Chapter One
A silvery full moon shown brightly over the trees and hills of Sorentel, sparkling on the River Toroment which wove gently throughout the land. Soft breezes rustled through the forests, seemingly bringing them to life.
On the banks of the River Toroment lay fields of tall grass and many kinds of brightly colored flowers, each with it's own unique size and shape. At the mouth of the river was the beautiful Lake Emoral, where the elves laid their keep. Tiny houses made of various items of the forest were scattered along the edges of the great lake.
The elves that adorned the banks of Emoral were nurturers of the earth, and so rarely they fought that few knew how. Those that did were excellent with the bow, and hardly ever missed their aim. The elvish children ran and played without fear, for war never plagued their homelands. All they knew were the peaceful ways of their elders.
Little did the elven people know, that their lives would be forever changed. Foul winds blew from the North, and a great enemy gathered his forces. All in his path would surely fall before him, and bring the lands into total devastation. This is where our story begins...
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"A long time ago, us elves did not fair as well as we do now. An evil race of creatures roamed the lands of Sorentel, and so mighty they were that they destroyed most of the villages in their path. None dared fight against them, for their weakness was unknown."
"What did they look like, Uncle Lorem?"
"They stood on two legs, like you and me. Their flesh is thick, and their muscles strong. Red eyes that burn into you if you look into them directly, allowing them to weaken you with ease. They have regular hands, except for the tips of their fingers, which curve into great black claws."
"So why are there no more around? What are they called?"
"They are called the Ryenti, and were driven out of Sorentel by five great warriors of the forest."
"What were their names?"
"Well, if you do not ask anymore questions Lance, I may be able to finish my tale before morning."
"Sorry..."
"Where was I? Oh yes, the five warriors. Their names were Janti, Foren, Tomar, Nalen, and Morell. They Were normal boys, much like yourselves, but with one great difference. they had been blessed with special powers, and could draw a bow better than any elf alive. The Ryenti were frightened by the powers of the young men, and were forced back to their homeland, Kragmore. There they remain, awaiting their chance to take over Sorentel."
"Will they ever come back?"
"Nobody has seen them for three hundred years. It is possible, I suppose, though very unlikely."
"How were the five warriors able to fight against the Ryenti?"
"Their arrows were special. The arrows that the five men carried around with them held powers of which very few elves possess. They are the only weapon capable of piercing the thick flesh of the Ryenti."
Lorem studied the faces of his audience through the crackling flames of their fire. He could tell that his tale took hold of four young elves in particular, and just the ones he had aimed for. Two of them, named Justin and Joey, were talking excitedly about the five young heroes from the story. The other two, Josh and Lance, were cringing at the thought of the Ryenti.
"I could take them! It would be no problem for me," Justin said, puffing out his chest.
"I'm the best with the bow, Justin. Everybody knows that," Lance said, receiving a dirty look in return.
"Well young ones, I am off to bed, now. I suggest you all do the same, as it is getting very late," Lorem said, standing up with a slight groan.
"Yes Uncle Lorem," Lance said.
The other children departed for the comfort of their own beds, but Justin, Joey, Josh and Lance remained seated by the fire. They waited until they were sure they were alone before they all stood up.
"Well, who is up for a walk in the forest?" Joey asked.
"At night? But-"
"What, are you scared of the Ryenti, Lance?"
"No, I just do not want to get into trouble again. Mom still has me washing clothes and dishes..."
"We won't get in trouble, now come on."
Lance tried to protest again, but found himself alone. He had a feeling that something was not right in the forest. Something was there that should not be. As the feeling that they should not go further grew in his stomach, he turned to his friends. None of them seemed to be having the same feeling he was.
The forest was strangely quiet. Not a breath of wind came to stir in the surrounding trees. The forest that always looked so welcoming in the day, now seemed to hold the scent of an unknown danger. Shadows moved around in the distance, and Lance was sure he had caught a glimpse of two red eyes behind a nearby tree. The only sound that could be heard was that of their footsteps as they walked along the forest floor. Lance's feeling of uneasiness grew the farther they walked, and he soon began to feel as if they were being watched.
"Hey guys, I really think we should turn back, now," Lance warned, keeping his eyes on the shadowed trees around them.
"What is the matter? These are the same woods we walk in during the day. There is nothing here that would harm us," Josh said, stopping to look back at Lance.
"I just... Something does not feel right. I really do not think-"
"Oh come on, you are just freaked out by the story Lorem told us. It was just made up, Lance. There is nothing out there," Justin said, crossing his arms.
"Maybe we should listen to him, guys. What if he is right?"
"Not you too, Joey..."
"I am not scared. I just think that-"
Joey stopped in mid sentence, as they had all heard rustling from nearby bushes. It stopped briefly, and then started again, louder than before. A dark hand slowly reached out from the bushes and settled on the ground, giant black claws digging into the earth. The four boys looked at each other, and then turned and ran as fast as they could in the other direction. They heard something explode from the bushes behind them, and growling as the creature started to give chase.
Justin, being the fastest of his friends, was out of the danger within moments. He could hear his friends running as fast as they could, but from where he was he could see they were in trouble. He looked around desperately for something that might help slow the creature's stride. Picking up some rocks, he raced to the nearest tree and climbed up it's thick branches. Once the monster was close enough, he started throwing the rocks at it, to distract it. The monster slid to a halt, and it's great black head turned slowly to meet Justin's gaze.
Before Justin could turn away from it, his eyes locked with the monster's, and he felt his body shake under it's stare. Just like in the story Lorem told, it's bright red eyes seemed to burn into him. He could hear his friends calling his name, but they all seemed so distant to him now. The monster crept closer to him, his eyes never leaving Justin's. It felt to Justin as though the monster was taking away all of his strength and energy, and he was to the point where he could no longer hold onto the branch beneath him. His whole body relaxed and he slid from the branch, his eyes closed.
"What's he doing?" Joey asked frantically.
"I think the monster is doing something to him..." Lance said.
"Wait... He's falling!" Josh yelled, startled.
Joey began to climb down from the safety of the trees to help Justin, but as he looked down below, a horse and rider appeared through the brush. They galloped towards Justin, and were under him just in time to catch him. The creature growled furiously and charged after the rider, nipping at his horse's heels. The rider turned his horse around sharply and faced the gigantic black beast, drawing his bow. He paused only a moment to set his arrow, and shot straight at the creature, striking it directly in the chest. The creature tripped over it's own feet with a howl and slid to a stop mere feet from the rider, where it stopped moving completely.
The rider nudged his horse forward, walking slowly around the creature and over to where Justin's friends were climbing down from their refuge. He stopped his horse in front of the trio and looked around at all of them with piercing brown eyes. Only when he decided they were friends did he slide his bow back into place and get down from his horse, taking Justin off as well. Justin was still weak, but he was starting to come back around, and stumbled forward to his friends, who all hugged him protectively.
"Might I ask why four young elves like yourselves are wandering around the forests alone at this hour?" the rider asked, resting one hand on the sword hanging from his belt.
"We... we were just out for a walk before bed," Josh stammered, eyeing the sword.
"It is not safe for you to be out at this time. Things are beginning to happen. Come, I will walk home with you."
The rider turned and took his horse's reigns, leading it forward. He stopped in front of Justin and looked him over.
"You might want to ride back, you are still very weak."
Justin nodded slowly and the rider helped him climb up into the saddle. They walked most of the way back in silence, but curiosity was burning in each of the boy's heads. Who was this stranger, and what was he doing here in Sorentel? How could he have killed the creature that had been chasing them? Finally it became to much for Lance, and his curiosity got the better of him.
"So, who are you?"
"I am Chris, son of Janti," the rider smiled as all of the boys gasped.
"The Janti? The one that helped scare off the Ryenti three hundred years ago?"
"The very same."
"My uncle told us the Ryenti walked on two legs..."
"And most do. What chased you was a Ryenti scout. I have been tracking it for days."
"What was it doing here in Sorentel?"
"I am afraid I cannot tell you, I must speak to your elders."
"We will take you to my Uncle Lorem, he is an elder."
"Lorem Ralore? Yes, my father spoke of him quite often back home."
"Janti knew my uncle?"
"Yes, they were friends."
"Wow..."
"And you would be?"
"Oh, sorry. I am Lance, this is Joey, Josh and Justin," Lance introduced, gesturing to each of his friends.
"Pleasure meeting you. I am only sorry we did not meet under better circumstances."
Chris and the others walked out of the forest and quietly made their way through the sleeping village, towards Lorem's house. Lance jogged ahead and knocked on the door, looking over his shoulder at the others. Lorem answered the door with a tired expression, but saw it was Lance and smiled warmly.
"Yes, Lance?"
"Uncle Lorem, there is someone here to see you."
"Oh there is? Who is it?"
"Perhaps you would recognize me if I were to crawl onto your lap to pull at your beard again," Chris said as he and the others approached.
Lorem looked over Lance's shoulder and spotted the owner of the voice he had heard. His blue eyes brightened up and he hurried forward to hug Chris. Chris dropped the reigns of his horse, Charmor, and enveloped his fathers' old friend in a long and much needed hug. When they finally pulled apart, Lorem looked around at Lance and his friends, and saw the still weakened look on Justin's face.
"What happened to you all?"
"They were attacked, by a Ryenti scout. Justin here almost lost his life," Chris said, helping Justin down from the horse.
"Oh my..." Lorem said, his faced lined with worry. "Come dear boy, we shall fix you right up."
Chris allowed his horse to roam where it pleased, as he would never stray to far out of sight. Chris looked around at the nearby forests and took a deep breath, then followed everyone into Lorem's home. He glanced around when he walked in, immediately feeling welcomed by a fire crackling in the fireplace on the far wall. Everything looked about the same from when he had last seen it several years before. A small round table sat in the far corner, papers scattered across it. Another table just ahead, with a vase full of brightly colored autumn leaves in the center. A bow hung above the fireplace, as a tribute to those perished in the last war of Sorentel.
Lorem hurried around his kitchen, dropping ingredients into a cup on the counter. Chris knew what Lorem was making, it was an elixir he had seen his father make many times after encounters with Ryenti. It served to heal those who had been pierced by the Ryenti's blood red eyes, and give them back their strength. Lorem walked from the kitchen with the cup in hand and gave it to Justin, who drank it slowly. While Justin was drinking, Lorem walked to the far side of the room with Chris and his face creased with worry once more.
"A Ryenti scout in the forests of Sorentel?"
"Yes, and a powerful one at that. My father had sent me here to warn you that danger is building once more outside Sorentel. The Ryenti leader has a new ally, a powerful ally, and they are gaining strength every day."
"Who is this ally, do you know?"
"No, they have kept him well hidden from our eyes. The one thing we do know is that if we are not careful, all of Sorentel will be forced to surrender."
Lorem stroked his beard thoughtfully, thinking long and hard about the situation. After some moments, Lorem finally stopped and looked at Justin, who was looking much better. He smiled and turned back to face Chris.
"We will continue this discussion tomorrow, with the council. For tonight you may sleep here."
"Thank you, Lorem."
"As for you young ones, off home with you all. You have all had enough excitement for tonight."
Lance said goodbye to his friends one by one as they stood up to leave, patting Justin's shoulder as he walked out the door. When Lance turned back around, Lorem had already departed for his bedroom, and Chris was left standing against the wall, where he had been since they arrived. Lance walked over to him and motioned for him to follow, then headed for his bedroom. Chris followed silently, still looking around as he went.
"You can sleep in here with me, there are two beds," Lance said, motioning to the empty bed a few feet away from his own.
"Thank you," Chris smiled as he walked over and made himself comfortable on the bed.
"What about your horse?"
"Charmor will be fine, I always let him off on his own. He never strays to far from me."
"Oh, well goodnight, then."
| Chapter One |
