Temple of the Tiger
Part One..Journey to the Temple
Chapter one..The Call

The men had come back looking defeated their heads hung low,their feet dragging. The Priests spirits sank.He had hoped that they would come back victorious. Saying how they had found Him wandering somewhere not too far away. He knew that now the spirits of the people would sink like his,the harvest would be barren,crops would fail,disease would come. His people would starve and wither away. And it would be his fault for it was he that had told Him that He should wander if that was His wont to do. He had believed that He would not go far,He didn`t normally,He was always somewhere near. Three days He had been gone and he feared the worst. But what could have taken Him from them? Could He have been captured? If so by What? Surely no Human could have done this? He feared now for his people if He did not return soon.

The past half a year had gone quickly. So much to do and learn but now she was bored and she missed the others. Bryntich had healed quite well but there had been little for them to do apart from the odd border patrol and a little bit of sightseeing. The others had all left with Paidrech except of course for Bailin and Lech. She smiled then,she had just eaten with Lech.Who would have believed this warrior could become a settled woman but settled she had. With the good Captain Kaliq and now they were to add to their family so they had informed her tonight,she they had said was the first to know. This had pleased her but at the same time reminded her how empty her own life was.
She sat now with Wraith at her side and gazed at the distant mountains. “ I don’t Know Wraith,I should be happy,I have good friends and a good life,but I miss the others and wonder so often what they are all doing and where they are” Wraith stuck his cold wet nose on her hand and sighed. She always talked aloud to Wraith,he never answered her of course,not in words anyway but she felt he understood the things she said and she also felt he was growing restless. He had been her constant companion for the past six months but she knew the wild called him,he needed to find a mate. She did not know if other Wolves like him existed but she supposed somewhere,where ever he came from there must be others She would be lost without this gentle creature. It was he that had saved Duranbro every bit as much as Paidrech had when he had released the arrow that slew the Queen. She had never found out how Paidrech had known what to do and when, she guessed that was why he had been there,all things are meant Bailin had said. She knew it was wrong but she so wished that something would happen to break the tedium of the days.

It had been weeks now. He lay on his bed so weak,hardly able to breath without pain. It was right that he should suffer it was after all his fault that the rains had come and ruined the crops. That the fevers had come,and were striking down his people. Even the fruit bearing trees were becoming diseased and soon there would be no food and the people would starve. Still they came to him every day and asked him what they had done wrong to make Him go away and desert them. He tried to assure them that He would not abandon them,that He had to have been captured or even worse killed,to prevent Him from returning to them. Finally as he lay there his body wracked with sweats and pain he called to him the elders. They gathered round his bed where very soon he may breath his last. He could not speak in more than a hoarse whisper so the oldest and wisest bent towards him. “ Sound the Horn” he said to the Elder “ Summon the winged one “ The Elder stood back and gazed at him with awe. Sound the horn? He had never heard the horn in his lifetime. “ Now!” Croaked the Priest.
The Elder turned and told the others. They all stood mouths agape,looking first to the Priest and then the Elder. Then they hurried from the room and chose the strongest of the people to make the climb up the mountain to sound the Horn.

He flew in circles ever widening,he had heard the call and now he searched the land below him for signs. The call had been weak,and he hoped that he would not be too late. He scanned the Ground and the mountain sides. A Dragons eyes were a thousand times stronger than a Humans and he could see even the smallest thing from up here. He knew he would have some explaining to do when he got back,Myriad had been wanting to go to the mountains today,but,he could not ignore the call. He scanned the side of the mountain as he was passing it and he saw him. The one who had called. He swooped down and there he was lying on a ledge an Arrow through his wing preventing him from flight. Argarth wondered how he had managed to get here to the ledge for surely this was too high for an Arrow to have reached him. And he realised that the brave little eagle had made sure that no one could take the message he carried by finding his way to this ledge where no Human could reach. He was still alive but barely,having used most of his strength to reach here and what little was left to send out his call. Very gently Argarth gathered the Brave little bird in his claws and set off for Duranbro.
They were on the roof of the Great Hall with Bryntich when he returned. He landed as gently as he could and laid his little friend on the ground. Myriad gave a cry and ran to the Eagle that was her friend too. “ You must get Bailin,quickly “ she called to Klenyth. The counsellor hurried from the roof to bring the wizard. She unstrapped the message from the Eagles leg and passed it to Zargrith,who opened and read it.
Bailin came hurrying on to the roof and on seeing the eagle took out a little pouch from his belt.opening it he took out a sprinkling of dust from the Horn of the Unicorn Magryth and began to sprinkle it as Myriad pulled the Arrow from Elis wing. He had more wounds than just his wing and as the dust hit them they began to heal. In a few moments the Eagle was stood,still too weak to fly,but no longer about to leave the Mortal kingdom. Myriad talked gently to him and he rubbed his head against her cheek.
“ What did the message say?” Keelagh asked Zargrith
“ It is from the Temple of the Tiger it seems they need a warrior” he said watching her face as he said it. Myriad stood and turned towards the daughter she had just gained back,she knew there was no way she was going to stop her going to find Paidrech and the others to answer the call for help. She said nothing.
“ Well” Bryntich said watching Keelaghs face become animated at the thought of adventure “ It would seem dear Keelagh that you have your wish”