'm in the right place to find it."<br />
Moving on, Niro found a lake where he watered his horse, did some fishing and got himself the first peaceful sleep he had in over a year. He would need it. From here on things were going to start moving very fast.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-76655968434295579902014-05-23T23:47:00.001-04:002019-06-26T01:19:00.857-04:00A Slave in Sorrowdown. 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Battered and bruised,
Niro Herkalus lay exhausted and in pain on his bunk in his single cell. It had been a
torturous year in Sorrowdown. He had been beaten and used in unspeakable ways since he had been condemned to slavery. He once
had everything. He was the son of Sorrowdown’s most decorated general. They had
a beautiful home, a wonderful family. Niro was tutored by one of the best
teachers and the family had the respect of everyone including the
Emperor. But all that fell apart because of the betrayal of a friend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was a beautiful day
in Sorrowdown. Niro had spent most of it studying in the garden and sparring in
his father’s gladiator pits. As much as Niro loved sparring, wrestling and
practicing with the swords, he really hated this place. All his father’s
gladiators were slaves. They were brave desperate men battling for their
freedom which Niro knew his father would never grant them. They could win every
match set before them and it wouldn't matter. Vibius Gauis Herkalus would never
let his prize stable of fighters go free. Not in a million years. Niro knew
their only chance was for him to inherit the gladiators, and then he could
find some way to set them all free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But to do that, his
father would have to die. Vibius was getting up there in years, but he was
still strong as a bull. He would live many more years and see a lot more
fighting before he died. Niro was sorry, but there wasn't anything he
could do about it, so he learned all he could about fighting. He learned to
wrestle and to fight with his fist. He learned sword play and how to fight with
every weapon from a quarter staff to defending himself with nothing but a
dagger. While learning to fight, his tutors taught him history and the maths.
He learned to grasp numbers and to add and subtract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Though Niro enjoyed his
classes, he always wondered what it was his father was preparing him for. It
wasn't to be in the military. Vibius was very strongly opposed to that idea.
Somewhere in there, Niro knew there was a mystery. There was something his
father wanted him to to. He often saw him watching him practice from a distance,
but he couldn't tell whether he approved or not. Niro figured one day, Vibius
would tell him what it was all about. Then came that beautiful day that
everything changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After a long day of
study and a tiring session sparring, Niro had spent an hour at the baths
relaxing. He had his muscles massaged and had a nice soak in a warm pool, then
dressed to head back to his father’s house. As he stepped out of the baths, he
saw many solder on the streets hurrying out towards the estates of the nobles.
Someone was in trouble. Niro had seen this before when someone fell out of
favor with the Emperor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Not giving it another
thought, Niro wandered on into the market place where he purchased fruit and
flowers for his mother. Just a little something to make her smile. She deserved
it. As he left the fruit stand, he noticed two soldier's standing near a baking
stand watching him. As he passed Niro nodded to them. They nodded back with a
strange smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Niro walked home,
more and more soldiers kept running by. Whoever they were after must have a
villa near his parents place. He wondered who it could be. The two closest were
a senator who's villa was to the left of there's and a second cousin to the
Emperor who lived to the right. But as he came to the split in the road Io the
three estates, he realized they were heading to his father’s house. Scared Niro
dropped the his packet and begin to run home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">At the gate to his father’s
estate, soldiers had gathered. The gate had been torn down and the bodies of
some of his father’s house staff lay all around the compound dead. Niro
strong armed his way through the gate and made it to the front door before he
was overcome by soldiers and stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Niro
Hekalus?" A solider in bright shining armor with a long blue feather in
his helmet stepped out. "You are under arrest."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What is the
meaning of this?" Niro yelled at them. "By whose authority?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"By the order of
the Emperor." He unrolled a scroll and began to read. "For the crime
of sedition against the empire and disobeying a direct order, Vibius Gauis
Hekalus, his family and all that he owns is now the property of the empire. All
properties will be sold and the profits forfeited to the empire. All members of
the family will be sold into slavery with the exception of Vibius and his wife
Helen who will be held for execution."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Nooooo!!!"
Niro screamed as he tried to fight his way loose. With a smart crack on his
head, Niro fell daze to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Your mother, Helen
has been taken into custody." The captain tucked the scroll under his arm.
"Your father however is still at large. He will be hunted down no matter
where he hides, brought back and crucified. You, Niro Hekalus will be sold as a
slave at the slave market in two days. Take him away!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Niro was dragged
away, he saw wagons pull up and the soldiers started emptying the house and
loading things into the wagons. All his families’ prized possessions were
gathered and taken away just like he was. Away to the market to be sold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Tortured and abused,
Niro slept uneasy while outside of his cell, Grimmer Protorius watched with a
wicked glint in his eye. Grimmer had been there the day Niro was put on the
auction block. He had been there checking out prospects for the pits of
Gladicus Moreo, the highest winning house of all the gladiatorial camps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Grimmer had seen him
chained being beaten and kicked by the guards. Niro had been ordered to never
look up into the guard’s eyes, but Niro was no common slave to follow order. He
had been a citizen of Sorrowdown, one of high rank and obedience was not
something that came easy. Grimmer had seen the rebellious look in Niro's eye.
The look of a real fighter. He liked what he saw and decided to talk his owner
into buying the boy to fight under his name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Niro's short close cut
blond hair, blue eyes and handsome form had been what caught Grimmer's eye.
Standing there naked with sweat running off his muscled body, Grimmer couldn't
take his gaze away from him. His thick muscled legs and broad back and the
angel tattoo on his shoulder. The golden hair on his chest and the long cock
that swung from side to side when he moved made Grimmer's mouth water. He would
cost a great deal of coin, but Grimmer promised he would bring many victories
to the house of Gladicus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">From the first day Niro
arrived, Grimmer knew his training would not be easy. He refused to accept his
new role as a gladiator slave. Grimmer could tell from the way he carried
himself that fighting was not alien to Niro. With wooden sword in his hand, he
fought his way through slave after slave until his whole body was black and
blue and he was exhausted. But still Niro fought back against his master and
trainers. If he was told to be silent, he talked. If he was told to stay still,
he would keep moving. If he was told to keep his head down, he held it high and
stared right back at his oppressors. And yes, Niro was punished. He was whipped
and he was tied down,. He was put into seclusion on many occasions and he was
even denied food for a time. But Grimmer would always make sure the punishment
was never to harsh. And that was not out of friendship or pity. Grimmer wanted
something else from Niro. And he knew he would get it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It had been over a year
since Niro had been purchased by house Gladicus. He had won every match they
had set up for him and made a lot of money for Gladicus, but he was just as
defiant today as he was the day he arrived. He had endured beatings, some
torture and isolation. He had been starved and made to watch as others were
being tortured, but today Grimmer had something different for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Niro had won his last
match. He had beaten three fully armed men while he had only been given a
single dull sword with very little armor. Niro was a very smart fighter. He had
learned to never allow his opponents to attack en mass. He had taken them one then
the next two at the same time and beaten all three. But once he had them
defeated, he refused to kill or bow to his owner in the stands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Frustrated, Grimmer sent
in the guards with lassos and clubs who beat Niro down and tied him up. When
Niro woke up he was in a room tied standing naked from the ceiling. He pulled
and tugged on his bindings trying to get himself free but they were way too
strong for him to break. Then he heard the creaking sound of a door opening and
someone walked out in front of him where he could see him. It was Grimmer
Protorius, his sadistic trainer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Niro
Herkalus." Grimmer walked up to stand right in his face. "Haven't I
given you everything a slave could ask for? You get all the best foods, you
train every day and we don't make you work the fields. Why do you still show us
disrespect?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Because I'm a free
man." Niro shouted. "You killed my family and put me here. I hate you
all and I'm going to get out of here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Not before I'm
done with you." Grimmer ran the small baton he was holding down from
Niro's nipple to below his scrotum lifting them up. "Nice."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Stop it!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Stop what?"
Grimmer ran the baton down the length of his cock making it respond by growing
and swelling. As blood began to pump into Niro's manhood, his erection grew longer and
thicker until he was fully hard. Grimmer smiles looking into Niro's eyes.
"Well look what we have here. You like when I touch you here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Get away from
me!!" Niro pushed and shoved but Grimmer had a good hold on his special
part and he wasn't letting go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I will teach you
to have more respect for me and your owner." With his other hand Grimmer
untied his loincloth and let it drop to the floor. "You belong to me now
Niro. Your mine forever nothing will stop me from getting what I want!!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Noooooooooooooo!!!!!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For the next week, Niro
never left that room. He was tied and hung from the ceiling for Grimmer to use
whenever he wanted and Grimmer did use him. He used Niro's body like his own
private sex toy. He would have him hand fed once a day and cleaned, then at
night Grimmer would be back for what he called another private training
session. He said the object was to break Niro's spirit and teach him respect,
but all he really did was teach him how to hate. And Niro did learn to hate. It
wasn't the sex. This wasn't the first time he had sex with a man. It was
Grimmer. He hated him and every time he touched him. This was not what Niro
thought sex should be. He would never touch anyone else and force himself on
them, man or women. This was rape and that was a crime against another person’s
body and mind. But Niro being as strong minded as he was, gritted his teeth and
suffered without giving Grimmer the pleasure of hearing him scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After the week was over,
Grimmer cut Niro down and had him taken back to his cell and cleaned up and fed
a proper meal. He would need some rest for his next fight. As Niro lay in his
cell he made the decision that this was it. Once he had a weapon in his hand,
this time it would be either he escaped or he died try to be free. And he was
right, for in two days, Niro would be free again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was later at night
and the crowd roared as two gladiators battled each other for the nights win.
In a alley to the rear of the coliseum a hooded figure slipped from shadow to
shadow as he entered a side entrance to the arena. With skill and precision he
made his way to the center dungeon where the fighters all waited their chance
in the hot sands. As he entered the gladiator pens, two guards stood watch at
the doors of the pens to the two houses that battled tonight. On the right,
house Gladicus and to the left the warriors of house Appius. Staying in the
shadows, the hooded man crept out and around the corner to stand right behind
the guard to house Gladicus. He reached up and grabbed the guard by his mouth
and put a knife through his heart. As he fell, the guard on house Appius heard
him hit the floor and saw the intruder. Reaching for his sword, the guard
jumped and went to attack the intruder. As he dived in to attack, something hit
him in the chest. Falling to his knees, the guard watched as the intruder
approached him and pulled a dagger free from his chest and pushed his corpse out
of his way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">At the door to house
Gladicus cells, the stranger reached up and grabbed the lock. With a quick twist he snapped
it and tossed it to the floor. Opening the door the intruder went in calling
out a name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Niro Herkalus!
Where are you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Over here."
Came the answer from a cell to his left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As the hooded man ran to
the door the rest of the gladiators jumped to their cell doors calling for
their freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Who are you?"
Niro asked. "What do you want?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pushing back his hood,
Vibius Gauis Herkalus reached down and broke the lock to his son’s cell. He
pulled the door open, grabbed his son and hugged him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"It's me
Niro." He said. "Your father. I'm here to get you out of here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Father!" Niro
hugged him relieved to see him alive. "I thought they had killed
you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"It's not that easy
to kill this old war dog." He smiled. "But we don't have much time.
They'll be coming for you soon. Take this, it's called Stormfury, it'll help you get out of
here. It's very special, don't lose it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Vibius pushed his ax into Niro's hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I want you to free
all these gladiators." Vibius told him. "With their help, you can
fight your way out of the coliseum. There are horses waiting at the north gates
of the arena. Get out of Sorrowdown."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You’re coming with
me right father? I won't go without you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You have to."
Vibius took a ring off his hand and placed it on Niro's hand. "I have a
score to settle with the Emporor. He killed your mother. Don't wait for me.
I'll keep them busy while you escape."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Please
father." Niro begged him. "We can do this together. Don't go
alone."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Niro." Vibius
held his son at arms length. "I knew something like this was going to
happen. I had you tutored by the best teachers in Sorrowdown. I'm proud of you
and you have to live. I can't let Sorrowdown destroy you like it did me. You
have a future. A great future fixing one of my mistakes. Go, fulfill that
future."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With that, Vibius turned
and ran out of the cell. Niro didn't know what his father meant by that comment
about his future, but if he could get out of Sorrowdown, he would at least have
one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With keys from the body
of one of the guards, Niro opened the cells from each house and let all the
warriors out. Grabbing weapons and armor, they all crowded around the entrance
to the arena ready to go in and get their revenge for all the years of abuse at
their master’s hand. From the other side of the door, they could hear the
cheers of the crowd. The mad lust to see a warrior be butchered in battle. Well
they had seen the last contest for this night. Now it was their turn and each
man swore he would die before going back in chains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Niro hushed the men,
the door opened and three guards came in to get the next set of gladiators.
Hands reached out and grabbed the guards and beat them down into
unconsciousness. Quickly they were stripped of their uniforms then dragged into
cells where they were tied and locked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"The only way out
is through the northern gate." Niro told them. "Together we go out
and we don't stop until we're out of the arena, agreed?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With nods all around,
Niro threw open the door and they all started out into the sandy arena. As they
stepped out, the crowds went wild. Everyone jumped to their feet surprised to
see so many gladiators come out into the arena. There were many favorites here
from both houses and it looked as if there was about to be some kind of battle
royale. As they moved across the floor, Niro looked high up into the stand above
the northern gate where Emperor Midoa Pontius Paratus and the owners of house Gladucus and Appius
sat. The two owners leaped to their feet knowing this was not a planned event.
Something out of the norm was happening here. Shouting orders, guards from both
houses leaped into action running down to intercept the gladiators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"NOW!" Niro
yelled as he pulled his father’s axe from his side and ran at the crowd of
warriors coming at them. When the first man faced off with him, Niro stopped
and planted his feet. The warrior charged raising his sword to slice down at
him. Niro gripped Stornfury's handle with two hands and let the sword come down
hard on the shaft. Then he swept up catching the warrior in the chest piercing
his armor lifting him up and threw him to the side. For a second Niro was
amazed at his strength. He had never been that strong before, but now wasn't
the time to ponder such miracles. More warriors were on the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Slashing and cutting,
Niro and his warriors fought their way to the balcony above the north gate
where the Emperor and the owners stood screaming orders at the warriors.
Suddenly from behind a curtain behind the Emperor, Vibius jumped out and in
seconds put his sword threw the chest of Gladicus and Appius. As he pulled his
sword free and advanced on the Emperor, two more warriors rushed in between him
and the Emperor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So Vibius."
Midoa sneered. "I killed your woman and and your son fights below in
the arena. Now I have you. Just give me what I want and maybe I'll have mercy
and allow you to live."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Why?" Vibius
asked. "I was always faithful to you and the empire. I would have given my
life for you. Why did you and Manius betray me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Because you are a
fool!!" The Emperor spit at him. "And you failed me!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"How? I killed
Thorn just as you ordered. You ordered him dead and we killed him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yes you killed him
fool." Midoa said. "But you and the others took something from him
before he died didn't you. You took his rings but you did not turn them over to
me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So Bram Thorn is
alive again you idiot!" Midoa screamed at him in a rage. "He is alive
and he will be coming for me! I need his rings to protect myself from his
power!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"That is not possible." Vibius didn't believe a word the Emperor said. "How can
he have survived his wounds?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"He didn't survive.
He died and went to the Underworld. But you underestimate his power. He found a
way back. I've seen him in my dreams. He comes for me and his revenge!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You betrayed me
over a nightmare?" Vibius couldn't believe the Emperor could be such a
superstitious fool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"It was no
nightmare Vibius! My dreams are special. He will come and destroy Sorrowdown to
get to me! Only his rings can save me. Give it to me now!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I will give you
something Midoa." Vibius lifted his sword. "But you won't have to
worry about Bram Thorn killing you. I will have that pleasure myself!"<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Scared for his father’s
life, Niro leaped to the platform and was ready to jump in to fight at his father’s
side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"NO!" Vibius
yelled at him. "Get out! This is my fight! Go to Fay Shrea and find
the elven King Philibar Windstar in Pelordra, he'll explain everything! Then go
find Manius Regulus, he's the one that betrayed us. Get the ring from him! Now
Go!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Niro watched his
father fight and parry sword thrust at him. Emperor Midoa slipped up behind him
and stabbed him in the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Nooo!!" Niro
screamed running to leap into the balcony box. With a mighty backhand, Vibius
slashed out at the Emperor ripping his face open from his cheek to his
forehead. With a last burst of energy, Vibius plunged his sword </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">through the Emperors chest killing him.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"GO!" Vibius yelled holding his sword high for the next attack. "Go get our revenge and fix my greatest wrong for me. You’re my only hope!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With a quick nod, Niro jumped down and ran for the northern gate followed by what was left of the gladiators. Once in, they slammed down the gate and barred it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Hurry." Niro said to the gladiators. "We have to go now!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Not so fast." Said a voice from the shadows. Grimmer stepped out sword in hand smiling. "Is my puppet leaving without saying good bye? I can't have that. I'd miss you way too much."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Go." Niro waved the others away. "Get out of Sorrowdown and leave him to me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"They don't matter." Grimmer said as the escaping gladiators ran pass him. "They'll be caught. You’re the one I want."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I don't think you're going to like our little play session this time." Niro advanced on Grimmer slowly waving his axe from side to side. "I'm not so helpless anymore."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Doesn't matter." Grimmer smiled holding his swords ready. "When you lose, this time I won't stop fucking you until you're dead."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like two wild elephants they clashed with Grimmer being thrown back against the wall by Niro's great strength. As Grimmer scrambled to get to his feet, Niro stepped up on him holding Stormfury's head at Grimmer's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Don't like it when they can fight back, do you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Stepping back, Niro let Grimmer get to his feet and retrieve his swords. With a grim look on his face, Grimmer tried again slashing down at Niro and stabbing with his short sword. Unfortunately for him, Niro just smiled and again knocked him back knocking the swords from his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Wait!" Grimmer cried. "It wasn't me! I only did what I was ordered to do!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"But it was you that raped me." Niro stepped closer holding his ax tightly. "You used me like a toilet with no thought about my dignity. Now I will return the favor you gave me and all the rest of your victims. Die like a good little soldier."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With a single swing, Niro slammed his axe head straight into Grimmer's heart. He screamed and fell back against the wall then slid down dead at Niro's feet. Looking down at his rapist, Niro spit on his corpse, pulled his axe free then turned and ran out up the ramp to freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He knew his parents were both dead now and there was nothing here for him in Sorrowdown but chains and enemies. It was time to go out in the world and see what was out there for him. First stop, King Philibar of Pelordra. Maybe he would have some answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Bram stood in the ruined study of Castle Heimdel, the voices in his head wouldn't stop talking to him. Each of the five voices bullied him. Tell him he he would never succeed in his plans. How he was a failure and would end up right back on Shoudra island fighting to get that boat to the next shore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"SHUT UP!" He screamed beating at his head. "I am not a failure! You'll all see! I'll crush my enemies and take Jamerld back. Once I find the rings, her and the baby, I'll bring back them back here where they will be safe in our home. Then Keanna will suffer for all it's done to us!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You’re mad!!!" The voices laughed. "You are a mad crazy fool and all you have to look forward to is an eternity in hell!!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"We'll see." Bram shouted at the empty sky over head. "We'll see who has the last laugh!"</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-75268654691261466432014-05-12T17:22:00.001-04:002019-11-02T22:05:17.895-04:00The Warlock Returns. 3In the high hills of Valturm in the nation of Hernborim sat the home of the most honored Battle mistress Leda Strongarm Redhelm. Leda was the daughter of Olin Hardfist Strongarm and the holder of Erdus the Silver mace. She held the highest rank of all warriors in Herborims warrior guild. Her attacks on the Dark elves in Tarsap and the taking of the fjord castle of Vandor were legendary. Songs were still to this day sung at festivals of her bravery at Heimdel castle against the element warlock Bram Thorn. How she single handed defeated him against his strongest spells and legions of warriors. After her return from Heimdel, Leda was put in place as the General of all Herborims armies. She was given lands and a home almost as splendid as the royal palace of the king. She would for the rest of her days sit second at his table at all honored events. Leda won all this and riches for her family name. She did all this with a lie.<br />
It was late and Leda was tired from all the drilling and marching she had put her warriors through on the fields outside of Valturns walls. It had been her way to always march and practice with her warriors and today was no different. She put them through drills in hand to hand combat, storming towers which meant climbing and heavy weapons drills. Leda would have her warriors at their best. Being the holder of the silver mace, she had her pride and her name to protect.<br />
"Fight to win." She told her warriors. "And win to fight on."<br />
That was her motto and any dwarf who failed would face her and maybe never fight again.<br />
Today with sore muscles, Leda rode in from the practice fields deep in thought. Gromor the Grim had come into Valturn two weeks ago and insisted on challenging her to a marriage battle. He did this at least twice a year hoping that she might accept or that he might be lucky in battle and win her hand. The thought of marriage really angered her. She needed no man for anything other then a few hours of lusty pleasure and to watch her back in battle. And none would ever be as good as her dead mate and father of her children Egon had been. He had been her one true shield mate partner in life. The one dwarf who would always be at her side until his death at the hands of a raiding band of Trolls. How she missed his dark eyes and feverish touch. He always knew what to say and how to keep her level headed and from jumping into battle before all the facts were known. But he was gone now and she was alone. She had no one but herself and a few she trusted to stand at her back. Unfortunately tonight, that wouldn't be enough.<br />
As Leda rode on, her mind was on how she could again keep Gromor at bay. Was she going to have to battle him again? She was tired of all this and just wanted it to stop. Year after year, battle after battle. Was she to cripple him or cause him permanent damage to stop his advances. What would it take for him to realize she would never under any circumstances commit to being his shield mate. No matter how prominent he was or hard hard he fought.<br />
The road through Redhelm to the manor was dark at this time in the evening. All miners were home enjoying they're nights dinner and all of her family would by now be assembled in the hall huddled around the fire waiting for her and to go in for the evening meal. Her sons would be boasting about today's challenger and her oldest daughter Strella would probably be teasing young Warwick about how undwarf like using a bow was.<br />
Urging her horse on, Leda rode through the cobbled torch lit lane heading home, when she saw something in front of her that shouldn't be there. It was a wagon, and not the wagon of a dwarf, it was to big. It was the wagon of a human. Strange Leda thought. She hadn't given permission for any humans to pass through her land. As she strained her eyes she noticed strange writing on the sides. Mystic letters and symbols. Reaching to her saddle, Leda unclasped the strap holding her mace to the horses side just in case there would be trouble here, then rode on up to the wagon.<br />
As she got closer, she could smell burning incense in the air. It was sage if she wasn't mistaken. Closer. Leda had a better look at the wagon. It was more of a small hut on wheels with windows and a door on the side. Other then the mystical writing, there was a large eye on the side. The markings of a fortune teller. Leda had seen them before in her travels through human cities and ports. Mostly gypsy beggars trading fake fortunes for coins. Well there was no need for anything like that here. She didn't want any human or dwarven magic practiced on her land. Whoever it was, they had to go.<br />
Climbing down from her horse, Leda grabbed her mace and walked out to the wagon. Just as she approached, the camp fire suddenly burst into flames in the campfire. Surprised, Leda jumped to the side.<br />
"Aiya warrior maiden." As Leda turned, she saw a elderly man with long grey hair and beard stepped down from the wagon. He was dressed in black pants, sandals and a grey tunic. There was a red sash around his waist and he wore gold in his ears. "What brings a fine warrior like you into my camp?"<br />
"Your camp?" Leda looked at him with raised eye brows. "I don't think you know where you are. You are in Hernborim, Dwarf lands. This is the city of Valturn and this is my home. You are trespassing here."<br />
"I like to think wherever I can lay my head is home." He shrugged. "It's more peaceful that way."<br />
"That's a good way to find yourself in someones dungeon thinking like that." Leda walked around the wagon looking at the strange markings. There was a Pentagram, swastika, ankh and the mystical eye of power. Leda didn't know exactly what most of the symbols were, but she knew magic when she saw it and she didn't like it. She had fought many sorcerers, wizards and warlocks in her day and it was never good. She didn't want one anywhere near her home and family.<br />
"You have to go." She fastened her mace to her belt. "Tonight, now."<br />
"Oh an I came so far to be here." The fortune teller looked at her slyly. "Can't I just stay the night and rest?"<br />
"No! Wait! You mean you knew you were in Hernborim? Who are you?"<br />
"I like your ring." He smiled pointing out the ring on Leda's hand. "Where did you get it?"<br />
"Spoils of war." She answered suspiciously.<br />
"Then you won it fairly in battle and took it as a trophy?"<br />
"Something like that." She said. "Who are you stranger?"<br />
"Just a stranger here looking for something I lost." He shrugged. "Something you seem to have taken from me."<br />
"Something I what?" Leda grabbed her mace and started stepping back away as the gypsy started laughing hysterically. Suddenly lightning started to flash and the wind picked up and began to howl. Hurricane winds came whipping out and through the trees bending and snapping some of them in half.<br />
"Surely you remember me my dear Leda Redhelm." The wind picked him up and held him in the air as Leda grabbed on to a stump to keep from being blown away. "I am Bram Tiberius Thorn and you and your friends came in and attacked me! You killed my wife and baby, then when I was at my weakest point, you all fell on me, you killed me and sent me to hell! Now I'm back to repay all of you for my years of torture in hell starting with you!!"<br />
As Leda screamed the winds picked her up and held her in mid air. Like knives, wind beat at her and cut into her stripping her flesh from her bones. When Bram was done, the ring was back on his finger and her bones lay scattered all over the ground below. As Bram's laughter drifted on the winds, the wagon disappeared and the wind settled down leaving her armor and weapons there among her bones on the road.<br />
<br />
The sun was just setting behind the mountains as Quynn Tyr, the true born son of Rage king of the Keanna dragons and his mate Jandar flew on towards home with his cousin Prince Ranjer Zlenka Tyr on his back. As his wings pumped the air to rise higher, his mind was in deep turmoil. He had failed his final test on summoning again. This was the third time he had failed to bring the dove he had summoned to him. Try as he might, all he could get was a single feather. Cutter had shook his head and just moved on to the next candidate for evaluation. Quynn just moved out of line ignoring the snickering of his classmates. He was embarrassed. He was the son of one of the greatest master mages on Keanna and he had fail not once but three times. His fathers would be so shamed he thought. He was to be the next master mage of the Dark wolf clan, but he couldn't even summon a common dove out of the nether realm. Something he should be able to do with ease.<br />
He had passed all his other classes. Spell casting, enchantment, gesture magic, even curses and hexes. But summoning for some reason was beyond him. Jandar drilled and practiced with him for hours to make sure he knew the procedure, and he did know it. Every move, every word and gesture had been planted in his mind, but the second it was time for him to do the summoning, his mind went completely blank. His mouth would dry up and he would stumble over the spell then either nothing happened or it would go completely wrong. The first time he called for the dove and got a one winged bat. The second time, nothing happened and this time, all he got was the one feather. A total failure.<br />
After class, Cutter had taken him back to his office in the Academy for a talk. Quynn had shuffled along behind him with his head down, his brown hair with grey streaks covering his handsome face.<br />
"Is there something on your mind young Dragonwolf?" Cutter sat down behind his desk waving Quynn to a chair up front. He looked into Quynn's golden eyes, the eyes that so reminded him of Rage. "I know you know this. You should be able to do it in your sleep. What's stopping you?"<br />
"I don't know Master." He sat back looking away from the teacher. "Everything gets jumbled in my head every time I try. I can almost feel it there just out of my reach, but I can't get it."<br />
"What about when your alone or practicing with your father?" Cutter leaned forward. "Does it work then?"<br />
"Yes, sometimes." Quynn said. "But sometimes I think it's really my father guiding what I'm summoning to me. I know he just wants me to succeed."<br />
"He means well." The teacher nodded. "But this is something you have to learn to do for yourself. Listen Quynn, I won't fail you yet. The summer break is just beginning. I'll give you until autumn class begins before I give you your final grade. Take your time and rest and relax and practise on your own. Come see me on the first day of the autumn solstice and you can take your final again."<br />
"What if I fail again?" He asked. Quynn looked scared. Summoning was a great part of his mystical family heritage. Every mage of the Dark wolf clan had to master it before he could reach the rank of Master and this was all that was holding him back.<br />
Cutter stood and led Quynn to the door to his study. "You are young Dragonwolf. Much younger then your father was or any of the other Tyr ancestors were when they reached the rank of Master. You have time to live before you have to take the responsibilities of a Master. Go out and enjoy the summer. Time will always be your friend."<br />
Quynn had no idea what he meant by that that, by it did ease his mind a little. Bowing to Cutter, Quynn left his study and hurried through the halls to the transport stone to head to the lobby of the Academy.<br />
There, his tall blond cousin Ranjer waited for him while talking to Mera Serban. When he saw Quynn coming they waved to him.<br />
"Well?" Ranjer asked impatiently. "How'd it go?"<br />
Looking somber, Quynn stopped and looked up at him. Ranjer frown and sighed.<br />
"You couldn't do it?" Mera said.<br />
"No." He shook his head. "I failed. He's going to kill me."<br />
"No he won't!" Ranjer threw his arm around his cousins shoulder and they started out of the Academy doors. "Uncle Jandar's never raised his voice at you in your life and you know that. Now Uncle Rage is gonna kill ya."<br />
Quynn groaned. He hadn't even thought about his other father. He was much more one for discipline.<br />
"Oh relax." Ranjer laughed. "They'll understand. Your fathers are two of the most fair people on Keanna. It's not like you can never test again. You can, right?"<br />
"Yeah, I just have to practice and wait until the autumn solstice."<br />
"Good." Mera said. "I know you'll get it eventually. I have to go, I'll see you guys late."<br />
They both waved to her as she climbing into a coach on her way home for the summer. "Do you want me to come back to New Keanna with you? I have plenty on time. I want to go see Uncle Ono anyway."<br />
"Sure." Quynn smiled. "They like you, they won't yell if your there. I'll give you a ride."<br />
"Let's go."<br />
<br />
Rain poured and lightning flashed as Bly sped her way over the border out of Fay Shrea and into the free lands outside of New Keanna. There was trouble and she had to get to New Keanna to warn the Dragons before it was to late. Zig zagging her way across the land, she remembered back two days ago when it all had started.<br />
It was late in the night when Bly stepped out of her small house in the underground city of Ammath. She look across to the time tower that stood in the middle of the square. It read almost midnight. Her father should be done with all his city business by now and be ready for her. Spreading her wings, Bly lifted off and sailed on through the dimly lite corridors of Ammath. She passed the homes of the common faeries who went about their business like any other day. They opened shops where they worked on all the jewelry they made and sold in Human, dwarf and elf cities. Then on to the higher ranked members of their society. Owners of mines and the generals of the Ammath warriors, the council of elders that served as her fathers advisers. All their homes were close to the king great house. Then in the middle on the hill sat the palace of Valerian Sharpwing, king of the Ammath faeries.<br />
As Bly made her way though the gates she noticed something strange. The guards that were always here on watch, were gone. That she thought was odd. The king had his own personal guards trained just to protect him. She couldn't think of any reason why they wouldn't be at their post except.<br />
Suddenly a cold feeling crept up through her stomach. Bly quicken her speed and hurried on. From there she entered the front hall of the palace. She stopped abruptly when she saw the devastation all around her. It looked like an earthquake had torn through the palace. The floor had completely buckled and was now nothing but a great open pit. Walls were down and the beautiful furniture of the palace was trashed. Fearing for her fathers life, Bly flew in ready to fight. From room to room she saw nothing but carnage. Bodies of palace staff and the kings guards lay everywhere dead, ripped apart.<br />
Horrified, Bly flew on to the kings throne room. In the hall to the kings throne room, Bly stopped, landed and ran to the doors. From inside she could hear a maniacal laugh echoing through the room.<br />
"You thought me dead, didn't you!" She heard. "You thought you were safe but you were wrong! You, your damned daughters and the others thought me dead and in hell, but not even hell can hold me! Nothing can stop Bram Thorn from getting what is due to him!"<br />
"You won't win you monster!" Bly know that voice. It was Bram Thorn! But that wasn't possible. He's dead and in hell. She had to get her father out of there.<br />
"Kill me if you want, just like you killed your wife and child. But your evil will be destroyed. Someone will send you back to hell."<br />
"NEVER!!" Bram laughed. "After I kill and take back my rings I will live forever. Even Death fears me!"<br />
[Father!] Bly sent. [I'm coming to save you!]<br />
[No! Go Bly. Your the only hope. Get to the Dragons. find his rings and send him back to hell. I'm already dead.]<br />
[No father! Let me help you.]<br />
[It's to late.] She could feel his life slipping away. [Go, save yourself. I love you my daughter. Your the only hope to stop him. Aiya Bly.]<br />
Suddenly there was a great crash and a blinding flash of light from inside the room. At that moment, Bly knew her father was dead. Now it was up to her to stop Bram. She had to find help and get the rings to put an end to Bram's threat and she knew where she had to go. She had to go find the Dragons. They were her only hope.<br />
<br />
As Quynn and Ranjer walked into Jandar and Rage's suite in the Manor, Rage rushed by bumping into them. He looked at his son, hugged him and put their foreheads together in their usual greeting.<br />
"There's food in the kitchen." He said rushing out. "Rose will make sure you have whatever you need while we're gone. Have a good summer Dragonwolf. Hurry Jandar, every one's outside waiting."<br />
"Wait!" Quynn called as Rage ran out. "Where are you going?"<br />
"There's trouble overseas." Jandar said as he finished putting things in a small bag and put it over his shoulder. "We're taking everyone except Ariel and Toric since her baby is due any day now."<br />
"We want to come." Quynn said eagerly. "We can help."<br />
"I'm sure you can." Jandar kissed his sons forehead. "But I'd rather you stay here in case Ariel needs help. Toric is going to be a basket case so she'll need someone to help keep him calm. I don't know how long this will take but we'll try and keep you informed if we can. If you need us, you call understand?"<br />
"Yes father."<br />
As Jandar started to leave, he stopped and turned back to Quynn and Ranjer.<br />
"I'm forgetting something." He looked back at the two handsome young men. "There's something I was suppose to ask you."<br />
"I have no idea what you mean." Quynn give Ranjer that look that said don't open your mouth. Ranjer looked away innocently.<br />
"Whatever it is I'll remember and send to you." Jandar waved as he left. "Have a good summer boys and don't destroy the Manor while were gone. I love you both."<br />
"Aiya Father." Quynn waved as he left.<br />
"Now what?" Ranjer asked.<br />
"Now we have the whole Manor to ourselves." Quynn smiled. "You know what that means?"<br />
"A party." Ranjer clapped his hands in anticipation. "Who should we call first?"<br />
[Quynn!] Rage sent. [Don't do it.]<br />
[What?]<br />
[I know what your thinking.] He sent. [And it's out of the question. You can have a few friends over but absolutely NO PARTY. Do I make myself clear?]<br />
[Yes father.] He turned to Ranjer. "So much for that idea. Want to go for a swim in the bay? There should be Mermaids down there. We'll have company."<br />
"Sure." Ranjer smiled. "That sounds like fun."<br />
<br />
The water was cool and the sun was hot. It was a perfect day for a party in the bay. Mermaids swam along while in Dragon and wolf form, Quynn and Ranjer dived in and out on the waves. With a basket lunch on the shore waiting, the two had a fantastic day together in the surf and sand.<br />
By the time the sun had slipped to the west, Quynn sat up and saw something strange in the distance. It was a dark spot on the ocean boiling and rumbling towards them. Quynn sat up and pointed.<br />
"Look. What's that?"<br />
Ranjer sat up and put his hand to his brow to shield it from the sun.<br />
"I don't know." He said. "A storm maybe?"<br />
"That size?" Quynn stood up. "A storm would be much bigger, it would cover the whole horizon, not just one spot."<br />
"I don't know what it is." Ranjer jumped to his feet. "But its coming this way."<br />
As Quynn and Ranjer stared out into the bay, the spot came in closer. Little flashes of light bounced off and on through the disturbance. Then, it looked like some kind of storm cloud, but as they watched, they realized it was a water elemental. And it was fighting something.<br />
"What is that?" Ranjer asked confused. "There's something flying around it."<br />
"It's a Fairy!" Quynn ran down to the waters edge. "And it's in trouble!"<br />
"What kind of fairy moves like that?" Ranjer stepped into the water getting ready to swim out to help.<br />
"Ranjer." Quynn dived in and surfaced. "Stay here. I can swim much faster as a dragon then you can. Be ready in case it makes it to the shore."<br />
"Ok." Ranjer agreed. "But you better hurry."<br />
Diving in, Quynn concentrated and started to shift to his dragon form. His body stretched and more then tripled in length until he was over fifteen feet long with a tail that trailed behind him another five feet. His handsome form grew wings and scales and he took on the black and gray colors of a timberwolf. His snout grew out and his teeth and claws grew long. Now Dragonwolf glided through the water like and arrow through the air.<br />
As his eyes fixed on the water elemental, Dragonwolf saw the fairy fighting for her life. She sent mystic blast again and again at the elemental with no effect other then to annoy it. As it reached out with a hand formed of water, the fairy blasted it apart, but that didn't stop the water monster. As fast as the fairy blasted hands away, another reformed to take its place. Eventually it grabbed her and pulled her down into the water,<br />
Dragonwolf dived down going deep after the fairy. With a swipe of his claw, he broke the spirit apart and grabbed the fairy and pushed his wings to drive him to the surface. Flying out of the water, he looked back just in time to see the elemental dive up out of the water at him. With a mighty blast of his breath, flames flashed out and blasted into the elemental. With a loud screech the elemental fell back and dissolved back into the water. With the fairy in his arms, Dragonwolf turned and flew on back to the beach where Ranjer was waiting.<br />
Back on the beach, they moved to a shady place under the cliffs where He laid her down and shifted back to his normal self. The fairy had dark blue skin and blazing red hair and wings. She was huge for a fairy, over five feet tall. There were some pretty formidable talons on her hands. They know this fairy was meant for fighting. But who was she and where did she come from?<br />
"Is she breathing." Ranjer asked as they stood over her.<br />
"I think so."<br />
Suddenly she coughed and threw up water she had taken in. Then she lay back and they could see she was breathing normally.<br />
"What kind of fairy is she?" Ranjer asked. "I've never seen one so big."<br />
"I don't know." Quynn said. "I guess we'll have to wait until she wakes up to find out. I'll stay here, why don't you go back to the manor and get some food and blankets. We'll stay here for the night."<br />
"Ok." Ranjer turned and moved away then shifted to his condor form and took off for the Manor. [I'll be right back.]<br />
As Quynn waited he gathered wood from the forest and built a fire to keep them warm. With a simple snap of his fingers, he set the pile he had built a blaze. Unsure of exactly what the fairy could eat, he decided to get a little fishing done. Quickly he dived back in the water and scared up a few fish they could roast on the fire. As he climbed back on the beach and dropped his catch, the fairy moaned and opened her eyes.<br />
"Aiya." He said as she sat up. "How do you feel?"<br />
"Like I should be dead." She moaned as she looked up at him. "Where am I?"<br />
"Your at the base of the Cliffs of Kolvar." He told her. "New Keanna is just over the top."<br />
"New Keanna!" She tried to get up and fell back down. "You mean I made it!!"<br />
"Easy!" Quynn helped her to sit back up. "Relax, get your strength back before you get hurt. I don't know if you made it. Depends on where you were going."<br />
"I'm looking for the Dragons. This is they're home right?"<br />
"Yeah." Quynn smiled. "We live here and you found one. I'm Quynn Tyr, son of Kings Rage and Jandar. Can I ask who you are?"<br />
"My name is Bly Sharpwing. I knew your parents long ago. I've come to warn them of desperate trouble ahead. I must talk to them."<br />
"I'm afraid my parents aren't here." Quynn told her. "And I have no idea when they will be back."<br />
"Then we're all in deep trouble because Bram Thorn is alive and he wants all of us dead!!"<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-80096040724846828192014-05-07T19:42:00.002-04:002019-11-02T18:47:12.522-04:00Welcome to Hell. 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was freezing cold as the mist parted and Bram sat up. He shook his head and looked around unsure of where he was. All he could remember was his anger. Someone had done something to him that caused him pain. As he sat thinking he remembers who he was. He was Bramble Tiberius Thorn, master of the elements. He was a warlock of the highest caliber, Standing up, Bram looked around and noticed the room he was in was completely white and empty. It wasn't a room, it was more like an alcove that opened into a hall. Walking on into the hall, he saw it was lined on both sided with marble columns and laurel trees. Down the center of the hall, a golden carpet lead him on further into a pair of great intricately carved doors. From the looks of all the splendor here, Bram knew he could only be in one place. If he was right, he knew what would be waiting for him on the other side of the doors. As he reached out and grabbed the handles of the door, he pulled them up. Sweet music made by lutes, lyres and pipes flowed out from the door. Heavenly sounds. Standing tall, Bram made his way in through the doors to face whatever this place was.<br />
The chamber he had entered was wide with a high ceiling. Everything in the room was made of marble except the ivory furniture and the many silk tapestries that hung on the walls. Two thrones sat on a dais at the top of a set of four stairs. This was someones palace home. Bram wondered who's.<br />
"Mine."<br />
As Bram turned, a tall man dressed it a pure white toga with a black tunic underneath came walking out from the side entrance. He had very tan skin, a dark beard and mustache and deep blue eyes. He looked very royal to Bram.<br />
"Welcome Bramble Thorn." He said. "Welcome to your eternity."<br />
"Where am I?" Bram asked. "And who are you?"<br />
"Your in my home in the realm I am master of." He smiled and walked down to the throne and sat down. "And I am Nestor, lord of the underworld. Welcome to your after life."<br />
Bram gazed at the beauty of all the marble and ivory. The silk, satin and bowls of fresh fruit. The sweet sound of music and the fragrance of fresh flowers in the air that calmed his exhausted nerves. He thought he had finally found peace from all the torment of his life.<br />
"Eternity here won't be so bad." Bram smiled and relaxed. "I can finally have peace in my life."<br />
"Yes." Nestor smiled. "This is lovely isn't it? But I'm afraid you have it all wrong. This isn't your heaven. This is so you see what is to be denied from you. You've been judged and I'm afraid to say the judgement for you is torment for the rest of eternity for your crimes."<br />
"What?" Bram couldn't believe what he was hearing. "My crimes? What about all the crimes against me? Years of abuse at the hands of my father and the Sorrowdown senate. What about all the beatings I took from my so called masters? What about the looks of fear and all the rocks and things thrown at me every time I tried to find a place to live? How many times have I been burned out of my home?"<br />
"Those are crime yes, but none of that ever happened to you." The room darken as Nestor stood and walked down from his throne. "It was all in your mind. Do you have any idea of the suffering you have caused? Men, women and children dead all because of you. Humans, elves, dwarfs, fairies, all dead! Even the dead have suffered because of you. What have you to say for yourself?"<br />
"I say." Bram looked up at Nestor defiantly. "Good. Why should you even care? I've filled you halls and ranks. You should thank me for what I've done."<br />
"Thank you?" Nestor couldn't believe his imprudence. "Does life mean anything to you? Do you care about anything or anyone? What of your wife and daughter? Do they matter at all?"<br />
"Jamerld and Mya?" He spit her name as if it caused a bad taste in his mouth. "That fairy bitch is the one that betrayed me. She's probably back in her fathers home. Why should I care about them? They mean nothing to me!"<br />
"Such a sad little warlock." Nestor shook his head. Going back to his throne, Nestor sat down and took his staff in his hand. "Bramble Tiberius Thorn, For crimes you have committed against Keanna, I sentence you to Shounda Island where you will suffer at the hands of the elements you once controlled so expertly. Get off the island on your on, and you will have your peace. If not, you will suffer there forever with the voices screaming in your head!"<br />
"Take him away!" Nestor slammed his staff down on the floor. Behind Nestor's throne, a door opened and five dark shadows came flying out. They grabbed Bram by his arms and legs and dragged him back towards the door.<br />
"I will be back lord of the Underworld and I will make you pay just as I made Keanna pay for abusing me." He screamed. "Not even you can hold me in here! I WILL MAKE YOU ALL PAY!!"<br />
<br />
When Bram woke up he was laying on a beach on a tropical island. He reached up and brushed the sand from his face and hair then sat up. He looked out at the land around him and saw it wasn't really a beach. There was sand but it stopped about twenty feet from the water then there was nothing but sharp rocks all the way up the shore as far as he could see, Steam rose from the water telling Bram it was hot, boiling hot.<br />
Bram stood up and looked out over water and saw that not far away there was another island, but this one looked a lot more pleasant then the island he was on. Overhead, Bram saw storm clouds all gray an nasty and ready to drop it's storm right on his head.<br />
Remembering Nestor's sentence, he guessed this had to be Shounda island and he was still deep down somewhere in Nestor's underworld. This was a hell created specific just for him. Turning back into the island, he realizes tropical was the wrong word to describe Shounda island. It was more desolate and deserted. But since it had been made just for him, of course it was deserted. There were no trees, no grass, no vegetation at all. There was nothing here but a great rock, and a boat. Somewhere on the island there had to be a boat. Nestor said it would be here, so Bram knew it had to be here.<br />
As Bram started his way up the rocky shore, the storm opened up and rain poured down on him. Freezing wind whipped across the island making the rain sting at him and beat at his face. Then something happened that sent chills through Bram's body. He started hearing voices in his head again. It wasn't the voices of his old masters, these voices were different. They made no sense at first. It was just gibberish. Then they started berating him and accusing him of murder and rape, some of the most horrible crimes. Bram dropped to his knees putting his hands to his ears but that did nothing. The voices just kept talking and screaming, rattling his mind.<br />
Getting to his feet, Bram tried his best to ignore them and close his mind as best he could and go find the boat. With them hushed, he made his way further on up the shore. Steam rose from vents in the rock as he fought against the storm for every step. At one point the ground shook so much, he had to stop to keep from falling on the sharp rocks. But eventually it stopped and he went on until he found what he was looking for.<br />
Of all places, high on a hill, Bram found his boat. It was a small single seated craft made of wood with oars to steer with. Now that he found the boat, he had to find somewhere safe to launch it from. He couldn't just drag it down to the water, without a safe spot on the beach. The rocks would just tear the bottom from the boat and he would sink and drown. Bram stopped said out loud.<br />
"I'm dead. How can I drown?" In his head, an answer came from one of the many voices.<br />
[It can't kill you. But you won't enjoy the feeling.]<br />
"Shut up." He told himself and continued on up the shore.<br />
It took him half and hour of walking until he came to what looked like a small cove. The water looked calm and this was the only place Bram had seen with trees and vegetation. It looked nice. Now all he had to do was go back and get the boat.<br />
As Bram turned, his leg slammed into something. He looked down and there was the boat.<br />
"Of course." He said. "This place is magic."<br />
[Of course it is you idiot.]<br />
Bram ignored the voice and reached down and grabbed the boat. Lifting it high he carefully made his way through the rocks and down to the tree line. Some how the storm had settle making it easy for him to get down to the beach.<br />
"Almost there." He said.<br />
The voices in his head started laughing at him. Called him a simple stupid fool.<br />
"SHUT UP!" Bram yelled. "I'm almost there!"<br />
[You think it's going to be that easy?] A voice laughed. [Just wait.]<br />
Ignoring them, Bram carried the boat down to the clear blue water and dropped it in. Climbing in, Bram used the oars and pushed his way out, then started rowing up away from the island.<br />
[Wait for it.]<br />
Looking out he could see the second island. It was close, so close. He was going to make it. Then as if he had done it himself, a storm raged in rocking the boat on the high waves. The wind picked up and steam burst into geysers from the ocean bottom.<br />
[Here it is!!]<br />
Like a bit of flotsam in a puddle, the boat was grabbed by a wave and dashed back to shore where rocks had suddenly replaced the sandy beach he had launched from. Like an egg the boat crashed into the rocks and Bram sank drowning to the bottom of the ocean.<br />
As Bram scrambled to swim to the surface struggling to breathe, he slammed his head into the rocks, and down he sank. The last thing he heard in his head before he blacked out was.<br />
[I told you. See you in the morning. Welcome to hell.]<br />
<br />
Day after day, week after week, year after year, Bram struggled with the boat. Everyday a different place on the island, everyday the same screaming voices in his head and everyday the same results. He goes out in the boat, sometimes he almost makes it to the second island but everyday he gets smashed back into the rocks to drown and Death wakes him to start all over again. Sometimes he drowned and sometimes he burned. Sometimes the ground opened and swallowed him and the boat and sometimes a tornado picked him up and dropped him on the jagged rocks. But in the end, it was always the same. Bram would die and come back in the morning. That was to be his eternity. Even if he didn't try, still it would end the same. He would die. Even if it meant the island sank, he would die.<br />
As he opened his eyes this morning, a beautiful white haired woman in a long flowing gown stood over him. Bram sat up and said good morning to the goddess of death.<br />
"Ready to start again?"<br />
"What do you want from me Angela?" Bram sat up and glared at the goddess. "Leave me alone and let me get on with my mission."<br />
"Mission?" She laughed. "Don't you mean punishment?"<br />
"You want me to be sorry for the things I've done." Bram stood up. "But I'm not. The world deserved all I did and more. In fact when I escape here, I'm going to show Keanna what fear really is."<br />
"Then I'm afraid you will never leave this island." Angela frowned down at him and started to fade away. "Enjoy your eternity. You deserve it."<br />
"Just wait and see!" He screamed at the sky. "My time will come!!"<br />
[Times a wasting Useless.] One of his voices said. [Get moving before something drops out of the sky on you.]<br />
This was one of those rare times in Bram's hell when there was no storm. The sky was clear but gray since this wasn't really a sky but a dimension where Lord Nestor had control over everything. It was hot and as Bram walked the island he began to sweat like mad. First he went north to search but found nothing so he circled around to the west where it started getting hotter and hotter. Kneeling down, he put his hand to the ground and realized the heat was coming from under ground. That meant volcanic activity. He would have to be careful. He didn't want to get burned by lava again.<br />
Continuing on, Bram came to a hill. A rather large hill with smoke rising from the top. This must be the volcano. He wasn't surprised. This volcano hadn't been here yesterday and it won't be here tomorrow. That was how often the landscape changed in his hell.<br />
[Can't let you get use to it around here can we.] The voice said. [That would be to easy. But since you'll never be leaving, we'll think of something different everyday to torture you with. Won't that be fun.]<br />
[So what will it be today?] Another voice said. [Fire? Lightning? Maybe we'll flood the island again. We always enjoy watching you drown.]<br />
"If I had my powers, it would be different." Bram mumbled as he walked around the volcano.<br />
[But you don't, so why do you just climb the volcano and jump in. Make it easy on yourself.]<br />
"I won't give up. I'm getting off this island."<br />
[Fat chance of that.] A voice said smugly.<br />
So on Bram walked. He stumbled a few times and fell bruising and skinning his knees, but he got back up and kept going. As he reached the other side, he saw the boat laying there at the bottom of the hill.<br />
Good he thought. Now that he had found it, all he had to do was find his launching spot and get himself off this damned island. Just then the ground started to shake as the volcano began to erupt. Bram looked up to the top just in time to see the top explode and go flying into the air. Without another thought, he took off running down the side of the volcano to keep from being caught in the flow of lava he knew would soon be coming down at him. All around him huge rocks rained down. Dodging left then right jumping out of the way of lava bombs as they fell he ran. With a quick look back, Bram stopped when he saw one coming he could dodge. It was so big there was no where for him to hide. This one would crush him no matter what he did. Raising his hands over his head, Bram screamed and did something completely unexpected. He pushed out with the power he had no idea he had and opened a great gape into shadow that swallowed the lava and saved his ass. Shocked at what he had just done, he looked at his hand and realized he still wore his ring of shadow.<br />
Running on Bram smiled as an idea how to get off the island came to him. Laughing with madness he went on to the beach to find his launching area and the way off the island.<br />
<br />
The memory of searing pain brought Bram back to consciousness. He sat up and screamed from the memory of being swallowed by an underwater volcano. With his burned eyes healed, Bram opened them and stared up at Angela who like every morning, was always there to taunt him.<br />
"Aren't you tired of all this yet?" She asked. "You could end your torment with a few simple easy words. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and it'll all be over."<br />
"Forgiveness?" Bram laughed as he climbed to his feet. "I'm not the one who should be asking for forgiveness. The world should be begging me for forgiveness. But it doesn't matter anyway. That was my last death here. I'm leaving today thinks to you."<br />
"Me?" She looked at him confused. "I have no intention of helping you leave here. And even if I wanted to help you, I couldn't. I don't rule here, Lord Nestor does."<br />
"Yes." Bram smiled raising his hand and fingering his ring. "Lord Nestor, lord of the Underworld and your father if I'm not mistaken."<br />
"So?" Angela took a step back. She didn't like the way Bram looked at her. He was up to something. "What would happen if you disappeared my lovely goddess of death? What would your father do to get you back?"<br />
"You have no power here Bram Thorn." Angela pulled her cloak close around her shoulders ready to be gone. "Get back to your punishment and threaten me no more!"<br />
"It's true I have no power in the Underworld." Bram raised his hand and pointed to Angela. "But I can do this!"<br />
With a wave of his hand he projected a shadow behind Angela. Without looking she stepped back and was swallowed into his dark abyss. Snapping his fingers, he closed the shadow as the death goddess fell screaming into the darkness.<br />
"Now we'll see what the life of a goddess is worth."<br />
<br />
With Angela missing, all death on Keanna stopped. Hunting became impossible, the animals didn't die. Executions didn't work and no one died of murder or accident. Nothing could die. It took Lord Nestor all of two hours before the constant line at the gates to the Underworld was empty. Seeing no one on line for judgement, the spirit gate keeper sent word to the palace to tell Nestor something was wrong.<br />
As Nestor wandered out through the outer gate, Zemos his chief justice came to meet him and stand at his side.<br />
"How is this possible?" He asked waving to the empty road that led into the living dimension. "How is it that no one has died in the last few "<br />
"I don't know my lord." Zemos said with fear in his eyes. "But this must be fixed. The world can not go on without death."<br />
"Without death?" These words rang something in Nestors heart. "Death. Where is my daughter? Where is Angela?"<br />
"I haven't seen her since she came in to make her morning visits." Zemos watched as fire crept into Nestor's eyes. "She should have returned by now. Could there be trouble?"<br />
"Bramble Thorn!" Nestor turned as flames began to surround him and leaped into the air and make his way to Shounda Island where the warlock waited for him.<br />
In less then two minutes, Lord Nestor ruler of the Underworld was hovering over the shores of Shounda Island all ablaze with hellfire..<br />
"BRAMBLE THORN, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!"<br />
"Aiya Lord Nestor." Bram called up to him. "I have been expecting you. Please come down and make yourself comfortable."<br />
Streaking down, Nestor landed with and explosion and towered over the lone warlock. Bram back up to keep from being burned by Nestor's fury.<br />
"Where is she?"<br />
"Somewhere safe that only I can bring her back from." Bram said as Nestor's heat became overwhelming. "You can search if you want, but you would be wasting yours and Angela's time and her sanity is in danger. You won't find her without me."<br />
"What is it you want." Nestor asked calmly.<br />
"I want my life back." Bram knew he had him. "I want my powers back and I want revenge against the ones that put me here."<br />
"And you think you know who put you here do you?" Nestor folded his arms across his chest. He hated having to give the warlock
what he wanted, but then maybe he could give him what he deserved.<br />
"You
want your life back?" Nestor's flame dissipated and he shrank down to normal size. "Granted. you free Angela and I'll give you a year to catch and kill who you think is responsible for your being in this hell. If you fail, you come right back here and your punishment goes on forever. Is it a deal?"<br />
"What
about my powers." Bram asked suspiciously. "Do I get them back?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Then
you have a deal." Bram waved his hand and opened the portal to darkness and
Angela fell out shivering to the ground. Nestor rushed to her side and held her in his arms to soothe her and assure her she was alright. Bram laughed as he watched the father and daughter. Nestor looked up at Bram.<br />
"Go
now before I change my mind." With a wave of his hand, Nestor made Bram
disappear.<br />
"Father."
Angela whispered. "You shouldn't have let him go."<br />
"He'll
be back." Nestor held her head to his chest. "You can count on it."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-64868656437221307212014-04-29T19:48:00.000-04:002019-11-02T18:37:00.427-04:00The Elements of Revenge. chapter I Book IV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMacxxC7czg/VA6_e1zRbYI/AAAAAAAAA2c/YFeu1cEhRfQ/s1600/Dark_Castle_II_by_JamesHillGallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMacxxC7czg/VA6_e1zRbYI/AAAAAAAAA2c/YFeu1cEhRfQ/s1600/Dark_Castle_II_by_JamesHillGallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a cold stormy night as Jandar and Rage dropped down out of the storm clouds over Heimdel castle. Their destination was a cave where the leaders and generals of many Keannian cities awaited them. As Rage flew closer to the cliffs, Jandar pointed to a cave where light seeped out from the entrance.<br />
[There.] He sent to his mate. Rage nodded and angled his wings to glide in that direction. In less than three minutes, the pair were walking in pass sentries who watch the hills for anything suspicious.<br />
The cave corridor was long with torches placed every twenty feet or so to light the way. At the end there was a large cavern where the meeting would be held and the nine waited for them. As they entered the great cavern, the nine talked quietly in small groups. When King Philibar of Pelordra saw them, he called for attention in the room.<br />
"Can everyone take a seat." He said. "It's time we begin."<br />
Taking Jandar's hand, Rage led him to the chairs beside the king, their honored place. At the tables head sat King Philibar Windstar of Pelordra the cloud city of the Sky Elves. Next to him on his left sat General Vibius Gauis Herkalus and Captain Manius Regulus Pius military leaders of Sorrowdown. Then Asam Arynn from the golden Phoenician city of Casthor. In his red and gold robes the Phoenix nodded a greeting to Jandar and Rage.<br />
Sitting quietly staring at everyone, Kranko Fearfist was next. He sat there looking annoyed in his dented armor decorated with small skulls and bones. On his head, he wore a long lock held tightly back with a rabbit skull. Being the only Goblin there, his hand never left the hilt of his knife. Beside him sat the representative of the Vampires. Tomz Acros. Jandar and Rage knew him very well from Yadessa's last battle with Lord Larin and Queen Talsara. It had been him who carried Tayor Larin's cursed object into Prafa to bring the city under their spell. Ever since the defeat of Lord Larin, Tomz had sworn to his king to be Yadessa's protector. And he had been doing a good job. When the Sorceress Raven attacked, it had been Tomz who went in and forced her out into the sunlight where she burned. He had also found and saved the young Vampires that had been taken by the hunters and brought them home. So now with Bram Thorn attacking all over the countryside. Tomz had taken it on as his job to stop him. So here he was at the table to discuss strategies on defeating the elemental warlock, Bramble Thorn.<br />
Next to Tomz looking snobbish and regal sat Eldar Mystwinter. Second to the throne of Mystwinter in the Halador forest. Eldar was a tall proud elf who usually did not like to associate with anyone but those of his forest people. But since his city had been captured by Talsara Darkshade, he had asked for help to free his people and was now indebted to those who fought and died to free Mystwinter. So here he was ready to lend a hand against the menace Thorn.<br />
The last two places at the table were held by Bly Sharpwing and Leda Redhelm. Bly Sharpwing of Ammath was one of the most dangerous types of fairies Jandar had ever seen. She was short in her human form, no more than five foot four inches with dark shadow features. Her skin had the dark hue of a plum with blazing red hair. Her eyes yellow slanted up in the corners and her fangs looked sharp giving her an evil visage. She had the slender figure of a fairy maiden with what looked to Jandar like razor-sharp fairy wings on her back. She wore a dark gray cloak and underneath a short dress covered with magical symbols. Jandar wasn't sure what type of fairy she was, but he could tell she was a warrior, and a deadly one. Next to her sitting high in her chair with a dagger in her hands cleaning her nails sat Leda Redhelm. A very muscular dwarven female. Dark hair and high browed with the looks of a woman who had fought her way through many many battles. She wore leather pants and a bodice breastplate with intricate small gems set in it. In front of her on the table sat her favorite weapon, a mace that Jandar could tell was worn from constant use.<br />
Here at this table sat the twelve convened for the express mission of decided what was to be done about a threat that had been raging in all their lands, Bram Thorn. As King Philibar stood and cleared his throat, the room grew quiet.<br />
"I have called you all here to discuss a monster that has been plaguing all our lands." Philibar gazed across the table at each of his guests. "Something must be done about Bram Thorn."<br />
Voices were raised all around the tables as their anger erupted around the room and people jumped to their feet.<br />
"That bastard came into Sorrowdown and burned half our city!" Vibius shouted. "Four schools and a whole section of the market place was lost! Do you know how many people died? Over two hundred burned. Fifty of the children!"<br />
"He flooded parts of our forest." Eldar slammed his fist into the table. "Nymphs, elves, and fauns drowned along with many elves. The trees will take years to heal. My people may starve while our magic is so badly weakened."<br />
"Be calm all of you!" Philibar held up his hand to quiet the shouting. "I am aware of all the things Bram's done in all our homes. I've heard about the mines he tore down and the dwarfs that were buried. And you, Kranko. His men hunted your people, killed your females. I know the horrors Bram cast on all of us. That's why we're here. To decide what to do about it."<br />
"This Bram sounds almost like Polan," Jandar whispered to Rage. "Should we get involved here?"<br />
[Bram Thorn is just as dangerous as Polan Dressek.] Tomz sent from his seat. [I'm surprised you aren't already involved. Valkar didn't tell you anything about the warlock?]<br />
[Valkar told us about this meet.] Rage told Tomz. [He said it was something we should attend. He never said why.]<br />
[Valkar sends his apology and asked me to explain everything to you.] Tomz looked deeply into Jandar and Rage's eyes. [There's a small village north of Prafa called Shadowbreak. It only houses about fifty vampires but they are loyal to the crown and someone in the village is close to a member of the Zlenka house.]<br />
[Is there a problem there?] Jandar asked.<br />
[Yes.] Tomz nodded. [The village is missing.]<br />
[Missing?] Rage sat forward-looking curious. [What do you mean? The people are missing?]<br />
[No. the whole village is gone.] He explained. [There's nothing there but a large hole in the ground. No cottages, no barns, nothing. Everything's gone.]<br />
Jandar looked at Rage. He knew it would take some great magic to do something like that. Not beyond him, but way beyond most warlocks and mages that he knew in the area. Could it be like when the Academy vanished?<br />
[Have you consulted Insa at the Academy?] Rage asked.<br />
[He told us of the troubles with Bram and advised we come to you.]<br />
[We'll do what we can.] Jandar agreed to help. [ Yadessa has had enough trouble in the last few years, we'll see what is to be done.]<br />
[Thank you.] Tomz sent to them.<br />
As Jandar and Rage turned their attention back to the meeting, Bly Sharpwing had just finished telling everyone about the troubles Bram had forced on her lands.<br />
"Like the Elves, my people's lives depend on magic." She explained. "Without magic, we weaken and will fade out of existence. We are elemental and Bram siphons the magic of all the elements when he works his magic."<br />
"I can work elemental magic to Bly," Jandar said. "All my brothers in our clan can. It's never hurt the nature of the fairy or the elves before. I don't understand."<br />
"As Dragons, you are part of nature." She said. "And your elemental powers don't take from nature like Bram. He's a destroyer, his magic isn't in harmony with nature, it goes against the principles of life as we know it. He must be stopped or many more will die."<br />
"We have another brother." Rage stood to address the group. "He's not a dragon or a werewolf or really even human. He's something different and if you agree to put this Bram in his hands once we catch him, the dragons will help. But we won't be a party to any posses or witch hunts. If you want our help, then you do this our way. "<br />
Rage pushed back his chair and he and Jandar walked to the entrance of the cavern.<br />
"We'll be out watching the storm. Call us when you have a decision."<br />
As Jandar and Rage left the room, it erupted into a chaotic conversation. Leda, Vibius, Manius, and Kanko wanted to refuse the dragon's help. They thought they had enough troops to move in and beat Bram on their own. But Asam,Tomz, Bly, and Philibar knew magic was not to be underestimated. They might have enough force to storm the castle, but what happens when Bram fights back? Do they have the magic to defeat him without the Dragons? So far elven magic, fairy magic, not even Phoenician magic had worked. Maybe the Dragons were what they needed.<br />
<br />
Outside on the balcony, Jandar and Rage watched as the lightning flashed through the stormy skies. Fierce winds whipped Jandar's cloak making it wave like some majestic flag. Rage walking up behind Jandar and enclosed him in his arms and kissing his neck.<br />
"What's on your mind?"<br />
"Just a feeling." Jandar leaned back into him. "I don't think this will be as easy as we think."<br />
"At least we don't have a war to fight this time."<br />
"Not yet we don't." He said. "And right now is not the time for us to be involved in a war. Shayn and Ono are away visiting their friends from Pentanthin and Quynn are just beginning to shift. Ranjer makes a great sitter but he's going to need our attention now more than ever."<br />
"I know love." Jandar squeezed his hand. "Maybe this Bram thing won't be as bad as they're all saying."<br />
"I hope not."<br />
Just then a guard came out to tell them the decision had been made. Pulling his cloak tight around him, Jandar led Rage, hand in hand back in to find out what the council's decision would be.<br />
<br />
As Vibius Herkalus, Manius Regulus, Leda Redhelm and Kranko Fearfist sat at the foot of the mountain and watched the others fly off, Vibius turned to the others with a frown.<br />
"This isn't right." He said. "Bram destroyed half our city and I'm supposed to just hand him over to them for judgment? I can't do that."<br />
"The Emperor won't like it." Manius agreed. "He'll want to have a chance to sentence him for his crimes."<br />
"I don't care about your stupid king thing." Kranko spits to the side. "I want to crush him. I want his ears hanging on a string around my neck! I wanna chew his bone!!"<br />
"Then it's settled?" Leda stopped her horse in front of the others. "We take Bram once he's defeated. We show him our brand of justice."<br />
"Agreed." Vibius nodded looking to the others. "The Dragons can have what's left after we're done."<br />
"I will see you all in two days when we storm his castle." Leda kicked her horse into moving. "May the gods be with us."<br />
<br />
"No!" Bram screamed. "That's not what I wanted from you at all!! Your father's crown is what you were supposed to return with. Without it, I'll have no control over anything in Fay Shrea! Why can't my own wife do a simple task I set before her? Is that too much to ask?"<br />
"I tried." Jameld Thorn cried as Bram raged through the room throwing everything he could grab. "Getting in and out of the Hollow isn't so easy. My father doesn't trust us anymore."<br />
"Then make him trust you!" He turned and faced his beautiful wife. "You have charms, use them on him!"<br />
"It's not that simple my husband."Jameld moved closer and put her hand on his over the five rings on his right hand. "Father thinks I'm dead. He ignores me when I visit the Hollow. He ordered everyone to ignore my presence, it's like I don't exist to him anymore. I can't get near the crown jewels."<br />
"Your father is a Fool!" Bram pushed his hand away from him. "Very well. If he won't give me the crown, we'll just have to take it! I'll take everything he has and grind it into the ground right before I bury him alive! I was going to spare his kingdom of any more pain, but I think not. I think I'm going to make him wish he never got in the way of Bram Thorne!!"<br />
<br />
As his mad laughter rang out, his emotions forced the storm outside to a fever pitch. Thunder and lightning crashed into the trees and hills outside Heimdel castle setting off small fires in the forest. Just inside the line of trees, nine men and one dwarven female waited for their fairy spy to return from her reconnaissance mission.<br />
Her task had been to check Heimdel castle to find out what kind of forces Bram had there to back him up. If there were troops, how many and where were they stationed. Were there guards at the gates? Was the castle's barracks full of fighting men asleep or awake. Where there and innocents in the castle being held captive. If there were troops, Vibius and Manius were to lead the assault once Jandar and the others had Bram engage in a mystical battle. If not, there's would be the task of taking Bram into custody once they had him overwhelmed with magic. There were many variables to be checked and Jandar and Rage insisted everything be done right to keep everyone as safe as possible.<br />
"The night air is hard on these warrior's bones," Vibius said pulling his cloak tighter around him. "I wonder what takes the fairy so long?"<br />
"Heimdel castle is no small cottage." Rage said from his place next to Jandar. "There are many halls and rooms to be checked. We don't want to charge in to find and army at our backs do we?"<br />
"I don't think the mad warlock could have an army there with him," Manius said. "He's way too paranoid. He doesn't trust anyone to work for him."<br />
"There are other types of troops a warlock can command that trust wouldn't be an issue you know." Tomz pointed out. "Bram has magic which means he can do almost anything he wants. What's to stop him from building his army from a stone? It is possible."<br />
That thought shut Manius up and sent a chill through his bones. As an elemental, he could create an army of fire and send it against them. Manius prayed Bram wasn't that imaginative or this might turn out to be much harder then they thought.<br />
As they talked quietly, a small magical light appeared from out of the forest and started towards them.<br />
"She comes." Asam pointed. Like a star falling from the sky, Bly sailed on over the forest through the storm. The closer she got to the group, the brighter her light shined until she was right over them. Swirling down, she gently came down to light on Jandar's shoulder. Folding her wings to her back, she shook the few drops of rain off and started her report.<br />
"I went from room to room searching for any soldiers he might have hidden and found nothing. Bram is in the main study raging furiously. We won't need any troops to attack him."<br />
"No troops?" Rage asked. "But doesn't that mean he's alone? Who's he raging at?"<br />
"He screams about my father." Bly told them.<br />
"Your father?" Jandar held up his hand for her to settle on. "I don't understand. What's he got against Valerian Sharpwing?"<br />
Bly looked away not wanting to answer. Jandar looked at each of them one by one for an answer. No one spoke up.<br />
"Ok, Bly." Jandar lifted her up to look closely at her. "What is it? There's something you're not telling us. Out with it."<br />
"Bram may not be alone in there."<br />
"Fine." Rage walked over to stand with Jandar. "Who's in there with him?"<br />
"His wife."<br />
"His wife?" Rage stepped back surprised. "Bram's married? Are you sure she's in there?"<br />
"She has to be there." Bly insisted. "He never goes anywhere without them."<br />
"Wait, them? Who else is in there?"<br />
"Their daughter Mya."<br />
"Tomz!" Rage grabbed him by the shoulder. "Did you know about this? Why didn't you tell us?"<br />
"We didn't know." Tomz had a look of surprise on his face. He obviously didn't know his enemy as well as he should.<br />
I'm going in to get them out." Jandar started towards the castle.<br />
"Wait!" Bly buzzed around and hovered in front of him. "Let me go. I can get them out."<br />
"No." Jandar shoed her away. "Its to risky. You might get hurt."<br />
"I don't care.!" Bly screamed as she flew up to confront Jandar. "This is my responsibility. It's my fault. I have to get them out!"<br />
"Why?"<br />
"BECAUSE SHE'S MY SISTER!!"<br />
Jandar stopped and turned back to find Bly there in here normal larger form with tears flowing from her eyes.<br />
"It's my fault he has her." She cried. "I was supposed to protect her, but he caught me off guard and took her away. We searched but by the time we found them, he was too powerful for me. Jameld was already with his child. Now I have to get her out and away from that monster!"<br />
Reaching out, Jandar took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. He knew she was right. She had to be the one to free her sister. Jameld would never trust anyone else.<br />
"Are you sure you can find them?" Rage asked.<br />
"I will get them out." She wiped her tears. "I have too."<br />
"Go." Jandar smiled. "We'll give you half an hour before we attack. Get them out while we hold Bram in battle."<br />
"Thank you." In a flash she shifted back to fairy size and shot off into the darkness.<br />
"We wait thirty minutes then we move in." Jandar explained. "Asam and I will go in first to get his attention. Once we have him engaged, Rage will wait and attack only if we need him. Eldar and Philibar will wait just in case we need the extra magic."<br />
"What about us?" Vibius asked. "What are we doing?"<br />
"You're going to sneak in and take him once we have him in binds and powerless." Jandar looked at Rage. "Ready?"<br />
"Call me when your ready for me Love." Rage kissed Jandar then ran off into the storm.<br />
"Twenty minutes and we go."<br />
<br />
Madness ruled Bram Thorn's mind as he paced back and forth across his study floor. His anger was out of control as a voice he knew to be one of his five masters screamed in his head.<br />
[What do you think your doing? You can't possibly think you can beat Valerian Sharpwing? His magic is beyond your understanding.]<br />
[Your a foolish boy who never could do anything right.] Another said.<br />
[Just give up.] A third voice snickered. [Defeat is all you'll ever know.]<br />
Bram grabbed his head pressing his hands to his ears to silence the voices. But they wouldn't stop. They rambled on and on and on.<br />
[Listen to me boy. Kill yourself.] A fourth huskier voice laughed. [It's all you are good for!!]<br />
"NO." He sent a bolt of lightning from his hand at the table blowing it to bits. "I am Bram Thorn! The greatest elemental ever born! I beat all of you! No one can defeat me!!" <br />
[We'll see.] The fifth voice was female. [We'll see who defeats who. Right now outside they're lining up to come in here and put you in your place. What will you do now?]<br />
Bram's eyes darted from corner to corner as his mad mind raced for an answer.<br />
"Fight!" He ran to the window and threw it open. "Yes I'll fight all of you! And I'll win too! None of you can beat me!! Hahaha ha ha ha!!!!"<br />
He raised his fist and sent bolt after bolt out into the darkness. "Come if you dare! I'm ready, I'll kill you all!!"<br />
<br />
Moving with amazing speed, Bly went from room to room searching for her sister and the baby. She started on the first floor checking the dark kitchens and stables. From there she went to the servant quarters and first floor guest rooms. She checked dining halls and the armory, the larder and the throne room. No Jamerld. Finding a stairwell she went higher into the castle. On the second floor, she found the royal bedrooms of the royal family and more guest quarters for higher-ranked guests. The library and offices of the kings advisers and the head of the guards were in one section and still she hadn't found any sign of Jamerld anywhere.<br />
As she turned a corner, Bly could hear the ravings of the mad warlock. Time was running out. She had found Bram but her sisters whereabouts were still a mystery.<br />
There were still two possibilities left. She could be locked in one of the towers of the castle or she could be in a cell somewhere in the dungeons. Bly didn't have time to check them both. She had to pick one and hope she had the right area and Jamerld and the baby would be there waiting.<br />
<br />
With lightning raining out from the castle window, Jandar called for his staff and signaled the others it was time to move. Closing his eyes, Jandar reached inside himself and called upon his magic to surround and protect him. As Jandar and Asam stepped out and rose into the night sky, a golden glow spread out from Jandar's body making him light and airborne. Beside him, opening his cloak, Asam threw himself into the air. Flames erupted all around him setting him in the center of a phoenix made of flame. With wings of fire, Asam followed the glowing mage high over the castle. Once there, Jandar raised his staff and roared out his challenge to Bram.<br />
<br />
"HEAR ME BRAMBLE TIBERIUS THORN, ELEMENTAL WARLOCK BANISHED SON OF SORROWDOWN. FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF KEANNA. WE ARE HERE TO BIND YOUR POWERS AND TAKE YOU INTO CUSTODY. WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAY IN YOUR DEFENSE?"<br />
A blue streak of lightning cracked from the castle window and sped up into the sky towards Jandar and Asam barely missing them. Behind it Bram, surrounded by a mystical blue glow, rose up to meet them.<br />
"I say power gives me the right to do anything I want!" His gray jet black hair waved in the storms mighty winds as his mad eyes glared to Jandar and Asam. "You call me a weak incompetent fool unable to cast a spell correctly! I'll show you who's incompetent!!"<br />
With clenched fist, Bram swung his arm out at the pair. Lightning blasted out of the clouds and struck Jandar like a hammer knocking him back. Rolling away, he quickly recovered and sent his own blast at Bram which he easily shrugged off. With a loud squawk, Asam sent a series of fireballs out at Bram which he batted away while laughing hysterically.<br />
"Is that what you call magic?" Spittle sprayed from Bram's mouth. "How's this?"<br />
He swept his arm up. From below, two huge boulders sprang from the ground and like missiles, flew at Jandar and Asam.<br />
Closing his wings, Asam waited for the last possible second, then swept them open sending heat vibrating out to crash into the one coming at him shattering it into dust that rained back towards the ground.<br />
With a wave of his hand, Jandar made the missile aimed at him completely intangible and let it pass right through him. As he reached out, he collected the dust and debris from Asam's boulder and formed it back into three smaller rocks and tossed them right back at Bram.<br />
<br />
From below, Philibar, Eldar, Leda, Tomz, Vibius, Manius and Kranko watched the magical battle as it flashed through the sky. Every spell sent was countered and defected causing awe in the unmagical watchers. Philibar and Eldar chatted on the side about different types of attacks and what they could do if the battle came their way.<br />
"And you thought a simple attack by force would have caught him." Eldar laughed. "Bram is way beyond force now. Sorrowdowns whole army couldn't stand a chance against him."<br />
"But four warriors just might be able to surprised him at a weakened moment." Vibius nodded to Manius, Leda and Kranko. "You three, follow me."<br />
"Where are you going?" Tomz asked.<br />
"To do what we were told to do."<br />
Climbing on their horses, the four rode off towards castle Heimdel. Behind them, Philibar, Eldar, and Tomz watched as they rode off.<br />
"Why do I get the feeling something stupid is about to happen? Tomz asked.<br />
<br />
"I know why your here!" Bram screamed as blue energy surged from his hands at Jandar and Asam. "Your here for my rings! You want my power, you always did. Well you can't have it! It's mine!"<br />
[What in Rimnar's name is he talking about?] Asam forced his shield into a better position to deflect the blasts.<br />
[I have no idea.] Jandar sent. [He's been rambling nonsense ever since the battle started. We have to find a weak point then I can call Rage in.]<br />
[Be ready. I'm going to try something.]<br />
Folding his wings, Asam went into a dive. His flames burned brighter as more air was fed into the fire. With a quick-shifting of his weight he turned and flew straight at Bram. Bram screamed and hammered him with his blue bolts. Taking the blows on his wings, Asam pulled up and at the last minute brought his tail flames up and smacked Bram right out of the sky.<br />
<br />
As Bly reached the top of the tower stairs, she stood in front of a huge door. Shifting to her larger form, she reached out and grabbed the doorknob and turned it. As the door creaked open, a foul smell came out of the room and choked the breath from Bly. It was a horrible smell that once you smell, you never forget. It was the smell of death. As Bly pushed open the door, she noticed she was in a sparsely furnished room. There was only a bed in the room with something in it. It looked like someone was sleeping. Quietly Bly floated over to the bed praying she didn't just found who she had come looking for. Reaching out she grabbed the sheet and pulled it back. As she gazed down at the bodies in the bed, her heart screamed out in horror. Just then something huge came crashing through the roof and tore through the room. Without even thinking Bly shifted to fairy and took off dodging bricks, lumber, and debris. She didn't stop to even think about what she had seen until she was clear of the castle.<br />
<br />
As Bram crashed through the floor of the tower, He twisted and came down flat on his stomach stunned. It took him only seconds to recover, but by then, Jandar and Asam had dropped down lower over the hole in the ceiling and were ready with the binding spell. From high above they began to chant.<br />
<br />
POWERS OF EARTH.<br />
POWERS OF WIND.<br />
POWERS OF FIRE AND SEA.<br />
WE STRIP THESE POWERS FROM THEE.<br />
NO LONGER WILL THE WIND BLOW.<br />
OR THE EARTH MOVE, WATER FLOW<br />
OR FIRE BURN FOR THEE.<br />
WE BIND THE ELEMENTS<br />
AWAY FROM THEE.<br />
<br />
As Bram screamed his outrage, eight rings slipped off his fingers and rolled away from him. With great effort, he climbed to his feet and turned to grab for his rings. Just then, the door to his study was kicked open and Vibius, Manius, Leda and Kranko rushed in with sword in hand. As Bram stepped back, the four dived at him and started stabbing down into his body. Blood rained all over the room as the mad warlock screamed and fell to the floor.<br />
"This is not over!" He screamed. "Even death can not hold me! I will be back, and I will make you all pay. I will make your children pay! So swears Bramble Tiberius Thorne!"<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-42383809501761222732012-08-08T06:36:00.001-04:002019-11-02T18:38:34.413-04:00Call out to my Readers.If you have read this story please let me know. I want to know what you think. I'm new at this and just want some feedback. Thank you.
message me at lyricalpoet05@gmail.com please respond. Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-36065871223005866812010-10-26T21:18:00.000-04:002016-02-18T01:17:49.181-05:00Epilogue. A New Goddess is Born. 70<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RdzLlB2MJgs/TMeerKGTpcI/AAAAAAAAALo/gkCDfcJIOIo/s1600/Angela2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532565131530315202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RdzLlB2MJgs/TMeerKGTpcI/AAAAAAAAALo/gkCDfcJIOIo/s200/Angela2.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 146px;" /></a> The sun rose bright and shining on the Wolves Lair as the dragons brought the Tyr family back home. All the carnage from the day before had been cleaned up and Tof had decided to keep the wall Dreik had built. The pits were filled in burying the remainders of the warriors. Things were finally back to normal. The only thing left to do was to start the repairs on Yadessa. Winterhaven, Tir Na and New Keanna had promised to give Valkar and his people all the help they needed to fix their homes. Drake was still lost in himself worrying about Ono. He just couldn't find his way out his private hell. His only hope was to find his pup. And that Jandar would do if it killed him.<br />
<br />
Down in the underworld Angela was finally going to meet her father. She had been allowed entry along with Athene, Tanis, Arturus and Adam for a private ceremony. She had no idea what it was for, she was just glad to have her family together at last.<br />
" The underworld!" Tanis said as they walked up the stairs of Nestor's palace. " It's not as creepy as I expected."<br />
" Well that's because this is considered heaven." Athene told him. " Mother, what are we doing her?"<br />
" Your grandmother asked us to come." She told them. " Your going to meet your grandfather."<br />
" Wait." Tanis stopped. " Grandmother is the goddess of the moon, right? Well who's grandfather?"<br />
They all stopped and looked at Angela and waited for her answer. She looked at them and smiled.<br />
" Your grandfather is Nestor, Lord of the Underworld." She waited for their reaction.<br />
" Your serious?" Athene looked deep into her mothers eyes.<br />
" Yes I am." She said. " Now your on your best behavior. All of you."<br />
Angela walked into the palace in the lead followed by her children, then Arturus and Adam. Trumpets began to sound as the approached the main room. All along the hall spirits dressed in dark tunics and trousers with gold lapels and buttons stood at attention. At the end of the hall they came into a grand hall filled with marble statuary of heroes and different gods. Sitting in two thrones backed by Aramis, Atol, Alee Karis and Jax sat Alea and her husband Lord Nestor.<br />
Angela bowed before the thrones. Adam, Arturus and her children followed suit.<br />
" Step forward and be recognized. my daughter" Nestor called to her. Angela stood and walked forward and stopped and bowed again. Alea and Nestor stood and stepped down form their thrones and stood next to their daughter, then bowed with her.<br />
Angela wondered what was going on. Why were they knelling beside her? Suddenly a light began to glow over the thrones. Angela felt the change in the atmosphere. She was in the presents of something much more powerful that Aramis or Alea.<br />
RISE ALEA AND NESTOR. Thundered through the grand hall. IS THIS OUR GRANDDAUGHTER? SHE WHO SENT BALTHAZAR GAELICH TO HIS FINAL REST?<br />
" Yes father." Alea said. " This is her."<br />
WE ARE PLEASE TO MEET YOU GRAND DAUGHTER. She heard. STAND BEFORE US.<br />
Angela climbed to her feet with the help of her father and stood before her grandparent, Rimnar and Saila.<br />
(You are as beautiful as you mother.) Saila said. ( Do you know why you are here?)<br />
" No." She answered. " I don't."<br />
DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE? Rimnar asked.<br />
" Rimnar and Saila." She said.<br />
ANGELA GAELICH Rimnar called to her. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE ON THE MANTLE OF A GODDESS?<br />
She looked at her mother for advice. Alea nodded at he. She was happy her daughter had been asked to take this position.<br />
" Yes."<br />
She said. " I will accept the mantle."<br />
THEN BOW BEFORE US. Rimnar's orb began to glow much brighter. WE GIVE TO YOU THIS POWER OVER DEATH. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL BE ABSORBED BE DEATH LIKE MUERTE. BUT THAT YOU WILL RULE DEATH WITH YOUR FATHER.<br />
A glowing orb split off from Rimnar and settled over Angela.<br />
RISE ANGELA AND TOUCH THE ORB.<br />
Angela stood up and reached out. the orb settled down into her hand and flashed out to cover her. When the blinding glow dimmed, Angela stood there looking radiant. Her hair was no longer white. All the lines in her face cleared and she looked years younger. She smiled at them all.<br />
BEHOLD. Rimnar announced. WELCOME ANGELA, GODDESS OF DEATH!!<br />
( Welcome granddaughter) Saila and Rimnar began to fade. ( We are pleased.)<br />
<br />
The next day back in New Keanna, Jax appeared in Jandar and Rages study with Karis.<br />
" Jandar." Jax walked over and sat with the worried mage. " This is my brother Karis. He is the messenger of my father. He has access to many different realms. My father has granted us permission to search for Ono and Shayn."<br />
" Thank you." Jandar grasped his hand and shook it.<br />
" Don't worry my friend." Karis smiled at him. " We'll find them. No matter where we have to search."<br />
" And we'll bring them home." Jax said. " I promise."<br />
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THE END.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650882378863578020.post-82643632901236764372010-10-24T00:23:00.001-04:002019-09-22T18:54:57.573-04:00Death of a Goddess. 69<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RdzLlB2MJgs/TMRPEMlbe3I/AAAAAAAAALg/wAAlGOwdVtY/s1600/muerte+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531633175834098546" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RdzLlB2MJgs/TMRPEMlbe3I/AAAAAAAAALg/wAAlGOwdVtY/s200/muerte+2.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 122px;" /></a> <b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">Muerte sat high on Balthazar's throne In deep contemplation. The invasion of the Wolves Lair had failed miserably. Sure, a few werewolves and vampires had died. And Valkar had been injured, but not one dragon had died. None had even been hurt. But there was still the night walkers, they may still do the job. Balthazar had sent all he created at the Lair. The only problem was, she couldn't see the outcome. She slammed her fist down on the arm of the throne and broke it off. These dragons were going to die if she had to kill them herself, one by one. She got up from the ruined throne and called for someone to attend her. One of Balthazar's staff came in and dropped down to his knees bowing before her.<br />" You called My Lady?" His eyes never rose from the floor to face her.<br />"Yes. I did." She grabbed the man from the floor her eyes blazing and her fangs extended.<br />" Mercy my lady!" He cried in fear as she raised him to her mouth.<br />" Mercy?" She said. " This is mercy!"<br />And she tore into his throat and drank replenishing her strength with his life force. The vampire struggled against her to no avail. Soon his body went limp and she dropped him to the floor. She had things to do, like prepare for the arrival of her guest. They would be here soon to rescue their mother. She smiled as she tossed the dead body on the pile of her other victims in the corner.This would be the end of everything she had planned. Once she took the moon goddess's daughters life and her children, she would have all the power she needed to end the lived of everyone in the world. Including the dragons. Once that was done, it was on to the other gods. Her brothers and sisters and her parents the High gods. That thought brought a smile to her bloody lips. Muerte looked over to the altar where Angela lay confined. She walked over and smiled down at her.<br />" Don't my little moonling." She walked around the altar." They'll be here soon and all this will be over. For everyone."<br />" Your plan won't work." Angela spat at her. " They'll stop you."<br />" Who? Your children?" She laughed. " You think they could possibly have the power to stop me?"<br />" They won't be alone." Angela struggled against her magical bond without any success.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" You expect the dragons to come running to your aid don't you." Muerte leaned down and stroked her hair. " I think they'll be a little busy licking their wounds."<br />" What do you mean?" She stop her struggling and looked up at her enemy. Muerte turned to the door.<br />" BALTHAZAR!!"<br />Slowly walking into the throne room, Balthazar avoided looking at his goddess. Like all the others he kept his eyes lowered until he was reached the altar.Then he went to his knees before her.<br />" Yes Mistress?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" She wants to know why the dragons won't be coming to save her." Muerte walked back to the throne. " Tell her."<br />" I've sent my entire army of warriors and night walkers against them." He told his wife. " They should be overwhelmed by now. Maybe even dead."<br />" No!" Angela cried. " This can't be!!"<br />" Ah but it is." The death goddess said. " And news of the final outcome should be here soon. As will your children."<br />Angela couldn't believe any of this to be true. The dragons can't be dead. What of her mother? What of the father she had yet to meet. She had to stop Athene and Tanis from coming here and throwing their lives away. She closed her eyes and called out to them.<br />[ Athene! Tanis!] She sent with all her might. [ Stay away! Don't come here! They will kill you!]<br />[ We come mother.] Came back to her. [ We'll save you!]</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">[NOOOOOOOOO!!!!] She screamed in her mind. But the contact was broke and they were gone. Muerte had blocked her from contacting anyone else.<br />" Their close." She said. " I can feel them. Can't you Balthazar my sweet. Your children are coming."<br />Turning to her husband. Angela pleaded with him to stop this before it was to late for any of them.<br />" Balthazar." She called him. " These are your children. You raised Tanis yourself. Doesn't his life mean anything to you? Stop her. Save our children I beg of you!!"<br />Balthazar walked over to the altar and looked at his wife bound there. He still thought she was so beautiful. But that didn't matter. Muerte would give him all the power he deserved. She would make him her consort and a god like her. Angela and the children were the price of his godhood. A price he was glad to pay. They meant nothing compared to that.<br />" You are nothing to me." He said as he slapped her face. " She is my goddess. She is my life now and she wants yours. And that, I'm happy to give."<br /><br />Across the lake from the castle high on the cliff. Two lone figures stood. They were on a mission to free someone very important to them from the hands of the mad goddess and her minion Balthazar. they looked at each one last time. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" Ready?" Tanis said.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" Yes." His sister answered.<br />They spread their arms and shifted to her raven and his hawk and took off toward the castle.it didn't take them long to get there. No more then a few minutes and they were settled in the throne rooms open window watching their enemy. Muerte sat on her throne while Balthazar. stood beside her.<br />" You can come down now." Muerte called. " I know your there."<br />Launching themselves into the room they flew down and shifted back to their selves and stood by their mother at the altar.<br />" Free her." Tanis told them. " You have us. Free our mother."<br />" But I want you all." Muerte said smiling at them. " I think a family should die together. Don't you Balthazar?"</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" if that is your wish Mistress." He looked at his family with contempt.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" It my wish." She stood and stepped down from her broken throne. " You three will give me the power to carry out my plans."<br />" And what is that?" Athene asked.<br />" Why to go on my death walk and spread death to everyone on Keanna." She said. " Sweet death , dark oblivion for everyone."<br />" Your mad." Tanis shouted. " We can't let you do this."<br />" But how will you stop me?" She laughed. " Your insects compared to me. A goddess. What can you do?"</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" This." Tanis said as he brought his hand together in a thunderous clap. The air shimmered around them and their images faded. Where Tanis and Athene once stood, now stood Aramis and Alea. Muerte stepped back in shock at seeing her sister and her husband standing there. " Surprised to see us? You were expecting two helpless kids to destroy weren't you? Well that's not going to happen."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Alea walked over to her daughter and touched her bindings and they snapped and disappeared. She climbed off the table and hugged her mother.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" Where are Athene and Tanis?" She asked. " Are they safe?"<br />" Yes they are." Alea told her. " They're in New Keanna."<br />" And the dragons?"<br />" They're all fine." Aramis said. " You failed Muerte. All your warriors and night walkers are dead. There's nothing left but the two of you."<br />" Then I'll start all over again." Muerte fumed,her anger showed in her glowing eyes. " Death will prevail."<br />" I'm afraid not my wife." Aramis pulled Hazard from behind his back, the flames bellowing out. " This is the end. I can't let you go any further."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Muerte's face showed her shock as she saw Hazard in his hand. Selena's death blade.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" KILL THEM!!" She screamed at Balthazar and pushed him forward toward Aramis.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" NO!!" Angela shouted. " He's mine!"<br />She stepped out to face her husband. Her hands began to glow with power as her anger grew.<br />" You thought to sacrifice our children to your death bitch. You imprisoned me for over twenty years denying me my freedom." Her hands formed glowing blades from her magic. " You will join her in death."<br />Balthazar had that wicked grin on his face. He stepped out to confront his wife and held out his hands to flex his claws. It looked like six inch knives extending from his fingers. He looked up from his claws into Angela's eyes.<br />" I'm going to enjoy this." He began circling around her.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" Not as much as I will." She sneered at him<br />Balthazar charged at her swinging out to slash at her face. Angela ducked and sent a sweeping kick into his mid section that knocked the air out of him and doubled him over.<br />"You thought I would be an easy target didn't you." She said as he stood back up. " Guess again."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Balthazar summoned a power ball and threw it at her then came in and to grab her. She swung her glowing hand out and batted the power ball away and spun on her heels avoiding his reach. Quickly she sent her elbow into the back of his neck and sent him sprawling to the floor. Balthazar howled his rage and jumped to his feet. How could this weak witch be beating him?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Enraged, Balthazar started sending blast after blast of red bolts at her. Quickly Angela created a shield in front of her to reflect his magic away her her.<br />" Is this the best the mighty Balthazar can do?" She laughed and sent her own back at him. Red and blue blasts streak across the throne room. Balthazar tried raising his own shields, but her blasts were to strong and tore it down. He couldn't believe how powerful she had become. Fear of losing was now beginning to creep into his mind. Balthazar looked to Muerte for help, but she had her own problems to deal with. He was on his own and probably doomed.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Muerte took her place back on the throne as Aramis and Alea came to stand in front of her. Her beautiful hair flowing and framing her lovely face. Aramis could tell she was pumping herself up to be as alluring as she could be to him. Her smile told him she thought it was working.<br />" You never could resist me my husband." She said seductively. " Even after I had destroyed thousands in some useless war or catastrophe. You've always been so forgiving of me."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" Maybe he has." Alea said stepping in front of Aramis to block whatever magic she was casting on him. "But I haven't. And neither has mother or father. They always saw you for the monster you are."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">" You mean the monster you made me!!" Muerte stood and screamed back at her. " You did this to me!!"<br />" No!" Alea said. " This is you and always has been. A destroyer! A taker of life and anything you wanted without care for those you took it from. Death doesn't mean you go out and kill. It comes to all these mortals and some of us immortals when the time is right. But you couldn't let things happen naturally could you. You had to bring your death to everyone you could, didn't you!</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Well not anymore!!"<br />" ENOUGH!!" Aramis thundered. " I'm taking us home where this will end. Home to Fortis!!"<br />In a flash of light the three gods disappeared leaving Angela and Balthazar to finish there battle without them. Angela knew her mother would be back once there battle was over. Now all she need to worry about, was Balthazar, and he would get what was coming to him.<br /><br />" Your goddess has abandoned you." Angela stared at him smugly. "Everything you planned and hoped for is gone."</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" There's always your death to look forward to." He moved toward her raising his claws ready to continue their fight. She smiled and waved him on. She raised her glowing hand. Balthazar hissed and rushed at her slashing wildly. He connected and slashed across her chest. She bought her hand up and stabbed him in his shoulder. He howled and pulled back. Quickly she kicked out and hit him in the face knocking him flat on his back. In a flash she jumped on him stabbing down for his chest. He raised his hands and sent a blast at her to end the battle. Angela crossed her power blades in front of her and blocked it but still fell forward at him. As she fell she stabbed down and sent the blades into his chest.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">"Nooooooooo!!!!" He screamed as she stabbed down again and again and again.<br />" You will never threaten our children again!!"<br /> With a swift slashed at his neck, she decapitated him and his head rolled away from his body and burst into flames. Angela climbed to her feet and walked from the room as his body burned to ashes and blew away.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">The gleaming city of Fortis, home of the god was once a wonderful beautiful place before Muerte returned. Now it was just a blazing star in the night sky. But in the center of that star Rimnar's palace still stood free of the burning flame that surrounded it. Until now no one but the mighty god and his mate could enter it. But that was about to change.<br />In a flash of magic and light, three gods appeared in the center garden of Rimnar's palace before the two throne. Alea and Aramis bowed to the thrones and the glowing orbs that sat in them in respect of their parents. Muerte spit at them. Thunder rolled as her expectorant hit the ground.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" Rumble all you want old ones." She called out. " You have no power over me!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">I HAVE POWER OVER ALL. Thundered the high god. YOU FORGET YOUR PLACE!<br />" I forget nothing!" She said. " Even you must bow before death!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">WE SHALL SEE BOLD ONE. Aramis and Alea had never heard their father so anger before. He was the most forgiving of gods, but not now. He had reached his limit.<br />WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO REPENT FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS, DAUGHTER.<br />" Or what?" She laughed. " You'll banish me again? Remove my power? We both know I'll find a way to get it back, don't we."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">SILENCE!! Thunder and lightning crashed overhead. IS THAT YOUR ANSWER?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" This is my answer!" She raised her hand and sent a blast of dark energy at the thrones.<br />HA! HA! HA! HA!. Laughter echoed through out the halls. YOU THINK TO CHALLENGE ME? SO BE IT!! ARAMIS, ALEA. CHOOSE WHICH ONE OF YOU SHALL BE OUR CHAMPION.<br />" Father." Aramis called to him. " Is there no other way?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" You plead for me husband." Muerte smiled. " How sweet of you. Why don't you just come and enjoy my embrace of death."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">Alea looked at Muerte with such disgust. As Aramis begged for her life she thought only to end his. She had had enough.<br />" It will be me, Father." Alea walked to Aramis and put her hand on his shoulder. " Give me Hazard." </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">Sadly he handed her the now quiet scimitar. Soon as it was in Alea's hand it burst into flame ready for a fight.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" Come sister." Muerte said as she conjured her own blade. " The moon shall glow red with your blood tonight."<br />"Maybe witch!" Alea said. " Maybe not."<br />In an instant Muerte charged at her opponent swinging her sword for her head. Alea brought Hazard up to counter it and the swords met with a clash of sparks. Spinning around quickly, Muerte tried to slash at her mid section. Hazard moved with anticipation of ever move Muerte tried. It was like the blade had a mind of it's own. What she didn't know was that it did. Hazard was the perfect weapon. As long as Alea had the will to fight, it would fight almost for her. As fast as she could, Muerte reached out to touch her and send death in to the moon goddess. Pulling back, she sent her fist into Muerte's face for two quick blows. Muerte backed up shocked that anyone would dare hit her like that. Angry from the assault, Muerte stabbed at her then bought her sword up in a upward slash trying to disembowel her. Alea jumped back avoiding the strike. Pushing on at Alea, she swung her sword like a bat trying to bring her down. Ducking beneath a blow, Alea kicked out and connected with her knee. Down she fell to the floor of the palace. With another swift kick to Muerte's chest, the death goddess screamed out and dropped her blade. Alea looked at her evil sister laying there on the floor defeated. This was her chance to be rid of her. She raised Hazard for the final blow but could do it.<br />" Its done." She said lowering her blade and turning to the throne. " It's in you hands now Father."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" Not quite." Muerte grabbed her sword from the ground and rushed at Alea.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" ALEA!!" Aramis jumped to stop Muerte. Alea turned and sent Hazard into Muerte's chest. Muerte dropped her sword and staggered back. She couldn't believe what she saw extending from her chest. She looked at Aramis, then up to the thrones.<br />" Father?" She cried." Mother?"<br />She fell to the floor her life slipping away. Aramis went to her and bent to hold her as she began to slip away.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">"I'm sorry love." He said. " I didn't what this."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">She reached up to touch his face tears running from her eyes. He took her hand.<br />" Forgive me?" She whispered.<br />" I do my Love." He bent down to kiss her lips. She smiled it him and died in his arms. It was over. Alea went to her brother weeping and knelt at his side.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 130%;">" I'm sorry." Alea said. " She gave me no choice."<br />" I know Alea." He smiled. " This was her destiny."<br />GRIEVE FOR HER MY CHILDREN. Rimnar said. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. IT WAS HER DESTINY. NOTHING COULD CHANGE THAT.<br />Aramis and Alea stood and stepped away from her body as Rimnar lifted it up and sent it into the heaven.<br />LOOK UP. He said as he placed her in the sky as a group of stars that resemble her in all her glory. SHE IS AT PEACE NOW. FINALLY SHE CAN REST. YOU WILL FOREVER FIND HER THERE.<br />" Thank you Father for honoring her." Aramis bowed to the throne.<br />SHE WAS MY CHILD TOO. He told them.<br />(SO ALEA.) Saila spoke out. ( WE HEAR WE HAVE GRAND CHILDREN. BRING THEM BEFORE US IN THE UNDERWORLD PLEASE.)<br />" As you wish mother." Alea smiled as they left to go back to New Keanna.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1