Mystwinter. 13

In 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.
[Yes.] Said the voice in his mind. [Tobias his always been jealous of you. He never liked you.]
"That's not true." Nadir said. "He's my friend. I have nothing he wants."
[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.]
"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.
[That's right. you can't trust anyone but me!]
"Quiet!" Nadir yelled. "I need peace and quiet to think!"
[All you need is me.] Said the voice. [I know what's best for you.]
"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.
"BUT THEY JUST WON"T LET ME SLEEP!"
[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.]
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?
[BECAUSE THEY'RE AFTER ME!!!]
"SHUT UP!" Nadir screamed pulling at his hair. "JUST SHUT UP!!!"
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.
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?
[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.]
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?
[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!!]
"SHUP UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!"
As he screamed, Celia pulled herself into a ball and tried to hide herself in fear. Jukal also pulled away.
"Who are you Vampire?" He asked Ranjer." Why are you here?"
"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?"
"You are here because I caught you spying on be out near the river." Nadir said. "Why were you there?"
"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."
[He lies!] the voice said. [He's after me!]
"Quiet!"
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.
"Who is he talking to?" Celia asked terrified of her own brother. Jukal tried to get up and limped out a few feet.
"Why are you here Ranjer Tyr?" Nadir asked. "I have no quarrel with with the Vampires or the Werewolves. What do you want?"
"I want that." Ranjer pointed to the ring on Nadir's left hand. "I know what it is."
[SEE!] The ring screamed in his head. [I TOLD YOU HE WAS HERE FOR ME! KILL HIM NOW!!]
Nadir raised his hands ready to fight and blast Ranjer. Ranjer just spread his arms with his palms up.
"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."
[HE LIES!] The ring screamed! [KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW!!]
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.
[KILL HER!!!] The ring screamed to Nadir. [KILL HER NOW!! DO NOT LET HER TOUCH US AGAIN!!]
"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!"
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.
"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?"
"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."
"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?"
"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."
"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."
[Ranjer] Quynn sent. [We're here. Do you need help?]
[No Cousin. I'll met you at the river in twenty minutes.]
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.
As he touched down and shifted back to his normal formal, Ranjer went to meet the others. Quynn grabbed him in a big hug.
"You had me so worried when I woke and found you were gone."
"Well I got this so I guess it was a good thing," He held out the ring to Myor. "Where do we go next?"
"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.
"I know where to go." He climbed up on his feet. "We go southeast. We're going underground."

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.
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.
"Quel amrun tan." Tarron smiled as he finished his breakfast and pushed his plate away. "How fares the empire today?"
"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."
"Very good." King Tarron smiled. "Those Gremlins can be such a pest. Anything else?"
"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."
"What are they fighting about this time?" Tarron asked.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
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.
"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.
"By Rimnar!" Tarron stared out as the tower burned. "What in the world happened?"
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.
"This is no natural storm!" Eldar said. "There's magic behind this. Quick, you have to get out of here to somewhere safe!"
"How?" Tarron asked him. "The road out of Mystwinter is gone! We can't ride in this with the wind tossing everything around!"
"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!"

FROM HERE TO THERE.
AND PLACE TO PLACE.
FROM MYSTWINTER'S PALACE.
TO SOMEWHERE SAFE.
I SEND YOU NOW WITH SPEED AND HASTE.
I SEND YOU NOW AWAY FROM THIS PLACE.

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.
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.
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,.
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.
[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.]
"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."
[Then agree to my terms.] It said. [They are very simple. Kill Bram Thorn.]
"Bram Thorn is already dead!" Eldar. "He died many years ago!"
"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.]
"I AGREE!!" He said. "NOW BLAST THIS STORM!!!!"
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.
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.
"I could."
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.
"Hello Eldar." Bram Thorn smiled. "You have something that belongs to me, and I want it back!"

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.
As they walked, Sima started acting strange, scenting the air and growling. Niro reached out and run his hand over her back.
"What is it Sima?" He asked his feline companion. "What's bothering you?"
[Smoke.] She sent. [Something burns.]
"It could be the cooking fires of Mystwinter." Hoddie said. "We are close to the city."
[Not food.] Sima sent. [Me smell fear and smoke. And blood.]
"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."
"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.
[By Serina's sword!] She sent. [This can't be!!]
"What is it?" Niro called up to her.
[Mystwinter burns!! It's in ruins!]
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.
"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."
"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.
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.
[Bly.] She called to her companion. [Is there anything we can do to help here?]
[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.]
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.
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.
"Excuse me." Rowyn said. "Can you tell me what happened here?"
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.
"Diola lle arwen en amin." He smiled and bowed to them. "Now I can breathe much better."
"I wish there was more I could do." Rowyn said with a small smile. "What happened here?"
"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."
"What about the king and queen?"" She asked. "Did they make it to safety?"
"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."
"Lord Eldar." Bly said. "Did you see where he went?"
"Back into the palace." He told them. "But that was more then an hour ago."
"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."
"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."
"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.
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.
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,
[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!]
[I'm coming!]
"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."
"Eldar, where's the king and queen?"
"I sent them away." He said weakly. "Find him and destroy him....
Then Eldar Mystwinter let go of his last breath and died.
As Rowyn, Niro and Hoddie ran into the room, they found Bly sitting on the floor cradling Eldar's body.
"We're to late." She said. "Bram's been here and he killed Eldar and took the ring."
"What about the king and queen?" Rowyn asked.
"They're safe." She said. "Eldar sent them away before Bram attacked him."
"Now what do we do?" Hoddie asked.
"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."

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.

The Ring of Light. 12

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.
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.
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.
"No!" He shouted. "This can not be!"
"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.
"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!"
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.
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.
"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."
"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!"
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.
"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."
"Orc's aren't known for their compassion." Kranko said as he and Hoddie joined her and Niro.
"Neither were Goblins." Hoddie said. "But look how that's changing."
"Yes." Kranko nodded. "Our people are learning though, very slowly."
"Father." Hoddie introduced his new friends. "This is princess Rowyn Windstar of Pelorda and Niro Herkalus of Sorrowdown."
"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."
"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.
"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."
"To bad he didn't stay down"
As they all looked around, and saw a blue and red spark come flying from over the trees to hover in front of Kranko.
"Bly?" He said. "Bly Sharpwing?"
"Aiya old friend." She shifted to her larger size and set herself down. "I'm afraid we're here to bring you bad news."
"We?" Kranko looked around. "Who is we?"
"I'm not alone." She explained. "Quynn and Ranjer Tyr are with me along with Myor Arynn and Yarden Pek from up north."
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,
"Bram Thorne." Kranko said. "This has something to do with him, doesn't it?
"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."
"What does he want?"
"He wants us dead." She said. "All of us that were there when he died. And he wants his rings."
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.
"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?"
"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."
"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."
"OK." She turned to Rowyn. "Your father sent me here for you too. He said you could help find him."
"I have certain talents that might help. And if my father wants me to help, I'll go with you."
"What about Niro?" Hoddie asked.
"He should go too." Kranko told them.
"Why?" Bly asked. "Who is he?"
"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."
"Then I agree." Bly walked to Niro and shook his hand. "Bram will be after you to."
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.
"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.
"I will Father." Hoddie took the ring then dripped Kranko's hand. "I will make you proud."
"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?"
"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."
"Then you should get moving." Kranko shook hands all around. "Mystwinter is three days away. Magaan a taklaan lhuukaan."
With that said, Kranko watched as Bly led her team away. Chonk stepped over to stand beside Kranko.
"He's going to be alright." He said. "He can do this."
"I know." Kranko put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "He's very special."

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.
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.
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.
"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."
"I'll get the water." Ranjer said. he collected everyone's water bottle. "I'll do a little scouting while I'm out there."
"Be careful." Quynn said as he pulled out the blankets and made himself someplace comfortable to rest.
"I can go out hunting." Yarden put down his pack. "Get a fire started and I will be back shortly with something to eat."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Get back Mazus Nox." He held out a shining hand as he descended to the ground. "You will not touch anymore of our children!"
"You know my name?" Snarled the Gator man. "And who may I ask are you white one?"
"I am Nadir Payne." The wizard said. "And Bellshore is my home and the people are mine. You are not welcome here."
"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."
"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.
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.

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.
"You're my destiny." Sky said. "Nothing could have kept us apart for long."
"And nothing ever will." Quynn kissed his hand and squeezed it.
"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."
"I will be careful mela en coiamin."
"Then you better wake up." Sky said. "Ranjer is in trouble. He needs your help now. Wake up!"
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.
Quynn threw off the blankets and hurried to the fire.
"Where's Ranjer?
"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."
"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."
[Ranjer?] He sent out. [Ranjer, where are you?]
There was no answer. Quynn tried again but there still was no answer.
"We have to go find him." He turned to Yarden, "Can you track him?"
"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.]

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.
"Where am I?"
"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?"
"My name is Ranjer." Ranjer rubbed head aching head. "Wow, my head hurts. What am I doing here? Why am I chained up?"
"Nadir brought you in an hour ago." Said a woman to his left. "You must be another of his enemies."
"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."
"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"
"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."
"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."
"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?"
"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."
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?
"He may be a wizard." Ranjer said. "But I have magic too, and I'm not staying here."
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.
"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."
"How did all this start?" Ranjer asked as he sat back down, "How does a White wizard go so wrong."
"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."
"What was it?" Ranjer asked though he was pretty sure he knew what it was.
"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. "
Jukal stopped there and took a drink from a pan of dirty water. He took a deep breath, then continued with his story.
"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."
"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."
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.
"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."
"How long ago was that?" Ranjer asked.
"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."
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.
"Why all the questions Ranjer?" Jukal asked, "You're a stranger here, What does it matter to you?"
"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."
"Wise words." Jukal said. "Even if they are useless."
"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."
"And how do you plan to get out?" Celia asked him. "You can't use your magic."
"With a little help from friends." Ranjer smiled with his eyes still closed,"You'd be surprised at what you can do,"
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.
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.
[Quynn!!]
[I'm here Cousin.] Came the answer. [Where are you? Are you alright?]
[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.]
[We're on our way.]

Goblins, Goblins Everywhere. 11

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.
As they stood at the split of the two roads, Hoddie turned to Rowyn and Niro.
"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."
"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."
"And you?" Hoddie turned to Niro.
Niro thought for a second as Sima stepped up to rub against his leg.
[I follow you.] She sent to Niro.
"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."
"Then follow me."
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.
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.
"We're being watched."
"I know." Niro whispered. "Sima says there's five out there watching us."
"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."
"Then we go straight ahead." Rowyn stepped out and walked pass Hoddie heading down the trail.
"Hold on Princess." Niro hurried forward. "Let us go first."
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.
"Hold your swords!"
Niro took a step back as a Goblin dressed in bone armor walked out to stand beside his companion.
"Hoddie Fearfist." He said. "What brings you into the land of the Black Skulls?"
"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."
"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?"
"Yes." Hoddie  said curious. "Please tell me why."
"Because Kranko Fearfist no longer sits on the high seat of the Bloodfangs."
"You lie!!" Hoddie jumped out to dive in and attack Koxir. Niro grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Let him go Human." Koxir sneered at them. "I fear no Bloodfang, let him come and face his death."
"I'll let him go." Niro said. "But first, answer a few questions. What have you dome to Kranko?"
"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."
"Bruego." Hoddie said. "That damned Orc again. He did this."
"I know nothing about an Orc." Koxir pulled his sword and stepped out. "Now, let him face me and his death."
Niro stepped aside and let Hoddie go.
"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.
"Give him your sword." He ordered. "He needs a proper weapon to fight with."
"No." Hoddie smiled. "This will do."
"Then have at it!!"
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.
Hoddie looked up at the warrior looking down in shock at his dead leader.
"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."
The warrior slid his sword back into its sheath and turned and ran off into the forest.
"Wise choice."
"Bruego has your father." Rowyn said as she joined them. "How do we find him?"
"Sima can track him." Niro said. "If we have something of his to get a scent from."
"This cloak was my fathers. Would that do?"
"No." Niro shook his head. "It has your scent, we need something only your father wore."
"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."
"Agreed." Rowyn said. "We'll find a safe place to wait and maybe do a quick search of the area while we wait."
"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."

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
"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."
The four Goblins looked at him, then at each other. One stepped out with a short spear leaning against his shoulder.
"Who are you?" He asked. "What clan are you from?"
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.
"I am Goboc, son of Tuluk Blacktooth of the clan Greyclaw." Hoddie puffed out his chest with pride.
The four Bloodfangs looked at him and scratched their heads as if they had never heard the name before. Hoddie frowned.
"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?"
 "Aye!" A warrior nodding vigorously and punched one of his companions. "We have, the songs were glorious. The battles must have been great."
"They were." Hoddie smiled. "Now who am I to see? Who is the chief of the Bloodfangs?"
The warrior smiled at Hoddie and at that moment, Hoddie knew they had something in mind.
"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?"
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Disguised as Slug, Hoddie walked over to the Maul brothers who snapped to attention.
"Get out of my way." He said waving them aside.
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.
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.
Just as Hoddie was about to head down to the dungeon, He heard a familiar voice coming out of Chonk's room.
"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."
"Good." A more gravely voice said. "When I'm done, and I have the power I need, we march. Be ready."
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.

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.
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.
[Rowyn.] Niro sent out. [I think I found something.]
[What is it?]
[It's an altar.] He walked around it looking more closely.
[Forget it.] She sent. [There are a few of Tyree's altars scattered all through Gaymere. Goblins like to worship out in the open.]
'[I don't think this is one of Tyree's altars.]
[Why?] She asked.
[There's a dead satyr here as an offering. I don't think Tyree would like that.]
For a minute, Rowyn was silent. Niro could feel her confusion.
[Stay there.] She said. [I'm coming to join you. I need to see this altar.]
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.
"Show it to me."
"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.
"Bruego is here." She said. "This is his altar."
"That's what I thought." Niro said. "What do you want to do with it?"
"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.

FROM THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT.
TO THE YOUNG AND FREE.
WE RETURN WHAT IS YOURS.
TO THE GREAT GOD TYREE.
WE CLEANSE THIS SOUL
AND SET IT FREE.
WE DEDICATE THIS LAND
AND RETURN IT TO THEE.

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.
"I guess he likes it." Niro smiled. "Now what do we do?"
"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."

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.
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.
Slipping back the hood on his cloak, Hoddie pulled Chonk up so he could see him.
"Hodgodde?" He said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your butt." Hoddie said. "Do you know where my father is?"
"Yes." Chonk said as Hoddie untied him. "He's here in the dungeon. Your uncle plans to use him for some kind of sacrifice."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." He helped Chonk up on his feet. "Can you walk?"
"I can do better then that." He smiled. "I can fight that fat bastard, just give me a sword."
"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."
"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."
"Good." Hoddie said. "Where's my father's cell?"
"Straight up on the left. Go, I'll meet you there once I have the keys."
Hoddie nodded then turned to leave.
"Hoddie." Chonk quietly called him back. "It's good to see you here. He will be proud."
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.
"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.
"Father." He reached up and touched him between the eyes. "Father, wake up it's me. Wake up please!"
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.
"Hoddie?" He looked around. "What happened? Where am I?"
"You're in the dungeon in Blood Tooth father." Hoddie smiled relieved that he would be OK. "They took you prisoner."
"What are you doing here?"
"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."
"Slug?" Hoddie stood and helped his father to his feet.
"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."
"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!"

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.
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.
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.
"Ghec dager!" He raised his fist into the air. "Kranko is no more and tomorrow we march for my glory!!"
"Think again Worm!!"
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.
Refreshed by the healing potion, Kranko walked out and stood opposite Slug and Swel on the dais.
"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?"
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.
"There is only one way to decide who rules." He said.
"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."
"The throne is already mine Kranko." Slug laughed. "There is no need for a challenge. I have already won."
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
"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."
"I will fight." Chonk said. He pulled his sword out and stepped out in front of Kranko to challenge Swel.
"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."
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.
"Are you sure?" Kranko asked.
"I am." Hoddie took off his cloak and handed it to his father. He pulled his daggers and spun them in his hands.
"Take my sword." Chonk said pushing it out to Hoddie.
"I don't need it." He walked out to meet Swel out in front of the dais. "These are all I need."
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.
"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?"
"Yes." Hoddie said as Swel just nodded an acknowledgement.
"Then let the battle begin!!"
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.
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.
"The challenge is done." The warrior said as he stepped up on the dais next to Kranko. "You are chief."
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.
"You challenge has failed." He said. "You die tonight."
"No!" Slug screamed and pulled a sword. "I am chief here! I rule this clan! I command you to kill them now!!"
Kranko leaped across the sword from Slug then cracked him in the head with the hilt. Slug fell knocked out cold.
"Take him to the dungeons." Kranko commanded. "Let him sit and stew for a while. We have an Orc to deal with."
As the warriors dragged Slug out, Kranko took his place on the throne and called his son over.
""You have friends outside?"
"Yes Father." Hoddie answered. "They may need help to defeat the Orc."
"Then let's go and help them."

North meets South. 10

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.
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.
"It's all so different from home." Yarden said as they sat and had lunch. "Everything here is so alive."
"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."
"And Bram is that much of a threat?"
"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."
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.
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.
"Is something wrong?" Yarden asked from the side of the road.
"Yes." Myor said as he reached up a plucked an ear to inspect. "This corn should have been harvested weeks ago."
"Corn?" Yarden said, he had never seen anything like it before. "What is it?"
"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!!!"
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.
"This whole field has to be destroyed." He said as he went back out to join Yarden. "It can't be helped."
"Why?" Yarden asked.
"Because this mold is everywhere." He explained. "It's poisonous and if its eaten, people will die."
"It's to late." Someone said from behind them. "People have already died."
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.
"Help us please!"
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.
"This boy is very sick." Yarden said. "I think he's going to die. We have to help him."
"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.
"How do you feel?" Myor opened his arms and sat the boy down.
"I feel better." He said as he sat up. "How did you do that? I thought I was going to die."
"You were very sick." Yarden handed him a water skin to have a drink. "Drink this."
The boy took it and drank deeply then gave it back to Yarden.
"My name is Brent. I live with my family in Diva, a village not to far from here."
"Is that where you got sick?" Myor asked.
"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!"

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.
"Is everyone here dead?" Yarden asked.
"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."
"How did this start?" Myor asked. "How long has the mold been growing?"
"Two weeks." Brent said as they reached his cottages door. "Every since that crazy old man came here looking for his ring."
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?
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.
"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."
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.
"Brent." He called out. "Come back!"
"No!" He cried. "My parents are here in the bed. You can heal them just like you healed me. Please, you have to try!"
"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."
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.
"Bram Thorn did this?" Yarden asked as he looked back at the dead village. "This is insane. All for a ring?"
"Who knows what insane reason he had. All I know is we have to stop him at all cost."
"What do we do about Diva?" Yarden asked. "And all that moldy corn."
"Watch Brent." Myor said. "He knows this area. Find someplace safe out beyond Diva and I'll meet you there."
"What are you going to do?" Brent asked.
"I'm going to get rid of this curse."
Myor stepped off away from them then shifted to his Phoenix form and leaped off into the sky with his wings ablaze.
"By Rimnar!!" Brent said as Myor rose up into the sky. Yarden smiled and lead Brent away.
"Come on." He said. "Show me how we get away from here."
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.
[And so ends Bram's mold.]

"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?"
[King Philibar sent us north.] Quynn sent. [He knows this Bram better than we do. I think we should listen to his advise.]
"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?"
"How about the city below?" Bly pointed down at a bright walled city. "This as good a place as any to start looking."
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.
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.
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.
"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."
"Dorlanth, King Tobias?" Ranjer looked at Quynn. "That sounds familar."
Quynn shrugged as he shook hands with the elder who led them out and into the city of Tranda, capital of Dorlanth.
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.
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.
"Very impressive." Bly said. "I see quality work being done here."
"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."
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.
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.
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.
"Where is he?" He asked agitated. "Is he hurt? Tell me he's OK please!"
"Who are you talking about?" Ranjer asked confused.
"Jayce!" He said. "I haven't heard from him in almost two weeks. That's not like him."
"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."
"He went off somewhere with my parents." Quynn explained. "On a mission. He'll be home when they're done."
"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."
"No," Bly said shaking her head. "We're here looking for someone. A stranger to your city."
"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."
"Asam Arynn?" Bly asked. She flew up and hover in front of JP anxious for an answer.
"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."
"He's right." Bly said. "We don't want to see him come here. To many lives at stake."
"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."
"What's that?" Ranjer asked.
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.
"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."
"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."
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.
"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.
"It looks like a dragon horn." Quynn said as he reached out and touched it. "But its not."
"How do you know?" Ranjer asked.
"Trust me." Quynn said. "Its not. I'd know if it was."
"Then none of you know what it could be?"
"Afraid not." Ranjer said. "But I get the feeling there's more?"
""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."
"Where are the other four?" Myor asked.
"Dead." Yarden said. "Whatever that horn belongs to, its coming here. At the rate its moving it'll be here tonight."
"How do you know that?" Ranjer asked. "They could be lost like the villagers. How do you know they're dead?"
"I can sense the beast." Yarden said. "Its anger and rage as it comes closer. I feel it coming."
"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."
"No." Quynn stopped him. "Your under the protection of the Dragons and a Dragon will deal with this."
"And a Vampire." Ranjer smiled.
"And a Phoenxian and a Yetisan." Myor nodded.
"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."

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.

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.
"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."
"Trap it?" Myor looked at Quynn confused. "Just trap it?"
"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."
"I guess that's reasonable." He agreed. "What would you like me to do?"
"You're my last line of defense." Quynn said. "If it gets to the gate, stop it anyway you can."
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.
Yarden hurried back to Quynn just as Ranjer caught the scent. He wrinkled his nose as he sniffed the air.
"Do you smell that?" He asked Yarden. "I smell blood and something weird."
"I smell it." Yarden said. "Its coming from that way, north of here."
[Bly.] Quynn sent out. [Do you see anything?]
[Something is moving through the forest fast heading straight for Tranda.] She sent.
[Can you see it?]
[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.]
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.
[OK.] Quynn sent to Bly. [I need to know whats out there.]
[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!!]
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.
"What is that?"
"Its a Minotaur!!" Quynn said surprised.
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.
[Do not interfere!] He yelled. [He is mine!]
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.
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.
"I think this could go on all day." Ranjer said. "Is there anyway we could help him?"
"I don't think he wants our help." Quynn told his cousin. "In fact I think if we intervene, he might attack us."
[I would.] Yarden sent. [Just stay out of it and let me fight.]
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.
Quynn and Ranjer came over and looked at the unconscious man, then up at Yarden.
"Who is he?" Ranjer asked.
"I have no idea." Quynn said. "But he's obviously not just a mad beast."
"What do we do with him?"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"You don't think Bram had anything to do with this?" Ranjer frowned. He looked to Bly "Do you?"
"It's possible." She said. "When it comes to him, anything is possible."
"So what do we do?" Quynn asked.
"I think we should move on." Bly said. "We still have to find Rowyn, and Bram is out there doing who knows what."
"So where do we look?" Ranjer asked.
[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.]
"An Orc?" Ranjer gave them all a serious look. "If there's an Orc, we should hurry. She may be in trouble."