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 Fendaln and the ladies of Kelvkoroth, they had journeyed for a long stretch of time before reaching the grand halls of Fendaln’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 Fendaln, 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 Fendaln. 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 Fendaln 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 Fendaln. 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 Fendaln’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 Fendaln,” Clal said bowing.

“Oh, Clal, no…” Lord Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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.” Fendaln said. “Lyluria and Leara will join us momentarily.”

Clal, and the others sat across from Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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 Fendaln who was watching Ansa at the moment. Then, the silence gave way to Clal’s curiosity.

“Fendaln, 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.” Fendaln 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 Fendaln.

“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 Fendaln’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.”

Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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,” Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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.” Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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.” Fendaln 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 Fendaln. “Lord Fendaln, 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?”

Fendaln 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 Fendaln’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.” Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln’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 Fendaln. “Is this our path?” Fendaln only looked into her eyes. She turned to Clal, “Leara, she also wields the flame of Kelvkoroth.” Turning back to Fendaln 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, Fendaln 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,” Fendaln 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

Fendaln 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. Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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. Fendaln 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,” Fendaln said.

“As you wish.”

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

“Do as he says,” Fendaln 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 Fendaln, 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.” Fendaln 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, Fendaln, for bringing us here.” Rythe said, turning to Fendaln. “It’s beauty is beyond description.”

Rythe turned to exit the chamber, then Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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?

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, Fendaln, for bringing us here.” Rythe said, turning to Fendaln. “...

“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 Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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.

“Fendaln, 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…” Fendaln’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 Fendaln. 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. Fendaln 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.” Fendaln 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.”

Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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 Fendaln, “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 Fendaln. “Let us pass, Fendaln, please.” Clal lowered his sword to his waist.

Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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,” Fendaln 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.” Fendaln 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 Fendaln 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.” Fendaln 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.

Fendaln 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 Fendaln, 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 Fendaln, 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!” Fendaln 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, “Fendaln 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.