It was on the sunny morning when Lord Blakeney found that the amulet he possessed was only a fake, a sham designed to trick him. His fury knew no bounds, and he was stalking round the council room while the council remained surprised.
"He... took the real amulet?" said a younger man with a pot belly.
"Yes, you fool! His powers must have been used to cloak the amulet he possessed, which would make it impossible for me to know it was really missing. This bought him some time, and we have no idea which direction he went. Blast him and his secrets!" the Lord said as he pounded his fist on the table.
At that moment the door burst open, and several men with broadswords entered the room. One of them held a dagger next to Blakeney's neck and said, "Better not to try anything, Blakeney... You've had your day in the sun. The time is ripe for a new rule! The revolution is upon you!"
Blakeney burned with wrath already, yet more bubbled to the top. But there was nothing he could do right now about this. The entire council was led down to the bottom of the Tower of Ittendom, where they were jailed in the crypt below the tower.
The room was black and Blakeney felt about with his hands. He called out, and was answered. He made his way over to the others. "The traitor must be up to something, he put them up to this!" he whispered with cunning, for he knew the young revolutionaries might be listening.
"Why do you think he is involved?" said another.
"You twit! Do you not know that he needs the time to get further away? He is bent on getting as far from us as possible. Of course he is behind it. That would make the most sense. Or are you not a rational man, but merely an idiot?!"
"Hmmm" said the other. "I see. Well then there is only one..."
"Only one thing to do!," interrupted Blakeney. "We must develop plans for an escape. And use the only thing we have as a weapon... our arts of magic!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(to be continued)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
----continued below----
There was a knock at the door. Chalmers looked at the wizard, whose expression was one of surprise. Slowly, Chalmers grabbed his sword from his side and peered out the window into the darkness. Then, he moved his hand to the door, and opened it.
Outside was a group of people of a different race. Their skin was darker, their hair more coarse, and there were two men and a woman. The oldest man with a coarse, black beard leaned closer. He spoke in a different language to Chalmers.
Chalmers answered back in the same language, and they had a conversation. He motioned them into the house, which was already crowded as it was. They sat by the firelight and talked for some time. Finally, the oldest gave Chalmers something wrapped in a bundle, and the three walked back out into the night.
Chalmers opened the bundle. Inside was a small cake and three gold coins. "These are gifts from the people of this forest. Those were people of the Naneen tribe, which has been making their home in the forest here for many hundreds of years. They were here long before this land was settled by the people of our race, but even longer ago, the Elves once inhabited this forest. At any rate, they told me something important." Chalmers frowned and turned to the wizard.
"They said you bring a great evil through this land. They said their chief physician, who is to us, a kind of magician, had told them that the evil would pass through the forest tonight," said Chalmers.
"No one should know it is here!" said Lefleur. "I am the only one who knows. I've not even told Pete."
"But still, the item you must be bearing is creating some disturbance of sorts. I believe you should do what is right regarding this," said Chalmers.
The wizard nodded in assent. He held the amulet out in his hands, passed his hands over it in several motions, and spoke some strange words. Immediately there was a shock of light which shone in his eyes and exploded in the air between the boy and the wizard. As the sound was loud, Pete was shook up. The wizard nodded, looking tired, and said "There, it is done. Perhaps I should have taken more precautions. Yet I did not know there were any magicians of that caliber out this way," said the wizard.
"They are from another time. To them, we are strangers here. They learned from the Elves much about magic, but only on the light side. Not the dark. They are on the same side as you and I," Chalmers said, smiling benevolently. "Yet I fear that evil treads closer than you think. I assume you are making for someplace far away. Be careful on your journey." Chalmers lifted his hands up. "Even though it may be very hard to sleep after such an excitement, I think you and the boy should take some rest. Here, I will give you a sleep powder which grows in the high hills among the bushes. I will stand guard over you and watch, for I fear evil may follow you. So rest tonight, and in the morning we will talk more."
The wizard nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Pete, try to get some rest. I will do the same. We have a hard day's ride tomorrow. Indeed we may ride through tomorrow's night! So gather yourself together, and rest."
Pete spoke up. "Well I've never seen anything so bright in my life as those sparks! I have many questions, but ... yes, thank you," he said as he took the powder in his hands and ingested it, following it with a cup of water which Chalmers handed to him. He gulped it down and began to speak. "But tomorrow I will.. ask.." With that, the boy began to fall asleep. The wizard moved his head to a small pillow and covered him with a blanket. The fire still burned and the room was comfortable.
The wizard spoke. "Chalmers, the boy is ignorant of so many things regarding our journey. I will tell you more about it tomorrow, before I leave." He took his own powder, and went to sleep in the corner of the room. Chalmers stood guard, peering out the window, listening to the night, his sword at his side.
There was a knock at the door. Chalmers looked at the wizard, whose expression was one of surprise. Slowly, Chalmers grabbed his sword from his side and peered out the window into the darkness. Then, he moved his hand to the door, and opened it.
Outside was a group of people of a different race. Their skin was darker, their hair more coarse, and there were two men and a woman. The oldest man with a coarse, black beard leaned closer. He spoke in a different language to Chalmers.
Chalmers answered back in the same language, and they had a conversation. He motioned them into the house, which was already crowded as it was. They sat by the firelight and talked for some time. Finally, the oldest gave Chalmers something wrapped in a bundle, and the three walked back out into the night.
Chalmers opened the bundle. Inside was a small cake and three gold coins. "These are gifts from the people of this forest. Those were people of the Naneen tribe, which has been making their home in the forest here for many hundreds of years. They were here long before this land was settled by the people of our race, but even longer ago, the Elves once inhabited this forest. At any rate, they told me something important." Chalmers frowned and turned to the wizard.
"They said you bring a great evil through this land. They said their chief physician, who is to us, a kind of magician, had told them that the evil would pass through the forest tonight," said Chalmers.
"No one should know it is here!" said Lefleur. "I am the only one who knows. I've not even told Pete."
"But still, the item you must be bearing is creating some disturbance of sorts. I believe you should do what is right regarding this," said Chalmers.
The wizard nodded in assent. He held the amulet out in his hands, passed his hands over it in several motions, and spoke some strange words. Immediately there was a shock of light which shone in his eyes and exploded in the air between the boy and the wizard. As the sound was loud, Pete was shook up. The wizard nodded, looking tired, and said "There, it is done. Perhaps I should have taken more precautions. Yet I did not know there were any magicians of that caliber out this way," said the wizard.
"They are from another time. To them, we are strangers here. They learned from the Elves much about magic, but only on the light side. Not the dark. They are on the same side as you and I," Chalmers said, smiling benevolently. "Yet I fear that evil treads closer than you think. I assume you are making for someplace far away. Be careful on your journey." Chalmers lifted his hands up. "Even though it may be very hard to sleep after such an excitement, I think you and the boy should take some rest. Here, I will give you a sleep powder which grows in the high hills among the bushes. I will stand guard over you and watch, for I fear evil may follow you. So rest tonight, and in the morning we will talk more."
The wizard nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Pete, try to get some rest. I will do the same. We have a hard day's ride tomorrow. Indeed we may ride through tomorrow's night! So gather yourself together, and rest."
Pete spoke up. "Well I've never seen anything so bright in my life as those sparks! I have many questions, but ... yes, thank you," he said as he took the powder in his hands and ingested it, following it with a cup of water which Chalmers handed to him. He gulped it down and began to speak. "But tomorrow I will.. ask.." With that, the boy began to fall asleep. The wizard moved his head to a small pillow and covered him with a blanket. The fire still burned and the room was comfortable.
The wizard spoke. "Chalmers, the boy is ignorant of so many things regarding our journey. I will tell you more about it tomorrow, before I leave." He took his own powder, and went to sleep in the corner of the room. Chalmers stood guard, peering out the window, listening to the night, his sword at his side.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chapter Five
The boy Pete Draenen followed the cloaked wizard along the trails within the treeline of the forest. This was a path he had not ever taken, and he realized he was in strange country. Unbeknownst to Pete, but not to Lefleur, silent eyes watched in the forest. There were watchers in the woods, all their minds were bent on the amulet that Lefleur possessed. Sooner or later, there would be trouble brewing.
As they crested the hill they came to a small house. The roof was simple and the building crudely constructed. A light was lit within. Slowly, the door opened, a wandering eye peeped from the shadows. "Charles... Charles, is that you?"
"Yes, Chalmers. I come to you in need of counsel and a place to rest."
The big man named Chalmers laughed heartily. "Another fix you're in, I suppose. How many is it this time?" He laughed again.
"I would have you know it's been decades since the last time I needed your assistance," the wizard retorted.
"All the same, I am glad you've kept in touch." Chalmers laughed, "Because I know you're into something foolish if you're here on some purpose or other."
"Games, must we?" said the wizard teasingly. "We have just come from Dayhue. I've brought his boy along with me for his aid."
"Chalmers is the name," said the big man, one huge hand gripped Pete's in greeting. "As you may have guessed, I'm the person Charles comes to when he's in a bind. Which he is again!" and he roared with laughter.
"Pete. Pete is my name. I want to say, I've not been in these woods in my entire life. Are they relatively safe?"
"Well, I can see that you've taken precautions," Chalmers said, gesturing at the broadsword. "You'll need it in this part of the land. There are wild creatures about,
ravenous beasts who hunt for blood. Stay on your guard here, and no mistake," he said with a hard look on his face. "It is not safe to travel here."
"The woods - what are they called?" asked Pete.
"Well stop asking questions and come inside, for Pete's sake. Hey. Wait a minute, your name is Pete, and I've just said 'for Pete's sake.' " The husky man roared again. It was apparent that he was a good-natured sort of fellow.
"I've never heard that one before," said Pete sarcastically. "But I can feel the heat within. You've a fireplace."
"Yes, many years I've lived here in comfort. But I'm a tough man and can protect myself. I'm glad you've stayed with me this night. Otherwise you might have fallen at the hands of the beasts. I assure you that you're safe with me." said Chalmers.
The wizard sat in front of the blazing fire and rubbed his hands for warmth.
--------to be continued-------
As they crested the hill they came to a small house. The roof was simple and the building crudely constructed. A light was lit within. Slowly, the door opened, a wandering eye peeped from the shadows. "Charles... Charles, is that you?"
"Yes, Chalmers. I come to you in need of counsel and a place to rest."
The big man named Chalmers laughed heartily. "Another fix you're in, I suppose. How many is it this time?" He laughed again.
"I would have you know it's been decades since the last time I needed your assistance," the wizard retorted.
"All the same, I am glad you've kept in touch." Chalmers laughed, "Because I know you're into something foolish if you're here on some purpose or other."
"Games, must we?" said the wizard teasingly. "We have just come from Dayhue. I've brought his boy along with me for his aid."
"Chalmers is the name," said the big man, one huge hand gripped Pete's in greeting. "As you may have guessed, I'm the person Charles comes to when he's in a bind. Which he is again!" and he roared with laughter.
"Pete. Pete is my name. I want to say, I've not been in these woods in my entire life. Are they relatively safe?"
"Well, I can see that you've taken precautions," Chalmers said, gesturing at the broadsword. "You'll need it in this part of the land. There are wild creatures about,
ravenous beasts who hunt for blood. Stay on your guard here, and no mistake," he said with a hard look on his face. "It is not safe to travel here."
"The woods - what are they called?" asked Pete.
"Well stop asking questions and come inside, for Pete's sake. Hey. Wait a minute, your name is Pete, and I've just said 'for Pete's sake.' " The husky man roared again. It was apparent that he was a good-natured sort of fellow.
"I've never heard that one before," said Pete sarcastically. "But I can feel the heat within. You've a fireplace."
"Yes, many years I've lived here in comfort. But I'm a tough man and can protect myself. I'm glad you've stayed with me this night. Otherwise you might have fallen at the hands of the beasts. I assure you that you're safe with me." said Chalmers.
The wizard sat in front of the blazing fire and rubbed his hands for warmth.
--------to be continued-------
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Chapter Four
It was nightfall and Pete headed out into the darkness. He heard a single whistle, and ran again to the tree. There stood the tall figure of the man he knew only as Mr. Lefleur. Lefleur was a strange man and Pete didn't know much about where he came from. He only knew that as long as he'd lived in Dayhue, Lefleur had been a friend, almost a mentor to him. Now we wondered what was on Lefleur's mind.
"Thank you for coming, Pete. Times are before us in which we must be wise in all our actions. I must tell you that we must go, now. We must leave Dayhue behind. We've got to make for my friend Chalmer's town of Dunhollow tonight!"
The old man looked down and saw the glint of the broadsword. "We're going to need that," he said in a whisper. He seemed to be thinking to himself, almost as if he were pondering the blade. He began again.
"Mount up on the horse I've brought you. His name is Archus, and he's very fast. If you have all your things, we're off."
With that, Pete mounted up and took off, quickly following his friend through the clearing to the forest line beyond.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The morning broke over the mountaintops of Darhad. Bathed in a rich glow, the meadows and trees surrounding the Tower of Ittendom made the area lovely. Inside his chamber, one at the top of the Tower, Lord Blakeney awakened from uneasy dreams. He sat up in his bed, his pulse racing. He scened out his dream: it was almost forgotten, but the bits he remembered were very clear. He saw the amulet before the Council, then he saw it turned to broken bits and scattered to the wind. The last thing he had seen in the dream was the face of the Wizard Lefleur.
Startled by this dream, he felt more or less at ease. He looked for the amulet in his bureau and found it still there. But he wondered. He remembered that the precious stone in the amulet was tough like a diamond, not easily cracked. So he got a large hammer and proceeded to pound on it. It smashed before his very eyes.
Burning with rage, he raced to the window, leaning out of it, he screamed "Lefleur! You traitor!!!"
By this time, the wizard and the boy Pete Draenen were miles beyond Ittendom.
"Thank you for coming, Pete. Times are before us in which we must be wise in all our actions. I must tell you that we must go, now. We must leave Dayhue behind. We've got to make for my friend Chalmer's town of Dunhollow tonight!"
The old man looked down and saw the glint of the broadsword. "We're going to need that," he said in a whisper. He seemed to be thinking to himself, almost as if he were pondering the blade. He began again.
"Mount up on the horse I've brought you. His name is Archus, and he's very fast. If you have all your things, we're off."
With that, Pete mounted up and took off, quickly following his friend through the clearing to the forest line beyond.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The morning broke over the mountaintops of Darhad. Bathed in a rich glow, the meadows and trees surrounding the Tower of Ittendom made the area lovely. Inside his chamber, one at the top of the Tower, Lord Blakeney awakened from uneasy dreams. He sat up in his bed, his pulse racing. He scened out his dream: it was almost forgotten, but the bits he remembered were very clear. He saw the amulet before the Council, then he saw it turned to broken bits and scattered to the wind. The last thing he had seen in the dream was the face of the Wizard Lefleur.
Startled by this dream, he felt more or less at ease. He looked for the amulet in his bureau and found it still there. But he wondered. He remembered that the precious stone in the amulet was tough like a diamond, not easily cracked. So he got a large hammer and proceeded to pound on it. It smashed before his very eyes.
Burning with rage, he raced to the window, leaning out of it, he screamed "Lefleur! You traitor!!!"
By this time, the wizard and the boy Pete Draenen were miles beyond Ittendom.
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