Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: TrashMan on May 01, 2007, 05:02:23 pm
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Something me an ET1087 have been working on...
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* Relics of the Past (working title) *
A lone rider moved slowly trough the wildernes, along the narrow path. It was raining for hours and the ground was one big mudhole now. A light mist had settled along the ground ss the incesent fall of rain formed a thick veil, shifting and hypnotic.
The figure on the horse didn't even flinch when a lightning thundered very close by, unlike the horse that increased the pace immediately.
Completely lost in thought, Ellderon didn't even notice when the horse reached an intersection and stopped, waiting for his master to determine the direction.
Finally snapping out of it, he dismounted the horse. As he was doing that, the metalic glimmer of armor could be seen hidden behind his cloak and a longsword dangling from his side.
It was dark now and he coudn't see the writing on the signpost.
Bitting his lip he let a silent curse, but then smiled, smacking himself on the wet forehead as he remebering something. As his hand rose towards the billboard a globe of light grew within his palm, illuminating him and his immediate sorroundings.
"Let's see.... the town of Lerinus is that way..." turning towards the horse he continued.. "Hey, it's right behind that second bend. Great. We'll be there in time for a hot supper and warm bed. And looks like the rain is dying down finally.”
--
After an hour of Ellderon leading his horse down the twisty path he comes to notice something. All the sounds in the forest have stopped. There are no more bird calls, no more chittering of tiny animals, no more rustle of the underbrush as something takes flight.
His horse comes to a halt and starts neighing softly. With a sense of dread Ellderon gently places a hand on his horse's snout. "Easy boy," he tells the horse, trying more to reassure him than the horse.
Suddenly a high pitched, unearthly, scream sounds from somewhere deep in the forest. The horse's ears shoot up and he whinnys fright. Silence desends again. All that can be heard by Ellderon is his and his horse's breathing.
The forest quite is shattered again with the scream, this time only a few meters away off the path. Cursing, Ellderon draws his longsword and scans the trees in front of him, from where the scream came from.
Suddenly a black form leaps from the trees straight at him! Pitch black claws screetch off his plate armor, leaving stricks of frozen metal in thier wake running across his chest plate and sending him tumbling off the horse and into the mud.
Almost to fast for Ellderon to see, a claw whips towards his face. He catches a glimpse of two blood red eyes, glowing with an inner flame of black evil. Crying out a pray to Aiur to give him strength, he throws the thing off him.
--
Raising his sword Ellderon looked in the direction the thing flew, however, the night is dark and the rain is still falling heavily.. only barely visible shilouettes of a tree or two and his horse are the only things he can see.
The horse, fightened by another shriek runs away.
Seeing it Ellderon curses quietly: "Damn it!"
He wasn't worried about the horse.. it was well trained and it will stop in a minute and wait for him..but his greatsword was attached to the sadle and he hated the thought of trudging after him in this rain..especially with this "thing" out there..
But what was it? Small, fast, with red eyes and sharp claws, allmost completely black...He was sure he heard about it somewhere before, but where? At his training? In one of the taverns? He couldn't recall, but it was something very familiar, something he felt he should know...
But where was it?
Ellderon was turning around, starring at the darkness, hoping to catch a glimpse of his attacker... Whatever the creature was, he had no doubt it was creature of darkness... they allways hunt at night…and well, the burning red eyes and muredours attitude also help.
Realising it was pointless to try and find him visually, he reverted to one of the techniques he learned. Closing his eyes he concterated soley on his hearing, emptying his mind of everything the other senses were telling him.. slowly, the cold of the night, the smell of grass and mud, the tapping of raindrops on his head - they all became more distant, more of a echo. The sound of the rain and the wind, his breating - they all became louder...much louder.. Next he focused on the other sounds, pushing his breating aside, it became quieter and quieter...and finally quiet enough that he could hear other sounds perfectly.
There was something in the background..some kind of tapping...the thing was running around him, but he couldn't pin-point it.
And then suddenly it stopped. It was preparing to attack again.
Ellderon heard only rain.. The tapper agin..and a splash - the creature stepped in a puddle - to his right!
The globe of light became suddenly alive in his right hand as he turned toward the creature. It shrieked as the light burned it's sensitive eyes and jumped back into the forst at an amazing speed - Ellderons blade cut trough empty air.
"Arh!... So close!" - he looked at the forest, the agonizing shrieks of the creature growing more distant.. - "At least it won't bother me again..."
He sighed and continued down the trail, only to find his horse waiting for him right behind the next bend. And he could see the town lights.
Smiling, he mounted the horse and petting it gently on the neck said: "Well boy, it looks like we'll get that warm bed after all."
Just as he was leaving he tough he caught a glimpse of a slender, gracufull figure running into the forest.
--
Finally, the travel was over.
As soon as he put his foot inside the tavern he felt re-born. His horse was secured in the stables wiht a fresh lump of hay, and now was time to provide for himself.
He went in the room he rented for the night and took off his gear to slip into something more comfortable. Stashing his stuff near the bed, he cursed at the dents on his armor - and there were many. He got this armor a long time ago, at the beginning of his training and it has been trough a lot. It would truly take an extraordinary smith to fix it. And coin of course but that’s something he never had in abdundance.
One of the reasons he came to this town was a legend of a powerfull suit of armor hidden around these parts.. The other one was the rumors of brutal killings going on here lately.
"Oh well, can't work on a empty stomach now can I?" he grinned to his reflection in the mirror, realising he could use a shave later, and weant down to the parlor.
The tavern wench brught him a hot soup, bread, a thick slab of cheese and milk (he found it more refreshing than ale) and he dug into the food immediately.
He didn't even notice as others in the tavern looked, and smiled, at him in a funny way. Especially a wily character in the other corner.
--
The two came down the stairs to the common room of the tavern. The sounds of laughter had woken they from thier sleep. It was smells that convinced them to get up.
The green eyed girl turned to her brother. "Hey, Tyler, how about you get us some drinks?", she said with an impish smile as she slowly slid off in the direction of a table, leaving Tyler standing by himself at the foot of the stairs. "Damn," he muttered under his breath. Heaving a sigh, he walked over to the barkeep, at least it was better than standing in the middle of the room doing nothing.
"Hey friend, what can I get you?" the barkeep asked, pulling a slightly dirty mug from under the counter. Leaning closer to the barkeep he asked in a low ton, "Have some Firehead Ale?". The barkeeps eyes widened, as well he should, Firehead Ale was among the most potent ale in the relm. He smiled smuggly to himself, that would show his sister. As the barkeep passed him the mug, Tyler signaled for another. The barkeep shook his head in wonderment, but gave him his order.
Drinks in hand, Tyler glanced around the common room, searching for his sister. She was sitting at a three person table, but not alone. Tyler's eyes narrowed. Beside her was another man, almost six feet, brown hair, a light beard, and blue-greeny eyes, probably in his late twenties. The man was laughing, and his sister was...smiling.
He walked over to the table and set the drinks down. Immediatly the other man stood up and held out his hand. Tyler jumped back, fearing some trick. The man just stood there, his hand out, a puzzled expression on his face. Tyler got ready for a fight, his hands clenching into fists.
His sister's light chuckled diffused the situation. She got up from the table and slide around to stand beside Tyler. Placing a hand on his tense sholder, she stood up on her toes and whispered softly into his ear.
"Ty, stop. Your making a fool of yourself. This is just his way of greeting. Just put out your hand and shake with his." Running her fingers through his hand she continued, exasperated. "Ty, we -must- do something about this hair. I don't care what you say, but one of these days-" He rolled his head side to side, his hair flying in her face, interrupting her. She gave a little sniff in displeasure then sunk back down and slide back to the table.
Tyler realized the man was still standing there. Feeling just a bit foolish, he put his hand out and clamped it around the man's squeezing tight. The man grimaced, and Tyler suddenly realized he had a death grip on the man's hand.
"Sorry." Tyler said in his deep voice, easing up on the pressure. The man gave a wide smile. "Nay sir, it is quite alright. Please, sit with us." Saying so, he took his seat again. With a look from his sister he sat down.
It was his sister who spoke first. She nodded slightly in the man's direction. "Ty, this is Ellderon, a man from far away. It turns out that on the night we killed the shadow-spawn, he met it too." She smiled a little. "Except, he just drove it off, whereas we killed it." She paused to take a drink and continue on. Tyler watched her closely. "The thing is, he saw me." Tyler's eyes narrowed and he glanced at the stranger in disbelief. When his sister wanted to stay hidden, she was nearly impossible to find.
“To be more precise I saw something, just for a split second. I culd tell it was humanoid, but that’s about it…”
She took another drink. To Tyler's utmost dismay she didn't seem to be effected by the drink at all.
She turned to Ellderon. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. We havn't introduced ourselves. My name is Emily, and this is my brother Tyler. Right now, we work for the town, protecting the people from the shadow creatures in the forest. It's good pay, but, well, it's boring. What brings you hear?"
--
Ellderon made a strange looking face and looked up as if not really knowing where to start.
"Well, two things actually..."
He then paused again, but Tyler pressed the issue.
"And those would be?"
"I heard rumors about a powerfull suit of armor hidden around these parts. My own armor is in need of replacmenet...badly."
Emily leaned back and stared at both men intently, asking casually:
"And the second reason?"
"The shadow creatures... I heard about them suddenly appearing and causing more and more trouble, so I wanted to check it out."
Tylers eyes narrowed as he studied the man. There was something strange about him, but he couldn't put his finger on it..
"And just why would you be so interrested in those creatures?"
Ellderon gave him a surprised look, but before he could say anything the large warrior continued.
"We are payed to keep the town safe, but even we don't go after them unless they get too close to the farms... And they are fast and deadly.. difficult opponents. Just how did you manage to drive one of them off? We heard the shrieking - what did you do?"
Emily leaned forward, suddenly becoming very interested in the strangers words.
"As for the first question – I hate them and want to see them eradicated. .. How I chaced it off? I used a little.. trick of mine against it."
Tyler didn't like that pause. The man was carefully selecting his words, most surely he was hiding something.
"I take it you are a warrior?"
"Something of the sort."
Again a cryptic answer. He was starting to get annoyed and just as he was about to give him a piece of his mind, Ellderon whispered quietly:
"Don't look now, but it looks like trouble is heading our way.. and I left my gear in the room."
Casting a glance in the reflection on her tancard Emily saw a group of ruffians approaching the table. It's not first time this happened, as practicly every tavern has a few fighting champions. They pick a fight with someone who looks interesting enough and the crowd pays them drinks. A cosy set-up for the bullys, but not as much for their victims. And this group looked nasty as the leading man was a real giant.
Tyler smiled for he allways liked a good brawl, but Emily realised that the odds are not in their favour - half the customers in the parlor were drunk and friends of the troublemakers. That means they could end up fighing half the tavern.
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CONTINUED
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With a look and a nod to each other Ellderon and Tyler rose. Crossing in front of the table, Tyler spoke quickly to Ellderon, "You any good at brawling?". Ellderon nodded, "Yeah, I've done it all my life. But let me take the big one."
Tyler raised an eyebrow, "Alright, but just remember, you volluntered."
Emily, still sitting down, sighed.
The man leading the group reached the table. He towered over the two men, he was at least seven feet tall. His arms where as thick as the men's legs and his hands were as big as stone blocks. His voice was like the deep rumble of thunder. He pointed with a meaty finger over the heads of the two men at Emily, who was sitting down at the table, still calm and relaxed.
Speaking to the men the giant said, in poorly spoken Northern, "Your wench here. She's a pretty piece. She Tor's wench now." A twisted grin strenched across his face, half his teeth fallen out, his breath smelling of something a week old. "You'll make me happy girl. Or else." He said, his followers chuckling.
For Tyler, time stopped. His hands clenched in anger, his body tensed, his vision dimmed. He welcomed the rage, it made him stronger, it made the pain go away. Suddenly he felt a hand press against his back. Emily whispered in his ear, "Calm down, let me handle this." She waited for his nod and his body to relax before moving between the men.
She strode straight up to Tor, standing close enough to make out the threads in his tattered shirt. She tilted her head back to look up at him and shook her head as the man stared down at her.
"Damn Tor. Arn't you one ugly son of a goblin. I bet your mother must have run off to live with an elf." It had the effect she had been hoping for. The giant, or at least half-giant, judging by his height, could never have been more insulted. If there was anything giantkind hated, it was elves.
Tor stood motionless for two seconds. His face went red and his hands clenched. Suddenly, he let out a bellow, loud enough to knock Emily back a step. "Tor not ugly! Tor crush you!" he shouted, his rank breath washing over the trio in front of him. The half-giant stomped the floor, shaking the chairs and tables around him.
Tyler had come out of his trance. "Damn, he sure has bad breath doesn't he?" He said to no one in particular, getting a laugh from Ellderon and a small smile from Emily.
In front of the two men, Emily had suddenly gone from a flippent girl to a woman ready to defend herself. Ellderon started to step forward to fight but Tyler, with his face dead serious, put an arm out and shook his head. "Let Em handle this, just stand back and watch the fun."
Her face was a blank, expressionless mask and her eyes had gone hard. In her black leather armor she looked like nothing more than a killer. Crouching down slightly, she launched herself at the giant, aim for the space between his wide spread legs. As she started her dive, the giant clumily reached down, trying to catch her in his large arms. He missed, and Emily rolled through the giant's legs. As she passed under, she kicked a leg up, her hard boots connecting.
The giant stood up quickly, very quickly. A pained expression crossed his features and he reached down to cradle his injured gonades. The other followers all started laughing as the giant started making mewing sounds of pain. Emily, her face still set in stone, rolled out of the dive to stand behind the giant. She dropped to the floor and kicked out backwards, connecting with the giant's leg, then rolled out of the way to get out of the way of his falling body.
Unfortunately, the giant was alot stronger than she thought, and he didn't topple over. Recovering enough from his injury, the giant turned around, hatred on his face. His followers all shut up when they saw his expression. Emily started backing away from the quickly advancing giant, towards the stairs.
On the other side of the gaint, Tyler tapped Ellderon on the sholder and nodded. The men started forward.
--
Seeing the two men move the rest of the gang proceeded to bar their way.
Not stoping his stride, Tyler grabed a nearby chair with one arm and flinged it at the largest looking group. The chair slammed into two of the thugs, the force of the impact breaking it to peaces and sending them falling backwards on their comrades.
Before they could even get their bearings his fist were on them sending them to sleep.
Emily had problems with the giant. He charged at her like a wild elephant, tossing tables and chairs (with the occupants still in them) to the side. Smirking lightly she tossed a knife at the large lantern haning from the ceeling, cutting the rope and sending it chrashing on the giants head. The giant didn't even seem to notice.
Seing this, Ellderon ran straight at the giant. Without slowing he jumped onto a table and then in the air, and put both of his legs in front, hitting him square in the back. The giant reeled only slightly, then turned to face the new foe. His heavy hands came down but missed their mark as Ellderon jumped to the side, hitting him in the stomach in the process. The giant didn't seem to notice the hit and caught him with a backhand, sending Ellderon flying a few feet and landing on a table, breaking it in half.
The giant turned back to look for Emily, but was surprised when he found the spot she had been occupying empty. He starting turning in circles, looking. It was as if she blended with the shadows.
Enraged by the fact that "his wench" escaped, the giant let out a loud bellow and started turning over the tables, searching for her.
Meanwhile Tyler was had his hands full.
--
Tyler had his back to one of the wooden support columns with the advancing mob in front of him. He took a moment to glance in the giant's direction and was relieved to find the giant turning around in circles trying to look find Emily. Then he had no more time for distractions, the crowd was on him.
Some of the patrons had broken some chair legs to use as crude clubs. They might not cut like swords and they might not clobber like morning stars...but there were those damned splinters to worry about. Others pulled out knives they obviously kept hidden. This was no more a simple brawl as he was forced to pull his sword.
Sighing, he turned to face the crowd.
Emily crouched in the corner under a ledge, hidden in the shadows, watching. Her cat-like emerald eyes serveyed the brawl. The giant was turning around in circles, searching for her, while scratching its large head. She grinned when the giant started grabbing tables, tossing drinks and patrons around, and sending them flying through the air. It looked funny.
She saw Ellderon moving slightly, still lying on the ground with the broken table under him, a hostile crowd closing in. She growled in frustration. Men. Always needing help., she thought as she devised a plan to help him. It wouldn't do to run in and hold the crowd off single handedly...she glanced up and spotted a crossbeam. Smiling, she deftly uncoiled the thin rope she had strung around her and made ready to launch into action.
Ellderon was lying among the shattered remains of the table. The last thing he remembered before his impromtu flight was giving the giant a good chiropractic session. Trying to clear that damned ringing sound he pushed himself up, getting ready to fight.
And then something dangeling down from the ceiling flew right towards him. A pair of small and very feminine arms reached under his armpits, grabbing hold of the back of his shirt. As if having a pair of female arms around him weren't enough, he happened to be staring right at-
A quiet voice interrupted his thought, whispering in his ear, "Don't you dare tell Tyler about this. Or anyone for that matter." With that dire threat Emily twisted her legs, winding the rope around them, then jacknifed, hauling Ellderon off the floor and away from the crowd, up towards the roof.
Emily was hanging down from a very thin, but obviously very strong rope tied around the crossbeam. She looked like a spider, black and thin, dangling there, waiting to catch a fly. With Ellderon in her grasp, she started swinging, like a giant pendulum. Ellderon gave a shout as she let him go, sending him flying.
On the ground, the giant bellowed in rage as the human missile flew and hit him in the chest, knocking him over.
--
However, the giant was, well - a giant, and he was on his feet in moments, glaring at the would-be missile with a murderous stare.
Ellderon was really starting to regret not having his armor..or ANY weapoin for that matter. What was he thinking, not even taking a dagger with him?
Like two large hammers, the giants hands came crashing down, barely missing Ellderon as he jumped and rolled to the side, evading the blows.
Well, maby leaving the armor wasn't such a bad idea he thought as he dodged another strike from the giant. At least it allowed him to move faster and stay in one piece – not that his armor was really that restrictive or that giants are fast, alltough ever bit helps - but the question was, for how long?
He manged to throw a few punches at Tor, but they had little effect.
Emily was secure on the roof, but how was Tyler doing? Casting a quick glance, Ellderon saw that the big man was holding the mob off for now, but they were going to simply crush him under thier weight. Then, freeing himself momentarily, Tyler hacked at the wodden pole behind him with his greatsword. The ones in the front paused, confused at his behaviour. It took another chop for them to realised it was a support beam, but by then it was already too late; the balcony section it had supported came crashing down on their heads.
Captivated by the spectacle for a second, Ellderon didn't quite dodge the giant's backhand, and so once again, for the third time tonight, took flight.
He was better off this time, his landing on the floor was softened by an unconsious patron. Jumping to his feet he winced suddenly and kneeled as a sharp, stabbing pain told him a rib or two were broken.
Looking up he saw Tyler's plan had backfired. Most of the mob was out cold allright, burried under what remained of the balcony, but the tavern was old and not well built. Parts of the roof had begun to fall, apparently the balcony had been used to support the roof. Unfourtunitly, the crossbeam Emily was on came down too, tossing her out into space.
Tyler was hit by one of the smaller pieces, but got up immediately.
Emily, still in the air, threw a rope with a spike on the end at another crossbeam, desperatly trying to save herself from the fall. The spike at the end of the rope dug in, preventing her from crashing to the ground but sending her swinging through the air, flying towards another support. And then the spike came free.
She fell to the ground, changing her fall into a swing, but still crashing down on one of the few tables that was still in one piece. The giant turned away from Ellderon, seeing Emily, and bellowed before starting towards her. Weakly, she rolled off the table and hit the floor. Putting her arms under her, she slowly dragged herself away from the giant.
Tyler saw the giant advancing on his sister. Giving a roar of rage like a bear he charged towards her, toppeling everyone in his way and vaulting over the wreckage of tables. He wouldn't make before the giant got her and smashed her to bits. Desperate and helpless he cried out her name.
Then suddenly he felt something. A sense of dread like he had never known washed over him, making him feel like death itself had touched him. It was over in a moment, replaced by a an even stranger calm.
//All of a sudden all the colours around him turned vibrant. Dull blues became blazing torquise, brownish yellows became the bright as the sun. //
Tyler glanced around and spotted Ellderon. He was slowly standing up, his head bent down, his hands by his sides. As he raised his head, Tyler saw his eyes – they looked normal, but there was something strange about them, like white flames burning within. He somehow appeared taller and more menacing. Everyone in the tavern noticed it as well. Time seemed to stop.
And then Eldleron charged at confused giant, planting a series of punches in his stomach - and this time, Tor seemed to notice.
Then he picked up a large, thick wooden pole and swung it hard, hitting the giant in the chin from below.
The pole broke in hundereds of splintes from the force of the impact and Tor flew up in the air and fell hard, not moving.
Everyone in the tavern stared at Ellderon in disbelief for a few seconds, in the total quiet. Only his heavy breathing could be heard.
And then panic ensued as the patrons, the guests and the thugs, thier leader dead, left in a hurry. In less then a minute, the tavern was empty, save for those knocked out, or worse, and the three adventurers.
"Something tells me we better leave quickly. We'll not be wanted around here after this..." Ellderon said quietly in a tired voice, gestering around at the wrecked tavern, piece of the roof still falling. Then he turned and started moving to the door of his room. His steps were slow as if strugling to retain balance.
Tyler reached down and picked up Emily, cradeling her as he walked around the wreckage towards the door.
Emily spoke softly to him, her voice wavering slightly. "Ty- For a moment back there I felt so alone, so utterly alone and-". Her face wasn't showing anything, but he knew. Her eyes showed how scared she truely was. He interrupted her softly, "Hush Em, it's alright. It was Ellderon, there's something about him. I think that- well we can talk later."
Ellderon picked up his gear and rushed to the stables. He watched the two siblings coming towards him. Behind him, the two horses were waiting, one pawing the ground anxiously. Tyler glanced at the horses realising they probably belonedto some of the indesposed thugs. Ellderon gestered to them, "I assumed that you would need some, take one if you wish. But, would you care to join me?" Tyler, thinking a moment, gave a nod as he lifted his sister up into the saddle. He stared at Ellderon a moment,as though deciding whether or not to say something profound, but merely said "Thanks for helping." Then he vaulted up into the saddle with his sister in front, holding her in place.
The three rode of into the dark.
--
Ellderon was in the lead on his white stallion, slowly trotting along the path through the woods. The trees were in full bloom, thier green leaves viberent with colour as the sun shone down on them.
Behind him, on a black mare, were Emily and Tyler. His body firmly in the saddle, he rocked back and forth from the motion of the horse. Emily stirred.
She blinked. Gone was the smokey smell of the tavern, the noise and the dim light. Above her was a canopy of leaves, bright and full of life. The sounds of a forest were around her, birds chirpping, the sounds of small animals scuttling around in the underbrush. A light breeze blew through the air, spreading the smell of dew.
"I see your awake." Her brother's voice stated from over her shoulder very matter-of-factly. To anyone else it would sound as though he was unconcerned. But she could hear it in his voice, his caring for her.
She shifted position, trying to get more comfortable but was blocked by Tyler's arms around her. She leaned her head back to lie on his sholder. "You know, you've got to get some padding for this saddle. I can't sleep at all on it." She grinned, "Or maybe it's just your bony shoulder."
The next thing she knew, she was off the mare and on the ground, sitting down in the mud. As the horse troted on, leaving her, she could hear Tyler laughing. He stopped the horse, held the reins in one hand, and turned around in the saddle. Adopting a noble tone, "Dear lady, is thy bottom any better for thy bath?". Glowering at him, she stood up, whipping the mud from her hands and armor. She walked back over to the mare and vaulted up to sit in front of him again. He closed his arms around her again, holding her in position. He chuckled, "Don't look at me like that, it was funny."
Up ahead, Ellderon stopped. Sliding off his stallion, he paced around. Facing the siblings he motioned to a clearing ahead. "Here, we will make camp there." With that he turned his back and grabbed the reins of his horse, starting off in the direction of the campsite.
Tyler grunted as he directed the horse. "Not much of a talker is he?". Emily's response was a sigh and a reply with a tone of thoughfullness. "Give him time. He'll explain when he's ready." Tyler shook his head, as though undecided.
They headed off to the campsite.
--
The trio quickly went to work as they gathered wood and scouted the sorroundings. In a matter of minutes the camp was ready and tehy moved to preparing supper. Dry beef, some bread and beans was all they had (in addition to some berries from the forest), but for a weary adventurer that was a kings meal - and very soon not a crumb was left.
As the sun settled down they settled around the campfire. Tyler was sitting on a trunk, quietly polishing his blade. Emily was lying on her bedroll checking her gear and Ellderon was sitting down beneath a tree, watching at the night sky.
Finally, he broke the silence
"Quite a fall you had back there... For a second I though you were gone.."
Emily sat up and looked at him, then responed.
"For a second, I did too...but only a couple of bruises and a headache, nothing more.. How about you?"
Tyler stoped polishing the blade and listened intentivly.
"What about me?" - Ellderon asked in very strange tone
"When Tor slammed you, you grabed your ribs - he got you good."
"Just a scratch, I'm fine..."
"Really? The way you fell and winced it didn't looked like it was nothing. And you look terrible."
Her piercing gaze was upon him, and for a second, she looked like a cat that's just about to catch it's prey. Tyler leaned forward.
"Well, it's better now. Nothing for you to be concerend about."
"We should check - I don't want to have you watching my back with a broken rib or two."
"Like I said - it's fine. I took care of it."
Tlyer finally couldn't stand it no more and he stood up and starring at Ellderon spat: "I'm tired of this - just who ARE you?.. Or should I say WHAT are you?"
There was moment of sillence as Ellderon with a look of resignation on his face sighed deeply..
"Fine...if you have to know.. I'm what people in the west call a paladin. Orthaenar on elven. Alltough some people call me a Demon Spawn...depends on how you look at it.."
"Never heard of a paladin." - was Emilys response.
"I think I have.. A merchant I once met told me about them..."
Emily was surprised... usually is she the one who listens carefully and knows stuff. But before she could say anything her brother continued:
"He told me of a group of Holy Knights - great warriors with powers bestowed upon them by Ainur. They are few and travel the realm to clense it of the creatures of darkness."
Emily turned towars Ellderon again.
"Is that really true?"
He once again gave a frustrating answer.
"What do you think?"
"Hmph!" - grumbled Tyler again - "How do you know Ainur granted you those powers? Who knows what their source is?"
"I don't..."
Ellderons answer confused both of them.
"For all I know something else could be thier source....but I do belive they were given me for a reason, and by some force of Light - be it Ainur himself or one of the Einars."
"So you don't think demons had anything to do with it?" - Emily added
"Makes little sense, now does it? Why would the lord of darkness give me powers suitalbe to fight and destroy creatures of darkness?.. Unless he's an idiot of course.."
That remark drew out a chuckle from them all and after a momant of silence, Tyler aksed:
"So how was it growing up with those powers?"
Ellderon lowerd his head. His voice was solemn and distant as he begun to speak.
"Not as nice as you think... they first showed when I was sixteen and got me into trouble immediately... you see, at that time I was working in the military outpost doing odd jobs here and there. I had a few friends, but the guard dogs there were the best of them.
One night, Galodar was on patrol. He was one of those bully types - a very violent, ignorant, sneaky drunk...basicly a real bastard. He started beating up old Rover to death just becouse he didn't like the way he looked at him . I ran to help Rover but it was allready to late - he killed him and then turned to me...
I threw just one punch at him...and the same thing you saw in the bar happened. Galodars jaw ended up inside his head - needless to say he died instantly. Some people saw it and called me monster, a spawn of darkness, child of evil. And of course, a murderer.
And so I ran away....far away..."
He stopped as his mind raced trough memories and events passed.
The siblings stood quietly, trying to digest the story.
Ellderon stood up and walked towards his bedroll
"But if you don't mind now, I'm tired and woud like to get some sleep..We can talk more tomorrow"
Without looking back he layed down and went to sleep.
--
Emily was sitting on a branch, overlooking the campsite. Ellderon was starting a fire, getting ready to roast some game she had killed. She had finished cleaning her equipment, getting the dust and dirt out of it and went off searching for something to do. Spotting a tree with a multitude of branches, she headed in it's direction. Five steps away, she broke into a run, heading straight for the tree. Just as she was going to run head first into the tree, she jumped up and grabbed the lowest tree branch. In the blink of an eye, she was up half way up to the top of the tree, bounding up from branch to branch. The view from the top was spectacular.
Swinging her legs back and forth she giggled, remembering times when she was young. She glanced down. Sure enough, just like those times long ago was her protector, sitting under the tree.
Tyler sat with his back against the tree, his legs straight out and his sword balanced on his knees. Beside him lay his armor, freshly cleaned and drying in the warm night air. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the crisp air of the forest. He couldn't think of any other place he'd rather be. It was so peaceful, so very peaceful...
He was asleep when his sister found him, the light of the campfire dancing on his face. His smile brought a tiny one to her face. Suddenly remembering a trick from long ago she grinned impishly. Squating down beside him, she took a long piece of grass and wiggled it around his face, tickling him. He started making sounds, purring like a cat, but was still fast asleep by the end. She frowned and stood up, crossing her arms. She bent down and grabbed the longest piece of grass she could find. Squating down again, she carfully manuvered it into Tyler's ear. His shout startled a nearby owl, sending it into flight.
He opened an eye, there was a thin shadow was leaning over his body, blocking the light of the campfire. "Get up sleepy. Your turn at watch." He heard his sister say. Grumbling, he rubbed his ear then shook his head to clear the sleep from it. His sister stood over him, her short bow in one hand and the piece of offending grass in the other. The sounds of night creatures, insects and small animals going about their lives, surrounded them.
He glanced around. The fire was still burning brightly, with it's cracks and pops sending sparks flying. Emily was standing in between Tyler and the fire, with her back to the fire. Off to one side of the fire, near the edge of the light, was Ellderon, lying face up on his sleeping roll.
They were having an idle conversation reagarding the last few days, when Tyler sudednly, leaving his sword lying on the ground, strode over to Emily. Clasping her in a brotherly hug, he buried his face in her hair. She let out a tiny squeak as he held her tight. She was going to say something, but he spoke first. His voice was hard, edged with anger.
"God Em, What were you thinking? Promise me-" he released his clasp on her and stood back, holding her shoulders at arm's length and looking right into her eyes. "Promise me you won't ever do something that stupid ever again." His hands tightened on her shoulders, "What were you thinking? Just- don't do something like that ever, ever again."
She starred back at him for a moment, her eyes searching his. His voice softened and he took her in a hug again, gentle this time. His voice was quiet and tender, "Em, I was so scared. When you fell- I...I can't lose you- " she quieted him with a hush. There was a moment of silence between the two, then she spoke, her voice equally soft and tender. "Ty, you won't lose me. I'm tougher than that."
She squeezed, and he squeezed back. There was a minute of silence, the two just enjoying each other's presence.
It was Emily who spoke first. She reached up and tugged his hair, growing down to his shoulders as it was. "You know, one of these days, we really need to cut this." She stepped back, disengaing herself from him. Dancing back and around him on the balls of her toes she reached back and picked up his sword. He bent down and picked up her bow, lying on the ground next to him. They stepped toward each other, each holding out the other's weapon.
His sword back in his grip, he nodded to himself while running his hand down the blade. In a gruff voice, trying to hide his other emotions, he told her to get some sleep. With a goodnight, he turned and walked off into the darkness, starting his patrol.
She started at him for a moment, then turned back to the tree she had been in. Lunging up, she grabbed a branch and started hauling herself up. Tonight, she would sleep with the stars.
--
"Wake up you two!"
Emily came awake quickly. She started to move, then remembered where she was, near the top of a ten meter tall tree. The sound of the birds chirping, the caress of the wind blowing softly and the gentle light of the sun streaming down all mader her smile. She carfully disentangled herself from her perch, and slowly swung down back to the ground. To her left Tyler was gathering his gear.
Tyler rolled his neck back and forth. He glanced over at her as she dropped to the ground. "Boy, the ground is harder then it looks here."
Ellderon, behind them, chuckled. "Well, next time I'll try to find a more comfortable camp site your highness."
Emily turned around and was startled for a second, not recognizing this man in front of her. Ellderon had changed. Gone was his tunic and simple clothes - he was primed for battle. In his full plate mail with a blue cloak and a huge greatsword on his back, he looked different....more noble. The paleness in his face was gone, he looked full of life.
Tyler was finishing with his pack when he turned to Ellderon and asked, "Where to now?"
Ellderon looked embaressed for a moment, as though unwilling to dictate the direciton the party should travel in. There were two paths they could take, one leading north and one leading west.
He turned to Emily. "Any direction is good enough I suppose. Emily, you were up in that tree. See anything that might give us a direction?"
She paused to think for a moment, uncounsiously twirling some hair around her finger. "Well...we could go north towards the mountains... If nothing else, there are bound to be some caves there to provide a better shelter." She grined, "And there has to be something to kill, I mean, caves just can't be empty. Besides, at least we can get a better view from up there."
Tyler stepped forward, nodding in agreement. "You're right." He glanced at her, "Isn't there a village in that direction?" She nodded, "Yeah, something… Well as I recall, some small backwater outpost. “
Tyler went and brought the horses around. "It's settled then. Noth it is!"
After few minutes of riding, the trees started thinning, the peek of Stonewall mountain visible trough the gaps in the green ceilling.
Ellderon turned around on his horse and glanced back at the two siblings, who were chatting back and forth.
"There was one thing I was curious about...what's your story? How did you two become adventurers?"
--
The twins fell silent for a moment and then Emily turned her head and spoke quietly with Tyler. He nodded, then smiled at her. Clicking his tongue, he dug his heels in to the sides of his horse, getting it to move faster.
He brough the mare to ride side by side with Ellderon's stallion. Tyler kept his gaze straight ahead looking over his sister's head. She turned to stare at Ellderon. Letting go of the reings, trusting his horse to pick thier path, he looked back at her.
Her emerald green eyes searched his his blue-green long and hard. Her lips started to move, but he couldn't hear her. She stopped and glanced away, staring up the road, staring down time. Tyler put a reassuring hand on her side, urging her to continue. She swept her gaze around the path for a moment then looked back at Ellderon.
Her eyes showed nothing, no trace of any emotion. She spoke, her voice strong and clear this time.
"Tyler and I became orphans at ten. Goblins swept through our village, and they-" she swallowed a lump that had been forming in her throat, "and they killed everyone." She took a steadying breath. "I can still hear the screams. My uncle, my aunt, my father-" She glanced away quickly, her face tightening and her hands clenching. Tyler leaned his head forward and whispered in her ear. After a moment she looked back, her eyes now wet. "and- our mother." She blinked to clear the mositure away. "We survived because we were out in the forest, picking berries." She gave a sad smile and her voice started to waver. "It's funny, everyone was so scared that something bad would happen to us in the woods...and yet..."
She took another deep breath, getting her voice back under control. "And so Tyler and I left. It was my descision, there was nothing to do, we just left, didn't even bury the dead. We just wanted to get away from all the- all the dead."
Elleron straightened up. His eyes became distant, his voice hard. "You didn't even bury some of them?"
On the mare, Tyler tensed about to snap out a reply, but Emily got out one first.
Emily's eyes narrowed. She shifted her shortbow on her shoulder, her emerald eyes flashing as she glared at him. "I'm not some plucky girl you can string along!" she growled, her jaw tightening. "Don't you dare- don't you even think! You have no idea what it was like. Walking among the burned, the smoke stinging your eyes, the stench..."
Ellderon leaned forward a bit and made a circular gesture with his hand.
"All I was saying is that you could have showed them proper respect. But I guess with you two being..."
Her voice became deadly calm and she spat her words out as if they tasted vile. "Don't you even dare question my descision. We were only ten, and you snap at us for merely surviving. What kind of man are you?" Her voice turned as hard and as bitting as steel barbs. "Oh, wait, your not even a man are you."
Ellderon looked as he had been slapped. He growled, and let out an incoherent string of words and then spat out: "What? You didn't even let me finish! If you weren't a woman I would.."
It was Tyler's shout that stopped them. Both turned to him, his face red, his green eyes flashing with anger.
He shouted at both of them, "I don't belive this. Especially you Emily. He insults you once, and you get ready to rend him limp from limp? And you Ellderon? What in all the good spirits were you thinking? What passed through your head?" He stopped shouting, his voice changing to a growl. He stared at Ellderon. "You had no right, you hear me? No right. You have no idea what it was to come running back, hearing the screams and find everyone you knew dead, massacred."
He took a deep breath, calming himself. In the silence the wind could be heard rushing through the trees. "The two of you dissapoint me. Have your petty squabble if you must, but leave me out of it." With that he turned to face the trail again, his eyes straight ahead and his face unmoving.
The trio moved on in silence for a few minutes. It was Ellderon who broke the silence. In a guilty voice he spoke to Emily. "I- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did. It's just that, I belive one of the most important things is respect for the dead, and by not burying them...." He trailed off.
A moment later, she turned to him, her emerald green eyes soft. "I suppose I should have shown a little more restraint...but you must understand-" He nodded demurly in response. In a soft voice he replied, "I know, it's just...." He glanced around the trail, as though searching for something... "I-" he stopped and started again. "You had a hard life too. Such things change people."
Emily spoke softly, her words barely audiable. "I still have nightmares about it. Scremas of the dying..the light fading from ther eyes as their lifeblood flows out of them, down a blade."
Closing his eyes, Ellderon bowed his head. "It could be worse... you could be the one holding the blade." The tone of his voice sent shivers down her spine. What could he possibly have ment by that? For a minute, no one said anything.
He changed the topic. "So what did you do after, ah, you left?" He gave her a tentative smile, showing her that he meant her well and she was forgiven.
She stared at him a moment. "Well, we must have walked for days, suriving in the forest. Finally we found a little hut. The old man and woman there, they helped us and raised us for thier own. After a few years, we had out grown them, and moved on. By that time, Tyler was the big strong man he is now," she poked him, trying to get a response, but recieved nothing from his stolid face.
She sighed and turned back to Ellderon. "After that, we worked some odd jobs." She looked guiltily back at Tyler, "I hate to say it, but I managed to earn some coin on the side by, uh, borrowing stuff. We moved around alot, just trying to survive, and eventually we wound up in the wreck of a town, hunting the shadow-spawn."
She gestered at the trees. "I learned to climb around our village. We had such tall trees there, and I spent many nights sleeping in the canopies under the stars." Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost too quiet for Ellderon to hear, "And Tyler was always there, always guarding me and keeping me safe."
She shook her head, her hair flying around. "The other children, well...I never got along with them very well. That's why I would go off into the woods to be alone."
At that moment they came to a split in the trail, one continuing northwards, and the other turning off to the east.
--
The sun was slowly setting down and the streets of the town were allready begining to empty. The ones who walked down Edding street turned their heads towards a tavern with a whole wall section collapsed.
Rumors said that three strangers started a fight in the parlour and in a whirlwind of destruction brought half the house down. Several guard patrols were allready scouring the sorroundings, but the troublemakers left hours ago and were probably long gone by now.
People avoided the tavern, some beliving it cursed now, other thinking it might be still dangerous. Still, a couple of figures could be seen inside.
Several well armed men in dark cloaks looked around. Their leader was a tall man with raven dark hair and a refined and sly look on his face. Beneath his black cloak a plate mail armor with a dark red hue could be seen. He walked to the corpse of Tor and put his foor on his chest, leaning over him and shaking his head.
"Tor, Tor, Tor.. You blundering idiot. I told you to lay low for a while and NOT draw attention."
Slaping the corpse he continued - "Oh well, I guess you had it coming. With all your strength you lacked the brains and I guess it's better this way.. At least I didn't have to take you out myself.."
He shook his head again.. Tor was a usefull henchman - good for intimidating, brawls and carrying his shipments. But lately he was becoming more trouble than was worth.
Constantly drunk, falpping his mouth and killing people..even without his apperance he was drawing too much attention to his operations.
He turned towards a very scarred looking man.
"Now..tell me who did this."
"Three adventurers my Lord!.." - he jabbered quickly - "A large warrior, a joung wench and a a demon spawn!"
"Demon spawn?"
"A man with strange powers. He killed the giant. A warlock I tell you!"
The figure dismissed the man with a wave of his hand and looked around again. Pesants around here were supersticius and scared of everything. Probably a mage or something similar... Whoever the three were, they were certanly capable, he'd give them that.
But they made a mistake - they meddled in his affairs. He had the guards in his pocket and smooth operations running in several towns and vilages in the area. Now...letting a few adventurers get away with something like this just would be unheard of.
He walked out of the tavern laughing, his men in a neat formation behind him..
After all, he had to take care of his reputation..
--
The trail, once it left the forest, was slow going. The coin sized pebbles made it difficult for the horses to walk. The riders dismounted and walked the rest of the way up, slowly leading thier horses along the twisting, winding path. The trio moved towards a cave, shelter from the storm moving towards them.
It took a long time to get to the cave. The horses, once they got off the trail, were estatic.
--
The night came quickly, the sun dipping down, throwing shadows across the ocean of trees below them. A cool mountian breeze began to blow. The noises of the daytime animals died down as they went to thier dens, yet the soft hoot, hoot, betrayed the prescence of an owl.
Emily sat quietly in lotus position, her breathing slow, staring around, watching and waiting for anything. Nothing. At her back, the fire burned low, its flames dancing shadows on the cave's walls.
Something moved behing her, she heard a noise. She turned around but all she could see were Tyler and Eldleron sleeping. A few moments later it was there again, clearer, a voice muttering. Peering closer she realized it Ellderon.
He was turning in his sleep, murmering to himself. At first, she though it to be nothing more that normal sleep talking…but his turning became more frequent and hectic and his mumbling louder. What little she could barely make out made little sense. Tyler grumbled in his sleep and shifted position, away from the noise. Emily frowned- if Ellderon continued like this, he was going to wake up her brother.
Suddenly Ellderon bolted up, flying to his feet, covered in sweat and breating heavily, facing the back of the cave. She padded up behind him. When she was withing touching distance she whispered softly, "Looks like you…."
Ellderon spun around lightning quick. As he was spinning he drew the sword from the scabbard and whipped it around in a huge arc. Surprised, Emily ducked, the sword whisling a mere hairsbreath above her head, and rolled back to place as much distance between herself and him as possible. While rolling, she unslung her bow from her shoulder and landed in a crouch, her bowstring drawn, centered between Ellderon's eyes.
His eyes were unfocused, staring off at something that wasn't there. It took him a second to remeber where he was and who he was with. Shocked by the realistaion of what he allmost did he let go of the grip and took a step back. The sword made a soft thump as it hit the dirt,.Emily didn't let off on the tension on her bow but asked in a cautious voice. "Are you trying to kill me?"
His haunted eyes said it all. All he said was, "I'm sorry," but they both knew. He rubbed his face and gave the expected excuse, "I- I forgot where I was for a second.."
Emily looked at him, her eyes narrow. "Are you alright?" She asked, staring intently at him. She let the tension off the bowstring and stood up.
In a haunted voice he replied, "Yes..yes..I- I just need a few moments alone..." With that he quickly took off his gaunlets, grabbed his sheated greatswored and walked away towards the woods. He stopped, and turned quickly to her and added: "I'll be back shortly."
Emily looked at Tyler then at Ellderons bedroll, confused. That's odd...his gauntlets and his sword...what-.
Suddenly she could hear it again. Screams of pain and terror; cires for help. The men shouting, yelling for the women and children to run. The clash of blades, the roar of the fires. A little girl crying, holding the lifeless hand of her mother, the blood still flowing from the mortal wound in the woman's chest. The smoke, burning her eyes, the screams still resounding in her mind. Emily gave a gasp, moving her hand to cover her mouth, shaking her head in a futile attempt to ward of the memories. A tear formed and trickled it's way down her face to fall in the dirt. She fell to her knees, weeping softly, her body shaking. She reached a hand out to touch the ghost of the dead woman in front of her.
And then her protector's arms were holding her, protecting her. She leaned into him, taking comfort in his strength and warmth. She cried silently as she buried her face in his shoulder. He whispered to her, telling it was okay, saying it would be alright. She was safe and loved. Slowly the coldness, the emptiness, the darkness, was banished.
He let her go and rocked back. She into his eyes, his emerald green eyes, just like hers. He brushed her hair away from her eyes with a hand, and leaned forward to hug her again. He whispered gently to her, "Shh, shh it's alright, it's okay. It's gone, its just a memory. Your safe..."
He held her in his arms until she cried herself to sleep.
---
Ellderon walked far away from the camp until he couldn't be seen or heard. Unsheating the blade, he thrusted it violently into the ground and dropped to his knees. He lifted his head and arms towards the night sky, silent sobs wracking his body. He cried out, his voice full of anguish,"Ainur...forgive me...help me!"
Grabing the sharp blade with both hands he leaned forward and let his forehead touch the cold steel of the pomple. And he shook with silent sobs.
As he prayed, images raced trough his mind, foul deeds once again becoming alive. The innocents he killed: the men, the guards and worst of all - the child. He had killed them all and now they stalked him like shadows - unrelenting, unshakable, dark spectres whose faces became embranded in his very soul. And it burned.
With every verse of the prayer he gripped the blade tighter and tighter. The blood begun to flow. He accepted the pain, welecomed it as a long lost friend. It was purifying in some way, filling his mind and driving the images away, making him forget- at least for a moment. He had hurt too many innocents, too many. He cursed himself. Why was he so careless in the tavern? He had left his weapon and had sat alone, it would have worked.
Did the days alone on the road dull his senses? He should have known casual clothes and drinking milk instead of ale would would draw any would be thugs - it happened before... But that wasn't that bad - at least it was only himself he endangered. If there's anything that draws bullys more than a pushover sitting alone, it's a pushover sitting with a good looking woman. He could have - no, he should have sent Emily away or moved to a different table himself. But it felt so good lauhging and talking, having some company - and he became careless and payed the price... No, they payed the price! If only he'd been more carefull...
And tonight - he allmost killed Emily. Luckily he was still half asleep and she was standing a bit further away or - the very thought made him grab the sword even tighter - she would have been deheaded.
Maybe, just maybe the sibblings should be spared his company and all the trouble he caused... and will cause
And the runes on the blade, in silent response to his torment, begun to glow in rythm with his prayer...
A silent tear rolled down his face.
--
He lost all sense of time while he prayed. How long was he in the woods – an hour? Maby more? The siblings are probably getting worried by now.
Ellderon clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, concetrating. After a few moments, a barely visible bluish haze enveloped them and the blood flow slowed down and eventually stoped completely. The feeling of sickness and fatigue grew inside him, as every time he used his healing powers .
The blue haze died down and when he looked at his hands all that remained from the large cuts were thin reddish lines. Even though it only looked like someone barely scratched him (literary), the pain of the wound was still there. As allways it will take days for it to go away.
Washing his hands and blade in the nearby stream he went back to the camp.
As he entered the clearing near the cave he noticed both siblings were awake. Tyler had his left arm around Emily and seemed like he was comforting her.
Approaching them he looked around, scanning the treeline for potential dangers. "What happened? Is everything allright?"
Tyler turned towards him and stood up, stretching, "Yes everything is...why do you ask?"
Ellderon didn't like the tone in his voice, but pressed on. "It's just for a second that I had a feeling something happened."
Tyler glared at him, his face set in stone but his eyes showing his suspision. "Not really...unless you count your night walk. Where were you anyway?"
Ellderon spread his hands in a futile gester. "In the forest, where else?"
Throwing a wodden stick into the fire, the big man smiled and added:
"I know that..what were you doing there all this time?"
Ellderon's voice became slighlty confused. "What do you mean all this time? How long was I gone?"
Tyler stated flatly. "At least half an hour, maybe more."
Ellderon looked surprised. "Wow... I guess I lost track of time."
Tyler's glared increased. "You still didn't answer my question."
Tylers eyes tracked Ellderon as he moved towards a large trunk near the fire, sat and waved a dissmisive hand. "Whatever I did, it's nothing you should be concerend about..."
Tyler crossed his arms across his chest. "I think I should, after all I'm placing my life in your ha-"
"Oh, leave him . Let him keep his little secrets" - Emily said, a bit too loudly, and then added with a grin in a quieter tone, "He probably got lost and is embaressed about it."
Tyler chuckled at Ellderon and, apparently satisfied with the small victory, moved to sit with his sister.
Finally regaining his compusture, Ellderon picked his gauntlests from the bedroll and walked to the fire.
"Tyler, you did your watch, and mine is after Emily's anyway- so I'll take over right away."
Emily looked him in the eyes, then back at Tyler. Her voice had a distant tone to it. "Are you sure? I haven't done even half my watch."
Ellderon nodded. "I'm sure. You two get some sleep, I'll take the watch. I don't feel like sleeping anyway."
With a small smile Emily nodded and moved over to her bedroll, followed by Tyler. Ellderon sat on the rock next to the fire and started carving a little piece of wood with his dagger.
Tlyer, not trusting Ellderon, kept an eye on him for most of the night.
It was not untill the early hours of the morning that Ellderon finally felt his gaze gone...
-
CONTINUED 2
--
The sounds of birds chirping woke her. For a moment she lay still with her eyes closed, enjoying the peaceful sounds. And then she rose to her feet quickly and fluidly. She glanced down, checking to see her bow was still beside her bedroll, which it was. She strenched her arms up and slowly bent backwards until she could touch the ground again, the twigs and dirt rubbing against her hands. She kicked up, and balanced herself in a handstand. She held the position for a few seconds before she started to stretch her legs out. She blew the hair that was in her face out of the way.
Ellderon was sitting crosslegged beside the slowly dying campfire. Someone had built a little structure out of sticks to hold a pot over the fire. A small metal pot was hanging over the fire, giving off wisps of steam. Emily flipped out of the handstand and padded over to the fire where she leaned over the fire and glanced in the pot. She stirred the stew around with the small wooden ladle.
Starring at her, he slowly shook his head in disbelief. Noticing him staring, she raised an eyebrow, a shift of movement in her otherwise motionless face.
"What?" she asked, swishing the ladle around.
"I've just never seen anyone so...flexible."
Suddenly, an impish grin broke across her face. Looking Ellderon straight in the eyes and slowly licking her lips she purred, "Oh yes, I'm verrry flexible."
Ellderon's face slowly flushed. Emily snickered then leaped backwards in a somersault to land on her feet, taking a huge bow.
"I'm only," she paused for effect, "screwing with you." She said, her grin growing wider as his face reddened even more. With that she rolled forward to take up her position beside the pot again.
Her face became blank again, the joy gone as suddenly as it had come. She picked the ladle up again and went back to slowly stirring the pot, obviously lost in her thoughts. Silence settled on the clearing again.
Ellderon cleared his throat. Emily didn't even glance his way. He stood up and walked around the fire to her.
"Um, can I have the ladle?" He asked as she absently stirred the pot.
"Sure." She responded in a strange voice, cold and distant, but handed the ladle over. As he was about to recieve the ladle from her hand, she let it slip from her hand into the pot, avoiding his touch. He made no mention of it. She stepped back quickly and turned her back on the fire and Ellderon.
"I need to be alone right now." She said over her shoulder to him as she moved over to her bedroll to grab her bow. Sweeping her bow up, she lept up into the branches of the tree above her.
Ellderon shrugged and turned to his meal.
--
With the meal behind them the trio finally sat down to discuss their course of action.
Emily crossed her legs and hunched forward a bit.
"Where to know?"
"Why are you looking at me? Do I look like I have all the answers?" Ellderon responed with a visible frustration in his voice
Tyler just gave him a mean glance and looking down the length of his sword simply added:
"Well, we have to go somewhere.. Can't stay here forever, now can we?" - then turning his head towards Emily he continued - "So what are our options?"
Emily drew a crude map on the ground with a stick.
"Village to the south, up the mountain path to the other side, down into the valley or into the caves.. you pick."
Ellderon bent down and crossed the village over with his finger.
"We can't go to the village yet...it's too early. Our "exploits" are surely still circulating around. We should wait untill it dies down."
"And how long would that be?"
"Well Tyler, in my estimate...about a week and a half." - he paused and scratched his chin with a blank look on his face – “At least. Trust me on this one..."
"Well, climbing over the mountain doesn't sound appealing, so what about the caves sys?"
Emily pointed west, towards a flat stretch of woods that ended uder a steep part of the mountain. "About six hours of walk in that direction. A large number of caves all close together. Supposeldy there's lots of goblins there."
Tyler stood up and pat Ellderon on the shoulder
"Sounds better then the mountain. What do you think?"
"As long as you both agree...why not?"
With that the party picked up their gear and and weant on their way.
* * *
The path was trickier than it seemed. After an hour of slow riding the ground became rocky and uneven with many trees and thorns blocking the way. The trio dismounted and lead the horses by their reigns, covering ground ata good pace.
Suddenly Emily stopped and called the two men.
Tyler sprinted towards her.
"What is it?"
"There's some kind of structure back there behind that tree." - said emily and went forward, not waiting for them.
The structure was ruined tower, once surely a magnificent structure, but now only a pile of stones. Still, even in such a shape there was something gracefull about it.
Touching the smooth stones Emily wondered out loud: "Is it elven?"
"Yes it is." - she turned towards Ellderon who was bent over a collapsed pillar full of beautifull runes. Looking around Ellderon continued: "This forest was once the eastern border of the elven kingdom of Ancalotte. Before the war of the Red Moon, that is. As orcs and goblins swarmed this area by the thousand the border moved behind those mountains to the west, where it still stands today. Even after the defeat of the horde, the elves didn't come back here. Humans moved in in the meantime and
it held some painfull memories for them I guess, so they left it. Wouldn't surprise me if there are many goblins left here..and orcs."
"You seem to know the histroy of these parts well." - Tyler smiled
"Some parts, yes. Luckily, this was one of them."
Emily looked at the ruins then towards the caves
"Do you think we can find elven artifacts or weapons here?"
"Depends. Most of the stuff that was easy to get was probably picked up by the locals allready. We might find something near the caves - an outpost was there and if there are goblins, they probably got their gredy hands on it and stashed it in their lair."
* * *
The elven tower was hours behind. After hiking over the seemingly endless terrain they reached thier destination. Once past the structures, the trio started the long hike up the ever increasing mountain side.
The trail stopped at the bottom of a large hill. Emily paused on the hillside she was angleing up. She looked down the hillside to where the men were slowly making thier way up. It was her job to lead and create a trail through the thickening forest. It was hard work, but at least she didn't have to stay with the horses and carry a pack. Ellderon had offered to carry her's for her and she had accepted without a moment's pause.
She grinned. Perhapse he was regretting it now, when he had to carry not only his pack, but also hers and his horse's. His horse had stumbled earlier and, to prevent it from going lame, the two men took all the burden for it.
She looked up. The forest thinned a few hundred meters up. It wouldn't be so hard to navigate, but they would have to put up with the loose stone. Nothing could ever be perfect though. There was a ridge up there that she wanted to get them to before nightfall. Taking a breath she started on again.
Hours later the trio had made it up to the grassy ridge. The horses were let loose to graze. The men doubled over and tried to recover themselves.
When he had significantly recovered his breath, Ellderon walked over to Emily. With a look he handed back her pack. She grinned and politely thanked him. He walked off muttering to himself.
Tyler came over to Emily and place his hand on her shoulder. He looked over at Ellderon. "I'm glad I'm not in his boots. It was hard enough taking the horse's load, but to take another pack-" he shook his head, "well, he did ask for it."
Emily turned her head and smiled at Tyler. "Yes, he did indeed." With a laugh she slipped free and ran over to the edge of the ridge. She sat down, dangling her legs over the drop to the valley bottom.
Tyler walked over to Ellderon, who was staring at Emily in something that approched disbelief. Tyler chuckled. "Emily never gets tired. Something in her, she can just go for days nonstop. I think it's the outdoors. It's like home to her." Ellderon took a deep breath, still catching his breath. "Last time I carry her pack…uphill at least."
After a long nights sleep the party was up and ready to move on.
Ellderons horse was strangely feeling as good as new and followed his master on his own trough the narrow, winding paths.
"Where are we now?" - asked Tyler, the thick foliage blocking his view
Taking out a small and crude map from his pack, Ellderon pointed noth and added:
"I would say an hour and a half from the outpost."
Tyler sighed at that and El merely added with a smile "Hey, it was a BIG kingdom."
After fifteen minutes of trudging and silence Tyler spoke once again:
"So, what do you think we can find out there? Anything worthwhile?"
"Depends on what you consider worthwhile... I for one would be satisfied if we managed to clear a single cave of goblins and found nothing. They are pests."
Ellderon seemed to have notice a frown on Tylers face, but it dissapeared in an instant.
"Anyway" - he continued - "seeing that this was a large elven kingdom, and goblins like shiny things, there will probably be a lot of jewles - diamonds, rubies, emeralds... Elves appreciate them far more than gold, mostly since they reflect the light so strongly and have proved usefull for their magic.
There were some ancient burial grounds in some of those caves, so if we're lucky we might stumble upon weapons, armor of lord knows what else."
He droped silent as Emily gave a warning hand signal. Both men walked up to her and looked where she was pointing out.
The old elveen outpost was situated in a clearing in frot of them, now just a gloomy and sad remider of it's former glory.
Emily went forward alone to scout the area out. Tyler and Ellderon were waiting behind the bushes, their swords on the ready.
After a few minutes Emily came back.
"It's clear. There's no one around.. and looks like nothing to find either. They scavanged everything that wasn't bolted down and took it towards the caves."
The trio now took their horses and moved in the clearing. From the nearby hill they could see hundereds of goblins milling around the the caves in the distance.
Tlyer merely shook his head.
"Too many of them. We'll have to wait till the sun starts really burning. Once they go inside we can sneak in one of the caves."
Eldeon looked at the horses
"Agreed. But we have to find a safe place to hide the horses. Those buggers like horse meat you know..."
"I think I saw a good place." - Emily was allready moving - "Follow me."
Without a word both men followed her. There was nothing they could do but wait anyway.
****
It was a typical day for Galemp. Just like allways he got up early to feeed the animals and now he had to take care of the field. It was not a big field (it was not a big farm either) for pesants rarely have the luxury of owning much land. However it was enough and he was satisfied with it...and he liked the location too - far from the city and it's troubles. Only smaller vilages with people more to his liking were anywhere near it..and of course the old nothern road that went right next to it.
It wasn't used as much as before and Galemp liked it. He cherished his peace....allthough sometimes...sometimes he wished something exciting happened.
He hummed a catchy little tune as he plowed the field, not noticing a slender figure that came from the nearby woods and walked towards him.
A soft, melodious voice came from behind him :"Excuse me Sir?"
He spun around startled only to realise he was looking at an elven maiden.
She was clad in a dark greenish robe with a dark golden trimming. The robe itself was surely elven made - fine lines resembling trees and leaves adorned it and it's colours were pure and natural. Aside from the bag and a sword on her waist she carried a beautifly carved wooden staff. Like all elves, she was slender and good looking. Her long hair was cascading over the shoulders. Galemp was stuinned for a second, lookign at her untill he recognized her facial expression - a mix of confusion and worry.
Indeed, with him jumping like that and staring anyone would be concerened.
"Are you allright?" - she asked in a fluent Northern dialect
And that again was somewhat of a surprise. Elves usually use common to communicate with humans, alltough learning many languages wasn't hard for na elf..considering their lifespan and all..
"Pardon me miss.. I usually don't see many of your kind here..."
And that was true...the last time he saw an elf was..what?.. allmost tewenty years ago. These days they keep mostly to their kingdoms - especially here on the western hemesphere.
"That's understandable... I don't want to keep you from your work so I'll just ask if you could point me to the nearest village?"
"Sure can m’lady... due east about an hours walk from here..." - he shifted uneasily and bit his lip - "Erm. I don't mean to pry milady, but can I ask what a woman of your kind is doing in these parts..alone?"
"Just looking for something...an old family heirloom that was lost years ago. Which reminds me.." - she poked trough her bag and pulled out an old map.. "A few things seemed to have changed from the time this map was made..."
Galemp looked at the map and realised it was VERY old. He did his best to explain to her the soroundings, but he was no expert at map reading.
When he finished she gave a pollite bow and with a thanks set back on her way.
Galemp just shruged and return to plowing his field. As she went around the corner of the old road he could here her murmoring something on a strange language he didn't recognize (not that he knew many).
When he turned around he relised that the crops on the lower part of the field seemed larger then they should be. Scratching his head he tried to figure how that happened. Had the mysterius elf had something do do with it?
With another shrug he left that train of thought and once again returned to his daily work.
A few minutes later a loud rumble pulled him from it again. It was getting closer very fast. A group of horseman stormed past his farm driving their horses for all they were worth and headed straight towards the road for the capital, rising a large dust cloud in the process.
For the third time this day he returned to work on his field, not noticing the markings on the men and the horses - those of the royal scouts.
And if he looked better he would have noticed the fear on their faces, a clear sign that something was very wrong.
And it was... a war has started...
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This is coming along nicely I would say, a little contrived in places and there are a few spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, but on the whole very good! :yes: You now have three tales going at once, what happened tp Tor's leader, the guy in the red plate mail, I would have thought to have heard more about what he was up to by now?
9/10
Please continue in the same vein! :D
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Hehe..thanks..I'm contemplting what scene to do next and there's quite a few to shose from :D
Anyway, I'm thinking of changing the pirst part so that the strong drink really affects Emily. Any thoughts?
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Ya...guys..I need some imput you knpow....