The Old Book..

So as the days passed I finally got to doing some minor editing to the old story I had written, and as I had said, I would post it here for people to enjoy. Keep in mind this is long before I had much skill in writing, so I understand there will be some compositional errors, and some cross between past and present tense in some of the writing, but hopefully it isn't too noticeable... I fixed most of them... So enjoy....

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A slow smoke rose into the sky from the thatched roof of the soothsayers hut. It was a cold evening in the city of Harndale, one of the coldest in years. Inside the hut the smell of roseweed and dried yarrow fill the air. The firelight danced off the walls from the fireplace creating a melody of shadows from the many plants that hang from the wall. The crowded room filled with books and jars collect dust, while others are clean from constant use. The old soothsayer sat calmly sipping his tea, with the flickering light bouncing off of the aged creases in his lightly bearded face. Across from him two visitors also sit drinking tea continuing heavy conversation. "The time is closing upon us, Daniel is still seeing things as he did seven years ago when we found him. Only now his visions are stronger and more detailed. He is in danger, and will need to be taken to someone who can help. Lexus, you and Rohan are the only people I trust to accompany him down there."

"Don’t worry my old friend, Daniel will be safe, I believe that our paths have crossed for this reason. You, have saved my life once before and I owe my every breath to you. We will be happy to help.” He turns to the other man who is much bore built. “Rohan, would you go get the horses ready for when Daniel arrives from his tasks?"

Rohan smiles as if Lexus made a joke, then realizes that he was sincere. "You do know the horses don’t like me, well." He pauses, "It would take me a while to get them here." He looks at Lexus then to the door that leads to the cold outside. "Fine, it is going to take me a while."

Rohans grizzly face grins, his face looks to be unkempt and hair un shaven. Long silver hair shuffles as he stands up and hits his head on the ceiling. He pauses to retain his composure as the two other men grin at him. Rohan shakes his head and smiles and points at Lexus and walks out the door. The Soothsayer glances to his side where Lexus sits and both chuckle. "It is strange the company you keep my friend. To see you and him together is awkward to the eye, him being large as he is, and you being more, athletic I guess would be an accurate word."The old man takes a sip of his tea then continues. "Now the important thing here is to make sure you are not noticed by any of the imperial spies. You know our good king seems to let them do as they will. Sickening that we are a separate kingdom entirely but yet we still have to succumb to those bastards, all the while our king does nothing."

"Well hopefully for you I.."

Lexus stops mid sentence, his demeanor changed. He then begins to slowly draw the sword at his side. A calm look of concentration covers his face. His ice blue eyes search the small room of the hut, and in one sleek motion he stands to his feet and pivots to stand behind the door that opens inward his speed matching the speed of the opening door. The door slowly opens and a young man walks in. His face is red from the cold and fingers tremble as he takes off his mittens. "I found what I could Jasper, most of the plants have died off from the cold the night before. I did find the roots though, still intact, I thought maybe we could grow them inside." The boy glances to the table and notices three cups sitting on the table. "Who is here?"

The old man breathes in and speaks calmly "Daniel, close the door, it is freezing out there, oh and umm... I would like you to meet and old friend of mine, his name is Lexus." Daniel turns and closes the door as he does Lexus takes his seat again. When Daniel turns around he jumps frightened as this man seeming has appeared from thin air.

Lexus calmly smiles "Daniel, your extraordinary ability has become noticed. There are men planning to take you away, what they will do with you I cannot even imagine in my worst of nightmares. Trust me when I say, that my worst nightmares are beyond belief. Myself and a friend have come a long way to take you to the only person who will know what to do. He is rumored to be very wise and powerful mage. Unfortunately, where we need to find him is a place that in and of itself is not safe to travel too, in this place outsiders are not welcomed. Do you think yourself strong enough to make journey such as this?"

Daniel paused to watch the man before him almost in bewilderment then tries to think of things that may have happened before his amnesia. To him however everything past seven years ago is confusing. For some strange reason though, this man seemed so familiar to him, yet so different. "I will go with you."

"Good, now where is Rohan with those horses, he should be here by now. Go get your things together, warm clothing a must."

~~

Rohan could see his breath in front of him while he makes an attempt to saddle the horses. They squirm away and pull away from him. Their actions almost seem to be a natural fear of him, their reaction makes it almost impossible for him to accomplish such a mundane task. Slowly he becomes frustrated and eventually he just uses brute strength to manage the horses. The whole time pushing large horses around he is grumbling at them, and himself. He feels they are more like stubborn mules, than smart trained war animals. "Where the hell are the stable hands when you need them?" Again grumbling to himself. Thinking out loud to himself. "This whole thing is a waste of time. Why would anyone be after a kid who can’t even remember who he is, a random kid living in a small hut with an old apothecary." Rohans train of thought stops for a moment as he looks around the stable for a moment, then after a moment of thought his mindset changes a bit, “Well, if Lexus believes in this, then he will help his friend. Rohan stops again for a moment, his ears pick up a sound in the distance, a high tone sound. The horses whinny also hearing a sound that seems to be beyond that of human ears. He turns his head slightly in order to catch the sound and the direction he hears it. Then as if a bottle of wine were opened under his nose he sniffs the air. Then in a moments time he drops everything he is doing and rushes to the door. As he approaches the door it is opened and three men stand in the entrance, one of them is the stable hand, the other two are in some white painted military armor. Alongside them are two trained military dogs. Their actions seem completely loyal to the armored men. On their hind legs the beasts stand at least six and a half feet tall. Their jaws are strong and vicious, minds quick and smart.

The stable-hand looks up at Rohan quivering in fear, "There, there he is, one of the men who have come to sneak out the boy. The boy lives with an old man and one other is with them. This is the biggest of them the others should be no problem." The two men glare at Rohan and then let the dogs loose charging at Rohan who stands his ground, cornered in the stable.

With no seeming command, the dogs charge fangs showing, growling within feet of Rohan who lets loose a cruel growl of his own. Just before the dogs leap in the air at him they stop and pause, they then take a step back awkwardly tucking their tail down, then lay down on their side. Rohan looks up at the two men standing there. One of them blows on the whistle they have, to them it makes no sound but to the dogs it commands them when whatever else is being used isn’t working. The dogs however refuse to acknowledge to the command. Rohan smiles at the two men sadistically, watching them slowly draw their swords. Slightly in fear they walk forward watching Rohan's every move as he steps back into the darkened stables. They smile sadistically as they watch him back right into a large wooden beam. They realize the foolishness of the large man, but their grin is returned with one of the same. Swiftly in one fast spin he rams his shoulder into the huge wooden support beam collapsing the roof. Before the ceiling catches Rohan, he jumps through the thin wooden walls of the stable. The whole structure collapses on top of the three men inside, along with the horses and the dogs.

~~

Lexus looks off to the side while Daniel stuffs a small bag with clothing and some food. Lexus rises from his chair and walks to the fireplace pouring some hot water into his small mug of tea. "I must say your herbal mixtures have gotten much better since the last time. You really should share with me the tea mix you use."

"Haha, if I did that then what would I give you when you arrive next time. There wouldn't be anything special. It's about the only thing I am good at." The old man smiles leaning his head back towards Lexus who stands behind him. Lexus sets down the pot of water and turns hearing glass break then seeing two arrows already placed in the old mans shoulder. Daniel looks up and his breath is taken away, to the point where he cannot even speak. In less than an instant Lexus' right hand moves at an alarming speed catching an arrow aimed for his own body. Then the other hand grabs one inches before burying it into the face of the boy.

"Daniel stay down!" Lexus listens to the men get closer to the door, throwing the arrow to the side. Slowly from his side he draws his short straight one edged sword. To the outside a clashing sound is heard, some sort of struggle along with a few loud grunts followed by the sound of bodies hitting the ground. “This, could be good.” A loud scream yells out outside, “Or, it could be worse.”

Quickly the door opens up and Rohan is standing there. "Let’s get going, I have some horses, they aren’t ours. but they are horses, If they don’t like it they can take our stupid ones." Lexus grabs ahold of Daniel’s arm while headed outside to see a huge wooden beam laying across the bodies of three unconscious men. "I know these aren’t our horses we got.. but I don’t think they will mind." Lexus just rolls his eyes and mounts one of the horses.

In an introductory but fast fashion Lexus points at the two men."Rohan, Daniel.. Daniel, Rohan.. now that the introduction has been made lets get out of here." they ride off through the town as the few that are out on this cold night move out of their way. "Rohan what happened to our horses?"

"These guys were at the stable they tried to stop me, luckily they didn’t know me too well. I have to admit two against one wasn't quite fair. Next time, I will let them go get a few more." Rohan laughs to himself grinning then looking over his shoulder just in case. "You know if they knew we were here and what we were here for chances are that they will know that we'll head to the main gate."

"Yes but they know we aren't stupid, of course we will find a more subtle way out than the main gates. So they will be focusing on all the small parts of the towns exits."

Daniel easily overhears them, a bit not sure what the exact plan is. He shouts over to Lexus. "so what do we do then?" Lexus only grins and looks at Rohan, Rohan shakes his head since he knows exactly what Lexus is thinking, then nods looking at the boy.

"We are going to go through the main gates!" Rohan chuckles out loud and kicks his horse to ride faster. They ride through the cold night of the town, towards the main gates passing people by, here and there. Quickly they approach the main gates and notice the city guards are not there, but are instead replaced by the same kind of men they came across moments earlier. The painted white armor with coal black padding underneath. Their steel helmets covering their heads and black masks underneath, hiding their faces. While the three approach the gate some of the opposition start to raise the city gate, to their dismay the three easily jump the horses over the half lifted gate and escape the city entrance. Rohan and Daniel continue to ride on as Lexus turns around in one fluid motion he throws a small sharp disk through the air, when it reaches its target to cuts through the counterweight of the portcullis to allow it to drop down, thus holding the others inside while the three make it safely out of their reach. Lexus spins the horse back around and rides off to catch up to Rohan and Daniel.

After a long ride on horseback the men make a small encampment not more than half a mile off the side of the road. There they rest, and ponder their next move. Rohan looks over at Daniel who has fallen asleep. "Heh, the kid’s sleeping already, hope he doesn't get used to it." Lexus just looks up at him then back down at a piece of paper. "So who are we taking him too again?"

Lexus stops and sets the paper down. He stands up and walks over to hang their food from a tree, where it is safe from animals. "A man named Zhingos, supposedly he can help us out, and possibly explain the phenomenon the boy has been experiencing. Unfortunately Zhingos lives somewhere in the Underbelly."

"Lex, the Underbelly? You know that place is near impossible to get into. And those that get in.. don't come out alive. That's where the worst of people go to be forgotten. Hell, even the Kings military nor the Emperors men will go there."

Lexus smiles at Rohan "Well then we know we will be safe from them there don’t we?" Lexus lays down and covers up with some blankets near the fire then leans to one side to go to sleep.

"Ahh good point, I guess." Rohan Pauses for a moment "So, we going to use the normal routine of getting into a place, that you and I both know we aren’t supposed to be going into? Which always involves me doing all the work?" Lexus pauses a bit and closes his eyes smiling.

"Yep"

"You are a bastard, you know that?" Rohan pauses a bit then rubs his eyes. The warm firelight illuminates his face where a few cuts are healing along his face from breaking through the wooden wall of the stables. The small cuts are barely visible as they have almost fully healed. Rohan stands to his feet still looking at Lexus who is already asleep. He whispers to himself. "Guess I'll take first watch." Rohan sits down and takes a look at the small map Lexus had that depicts the entrance to the Underbelly. He follows the lines to find where the closest most possible entrance would be. "There.. that is our ticket." He continues to look over the map for quite some time.

A monotone voice breaks the silence of the fire within the camp. A voice not recognized as one of the three. Rohan to his feet in quick time follows the voice to Daniel who is sitting upright and his eyes glazed over looking into the fire talking. "The places you seek, your past eludes you. You follow a nameless wonder in hopes of reforming your families past. The gloves you wear are a burden to which many have gained fear and many have died till you gained control of this. Power is in your grasp.. but you lack... the .... strength..." Daniel falls over in his sleeping state again as if nothing had happened and the fire goes out.


CH 2

Captain Donnavey and two of his men slammed the cell door shut on their newest prisoner. There was a good struggle to get the prisoner in here. A whole twenty minutes worth of work powering him into the cell. He had a homeless look to him. shredded rags for clothing. Hair was unshaven and unkempt, including a larger beard. His body doesn’t seem to have eaten in days from the look of it. His skin was darker than most, well tanned and smooth. But awfully beaten and bruised. One eye partially swollen shut. He was a bad sight to see. In the cell with him, a older man with a single hand. The other gone many years ago for theft. For a long silent time the two sit there across from each other. Then finally the silence breaks from the newcomer. "I hear they feed ya decent in here.. that right?"

"hah, twice a day, they make you look real good before they hang you."

"Ahh good how long before they hang me?"

"Six days maybe, if you’re lucky."

The younger of the two men smiles and rubs his beard. Nodding with a smile."Good, plenty of time."

The Older man laughs at the audacity. "Plenty of time for what, to plan your death?" The older man stands up and shakes his head and walks towards the bars of the cell. The cell bars form a cross pattern so only the size of a fist can get through, any motion through that area is cut to very minimal, the iron bars are a full inch thick. "you see there is no way out of here and even if you could get the door opened then you have three armed guards to deal with. I saw your struggle, there is no escape my young friend. I have been doing this my whole life. This is by far the best cell ever devised. You are lucky, if you are thinking the old classic of digging your way out, there is nothing to dig with." The newcomer just agrees with everything the older man says. Nodding yes and no with every point he makes, then something catches the newcomer’s eye. A mark on the left ankle of the older man. A symbol, not just any, a symbol like this is dated from many years ago when men would pledge their lives and die bye them to follow one person, knights of powerful kingdoms were known most for it. However, even the lowest of low people did this from time to time as well, from stable-hands to the average pickpocket. Those days have long gone and today people no longer know who to trust.

The newcomer looked up "Call me Rick." he said to the old man. Who stopped midway in his ramblings and looked back not fully understanding. The newcomer held out his hand towards the old man. "Rick, and you are... ?"

"I was once called Drathail, many people once heeded my advice and words, and many others once feared me. That is neither here nor there anymore, I no longer have a name, for my life was taken and death comes for me in.." He pauses a bit to count in his head. "Three days time." I have escaped seven prisons in the last two months and now they have me here. I am sorry you have come in here on your first. What exactly are you in here for?"

Pointing to one of the guards who’s back is turned, "Hah, I slapped a guard upside the head just outside the main door. I also called him a worthless goat bladder, among a few other lesser curses, till they threw me in here. I also told them I had stolen twelve gold from the little tavern they all frequent next door. Unfortunately that bar only had seven copper at the time since taxes came through just before. I was so hungry I figured the guards would feed me a bit. I haven’t eaten for days you know, just got into town. Now I am going to rest till they bring some food. What town is this anyway?"

The old man stood there totally in shock of what he has just been told. It is said that you cannot con a conman, and the old man, is a con man, and believed every word Rick has just told him. To get thrown in prison with likely hood of being hanged just for a scrap of food was beyond him. He looked out the cell whispering to himself. "Why would anyone ever want to get thrown into a jail, intentionally?" The old man sat down on some straw and pondered this for a few good hours until food arrived for them. Two bowls of water with pieces of fish and some hard bread. Rick spoke how he was forever grateful to the guards for the delicate meal.

As hours turned into days the two spoke little while Ricks face started to look a bit better, but the old man becomes only more pale since his time was about to end within just a few short hours. It was at this time that Rick looked up to him and began to talk as if they had been in the cell for years together. Miscus, I seen the mark on your leg, that is the mark of the golden dagger. Your loyalty to the King of Thieves, you have vowed your loyalty to him though you have never met him. Why is this?"

"How do you know of such things? I vowed my loyalty because he was the best. He would do for his people that followed him anything, he once helped me when I was young and naive and so with that I would return the favor. Unfortunately, as it seems I have not, nor will not ever get that chance." The old man sighs looking out the cell door.

"You speak of this, thief king as if he were dead. What happened to him?"

"Well, rumor has it that the Empire had sent him a messenger, and wanted him to join them to make them both even more powerful. What I have heard is that he turned them down, and that his right hand man stabbed him in the back. Took his wealth and riches and joined the empire."

A saddened look crossed Ricks face for a moment, as if recalling a similar memory of betrayal in his own life. Slowly, he then looked up at the old man."That is not the rumor I heard, besides how can they take all his riches when his money is supposedly guarded by an, ancient dragon?"

"Yeah I heard that too, who knows some say they killed the dragon.. others say that is just a rumor that R.C. started, in order to keep any enemy at bay." Outside of the cell, the three guards are heard talking. When one hands the other a large bundle of rope to be set up for the old mans hanging. The guard sets it on the table and walks away to set up the gallows where the rope will be hung from. The two other guards look over their shoulders at the old man who is just standing staring out the cell door. Drathail looks down at his missing hand and shakes his head as a single tear falls from his eye. His keen blue eyes glisten a bit from the sadness welling up.

"Don't cry my friend, you will be granted another chance to save your leaders life, you see, I can get us out of here." He smiles at the old man who’s tears become enraged. In a fast motion he spins around and grabs Rick by the throat with his good hand and raises the stump of the other in the air.

"DO NOT MOCK ME YOU IGNORANT FOOL!! You do not wish yourself death from a dying old man. I tell you, I have nothing to lose for killing you in your place. I am bound for death in mere minutes and will not have my last moments in life ruined by..." The old man then pauses for just a moment. Suddely dropping Rick, the old man steps back a bit, seemingly confused. There the young man known as Rick sticks out of his mouth a skeleton key. The old man recalls back to when the man first arrived. He came in struggling, which now he realized was only a ruse, in order to steal one of the cell keys without anyone knowing. These past few days he has kept the key hidden secret, the goal to get food and then later to escape. The old mans bottom lip quivers in shame as he hugs Rick. My boy, the things I will show you, the things I shall teach you, quick we must hurry. I have, just blocks away some items that a not so friend who owes me has put aside for me in the event of escape. If we can get to it, and out of town we should be fine."

"Sounds like a plan old man. I still have the copper I mentioned earlier we can maybe get some more supplies or at least some dried food." Rick reaches around with great ease to the outside of the door and unlocks the cell door with the key he has had the whole time. Slowly they head to the door where the two guards stand conversing. One glances over towards the cell to look at the prisoners, only to see the empty cell door. The Guard smacks the other one in the shoulder.

"Hey, where did they go? They were just here, they couldn’t have just disappeared." Right near the entrance the two men Rick and Drathail move from under the table and head out the door running off through the city area to where the supplies lay hidden. Inside the cell one of the guards spot something in the straw, a symbol etched into the stone floor with what could only have been the key. The guards eyes grow large seeing the trademark "R.C. was here and escaped" The two guards looked at each other in shock and awe, The two of them smiled then came to realize the fame that could be had at capture of the one known as R.C., the King of Thieves, and rushed out the door.

The two escapees ducked down a back alley where the light grew dark. There the old man fumbles amongst the stones in the wall till he finds one loose. He pulls the stone from the wall with his hand and stump, and backs off as the stone falls from the wall to the dirt. They both stood looking at the bag with a smile as the dust settles around it. Drathail shot a wide grin at the young man. He then reached inside the wall with his hand and pulls out a long narrow bag filled with assorted items. He sets it down on the ground and opens it looking in. He pulls out a cloak and tosses it to Rick. Then tosses him a small bag that jingles a bit when caught. "Quickly Rick, get us a room somewhere."

"I must first tell you, my name isn't Rick, I'll get that room, stay here I will be back." He smiles and runs off putting the cloak over his horrible clothing. Drathail nods and smiles a bit, fully aware that Rick lied about his name. Drathail then pulled a thin piece of metal from his hair, it was braided into the knots of hair the old man had. The metal is used for picking locks, his plan originally of escaping the cell before Rick showed up. With Rick there, Drathail didn't want to risk getting the younger man killed. Drathail was sure that Rick would have been allowed to go free in a mere few weeks with a beating and nothing more, but after knowing Ricks full intent, escape was inevitable, and Drathail needed someone smart and young and with both hands in order to help him.

Later when the two sat in the small room they had rented. They looked over the various items that was left for Drathail. Each of them ate some fresh bread that Rick had bought with the few copper he had stolen and hidden away earlier. "Rick, what is your name anyhow? Since I am trusting you please trust me."

"I am not sure you would believe me.. old man." if you did all you hold dear in life could change.

The old man smiled at the young man as he shaved his grey beard. "I hold very few things dear anymore, but loyalty is one of them, and besides, I owe you for saving my life. So there is nothing to fear in telling me your name."

The younger man, smiled and wound up slowly the rope he had stolen from the guards. Looking over it ever so closely, then looking back at Drathail. "My name is Richard Coyle, but everyone just calls me, R.C. it’s that name I am more known for." With a change in his voice to one that is fully serious he stops all that he is doing. "I am the one fabled who stole the very crown from the head of King Barididas, only to ransom it back to him in order to free my very own men."

Drathail is unsure if what he hears is truth or not. His age and experience tells him this man is telling the truth, but logic of age and time tells him otherwise. "You.. are the man who stole the Lightning Bolt of Zeus himself? And lived to tell about it? Prove me wrong, show me the black mark on your feet!" It was then that The young man walked over to the water basin and took it down and washed the dirt off of his bare feet on his left foot the mark was there. A large scar on his blackened toe, a jagged mark. The mark of survival from an encounter with Zeus himself. "The old man looked on in disbelieve to what his eyes tell him. "But you look that of a mere man in his late twenties, you should be at least my age if not older. How is it possible my lord?"

R.C. Shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head. "I have not aged much since the day I met Slanaran`driando`oer, one of my close friends, the dragon we talked of earlier." R.C. Walks over to the bed and sits down saddened yet angry at the same time. He looks at the floor with his mind thinking. Drathail stands to his feet.

"Well m'lord what would you have me do? I mean you do live. So that means the rumors are all false. Right?" Drathail looks with question in his eyes.

"No, the rumors are true. Slan the dragon is dead, my closest ally stabbed me in the back and joined the Empires ranks and myself? I am dead as far as they know. It was only a few days before I was thrown in prison that I regained my memories, I don’t know how long I was unconscious. Last thing I remember was some primitive people stripping me to nothing but loins. I then woke up in a wagon just ten days walk to the north. I was supposedly a slave, the others told me I was unconscious for months but still breathed. Slavery didn’t last long once I got strength to walk again. They didn’t have any troubles beating me though those few days I remained with them."

"Well, I was headed east to get supplies, when we get there give me a list of what you need and I will get you everything I can." Drathail reaches over pulling the blanket off his bed and brings it to R.C. covering his sore body. "Rest here for the night I have some cash I will ask the Inn maiden to fetch a healer of some sort to see what he can do. Then we will be on our way east."


Chapter 3

"So we have our orders straight from the Emperor himself? We cannot let this go wrong sir, if we fail..."

"If we fail, we could end up with the worst enemy our Emperor could ever imagine. Yes you better not fail or you will all end up dead either at his feet or at the Emperors feet. He was trained for war that is why he is the horseman called War. Just make sure he is dead at the end when he has finished his task. Or you will learn of a slow painful death. Do you understand Pherril?" The General swallowed, knowing what his outcome in this will all be, but the General is strong and accepts this for the best.

"Ye... yes sir" The shorter militant salutes his General who is adorned in a suit of dress armor. the plates are riveted together with perfection one of the best suits of plate armor in the world. There are only a handfull like it, and only a counted few that are better. His is adorned with the Symbol of the Emperor on the chest. After Pherril salutes him he heads out and down towards the tent where food is distributed and men talk on their off duties. Rumors are flying through the whole camp of their poor job taking the last city of King Barididas. Though the King was already slain almost three weeks ago his men still fight. The reason though is unknown. In the background a man stands telling the others a story in his own drunken stupor.

"And there we were myself and the two who remain of the Four Horsemen, they took our regiment hand chosen by them and our job was to take over the fort that an entire legion could not. with his orders set, Ferrian Silas planned his attack and we executed it with the best performance of our *Hic* lives. Now don’t get me wrong my friends.. this battle many died. But with my close friend Ferrian and the other Horsemen nothing could go wrong. We were about to go an there and as you all know.. kill their *hic* King" as he rambled on the tent soon grew quiet and empty. Infact other than the ramblings of the drunk soldier, all that was heard was galloping footsteps outside. The sound headed towards camp, the entire army dead quiet. The drunk man threw open the tent flap and headed outside to see what had happened. His red face turned a pale white color as he watched the last two of the four horsemen arrive. War and Death have shown to their camp. Their orders simple. To take the last city of dead King Berididas. All the men looked over at their drunken storyteller and laughed, they prodded at him quietly amongst themselves. But what he told for the most part was true. knowing this, he swallowed his fear of War and walked right up to him. "Sir I am here at your service as I was a the battle of.. ergehhg"

War reached over with his hand and grabbed the man by the throat and slammed it into a huge wooden wagon. Ferrian spoke with a dark almost monotone voice, though emotion ran through his voice it sound was almost erie. "Listen scum you were nothing but cannon fodder at that battle, You ability isn't worth wiping my feet from horse crap. People like you make me sick. We had to put up with you that day and If I have to listen to your voice one more time I will rip your throat out with my bear hands and feed it to the dogs.. I hope I make myself completely clear you worthless pile of refuse." The man quivers nodding, the encounter making him sober immediately. In the background Jackie sat on his horse his eyes the only thing that you can see through the shadow. Ferrian dropped the man into a pile of mud and walked over him to avoid his boots getting dirty.

Ferrian walked off and as the other men looked around no longer saw the second horsemen. They helped up their drunken friend who was embarrassed from the encounter. Inside the tent walked Ferrian to the General who saluted him. "General your men are weak and worthless. You should have had this city taken days even weeks ago. Your inability to capture this place makes me sick to my stomach, What do you have to say to us?"

The general stood curious at the question that Ferrian had put to him. He looked and yet saw only Ferrian. "Sir I am telling you that we are doing the best we can. Almost the entire Army of the King is left inside that city, He has to have ten thousand strong still inside that city. The city may not be the capital city but has the strongest defenses of the Kingdom.” Looking at Ferrian he realized that it was only Ferrian who walked in. “..and what do you mean.. US?"

From behind him a voice speaks the voice smooth as butter. Reaching out from the bitter dark shadows a hand grasped the Generals neck with a strange armored metal with built in clawsof some sort. "he means US, General, and who cares how many or how good the defenses are, this is the last fight of your men as well. After this they get to go home and play house or whatever the hell they want. The conflict will be over" The hand turning him around so he can look the other Horsemen in the eyes. There Jackie stands holding the Generals neck.

Ferrian walkes up behind the general and whispers into the Generals ear, "You have not even attacked the city yet, we did an up close check on the city the ground has not seen one battle yet, you have disobeyed your orders. You were told to take the city at all costs. What is really going on.. General. Speak now, or my friend here will bring a little pain to you, and you may never have children of your own." Jackie lowers his other hand with claws attached to some form of custom armor. While the General is distracted by the threat at hand, Ferrian silently pulls a dagger from his belt.

"My.. my orders ... were to wait till you got here.. and to... errck..." The last sickening sound of the generals final breath filled the air as his body slumped to the floor. Jackie looks up at Ferrian and raises an eyebrow. A grin crosses Ferrians face, but quickly the grin is gone. Jackie walks over to a chest and opens it pulling out a bottle of wine and opens it smelling it. Ferrian checks the room thoroughly, looking for any little item that might seem out of place. He then comes across a small pile of ashes, paper of some sort burnt. "I bet this would have been our answer."

"Ferrian you are way too paranoid, you should have let him live a bit longer.. he was going to tell the truth eventually." Jackie smiled at his friend Ferrian. Their view on life was twisted by the Emperor. Their mind believes what they are doing is right. And that they truly believe that everything they are fighting for is good and pure. Like all strong headed men in the military they need to do what needs to be done regardless of the outcome. No matter how dire or severe the circumstances, and as time passed they have learned that if they don’t try to enjoy what they do have, they will become mindless slaves.

"So? Jackie, he lied to us and tried to lie again, too bad they thought only I was coming.. haha." Ferrian laughed sadistically as he sat down in the Generals seat. "So the last city of the King is about to fall at our hand, and I was told we now run all the criminal organizations. The final Kingdom won’t attack us as we slowly guide into their cities and soon will just one day take control with ease. Then we have already cause problems with the tribes and they war amongst themselves till they have killed each other and all we have to do is walk in and take it."

"And then what?" Jackie asked Ferrian as he pours himself a glass of wine from the Generals bottle. After all that and we sit back and realize that we were part of the strongest force to ever live and we were at its head. Now that the turning point is over our job is almost done. Then what will we do?" Jackie laughs shaking his head as drinks the wine. "We will own castles and drink and have all the women we want!" Jackie sips the wine looking at Ferrian who just shakes his head."Well that's what I am gonna to do."

Ferrian looked up scars crossing his battle hardened face, over to Jackie who’s perfect face was soft as silk almost perfected with his black hair. "Yeah maybe for you, that is what you are good at, you get the women, and you get to kill all the important people. I get to do the rest." Ferrian grins at Jackie. Jackie just holds the bottle out almost as a toast.

"Good Idea."

The next morning men line up ready for war, their armor fastened and their lines ready. The sun is slowly coming over the horizon. All the men know from experience that to attack during daylight is not smart all attacks are done at night. No one will say anything of such nature to the man who is called War. It was then through the tension and for the men, That the Generals right hand man headed to Ferrian’s side.

"Lord War, my name is Pherril, I was the person at the side of the Genreal and am at your service sir, what is it you would have me do? We are to attack them at day?" Ferrian stood by his horse staring off to the rising sun as it glistens off his battle worn eyes. To him it’s just another day of work, business. Not pleasure, not personal. This is his life it is what he is best at. "Lord all the Kings commanders are in there, his best men at the command of the strongest army we have ever faced.. and we are to all out attack during the day? I don’t question your actions, I am just here too.. learn from you." After a few moments he glanced over to Pherril.

"For weeks they have been locked inside, starving and going mad. Death, has crept into the city, through the night one by one their commanders fall. Each one a different death. Some point to disease, some point to each other. Some are inhuman and graphic, some more subtle, so subtle that they didn't even know they were dead till they drew their last breath. Some of their deaths lasted so long that they could have counted the seams in the stone walls across where they were pinned. Those who live are accused of breaking under the tension our army, blamed for murder. And the rest commit suicide as we speak. Their men will be without command, and if they do give a fight it won’t be much more than random chaos. They have been weakened by what we call, human emotion. Their loyalty built on friendship was their strength.. now it has been exploited as their weakness. Their hearts are in grief for their good leaders. They have no strength to fight." Ferrian glances at the younger soldier who has seen his own share of battles. "You have a lot to learn, but I feel you understand how the system of war works, that is the only reason I tell you and not beat you within an inch of your life. Your general was weak and foolish. He died without a fight. He knew it was going to happen. As did you."

As the light of the sun fully fills the overwhelmed field that the Emperors army holds, the command is given to attack the city. The towers of the city had few archers as Ferrian knew. All of their will too fight was broken. There was a huge battle already within the city, one that as the army battered down the front gates the chaos was filled before they entered. The moment they did enter all the chaos spread. Almost as if they were to run into a raging river the first wave of the army was overtaken by raging chaos steers running people down to escape. The city military, people, and citizens killing whomever came close. Orders from one small captain to kill another said captain. But as this happened the enormous numbers slowly dwindled it was clear that the Emperors army was going to win, in time.

It was then that Pherril, the Generals second in command called the order to backoff just as Ferrian had entered the city. Archers from the Emperors army shot arrows raining down like fire from the sky to hit the rope of the portcullus. Many arrows came within range of the target, but it was that one lucky hit that cut the rope. The one in a hundred chance, and the portcullus slammed shut.. the portion of the Emperors army trapped inside the city walls soon became part of the chaos, scared for their lives that they were now trapped with a city of madmen and women. Ferrian turned on his horse realizing the treachery. With a swift move his hand held that of a crossbow, before he could get it pointed the chaos overcame him on his horse, taking him down. Pherril, the new General of the Emperor’s army was more than a hundred feet away, quickly fell over to one knee holding his shoulder. A bolt from Ferrians Crossbow somehow sent through the open areas of the portcullis that long distance hitting the mark, General Pherril. The new General’s men hurriedly dragged him off to his tent to tend to his wounds.

Inside Ferrian with sword in hand tore through the chaos as best he could taking bodies left and right trying to head to a ground he can defend. In the mass battle a spear sears through him from behind. Forcing its way through his right shoulder, though still standing, he swings his shoulder to a stone support breaking enough of the spear to pull it from the front end of his torso the rest of the way through. With the spear head he stabs one of the lesser commanders who was barking orders to those few who fought. Unavoidably three arrows pierce through his left leg making it hard for him to walk. Ferrian fights on. All while in his head going over all that has happened in the past day. After ending the life of one after another the pieces add together, the Genreal wasn’t lying. He did have orders to stay.. he died knowing it would happen because it was his orders. Jackie was right, there is no use for them once this fight is successful, the only possible problem the Emperor would have is if they decided to turn on him. The pile of ashes were the Emperors orders to have Ferriand and Jackie killed. Once Ferrian came to this conclusion his slump and wounded leg were no longer any sort of factor. With the strength of a hundred men he stood straight and plowed through the chaos swinging with blank deftness. Around him bodies fell left and right. Any attack that injured him only fueled the fire more, any person who looks at him as a target dies. Finally through the city he finds the dead area where the battle has died down.. few stand and those that do see him and know not to attack. Limping with arrows and blade marks and an injured head wound slowly Ferrian falls in and out of consciousness, eventually all goes blank, he falls forward to the ground like a tree.

Seconds turn to hours, hours turn to days. Eyes open to the putrid smell of death and sewage. "No I think they are both dead, how they got here I don't know" A man looks at two bodies neither armored both heavily injured and full of a foul odor of sewage and blood.

"Ones got some nice shinies on him father." As the child speaks the man looks at the more injured one who carried a small necklace with an emblem. The Old man looks back to a path that leads from the swamps.

"Yes but I be no crypt robber, be it crypt or not, these men be dead." The father walks back to his son who stands next to a wagon. Both seem to be shepherds or merchants of some sort.

"Father, how did they get here, the town is many days travel."Ferrian overhears this conversation to partiality and forces himself to his feet. The man pulled his son to the side of their mule pulled wagon in safety as the two back off. Ferrian looks over to his side to see Jackie who is covered in more blood than Ferrian has seen. War pauses a moment then checks his friend over, only to find him dead. Looking back they path is bloody but only one of them was drug. Things begin to blur again as he loses grip of reality again.

The father looks at the boy, "Our other companions would have to walk."

The boy pleads with his father."Father.. we must help him."



Chapter 4

"So where ya from kid?" Rohan grumbles scratching his scruffy chin. Daniel looks up at him while eating a freshly cooked rabbit.

"I, I, don’t really know. I can’t remember farther than a few years back. Jacob was nice enough to take care of me till he thought the day would come that I needed to find the answers." Daniel pauses a bit and looks down thinking. A weary look of sadness crosses his face as he bites his bottom lip. "I guess he thought it was time for me to go."

"That’s alright boy, you'll turn out just fine. Even the most screwed up people in the world have a chance to turn out good." Rohan smiles a bit then, stops and looks back at the boy who was busy eating. This is the first fresh food they have had since the day they left a week ago. The taste of dried spiced meat was getting over bearing to all of them. "So what all has the old man taught you in the last seven years? More than just wasting your time with everything that is green I hope."

"Well we did do a lot of things with plants, Plants have many amazing things they can do, each one its own purpose. He also taught me to read and write.. here let me show you." Daniel moves aside his food and pulls out his walking stick that Lexus had gotten for him. In the dirt he wrote; R-O-W-E-N. "There, that is your name.. Rohan." He smiled confident as if he had proven himself. Rohan laughed and kicked the dirt aside a bit and asked for the stick, in which the confused Daniel handed him.

"One thing that never follows rules are names." In the sand he wrote.. R-O-H-A-N." It is pronounced Rowen, but spelled like that." Rohan pointed at the dirt. "But then again, its dirt."

The young man went back to eating feeling humiliated. Rohan looked at him in regress not intending it to have turned out that way. "So tell me a bit about these green things.. Only thing I know is which flowers smell nice, and which ones the women think are pretty." He smiled at Daniel who looked up with more enthusiasm, now knowing that he could show the big man something that he didn’t already know.

A mile down the road Lexus walked. A small herd of cattle covered the roadside some just laying there some feeding others just making noise. Patiently Lexus walks among them trying to think of a Safe way to get them to move without scaring them. There is no way for horses to get through, as Lexus has a hard time on foot and soon finds it safer to turn back then to push forward. Off to the side of the road a large tree hung glow over the road. Lexus glances at it and let’s lose a small breath as if to be released of some tension. He climbs the tree and walks with great skill to the area above the road knowing that Rohan and Daniel will head down the road when they are done eating. Lexus sets his sword and bag off to the side. He then crosses his legs and closes his eyes focusing on the air he breaths. As he slips out of his strong concentration his body relaxes. Every tense muscle rests as if instantly in a deep sleep. His mind wanders as if in a dreamlike state. Visions begins to appear first as just white light, then objects begin to form. Lexus slowly opens his eyes and sees a small spring of water cool and relaxing to the touch. All around beautiful plants and flowers bloom the smell more perfect than that of any garden. Lexus steps into the water and feels all worries slip away. The fountain massages his shoulders, while a small deer comes to the fountain to drink, then looks up at Lexus. "Hello there" Are the words Lexus hears young and calm from the deer.

Rohan and Daniel walk up to Lexus and look at him still sitting in the tree. A small squirrel right next to him chewing on seeds some seeds it had just recovered from the past summer. Daniel looks at Rohan. "What is he doing?" Daniel asks.

"Well he calls it meditating, It is kind of like sleeping but you aren’t asleep, and it is like dreaming, only the dream is as real as it can get. It is also a form of healing at some times, and an ability to think things through clearer. He says he does it for many reasons.. or sometimes none at all." Rohan sits down.

"So who is he.. and why is he so.. different then everyone else?" Daniel looking up at Lexus in the tree.

Rohan laughs, "Well, when he was a kid he was shipwrecked on an island far out past where most men of the lands have ever gone. There he was raised by a different kind of people, those who train not only the body, but also the mind and the soul. When I met him, we almost killed each other. Since I have known him.. I have seen him disappear in plain sight.. well, Obviously I didn’t see him.. well, you get the point. He saved myself and a women from a small army and took several sword wounds to the body. Apparently he lived through their torture and was able to meditate and heighten his bodies healing or stopped bleeding or something.. I am not exactly sure how. Um I have seen him catch arrows in mid flight." Rohan stops and looks up as if thinking real hard. "Lets see, I watched him walk across a field of dead leaves without making a sound, climb a marble wall with no tools. Just things that are impossible.. he can do. His swordplay is some of the best in the land. To be honest, that man there is probably the best man to watch over you in times such as these."

Daniel looks amazed and looks at Rohan to see if there is more fairytale to the story then truth. Then just as fast as he looked to Rohan he looked back to the tree to find Lexus not there. "Well we better be going, the cattle do not want to move there is something in their field causing problems so we will have to go around. Rohan let me know if you smell anything strange ahead. Daniel, we'll stay behind a bit from Rohan whatever is in the field ahead. He probably has a better chance of dealing with it than either of us"

Rohan grabs his bag and stands up. "Hey Lex, I heard something coming up the road from behind us.. keep an eye to your back. Whatever it is, it’s moving fast. Keep your senses keen, it seems we are being watched from both directions." Rohan looks at Lexus who is standing behind Daniel then at Daniel and nods.

"Ahhhhhhhhrrrhha!!!!" Daniel screams loud falling to the ground. Daniel Vomits on the ground, tears coming from his eyes. He then jumps to his feet, eyes tighty shut. Rohan and Lexus look at him worried. Daniel then falls to his knees. "I can't see.. Lexus I can't see. something.. there is something, a tree, ouch, the cattle, have moved, they are in a field.. I.. I . can see them.. They are running.. HELP.. it burns It BURNS! Rohan. it burns." Daniel cries loud. "Please... make it STOP.." Tears start forming from his shut eyes. Then he takes a deep breath and stands up and back looking around. His eyes large and wide. His bottom lip twitches, then he falls to his knees crying.

Lexus puts his hand on Daniels shoulder then looks at Rohan. "His visions are getting stronger."

"But he was awake this time! Look he still is awake." Daniel shakes his head and takes a deep breath opening his eyes. He looks around. "I was somewhere else. In a field and there was fire everywhere it came from the sky, and the cattle they ran fast trampling each other there was blood everywhere."Daniel looks up at the two of them. "Am I losing my mind? What is wrong with me?" The young mans face petrified with fear.

"It'll be ok kid.. we'll be fine, but we have to hurry whatever is..." Rohan looked down the road, and sniffs the air, he then lets go of the reins of the horses and just grabs the saddle bag and throws it over his shoulder. "Lex, let the horses go grab what you need.. that is how they are following us.. it’s the horses."

Daniel looks confused and scared. "What? Who is following us? Why the horses?" Lexus grabs Daniels arm and pulls him off the side of the road through the tall grass headed up a hill. They travel off running. In the distance, over the sound of their feet running, all they hear is the cattle running off. As well as the sound of the horses whining only to abruptly stop. The three of them run through the fields for what seems to be hours before they slow down. After some time Daniel cannot move any farther and falls to the ground.

Rohan turns and picks him up."Come on boy, you gotta move we only have a short distance left. I see a small tree ahead and a few rocks we can rest there. Possibly hide." Rohan tosses Daniel over his shoulder and carries him about another mile through the field. "Alright we can rest here. Lex.. someone wants this kid bad there had to be at least three griffon riders behind us, and you know as well as I that those are expensive men to hire." Daniel rolls over with his eyes half open.

"What is, a griffon?"

Rohan looks at him. "Close your eyes and picture this, a great lion with feathers instead of fur, broad wings, and the head of a great eagle but the size of that to fit the lions body. Their feet are like talons more than lion claws. And they are able to rip through meat faster then a freshly sharpend sword."

Lexus adds, "Then add the grace of a beautiful dancer in a dance hall, with the pride of a great king, yet the loyalty and trainability of the greatest steeds a knight could have." Lexus watches Rohan walk off into the field behind. Daniel also watches Rohan walk off then looks at Lexus. "Sleep now Dan, I am not sure when we will have to move."

"I know I am asking a lot of questions.. but this is all new to me. Why does Rohan always act so.. "

"Tough?" Lexus finished the sentince for Daniel who just nodded. "Well you see years ago he was the son of a great noble. He had ventured out to become a man like his father had when he was young. In his travels he was cursed by a powerful wizard. He was left to roam the land as a rabid wolf instead of as a man. The wizards spell though was warped and twisted and didn’t work as it was supposed to. Eventually after a few years Rohan learned to control the curse and went back and set the Wizard on fire and let it spread through the building the Wizard had built. To this day Rohan has attempted to set ablaze any wizard he sees, good or evil. Just to spite the curse." Daniel looked at Lexus confused as if unanswered. "I met him years later saving the life’s of many in a small village. You see to you, him acting tough isn’t acting.. he is tough. He has the strength of about five men, and the Senses of a dog, hearing, sight, and smell. His wit has charmed many women, and his gallantry has brought together halls of men who at one point were at the brink of war. To be truthful Dan, right now there isn’t a better man to have watching over us than him. I don’t think he has a weakness in him. He is going to hide our scent in the fields then we will head out through the fields... now get some sleep."

As the moon rises, Rohan returns to the small Oasis in the field. To find Lexus clearing away some stones. Much of the weeds have been cut back and used in a small fire that Lexus had built. "Lex, what the hell are you doing?" he then looks over to Daniel who is sitting crosslegged on top of the large rock with his eyes closed. Rohan then looks back at Lexus.

"Fortunate we are, Rohan take a look at this." Lexus points to a small inscription on the top of a small flat slate of marble just at the base of the tree. "Go ahead and read that.

Reading the inscription out loud, "The Oasis, a place to be protected from all that you run from, awake and feel rejuvenated with spirit and hope. All is not lost. ~Narieandar Druid of the Third Season .. and then there is a lot of writing I cant read.. so what?"

"Well you saw Daniel when you dropped him off here, he couldn't even walk. I think he slept for ten minutes before he woke up and thought he had slept for an entire day. Even my strength returns as if I had slept, though I have been clearing rocks since just after you left. This is a true oasis, enchanted by the powers of the earth, and protected from the forces of darkness. We have been running from Darkness or days.. and for every dark there must be an equal light."

"Lex, you know as well as I that there is not a government in the world that you or I know of that isn’t corrupted with evil. There are dark clouds over every land and it is all corrupted because of this emperor, so you tell me. Where is this equal light you speak of?” He pauses, ”You keep clearing rocks I am going to take a nap." Rohan lays down a bit frustrated at the loss of two horses, being followed by hired griffon riders, and not knowing what is ahead of them. To keep from frustrating the others or worrying them he does not mention the smell in the air ahead. Even a few hours rest will be better than none. His eyes close to the sound of the crackling fire. Lexus grabs a blanket and covers Rohans exhausted body and looks over to Daniel who remains in a meditated stance.

"Daniel I know you are faking it.. when you breath inhale through your nose and let it fill you like water fills a glass, from the bottom up. Then when you let it all out, do it as if you are pouring it out.. let what is on top out first and leave a bit in the glass for good luck. You must sense your at peace even if you are not.. and be as if you are looking at yourslef in a mirror." Lexus speaks in a calm monotone voice, slowly his voice drifts off And Daniel opens his eyes to see a burning field cool down. Cinders and ash and the bodies of man and beast alike. The remains of cattle and men alike lay scattered across the charred field. Daniel looks down to one of the cattle that live laying with its hind legs missing. The slight wind dies instantly and the area darkens around him. Something is there. Slowly he looks up to the sky to see a giant head, but only a glimpse and sudden fear engulfs Daniel he screams loud and hard opening his eyes to silence. Looking around he sees Rohan sleeping and Lexus lighting a small pipe. Lexus looks up almost startled. His eyes narrow a bit looking at Daniel then he looks down at the end of the pipe while he finishes lighting it taking a few puffs. "Remember Daniel what you see should be something that puts you at peace, you see what you want to see. If you don’t learn to control what you yourself picture, then you shall never be able to control other aspects of your life. Your temper, your fears, your heart, your conscious." Lexus pauses for a second, "Your gift."

"I saw, I saw, something, it was huge, its eyes, they were heartless it’s eyes, that’s all I could see. "The boy cried, who cares about control, it was there I didn’t want to be there, why would I want to see something like that?" He looked at Lexus. "Well?"

Lexus looked back at him and shook his head. "That is something you will have to learn and undertand. It has been a few hours, we should start getting ready, let Rohan sleep a bit more then we shall head out. Better to move under the light of night then the dark of day."

"What?" Daniel looked up at the sky to see that the cold clouds of the day had passed and now that night had come they began to clear. "Oh, I get it."

"Heh, yes in the summer the days are usually clear and the nights usually clouded, when the temperature drops in the fall and winter it is quite the opposite, Clouded in the day and clear in the night." Lexus Held the pipe in his mouth as he stuffed some of the food he had out inside his bag. Then rolled up his bedroll. Only stopping here and there to look off into the field and listen.

"Hey Lexus take a look a that." Daniel pointed up towards the rising moon to see a tiny bat flying in the moonlight. I think he is lost, probably forgot where his cave is or wherever he is supposed to go when fall comes." Daniel hops up on the tallest rock to get a better look. Lexus turns to see what he is pointing at. The pipe in Lexus' mouth drops on the ground. Immediately he rushes over to Rohan.

"Rohan, get up, we NEED to get going. Get your tail up, we need to move and fast." Lexus shakes Rohan who rolls over and rubs his beard.

Daniel looks over. "What’s the big deal Lexus? You are scared of bats?

Rohan looks over in the direction of what Daniel is looking at and in an instant jumps out of his resting place and jams all is stuff in his bag ad grabs his sword and shirt and nods grabbing Daniel by the arm. "Trust me Daniel, Run.. try to keep up with us or we all die."

"Huh? What, from a bat?" He turns to Rohan.

Lexus runs over with his stuff, "That’s not a bat. It’s just really far away." Daniel looks up again as the moon is mostly hidden by what he once thought was a bat that only took up a very small portion of the moon. They run off into the field of mostly dead grass and weeds, Which only gets taller and eventually becomes taller than Lexus and Daniel themselves, though Rohans head still peaks above some of the weeds, plants, and shrubs. They run through what eventually becomes a small woodland area, each of them every now and then looking back over their shoulder to see if they are still being chased.

"Was that a griffon?" Daniel looks as they are running.

Rohan calls from behind, "No!" The three of them dive out of the other side of the small woodland area to a clearing And Lexus stops dead in his tracks followed by Daniel and Rohan. To hear a voice.

"Sorry to interupt your hike, but we are the Griffin Riders of Heith, I am head bounty hunter Kale Jarb'yt, and these are my partners. I am afraid to inform you, my job is to capture and obtain the One known as Daniel, the Child Seer. Step aside and your lives will be spared. Our Job is to return the boy to one of the Emperors men." The man atop the griffon mearly looks human, His race is not that of human though, His fingers not ten his skin a grey tan color like that of a rock and face hidden behind a mask with tentacles coming from the head like dreadlocks.

Rohan looks over his shoulder, then back. "We are not the only ones protecting the kid. I know your race bounty hunter, your honor bound to your word to the death. So I know you will not stop your hunt for this kid till you accomplish your goal, till the death. But you might want to postpone it, for our other friend will eat you alive if you do not let us pass."

"You bluff large man, we have been following you for days and there is just you three. I give you one last chance." Daniels face becomes that of total fear, the likes of when he saw the shadow and the eyes. The Fire and the dead cattle in his vision. Rohan points behind the griffon riders.

"I'm not bluffing."

Kale Jarb'yt turns to see a large dragon head sweep down from behind and grab one of the griffon riders and the griffon in its Jaws as the other two attack the dragon. Its tail sweeps from behind knocking the other rider from the griffon as Kale Jarb'yt takes to air in the griffon and commands the precise attack to the side of its neck, The other rolls under the dragon as it swallows the griffon while knocking Kale Jarb’yt from mid air with one of its wings. Lexus looks at Rohan then at Daniel who is frozen in fear. Rohan grabs him, he and Lexus run off to the side avoiding combat. Daniel over Rohans shoulder sees the combat continue.

The dragon then attempts to take to the air. Kale looks up to the huge body of the dragon drawing his crossbow in one hand and double edged sword in the other. His remaining partner stabs a spear through the tail of the dragon into the ground preventing it from getting off the ground for at least short bit longer. The Dragon looks down at Kale and then back at his partner. The Dragon speaks. "Felando Erestatus." In mere seconds Kales partner turns to dust as the tail of the dragon realeases. The Dragon growls at Kale as it’s tail sweeps Kale off his feet to the ground. Daniel looks on in horror as the sight of the bounty hunter is lost in the field of grass and the dragon he sees still above the ground unleashes a pillar of flames erupting from deep within its throat. Even from this distance the heat can be felt. Then the dragon drops back to the ground. The only sound Daniel hears is the sound of the other griffon crying out for just an instant. "put me down.. I am fine."

Rohan Puts him down as they head off. "We should be fine three griffons should be a good enough meal for him not to care about us."

"Yeah, Hopefully." Lexus replies. "Besides we are only a few days away from the city, Then we will surely be safe."






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Many Chapters Later
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Zhingos sat in the study, studying books over and over, Robe covered turning to a small glass of liquid. In the farthest corner of the dark stone room a staff long and strong. Finally a conclusion, and answer to the question that Zhingos has been wondering over and over for the past few days, research had peaked and slowly lifting the glass a pounding at the door is heard and the sound startles Zhingos dropping the bottle of fluid to the ground. With a shrill voice of anger. "WHAT!"

The door opens and through it a teen girl walks in, "Um.. umm Zhingos.. there is something that.. that happened an incident at one of the entrances. They say it needs your guidance.. they captured something.. and they don’t know what it is.. some creature that can look human. It seriously injured seven men.. please hurry." Zhingos forgets the fluid on the ground and reaches out as the staff glides across the room to the hand of the robed master. Slowly Zhingos follows the girl through tunnels and corridors, large bricked tunnels lit by torches and what seems old buildings partially destroyed and re-built best they can. The girl opens a door for Zhingos to a large building. Zhingos walks in and to some stairs headed downwards to a enormous opening where two men stand.

"Ahh m'lord.. you must see this.. this being was at an entrance trying to force its way in. When we captured it, it changed from man to . to this." Zhingos leaned over to a small arena area locked down a creature some eight or nine feet in length full of bright silvery hair, and sharp teeth, it’s hands claw like, as seven men hold ropes attacked to it. As if Playing with the men it pulls a rope and backhands the man once, into an unconscious state. Then it lets loose a howl and turns looking straight at the wizard and the tall staff.

"Ahh, a Lycanthrope, werewolf.. you say it changed when you brought it in?" Zhingos ponders curiously.

"Yes, he said he came to show us a surprise, and the men said they mocked the man. Then he stopped and laughed and turned into that. They were finally able to drag it in here with about fifteen to twenty men. It created such a ruckus that they had to take guards from two other positions just to hold it at bay." Zhingos looked back at the werewolf who was now a full figured man wearing nothing but an old torn pair of pants. Zhingos' face always hidden in the cloak seemed to almost float down to the lycanthrope. There They stood across from each other the, Wizard Zhingos and the werewolf. It’s white hair long to his broad shoulders.

"So, Lycanthrope, you have an interesting ability to control your .. disease. Do you have a name?" Zhingos asked blatantly not really caring to hear if he answers or not.

"My name is Rohan.. wizard. I am in search of one known as.. Zhingos. You ever heard of him?" Rohan asks with little ease. Rohan glares at the staff, his muscles tense trying to hold himself back from doing anything brash to the obvious wizard.

"Perhaps, what is it that you seek this, Zhingos for? You an assassin? Because if you are you have no chances of killing Zhingos. He is far away from where there is harm, especially from the likes of a Lycanthrope. I have seen a few in my time. although one in control of himself is ... well last thought of as folklore."

"Ahh I am sorry to disappoint you wizard.. I have met many of your kind as well.. many of them I have set afire to blazen in their own curling turmoil. You ask.. where did I get this wonderful ability.. ask you brethren." Rohan spits at the feet of the wizard still being held back by men as they secure their bonds better on him. "You are right though.. your friend Zhingos is safe from me... but I am not the one planned on finding him." Rohan laughs at the wizards face, daring to insult him. Though with a strange ease the wizard Zhingos holds back and smiles.

Then with forceful commands , "Take him to the stone and lock him in there." Zhingos walks to one of the guards. "Secure all of the Underbelly, this was a distraction.. others have entered without us knowing.. find them!" Zhingos walks the long way around some stairs up to where the two elders stand looking on. "You fools this was just a ruse to turn our attention away. When I find the perpetrators they will be dealt with!"

Zhingos walks off. As he does he slowly watches every corner of the roads. In the darkened corners that are unseen a bit of light can be seen, with a single word or two. Until Making it back to the building that Zhingos calls home. Walking in he realizes the candles that were lit earlier were not all lit. Slowly lifting the wizards staff Zhingos begins to speak, but is Interrupted. "Zhingos I presume?" A voice calls out from an unlit portion of the room.

"Yes, I had thought you would find me here.. but slay me you will not." A light appears in the corner of the room as Lexus sits on the floor patiently atop a fine woven rug. Zhingos smirks a bit and twists his hands to watch the rug surround and grasp Lexus holding him covered.

"Now that I know I have you.. tell me why you have come." Zhingos says with spitfire.

"We have not come to harm you.. we were sent to you by an old apothecary who lives far in the city of Harndale. You were told of a boy who could see possibly futures, who the dead could speak to and through. This boy is turned man, and now is on the run from the Emperors men. You are somehow the key. My friend said to take the boy to you, and you would know what to do." Zhingos releases the spell and the rug falls back to place. But Lexus, is not wrapped within the rug. Zhingos turns around to see Lexus behind him standing fine. In a fit of fury Lexus body is sent through the air hitting a stone wall hard. A sickening crack is heard upon impact.

"Toy with me and you will find death I assure you. I can hold you on that wall and squeeze life from your very body and stuff it into a bottle forever. Do you understand me." Zhingos shows that a temper is strong and easily set off. Lexus slides down the wall and holds his side coughing up a bit of blood. "Aww, geeze for crying out loud bleed somewhere else.. here.. follow me." They head down a corridor to Zhingos's old laboratory. Books and bottles fill the dark stone room. Tables cluttered with paper and parchments, devices scattered amongst the floor. Paperwork with designs of things never finished. Ideas left to collect dust. Stale air freshened from the opening of the door. Zhingos looking the bottles over different colors most a bland and dark in tons a few though are bright with color some even clear as water. "Ahh here it is." Zhingos grabs a bottle from the wall a clear substance with a red tone to it.. almost crystal clear is the liquid. "Here drink this.. an quit coughing up blood you're making a mess."

"I Thank you." Lexus says with honestly even though the wizard healing him is the one who injured him in the first place.