Foreward
The Battle raged for days, the young hero could see no end to the horror that he
had unleashed upon the nieve land, he had caused all this pain and suffering, and he didn’t
know how to make things better. It was his lust for greatness that had unleashed the
Rakeesh upon his land, he knew it was his destiny to stop them, but they were just too
powerful. Then, as the Great Hall fell to the vicious force, all hope seemed lost. The hero
saw the barren and forlorn looks of the battlefield, and for the first time in his life, he was
scared. In the heat of battle the young hero, now feeling like just a little boy in a vast evil
world, dropped his sword, and ran away.
The boy ran for days, all he could think about was how he had let everyone down,
his entire village was probably in ruins now, his friends most likely prisoners, and soon the
entire country would fall to the Rakeesh army. After he had run a great distance he began
to feel tired and a great need to stop overcame him, he stopped to rest and for once
stopped to look at his surroundings, he was in a swampy forest, teaming with life,
everywhere he looked he saw different animals that he had never seen before. The boy
then, suddenly realizing how tired he truly was sat down on a log to rest. As he sat
indulging in his self defeat, a voice called to him, “Hey, you, little boy, what are you doing
sitting there? Why such a downcast look on such a young soul?” The boy looked around,
he couldn’t see anyplace from which the voice could have come, and yet it came again.
“You there, the silly human thing, I’m talking to you! Look over here, in my tree!” The
boy looked in the direction of the voice, and to his amazement he saw a small, hairy
creature with large old eyes, and a small toothy grin. The creature was approximately
three feet tall and reminded the boy of a large pack rat (minus the tail), it had a dull purple
pelt, and was sitting upright on it’s haunches, as it waited patiently for a response from the
boy. It’s eyes shone with the color of burning coals, but they glowed with a kind, elderly
look, and the boy felt he could trust it. “Hello,” the boy cautiously said, “My name is ---,
who are you?”
“Why, how rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself! I am Skynx Van Gardrelsh,
I am a Rawven, my species lives in these forests. We are scholars and mathematicians, we
try to help weary travelers and to enlighten the lessor fortunate.” The creature said “And
from the looks of it, you could use some advice.”
“You’re telling me” --- said “I have made many great mistakes and it has cost
many people so very much.”
“Well, maybe it would help if you talked about it.” the small creature rationalized.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt, you’ll probably hear about it soon enough, you might as
well hear the story told the right way, it all started about four months ago...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1
The morning light streamed in through the window of a grimy, old, window, it
slowly increased in brightness until the occupant of the room could no longer stay asleep.
The little boy slowly woke up, he was about thirteen, his hair was the color of the sun’s
rays and his eyes were a clear blue. He was 5’9”, muscularly built, and wore an elvish
brown tunic, large, thick, brown boots, and a floppy brown hat. He lived in a tired old-tree
house, it was approximately twenty feet in diameter, and was carved entirely out of the
heartwood of this vast and wise tree. The tree had aquired over it’s long existence as a
dwelling, all the nesecities that the boy needed, a table, several shelves and chests
containing all sorts of interesting oddaties that the boy had found on his excersions
through many fascinating places. There were cubboards overflowing with foods designed
to keep for long periods of time, and even a bookshelf, crammed with as many books as
the boy could get his hands on. He had a soft straw bed sitting just under the only
window in his home. The window sat straight across from the door, so a cool cross breeze
could flow during warm summer nights. Interestingly enough, this amazing tree also had a
lower level, in this one room area was a bathroom. The room was origanly designed to be
a guest room, but was changed over the years, after the previous owner decided he
wanted his own bath, instead of going to the local bathing pools. For whatever reason the
room was built, the boy enjoyed it, especially since it had one of the few homes with
indoor plumbing in the whole community. By now I’m sure you have gathered, this boy is
none other than the hero of this story, ---, though a great deal less grown up.
--- gradually wiped the sleep from his eyes, then in an instant shot out of bed.
“Today’s the day!” he thought, and jumped out of bed. he quickly ate breakfast, and flew
out of his little tree-house.
--- ran outside but paused for a moment on the deck of his humble tree-house.
“This is my favorite time of day!” he thought. The sun was just begining to rise over the
town of Valorton, it was safely nesteled in a natural meadow surrounded by a vast
beautiful forrest with it’s back to an proud, yet worn mountain, like a wise old sentinal,
keeping watch over the village. A wide, deep river, lazily wound it’s way through the
forest and past the edge of town. --- could see straight into the town through the main
gate. Buildings packed tightly together, in the middle of the village was the townsquare, in
the center was a grand fountain constantly cascading down, it’s water like tiny diamonds.
Just past the fountain was the Great Hall. Assorted shops were set up around the square,
with the residential areas radiating out from there. In the distance, he could just barely
make out a few clearings were the farms of local villagers lived. The little village was just
beginning to show signs of life as the villagers began to awaken.
--- quickly climbed down from the deck and began to make his way toward the
Great Hall. --- quickly ran along the well-worn path that led from his home just inside the
forest, to the town. As he approached the town he could see down main street. The
villagers where already setting up shop in the square, fresh vegetables, meats, fresh fruits,
dried fruits, nuts, and several other goods were already out, tantalizing to his eyes and
making his mouth water. --- hastened to get to the square.
“Hey ---!”
--- stopped, he lookedat the fountain, and there sat his good friend, Dallynia. She
too was thirteen, she stood about 5’ 6”, and wore a red no-sleeve shirt, with a short
sleeved leather armor underneath it, she also had a dark brown leather skirt, tan hiking
boots, and was wearing a stone-grey hooded cloak, with a beautiful clasp in the shape of a
golden rose half covered by a silver leaf. Her brown hair hung just below shoulder length
and her green eyes stared happily at ---.
“Good morning! Where are you headed today?” she called again.
“Morning Dallynia! I’m going to the Great Hall, today’s the day!” --- said happily,
not even breaking stride.
“Really? Already? I didn’t know, hey! wait up”
The two raced toward the Great Hall, when they reached it, Dallynia and ---
paused for a few moments. The Great Hall was the tallest building in the entire village, it
was enormous compared to the other buildings. Made of brick and standing, three stories
tall, and with a high look-out tower that seemed to scrape the sky, it was an impressive
sight to say the least. There were few windows on the main level, and on the two other
levels they were no more than slits that widened on the inside, making them excellent
protection while giving a larger radius to return arrows, should the village ever be
attacked. The whole hall was built like a fortress, it’s heavy oak doors, once closed could
only be opened from the inside, and thick iron bars ran through the entire door making it
nearly impossible to burn through. There were also rumors that the Great Hall had secret
underground passages that went all over the village and some that even led to secret exits
all around throughout the forest and beyond. --- had searched in the forest for the secret
tunnels, but he never found them.
One knight always stood guard outside the Great Hall, too great the villagers that
had business with the Burgomeister, or to stop any minor squabbles that happened in the
townsquare, today there were two. The knight on the left stepped foreward as --- and
Dallynia approached. “Well who have we got here?” he said. “Sir ---, and lady Dallynia.
The Burgomeister is expecting you ---, but, I’m afraid that you, Dallynia will have to wait
outside.”
“But...” started Dallynia
“No, I’m sorry, but I have orders that only --- is to be allowed into the Great Hall,
you have to wait.”
“It’ll be okay, Dallynia,” said ---, “I’ll be back before you know it!” With that ---
was escorted into the Great Hall by the knight that had remained silent.
As. they walked through the hall, the knight looked at ---, finally he spoke, “So,
you’re the kid the burgomeister wants to see, personally I don’t see what he sees in you,
but what say do I have in his decisions?” --- didn’t really see this as a time to talk, so he
just kept looking foreward, he was pretty sure that the knight wasn’t really talking to him
anyway. After a long time of walking they ascended to the third floor and entered through
a pair of large heavy oak doors with brass accents on them. The doors were open and ---
could see a large, throne room at the far end of the room sat the burgomeister on a high
chair, his advisors sat on either side of him. All eyes were on --- as he entered the room,
the burgomeister’s level eyes focussed on him, --- thought he saw the glimpse of a smile
streak across the burgomeister’s face, as he approached.
--- stopped right in front of the burgomeister, he looked from the boy to the
knight.
“Thank you Ruffus for bringing him here, you may go now.” the burgomeister
commanded.
“As you wish my liege,” Ruffus said as he bowed low
He then turned and walked slowly out of the room. The burgomeister then looked
back at ---.
“I assume that you know why you’ve been beconed here?”
--- nodded his head vigorously. He hardly contain his joy, he was actually standing
right in front of the burgomeister, one of the most powerful and wisest people, in the
whole country.
The burgomeister smiled, “Good, but I will say why any way, so that what goes on
here today may be recorded word for word in the Imperial Scrolls. You --- have been
called here today, because you have been chosen. You are too prove your courage to me,
and to the people of Valorton, by journeying out into Farfangen. You must journey to
Goldring, there you will meet King Jingaling. I have already taken the liberty to set up an
audience with him for you. King Jingaling will tell you of the errand you must perform.
Remember, we are counting on you. Prove to me that you have courage and then return
to me with a token of your bravey, this meeting is over.
“I will not fail you, your exelency!” said ---, bowing low as the knight had done.
With that, he was led out of the throne room and on to start a quest that would soon be
recorded as an Epic Tale where only the strong will survive, courage will be tested, and
the strenght of the heart will be all that is truly needed in the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2
--- emerged out into bright sunlight, just in time to see Dallynia impatiently yelling
at the two gurards to let her into the Great Hall.
“Come on!” she yelled, her green eyes flaring a wicked glow, “You have to let me
in, I gotta see what’s going on!”
“Look miss, I’m sorry but I can’t just go letting people in to see the Burgomeister,
I know you want to see him but...”
“Hey, what’s going on?” --- jokingly said, a twinkle in his eyes
“It’s about time you came back, I’ve been yelling at this metal head, to let me in,
for ever!” Dallynia said, obviously annoyed.
“Come on now, get going you two, --- has returned, as I said he would I might
add, and now you must get going. The king awaits!”
“Does everyone know what’s going on except me?”
“Come on, I’ll explain on the way.”
With that the two departed from the Great Hall all the while --- fille Dillynia in on
what the burgomeister told him. The two decided to get some travel gear ready and
depart together at noon, headed for Goldring, and adventure. --- quickly ran home, he
packed for himself some trail rations that would get him to the nest town, he also took his
trusty slingshot, and a fair-sized combat knife.
--- thoughtfully fingered the blade, he remebered when he found it. It was quite a
while ago, and the more he thought about it, it seemed as if the blade found him wrather
than the other way around. He had been running through the fallen leaves last fall, when
suddenly his left foot hit something, he fell, after landing hard on the ground, he decided
to throw whatever the offending thing that tripped him was. But, when he reached down,
he picked up a worn leather bag, the material was old, stained black, and decaying from
maltreatment. The bag crumbled in his hands, leaving only a tired old blade in his hands.
The knife was slightly bigger than most, it was worn, the metal pitted, the blade chipped
and dull, but for some reason, that --- just couldn’t put his finger on, he felt compelled to
keep it. Restoring the knife proved to be even harder than it looked, but he kept at it,
polishing, sharpening, always constant. Finally, his hard work paid off, and he was left
with a blade that anyone would be proud to own. The knife seemed to have a wise and
almost kingly air to it. It’s intricately carved handle and smooth polished blade, where
truly beautiful to ---. The blade was now sharp and cunning, but still kept it’s aged feel to
it. --- often pondered about the owner of such a blade, who weilded it when it was freshly
forged, how did it come to be just outside his home? “Oh, well,” he thought “maybe
soemthings are better left not known.” With that --- placed to blade in his pack and began
to look for other things he might need on his long journey ahead. The rest of the packing
was uneventfull, --- simply packed a few more items of iterest and was on his way.
As he left his tree house he saw Dallynia running up the path, a plain leather bag
slung over her shoulder.
home
back
Email: wolf_flame@hotmail.com
