Death of a Hero. 5

As Quynn, Ranjer and Bly sat in the kitchen of the Manor, Toric helped Ariel in and led her to a comfortable seat. Pregnant, she sat down and placed her hands on her stomach then looked at the three young ones.
"Now what's this all about?" She asked.
"It's about someone from the past." Bly explained from her seat on Quynn's shoulder. "Have you heard of Bram Thorn?"
"Vaguely." Toric handed Ariel a cold drink. "I remember Jandar telling me something about a crazy warlock Valkar sent them to see about. Something about an Elemental I think. But if I remember it right, he's suppose to be dead."
"He is." Bly said."Or he was. Somehow he's returned from the underworld and he wants revenge on all of us who sent him there."
"And by us." Ariel put down her cup. "I'm guessing you mean Jandar and Rage?"
"Yes." Bly nodded her head. "Jandar, Rage, all the Dragons and everybody responsible for his death and their families."
"That's a lot of people." Toric whistled. "Is he that powerful?"
"I believe he is." She said tearfully. "Three days ago he came to Fay Shrea. To Ammath where my father was the king. We are a warrior race of fairy. One of the most powerful of all the fairy kingdoms. He killed my father and everyone else in Ammath and destroyed our home. I am now the last Ammath fairy on Keanna."
"By the gods!" Quynn said in shock. "We're so sorry. What can we do to help?"
"I need your fathers to help me send him back to the underworld." Bly explained. "If we don't stop him, he'll be after all of us."
"You better warn them." Toric told Quynn. "Have them return as fast as possible."
"I've been trying." Quynn said."I'm not getting any kind of response."
"Nothing?" Ariel asked. "Can you feel them at all?"
"I can feel them." Quynn stood and went to the window to look out. "I can always feel them. I feel my dads, Ono, Shayn and all the others. I just can't reach them."
"What about Jax?" Toric asked. "Can you reach him?"
"Nothing." Quynn shook his head. "He's not answering either. Maybe it's me."
"No." Ariel shook her head. "I'm not getting anything either. Looks like for now, your on your own."
"Me?" Quynn turned surprised at what he had just heard." What's that mean?"
"As much as we would like to help." Toric said. "We can't go. The babies due any day now. She can't even fly right now. It's up to you and Ranjer to help, if he agrees to help you."
"Of course I'll help." Ranjer stepped up. "We're family. We can stop and tell Tof where I'm going. I'm sure he won't mind."
"Valkar too." Ariel cut in. "Go there first. He might have more information on this Bram. You do know who else was involved in Bram's death right? You know who he'll be hunting?"
"Yes, I know who he'll be after." Bly told them. "Your right. We should go to Yadessa next. He'll be after Tomz Acros of Prafa."
"Then you should get going." Toric helped Ariel up. "This Bram my be crazy, but I don't think he'll be wasting anytime."
"Keep trying your fathers." Toric shook Ranjer's hand as Quynn hugged his aunt Ariel. "We'll keep trying too and get New Keanna ready just in case Bram try's to pay us a visit."
"What if he does?" Quynn stopped worried. "Maybe we should stay."
"Don't worry about us." Ariel smiled. "New Keanna has it's own defenses and we're not weaklings with magic. There are others here who can help should he show his face here. You go warn the others and stop him from killing anyone else."

After collecting a few things from the pantry, Quynn, Ranjer and Bly stepped outside the gates of New Keanna. Quynn handed the bag to Ranjer and stepped out to shift to his Dragonwolf form. Climbing on his back, Ranjer gave him word he was ready to go.
"Next stop." Bly said as she took off into the sky. "Vasagi, city of Vampires.

As the sun went down behind the Ryk Mountains behind Prafa, Tomz Acros woke up and pushed the lid from the cold box he had slept in. He hated sleeping like this, but this was the price he had to pay for his time as a Nightwalker. That and he lost the ability to be up during the day, and he now had to tend with the thirst. Jandar and Valkar had done all they could for him, but he had drank human blood. There was no way around that. He now had to live with the failings of the Nightwalkers until they found some way to lift the curse.
Though Tomz had been excused and pardoned for his treachery and he had shown his bravery in the fight with Lord Larin and many difficulties afterwards, he was still watched by many in Prafa. He was still a Nightwalker after all and Baron Gaelich did keep a close eye on him.
His diet was now purely cattle blood and he had to swear a magical oath to never drink human, vampire, or any other intelligent beings blood again. And that made him cranky a lot. He also suffered from headaches but with powders and potions from apothecary's, he got along day by day.
From his window while sipping his daily supply of blood, Tomz watched the last wisps of the sun go down. Today was to be a busy day. All the repairs were finally finished in Prafa and Adam and Athene had invited him to go with them to inspect the new city wall. Gorak's cave had been turned into a tomb for all the Nightwalkers that had been killed in the final raid on Prafa. It was his job to check on it to make sure that the seal was still intact. This job he would do alone for no one else in the city wanted to go near the place. Not with all the protection spells Jandar and Gannon on placed on the site.
Dressing and combing his hair, Tomz took a final look in the Necro mirror that sat on the wall over his dressing table. He looked at his image. The redness in his eyes was all gone. All traces of Lord Larin's spell were gone from his body. But he was still a little transparent in the mirror. Another effect on his Nightwalker curse. Grabbing a cloak from the hook by the window, Tomz donned it and through open the window and breathed in the cool night air.
"Well, on with it." He said as he made the shift to his condor form and leaped into the night sky. As the cool air ripple through his feathers, Tomz once again thanked the gods for his reprieve. He couldn't help but think if it wasn't for Athene, he to would have been staked out outside the wall and burned with the rest of the Nightwalkers. If he hadn't saved Adam and Athene's life, he would be dead. There would've been no mercy shown him in the Underworld and he still might have a price to pay when he finally died.
From Prafa manor Tomz flew on over the city. Over the newly renovated market place to the new houses built in the western part of the city. From there he flew over the new wall. It was twice as high as the old one with a walkway around the top and a ramp that spiraled around from the ground with entrances to the three levels in the wall. The wall had covered look out post placed in six alternating spots on each level which gave them a view of the area all around the city with no blind spots. Adam had designed most of the improvements to the city and done a very good job. But the tomb had been all Tomz and Valkar. Valkar wanted the place demolished. He wanted the cave destroyed and the remnants scattered to the winds. But Jandar and Tomz knew that wouldn't do it. The remains could still be resurrected if you knew the right spells, and there are many out there who knew what to do. Tomz convinced Valkar that it would be better to salt the ground and keep watch. That way anything that rose from the mass grave would be to weak and deformed to be much of a threat to them.
So from the wall, Tomz flew on into the hill to where the tomb was. From the air he could see all the bands of magic that surround the tomb. Red and green bands of energy with purple bands that covered the entrance. Tomz came down to land just outside of the magic ring in front of the cave. After shifting he cast out with the spell that allowed him to get close enough to inspect the seals on the cave door.
Once close he checked the spells and found nothing there had been disturbed. Relieved he stepped back and out of the magical ring.
"Aiya." Came a voice out of no where. Tomz turned to see a short dark haired man walking towards him out of the forest. He was dressed in dark pants and a gray tunic. He looked familiar. As Tomz looked at him, he realized this was not a citizen of Prafa. He was not a vampire. What was he doing here?
"Aiya stranger." Tomz looked at him suspiciously. "Are you lost? This is a forbidden place. You should not be here."
"Forgive me." The strangers said as he bowed. "I have been away for quite a long time. Things are so different from when last I was up and around."
"Have you been sick?" Tomz asked as he came closer. He looked in his eyes. There was something there. He couldn't put a finger on it but there was something about this man that made Tomz uncomfortable.
"Not sick." He smiled. "No. I was a prisoner in a horrible place."
"I understand." Tomz said. "Prafa and Yadessa has had some experience with being trapped lately. But freedom can always be found if you look hard enough."
The old man laughed hysterically. Tomz stepped back further not sure what this crazy man had on his mind.
"You don't understand." He said. "I was in hell and you helped put me there!"
"Who are you?" Tomz asked. Now he knew this was no random meeting. He was in trouble.
"Don't you remember me Tomz Acros." The man raised his hands and flames erupted in bursts. "You and your friends came to my home and destroyed me! You killed me and sent me to hell. Now it's Bram Thorn's turn to destroy you!!"
Hearing that name, Tomz reached and grabbed for his sword. He dived into the air with vampire speed and attacked Bram. But the speed of a vampire was no match for Bram's fire. Like a flamethrower, intense flames enveloped Tomz's body and set him a blaze. He screamed from the searing pain that ripped through his body. As he opened his mouth and scream, flames went in and seared his lungs from the inside. Tomz fell to the ground and rolled trying to extinguished the flames, but it was to late. Fire was the mortal enemy of all vampires and he burned to his death. His last thought in life was a screaming warning to his king. All he could send was one word.
[Bram!!]

In his royal bedroom in Shadowvyn,Valkar slept and dreamed of days long ago. Velusia was still his queen and the boys were all still young. Rejek was practicing sword play with one of the guards while Azeal played with his little brother Ranjer. Valkar and Velsia watched and talked with members of the court while musicians played soft music in the background. From the side, Valkar saw Velsia's father watching and whispering something into someones ear. It gave him shivers. There was something cruel about that man that Valkar didn't trust. He waved him forward for questions he needed answered about how things were going with the Werewolves. As he approached Valkar he stopped and bent forward to speak. That's when he heard it.
[Bram!!]
Valkar jumped up in his bed with the voice echoing through his mind. He knew that voice. It was Tomz and he sounded like he was in pain. Valkar threw off his blankets and got up out of bed. He tried calling out to Tomz, but there was no answer. He would have to check with Arturus or Athene to have them go find him.
Just then there was a knock at the door. Valkar slipped on a robe and went to answer the knock. It was Amar the butler.
"Pardon Sire." He said bowing. "But there are guess here from New Keanna who say they need a word with you. They say it's urgent."
"Dragons?" Valkar stretched. "Show them to the breakfast table. I'll be right there."
"Yes sir."
Quickly Valkar dressed. He hadn't seen Jandar or Rage in a few months since Azeal and Tanis had left to visit their friends from Pentanthin on the island to the east. He wondered what had brought the Dragon kings to Yadessa today.
Dressed and ready, Valkar went down to greet his guest. As he stepped through the door and saw Quynn and his son Ranjer, his heart filled with joy.
"Ranjer!!" He grabbed him in a huge hug wrapping his arms around him. "It's good to see you. What are you doing here?"
"Hi Dad!" He felt so comfortable in his fathers arms. He hadn't been back to Yadessa to see him since before Azeal left. "We came to see if we could get your help with something."
"Have a seat." Valkar waved to chairs for them all. "I thought it was you fathers Quynn. How are they?"
"I don't know." He said as they sat down. "I can't find them."
Valkar stopped and looked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Right now they aren't answering my calls." Quynn explained. "I'm not worried. I don't think it's anything serious. But that's not why we're here."
"Then what is it?" Valkar was curious now. He picked up his fork and lifted some eggs to his mouth and started chewing.
"Do you remember someone named Bram Thorn?"
At the sound of that name, Valkar choked on his eggs spitting them out. He dropped his fork and looked at the three sitting across from him.
"How do you know that name? What's going on?"
"You do know Bram Thorn?" Bly said. "I have something to tell you.
With that she explained what had happened back at her home to all her people. When she was done, Valkar called out for Tovar Orsa. In less then two minutes Tovar was there to answer his king.
"Tovar, call Baron Gaelich and Athene." He ordered. "I want them to go find Tomz Acros right now. I think he may be in trouble."
"Yes Sire." Tovar went to the window and stared out into the morning clouds. "No one's seen Tomz since last night. Adam is going to check the tomb. That's where he said he was going. He was suppose to meet them last night to inspect the wall only he never showed up."
"That's not like him." Valkar pushed his plate away and got up. "Tomz is very punctual. Yes, I know Bram Thorn. He's a crazy elemental warlock that's suppose to be dead. Many years ago that crazy bastard started a rampage all around Taggitia. He attacked fairies, elves, humans and anyone else that got in his way. We sent a group to bring him down."
"I was a part of that group." Bly said. "It didn't go as planned."
"Yeah I know." Valkar said. "He wasn't suppose to die. We had plans to take care of him without killing him but a few in the party took in in their own hands and stabbed him to death. Now somehow he's back and we have to deal with him."
"We found him." Tovar called out.
"Good." Valkar relaxed.
"No." He finished. "It's not good. Tomz is dead. He's been burned to death. It looks like the sun killed him but it was the middle of the night."
"Damn!!" Valkar stood up and kicked his chair. "The warlock did it."
"What do we do?" Ranjer asked looking at the vampire king. This was all becoming a little to serious for him. All he wanted to do was to take his cousin home and forget all this craziness.
"You find him and put an end to his madness."
"US?" Quynn jumped up. "You mean me and Ranjer?"
"And Bly and the others." Valkar sat down.
"What others?"
"Bly?" Valkar turned to the fairy. "Do you understand?"
"Yes your majesty." She nodded and turned to Quynn and Ranjer. "There were eleven of us in the original party. We have to find them and they will help us to defeat Bram and send him back to the Underworld."
"There's something you don't know." Valkar leaned forward to explain things to them. "When Bram was killed, he had been searching for the eight Elemental rings of Tamalon. Tamalon was a lost city of incredibly powerful magi that legend says lived thousands of years ago. Not very much information can be found about them, but what we do know is that they had total control of the eight elements of magic. They could control the land and sea, and fire and water with ease. But to them, that wasn't enough. They had to learn to control it all, so in time they learned how to work with sound, shadow light and energy. Chief among the Tamalon warrior magi was a man named Abras Grazar. Abras Grazar was one of the most powerful of Tamalon. He had a set of eight rings that could control the elements of Tamalon magic. Like I said, not much is known about Tamalon, but through the memories of a few of the elder dragons we know that Tamalon was destroyed by a thousand year war and Abras Grazar fell when his castle was over run by their enemy. I'm not sure how Bram Thorn figured it out, but he found five of Grazars rings and learned how to control them. Before he died he had been searching for the other three rings. I don't know if he knew where they are, I hope not. Anyway when he was defeated and killed, his rings disappeared. He wants them back. Find who took the rings and get them back and find the three lost rings. Then you can destroy both him and the rings and end all this madness. Are you up for the challenge?"
Quynn looked at Ranjer who looked completely overwhelmed. He shrugged passing decision back to Quynn. He didn't have to ask Bly, she had come to them to start the whole thing. Well if this was to be their quest, then bring it on.
"Where do we go next?" Quynn asked.
"Pelordra." Valkar smiled his approval. "Go see King Philibar Windstar of the sky elves. He'll know who took the rings and how to kill Bram. Be careful boys, Jandar, Rage and Tof will kill me if anything happens to you."

All hell had broken loose in Sorrowdown. In every large house, every palace, the slaves were in revolt. They grabbed knives and pitchforks and whatever they could to fight there way to freedom. Sorrowdowns troops went from street to street trying to quell the fighting but there were more slaves in Sorrowdown then there were troops. Fires burned all over the city and rioting ran through the streets. The market place had been ripped apart and the slave block burned to the ground. You couldn't tell free man from slave on the streets and soon Emperor Midoa would be found hanging from his palace balcony. The coliseum was in flames. There would never be another gladiatorial game there and Niro had made it to his horse and was riding out of the dying city.
Without food or water Niro rode as far as he could to put as much distance as he could between Sorrowdown and himself. After a while he stopped got off and guided his horse off to the side of the road. He looked back and saw a huge cloud of smoke over where Sorrowdown should be. He swore he would never again walk the streets of his home town again. He would find a new life of adventure out here somewhere. But first, he had to figure out what his father had been talking about. He had said something about a great future. Doing what? Fixing what mistake? And how did Regulus Manius betray him? Niro looked down at the ring his father had given him on his finger. It was a silver ring with a green stone set in its center. It had some kind of intricate writing on it in a lovely design. As Niro stared into it, a spark seemed to gleam in the stone and he felt a slight shake in the ground. His horse bucked feeling the trembling in the ground. Niro held the reins calming the horse until the ground stopped shivering. As the ground calmed, he looked again at his ring. He had a feeling it had something to do with that quake.
Looking around, Niro realized he had ridden out and away from the human settlement and had entered into Ashgrove the first of the Elven lands in the area. In front of him was the beginning of Fay Shrea, the enchanted elven forest that went on for hundreds of miles to the north and the west, home of elves, fairy, goblins, leprechauns and many other magical folk. Vibius had told him to go find King Philibar Windstar of the Sky elves in Pelordra. Niro had never heard of Pelordra or of sky elves, but there his experience outside of Sorrowdown and with the other races of Keanna was very limited. He had been taught about elves and dwarfs, he had even seen trolls and a dark elf in the games. He had been a pale vicious fighter defeated only by a gladiator with something special on his side. It took magic to bring down the dark elf. Magic stronger then his own.
Now as he looked into the forest he realizes he would come face to face with some of these creatures. He pulled the axe his father had given him and looked at it. It really didn't look like much. About two feet in length. It had a wooden shaft with a red and blue band just beneath the silver axe head. What made it special was that when he held it in his hands, Niro could feel it filling his body with strength. Back in Sorrowdown, he had stabbed a man through his chest then lifted him like a rag doll and threw him more then twenty feet. But that would've been just adrenaline. There was only one way to be sure.
Walking over to the side of the road, Niro found a set of huge boulders sitting off in the grass.  They looked heavy. He couldn't possibly move any of them. Planting his feet firmly, Niro pulled the axe from it's hook on his belt. He could feel the strength rippling through his arms. He raised it over his head then slammed it down on the boulder. With a mighty crack like thunder, the boulder split right down the center into two pieces. Niro stood back and smiled. No ordinary axe could have done that. It might have chipped off a piece, but no normal axe could split that rock it two. Now he had one more test. Clipping it back to his belt, Niro bent down and grabbed the second boulder.
"There's no way I should be able to lift this." He said. "But let's see what happens."
Lifting with his legs, Niro easily picked up the boulder and held it for a minute, then tossed it to the side. As it hit the ground, trees shook and there was loud noise.
"That was easy." He looked at his hands turning them over. They looked perfectly normal, not even dirty. Pulling the axe from his belt, he placing it to the side, Niro rubbed his hands together then reached down and nudged the next boulder. It had to weight hundreds of pounds and it wouldn't budge. Picking up and re attaching the axe to his belt, Niro again tried moving the stone. With ease he flipped it over and rolled it back further into the grass.
"Now that's some kind of magic." He smiled. "Now my only problem is how to find King Philibar. I think I'm going to need some help and I guess I'm in the right place to find it."
Moving on, Niro found a lake where he watered his horse, did some fishing and got himself the first peaceful sleep he had in over a year. He would need it. From here on things were going to start moving very fast.

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."