A Slave in Sorrowdown. 4

Battered and bruised, Niro Herkalus lay exhausted and in pain on his bunk in his single cell. It had been a torturous year in Sorrowdown. He had been beaten and used in unspeakable ways since he had been condemned to slavery. He once had everything. He was the son of Sorrowdown’s most decorated general. They had a beautiful home, a wonderful family. Niro was tutored by one of the best teachers and the family had the respect of everyone including the Emperor. But all that fell apart because of the betrayal of a friend.

It was a beautiful day in Sorrowdown. Niro had spent most of it studying in the garden and sparring in his father’s gladiator pits. As much as Niro loved sparring, wrestling and practicing with the swords, he really hated this place. All his father’s gladiators were slaves. They were brave desperate men battling for their freedom which Niro knew his father would never grant them. They could win every match set before them and it wouldn't matter. Vibius Gauis Herkalus would never let his prize stable of fighters go free. Not in a million years. Niro knew their only chance was for him to inherit the gladiators, and then he could find some way to set them all free.

But to do that, his father would have to die. Vibius was getting up there in years, but he was still strong as a bull. He would live many more years and see a lot more fighting before he died. Niro was sorry, but there wasn't anything he could do about it, so he learned all he could about fighting. He learned to wrestle and to fight with his fist. He learned sword play and how to fight with every weapon from a quarter staff to defending himself with nothing but a dagger. While learning to fight, his tutors taught him history and the maths. He learned to grasp numbers and to add and subtract.

Though Niro enjoyed his classes, he always wondered what it was his father was preparing him for. It wasn't to be in the military. Vibius was very strongly opposed to that idea. Somewhere in there, Niro knew there was a mystery. There was something his father wanted him to to. He often saw him watching him practice from a distance, but he couldn't tell whether he approved or not. Niro figured one day, Vibius would tell him what it was all about. Then came that beautiful day that everything changed.

After a long day of study and a tiring session sparring, Niro had spent an hour at the baths relaxing. He had his muscles massaged and had a nice soak in a warm pool, then dressed to head back to his father’s house. As he stepped out of the baths, he saw many solder on the streets hurrying out towards the estates of the nobles. Someone was in trouble. Niro had seen this before when someone fell out of favor with the Emperor.

Not giving it another thought, Niro wandered on into the market place where he purchased fruit and flowers for his mother. Just a little something to make her smile. She deserved it. As he left the fruit stand, he noticed two soldier's standing near a baking stand watching him. As he passed Niro nodded to them. They nodded back with a strange smile.

As Niro walked home, more and more soldiers kept running by. Whoever they were after must have a villa near his parents place. He wondered who it could be. The two closest were a senator who's villa was to the left of there's and a second cousin to the Emperor who lived to the right. But as he came to the split in the road Io the three estates, he realized they were heading to his father’s house. Scared Niro dropped the his packet and begin to run home.

At the gate to his father’s estate, soldiers had gathered. The gate had been torn down and the bodies of some of his father’s house staff lay all around the compound dead.  Niro strong armed his way through the gate and made it to the front door before he was overcome by soldiers and stopped.

"Niro Hekalus?" A solider in bright shining armor with a long blue feather in his helmet stepped out. "You are under arrest."

"What is the meaning of this?" Niro yelled at them. "By whose authority?"

"By the order of the Emperor." He unrolled a scroll and began to read. "For the crime of sedition against the empire and disobeying a direct order, Vibius Gauis Hekalus, his family and all that he owns is now the property of the empire. All properties will be sold and the profits forfeited to the empire. All members of the family will be sold into slavery with the exception of Vibius and his wife Helen who will be held for execution."

"Nooooo!!!" Niro screamed as he tried to fight his way loose. With a smart crack on his head, Niro fell daze to the ground.

"Your mother, Helen has been taken into custody." The captain tucked the scroll under his arm. "Your father however is still at large. He will be hunted down no matter where he hides, brought back and crucified. You, Niro Hekalus will be sold as a slave at the slave market in two days.  Take him away!"

As Niro was dragged away, he saw wagons pull up and the soldiers started emptying the house and loading things into the wagons. All his families’ prized possessions were gathered and taken away just like he was. Away to the market to be sold.

Tortured and abused, Niro slept uneasy while outside of his cell, Grimmer Protorius watched with a wicked glint in his eye. Grimmer had been there the day Niro was put on the auction block. He had been there checking out prospects for the pits of Gladicus Moreo, the highest winning house of all the gladiatorial camps.

Grimmer had seen him chained being beaten and kicked by the guards. Niro had been ordered to never look up into the guard’s eyes, but Niro was no common slave to follow order. He had been a citizen of Sorrowdown, one of high rank and obedience was not something that came easy. Grimmer had seen the rebellious look in Niro's eye. The look of a real fighter. He liked what he saw and decided to talk his owner into buying the boy to fight under his name.

Niro's short close cut blond hair, blue eyes and handsome form had been what caught Grimmer's eye. Standing there naked with sweat running off his muscled body, Grimmer couldn't take his gaze away from him. His thick muscled legs and broad back and the angel tattoo on his shoulder. The golden hair on his chest and the long cock that swung from side to side when he moved made Grimmer's mouth water. He would cost a great deal of coin, but Grimmer promised he would bring many victories to the house of Gladicus.

From the first day Niro arrived, Grimmer knew his training would not be easy. He refused to accept his new role as a gladiator slave. Grimmer could tell from the way he carried himself that fighting was not alien to Niro. With wooden sword in his hand, he fought his way through slave after slave until his whole body was black and blue and he was exhausted. But still Niro fought back against his master and trainers. If he was told to be silent, he talked. If he was told to stay still, he would keep moving. If he was told to keep his head down, he held it high and stared right back at his oppressors. And yes, Niro was punished. He was whipped and he was tied down,. He was put into seclusion on many occasions and he was even denied food for a time. But Grimmer would always make sure the punishment was never to harsh. And that was not out of friendship or pity. Grimmer wanted something else from Niro. And he knew he would get it.

It had been over a year since Niro had been purchased by house Gladicus. He had won every match they had set up for him and made a lot of money for Gladicus, but he was just as defiant today as he was the day he arrived. He had endured beatings, some torture and isolation. He had been starved and made to watch as others were being tortured, but today Grimmer had something different for him.

Niro had won his last match. He had beaten three fully armed men while he had only been given a single dull sword with very little armor. Niro was a very smart fighter. He had learned to never allow his opponents to attack en mass. He had taken them one then the next two at the same time and beaten all three. But once he had them defeated, he refused to kill or bow to his owner in the stands.

Frustrated, Grimmer sent in the guards with lassos and clubs who beat Niro down and tied him up. When Niro woke up he was in a room tied standing naked from the ceiling. He pulled and tugged on his bindings trying to get himself free but they were way too strong for him to break. Then he heard the creaking sound of a door opening and someone walked out in front of him where he could see him. It was Grimmer Protorius, his sadistic trainer.

"Niro Herkalus." Grimmer walked up to stand right in his face. "Haven't I given you everything a slave could ask for? You get all the best foods, you train every day and we don't make you work the fields. Why do you still show us disrespect?"

"Because I'm a free man." Niro shouted. "You killed my family and put me here. I hate you all and I'm going to get out of here."

"Not before I'm done with you." Grimmer ran the small baton he was holding down from Niro's nipple to below his scrotum lifting them up. "Nice."

"Stop it!"

"Stop what?" Grimmer ran the baton down the length of his cock making it respond by growing and swelling. As blood began to pump into Niro's manhood, his erection grew longer and thicker until he was fully hard. Grimmer smiles looking into Niro's eyes. "Well look what we have here. You like when I touch you here?"

"Get away from me!!" Niro pushed and shoved but Grimmer had a good hold on his special part and he wasn't letting go.

"I will teach you to have more respect for me and your owner." With his other hand Grimmer untied his loincloth and let it drop to the floor. "You belong to me now Niro. Your mine forever nothing will stop me from getting what I want!!"

"Noooooooooooooo!!!!!"

For the next week, Niro never left that room. He was tied and hung from the ceiling for Grimmer to use whenever he wanted and Grimmer did use him. He used Niro's body like his own private sex toy. He would have him hand fed once a day and cleaned, then at night Grimmer would be back for what he called another private training session. He said the object was to break Niro's spirit and teach him respect, but all he really did was teach him how to hate. And Niro did learn to hate. It wasn't the sex. This wasn't the first time he had sex with a man. It was Grimmer. He hated him and every time he touched him. This was not what Niro thought sex should be. He would never touch anyone else and force himself on them, man or women. This was rape and that was a crime against another person’s body and mind. But Niro being as strong minded as he was, gritted his teeth and suffered without giving Grimmer the pleasure of hearing him scream.

After the week was over, Grimmer cut Niro down and had him taken back to his cell and cleaned up and fed a proper meal. He would need some rest for his next fight. As Niro lay in his cell he made the decision that this was it. Once he had a weapon in his hand, this time it would be either he escaped or he died try to be free. And he was right, for in two days, Niro would be free again.

It was later at night and the crowd roared as two gladiators battled each other for the nights win. In a alley to the rear of the coliseum a hooded figure slipped from shadow to shadow as he entered a side entrance to the arena. With skill and precision he made his way to the center dungeon where the fighters all waited their chance in the hot sands. As he entered the gladiator pens, two guards stood watch at the doors of the pens to the two houses that battled tonight. On the right, house Gladicus and to the left the warriors of house Appius. Staying in the shadows, the hooded man crept out and around the corner to stand right behind the guard to house Gladicus. He reached up and grabbed the guard by his mouth and put a knife through his heart. As he fell, the guard on house Appius heard him hit the floor and saw the intruder. Reaching for his sword, the guard jumped and went to attack the intruder. As he dived in to attack, something hit him in the chest. Falling to his knees, the guard watched as the intruder approached him and pulled a dagger free from his chest and pushed his corpse out of his way.

At the door to house Gladicus cells, the stranger reached up and grabbed the lock. With a quick twist he snapped it and tossed it to the floor. Opening the door the intruder went in calling out a name.

"Niro Herkalus! Where are you?"

"Over here." Came the answer from a cell to his left.

As the hooded man ran to the door the rest of the gladiators jumped to their cell doors calling for their freedom.

"Who are you?" Niro asked. "What do you want?"

Pushing back his hood, Vibius Gauis Herkalus reached down and broke the lock to his son’s cell. He pulled the door open, grabbed his son and hugged him.

"It's me Niro." He said. "Your father. I'm here to get you out of here."

"Father!" Niro hugged him relieved to see him alive. "I thought they had killed you."

"It's not that easy to kill this old war dog." He smiled. "But we don't have much time. They'll be coming for you soon. Take this, it's called Stormfury, it'll help you get out of here. It's very special, don't lose it.

Vibius pushed his ax into Niro's hands.

"I want you to free all these gladiators." Vibius told him. "With their help, you can fight your way out of the coliseum. There are horses waiting at the north gates of the arena. Get out of Sorrowdown."

"You’re coming with me right father? I won't go without you."

"You have to." Vibius took a ring off his hand and placed it on Niro's hand. "I have a score to settle with the Emporor. He killed your mother. Don't wait for me. I'll keep them busy while you escape."

"Please father." Niro begged him. "We can do this together. Don't go alone."

"Niro." Vibius held his son at arms length. "I knew something like this was going to happen. I had you tutored by the best teachers in Sorrowdown. I'm proud of you and you have to live. I can't let Sorrowdown destroy you like it did me. You have a future. A great future fixing one of my mistakes. Go, fulfill that future."

With that, Vibius turned and ran out of the cell. Niro didn't know what his father meant by that comment about his future, but if he could get out of Sorrowdown, he would at least have one.

With keys from the body of one of the guards, Niro opened the cells from each house and let all the warriors out. Grabbing weapons and armor, they all crowded around the entrance to the arena ready to go in and get their revenge for all the years of abuse at their master’s hand. From the other side of the door, they could hear the cheers of the crowd. The mad lust to see a warrior be butchered in battle. Well they had seen the last contest for this night. Now it was their turn and each man swore he would die before going back in chains.

As Niro hushed the men, the door opened and three guards came in to get the next set of gladiators. Hands reached out and grabbed the guards and beat them down into unconsciousness. Quickly they were stripped of their uniforms then dragged into cells where they were tied and locked away.

"The only way out is through the northern gate." Niro told them. "Together we go out and we don't stop until we're out of the arena, agreed?"

With nods all around, Niro threw open the door and they all started out into the sandy arena. As they stepped out, the crowds went wild. Everyone jumped to their feet surprised to see so many gladiators come out into the arena. There were many favorites here from both houses and it looked as if there was about to be some kind of battle royale. As they moved across the floor, Niro looked high up into the stand above the northern gate where Emperor Midoa Pontius Paratus and the owners of house Gladucus and Appius sat. The two owners leaped to their feet knowing this was not a planned event. Something out of the norm was happening here. Shouting orders, guards from both houses leaped into action running down to intercept the gladiators.

"NOW!" Niro yelled as he pulled his father’s axe from his side and ran at the crowd of warriors coming at them. When the first man faced off with him, Niro stopped and planted his feet. The warrior charged raising his sword to slice down at him. Niro gripped Stornfury's handle with two hands and let the sword come down hard on the shaft. Then he swept up catching the warrior in the chest piercing his armor lifting him up and threw him to the side. For a second Niro was amazed at his strength. He had never been that strong before, but now wasn't the time to ponder such miracles. More warriors were on the way.

Slashing and cutting, Niro and his warriors fought their way to the balcony above the north gate where the Emperor and the owners stood screaming orders at the warriors. Suddenly from behind a curtain behind the Emperor, Vibius jumped out and in seconds put his sword threw the chest of Gladicus and Appius. As he pulled his sword free and advanced on the Emperor, two more warriors rushed in between him and the Emperor.

"So Vibius." Midoa sneered. "I killed your woman and and your son fights below in the arena. Now I have you. Just give me what I want and maybe I'll have mercy and allow you to live."

"Why?" Vibius asked. "I was always faithful to you and the empire. I would have given my life for you. Why did you and Manius betray me?"

"Because you are a fool!!" The Emperor spit at him. "And you failed me!!

"How? I killed Thorn just as you ordered. You ordered him dead and we killed him."

"Yes you killed him fool." Midoa said. "But you and the others took something from him before he died didn't you. You took his rings but you did not turn them over to me."

"So?"

"So Bram Thorn is alive again you idiot!" Midoa screamed at him in a rage. "He is alive and he will be coming for me! I need his rings to protect myself from his power!"

"That is not possible." Vibius didn't believe a word the Emperor said. "How can he have survived his wounds?"

"He didn't survive. He died and went to the Underworld. But you underestimate his power. He found a way back. I've seen him in my dreams. He comes for me and his revenge!"

"You betrayed me over a nightmare?" Vibius couldn't believe the Emperor could be such a superstitious fool.

"It was no nightmare Vibius! My dreams are special. He will come and destroy Sorrowdown to get to me! Only his rings can save me. Give it to me now!"

"I will give you something Midoa." Vibius lifted his sword. "But you won't have to worry about Bram Thorn killing you. I will have that pleasure myself!"

 Scared for his father’s life, Niro leaped to the platform and was ready to jump in to fight at his father’s side.

"NO!" Vibius yelled at him. "Get out! This is my fight!  Go to Fay Shrea and find the elven King Philibar Windstar in Pelordra, he'll explain everything! Then go find Manius Regulus, he's the one that betrayed us. Get the ring from him! Now Go!"

As Niro watched his father fight and parry sword thrust at him. Emperor Midoa slipped up behind him and stabbed him in the back.

"Nooo!!" Niro screamed running to leap into the balcony box. With a mighty backhand, Vibius slashed out at the Emperor ripping his face open from his cheek to his forehead. With a last burst of energy, Vibius plunged his sword through the Emperors chest killing him.

"GO!" Vibius yelled holding his sword high for the next attack. "Go get our revenge and fix my greatest wrong for me. You’re my only hope!"

With a quick nod, Niro jumped down and ran for the northern gate followed by what was left of the gladiators. Once in, they slammed down the gate and barred it.

"Hurry." Niro said to the gladiators. "We have to go now!"

"Not so fast." Said a voice from the shadows. Grimmer stepped out sword in hand smiling. "Is my puppet leaving without saying good bye? I can't have that. I'd miss you way too much."

"Go." Niro waved the others away. "Get out of Sorrowdown and leave him to me."

"They don't matter." Grimmer said as the escaping gladiators ran pass him. "They'll be caught. You’re the one I want."

"I don't think you're going to like our little play session this time." Niro advanced on Grimmer slowly waving his axe from side to side. "I'm not so helpless anymore."

"Doesn't matter." Grimmer smiled holding his swords ready. "When you lose, this time I won't stop fucking you until you're dead."

Like two wild elephants they clashed with Grimmer being thrown back against the wall by Niro's great strength. As Grimmer scrambled to get to his feet, Niro stepped up on him holding Stormfury's head at Grimmer's heart.

"Don't like it when they can fight back, do you?"

Stepping back, Niro let Grimmer get to his feet and retrieve his swords. With a grim look on his face, Grimmer tried again slashing down at Niro and stabbing with his short sword. Unfortunately for him, Niro just smiled and again knocked him back knocking the swords from his hand.

"Wait!" Grimmer cried. "It wasn't me! I only did what I was ordered to do!"

"But it was you that raped me." Niro stepped closer holding his ax tightly. "You used me like a toilet with no thought about my dignity. Now I will return the favor you gave me and all the rest of your victims. Die like a good little soldier."

With a single swing, Niro slammed his axe head straight into Grimmer's heart. He screamed and fell back against the wall then slid down dead at Niro's feet. Looking down at his rapist, Niro spit on his corpse, pulled his axe free then turned and ran out up the ramp to freedom.

He knew his parents were both dead now and there was nothing here for him in Sorrowdown but chains and enemies. It was time to go out in the world and see what was out there for him. First stop, King Philibar of Pelordra. Maybe he would have some answers.

As Bram stood in the ruined study of Castle Heimdel, the voices in his head wouldn't stop talking to him. Each of the five voices bullied him. Tell him he he would never succeed in his plans. How he was a failure and would end up right back on Shoudra island fighting to get that boat to the next shore.

"SHUT UP!" He screamed beating at his head. "I am not a failure! You'll all see! I'll crush my enemies and take Jamerld back. Once I find the rings, her and the baby, I'll bring back them back here where they will be safe in our home. Then Keanna will suffer for all it's done to us!"

"You’re mad!!!" The voices laughed. "You are a mad crazy fool and all you have to look forward to is an eternity in hell!!"

"We'll see." Bram shouted at the empty sky over head. "We'll see who has the last laugh!"

The Warlock Returns. 3

In the high hills of Valturm in the nation of Hernborim sat the home of the most honored Battle mistress Leda Strongarm Redhelm. Leda was the daughter of Olin Hardfist Strongarm and the holder of Erdus the Silver mace. She held the highest rank of all warriors in Herborims warrior guild. Her attacks on the Dark elves in Tarsap and the taking of the fjord castle of Vandor were legendary. Songs were still to this day sung at festivals of her bravery at Heimdel castle against the element warlock Bram Thorn. How she single handed defeated him against his strongest spells and legions of warriors. After her return from Heimdel, Leda was put in place as the General of all Herborims armies. She was given lands and a home almost as splendid as the royal palace of the king. She would for the rest of her days sit second at his table at all honored events. Leda won all this and riches for her family name. She did all this with a lie.
It was late and Leda was tired from all the drilling and marching she had put her warriors through on the fields outside of Valturns walls. It had been her way to always march and practice with her warriors and today was no different. She put them through drills in hand to hand combat, storming towers which meant climbing and heavy weapons drills. Leda would have her warriors at their best. Being the holder of the silver mace, she had her pride and her name to protect.
"Fight to win." She told her warriors. "And win to fight on."
That was her motto and any dwarf who failed would face her and maybe never fight again.
Today with sore muscles, Leda rode in from the practice fields deep in thought. Gromor the Grim had come into Valturn two weeks ago and insisted on challenging her to a marriage battle. He did this at least twice a year hoping that she might accept or that he might be lucky in battle and win her hand. The thought of marriage really angered her. She needed no man for anything other then a few hours of lusty pleasure and to watch her back in battle. And none would ever be as good as her dead mate and father of her children Egon had been. He had been her one true shield mate partner in life. The one dwarf who would always be at her side until his death at the hands of a raiding band of Trolls. How she missed his dark eyes and feverish touch. He always knew what to say and how to keep her level headed and from jumping into battle before all the facts were known. But he was gone now and she was alone. She had no one but herself and a few she trusted to stand at her back. Unfortunately tonight, that wouldn't be enough.
As Leda rode on, her mind was on how she could again keep Gromor at bay. Was she going to have to battle him again? She was tired of all this and just wanted it to stop. Year after year, battle after battle. Was she to cripple him or cause him permanent damage to stop his advances. What would it take for him to realize she would never under any circumstances commit to being his shield mate. No matter how prominent he was or hard hard he fought.
The road through Redhelm to the manor was dark at this time in the evening. All miners were home enjoying they're nights dinner and all of her family would by now be assembled in the hall huddled around the fire waiting for her and to go in for the evening meal. Her sons would be boasting about today's challenger and her oldest daughter Strella would probably be teasing young Warwick about how undwarf like using a bow was.
Urging her horse on, Leda rode through the cobbled torch lit lane heading home, when she saw something in front of her that shouldn't be there. It was a wagon, and not the wagon of a dwarf, it was to big. It was the wagon of a human. Strange Leda thought. She hadn't given permission for any humans to pass through her land. As she strained her eyes she noticed strange writing on the sides. Mystic letters and symbols. Reaching to her saddle, Leda unclasped the strap holding her mace to the horses side just in case there would be trouble here, then rode on up to the wagon.
As she got closer, she could smell burning incense in the air. It was sage if she wasn't mistaken. Closer. Leda had a better look at the wagon. It was more of a small hut on wheels with windows and a door on the side. Other then the mystical writing, there was a large eye on the side. The markings of a fortune teller. Leda had seen them before in her travels through human cities and ports. Mostly gypsy beggars trading fake fortunes for coins. Well there was no need for anything like that here. She didn't want any human or dwarven magic practiced on her land. Whoever it was, they had to go.
Climbing down from her horse, Leda grabbed her mace and walked out to the wagon. Just as she approached, the camp fire suddenly burst into flames in the campfire. Surprised, Leda jumped to the side.
"Aiya warrior maiden." As Leda turned, she saw a elderly man with long grey hair and beard stepped down from the wagon. He was dressed in black pants, sandals and a grey tunic. There was a red sash around his waist and he wore gold in his ears. "What brings a fine warrior like you into my camp?"
"Your camp?" Leda looked at him with raised eye brows. "I don't think you know where you are. You are in Hernborim, Dwarf lands. This is the city of Valturn and this is my home. You are trespassing here."
"I like to think wherever I can lay my head is home." He shrugged. "It's more peaceful that way."
"That's a good way to find yourself in someones dungeon thinking like that." Leda walked around the wagon looking at the strange markings. There was a Pentagram, swastika, ankh and the mystical eye of power. Leda didn't know exactly what most of the symbols were, but she knew magic when she saw it and she didn't like it. She had fought many sorcerers, wizards and warlocks in her day and it was never good. She didn't want one anywhere near her home and family.
"You have to go." She fastened her mace to her belt. "Tonight, now."
"Oh an I came so far to be here." The fortune teller looked at her slyly. "Can't I just stay the night and rest?"
"No! Wait! You mean you knew you were in Hernborim? Who are you?"
"I like your ring." He smiled pointing out the ring on Leda's hand. "Where did you get it?"
"Spoils of war." She answered suspiciously.
"Then you won it fairly in battle and took it as a trophy?"
"Something like that." She said. "Who are you stranger?"
"Just a stranger here looking for something I lost." He shrugged. "Something you seem to have taken from me."
"Something I what?" Leda grabbed her mace and started stepping back away as the gypsy started laughing hysterically. Suddenly lightning started to flash and the wind picked up and began to howl. Hurricane winds came whipping out and through the trees bending and snapping some of them in half.
"Surely you remember me my dear Leda Redhelm." The wind picked him up and held him in the air as Leda grabbed on to a stump to keep from being blown away. "I am Bram Tiberius Thorn and you and your friends came in and attacked me! You killed my wife and baby, then when I was at my weakest point, you all fell on me, you killed me and sent me to hell! Now I'm back to repay all of you for my years of torture in hell starting with you!!"
As Leda screamed the winds picked her up and held her in mid air. Like knives, wind beat at her and cut into her stripping her flesh from her bones. When Bram was done, the ring was back on his finger and her bones lay scattered all over the ground below. As Bram's laughter drifted on the winds, the wagon disappeared and the wind settled down leaving her armor and weapons there among her bones on the road.

The sun was just setting behind the mountains as Quynn Tyr, the true born son of Rage king of the Keanna dragons and his mate Jandar flew on towards home with his cousin Prince Ranjer Zlenka Tyr on his back. As his wings pumped the air to rise higher, his mind was in deep turmoil. He had failed his final test on summoning again. This was the third time he had failed to bring the dove he had summoned to him. Try as he might, all he could get was a single feather. Cutter had shook his head and just moved on to the next candidate for evaluation. Quynn just moved out of line ignoring the snickering of his classmates. He was embarrassed. He was the son of one of the greatest master mages on Keanna and he had fail not once but three times. His fathers would be so shamed he thought. He was to be the next master mage of the Dark wolf clan, but he couldn't even summon a common dove out of the nether realm. Something he should be able to do with ease.
He had passed all his other classes. Spell casting, enchantment, gesture magic, even curses and hexes. But summoning for some reason was beyond him. Jandar drilled and practiced with him for hours to make sure he knew the procedure, and he did know it. Every move, every word and gesture had been planted in his mind, but the second it was time for him to do the summoning, his mind went completely blank. His mouth would dry up and he would stumble over the spell then either nothing happened or it would go completely wrong. The first time he called for the dove and got a one winged bat. The second time, nothing happened and this time, all he got was the one feather. A total failure.
After class, Cutter had taken him back to his office in the Academy for a talk. Quynn had shuffled along behind him with his head down, his brown hair with grey streaks covering his handsome face.
"Is there something on your mind young Dragonwolf?" Cutter sat down behind his desk waving Quynn to a chair up front. He looked into Quynn's golden eyes, the eyes that so reminded him of Rage. "I know you know this. You should be able to do it in your sleep. What's stopping you?"
"I don't know Master." He sat back looking away from the teacher. "Everything gets jumbled in my head every time I try. I can almost feel it there just out of my reach, but I can't get it."
"What about when your alone or practicing with your father?" Cutter leaned forward. "Does it work then?"
"Yes, sometimes." Quynn said. "But sometimes I think it's really my father guiding what I'm summoning to me. I know he just wants me to succeed."
"He means well." The teacher nodded. "But this is something you have to learn to do for yourself. Listen Quynn, I won't fail you yet. The summer break is just beginning. I'll give you until autumn class begins before I give you your final grade. Take your time and rest and relax and practise on your own. Come see me on the first day of the autumn solstice and you can take your final again."
"What if I fail again?" He asked. Quynn looked scared. Summoning was a great part of his mystical family heritage. Every mage of the Dark wolf clan had to master it before he could reach the rank of Master and this was all that was holding him back.
Cutter stood and led Quynn to the door to his study. "You are young Dragonwolf. Much younger then your father was or any of the other Tyr ancestors were when they reached the rank of Master. You have time to live before you have to take the responsibilities of a Master. Go out and enjoy the summer. Time will always be your friend."
Quynn had no idea what he meant by that that, by it did ease his mind a little. Bowing to Cutter, Quynn left his study and hurried through the halls to the transport stone to head to the lobby of the Academy.
There, his tall blond cousin Ranjer waited for him while talking to Mera Serban. When he saw Quynn coming they waved to him.
"Well?" Ranjer asked impatiently. "How'd it go?"
Looking somber, Quynn stopped and looked up at him. Ranjer frown and sighed.
"You couldn't do it?" Mera said.
"No." He shook his head. "I failed. He's going to kill me."
"No he won't!" Ranjer threw his arm around his cousins shoulder and they started out of the Academy doors. "Uncle Jandar's never raised his voice at you in your life and you know that. Now Uncle Rage is gonna kill ya."
Quynn groaned. He hadn't even thought about his other father. He was much more one for discipline.
"Oh relax." Ranjer laughed. "They'll understand. Your fathers are two of the most fair people on Keanna. It's not like you can never test again. You can, right?"
"Yeah, I just have to practice and wait until the autumn solstice."
"Good." Mera said. "I know you'll get it eventually. I have to go, I'll see you guys late."
They both waved to her as she climbing into a coach on her way home for the summer. "Do you want me to come back to New Keanna with you? I have plenty on time. I want to go see Uncle Ono anyway."
"Sure." Quynn smiled. "They like you, they won't yell if your there. I'll give you a ride."
"Let's go."

Rain poured and lightning flashed as Bly sped her way over the border out of Fay Shrea and into the free lands outside of New Keanna.  There was trouble and she had to get to New Keanna to warn the Dragons before it was to late. Zig zagging her way across the land, she remembered back two days ago when it all had started.
It was late in the night when Bly stepped out of her small house in the underground city of Ammath. She look across to the time tower that stood in the middle of the square. It read almost midnight. Her father should be done with all his city business by now and be ready for her. Spreading her wings, Bly lifted off and sailed on through the dimly lite corridors of Ammath. She passed the homes of the common faeries who went about their business like any other day. They opened shops where they worked on all the jewelry they made and sold in Human, dwarf and elf cities. Then on to the higher ranked members of their society. Owners of mines and the generals of the Ammath warriors, the council of elders that served as her fathers advisers. All their homes were close to the king great house. Then in the middle on the hill sat the palace of Valerian Sharpwing, king of the Ammath faeries.
As Bly made her way though the gates she noticed something strange. The guards that were always here on watch, were gone. That she thought was odd. The king had his own personal guards trained just to protect him. She couldn't think of any reason why they wouldn't be at their post except.
Suddenly a cold feeling crept up through her stomach. Bly quicken her speed and hurried on. From there she entered the front hall of the palace. She stopped abruptly when she saw the devastation all around her. It looked like an earthquake had torn through the palace. The floor had completely buckled and was now nothing but a great open pit. Walls were down and the beautiful furniture of the palace was trashed. Fearing for her fathers life, Bly flew in ready to fight. From room to room she saw nothing but carnage. Bodies of palace staff and the kings guards lay everywhere dead, ripped apart.
Horrified, Bly flew on to the kings throne room. In the hall to the kings throne room, Bly stopped, landed and ran to the doors. From inside she could hear a maniacal laugh echoing through the room.
"You thought me dead, didn't you!" She heard. "You thought you were safe but you were wrong! You, your damned daughters and the others thought me dead and in hell, but not even hell can hold me! Nothing can stop Bram Thorn from getting what is due to him!"
"You won't win you monster!" Bly know that voice. It was Bram Thorn! But that wasn't possible. He's dead and in hell. She had to get her father out of there.
"Kill me if you want, just like you killed your wife and child. But your evil will be destroyed. Someone will send you back to hell."
"NEVER!!" Bram laughed. "After I kill and take back my rings I will live forever. Even Death fears me!"
[Father!] Bly sent. [I'm coming to save you!]
[No! Go Bly. Your the only hope. Get to the Dragons. find his rings and send him back to hell. I'm already dead.]
[No father! Let me help you.]
[It's to late.] She could feel his life slipping away. [Go, save yourself. I love you my daughter. Your the only hope to stop him. Aiya Bly.]
Suddenly there was a great crash and a blinding flash of light from inside the room. At that moment, Bly knew her father was dead. Now it was up to her to stop Bram. She had to find help and get the rings to put an end to Bram's threat and she knew where she had to go. She had to go find the Dragons. They were her only hope.

As Quynn and Ranjer walked into Jandar and Rage's suite in the Manor, Rage rushed by bumping into them. He looked at his son, hugged him and put their foreheads together in their usual greeting.
"There's food in the kitchen." He said rushing out. "Rose will make sure you have whatever you need while we're gone. Have a good summer Dragonwolf. Hurry Jandar, every one's outside waiting."
"Wait!" Quynn called as Rage ran out. "Where are you going?"
"There's trouble overseas." Jandar said as he finished putting things in a small bag and put it over his shoulder. "We're taking everyone except Ariel and Toric since her baby is due any day now."
"We want to come." Quynn said eagerly. "We can help."
"I'm sure you can." Jandar kissed his sons forehead. "But I'd rather you stay here in case Ariel needs help. Toric is going to be a basket case so she'll need someone to help keep him calm. I don't know how long this will take but we'll try and keep you informed if we can. If you need us, you call understand?"
"Yes father."
As Jandar started to leave, he stopped and turned back to Quynn and Ranjer.
"I'm forgetting something." He looked back at the two handsome young men. "There's something I was suppose to ask you."
"I have no idea what you mean." Quynn give Ranjer that look that said don't open your mouth. Ranjer looked away innocently.
"Whatever it is I'll remember and send to you." Jandar waved as he left. "Have a good summer boys and don't destroy the Manor while were gone. I love you both."
"Aiya Father." Quynn waved as he left.
"Now what?" Ranjer asked.
"Now we have the whole Manor to ourselves." Quynn smiled. "You know what that means?"
"A party." Ranjer clapped his hands in anticipation. "Who should we call first?"
[Quynn!] Rage sent. [Don't do it.]
[What?]
[I know what your thinking.] He sent. [And it's out of the question. You can have a few friends over but absolutely NO PARTY. Do I make myself clear?]
[Yes father.] He turned to Ranjer. "So much for that idea. Want to go for a swim in the bay? There should be Mermaids down there. We'll have company."
"Sure." Ranjer smiled. "That sounds like fun."

The water was cool and the sun was hot. It was a perfect day for a party in the bay. Mermaids swam along while in Dragon and wolf form, Quynn and Ranjer dived in and out on the waves. With a basket lunch on the shore waiting, the two had a fantastic day together in the surf and sand.
By the time the sun had slipped to the west, Quynn sat up and saw something strange in the distance. It was a dark spot on the ocean boiling and rumbling towards them. Quynn sat up and pointed.
"Look. What's that?"
Ranjer sat up and put his hand to his brow to shield it from the sun.
"I don't know." He said. "A storm maybe?"
"That size?" Quynn stood up. "A storm would be much bigger, it would cover the whole horizon, not just one spot."
"I don't know what it is." Ranjer jumped to his feet. "But its coming this way."
As Quynn and Ranjer stared out into the bay, the spot came in closer. Little flashes of light bounced off and on through the disturbance. Then, it looked like some kind of storm cloud, but as they watched, they realized it was a water elemental. And it was fighting something.
"What is that?" Ranjer asked confused. "There's something flying around it."
"It's a Fairy!" Quynn ran down to the waters edge. "And it's in trouble!"
"What kind of fairy moves like that?" Ranjer stepped into the water getting ready to swim out to help.
"Ranjer." Quynn dived in and surfaced. "Stay here. I can swim much faster as a dragon then you can. Be ready in case it makes it to the shore."
"Ok." Ranjer agreed. "But you better hurry."
Diving in, Quynn concentrated and started to shift to his dragon form. His body stretched and more then tripled in length until he was over fifteen feet long with a tail that trailed behind him another five feet. His handsome form grew wings and scales and he took on the black and gray colors of a timberwolf. His snout grew out and his teeth and claws grew long. Now Dragonwolf glided through the water like and arrow through the air.
As his eyes fixed on the water elemental, Dragonwolf saw the fairy fighting for her life. She sent mystic blast again and again at the elemental with no effect other then to annoy it. As it reached out with a hand formed of  water, the fairy blasted it apart, but that didn't stop the water monster. As fast as the fairy blasted hands away, another reformed to take its place. Eventually it grabbed her and pulled her down into the water,
Dragonwolf dived down going deep after the fairy. With a swipe of his claw, he broke the spirit apart and grabbed the fairy and pushed his wings to drive him to the surface. Flying out of the water, he looked back just in time to see the elemental dive up out of the water at him. With a mighty blast of his breath, flames flashed out and blasted into the elemental. With a loud screech the elemental fell back and dissolved back into the water. With the fairy in his arms, Dragonwolf turned and flew on back to the beach where Ranjer was waiting.
Back on the beach, they moved to a shady place under the cliffs where He laid her down and shifted back to  his normal self. The fairy had dark blue skin and blazing red hair and wings. She was huge for a fairy, over five feet tall. There were some pretty formidable talons on her hands. They know this fairy was meant for fighting. But who was she and where did she come from?
"Is she breathing." Ranjer asked as they stood over her.
"I think so."
Suddenly she coughed and threw up water she had taken in. Then she lay back and they could see she was breathing normally.
"What kind of fairy is she?" Ranjer asked. "I've never seen one so big."
"I don't know." Quynn said. "I guess we'll have to wait until she wakes up to find out. I'll stay here, why don't you go back to the manor and get some food and blankets. We'll stay here for the night."
"Ok." Ranjer turned and moved away then shifted to his condor form and took off for the Manor. [I'll be right back.]
As Quynn waited he gathered wood from the forest and built a fire to keep them warm. With a simple snap of his fingers, he set the pile he had built a blaze. Unsure of exactly what the fairy could eat, he decided to get a little fishing done. Quickly he dived back in the water and scared up a few fish they could roast on the fire. As he climbed back on the beach and dropped his catch, the fairy moaned and opened her eyes.
"Aiya." He said as she sat up. "How do you feel?"
"Like I should be dead." She moaned as she looked up at him. "Where am I?"
"Your at the base of the Cliffs of Kolvar." He told her. "New Keanna is just over the top."
"New Keanna!" She tried to get up and fell back down. "You mean I made it!!"
"Easy!" Quynn helped her to sit back up. "Relax, get your strength back before you get hurt. I don't know if you made it. Depends on where you were going."
"I'm looking for the Dragons. This is they're home right?"
"Yeah." Quynn smiled. "We live here and you found one. I'm Quynn Tyr, son of Kings Rage and Jandar. Can I ask who you are?"
"My name is Bly Sharpwing. I knew your parents long ago. I've come to warn them of desperate trouble ahead. I must talk to them."
"I'm afraid my parents aren't here." Quynn told her. "And I have no idea when they will be back."
"Then we're all in deep trouble because Bram Thorn is alive and he wants all of us dead!!"

Welcome to Hell. 2

It was freezing cold as the mist parted and Bram sat up. He shook his head and looked around unsure of where he was. All he could remember was his anger. Someone had done something to him that caused him pain. As he sat thinking he remembers who he was. He was Bramble Tiberius Thorn, master of the elements. He was a warlock of the highest caliber, Standing up, Bram looked around and noticed the room he was in was completely white and empty. It wasn't a room, it was more like an alcove that opened into a hall.  Walking on into the hall, he saw it was lined on both sided with marble columns and laurel trees. Down the center of the hall, a golden carpet lead him on further into a pair of great intricately carved doors. From the looks of all the splendor here, Bram knew he could only be in one place. If he was right, he knew what would be waiting for him on the other side of the doors. As he reached out and grabbed the handles of the door, he pulled them up. Sweet music made by lutes, lyres and pipes flowed out from the door. Heavenly sounds. Standing tall, Bram made his way in through the doors to face whatever this place was.
The chamber he had entered was wide with a high ceiling. Everything in the room was made of marble except the ivory furniture and the many silk tapestries that hung on the walls. Two thrones sat on a dais at the top of a set of four stairs. This was someones palace home. Bram wondered who's.
"Mine."
As Bram turned, a tall man dressed it a pure white toga with a black tunic underneath came walking out from the side entrance. He had very tan skin, a dark beard and mustache and deep blue eyes. He looked very royal to Bram.
"Welcome Bramble Thorn." He said. "Welcome to your eternity."
"Where am I?" Bram asked. "And who are you?"
"Your in my home in the realm I am master of." He smiled and walked down to the throne and sat down. "And I am Nestor, lord of the underworld. Welcome to your after life."
Bram gazed at the beauty of all the marble and ivory. The silk, satin and bowls of fresh fruit. The sweet sound of music and the fragrance of fresh flowers in the air that calmed his exhausted nerves. He thought he had finally found peace from all the torment of his life.
"Eternity here won't be so bad." Bram smiled and relaxed. "I can finally have peace in my life."
"Yes." Nestor smiled. "This is lovely isn't it? But I'm afraid you have it all wrong. This isn't your heaven. This is so you see what is to be denied from you. You've been judged and I'm afraid to say the judgement for you is torment for the rest of eternity for your crimes."
"What?" Bram couldn't believe what he was hearing. "My crimes? What about all the crimes against me? Years of abuse at the hands of my father and the Sorrowdown senate. What about all the beatings I took from my so called masters? What about the looks of fear and all the rocks and things thrown at me every time I tried to find a place to live? How many times have I been burned out of my home?"
"Those are crime yes, but none of that ever happened to you." The room darken as Nestor stood and walked down from his throne. "It was all in your mind. Do you have any idea of the suffering you have caused? Men, women and children dead all because of you. Humans, elves, dwarfs, fairies, all dead! Even the dead have suffered because of you. What have you to say for yourself?"
"I say." Bram looked up at Nestor defiantly. "Good. Why should you even care? I've filled you halls and ranks. You should thank me for what I've done."
"Thank you?" Nestor couldn't believe his imprudence. "Does life mean anything to you? Do you care about anything or anyone? What of your wife and daughter? Do they matter at all?"
"Jamerld and Mya?" He spit her name as if it caused a bad taste in his mouth. "That fairy bitch is the one that betrayed me. She's probably back in her fathers home. Why should I care about them? They mean nothing to me!"
"Such a sad little warlock." Nestor shook his head. Going back to his throne, Nestor sat down and took his staff in his hand. "Bramble Tiberius Thorn, For crimes you have committed against Keanna, I sentence you to Shounda Island where you will suffer at the hands of the elements you once controlled so expertly. Get off the island on your on, and you will have your peace. If not, you will suffer there forever with the voices screaming in your head!"
"Take him away!" Nestor slammed his staff down on the floor. Behind Nestor's throne, a door opened and five dark shadows came flying out. They grabbed Bram by his arms and legs and dragged him back towards the door.
"I will be back lord of the Underworld and I will make you pay just as I made Keanna pay for abusing me." He screamed. "Not even you can hold me in here! I WILL MAKE YOU ALL PAY!!"

When Bram woke up he was laying on a beach on a tropical island. He reached up and brushed the sand from his face and hair then sat up. He looked out at the land around him and saw it wasn't really a beach. There was sand but it stopped about twenty feet from the water then there was nothing but sharp rocks all the way up the shore as far as he could see, Steam rose from the water telling Bram it was hot, boiling hot.
Bram stood up and looked out over water and saw that not far away there was another island, but this one looked a lot more pleasant then the island he was on. Overhead, Bram saw storm clouds all gray an nasty and ready to drop it's storm right on his head.
Remembering Nestor's sentence, he guessed this had to be Shounda island and he was still deep down somewhere in Nestor's underworld. This was a hell created specific just for him. Turning back into the island, he realizes tropical was the wrong word to describe Shounda island. It was more desolate and deserted. But since it had been made just for him, of course it was deserted. There were no trees, no grass, no vegetation at all. There was nothing here but a great rock, and a boat. Somewhere on the island there had to be a boat. Nestor said it would be here, so Bram knew it had to be here.
As Bram started his way up the rocky shore, the storm opened up and rain poured down on him. Freezing wind whipped across the island making the rain sting at him and beat at his face. Then something happened that sent chills through Bram's body. He started hearing voices in his head again. It wasn't the voices of his old masters, these voices were different. They made no sense at first. It was just gibberish. Then they started berating him and accusing him of murder and rape, some of the most horrible crimes. Bram dropped to his knees putting his hands to his ears but that did nothing. The voices just kept talking and screaming, rattling his mind.
Getting to his feet, Bram tried his best to ignore them and close his mind as best he could and go find the boat. With them hushed, he made his way further on up the shore. Steam rose from vents in the rock as he fought against the storm for every step. At one point the ground shook so much, he had to stop to keep from falling on the sharp rocks. But eventually it stopped and he went on until he found what he was looking for.
Of all places, high on a hill, Bram found his boat. It was a small single seated craft made of wood with oars to steer with. Now that he found the boat, he had to find somewhere safe to launch it from. He couldn't just drag it down to the water, without a safe spot on the beach. The rocks would just tear the bottom from the boat and he would sink and drown. Bram stopped said out loud.
"I'm dead. How can I drown?" In his head, an answer came from one of the many voices.
[It can't kill you. But you won't enjoy the feeling.]
"Shut up." He told himself and continued on up the shore.
It took him half and hour of walking until he came to what looked like a small cove. The water looked calm and this was the only place Bram had seen with trees and vegetation. It looked nice. Now all he had to do was go back and get the boat.
As Bram turned, his leg slammed into something. He looked down and there was the boat.
"Of course." He said. "This place is magic."
[Of course it is you idiot.]
Bram ignored the voice and reached down and grabbed the boat. Lifting it high he carefully made his way through the rocks and down to the tree line. Some how the storm had settle making it easy for him to get down to the beach.
"Almost there." He said.
The voices in his head started laughing at him. Called him a simple stupid fool.
"SHUT UP!" Bram yelled. "I'm almost there!"
[You think it's going to be that easy?] A voice laughed. [Just wait.]
Ignoring them, Bram carried the boat down to the clear blue water and dropped it in. Climbing in, Bram used the oars and pushed his way out, then started rowing up away from the island.
[Wait for it.]
Looking out he could see the second island. It was close, so close. He was going to make it. Then as if he had done it himself, a storm raged in rocking the boat on the high waves. The wind picked up and steam burst into geysers from the ocean bottom.
[Here it is!!]
Like a bit of flotsam in a puddle, the boat was grabbed by a wave and dashed back to shore where rocks had suddenly replaced the sandy beach he had launched from. Like an egg the boat crashed into the rocks and Bram sank drowning to the bottom of the ocean.
As Bram scrambled to swim to the surface struggling to breathe, he slammed his head into the rocks, and down he sank. The last thing he heard in his head before he blacked out was.
[I told you. See you in the morning. Welcome to hell.]

Day after day, week after week, year after year, Bram struggled with the boat. Everyday a different place on the island, everyday the same screaming voices in his head and everyday the same results. He goes out in the boat, sometimes he almost makes it to the second island but everyday he gets smashed back into the rocks to drown and Death wakes him to start all over again. Sometimes he drowned and sometimes he burned. Sometimes the ground opened and swallowed him and the boat and sometimes a tornado picked him up and dropped him on the jagged rocks. But in the end, it was always the same. Bram would die and come back in the morning. That was to be his eternity. Even if he didn't try, still it would end the same. He would die. Even if it meant the island sank, he would die.
As he opened his eyes this morning, a beautiful white haired woman in a long flowing gown stood over him. Bram sat up and said good morning to the goddess of death.
"Ready to start again?"
"What do you want from me Angela?" Bram sat up and glared at the goddess. "Leave me alone and let me get on with my mission."
"Mission?" She laughed. "Don't you mean punishment?"
"You want me to be sorry for the things I've done." Bram stood up. "But I'm not. The world deserved all I did and more. In fact when I escape here, I'm going to show Keanna what fear really is."
"Then I'm afraid you will never leave this island." Angela frowned down at him and started to fade away. "Enjoy your eternity. You deserve it."
"Just wait and see!" He screamed at the sky. "My time will come!!"
[Times a wasting Useless.] One of his voices said. [Get moving before something drops out of the sky on you.]
This was one of those rare times in Bram's hell when there was no storm. The sky was clear but gray since this wasn't really a sky but a dimension where Lord Nestor had control over everything. It was hot and as Bram walked the island he began to sweat like mad. First he went north to search but found nothing so he circled around to the west where it started getting hotter and hotter. Kneeling down, he put his hand to the ground and realized the heat was coming from under ground. That meant volcanic activity. He would have to be careful. He didn't want to get burned by lava again.
Continuing on, Bram came to a hill. A rather large hill with smoke rising from the top. This must be the volcano. He wasn't surprised. This volcano hadn't been here yesterday and it won't be here tomorrow. That was how often the landscape changed in his hell.
[Can't let you get use to it around here can we.] The voice said. [That would be to easy. But since you'll never be leaving, we'll think of something different everyday to torture you with. Won't that be fun.]
[So what will it be today?] Another voice said. [Fire? Lightning? Maybe we'll flood the island again. We always enjoy watching you drown.]
"If I had my powers, it would be different." Bram mumbled as he walked around the volcano.
[But you don't, so why do you just climb the volcano and jump in. Make it easy on yourself.]
"I won't give up. I'm getting off this island."
[Fat chance of that.] A voice said smugly.
So on Bram walked. He stumbled a few times and fell bruising and skinning his knees, but he got back up and kept going. As he reached the other side, he saw the boat laying there at the bottom of the hill.
Good he thought. Now that he had found it, all he had to do was find his launching spot and get himself off this damned island. Just then the ground started to shake as the volcano began to erupt. Bram looked up to the top just in time to see the top explode and go flying into the air. Without another thought, he took off running down the side of the volcano to keep from being caught in the flow of lava he knew would soon be coming down at him. All around him huge rocks rained down. Dodging left then right jumping out of the way of lava bombs as they fell he ran. With a quick look back, Bram stopped when he saw one coming he could dodge. It was so big there was no where for him to hide. This one would crush him no matter what he did. Raising his hands over his head, Bram screamed and did something completely unexpected. He pushed out with the power he had no idea he had and opened a great gape into shadow that swallowed the lava and saved his ass. Shocked at what he had just done, he looked at his hand and realized he still wore his ring of shadow.
Running on Bram smiled as an idea how to get off the island came to him. Laughing with madness he went on to the beach to find his launching area and the way off the island.

The memory of searing pain brought Bram back to consciousness. He sat up and screamed from the memory of being swallowed by an underwater volcano. With his burned eyes healed, Bram opened them and stared up at Angela who like every morning, was always there to taunt him.
"Aren't you tired of all this yet?" She asked. "You could end your torment with a few simple easy words. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and it'll all be over."
"Forgiveness?" Bram laughed as he climbed to his feet. "I'm not the one who should be asking for forgiveness. The world should be begging me for forgiveness. But it doesn't matter anyway. That was my last death here. I'm leaving today thinks to you."
"Me?" She looked at him confused. "I have no intention of helping you leave here. And even if I wanted to help you, I couldn't. I don't rule here, Lord Nestor does."
"Yes." Bram smiled raising his hand and fingering his ring. "Lord Nestor, lord of the Underworld and your father if I'm not mistaken."
"So?" Angela took a step back. She didn't like the way Bram looked at her. He was up to something. "What would happen if you disappeared my lovely goddess of death? What would your father do to get you back?"
"You have no power here Bram Thorn." Angela pulled her cloak close around her shoulders ready to be gone. "Get back to your punishment and threaten me no more!"
"It's true I have no power in the Underworld." Bram raised his hand and pointed to Angela. "But I can do this!"
With a wave of his hand he projected a shadow behind Angela. Without looking she stepped back and was swallowed into his dark abyss. Snapping his fingers, he closed the shadow as the death goddess fell screaming into the darkness.
"Now we'll see what the life of a goddess is worth."

With Angela missing, all death on Keanna stopped. Hunting became impossible, the animals didn't die. Executions didn't work and no one died of murder or accident. Nothing could die. It took Lord Nestor all of  two hours before the constant line at the gates to the Underworld was empty. Seeing no one on line for judgement, the spirit gate keeper sent word to the palace to tell Nestor something was wrong.
As Nestor wandered out through the outer gate, Zemos his chief justice came to meet him and stand at his side.
"How is this possible?" He asked waving to the empty road that led into the living dimension. "How is it that no one has died in the last few "
"I don't know my lord." Zemos said with fear in his eyes. "But this must be fixed. The world can not go on without death."
"Without death?" These words rang something in Nestors heart. "Death. Where is my daughter? Where is Angela?"
"I haven't seen her since she came in to make her morning visits." Zemos watched as fire crept into Nestor's eyes. "She should have returned by now. Could there be trouble?"
"Bramble Thorn!" Nestor turned as flames began to surround him and leaped into the air and make his way to Shounda Island where the warlock waited for him.
In less then two minutes, Lord Nestor ruler of the Underworld was hovering over the shores of Shounda Island all ablaze with hellfire..
"BRAMBLE THORN, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!"
"Aiya Lord Nestor." Bram called up to him. "I have been expecting you. Please come down and make yourself comfortable."
Streaking down, Nestor landed with and explosion and towered over the lone warlock. Bram back up to keep from being burned by Nestor's fury.
"Where is she?"
"Somewhere safe that only I can bring her back from." Bram said as Nestor's heat became overwhelming. "You can search if you want, but you would be wasting yours and Angela's time and her sanity is in danger. You won't find her without me."
"What is it you want." Nestor asked calmly.
"I want my life back." Bram knew he had him. "I want my powers back and I want revenge against the ones that put me here."
"And you think you know who put you here do you?" Nestor folded his arms across his chest. He hated having to give the warlock what he wanted, but then maybe he could give him what he deserved.
"You want your life back?" Nestor's flame dissipated and he shrank down to normal size. "Granted. you free Angela and I'll give you a year to catch and kill who you think is responsible for your being in this hell. If you fail, you come right back here and your punishment goes on forever. Is it a deal?"
"What about my powers." Bram asked suspiciously. "Do I get them back?"
"Yes."
"Then you have a deal." Bram waved his hand and opened the portal to darkness and Angela fell out shivering to the ground. Nestor rushed to her side and held her in his arms to soothe her and assure her she was alright. Bram laughed as he watched the father and daughter. Nestor looked up at Bram.
"Go now before I change my mind." With a wave of his hand, Nestor made Bram disappear.
"Father." Angela whispered. "You shouldn't have let him go."
"He'll be back." Nestor held her head to his chest. "You can count on it."

The Elements of Revenge. chapter I Book IV

It was a cold stormy night as Jandar and Rage dropped down out of the storm clouds over Heimdel castle. Their destination was a cave where the leaders and generals of many Keannian cities awaited them. As Rage flew closer to the cliffs, Jandar pointed to a cave where light seeped out from the entrance.
[There.] He sent to his mate. Rage nodded and angled his wings to glide in that direction. In less than three minutes, the pair were walking in pass sentries who watch the hills for anything suspicious.
The cave corridor was long with torches placed every twenty feet or so to light the way. At the end there was a large cavern where the meeting would be held and the nine waited for them. As they entered the great cavern, the nine talked quietly in small groups. When King Philibar of Pelordra saw them, he called for attention in the room.
"Can everyone take a seat." He said. "It's time we begin."
Taking Jandar's hand, Rage led him to the chairs beside the king, their honored place. At the tables head sat King Philibar Windstar of Pelordra the cloud city of the Sky Elves. Next to him on his left sat General Vibius Gauis Herkalus and Captain Manius Regulus Pius military leaders of Sorrowdown. Then Asam Arynn from the golden Phoenician city of Casthor. In his red and gold robes the Phoenix nodded a greeting to Jandar and Rage.
Sitting quietly staring at everyone, Kranko Fearfist was next. He sat there looking annoyed in his dented armor decorated with small skulls and bones. On his head, he wore a long lock held tightly back with a rabbit skull. Being the only Goblin there, his hand never left the hilt of his knife. Beside him sat the representative of the Vampires. Tomz Acros. Jandar and Rage knew him very well from Yadessa's last battle with Lord Larin and Queen Talsara. It had been him who carried Tayor Larin's cursed object into Prafa to bring the city under their spell. Ever since the defeat of Lord Larin, Tomz had sworn to his king to be Yadessa's protector. And he had been doing a good job. When the Sorceress Raven attacked, it had been Tomz who went in and forced her out into the sunlight where she burned. He had also found and saved the young Vampires that had been taken by the hunters and brought them home. So now with Bram Thorn attacking all over the countryside. Tomz had taken it on as his job to stop him. So here he was at the table to discuss strategies on defeating the elemental warlock, Bramble Thorn.
Next to Tomz looking snobbish and regal sat Eldar Mystwinter. Second to the throne of Mystwinter in the Halador forest. Eldar was a tall proud elf who usually did not like to associate with anyone but those of his forest people. But since his city had been captured by Talsara Darkshade, he had asked for help to free his people and was now indebted to those who fought and died to free Mystwinter. So here he was ready to lend a hand against the menace Thorn.
The last two places at the table were held by Bly Sharpwing and Leda Redhelm. Bly Sharpwing of Ammath was one of the most dangerous types of fairies Jandar had ever seen. She was short in her human form, no more than five foot four inches with dark shadow features. Her skin had the dark hue of a plum with blazing red hair. Her eyes yellow slanted up in the corners and her fangs looked sharp giving her an evil visage. She had the slender figure of a fairy maiden with what looked to Jandar like razor-sharp fairy wings on her back. She wore a dark gray cloak and underneath a short dress covered with magical symbols.  Jandar wasn't sure what type of fairy she was, but he could tell she was a warrior, and a deadly one. Next to her sitting high in her chair with a dagger in her hands cleaning her nails sat Leda Redhelm. A very muscular dwarven female. Dark hair and high browed with the looks of a woman who had fought her way through many many battles. She wore leather pants and a bodice breastplate with intricate small gems set in it. In front of her on the table sat her favorite weapon, a mace that Jandar could tell was worn from constant use.
Here at this table sat the twelve convened for the express mission of decided what was to be done about a threat that had been raging in all their lands, Bram Thorn. As King Philibar stood and cleared his throat, the room grew quiet.
"I have called you all here to discuss a monster that has been plaguing all our lands." Philibar gazed across the table at each of his guests. "Something must be done about Bram Thorn."
Voices were raised all around the tables as their anger erupted around the room and people jumped to their feet.
"That bastard came into Sorrowdown and burned half our city!" Vibius shouted. "Four schools and a whole section of the market place was lost! Do you know how many people died? Over two hundred burned. Fifty of the children!"
"He flooded parts of our forest." Eldar slammed his fist into the table. "Nymphs, elves, and fauns drowned along with many elves. The trees will take years to heal. My people may starve while our magic is so badly weakened."
"Be calm all of you!" Philibar held up his hand to quiet the shouting. "I am aware of all the things Bram's done in all our homes. I've heard about the mines he tore down and the dwarfs that were buried. And you, Kranko. His men hunted your people, killed your females. I know the horrors Bram cast on all of us. That's why we're here. To decide what to do about it."
"This Bram sounds almost like Polan," Jandar whispered to Rage. "Should we get involved here?"
[Bram Thorn is just as dangerous as Polan Dressek.] Tomz sent from his seat. [I'm surprised you aren't already involved. Valkar didn't tell you anything about the warlock?]
[Valkar told us about this meet.] Rage told Tomz. [He said it was something we should attend. He never said why.]
[Valkar sends his apology and asked me to explain everything to you.] Tomz looked deeply into Jandar and Rage's eyes. [There's a small village north of Prafa called Shadowbreak. It only houses about fifty vampires but they are loyal to the crown and someone in the village is close to a member of the Zlenka house.]
[Is there a problem there?] Jandar asked.
[Yes.] Tomz nodded. [The village is missing.]
[Missing?] Rage sat forward-looking curious. [What do you mean? The people are missing?]
[No. the whole village is gone.] He explained. [There's nothing there but a large hole in the ground. No cottages, no barns, nothing. Everything's gone.]
Jandar looked at Rage. He knew it would take some great magic to do something like that. Not beyond him, but way beyond most warlocks and mages that he knew in the area. Could it be like when the Academy vanished?
[Have you consulted Insa at the Academy?] Rage asked.
[He told us of the troubles with Bram and advised we come to you.]
[We'll do what we can.] Jandar agreed to help. [ Yadessa has had enough trouble in the last few years, we'll see what is to be done.]
[Thank you.] Tomz sent to them.
As Jandar and Rage turned their attention back to the meeting, Bly Sharpwing had just finished telling everyone about the troubles Bram had forced on her lands.
"Like the Elves, my people's lives depend on magic." She explained. "Without magic, we weaken and will fade out of existence. We are elemental and Bram siphons the magic of all the elements when he works his magic."
"I can work elemental magic to Bly," Jandar said. "All my brothers in our clan can. It's never hurt the nature of the fairy or the elves before. I don't understand."
"As Dragons, you are part of nature." She said. "And your elemental powers don't take from nature like Bram. He's a destroyer, his magic isn't in harmony with nature, it goes against the principles of life as we know it. He must be stopped or many more will die."
"We have another brother." Rage stood to address the group. "He's not a dragon or a werewolf or really even human. He's something different and if you agree to put this Bram in his hands once we catch him, the dragons will help. But we won't be a party to any posses or witch hunts. If you want our help, then you do this our way. "
Rage pushed back his chair and he and Jandar walked to the entrance of the cavern.
"We'll be out watching the storm. Call us when you have a decision."
As Jandar and Rage left the room, it erupted into a chaotic conversation. Leda, Vibius, Manius, and Kanko wanted to refuse the dragon's help. They thought they had enough troops to move in and beat Bram on their own. But Asam,Tomz, Bly, and Philibar knew magic was not to be underestimated. They might have enough force to storm the castle, but what happens when Bram fights back? Do they have the magic to defeat him without the Dragons? So far elven magic, fairy magic, not even Phoenician magic had worked. Maybe the Dragons were what they needed.

Outside on the balcony, Jandar and Rage watched as the lightning flashed through the stormy skies. Fierce winds whipped Jandar's cloak making it wave like some majestic flag. Rage walking up behind Jandar and enclosed him in his arms and kissing his neck.
"What's on your mind?"
"Just a feeling." Jandar leaned back into him. "I don't think this will be as easy as we think."
"At least we don't have a war to fight this time."
"Not yet we don't." He said. "And right now is not the time for us to be involved in a war. Shayn and Ono are away visiting their friends from Pentanthin and Quynn are just beginning to shift. Ranjer makes a great sitter but he's going to need our attention now more than ever."
"I know love." Jandar squeezed his hand. "Maybe this Bram thing won't be as bad as they're all saying."
"I hope not."
Just then a guard came out to tell them the decision had been made. Pulling his cloak tight around him, Jandar led Rage, hand in hand back in to find out what the council's decision would be.

As Vibius Herkalus, Manius Regulus, Leda Redhelm and Kranko Fearfist sat at the foot of the mountain and watched the others fly off, Vibius turned to the others with a frown.
"This isn't right." He said. "Bram destroyed half our city and I'm supposed to just hand him over to them for judgment?  I can't do that."
"The Emperor won't like it." Manius agreed. "He'll want to have a chance to sentence him for his crimes."
"I don't care about your stupid king thing." Kranko spits to the side. "I want to crush him. I want his ears hanging on a string around my neck! I wanna chew his bone!!"
"Then it's settled?" Leda stopped her horse in front of the others. "We take Bram once he's defeated. We show him our brand of justice."
"Agreed." Vibius nodded looking to the others. "The Dragons can have what's left after we're done."
"I will see you all in two days when we storm his castle." Leda kicked her horse into moving. "May the gods be with us."

"No!" Bram screamed. "That's not what I wanted from you at all!! Your father's crown is what you were supposed to return with. Without it, I'll have no control over anything in Fay Shrea! Why can't my own wife do a simple task I set before her? Is that too much to ask?"
"I tried." Jameld Thorn cried as Bram raged through the room throwing everything he could grab. "Getting in and out of the Hollow isn't so easy. My father doesn't trust us anymore."
"Then make him trust you!" He turned and faced his beautiful wife. "You have charms, use them on him!"
"It's not that simple my husband."Jameld moved closer and put her hand on his over the five rings on his right hand. "Father thinks I'm dead. He ignores me when I visit the Hollow. He ordered everyone to ignore my presence, it's like I don't exist to him anymore. I can't get near the crown jewels."
"Your father is a Fool!" Bram pushed his hand away from him. "Very well. If he won't give me the crown, we'll just have to take it! I'll take everything he has and grind it into the ground right before I bury him alive! I was going to spare his kingdom of any more pain, but I think not. I think I'm going to make him wish he never got in the way of Bram Thorne!!"

As his mad laughter rang out, his emotions forced the storm outside to a fever pitch. Thunder and lightning crashed into the trees and hills outside Heimdel castle setting off small fires in the forest. Just inside the line of trees, nine men and one dwarven female waited for their fairy spy to return from her reconnaissance mission.
Her task had been to check Heimdel castle to find out what kind of forces Bram had there to back him up. If there were troops, how many and where were they stationed. Were there guards at the gates? Was the castle's barracks full of fighting men asleep or awake. Where there and innocents in the castle being held captive. If there were troops, Vibius and Manius were to lead the assault once Jandar and the others had Bram engage in a mystical battle. If not, there's would be the task of taking Bram into custody once they had him overwhelmed with magic. There were many variables to be checked and Jandar and Rage insisted everything be done right to keep everyone as safe as possible.
"The night air is hard on these warrior's bones," Vibius said pulling his cloak tighter around him. "I wonder what takes the fairy so long?"
"Heimdel castle is no small cottage." Rage said from his place next to Jandar. "There are many halls and rooms to be checked. We don't want to charge in to find and army at our backs do we?"
"I don't think the mad warlock could have an army there with him," Manius said. "He's way too paranoid. He doesn't trust anyone to work for him."
"There are other types of troops a warlock can command that trust wouldn't be an issue you know." Tomz pointed out. "Bram has magic which means he can do almost anything he wants. What's to stop him from building his army from a stone? It is possible."
That thought shut Manius up and sent a chill through his bones. As an elemental, he could create an army of fire and send it against them. Manius prayed Bram wasn't that imaginative or this might turn out to be much harder then they thought.
As they talked quietly, a small magical light appeared from out of the forest and started towards them.
"She comes." Asam pointed. Like a star falling from the sky, Bly sailed on over the forest through the storm. The closer she got to the group, the brighter her light shined until she was right over them. Swirling down, she gently came down to light on Jandar's shoulder. Folding her wings to her back, she shook the few drops of rain off and started her report.
"I went from room to room searching for any soldiers he might have hidden and found nothing. Bram is in the main study raging furiously. We won't need any troops to attack him."
"No troops?" Rage asked. "But doesn't that mean he's alone? Who's he raging at?"
"He screams about my father." Bly told them.
"Your father?" Jandar held up his hand for her to settle on. "I don't understand. What's he got against Valerian Sharpwing?"
Bly looked away not wanting to answer. Jandar looked at each of them one by one for an answer. No one spoke up.
"Ok, Bly." Jandar lifted her up to look closely at her. "What is it? There's something you're not telling us. Out with it."
"Bram may not be alone in there."
"Fine." Rage walked over to stand with Jandar. "Who's in there with him?"
"His wife."
"His wife?" Rage stepped back surprised. "Bram's married? Are you sure she's in there?"
"She has to be there." Bly insisted. "He never goes anywhere without them."
"Wait, them? Who else is in there?"
"Their daughter Mya."
"Tomz!" Rage grabbed him by the shoulder. "Did you know about this? Why didn't you tell us?"
"We didn't know." Tomz had a look of surprise on his face. He obviously didn't know his enemy as well as he should.
I'm going in to get them out." Jandar started towards the castle.
"Wait!" Bly buzzed around and hovered in front of him. "Let me go. I can get them out."
"No." Jandar shoed her away. "Its to risky. You might get hurt."
"I don't care.!" Bly screamed as she flew up to confront Jandar. "This is my responsibility. It's my fault. I have to get them out!"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S MY SISTER!!"
Jandar stopped and turned back to find Bly there in here normal larger form with tears flowing from her eyes.
"It's my fault he has her." She cried. "I was supposed to protect her, but he caught me off guard and took her away. We searched but by the time we found them, he was too powerful for me. Jameld was already with his child. Now I have to get her out and away from that monster!"
Reaching out, Jandar took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. He knew she was right. She had to be the one to free her sister. Jameld would never trust anyone else.
"Are you sure you can find them?" Rage asked.
"I will get them out." She wiped her tears. "I have too."
"Go." Jandar smiled. "We'll give you half an hour before we attack. Get them out while we hold Bram in battle."
"Thank you." In a flash she shifted back to fairy size and shot off into the darkness.
"We wait thirty minutes then we move in." Jandar explained. "Asam and I will go in first to get his attention. Once we have him engaged, Rage will wait and attack only if we need him. Eldar and Philibar will wait just in case we need the extra magic."
"What about us?" Vibius asked. "What are we doing?"
"You're going to sneak in and take him once we have him in binds and powerless." Jandar looked at Rage. "Ready?"
"Call me when your ready for me Love." Rage kissed Jandar then ran off into the storm.
"Twenty minutes and we go."

Madness ruled Bram Thorn's mind as he paced back and forth across his study floor. His anger was out of control as a voice he knew to be one of his five masters screamed in his head.
[What do you think your doing? You can't possibly think you can beat Valerian Sharpwing? His magic is beyond your understanding.]
[Your a foolish boy who never could do anything right.] Another said.
[Just give up.] A third voice snickered. [Defeat is all you'll ever know.]
Bram grabbed his head pressing his hands to his ears to silence the voices. But they wouldn't stop. They rambled on and on and on.
[Listen to me boy. Kill yourself.] A fourth huskier voice laughed. [It's all you are good for!!]
"NO." He sent a bolt of lightning from his hand at the table blowing it to bits. "I am Bram Thorn! The greatest elemental ever born! I beat all of you! No one can defeat me!!"
[We'll see.] The fifth voice was female. [We'll see who defeats who. Right now outside they're lining up to come in here and put you in your place. What will you do now?]
Bram's eyes darted from corner to corner as his mad mind raced for an answer.
"Fight!" He ran to the window and threw it open. "Yes I'll fight all of you! And I'll win too! None of you can beat me!! Hahaha ha ha ha!!!!"
He raised his fist and sent bolt after bolt out into the darkness. "Come if you dare! I'm ready, I'll kill you all!!"

Moving with amazing speed, Bly went from room to room searching for her sister and the baby. She started on the first floor checking the dark kitchens and stables. From there she went to the servant quarters and first floor guest rooms. She checked dining halls and the armory, the larder and the throne room. No Jamerld. Finding a stairwell she went higher into the castle. On the second floor, she found the royal bedrooms of the royal family and more guest quarters for higher-ranked guests. The library and offices of the kings advisers and the head of the guards were in one section and still she hadn't found any sign of Jamerld anywhere.
As she turned a corner, Bly could hear the ravings of the mad warlock. Time was running out. She had found Bram but her sisters whereabouts were still a mystery.
There were still two possibilities left. She could be locked in one of the towers of the castle or she could be in a cell somewhere in the dungeons. Bly didn't have time to check them both. She had to pick one and hope she had the right area and Jamerld and the baby would be there waiting.

With lightning raining out from the castle window, Jandar called for his staff and signaled the others it was time to move. Closing his eyes, Jandar reached inside himself and called upon his magic to surround and protect him. As Jandar and Asam stepped out and rose into the night sky, a golden glow spread out from Jandar's body making him light and airborne. Beside him, opening his cloak, Asam threw himself into the air. Flames erupted all around him setting him in the center of a phoenix made of flame. With wings of fire, Asam followed the glowing mage high over the castle. Once there, Jandar raised his staff and roared out his challenge to Bram.

"HEAR ME BRAMBLE TIBERIUS THORN, ELEMENTAL WARLOCK BANISHED SON OF SORROWDOWN. FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF KEANNA. WE ARE HERE TO BIND YOUR POWERS AND TAKE YOU INTO CUSTODY. WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAY IN YOUR DEFENSE?"
A blue streak of lightning cracked from the castle window and sped up into the sky towards Jandar and Asam barely missing them. Behind it Bram, surrounded by a mystical blue glow, rose up to meet them.
"I say power gives me the right to do anything I want!" His gray jet black hair waved in the storms mighty winds as his mad eyes glared to Jandar and Asam. "You call me a weak incompetent fool unable to cast a spell correctly! I'll show you who's incompetent!!"
With clenched fist, Bram swung his arm out at the pair. Lightning blasted out of the clouds and struck Jandar like a hammer knocking him back. Rolling away, he quickly recovered and sent his own blast at Bram which he easily shrugged off. With a loud squawk, Asam sent a series of fireballs out at Bram which he batted away while laughing hysterically.
"Is that what you call magic?" Spittle sprayed from Bram's mouth. "How's this?"
He swept his arm up. From below, two huge boulders sprang from the ground and like missiles, flew at Jandar and Asam.
Closing his wings, Asam waited for the last possible second, then swept them open sending heat vibrating out to crash into the one coming at him shattering it into dust that rained back towards the ground.
With a wave of his hand, Jandar made the missile aimed at him completely intangible and let it pass right through him. As he reached out, he collected the dust and debris from Asam's boulder and formed it back into three smaller rocks and tossed them right back at Bram.

From below, Philibar, Eldar,  Leda, Tomz, Vibius, Manius and Kranko watched the magical battle as it flashed through the sky. Every spell sent was countered and defected causing awe in the unmagical watchers. Philibar and Eldar chatted on the side about different types of attacks and what they could do if the battle came their way.
"And you thought a simple attack by force would have caught him." Eldar laughed. "Bram is way beyond force now. Sorrowdowns whole army couldn't stand a chance against him."
"But four warriors just might be able to surprised him at a weakened moment." Vibius nodded to Manius, Leda and Kranko. "You three, follow me."
"Where are you going?" Tomz asked.
"To do what we were told to do."
Climbing on their horses, the four rode off towards castle Heimdel. Behind them, Philibar, Eldar, and Tomz watched as they rode off.
"Why do I get the feeling something stupid is about to happen? Tomz asked.

"I know why your here!" Bram screamed as blue energy surged from his hands at Jandar and Asam. "Your here for my rings! You want my power, you always did. Well you can't have it! It's mine!"
[What in Rimnar's name is he talking about?] Asam forced his shield into a better position to deflect the blasts.
[I have no idea.] Jandar sent. [He's been rambling nonsense ever since the battle started. We have to find a weak point then I can call Rage in.]
[Be ready. I'm going to try something.]
Folding his wings, Asam went into a dive. His flames burned brighter as more air was fed into the fire. With a quick-shifting of his weight he turned and flew straight at Bram. Bram screamed and hammered him with his blue bolts. Taking the blows on his wings, Asam pulled up and at the last minute brought his tail flames up and smacked Bram right out of the sky.

As Bly reached the top of the tower stairs, she stood in front of a huge door. Shifting to her larger form, she reached out and grabbed the doorknob and turned it. As the door creaked open, a foul smell came out of the room and choked the breath from Bly. It was a horrible smell that once you smell, you never forget. It was the smell of death. As Bly pushed open the door, she noticed she was in a sparsely furnished room. There was only a bed in the room with something in it. It looked like someone was sleeping. Quietly Bly floated over to the bed praying she didn't just found who she had come looking for. Reaching out she grabbed the sheet and pulled it back. As she gazed down at the bodies in the bed, her heart screamed out in horror. Just then something huge came crashing through the roof and tore through the room. Without even thinking Bly shifted to fairy and took off dodging bricks, lumber, and debris. She didn't stop to even think about what she had seen until she was clear of the castle.

As Bram crashed through the floor of the tower, He twisted and came down flat on his stomach stunned. It took him only seconds to recover, but by then, Jandar and Asam had dropped down lower over the hole in the ceiling and were ready with the binding spell. From high above they began to chant.

POWERS OF EARTH.
POWERS OF WIND.
POWERS OF FIRE AND SEA.
WE STRIP THESE POWERS FROM THEE.
NO LONGER WILL THE WIND BLOW.
OR THE EARTH MOVE, WATER FLOW
OR FIRE BURN FOR THEE.
WE BIND THE ELEMENTS
AWAY FROM THEE.

As Bram screamed his outrage, eight rings slipped off his fingers and rolled away from him. With great effort, he climbed to his feet and turned to grab for his rings. Just then, the door to his study was kicked open and Vibius, Manius, Leda and Kranko rushed in with sword in hand. As Bram stepped back, the four dived at him and started stabbing down into his body. Blood rained all over the room as the mad warlock screamed and fell to the floor.
"This is not over!" He screamed. "Even death can not hold me! I will be back, and I will make you all pay. I will make your children pay! So swears Bramble Tiberius Thorne!"

Call out to my Readers.

If you have read this story please let me know. I want to know what you think. I'm new at this and just want some feedback. Thank you. message me at lyricalpoet05@gmail.com please respond. Thank you.

Epilogue. A New Goddess is Born. 70

The sun rose bright and shining on the Wolves Lair as the dragons brought the Tyr family back home. All the carnage from the day before had been cleaned up and Tof had decided to keep the wall Dreik had built. The pits were filled in burying the remainders of the warriors. Things were finally back to normal. The only thing left to do was to start the repairs on Yadessa. Winterhaven, Tir Na and New Keanna had promised to give Valkar and his people all the help they needed to fix their homes. Drake was still lost in himself worrying about Ono. He just couldn't find his way out his private hell. His only hope was to find his pup. And that Jandar would do if it killed him.

Down in the underworld Angela was finally going to meet her father. She had been allowed entry along with Athene, Tanis, Arturus and Adam for a private ceremony. She had no idea what it was for, she was just glad to have her family together at last.
" The underworld!" Tanis said as they walked up the stairs of Nestor's palace. " It's not as creepy as I expected."
" Well that's because this is considered heaven." Athene told him. " Mother, what are we doing her?"
" Your grandmother asked us to come." She told them. " Your going to meet your grandfather."
" Wait." Tanis stopped. " Grandmother is the goddess of the moon, right? Well who's grandfather?"
They all stopped and looked at Angela and waited for her answer. She looked at them and smiled.
" Your grandfather is Nestor, Lord of the Underworld." She waited for their reaction.
" Your serious?" Athene looked deep into her mothers eyes.
" Yes I am." She said. " Now your on your best behavior. All of you."
Angela walked into the palace in the lead followed by her children, then Arturus and Adam. Trumpets began to sound as the approached the main room. All along the hall spirits dressed in dark tunics and trousers with gold lapels and buttons stood at attention. At the end of the hall they came into a grand hall filled with marble statuary of heroes and different gods. Sitting in two thrones backed by Aramis, Atol, Alee Karis and Jax sat Alea and her husband Lord Nestor.
Angela bowed before the thrones. Adam, Arturus and her children followed suit.
" Step forward and be recognized. my daughter" Nestor called to her. Angela stood and walked forward and stopped and bowed again. Alea and Nestor stood and stepped down form their thrones and stood next to their daughter, then bowed with her.
Angela wondered what was going on. Why were they knelling beside her? Suddenly a light began to glow over the thrones. Angela felt the change in the atmosphere. She was in the presents of something much more powerful that Aramis or Alea.
RISE ALEA AND NESTOR. Thundered through the grand hall. IS THIS OUR GRANDDAUGHTER? SHE WHO SENT BALTHAZAR GAELICH TO HIS FINAL REST?
" Yes father." Alea said. " This is her."
WE ARE PLEASE TO MEET YOU GRAND DAUGHTER. She heard. STAND BEFORE US.
Angela climbed to her feet with the help of her father and stood before her grandparent, Rimnar and Saila.
(You are as beautiful as you mother.) Saila said. ( Do you know why you are here?)
" No." She answered. " I don't."
DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE? Rimnar asked.
" Rimnar and Saila." She said.
ANGELA GAELICH Rimnar called to her. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE ON THE MANTLE OF A GODDESS?
She looked at her mother for advice. Alea nodded at he. She was happy her daughter had been asked to take this position.
" Yes."
She said. " I will accept the mantle."
THEN BOW BEFORE US. Rimnar's orb began to glow much brighter. WE GIVE TO YOU THIS POWER OVER DEATH. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL BE ABSORBED BE DEATH LIKE MUERTE. BUT THAT YOU WILL RULE DEATH WITH YOUR FATHER.
A glowing orb split off from Rimnar and settled over Angela.
RISE ANGELA AND TOUCH THE ORB.
Angela stood up and reached out. the orb settled down into her hand and flashed out to cover her. When the blinding glow dimmed, Angela stood there looking radiant. Her hair was no longer white. All the lines in her face cleared and she looked years younger. She smiled at them all.
BEHOLD. Rimnar announced. WELCOME ANGELA, GODDESS OF DEATH!!
( Welcome granddaughter) Saila and Rimnar began to fade. ( We are pleased.)

The next day back in New Keanna, Jax appeared in Jandar and Rages study with Karis.
" Jandar." Jax walked over and sat with the worried mage. " This is my brother Karis. He is the messenger of my father. He has access to many different realms. My father has granted us permission to search for Ono and Shayn."
" Thank you." Jandar grasped his hand and shook it.
" Don't worry my friend." Karis smiled at him. " We'll find them. No matter where we have to search."
" And we'll bring them home." Jax said. " I promise."


THE END.