tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2009-11-22:/Mythical and Magical stories. (C) 2006MokoFeed2009-11-22T08:58:47+01:00tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2008-06-21:/2008/06/21/themple-of-the-tiger-part-two-chapter-th-4345095/lyndlj2008-06-21T19:39:48+02:002008-06-21T19:48:11+02:00 <p>Temple of The Tiger </p> <p>Part Two: A calling of Warriors</p> <p>Chapter Three: All at sea</p> <p>For the first five days the weather had been beautiful and the sea calm, now the black clouds gathered and the wind whipped the waves, the cage that he was in rocked back and forth with the motion of the ship, but he did not flinch he just lay there, waiting.<br> He had gained a friend these past few days, one who was risking a beating to bring him food and fresh water on a night when the watch was slackened, the better food and the water had made him regain much strength and he knew that very soon the time would be here that he would be free, and so he waited patiently as the storm gathered power and the ship rocked and groaned and pitched upon the angry sea.</p> <p>Keelagh watched the blackening clouds stood at the helm of the ship as she had so much in the past few days, hopefully this storm would not blow them off course though the Captain of the ship had said that it would hasten their journey if the winds stayed as they were. It was a sturdy ship and he had boastfully told them how many of these storms she had ridden out, he quietly told them that he was a master at this and as they had the magic of a Dragon to boot then nothing would befall them but a swifter passage to their destination. Bryntich of course had gone all bashful and shy but was inwardly beaming at the fact that these people seemed to believe him to be something wonderful and magical<br> “Which you are,” Keelagh told him<br> “Even I have no mastery over storms Keelagh” He had replied smiling<br> “I hope the ship that Wraith is on is as sturdy as this one” she said gazing out at the churning sea.<br> “We will find him Keelagh” a voice had said beside her, Paidrech had joined them, silently as always, just suddenly there when she had thought him somewhere else, “He is bound to you and Bryn just as surely as that little one appears to be bound to Yailith and Gilbert” He had continued pointing to where Agradon was attempting to lay it’s large head on Yailith’s knee as he sat on a pile of ropes attempting to eat a fruit. The Dragon was but six months old and already a third of the size of Bryntich,<br> “I was surprised to find Agradon with Yailith, Paidrech, I thought that he was with Gilbert?” She had answered him<br> “Well apparently Gilbert and Kearth had a task to do for some maiden and it was across the sea, he didn’t want to test Agradon with the journey so Yailith was the second watcher and he stayed with him, waste of time really as we are now away over the sea and we have to take him with us anyway” he said laughingly<br> “A maidens task” she laughed “ I might have known, I take it then they are somewhere around where we are going?”<br> “They are and are awaiting our arrival, Eagles are handy things to have around” he said as she raised her eyebrows sceptically. She laughed she had forgotten that he had the Eagles passing messages for him.<br> “Hopefully we wont keep them waiting long” she said as she turned back to watch the storm.</p> <p>As the light of day gave way to the Dark of night the storm gathered momentum, the ship pitched high and then dropped, each time it dropped the cage slid further towards the edge, he made no sound, they had lashed many of the boxes down that were on the deck, but the lashings had not held and some of the boxes had already disappeared into the angry sea. His Friend had not visited him as of yet, but there was much running about and shouting, these creatures had not yet learnt that the storm would have it’s own way no matter how much shouting or fist clenching they did.</p> <p>The sky lit up as the lightning that had been on the horizon much of the day finally reached them, flashing above and around them, causing the activity to become even more frenzied. Water fell from the sky in a great deluge and the sea heaved over the side of the ship trying to wash away all that was on the deck. His cage kept him safe from the waters that fell from above but not from the sea that came in through the bars on the front, soon his fur was wet and he shivered from the cold, but still he lay quiet. </p> <p>A huge wave washed over the ship filling his cage with salty water and making him cough, as it receded it took the cage with it to the edge of the opening in the side of the ship, the cage slid part over the edge, the front of the cage looked into the ship, some saw that the cage was hanging on the edge but they were too busy trying to save their own lives to worry about his. Then his friend was there, somehow he had got the key to the cage and he was desperately trying to unlock it before it fell into the churning water, he talked to him, in words he did not understand, but he understood the meaning, if caught he would be badly hurt but it mattered not anymore. As the door opened he sprang from the cage and turned straight to the man that risked his life to save him, in one movement he turned, leaped and they both went flying over the side of the ship into the water below. As they sailed through the air down into the waves two huge bolts of lightning hit the ship, breaking the main mast and causing shocks to travel from port to stern, the ship was awash with water and the combination of this and the lightning soon wiped the ship of most of its crew. </p> <p>He had thought that the Huge Wolf had turned on him as he fell down towards the water, but he soon realised that he had saved his life not tried to take it, he had thrown him with his push towards boxes floating in the sea, and as he grabbed one and hung on for dear life he saw the ship light up as though it was on fire, which it now was minutes later, those that had survived the lightning bolts were throwing themselves into the sea to escape the flames. He could not see the Wolf, and all he could do was cling to the floating debris and hope that he had found a way to survive too.<br> Hours later when the storm had abated, there was no sign of the ship, or the men that had leapt from the embrace of the fire, and still no sign of the White Wolf or land, he hoped that the tide would carry him to the harbour safely for he had neither food nor water and he knew not how far it would be.</p> <p>“The captain say’s we should see land by daylight” she said to Bryn as he landed on the bow of the ship, “This storm has made the crossing faster, is something wrong?” she finished looking at his face as he folded his huge wings.<br> “I can find no sign of another ship Keely” he said quietly “I have flown far and wide, and can find nothing” he lowered his head<br> “Tis dark Bryn, you may have missed it” She answered him, knowing that his dragon sight would not have missed it even in the dark, but hoping. “Or it may have already harboured”<br> “No Keely, it was only hours in front of us, not days, and we have seen no sign of an inlet where we could harbour so neither have they”<br> “Perhaps they have blown off course?”<br> Bryntich sighed “Perhaps, I will look again at daylight” he said not wanting to completely disillusion her.<br> “He is alive Bryn, I don’t know how I know I just do, if he were not I would feel it, here” she said touching her heart.<br> “Yes, you are right, you would know, as would I” he nodded his large head “ I will look again, we will find him,” he said gently.<br> “If we only knew why they had taken him,” she mused, “We may know better where to look”<br> “I don’t think they will keep hold of him Keely, he is a feisty one, he will escape the second there is an opportunity to do so”<br> “But will that be better or worse? “ She said looking out to sea, “At least on the ship he will get to land, what if he escapes and the only way to go is the Sea?”<br> “Keelagh, you know that the fates will decide, we know he is still alive somewhere, keep faith that what there is between the three of us will enable us to find him” He did not add in time, though he thought it, who knows what damage would be done to him before he escaped or was rescued. They had known him for such a short time and though he was in many ways not the average wolf he was still flesh and blood and flesh and blood could be hurt beyond measure.</p> <p>He was fading, he knew he could not hold on much longer, his mouth was parched despite the sea, his lips were cracked and stinging with the salt, the sun had come up with a vengeance it seemed, and it burned his back and his arms, when the sea touched him as it seemed to be doing more and more as the debris he held on to sank a little lower, it stung where the sun had made his flesh tender. He knew not where the tide was taking him, he saw blurry outlines on the horizon, but then they were gone and he thought it was an illusion. He would close his eyes and open them to find the sun had moved, and that he had slipped and he would scramble back up the debris to find he was sinking a little further.<br> And then he was too tired to hold on anymore, his hands were numb his fingers refused to grip, and he began to slide, slowly his legs became submerged and his body began to feel heavier, he was resigned to his fate and as he began to let go to allow himself to fully slide from his wooden box he felt something touch him, push at his legs, he froze in terror believing that the sharp toothed monsters from the deep had seen him, he did not want to die that way! He felt his legs being lifted and he opened his eyes to look, he saw fur, very wet fur, but not a sharp toothed monster, it was the white one and he was pushing him back on to the crate, he scrambled finding a new strength and he gripped the edges, the crate began to move faster and he knew that he was being pushed towards what he had believed to be an illusion but which in fact was land and he thanked the fates for sending him the White one for now he was sure that he would make it to shore at least alive.</p> <p>He circled in the sky, he had seen wreckage, boxes, planks, part of a mast, floating on the tide. He had scouted for a while but a mist had come down and even his Dragon eyes could not penetrate it, he knew that they were nearing land he could see the outline on the horizon. He flew above the mist and circled again, he felt something that he could not explain, a pulling, but the mist was too thick, he could fly in to it but Keelagh would be fretting if he stayed away too long, she had lost one guardian, for now and he did not want to put her through more pain. He sighed, turned and headed back to the ship, he could smell the spices of the land and knew it would only be a few more hours before they were safe in the harbour. Still there was that pulling and again he was tempted to enter the mist “getting fanciful in your old age, Bryn” he admonished himself and wheeled away towards the ship and Keelagh.</p> <p>She waited on the bow of the ship for his return and he landed gracefully beside her, she looked at him expectantly, he shook his head.<br> “The ship is gone Keely” he said quietly “I found wreckage”<br> “It may not have been his ship,” she answered<br> “But we know it is, we also know that whatever happened he is still alive, somewhere” the Dragon replied<br> “But where Bryn? How could he survive out there alone tis hours to shore” she lowered her head, she knew he was alive or was it just wishful thinking that kept him so in her heart and her mind<br> “We will find him Keely” Bryn said quietly placing his huge head next to hers, trying to comfort her, she placed her arms round his neck and laid her head on him “I am so scared I am just keeping him alive in my mind through wishing, Bryn”<br> “No Keelagh, we would know, what we have to do now is concentrate on what lies ahead and place our faith in whatever the fates have planned for us, as we did before”<br> “You are right Bryn, land fast approaches and we have a call to answer” </p> <p>The mist had descended swiftly, he didn’t mind, it was cooler than the sun that had been burning him, he clung to the wreckage with renewed strength, he could smell the shore, the White one had stopped at one point and had been looking up at the sky as though he could hear something and was looking for it in the sky. Then he had resumed pushing him and the wreckage towards the shore, he was tiring though and he knew that he would have to start helping him, he began to push against the water with his hands as though they were oars and he began to move a little faster. They would be there soon, he hoped, for the White one was coming to the end of his strength, twice he had sunk and then come back, spluttering, he had moved so he could come on the wreckage but he stayed in the water. He was pretty sure it would sink if the White one got on too, but it was a chance he was willing to take, but one the White one wasn’t. Just a little while longer and they would be there. </p> <p>Then his movement slowed, he turned his head and the White one had gone, he shouted, nothing, he called and called, but there was no sign of him, tears flowed down his cheeks, he was exhausted, he was hungry and now he had lost the one that had saved him, not once but twice. He laid his head down on the wreckage and gave himself up to the fates.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2008/06/21/themple-of-the-tiger-part-two-chapter-th-4345095/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2007-06-03:/2007/06/03/temple_of_the_tiger_part_two_chapter_two~2384931/lyndlj2007-06-03T10:25:15+02:002007-06-03T10:29:50+02:00 <p>Temple of the Tiger Part Two A calling of Warriors<br> Chapter Two. Friends apart</p> <p>Keelagh had explained as best she could what had happened when she had lost Wraith in the streets, she had also explained that Magryth was also searching for him, Paidrech had instructed Bodin to stay and make sure the ship was readied for they had to sail on the evening tide.</p> <p>That was hours ago, and despite the searching and the calling, despite having a Magical Unicorn also doing these things there was still no sign of the Wolf. The time was fast approaching for them to set sail and Keelagh realised for the first time that she may have to leave without her beloved Wolf, a prospect she did not want to face. She knew she could not ask them to go on without her, the pledge she had taken when she had agreed to the Quest meant that she had to see it through no matter what happened to anyone or anything else. </p> <p>They searched streets and alleys, they asked questions, but the people of the Port of Pertune were not like the people in Duranbro and they were closed and suspicious of the strangers looking for a wild animal. Nothing bore fruit, no one apparently would admit to seeing the Wolf let alone knowing about his disappearance. Then as they approached the last of the streets, on their way back to the ship, they had come across Wraiths Golden collar, the one that he had been presented with after the Battle in which he had played the greatest part. It was broken and on it a bloody mark. They had then searched the Quayside, but there was no sign of him. </p> <p>It was with a heavy heart that she finally boarded the ship, Bryntich was waiting out at sea beyond the City, and Magryth had decided to stay and continue the search for the Wolf, even he could not understand how he had not been able to pick up Wraiths trail and believed that there was something more behind this than a random capture of a wild creature, though he did not tell Keelagh for she was upset enough. As the ship slipped out from the Quayside Keelagh stood, eyes shining from unshed tears, looking back at the city that had taken her dear friend from her, she vowed that no matter what happened she would find him and those that had taken him would pay dearly. She knew he still lived, she felt that, she just hoped that he was not suffering, for that would make them pay even more dearly.</p> <p>He laid, quiet, eyes closed, but not sleeping, he listened, he waited. They thought they had subdued him with their sticks and lashes, they hadn’t, he could not be subdued. He was not what they thought he was, or maybe they didn’t know and the orders that they acted under had not been specific about what they were dealing with. He had injured one, when they had tried to hold him by the collar, he would not use that hand for fighting again. He had little room to move in the box they had placed him in, but he was a patient creature and his time would come, he felt motion, a rolling motion, similar to when they had crossed the lake but deeper more powerful. And as the motion continued he felt the pain from the one that was his deepest friend, he would find her, they would not be able to stop him, for now he waited patiently.</p> <p>Bryntich had landed gently and gracefully on the ship once they were well out to sea, stating that when there was no slippy green stuff he could land anywhere. His heart ached for Keelagh, the lost and sad look in her eyes each time she looked to the side for Wraith and he was not there. He knew there was a reason that Wraith had been taken, Magryth had told him that whoever had done it had cloaked The Wolf so he could not be sensed by him. Cloaking a creature from the Magic of A Unicorn was no easy feat, which meant an enemy maybe as powerful as the one they had faced at Duranbro, and in a land that they did not know, with dangers that would be unseen without the power of the Wolf and the Unicorn there. He would wait to tell them of this, for he knew Keelagh and she would at once want to turn the ship around and go searching for whatever/whoever was responsible, her pledge would tear her apart.</p> <p>“What sort of Man would want this for a life?” she jumped as he spoke to her, turning she smiled at him, Bryntich ever present, always knowing what went on in her head and heart, “No land for miles and miles and nothing but the sea to look at” he continued<br> “Well some must for there are many that travel the seas to new lands looking for spices and silks to bring home, and the fishermen of course” She answered him “I guess they like the solitude of the sea, the way that it speaks, the soft rolling of the waves that lulls them to sleep”<br> “Pah! The soft rolling of the waves that makes you green with sickness, you mean” And he looked towards the opposite rail where Yailith was looking a funny shade of Greeny/white and sweating and shivering in turn. Keelagh laughed, “He hasn’t found his sea legs yet to be sure, but we are only an hour or so out, he will get used to it, as I have”<br> “Nothing seems to throw you Keelagh” the Dragon mused softly “First time out to sea and you act like you have done it all your life”<br> “I feel like I have Bryn, just as I felt I had done a thousand adventures before the battle at Duranbro, and fought a thousand fights, tis strange to be sure, but holds me in good stead when I have need of a clear head”<br> “We will find him you know?” he said softly<br> “But what will he have suffered before we do Bryn? What are they doing to him? I felt his pain, here” And she touched her chest where the heart lay “Will he still be our Wraith when they are done with him? “ Her eyes clouded and she looked out to sea</p> <p>“He will always be our Wraith, or more precisely your Wraith, you are bound together, as you and I are, as he and I are by the Magic of a Unicorn and the drop of a dragon tear, why else do you think he stayed? He is no longer a mere white Wolf, I don’t believe he ever was, from the beginning it was meant that he would be with us, that he is special. What we saw at Duranbro is only a part of what/who he is, I believe that Wraith was chosen by powers even I don’t comprehend”<br> “I believe you are right Bryn, he is special, not just because of what he did at Duranbro, but because he has this quietness, this strength about him, that makes those around him gather strength and courage, but also peace, I for one had never seen a Wolf his size with eyes of that colour, before”<br> “Then let it be, Keelagh, for you need to concentrate on the journey ahead and the land you are coming to needs to be learnt about” he said gently<br> Keelagh turned and looked at him for a long moment, then sighing, she nodded her head “Start teaching Bryn, I am listening”</p> <p>Kal and his companions had reached the City that lay before the sea, it was not a large city, not like Duranbro or the Port of Pertune. It was however the first city that he had ever seen and to him it was enormous. The sea on his first sight of it had taken his breath away, huge and endless it seemed, with long flat yellow land at its beginning, Gilbert told him this was sand, and the flat parts were called Beaches, he didn’t understand the foreign words but the golden sand looked nice. All they had by the lake was pebbles and gritty grey stuff, though he had seen the same golden stuff in the bottom of the lake and the stream that ran through the village. Sand, he would be able to tell them all that when he got back, his euphoria suddenly waned as the thought unbidden arose ‘If he got home’ </p> <p>Gilbert and Kearth were seasoned travellers and the city didn’t phase them at all. “This is Port Bail” Gilbert informed him “It was not always called that, it used to be Port Zargon, but it was renamed after a mighty wizard that helped to save it some years back”<br> “I have heard of the legend of a Wizard that saved a city from destruction, I thought it was some far off land” Kal answered him<br> “This <em>is</em> far off to you, country boy” Kearth said laughing<br> Kal went a mighty shade of red, he didn’t seem able to please Kearth and he was always making fun of him. He didn’t think that Kearth liked him much, and was wary of what he said.<br> “Stop teasing the boy, Kearth” Gilbert admonished gently. Kearth looked at him with a glower, and then he smiled “Tis but fun Gilbert, he will face much worse when Paidrech gets here” and he chuckled “It will be fun to be together again though”<br> “Aye, that it will” Gilbert agreed, he turned towards Kal “We may have some time to wait before they get here, will be a long journey by sea, meantime, we are going to teach you about city life but whatever you do, you stay close by us, you hear?”<br> “I hear you Gilbert, I shall not wander off” Kal answered his eyes huge as they trotted through the city streets to look for a place to stay.<br> “I have the feeling <em>he</em> is going to get into more trouble than we two put together” Kearth said watching him<br> Gilbert laughed “Well that’s not something new to us now is it?” </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2007/06/03/temple_of_the_tiger_part_two_chapter_two~2384931/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2007-05-20:/2007/05/20/temple_of_the_tiger_part_two_chapter_one~2302235/lyndlj2007-05-20T14:32:32+02:002007-05-20T14:42:07+02:00 <p>Temple of The Tiger Part Two. A calling of Warriors<br> Chapter One. A reunion of sorts</p> <p>They had travelled a long way, miles and miles and they were fast approaching the sea. They had still seen no sign of Paidrech and his band; they had passed through villages that they had passed through. Travelled through woods and forests that held remnants of camps, passed battle scenes and heard stories, but the warriors themselves eluded them.</p> <p>Keelagh was feeling weary, unlike the first quest they had met no strange creatures trying to stop them, no bands of marauders trying to fleece them, no one to rescue and no fights to be fought. In fact the land was so quiet it was almost like the calm before a storm, everyone peaceful and happy, and boring. That’s what she realised as they approached the great city that stood before the seaways, she was bored, and that made her restless. </p> <p>The sight of the Sea had been awesome to her, vast and seeming to extend beyond the horizon forever, they had smelt it long before it had come in to view, a crisp salty fresh smell, unlike the rivers and waterways that she knew and had sailed many times. As they approached the City Bryn and Magryth held back, they would have to stay beyond the city until the ship could be obtained, Bryn was not happy at her going into a strange city alone but he had no choice, this was not a city that had been built for Dragons to wander unlike Duranbro, its thoroughfares were narrower and its streets closer together, though he could have managed it, he would have been conspicuous and they obviously didn’t have a lot of Dragon visitors, attracting too much attention was not a good thing in a strange place.</p> <p>Keelagh rode through the gates of the city on Spirit with Wraith at her side, Bryn and Magryth watched them go, they stood beyond the city on a small hill both cloaked in Magryth’s magic so they would not be seen. “I am not happy about this” Bryn said to the Unicorn for the hundredth time<br> “I know, and we both know that if anything happens I can be there in a heartbeat, you worry too much Bryn”<br> “She can be reckless, my Friend, she does not always think before she speaks, and she always says what is in her head before she has thought it through”<br> “You worry that there will be those that try to take advantage of her, but you forget who she is Bryn, she is not easily duped”<br> “That’s the problem, I would hate to see what would happen to those that tried!” and they both laughed.</p> <p>Keelagh rode through the streets in what she hoped was the direction of the sea and the ships, the place was so crowded and the streets so complex she began to wonder if she would ever find them. She had been worried about losing Wraith, but the people moved out of his way, with fearful looks and signs of the Evil eye. If they only knew that Wraith was no mere Wolf, but then they may have been even more frightened no less. She had ridden through dozens of streets when she began to notice a change in the people, there were suddenly no women or children, and the streets had become emptier. Spirit began to edge and prance a little and Wraith began that low growling and his hackles had gone up. She felt danger, but could not see it, so many twists and turns; she unsheathed her sword but held it by her side. </p> <p>They had gone three more turns when a net came flying out of nowhere and wrapped around Wraith, taking his feet out from under him as it was tightened by persons unseen, and then it was being dragged towards another bend and she tried to turn Spirit but suddenly was surrounded by people and could not turn, she tried to follow the net but could not move, she called to him, she heard him Yelp, and then nothing. The people moved and she sprang from Spirits back and ran towards the corner, but there was no sign, of Wraith or anyone else.</p> <p>“Where are we going?” Kal asked for what had to be the twentieth time, he was worried as now Brock was following the other horses and he wasn’t sure if he was on the right trail anymore.<br> “To the Sea, you have asked me that question so many times Kal, let me explain, if you are on a quest to find the warriors to save your Temple”<br> “The Tiger not the Temple”<br> “Tiger, Temple whatever” Gilbert said sighing “ Then the ones you are looking for will be coming that way, as we did”<br> “So you are definitely not the ones?”<br> “Not on our own, no! ”<br> “For goodness sakes” Kearth grumbled “Why don’t you just be quiet for a little while and listen to what is being said, the Warriors are probably on their way now, while we are wasting time with you!”<br> “But how can you be sure?”<br> “We can’t, no more than you knew which way to ride, we just know, if they are coming that is the way,” Gilbert said patiently<br> “And if we know, whoever is responsible for the disappearance of your Tiger will know” Kearth said quietly.<br> Gilbert looked at him, “Ah fun and games to be had Kearth?” he questioned, Kearth looked up at the darkening sky before answering “Maybe not so much fun as we would like, but it is certain there will be someone waiting Gilbert, or something?” They rode on in silence.</p> <p>Keelagh was still searching the streets, she could gain no help from the people, if she tried to talk to them they turned away, she was despairing when she heard a voice at the side of her.<br> “Go find a ship, Keelagh, I will search for Wraith”<br> “How could I be so stupid? Magryth, if anything happens to him”<br> “SSshh, fret not, you could not have known, I will find him, and I will come for you, go find a ship, have it ready, and be careful” She could not see him but she felt him leave.</p> <p>She turned towards the streets that he had shown her led to the seafront, remounting Spirit she made her way down them, dejected without her faithful Wolf at her side, even the sight of the ships with the tall sails could raise no wonder in her.<br> All manner of people crammed the streets by the seafront, all colours and all sizes, had she now been so worried and so forlorn, the wonderful smells and colours and sounds would have held her entranced. She had come out on to a wide thoroughfare, which ended at the sea; Ships were tied up to huge poles set all along the side. She dismounted and began to walk holding Spirit loosely by the reigns her hand on the hilt of her sword, she had to think about how she was going to approach the matter of a ship, and who she was going to approach. She hadn’t seen anyone that seemed to be connected with the ships, but what would she know? </p> <p>She had walked a little way further along when she saw a ship with what appeared to be a set of long planks all tied together leading down on to the seafront, men were walking up and down it carrying what seemed to be provisions, and rolling barrels up it on to the ship. She wandered closer towards a group of men that appeared to be counting what was going on and off. She had almost reached them when she was stopped in her tracks by a familiar voice<br> “Well you took your time getting here “<br> She turned and there stood Paidrech along with Yailith, as she struggled to speak Bodin appeared with Chitter who immediately jumped from his shoulder on to hers and smothered her in wet little kisses.<br> “I have been searching for you” Keelagh said when she finally managed to stop the little Chitter<br> “I thought we would be in need of a ship, and came ahead to secure us one” Paidrech replied pointing at the great ship being filled with supplies<br> “She looked down at the floor and then back at him “How do you always know?” She said and then “Wraiths been taken”<br> “Then we best find him, for we cannot have an adventure without our White Wolf” And all the others said Aye.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2007/05/20/temple_of_the_tiger_part_two_chapter_one~2302235/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2007-03-24:/2007/03/24/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_fou~1965582/lyndlj2007-03-24T11:46:52+01:002007-03-24T11:48:51+01:00 <p>Temple of the Tiger… Part one…Journey to the Temple<br> Chapter Four...A learning of Lessons</p> <p>He had wandered a long way it seemed, yet no way at all, he had lost track of days and nights as they blended into one long passage of time. He had passed through the Forest and come to mountains, somewhere in between there had been long plains of grass, none had seen him, for unless he desired it he was as of the air, there, but not.</p> <p>At the foot of the mountains he had paused, something had pulled at him, and he gently turned his giant head back the way he had come, but only darkness met his gaze. He could see for miles, this great beast, he could see into the hearts and minds of Humans and all living things, but for now all he could see was darkness. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, just for a minute he allowed all things to wash over him, he knew there was something, a pinpoint of light, but he could not retrieve it. He raised his head once more and looked up at the great mountain, and resumed his journey. </p> <p>Kal and Brock had travelled forever, at least that’s how Kal felt, weary and dusty and thirsty his spirits lifted for the first time in days when he came across a village nestling at the foot of hills at the far end of the plains. As he drew nearer he saw the people going about their daily business, he saw smoke from fires in the houses, heard people talking and laughing, shouting and whistling.<br> He remembered that he been admonished to be careful of what he said about The Great One, if he could not be found the land would soon enough know that he was gone.</p> <p>As he entered what he presumed was the main thoroughfare of the village, people began to call good day to him, and he felt a smile on his dry lips and called back to them. A little further on and he came upon a well, around which villagers were drawing water and chatting gaily. He jumped down from Brock’s back and went towards the well, with his water flasks to fill.<br> “Good day young sir” A rather plump gentleman with a shiny head and shinier cheeks spoke to him as he approached.<br> “Good Day sir” Kal replied, “May I fill my flasks from your well? For they are dry as the plains and I have yet awhile to go”<br> “Water is free, my young friend, and there for villagers and travellers alike, though you will have to wait your turn as it is the wash day in the village and much water needs to be drawn on this day by the mistresses”<br> “I shall wait sir”<br> “A wise decision, for to try and push in amongst that gaggle of cackling mistresses would be likened to putting your head in a lions mouth” and with this he set off laughing heartily as though he had said the funniest thing ever.<br> Kal smiled and even managed a little laugh so as not to be seen as being rude.<br> The man stopped laughing and looked at Kal again, this time his gaze swept him from his head to his feet “ You seem to have travelled far, young one, perhaps you are in need of more than just water for drinking? A wash would not go amiss, tis hard to see the features beneath all that dust and grime. And perhaps a bite to eat?”<br> “Is there an inn in the village sir?” Kal asked him, thinking how nice a hot meal would be.<br> “Aye, and I just happen to be the master of it, come, bring your fine beast and we will see what we can find in the cookhouse” and with that he turned and set off down the road, Kal took hold of Brocks reigns and followed.</p> <p>He had not climbed the mountain to the top, after only a little way there had been a large opening into a cave, he had entered through this and now he wandered inside the mountain, first going down so far he began to think he was in the very bowels of the earth. Then he started to ascend again, but only a little way, now he gazed out on a vista of trees and grass and flowers and a river, but how could this be inside a mountain? And then it disappeared, gone in the blink of an eye, and instead just the walls of the mountain surrounded him. The pinpoint of light had found him, for just a few minutes, and now it was gone again and the journey resumed.</p> <p>Kal had washed, and he had eaten and drank a warm brew, he felt content and more than a little sluggish. The master of the inn had refused his payment and he walked out through the door into the bright sunshine feeling quite refreshed though drowsy, and then he stopped. Where was Brock? He turned back to the man that had followed him out “Have you stabled Brock?” he asked him<br> “Brock? Who is that?” asked the man<br> “My beast, sir the one I rode in on”<br> “You had no beast, you walked in “ the man replied<br> “No sir I rode into the village, on Brock”<br> “You are full of ale young sir, you imagine things, there was no beast and now you call me a liar!!” Said the man angrily and the people stood outside turned and looked<br> “Sir I am not calling you a liar, I am simply stating what is, I have travelled days upon my beast, and he was here” Kal was beginning to become scared as a group of men now circled him. They glowered at him as he tried to argue his cause.<br> “I think it is time you left our village young one, we do not like trouble causers in these parts” the man said and now the other men advanced on him.<br> “I think first you should return the beast, don’t you?” A voice said from beyond the circle of men<br> “This is none of your affair, Stranger” The Master of the inn growled at the tall young man stood leaning against the wall of the inn<br> “Injustice is always my affair” the man replied placing now his hand on the hilt of the sword he wore at his side.<br> “You think you can out fight a dozen strong men?” the Master of the inn said laughingly<br> “Maybe not on his own, but then he isn’t” Another voice chimed in, this time the men had to look for the owner of the voice, and there he was only half their size, but axe and sword in hand and a glare on his face he looked more formidable than a man three times his height and width.</p> <p>The men backed off, a beast was not worth dying for, even one as grand as the one the Master of the Inn desired, Kal raised his fingers to his lips and whistled a long low whistle. They heard the whinnying and the sound of hooves kicking wood, then the door of the building next to the inn flew open and Brock trotted out, dragging some poor hapless youth grimly trying to hold his reigns.<br> The two gentlemen that had helped him backed off to their own beasts with hands still on swords, the men that had circled Kal had dropped back and let them reach their beasts tied up a short distance away. Kal mounted Brock, his sleepiness had deserted him fast, he had never been faced with anything like this and he was feeling shaky and scared.</p> <p>The two men fell in one at each side of him and they rode out of the village at a fast trot. As they left the buildings behind the taller one spoke to Kal “ We will need to put some distance between us and them, so we need to ride faster for a while” and with that he set off at a gallop, as did his companion and without any urging Brock set off and soon they were all galloping towards the hills and up and over them.</p> <p>After two hours of galloping and trotting the men slowed the beasts to a walk and then introduced themselves.<br> “I am Gilbert,” said the tall one “And he is Kearth” and Kearth bowed from the waist, which is no easy feat when you are riding a beast.<br> “I am Kal” he answered smiling “And it seems I owe you my life and that of Brocks”<br> “They wouldn’t have killed you, they are thieves not murderers, they would have thrown you out of the village that’s all”<br> “But they would have kept Brock” he replied<br> “Seems they may not have been able to keep him for long the way he answered your call” Gilbert laughed “ Never trust the master of an Inn, young one, they will steal the pillow from neath your head while you sleep”<br> “But he seemed so friendly” Kal sighed<br> “Oh great, not only have we landed ourselves with a greenhorn, but a naïve one to boot” Exclaimed Kearth<br> “Don’t be so hard Kearth, we were all greenhorns once, aye and Naïve too, but tis true young one, travelling alone and unknowing can be highly dangerous”<br> “I have a quest to….” Kal stopped, he had said too much and these were after all strangers, albeit ones that had saved him.<br> “Oh we know all about quests” Said Gilbert “Maybe we could help you in your quest, after all we have nothing better to do right now, is that not so Kearth?” The Dwarf made a pah sound, and shook his head<br> “Here we go again” He sighed</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2007/03/24/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_fou~1965582/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-12-16:/2006/12/16/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_thr~1444128/lyndlj2006-12-16T09:43:56+01:002006-12-16T09:43:56+01:00 <p>Temple Of The Tiger...Part One<br> Chapter Three...The Journey Begins</p> <p>Bryntich flew in lazy circles high in the sky, he was not worried about being so far up for he could see the ground perfectly. He could make out every strand of grass; he could see the flick of Spirits tail as he trotted across the plains with Keelagh on his back and Wraith loping along at their side. Which is why he was circling, trying to sight the band of wanderers that had been together in the last battle, or maybe Magryth, but then he knew that if Magryth didn’t want to be found he wouldn’t be.<br> Little Eli was healed and he flew now far below the Dragon, swooping and swirling as he too looked for the Soldiers that had helped to save Duranbro.</p> <p>Keelagh no longer worried that she could not fly on her gentle giants back, after all Spirit was fleet and there would be times when she would have needed to walk had she not had the horse, trotting at an even pace across the plains with Wraith at her side she felt free once again, and excited as she had felt when she set out on the last adventure.<br> The message they had received had been a plea to help to find The Sacred One, completely baffled Kenlyth had to explain to her about this strange land she was travelling to, she remembered his face as he animatedly told her about his journey to this distant place when he was young.<br> “ They have spices and fruit the like of which you have never tasted, and Materials the like of which you have never seen or touched, the finest silks we have cannot compare to those in the Land of the Tiger” He had said his face aglow “ They have a whole village that is dedicated to the care of The Great One, much as our Temples revere our ancient Lords, but theirs is, or was, Alive, their people travel miles for his wisdom and his blessing. Legend has it that should he die the whole land would die”<br> “ So how old is he?” Keelagh had asked him<br> “ Probably older than our Dragon Queen was when she met her end,” he had answered.<br> “Then is it not at all possible he has merely gone away to die? Don’t some animals do that?”<br> “He is not like normal animals Keelagh, he is supposedly, immortal, unlike our Dragons that have a new Queen born every so many hundred years, there is only one Tiger of the Temple! “ Kenlyth had answered, “ His disappearance is of grave concern for those people”<br> “Well if he can be found, we shall do we all we can to find him Kenlyth” Keelagh thought of those words now, if he can be found, what if they could not find him? She shook her head, first they had to find the others and she was looking forward to seeing Paidrech again, and the rest of them of course!</p> <p>Kal had ridden for two days, he was lost, he had followed the trail the Elders had put him on, for many hours he had followed it. Then it had gone, no trail, no path, he kept going forward in the same direction but the forest seemed never ending.<br> When at last he had ridden out from beneath the trees he had not known which way he was to go, there were three trails leading from the forest, which one did he follow? He went to take the right hand trail, and the horse refused to move, he went to take the middle one and the horse refused to move, he had no option but to take the left hand trail, as it was the only one the horse would take. He had no idea if he was going the right way, but he had always trusted the animals before, though he had to admit he was totally lost as to where they were.<br> He had, like the others travelled to other villages, but there were no villages this way. In two days he had sighted no other people, no villages, no wanderers, nothing and right now he was afraid that he had gone the wrong way and was actually going away from his goal and not towards it. </p> <p>He had slept the first night beneath the shade of a lone tree in the middle of a small valley, while he was afraid of the emptiness, he knew that the horse would smell danger if there was any. The second night, he had slept behind a long wall, this had been the only sign of people that he had seen, but there were no houses, no villages around, just the wall.<br> Now the morning of the third day had arrived, and Kal was more afraid than ever that he was going the wrong way, as all he could see before him was long plains of grass, with trees dotted here and there, but the horse would not turn so he had no choice but to continue. His spirits were getting lower as he thought of the consequences of going the wrong way, the people that would not be there if he ever got back.<br> With a heavy heart he mounted the horse to set off on this his third day, when he heard a voice speaking to him “ Follow Brock, he knows the way” he turned swiftly, but there was no one there, just him and plains of grass.<br> He waited, the voice didn’t speak again, “ Well Brock, seems I am losing my mind, but the voice says follow you, not that I have a choice less I wish to walk” he said to the horse.<br> Brock let out a slight snort and set off at a trot, Kal did not try to check him as he had been doing, the fates would now decide if the way was right or wrong.</p> <p>Bryntich had landed and he and Keelagh walked across the long plain together, Spirit ran free ahead of them and Wraith walked at the side of Keelagh as he always did when she was not riding the horse.<br> The village they had passed through had talked of a band of warriors that had stopped by there some time ago, on their way to a battle it seems. This had to be Paidrech and the others by the description given of them. Though it had been some time since they were there, Keelagh was sure that they would find them soon, she hoped that they would, for time was ticking and the land of the Tiger was fast dying without its Sacred One.</p> <p>“Are you sure that you will be able to fly when we reach the sea?” she asked the Gentle Dragon by her side<br> “ Tsk, what a question” he replied<br> “ But you have not flown long distances since the battle, Bryn”<br> “ I am as capable of flying to the Land of the Tiger as you are of sailing there, young woman,” he said haughtily, Keelagh laughed at his tone<br> “Still, we shall hire a large ship, just in case you desire a rest” she said with a laugh<br> “ Hiring a ship will not be easy Keelagh” Bryntich warned now serious “ Hiring sailors to man it will be harder”<br> “ I am sure that we will find some that are wanting adventure”<br> “Adventure gets you killed Keelagh, these are simple folk that we go to see, fishermen, not warriors” he let out a huge sneeze “ Damn Green stuff!” He said sneezing again, Keelagh laughed again “ Lets hope you land on a ship better than you land on the ground Bryn, else we shall all sink “<br> “Huh! <em>I</em> can land fine tis this Green stuff, so slippy, and slidey and not nice!” he exclaimed as he sneezed again<br> “Still crash landing I see Bryntich” a voice said at the side of him. Bryntich turned his huge head, and Keelagh turned too, she could see nothing, but Bryn was laughing.<br> As she watched the large Silver white form of Magryth came in to view.<br> “Magryth!” she exclaimed running to him and throwing her arms around the Unicorns neck.<br> “ I am pleased to see you too Keelagh” the Unicorn said laughing as she hugged him “ I would have come sooner but I was busy helping some Elvins with wedding plans”<br> “Elvins?” Keelagh queried<br> “Oh you haven’t met them yet Keelagh, but you may, eventually, so you are on your way to the Land of the Tiger, that’s quite a quest you are on Keelagh, you may have need of a Unicorn, might I join you?” He asked already knowing of course the answer.<br> “Would we do a quest without you Magryth?” Keelagh answered.<br> And they set off again across the plains, Keelagh, Bryn, Wraith and Magryth to find the rest of the band of warriors</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/12/16/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_thr~1444128/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-12-10:/2006/12/10/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_two~1421054/lyndlj2006-12-10T10:33:24+01:002006-12-10T10:33:24+01:00 <p>Temple of the Tiger<br> Part one. …Journey To the Temple<br> Chapter Two…. Decisions made</p> <p>He wandered through the forest, tall wondrous trees, small sweet scented bushes, flowers, and grasses. It was not that he hadn’t seen these things before, but somehow they were different, sharper, sweeter, and taller. But something, on the edge of his vision, and every so often a blurring of his sight where the forest disappeared and he saw something else, he knew it was calling him, he knew he should try to remember, but then the forest reappeared and the vision faded. </p> <p>He shook his great head, and a wind blew through the forest, ruffling the leaves of the trees and stirring gently the tops of the tall trees, he waited until the wind had died down, then moved silently forward, turning his head slowly this way and that to capture every sight, every scent. A tiny bird flew down, and fluttered in front of his face, he lifted his face and it landed on his large snout chirruping away its song for him to hear. Other animals now came out from the forest and joined him in his walk, despite his large size none were scared. He felt peace all around him, and the mist that was threatening to engulf him ebbed away from his vision, the voices in his head became quiet. </p> <p>Far away, a village died a little more.</p> <p>The Elders had gathered once again around his bedside, he did not find the release of Death but lingered here, his body wracked with pain, fever befuddled his mind. On his clear spells he would ask questions. The Winged one had come, they had sent out the message,<br> “ What can we do now” they kept asking him<br> “ wait” he replied before closing his eyes once more.<br> The Elders were at a loss; the people were beseeching them to find the way to stop the fever that was plaguing their village, to stop the disease that had the fruit trees in its grasp, to stop the never ending rains that threatened to wash away the mountain and with it, them!<br> They could do nothing, except pray that the Winged one had delivered the message, and someone would answer their cry.</p> <p>The Great Beast wandered, he knew not why he wandered, something pulled him, but he knew not where. As Darkness fell the little animals left his side and scurried away to sleep for the night, he needed no sleep. He saw as well in the Dark as he did in the light and so he kept wandering, soon he would reach the edge of the forest but he knew not where he would go then, just follow the call. He stopped and turned his head back where he had come from, he had travelled a great distance already, but he could not remember how far or where from? He knew, deep in the back of his mind that he should remember, that he was needed back there, that something <em>bad</em> would happen if he didn’t go back, he half turned, and then he stopped again and raised his head, the call, the pull was much stronger than the thoughts trying to battle with it. He shook his head, again a wind blew through the forest, and he stopped. He knew that with a shake of his body trees would bend and some would fall in the wind that would follow, if he roared the earth would shake and mountains would tumble, he turned and continued his wandering.</p> <p>Diseased fruit fell from the trees in the village.</p> <p>They had called a meeting of all the villagers, it had been decided that they would send out a the strongest among them to follow the way of the Winged one, that person would take the strongest and fleetest riding beast and would travel the long road as swiftly as possible, they were a peaceful people and did not raise warriors, for they had never had the need. For centuries He had protected them, and now they were lost. If word got out that He was lost, they would face the prospect of having to fight to maintain their beautiful lands beneath the mountain, if they were not completely washed away by the rains.<br> A young man stood in the centre of the circle, Kal, he was a tall strong young man, and for the last few years had been trying to persuade the Elders to allow him to go out in to the world and learn all he could, they had kept him there, after all the Great one knew everything what was there for him to learn?<br> Now Kal would get his chance, he bowed before the Elders, “ I shall do all that is within my power “ he said to them. Now they all followed him as he walked towards the Black and White beast he would ride.<br> He mounted the Horse and bowed once more, and then digging his heels into the flank of the Beast he set off on the long road to follow the Winged ones trail towards Duranbro.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/12/10/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one_chapter_two~1421054/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-07-07:/2006/07/07/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one~942444/lyndlj2006-07-07T23:26:14+02:002006-07-07T23:26:14+02:00 <p>Temple of the Tiger<br> Part One..Journey to the Temple<br> Chapter one..The Call</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.<br> 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.</p> <p>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.<br> 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.</p> <p>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.<br> 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.<br> 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.<br> “ What did the message say?” Keelagh asked Zargrith<br> “ 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.<br> “ Well” Bryntich said watching Keelaghs face become animated at the thought of adventure “ It would seem dear Keelagh that you have your wish”</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/07/07/temple_of_the_tiger_part_one~942444/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-29:/2006/06/29/warrior_of_duranbro_the_final_act~920182/lyndlj2006-06-29T10:34:59+02:002006-06-29T14:57:00+02:00 <p>Warrior of Duranbro<br> The Final Act</p> <p>He opened his eyes, the light forced them open. In front of him stood himself? That couldn`t be, he blinked and looked again. No like himself but not. Blue eyes instead of his black ones,fair hair instead of his dark. But the face was the same almost,maybe a little brighter,serener than his.He stared at the face a stirring of memory,a little flash that this meant something to him. But the darkness had taken all his memories and he couldn`t grasp the fleeting visions long enough to make sense of them. He lifted his hand to touch the figure,then realised that he was not right in front of him at all,that a distance seperated them. Yet he could see him as though he were an arms length away. And then he lifted both arms and sent a bolt of black lightning towards the figure that prevented him from continuing his task. The bolt shot across the distance between them but the other had lifted his arms too and parried the bolt with one of his own silvery blue bolts. He called down a rain of bolts upon the figure,each met with the same resisitance. He continued to send them and he felt his strength returning and his bolts grew stronger. The other bolts seemed to be weakening his triumph would know no bounds when he defeated the usurper and he sent more and more as the other became weaker.And he moved forward to close the gap so the bolts might be stronger a smile upon his face as the other was forced back beneath the onslought of black lighening.</p> <p>They stood three abreast in the mouth of the tunnel,the beasts were advancing slowly towards them and the soldiers they had forced from the chamber had rallied and they too advanced once again. She heard a voice she recognised and out from the other tunnel behind the beasts came Gilbert,Kearth,Leck and behind them the giant Bodin. “ Started the party without us Keelagh “ laughed Leck as she surveyed the beasts and the men “ Seems you like to play with large numbers good thing we brought some friends that want to play “ she winked and moved to the side as did the others. Padding quietly behind them their eyes fierce and sparkling were the Black Wolves. One look at the Wolves and panic struck the beasts. They began running about trying to find a way out. When they got close to Keelagh,Paidrech and Kaliq they were met with swords. They began to jump into the Lake as the Wolves attacked. The lake boiled and the Dragon that Kaliq had encountered began picking them off one by one,dragging them down to the murky depths beneath. The others made their way over to Keelagh. “ Maybe would be best if we went back into the Chamber Keelagh “ Paidrech shouted above the noise “ There is more room in there we can guard the entrance” She nodded her head and they all backed up the tunnel towards the mouth of the Chamber. The Beasts came after them not so much to attack but to escape the deadly fangs of the Black Wolves,the soldiers of the enemy were being attacked by both beast and Wolf and the sound of their screams was chilling and made their blood run cold. Not all the beasts ran,the larger ones stood their ground and fought,but they were by nature cowardly creatures attacking only weak or defenceless prey in packs. As they fought off the beasts,they heard the sounds of the battle in the skies and the earth beneath them shook when something hit the ground hard. She prayed fervently that it was not Bryn.<br> Paidrech looked around the Chamber he had noticed when they enetered before that there was an opening and he looked for it now he had a plan, he needed to get into the city and he was hoping that the way was through that opening. He spied it and seeing the others were occupied with the beasts and protecting the eggs he backed off towards it. Through the opening and he found some steps,up he went and when he reached the top he found that there were two ways to go,one led to more steps to his left and one to more steps to his right,he tried the ones to the right and they led to a heavily bolted door. He stopped, this door was bolted from the inside and from the noise he could hear through the door that was not the way into the city. He retraced his steps and took the left ones they led up and along and then up again. Half way up he came across the body of a man.Sword in his hand,Paidrech stepped over him sword ready for when he stepped through the open door before him. He took a deep breath and stepped through. Before him lay another man,this one though still breathed and was stirring. He knelt down beside him and took his sword from his hands as he did the mans eyes shot open. “ Be calm “ Paidrech said to him softly “ I am not the enemy, slowly “ he said as Anton tried to struggle up into a position that would allow him to stand. Paidrech took out the Ring that Zargrith had given him and showed it to the counsellor. Anton smiled “ What happened to Garth?” he asked “ Did you dipatch him? “ Paidrech laughed “ No apparently you did” he said “ He is down the steps “<br> “ Did he manage to open the outer door for the enemy? “ Anton asked him worried that they had got to the eggs “ No the door is still bolted but would have made no difference my Friend,the enemy cannot defeat the brave Keelagh and her little band “ He then helped Anton to stand up “ Keelagh is here?” he asked him “ She protects the eggs but you need to be showing me the highest building I am in need of a high roof”<br> “ Why that would be this one,The great Hall,Come I will show you the way up” And they set off along the corridors of the great hall. Paidrech hoped that he would be in time if he was needed and he hoped more that he wouldn’t be.</p> <p>He was winning he could feel the other weakening,and soon he could go back to what he was doing before.And then he saw the other was joined by another. This man was tall and dark and he did not flinch at the bolts. He raised his hands this other and it was not bolts that escaped from them but light,balls of light,that flew across the expanse of space between them and burst above him,hurting his eyes,his ears,burning,searing. Yet he was not burnt,his flesh was still intact.He became angry and started to call down all the powers he held. He sent visions of Demons and bolts of lightning,he sent howling beasts and ghosts of tortured souls. He saw them recoil and then stand back and send more light and more bolts. He renewed his vigorous efforts and sent more. They were both weakening now trying to fend off the things whirling around them and attacking them. He laughed soon it would be over.</p> <p>Bailin had watched him and he had waited just a few moments for the light that Yailith had sent to make him open his eyes and look. Yailith had stepped away and left him to deal with it as he promised he would. And when he had opened his eyes there had been what? A flicker of recognition? An awareness of who he was? If there had it had been fleeting,momentary. He knew that his brother was gone,replaced by this Darkness that he saw before him. And later he would mourn him again as he had when he first felt him go many years ago. The battle so far had been an impasse but then he had felt his strength draining and the other growing stronger as though he was feeding from him. Then Yailith had come and stood beside him and had sent his balls of light. Yailith was strong but not yet strong enough for an enemy such as this. And soon they were being beleagured by Demons and lost souls and it was not that they were hurting their bodies but the cries from the lost ones ripped through their minds and it was hard to concentrate and he feared the battle would be lost and he would have failed.</p> <p>High into the Skies she went flying straight up for miles and they followed her Bryn and he. And suddenly she was swooping back down and she had caught Bryn and thrown him. He flew tumbling across the skies and began to fall his wings closed and he dared not look for fear he would see him hit the ground and not move. She was turning to him now and he shot up and over her catching her wing and spinning her round but she was fast,and soon she was above again and her claws ripped into his wing to try and do what she did to Bryn. He was prepared and he pulled away and up and over again being careful not to expose hhis chest to those massive ripping claws. She breathed fire at him and he dodged it flying beneath and catching her again and she spun and swooped and went for his neck this time and slashed. The claws opening his scales and reaching the flesh beneath. Then he felt her dragged from him and Bryn was there he had caught her neck as she had caught his and she roared with rage and threw the Dragon again and he spun away,then spread his wings and was back. This time she would take no more from the young Dragon and she ripped his wing and threw him crashing to the ground,for a second time, this time Bryn lay unmoving. Argarth roared with pain and grief and attacked once again she who he once would have given his life for. The battle was furious and he was weakening,he was hurt and bleeding and she sensed his weakness she spread her wings to their widest span and soared up for the last attack.</p> <p>He had reached the roof and found what he needed,though he had to waste precious time setting it up and making sure that it was in the right position. He watched the Dragons fight,he watched the swooping and the soaring and he knew that there would be only one chance,only one,and if he missed. </p> <p>The battle was his,he felt the power drain from the other two and he raised his hands to unleash the last bolts that would finish it. He opened his eyes to savour the moment of their defeat. He stopped his breath held. He remembered now that which he had forgot and there it stood before him. The dreams he had been having,the reason he had sent the beasts out to stop it. The White Wolf.It stood serenly gazing at him with its strange green eyes. There was no fear in its gaze. There was no fear in its stance. It stood between him and they and watched him. A deep cold fear enveloped him as he looked into those strange eyes. He shook himself mentally,it was only a wolf and he threw the great dark bolt at it.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=655174"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/174/655174_2623e5b6e5_m.jpg" align="" alt="Wraith_green" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>She emerged onto the roof in time to see Bryn fall to the ground and lie still,she cried out in anguish and pain. She had to get to him and she turned to find the way down. But the battle in the sky held her as it did all those below on the plains. The fighting had stopped,only the battle with the wizards continued with flashes of light and dark. But it was the Dragons that held all their attention now.they swooped and swirled and fought and Dragon blood rained down from the wounds they inflicted on each other. They watched and all felt the gloom as they knew that Argarth was weakening,he fought bravely and furiously but she was the stronger and they feared she would be the victor. Argarth had been stunned and as he gathered himself they watched her open her wings wide for the last attack.<br> The lighning hit the Wolf. But instead of destroying him it spread out over him and as it spread it changed from dark and black through a myriad of colours into Gold and it grew and became brighter and suddenly it was coming back at him in a wave that he could not hope to escape. His last thought as it hit him and flashed a golden light out over the plains was that he had been wrong,it had not been only a Wolf.<br> The Golden light flashed out over Yailith and Bailin,out further over the soldiers and the Wolves and the beasts that had emerged from the cavern and were trying to escape back to the mountain,through the tunnels of the cavern and out over the city. Up into the sky where the Dragons fought. Momentarily it blinded the Queen and she poised in midflight wings spread. Paidrech watched and waited he had heard Keelagh cry out and he felt her pain but he turned not his head not moved his eyes or his mind from that which he must do. Just one chance and as the light flashed out he took it. He released the Giant Arrow from its sling and watched as it sailed through the golden light to its target. The Queen blinked and fought to free her sight and just as it became clear the arrow hit. Through the breastplate of scales it tunneled its way into her heart,touched by the golden light and made stronger it pierced the heart and the Queen once more poised in her splendour in the skies for a moment as the heart stopped its beating. Then the wings folded and she fell to the earth below.</p> <p>Keelagh ran from the roof and down through the city,out through its gate she ran like the wind to get to Bryn. She minded noone and heard nothing. As she came to him she slowed and walked towards the large Dragon lay on the ground. Argarth swooped down and landed nearby and he too went towards his friend his heart heavy with grief. The little band with Paidrech at its head all gathered, Magryth and Wraith,Yailith and Bailin,Myriad and Zargrith. The young Dragon had fought bravely to free them from the Queens madness and they all stood now heads bowed. Wraith moved forward to his friend the one that had saved his life. He snuffled the Dragons face and whined.<br> “AAAAAtchoo, Damn this green stuff “ A voice said as he sneezed again and opened his eyes. Keelagh stood laughing and crying at the same time. “ Bryn …tis grass” she choked on the words so glad he was not gone. A great cheer went up from those surrounding him “ I really must practice that landing “ he mumbled as he shook his head. Argarth laughed along with Keelagh,” You look like you been tumbling in the hedges Bryntich,scales missing and rips in your wings, will be a little while before you fly far but I think you will be fine” and he winked at the Young Dragon.</p> <p>They had gathered in the great Chamber beneath the City. The hatching time was here. They had cleared the plains of the Dead Queen and her consorts and all was at peace again. It had been two days since the death of the Queen and they had lost many eggs in the weeks before. They could only hope now that of the Dragons hatching one would be the new Queen. The eggs began to hatch and as each little Dragon head appeared they watched and waited. Mainly they were red and green Dragons and these each went and found themselves a watcher from the group stood waiting. There were three eggs left and they began to crack. The first to emerge was a miniture Bryntich,its flashing irridescant colours and cheeky face bringing laughter and shouts from the crowd. It ignored the group of watchers totally and wandered around and around untill it suddenly shot towards Leck and sat in front of her its tongue lolling and rolling its eyes,so comical was it that Leck dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms round its neck. “ Looks like I just became a mama” she said laughingly as the small Dragon licked her face. The next one was a miniture Argarth and he too ignored the watchers and made his way without hesitation to Gilbert. “ I know nothing about Dragons” laughed Gilbert<br> “ Well now is the time to learn “ Myriad said laughingly “ But what of when we go adventuring?” he asked her<br> “ Well then you will have a second watcher or they go with you “ She answered him.<br> The last egg was now Cracking and they held their breath. And a great cheer went up as the little Golden head emerged slowly,shyly. She looked round the cavern and withdrew her head back into the shell. Reluctant to come out into the strange world full of strange noise and strange creatures. She peeped over the shell again and looked around, stood a little way from the rest of the crowd Bailin watched as she hesitantly emerged. She stood looking round and her shy gaze kept coming back to him.Their eyes met and he smiled at the shyness of what would be the ruler of the Dragons. Without any more hesitation she crossed the cavern and sat before him,then she laid her head against him. Even though she was fresh hatched she was already half his height. “ Well Bailin who better to teach the new Queen than a wizard” Argarth said “ Looks like you and I will be spending much time together from this moment” Bailin didn`t know if he was pleased or not,he looked down into the Golden eyes gazing up at him. He knew that he would spend the rest of his life helping Argarth to teach the Queen of Dragons and building up his own powers. He knew also that this was what he had been meant to do and was why he had found Paidrech all those years ago. He smiled and knelt down to the Dragon and hugged her.<br> All was well in the Land of Duranbro once more. And the band of Travellers could rest. For now……</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/29/warrior_of_duranbro_the_final_act~920182/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-28:/2006/06/28/the_warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter~919477/lyndlj2006-06-28T22:53:12+02:002006-06-28T23:01:46+02:00 <p>Part six...The Battle for Duranbro<br> Chapter four...Each to his own<br> Part two</p> <p>Part two</p> <p>He hurried to the steps,he had made his way through the city dodging the fire falling from the sky and now he had but to open the doors and the secret way to the cavern and his plan would be almost done. They hadn`t missed him when the battle had started and he had sneaked back through the ranks and back into the City. He no longer moved with the lighthearted sureness he had been displaying for weeks. Things had started to go wrong,first the Prince had appeared. He that should have been dead these last six years,the one he had believed dead. And he was sure that Kenlyth knew he was the one but that mattered not for there was nothing he could do now,he was out there protecting his beloved Queen and her consort. He reached the Hall and hurried through the corridors and down steps and more corridors,he had the feeling of time pressing an urgency he hadn`t felt before. He hadn`t known about the ditch of oil,they had been counting on the Wolves to do their damage but it mattered not for now the fire was gone and the battle in full swing and the Wolves would be sent forth again. He had reached the farthest door and as he went to open it he heard a step behind him. He turned and there stood Anton. Smiling arrogant Anton,Weak palsied Anton who had not been able to join the battle because he was a cripple. He felt the sneer on his face as he noticed the sword that Anton wore strapped round his middle. “ Why Anton,” He mused sneeringly “ You look as if you are prepared for battle,should you not be neath the great hall with all the other weak and crippled old men?” Anton just smiled that lazy smile. “ And were you not out with the strong able bodied ones protecting this fair city and its fairer Queen” He replied placing his head on one side and watching the counsellor “ Why be on the losing side?” he watched Antons face closely,no surprise,no shock or horror. Just that lazy smile that he always wore. “ You know Garth,that I will not allow you to open that door? “ Anton said slowly. Garth laughed,a short hard laugh “ You a cripple! Seek to stop me the best swordsman in the counsell?” he spat jeeringly. Anton continued his lazy smile. “ You know Garth the thing about having been born with one leg shorter than the other is that you adapt your body to the disadvantages and turn them to your advantage,I was not left in the city because I could not fight,but because I could” And the smile widened as his hand closed round the hilt of the sword.</p> <p>All around him he saw only the Mists of darkness,he cared not it had been this way for many years now. He saw the battle not with his eyes but with his mind as he stood concentrating on keeping the Dragons and Wolves and Soldiers under his Will. Of late there had been something niggling in his mind,something he feared he had forgot,not accounted for.But,he would let nothing stop his endeavour to reach the Eggs. Even if he could not prevent the new Queen from being born she would be born into his power,his to command and he would make her dark like him,as he had been made so long ago. There was a humming in the air around him,like something was trying to break his concentration,but he was stronger than that and they could not reach him. Even those little flashes he had been getting of a life that he didn`t remember ever having could not stop him. Now the Wolves would go and wreak havoc and when all was done he would have his victory,and she would have hers.</p> <p>They had been fighting for awhile and Zargrith knew the soldiers would be getting weary. The battle in the skies was being won to their advantage though and hopefully the Dragons would soon be free to come to the aid of the ground forces. He looked across the plains in a brief respite and saw the chilling sight of the Wolves once again speeding across the plain towards them. And behind them though still distant another wave of soldiers. They would be outnumbered and with the Wolves too he could see no way of winning this battle. He looked acrosss at Myriad. In this moment she looked as he remembered her years ago,hair flowing, face glowing from the battle, eyes flashing. He wanted to tell her to turn and ride back to Duranbro and stay within the city walls untill Paidrech and Keelagh arrived with what he hoped would be reinforcements. But he knew she would not.He only hoped that if the worst were to happen that he would be struck down first because he would not be able to bear seeing her taken from him this way. He felt a movement by him and realised he was surrounded by three Damn he had let his concentration waver and as he glanced back he saw Myriad was trapped too with one coming up behind..</p> <p>The Swords clashed and clattered and the sound echoed through the hallway. Anton was good but not fast enough and he had managed to wound him slightly. He feigned now and went for the crippled leg,if you couldn`t win fairly then cheat was his motto. He hit the leg hard with the butt of his dagger and Anton began to go down,his bad leg giving way before the assault. Garth raised his sword high for the killing blow. A chilling howl reverberated through the corridors sending ice cold shivers down his spine and making him hesitate just long enough for Anton to swing his sword up and into his midriff,hot pain shot through him and he staggered forward but as he did he dealt Anton a viscious blow to the head with the hilt of his sword. He fell silently and did not move. Garth fell against the wall a red mist now in front of his eyes. The door he had to reach the door. And he staggered forward to the door and pulled it open. Staggering through he found the steps down to the passage way that led to the walls of the city and there would be troops waiting to enter the city.</p> <p>The Darkness swirled and eddied around him he was serene and the Wolves were going forward now to do their job and he could see that the Queen and her Prince were about to be despatched and that would take the heart from the Duranbro soldiers. Then a long Chilling Howl swept across the plains and just for a moment the Darkness dissapeared and was filled instead with Golden light. He shook his head and concentrated once more on the Wolves and the soldiers and the Dragons,no he had lost the Dragons. It mattered not they were being defeated anyway. The Wolves were becoming harder to hold.</p> <p>He opened his mouth to call to her to be careful watch out when the Howl went out across the plain and the soldiers stopped,suddenly looking confused and bewildered,he didn`t hesitate and cut all three down he turned to see that Myriad too had taken advantage of the strange behaviour and now they galloped towards each other waiting for the Wolves to come,but then a second Howl went out and the Wolves turned towards the far hill. He looked and there stood in splendour against the sky was the biggest white Wolf that he had ever seen. He hoped fervently that the Wolf was not an enemy. As he watched the huge creature shot down the hill howling again. The Black Wolves ran towards him and as he passed through them turned and followed. His heart was in his mouth untill he saw the Wolf lead them away from them and across to where the new wave of soldiers were now galloping towards them. He saw too the small but very welcome band of soldiers following the Wolf. And he knew that Paidrech had come at last.</p> <p>The second Howl split his darkness into splinters and made his ears hurt. No stop it he wanted to shout but could not,he struggled with the will of the Wolves. There could be nothing stronger than he.He commanded,he would have to let go of the soldiers for a moment to win back the Wolves and as he did the third howl went out and the link was gone. His Darkness was fracturing around him,he was losing the soldiers,no he had to keep them,Where am I? The soldiers he still had them,he could still do this, Who am I? no go away!! He lifted his hands to his head and grasped it tight to make himself concentrate. And then another light began to force its way past his closed eyelids,forcing him to open them. And his last tenuous link with the battle dissapeared.</p> <p>They had found the turn off and left the horses there in a place where they would be safe but also so they could escape if need be. They headed now towards the golden light at the end of the long tunnel they were in. They could hear nothing untill they had almost reached the entrance to the giant cavern,and then they could hear the sound of voices from within. Paidrech signalled her to move close against the wall and so it was they sneaked into the cavern rather than walked in and so were undetected by the ones in there. The sight they saw at first pleased and then chilled Keelagh and for a moment left her bewildered, Bryntich and Argarth both were there,and she wanted to call him so pleased was she to see him but when she heard the words that Argarth spoke her pleasure turned to dismay. Surely Bryn and he could not be the traitors, Her precious Bryn could not be the one that would be responsible for the downfall of Duranbro.She listened closer. And as they spoke she understood. In the middle of the lake was a burning ship,dead men lay strewn around the cavern as rag dolls tossed by an angry child.Goltech was on the other side her mighty head raised and looking in disdain first at one Dragon and then at the other.<br> “ You are both fools” she said to them in a cold angry voice. “ You cannot defeat me either singurlarly or together”<br> “ We will not allow you to do this Goltech” Argarth spoke calmly but with great strength in his voice. She gave him a cold look and turned to Bryntich “ Why do you follow this one to your doom?” she asked him hissingly. Bryntich raised his head and looked at her defiantly “ When the future of all you hold dear is in danger,you will try to amend it” he answered her “ I..AM…THE…FUTURE!!” she boomed out across the cavern . The whole mountain shook and rocks tumbled and splashed into the lake.Keelagh and Paidrech had to cover their ears and hope the rocks didn`t hit them. They looked at each other,now they understood what they had to do and without hesitating started to make their way round the cavern behind the rocks towards where Goltech stood in front of the entrance to the cavern where lay the eggs.<br> “ We will not allow you to do this” Argarth told her<br> “ YOU, will not allow, WHO are YOU that thinks they can stop ME ? This is MY world “ Argarth realised in that moment that the Queen had truly gone mad,there was no Dragon code left inside her mind only her power,her might and what she percieved as hers the rule of all Dragons and creatures of the World. “ Then we shall do what we must Goltech for we will not allow you to harm the Humans” Argarth said coldly. Goltech narrowed her eyes and looked from one to the other,as she did she caught a movement from the corner of her eye and turned her head towards it. Keelagh and Paidrech had made their way round and they had just the space between the last rock and the entrance to cross but it was open and as they tried to sneak along the wall the Great Dragon had caught their movements. Before the Great Dragon could release the fire that would reduce them to ashes Argarth released his at her. She turned and in one movement jumped up with such speed that the two Humans were left gaping after her. Up towards the roof of the cavern,but she did not stop, she broke through the rock and continued to climb straight up through the mountain, rocks tumbling and crashing in to the cavern below, Argarth and Bryntich without hesitation followed her. Paidrech pulled Keelagh into the mouth of the tunnel leading to the eggs just before a huge rock fell in the place she was standing. Rocks hit the burned out boat and sank it in the middle of the lake and they saw what looked like shells belonging to what had been Dragon eggs,Keelagh began to wonder if they were not already too late. As they watched the burning boat sink they saw the prow of another boat coming through the entrance to the tunnel that the lake flowed through,they came back out into the cavern and watched the boat emerge. As it came forward slowly,the few men left on the oars rowing tiredly she saw Kaliq stood with sword in hand. She noted the eggs on the boat and how there seemed to be many more than the boat could hold. Kaliq was dirty and bruised and bleeding but he was alive though he looked weary. He saw Keelagh and he waved his sword leaping over the side of the boat and swimming towards her till he got to the shallow water where he stood and despite his obvious weariness,he smiled “ We got some of them through Keelagh,though we lost many men and some eggs “<br> “ Its not over yet Kaliq” she said quietly. She turned and looked towards Paidrech,he was looking up at what used to be the roof of the cavern and was now a great hole through which you could see the sky. “Paidrech we must go to the eggs” she said and he looked back at her. “ Yes lets go” and he turned and set off up the tunnel. Keelagh and Kaliq followed him and before they got to the turning into the cavern they heard the sound of swords clashing. They quickened their pace now and emerged into the large cavern where the eggs lay ready for the Hatching. There were soldiers she hadn`t seen before stood in front of the eggs fighting with soldiers the kind she had seen on the battle field “ They are Zargriths men” Paidrech said as he ran forward with his sword raised to join in the frey. Keelagh and Kaliq joined him and soon they had the soldiers backing down the tunnel. The soldiers seemed to be losing their will to fight backing off quite easily. And as they forced them down the tunnel she saw why. There coming round the lake towards them were what seemed to be at least a hundred of the beasts from beyond the mountain. They had no place to go but back to the chamber where effectively they would be trapped.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/28/the_warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter~919477/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-26:/2006/06/26/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_fou~914098/lyndlj2006-06-26T22:24:59+02:002006-06-26T22:28:34+02:00 <p>Part six..The Battle for Duranbro<br> Chapter four...Each to his own.<br> Part one</p> <p>The time had come and Argarth and Bryntich had met on the top of the mountain where thay had held all their meetings so far.<br> “ You are ready for what we must do” Argarth asked him<br> “I am ready Argarth”<br> “ You must be a hundred per cent sure that you are doing the right thing Bryn,she will feed on any uncertainty you have and turn your mind”<br> “ I am not uncertain about what we have to do only about the outcome” Bryntich sighed and looked out from the mountain top over the land.<br> “ We cannot think of failure Bryn,for failure would be the end of all we know and all we are “ Argarth answered him softly.<br> “ I shall not think of it then, I shall instead believe that we shall win and that even if in doing so we perish,so be it. I do have one question though Argarth “<br> “ Then ask it quickly young one for time is pressing”<br> “ Why was finding Paidrech so important? I have seen nothing more special about him than his leadership,and apart from the fact that it is possibe that Keelagh is smitten with him and he her I see nothing that makes him the Warrior Moreso than Zargrith”<br> “ Paidrech is the Warrior Bryn,but in what way I cannot say just that it was written and it will be. She has gone to great lengths to stop Keelagh from finding him. We shall know soon enough his role in what is to come”<br> “ Then I am ready Argarth shall we begin”<br> “ Yes tis time come,maybe we still have surprise on our side”<br> The Two Dragons took off from the top of the mountain and wheeled back towards Duranbro and the task they had to perform.</p> <p>As they reached the top of the last hill before Duranbro they could see the battle below them on the plains, Keelagh could see no sign of the Dark Wizard. Bailin assured her he was there,out of the way directing his troops. She turned to Paidrech he had been quiet most of the journey and now he looked not towards Duranbro but to the mountain that was to the right of the city. She looked where he looked but could see nothing. As they degan the descent that would take them to the heart of the battle Wraith stopped.She called to him but he took no notice instead he began to move away back towards the top of the hill but further to the left,beyond stood a small forest and she looked at this and then back at Wraith. She wouldn`t blame him if he went now with all he had been through. But that was not Wraiths intention. He stood at the top of the hill and looked down towards the battle. Keelagh turned back to look and what she saw chilled her to the bone. A huge pack of black Wolves were running across the plains towards the Duranbro soldiers. They looked fierce and she knew they would bring down the horses and attack the men on the ground. With the soldiers already pressed it seemed with the ones they were fighting the Wolves would be maybe one thing too many for them to fight and would surely turn the battle in the favour of the Dark One. Suddenly an ear splitting howl went up,long and undulating and carried out across the plains with such clarity that all down there man and beast alike turned towards the sound. The black wolves stopped and turned towards the hill.Keelaghs heart almost stopped beating as the thought flashed across her mind that surely Wraith was not the traitor,surely he that had laid down his life for her could not now be the cause of taking it,for she knew if that pack attacked them they would be sore pressed to fight them off and would certainly not be able to join the battle. The Wolves turned back,the call from the dark one bringing them back to do what they were sent to do. Wraith let out another long howl,that sent shivers down her spine. The Wolves this time turned and headed towards the hill. Stopping and milling about and then starting again. Confused as to which call to answer Wraiths or the Dark ones. Suddenly Wraith shot down the hill howling again.The Wolves didn`t hesitate any longer,they ran towards him and as he passed through the middle of them they turned and followed him. He headed not towards the battle but out across the plain towards where the Dark one must surely be.As he did another wave of soldiers were heading towrds the battle and Duranbro were surely outnumbered. It was towards these that the pack headed. And it was towards these that the men that were with Paidrech now set off at a gallop to intercept.Paidrech grabbed the riens of the her horse and stopped her. “ We cannot join the battle Keelagh” he said She looked at him dumbfounded,” let go of Spirit Paidrech” she shot at him not believing that he could be the one of whom she had been warned “ “ Listen to him Keelagh” came a voice at the side of her,she turned and there was magryth. “ The battle is now thiers and the Dark Wizard is Bailin and Wraiths “ he said nodding his head towards the plains “ You and Paidrech have something more important to do I shall guide you there and then I must join your friends that fight”<br> Keelagh didn`t argue with the Unicorn,knowing that whatever he had in mind must be important to prevent her from joining the battle. She watched the others gallop across the plain. And she watched as Wraith led the black Wolves in a flanked attack against the newly emerging enemy troops. The Wolves had split into three groups,one to the left ,one to the right,and one that headed straight for the charging horses. She turned away not wanting to see Wraith get hurt. Paidrech had released the reins of the horse and had turned and was following Magryth,she turned and followed too. Down the hill and across the plain towards Duranbro but some distance from the city towards the mountain that Paidrech had been looking at beyond the walls. When they reached the mountain she saw that it was in actual fact too steep to climb from this side and was covered from half way up with shale of the kind usually found on higher mountains. Magryth stopped where the vines and brushes seemed thickest towards the bottom of the hill. And as he touched the vines hanging down they parted revealing an entrance into a large cave.<br> “ This is your battle Keelagh “ he said moving aside for her to stand near the entrance,she looked at him puzzled at first. Then she understood “ The Dragon eggs “ She murmoured almost too quietly to be heard. “ You have to protect them,and prevent them from being harmed. That is what you and Paidrech are here to do”<br> The Unicorn looked to Paidrech “ But I have the feeling Paidrech has something else in mind too” Paidrech smiled “ It may not be needed Magryth who knows we shall see” he said mysteriously. Keelagh turned and looked inside the cavern “ Is there room for the horses or do we leave them here?” she asked. “ There will be room,but about half way down there is a turn off leave them there so they may stay safe” Magryth answered her “ And now Keelagh I fear I am needed on the battlefield “<br> “ I hope that we will see each other again Magryth “ she said to the Unicorn putting her arms round his long neck and laying her cheek against his. “ We will Keelagh this world or the next,we will” she released him and he turned and galloped away towards the sound of the nearby battle. She watched him go and couldn`t help wondering how many would be left at the end of this. “Tis time Keelagh” Paidrech said softly beside her. She turned and followed him through the opening into the Cavern and whatever awaited them there.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/26/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_fou~914098/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-25:/2006/06/25/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_thr~909876/lyndlj2006-06-25T13:09:39+02:002006-06-25T13:16:45+02:00 <p>Part Six....The battle for Duranbro<br> Chapter three...The Battle begins</p> <p>Getting over the mountain had not been easy and had taken longer than they thought it would. Keelagh had known that it would be a rough climb,especially for the horses even though there was a clear mountain path. It was very steep and in some places very precarious. Thankfully they hadn`t lost anyone though there had been a near miss halfway up when one of the horses had stumbled. Both horse and rider were safe though thanks to quick thinking and comradeship. Spirit had been surefooted and had led the way,his black mane flowing in the strong winds that beleagured them as they climbed higher. The brave Eagle Eli had been waiting for them and had made lazy circles in the sky as he waited for them to begin their climb. The descent had been just as tricky but here they were safe and sound on the other side and ready for the last leg of the journey towards Duranbro. Magryth and Bryntich had been waiting on the other side and Wraith had travelled at her side more sure footed than any horse the magnificent creature had travelled the mountain without any problems. Now he stood once again by her side. Since the battle in the forest he had never been more than a short distance from her always in sight and at night he lay beside her. They had told her how he had fought to protect her and how he would not leave her side despite being badly injured. She had grown to love the creature dearly and dreaded the day that he would once again want to be back off to the wild and his own kind.<br> Bryntich had watched the growing bond between Keelagh and the Wolf and he was pleased that this had happened he felt easier now at having to leave her to go with Argarth . He wanted to be at her side in the battle but knew that she had both Magryth and Wraith to protect her,and by the looks of things Paidrech too would be her champion if needs be. He would have to tell her soon of what he and Argarth planned to do he would have to tell her also that it was possible that he would not come back and that was the thing that weighed on him the most that he might never see her again,that their adventures might end here with this fight.</p> <p>Argarth watched the soldiers of the advancing Army he had noted what they had, Dragon troops though not so many as theirs and all Red and green ones. They had other flying things though, smaller,winged beasts with long pointed faces and fangs. These he was not happy about though they wouldn`t bother the Dragon troops and would be easy to dispose of as they had no armour of scales as the Dragons had,they were dangerous. He had seen such things before and had noted then that they flew mainly in the dark,now they flew in the light more of the black ones magic no doubt. He would have to make sure he had his troops dispatch as many of these as they could before they could attack the Humans. The most worrying thing was what looked like a huge pack of black Wolves. They seemed to surround the army walking behind,in front and to the sides of the soldiers,they could do much damage for it was known how ferocious Wolves were when protecting their leader. He thought now he saw a pattern emerging. The only way to fight the Wolves and prevent them from attacking the Army would be with fire,the only way to dispatch the flying beats would be with the Dragon troops. If the Troops were fighting both these things it would be less of them to fight the Enemy Dragon troops. He would have to ensure that this did not happen but he didn`t have much time. Wheeling away from his vantage point,safe in the knowledge that not even the Dark Wizard could detect him he flew back to Duranbro to put his plan into action.</p> <p>Keelagh sat on the Stone and looked at Bryntich there were tears in her eyes as she took in all he had told her. She couldn`t believe that she would be without him at her side but she understood what he had to do and why. He had taken her away from the others so they could talk he had told her that though Magryth knew noone else did or could know not yet. Once the fighting started it wouldn`t matter for by then their own battle would have begun. “ How long have you known? “ she asked him more for something to say than because she really wanted to know,it made no difference really to the outcome of the battle. “ We had suspicions for some time but we wanted to be wrong,Argarth is the one that discovered the truth,the one that pieced it together “ he sighed and her heart went out to him he looked so sad. “ There is no chance you …He .. could be wrong? “<br> “ No Keelagh,he is not wrong I too have seen for myself the evidence and it has been so hard,keeping this between us. There was no choice of course, everything would have been lost had we spoken before”<br> “ I don’t want to lose you Bryntich” she whispered trying hard to be the strong brave warrior that she was supposed to be<br> “ I shall be forever there Keelagh,no matter what happens, Always I will be with you trying in my inept way to guide you. You have to be strong now,and you have Magryth to protect you and Wraith. And Spirit to ride into battle. I wish it could be different Keelagh but Argarth and I are the only ones that can do this “<br> “ Yes I understand Bryn,but that doesn`t mean I have to like it “<br> “ No Keely it doesn`t” he answered softly.<br> Paidrech watched Keelagh talking to the Dragon he knew that something was going on,but he could only read one side of the conversation and that was her side. He had developed many years ago the skill of being to read what people were saying by their lip movements,unfortunately he hadn`t been able to adapt this to Dragons. So Bryntich was leaving them to fight some battle of his own,this perturbed him what could possibly be more important than the battle to come? He looked around to see if he could find the Unicorn maybe he could find out from him what it was that was more important than the battle with the Dark Wizards forces. Magryth was grazing some way from the rest of them,it still caught Paidrech by surprise when he saw him behaving like a mortal horse,but he supposed that even Unicorns magical as they were had to eat. He crossed to the Unicorn and began to question him about what was going on with the Dragons.</p> <p>The day dawned cold and bright,when the sun had first risen there had been a mist and Myriad was afraid it meant the Dragons would be grounded but it had cleared and the advancing enemy were clearly seen across the pastures. They were here outside the gates of the great city sitting astride their magnificent horses waiting for the battle to commence not knowing what would be thrown at them first. A lone rider came galloping across the plain his white flag fluttering in the breeze. Myriad and Zargrith rode forward to meet him. They could not see his face as he drew level with them,his visor was built so they could see nothing but the blackness of the visor that protected his face. He handed them a scroll and Myriad opened it and read the words<br> ‘ <strong>Surrender now before blood is shed and your lives may be spared</strong>‘ she smiled a cold smile,and looked at the Rider “ Tell your leader the answer is No,if he wants Duranbro then he will have to fight for it “ The Rider bowed his head to her and turned and rode back. He had not got half way across before the wolves began to run forward. The Dark Wizard had known that there would be no surrender. Myriad and Zargrith gave a signal and and two Huge Dragons flew down and breathed fire across the land in front of them igniting the oil in the ditch that they had dug that night,Argarth had wasted no time in preparing the defences against the Wolves. A huge canopy of Flame sprung up the length of the city walls with the Army safe behind it and the Wolves stopped,they milled about for a few moments unsure what they were to do and then turned and ran back to the Dark Wizards call. The flames were but a respite they would only last as long as the oil burned but it was a good start as the Wolves would be unsure that it would not happen again. Suddenly the air was filled with flying creatures that flew high over the flames and then went to swoop down on the troops. Again Argarth had been well prepared and Arrows flew from the city walls as Dragons swooped in to dispose of this wave of the enemy. The Dragons came then sensing an easy vistory as the Duranbro Dragons were busy with the beasts,but As soon as they cleared the flames they were met with more from the City and the battle of the skies began. The flames began to die down and as they did the horsemen galloped across the plain. The army of Duranbro went to meet them.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=646336"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/336/646336_395e68493c_m.jpg" align="" alt="dragons9" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/25/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_thr~909876/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-18:/2006/06/18/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_two~890953/lyndlj2006-06-18T13:31:51+02:002006-06-18T13:31:51+02:00 <p>Part six…The Battle for Duranbro<br> Chapter two….All is gathering</p> <p>They were stood at the base of the Mountain,their last obstacle before they reached the plains of Duranbro. The last few days had been a whirl of activity and she hadn`t as of yet taken in everything that had happened,or the news that she was in fact of royal birth. A fact that Bryn had verified when she had told him what Paidrech had said. At first she was hurt that the one she had entrusted her life to since she was small could keep something of such importance from her. Then when he had painstakingly explained that by doing that he had been protecting her as he had been sworn to do,and that also he was protecting her birth mother and those closest to her,she forgave him. Magryth it turned out was also party to all this knowledge but it was because as he put it,he knew all things even when he didn`t know he knew them.She had laughed at that” How can you not know that you know something? “ she had asked him. “ If I don’t need the knowledge then it is hidden away,my dear Keelagh,can you imagine how hard it would be to concentrate on the mere facts of life and survival if you had all that going on in your head at the same time? “ Yes she could imagine,even the new knowledge she had gained made her head whirl. She had spent hours with Paidrech questioning him about The Prince and she had noticed that Yailith spent long hours with Bailin they were discussing animatedly Magical things and Bailin would purse his lips and nod his head and then it would be the other way round. She never questioned them they would tell when they were ready what it was that they discussed with such animation. She had met many strange and wonderful people over the few days that they were at Paidrechs camp as the call to arms that had gone out from him and The Prince was answered.Tall thin pale men with pointed ears and white Gold hair,Elves, Paidrech had told her. Thickset Dark haired men from across the Water,and many different types of people from all over the Land.All came to go to the battle for Duranbro. The eve before they were to leave camp she asked him if he thought that they would get there on time,they knew that Brachnech had fallen and that the Dark Enemy marched on Duranbro. It had taken weeks to get to here and it would take as many if not more due to the size of the Army to get back again. Surely they would be too late! Paidrech had merely smiled and told her not to worry they would reach Duranbro in time to be of some assistance. Paidrech worried her,there were times over the past few days when they were talking and she had looked into his eyes and she had a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach and had held her breath,a few seconds,no more. Each time she had passed it off to girlish foolishness. Imagination. There was a battle to be fought and perhaps what she saw in his eyes was the thought of the battle to come. She glanced now over to where he stood with Bailin and Yailith discussing the Mountain pass. He looked at the same moment that she did and she looked away again quickly and went over to Bryntich and Magryth who also were discussing the Mountain. She was still in awe at the way that they had arrived here at the foot of the mountain where their adventures had begun. They had not had to recross the lake,or ride for many long and tedious hours. They had merely been told to close their eyes and a flash and thunderous noise,a feeling of sickness like when she first went on a boat and here they were.And others kept appearing,quite a lot of them. Bailin had explained that they had to make it this side of the mountan because the Dark Wizard would know of their arrival if they went to the other side. The mountain cloaked them and the Magic that had been used to get them here. A Magic that had been spun by the Ladies of the Forest.Women in sky blue with long flowing hair and covered in Star dust,twinkling and shining as they moved. They were the Sisters of the Forest and though they could not come with them they had given her Stardust in a little pouch,they had said she would know when to use it. She had spent hours with these Sisters,they had known of her natural affinity with animals and blessed her for her love of nature. This they said would help her in the years to come as Animals and nature would always be on her side. They had fascinated her these magical women,their voices musical and lilting and she hoped that one day she would see them again. They had weaved their magic with star dust,dancing round them in a circle and then telling them to close their eyes. And now just the Mountain to cross and she would be home again.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=628809"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/809/628809_0c72e2d5de_s.jpg" align="" alt="image004" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>They had come through the way of the three rivers,but not without losses. Kaliq had not chosen wrong. It seemed it would not have mattered which way he chose something was determined to stop him from getting to the Golden cavern and it was only with Truliths help and those that she had brought with her that they had got this far. He had grown used to the Tiny creature standing on his shoulder and talking into his ear,and he had learned that he didn`t have to whisper so as not to be too loud or booming,just to talk softly. When the Dragon from the depths had appeared rocking the boats and trying to tip out men and eggs she had told him not to be afraid. Two more men they had lost over the side and the rest were tired and weary and scared. But they listened to Kaliq and kept rowing despite the rocking of the boats. Then the Dragon had appeared lifting its head and long neck up and out of the water. The men were terrified but Trulith whispered in his ear for him to blow through the shell he had been given. He had picked up the conical shell that his Tiny companion had travelled in when first they met and placing the narrow end to his lips had blown for all he was worth. A very high pitched sound that was almost too high for he and his men to hear,echoed around the vast caverns and the Dragon turned its head this way and that. And then he saw that the Dragon was Blind. Suddenly there had been little creatures the same as Trulith flitting round the Dragons head ,and his head turned this way and that trying to catch them or rid himself of them Kaliq didn`t know which. Trulith told him to tell the men to row and row they did,for all they were worth. They heard the Dragon splashing behind them as it tried in vain to rid itself of the tiny creatures,then all went quiet. The Dragon had gone back to its lair and would now leave them alone,she had told him. And what of her friends? he had asked her. They were around but would not enter the Golden Cavern and neither would she,this part he had to do alone. And with that she had given him a tiny kiss on his cheek and was gone. Kaliq was more nervous of this than of anything they had faced so far. They had no knowledge of what might be waiting for them. No knowledge of what was happenning in Duranbro and the thought that the city might have fallen while they had been gone weighed heavy on his heart. They only had two more bends in the river and they would know the fates of their families and of themselves.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=628864"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/864/628864_5722d26334_s.jpg" align="" alt="dragons8" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The soldiers were ready.The Dragon platoons waited for their orders to take flight. Argarth had made sure that the loyal ones were the ones to go out to battle. Which to his delight had been them all. He had a long talk with them and explained exactly what would happen should the new Queen not be born or be born into a world ruled by the Dark one. They were ready for the fight to come and now that Barban was back amongst them to lead them while he and Bryntich were commited to the ultimate challenge,which he was not sure if they would survive,he felt that the Dragon platoons would do all they could to protect Duranbro and its people from the Dark one that marched across the plains to engage them in battle.</p> <p>They stood on the balcony that led out from the great hall. They would not be riding their Dragons in the battle to come and as much as Zargrith had asked her to stay in the city he knew that she would not. Myriad and he had now been told of the secret that Argarth had been keeping this long while. She knew that her beloved Dragon might not come back from this epic fight and she felt a deep pain that she could not lift. She knew also that there was no way she could not let him go,nothing she could say or do that would stop him from doing what he saw as his duty. It pained and frightened her too that Bryntich would be part of this. Leaving Keelagh without her beloved Dragon and the protection he could give her,though Argarth had assured her that right now she was protected by one that would give his life for her. She turned and looked out over her beloved City to the plains beyond,she could plainly see now the Dark forces heading towards them. It was almost time for the battle to commence.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/18/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_two~890953/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-11:/2006/06/11/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_one~871338/lyndlj2006-06-11T23:26:14+02:002006-06-11T23:39:11+02:00 <p>Warrior of Duranbro Part six..The battle for Duranbro<br> Chapter one....What once was lost.</p> <p>The first part of the battle seemed to be over for now. Myriad looked out over the city and took stock of the damage that had been inflicted. It wasn`t as great as she had feared the first wave of Dragons had hoped to take them by surprise but it had not been so. Thanks to Argarth they had been prepared for the attack,he had foreseen how they would begin and he had moved the Dragon troops to a position where they could not be attacked whilst they were taking off,which had obviously been the intention of the attacking Dragons. He had told them how to inflict the greatest harm on the Dragons as they came in and they had built great sling shots to fire giant arrows at the Dragons when they were most exposed. He had disliked exposing the weak spots of his bretheren but right now they were the enemy and his job was to protect his Queen and those of his race that had stayed loyal to him and the people they lived and worked amongst. The first wave of attacking Dragons had all been Red and Green ones and they were no match for Argarth and several more of the same Kind of Dragons,plus the normal Dragon troops. Though Argarth hadn`t shown their full strength he didn`t want the enemy knowing exactly how strong the Dragon troop was,he wanted to know what they had got before he showed their full strength. She knew that they were going to have to go out and face them on the plains,there would be no seige as there was at Brachnech but she had presumed that would be the case it was too near hatching time.The actual bulk of the Enemy Army was at the other side of the plains still marching towards them. The Dragon strike had been just a foretaste,something to keep them busy while the Army reached them. And she knew that no matter how she looked at it she didn`t have enough soldiers to fight the Army advancing towards them. She would have to leave some fighting men in the City and though the people would take up arms and try to protect their city what was coming towards them would take more than swords,axes and arrows to defeat.</p> <p>He stood far below her,he had made the decision that he would show himself once he had his men placed in position,the rest of the men would go with him,out there onto the plains to fight by her side where they were needed.He had sent the message to Argarth that he would wait no longer,the return message was positive as he had hoped. The time for worrying about the traitor was past and now as he waited for the last of his men to gather he smiled at last the waiting was over.</p> <p>Myriad had taken chambers higher at the top of the Great Hall so that she could be near Argarth at all times when not out there fighting and planning. The whole of the wall moved to allow the Dragon access to her,these had been her Fathers chambers when Argarth had been his. And were accessed directly from her chambers up the winding stairs. They opened out directly on to the roof and she wondered why she had not used them before,for they were large and airy and the sky seemed just a touch away. She heard the commotion from the stairwell and drew her sword “ Tis nothing to fear” the soft voice of Argarth came floating through the windows. She pulled the lever that opened the wall and he lay there looking at her smiling in that way he had. The door flew open behind her and in rushed Klenyth. His face was pale and he was gasping for breath after his very hurried climb up the steps to the chamber. Argarth had told her it was nothing to fear but looking at Klenyths face she wasn`t so sure,she looked back at him. He still lay there smiling,not worried. “ Klenyth did you now know it is bad manners to burst into a ladies chambers” She scolded the counsellor “ Myriad.. my ..Queen..” he gasped “ What is it for goodness sake,are we being overrun by the hoardes already?” she asked him irked at his inability to answer her through his shortness of breath.<br> “ If we are tis hoped that I shall be stood at your side to keep them from you “ A voice said from the doorway . She froze. Not believing what her ears had heard,she didn`t even dare look,in case it was just that foolish fancy again. The one that had been plaguing her for weeks. Slowly she looked across at the doorway and he was stood there. The man she had not seen for six long years. She whispered his name “Zargrith” and he was striding across the room and gathering her up to him. She touched his face and his eyes and his mouth not believing he was here that he was real even though she could feel the strength of his arms around her. Klenyth had finally found his breath “ Welcome home Sire “ he said grinning<br> “ We should let the people know Klenyth that the Prince has returned “ said Argarth to the counsellor “ This may just bring them more heart for the battle ahead “ “ I shall do it at once Argarth “ he answered and hurried out of the chamber. “ And I shall leave you two to talk I am sure that you will have much to say to each other” Argarth said quietly closing the opening to the Chamber.</p> <p>By the time they came out into the meeting chamber of the Great hall to show the people that he had indeed returned home he had told her the tale of the past six years. She knew of the day he had dissapeared that he had gone hunting but instead of riding his Dragon Barban he had chosen to ride a horse,the hunting trip had been planned for weeks and many knew of it. When the horse had been found riderless with blood on the saddle they had hunted for him. Long nights and days they had spent searching for signs,all that had been found had been his cloak part way down a ravine. Of the three that went with him only one had been found, dead. And it had been presumed that his body and the bodies of the others had gone down the ravine even though they couldn`t be found. They kept hoping of course but then it was discovered that Barban had dissapeared,often if a Dragon feels responsible for the death of his Rider he will hide himself away and mourn.Often for years. And when a Dragon hides noone finds it untill it is ready to be found.<br> “ But if you are alive where then is Barban?” she asked him before he began his tale.<br> “ He is near,always near as he has been since that day,had it not been for him I would surely have died out there “ And so he told her of the past six years.<br> They had ridden out as had been the plan and all seemed to be going well,maybe their guard was down,so relaxed were they. But it was a time of peace and they saw no need to be looking over their shoulders. The party had been attacked he knew not how many but having been taken by surprise and a trap laid for them ( So it appeared when he looked back on it) he didn`t have time for counting just fighting. He had been wounded and they were pushing them back to the Ravine,only he knew they hadn`t been expecting such a ferocious fight and they looked as though they were backing down,when one of his companions had lost his footing and gone over the edge of the ravine grabbing at his cloak as he went,he felt himself pulled over and lost his grip on his sword. But he never hit the bottom, he had been injured on the way down he presumed,he couldn`t remember,in fact for a very long time he couldn`t even remember who he was or what he was or where he came from. Barban had apparently caught him before he hit the bottom,but not before he had many times hit the sides as he went down. He had taken him to the place where he was healed of his injuries and where he stayed for what seemed a long time. Barban was always there never far away from him,though the villagers didn`t like it you didn`t argue with a Dragon that size. For a little while he had lived in the village, a couple of years,but always there was that something in the back of his mind that he belonged somewhere. And so he had set out to find where it was. Barban could have told him,but to have come back with no memory of his life would have been crueller than to be thought dead and besides as Barban knew someone wanted him dead and out of the way,they didn`t know who and to come back that way would have been to leave himself open to another attempt and perhaps a successful one. And so he had wandered trying to find himself,his home. He lent himself to villages who had troubles and fought for them.Then he had heard of a Warrior who did the same with his little Army and he and Barban had searched for them and joined them about two years since. They had fought beside each other in many little skirmishes,it seems there was always someone wanting to take someones land. And they travelled across the sea and fought in battles over there. It was the Wizard who had travelled with them and who was the Warriors constant companion that had finally given him back his memory. He had noticed the dreams he had been having and questioned him closely about them. One night he told him he would help him to find his lost home and he had him watch a burning ember while he spoke to him. He knew not what happened,it was like he fell asleep and when he awoke he remembered all that went before the attack. The Warrior was named Paidrech and he told Paidrech that he had to come home. Paidrech agreed that he must especially as by now they had learned of the siege at Brachnech. The Wizard told him that there was one who had been sent on a quest to find Paidrech and he told them her name. He was astounded to hear her name but he knew why Myriad had sent her and so he told Paidrech the truth about her and asked him to watch for her. They arranged that Paidrech would follow and he gave him his ring so that he might pass safely where it was needed and also to show Keelagh when they met. Paidrech was gathering more for the fight but Zargrith didn`t know if it would be enough seeing the Army out there marching towards them. Barban had brought him and some of Paidrechs men,that were now his men,over the mountains and to Duranbro where they met with Argarth. “ Argarth knew you were alive?” she asked him shocked that her faithful companion would keep this from her. “ Yes my dear,but he couldn`t tell you for fear of what would happen to you and to me”<br> “ Yes you are right,always he has my welfare at heart” she agreed feeling a little better about it.<br> As they stepped out into the Meeting place in the Great hall hand in hand to cheers and tears at the return of the Prince there was one who maybe didn`t cheer as loud as the others and who suddenly saw all his hard work and cunning plans teetering on the brink of the abyss of failure. He seethed inside at this turn of events. Then he calmed himself,after all there was a battle to be fought yet who knows what would happen out there in the midst of all that fighting.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/11/warrior_of_duranbro_part_six_chapter_one~871338/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-09:/2006/06/09/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_fo~866569/lyndlj2006-06-09T21:07:50+02:002006-06-09T21:07:50+02:00 <p>Part five....Wrriors and Wizards<br> Chapter Four...Revelations</p> <p>She lay on a carpet of green though the leaves and flowers were trampled,this was different to his dream. And though her skin was pale and she appearred to be gone he could detect the slightest breath escaping from the pale lips. The battle was over the strangers had chased off the enemy and were now gathered with the little party around the one they had followed.The tall stranger knelt beside Keelagh,his hand in front of her mouth,trying to feel the breaths that Yailith was sure he had seen. It was not he that Yailith was watching but the other one stood quietly talking with Magryth. Yailith wanted to shout at them,at Magryth,to do his magic,but he was too afraid that if he opened his mouth and said the words from the dream then she would be gone as in the dream. The tall stranger looked up at him and then across to where Magryth stood with his companion. “ Are you two going to chat all day or are you going to do something about the pretty one? “ he asked them “ She is fading fast,she will be beyond you soon”<br> “ Patience Paidrech we will not allow her to slip away “ his companion answered him softly. He had taken out a small dagger and was gently scraping it down the horn of the Mighty Unicorn catching the little flakes in a what appeared to be small dish. “ Well I wish you would hurry I don’t fancy being roast meat “ Paidrech replied looking across to where Bryntich had just landed. The Dragon stretched his long neck forward untill he was looking Paidrech in the eye,he knew she still lived he felt it,but he also knew that she hovered between this world and the next. There were tears in his eyes he knew he should not have left her to walk through the forest alone “ We will do what we can Dragon “ Paidrech said to him . Bryntich didn`t answer him he lowered his head and laid it beside his beloved Keelagh and watched her face. Magryth and the starnger walked towards her and all moved back out of the way,Wraith was stood beside her and would not move a low whimpering coming from him. The stranger stood at her head and Magryth at her feet and as Magryth lowered his head and his Horn touched the tips of her feet the Stranger scattered the flakes he had gathered on her head and down over her face. A silver light seemed to cover her entire body but it was weak and wavery and Magryth and the stranger looked at each other,Magryth lowered his head again and the Stranger scattered more dust. The light grew a little stronger. Suddenly Chitter leaped down from Bodins shoulder where he had been sat quiet and gathered from the ground a small shell that appeared in the shape of a cup. Scampering to the Dragon he raised the cup and caught the tears that were falling from the Dragons eyes. He ran to Keelagh and tipped the Dragon tears onto her lips as though to let her drink As the liquid touched the lips they changed colour from pale and lifeless to shimmering,this travelled then up her face and down and out infusing her whole body in a Golden light so bright that those around had to look away. Wraith lay at the other side of her from Bryntich and licked her face. As he did she stirred,slowly, very slowly,the eyes fluttered open unseeing at first and then she raised her hand and touched the long snout of the Dragon. She closed her eyes again.<br> “ She is resting now Dragon and we need to be moving her to our camp “ Paidrech said to Bryntich “ There is room there for you to land and be beside her I shall show you the way”<br> “ I know already where you camp Paidrech “ Bryn replied “ I have seen it and will be waiting there,I trust you to let no more harm come to her or you will indeed be roast meat “ He finished. He looked again at Keelagh sleeping peacefully now and spread his wings a leap and he was gone up into the sky and wheeling towards the camp that Paidrech had spoken of.<br> Paidrech turned to his companion “ And the rest of the brave warriors Master Wizard how do they fare? “ His companion was shaking his head still at the little creature “ Dragon tears “ he kept muttering “ Bailin!! “ Paidrech raised his voice. The Wizard came out of his musings with a jump “ Paidrech must you keep doing that? “ he sighed<br> “ If you stayed in the land of the living I wouldn`t have to” Paidrech laughed “ What of the rest of them?”<br> “Ah well ,the young Master Gilbert,seems the wound was to the leg and this was why he had gone down so soon,but apparently managed to do some damage to the enemy from down there,got a few more cuts but the Unicorn has fixed them. The lady Leck had a couple of wounds fixed too,The Mighty Bodin doesn`t appear they could get near enough to do any real damage there. The Dwarf Kearth,suffered a head wound but by the looks of that sword and axe managed to dispatch quite a few.Yailith suffered quite a few wounds but nothing too serious and the unicorn has fixed him too. Tis the White Wolf that we are worried for,he wont leave the girls side and so will not let Magryth heal him. His wound is deep and though the blood flow seems slow it is because he is not moving when he moves it will quicken, such a brave creature he tried to protect her and the others throughout the battle.”<br> “Couldn`t you use the Dragon tears still left in the tiny cup?” Paidrech asked him “ Seems you don’t have to place it on the wound but merely on the creature”<br> “ I was hoping to save that,such potency,it may have been useful” He sighed “ Ah well he needs to be healed and the Unicorn is loathe to disturb him from the side of the girl,Though as he has been healed by the Unicorn once I shall ask Magryth what his opinion is Paidrech and let us then get back home and get the girl the rest she needs” He turned and walked to Magryth who was stood beside Wraith,the Wolf would not be moved. He had pressed himself into the side of Keelagh and was keeping her warm with the heat of his body. He talked directly into the ear of the Unicorn and when he had finished Magryth nodded his head. He walked to the Wolf but Wraith bared his teeth and would not let him near. Paidrech watched for a few minutes then walked over and took the tiny cup from Bailins hand. He spoke to Wraith in a soft voice as he neared him and then knelt at his head,talking softly all the time he held out his hand palm up. Wraith sniffed his hand hesitantly and then stuck out his tongue to give it a quick lick, as he did so Paidrech dropped the last bit of Dragon Tear onto the Wolfs tongue. Wraith gave a little yelp and withdrew his tongue and as he did the same Golden light that had bathed Keelagh now spread out and bathed Wraith,but then it seemed to jump and to brighten and suddenly both Wolf and Girl were bathed in the same Golden Glow as though they were one creature. When it was gone the Wolf looked up at him and laid his head on the hand that was still held out to him. Paidrech lifted the other hand and rubbed the fur on his head and behind his ears. “ Come Great one let us take your Lady and get her some food and drink” He said quietly and with that he rose and beckoned his men.</p> <p>She lay quiet watching the scene around her through half closed eyes. When she had woken she had not been sure if she was dead and this was some kind of weird place where you wait for the Godessess to call your name. All her friends were there those she had fought beside,and she knew she had been wounded yet could feel no wounds?. No pains,no aches nothing. In fact she felt quite fit and healthy and renewed. Then a cold wet snout had touched her arm and she saw Wraith laid beside her.The sounds began to penetrate then,the hushed tones of conversation,someone whistling a tune. Horses huffing and the sound of the fires crackling,she could see a few fires dotted around with many people sat round them or stood turning the spits that roasted the hogs. And the smell of the food made her mouth water. Did you get hungry when you were dead? She thought not and decided she must still be alive. A man that had been sat talking with her friends looked across at her and then he rose and came towrds her. She opened her eyes full realising he knew she was awake. He crouched down beside her “ ah the Princess Keelagh is awake,I am sure that you are hungry would you care to join us?” He asked with a playful smile on his face and a hand held out to help her up from the place she rested. She frowned,not sure if he was making fun of her,but she accepted the hand and though she had one moment of dizziness where he caught both arms to steady her, once that passed she felt fine. She followed him to the fire Wraith close by her side, and her companions jumped up to greet her.As she sat they all began talking at once and she laughingly had to tell them one at a time as she couldn`t understand what they said. By the end of the tale with food placed in front of her as they spoke,she learned all that had happened since the battle. The stranger had sat silent throughout and at the end he introduced himself. “ I am Paidrech Princess Keelagh “ he said and bowed over her hand. She looked at him frowning again “ Why do you call me that?” she asked him “ I am not a princess I am just a Dragon rider and sometimes warrior” He tipped his head on one side and looked at her.” You carry the Royal birthmark,Keelagh,” and he moved his hand to brush away her hair and expose the small birthmark she had had since being born “ Besides you look just like your mother and father “ he continued “ did they not tell you before sending you out on this quest? “ She was even more puzzled. “ If you mean the Queen and her husband,then how could they,he has been gone this past six years. She gave me this to give to you “ she said pulling out from inside her clothes a ring on a long chain. She knew that this was the Warrior she had been sent to find. He took it from her. “ I had already received the call Keelagh,from the Prince “ and he pulled from a small pouch a ring identical to the one she had just given him. She sat and stared at the second ring,how could this be,the Prince had been gone six long years and yet this man said he was alive. She looked back at him. “ Allow me to tell you what he told me” And he sat down beside her and told her all the Prince had told him. Before she had been born it had been decided that she would be hid after birth,as they knew that the deaths of the other babies had not been the will of the Goddessess. A traitor there had been in the high counsell and for some reason they had not wanted the bloodline to continue. She had been placed with a very trusted person,the one she had called Mother untill that mothers own death some years ago. When that happened she had been taken into the court of the Queen and looked after there by the Queens personal maid. At the point when her real father had dissapeared she had been trained as a Dragon rider because it had been what she wanted,but she had been given a speacial Dragon Bryntich. Bryntich knew who she was and was vowed to keep the secret untill the Queen said different. He himself had been told to watch for her on his journey to Duranbro as she had been sent to find him. The Queen did not know yet that he had already been called so she had sent Keelagh for two reasons,one to find him and two to keep her from harm at Duranbro as there still remained a traitor there in the high counsell.<br> Paidrech told how he had fought beside her Father some time ago and her Father had saved his life he had vowed that he would aid him if he were ever needed.<br> “ Why do they think you can save Duranbro” she asked him<br> “ That Keelagh I am not sure about unless it is he that is the one they are thinking of” and he pointed to his companion Bailin “ He is the Brother of the Dark Wizard and they have long known that there would come a time when they would clash” Keelagh looked towards the Wizard stood talking to Magryth and Bryn “ But which is the stronger? “ she asked<br> “ That Keelagh we are about to discover” He said quietly.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/09/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_fo~866569/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-07:/2006/06/08/title~861758/lyndlj2006-06-08T00:05:44+02:002006-06-08T00:07:59+02:00 <p>Part Five..Warriors and Wizards<br> Chapter three...The first battle</p> <p>They had been walking for what seemed hours through the deep green forest. The birds around them sang and only as they passed did the nearest ones fall quiet. They had been chattering quietly amongst themselves to break the tedium of the long walk,and though they tried to remain alert to their surroundings, the warmth of the sun shining down through the tops of the trees and the continuing colour of the forest dulled their senses, and so it was that they did not notice straight away that the birds had gone quiet,and an unnatural hush had descended around them. Wraith had noticed and his fur had begun to rise his pace became slower and more wary as he sniffed the air for signs of the danger he could sense. Spirit began to get nervous and his ears went up and forward. But the humans could see nothing,could hear nothing. They walked a bit longer everything still quiet around them and came to a clearing. They stopped still within the trees and watched for signs of life,there was nothing. Keelagh knew they had to cross the clearing and also that it would put them in plain sight of whatever was out there. She made the decision,standing here gained them nothing,trying to work their way round it could put more hours on their journey through the forest. She stepped out into the clearing and began to make her way across,the others followed.<br> They were half way across when the first cries descended upon them and out from the trees burst a handful of men brandishing swords and plainly not ready to talk. They were dressed in strange garments with paint on their faces so their features could not be seen plainly. They ran towards the party with blood curdling cries. The travellers formed a circle with their backs in the middle Spirit she had sent off to the trees so he would not get hurt.Wraith stood with fur raised and teeth bared she told him to go,but he wouldn`t leave her. And then she had time to say no more for the men were upon them and they had to protect themselves, swords clashing they fought. She heard a cry of pain from her left and felt rather than saw Gilbert fall,she didn`t know if he was dead or just wounded and had not time to find out as the first wave of attackers were fought off there came another. Wraith did his bit too and she heard him yelp as he too was wounded but he did not stop teeth flashing he evaded swords and ripped chunks of flesh from the seeming hordes that surrounded them. She knew they were outnumbered,she knew that they would fall but she would fight to the very end. She bit her lip on the cry of pain as the sword of the enemy found purchase in the flesh of her arm and continued to fight on. She began to lose count of the number of them she had slain,sweat stung her eyes and her arms ached from the wounds and the continous fighting. She was beginning to feel weak from loss of blood realising she had been wounded in other places than her arm. Suddenly Magryth was there his magnificent mane flashing in the sunlight hooves flying and with him Spirit kicking and trampling to get to her side. The enemy faltered and seemed to pause taken aback by the ferocious attack of the two beasts,she continued to fight her strength was ebbing, she could only just see the ones in front of her,the world seemed to be greying at the edge of her vision. And suddenly the men were running,away from them and there were more men,different men,and the sound of swords clashing from the other side of the enemy and even more men seemed to be pouring into the clearing and she didn`t know which were which or who they were and a red mist seemed to be descending over them and a great roaring noise began and the noise of the battle started to fade. And then there was nothing,no noise,no battle, just this floating sensation as though she was light as air and she opened her eyes and there below her the battle raged and the enemy were losing and she could see herself laid on the ground,her clothes were soaked with blood and she knew not how much was hers and she cared not because she liked this peace,this serenity. And the light was growing brighter. And she heard someone shouting her name,shouting over and over and she felt Wraiths tongue touch her skin as he tried to waken her and then the darkness came.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/08/title~861758/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-06:/2006/06/06/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_tw~858442/lyndlj2006-06-06T18:49:04+02:002006-06-07T08:11:39+02:00 <p>Part five..Wrriors and wizards<br> Chapter two...The Forest</p> <p>Dawn broke and the strange party stood before the mighty towering trees of the forest. Last night they had laughed and Gilbert had sang,he had a mighty fine voice when he left the tomfoolery and let it be natural. They had told tales of the adventures that had brought each here to this place,and it seemed to Keelagh that each one was meant to be there for whatever reason,each one it seemed had got there by misfortune or chance. Gilbert had lived in a large village and had entertained the lords with his singing there had been a young lady that he had thought much of but she had been the daughter of one of the lords,Gilbert himself tended the livestock and as such despite the fact that they would have him attend many banquets,he was not a fit husband. Eventually the lord had seen to it that he was banished blamed for the slaughter of livestock,which had been the lords mens doing. He had wandered since with his act of singing and tomfoolery. Keelagh had watched him become serious and talk,she decided that maybe he wasn`t so bad after all,if he left the tomfoolery out. Bodin came from across the long water from a place of yellow plains filled with sand he had joined a ship that was sailing one day just because he took a mind to,the ship had floundered in giant waves and he had washed up on these shores the only one left from all those aboard. Chitter it seemed had been feeding him fresh water gathered in those tiny hands in the cup of a shell while he had been laid in fever from the water and the cold nights,he had fed him morsels of fruit and covered him in leaves and such to warm him.They had been together since.<br> Haltingly Kearth the Dwarf had told of how his people had been slaughtered after a mighty battle with a wizard,one they had befreinded and looked after for many years. This Wizard had grown in powers and one day had dissapeared,they had searched for him for many days but could not find him. Then many weeks later he had returned,changed beyond all recognition. No longer the kind person he had been,cruel and vindictive he began to boast of how all the land would be his, he had the power that was beyond most mortal men. They feared that he had gone mad and had mixed a potion to place in his drink,but he had known and had turned on them. He was just one and they were many,but they had not known of the men he had hidden in the hills and when they tried to stop him he called for the men and the battle began. Days the battle had raged untill all his people lay dead or dying he himself mortally wounded,he had crawled into the trees and closed his eyes waiting for the last breath to come. But it had not come,hours later he had opened his eyes to find his wounds gone,magically dissapeared. And while he was weak he was no longer about to walk through deaths door. He had thought that the Wizard had found him,the Dark one Zailin,but he realised had Zailin found him he would not have saved him for anything other than to be his slave.<br> At this point Keelagh had looked towards Magryth,he had been looking towards the forest but upon feeling her looking he had turned his head slightly towards her and shook his head slightly,she knew it had been he and this was his request to say nothing. She smiled to herself it seemed this little band had not come together by chance at all.<br> Kearth finished his tale of his adventures saying how he had vowed to find Zaidin and somehow make him pay for what he had done. When they had come upon him he had been trying to get the villagers to pick up their arms and follow him to Brachnech where he had learned the Dark Wizard was holding the city to siege. They were simple folk they knew not of wars and Wizards and such like. And in the end they had decided he was mad and had put him on trial for it. Kearth had been the first one to mention the siege at Brachnech,and Keelagh had begun to think that the people at this side of the water kknew nothing about it.<br> It seemed that Leck too had been on her way to Bracnech to see what aid she could be to the people there. She had been a warrior for her people but they had settled in peace with those that had been the enemy and she was bored and not at all the wifey kind of woman. She loved adventure and craved the thrill of the battle. Keelagh knew that this woman would have her back should it be needed and was pleased that this would be so. She felt that they all would even though they had been together for such a short time. Each was loyal in their own way not to her so much as to the pledge of freedom which at this moment she represented to them.<br> Bryntich swooped down from the Skies and made a pretty good landing for him only scooping out two small troughs of earth. He shook the grass and twigs out of his mouth while the others looked on and laughed,they had all learned to move when he was landing. “ Pah Fiddlesticks” he cursed spitting out the last of the grass from his mouth. “ Not as bad that time Bryn” Keelagh joked with him. “ I told you Keelagh tis this cursed green stuff tis too slippery” he laughed with her. “ I can see no way for me to go through Keelagh “ he said to her in a more somber tone “ Why can I not fly you over?” he questioned her for the hundredth time knowing what the answer would be. “ I will not leave the others to go through alone Bryn and besides if he is in there somewhere,going over I would not find him”<br> “ But you don’t know he is” He countered<br> “ No and I do not know he is not” she turned to look at the trees. “ I feel he is in there Bryn I don’t know why but I feel we are close to something.”<br> “ Yailith thinks it is too dangerous Keely do you still not trust him?” he asked her<br> “ Not completely no, it seems that there are too many coincidences where Yailith is concerned. “<br> “ He told you he had visions Keely he explained it to you when you took him to task about knowing about Gilbert and how he could free him”<br> “ Yes he told me,but why can he not see what we are looking for? Why can he not see what is happening at Duranbro?” This was what annoyed her the most. That he could not or would not tell her what was happening. That he had tried so hard to get her to bypass the forest. Yet said he could not say why just a feeling. “ Fly over Bryn if you find a clearing land and wait for us there, Now we enter the forest” She kissed the tip of his long snout not wanting to leave him,wishing he could be by her side. “ Goddess be with you Keelagh” he whispered and turned away so she would not see the tears in his eyes.</p> <p>The party entered the forest just as the suns rays began to light the trees. Keelagh walked with Spirit on one side and Wraith on the other. He had not left her side in days easily keeping up with the horse when she was mounted. She felt safe with him there especially when she had no Bryntich beside her. Behind her leck and Yailith with hands on sword hilts. Then came Gilbert with Kearth they too had swords and Kearth had a battleaxe on the other side of his belt.Bringing up the rear the Mighty Giant Bodin and Chitter who today sat quietly on his shoulder neither chittering nor chattering as though he knew something awaited them in the depths of the Forest. Magryth was cloaked and she could not see him but she knew he was there probably moving ahead and out to the sides scouting trying to protect her as he had from the start. She was both apprehensive and excited, feared for the lives of her companions should she be wrong and only dark and dangerous things abided here,yet excited too they knew not if the Warrior was alive or dead or even if he existed in anything more than folklore if he was man or Ghost,Soon she would find out. One way or the other</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/06/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_tw~858442/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-05:/2006/06/05/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_on~855725/lyndlj2006-06-05T18:15:31+02:002006-06-05T18:28:06+02:00 <p>Part five....Warriors and Wizards<br> Chapter one.....Campfire.</p> <p>They made camp before the mighty forest of Lochin its tall stately trees barring their way,it stretched for miles on either side and looked dense and deep. In the fourteen days since they had been travelling the little band that was four had grown. Yailith had insisted on joining them as they continued their journey and though Keelagh was still wary of him he had proved his worth as they had travelled through villages and towns where his quick neat patter had earned them supplies to feed their evergrowing band of travellers. She did not travel on Bryntichs back since there were so many of them but rode instead the magnificent stallion Spirit. She was the only one he would allow on his back and one look at those rolling eyes and bristling mane was enough to stop anyone else trying. They had camped here a short way from the forest and in the glow of the camp fire Keelagh thought about the past days and their journey here to this place.<br> They had left Yailiths homestead when Bryn had returned from his hunting,he had been quiet and she was not entirely convinced that this had merely been a hunting trip but had not pressed him about it. She looked now towards him where he lay with the Giant Bodin sat before him,they conversed much when Bryn was not flying ahead or wheeling about in the skies watching over them. Bryn liked the Gentle giant and she must admit she did too. They had come across him three days into their journey,they had been travelling through a small forest surrounded by rocky hills that resembled more tiny mountains than hills. Bryntich had been on the ground and had decided as the trees were quite widely spaced that he would rest from flying. There were many paths leading off from the one they travelled but Magryth had told them to stay on this one and so they had.They were about half way through when Wraith had stopped, his fur bristling and a low growl issuing from him,he looked off down a path that led to the right and would not be moved, forward to the path he padded his growl growing ever more fierce. Bryn took to the skies with a command to her to draw her sword. He too had heard what Wraith heard. A short way down the path where Wraith led them and she heard it too. The growling and keening that she had heard before when they had first come across Wraith.There in a place where the trees had given way to brush and rocks surrounded on three sides by rocky hills too steep to climb with any speed he had stood. Black as night and possibly the tallest man she had ever seen. He faced a pack of the beasts. They had just enough time to see him dispose of four of the beasts with one fell swoop of what looked like a tree trunk swung from left to right,sending them flying their howls heard above the growling and keening of the others advancing towards him, Before the beasts sensing their presence turned towards them. They stood with their strange heads lowered and their fangs glistening in the sunlight their strange eyes gleaming. So intent were they on the little band emerging from the trees they didn`t see the swooping Dragon untill it was too late. With one searing burst of flame he disposed of half of them and the rest scattered. The ones that headed their way were met with swords and hooves and slashing teeth the ones that headed the other way were felled by the giant. In a short time they were all dead, Bryn had landed and they moved forward to greet this giant of a man.<br> His name was Bodin he had told them in a quiet gentle voice that did not match his size,he had spoken first in a language she did not understand. Bryn however was able to explain to him that they spoke not his language and he reverted to her language though his accent was thick she could understand his words.He was a traveller,restless and wandering looking for a place that he could call home. It had been agreed that he should join the quest,as upon hearing of it he felt that he might be of some use to them.After all they had saved him from the beasts. She had laughed at that and told him that he didn`t seem to be having much trouble disposing of the beasts when they had first seen him. But she knew as well as he did had they attacked all at once he would not have been able to fight them off. She had laughed even more when he had introduced them to his travelling companion who he had hidden in the trees when the Beasts had appeared. A small creature Reddish coloured, with a long bushy tail,tiny pointed ears and front paws like tiny hands. His name was Chitter said Bodin,because all he did was chitter and chatter all day. So Bodin and Chitter joined them and it was soon obvious that the Great Dragon was quite taken with the Gentle Giant and the little beast. Sometimes Chitter would ride on Wraiths back the two animals seemed to get on fine but mostly he travelled in a pack that Bodin wore slung over his shoulder.She often chuckled watching the little creature eat with his little hands daintily picking up the food and holding it.<br> Two days farther on and they passed through a village,all the villagers had been in the village Hall holding some kind of trial. The gentleman on trial was some kind of traveller,who danced and sang and made people laugh in return for food and drink. Yailith had stepped in and they left the village a few gold coins lighter but complete with supplies and one Gilbert. She hadn`t worked out yet what sort of use Gilbert would be but Yailith had insisted that they couldn`t leave him there to suffer The Goddess only knows what fate. Personnally she thought his fate would probably be no more than he deserved and at that probably no more than a ducking in the village pond and a banishment. His incessant tomfoolery had quite got on her nerves untill she had threatened to run him through with her sword,it had abated since then. They had picked up a Dwarf like creature from another village again on trial for something but she knew not what as the language defeated her,His name was Kearth. He often was to be found travelling on the Giants back as his little legs could not always keep up.Just before the Forest came into view Yailith had rescued a female warrior from a band of thieves and she too had joined them,her name was Leck. She laughed and talked like a man but Keelagh liked her in a way. She was straight with her talk and did not simper and bat eyes when the men spoke to her.<br> She looked at the party of travellers scattered around the campsite,who would have thought when she started she would end up at the head of a bunch of thieves and vagabonds,for that’s what they were this gathering. And she knew not if they would have her back in a fight or if they would merely run off with whatever they could saving their own skins<br> She would know soon she feared for come the Dawn they would enter the forest,the forest that Yailith had tried so hard to get her to bypass. The forest that stood towering to the sky,dark and mysterious. This she believed is where she would find the Warrior or end the quest with her own blood. Come the end of tomorrow their fates would have been decided.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/05/warrior_of_duranbro_part_five_chapter_on~855725/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-06-04:/2006/06/04/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_fo~852507/lyndlj2006-06-04T08:49:54+02:002006-06-04T08:49:54+02:00 <p>Part Four...Darkness comes</p> <p>Chapter four....The Eve of Battle</p> <p>They stood on the roof of the great hall the Queen and her most trusted counsellor,the warm breeze gently lifted her long dark hair away from her face as she looked out over the city and the plains beyond. Klenyth stood silent watching her from the corner of his eye,waiting for her to speak. To ask him the question he knew she would ask. Finally her scrutiny over she spoke. “ So what you have told me Klenyth is that we have an enemy within our walls as well as out there” she said gesturing towards the plains. He sighed softly the sigh not escaping his lips. “ We have a traitor yes “ he could not meet that cold gaze and instead looked out to the plains. “ And you know who this person is?” she asked quietly. “ No Myriad not his identity,he is very good at covering his tracks,but we shall uncover him “<br> “ This traitor is amongst my counsell?” she asked him looking directly at him so he could do nothing else but look back into those eyes. “ Yes “ he answered. She turned her gaze back to the plains “ Klenyth all the people on my Counsell are people I have known all my life, people that I grew up with,people I have fought alongside and have eaten with,and you tell me that one of them is now plotting to help overthrow Duranbro? “ He could not answer her,there was no answer that he could give that would make things any easier for her to accept that someone she had trusted and looked on as a friend was in fact her enemy.<br> “ The enemy are just beyond the plain Klenyth they will be here by night fall or by dawn tomorrow. I do not have time to be watching my counsell members for signs of guilt” she turned to him again “ What is meant to be will be there is nothing we can do to make that different I have to ensure the Dragons are ready for battle and that the people of this city are prepared. We know not what is coming and we need to be prepared for all things. I have the feeling that we will not be sieged as Bracnech was “ she said musingly “ Tis almost hatching time the enemy will not want to wait too long “ She turned to leave the roof then turned back “ I want you down with the chidren when the fighting starts Klenyth “ she said quietly. He looked at her shocked by what she had said “ I shall be at your side My lady” he answered indignantly “ Where I have always been and will always be” he finished drawing himself to a stiff stance and placing his hand on his sword. She laughed “ Ah Klenyth how did I know you would balk at my command but if you were to be mortally wounded and I too,who then would guard Duranbro? “ A sad look then came into her eyes as she thought of Duranbro falling to the enemy,her city destroyed,her people gone. “ I will be at your side Myriad as will all those that love you and this city” she nodded “ so be it” she said as she turned and walked away.</p> <p>Far below on the city streets the stranger watched the pair on the roof,he could not see them properly they were too far away. But he knew which was she,the way she stood the hair blowing in the breeze. As she dissapeared from view he turned and made his way back to the house he had occupied from two days before when he had slipped unseen into the city. Over the two days he had slipped in his men,quietly,unseen by the city that prepared for battle. It wasn`t that they were careless the city people,they had closed all ways into the City many days before,it was just that he knew a way in that was not known by many.He had to guard that way he and his followers, ready for when the Warrior came. How he longed to make himself known,to show himself,but Argarth had asked him to wait. There was an enemy among the Counsellors and to move too soon would be to give them an advantage and he would let nothing harm her if he was able to prevent it. He entered the abode closing the door quietly so as not to disturb the soldiers sleeping there.</p> <p>The City was prepared,Dragons hovered high in the sky watching for that which was coming with orders to land should they see the mist. Argarth had spent long hours with the Dragons over the past few days testing them,trying to see which would be the most likely to desert them should this power call them as it had done others from Brachnech. He knew that most were loyal to him and they would stay by him and fight for and with him. But he also knew that a power stronger than his was in play. A power they had to obey. The time was almost upon them for he and Bryntich to take on and try to defeat that power with everything that they possessed. He just hoped that Bryntich was back in time,he had much faith in the Dragon that had been his friend since he first hatched from his shell. And Argarth had been the one to teach him the things that he needed to know. He hoped it was enough. He had heard nothing from the Dragon since their meeting on the mountain. Even Eli had not returned and he hoped the Little one was with the Quest and not mortally hurt.<br> He saw now off in the very great distance the tiny spots in the sky that meant the enemy was approaching. A Dragons sight was much magnified and this meant that they were some way off yet,but they would be here before dawn. He wheeled and headed back to the City. Myriad Would have need of him soon. Come the dawn they would be fighting for the survival of the City and his Race.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/06/04/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_fo~852507/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-05-22:/2006/05/22/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_th~821286/lyndlj2006-05-22T22:44:03+02:002006-05-22T22:44:03+02:00 <p>Part Four...The darkness comes</p> <p>Chapter Three….Nightime wanders</p> <p>The moon rode high in the sky as Myriad picked her way through the city streets. It was a much changed city that she walked through,for days the quiet bustle had been replaced by fevered activity as the people put up what barriers they could to protect their homes from the oncoming battle. In the meeting in the great hall she had given them the choice to stay or go. Wishing them well for their journey should they wish to leave and make their way to the lands in the north. She had assured them that they would be welcomed there just as they would be welcomed back to Duranbro when the battle was over. The people had decided to stay. And while it pleased her that they had chosen to remain and fight for their home it saddened her too that so many could be lost in what was to come. Some of the homes were empty,but not because the people had left. they had decided to make the children of the city safe and they were now residing beneath the Great halls as safe as it was possible to make them. Should the city fall their fate would be no longer in her hands but in the hands of the Godessess. She had seen wars when she was younger,she had gone and fought beside the kings of other lands. These had been wars she had understood,territorial wars. Wars over land and water. Wars over mines. Wars over the dislike of one race for another,which when she thought about it she hadn`t fully understood but had fought them anyway. This one would be different. This was a war for freedom and the survival of a race, The Dragons. Argarth had explained to her that should the new Queen not be born the old Queen would continue to reign untill the end of her time. She had asked could she not just lay another Queen? And patiently he had explained that the Queen only lay a Queen egg once in a lifetime, only one Queen was ever born,the one who would take over,he supposed this was so there was no fighting amongst Queens to determine the ruler.But if the new Queen is not born would not natural law determine a new one would be laid? She had questioned.As it had never happened as far as he knew he could not say,only the Queen could answer that one. How old do Dragons live to? She had asked him. Some they do say can live till they are eighteen or nineteen hundred years old,though he personally had never seen one that old,he himself was the same age as the Queen. Red and Green Dragons only lived about a thousand years,and some not even that. In that case,she had pushed,why do Queens have such a short life compared to the rest? He had sighed in that good natured way he had and stated that he did not have the answer to that question he supposed that when the new Queen got to a certain age the old Queen just took herself away and died. Just because he was Hundreds of years old did not mean he had the answers to everything,he had grumbled “ Tsk Myriad you are still as full of questions as you were as a child “ he had teased “ But tis not a bad thing” he had concluded quietly.<br> She was worried about Argarth,he had gone missing for three days and when she had asked he had said he had been hunting. She had known it not to be true even though he had the smell of the hunt still on him. But she had not pushed the matter,he would tell her when he was ready.<br> She left the streets now through the gate in the City wall,a gate that would be blocked off and no longer usable come the morrow,she had the need of the grass beneath her feet and though they had two areas in the city that were fenced in grasslands and trees she needed the freedom of the fields beyond the walls. It may be a long time before she could do this again if they were besieged as brachnech was. As she walked she thought about her Argarth and what she would do if aught happened to him,he had been with her as long as she could remember. Normally a Dragon became a partner at ten years of age,but she had been only two when he had come to her and rocked her to sleep with his warm breath,the year her Father had died. She did not remember him but knew the stories of his bravery and the way he had ruled his people. Argarth had been his companion all his years from his tenth birthday and he had mourned greatly at his passing. Had he died in battle no doubt Argarth would have died with him,but he had died suddenly at home,his heart giving out. A heart that had held the safety and love of his people and had grieved with them and celebrated with them,could no longer take the burden it had to bear and it had gone to sleep taking her Father with it.She knew the stories but wished she could have known the man.<br> She had walked the length of the field and was near the trees when she realised that she was not alone,she could see no one but could feel their presence. She didn`t feel fear,or apprehension she had the feeling that whoever it was meant no harm. She looked about the trees and still could see noone. She thought she heard a whisper,she stood stock still,just for a moment it sounded like……but it couldn`t be,six long years he had been gone,she shook her head she had suffered many moments like this in the first years after his dissapearence. Her imagination that’s all in this time of darkness it was only natural she would feel theis way. Nevertheless as she turned and walked back to the city she felt lighter somehow,more sure of herself as though a warm cloak had been wrapped round her.<br> As she neared the gate she stopped, wondering if she looked back would she see…once again she shook her head and told herself she was being like a silly girl just come back from a meet with her new love and not looking back she pushed open the gate and entered the city.<br> The figure in the trees watched her till she had passed through the gate,soon,he would show himself soon the time would be right.</p> <p>Myriad had not been the only one out and about beyond the city walls,the darkened figure hurried now towards the gate. Fearful that he might be seen though he knew that all were busy with the preparations for what was coming. The coming and goings of men at this time was no surprise though had they seen who he was they might have thought so. His meeting had gone well and he was feeling a little jubilant at his success. He allowed himself a smile. In a shaort while the city would fall and he would be the ruler og the one that would rise in its stead. It wasn`t that he didn`t like Myriad,he did, he adored her,as most of her council did. But he had never forgiven her for passing him over for the upstart she had married. So what if he had been a brave warrior,where was he now? Not where he should be that’s for sure. He allowed himself another little smile,of course he knew full well where he was he had arranged the ambush himself with the help of some travelling thiefs and vagabonds and they had brought him the sword of the mighty leader the great Zargrith. He had magnaminously let them keep the sword and studded belt,their reward he had told them,in truth he could not have kept it lest it be discovered. Yes tonight he was a happy man. Soon everything he desired would be his. And he whistled softly to himself as he climbed the streets to the great hall.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/05/22/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_th~821286/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-05-18:/2006/05/18/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_tw~810574/lyndlj2006-05-18T20:53:28+02:002006-05-18T20:53:28+02:00 <p>Part Four…The Darkness comes<br> Chapter Two……. Allies and Enemies</p> <p>There were no days here on the underground waterways,the sun didn`t rise and set and the moon didn`t lend its light to the travellers. All around was just the strange glow of the rocks that reflected off the water. The Lanterns in the boat did little to disspell the gloom in those places where the glowing rocks dissapeared. They had travelled in this gloomy world for what seemed like an eternity,ahead of them lay the three courses,Kaliq knew that they could not go back on the white water,sailor or not he knew that his men didn`t have the strength left that was required to fight the water. He had to choose between the two ways that were left. He knew if he chose the far right that he would have to face the creature that the garbled tale of the dying man from the third boat had told them about,before he had breathed his last and joined his comrades. That left only the left way,and unknown dangers. He had anchored here for a few hours while he thought about this the last leg of the journey,and of the journey that they had made already.<br> With the loss of the third boat and its ten men Kaliq knew that they would have to share the Dragon eggs out among the other two,and that this would mean extra hardship for them,but this was what they had been sent to do and this was what they would do. The journey down the white water had been exciting tempered only by the loss of the other boat. Yet it had not prepared him for the strange creatures waiting for them some way down river and round another bend. The three ways had converged into one large river where they could not even see the shores easily from the boats in the middle,just the glow of the rocks told them where the shores were. After some time of travelling along this vast waterway it once again divided itself, as instructed he took the left way which travelled a while then ran round a bend. It was round this bend that they met the creatures. Because they had to use the oars to travel they had been taking it in patterns of five men at a time,four to row and one to steer,it was on the changeover when they were still that the creatures appeared.<br> Neither man nor beast did they appear to be,strange man shaped beings,stooped and covered in coarse hair with glowing eyes that burned red in the strange light from the surrounding rocks and walls. They threw missiles from the shores in an attempt to damage and sink the boats and wound and kill the men,yet they were feared of entering the water to board the boats. Kaliqs men fired back arrows,he would not let his men leave the boats to go fight on the shores,they would be easy targets in the water. It was only when one of their own fell into the water that they all suddenly stopped, the man was scared this much was obvious and he tried desperatly to get back to the shore,but there was no way to climb out and his comrades would not go near the edge to help him up the steep wall of rock that prevented him from dragging himself out. Kaliq had his men steer the boat towards him,he knew that they ran a great risk in doing this,for the others could easily jump into the boat,perhaps overturning it with their numbers. He leaned over the side of the boat reaching out his hand to the creature hoping to pull him on board. He grasped his hand and pulled him towards him when the river suddenly boiled from beneath and the creature gave a loud cry and with that his hand was pulled from Kaliqs grasp and he was gone. There was a glow from beneath the water and the river turned red with the creatures blood. Kaliq looked back towards the other creatures,they were closer now to the shore,at this part the shore walls were steeper and the creatures appeared to be above him a little,but they just stood and looked back. One that seemed to be the leader,nodded its head up and down a little,and then turned and made some kind of signal to the others and they dissapeared silently into the gloom. The boats had survived this with only one man injured,and the boats unscathed despite the missiles thrown at them.<br> They had travelled two more bends before they were to meet another band of these creatures. Kaliq had made it so that when they rested for their few hours that they would come into shore and spend some hours on the land,this was to ensure that when they reached their destination the men would be able to fight if need be and not be encumbered with the strange effect of sea legs,which would disorientate them. They had travelled two bends before the shoreline once again became accessable,the men were weary and still full of fear of what lay beneath the boat in the water so he ordered that they pull in to rest. They had built camp fires to warm them and to make something warm to eat instead of the ships rations that sustained them most of the time. Fed and warm with the quiet lapping of the water they had become relaxed,not as alert or as attentive as they should have been. When the manlike creatures had attacked they had not been ready. There followed a fierce battle,the manlike creatures were strong,and while they did not have swords as his men did the weapons that they wielded,slashed and smashed against bodies crunching the bones beneath the skin with the power that lay behind the blow. He had begun to fear it was a battle that they might lose and was wondering how to get the men to the boats and set off without being overrun when a loud cry echoed around the walls of the giant cavern. The manlike creatures turned their heads to the sound just as what seemed like an army of the same type of creatures appeared as if from nowhere and set upon the ones that Kaliq and his men were fighting. He ordered his men back to the boats,they being forgotten by the manlike creatures as their attention turned towards those just arrived. Picking up their wounded they made their way back to the boats with Kaliq and a couple of others guarding the rear. As he backed slowly towards his men there appeared the creature who he had taken for the leader of the first set of creatures. He nodded his head to him again and held out his hand.Kaliq thought it might mean a gesture of friendship such as they had in his hometown,but the man was offering him something. He held out his hand and the creature placed a hornshell in his open palm. It was quite large and glowed slightly open at one end and honed to a point at the other ,the creature closed Kaliqs hand round it and made a gesture of putting it to his ear,then he nodded once more and turned back to the battle. Kaliq climbed aboard the boat and they set sail leaving the creatures to fight.<br> They had gone a few more bends and travelled a great distance before he remembered the shell that he had placed in his belt. They had come to what he had believed to be calm waters,but the eerie glow beneath, different to the surrounding walls and rocks, made him think that the creature from before was somewhere down there waiting.<br> The shell had begun to glow too,and seemed to move in his belt. He removed it and looked at it,he lifted it to his ear,remembering that when he was a child he had one similar to this and he could hear the moan of the sea in it. As he placed it against his ear he suddenly gave a cry and dropped the shell on to the deck of the boat his eyes wide his mouth open. All the men looked toward him to see what had made their leader jump like that. He was staring at the shell and now so did they, emerging from the large end of the shell was the tiniest creature they had ever seen,perfectly formed with tiny wings,she flew straight up to Kaliqs shoulder and said to him “ I am Trulith,I have been sent to guide you,the one who helps the fair Keelagh said you may be of need of my help as you pass through the waterways” ,and with that she flew around and into his shirt pocket.<br> “ If you have been sent by those with Keelagh you are welcome” Kaliq answered her “ Though I know not how such a tiny creature will be able to aid grown men against creatures such as lie in wait hereabouts”<br> Trulith looked up at the Captain smiled and winked.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/05/18/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_chapter_tw~810574/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-05-07:/2006/05/07/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_the_darkne~782902/lyndlj2006-05-07T23:09:24+02:002006-05-13T07:23:30+02:00 <p>Part Four..The darkness comes<br> Chapter one….And so it begins</p> <p>It had been a mere fourteen days since the secret meeting between the Dragons,but during that fourteen days Bracnech had fallen. More Dragons had joined the legions of the Wizard,and they had turned their eyes towards Duranbro. Argarth had watched helplessly as the city fell,he had watched unable to aid in any way as his own kind were killed,crippled and maimed along with the humans so desperatly fighting for their city,but above all to protect the eggs that lay beneath. He watched and he mourned,had he tried to help,and his vast powers might have been some aid,then his secret would be out and it would not be one city that lay in ruins but all cities and all humans that would suffer. He could not let his suspicions be known,not untill the warrior had been found. Of the Dragons that had turned and joined the enemy,he knew that most had not done so because they were traitors but because they had no choice,of course there would be some renegades,but when this was over they would be found and punished. Of course that was providing that Duranbro survived and that they actually won the battle.The one bit of good news was that the eggs had dissapeared from beneath Brachnech,noone knew where,the conquerors were convinced that the people had destroyed them. He had smiled at this for it seemed that the good Captain Kaliq was more of a warrior than he had given him credit for.<br> He lay now atop the Castle on its long flat roof,made for the landing and leisure of Dragons many years ago, and waited for his beloved Myriad to finish her long meeting with the lords of the Chambers. The city was preparing for war and a long seige,people collecting and storing,soldiers training. He knew that the Lords wanted to go and do battle on the plains,meet the enemy away from the city,it was hard trying to tell them that to do this would leave the city vulnerable. The spell that the wizard cast to ground the Dragons would have a more devastating effect if they were out on the plains and unable to return to protect the city with their fire. He hoped that they would be wise enough to listen to their Queen.</p> <p>The river was calm here,but Kaliq knew better than to be fooled by the calmness of the waters,they were a bedraggled bunch now that made the return journey only two ships and one of them might not make it yet. The men were weary and some were wounded and not fit to fight much longer. Had they been fighting men,maybe the battles would have been different and more may have survived. It was however Demons they had been fighting,all kinds of different dangers and foes had they faced in this arduous journey. And now they were on the last stages. They had lost some of the eggs and he was just hoping that the one that contained the new Queen was safe,or it all would have been for nothing. He sat now at the helm of the boat watching carefully the shores and waiting for what might come next.<br> The journey had begun fine,they had gone past the five forks with little mishap,as they had approached the way of three rivers,there had been some argument about which way. He had been adament that they take the middle way as instructed,though that way was full of rapids and white waters,and the other two looked calm and still.One of the ranking sailors on the third boat had pointed out that he was neither sailor nor Dragon and that he was at least a sailor and it would be easier and safer to take the calm route. Kaliq would not be moved,the middle way as instructed. Apparently his word as a soldier was not to be trusted for the third boat instead of following slipped off to the left and at the end of that courseway,when they had survived the rapids and the white waters all that remained of the third boat was a dying soldier plucked from the waters. Alas that had been but the beginning of the dangers they were to face.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/05/07/warrior_of_duranbro_part_four_the_darkne~782902/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-05-06:/2006/05/06/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_chapter_f~779391/lyndlj2006-05-06T10:09:14+02:002006-05-06T10:09:14+02:00 <p>Part Three…The Warrior Quest 2<br> Chapter four..The Dragons unite</p> <p>He sat at the top of the highest mountain in the land,a long flat plateau high above the clouds. It had taken hours of flying to reach here and he knew he may have to wait a while before his friend and mentor arrived. Things had happened over the past weeks and more so over the past days that had made them realise that there was more at work here than the weavings of some wizard. The seige at Brachnech had been carefully planned a spell weaved that grounded Dragons but didn`t hurt them. That wasn`t what worried them it was the fact that several red and green dragons had now joined the other side unable to fly at this moment,for to allow them to fly they would have to lift the spell on all,and there were still more fighting the Wizard than had joined him,but for how long and why would they turn as they had. If or rather when Brachnech fell,it would mean they would have at least two flights of Dragons with which to attack Duranbro,it was a long time since man and Dragon had fought. It was not a time they wanted to repeat. He settled for his wait for his friend and hoped that he had been right about Yailith and that Keelagh would be safe.</p> <p>Keelagh had been spending her time getting to know the horse that noone could ride,Yailith had informed her his name was Spirito El Diablo,which apparently meant spirit of the Devil,so she just called him Spirit. He had become very friendly with her and allowed her to groom him,but had not yet allowed her to ride,she knew it was too soon. Wraith had never left her side and though she was at first worried that the horse would take offence or be frightened by his presence it appeared that the Wolf and the Horse were building up their own friendship. This did not surprise her as she had seen wild animals in the strangest of pairings in friendship. She worried that Bryn had gone off hunting at such a time,and without telling her,this was not like him at all. She worried more that she could not feel him around,and she felt strangely vulnerable without the comfort of his presence. Yailith was the perfect host,but she was wary of him all the same. She was edgy nervous,she wanted to be on with the quest,doing something to help her beloved city,before the dark forces came. The only thing stopping her from just going and letting Bryn catch up was that he had asked she stay where she was through Magryth,and that she had the taming of Spirit to calm her.So she would wait,though impatiently,for his return.</p> <p>Bryntich had been waiting about three hours when he heard the beat of wings that signalled the arrival of his long time friend and mentor. He made himself invisible just in case it was not him and they had been discovered in their secret meeting.<br> Argarth landed perfectly,and looked around to see if he could see the young whippersnapper as he called Bryntich.<br> “ Hrumph typical,probably out feasting somewhere” he muttered<br> “ Not at all My great friend” Bryn said chuckling as he appeared and made Argarth jump.<br> “ Still japing as ever Bryn,I see “ Argarth laughed at being caught out.<br> “ Is all well Argarth in Duranbro?” Bryntich asked his friend,<br> “ As it was when you left,except of course for the soldiers and sailors being sent to their doom in the underground river” Argarth shook his head “ I could not stop it Bryn” he said quietly “ Without letting our suspicions be known,I had to allow those poor men to be sent away to die “<br> “ Don’t blame yourself my friend,besides they have a good leader they wont all perish,this is the rules of war Argarth,there are things that must be done for the good of all,besides we are not sure that is what will happen we have only suspicions remember”<br> “ Yes,the eggs do need to be saved maybe we are wrong,I hope we are wrong” Argarth replied sighing deeply. He looked long at his friend,sadness in his eyes “ you realise Bryn that we may not survive this?” he asked him “ Yes I have thought of this Argarth and the thought of leaving Keely is a hard one to bear,leaving her alone to fight grave dangers,as there will be many should we fail in our task” He paced as he talked and then he stopped head lifted high “ But if we don’t do this,then all mankind will suffer for generations to come,and our kind too” he finished forcefully<br> “ Yes Bryn we have no choice,but we must be careful,even more so now as the wheels seem to be turning faster,the sooner that Keelagh finds Paidrech the better it will be for all of us”<br> “ You still believe she will find him,Argarth?” Bryntich asked his friend<br> “ Oh yes she will find him,and with him the great wizard that will help the Humans fight the dark one,you and I have to deal with the ‘ Other’ “<br> “ And where does Yailith fit into all this?” Bryn asked him<br> “ That I don’t know,Bryn,but I do know that he will protect her as you,with his life if need be,you will not however convince her of this so be wary,if he says don’t go somewhere and she insists as is her wont to do,then watch carefully”<br> “ And you my friend?the dangers you face are far more than the ones I do”<br> “ I shall be carefull Bryn,even more so now,when you have found Paidrech we shall meet again here,I shall know when he is found,if I do not come withing two days then you know I was unsuccessful in my endeavours to be hidden,and then my friend it will all be on you and your friends”<br> Bryntich looked the one that had been his friend for many hundreds of years,he couldn`t imagine a world without Argarth in it.<br> “ Be ever vigilant my friend,I can not imagine a world without you in it”<br> “ I shall Bryn,now you must away,go do some hunting so they are not suspicious,I shall leave later,that way we are not seen together,not yet at least”<br> “ Be carefull my Friend”Bryn said as he spread his great wings and took flight.<br> Argarth watched his friend go,and hoped that this would not be the last time that he would see him</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/05/06/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_chapter_f~779391/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-27:/2006/04/27/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_chapter_t~761247/lyndlj2006-04-27T23:26:46+02:002006-04-27T23:31:49+02:00 <p>Part three....The warrior quest 2</p> <p>Chapter three.. The Dreams of Danger.</p> <p>She lay on the carpet of green surrounded by leaves and twigs and flowers,her skin pale,her eyes half closed,the blood trickling from her beautiful lips pale and lifeless now. The roaring of the Dragons anguish was reverberating through the now still forest,the Unicorn stood head bowed ears down. Yailith stared at the lifeless form shaking his head " No! " he whispered over and over again " No!" he said louder and louder untill he was shouting it " No!!!,you promised she would be safe!! you said no harm would come to her!!" He was shouting at the trees turning round and round trying to see he who he shouted at. He turned to the Unicorn " You can heal her bring her back make her right!!" he shouted at him.The Unicorn raised his head,his eyes were wet with tears for the loss of his friend and saviour " I cannot Yailith, I can heal wounds I cannot ressurect the dead" and he bowed his head once more,Yailith looked at him,at her laying lifeless on the forest floor and he shouted again " Nooooooo!!!"<br> That last shout awakened him from his sleep and tore him from the grips of the nightmare. He was shaking and sweating,he rose from the bed and got himself a glass of cold water. Sitting once more on the edge of the bed he calmed himself,hoping that his shouts had not woken anyone else. For two weeks now he had been having nightmares to do with this little band,long before he had set eyes on Keelagh he had known her name,what she looked like and who her friends would be,even though she hadn`t yet met them. He had sent Trulith to ensure that they crossed the lake because he had seen her perish on the other side. He knew that Trulith could help her get over and past the Dragon. What he hadn`t known was that the Dragon was on a quest to stop her. He pondered on who could command a Dragon so,but he had not been able to come up with an answer. Now he had the added task of trying to stop her from going through the Forest of Lochin,and he didn`t think it was a task he was going to succeed at.Short of telling her who and what he really was there seemed little likelihood of her listening to what he had to say. He would sleep on it and maybe a solution would come.</p> <p>" Why are you so restless Magical one?" Bryntich asked the pacing unicorn " You haven`t settled all night" Magryth shook his long mane and snorted " there is something not quite right Bryn my friend" He said looking towards the big double doors " It`s almost as though this barn was built for the two of us" He looked round the barn,it was very spacious and yet there were no stalls,no farming implements and no sign that any other creature had ever been in it.<br> " Tis a new built barn,Magryth,I can smell the newness of the wood" He rested his long snout on his front claws and sighed " You are suspicious of this Yailith?"<br> " And you are not Bryn?" the Unicorn asked quietly<br> " Yes I am,have been from the first" Bryntich agreed " He is much more than warlock,he may be able to see through your cloak Magryth but he cannot know the power of my senses"<br> " So what are we to do?" Magryth asked<br> " Nothing for now Hoofed one,Keelagh needs rest,and though I am suspicious I dont think he means her harm"<br> " No Bryn he doesn`t but if his intentions are to foil the quest,then that would harm us all" and with that Magryth closed his eyes and slept.<br> The Dragon smiled,he was slowly working out some of the things that had been happening,and while he may not have been as old as the magical Magryth,Dragons had senses other creatures did not possess. Keelagh was safe for now,of this he was sure.</p> <p>She stirred and stretched the cotton sheets felt cool against her legs,she frowned,something wasn`t right but she was having trouble grasping it,she slowly opened her eyes half way,she could feel the breeze flowing gently through the pink hangings on the window. Wait,pink hangings she didn`t have pink hangings and she came fully awake. As soon as she was awake she remembered that she wasn`t in her room back in Duranbro as she had been dreaming but in a strangers house.She went to spring up as she normally did but waves of giddiness gripped her as she attempted to rise.Her head hurt and she gingerly raised her hand to the cut on her forehead. She remembered now,the crossing,and all that happened after.She rose more slowly and finding her clothes on a chair at the side of the bed dressed slowly too. Opening the door quietly lest she waken the rest of the house she left the room and the house and went to seek her companions,a soft brush of fur against her side let her know that Wraith had been in the room with her and had been at her side as she left it. It was just coming up to dawn as she stepped outside,she looked towards the horses she had remembered seing the night before,a large black stallion stood watching her and she crossed the yard towards the paddock. He snorted and laid his ears back as she neared the fencing,he was wild,unbroke. She had no fear of animals,she never had since being little. She climbed the fence and he skittered to the side stamping his hooves,warning her. She spoke to him softly,evenly as she climbed the fence. His ears came up and he stood still quivering and snorting. She continued to speak to him as she neared him stopping a few feet away. Then she walked past him and he skittered to the side again,she stood with her back to him talking softly,as she heard him come towards her she began walking away from him,he followed,she walked round the paddock several times never looking at him,always with her back to him. Finally he nudged her and she stopped walking.He stood with his head over her shoulder and she raised her hand and stroked his neck,talking softly. She turned and walked back towards the fence and the horse followed her. Yailith stood at the fence wating for her. " I thought I would be tending to more injuries" he said to gher as she climbed the fence " He is a devil horse cannot be broken " he continued " In fact I dont think I have seen anyone that close to him before"<br> " He is a beautiful horse Yailith " she answered him " He just needs handling right thats all"<br> " Bria is preparing the morning meal,you haven`t eaten since you were swimming with dragons perhaps you might be hungry" he said with laughter in his voice " Your friends are in the barn round the back of the house,if you widh to visit them first " he pointed to the corner of the house.<br> She thanked him and went round to the barn. Bryntich was nowhere to be seen but Magryth was happily dining on fresh hay and oats.<br> " Bryntich has been gone for an hour or so Keelagh" he said as she looked in the barn " Hunting I presume as hay and oats are not to a Dragons taste"<br> " But there are fruits in the barn Magryth " she looked at him with a frown on her face " Those would have kept him happy Why did he feel the need to hunt?" she mused<br> " All I know is that he says you were to stay here while he returned " Magryth said " Oh and to tell you it was a full hunt whatever that means"<br> Keelagh looked at him " A full hunt!!" she exclaimed " That means at least two days We have to be continuing our journey,whatever is he up to?" she said exasperated at the Dragon,more for not letting her in on his plans than being delayed.<br> " He must have his reasons Keelagh"<br> " Well I had better see if our host will allow us to stay longer then" she replied<br> " your host would be honoured" Yailith stated from behind her " Come the meal is done you must be starving" and he motioned for her to precede him to the house. Magryth watched them go,he didn`t want to decive Keelagh but after the dream he had had that night and the one the Dragon had Bryntich had gone to do a little Questing of his own,he had made Magryth promise not to let Keelagh know,she would be safe here while he returned. But what would happen after they began the next stage of their quest could not be foretold. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/27/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_chapter_t~761247/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-22:/2006/04/22/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_warrior_q~746943/lyndlj2006-04-22T12:30:31+02:002006-04-22T12:30:31+02:00 <p>Part Two. The Warrior Quest 2<br> Chapter Two...The Wanderings of Warlocks</p> <p>Keelagh had been scanning the sky as she had been talking,trying to catch sight of the brave bird that had helped Bryntich.<br> " You will not catch sight of him Keely,unless he wishes you to,tis Eli a friend of Myriads" Bryntich said answering her unasked question.<br> " Then I shall not try Bryn,though his timely appearence possibly saved you from greater harm" Keelagh turned back to the Dragon " What is a puzzle,Bryn is who brought the sea Dragon to the lake and why?"<br> " Someone that wanted this way blocked,he has been here a while Keelagh,weeks from the looks of the fishing village" he replied<br> " But that would mean that someone knew about the Quest before it was fully decided Bryn"<br> " Or perhaps took the precaution just in case" Bryn murmoured looking off into the distance.<br> " Are you a wizard?" he suddenly asked of Yailith,fixing him with one large eye. Yailith jumped when the Dragon addressed him,he was deep in thought leaving them to discuss between themselves. He laughed before replying " No mighty Bryntich,I am not so honoured,merely a lowly Warlock that has the dubious gift of being able to see through magic cloaks and spot fellows such as he" he pointed at Magryth " and her" and he pointed at Keelaghs pack which still lay on the sand. Keelagh looked at the pack,as she did so the tiny creature flew up and landed on her shoulder " Trulith!!" she exclaimed " I had been thinking we had lost you" the tiny Fairy rose up to her ear and whispered to her " Methinks Keelagh this fellow knows not his own magic,it will be interesting to see when he learns" Keelagh looked at Yailith,she wasn`t sure about him but Wraith had no objections to him,and she was sure that had there been any hostility he would have sensed it.<br> " We cannot stand here all day " she said picking up her pack " We must make camp before nightfall,somewhere relatively safe" she turned to Yailith " I presume you have somewhere you were going before we came along? " she asked<br> " Going " he said with amusement " No I was merely looking for food to supplement the cupboards,I live beyond the trees,you are welcome to camp there for the night" he had gestured to the trees and finished with a twinkle in his eye and amusement on his face. Keelagh bristled with annoyance at his amusement realising ,rightly,that it was at her expense. She knew it would be churlish to refuse his offer,she needed rest and so did the others.<br> " I accept your offer Yailith I presume you have the room for a dragon and a Unicorn? "<br> " Oh it will be a squeeze" he replied with a smile " But we will find a corner somewhere,and a spot before the fire for yon beastie" he pointed to the wolf who was stood once again at the side of the Dragon " Come tis this way " he finished turning and setting off towards the trees that stood at the top of the beach.<br> They walked for about twenty minutes,the trees had been deceptive,looking like a forest that led up from the beach it turned out to be only a small wood,with enough room for Bryntich to get through.Though the trees had grown in such a way as to hide the gaps from the outside. When they emerged on the other side all that could be seen were miles of feilds leading to hills in the distance. Keelaghs annoyance grew,she had believed that Yailiths home was not far and now it looked as though it was quite a distance after all. She held her tongue,shelter was what they needed. They passed through one feild of long sweet smelling grass,and as they neared what seemed to be a change in the texture and length of the grass Yailith stopped,she looked at him and then back at the feild,which was empty just grass. She was just about to ask him what he was playing at when he smiled and said " Welcome to my home" and as he made a welcoming gesture with his hand,there appeared before them a large homestead,it consisted of a long single storey building,not small,there looked to be many rooms from what she could see of the windows. Off to the side another feild with fencing round held two large stallions,and as they stood two large wolflike dogs came bounding across what appeared to be the yard of the homestead, which they were actually stood in.<br> " I cloak it for safety" he said preempting her question,just as Bryn usually did. " Tis bad times coming,what with Sea Dragons and wandering bands of,what are you anyway?" he finished looking at her " I mean what are you looking for?" he hurriedly amended.<br> " Does it matter?" Keelagh asked him<br> " Yes,I may be of assistance in directing you to where ever "<br> " Your shelter will be enough for now Yailith " she told him she was weary now.He looked at her,how silly he was being she had almost drowned,had a bad knock on the head and here was he keeping her stood when she needed to be resting. " Come you can freshen while food is made " and he strode forward towards the house. As they joined him the door opened and a large,robust woman appeared in the doorway.<br> " Ha and what have you brung this time?" she shouted to him in merry voice, as they drew level with her he introduced his guests to the large woman now drying her hands on a large white apron.<br> " Why the young miss looks all done in " she interupted him. He laughed " Keelagh this is Bria,she was my carer when I was young and is still my carer to this day,and she is bossier than a haridan" he finished laughing as she slapped his shoulder. " Bryntich,Magryth, as much as you are Keelaghs cherished companions and as big as the house is there is no room for a Dragon and a Unicorn inside,would you accept the comfort of the barn?" he asked the waiting creatures<br> " Twould be more comfy than a human home" Magryth laughed " This way then,Keelagh Bria will show you to a room where you can rest while the meal is made " and with that he turned and walked away round the side of the building and out of sight.<br> The Dragon relunctantly followed,barns tended to be quite cramped he was a rather large Dragon,his reluctance lifted however when he saw the Barn was as big again as the house and when the big double doors were open he could easily fit inside.<br> "Keelagh will be placed on this side of the house so you can see her window from the window in the barn" Yailith informed them"there is plenty straw and food inside,though I am not sure it will satisfy your appetite Bryntich"<br> " I will hunt later,Yailith" Bryntich informed him inspecting his quarters gleefully.<br> " I shall leave you then to settle " and off he went back to the house.<br> As he passed through the door Bria made a shusshing gesture at him holding her finger to her lips " The young one is asleep " she whispered. He looked towards the door that had been chosen for Keelaghs room some days before and smiled " Leave her Bria she will need to gather her strength for the days to come, come we will eat,and then I have messages to send" He turned towards another door " Trulith,you did well" he said to the little creature hovering by his shoulder " You can return to the woods now " And the little creature vanished. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/22/warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_warrior_q~746943/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-18:/2006/04/18/the_warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_the_w~735229/lyndlj2006-04-18T01:56:52+02:002006-04-18T01:56:52+02:00 <p>Warrior Of Duranbro.<br> Part three..The Warrior quest 2<br> Chapter one...The Mystery of Monsters.<br> Everything was grey and her head hurt as she retched the last of the lake water onto the white sandy shore,she could hear roaring and shouting and she could feel strong hands pushing on her back encouraging her to rid her body of the salty water she has swallowed. Slowly things started to come into focus and she tried to get up so she could go help Bryn.<br> " You`ll be best staying where ye are" A male voice spoke near her ear. " Any moment now there`ll be hell breaking loose and if ye dont want to be Monster food I wouldna move"she waited a few moments to gather her breath,her ribs ached,her head ached,she felt like a herd of horses had trampled her. She turned very slowly to look at the lake,the mist was still there but it was diminishing beneath the furious onslought of flame from one very irate Dragon. Bryn was darting in and out of the mist breathing fire as he went,she wanted to call out to him,to let him know she was alright,but she realised he would know,and her throat hurt too much to call him.She looked for Wraith,he stood some feet from her watching her his head on one side in that way he had. As soon as he saw her looking he padded over and licked her face,she laughed " I think I have had a good enough wash Wraith" she cried as he continued to show how pleased he was to see she was alive.<br> " That be a brave beast" the Voice spoke again,she turned to see the owner of the voice half crouched at the other side of her,a youngish man,dark of hair with a small beard that came to a point beneath his chin. Blue eyes twinkled at her " You owe your life to yon beast,he it was dragged you to shore,I only had to help when he got near shore" he finished with a wink. She smiled at his cheek,then turned and wrapped her arms round the neck of the Wolf who now had his head on her shoulder " You are a fine brave Wraith,thankyou," she said he rubbed his head against her shoulder and neck practically knocking her back over. She turned back to the lake,the mist was almost gone now and the water was boiling but the bubbling was coming from beneath,she looked up and saw Bryn circling above the lake. " Seems Bryn has dealt with whatever it was " she said to the man beside her. He looked at the lake where the mist was totally gone " No tis still there see the bubbles " he pointed and she followed his finger and looked at the bubbles rising up from the middle of where the mist had been " Come " he said grabbing her arm " We must get up there by the trees " she allowed him to help her to stand,a wave of dizziness gripping her as she rose to her feet. " Steady" he said gently " I am fine " she replied shaking her head and focusing on the trees above them. Half way between the water line and the trees she was stopped by a mighty roar and great splashing and she turned to look. There in the middle of the lake the water was rising up. She felt her hand being grabbed and she was being pulled to the trees almost running backwards as she tried to see what was happening. Just as they reached the trees the waters cascaded down from the head and long neck of the monster.Keelagh stopped dead she knew what the creature was.She shook off the hand of the man and moved forward. Watching the monster,a sea dragon,emerging from the lake,the sky had darkened,it was suddenly dark as night.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=486526"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/526/486526_01b14f0398_m.jpg" align="" alt="Dragon 1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The Dragon looked directly at her,his wings emerging from the water,she knew that she was his target and her blood ran cold. Before the Dragon could make his move a roar signalled a shot of flame that seared its neck. He lifted his head Keelagh forgotten for the moment. Bryntich swooped in again and another shot of flame hit the sea Dragon. Suddenly he rose from the water and took to the sky. He would fight for his life.<br> keelagh stood on the ground and watched the battle in the air,Bryntich was a much larger Dragon,but his movements in the air belayed his size as he swooped and spun and whirled,breathing fire and slashing with his Talons when he got near. The Sea Dragon more used to the water than the air was slower in its movements,and could not turn as well,he could however slash with his Talons and twice Keelagh saw the Talons rip into her beloved friend. There was nothing she could do to help,she was powerless in this battle. Suddenly the Sea Dragon was above Bryntich and preparing to breath fire which seemed to be directed to his eyes,this would effectively blind the big Dragon if only for a little while,long enough though for the other to gain the advantage,Keelagh held her breath. Before the smaller Dragon could release his flame his head was besieged by a much smaller opponent,that swooped in and clawed at the eyes and out again,the beast roared in pain,as blood gushed from the wounds. Bryntich had flown up and over the other and now grabbed his neck in one giant claw and his back in another and in one huge move reached in with a foreclaw to go through the softer chest scales and rip out the heart of his opponent. It was over he released the body of the Sea Dragon and it tumbled back to the water,lifeless no longer a threat to anyone.<br> Bryntich flew down to the ground and landed neatly and smoothly,lying down as soon as he did. Keelagh ran to him " Bryn how badly are you hurt?" she asked him when she reached his large head. " Tis nothing a unicorn cannot cure Keely " he answered. Magryth! Keelagh realised she hadn`t seen him since she regained her senses<br> " I am here Keelagh" a voice spoke beside her, she breathed a sigh of relief of course he would be hid because of the man. She looked behind her where the man was stood his arms crossed and his hand on his chin " Well I must say you are a curious group " he said musingly " A Dragon, a Unicorn,A Wolf and a beautiful woman "<br> "You can see Magryth?" she said shocked<br> " Of course I can see all magical creatures tis the bain of my life" he laughed. Magryth snorted " So much for magical cloaks" he said joining in the laughter.<br> " I am Yailith you are Keelagh,I know because the others called you by name " He held out his hand in a gesture of friendship. Keelagh clasped his hand. " The Sea Dragon it was looking for you when it came out of that water" he said to her " Why would it want to hurt you above others?"<br> " More to the point Yailith, why was a Sea Dragon in this lake? " she looked out at the lake.<br> "It would seem Keelagh that someone wishes to stop you completing your quest" Bryntich quietly mused.<br> " yes Bryn it would seem so " Keelagh replied still looking out at the lake where the body of the Sea Dragon had now sunk out of sight. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/18/the_warrior_of_duranbro_part_three_the_w~735229/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-14:/2006/04/14/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_four~726842/lyndlj2006-04-14T11:17:21+02:002006-04-14T11:24:14+02:00 <p>Part Two... A City Waits<br> Chapter four...Of Soldiers and Sailors.</p> <p>Goltech watched with seeming disinterest the antics of the thirty men messing with the boats in the middle of the lake,her head rested on her crossed claws,and her eyes for the most part remained closed. Myriad would glance at her from time to time as she helped the men prepare for their journey.<br> It had taken four days to get together the men and find a way to get the long boats into the caverns,had they had longer they could have built better boats inside the cavern,but as it was time was running out and they had to use what they had. They had decided in the end to send three boats instead of the two Goltech had suggested,just in case something was to happen. Three boats,ten men per boat. A mixture of sailors and soldiers,for they would need both on this mission. She was pleased to discover that the sailors had as much respect for Captain Kaliq as the soldiers had and there had been no need to make decisions on who was to lead the rescue mission,it would be Kaliq. The hardest part had been trying to disguise the antics of thirty men preparing for a mission as exercises meant to be used in an emergancy. Once they had set off on their journey however it would be different,she would have to find a different and more plausible excuse for the dissapearence of thirty soldiers and sailors. But she would deal with that when it was time. Meanwhile the supplies were being loaded on to the boats and she would soon have to return to the city.</p> <p>The six men in the chamber on the third floor were discussing the strange antics of Myriad.<br> " Would you like to verify for us Klenyth that our queen has not taken leave of her senses,exercises with soldiers and sailors,what good are they against what is coming?"<br> " As we have no idea what is coming,who can say what defences will or will not work,calm yourself Bruin Our Lady knows what she does" Bruin stopped his pacing and looked at Klenyth " Do you not think that the lords of Brachnech did not do exercises? It did them no good " he declared scathingly.<br> " Brachnech had no more idea of what was coming than we have Bruin " Darg said quietly trying to calm the large rotund counsellor.<br> " We know it cannot be beaten through exercises" he turned on Darg " We think she should be restricted" he finished pompously indicating with his hand the other three gentlemen in the chamber. Klenyth looked at him,a long cool look and then turned to the others<br> " You wish to try to restrict the Queen? " he asked them quietly. Two went a lovely shade of red,the third looked calmly back. A tall stately man with dark hair and darker eyes,he smiled a slow smile " Klenyth I wish only to know what it is our Lady hopes to gain from these exercises which take soldiers and sailors from their duties,as for restricting,twould be easier to stop the wind " he finished with a wink.<br> " Has it occured to any of you that this is her way of keeping the city calm? " Klenyth asked " That by seeing things being done the people are all going about their lives without undue worry?" He turned to the tall stately man " You wish to know what she hopes to gain,surely you of all people Anton can see the benefits of keeping the people happy and the soldiers and sailors occupied" Anton bowed slightly to Klenyth " As always Klenyth I bow to your superior knowledge,the Queen shall be left to play her games " and with that he left the chamber. Klenyth watched him leave,he knew the last had been sarcastic,but he also knew for now he had won the argument the others would not follow Bruin if Anton didn`t. He knew what Myriad was doing but with a traitor in the ranks he could say nothing just protect her as best he could.<br> " Shall we continue with the days business Gentlemen?" he asked the others and they all joined him at the large table.</p> <p>Finally the boats were ready,all supplies and equipment on board soldiers and sailors distributed evenly through the boats.Only Kaliq was left to board,he stood at the side of the lake waiting for his final orders which were to come from Goltech. She had opened her eyes as the last of the men had clambered aboard.<br> " You have chosen your men well,Captain Kaliq" she said to him " All brave and strong as they will have need to be" The captain bowed to the Dragon " We are at your service,Golden One " he answered.<br> " The journey will not be easy,tis long years since the river route was last used between the cities,not since the last wars.Who knows what dangers lurk there or how the rivers have changed the shape of their course.The only guidance I can give you is to always steer to the left river when you should come across a fork. Five forks down the river changes and you have three ways to choose,you must choose the middle way. The other two ways look calmer and easier but do not be fooled Captain,choose the middle only,now go,be safe and May the Goddess of light go with you " Having finished her speech she once more closed her huge Green eyes.<br> The Captain walked to the edge of the lake,Myriad accompanied him. " Take care Kaliq,it is important that the eggs do not fall into the hands of the power beseiging Brachnech,Speedy and safe journey " He bowed low over the hand offered " I will not fail you My Lady " he turned and climbed aboard the little boat waiting to take him out to the larger boat at the head of the small convoy in the middle of the lake.<br> Myriad stood and watched as the boats one by one lifted anchor and set off into the large tunnel where the lake flowed,the oars dipping in long strong strokes.<br> " I shall leave you and return to the city Goltech " she said turning to the Dragon.<br> " There is still much to be done"<br> " The Dragons must be prepared Myriad as well as the people " Goltech answered " Argarth will do that duty for me and you must be wary of the ones close to you " she finished. Myriad waited but the Dragon said no more. Turning she made her way back out to return to the city.It was beginning to feel like old times and while she knew the dangers they would be facing, she couldnt help feeling the old thrill of adventure coursing through her veins once more. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/14/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_four~726842/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-12:/2006/04/12/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_three~721696/lyndlj2006-04-12T10:37:45+02:002006-04-12T10:44:42+02:00 <p>Part Two...A city Waits<br> Chapter Three<br> Of Queens and Couriers</p> <p>Goltech rose and as she did so the light in the cavern grew stronger reflecting and shimmering off her golden scales. Once stood the light settled to a steady strong glow.<br> " You have been long in coming Myriad" She said her voice as Golden as her body.Myriad had skirted the lake and now stood before the dragon Queen.<br> " We have a traitor Goltech,I had no desire to put the eggs in danger or you for that matter"<br> Goltechs eyes lit with amusement " There are few that can come near that I would not know and defeat " she replied. " Still your decision was wise as always,and now you have come for mine "<br> " Brachnech will fall I fear we cannot help them,the magic is too strong" Myriad sat down on a rock nearby,suddenly feeling weary and saddened at the thought that she could not help her friends in the neighbouring land. " And when it does the eyes and hands of that magic will turn this way " she continued.<br> " I know what you fear Myriad,tis almost hatching time one of the batches holds the new Queen,when she is born my time will be almost done " Goltech said quietly " It is too late to destroy the eggs,they are too near hatching,they must be rescued and brought here" she announced turning her head to look at a nearby tunnel. It was through that tunnel that the eggs lay,the only way to it was past Goltech and that would never be easy. " The city is under seige and cannot be reached because of the mist,but,it can be reached by the underground river" she turned back and looked once again at Myriad. " It will take two boats to rescue the eggs Myriad and enough men to man them,brave men,the underground river is not without danger" Myriad looked at the lake and followed its course to the tunnels,she turned back to the dragon Queen " If that is what you wish then I will find the men to do this " she told her.<br> " The new queen must be protected at all costs Myriad,she is after all the future of my race " this last was said very quietly and Myriad thought she had detected a hint of bitterness in the tone. She shook her head of course she was mistaken,wistfullness perhaps had been there a desire to be young and things be new again,Myriad herself had experienced this of late. " I will be replaced long before you Goltech " she said trying to give the dragon some comfort. She stood again " I will return to the city and make ready the means for the rescue of the eggs " she said and turned to walk away " Why did you send Keelagh on that quest myriad?" Goltech asked her gently. Myriad stopped and thought for a moment then turning she said " You dont think she will find the Warrior? "<br> " Is there one to find? Is it not just an attempt to keep her away from Duranbro?" Myriad looked at the dragon now with new eyes,Keelagh had been sent because of a dream,a vision,things that Myriad was used to getting and that she always heeded,why did Goltech not know this? " There is indeed a Warrior Goltech,the problem is when Keelagh finds him will it be in time?"<br> " Not when Myriad,<em>if</em> she will have dangers to face too, I presume Bryntich accompanies her?"<br> " She goes nowhere without him" Myriad stated calmly though slightly angered by Goltechs dismissal of the Quest.<br> " He is not the best of guardians, Myriad, clumsy and inept,surely she would have been better with an older wiser companion? "<br> " He will protect her with his life if need be Goltech,he was the one she chose,and as you already know we have lost sight of them since the mountain range "<br> " Yes I know I may go look myself when dusk comes,but it will matter not Myriad,what will be cannot be changed " and with that the Dragon Queen laid herself down and closed her eyes.<br> Myriad made her way back out of the tunnel,she was slightly puzzled with the way the Dragon Queen had acted but sighing she put it down to being worried over the eggs that lay beneath the city of Brachnech. Once back outside she found Argarth waiting for her.<br> " We must go to the boat men and the soldiers Argarth we need to find those that will go through the Dark rivers and rescue the eggs" she said to him as they walked away from the once again hidden caves.<br> " Might I suggest Myriad the good Captain Kaliq,he will know who he can trust and who will be brave enough to last such a task "<br> " You are right of course we will return to the city and I will summon Kaliq" she said and went to climb upon his back<br> " Actually Myriad I was thinking more of speaking to him now out here,where no prying ears can listen" Myriad laughed " Argarth you are the wisest of all my counsellors,and I suppose you know where the good Captain is? "<br> " He is in the meadow exercising his horse Myriad " he said lifting his great claw to point with. They walked down to the meadow and there was the tall dark captain,just as Argarth had said he would be. Myriad called to him and coming over to her he bowed and she began to tell him what she needed from him. While she talked he listened closely nodding his head every so often. Off in the distance by a stand of trees a figure stood, watching, unseen by the ones in the meadow.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/12/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_three~721696/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-11:/2006/04/11/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_two~719222/lyndlj2006-04-11T12:23:43+02:002006-04-11T12:33:42+02:00 <p>Part two..A City waits<br> Chapter Two<br> Of meetings and Men.</p> <p>Once dressed for her travels Myriad crossed to the tall windows and pulled the hangings to allow in the sunlight,as the cloth parted she jumped and gave a cry of surprise at the large eye peering in at her. " Argarth!!!" she cried " Would you be rid of me? My heart stopped then,rogue! " she finished laughing.<br> " I thought you might like me to collect you,save you the long climb up the Tower steps,and of course prevent the fumbling efforts of would-be-assasins" he said in a low rumbling voice,winking the great eye.There had been two attempts on her life in the past months and though Argarth made light of it in jests she knew it worried him.<br> " You wish me to climb out of the window? " she asked laughingly. " Well it would not be the first time,Lady of Duranbro,now would it?" he said laughing at her. She smiled at the memories of herself as a girl sneaking out of the window onto Argarths back and flying off to have adventures. The smile became wistful when she then thought of the man that had shared those adventures and who now,was missing,and had been for many years. She hoped still,<em>believed</em> still that he was out there somewhere. Though all around her believed him dead. She shook her head to dispell the thoughts and looked once again at Argarth,waiting patiently,he knew what she had been thinking. " We are cloaked once you climb out,Myriad as I can see by the way you are dressed that you intend to go somewhere else before the caverns" he said amusement in his voice " The mountain range perhaps?"<br> " You always know Argarth,what I intend to do before I do" She laughed as she climbed through the tall windows and onto his back. He turned his long neck so he could look at her,making sure she was comfortable before turning back and setting off into the sky and wheeling towards the mountain range from where Keelagh had last been seen.<br> In another room far at the other end of building from where Myriad had just departed two men sat at a table,documents open in front of them.<br> " I dont get why she cant just let us do what has to be done instead of going wandering off where she could be in danger" One of them mumbled,moving papers about. Klenyth looked at him " She is in far less danger away from here with Argarth than she is staying,seems we have those that wish her harm inside the walls of the city,but you wouldn`t know anything about that would you Darg?" Darg stopped shuffling documents and glared at Klenyth.<br> " Are you saying you think I had something to do with the attempts on her life,Klenyth?" he hissed at him,anger showing in red marks on his cheeks. " I protected her,I was the one who disposed of one of the assasins and got wounded in doing so" his voice steadily rose untill the last bit was almost shouted.<br> " Calm yourself Darg,this tension is making me suspicious of all,somewhere amongst our friends and members of the council there is a traitor,someone who wishes to speed the fall of the city by taking out its heart" Darg relaxed a little the red spots of anger diminishing.<br> " Klenyth I grew up with that woman,I watched her grow from a small child into a beautiful woman,as you did,I watched her and shared her joy when she married,I shared her pain when there could be no children after the third attempt ended once again in a sickly baby dead in days,I watched her heart be torn out when the man she loved beyond death,dissapeared,feared dead. I would give my life for that woman,our Queen,willingly and gladly" He looked down at his hands,they wre gripping the papers till the knuckles were white. Klenyth looked at him he knew that Darg was not given to long speeches,especially emotional ones,he knew he could trust him.<br> " There is something you are now to be privy to,Darg. Few people know but if ought should happen to me or Myriad then there has to be someone else who knows the secret apart from the four that already do,so listen up and I shall tell you a story " And with that he leaned forward and began to talk quietly and slowly.</p> <p>The sun was up and the valley below shone in its glow,Myriad stood where Keelagh had stood days before.Argarth had gone inside the cave and was looking for any sign that they may have left. " It seems our Dear Bryn may have had a sneezing fit" he laughed<br> " Are you sure thats what it was Argarth?" she asked nervously<br> " Oh yes " he replied putting his head through the opening " They left here fine,and entered the forest "<br> " what is that mist,is it the same as at Branbech?" she asked him pointing to the forest beyond which there lay a mist that obscured the view.<br> " No Myriad that one is just to prevent the watchers from following Keelagh,had they not been cowards and continued on they would have passed through it with no harm" he said in a derisive tone.<br> " So how do we find where she went?" she asked turning to him<br> " We dont,we wait" he said to her gently " Come Myriad time is moving and you need to speak to Goltech"<br> " Shall I send Eli?" she asked the Dragon not wanting to move,wanting to follow that elusive trail through the forest,feeling the old siren call of adventure beckoning her.<br> " Eli!what a good idea,noone will give him second thought" Argarth agreed. turning back towards the forest Myriad began to whistle,two long notes,she repeated them twice and waited.Within a few minutes she could see a small dark shape in the sky off in the distance ,as it came nearer she could make out the long feathers of his wings.She placed a leather strap on her arm and held it out full length,and the large Eagle glided down and landed gently on the outstretched arm.She stroked his feathered head with delicate fingers and he rubbed his beak against her cheek gently in greeting. " I wish you to go and find Keelagh,Eli" she said softly " go watch over her so she may come back safe" The Eagle looked at her for long seconds then rubbed her cheek again with his beak,she lifted her arm and he took flight,up an up he went and then wheeling he turned and headed to the forest.<br> They watched as he flew over the forest circled and then flew on and into the Mist.<br> "Come Argarth to the Golden one" She climbed back onto the seat on his back and once again they took to the skies.<br> Back towards the city they flew cloaked in magic so as not to be observed,landing just outside the city in front of a huge wall of green vines. As they approached the vines moved aside and there was the entrance to a huge cavern. Entering the gloomy cavern from the bright sunshine it took her a few minute to adjust to the different light before setting off down the many tunnels towards the centre. Luckily some of the tunnels were made for humans some for Dragons so Argarth would be there somewhere all the while. After what seemed like hours but was only in fact about half of one she came out into the huge Cavern that was the center,Bright it was in here,with a large lake at its middle that ran off as a river through other tunnels that could only be accessed by boat.At the opposite side of the lake to her lay The most beautiful Dragon in the land.Her colour was Golden and shone with light reflected. Huge Green eyes that now gazed at her as she stood gazing back. This was Goltech the Queen of the Dragons. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/11/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_two~719222/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-08:/2006/04/08/warrior_of_duranbro_part_two_a_city_wait~712902/lyndlj2006-04-08T19:30:35+02:002006-04-08T20:50:23+02:00 <p>Warrior of Duranbro<br> Part two..A City waits<br> Chapter one<br> Of Dragons and Deceit.</p> <p>He hurried along the cold flagged corridor,past the silk hangings and the murals,not stopping to gaze as he usually liked to do at the beautiful colours depicting the scenes of the beginning and the years since.Into the little ante-chamber where the serving girl was pouring hot chocolate in to a pot ready for serving in the main room.<br> " Is she awake" he asked the girl pausing before the door to the next chamber.<br> " At this time,she is always awake" she replied without raising her eyes from her task.<br> He tapped gently on the door and on hearing the command to enter opened the door and entered the chamber. She stood with her back to him gazing out of the window,her long dark hair was loose and flowed down her back.She wore a simple gown of palest blue the bodice criss crossed with lines of silver thread.<br> " You have news for me,Klenyth?" she asked enquiringly without turning.<br> " My lady,there is news from Brachnech " she turned and looked at him,the cool grey eyes were steady and clear.<br> " I already know the news from Bracnech,Klenyth,the Dragons fly faster than the messanger rides " she motioned for him to sit in one of the chairs at the table and she crossed and took another. He waited untill she was seated before he took his place.<br> " And what of Keelagh,Klenyth,what news of her?" she watched him as he shook his head and replied softly " No news My lady,not since she entered the forest "<br> She glanced down at her folded hands and just as quietly replied " It puzzles me Klenyth how one can lose sight of one of the largest Dragons of the realm and the warrior with him " she looked back at him her grey eyes cold " Does it not puzzle you?" she asked.<br> " My lady, the watchers were unable to go further than the mountain,when Keelagh entered the forest a great mist came down over the land and shrouded all.When it was gone so was she and Bryntich " She continued the cold stare for several moments before replying with a sigh<br> " You have told me this once already,I do not accept that the watchers could not,rather that they would not,they ran home tails between their legs the minute they came across the first hurdle " her voice was cold but still even in anger she was calm.<br> Klenyth lowered his head,he knew her anger wasn`t directed at him pesonally,still it hurt him when that cold look came in her eyes. The maid tapped on the door and entered the chamber with the steaming pot of hot Chocolate which she placed on the table with two mugs. Myriad smiled at her warmly " Thankyou Gwynn " she said and the maid smiling back bowed her head at her and left the room beaming.<br> " So to Bracnech" she said turning back to him the cold look gone from the beautiful eyes. She lifted the pot and poured two pots of steaming chocolate while she waited for him to speak.<br> " The Dragon riders cannot get near as you are already aware,we have lost four more in the past two days,we cannot afford to send more if we do we will lower our own defences " He said accepting the steaming mug.<br> " How much longer can they hold out Kenlyth?"<br> " Their own Dragons are unable to fly because of this mist that surrounds the city,we know not what magic it is,but it is powerful,it grounds the Dragons the minute they attempt to fly through it,we can get no food to them,we know not how much they have left,according to the rider a few weeks at most"<br> " And the bombardments continue,soon they will have to seal the cave entrances,if the city falls and they reach the eggs" She looked off into the distance the thought that evil magic might reach the eggs before hatching was a fate she didn`t want to contemplate. They didn`t know yet which batch of eggs held the new queen Brachnechs or Duranbros,evil magic could not be allowed to reach the queen even if it meant destroying the eggs themselves. Something else she didn`t want to contemplate.<br> " I shall have to speak with the Golden one " she said quietly " You will have to watch over the city while I am gone"<br> " Is it wise My lady? should we not be looking to prepare for the fall of Bracnech"<br> " The people are already gathering supplies to keep the city from starvation should we come under seige,nothing more can be done yet awhile. The Golden one must be consulted and news of her decision then somehow has to be conveyed to Brachnech " Klenyth rose to take his leave<br> " When will you go My Lady?" he asked as he went towards the door<br> " I will go today at some point,Argarth will take me,you will just keep people occupied I should not be long two days perhaps "<br> " I shall do your bidding My Lady and the rider?"<br> " Make him comfortable Klenyth,he cannot go home,not yet"<br> He left the chamber and she walked to the dressing room to prepare for her journey to consult the Golden One. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/08/warrior_of_duranbro_part_two_a_city_wait~712902/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk,2006-04-05:/2006/04/05/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_four~704662/lyndlj2006-04-05T16:18:49+02:002006-04-05T16:24:47+02:00 <p>Chapter four....The crossing</p> <p>Keelagh shook her head,that was no doll it moved,it blinked at her it was staring at her as much as she was staring at it,well her it was clearly female. Suddenly the little creature flapped the little wings attatched to her and floated off the hand and up to Magryths ear,with her hand cupped round her mouth she appeared to be talking to the Unicorn. Magryths head was slightly lowered and it looked as though his eyes were half closed as he listened intently to what the little creature said.<br> The man/child was staring in open mouthed wonder at the Unicorn who was now visible to all. When she had finished talking she moved back from his ear and turned looking once again at Keelagh,hovering in place,the little wings fluttering so fast they were a blur.<br> Magryth raised his head " It seems we have made the acquaintence of Trulith,she is of the Wee folk that live in the Forest of Glenich. Where apparently we are heading once we have crossed the lake?"<br> " We are?" asked Keelagh<br> " Yes to return her home,Keelagh,We are crossing the Lake anyway are we not?"<br> " Yes, to be honest Magryth this quest is one of seeking,who knows where I am to find that which I am sent to search for? I was just told to go in one direction that I would know the right way!"<br> " And so you will Keelagh and if you can help others along the way it will make the journey easier"<br> " Will you be able to sail in the boat Magryth?" Keelagh asked looking at the large craft<br> " Yes Keelagh only Bryn will be unable" She turned to the Dragon who had appeared while they talked causing the man/childs jaw to drop even farther.<br> " You will have to fly across Bryn,which I know you can do with ease but it seems a long way we cannot even see the other side from here"<br> " There is a mist Keely I have flown close to it but not through it,it hangs over the water,that is why you cannot see the other side"<br> For the first time since seeing Magryth the man/child spoke " Tis the monster" he cried quite alarmed. They all turned to look at him.<br> " I go now you takes her she will takes you over the water so you dont get sunked" and with that he turned and ran back to the rocks and scrambled over them.<br> The tiny creature once again talked into Magryths ear.<br> " We have to go Keelagh now while it is light,Trulith says we will not be able to cross when it is dark"<br> "Then let us get on the boat" walking towards where it was anchored.<br> when they had taken the packs off Bryntich and stored them on the boat and finally persuaded Wraith to get onboard Keelagh turned to Bryn who was standing on the shore. " I wish you didn`t have to fly without us Bryn,that you could fit in here too"<br> " I never was much of a sailor Keely" he said with a wink and a grin " It is you I am concerned for be careful through the mist"<br> " I will Bryn I am not much of a sailor myself though" she said grimacing at the memory of the few times she had been on a boat. she turned and climbed aboard and then turned back to wave at Bryn as he soared into the air and followed his flight as he flew out over the lake. She pulled the rope that held the anchor and as it freed the boat began to move out into the lake with the tide. As the only human aboard she had to set the sails though she wasn`t a sailor she had seen it done and after a few failed attempts and then guided by instructions from Trulith via Magryth she finally managed to get the single sail up and the wind now blew into it and the boat started to move forward at a faster rate. At first it was quite smooth and they seemed to be making good progress across the lake. Wraith was not at all happy and lay on the deck with his ears down and flat. The further they went the clearer the mist became,the nearer they got to it the more apprehensive Keelagh became. Trulith had come and settled on her shoulder at one point though she had not spoken to her yet and now she was sat in the pocket of her waistcoat with her arms and shoulders out and holding on to the edge of it as though she was leaning on some garden wall. Keelagh didn`t mind she quite liked the little creature.<br> The boat began to move into the mist and Keelagh noticed how thick it seemed like a curtain.As it closed around them she saw that she could only just make out the shapes of the others on the boat. It was dark and clammy and deathly quiet. Wraith began growling a long low rumbling sound.Even Magryth was nervous blowing air through his nostrils and shaking his long mane.The boat stopped moving the sail suddenly losing all air as the wind they had been using died. She moved to get the oars so she could get them out of this nasty place and as she did the boat began to rock,gently at first and then more violently till she could not stand and was feared she would spill over the side.Magryth was having difficulty standing and then Trulith spoke in her ear " Shout at it tell it to behave" she said " what shout at who?" Keelagh asked bewildered " The creature tell it to behave" Keelagh did not question further but instead shouted out into the mist " Leave off now behave yourself" The rocking stopped,the boat once again still,she waited and then got the oars and fastening them began to row out of the mist,the boat was half out of the mist,she at the end that was still in and Magryth at the end that was out when it began rocking again,she commanded Wraith to join Magryth but he would not move just continued to growl that low menacing growl.she shouted again at the creature to behave and the rocking slowed and they were almost out. Suddenly the boat heaved up in the water and tipped she felt herself flying towards the other end of the boat unable to grab anything to hold on to,her head hit the wood and she felt a sharp pain and then a cold sensation as she hit the water and then darkness descended. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mythsandmagic.blog.co.uk/2006/04/05/warrior_of_duranbro_chapter_four~704662/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>