Transferred to Novelcrafter

Book 1(3): The Stone Seed

Ch: The birth the egg of Sedrak (symbolism of Egg)

Scene: valley of the white dragons, populated, many

Scene: starts out with King Ottomus calling over his three children from the garden, speaking with the queen who is “mother”

Scene: they witness the hatching of the dragon, a ritual and circle dance

Ch: Ottomus Tells Felsawn at water’s edge - where the stone seed idea came from

Scene: watching Sedrak fly over the sea

Scene: I want to expand my kingdom

Scene: but I am not sure how to do it yet

Scene: Felsawn’s idea about a seed, “won’t you need a kind of stone seed though,” gives his father a stone

Ch: Process of Stone Seed construction

Scene: Finding out what to do

Scene: the plan and reasons for the 5 elements

Scene: Seed construction scene

Ch: The Council

Scene: King talking to Felsawn about uneasy feeling

S: announcement and beginning (Sedrak is there beside the king’s throne)

S: Felsawn and Womlon interchange - Womlon looks tired and wounded (tried to steal the seed)

S: The chosing of Felsawn

S: The exit of Womlon

Ch: The finding of the attack

S: Felsawn finds that the seed was almost stolen

S: Tells King Ottomus

S: plans change, council with Sedrak

S: he’ll be back, prepare for war

Ch: A council to organize exodus

S: with the leaders of the people

S: plans as an organized exodus

S: desenter escapes known to be a messenger to Womlon

S: They must hurry faster now

Ch: Riding to drop the seed

S: King Ottomus speaking to his son

S: on the back of sedrak talking to him - finds out about Illia being steward?

S: The dropping of the seed

S: upon riding home they see smoke and an army coming

Ch: War in Hanone (Climax)

S: return to King Ottomus and Felsawn and Illia are together

S: battle on the shore begins, Ottomus pleads with Felsawn to leave with Illia, but he battles

S: Felsawn begins the exodus and thousands of boats launch into the sea

S: final scene with Ottomus and Felsawn - runs up to the cliff leaving father in battle

S: Final scene written as prologue (Felsawn and Womlon) at the cliffs - into the night on the back of Sedrak

Ch: Ottomus banishes Womlon

S: Father and son (Womlon) meet eachother for the last time

S: Ottomus banishes Womlon and wins the war

S: followers follow

S: we don’t know if Ottomus lives

Ch: The Morning

S: The people are in the sea and gather to hear Felsawn upon Sedrak

S: they travel for days

S: they wait as the ocean gives birth to the peak of Illia

Ch: The Kingdom restored

S: King and Queen chosen high in the mountains

S: Come down and are accepted by the people

S: Illia is sealed to the land

S: ends in song and dance

# Act 1 - Prologue

## Chapter 1: The Birth of Sedrak

### Scene:

They witness the hatching of Sedrak with a ritual and circle dance, ending with a valley of white dragons flying around, hint that Ottomus has a use for Sedrak someday

# Act 2 - Departure

## Chapter 1 - The Water’s Edge

### Scene: Watching Sedrak fly over the sea

### Scene: Ottomus desire to expand kingdom

Ottomus expresses his desire to expand his kingdom, Ottomus wonders how to accomplish it, Felsawn suggests the idea of a stone seed and gives his father a stone

## Chapter 2 - Constructing the Seed

- Scene: Discovering what to do Ottomus thinking, finding the 5 elements and how they can be or must be a big part of the stone seed creation or construct

- Scene: Seed construction begins in the deep dark places under the castle

# Act 3 - Initiation

## Chapter 3 - The Council

- Scene: King discusses unease with Felsawn before they go into the council

- Scene: Royal announcement, Sedrak at the throne

- Scene: Womlon appears wounded; reveals attempted theft and contends with Ottomus and Felsawn

- Scene: Felsawn is chosen and annointed

- Scene: Womlon exits in anger

## Chapter 4 - Discovery of the Attack

- Scene: Felsawn finds evidence of the theft attempt

- Scene: He tells Ottomus

- Scene: Plans shift; Sedrak consulted

- Scene: They predict Womlon’s return and prepare for war

## Chapter 5 - The Exodus Begins

- Scene: Council with the leaders of the people

- Scene: Strategic plans for mass exodus

- Scene: A known dissenter escapes to warn Womlon

- Scene: Urgency increases

## Chapter 6 - Dropping the Seed

- Scene: Ottomus gives final words to Felsawn

- Scene: Riding Sedrak, a revelation about Illia’s stewardship

- Scene: Dropping the seed

- Scene: Smoke and army seen on return

## Chapter 7 - War in Hanone

- Scene: Ottomus, Felsawn, and Illia reunited before battle

- Scene: Battle begins; Ottomus urges Felsawn to flee

- Scene: Felsawn leads the exodus as boats launch

- Scene: Cliffside goodbye — Felsawn leaves Ottomus in battle

- Scene: Final prologue flash-forward — Felsawn and Womlon at cliffs with Sedra

## Chapter 8 - The Banishment

- Scene: Final meeting between Ottomus and Womlon

- Scene: Womlon is banished

- Scene: Followers choose sides

- Scene: Ottomus’ fate is left uncertain

# Act 4 - Return

## Chapter 9 - The Morning

- Scene: Survivors at sea gather to hear Felsawn on Sedrak

- Scene: They journey for days

- Scene: Ocean reveals the peak of Illia

## Chapter 10 - The Kingdom Restored

- Scene: King and Queen are chosen in the mountains

- Scene: They descend and are accepted by the people

- Scene: Illia is sealed to the land

- Scene: Story ends in song and dance

The Stone Seed

Departure

Chapter 1: The Water’s Edge

Scene 1 - Watching Sedrak Fly Felsawn and Ottomus watch Sedrak soar across the sea,

* * *

Scene 2 - The Kingdom’s Expansion Ottomus expresses a desire to expand his kingdom but is uncertain how. Felsawn suggests planting a stone seed and gives Ottomus a symbolic stone.

Chapter 2: Constructing the Seed

Scene 1 - Discovering the Elements Ottomus contemplates what is required. He uncovers that five elements must be part of the stone seed’s creation.

* * *

Scene 2 - The Hidden Construction Seed construction begins in the deep, dark places beneath the castle.

Initiation

Chapter 3: The Council

Scene 1 - Before the Council Ottomus and Felsawn discuss their unease privately before entering the council chamber.

* * *

Scene 2 - Royal Declaration Sedrak is placed at the throne for the royal announcement.

* * *

Scene 3 - Womlon’s Return Womlon, wounded, reveals an attempted theft and clashes with Ottomus and Felsawn.

* * *

Scene 4 - The Anointing Felsawn is chosen and anointed.

* * *

Scene 5 - Womlon Departs Womlon storms out in anger.

Chapter 4: Discovery of the Attack

Scene 1 - Traces of Treason Felsawn uncovers signs of the attempted theft.

* * *

Scene 2 - Reporting to Ottomus Felsawn reports the findings to his father.

* * *

Scene 3 - A New Strategy Plans are revised. Sedrak is consulted.

* * *

Scene 4 - Preparing for War They anticipate Womlon’s return and begin preparing for conflict.

Chapter 5: The Exodus Begins

Scene 1 - Gathering the Leaders Council with the kingdom’s leaders is held.

* * *

Scene 2 - Strategy for Escape They form a plan for a mass exodus.

* * *

Scene 3 - The Escape Warning A known dissenter flees to alert Womlon.

* * *

Scene 4 - Rising Urgency The urgency to flee intensifies.

Chapter 6: Dropping the Seed

Scene 1 - Final Words Ottomus gives parting counsel to Felsawn.

* * *

Scene 2 - Revelation in the Sky Felsawn rides Sedrak and receives a vision about Illia’s stewardship.

* * *

Scene 3 - The Drop The stone seed is dropped to its destined location.

* * *

Scene 4 - Signs of War Smoke and armies are seen on their return.

Chapter 7: War in Hanone

Scene 1 - Family Reunited Ottomus, Felsawn, and Illia reunite before the battle.

* * *

Scene 2 - The Battle Begins War erupts. Ottomus urges Felsawn to flee.

* * *

Scene 3 - Leading the Exodus Felsawn leads the people to boats and escapes.

* * *

Scene 4 - Cliffside Farewell Felsawn and Ottomus share a goodbye at the cliffs.

* * *

Scene 5 - Flash-Forward Final flash-forward: Felsawn and Womlon stand with Sedrak at the cliffs.

Chapter 8: The Banishment

Scene 1 - Final Meeting Ottomus and Womlon face off one last time.

* * *

Ch: Inscription from the hand of Gulnerye

Ch: The World Once Was

Verse: Council, expand kingdom, joy of this

Verse: two sons, one chosen

Verse: stone seed

Verse: the war in Hanone

Verse: wandering people

Ch: The Elder Song

Verse: the coming forth of the waters

Verse: first mountain

Verse: the tree

Verse: The Four Waters

Verse: the first King and the garment

Verse: naming of all things

Verse: …

Ch: The Song of Enokel (7th Generation)

Verse: Amnber - Enokel was told to build the 3 arches

Verse: visited by King Ottomus and Prince Felsawn

Verse: …

Ch: The Flood (10th Generation)

Verse: was the Wielders War part of the flood

Verse: then the inner kingdoms had to be hid?

Verse: The Wielder’s War

Verse: The inner kingdoms

Verse: Air (about the kingdom element)

Verse: Fire (about the kingdom element)

Verse: Earth (about the kingdom element)

Verse: Water (about the kingdom element)

Verse: (Light) (about the kingdom element)

Verse: The people lived on

Verse: Seldinolum will come

Ch: Prophecy of the One

Look to the east to find the one…

Ch: Song about the pale forest

Ch: Illia’s Song

Ch: Prophecy of the birth of Seldinolum

Ch: Song of Seldinolum - NESW

Ch: Sun, Moon, and Stars

Prologue: The Announcement

Scene 1:

Goal: They are having a council

Scene 1: Rythe joins them

Goal: Clal and Ansa wake up from nap and think it’s going to be another long rest of the day

Incident: Rythe joins them and talks about the RISHK

Turn:

Questions:

Scene 2: Water’s edge

Goal: Clal and Ansa wake up from nap and think it’s going to be another long rest of the day

Incident: Rythe joins them and talks about the RISHK

Turn:

Questions:

Ch 3: Camp

Scene 1: The Fireside

Goal: Fun stories

Incident:

Turn:

Questions:

Scene 2: Gree & Mina’s gifts

Goal: Given stones from Gree and little people from Mina

Incident:

Turn:

Questions:

Not Transfered to Novelcrafter

Book 1(3): The Dragon Summoner

Ch 4: Visions

Scene 1: The Woman at the Water

Goal: Clal awakes and goes back to the water

Incident: Sees a woman

Turn:

Questions:

Scene 2: The Fire People

Goal: As he walks back to camp he looks into the fire

Ch 7: The Feast that Never Was

Scene 1: Breaking away from the throng of boys

Goal:

Incident:

Turn:

Questions:

Scene 2: Into the Chosen Chamber

Goal: Follow symbols and Morgreth’s directions

Incident: Chased by guards

Turn:

Questions:

Scene 3: Inside Chosen Chamber

Goal: Find out what this is all about

Incident: Someone enters

Turn:

Questions:

Chapter 8: Ansa’s Worry

Scene 1: Clal’s in danger

G: Ansa Wakes up to do normal tasks as tailor’s assistant

B: Feels that Clal is in danger.

T: Tells Gwyn about her feeling after Gwyn notices something wrong. Ansa wants to go to Talon’s so Gwyn agrees.

Q: what is going on with Clal? Why is Gwyn so nice?

Scene 2: To the Smithy

G: To find Clal at Talon’s

B: Clal not there, locked, can’t get in to see more.

T: Gwyn suggests go to inn keeper who hears all rumors. They go.

Scene 3: The Inn
G: Talk to the Inn Keeper
B: Has information about the boys, asked about Talon, both left this morning together.
T: Need to get into the castle if Clal’s there. Gwyn’s idea is to make delivery. Asks for aparons. She also writes a note.

Scene 4: Castle Guards

G: go to castle to be let in by guards

B: the guards state there are no deliveries on Adentus Day

T: Gwyn pleads, offers gold, then threatens. Says the aporons are for the feast that is only in a few hours.

T: wins over benevolent guard and is escorted in, given clothes adn note from Gwyn.

T: Gwyn gives her a mysterious ring: “Keep it. It will protect you and guide you. It was mine once. I’ll explain later.” (sun, moon, star coin)

T: Gwyn she holds Ansa’s face almost…says she just reminders her of someone she once knew. (her own mother because she is a Wielder and so was her mother.)

Q: Who was the person she is reminded of? How can a ring protect and guide?

Chapter 9: Ansa in the castle

Scene 1: Head Mistress

G: Intends to meet head mistress and explain Gwyn’s plan

B: can’t find the note, tension.

T: But the woman sees the ring and Ansa doesn’t need the note. (never finds it because someone evil finds it. Comes up later.). The woman means something to her, and knows it’s Gwyn’s ring, believs her now and tells a little bit about the meaning of the coin or at least why Gwyn and her are connected…doesn’t reveal full meaning of ring yet.

Q: What is this ring?

Scene 2: Garden scene

G: They go to the garden to pick flowers. White roses. Never seen by Ansa before.

B: Ansa distracted by a Castle Sparrow that takes particularly fondness of Ansa (Hittle). Playful and intelligent. (Hittle comes every year sent by Gulnerye to be at Morgreth’s becon call and prepare for The Chosen One coming, to aid him.)

T: Ansa remembers the bird for later when they are out of the castle when Hittle leads them along.

T: Bell rings and they hurry to the feast to help.

Scene 3: Ansa at feast

G: Ansa goes to find Clal, speak with him, check on him. Clal and Rythe not there, hears boys speaking about the two of them and find out interesting information, key players of evil.

T: Hittle leads her out and away

Scene 4: Ansa to the Chosen Chamber
Goal: Hittle leads her

Incident:

Turn:

Chapter 10: Chosen Chambar

Scene 1: Ansa’s Story

G: They are all confused not knowing why they are there, Clal, Rythe, and Ansa. The room is empty and slightly cramped.

B: Morgreth comes through secret passageway in stone wall. He tells Clal that he is the chosen one and states the 3 criteria: (brought a stone, not supposed to be there, orphaned.) Asks Clal to show the stone and a sister stone lights up on the wall, only Clal could do that, “go ahead, push it.”

T: He hesitates, unsure of himself, speaks this and Morgreth comforts him. they walk through another door which seals itself.

STEP 2: HERO’S JOURNEY - REFUSAL OF THE CALL

Scene 2: The Sister Stone / Morgreth Arrives and instructs

G: When the door shuts, Morgreth starts to say something but Clal’s light grows & the room lights up, activates.

B: Clal, Rythe and Ansa watch unsure of what’s going on. As the light continues and while the wonder grows, Morgreth tells Clal that he is the Chosen one.

T: And so starts the schooling, the explaining. “Everything you need to begin your journey is in this room.” “I will send for Jestro and he will lead you out safely when ready.” Morgreth leaves, still without an explanation of why the stone glows. “Clal for the second time is frustrated he forgot to ask Morgreth this time.”

T: On the floor of the chamber it says, “At the Last” (which means that this is where they must go in the very end to continue their journey, this is where Illia is hidden.)

STEP 3: HERO’S JOURNEY - SUPERNATURAL AID

Scene 3: Exploring after Morgreth leaves

G: They explore, find things, exciting, wonder

B: nothing makes sense, must trust. But the Dragon Summoner is there, and Clal feels something strong within.

T: They turn to conversations about the dragona nd focus on picture of dragon and everything “dragon.” that becomes their central focus.

Scene 4: Jestro Comes

G: Jestro comes to take them, they go and look to get weapons

B: Clal says he knows where weapons are instead, (secretly wanting the sword he saw)

T: conflict between the three and Jestro but Clal wins them over.

Q: Why does Clal want to figure out the weapons issue on their own.

T: Jestro says that the tunnel is fairly short. locks door into the darkness.
STEP 4: HERO’S JOURNEY - CROSSING THE THRESHHOLD

Chapter 11: Into the Dark

Scene 1: Through the dark out to the end of the tunnel outside

Scene 2: Gwynn’s

Scene 3: Talon’s Shop and the fire

Scene 4: In the woods, a fitful sleep

Chapter 12: due north

Scene 1: Morning sword

Scene 2: Morgreth

Scene 3: To Amnbir

Scene 4: Enter Amnbir and Gulnerye

Scene 5: Sleep conversation

Chapter 13:

Scene 1: The stone on the ancient book - Ansa solves Gulnerye’s riddle

Scene 2: Fallen Tree Bridge & up the dragon tail river to find the dragon summoner

Scene 3: The Guard Chase

Scene 4: Ansa Saves Clal in the water

Scene 5: Behind the Waterfall

Chapter 14:

Scene 1: The discovery of the twin wielders

Scene 2: Listening through the wall

Scene 3: inside the RISHK lair

Scene 4: Escaping the RISHK

Chapter 15:

Scene 1: Crying Ansa

Scene 2: Awake Ansa at the sea Rythe talk to Clal alone

Scene 3: Meeting of Orry and Aerol

Scene 4: Deeper secrets shared outside of Orry’s home in the forest

Scene 5: Meal with Orry and Aerol as they speak more about the South > sleep

Chapter 15: Morgreeth in the night

Scene 1: Morgreth in the night

Scene 2: Awake and to the sea

Scene 3: Turmultuous Boat ride Ansa’s powers

Scene 4: Clal into the sea door

Chapter 16: The 5 dimensions

Scene 1: Kelv / Entry

Scene 2: Edaph / Entry

Scene 3: Mirrim / Entry

Scene 4: Nilth / Entry

Scene 5: Illia / Entry

Chapter 17: The Dragon Summoner

Scene 1: Summoning the dragon

Scene 2: Hanone

Scene 3: Sea of Glass

Scene 4: To rescue the others

Chapter 18: The Tempest Rescue

Scene 1: Gathering the companions

Scene 2: Good bye to Orry and Aerol

Scene 3: On the back of Sedrak

Scene 4: Goodbye to Sedrak

Chapter 19: The Cliffs of the Dawning of Time

Scene 1: In the chamber

Scene 2: the stone / light show

Scene 3: the 3 other companies

Scene 4: the portal back home

Scene 5: in the cottage

Sift through book 1 notes ABT

Book 1: The Summoned

Ch1: (m9.7) The Stone

S.1.1.1: Clal on shore or top of Crescent-Keep

G: Clal goes to say goodbye to the sea/mountain

B: Not enough time to do it properly, Ansa bothers him

T: Races off to the cart with Ansa instead of lingering

Q: Why are they in a hurry in the first place? Why does Clal gather?

STEP 1: HERO’S JOURNEY - CALL TO ADVENTURE

S.1.2.2: Saying Goodbye

G: Asks Grea & Willa about parents during farewell

B: Grea & Willa know little - tell some

T: realizes he must find more out, determines to start somewhere

Q: Who are they really? What really happened?

S.1.3.3: Driving away - Feelings/Stone

G: Internal desire to ignore his feelings

B: Ansa voices her exact feelings

T: Talk about and accept future unpredictability together, eludes to danger, unknown paths,

Q: What is going to happen?

G: Clal wants to know about the stone

B: Ansa shows him the stone and he feels something, it illuminates

T: Clal is facinated

Q: Why is the stone glowing?

S.1.4.4: The dreams

G: Clal sleeps

B: Hears a voice with strange words

T: Adds to his curiosity

Q: What do the words mean?

Chapter 2: Reflections in the Water

S.2.1.5: Camp

G: Clal tries to connect with Turl

B: Turl is cold Clal, insults Ansa, Clal defends her in anger, Turl insults with “we aren’t blood relation,” Mina cries.

T: Clal heightened desire to know what happened when Turl went North

Q: What happened to Turl? What’s up North?

S.2.2.6: Ansa and Clal talk more about the stone

G: Clal wants to know everything when Ansa found stone, sensing she hadn’t told him all.

B: Ansa doesn’t tell him yet but almost does. Instead, falls asleep

T: Determination heightened, causes curiosity to fester too much so he ventures off to a near stream

S.2.3.7: To the stream/river

G: Clal wants to test out the stone again

B: Unexpected thing happens, a woman stands behind him in the reflection

T: Memorizes face, feels familiar feelings, comfort, never felt like this

Ch3: (t9.8) Eldan Vyum

S.3.1.8: Mina Interrupts

G: Clal tries to tell Ansa about last night, woman reflection

B: Mina visits with them. She shares what Turl told her about his trip to the North.

T: Clal decides that he will confront Turl after they get setup at the Market

Q: More mystery about Turl. More waiting to hear more about the stone. Wait to see how Ansa reacts to Clal’s reflection incident.

S.3.2.9: Eldan Vyum description

G: Entering Eldan Vyum just like every other year

B: But his purpose is different, he realizes and we won’t be able to enjoy selling apples this year

T: he voices it to Ansa and she fills him with confidence, hope, wonder, and happy words, Clal gains new excitement

S.3.3.10: Market Setup

G: Talon comes, leads them to the place saved for them to set up

B: Turl continues to be upset and refuses to help and is short with Clal

T: Confronts Turl sooner than expected, out of anger, Talon concerned, twins leave sooner, “Clal wait…”

Q: More questions about what Turl said, something new?

S.3.4.11: Ansa to Gwyn

G: Clal wants to know more about stone before Ansa and he part

B: They have no privacy

T: She tells him to come in a few days and they will talk about it.

T: Clal walks home with Tallon and sleeps.

Q: What more is there to know?

Ch4: (w9.9) Into a Necklace

S.4.1.12: Day1 Clal and Talon

G: Clal explores the virtures of the stone

B: Caught by Talon, (but not the light, just the stone)

T: Clal agrees to make first task be holder for stone, Talon suggests

Q: Why did Talon act strange toward stone? What does he know?

S.4.2.13: Wander in city

G: To go and visit the apple stand where Mina and Turl are

B: Never gets there, because halfway there realizes stone is gone

T: Heads back to the smithy

Q: Wonder how Turl and Mina are fairing?

Ch5: (t9.10) Talon Tells History

S.5.1.14: Day2 Learn History

G: Clal almost tells Talon about the stone

B: Talon teaches and talks history instead

T: Feels ever more desperate to get answers

Q: About history. Opening up more questions about the world.

S.5.2.15: The Customer

G: Afternoon full of working on necklace holder

B: Customer comes providing information and speaks in riddles and who bought nothing.

T: Clal asks Talon about it but he only gives him half answers, Talon also leaves with the customer

Q: Why is Talon acting strange again? Who was this customer?

S.5.3.16: Clal shop details

G: Goes to work again while Talon is gone with customer

B: Clal too curious and snoops around

T: Sees daggers, weapons, then the sword in the wall in the box

Q: what is this stuff? Foreshadowning

Ch6: (f9.11) Visit to Ansa

S.6.1.17: Questioning Talon

G: Clal works again on the stone holder

B: curiosity about who Talon is drives him to questioning

T: Asks Talon, get’s answers that cause him to think Talon may know more about the stone, History, About Talon, hints at past magic in this world

S.6.2.18: necklace struggle

G: Clal works till evening, painstakingly trying to finish up the last of the stone holder

B: Can’t do it. He makes a necklace stone holder that is too small. Keeps it (later in book 2 gives to Ansa for a stone she receives.)

T: Talon tells him to figure it out on his own, “use the right tools” is the lesson, and Clal does.

S.6.3.19: Ansa “Tell Talon”

G: Visits Ansa

B: and they talk about what been up to, shows Ansa necklace, Clal mentions Talon like he knows more than he lets on, talk about the stone

T: learn about voice Ansa heard and other details, Clal’s dream and the woman in reflection

T: Ansa tells Clal to talk to Talon about it

Q: What will Talon say? What does he know?

Ch7: (f.9.11) The Vanishing

S.7.1.20: Talon is gone

G: To wake up Talon and tell him right away

B: Talon is gone and the place is a wreck

T: Clal grabs things and runs back toward Ansa’s

Q: Where is Talon? Who took him? What happened?

S.7.2.21: Clal meets Rythe

G: Running toward Ansa’s

B: Run into Rythe “Hey, slow down and watch where you’re…Clal?”

T: Rythe gets involved after Clal tells him what’s going on, “I think I know what happened.” Clal stays with Rythe at the inn for the night.

S.7.3.22: Explains Rishk

G: Before bed Rythe begins to tell story about Talon talking about Rishk in this very inn one night. Get’s to more explanation

B: A knock at the door, they jump right at scary moment of story

T: Inn keeper saw light under door, thought would offer Adventus special drink…instead Clal asks what he knows about Talon, if he’s seen him? No. They go to bed.

Ch8: (s9.12) Adventus with Rythe

S.8.1.23: Clal to Castle

G: Rythe tells Clal to wait here till tomorrow, he’ll pay

B: But Clal tells him that he’s coming, Clal shows him the stone and says he needs to ask Morgreth about it that he’s the only one. He does not show him the glowing effect.

T: Rythe changes his plans and thinks of a way to get him in. He will distract and Clal will sneak in.

Q: will this actually work? What’s going to happen?

S.8.2.24: Into the Castle

G: They go to sneak into the castle

B: Clal sneaks in, but now they are locked in, ppoint of no return,

T: reality sets in for Clal, realizes he didn’t have a plan beyond this to get out.

S.8.3.25: Nice Boys

G: Try not to bring attention to himself, Clal

B: Friendly boy, Aerol and his friend talk to Clal and Ryth

T: Ease Clal’s emotions, seets up relationship for further plot. (Rythe leaves and Clal continues to talk, until the very last set of boys and he stands up and walks to the front.

Q: what role will the two boys play, one from North and one from South? Or both from the North.

Q: reveals clal has never been anywhere but Lyrune and Eldan for market.

Q: Why has he been so sheltered?

S.8.4.26: Morgreth

G: Clal to ask Morgreth about the stone.

B: Morgreth controtls the conversation with questions & Clal is rushed out fof the chamber with a metal tube & scroll inside.

T: Reads the scroll while alone, in the castle hall on the way back to the great hall. Reads by torch light. (suspense almost caught by guard) “move along lad.”

Chapter 9: Do Scroll’s Directions

S.9.1.27: Mean Boys

G: Clal is angered and now he again wishes to not be bothered.

B: 3 boys from the north bullies, they see Clal, they want something of Rythe’s, ask questions, get Clal and Rythe’s names as the other nice boys mention their names.

T: Rythe makes enemies and Clal isn’t nice either

T: the boys become issue in the feast and in future S.s and books.

TG: looks like fight will ensue

B: Bell rings at height of conflict with boys and Clal/Rythe. All the boys start getting up and heading toward the feat place

T: Clal could not tell Rythe the plan and just grabs him and says “Follow Me.”

Q: Where are they going and will Rythe follow?

S.9.2.28: Men’s Secrets Hall

G: To follow Morgreth’s directions on the scroll, for Rythe to follow. Followed the symbols several times.

O: interrupted by two men quietly talking in one of the halls they are supposed to go down. Overhear someone (Renthar) talked to the King about a man (Talon) and negotiating because the King needs (the man’s) handy work. Blackmail. King pleads with (Renthar).

T: “Did you hear something” They come closer, Clal throws a stone from his pouch, distracts, they pass by unscathed and secretly safe.

S.9.3.28.5: Open Wall

G: Keep following signs

B: Guards come, surrounded.

T: A wall opens in front of them “out of the blue”. “Should we jump in?” Rythe grabs him and they both fall in. then hears someone jump in behind them. Wall closes.

Chapter 10: (s9.12) Ansa’s Feeling

S.10.1.29: Clal in Danger?

G: Ansa Wakes up to do normal tasks as tailor’s assistant

B: Feels that Clal is in danger.

T: Tells Gwyn about her feeling after Gwyn notices something wrong. Ansa wants to go to Talon’s so Gwyn agrees.

Q: what is going on with Clal? Why is Gwyn so nice?

S.10.2.30: Talon’s Smithy

G: To find Clal at Talon’s

B: Clal not there, locked, can’t get in to see more.

T: Gwyn suggests go to inn keeper who hears all rumors. They go.

S.10.3.31: The Inn

G: Talk to the Inn Keeper

B: Has information about the boys, asked about Talon, both left this morning together.

T: Need to get into the castle if Clal’s there. Gwyn’s idea is to make delivery. Asks for aparons. She also writes a note.

S.10.4.32: Castle Guards

G: go to castle to be let in by guards

B: the guards state there are no deliveries on Adentus Day

T: Gwyn pleads, offers gold, then threatens. Says the aporons are for the feast that is only in a few hours.

T: wins over benevolent guard and is escorted in, given clothes adn note from Gwyn.

T: Gwyn gives her a mysterious ring: “Keep it. It will protect you and guide you. It was mine once. I’ll explain later.” (sun, moon, star coin)

T: Gwyn she holds Ansa’s face almost…says she just reminders her of someone she once knew. (her own mother because she is a Wielder and so was her mother.)

Q: Who was the person she is reminded of? How can a ring protect and guide?

Chapter 11: Ansa in the castle

S.11.1.33: Head Mistress

G: Intends to meet head mistress and explain Gwyn’s plan

B: can’t find the note, tension.

Q: What is this ring?

S.11.2.34: Garden scene

G: They go to the garden to pick flowers. White roses. Never seen by Ansa before.

T: Ansa remembers the bird for later when they are out of the castle when Hittle leads them along.

T: Bell rings and they hurry to the feast to help.

S.11.3.35: Ansa at feast

G: Ansa goes to find Clal, speak with him, check on him.

B: Clal and Rythe not there, hears boys speaking about the two of them and find out interesting information, key players of evil.

T: Ends up walking out of feast, wander for a moment wondering what to do and upset about the boys talking about them.

B: sees sun/moon/stars symbols and starts to follow

T: follow the symbols, guard chases her, she gets to the Hero’s Chamber and jumps in.

Chapter 12: Hero’s Chambar

S.12.1.36: The Sister Stone

G: They are all confused not knowing why they are there, Clal, Rythe, and Ansa. The room is empty and slightly cramped.

T: He hesitates, unsure of himself, speaks this and Morgreth comforts him. they walk through another door which seals itself.

STEP 2: HERO’S JOURNEY - REFUSAL OF THE CALL

S.12.2.37: Chosen One Proof

G: When the door shuts, Morgreth starts to say something but Clal’s light grows & the room lights up, activates.

B: Clal, Rythe and Ansa watch unsure of what’s going on. As the light continues and while the wonder grows, Morgreth tells Clal that he is the Chosen one.

T: On the floor of the chamber it says, “At the Last” (which means that this is where they must go in the very end to continue their journey, this is where Illia is hidden.)

STEP 3: HERO’S JOURNEY - SUPERNATURAL AID

S.12.3.38: Exploring

G: They explore, find things, exciting, wonder

B: nothing makes sense, must trust. But the Dragon Summoner is there, and Clal feels something strong within.

T: They turn to conversations about the dragona nd focus on picture of dragon and everything “dragon.” that becomes their central focus.

S.12.4.39: Jestro Comes

G: Jestro comes to take them, they go and look to get weapons

B: Clal says he knows where weapons are instead, (secretly wanting the sword he saw)

T: conflict between the three and Jestro but Clal wins them over.

Q: Why does Clal want to figure out the weapons issue on their own.

T: Jestro says that the tunnel is fairly short. locks door into the darkness.
STEP 4: HERO’S JOURNEY - CROSSING THE THRESHHOLD

Chapter 13: Into the Dark

S.13.1.40: Tunnel Visitor

G: Darkness tunnel under the castle, Clal shines the light to lead them. Plan to get out and keep going. Should be okay and safe.

B: they hear someone and they have to go a different way as the tunnel splits, and there are a few ways. They search through and don’t know what is in front of them, whether they are going toward or away from the castle.

T: they travel for a very long time and end up coming out

- to the far west of Eldan Vyum at night. They do not sleep.

S.13.2.41: (s9.12) Morgreth

G: To go to Talon’s shop to get armor

B: Morgreth comes down the road mid night, moon full, tells them of danger, how the King and his officials found out who Clal, Rythe, and Ansa are. (the mean boys which Ansa mensions she overheard) They are heading to your home in hours and “I’m going to warn them.” “You didn’t do anything wrong. From now on, expect similar actions in the future.”

T: go to Gwyn’s,

S.13.3.42: The Statues

G: go towards Gwyn’s

B: Clal is struck, they think it’s someone, but it’s a statue

T: they learn of the 6 statues, prophesied, Clal sees himself and the sword. Ansa and Rythe find themselves, they feel and know, but the statues have no faces. (they don’t see how many statues there are)

S.13.3.42: Gwyn’s Midnight

G: come to Gwyn’s in the middle of the night, she opens the door, Go to let Gwyn know of danger, and that she will not be staying. Warn her.

B: Gwyn tells them of the sun, moon, stars symbol meaning, Morgreth adopted but much older than Morgreth, while they eat.

T: Gives them clothes and watches out for them.

B: Pounding on door and they must hurry.

S. 13.3.42: Talon/Jestro

G: Go to Talon’s

B: Meet Jestro. He was one who was sent to search and and investigate. He knew where Clal was planning on getting weapons. And brought another who is the order of Morgreth. Tells them that all that Talon does is owned by the kingdom and that he gives Clal permission to take what he needs.

T: they go inside and Jestro keeps watch.

S. 13.4.43:

G: They go to get weapons

B: Renthar and Sceldruc appear, hear sounds, almost find the THE3 but Hittle is there to scare them away. They catch the place on fire.

T: Just barely get weapons, the sword, daggers, other useful things.

Chapter 14: Onward

S.14.1.44: Ansa, Sword, Book

G: Ansa is freaking out, crying, sad. They are in the forest. Farther into the forest but they can see the fire and smoke in the night.

B: Rythe brings up the Rishk, the inn more, Talon, and his night in the forest a few months ago when the Rishk came.

(leaves out the ending where the stream flashes white with light)

T: He tells him of his desire to stop these men, he inspires Clal and Ansa, tells them they can be stopped and that he thinks he was born to do it, and now he knows why, because he is chosen too, along with Ansa and Clal, we have a purpose to fulfill, and it’s not by chance so we can do it.

T: and we know that we have three other companions that will be together with us.

T: Ansa felt much better after that and they all slept inspired.

STEP 5: HERO’S JOURNEY - BELLY OF THE WHALE - POINT OF NO RETURN

Ch15: (su9.13) The Bird

S.15.1.45: The Sealed Book

G: wakes up and Clal looks at sword,

B: Ansa finds letters on it “NMEKI”, she looks in the book but finds no reference but nothing there.

T: sees that it’s sealed for the first time, reads some interesting things or at least starts when Hittle comes and leads them along.

S.15.2.46: Hittle’s hiding place

G: they follow Hittle who leads them to a well hidden place.

B: rains come and the dismal sky dampens their spirits

T: Ansa feels to tell Clal about what Gwyn said, “I think she knew our mother Clal.” Shows him her ring. Also find out Rythe is orphaned as they tell him they are orphaned for the first time. Then Clal asks Rythe about the North again (to understand why Turl changed after visiting)

S.15.3.47: Retold: Woman Reflection

G: Ansa coaxes Clal to have him tell Rythe about the woman reflection. He tells them and talks about the stone touching the water and the flash of light.

B: Rythe adds the ending of the story he told last night where the river shined right when he needed it. He goes to the stream nearby and and touches the water thinking.

S.15.4.48: To Amnber

G: Hittle comes again and coaxes them to continue moving. He takes them to the stone walls. No way in.

B: clal shines the light and it opens to them

T: and they pass into Amnber.

S.15.5.49: Gulnerye

G: they explore and he uses his stone, lights up everything, ruins on the stones.

B: bird comes to life, fire bird attaching Clal.

T: has to fight the bird until he defeats it and it comes to life as a man, Gulnerye.

S.15.6.50:

G: they ask questions mainly about dragon, Sedrak lives where he is from

B: and he talks to them about finding a river that will lead them to the floating island.

T: He leaves and they sleep in Amnber

Ch16: (m9.14) Up the river - Guards

S.16.1.51: Rythe and Guards

G: they follow the river in the morning, Ansa figured out which river already, come to a bridge

B: and guards are there but they only see Rythe. Insist on bringing him into the castle for investigation.

T: Rythe is rude, assaults out of protect of self, now on the run to hide.

T: fork in river, can’t wait for Ansa to pull out book to check map so they go the wrong way (but they don’t know it.)

S.16.2.52: Quick Detoure

G: They are walking up the river, they meet someone kind, nice, a wielder of old who can tell these three are something special.

B: Find out this water comes from a spring that flows outward feeding the other river. Place of Four Waters, and the spring flows in four directions.

T: They wonder where the other waters flow to. They eat and sleep.

Ch17: (t9.15) To the correct River

S.17.1.53: Get a Boat

G: The next morning the woman greets them. They mention where they are going.

B: The woman offers for them to take her boat and oars.

T: They now have a boat.

S.17.2.54:

G: They set out to meet up with the other river again, this time crossing through the forest and not backtracking down the river and up the right one again.

B: The boat becomes heavy and they struggle to carry.

T: they rest and read more in the book and notice doorway markings and figure out that they must follow the doors that will open on Clal’s command or touch or something, to find the dragon.

S.17.3.55: Into the Deep

G: Cross the ocean to get to the floating island

B: the ocean is wild, storm before them, seems impossible

T: But Hittle comes to cheer them on and to guide them, they move further and further into the deep ocean off the shore.

S.17.4.56: Break through

G: trying to find the floating island, they get to a wall of rain.

B: Clal shines his light and sees a doorway in the rain

T: they move toward it, hittle sits ont he boat, and they push through into and through the magic that keeps the floating island hidden.

S.17.5.57: Lone Clal into First Door

G: they see the first marking on bottom of Skyland

B: and now Clal realizes the door isn’t up there, it’s underneath the ocean’s surface

T: Clal dives in, after a few attempts enters the hidden door.

Open Door: pathway of light that leads him there, just like in the 2nd book in the desert

Ch18: (t9.15) The Dimensioins

S.18.1.58: Fire

G: Clal needs to get to the next door

B: must jump through fire and is burned, clothes melt away

T: he also sees illusions of things he wants and things he desires, of love.

(opens the next door according to how he will do so during quest.)

Open Door: through a cloud of dust, sand which is also under water in Book 3 finding the door.

S.18.2.59: Water

G: Clal needs to get to the next door

B: drowning in water and can’t breath, pockets of air keep him alive that he breaths, bubbles

T: sees the dark one. And gets trhoug the next door

(opens the next door according to how he will do so during quest.)

Open Door: currents under water push him toward the door and it opens, “wind currents”

S.18.3.60: Air/Ice

G: Clal needs to get to the next door

B: breaks through the ice surface, and freezes almost to death.

T: the twins come and rescue him, cast the mist away

(opens the next door according to how he will do so during quest.)

Open Door: solid ice like the 2nd peak of Crescent-Keep mountain in Book 4, this stone Clal sees it and runs around it to find some opening. It’s a peak in the middle of the scene with a larger peak jutting up into the sky. He finds the door in the smaller peak.

S.18.4.61: Earth

G: Clal needs to get to the next door

B: he is in water but there is stone aboe him lke he’s in a cave. He shines his light to see. And below, he sees something glowing deep below, a cirlce. But he can’t seem to keep his breath and comes up to the surface 2-3 times.

T: takes one big breath and baretly makes it about to suffocate/drown. He does drown but his foot touches it and it sucks him in the door.

(opens the next door according to how he will do so during quest.)

Open Door: by way of floor

S.18.5.62: Light/Sea of Glass

G: Clal needs to summon the dragon

B: but the singing voice, the perfect calm, the sea of glass, the stillness, the sweet smell of the air, it captovates him, and he stays there what feels like forever, about to sleep forever,

T: but he remembers his quest and can hardly pick up the summoner as it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. He feels like he wants to live here and begins to forget his friends.

T: calls the dragon and he begins to float down.

Ch19: (t9.15): Summoned

S.19.1.63: The Dragon

G: Meets Sedrak, tells him of his friends and that they should go.

B: Clal tells his true feelings about inadequacy. Gains further understanding of parents, and of wielders, and gains advice.

They do fly high and see Hanone. “Hanone is not a myth Clal. You’ve now seen it.”

T: Clal is changed. Fully committed and no doubt of his journey any more from this point on.

S.19.2.64: The Gift

G: Larkin and Skyla come and they don’t get to talk about why they are here yet.

B: Clal tells them that he remembers them in the dimensions and they affirm that they were doing other things and felt to go to your aid.

T: Fast friends and they get on Sedrak’s back and zoom through each dimension. Get back to the real world and Clal is thrust off into the ocean by Krothwing.

Ch20: (w.9.16 430am) Climax

S.20.1.65: The Drowning

G: The friends are now drowning the boat sinking. It’s almost too late. They hit some rocks when trying to come to shore. Larkin spots the boat with Ansa and Rythe.

B: Dragon and friends come to rescue them. Ansa says the book is soaked and ruined…but when they inspect, it does not show any signs of being soaked.

T: Sedrak adds an additional idea or note about the magic of the world then they all get on and fly toward the North East where the Dawning of Time Cliffs are.

S.20.1.65: The Rishk

G: They try to fight the Rishk

B: They have powers that none of them obtain. Less about fighting and more about surviving and escaping.

T: have to work together without the dragon most of the time.

S.20.2.66: Travel to Dawning’s Cliffs

G: They fly over Illian land on Sedrak’s back, perceived safe

B: Krothwing comes and attacks but is surprised when Larkin and Skyla talk to him as once an old friend.

T: Larkin and Skyla talk about Krothwing and reveal more information.

S.20.3.67: Sedrak’s Goodbye

G: They dismount and Sedrak says good bye

B: The twins stay which was a surprise

T: Ansa shows Skyla the book, Ansa also notices Larkin for the first time and Rythe and Skyla have an exchange. And because they are there Clal is able to understand what to do next.

S.20.4.68: Clal advances alone, tree of life, test

G: There is an inner chamber that Ansa uses the key on. They advance. They walk forward but are stopped. stone wall, a tree is etched onto it,

B: Clal must go alone through a door (or it locks him in before the others are able to follow) that he opens with his “magic stone”, when he puts his stone to it it lights up then opens.

T: Clal must go through a test (Lehi’s dream) to hold to a metal pole or rod while he traverses through darkness and peril to a shining tree. It’s a security measure to prove that the chosen one is the only one to be able to get through.

S.20.5.69: The Test

G: Clal tries to get to the tree

B: Mist of darkness, thundering, earth quake, voices, laughing,

T: Because Sedrak showed him Hanone, he knows what he’s seen, and the gift of the twins from Edaphylas, he gains inner strength knowing this is his calling, he and only he, and he mentally triumphs, then physically triumphs.

UNWRITTEN HISTORY:

The Rishk: Authored by King Emish

King Emish seeks to rule all of Illia
He seeks greater power
He gets in contact
The place of the 7 stones deep out in the ocean is a place where their are 7 small islands that surround a whirlpool where Womlon resides
Emish reaches in and makes contact with Womlon
They begin to conspire, stating the Womlon has the power to overthrow Illia
They need each other
But they also need others, messengers, assassins, evil doers
Where are the Rishk from and how are they found
What is the promise? What are they promised?
Renthar is a wielder
The other three are not but they are taught the wielding arts of the dark magic
Renthar was good
Is with a woman, has a son,
then does something shameful
Accidentally kills a man or cuases great harm
Great regret and self remorse turns him to hate himself and everything around him
Seeks evil for solace and gets tangled up with the RISHK concept
and leaves his wife and son
Becomes the leader of the RISHK

Where it all began

Author: Josh Holladay | J. A. Holladay

It all began, in the 1990’s, you know, Nintendo role playing games. Then 2005, 2008, 2014, and on from there, it just grew; that living and breathing thing inside of me.

Original: Draft 1 Completion Date: October 6, 2021 (Holy moly! Unbelievable. I know, right!!!)

But this is Revision 2, thankfully. (You would have never survived it in its rawest form, uck!)

Thank you in advance for your interest and review. You’re awesome!

FOCUS:
Simply help me understand how you feel about my writing. Is it…interesting, good, enjoyable?

Feedback? Less about grammar and spelling; more about, I don’t know, enriching the adventure along the way.

This piece takes place in the middle of the story, ¾ of the way through the book.

The Legends of Clal is the series. This is, “shhhh”, BOOK 1.

Clal is the “chosen one” and he is in the middle of trying to…well…perhaps…just give it a read.

- Josh

Legends of Clal: 8 Book Series

Book 7 or 8 (Chonologically 1st): The Stone Seed

Kingdoms: Hanone/Illia | Elemental Seed Construction | From King Ottomus’ reign to first Kingdom established

Book 8 or 7 (Chonologically 2nd): Book of Legends

Kingdom: Hanone/Illia | Ancient record written by Gulnerye | From the first Kingdom established, through Enokel, through 10th son and Womlon’s Flood, and the Wielders War (before or after the flood, not sure), till another generation after the flood.

Book 1 (Chonologically 3rd): The Dragon Summoner

Kingdoms: Illia | Clal, Ansa, Rythe, Sedrak summoned | From Clal leaving to Eldan Vyum with Ansa to the returning to the cottage | 1-3 weeks

Book 2 (Chonologically 4th): The Twisted Peak

Kingdoms: Illia/Kelvkoroth | Leara summoned, Talon freed, Fire Crystal secured by Leara, delivery completed | From the cottage, through the fire kingdom, to the cliffs via tunnel portal | 2-4 weeks

Book 3 (Chonologically 5th): Skyland’s Rising

Kingdoms: Illia/Edaphis | Larkin and Skyla summoned, Air Crystal secured by Larkin, delivery completed | From cliffs, through Edaphis air kingdom, to the cliffs | 2-4 weeks

Book 4 (Chonologically 6th): Sands of Illusion

Kingdom Illia/Mirrim | Clal fails at getting the earth stone, no crystal obtained | From cliffs to Eldan Vyum, the chosen chamber | 2-4 weeks

Book 5 (Chonologically 7th): Kingdom of the Tides

Kingdom Illia/Nilthinon/Mirrim | Ansa obtains Water Crystal, Womlon is revealed, Clal enters Mirrim a second time, obtains the Earth Crystal, delivery complete | 4-6 weeks

Book 6 (Chonologically 8th): Wielders of the Dawn

Kingdom Illia/Hanone | Rythe retrieves the light stone, Wielders War II, Womlon defeated, Hanone returns, Clal reigns, Stone Seed Festival Departures, Goodbyes

Book 3: Sands of Illusion

Spells:


	fire	water	air	earth	light
call	somonpyros	somonaqueos	somonaeros	somongeos	somonlumos
command	morphopyros	morphoaqueos	morphoaeros	morphogeos	morpholumos
curse	thrystapyros	thrystaaqueos	thrystaaeros	thrystageos	thrystalumos

Gestures.

Call: Somon: hand chest level pull in. tense muscles. Palm open. Focus the mind. (most important, feel as if you are the element.)

Command: Morpho: hand expresses where you want the element to go, how fast, and any other movement combinations. Palm open. Focus the mind. (most important, feel as if you are the element wanting to move.)

Curse: Thrysta: Move hand and arm in the direction of enemy. Quick movment. Fisted. Focus the mind. (most important, feel as if you are the element. Feel the energy mounting)

Book 2(4): The Twisted Peak

Ch 1: Turl, Gree, Mina at the cottage - Goran and Willa are gone because Morgreth sent them away

Ch 2: Horses toward Reubus - Encounter King Emish on the road

Ch 3: Find out that Clal can communicate with Morgreth through the stone, tells them to go another way to meet him at Eldan Vyum
Ch 4: Meet Morgreth somewhere else in town, some home secret hide out

Ch: Gwyn, Jestro, mystress from the castle, man who created the things they met is there, and a few others, the wielders, meeting. (Maybe Morry the inn keeper)

Ch: someone says that the RISHK are moving…

Ch: help decide what the three will tell Talon to do if they can reach him and save him, which, they tell them to tell him to meet them at a certain place to hide

Ch: given horses, 3 of them, and supplies

Ch: some ritual takes place and the pinnacle is Illia appearing, they don’t know who she is though in full

Ch: Morgreth tells them that there is a person who is among the company there who is a spy

Ch: they leave going through the woods again and told to go straight to a woman who lives at the base of the mountain in Reubus

Ch: meet a woman and are told a prophecy not in their book

Ch: begin accent up the mountain not knowing where to go

Ch: spot the RISHK and follow them for a ways
Ch: find out they are on the wrong side, and have to travel to the middle peak

Ch: enter a death trap of a challenge and get out of it

Ch: guided by Clal’s memory of the dimensions in the previous book

Ch: activate a stone turtle rock formation that takes them to a door in the cliff into the mountain

Ch: Ansa finds the door to the . By way of animal

Ch: Clal opens the door by magic

Ch: then the story about the hall and the guards, (part of the first book taken out) connects here

Ch: meet the king and his daughter and the queen

Ch: not looking for sumoner….but are there

Ch: the king is nice at first

Ch: show them around

Ch: Leara continues to visit them

Ch: culture of Kelvkoroth is explained

Ch: they see some amazing things

Ch: Leara begins to show signs that she can train them on their powers

Ch: grand council called

Ch: council goes bad and the king is seen as enemy while daughter and queen are not

Ch: the three are sentenced to death and locked up

Ch: dungeon scene

Ch: execution + saving

Ch: to the crystal

Ch: crystal grabbed by Leara betraying her father and kingdom’s wishes in the council

Ch: final battle with the king

Ch: exit with Leara

Ch: meet Talon, give him keys, frees him giving him one of their horses which is really his horse

Ch: speaks of the RISHK trying to gain the crystals and unearth the ancient imortality magic….or…not sure.

Ch: narrowly escape encountering the RISHK again

Ch: As Imforo attacks with fire but from afar, Leara saves them

Ch: flee to the cliffs and call Sedrak to save them…???

Ch: while in the sky, they see the mountain, the peak, remove and fly toward where it originiated from

Ch: cliffs and enter of first crystal

Ch: something unlocks

Ch: end through the door but they go somewhere else….maybe Orry’s home?

Ch: or they go to Edaphis…

Notes:

Stone: blue veins give a stark picture of blue veins in stone that they mine.
They come in by the stone turtle with blue eyes
Follow glow of blue vein
Pike’s Peak

Book 2 - The Twisted Peak

Chapter 10: The Steward

Italisized part moved to book 1:

Clal sat up in alarm unable to make out where he was. He felt around clawing at the air and finally found the stone wall that was around them. The guards could still be heard, though faintly, cursing Rythe, and the waterfall and the stone wall. But they were safe, though Clal didn’t understand how it had happened.

Ansa’s heavy breathing was now echoing around them. “Ansa, we are safe. It’s all right.”

Hittle chirped and chattered.

Clal felt her hand rest on his arm. “It was all so sudden.” She said. “How did you do that, Clal?”

“Me? I don’t think it was me.”

“Remember the castle?” Rythe said, though above them. He must be standing up already. “That stone wall? It was stone then you touched it. You must have touched the stone under the waterfall. Ansa’s right, which means you saved us.”

Rythe had spoken the truth, Clal realized that somehow he’d helped them avoid a disastrous fate. Clal smiled. But his smile disappeared when he remembered his pack and sword laying on the bottom of the river bed while they were behind a stone wall. If only he had been more careful crossing the tree branches.

Clal could hear Rythe rummaging through his pack slipping something out of it. He then heard Rythe striking two rocks together. A light burst from the darkness as Rythe’s torch took to flame.

“I took this from Amnbir.” He said plainly.

“Rythe, how could you?” Ansa said. “That’s not your…”

“Yes, it is now!” he said laughing. “I found it in an obscure part of the enclosure. We need it, and our friends would have gladly offered it to us if we would have asked.”

“Brilliant, Rythe,” Clal said, clapping him on the back. Ansa scowled at Clal. “I lost my pack so I couldn’t have lit our path forward anyway.”

“You lost your pack? Clal, this is terrible news.” He looked at Clal, “And your sword. Where? How?”

He told them of their endeavor to cross the river by way of an elevated tree branch and how Ansa crossed fine but that he got dizzy being so high and fell into the river. “Ansa jumped in and saved my life, I’m certain.”

She snorted. “I hope I don’t regret that someday.” She stood up with the rest of them. “I don’t know about you two. Thinking that stealing from a hallowed place is all right...I suppose we don’t have to see eye to eye on everything but...taking a torch from Amnbir…” She shook her head and started to walk forward.

There before them was a narrow tunnel that led them deeper into the earth beneath. As they walked, Clal by Ansa’s side and Rythe in the front, they continued to travel downward. The tunnel was straight and the walls were smooth, and there were no off shoots thus far.

They continued to drive forward by the light of the torch. Silence prevailed as the darkness had before Rythe’s flame. The ache within Clal burned too as each step drew him further and further away from the stone and his sword.

As he walked, Clal thought of their travels thus far. He looked at Ansa and imagined the many times they were together on their adventures. It was difficult to imagine that time will get much darker and much more dangerous as the perils continue along the way. But he would be by her side and she would make the journey more bearable.

Clal looked at Rythe, his faithful friend. He was so strong and capable and had some many qualities that Clal yearned to have. He was brave and what he did to that guard...Clal chuckled to himself.

Ansa and Rythe turned their heads to look at him, “What’s the laughing about,” Rythe said.

“The guard…” Clal couldn’t keep another laugh in much longer. He turned to Ansa and tapped her arm with the back of his hand, “Did you see how he just dropped to the ground like a...like a…” Clal let out a hissing kind of laugh trying to keep quiet about it.

“I was there Clal,” she said giggling.

“And boy did that guard deserve it!” Rythe said, starting to chuckle.

Their laughing was cut short however by a sound that was heard down the tunnel in front of them. They all went silent and their pace slowed. Rythe’s hand was on his sword. He crouched down slightly as he walked looking from one side to the other.

“Rythe,” Clal said after a while, “why did you take that guard down that way?”

There was silence and then Rythe stopped walking. “It’s not right, the way they think they can treat people.” He said. “Are we not just as good as they? I don’t believe we should have to accept treatment like that,” He turned and continued walking, “...from anyone.”

They continued through the tunnel as it gradually sloped ever downward. The light flickered against the walls and the sound of their steps were evident. It seemed a long while before Clal realized that the air had changed from musty and stale to cool, and the air moved more freely across his face.

Clal noticed at one point that the sound of their feet were swallowed up somehow. Not a few steps ahead they walked into a large open underground room. There were two small torches on each side of the room and statues stood in two corners. There was an archway which revealed only darkness beyond. The ceiling, low and rough, dripped occasionally through the cracks that were almost invisible.

“What is this place?” Clal whispered to himself. Ansa huddled closer to Clal as they all stood in the center of the cavern. The air moved the flame that danced atop Rythe’s torch and the shadows of the statues in the corner moved.

Clal reached for his sword but remembering his ill fortune, sadly retracted his hand. Clal’s hand was on his sword.

“Who goes there?” A voice was heard. “Speak!”

“We are somewhat lost. We are seeking the lord of this dwelling.” Clal said.

“Who goes there?” The voice continued harshly. “Speak your name!” One of the statues in the corner began to move toward them.

“I...I am Clal of the Western realm.” Clal said, his voice shaking. “We are here…”

“Gulnerye sent us.” Rythe spouted out hoping that his name would mean something.

“Gulnerye?” The statue turned and walked toward them a few paces. This was no statue of marble or stone, but only a man, though clad with light armor, and armed with a sword. “Gulnerye? He’s just a legend if my memory doesn’t cheat me so.” He stared at the three of them, “No matter, how did you get in here? The other…”

“Through the wall,” Clal said, waiting for the man to respond. “The stone under the waterfall, we just, in a way, fell through it.”

“Through?” The guard said. Clal could see the whites of his eyes more clearly now.

“Yes, through,” Ansa replied. “It wasn’t a very graceful entry. Can you imagine falling straight on your back after thinking the wall was a perfect place to take some rest? Ugh,” She smiled. “And now, here we are. Er...where are we anyway.”

“Kelvkoroth,” the man said. “The outermost edges of it.” The guard turned, then he whistled a long low whistle down the hall which led under the arch way. A faint whistle was heard only moments later. “I think I know what to do with you.” The guard walked toward the archway, then disappeared into the darkness. “Stay put there.” His voice was heard trailing from the darkened hall, though there was a soft glow of light around the guard now.

“I’ve never heard of Kelvkoroth.” Rythe said.

“We might have heard of it somewhere in the Book of Legends. But I don’t remember seeing that particular name.” Ansa pulled out the book and began to thumb through its pages. “No, that’s not it,” She would say occasionally. Then, she looked up and over at Clal, “Clal!” She almost shouted. “We’re here. How, I don’t know, well I do know but, I thought this...anyway...this is what we’ve been looking for.” She smiled and looked Clal straight in the eye. “Kelvkoroth is one of the hidden people.” Her voice echoed against the rock walls. It took him a moment to realize that this could possibly be one of the hiddens...the legends.

“What else does it say, Ansa?” Rythe did not turn to look at them, only spoke as his eyes were fixed on the dark hallway.

“It talks about a people who can wield fire and that a great mountain came and rested over the valley that they once lived in. They dug deep. They two were elves, like the people of Edaphlas.” She looked closer at the book, “Let’s see here...the moved mountain it says. And it talks about a crystal of fire…”

The guard had been gone for the space of many minutes, which gave Ansa time to search through much of the book’s content. But the sounds of many footsteps now began to converge into the stone room they were standing in. “I hear footsteps…” Rythe said.

“I didn’t expect to be visited by a whole host of these. The sounds of many footsteps...” Clal said, moving closer to Rythe and pulling on Ansa’s arm to follow.

“I’m not sure what to expect given our recent circumstances.” Rythe said as he steadied his sword and tightened his grip. “Stay behind me.”

Hittle was sitting on Ansa’s shoulder one moment but flew into the air and around the room the next. He was chirping and then, as if by command he came to Ansa’s shoulder and rested there once more.

Light began to spill into the room as soldier after soldier filed in and surrounded Clal, Ansa, and Rythe. And last of all there came three, a woman, a man, and a young maiden all adorned in fine jewels and a luster around like the moon on a misty lake. The woman and maiden remained near the arched entry while the man approached Clal’s band.

“Greetings.” He bowed low, his long red hair almost glowing. “I am Fendaln, Lord of Kelvkoroth.” He turned with an outstretched hand. “Lady Lyluria and Leara are my kin.” Leara was tall and thin, hair as the wooded oak bow, long with curls below her shoulders. Fendaln walked toward the three of them and said, “My guard has told me that Gulnerye has sent you. How can this be…” He smiled slightly, “being that Gulnerye’s legend has been part of Illian lore for centuries. For what purpose have you come?” Fendaln stood erect and clasped his hands just around his waist.

Clal looked at Fendaln, regal and was just now noticing that he was not of human race, but was an elf, judging by his pointed ears and eyebrows which curved up at the ends.

What to tell him, this was not always easy to decide. Was he friend or foe? Clal wanted to believe he was a friend, though, as someone had once told him, you can’t be too sure about trusting anyone but yourself.

“I am Clal, from the West along with Ansa, my sister, and Rythe, our companion. We did see Gulnerye, just yesterday in the ruins of Amnbir. We have traveled from Eldan Vyum to fulfill our a sacred purpose.” Clal stopped. He felt as if his words were jumbled and that he was speaking things not at all what he had intended to say. He tried again.

“We are seeking the steward of, what Gulnerye termed, a Dragon Summoner, a kind of horn.” Clal looked upon the maiden, Leara, for the first time as he spoke, “Then...we...uh...wish to…” Rythe jabbed him with a stiff elbow and Clal regained his gaze on Fendaln.

“Yes, then we intend to seek out Edaphlas and continue our quest.” Clal raised his eyebrows unsure of what to do next.

Fendaln turned then walked closer to his kind then turned to them once more. “And, how did you come to enter this tunnel? My guard instructed me on this already but I am curious to hear for myself.”

“We encountered two guards on the road as we were following from the East up the river. They began to pursue us out of no fault of our own…” Clal said.

Clal heard a faint “Humph!” come from Rythe at that moment.

Clal continued, “...and we knew that by Gulnerye’s bidding we were nearer to our goal of finding some way to obtain the Dragon Summoner...”

“Then we hid behind the waterfall and right before the guards discovered where we were, Clal touched the stone and we fell backwards through the wall.” Ansa burst out.

“Though I’m not certain my touching the wall did anything at all. I just don’t know exactly how we got here.” Clal concluded.

Fendaln looked at Clal, then Ansa. Then, he turned to Rythe and opened his mouth to speak but Rythe spoke first, “We seek the Dragon Summoner. Can you guide us to where we can obtain it?”

“I may be able to help you, however, there is one question left that I have not heard the answer to.” Fendaln’s stately figure slowly approached Clal and stopped just in front of him. “Hold out your hand, Clal.”

Clal obeyed and raised one of his arms holding his palm out flat. Fendaln fabricated a stone, from what seemed like nowhere, then placed it in the palm of his hand. It was blue and it began to glow at its core. As his own stone the glow intensified until it began to illuminate the entirety of the stone cavern. Fendaln turned, then crossed the room and stood by Lady Lyluria. This time, the stone did something that Clal did not expect. It went from a hold, smooth stone, to a warm, then hot stone. “Ah...it’s getting too hot.” He said dropping the stone then waving his hand at his size to ease the pain that had come.

“Guards,” Fendaln said in a stern voice. “Please return to your posts.” The guards immediately began to file out, all except for the first guard who regained his statue-like composure in the corner. Fendaln turned to him however and said, “Gorg, this post is now no longer needed. Join Meldish on the Eastern cavern line.” Gorg nodded, then exited through the archway.

All that remained were Fendaln and his kin and Clal with his band. This time Lyluria approached Clal. She touched Clal’s hands and raised them slightly. Her eyes sparkled and a single tear tumbled down her pale cheek. “Are you...the chosen one, Clal?” She said turning to Fendaln.

“I...suppose so.” Clal nodded slowly. “It’s been all so sudden. I don’t feel like the chosen one. But things keep happening and...it was Morgrith whom first discovered that I...”

“He was examined.” Rythe slid his sword into his sheath, “And we were smuggled out of the castle, so to speak.”

“Now,” Ansa looked at Leara, “we’re trying to learn our way. Who would have ever imagined we’d be here, down in these dusty tunnels…”

“The paths we take and the roads we travel are not always for our own choosing.” Fendaln smiled as his gaze spanned between the three of them. “Fate has a way of weaving itself in and out of the great tapestry of time, and sometimes in ways we would have never imagined plausible.” He looked in Leara’s direction and smiled, which caused her cheeks to blush.

Leara was staring at Hittle and could not keep her eyes off of him. Clal wondered why this might be. He’d never seen such behavior.

Looking back at Clal, Fendaln motioned with his hand, “Come,” Would you be opposed to some victuals and a night's slumber. Then, in the morning we can resume our conversations about your quest?”

“I would be much obliged, Fendaln.” Clal said. “There’s one thing that I’d like to know, however. Do you know where we can obtain the Dragon’s Summoner?”

Fendaln bowed slowly then said, “Yes, for I am its steward.”

They followed Fendaln, Lyluria, and Leara under the stone archway and along the ever downward sloping path as the darkness held them once more.

Chapter 11: Negotiation/The Price/The Trade/The Offer

Clal awoke breathing in the heavy air around him. There was a light in the corner of his chamber, a carved out circular room with a bed and polished stone floor. Clal’s feet hit the cold floor, then he remembered his fitful night, it was coming back to him. He slowly sat back onto the bed and raised his hand to his head.

An echo lingered in his mind, first thought to be from outside the room but Clal knew it wasn’t. He had spent much of the night endeavoring to sleep but finding little rest. A strange voice, distant and faint, but clear, nonetheless, filled his heart and mind with a sad song. She sang of lonely times, of waiting and of hoping. Clal could not imagine who belonged to this voice and why he had been hearing it. Now, it was gone and he wondered if he should learn its purpose.

After Clal had a chance to recover from the little sleep he had, he pulled his outer clothes on, stood up from his bed, then walked through the short passageway and out into a larger hall.

By the golden designs and decorations on the stone walls, Clal assumed that he was in the halls of the Lord’s realms, a royal guest. He tiptoed over to another passageway and found that Ansa had been placed in the room beside him. She was still sleeping, her breath faintly heard.

Clal returned to his chamber and sat on the bed that he had found rest on through the night. Hittle flew into his quarters and stood in front of him on the bed. He chirped a few times then cocked his head. Clal smiled, “Hello friend.” Clal reached over and scratched under Hittle’s beak. “We’ve been through quite an adventure so far, haven’t we, boy?”

Hittle chirped and twittered then ruffled his feathers and hovered above the bed for a moment, then zoomed out the room.

Clal shook his head and smiled, “Crazy bird!” Clal wondered how Hittle had managed to stay with them under the waterfall.

When they had left the place where they first came to meet Salfor and the ladies of Kelvkoroth, they had journeyed for a long stretch of time before reaching the grand halls of Salfor’s realm. Through many tunnels and hallways were they led, almost always downward. There had been no one, not one soul who had been seen but the guards and Salfor, Lyluria, and Leara. It was curious to Clal and he wondered what civilization this was.

It wasn’t too much longer before Clal heard footsteps down the hallway. Ansa’s head poked around the corner at the end of the hall to his quarters.

“Good morning, Clal,” She said. “What a feast last night. Did you sleep well?”

“A little more than a wink or two,” Clal said smiling. He stood up. “Though, I’m eager to be off and continue on our journey.”

“It was a strange thing coming into it like this...I mean, the tunnel and meeting up with these hidden folk.” Ansa said. “Do you think Gulnerye meant for this to happen the way it did?”

“I don’t know.” Clal looked down at the floor searching inside himself. “And Morgrith, whom we met on only a few occasions. What have we to understand from him?”

“But we’ve found one of the hidden peoples that we must find,” Ansa said approaching Clal, “which tells me that we’ve made some progress.”

Hittle chirped a few times as if in agreement.

She looked at Hittle then turned and smiled at Clal. Then she put her hand on her shoulder. “I do trust Salfor. We’ll have to see what he says and what kind of aid he lends.” Then Ansa added. “Leara...isn’t she beautiful.”

Clal looked straight into Ansa’s deep blue eyes and blushed only slightly. “She is...a wonder.” He said with a half smile.

They both walked over to the bed and sat. Ansa felt the soft bed cloth with her hand and looked around the small room taking everything in. It was light, partly from the torch but the room also seemed to illuminate from another source she could not quite understand.

Suddenly Clal gasped, “I almost forgot,” he said. “My sword...and the stone...and my travel clothes. Before we leave this place…” He stood up again, “Ansa, don't forget to ask if there may be some way they can help me get my things.”

“I will make sure we all remember.” Ansa said.

Just then, Rythe came into the room, undetected. “Good morning,” he said simply. “What are you two up to?”

“Clal was just reminding me that he lost his sword and his other things in the river...and to ask for help from Salfor to retrieve them.”

“I see.” He said smiling. Then, he walked out of the room for a moment and returned, bearing gifts. “Clal, here are your things. Not by my hand, but by Salfor. I mentioned that you had lost them in the river last night during our supper. He assured me that he’d have them found and returned.” Rythe handed them over to Clal who was wide eyed and smiling.

“Rythe, I am in your debt, friend.” He took the items out of his pack. Everything was accounted for and dry. The sword and its sheath, all unharmed and unadulterated. He pulled out the sword, held, then swung it in the air. Both Rythe and Ansa leaned back slightly as the room was cramped, too cramped for sword’s play.

Footsteps were once more heard, this time, they were Salfor’s. “Ah, I see,” he said, walking in chuckling. “A sword in the hand and a smile on the face tells me you are pleased to be reunited.”

“My deepest gratitude, Lord Salfor,” Clal said bowing.

“Oh, Clal, no…” Lord Salfor spoke in almost a whisper, his face like stone, when a moment ago he was smiling. “Please,” he said, his face grave, “do not bow to me. For it is I who will forever be in your debt, all my days.” A slight smile began to return. “Why, you might wonder, do I speak this way? Do you not know your future? Do you not understand the place in which you have been set?”

“I haven’t done anything yet.” Clal said.

“Oh, but you will,” he waved his finger in the air.

He walked over to Clal, “We have much to discuss. Please, bring your things for you will not be returning here. We will go to my council room where I meet with the grand council. Though they will not be there, we will hold a grander council. And we will reckon with one another, for I wish to give you all the aid that I can possibly give.” He smiled, put his hand on Clal’s shoulder. “For, I do not doubt that you, Clal, are the chosen one.” He turned then walked out of the room.

They followed Salfor into a narrow and high hall that was lit with torches. The ends of which disappeared into darkness in both directions. They traveled down until they passed under an archway into yet another hall, wider and taller still.

The stone all around, walls and ceilings, were a deep gray, and they were adorned with golden items as well as, what Clal thought might be, gold paint, sometimes intertwining around itself, or curling, sometimes thick and at times, thin streaks adorned the walls.

The first set of guards they saw were positioned on either side of a large archway. They passed the guards, entered the room, then entered another room with a square, stone table and wooden chairs, each chair with tall backs and stubby legs. The wood was dark and very smooth.

“Please, sit.” Salfor said. “Lyluria and Leara will join us momentarily.”

Clal, and the others sat across from Salfor who wore a golden tunic with shining blue fringes. Today he bore a necklace, intricate in design, thin chain and a tangle of golden wires wrapped around what looked like sun. Clal hadn’t noticed that Salfor wore it the previous day. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for the dark, he might have.

As they sat there, Clal looked around the great hall. There were torches that hung from enclosures from the ceilings on golden chains. Their flames were constant and they neither flickered nor dimmed from what Clal could tell. There wasn’t much else besides the large stone table and chairs. This room, in Clal’s mind, had one purpose, and that was, to council together and probably not to leave until there was a clear path for whatever decision was being discussed.

Ansa had been looking down at her hands, then, she rummaged through her pack. Out came the Book of Legends. She opened it to where she’d placed a leaf to mark her previously visited section and she began to read.

Rythe studied Salfor who was watching Ansa at the moment. Then, the silence gave way to Clal’s curiosity.

“Salfor, I meant to ask, who was it that retrieved my belongings at the river bottom.” He half smiled. “If it weren’t for Ansa, I believe I might have drowned trying to save myself.”

He looked at Clal, then smiled. “My Leara. She volunteered. Her eagerness is oftentimes too difficult to oppose. Besides,” he added, “She’s the best swimmer that I know of. And she did well, for I sat on the river bank and watched.”

Leara, it was her? Was it her? This was something that Clal had not expected.

“I’ll have to thank her.” Clal said, trying not to smile too much.

“You can thank her now, in fact. She comes.” Salfor said, nodding to them as they had been waiting for a moment outside the chamber.

Lyluria and Leara approached the large table and took their places on both sides of Salfor.

“Greetings,” Lyluria smiled and clasped her hands then rested them on the table in front of her. Her golden hair was brilliant and reflected the light around them. She wore a long azure blue down and a necklace that almost matched Salfor’s.

Clal turned to Leara, “Lady Leara, I’ve been told that you were the one who retrieved my belongings from the bottom of the river. I wanted to thank you. I was worried that I had lost them and would never see them again.”

She smiled slightly, “If I had lost something of such great importance, I really couldn't bear to give up on trying to find it.” Her cheeks were turning red as she spoke, “I thought I would see if I could help in some way.”

Before he even realized what he was saying, Clal looked into Leara’s eyes and said, “Then, I am in your debt.”

“Perhaps,” She smiled then looked at her father who had been looking at her, but turned his gaze to Clal.

“From what I gather, there is some level of urgency by which you are traveling on your quest before having come to us. And as this is most likely the circumstances we come together under, I propose that we proceed with our council.”

Salfor motioned to his guard and the guard closed the heavy, wooden door to the room. He leaned in and put his hands, clasped on the stone table.

“Long ago, in the days of my fathers’ father, a king, Lord Gidrik ruled Kelvkoroth. In those days, the light of the day shined upon our land and upon our people. We were here, right here where we are now, but above the ground, in a valley we called home.

Before this plight we are now in, we were cave miners and some dwelled in the ground, though it was not our nature to begin with. There were elves, as we were, and there were men. We were proud and we were strong in our own right.”

Salfor sat back, as his long hair lay upon his chest. “Then, one day, like wildfire, a mention of a stone that was found deep in one of the mines reached the ears of Lord Gidrik. No one could handle it, wield it, touch it. When Lord Gidrik came to see it deep in the darkness of the mines, its beauty was above all others that he had seen. He lusted after it and claimed it for his own. They broke apart the stone that was around it so that when hauled out from the mine, they the stone within was cradled by the stone without.”

He took it into the castle, stowed it away in a secret place, and kept it for himself.

That day, they say, the king changed then. He was no longer himself.

“A week went by and a strange visitor came to Kelvkoroth. It was the wizard Felsawn, who had been heard of, but some believed in him only slightly. The king refused to see Felsawn at first. He kept him at bay for three days. No one quite knew why the king had taken to acting this way. But, they would soon find out.“

“By the coaxing of the queen, on the fourth day, Lord Gidrik provided a meeting place and met with Felsawn. And lo, Felsawn came to discuss the fate of the Crystal not found but kept by him.”

“Felsawn knew, by some magic power, that the Crystal had been found, unearthed, and moved. He said that it had reached out to him, and that it was searching for another.”

“The king became furious, having come under a spell of some sort, lusting after the Crystal’s beauty and magic within. Felsawn then knew, as it is written, that this Crystal was not safe within the hands of Lord Gidrik. It was a disgrace to our people. This King, my own blood,” Salfor pounded his fist on the stone table, “caught with greed. He lost the faith and trust of the people that day.”

“Lord Gidrik went mad and threatened to forsake his kingdom and take the Crystal and flee.”

“It was on a starry, clear night when Felsawn came next. He stood in front of the castle gates, with his arms raised to the stars above, he called upon the powers of magic and cast his spell upon Kelvkoroth. The clouds above appeared, began to curl and thunder and the winds and lightning began. No one knew what was happening. The moon was once bright, the stars twinkled, but no longer.”

“Then, a great sound came and it was known from then on as The Thousand Winds. This was the name we called the Great Earthquake when the darkness came, and never left.”

Salfor stood. “A great mountain, Mount Pelteronth, had been pulled from its resting place, only by magic could this have been done, and in the dead of night had sailed from one side of Illia to the other.”

“That’s incredible,” Ansa said quietly.

“Yes, and the great wizard set this mountain upon the valley of Kelvkoroth. And there it stayed ever since that day.”

“He came and insisted then to speak to the King, for he was not finished with his task just yet. But the Lord of Kelvkoroth was nowhere to be found. And so Felsawn entreated the queen for a word. She had been weary of her husband’s misfortune and was willing to listen to Felsawn, and this is what he said.”

“He told the queen that she was now keeper of the Crystal. And that someday, in the future days ahead, there would be one who could wield, who could bear the powers that it possessed and that she, her kingdom, was to keep this Crystal safe, away from the world.”

“She accepted the sacred stewardship, and Felsawn was content. The Lord Gidrik, all that was left of him, was a pile of his clothing that was found by the queen near where the crystal had been.”

“They were a sealed and hidden people.” Salfor came and sat down again. “But there was one thing that I have failed to mention.” He smiled. “He gave the queen in secret a gift, for she was wise and loyal and had a believing heart. She was given the power to wield the flame, spoken by Felsawn, so that if need be, she could keep those who also lusted after the Crystal at bay.”

“Time went on in Kelvkoroth. Neither the sun nor the moon rose nor set any longer. All life changed, and they came to know the beauty and power and gift that light and fire could bring.”

Salfor turned to his queen, Lyluria. She leaned forward slightly, “Time moved on and the queen found another to marry. They wed, there was a new king, and a baby son was born to the throne. That baby grew, and wed, became king and queen, then had a son and daughter of their own. The queen kept the secret of the flame, until her kin began to discover it for themselves. The queen did not know that the power to wield the flame was tied, in part, to a blood line.”

“But, one day, the king found that he could gift this flame, this power, to others. And so he armed his forces that protected him with the flame of Kelvkoroth. Then, a war began to kindle.”

Salfor continued, “The power of the flame was too strong for the people. Before long the power to wield the flame had been turned over to every dweller of Kelvkoroth. The war to obtain the Crystal began.”

“There was one who was first to wage war on the kingdom, Imforo. The Crystal keepers, all those who wished to retain the hiding and the unmolested state of the Crystal, banded together. They gathered in the castle and came to protect the stone. Imforo and his army came, with fire raging at his command, the battle was fierce as men were at the flame’s mercy. One by one they fell, burned to stubble, lost to the power of the flame. And when Imforo breached the final entry and saw the Crystal for the first time, he swore to gain possession of it, he, himself, and no one else. He’d promised his men some kind of remuneration, but he forsake them upon seeing the stone.”

“The Crystal shed a great flash of light in a moment during the battle in the halls of the castle for the Great Crystal. By magic, Felsawn was summoned and came standing between Imforo and the Crystal Keeper band. He spoke words that no one present could understand then he commanded Imforo to leave and said that he was banished forever from the realm of the Kelvkoroth kingdom. It was then that Imforo cried in agony, ran like a mad man from the castle and could be heard throughout the rest that night until he was seen no more.”

Salfor stood again, “I am the Crystal Keeper. I am the steward. I am also the wielder of the flame of Kelvkoroth.” He held his hand on his chest. “You, Clal have come for the Dragon Summoner, of which I too am steward over. But should we not change hands, the Crystal, and you, to be in one, having stewardship over the long awaited coming of the hidden stone?”

Clal’s mouth dropped open. He had not expected to be in possession of a Great Crystal so soon. “I suppose,” he said, “but we are on a journey to obtain the stone from Edaphlas first. I would not know...I think we might need to understand where to take it or what to do with it since we can’t carry it for long…”

“I see.” Salfor said, sitting down again. “I do, however, request from you payment of some kind, and here is why I make such a bold request.”

“Everything changed for our people when we became Crystal Keepers. It was of ill fate, however, we have been loyal and have honored our promise. Ever since our King Gidrik was no more, we never wavered.” He stood erect with chest out and hands behind his back. “Unless the great mountain is removed and we are returned to what we used to be, the kingdom that shined beneath the summer sun in the valley…” He looked at Clal, “We cannot turn over the Crystal, even to the chosen one until you find some way to reverse what Felsawn bore upon us that dark night, deep in the annals of history.”

Rythe snorted, chuckled, then slowly stood up. “How…” he began, “can you require something so…” he held out his hands like he was holding a great boulder, “...so impossible, such a grand task?” He looked at Clal.

“Rythe, I think we can talk through this.” Clal said. He turned to Salfor. “Lord Salfor, we are mere fledglings in our quest. Yes, I may have touched the waterfall’s inner wall and bore through it by some...magic. But I have yet to understand any of this sufficiently.” Clal sighed. He looked at Ansa and Rythe.

“And what of the Dragon Summoner?” Clal said. “Perhaps this could be a part of helping in moving the great Mountain of Pelteronth.” He smiled slightly. “Would not the great white dragon bear some knowledge of the mountain and the moving of it?”

Salfor came to the table again and sat. Leara was beginning to squirm in her chair as her calm and smiling face now bore tightened lips of which she bit her lower lip ever so often.

“Perhaps you’re right, Clal. Though, I would want to require of you that you give your word that you will help us. We have been captures, it seems, for so long. Only you have the power to bring us home to the land and life we once knew.”

“Though, I know your heart is noble...but do you have the power yet to free us, to not bear away your journey to some other land or some other people?” He put his hand on his chin. “As the prophecy says, spite…” He paused, put his hand on his chin, then said, “No, I can’t risk it. We must have the mountain moved before the Dragon Summoner and the Crystal are relinquished from my care.”

“I am sorry Clal. But as the steward of both, I bear the burden of reckoning the demands upon their fate. I must take great care.”

Clal felt a lump beginning to form in the pit of his stomach. He could hardly contain his frustration, such great requirements seemed to be piling up, first the Crystal and now the Dragon Summoner, he would be unable to obtain both unless he figured out some way to move the mountain. As Clal spiraled downward into despair Leara broke the silence that had engulfed the room. Just moments ago it had been a welcome place, now, through Salfor’s demands, had turned into a fiery furnace of negotiation.

“Father?” Leara said with her hand on his arm. “Would it please you if I accompanied Clal, Ansa and Rythe while they journey beyond Kelvkoroth and return once this deed to remove Mount Pelteronth that you require is finished?” She looked at Clal then back at her father. “And, along with my journeying with them, I also retain stewardship of the Dragon Summoner until it is time for Clal to gain his rightful possession of it? Would that be a fair compromise?”

“No...Leara.” Salfor spoke, “I can’t let you go. None of us here know what lies ahead.”

“But father, is that not the same fate that we live day to day...never knowing what will be from one moment to the next?” Leara folded her arms. “You’ve taught me, father, to consider what is before me and all that I can see is that Clal needs the Dragon Summoner in order to carry out your wish,” She looked at Lyluria, “our great wish.”

Salfor’s firm facial expressions began to fade slowly. He looked at Leara, then at Lyluria who Clal thought nodded slightly. Then he looked at Clal. “This is a strange turn.” He said, shaking his head. “Strange indeed, to have ever thought that this could be.”

Lyluria leaned toward Salfor. “Is this our path?” Salfor only looked into her eyes. She turned to Clal, “Leara, she also wields the flame of Kelvkoroth.” Turning back to Salfor she said, “Perhaps the flame given long ago was meant to abide with the chosen one, to aid, to light the way when the pathway seems dark.”

All was quiet for a long moment. No one stirred. Then, Salfor leaned his palms against the table as he stood from his chair. He walked over to a nearby table in the corner of the council hall. He stood there, still, for what seemed like a long while. Clal watched him pick up something and hold it close to his chest. Then he turned and walked toward the table.

He carried back with him a leather pouch ornately decorated with gold lines and markings. Laying it on the stone table he pulled the strap and lifted the flap, then pulled out a brilliant, white horn made from a horned animal. Upon its tip was a silver metal and all along the horn was carved a great dragon. The tail wrapped around each side curving in tight curves until it ended with a flat, pointed tip. The face of the dragon was neither fierce nor empty, but the skilled hand who carved it had captured the very essence of a wise and noble creature.

“This,” Salfor spoke softly looking at Clal, “is the Dragon Summoner.” He turned to Leara and slid it over in front of her. “Keep it safe.”

Chapter 12: The Plan

Salfor pressed his hand on the white dragon summoner and held it there as if his hand was stuck to the side of it. “Keep it hidden and always with you.”

He turned to Clal. “I have much to show you before you leave in the morning. Let us be done with this council,” he said gruffly and stood up leaving the table.

The rest of them stood up and left the table, Clal being the last out of the room before the guard closed the door.

Clal felt as if he had won a great battle, though the prospect of finding the means to move the mountain was already beginning to weigh heavily on his soul.

They were taken to another smaller room and served a light breakfast. Salfor asked questions about their homesteads. Clal and the lot of them told stories of home.

Once finished, they were ushered into a hallway where they circled around Salfor as he was about to instruct them. “I wish to show you the Great Crystal before your journey here for the time is complete. Come.” Clal, Ansa and Rythe followed the three stewards of Kelvkoroth through the maze of halls and down, down, down, once more, into the depths of Illia herself. Salfor carried light with him though Clal never could see a torch.

As they continued, Clal began to feel deep within, a new feeling. It was like there was a voice within him, though ever so faint. Ansa noticed Clal’s furrowed brow and slower pace. “Clal, what is it?” she whispered cautiously.

“I don’t know, Ansa…” Clal whispered. “I feel...do you supposed…”

“...it’s the crystal.” Rythe said quietly.

They walked through two more doors then down several stairs and came to a great iron door with two guards standing in front of it.

“Unlock the door, my good Elbin,” Salfor said.

“As you wish.”

The guard turned to the others, “I would ask that you turn and face the stairs.”

“Do as he says,” Salfor told them.

They did so and Clal heard the scraping of stone on stone, the unlocking of three locks, then the scrapping of stone once more.

“You may enter,” said the guard.

Clal, Ansa and Rythe turned around then followed Salfor, Lyluria, and Leara into a red glowing circular room. Oddly, it was a room that was much like the room that he was examined in, and the room where they received the Book of Legends from the chest.

“This is the Crystal of Kelvkoroth.” Salfor looked upon, smiling. “Some believe that the flame of Kelvkoroth burns at the heart of it beneath its stony walled exterior.”

Clal looked upon the stone. Its red glow penetrated his soul. The slight pulsing that emitted from the stone was extraordinary. It captivated him and the feeling within him that he felt moments before grew. It was a voice, he knew now, that was there. And it spoke to him, the Crystal to the chosen one.

“I am Seeshalar, from the ancient world before the birth of Illia. Long have been the days that I have awaited your coming, Seldinolum.” Clal looked at Ansa who too was staring at the stone. She looked at Clal and smiled. Was she not hearing the voice of the stone?

Seeshalar continued. “It is your place and right to obtain my passage, to carry me beyond this realm to my rightful and honored resting place where I will remain. Take me now, for there is no time that should be wasted here.”

Clal was breathing heavily, but tried not to show his great alarm. Take it? Take it now? Clal was confused. Was this a trick? Was this what happened to Lord Gidrik that caused him to go mad?

All were gazing upon its beauty when Clal began to feel as if he was being pulled in many directions, and could barely keep from drawing attention to himself. An overwhelming desire to scream arose within him and just as he was about to burst out, Rythe spoke.

“We thank you, Salfor, for bringing us here.” Rythe said, turning to Salfor. “It’s beauty is beyond description.”

Rythe turned to exit the chamber, then Salfor walked toward him. He turned and looked at the stone then exited the room first. The others followed.

They climbed up the stairs once more and Clal heard the same sounds of stone on stone and the locking of the iron door that kept the Great Crystal safe. They weaved back and forth again and finally ended up in the same hall that they had left. They gathered around Salfor as he spoke to them.“I am Seeshalar, from the ancient world before the birth of Illia. Long have been the days that I have awaited your coming, Seldinolum.” Clal looked at Ansa who too was staring at the stone. She looked at Clal and smiled. Was she not hearing the voice of the stone?

Clal was breathing heavily, but tried not to show his great alarm. Take it? Take it now? Clal was confused. Was this a trick? Was this what happened to Lord Gidrik that caused him to go mad?

“We thank you, Salfor, for bringing us here.” Rythe said, turning to Salfor. “...

“We have, as of yet, not ventured above the surface of the valley floor. Now, we will do so.” He turned, then with Lyluria and Leara at his side, Clal, Ansa and Rythe followed them down the hall and under a great archway.

As they traveled the light became less and less. Then Leara did something that surprised Clal. She waved her hand in a circular and gentle motion, then the flame of Kelvkoroth began to burn.

The flame was a lavender hue, starting small, it grew larger within her hands until it was the size of two of her hands cupped together around it. The hall glowed enough for them to see where they were going. Straight ahead a large, iron gate, stretched high to the stone ceiling of the castle, stretched high to the stone ceiling.

With a hand motion from Salfor and four men bearing the task, the gate slowly withdrew and soon rested on the ground without the castle walls.

“This is our land, our valley.” The Lord of Kelvkoroth proclaimed with his hand stretched out. “Please, see for yourself. Leara, will you show them.” Leara nodded then walked further out. “When your short adventure is finished, come back to the castle. We will be waiting. Do take as long as you wish.”

Clal had never experienced such a place. He looked out and could not see the end of the valley, for the darkness was too great. It was vast. There was no wind. Almost no sound. Almost like the death of a people hung in the air.

While Salfor and Lyluria walked back into the castle and disappeared behind the raising gate, Leara led them into the great valley. It was like a city, with some windows bearing the light of the light that was in them, and others, were dark or altogether destroyed. Buildings and shops with elfin men and women and some where children played about. But when they saw the group and looked at the visitors, who were clearly not the elfin folk they were used to, there was a scare that began to spread among them.

“We should have worn our hoods, Clal.” Ansa said, digging inside of her pack. “Then they wouldn’t know we weren’t elves.”

“Oh, they would know anyway.” Leara said. “You’re visitors. Why else would I be out of the castle walking around the valley.”

“Well, don’t you come out here sometimes?” Ansa put back the hood that she had pulled out, since neither Leara nor anyone else seemed to care about their appearance.

“Oh no, Father, he keeps me inside most of the time. It’s something I can’t really explain at the moment.” She turned in Clal’s direction. “It is a lonely place to be here in Kelvkoroth. They almost curse the Crystal at times for the darkness it has brought upon us.”

“They?” Rythe said. “Who are they?”

“Some of our people. My parents.” She kept walking forward, “But as for me, I would not dare. I know that all things have their place, and this mountain above us,” She looked up and pointed. “It has its place.”

Clal nodded. “Yes, and I believe there are some things that we don’t understand,” Clal added. “And we should be that much more grateful when we do find the answers to our questions, I think.” He smiled at Leara who smiled then looked down at her feet.

Rythe and Ansa were walking alongside each other. They walked past some more buildings then came to an open field where a dry grass had been trampled down. “Here is the edge of the city. And beyond, just the soil of the valley and the plants of days long dead and yesteryears.”

Leara paused and looked out. She smiled. Clal wanted to know what she was thinking and why she was smiling. When she turned then headed back to the castle a different way, Clal was once more walking beside her. “Leara, I hope you don’t mind if I ask, but, you looked out into the darkness a bit ago.” Clal smiled slightly, “A smile, I, I saw you smile.”

“Yes, I did smile.” She looked at Clal, “It was because I’ve lived here all of my life and like many of us, have never known the sun and the sky, the wind, nor the birds.”

She looked behind her at Hittle who was bobbing up and down on Ansa’s shoulder as she walked. Rythe was talking to her.

“And just then, I thought that by this time tomorrow, I may be venturing off beyond the realms of Kelvkoroth into the light of day, and into a world which I thought I would never know.” She smiled at Clal. “And so, I smiled because it was a joyous thought...and I hope it will come true.”

Clal smiled too. He could not imagine a life that she described, hidden from nature, from the world. Clal was happy for her. He himself was already growing weary of this place, the darkness was beginning to choke some of the life from him. He too desired to leave as soon as possible.

Then Clal remembered the Crystal and how it spoke to him. That feeling began to grow within him and he thought to follow what his heart was telling him. And so he turned to Leara.

“Leara,” He said quietly. “Before we return to the castle, can you take us to a place where we can speak freely...perhaps, less obvious?”

She looked at Clal, then nodded. Leara led them for a short distance then turning to the right she led them away from the dense city toward the open darkness beyond, by the light of her lavender flame.

“Where are we going, Leara?” Ansa strode up behind Leara. “I thought the castle was that way,” she pointed.

“It is,” Leara said. “However, we will stop just ahead, before returning to the castle.”

They continued to walk past a few buildings then on into the darkness. The silence was almost deafening, and the dead stillness of the air caused Clal to wonder how the people here ever got used to such an environment.

Clal watched Leara as she led them toward a direction that slowly began to be familiar to him. As they got closer he noticed that the same gray stone was approaching, and within the wall was a black opening, a cave. They entered the cave and strode deeper into the earth.

“Here,” Leara stopped, “we can find seclusion here.”

“Leara, why are we here?” Ansa said.

Leara turned to Clal, who spoke. “I asked Leara to lead us to a place where we can be sure no one can overhear us.” Clal looked around, “I would like to hold a council here...now.” Clal waited for a response. The others were quiet so he sat on the ground and waited till the others also sat down in a small circle. Ansa held the flame in her hand. She waved her hand and the flame grew as did the light that brightened the cave.

“Each of you, not just me, I realize, are part of this quest. Though I am the chosen one, you are also chosen, not necessarily by your choice alone, though you had a choice to accept or reject to join this great quest.” Clal looked down at his hands and rubbed his thumb against his palm. Then he looked up. “I believe you will help me continue in the direction...on the path that we all must go. And so I wish to speak with you about something that occurred while in the castle.”

Ansa, Leara, and Rythe were attentively looking at Clal and listening. Leara sat erect and still. Ansa sat with her back slightly hunched over as she habitually bit her lower lip. Clal searched Rythe’s stone face and found no hint of emotion that he could detect.

Clal looked at his hands again and was silent.

“Clal, what’s wrong?” Ansa finally said. “Something is troubling you. What is it?”

“I fear to tell you.” Clal said.

“What do you fear?” Rythe said. “Is it what we will think or say?” He smiled. “We have trusted you this far, Clal.”

“Clal, I am with you now.” Leara leaned over to him and touched his hand with hers. “I believe your path is mine now. Trust us.”

Clal looked long and hard at Leara. Then he looked at Ansa and Rythe. Clal took a deep breath and sighed a long exhale.

“Well, it was the Crystal.” Clal looked up and fixed his gaze on the wall directly across from him. “Even before I entered the room, I felt something deep inside. It was new, never felt before.” He looked at Ansa. “Did you not feel something?”

She looked at Clal and slowly shook her head. “But I watched you, Clal.” She said softly, “You looked worried.”

“It happened so fast, I didn’t understand at the time. But when we went into the chamber where the stone was, the Great Crystal of Kelvkoroth,” Clal swallowed. “When I came in and looked upon the jewel…”

“Go on.” Leara coaxed him.

“I heard…” Clal shook his head. “No, I can’t.”

“What did you hear, Clal?” Rythe said. “I remember looking over at you and you looked as if you were being tormented. So, I tried to think of something quick because I could tell being there was not helping your mood.”

“Thank you, Rythe.” Clal said with a smile. “I don’t know how, but you knew what to do.”

Ansa reached over and clasped Clal’s hand, “Clal, what did you hear? Tell us. Don’t be afraid.”

He squeezed her hand. “The Crystal, it spoke to me. It told me it’s name, Seeshalar. It spoke these words to me, ‘Take me now, for there is no time that should be wasted here.’ It was the words and that it could reach my thoughts.”

Leara immediately stood after hearing what Clal had spoken. She looked in the direction of the exit to the cave then walked over to the stone wall and leaned upon it.

“We left that room shortly thereafter thanks to Rythe.” Clal nodded in his direction. “And ever since I have not been able to get this out of my mind. The plan was to leave here tomorrow morning, to seek out the dragon, to figure out how and then move the mountain, then come back and retrieve the Crystal...or at least that’s as far as I have worked things out.” Clal stood up then began to pace back and forth.

“I know it was never the plan to retrieve the Crystal before leaving, but that’s exactly what Seeshalar told me to do. I truly can’t see Salfor letting it go so easily.” Clal then added. “Am I going mad like the others who could not bear the enchanting ways of the Great Crystal?”

Clal stopped and turned to face Ansa.

“Ansa, I know our plan. But should I not obey?” Clal’s voice echoed through the cave.

“Clal, come and sit down.” Ansa motioned. “I’m glad you told us.”

Clal walked over and sat down. “Leara, won’t you join us?” Ansa said softly.

Leara looked at Ansa then came and sat down. She was still holding her flame though its light was dim.

“Clal, I think we need to work out a plan to both bring the Crystal with us somehow and promise to remove the mountain and return it to where it belongs as quickly as we possibly can. Or, at least, if I’m understanding you right.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t seem possible and it sounds dangerous.” Clal turned to Leara. “I don’t want to disappoint your father, Leara. I also do not want to make an enemy out of him either. That’s why this has become so…”

“Complicated, but not impossible.” Rythe interrupted. He looked at all of them with his face half in shadow as the flame wavered now and again. “Remember Clal, it should be yours, though…”

“That’s what the Crystal also said. Seeshalar told me that it was my right to obtain the Crystal and to carry it beyond the realm of Kelvkoroth. And that I was to take the Crystal to where it is supposed to rest.” Clal rubbed the side of his cheek bone then rested his chin in his palm.

“To steal the Crystal away would be the greatest offense that has ever come upon the kingdom of Kelvkoroth. To even consider it reveals your lust. To attempt it would mean your death if you failed.” Leara spoke articulating every word.

Her tone cut Clal to the core. Clal could feel the tips of his ears beginning to turn red, which happened when he angered. Clal turned to Leara, immediately regretting that he ever had. “I am not a thief, neither am I drunk with fever to obtain the Crystal.” Clal spoke slowly, “I’m merely sharing what I heard and felt. I do not want to make a mistake, especially one that could prove to be as awful as I think this might be if I don’t act in the right.”

Clal’s face softened. “I am sorry Leara if this comes as a shock. I am sorry. But, I know what I felt and it was not my own voice that I heard.”

“Clal, come and sit down.” Ansa motioned. “I’m glad you told us.” Clal walked over and sat beside Ansa

“We never meant to come to take anything from you or to cause harm or to disrupt the way of life here in Kelvkoroth.” Ansa faced Leara who was now looking at the flame she held in her hands. “But now it seems that our path has once again become clearer, though the way to proceed has yet to be decided.”

“If it is truly our path to take the Crystal of Kelvkoroth, then there’s much that needs to be decided,” Rythe stared at Leara’s flame. “And we may have to split up.”

“A diversion by one of us,” Clal said.

“And a plan if things go wrong.” Ansa said.

“Wait!” Leara’s hand had swiped through the air from right to left. “I can’t do this? I can’t be part of this?” Leara stood up again and began to walk toward the cave’s opening. Her flame was altogether gone. “I can’t let you do this?” She said the cave was dark and only her footsteps were heard.

Clal jumped up from his place. He touched the walls of the cave then felt his way toward Leara. He ran into her then grabbed her arm.

“Clal, let go of me!”

“Leara, please, we haven’t come to any real conclusion on what it is we will be doing.” Clal held her firm but loosened his grip. “Please, Leara, we are not here to do wrong, but only to do right. Sometimes the right path is the most difficult. You are one of us, we need you. I need you. Please, tell us your thoughts if we were to try this rescue of the Crystal. Won’t you just consider that my course is to defeat the dark one lurking and restore Illia to its proper peace and existence. Retrieving this Crystal is part of that.” He pulled her close to him then whispered. “You are part of that now, Leara.”

He waited for a response but only felt her body begin to shake as he held her. Then he heard her soft crying.

“I didn’t think,” She said as she sniffled, “that making it out of KelvkorKelvkorothianoth would come at such a high price.” She buried her face into Clal’s chest and sobbed. It was a sad thing to witness, but he held her and she didn’t move.

Then Ansa began to sing all of this transpiring in the darkness of a cave on the outskirts of the Kelvkoroth Valley. She sang the words:

“The peoples of dear Illia

No sight, no voice, and now

Have gone away beyond what’s known

To be and lost somehow.

No matter where you’ve gone from us

And where you may yet go

I’ll come for you and set you free

Your people I must know.”

By the time Ansa had finished singing, Leara had finished crying. She pulled away from Clal slightly then whispered, “Thank you, Clal.”

Leara quickly reengaged her lavender flame and walked toward Rythe and Ansa then sat down as Clal sat down beside her.

“Forgive me, perhaps I don’t understand.” Leara said, wiping her tear streaked cheeks. She turned to Ansa, “That was beautiful, Ansa. Where did you learn that song?”

Ansa smiled then pulled the Book of Legends from her pack that she’d set on the floor of the cave. “From this book, an ancient record of Illia. One that was written and prepared for the chosen one. It has been hidden away in the central castle of Eldan Vyum. It only came into our hands one Clal’s finding. That song is part of what is written here. This book was written by the hand of Gulnerye.”

Hittle chirped and flapped his wings.

“Yes, and a very good friend of Hittle here,” Ansa said, tapping his little brown head.

“It speaks of Kelvkoroth, too.” Ansa added.

“And your song,” Leara looked up at Ansa from the book. “It spoke of setting a people free. Is that speaking about my people?”

“Yes, yes,” Clal answered. “Though, we have only just begun our journey. We are still learning what everything means and how to accomplish, not just one task but many.”

“We were on our way to find the Dragon Summoning horn. Then we were to go to the island in the sky and to retrieve the Crystal of Edaphlas then take it…” Rythe turned to Clal. “Clal, where were we supposed to take it?”

“There, you see,” Clal said smiling. “Yet another detail we overlooked.” He turned to Rythe. “I have a feeling the dragon will know.”

“Or it’s in the book,” Ansa hunched over the book and began to pour over its pages.

“But why not follow my father’s plan?” Leara said, “Find the dragon. Learn the way to move the mountain. Free the Kelvkorothian people. Obtain the Crystal. And continue on your journey.”

“I agreed to that course,” Clal said to Leara. “But that was before I came to the Crystal and heard it’s plea.” Clal said with furrowed brow his voice becoming quieter. “It was as if it sensed that I was planning some other path that it did not want me to follow, which, I’ve discovered, would mean that leaving Kelvkoroth without the Crystal would be a grave mistake.”

Leara looked at Clal then down at her flame and nodded. She looked at her lavender burning fire for a long while before she spoke, “If we are going to take the Crystal,” Leara continued to stare into her flame, “then we have to do it tonight, then leave Kelvkoroth immediately after.” She looked up at Clal, “I think I may have a plan.”

Then she looked up, “But first, know, that going against my father’s wishes is difficult.” She looked at Clal, “But I believe that from what Clal has said, this must be…” she paused for a moment then continued, “our path.”

“So what can we do then?” Clal said, “The Crystal, it’s guarded by two guards.”

“I watched them out of the corner of my eye.” Rythe looked up from staring into the lavender flame. “I counted five stones from the door to the left then fourteen stones down to the floor.” He raised one hand, “I’m sure if I were to approach that place again I could figure out how to get that key from behind the stone wall.”

Leara looked up at Rythe, “How did you manage that? Those guards have keen eyes.”

Rythe smiled slightly, “I’m used to gathering information that might be useful later on. I thought it possible that we might need to know something about getting into the chamber, though I wasn’t at all sure.” He rubbed his neck with his hand as he spoke, “And I figured that they couldn’t watch all of us at the same time so I thought I would chance it.” He nodded. “It worked because I saw the guard lay hold of the key itself and open the door.”

Leara turned to her flame once more searching its depths, “A diversion.”

“A diversion?” Ansa looked up from the Book of Legends for the first time. “I love to play that game. Clal and I used to work together, being twins and all, to draw away our victim then…”

“Perhaps we could think of something,” Clal said, smiling at Ansa. “What about up the stairs we yell fire or tell them the Lord of Kelvkoroth has ordered all the guards to a council.”

“Leara, would they not listen to you, being the daughter of the King of this realm?” Rythe asked simply. “Could you not ask them to open the door?”

“Not even my mother has the...authority to command the guards that way.”

“I am thinking that your father will be expecting us soon and that we'd better think up something quick. The diversion,” Ansa stood up. “What if we at least draw them up the stairs. Could we not do that somehow?”

“No, they are sworn to stay their post no matter what happens. I know that they cannot move even three inches from where they stand. If they do, their penalty could be death,” Leara looked at Ansa. “No, we will not be obtaining the Crystal by way of diversion.”

Clal stood up too and started pacing. “Is there another way in?” Clal stopped, “Above, around, or underneath.” He walked over to Leara then crouched beside her. “What is beneath, on the other walls, or even above the room? Can you think of anything, Leara?”

She thought for several minutes then said, “Clal, if only there was a way but I know that when the construction of the castle was taking place, they layered the stone double and sometimes triple thick knowing this is where the Crystal of Kelvkoroth would be concealed.”

Clal thought as he considered there being a way in that did not involve the main entrance. “After all these years I would almost wonder whether someone would have created a secret entrance, perhaps only for the Lord of Kelvkoroth.” Clal sat down by Leara. “Have you ever heard your father talk about going to see the Crystal?”

Leara stood, then Clal stood. Now Leara paced back and forth while she thought. “I’m trying to remember…” her fingers caressed her cheek as she slowly walked back and forth as she held the flame in her other hand. Then, she raised her eyebrows, “Yes, I think that’s it. I do remember my father talking about going to see the Crystal.” She stopped and stood still. “It happened frequently after visiting with the commander of the army, Tavi.”

“Could the secret passageway be in his quarters?” Rythe said.

Hittle chirped a few times then flew to Leara. He landed on her hand. “Oh, hello,” she said, “you have something to say, don’t you.” She pet his small little head.

“We can’t just go there on a hunch.” Ansa said as she stood. “We have to be sure. If they discover what we’re after, we’re sure to be in a mess of trouble.”

“Could he not simply go to the Crystal through the main entrance after visiting with his commander?” Rythe said.

“There has to be another way,” Clal said. “There has to be.” He came and sat down once again. Leara followed suit and soon they all were staring into Leara’s flame again sitting in the circle on the floor of the cave.

After a while, Clal thought of another part of their plan, “So if we don’t know how we will get the Crystal, we can at least plan our escape, right?”

“Yes,” Leara nodded. “That’s the easy part, though that too is a bit of a chancy situation.” She looked up at them. “I know of the closest tunnel as well as many paths and tunnels that could be beyond. But the people of Kelvkoroth, we’ve never found a way out, though you found the way in. So we go as far as we can and hope that you, Clal, can bring us through somehow.”

Clal shook his head, “I am sorry but, this has to be a sure plan. Leara, do you know of any other place you can think of, a place where you remember any secret passageway of some sort or another?” Clal had begun to pace again. Ansa continued to search the Book of Legends while Rythe just started into the lavender flame.

“Okay,” Leara said, “let me think.” She closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly, then was silent for a short while. When she opened her eyes she looked straight at Clal, “Clal, I think I know. I can’t imagine how I know but I’ve remembered.”

Ansa closed the book with her hand keeping the place, “Remember what?” She said.

“I remember,” Leara stared into her flame, “when I was a little girl, my Father would bring me to the undercroft to play.” She giggled. “I think it was because he would look for things to nibble on while we spent time together.”

“Undercroft?” Ansa asked.

“It’s the place where the castle stores its food.” She looked at Ansa and smiled. “A good place to be when no one is watching.”

Ansa put her hand to her mouth and giggled.

“I remember on one occasion when I was very little. We were playing in the undercroft when he beckoned me to come to him. He walked over to one of the corners and bent down. There was a small lever that he pulled. Part of the wall opened and we went through and walked into another room.” She looked at Clal, “But I can’t seem to remember much more than that.”

“Could it be the way into the room where the Crystal is located?” Rythe asked. “What do you remember about the room?”

Leara shook her head, “Not much. Only that I remember it felt so different from any other room in the castle.” Leara paused as she stood behind them. “Clal, the stones, I remember that they were orange. As a little girl I thought it was some kind of magical room.” Her flame grew larger and brighter as she stood still in the middle of the cave. “That’s it! It has to be the room.”

“How do we get there?” Rythe stood and brushed the dirt off from his back side. “We can’t enter from the main gate or else we’ll be found out.”

Leara shrugged. “I still think there needs to be some kind of diversion.”

Hittle chirped twice.

“Yes, Hittle,” Ansa smiled. “I agree.” Ansa came to Leara’s side, Hittle now sitting on Leara’s shoulder. “Hittle is the master of diversions, aren’t you boy.” She rubbed the top of his head, Hittle closing his eyes for a moment. “Rogue bird, as I remember the guards calling him.”

“Well, here’s how we can use Hittle.” Leara looked at the sparrow then brightened her flame a little to cast more light on him. “There is one other entrance to the castle, a small side door on the south of the castle wall. It is hidden by several stones and guarded by one guard.” Leara reached over and petted Hittle on the back by which he chirped, “Hittle can cause some sort of a diversion there and we can steal our way in while the guard is occupied.”

Rythe was rubbing his chin when he spoke next. “Does anyone have anything of value that perhaps the bird could hold in its beak?”

They all thought and Ansa looked inside of her pack while Leara searched her belongings. “I do, this coin. Kelvkoroth currancy.” Leara held up a coin made of gold and silver. “This is the highest value in our monetary system.”

“Hittle could carry that in his beak and fly around taunting the guard until he chases him as sport, winner takes or keeps the coin?”

“Rythe, that’s brilliant,” Clal clapped him on the back and laughed. Leara put the coin up to Hittle’s beak. “Take it, Hittle.” Leara told him, then Hittle took hold of the coin and held it there a few moments before Leara carefully took it out his beak and returned it to some pocket in her garment.

“Then once we’re in we’ll go straight to the undercroft.” Clal said, “Though, are we all needed?” Clal scratched his head of blond hair.

“What do you mean?” Ansa looked puzzled with her lips sticking out and squinted eyes.

“Could Leara and I not accomplish the retrieving of the Crystal while you too wait for us near the cave where we are to meet?” Clal scratched his head again. “Ansa, Rythe, would it not be easier for you two to wait for us?”

“I don’t know, Clal.” Ansa looked away, “I would like to be with you.”

“Even though we would be four, we can be quieter than even one. No, Clal, I think we should stay together through to the end of this.” Rythe smiled slightly, “we may need each other.”

“We should be leaving soon,” Leara walked toward the cave’s opening. Her light dimmed to a dull glow. “I know my father, and in the evenings, he is not always in his quarters.”

Clal walked beside Leara, “Well, Leara, you lead the way and we will follow you. If anything goes wrong,” Clal paused, “we must stay together.”

At that moment Leara’s light went out. “Are we ready, Clal?”

“Are we ready?” He repeated.

“Remember your weapons,” Rythe said, “though, I hope it will not come to that.”

“I’m ready.” Ansa had grabbed Clal’s arm in the darkness. “Leara, you will give Hittle the coin?”

“Yes,” She whispered, “Just follow and I will bring you to the place where I intend to hide while Hittle works his rogue bird magic.”

Leara stepped forward and the small band began their journey to abduct the Kelvkorothian Crystal. The city was in front of them as they walked toward it. The castle was to their right, a direction they would soon be traveling. “Put on your guise, your hoods.” Leara spoke quietly.

Clal, Ansa, and Rythe obeyed, pulling out their dark clothing to disguise their identity within the shadows of their garb. They passed the outer city then came in sight of the main gate. Leara took them out of earshot of the guards and continued walking parallel to the castle walls and further to the south end of the castle. They soon arrived at the place where Leara motioned for them to stop. There was a torch that was lit along the wall which looked like only another part of the castle wall, if it weren’t for the clump of stones that gave away where Leara had mentioned. “See here,” she looked at Hittle. “The guard is just over those stones there. Get him to move away from the door.” Leara coaxed Hittle to hold the coin in his beak who obediently did so.

Then Ansa came up beside Leara and whispered. “Rogue bird, Hittle. Go be a rogue bird. Draw him away so that we can enter the castle unencumbered.”

“Go!” Leara lifted her hand into the sky and the sparrow flew toward the stones.

There was silence for a bit but then Hittle could be seen hopping on the ground and the guard was following.

Hittle flew right up to the guard on one occasion then dropped the coin in front of him.

“Oh no. Did he not understand?” Leara jumped up but Clal held her arm.

“Watch. Just watch.” Clal smiled. “Hittle is no ordinary sparrow.”

The guard looked down then jumped as he recognized what Hittle had brought to him.”

“What is this?” The small band could barely hear the guard. He stepped forward. “Can it be?”

“A gnullium piece.” The guard rubbed his eyes. “A gnullium, indeed.”

“The guard stepped forward again and leaned over to pick it up. But, before he could pick it up, Hittle quickly hopped over, snacked it up into his beak and flew a few feet away then dropped it again.

“Wait, you.” The guard pulled out his sword and waved it in Hittle’s direction. “You have no right coming here and playing your trick. That coin is worth much and…wait…why am I talking to a bird?,” The guard scratched his chin. “He won’t know what I mean. Why bother?”

Then the guard waved his sword at Hittle again, “No...I can talk to a rock about the weather if I so wanted to. Now let’s have that coin”

The guard inched closer to Hitttle who was watching him closely.

He picked up the coin once again then flew another ten feet. The guard followed without hesitation.

“It’s working,” Ansa whispered. “She smiled and clapped her hands together.

“Everyone at the ready?” Leara announced here gazed fixed on the guard and Hittle.

They moved further and further away, though, soon they would be coming back, Clal sensed.

“Go!” Leara said, “Quick, then to the right once we’re in.”

They ran as fast as they could, all together toward the castle door. The opening was small and the door was closed. Leara pushed on the door which easily swung open. There were no guards on the inside that they could detect.

As they passed through the door Leara led them to the right. Hittle whizzed past Clal’s ear and flapped alongside Ansa. Leara took them into a room where they rested and could talk freely in secret.

“All right…,” Leara was breathing fast and heavy, “Hittle...that bird...is…”

“He’s never...been an or...dinary sparrow.” Ansa was struggling to string her sentence together.

The room they were in was dimly lit with two candles, small, dusty, and dark.

“This is the library. There are only a few books we still have here.” Leara pointed at a few shelves.

“What kind of books?” Ansa said curiously walking over to one of the shelves. She brushed her finger across one of the spines of the books. She read it, “The Fire of Kelvkoroth? Oh, this one sounds interesting.”

“Some things my father did not tell you about Kelvkoroth. You’ll find those things in there. Take it, Ansa.” Leara said smiling. “No one ever reads them, and I know father has had our scribes record the histories of our people. Take it.”

Ansa pulled the red book off the shelf and slipped it into her pack.

“Now,” Leara leaned in as they all stood in a circle, “we will have to walk down the halls like we are only exploring, like I’m giving you the tour of the castle. I think that will work.”

“Did we not already have a tour?” Rythe spoke, he was looking at some of the books on the shelves. “Where is the undercroft from here? And I thought castles had their own secret passageways. It would seem to be safer to travel through way of secrecy, would it not?”

“Yes,” Leara said looking at Rythe, “it would.” Her voice trailed off and she was suddenly thrust into a silent bout of thinking.

Clal looked over at her and wondered if she could guide them through the castle in a safer, more sure way. He did not want to chance being found. “The entire castle would go up in an uproar like the great flames of Kelvkoroth if we were to be found out by even one guard.”

Leara leaned against one of the walls and put her hand to her chin. She looked up, then around the room. She walked over to one of the books and pulled it out. “No, not that one,” she said to herself. “Which one was it?” she said.

“Was what?” Ansa walked to her side.

Leara paid her no heed and continued to pull on the books until she had pulled on all of the remaining books. “Where was it?” She whispered again.

“Leara, what are you looking for?” Clal walked over to her.

“Ansa, Clal, forgive me,” she said. “I faintly remember a passageway in this very room. I was reminded that there is one here, but how to get to it…” She tapped her lip then walked to another corner of the small, dimly lit room.

There, in the corner of the room was one of two torches that lit the room. Leara’s hand slowly reached out toward it. But instead of taking it out of its holder, she turned it to the right slightly. Then, she turned it to the left more than a quarter turn. Then, she turned it to the right again three quarters turn. A soft but unmistakable click was heard, then the wall which held the shelves of books turned to reveal a space just wide enough for them to squeeze through. They filed in, Leara in front and Rythe in the rear. The wall slid shut behind them and Leara’s lavender flame led their way once more.

They walked for a short while, then Clal spoke up. “Our plan, we need a new plan.” They continued to walk forward.

“The plan...,” Ansa said, her voice echoing throughout awkwardly patterned stones from each side of the tunnel. “...is to find the room, the place where the Crystal is.”

“But behind these walls there’s no telling where it is.” Clal whispered, touching the stones as he passed them.

“There is a way out of this tunnel, if we got in, though I don’t remember...wait.” Leara spoke as she turned left into another tunnel. “This is strange, I don’t remember this tunnel!”

They walked in silence for a while then came to a dead end. “This must be the entrance to another room in the castle.” Rythe said. He started feeling the walls for a way to coax a sleepy opening to reveal an entry.

“Rythe,” Clal came up next to him. “We don’t know what’s on the other side or who might…”

“Clal, Rythe, I hear something.” They all went silent and Leara put out her light. Clal came close to the wall and put his ear up to it. He searched around with his finger for some draft of air. Crouching down, he found a cool draft almost at the bottom of the floor then pressed his ear to the crevice.

“Salfor, I don’t think…” Clal could tell that it was Lyluria’s voice, “...because if he was...he would have already...you can’t…”

“It matters not. Once they return...and then we will deal with the boy…”

Leara gasped.

“But as for now…” Salfor’s voice was cut off.

“No...this is wrong...he is the chosen one...know that he’s the hope and…”

“Mother,” Leara said, beginning to weep.

“I hear it too and it seems as though the Lord of Kelvkoroth has changed his plans.” Rythe spoke quietly. “Time is now of the essence.”

“Leara, I think we should be going now.” Clal spoke gently, her quiet weeping still evident.

“Why, Clal? Why is my father acting this way?”

“He is a good man.” Clal said smiling. “And your mother, she will help us.”

The darkness was chased away by Leara’s bright flame and she returned to the front, leading them back the way they came.

They came to the intersection of the two passageways where Leara stopped. “Is it straight or to the left?” She whispered to herself.

“Where might the undercroft room be from where we entered?” Ansa asked. “Where do you think we might be now?”

“Oh, I’m not so sure but I…” Leara started to say.

“I am here, Seldinolum.” Clal heard a voice suddenly. It was ever faint but he knew now the origin.

“Where?” Clal said aloud.

“Where what?” Ansa called to Clal who was standing in front of her.”

“Oh,” he combed his hand through his hair half smiling, “uh, I just...well, heard the Crystal again.”

“Clal, what did it say this time?” Rythe walked closer to him.

“It told me…” Clal’s voice trailed off as the voice came again.

“Come to me.” Seeshalar spoke, her voice like the wind upon the ear.

“Go...straight.” Clal spoke firmly.

Leara began to walk again, this time at a more rapid pace. They had only gone a few yards when Clal heard Seeshalar speak once more, this time as clear as the sound of a castle bell.

“Come, Clal. I will be found.” She said.

“Yes, I can hear her. Her voice is getting louder, clearer.” Clal said excitedly.

“That’s good news,” Ansa said. They continued to walk the long passageway. At a few points it turned then turned again. They reached another intersection. “Which way, Clal? Do you know which way?”

He had not heard or felt anything for a few minutes. “I don’t know.” He replied. “Does this mean we went too far or…”

Just then there was a sound far away down the dark passageway. “What was that?” Leara said, turning out her flame. They waited and listened. There were footsteps and they were getting closer. “Quick, follow me.” Leara whispered. She brought her fire back though very dim, then turned and walked briskly down the passageway. They walked for several minutes, all were quiet, carefully placing each footstep upon the stone floor of the tunnel.

“I wait for you.” Clal paused for a moment, almost colliding into Ansa who was behind him. “Come, Seldinolum.” Seeshalar said.

Clal started touching the walls with both hands as he continued down the passageway. “We are close.” He whispered. “We are surely close. Feel along the walls.”

They continued to walk at a rapid pace, Clal hoping they would not be caught by the phantom intruder possibly behind them. Clal began to feel the presence of the Crystal as they continued. This time, he succumbed to its pull, its power. He knew that they were one in purpose and would soon be one in hand.

His hand scraped against one particular section of the tunnel and he felt an inscription or some indentation into the wall. Before he realized it, Clal pulled his necklace from his pack and slipped it over his head. It began to glow immediately which gave just enough light to make out the symbols. “Rythe, Ansa, Leara,” He whispered. “I found something.”

They walked over and saw that the symbol Clal felt with his fingers was the exact same symbol they had seen at the castle and in the Book of Legends. “It’s the symbol of light,'' Clal said quietly, “Sun. Moon. Stars.”

While all four of them huddled over the marking in the wall, Hittle on Ansa’s shoulder, Clal noticed that a thin line began to illuminate which traveled for a few feet to the right and down from the marking. It ended where a small stone was present, the stone itself beginning to glow.

“Strange,” Clal whispered. “It’s almost as if…” Clal moved his hand to the stone, then he pushed on it with his thumb. They waited but nothing happened.

Leara lifted up her violet flame to the symbol then to the stone to get a better look. Suddenly, another line, this time appearing in the opposite direction, slowly came into view. It was symmetrically exact to the pattern that Clal revealed and was like viewing a mirror image of the mysterious illuminated line. Leara’s side also ended in a glowing stone.

“What is this?” Rythe moved closer touching the two stones. He looked up at Clal, then turned to Learn. “Each of you, push a stone.”

Without hesitation, Clal up his hand with his finger outstretched. Leara placed her flame into one of her hands then lifted the other to the glowing stone. When they were both touching the stones, Clal looked at Leara, Leara was already looking at Clal, then they both pushed the stones, acting in the same moment.

There was an immediate scraping sound, then the start of a dim light entered the dark tunnel. They waited until the door they had caused to open was completely ajar. Leara entered first, then Clal, then Ansa. Rythe paused, listening down the hall. Not hearing anything, he turned around and entered.

They walked into the lit room. The stone walls were a light orange. A few steps into the room revealed that this was where the Crystal resided. There before him was Seeshalar. But how to obtain her?

“Bare me away, Seldinolum. Do not delay.” Seeshalar demanded.

Clal walked up to the Crystal and was about to tough it when Leara came running up to him. “Never touch it, Clal. I forgot to tell you.” Leara’s voice was quiet but firm. “It will cause your hand to wither away. You must wrap it in cloth, any kind of cloth.”

Rythe was watching Clal from the corner of the room. He pulled out a garment from his pack and came to Clal’s side to offer it to him. “Take this.” Rythe whispered to Clal. “You need your clothing more than I do.”

Clal looked Rythe in the eyes and smiled. He took the clothing then leaned over to try to wrap the stone around it. The stone wouldn’t budge, however.

Clal studied the scene more closely. The stone was set in some kind of casing lodged between two stones that held it on the top and the bottom. From where he was he could not see how to dislodge the crystal. “Rythe,” Clal whispered. “Come look at this.”

Rythe came to Clal’s side, standing there looking at the Crystal. Rythe was only there a moment when he said, “You are going to need a key. That’s the only way I see that they’ve secured the Crystal.”

Clal turned to Leara, “Do you know of a key that is keeping this Crystal still?”

Leara slowly shook her head.

Ansa came over to join the rest of them near the Crystal. She looked at the Crystal then turned to Rythe. “What about the key that the guards use to open the door?”

“Right.” Rythe smiled walking toward the door they entered earlier that day. “Fourteen stones from the floor and five stones” Rythe pointed with his hand first left then right, “to the right of the door when you look at it from this way.”

“Go ahead.” Leara said. “But be careful.”

“And quiet.” Ansa added.

Rythe walked over to the wall and counted five stones from the door on the bottom level of stones then counted fourteen stones up. He felt the mortar around the four sides of the stone then slid out his dagger, which was hanging from his side. He pressed the tip into part of the mortar then pushed the dagger’s handle like a level, the stone started to budge, protruding slightly from the wall.

Clal could see beads of sweat beginning to form on Rythe’s forehead. Surely Rythe knew that one wrong jostle from his hand would signal that someone was in the room and the guards would surely come quickly. The stone continued to slide from its place as Rythe continued to work it back and forth.

Ansa was looking intently, her hands and arms were raised to her waist and a painful look was on her face as she watched Rythe work the stone. At one point she looked at Clal, worried for what might happen.

Clal looked at Hittle on her shoulder, still and quiet. Somehow Hittle knew that silence was his only priority. Truly a remarkable creature, Clal thought.

Clal looked back and watched Rythe slide his dagger back into its sheath. He held the stone in his hand. And there, he spied the key. They had done it. Rythe took the key, set the stone on the ground close to the wall, then walked over to Clal whipping his brow with his sleeve.

“Clal, here,” speaking as if out of breath. “I do not know where it goes but I believe this is what we need.”

“Leara?” Clal motioned for her to come over to him. She took a few steps and was at his side. “Where do you think this is supposed to be used to release the Crystal?” He whispered.

She took the key from Clal, then walked over to where the Crystal was. Leara surveyed every inch of its surroundings, then turned to Clal. “I don’t see anywhere that we can use this.”

“I don’t know why I expected this to be easy.” Clal shook his head, then rested his forehead on his hand.

“This will work” Ansa put her hand on Clal’s shoulder, “We’ve only just arrived.” She bit her lip then instinctively put her hand to her pack by her side. “We have to try to think about this in a different way. For instance, who do you suppose put the stone there and by what means did they do it?”

“What about the way in which we entered,” Rythe spoke.

Clal had since put his necklace back in his pack and Leara had extinguished her light. But at this moment, it was their only option. Clal retrieved the stone from his pack once again while Leara’s flame appeared in her cupped hands.

“Hold it up to the Crystal,” Clal said as they walked closer to the stone. Both Clal and Leara came close to the stone. Leara pressed her flame to the surface of the Crystal while Clal lifted his necklace away from his chest and touched the Crystal with blue, glowing stone in the center of the circular hoop.

“Clal,” Rythe whispered, coming closer to them, “Ready the garment. We don’t know what’s going to happen.” Clal looked at Rythe confused. Then Ansa, knowing her brother’s thoughts, pulled the garment from Clal’s pack and held it up to the Crystal.

It was a sight for one to see, the three of them huddled around the Crystal as the orange glow began to change from dark yellow to the brightest of lights.

“Cover your eyes.” Rythe whispered loudly. “The light will blind you.”

Then, a loud crack sounded. Clal jumped and yelled. Ansa screamed. Rythe pulled out his sword immediately.

The stone fell into the garment which Ansa was holding. Being heavy, Ansa began to fall toward the floor. Clal let go of his necklace catching the stone before it surely would have shattered on the stone beneath them.

Clal heard the guards shouting.

“Clal,” Rythe said, running to Clal, “I still have the key.” Rythe ran and grabbed the stone that he had dislodged. He knelt down, returned it to its place, then ran to the other wall where the entrance to the passageway was still open. “In here,” he waved. “Hurry!”

Leara leapt toward the tunnel with her flame still lit. Ansa followed then Clal. Rythe dove into the darkness. Once inside the passageway, Clal and Leara pressed the glowing stones and the stone wall slid, then shut completely.

“That was close,” Clal said. “We could have been…”

“Caught!” said the voice behind them.

Chapter 13: The Trap

“Mother!” Leara shouted, partly from the surprise of the appearance of her mother, but mostly from being startled in the darkness of the tunnel.

“What are you…?” Leara began to say.

“Fate,” Lyluria smiled and hugged Leara. She pulled away and held both of Leara's shoulders. “Now, there isn’t much time.” She turned to Clal. “I presume you hold the Crystal in that clothing, do you not?” She whispered calmly.

“I do.” Clal stood straight. “Though it’s beginning to feel quite heavy.” Rythe came over to Clal and lifted the stone into Clal’s pack. Though heavy still, it was much easier to carry and was now concealed.

Lyluria continued. “Clal, I know that you are no thief. I trust that you’ve followed your path.”

She turned again to her daughter, “Leara, your father has set a trap. And though I tried to persuade him otherwise,” her eyes began to tear up, “he means to capture Clal knowing that Clal will attempt to dislodge the Crystal. He wants the Crystal for himself. He will not tell me why, though I fear the worst.”

“Imforo?” Leara spoke plainly. “But he was banished.”

“I suspect that your father is intent on being the steward that frees the people from this curse, once and for all.” Lyluria spoke, and looking down, Clal realized that she also was holding a ball of flame, hers being golden yellow.

“Do you suppose that Imforo claims that he can remove the mountain by the powers of this Crystal?”

At that moment noises were coming from the room they had just. They could hear the guards yelling and the shuffling of feet. “I want every inch of this castle…”

Leara gasped. “Father!”

“Come,” Lyluria rushed past them. They ran down the passageway as quickly as their whits would allow amid such dim light. Lyluria took them around a few turns and Clal noticed that they were no longer alone in the tunnels. There were sounds behind them and sounds in front of them. Clal was unable to decipher the distance or how many but it seemed as if they would soon be surrounded.

Just as Clal thought they were going to be found by their invisible assailants, they all stopped and Lyluria guided them out of the passageway into one of the many rooms of the castle.

Once all were in the large room, Lyluria turned around, closed the opening, then motioned for them to follow her once more.

The room was more than just a room, with a vaulted ceiling and polished floors, Clal knew this must be a room for guests, the great room. It too was dimly lit by torches though there were several more than needed since visitors were rarely, if ever, entertained Clal imagined.

Lyluria led them to the double door opening of the room. She opened one of the doors and it squeaked loudly as it swung on its hinges. She paused and Clal could see her eyes shifting back and forth as she watched for castle folk. She then leaned back, then turned to Leara.

“We are going to attempt to exit by way of the royal tunnel. It is the only way by which you can escape safely.” Lyluria looked out of the crack from the opening of the door then said. “We must go down this hall then turn right. The second door on the left is where the tunnel is hidden. Its opening resides behind a wall. Only your father and I know its whereabouts.”

She looked once more through the doorway, “Now!” She flung the door open then darted out of the room and down the hall, her long clock and sashes swaying furiously as she ran.

The others followed her into the hall. Clal could see no guards, no people, no Salfor. They were safe.

When they turned the corner, however, the scene was completely different than Clal would have ever expected. It seemed as though he had been suddenly thrust into a nightmarish scene.

Lyluria, Leara, and Ansa, were each firmly in the custody and firm grip of several castle guards. Salfor was standing at the head of the army of guards and Clal and Rythe quickly unsheathed their swords. Clal heard running behind them and saw several archers come up at their rear, arrows knocked to the string.

Leara turned to Lyluria who was being held captive by the guard beside her, “Mother!” She said sobbing.

“Leara, I didn’t know.” Her mother said.

“I knew.” Salfor said quietly. He walked over to Lyluria. “I forgive you.” He said simply. “We all try to follow what we think is the proper path for us.” He paused, then said to the guard holding Lyluria, “ Release her.”

He then walked to stand beside Leara. He slipped the Dragon Summoner off of her head and slipped it over his own. “You won’t be needing this now, Leara. I am sorry, but plans have changed.”

“Father,” she shrieked, “why are you doing this?” She tried to struggle free of the guard’s grip, “You don’t understand...the Crystal...it has to leave with Clal...tonight!”

“No!” he turned to face Leara. “It is mine. Mine alone!” The flames of Kelvkoroth burned within his eyes. “It is you who does not understand, and I do not have the time to inform you.”

Salfor turned to his guards, “Release Leara and the other girl.”

The guard holding Ansa let go of his grip and Ansa fell upon the floor before Salfor weeping.

“It might seem like ill fate that you are caught in my trap. Though, ‘tis good fortune for me that you are here. For, I presume that you, Clal, have the Crystal, a feat only the chosen one could have hoped to have managed. Of which I now require of you to relinquish.”

Clal looked at Rythe who slightly shook his head. Clal looked back at Salfor, “The stone, this Crystal, it’s not yours. You are only a steward.”

“Clal,” Rythe whispered. “Careful.”

Clal looked over at Rythe who was also holding a sword. He knew that this was the right path, to keep the stone somehow, but everything seemed to be closing in on them. Clal’s head turned back to Salfor. “Let us pass, Salfor, please.” Clal lowered his sword to his waist.

Salfor laughed, not a cruel laugh but a laugh that made Clal think that he had truly not considered the option whatsoever.

“Clal, forgive me, but I do not think that I can grant such a request.” He took a step closer as he slowly shook his head. “Only, give me my Crystal and I will grant your wish.”

Clal studied Salfor as he continued to creep closer. He raised his hand in the air, undoubtedly signaling to his armed men to be at the ready. Clal looked around searching for anything that would lend itself to the reckoning of their original plan. There had to be some way out of this. There was and Clal was going to find it.

He thought about the Crystal and about what had happened inside of the chamber. Then, he had an idea that could very well work.

“I thought that the chosen one would indeed look the part,” Salfor said, “would look as if he measured up to his grand task. But see here, a mere lad, destined to save Illia from the dark one lurking.” Salfor laughed again.

Clal touched his necklace that he was still wearing, the glow within the stone had all but gone out except for a small, blue section in the center that Clal could still discern. He slowly tapped his finger to it then to his pack where the Crystal was. He looked straight at Leara once Salfor had looked away then repeated the pattern, pointing to the necklace then to the Crystal. He then made a gesture of cupping his hands.

Leara looked confused for a moment then their eyes met and Clal knew that she understood.

“Your coming here was only a confirmation that I must act to bring my people to freedom’s gate. I believed once that you could be the chosen one. But now I’m not so certain.” Salfor spoke as Clal tried to get Ansa’s attention. Her head was down and she was still sobbing. Clal had to do something to get her attention. Leara must have been thinking the same thing because she turned in Ansa’s direction.

“Ansa, are you okay,” she whispered.

Ansa looked up then Leara immediately tilted her head in Clal’s direction. Ansa looked at Clal who repeated the pattern again, necklace, Crystal, cupped hands.

Ansa looked back at Leara and Leara pointed to the guard who was still holding her tightly.

“Now, I have the means to free us.” He stepped forward a few paces, much closer than Clal wanted. “And it is to the banished, the RISHK that I’ve turned for aid.” Lyluria gasped then put her hand to her mouth, tears springing from her eyes.

Salfor stepped closer then raised his hand higher, “Men!”

“Now!” Clal shouted.

Ansa jumped from her place, ran to Leara then jabbed her heel into the guard’s foot.

“Ahhhhhh!” the guard yelled, releasing Leara.

Leara dashed to Clal’s side who had the Crystal halfway unsheathed already. She thrust her flame into the Crystal’s side while Clal pulled his necklace from his chest and touched the stone to the Crystal.

The Salfor, the guards and archers were already moving, but the Crystal was lighting up even faster than before, as if it too was using all its power to battle for their escape.

Clal began to step forward. Only the others knew the secret and were already shielding their eyes from the light. Men began to scream, the guards began to flee. Only a few were still there, including Salfor, struggling to find their way to the Crystal hoping to apprehend Clal. But to no avail. Clal had moved past the guards, grabbed Ansa and was halfway to the second door that Lyluria mentioned would be their escape route.

Clal, Leara and Ansa entered the room, the light still brilliant. Rythe ran in behind them. He shut the door and bared it with his body.

“Hurry!” Lyluria spoke in a weepy tone. “You must hurry!”

“Open! By order of the Lord of Kelvkoroth!” The guards were banging on the door and soon they would strike it down into splinters of wood.

“Mother, I fear for you.” Leara said tears streaming down her cheeks. She inched toward the opening in the wall that Lyluria had just opened. “Come with us.”

“Do not fear for me.” She touched her daughter’s face. “I fear for your father more than anything.”

“Lyluria!” Salfor yelled. “You betray me.”

Lyluria looked at the door then back at Leara and the others. “Go!” she said through gritted teeth.

Leara hugged her mother. “Be well,” she said.

“Be well, my daughter.” She kissed her forehead. “Until we meet again my daughter.”

Leara looked up then turned and approached the tunnel. The opening was thin and tall, barely opened wide enough for her to struggle then slip through disappearing into the darkness.

Clal ran to Lyluria and grabbed her hands, “Thank you. I will watch over her.”

“I know you will, Clal.” Lyluria smiled. Then Clal turned, ran to the crevice, then squeezed through entering the tunnel.

Ansa smiled at Lyluria then followed Clal through the narrow opening.

Last of all, Rythe jumped from the door over to the opening. He struggled but couldn’t squeeze through. Lyluria ran to the door, baring herself against it.

“It’s not working!” he said. “How do I…?” Rythe moved back and forth, wedging himself further and further in.

“It’s no use!” another voice said, “You are trapped! Surrender!”

“I am trapped!” Rythe said. He paused, looked at the opening, bent down slightly then fell into the darkness.

The opening shut and they were sealed within another dark passageway.

“Run!” Clal said.

They ran by the light of a lavender flame as the floor drew them up toward the Illian world above.

For a long while all that was heard was the pounding of footsteps and the belabored breathing of four fortunate crusaders. Leara kept a steady pace and her light was even brighter than before as it bobbed up and down casting a moving light upon the passageway that sometimes fooled Clal’s eyes.

The burden of the Crystal was beginning to become overbearing as Clal tried to steady his pack while he ran. Rythe noticed Clal struggling and said, in between gasps. “Clal I...can take...the Crystal.”

Without hesitating, Clal pulled his pack from his back then, handing it over to Rythe, started to pull the necklace from his neck.

“I’ll...put that...in...my…” Rythe started, then Clal nodded.

“Yes,” Clal said.

With the burden now on Rythe who was much taller and stronger than he, Clal could easily keep up with Ansa, who seemed as if she was running on air hardly making an effort to stay close to Leara.

The tunnel widened into more of what Clal imagined a cave would be like and the air became less heavy.

Leara’s voice was suddenly saying something. “Do you feel that?” Clal thought he heard her say. “The air,” Leara said again. “It feels wonderful!”

They slowed down and Leara stopped running. Clal didn’t press them to continue since he did not doubt that the guards could not pursue them. The light, Clal guessed, may have blinded them for hours.

“The air,” Leara placed the ball of flame in one hand, then she stretched her other arm out and waved it around. “The air is so light.”

Hittle launched himself into the air from Ansa’s shoulder then flew in circles above Leara chattering away.

“I’ve never felt anything like it.” She moved around walking from one side of the cave to the other.

Clal turned to Rythe and whispered, “Can you imagine what she’s going to do when we are above ground?” Clal smiled. What an incredible feeling it must be to have once lived beneath the ground, then to begin to experience the wonders of the world above. Clal looked at Leara who was smiling from pointed ear to pointed ear.

She grabbed her clothing on her side then looked down suddenly, “It’s gone! The Dragon Summoner!” She looked at Clal her face full of horror.

“Your father, remember?” Clal said softly.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Oh, no,” she covered her mouth with both hands.

“Wait,” Rythe walked forward. “I...retrieved it.”

Leara gasped.

“How?” Ansa said as Hittle rested on her outstretched hand.

“During the light, your father was stunned, Leara.” He said, trying to carefully choose his words. “As I ran past him to the door I took my sword and cut the cord that held it to his neck.” He then said, “he did not flinch and neither of us received harm.”

Rythe handed the white horn to Leara. “I have no pack to carry it.”

Rythe looked at Leara for a moment, pulled the horn from her, tied the cord together then pushed it back into her hand. “Good as new,” he smiled slightly then turned and resumed his place at the rear.

Satisfied, Leara cupped both hands with the flame once more then turning to the others said, “We have more to travel before we’re out of this dark tunnel.” Then she turned, trotted, then her trot turned into a run, this time, at a more bearable pace.

As the cave grew wider the air grew sweeter. A familiar feeling and smell began to return to Clal a feeling is seemed as though he had not felt in ages.

Clal, realizing that no guard could fit through the crevice that served as the entrance from the castle room, he suggested that they walk for a while. “I’m certain we are safe now,” he told them.

There was an occasional turn now and then, but Clal detected no off shoots from the cave’s walls. They continued to walk, the cave now wide enough to walk two by two.

Clal walked next to Leara. He stole a glance at the flame that she was holding. He’d never noticed it before but at the base and in the center was a white flame that fed the rest of the flame that made up the ball.

“How old were you when you made your first flame,” Clal asked as they walked.

Leara giggled, then started to laugh. “I don’t know exactly,” she could hardly speak. Clal was intrigued.

“What is it?” he approached her.

“It’s just that,” she smiled and chuckled, “my Mother told me that, when it happened, the first time, it was such a surprise that my father nearly toppled over. And she just laughed. Can you imagine?” She started laughing again.

“Well,” Clal smiled, “that would be a surprise!” He leaned over looking at the flame. “How...do you do it? What does it feel like?”

Clal looked into the flame, it’s purple light swirled and flickered as if it was a real fire, but with more fluid motion.

Leara’s eyes turned to the flame then out in front of her. She paused then turned to Clal. “During my training, fire wielding, I was taught to bring all within me to the rear, behind me,” she flipped her head, her long brown hair sweeping the air, “to hold in my heart the one thing that brings me the greatest joy.” She turned toward the flame again then said, “Then, to grow that joy, focusing on the smallest point possible.” She smiled, laughed nervously then said. “It’s difficult to describe.“

Clal smiled, “That’s...fascinating.”

“It took a long time for me to work up to producing a ball of flame this size, and I chose the color.” She smiled wider, “This isn’t the only flame I can produce.” She looked at Clal.

Clal’s jaw dropped.

“There’s a flame that I’ve only used once, that I wasn’t taught.” They continued to walk through the cave and Clal noticed a light far in front of them. They were almost out of the cave.

“It was in a moment when I was in a dire need, and it protected me.” She looked ahead, and Clal wondered whether she was imagining that moment again.

“And your thought,” Clal looked at her, heaving his pack tighter against himself, “the one that brings you the greatest joy.” He smiled. “What is it?”

She looked away for a moment, “I’ve never told anyone before.” She looked back at Clal. “It’s silly, really.”

They continued to walk in silence, Clal deciding not to press the issue. He wondered if it could be a memory with her mother or a dream she once had.

“It’s my ears,” Leara finally said. “My elf ears, I’ve always loved them.”

Clal looked at Leara. She was looking at Clal. “Your ears are beautiful.” Clal spoke honestly. “Can I touch your ear?” He surprised himself having just spoken his secret thoughts.

“Yes, you may.” She said smiling.

Before he knew it he extended his arm and gently touched the tip of her right ear, then down the back.

Leara looked up at him, then looked away.

“Remarkable,” was all that Clal could think to say.

They were silent for a while when Ansa came up behind them. “Clal,” she said, “I was thinking. When we get out of this cave and above ground, perhaps we should open up The Book of Legends again. Maybe it will help us.”

Clal nodded. “I think that is a good idea.” He smiled, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Ansa.” He grabbed her and held her close as they walked beside each other.

“You’d be lost without me, I just know it!” She laughed and wrapped her arm around Clal’s neck.

Clal turned to look behind at Rythe who was stone faced as he rubbed his chin. Clal slowed down then came up to Rythe. “There’s something bothering you, isn’t there.” Clal said.

“Not really,” he said plainly. “It’s just that as long as you have that Crystal, there will be nothing but trouble that comes with it. Do you know what to do with it?”

Clal thought back to what they’ve learned and read thus far about the Crystal. He thought of what Gulnerye had spoken about, how the RISHK were seeking it. He knew that Felsawn had sensed its change when it was found. But, he could not remember what they were to do once the Crystal was obtained. “I do not know, Rythe.” he looked at Leara walking in front of him. He spied the horn that hung just below her right arm and was jostling back and forth. “Perhaps the dragon will know.”

“Perhaps the dragon will know.” Rythe nodded. “He must know.”

They continued to walk as the cave drew them upward and the opening was fast approaching. Clal looked at Ansa as he walked and noticed that Hittle had tucked his head under one wing. Leara’s lavender light glowed against the cave walls and the earthen floor. He thought about her flame and what it meant to her. Then, he stole a glance at her elf ear, her brown hair tucked behind it, and cherished the thought of it.

They soon approached the opening where Leara stopped and looked out. They were silent, Clal, Ansa, and Rythe watching Leara as she slowly stepped from the opening onto the first patch of grass her foot had ever pressed upon. The moon was full and cast its bright light over the hillside and forest to their right. The wind was blowing softly and the stars were innumerable, shimmering in the endless sky above them.

“And to think, all of this was there…” She sat down on the ground as her flame diminished to nothing.

Ansa sat beside her, “It is beautiful.”

“It’s more than beautiful.” Leara smiled looking at the moon then to the horizon. “It’s real magic. The only true magic that means anything.” She looked at Ansa, “And you live here under and around all this...every day?”

“Most of the time,” Ansa giggled, “unless we’re galavanting around in tunnels or traveling through secret kingdoms which we've been doing quite a lot of as of late.”

“I’ll never forget this moment, as long as I live.” Leara said, touching the grass beside her. She stood up, then offered her hand to Ansa. Ansa took Leara’s hand and Leara lifted her up from sitting. “I fear for my mother, and for my father.” She said, her gaze spanning all of them. “Though, I am happy that we made it, considering how I thought we were done for.”

“It was the Crystal…” Clal started to say.

“It was you, Clal.” Rythe said. They were now beginning to walk slowly through the grass up a small hill. “To think that what happened inside of the Crystal’s chamber could be repeated to our great advantage. That was brilliant.” He turned and smiled at Ansa. “And Ansa…”

“My foot still throbs, but I’m glad the guard...well...I’m just glad it worked.” She winked at Rythe.

Chapter 17: Taken

Clal felt something crash into his side sending him off Sedrak’s back, unconscious and plummeting fast toward the open jaws of the deep that awaited him below.

As Clal was sent toward the sea a great wave swelled then swallowed Clal into the raging deep. Sedrak had followed him downward then plunged into the waters. For a moment, they had disappeared from sight, completely submerged and engulfed as the blackness of night engulfed them and no light would be found below the surface.

A rumbling, booming sound was rising from within the ocean. Then, an explosion of water and mist protruded from the surface, Sedrak held a dangling Clal in the talons of his leathery hands as the dragon’s great wings pushed them higher, away from the clutches of the sea.

“Clal,” Sedrak said, shaking him, “You must awake. Clal!” Sedrak swung his great head to the left then to the right. He looked below, then above. The darkness veiled whatever threat had sent Clal falling from off his shoulders.

“Uh, Sedrak?” Clal slowly opened his eyes. “Ah! Please don’t drop me.”

Clal looked around him. He was no longer on Sedrak’s back but surprised to be in the clutches of Sedrak’s claws.

“What happened, Sedrak?”

Before Sedrak could answer, a voice from above sounded. A man had appeared and was now standing where Clal had sat moments ago on Sedrak’s back.

“The chosen one. The defeated. Clal Winden, son of Dalbus from the valley of Lyrune.” The man spat.

“Sedrak, who is the voice?” Clal said.

“Krothwing!”

“The RISHK!” Clal announced.

Sedrak shrieked, then pulled Clal to his chest spinning downward through the sky.

Krothwing jumped from Sedrak’s back, hovering in the air for a moment, then dove after them.

Sedrak was flying toward the lights on the shore when suddenly, Krothwing appeared in front of them, low and near Clal.

“Tonight, you will meet your death, Seldinolum.”

Clal could only see by the bright moon that hung in the sky, but he knew that Krothwing wore a wry smile by the sound of his voice.

“We fly!” Sedrak thrust his wings downward, lifted them up then made the rest of the journey to the shore a short stint to escape Krothwing and his empty threats.

There on the shore Clal was set down on his back by Sedrak. Call stood on his feet and surveyed the carnage.

Tall flames rose from the pile that must have once been the boat and oars. The flickering flames revealed a tall man circling three figures that appeared to be Ansa, Leara, and Rythe, who were tied to a post. Then Krothwing flew in from the darkness and walked upon the shore to the other man. He leaned in and spoke something in his ear, then pointed in Clal’s direction.

Immediately, Ansa turned toward Clal and yelled his name. The others looked toward them. It was a sorrowful scene to witness and Clal felt helpless to help them. Though, Clal was certain that among the RISHK there could be no match, no equal to Sedrak. The circumstances seemed dire, nonetheless.

With no sword and no way to defend himself, Clal settled on the fact that with a little wit and a lot of dragon, they could devise a plan to gain their advantage by degrees.

“Sedrak!” Clal said, walking over to his large head. “Should we not free the others first? We will need their help.”

Sedrak nodded then crouched down, readying himself for Clal to mount again. This time, however, Clal was a bit timid. He rubbed his ribs while he climbed onto Sedrak’s shoulders.

Sedrak rapidly rose into the sky as he flapped his wings. Then, directing his sight toward the others on the shore, Sedrak dove, sending Clal almost off his back again.

They sailed toward Ansa, Leara, and Rythe who were tied up. Leara wore a hooded cloak which covered her head and Ansa and Rythe appeared as they had when he last saw them, only dryer.

Sedrak was reeling toward the three, stretched out his arm then snatched the post from the sand which turned out to be one of the oars. Clal heard Sedrak screech as a warm air passed over his exposed neck.

“Imforo!” Sedrak exclaimed. “Banished from Kelvkoroth.” Sedrak swung back around for another assault. “He carries the flame.”

Swooping in again, Sedrak dove low, skimming the water then curving to attack Imforo. Sedrak opened his mouth and sent a shower of razor sharp ice toward Imforo. As quick as lightning, Imforo produced a large ball of flames which sent the ice away from him as water hissed and spread in all directions.

“Hahahaha!” Imforo laughed as he looked up into the sky. “Strong is fire. Weak is ice.” Imforo sent another ball of flames toward Sedrak and Clal. Sedrak dodged it then Clal heard something behind him.

He jumped up, caught his balance. First he saw nothing, then, Krothwing walked toward him as he walked atop Sedrak’s spiny back.

“Your weapons,” Krothwing said pointing into the ocean’s dark waves, “are down there. The clothes Gwen gave you and the scrolls from your mother” He pointed at the flames on the shore, “have perished.” Krothwing smiled, then his face went as still as a statue. “The book...it neither burned nor succumbed to the ocean’s touch.” He folded his arms and leaned on an imaginary surface. “And so, we shall keep it, until we find our own method to employ for its destruction.”

Clal smiled back, “You cannot destroy that which is indestructible.” Clal stepped toward Krothwing trying to think of something to say that would cause the greatest pain to Krothwing. “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will never escape the person you could have been.”

“We will bring you down.” Krothwing said as he leapt toward Clal with such swiftness that Clal was struck off balance. Sedrak was eyeing the two of them and turned slightly, helping Clal get back on two feet.

“Hold on, Clal!” Sedrak called out, “I am bringing you down to the shore.”

Clal jumped toward a few of Sedrak’s spiny and wrapped his arms around one of them just before Sedrak dove once more toward the sandy shore.

The moon was at the horizon and would soon veil her light from them. At least Lear’s flame could keep enough light for them to ward off the RISHK, but what was to be done with these two renegades. Clal did not want to inflict the wounds of death upon them. And his sword, was it truly submerged beneath the surface of water again, hidden, never to be found?

Clal watched as the shore rapidly approached. Sedrak landed on the shore. Clal jumped off, then Sedrak took to flight again. The flames of the boat had been reduced to coals and Ansa, Leara, and Rythe were still tied up. Sedrak had flown to the other side of the shore where Imforo’s attention was being drawn away by Sedrak’s taunting.

Krothwing had followed Sedrak, for reasons that Clal did not understand. However, he knew that time was of the essence and that he must act quickly.

Clal crawled close to where the others were and then whispered. “Tell me everything.”

Immediately Ansa yelled, “Clal, they’ve set a trap...we are the trap. You must…” But it was too late. In front of Clal, a tall, thin man materialized. He reached for Clal but Clal dodged him.

But as Clal turned he saw a giant of a man rush toward him from the cover of the trees off the shore. He rammed into Clal and pinned him to the ground. The other man tied Clal’s arms and legs then threw Clal over by the others. Clal could barely breath and his head felt like a swarm of bees were spinning inside of it. He looked at Leara who faded away then closed his eyes and succumbed to the blackness that overshadowed him.

“Clal, Clal,” a voice was whispering. “Clal, you have to wake up. Clal, do you hear my words?”

Clal opened his eyes, the world around him blurry and indistinguishable at first. He was lying on the sand, the darkness of night had overshadowed the scene. There was no light but the stars above and the golden glow of the coals nearby.

“They are here...well...over there somewhere at the moment.” Ansa said. “The RISHK, they are all here.”

“No,” Rythe’s voice came from the darkness, “all but one has come. Hanone Thane, their master, has left his dirty work for his minions. He is not here, though I’m sure he would like to see you Clal.” Rythe paused, “He thinks you’re weak and that the other four can snuff you out. The Clal I know cannot so easily be defeated...”

“Besides, he has the very best companions by his side.” Ansa whispered.

“That is what has made all the difference.” Clal said smiling.

“We are together again,” Leara said, finding Clal’s hand in the darkness. She was trembling.

“I know it seems impossible now, but there is a way, we just have to work together to find out what we all are capable of.” Clal said, now sitting up.

“I think he broke my rib.” Clal let out a slow exhale then he moaned.

“So…ouch” Clal leaned over toward them, “I think they underestimate us. But while they are scheming over there, we can come up with a better plan over here.”

“Clal, they took everything. Our weapons, our extra clothes, the book, and now, your signaling horn and your stone.” Ansa said.

Clal reached up to his chest. All he felt was the course material of his shirt. He balled his hand into a fist and pounded the sand. “No!” he whispered to himself. “How could I let this happen?”

“But Clal, there is one thing that they did not get?” Leara said, “The Crystal. Rythe insisted that we hide it once we returned to shore. When you didn’t return for a long while we knew you had found and gotten through the secret door so we trusted you to your own path and we returned from the raging winds and waves.”

“Once we arrived at the shore I jumped out of the boat and quickly buried the Crystal in the sand. Then Krothwing came followed by Imforo and we were caught.” Rythe’s voice became but a whisper, “They know we have the Crystal. That is the only reason why I believe we are still alive. This is our anchor, if you will.”

“We must never let them find it.” Clal shook his head. “We have to find a way to salvage whatever we can that is ours, retrieve the crystal, then for all four of us mount Sedrak and ride to the place where the Crystal must be placed.”

“Sedrak?” Ansa said, “Is that the white dragon?”

“Yes,” Clal smiled, “Sedrak showed me Hanone, the place where we used to live before our people populated Illia. And he spoke to me of my path and my destiny, our destiny.” Clal paused then sighed. “For I cannot do this alone.” Then Clal remembered. “And Hittle?”

Ansa burst into tears. “Clal…” she said as she sobbed, “It was awful.” She sniffled, “He had no chance. Once Imforo saw him he threw a ball of flames in his direction and we haven’t seen him since.”

“He’s alive, Ansa” Clal whispered, “We will not leave this place until he is with us.”

“Okay.” Ansa sniffled again. “Thank you, Clal.”

Clal winced again from the pain at his side. He couldn’t breathe very deeply. He didn’t know what to do next but he knew they had to work out some way to find an advantage over their foes. Then Clal had an idea.

“Leara?” He said, “Do they know you are from Kelvkoroth and that you wield the flame?”

“No.” she said in a soft tone, “At least, I don’t think they do. But Clal…”

“Then we can use that to our advantage and…”

“Clal, I…” Leara started to tell him.

“...find some way…”

“Clal,” Leara said harshly, “my powers are gone.”

“Gone?” Clal turned to where he heard her voice come from in the dark. “For good?”

“I don’t know. I...don’t know why but I can’t produce a flame.” Leara sighed. “When we need it most, I’ve failed you.”

Clal leaned forward then sat up again. He shook his head back and forth and grit his teeth.

“I think…” Rythe began, “I think I may have the beginnings of a plan. Whatever we have with us to get ourselves out of the trap we’ve found ourselves in, we have one thing that these servants of evil do not, and that is a noble cause that we are fighting for.”

Rythe’s words rang in Clal’s ears. If ever the lot of them needed those words, this was the time for them to hear them.

“With Sedrak as our guide, a massive beast who can launch an assault on the RISHK merely on his own, surely, if we can make contact with him again, we can work together to ward off these men so that we can get the Crystal,” Rythe paused, “and Hittle, and our belongings and rid ourselves of the RISHK...at least for now.”

“What is your plan then, Rythe?” Ansa whispered.

“There is but one plan,” a voice hissed from the darkness. “You will give us the Crystal and we may spare your lives.” Imforo lit up his face with his flame, “Where is it?”

“What Crystal?” Clal said.

“Leara,” he paused, “Salfor told me of your treachery, that you were with this, so called, chosen one, and that the Crystal of Fire was among you.”

Leara cupped her hand over her mouth and Clal watched tears begin to stream down her cheeks.

“So I ask again, where...is the Crystal?” Imforo broadened the ball of fire and the heat began to rise.

Renthar, Krothwing, and Skeldruc stepped from the darkness and formed a circle around them.

Clal looked into the sky wondering where Sedrak was. Their plight seemed to be getting more desperate and Clal still did not have the means to move to a point of advantage over the RISHK. He wondered what Rythe’s plan might have been.

“You are correct, Imforo, we do have the Crystal.” Leara spoke slowly. “But it is not mine to give, not any of us can give it to you. It chooses its master.”

As soon as Leara spoke the words, Clal had an idea.

“Leara, I think Imforo is right.” Clal spoke. “We have no other choice but to surrender the Crystal over.”

By the light of the flame Clal could see the reactions of the others. It was painful but he knew that this was their own way out of the clutches of the RISHK.

“Rythe, will you show them where the Crystal is now?” Clal said. Rythe looked over at Clal with a stone face. Clal nodded and winked.

Clal looked around him at the faces of the RISHK. “Please spare us. Will you not spare our lives for the price of giving to you the Crystal of Fire?”

“Show us the Crystal.” Renthar stepped toward Rythe and thrust his large hand into Rythe’s side. Rythe flinched from the pain of Renthar’s harsh treatment as he lifted Rythe up from the ground. Still tied up, Rythe hobbled over to the place where he he’d hidden the Crystal. “I need more light,” he said, having moved beyond the light of Imforo’s flame.

Imforo rolled his eyes then marched over to Rythe’s side and bore his light in front of his footsteps. “It’s up the shore a ways.” Rythe said.

“Get on, lad!” Imforo growled. “The Crystal, where did you hide it?”

Rythe pointed then Imforo grabbed Rythe’s arm and shoved him along. Imforo turned his head and shouted, “Skeldruc, bring the sack.” Imforo waved for him to join them.

“The sack?” Clal whispered to himself. This could ruin the plan.

Clal watched as Rythe led Imforo and now Skeldruc through the sand further down the shore. They stopped, then Rythe began to dig with his hands. He soon held the Crystal in his hands then looked at Clal.

Clal nodded to Rythe and their eyes met. Clal sensed that Rythe understood what he was about to do which gave Clal some level of comfort.

“All right Rythe,” Clal called, still sitting tied up beside Ansa and Leara, “Give the Crystal to Imforo.”

Rythe stood up with the Crystal in his hands, still bound by the wrists with the crude rope of the RISHK. Skeldruc inched toward Rythe as he opened the sack. Just as he was about to slide the sack over the Crystal, Rythe lifted the Crystal high above his head then thrust the great stone directly toward Imforo’s chest.

By instinct, Imforo reached out his hands to catch it. Imforo stumbled backwards. Hissing sounds and a black smoke erupted from Imforo’s hands the moment his skin touched the stone. He shrieked and fell to the sand.

Rythe leapt toward the stunned Imforo grabbing the dagger at his side and cutting the bands at his feet. Skeldruc tried to retrieve the Crystal but Rythe grabbed it first. “Sedrak!” Rythe yelled into the sky as Skeldruc chased him further down the shore.

Clal jumped up, “Follow me!” He said to Ansa and Leara.

“You’re staying right here!” Renthar growled, reaching for Clal with his large hand. But, Clal dodged him, then grabbed Renthar’s arm and pulled him further downward. Renthar, who was caught off balance, toppled over in front of Clal.

Rythe, having given Clal an idea, looked for Renthar’s dagger. Before Renthar could regain his stance, Clal had pulled out his dagger, escaping as fast as his tied up ankles could carry him.

Krothwing jumped into the air toward Clal. But, Sedrak’s timely return as he swooped down surprised Krothwing. Sedrak sunk his talons into Krothwing’s back and drove him deep into the sand.

“Sedrak! Rythe!” Clal yelled. Then, as if Sedrak was already on his way he turned in the air and flew to rescue Rythe.

Clal bent down and cut the ropes at his ankles. He threw down the dagger on the sand then rubbed it against the ropes until they fell from his wrists.

By this time, Renthar had recovered and was running through the shallow ocean water toward him. Krothwing, airborne once again, was flying at Renthar’s side. Clal glanced over at Ansa and Leara who were now alone but still bound. Clal cocked his head and mouthed the words, “Go,” motioning for them to hide in the thick of the trees beyond the gray sands. But, Ansa slowly shook her head signally that they too were there to fight.

Clal’s lips tightened, he squinted then threw the dagger toward where Ansa and Leara were tied up. It landed on the ground in an explosion of sand and Ansa immediately lurched toward it.

Clal turned and ran away from the onslaught of Renthar and Krothwing. But, Krothwing was upon him in moments. He barreled into Clal sending him into the ground, sanding filling his eyes and mouth. He heard Krothwing unsheathe a weapon which gave Clal the motivation to leap up and run once more.

This time he ran toward the ocean knowing that he needed to clean out the sand and regain his sight. But, once again Krothwing attacked and sent Clal downward.

Sedrak had sped toward Rythe and threw down Skeldruc before swooping to pick up Rythe with one of his hands.

“Sedrak!” Rythe said, holding the Crystal close to his chest. “The RISHK are no match for the lot of us.”

Sedrak looked down at Rythe and smiled. “Sometimes…” Sedrak said as he turned and flapped his wings, “…the truth is what we make it, and this is a battle we were meant to win.”

Sedrak held Rythe up against his shoulder. Rythe climbed on and sat holding on as Sedrak dove toward Renthar and Krothwing who were tying up Clal further up the shore.

The sky was beginning to lighten and the sunrise now would soon be imminent. Rythe was surprised to see Ansa and Leara unbound and standing on their feet running toward Clal. Imforo wasn’t far behind them. He thrust another ball of flame toward Sedrak which missed and hissed as it sank into the ocean.

Sedrak, instead of coming to Clal’s aid, swooped down and grabbed Ansa and Leara with each of his massive hands.

“We have to get you to a safe place.” Sedrak told them.

“What of Clal?” Leara said.

Sedrak responded by diving toward Renthar and Krothwing then swinging his great dragon tail around, sending both flying through the air and into the sand several feet away.

Sedrak landed next to Clal then Ansa, Rythe, and Leara all pulled Clal up onto Sedrak while the rest of them climbed on Sedrak. Sedrak leapt into the air just before Krothwing dove in below him.

Imforo and Skeldruc had joined each other and were now running toward Renthar. Krothwing continued to follow Sedrak through the air like an angry hornet.

Rythe cut the half tied ropes once again around Clal’s ankles which allowed Clal to saddle Sedrak along with the others. He nodded at Rythe then looked back at Ansa and Leara.

“Are you all right you two?” Clal called back.

“I’m all right, Clal.” Ansa spoke softly. “I don’t want to see those men anymore. However, we must get the Book of Legends back…”

“And your sword, and the dragon summoner,” Leara said.

“We could leave, now.” Rythe looked around toward the East. “We have the Crystal. And we’re together.”

“Hittle!” Ansa said pointing out into the endless azure sky.

They turned, and there, flapping toward them, was Hittle, though, it wasn’t quite him. His flight pattern was irregular. He flew closer then landed in front of where Ansa was sitting upon Sedrak’s back.

“Clal, look,” Ansa reached out her hand and touched Hittle. “His wing...he’s hurt.”

“Gulnerye,” Sedrak spoke, “is a bird tamer, but is also a healer. He will take care of him till mended.”

Ansa looked at Hittle. He too had suffered from their encounter with the RISHK.

Krothwing was still behind them and Sedrak continued to fly further and further from him.

“Sedrak,” Clal called out, “do you think we can return to retrieve some of our belongings that were taken from us?”

“The Book of Legends that Gulnerye wrote.” Ansa said loudly over the wind.

“The dragon summoner…” Leara shouted, “...and Clal, what about your sword and necklace?”

By this time Krothwing had joined the others on the shore. Clal knew they needed the three items that they had decided to go back for but was it folly. Should they not leave? They were safe. They were unscathed, for the most part. But how could they leave the very things that had brought them so far and would surely need?

“Sedrak,” Clal leaned over his shoulders. “Can you bring me close to that small pile and somehow distract the RISHK? I am going to get what’s ours.”

Sedrak nodded then hurled through the air at the RISHK who were standing in the morning sunrise light upon the shore.

As Sedrak approached Krothwing took to flight again. Imforo sent another ball of fire into the air which passed over Sedrak’s tale. Sedrak groaned then rammed into the remaining three sending them sliding in a shower of sand.

Clal jumped off of Sedrak’s back. He ran to them, scooped up the dragon summoner, the necklace and the Book of Legends. Only Renthar and Imforo had run to assault Clal, Skeldruc lay motionless in the sand.

Imforo sent another ball of fire, this time directed at Clal. But, before it reached him another ball, brighter and larger, intercepted and decapitated Imforo’s fiery weapon.

Clal looked behind him then up into the air. Sedrak was hovering over the ocean. Leara stood on Sedrak’s back and Clal watched as she threw another ball of fire toward the RISHK.

Clal smiled then turned and ran as Sedrak swooped down, Clal leaping on his back. He slipped then slid down from Sedrak’s shoulders but Leara reached out and caught Clal before he met further danger.

“Your flame…” Clal started.

“...I found it again.” Leara smiled.

“Where was it?” Clal inched closer to her.

“It had gone away…” Leara leaned toward Clal, “...then came back.”

“And my sword?” Clal asked her, “Where did they drop our weapons?”

Leara looked out at the sea then to the shore. “It must have been somewhere…” She rubbed her finger across her ear. “Oh, Clal, I don’t think I can remember.” She turned to look behind her.

“Ansa! Rythe! Where do you think Clal’s sword could be?”

Sedrak circled in the air as the others were discussing what they remembered about where they thought the weapons might have been deposited.

“I remember Krothwing using one of our sacks to put the weapons into. I don’t know that I ever saw Clal’s sword in there, however.”

This was strange. Perhaps the RISHK couldn’t part with it. Indeed it was a rare treasure. Clal was determined to find it.

“I have to find it. My sword must be with the RISHK on the shore.” He climbed up and once again sat upon Sedrak’s shoulders. “Sedrak, we must return.” Clal announced.

Clal turned to Rythe, “Rythe, give the Crystal to Sedrak? We have some unfinished business with these RISHK.”

Rythe cocked his head for a moment then blinked several times. “But, Clal, your sword…”

“My sword...I am the steward and it was for me and me alone that it was forged.” Clal looked down at the ocean then to the shore where the RISHK were assembled. “Rythe, I don’t know what to do. I can’t bare the thought of never seeing it again and the RISHK...they are right here and it must be here.” Clal looked down and shook his head. “If we don’t find it now, I’m sure I’ll never see it again.”

Rythe looked long and hard at Clal, then he squinted and searched the shoreline.

“For the sword...” Rythe smiled. “We fight for the sword because without it, we cannot fulfill what we were sent to do. Is that it Clal?”

“Yes,” Clal took comfort in knowing that Rythe trusted his judgement.

Clal turned, “Ansa, Leara, we are going back for the sword. It is part of how we will be able to fulfill our quest. Thus, we can go no further until we find and obtain that sword. I know it might be dangerous and the peril may seem beyond us. However, if it is to be done, then we must do it.”

“I am with you, Clal,” Ansa exclaimed.

“And so am I,” Leara shouted.

“Sedrak,” Clal said as Sedrak turned his head to listen. They had been hovering over the ocean for a brief stint. “Will you set us down a little further up the shore, then wait for my signal?”

“Is this truly what you wish?” Sedrak spoke.

“Yes,” Clal looked toward the RISHK as Krothwing descended slowly from the sky. He was glaring in Clal’s direction and soon stood by the side of his rogue companions on the shore.

“Wait for my signal.” Clal said. “Take us to the shore!” He shouted.

Sedrak flew over the RISHK as Imforo sent another ball of flames. It missed but Clal could feel the distinct heat that came from it. If ever he was hit by one of those he feared what might happen to him.

As they arrived at the shore Sedrak crouched down each one sliding off his back in turn. Clal, having been given the Crystal by Rythe, walked up to Sedrak’s head and put his hand on his nose.

“Thank you, Sedrak.” Clal smiled.

“You will find your sword.” Sedrak smiled back. Then, with a great downward thrust, he lifted off of the shore and was sent skyward.

“The Crystal,” Clal raised it up. “Will you watch over this for us?” He looked at the others then noticed Ansa holding the Book of Legends. He talked over to Ansa, retrieved it, then walked back to Sedrak. “And the Book of Legends?”

“I will.” Sedrak replied, nodding his head. He held both in one hand then lifted off and returned to the sky.

They began to walk through the sand, wind blowing and the waves crashing upon the shore. The sun was reaching further into the sky, having peaked over the horizon not too long ago.

Clal looked as the ocean sparkled from the sun’s yellow glow.

“Stay together,” he said. “Take care of each other, and use all of the strength, wits, and power you possess. We will need it.” Clal told them marching faster down the shore. “We must get that sword…”

“But first, we must get them to tell us where it is,” Ansa interrupted. “How do we do that?”

“A negotiation,” Rythe said.

“No,” Clal said, “I know where it is.”

Clal thought back to when he grabbed the dagger from Renthar’s side. He hadn’t realized it then, but in his mind’s eyes he could remember seeing another weapon at his side. And though he could only see part of it, he knew his sword and the hilt.

“Renthar, the ring leader, the large one, he wears it at his side.” Clal stated as they continued to close the gap between them and the RISHK.

“Here comes Imforo’s flames!” Leara cried.

The girls jumped out of the way, Ansa running several feet in a short distance. Rythe barely managed to grab Clal and pull him down before the flames hit him.

Clal had noticed Ansa and shouted, “How...did you do that, Ansa?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I was always a fast runner.”

Clal thought then shook his head. “No, never that fast.”

“Well,” She half smiled, “since leaving Gwynn’s I’ve felt lighter on my feet and when we…”

“Your shoes,” Clal shouted, “Gwynn’s shoes. They must have some kind of power that…”

“...makes me run faster.” Ansa finished his sentence as she sometimes does. “Perhaps you’re right.” She winked.

“We must each take one of the RISHK and keep them at bay until Rythe or I retrieve my sword. Then, when it’s time, I’ll signal Sedrak.” Clal said to them. Then he leapt out, running through the sand, toward the ones they called The Banished.

The others followed running after Clal and Leara sent a ball fire to meet Imforo’s blast of fire that he sent toward Clal. Ansa passed Clal and reached the RISHK first. Unsure of what to do and in a brief fit of confusion she bit her lip then ran toward Renthar and pushed him from behind. The great man tipped over forward having not expected such an assault.

Ansa winced, grabbing her wrist which was now smarting. Renthar stood up, growled, then ran in Ansa’s direction.

Clal watched as Ansa ran, drawing Renthar away from his companions. “Yes,” he whispered to himself then turned to Rythe. “Look,” he pointed.

Rythe looked over at Renthar, then back at the other three. “That’s brilliant,” he said. “I’ll follow her.”

“I’ll stay with Leara,” Rythe nodded then ran toward Renthar who was foolishly chasing Ansa who he’d never catch considering her new found ability.

Clal turned then ran to Leara’s side. Imforo was sending his flames almost at an unmanageable rate. Krothwing launched from the shore, going after Rythe. Skeldruc had once been present but had altogether vanished, a fact that made Clal uneasy.

“Leara,” Clal said, running up to her pulling out his dagger. “We must keep them occupied.” Clal looked up into the sky as Krothwing was hurling himself toward Rythe ever faster.

“Rythe!” Clal yelled then he felt a heavy fist hit his face, then toppled backwards. He dropped the dagger and watched as it levitated in the air sliced at his arm.

“What?” Clal said, jumping back as his eyes began to water, blood running from his nose.

“Surrender. Now,” a voice came from in front of him. “We knew you would come back,” the voice hissed.

How could he fight what he couldn’t see? Then, he had an idea. Clal took out the necklace from his pocket and put it on. The stone began to glow as before. As it’s illuminating light intensified, Clal began to see the figure of a man, Skeldruc in front of him. Skeldruc leaned forward and swiped the dagger at Clal’s neck, but Clal jumped back again, then turned and ran.

Rythe had heard Clal’s call and turned right before Krothwing dove. Rythe crouched low to the ground as Krothwing missed him then swooped up into the air for another aerial assault. He looked for Ansa and found her running much further than he had anticipated, a distance that he himself was not keen on traveling.

Renthar gave up chasing Ansa and was now running toward Rythe. Now, with two of the RISHK upon him, he pulled out his dagger and watched for Clal’s sword.

As Renthar approached, Rythe could hear some ruckus behind him. He turned and to his amazement saw Hittle flying around Krothwing who had been closer than Rythe had noticed. Hittle was playing his part as the rogue bird in a nasty assault on Krothwing. He whizzed here and there and pecked at Krothwing's face. Krothwing was waving his arm in the sky and could hardly keep flying let alone focused on one direction.

Rythe smiled and shouted up at them, “Thank you, Hittle.” Rythe turned just in time to avoid Renthar’s sword sweeping down through the air.

The sun glinted off the hilt and Rythe looked down at Renthar’s hands. There, before him was Clal’s sword, gripped tightly by both of Renthar’s leathern hands.

“We meet again, boy.” Renthar spat. “I know now that I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

“You leave things up to chance and you’ll never get what you want!” Rythe shouted, then thrusted his dagger at Renthar’s arm.

Though large in stature, Renthar was swift. In one movement he turned then disarmed Rythe picking up the dagger from the sand.

“And my dagger, thief!” Renthar snarled.

“I’ll only ask you once, Renthar.” Rythe inched toward him, “Hand over the sword.”

Renthar cocked his head back and laughed a low and booming laugh.

“Do you know what we did with the blacksmith who made this sword?” Renthar smiled. “I’ve heard you were looking for him, and since I’ll inflict the mortal wounds you deserve before you ride away on your dragon, I will tell you now.”

Rythe leapt forward grabbing Renthar’s arm. Renthar threw Rythe down then swung the sword. The tip caught Rythe’s shin.

“Ahhhhh!” Rythe fell to the ground.

Renthar raised the sword high in the air as Rythe tried to crawl away. “We took him to the southern kingdom. There, we are building our army and he is our principal blacksmith in the forgery.”

Right before Renthar swung the sword downward, Ansa came from behind and knocked it out of his hand. The sword sailed to the ground, stuck into the sand, then was picked up by Ansa who ran as fast as she could to avoid any pursuit.

Rythe leapt up and ran after her, limping as he went.

Clal had been battling Skeldruc who was still invisible, though just left him, Clal watching his footsteps upon the sand. Clal watched in horror as Ansa ran toward him, Skeldruc now between him and Ansa. Clal immediately saw Skeldruc’s plan. One moment Ansa was looking at Clal and smiling, then the next, she fell, and in the process, the sword was sent airborne. Krothwing, dove through the air and caught the weapon, then flew upward. Leara immediately threw a mess of flames into the sky toward him. The ball of fire encircled Krothwing who screamed and dropped the sword. He flew toward the ocean like an arrow let loose from the string of a bow and disappeared beneath the surface.

Ansa had quickly recovered, then sped over to the sword and snatched it up from the sand. Clal marveled at how she was merely a blur then was at his side delivering his sword to him.

“Clal,” she looked into his eyes. “Your sword.”

Immediately, Clal pulled the dragon summoner to his mouth and blew.

“Clal,” Ansa said looking confused, “did you see what tripped me?”

“It was Skeldruc.” Clal said, looking at Ansa then back to his sword. “He can disappear and reappear at will.”

“How rude!” She said, folding her arms then squinting her eyes as she searched the area around her.

Sedrak swooped above them then rested upon the shore behind Clal and his companions.

“Sedrak,” Clal said, turning to face him. “Be ready.”

Sedrak smiled then nodded and crouched low in preparation.

Rythe ran to Clal’s side holding his leg which was bleeding profusely.

“Rythe,” Clal looked down at the blood stained clothing on Rythe’s leg. “what happened?”

“Renthar got the better of me...this time.” He said, rubbing his leg. “But next time…”

“There’s four of us and three of them.” Leara interjected. “Can’t we do something?”

Just then, Krothwing descended from the air, dripping wet, “So, you have the sword,” he snarled with his arms folded, his black clothing even darker, “and you think that holding it makes you Illia’s hero?”

“Illia doesn’t need a hero,” Clal said, “Illia needs a purging.”

Skeldruc appeared and stood beside Krothwing. “Things aren’t always as they seem.” He laughed, “Maybe the foundling truly will save Illia and is the chosen one?”

“Chosen one, or not,” Renthar spat, “we crush those who oppose us.” Then he leaned forward, eyeing Rythe, “and you are no match for our strength.”

“Where is strength…” Rythe smiled at Renthar, “...when it prey’s on the weak and innocent?”

“There are none here who are innocent,” Imforo said looking at Leara. “You are all worthy of death, for your crimes, and we intend to take this matter into our own hands.”

“The blacksmith,” Rythe looked at Renthar, “you didn’t kill him…”

“He gave us an oath to serve us,” Renthar replied, “so that we’d spare his life. Besides, he told us where to find…”

“Renthar!” Krothwing shouted, “Enough!”

Krothwing stepped toward Clal, “There is no hiding in Illia.” He smiled with wide eyes. “Not for you. Not for your friends. Not for your family.”

Skeldruc took a step forward then said, “We will find you,” then disappeared once again.

Krothwing leapt toward Clal as Renthar jutted forward toward Rythe. Imforo swung around to the right then sent another ball of fire toward Leara. Ansa sped toward a higher point beyond the sand, stood, then watched for footsteps.

Clal swung his sword at Krothwing but missed. They seemed to be losing their advantage over them quickly. He’d intended to draw from the RISHK more about their intentions and information they could use, but realized that they had only managed to allow their enemies to cast more empty threats at them. Was it a mistake to stay on the shore and not mount Sedrak?

Clal watched as Rythe fell backwards in pain as Renthar pressed upon him. Leara, in her exhaustion, was beginning to appear slow to react as Imforo assailed her with an endless onslaught of flames through the air. And Ansa, who was now searching the shore and having no knowledge of where Skeldruc had escaped to, would soon be ensnared and outsmarted. Clal himself was no match for the flying nuisance that Krothwing continued to be for him.

“Retreat!” Clal yelled, once again blowing his signal horn. “To the dragon!” He shouted.

Ansa turned then sped toward Sedrak, arriving by his side, meeting no unseen danger this time. Rythe too turned then ran as fast as possible, considering his injured leg. Leara slowly backed up, continuing to monitor the flames that were coming her way. She turned and ran, jumping to the side then ran to the opposite way to dodge the flames that she had anticipated. And Clal watched for Krothwing as he joined the others. But, could not see him.

Rythe hefted the Crystal and Book of Legends from Sedrak’s claws.

Each of them climbed upon Sedrak’s back then Clal tapped Sedrak’s side, “Away with us!” Clal yelled looking around for Krothwing again.

The dragon leapt from the shore then rode inland. Renthar raised his fists and Skeldruc reappeared frowning. Imforo continued to throw his fire, though soon Sedrak was out of reach. Clal searched the sky only to find the sunlight of the day bursting through wisps of clouds.

Just then, Hittle circled around Sedrak as Krothwing dove toward them. He rammed into Krothwing’s face sending Krothwing flailing downward.

Hittle flew to Ansa and hovered in front of Ansa’s face chirping. “Hittle! Do be careful!” Ansa said, starting to cry.

Krothwing swerved and Clal watched as he charged through the air right toward Leara. Hittle darted through the air and dug his claws into the side of Krothwing’s temples. Around and around Hittle circled as the four others rode Sedrak who was sailing low above the forest tree tops. Krothwing was no match for the rogue bird. Pecking and scratching, Krothwing’s face had seen much of Hittle’s anger.

Then, to Clal’s surprise, Hittle retreated and flew high into the air out of sight. With a horror filled face, Krothwing looked around him. He felt his face and looked at his blood covered hand.

“Filthy bird!” Krothwing said. He looked at Clal. “We are the RISHK. No man…”

Then, Hittle dove in, heading right for Krothwing’s eyes. He dug his claws deep immediately sending Krothwing into the air. Down, Krothwing fell holding his hands to his eyes, crashing into the trees below.

“Hittle,” Ansa said, “I never knew how brave you could really be.” She said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I never doubted…” She smiled, “Just worried.”

Hittle flew to Ansa and stood before her on Sedrak’s large scales.

Clal looked around them, down toward the land below. “Sedrak,” Clal called to him, “where are you taking us?”

“To the Cliffs of the Dawning of Time,” Sedrak said, flapping his great, white wings, taking them further and further up into the sky.

Book 3(5): Skyland’s Rising

Ch: they are back at Orry’s home, Aerol is in the South now???

Ch: Leara starts training on how to use powers

Previous Scene: content

“Clal” the king said. “We know you are the one, though you yourself might not understand it. Take what you can as we freely give aid. But whatever you take, beyond all, take the hope that resides within the ancient element. Take our hope with you.”

Clal took a chance of courage and peered into the face of the elvin king, into his blue flecked, gray eyes. It was a test to search for the truth within the King's words. When their eyes met a stream of knowledge and light filled Clal. More was said within the king's gaze than in any other spoken council or encouragement the king had said during his entire stay there at Edaphlas. It healed his heart. It stirred his soul. He stood a little taller and felt a little wiser for it.

“Larkin and Skyla are going with you,” the king said.

“Thank you, Sire,” said Clal. He bowed his head low. Ryth and Ansa also bowed to the great king. Larkin and Skyla descended the stairs from their father's throne and Clal, Ryth, and Ansa received them gratefully. The king raised his arm slightly and the chamber doors were thrust open by two guards. With heavy hearts at the realization of their ensuing departure, Clal, Ryth, and Ansa turned and walked toward the doors of the chamber. As he walked beside Ryth, Clal felt his hand reach for the f'element. The wonder and excitement of finding and obtaining the stone filled his senses. They approached the towering doorway. Clal envisioned himself passing through the doors of the dawning of time chamber. He'd place the stone upon its resting place and there his journey would have been safely concluded.

But, now, the guards heaved the doors shut and remained outside at their post.

Clal was not in the dawning of time place, but his feet were beside his companions' and his eyes beheld the same stone walls and iced over surroundings that he walked through when they first entered the palace. The lane was wide and the walls were made from a blue stone that appeared to be glass-like. They walked a short way before Clal turned around. One of the guards was now pointing in one direction with his hand on the shoulder of the other guard who nodded. The first guard placed his own hand on his own chest and pointed in the opposite direction. The other guard nodded once more and then departed. Then the remaining guard turned in his direction. Still as a statue he peer in their direction, at Clal himself. Though the company was now far away, the guard's gaze was a piercing threat which he did not understand. Cold, like the cut of the wind upon the skin, but much deeper, the stranger stared.

Clal looked down for only a moment to study the stone he was walking upon. He lifted his head up and turned to look at the guard again. But he had vanished.

Chapter 22: As the Crow Flies

Clal soon forgot about the guard as he marveled at the beauty that surrounded them. Ice statues that revealed distorted images of ancient trees within. Pathways that led in every direction splintering off from the main stone walkway. Clal noticed anew, the fantastic statues of blue and silver ice. There were gray trees with yellow leaves, glowing like stars or drops of sun. The stone beneath their feet was like broken pieces of numerous mirrors put together in the shape of a square; each one emitting a faint light and warmth. The entire scene was glowing, though the source of such brilliance could not be discovered by eyes alone. Soon, they passed through the great ice archway which marked the beginning of the road to the palace. They were leaving the realm of Edaplas. Clal looked back, one final time, remembering all the magic and wonder that had been there. He yearned for the safety and peace he had felt there. He recalled the peace he once felt in his own homeland where he often would climb the eastern face of Crescent Mountain to it's highest point. In the springtime he would look down upon the Crescent hills and upon the great river Lyrune. All the good things in his life came to him when Edaphlas was in his mind.

As they walked in the cold air, Clal found it difficult to hold on to the words of the Elvin king. He worried about the f'element and his soon to be concluding adventure. From within the brown pouch that was hidden on his left side almost to the lowest part of his back, he pulled out the f'element. Clal knew that he was holding something ancient and sacred in his hand. It was indeed part of the old world; all of what once was. Looking upon its glassy surface there was an inner fire, a voice within, and it was not cold like a stone, but warm and alive.

They finally came to a place where Larkin motioned to halt. They would be entering the path that would lead them to the other side of Edaphlas.

“As I understand it, Sedrak is waiting for us?” Ryth said impatiently.

“Yes he is,” Skyla said. “we will take you there.” She looked at Larkin.

“It is not far.” Larkin looked in one direction. “It will be at almost the same place you set foot upon our island...but we will need to take another way to get there.”

“How do you know where we were when we got here?” said Ansa, her head cocked to one side.

“All things are alive...” Larkin said as he bowed his head a little.

“...and have a voice, and a song.” Skyla smiled a slight smile.

Ansa's eyebrows lowered. She looked at the ground, then up at the wall, then finally at a nearby tree.

“I will lead you. Ansa will be by my side.” Skyla gave a quick nod to Ansa who smiled.

“I will be at our rear. Keen eyes will serve us all well if there be a time of danger.” Larkin was looking out upon the soon to be trodden path. “Ryth, you'll walk beside Clal.”

Larkin turned to them all. “Remember, we must bring the f'element safely across the outer wilds of Edaphlas. There, Sedrak will protect us. Every amount of effort to do so is required. Be aware and stay together.”

“Larkin, you speak as if there is some great evil lurking about. What do you know that...we don't know?” Clal was puzzled. What had not happened yet, however, was the realization that, if he did not complete his task, the great and evil one will gain so much more than he already has gained. The time of the ages was turning and could not be undone.

“There is evil out there, and always will be, until the f'element is safe. That is what we are doing now. We are no longer youth of innocence and frivolities.” Lark turned to peer at the path once more.

Skyla spoke next. “We will turn here and walk down the main pathway which is wide and bare. There is little shelter for some time. The elements have taken their toll on the land. Our forest froze many centuries ago. We will turn upon a path which is narrow and find ourselves cutting through the thickest part of the ice forest. It will be there that we end our journey, arriving to the place where Sedrak is expecting us. This is our path.”

Larkin pulled his hood over his head and gathered his powder blue cloak tighter around him. Skyla's clothing was woven with silver thread and shimmered some. The others were similarly clad. They turned a corner exiting the long semiclosed tunnel that led to the kingdom's gate of entrance. There was no wall to shield them from the elements now and the wind was relentless as it scrapped across their faces. Ansa gasped and stopped walking, but Skyla took her arm and they began to lead the travelers along.

Once they traveled further into the ice forest, the snow drifts changed and shifted almost at every step. It was all a maze of ice and snow and frozen statues with trees encased within. All but Skyla and Larkin were shielding their faces with their arms or hands. The elf maiden's silver hair was long and winding in the wind.

Clal kept his head down and continued to wade through the terrain for some time. They traveled down narrow paths, through fallen trees, and over a few hills. Occassionally they would stop and find shelter between a snowdrift or against the frozen trees. They began to feel defeated even before their journey across the outer world was even halfway begun.

They had just entered the main pathway, which was wide and flat, when Clal pulled the f'element more firmly against him. It was instinct that moved him so. As he did, a surge of fear entered his mind. His breathing became irregular. He looked at the others. They were walking beside him or in front of them; nothing was out of the ordinary. But, this fear was growing.

“Larkin.” Clal called. The wind stole voice away before he even began speaking. Even Ryth did not hear him, so fierce was the wind and snow.

To his great alarm, the image of the guard flashed into his mind, staring at them as they had walked. This thought filled him with a chilling dread. Clal stopped walking.

Larkin too had halted and was gazing up. The others did not notice as they continued to trudge forward. Clal held his breath as he watched. His fear heightened and Clal's heart began to pound faster. Larkin bent his knees and crouched down in a sudden movement. He was very still.

“Clal!” he shouted. “Something is drawing near.”

“What?” Clal said. “How do you know?”

“The wind is yielding to it.”

Yielding...to what? Clal wondered.

Larkin spoke, as if sensing Clal's inner question. “To him...Krothwing!” Larkin said pointing upward.

Clal followed Lark's gaze and peered up. He did not understand. But sure enough, there was a figure fast approaching. As it did, he recognized it first as a speck, then as a black bird, then as a figure of a man. But that was not possible. Clal froze. Though the figure was clad in mostly silver and white, there was a darkness found in the figures face and within the depths of his eyes.

Larkin sprang from his crouched position. Krothwing was met by the elves unforeseen attack. They rolled several feet away into the snow and down a large snowdrift. Both Skyla and Ansa were awakened out of their monotonous strides. They screamed at the sound of Krothwing's yelp.

Clal's senses were numb but he found his feet carrying him toward where the two battling forms had slid. The scene began to unfold as he looked around and took in his surroundings.

The snow had let up and his sight was less hampered. He spied Ryth run to Ansa and Skyla motioning them both to hide. They disappeared behind a cluster of ice trees. Ryth turned and fled to Clal's side. The snow was deep but they soon reached the top of the snowdrift. It was very steep and had caused their enemy and friend to slide out of their view, even at this high point. There was no sign of them.

“Clal, I know this might sound foolish, but I think we should split up.” Ryth said.

“No.” Clal answered. “Not yet...at least.”

“Let's just go straight then,” Ryth said.

Clal nodded.

They slid down the slope on their sides and reached the bottom. A few steps later they began to hear the faint sound of clanking swords. They ran and turned the corner of a high bank of snow and ice, that seemed like the wall of a long forgotten place.

Both Ryth and Clal were surprised by what came into view. Around the corner they saw the Krothwing hovering above Larkin circling around him. Clal and Ryth looked at each other with open mouths. Lunging in upon Larkin with sword drawn, moving with tremendous skill, Larkin was beginning to yield. It was an awful scene. He was on his knees with both hands gripping the hilt of his flashing sword. Clal could see that Larkin was desperately trying to fend off the blows, but his adversary had powers he himself did not possess. It was an unjust match and it pushed Clal to sudden action.

Clal lept from where he was standing and entered the small alcove. Ryth followed. With swords drawn, by less than skillfull hands, their hearts drew courage from their strength in numbers.

Krothwing's back was toward them so their approach was unnoticed. As they came closer neither Larkin nor Krothwing saw them. They could now see Larkin in detail. His eyes were swollen and blood was issuing forth from several places of his head and face. His clothes were torn in some places.

Suddenly, Krothwing broke his attack and landed on the ground. Larkin struggled to rise but so swift was Krothwing's final onslaught upon him that Larking fell to the ground in a cry of pain.

“Stop!” Clal yelled. Clal jumped up and swiped the air with his sword. Krothwing spun around. He skillfully dodged and kicked the sword. Clal fell backwards. Ryth jabbed at the foe, but Krothwing simply darted above them.

Ryth used Krothwing's height above them as a turning point. “Clal,” Ryth waved his arm, “to Larkin.”

They both darted across the alcove to the other side where Larkin lay. Krothwing continued to hover above them. Larkin was in a poor state, blood stained, bruised, and wounded in spirit. Clal was afraid for him. Larkin had been sent to lead them, and to protect them, but in this condition, he could no longer do so. It seemed that hope was waning.

They stayed there against the wall, Clal, Ryth, and Larkin, like caged rats. Clal leaned against the wall near Larkin's head. Ryth was beside Clal crouching with his sword in his hand. Larkin was laying sideways with his hand resting on his fist. They sat there for only a moment, clouds rising from their rapid breathing, lungs burning from the cold, before Larkin spoke.

“Clal, you must not let Krothwing get that f’element.” Larkin whispered. “In his hands it would become a terrible weapon. In your hands it will become the key to unlocking the gate to all deliverance.”

The three of them monitored Krothwing’s movements. He was descending. The tip of his toes soon touched the ground delicately followed by his heels which pressed upon the smooth ice. Krothwing stood still, though Clal's fears did not lessen.

Clal had not noticed before, but Krothwing wore a golden symbol on his right shoulder. It was curious to Clal. It was in the shape of some sort of five-sided square. Within, there were five small symbols unfamiliar to Clal.

“What shall we do?” whispered Ryth. His shaking hand was still holding his blade.

“Nothing, until we think of a plan” Clal answered.

Then, they said nothing; the air was still...and the whole world held it’s breath.

“Clal,” Larkin whispered at last, “give me the f’element.”

“Give you,” Clal lowered his voice, “give you the f'element?” Clal was about to glance at Larkin but Krothwing shifted his stance and he knew he was about to speak.

“Clal Winden.” Krothwing began. “It's unfortunate that we meet on such ill terms...” His towering figure resembled the frozen trees that dotted the landscape above. Krothwing’s face was in shadow.

Larkin leaned closer to Clal. “I have a plan…” his voice was low. He knew Krothwing was listening more intently, “let each play his part.”

Krothwing continued, “…I know what you have and I intend to take it from you...” his eyes flashed and a wry smile graced his lips, “...unless you give it willingly.”

Larkin whinced then moved closer to Clal. Ryth did the same, but without the wince.

“...that would be the wiser choice.” said Krothwing.

It was evident that time was dwindling like sand through fingers. Krothwing could not be held back much longer, they knew they had to act with hast.

From within his garments, Larkin snatched a large, smooth stone shaped much like the f’element. “Let us exchange the faux for the real thing. When he obtains it, he will fly.” Larkin’s face lit up. “He will not think to examine it, for so great is his lust.” It was the plan that he had invented long before the parting from his father’s throne. Larkin had been the guardian of the f’element ever since he was a youth, and once an author of trickery, always an author of the craft. Clal slowly replaced the f’element with the stone and slipped it to Larkin unnoticed. Any doubt or fear in doing so fled. There was no other way.

“It will be safe, Clal.” Larkin’s eyebrows raised. The f'element was now a secret that only Larkin knew the truth of.

He whispered a few more instructions to Clal and Ryth.

“I will remain here on the ground. I am useless and Krothwing won’t think to deal with me any longer.” Larkin’s voice trailed off.

Krothwing's voice heightened. “If you refuse, Clal, pain and anguish will accompany my acquisition as it has already,” Krothwing paused, “...for it is mine.”

“No, and it never has been.” Larkin spat. A fierceness grew as fire lit within his blue eyes.

Clal arose and Ryth stood from his crouched position. With swords in hand they began to move toward Krothwing. It was a scene they had rehearsed together since young boys, but this time the enemy was more than a bail of hay or the bark of a tree.

“There is no skill you possess that can meet my power.” Krothwing laughed. He drew his sword. “A mere boy and his heroic companion. What can you claim?” He laughed again and the sound echoed in a thousand directions.

“I claim all the powers of good,” Clal said, “and all the good that is within me.”

Krothwing's smile faded and he lunged toward Clal. The battle had begun.

Clal dodged Krothwing’s attack and both Ryth and Clal went running. Krothwing flew high and disappeared above. Ryth turned the corner first. Clal spun his head around to look at Larkin. Krothwing was gone. The image of the guard once more passed through his mind. At the end of the lane Larkin lay still, but the enemy was moving.

Once around the corner Clal met up with Ryth who was sprinting up the slope. Their plans were to continue running, but once Krothwing began his next assault, there was no knowing what to do next. Clal saw Krothwing just barely approach his companion.

“Ryth!” Clal yelled.

Clal realized how wrong he was to linger and Krothwing took Ryth to the ground. Krothwing pulled out his sword to inflict the wounds of death, yet, at the last moment he spun around to meet Clal. Krothwing's feet were planted firm near Ryth, so as to keep Ryth behind him. Clal advanced and swung his stout weapon at Krothwing's chest. But Krothwing quickly banished any hope of success with the slash of his own sword upon Clal's. The walls around them irrupted with Clal's shrill scream; Clal was unprepaired for the vibration of metal that came after the two swords collided; he dropped his sword and grasped his painfilled wrist. As one shoulder dipped and his whole body toppled to the ground, tears overwhelmed Clal's vision. Krothwing stood directly over Clal and was just shy of reaching to search out the place of the f'element when Ryth rose up behind him.

He had found some ice stones and began to throw them at Krothwing, a worthy weapon for the moment. Krothwing turned around. Ryth's good fortune landed one large ice rock right in the nose.

“Ah!” he said and he grabbed his nose and flew upward.

Ryth ran to Clal's side. “Get up Clal.” He said. “Run. We've got to get him further away from Larkin and the f'element. We need some time to regain our senses.” Ryth helped Clal stand and they ran up the slope. Krothwing came from the side. Ryth swung his sword. Krothwing thwarted the attack as he cut Ryth down with a backhanded swipe from the hand that held the blade. Ryth toppled backwards with blood streaming from his lip. His head hit the frozen earth and he saw no more.

“No!” Clal exclaimed.

Krothwing looked up from Ryth's lifeless form whose legs were twisted unnaturally. He began to levitate and their eyes met.

“Clal!” Krothwing yelled. “There is no one left to shield you from my devices. You will fall and I will ascend. The f'element was meant to be within my grasp,” he clutched his one fist while the other clutched his sword, “ever since Larkin took it from me.”

“He did not take it from you.” Clal heard his own voice. “It was never yours and it never will be.” Clal leaned forward. “Never!” he yelled and stuck his sword into the air. His emotions were raging. All he could think about was his pursuer. Clal's hate for Krothwing was complete and overcame him. Larkin was down and Ryth, dead or alive? There was no way to know now. The fear of what lay beyond the horizon of the moment was immense. At this thought, Clal turned and ran up the slope.

At the top he turned and the realization that he had not kept his eyes on his adversary. This struck him like a hammer on an anvil. He had now joined the pathway that they had deviated from in the beginning. The wind was a new threat. Snow began to swirvl and twist, whistle and howl. There was no way of knowing where his assailant had gone. His greatest fear set in. He spun around in an effort to calculate Krothwing's next move.

Clal gasped. Krothwing was in the midst of a speedy descent above him. Clal stepped back, then he stepped back once more. His mind broke into a panic and he turned around and sprinted.

“No!” Clal screamed.

The ground exploded in a cloud of snow crystals as Krothwing collided into Clal's right side. The impact sent both of them sliding across the icy ground several feet, Clal's chest hitting the ground with incredible force.

Once on the ground Krothwing turned Clal over so that they were facing each other. Clal couldn't breath; couldn't see. He was helpless. As soon as he had been turned upon his back, Krothwing began to strike Clal's face with his fists, first to his eyes, then to his nose. The blood began to fill Clal's mouth and ears. He choked and began to moan. Clal tried to turn to one side but Krothwing wrenched him back into position. He had never known such pain.

Clal tried to defend himself by moving his arms in front of Krothwing, but his attacker was quick and fought off any attempt to defend himself. With a few more blows to his stomach, he knew that he was going to die. This wasn't part of the plan, it never is. It had all gone wrong.

Krothwing grabbed Clal's throat and shoved his fingers into his skin. Blood immediately began to issue forth. Clal kicked his feet, scraping the ground to get away. Krothwing's other hand searched Clal, his pockets, his shirt.

“I know what you have,” Krothwing hissed between his teeth. “The dark one lurking awaits it.”

“Ryth...Lark,” Clal struggled to say over and over, but it only turned into gurgling noises.

Everything was turning black around him and he could no longer hear the wind or feel the bite of the frozen air. He was delirious. He felt Krothwing searching for the f'element still. Clal could do nothing. The sky was spinning and nothing made sense. All was lost and the enemy was going to prevail.

But all at once, Krothwing looked to one side, then above him, and leapt from off of Clal's chest thrusting what little air Clal's lungs had in them out. The sky above wrapped around the Devil's Crow, and in a moment, he altogether vanished.

Chapter 23: An Unwelcomed Farewell

Ryth found Clal first. He could not endure the scene. Clal was lifeless, cold, and pale. His lips were blue, but there was still a faint pulse. Ryth knelt beside him, nudging him gently and speaking to him. In this way, Ryth began to turn back the reconings of death.

“Clal. Clal.” Ryth's voice was shaking.

Clal's eyelids fluttered. He gasped and began to frantically search himself with his hands. To his horror the f'element was gone, stolen, taken in malice. It couldn't be he thought. But it was true. Clal turned to one side and in the snow began to sob. He had failed.

Ryth heard running and did not respond to Ryth's last words. His head jerked toward the sound. It was only Skyla. She knelt beside Ryth and Clal and retrieved some cloth from her cloak. Skyla began to sop up the blood from Clal's split eyebrow and lips. Ryth looked past Skyla and saw Ansa standing a ways off in the distance.

“The f'element is gone,” he muttered over and over again to himself. It was an unbearable sight for all and with each chant from Clal, the words seemed to burn the ear.

As Ryth and Skyla surrounded Clal, Ansa stayed aloof in the snow a few yards away. She had been the closest to Clal during the attack and was thrown aside by Krothwing's shoulder when he descended from the great heights above. With dozens of snowflakes clinging to her blond hair, she was hardly recognizable. Ansa was shaking violently as she buried her head into her hands. Skyla looked up and turned around. She slowly handed the cloth to Ryth with her gaze still fixed on Clal's sister. In her smooth and silent manner she glided to the side of Ansa who had now slipped down into the snow. Ansa was kneeling into an awkward position; she was crying uncontrollably. She cried, not only for her fears and surprise, but because she heard the words of Clal, of the absence of the element stone. Skyla held her there for some time stroking her hair and wept many tears with/for her. Moments seemed to drift by as oceans of sorrow. At length the girls returned to the sides of Clal and Ryth.

“The f'element is gone,” he muttered again as if in a fever.

“It is not gone, Clal,” came a voice. It was Larkin's voice.

Skyla and Ansa gasped.

Clal sat up straight away and Ryth buried his head in his hands. He had forgotten amid so much confusion. The exchange had been such a hurried moment.

“The plan” he said as he walked closer, “the fake.” Larkin pulled out the f'element from within his cloak. It's vibrancy lit up the scene. Larkin handed it to Clal.

“It was his lust for the stone that defeated him.” Larkin continued. “It blinded him so, and he did not think to examine the stone that he found within your garments. Krothwing shielded himself from it’s own true nature. His greed for what the true f'element could not give him in the end saved us all.”

For the first time, their hearts weren't so heavy. The burden, their ultimate burden, was lifted some.

“Yet,” he continued, “our fears should not all be cast off.”

“I sense things unseen, their location, the state of danger, a way of passage, and so forth. We must be careful, still. I know Krothwing.” He paused and scanned the sky. “He is still here.”

“This isn't the end then, is it?” he said. “We're being hunted now. To know this each step of the way is...”

“Clal,” Ansa said as she took his hand and clasped it with her hands. The sight of the f'element had brought hope to his sister. “Do you remember what Morgreth said...about the powers of good and the powers of evil?”

Clal ignored her and peered out into the dense snow. After a moment he looked at Ansa. “He said that the powers of evil are no match for the powers of good in the end. But what about in the middle?” Clal frowned.

“The idea is that we do what we can, and that somehow, if providence brought us together, there will be a way for us” she looked up, “even if an impossible foe strikes down upon us.”

For now, Clal seemed satisfied.

* * * * *

Though injured and slow in pace, they all knew that they could not linger and nurse their wounds; moving forward straightaway was the wiser of the three options they now had. During the remainder of their travels, to their good fortune, there was no sign of Krothwing. The wind became a breeze and the snow soon passed. Finally, the sight of Sedrak's mammoth shape in the distance came into view.

“Sedrak!” she said and she broke into a sprint. Clal had never seen her run and was surprised at her speed and agility.

Larkin called to Skyla, more out of his reprimand for her disregard to his words of caution, but he too was smiling as he hurried along behind her the best his body would allow.

Ansa had been linked arms with Clal and had walked with him like this the entire way since Krothwing had fled. Between Clal, Ryth and Larkin, Clal had received the greatest harm and was still hand on to Ryth’s shoulders and neck. It was his ribs and also his left leg that sent shocks of pain and discomfort at almost every step. Clal was more than grateful for healing he received from those by his side.

As the last three approached the edges of the floating island, there was a waft of salt in the air and the sweet smell of wild flowers. Warmth was in the wind. The end of their journey was drawing to a close.

Soon they were all surrounding Sedrak. He was truly grand to behold. Sedrak was an almost perfect white with a faint grayish blue at the edges of each of his countless scales. Clal could hear a low rumble from some unknown source. But as he watched in wonder at the great beast, he understood that it was caused by the Sedrak’s breathing, slow and methodic like. His long neck was slanted down where his head was found, listening to Larkin and Skyla relay an account of their journey.

Sedrak nodded his head once. The elves turned toward the others.

“Friends,” Sedrak said. His voice was like the call of a lion, but calm as a summer sea.

“Larkin and Skyla have told me of your travails and tragedies. It is no small thing that Krothwing has so boldly sought to thwart your efforts. Clal, it has been written that these days would come.”

Clal noticed that Sedrak wore a smile, not for the moment, but he could tell that his skin and scales had turned and shifted into the permanent position of it. This and everything about the massive serpent radiated the kind of hope and joy that life was meant to be about.

Clal’s gaze was fixed as Sedrak moved his head to one side. He looked behind him then lifted his great body off the ground. His great muscles tensed up his wings slightly unfolded.

It was all happening like before, the black speck, the black bird, and then there was Krothwing, perched upon the highest ledge above them. Even Sedrak’s neck could not reach the height.

“Fools!” Krothwing spat. “Roguish folly.”

“Say nothing.” Sedrak told them.

“Foiled.” Krothwing screamed. He was in a frenzy; face red, hair disheveled, he clutched the stone once beheld by Clal and thrust it down.

“I swear it upon you Clal, upon you all, ‘danger, mischief, vicious crime. Our craft will prevail. This isn’t the end, but the beginning.”

Clal looked at Sedrak who read the terror on Clal’s face. The beast’s head darted back in Krothwing’s direction.

“That’s enough you devil.” He raised his neck a few feet. “Be gone!” Sedrak leapt with great speed toward the undersized foe. Krothwing shot up just shy of running head long into the stone wall. The pursuit continued as they twisted and turned amid the air shrinking all the while. Soon Sedrak was gliding back and landing upon the earth once more with the greatest of ease.

“Sedrak,” Clal said looking up at him, “I don’t understand.”

“You will…” Sedrak replied, “…in time.”

Sedrak then laid flat upon the ground, head and all, and said, “let us leave this place.”

Book 4(6): Sands of Illusion

Ch: Aerol is a helper her somehow

Ch: Southern king is a helper too

Ch: Clal is unable to obtain the Earth Crystal

Book 5(7): Kingdom of the Tides

Ch: Begin with RISHK

Ch: Clal finds out that he is not the earth wielder, but the Light Wielder

Ch: Rythe was the one moving the stone all along, but light had something to do with it maybe

Ch: The party splits up

Rythe, Skyla, and Leara leave to retrieve the earth crystal reentering Mirrim
Clal, Ansa, and Larkin go to retrieve the Water Crystal in Nilth

Ch: Renthar is spoken of as the only real Wielder, and he is an earth wielder

Ch: battle between Rythe and Renthar

Ch: Renthar comes to take the earth crystal, but realizes that Rythe is his son and lets him go

Ch1: (w9.16) Long Since Forgotten

S: The Wielders

G: The “gang” get to the cottage. And tell them that Clal is the chosen one, some things that happen.

B: Goran & Willa begin to tell them about their parents, what they have always needed to know. (or, just a little bit, foreshadowing)

PA: Ch1S1: Who the parents are and why they were brought to Goran & Willa

T: Turl becomes angry again still not revealing his thoughts. They all sleep.

S:(th.9.17) Catch up

G: They talk about the market and how this year there was whisperings of the Adventus Ceremony going awry. We heard about three young people and didn’t give it a second thought that it was you because you were two and you were working. The market closed a day early and we went home on Saturday.

B: “We did see Talon with another man though and wondered where you were Clal. We assumed that you were working.”

T: Wait, another man? What did he look like and where was he going? They find out that (make sure the timing is right here). Somehow Talon leaves a note or some way of letting them know where he’s being taken because the Rishk have talked about it.

S: Hittle Brings Morgreth

G: they continue talking about Talon

B: Hittle comes with Morgreth Morgreth tells of the turmoil that has happened, with our disappearance and the burning down of the Smithy

T: Morgreth decided that they need steads and not on foot. So they go to Rythe’s home promising to meet Morgreth at dusk tonight near the edge of Eldan Vyum.

Chapter 2:

S: Rythe’s house desolate

G: Go to get steads at Rythe’s home. They have two.

B: The horses are there but the mother is not or so it seems. they find her hiding. Rythe comforts her. (character development, loving Rythe) The Rishk came. Destroyed many things. Why not take the horses?

T: Rythe goes to follow their tracks and to lead the others to follow him. He follows out of curiosity, frustration, and hatred.

S: Partial Rythe History

G: Clal wants to stop Rythe.

B: But the mother stops Rythe for him. The mother walks around to the back of the house, turns, the mother looks at the twin elves and asks what’s going on?

T: They explain Clal is the chosen one that Rythe is now his companion. She states that this is where the man came and delivered Rythe into her hands before he left. No other information. “This is my son. Take care of him and I will be back someday.”

PQ: Was it Renthar? Or one of the Rishk? Knowing that life will be bad if he stayed, and who was the mother? A different reason why he was given up.

Note: (Renthar did not come).

PA: How Rythe was left.

T: Rythe loses all energy to search and is left with a sick feeling in his stomach, or so we assume.

T: They leave with Clal and Ansa on one horse, Rythe and Skyla on the other and Larkin flies.

S: Rythe and Skyla Develop

G: They travel down the road, fast, toward Eldan Vyum. They ride for several hours. Rythe doesn’t say a word.

B: Skyla is holding onto Rythe’s waist. Skyla talks to Rythe and asks him what’s wrong? She speaks bluntly and says, “No use keeping it in. These elf ears are good at listening.”

T: “It’s the Rishk. I hate them but feel some kind of connection to them all at once. I’m scared of them, but also feel drawn to them.”

T: “There’s purpose in everything.” (a little flirting/she holds on tighter) Rythe thinks that she can fly, why would she hold on tighter?
(jelousy in Ansa?)

S: Clal and Ansa talk on the horse

G: Ansa speaks her feelings to Clal. Speaking of where to go next. What crystal to look for. “I wish I could look in my back. So many hours of riding wasted when I could be reading.”

B: “I did read a little from the Book of Legends Clal before leaving this morning. Did you know that it talks about a magic that comes from the elements?” There’s 5: Air, Light, Earth, Water, Fire.

T: Clal talks about the twins who can fly and says that he’s going to ask them how they learned to do it. He talks about why he can make light and Ansa can’t with the stone.

T: We’ll figure it out, she says. There’s got to be more in the book.

S: Morgreth waiting

G: the sun is down, they get to the edge of the forest, no Morgreth. Just as they begin to lose hope Morgreth and Larkin walk out together from the trees.

B: “Larkin filled me in on as much as he could. This is helpful because it changes the plans I had for you.” Morgreth reveals that he has set up the Adventus as a decoy. That, it was always meant to tell the people that the chosen one doesn’t come till later, meaning, Clal must lay foundational work with little to none knowing. But since THE3 are now part of a curious investigation focus, Morgreth felt the need to clear it up The plan was to bring the three into the castle to prove to the King that there was no ill will meant. Now that the twins are there, he will send them on their own mission in the mean time.

T: Morgreth creates a story and tells them as they ride to the castle and Larkin and Skyla whisk away into the sky.

S: King Emish

G: they are there to meet with King Nelbierd upon Morgreth’s summoning which is accepted and they wait in a large room.

B: there is a small council instead of just the king which makes Morgreth and the others nervous. This is unplanned. King Emish came down from the North because he heard rumors. He is very nosey and wants to be in the middle of everything. Black curly hair and very large and tall…and loud. Jestro is there and one other individual whom (is unknown to THE3 but not to Morgreth.) an elf of pale skin and golden hair. And elf King of the South.

T: this makes for some hefty interrogation mainly driven by King Emish

T: main questioning

State your names.
State why you were in the castle.
- Clal, working with Talon as his nephew. Talon disappeared and I met Rythe who was coming to the Adventus Ceremony. I was scared and thought it okay to stay with him.
- I was coming to deliver some clothing to the lady and offered to work to help in the feast because she was short one.
- Rythe, I was here as my duty to my kingdom. (Rythe is a great talker, lawyer type). Yes we all were wrong.
- We disappeared because Clal thought it best to leave before we caused further notice or disruption.
- And I left early too and met up with my brother.
- How did we get out…?
- Jestro: “I let them out sire as their story was convincing to me. They bore a similar story.”
- And the fire? “We went back and there were two men. (Rythe almost says “the Rishk” but bit his lip for some reason). We hid and they burned the place down. We ran for fear.
- Where have you been since? “We have been enjoying the rest of summer.”
- King Emish eyed them: “WHERE, have you been? You didn’t answer the question.”
- Morgreth, “I can assure you they have been far from the castle. I found them at their homes and brought them here promptly.”
- So you’ve been at your homes since you left Eldan Vyum?
- Silence. “We were so distraught with Talon missing and the castle uproar, we didn’t go straight there but enjoyed our meandering through the forest, so to speak.” Says Ansa. (WHICH SATISFIED KING NELBIERD AND KING EMISH)
- King ELF Dude asks a single question: “What are you going to do now?”
- Clal says, “I suppose go home after we’re done.”

T: Morgreth asks if THE3 can sleep in the castle for the night. Yes.

T: They sleep but Rythe and Ansa feel uneasy. Clal does not feel uneasy.

Ch: (f.9.18) South

S: Hittle’s Note

G: They wake up and wait and talk expecting to leave and regroup in the woods.

B: Hittle comes to them in the morning with a note written by Morgreth with a seal by the King Elf Dude as well. It reads, “King Emish is suspicious and is pushing for the King to meet again for more questioning. He said there are some boys that heard a different story. We will be coming to get you before they come and reach a decision. You must leave your quarters at once. Jestro will escort you to the front gate where we will meet you.”

T: They hurry to the front gate with Jestro.

S: They Go South

G: They find Morgreth and King Fendaln at the gates.

B: Morgreth states they will go south with King Fendaln and that he will not be going with them.

T: Ansa approaches Morgreth. “But you know so much that you aren’t telling us.” “I do, but its in the discovery of the secrets along the way that will reveal things even I can’t possibly imagine.” They leave with King Fendaln.

Q: Who is this King? Why are they going south? Where are Larkin and Skyla?

S: Trouble On The Road

G: They ride south

B: Hooves on rode.

T: they hide. King Emish and his guard fly past. Had to go another way.

S: Through the Woods

G: They travel through the woods near a river where the trees are most furtile and hide them.

B: King Fendaln tells them of the “underground/brewing” political upheavel, basically that King Emish wants to have more sway, or some land, some resource, something that is going to help “Womlon” in the end or build an army….”if you’ve heard of the Rishk, King Emish is a major part of their aid. King Nelbierd has been told this but does not believe it.”

T: They all tell Fendaln what they know about the Rishk. “We believe they took Talon and they also came to my house and I met them in the night in the forest and they were forcing Talon to create weapons but he wouldn’t do it. That’s why we think he was taken. We were there when they burned down his place, we barely escaped.”

T: Rythe states that he will stop at nothing to put an end to their works. “Then I must bring you to someone who may help you.”

S: To Elnycula, the Sage

G: “Elnycula lives in the mountains, up a canyon in the southern regions. I seek her council now and again. She has foresight.” They travel all day and come to her abode after night fall.

B: Clal, Ansa, and Rythe speak to each other and have a conversation as Fendaln and his guard are walking ahead. “What are we to do and where are we to go to find our first crystal?” They read the Book of Legends, “this legend, this legend, this legend…” “Ansa, wait,” Clal says, “go back to the \<blank> legend…no help, Clal is discouraged, Rythe is quiet, But Ansa cheers them up and they have a moment of laughter.

S: At Elnycula, the Sage’s House

G: There is one lone canlde burning. She waits on the doorstep. (She is an animal woman, a nature woman.) The invites them in. I know why you are here for you are the chosen one. I have felt something stiring never before. (instead of helping with the Rishk issue, the turns to Clal and focuses on his journey.) May I see the Book of Legends. She asks many questions. This is how she is so wise. She insists on driving the conversation and getting as much information as possible.

T: I wish to aid you and I have gifts to bear, 6 for each one of your party. For this is the prophecy….sun moon and stars.

Sun: Sword/The Great Weapon

Moon: Clal comes from the Valley of Lyrune which means moon, crescent hills.

Stars: 5 stars - companions

She speak of the poem again: Sun, Moon, and Stars.

Ansa bears the coin or ring and Elnycula shows her the same ring.

S: The Gifts

G: She gives gifts. You will learn of the powers of the elements soon enough. The magic of the world stem from these elements.

Clal:

Ansa: An azure stone like Clal. Smaller. Clal holds up a necklace, tells its story, and Elnycula state “everything, everyone has a story. Remember it. Keep it. There are no happenstance/coincidences.”

Rythe: (an item that is owned by his father, Renthar, that will help win him back to the “Light Side”) “this was once owned by a friend whom I’ve not seen for some time.” It is a dagger. The mark of Rythe’s lineage but he doens’t know it. It’s blade has azure light stone infused into it.

Have you met any more companions?

Yes, two elves from Edaphylas whom Morgreth sent on a task we know not of yet. That is it. They are twins like us. And they fly.

Larkin: What would Larkin need? A signaling device, a calling horn.

Skyla: a flute, music

And Hittle who’s been a guide and messager. “Yes, I know him, but this is not the name I know him by.” His rightful I cannot speak in your tongue.

Leara: White sand from the Eastern shore. It will be her fire perhaps that burns something that needs to be burned, like the whole world or something??? But the white sand is the only sand originating from Hanone and is unique?

S: They sleep at Elnycula’s land

G: they are far up on the mountain side, (like the boys camp I picked Elisha up at early). Clal tries to sleep but he spots a light far in the distance. He’s about to wake Ansa up but is stopped by Fendaln.

B: “No need to wake her Clal. I see it too. It’s the southern sands, the Sands of Illusion. Do you know the Legend, though to some, tis not a legend. I was there when the city disappeared.” He tells Clal the story.

And so the light, some believe it’s a fire. It moves, they say, from far south to closer towards my kingdom. No one knows what it is, well, some might but I have yet to learn the secrets.

T: Asks, “our plan is to find the inner kingdoms. They have something we need.” Then I will help you. There has to be a way in.

Ch: (s.9.19)

S: Elnycula’s Parting Words

G: Say goodbye. Head towards Fendaln’s kingdom.

B: Tells Rythe about the Rishk. Clues them that the best method of defense is speaking the truth to them, which means that the absense of fear of them is vital. The best method of offense is to drive them apart from one another. They are still human, barely.

T: Rythe feels better

S: Talk while traveling to Fendaln Kingdom

G: Speak of the Sands of Illusion, what he was told and what Clal saw

B: Ansa finds the legend in the the BOL. The last line reads, “and the door that will be opened need no chasing only summons.”

T: “Clal this means that we need only to enter the Sand of Illusion place and call the door to us.”

S: They travel and arive at the Kingdom

G: Kingdom is in the forest, well hidden. But not secret. It is at the end of the waters they were following, they call that forest line and river something special…feeding their kingdome with goodness.

B: The twins are there, report where they saw King Emish last, and have been talking with the other elves. King Emish had three with him, but where did the third one come from…”it’s Krothwing.”

T: They turn to strategy session instead of light talking.

S: Strategy meeting

G: come to room and talk about their mission and how to help, perhaps a decoy with someone dressed up like Clal heading to the city…while they go down to the Sand of Illusion. There will be spies most likely.

B: a woman enters after King Fendaln sends his assistant out…the woman looks just like Clal. (It’s a sister of his mother and they talk about it…) “Who are you?” “I am an elf.” “Why do you look so much like me?” “I don’t know.” Clal remembers Willa talk about his parents. “Do you have a sister?” “Yes. But, I haven’t seen her for a very long time.” “Neleen seems to not want to talk about it but Fendaln urges her. WE FIND OUT THE CONCEPT OF WIELDER HERE. “She mastered the wielder arts, the elements. Three of the five. We were raised here in the Wooded Kingdom. She left to seek a mentor and I have never seen her since. I loved her.” Ansa: “We are orphans from the East country. We have never known our parents. Gree & Willa, reaised us and just recently told us of the night that two travelers came begging for them to care for us, twins.” “Twins? We and Shailendra are twins. Identical.” Neleen looked at Clal then Ansa. “She always wanted twins.” “So then, we are truly looking at the face of our mother?” Neleen: “Well, I suppose, yes.” Ansa sprang forward and hugged Neleen for a long while. Then pulled away wiping tears from her cheeks. Ansa: “Oh, Neleen, you don’t know what this has done for us.” “So, we’re family?” Clal looked at Neleen’s pointing ears then felt his own. “Shailendra must have wed a human which makes the two of you Melds, half elf. Do you sleep upsidedown and breath under water?” (joke) “But our father…” “I never met him. I never knew what happened to my sister.”

Neleen sat down. Neleen was straight faced, however, and did not smile. She was deep in thought. “It was the Wielder War. She must be locked in.” Ansa: “Locked in an inner kingdom?”

T: Clal is overwhelmed, mixture of sorrow and wonder and joy. He leaves the room and Ansa follows.

(notes: morgreth doesn’t tell king elf dude why but says to take them down south. You will find out why in due time. He later asks why they are there? The only think clal can think of is telling him the truth about him being chosen. The king doesn’t say anything, only leaves and brings either people or something as a gift to him/them.)

S: Clal Processes

G: Clal walks through forest of kingdom. Clal sits on a boulder. Ansa catches up and sits beside him. Hittle also follows and perches on Clal’s knee. Clal thinks.

B: Ansa soon pulls out the stone from her shirt, she handles the stone and it begins to glow slightly. “I didn’t reeally thank you for making this necklace for me.” “I didn’t, it was a mistake that I couldnt’ throw away.” “Clal, you and I aren’t mistakes that our parents just threw away. They had to have a reason. And even if we never find out what that reason was, we can live the life we’re meant to live.” Clal: “They were wielders. That’s our heritage, is it not. I don’t know anything about being a wielder. Who are we Ansa? Have you ever wondered? What are we doing?” “We know, Clal, that it’s our time. Isn’t that enough. And what we don’t know, we’ll learn. You are who you are right now. You don’t need to know who your parents are right now, Clal. I know it’s all so exciting and a source of anger all at once.” Ansa: “Maybe Neleen can help us. Maybe, yes, certainly this didn’t happen by mere chance. Nothing does.” Clal: “What if our parents chose the dark instead of the light?” Ansa: “Then they did and we can choose the light.” Clal: “What if they are d…” Ansa: “...have passed through the veil?” Ansa looks down then looks at Clal and puts her hand on her chest. “In my heart, I know they are alive, Clal, and that they are yet good.” Ansa smiles, “I know it.”

T: “Let’s ask Neleen how our mother became a Wielder.”

PQ:

PA:

S: Clal and Ansa return to the council

G: They return to the council room. King Fendaln, guard, Rythe, Larkin, and Skyla are there, quietly conversing. Neleen is gone.”She too was a bit surprised but she’s agreed to help you as much as she can. She’ll meet with you before you depart in the morning.” “Is she coming with us?” Ansa says. “She will be a guide for a time. She knows the neighboring sands well.” We have a plan.

B: They decide that King Emish is not giving up and will be sent a decoy. A Clal look-alike will depart back up the road toward Eldan Vyum. If they see anything strange they will draw the “bad person” away from where your company is. The key is to get you into the inner kingdom before anything happens. “How will we find the door into…” “Mirrim?” “Neleen will help you with that.” Larkin will fly up above and blow his horn when he sees the flamed door. Then you’ll know what to do. Neleen said she will help.

T: Clal states that he doesn’t want anyone to be in danger because of him.

PQ:

PA:

S: The Five Talk before bed

G: Clal asks what they talked about while they were gone. The plans. Rythe asks where Larkin and Skyla went while they were being questioned in the castle.

B: Skyla: “He asked us fly North to the Northern Kingdom. He told us to watch for any movement of the Rishk which he said we would know them. We found 3 of them 2 miles west of King Emish’s castle. They were just entering their hideout.” Larkin: “We then went to Sedrak and brought him here. He is hidden in the forest and will remain here for a time.” Skyla: “When coming here we saw Krothwing with King Emish.” Larkin: “Then we spoke with the people of the Wooded Kingdom.” Skyla: “Did you know that some of them are also wielders but almost no one knows that the kingdom still retains such powers among it’s people?”

(Rythe askes questions about the Rishk)

T: Clal’s eagerness to learn what to do to be a wielder and to wield means incereases. He dreams of wielding.

PQ:

PA:

S: Sedrak

G: All of the 5 visit Sedrak in the early morning.

B: He tells them of Womlon and that he may have influence. (important information as they prepare to enter Mirrim.

T: They seek out Neleen.

PQ:

PA:

S: Neleen and the Parchment

G: Neleen produces a document showing some of the spells/methods tthat Shailendra used for magic. Gift to them. She produced this from writing her memories.

B: “I think if you can say the right words with the right hand gestures, you might be able to pull or call the door to you.”

T: She shows them FIRE, WATER, AND AIR spells. That’s all that she learned and only for CALL and COMMAND. “I remember she used to say ‘somon’ to call the element and ‘morpho’ to move it. She told me there was a third but I can’t recall it. Pyros is fire. Aqueos is water.” “Aeros is air.” Larkin finished her sentence.

Ansa: “Why didn’t you tell us?” she said turning to the twins. It simply had not come up yet. We’ve long forgotten the words as we were very young when we learned the art of flight.” “The words are to help focus the mind and are needed after you make these things become natural.

T: they leave Neleen, leave thier horses, and the king is waiting to say goodbye.

PQ:

PA:

S: King Fendaln’s words

G: They approach the King. He tells them that he has instructed his people to keep Clal’s existence a secret. Warns of the state of the inner kingdom as there has been no word of Mirrim since it disappeared.

B: He gives all of them wise words about their quest. Then tells Clal some special things, especially about himself. (perhaps soome foreshadowing of when to come back to them there at that kingdom)

T: Clal feels taller, brighter, and more confident

S: Unable to summon

G: They go down the road toward the endless sea of sand

B: the plan is to find the “lightning-fire” flashes and try to somon them, there are the flashes but Clal can’t seem to summon as Larkin flys high and calls with his horn when he sees it, the fire in the distance. Clal can’t do it.

T: they give up for now, decide to hide at the edge of the forest, see some blue light and follow into the forest deeper.

S: The pale forest

G: They see 100 - 200 trees that are pale blue and translucent. Clal, Ansa, Larkin, and Skyla don’t know, but Rythe knows what they are. He tells the story as they get closer, walk around, and touch the trees. “Some say the spirit of Illia keeps them alive, that’s why they are filled with light.”

B: Ansa sits and thinks for a while, and voices a concern about not using the Book of Legends enough. She feels like something is off and wonders if this is really their path.

T: she opens the book, examines, and sees something she hadn’t noticed before. She sees the word “NMEKI” and realizes that there’s some meaning and that there are 5 letters like the 5 crystals. “Clal, ‘N’, what does this ‘N’ mean?” She finds where the inner kingdomes are mentioned and locates the word “Nilthinon.” “Clal, Nilthinon is one of the inner kingdoms.” This here, it’s on your sword. Should we not follow the order here? “Nilthinon,” she turns some pages, “Mirrim”, that’s the place we just tried to find and enter. Then there’s…she flipps pages…..the twins say in unison “Edaphalas.” and “Kelvkoroth.” And…I….what is I? Rythe says, “Illia.” That must mean Illia. But, Illia isn’t an inner kingdom.”

“Do you know what this means, this means that the order in which we must obtain the crystals is here on Clal’s sword, and that Nilthinon, that’s where we should start.

S: Remember the 6th person

G: Clal asks Skyla and Lark to convince Fendaln and Sedrak to take them to the West. It would take them days and Clal is eager. They leave to retrieve.

B: While waiting Rythe, Clal, and Ansa talk as they once did, just the three of them. The talk about the two twins and how they have been such a wonderful help so far. The review some of what has happened and wonder again about that 6th person that still must be part of their party. Who will it be and what role will they play?

T: leaves them wondering and the reader wondering and helps us remember that there is a new character coming, foreshadowning.

S: Sedrak Flyes Again

G: They hop onto Sedrak and start to fly into the air into the west.

B: Clal remembers there was a ring of something when he went through the dimensions in book 1. They look on the map and low and behold there is a faint ring in the ocean in the west. So they head there. The books falls out of Clal’s hands and goes flying down. Some of the pages ripped out and the book and a few (but not all) pages were recovered by the two flying twins.

T: this will be important where there was important information just lost.

\====

S: King Fendaln’s words

G: They approach the King. He tells them that he has instructed his people to keep your existence a secret. Warns of the state of the inner kingdom as there has been no word of Mirrim since it disappeared.

B: A boy walks up having found a person who looks similar to Clal, hair, height, even clothes and he bares a similar sword. It’s Aerol, the boy he met at the castle. Nice boy.

T: They leave further South as Aerol leaves North.

PQ:

PA:

S: Travel Fast

G: they travel toward sands of illusion

B: Ambushed, bows, arrows,

T: They have to ride faster and take, not the road, but the forest again. The forest is of the most beautiful blue barked trees (Blue Bow Forest). Then it turns into the Pale Forest. (a patch of white trees) sacred ground…They Glow.

S: Ansa’s Discovery

G: Ansa sits by one of the trees exhausted and scared. She sits to read or search about fire and the disappearance of the people.

B: “Clal, I have a feeling.” We aren’t using this book enough. There must be something in here to help us. She reads about how water is their greatest asset when protecting self from the flame. She reads how a people walked into the sea and never returned…parting of the sea, a tunnel. There is not much said about the sea. But there is a ring, the Ring of Tides….there is a pattern deep out into the ocean where the waves create a ring, always flowing in a circle. How do we know it’s one of the places? (Neleen tells them what she knows…)

T: Naleen…

What if the mother’s path leads them also…

Book 6(8): Wielders of the Dawn

S: The Great (5th) Inner Kingdom

G: Clal goes looking for the 5th crystal kingdom.

B: Illia tells him that Illia is the inner kingdom. There’s an outer kingdom. “You’ve always known this.”

T: Clal realizes he has to pull the outer kingdom in order to move forward in his quest.

S: Womlon’s Fire Rain

G: Womlon, as an act of fighting, explodes sun.

B: Fire rains down from sky and burns the clothes of all as well as burns the entire face of Illia.

T: Purifies the good, destroys the bad people, all change to glorified clothing, sea of glass, earth of glass.

S: Clal is about to remove the Light Crystal, Illia provides him with the prophecy in the book telling of what will happen (chaos, Womlon will no longer be bound), difficult decision, earthequakes and confusion

S:

S: Clal Summons New Sun

G: Clal uses stone to summon new white/blue sun

B: unbeknownst to him, Hanone comes with the new sun

T: It breaks into the side of Illia and the two continents combine into one, creating a wall of water, break through to the final battle upon Hanone.

Then once elements are fused into ONE:

Strength to defeat increases
Power to unite islands
Power to bring all inner kingdoms back
Power to bring Illia and Hanna to the outer realms

General Notes:

Illian Idioms:

“Stay away from that Wielder nonsense.”
Meld is an Elf Wielder

\===

Womlon’s Journal

Journal Entry: 10 years old

Today I found out that my father has a secret power hidden in or around the castle. I wonder where it is and what it is?

6 months later:

I’ve decided to try to find this source of power. I’m curious. Why doesn’t he want his son to see it and learn about it? Why is it so secret? I need to find a way.

13 years old:

I’ve been exploring, asking questions, asking my Father about the power and have learned a bit. He does not speak about it much. It’s the source of all strength and power of the earth. I’ve searched the libraries and have stolen into the places where they keep the scrolls and history, hundreds of year old documents. This is a great thing and I want it. My Father will die someday and I deserve it. The stone is something that I want.

I’ve searched and searched for this stone. Outside, inside walls, under bushes, in trees. One day I heard some rumbling, deep within a canyon on the south end of the castle. The lowest point where the walls/foundation of the castle foundation is visible. I knew that inside where the path was inside. I went there down, it’s toward the dungeon. The guards spoke to me about the dungeon how dangerous it was. Told me terrible stories and dangers. (to scare me). I did not go back for a long time, mainly because the guards were there. I did think I saw a faint outline of a door down at the far end of the dungeon. I wondered where that went.

15 years old:

I’ve searched for many months and have found a power of opposition. I’ve been using it and excersizing it, exploring it, without sleep and food, it is sustaining me. It’s a wonderful feeling and the strength I am getting is great and I am rewarded because I deserve such power. My Father mentions how I am changing but assumes it is because of my aging. He does not know of my great secret. I am getting stronger.

16 years old:

My Father is a fool, why should he have such power? He is wrong with me. He does not deserve it. He is not using the stone for it’s full advantage. I must have it. I will use it and explore it.

I have gone away to work, or so my family thinks, but I’ve really been spending time gaining strength. One day, it will grant me the stone. I have not eaten, slept, or drink for 4 months now. My experiment worked.

17 years old:

It is time. No one can stop me. I have plans for the seed. I will build a perfect society and force it’s power within them. I am not human but remade. I will attack my Father in the night on the morrow.

And so Womlon stole into the castle through his boyhood way. It was far from the place of where he though the stone was hidden. Once he entered the dungeon stairwell, it became dark. The guards’ began to yell and the torches went out. There were no one in the dungeon cells.

As he approached the iron door, he knew that was the door he desired for. And so it was his hand that pulled and unlocked it, having taken the keys from now dead guards that were on the floor. He descended stairs in pitch dark it seemed for miles down. But as he did, there wa a dim green light that grew brighter.

Once on level ground he stood and faced a giant door, with green light spewing from under the door and through the hinges.