Draft 1: Legends of Clal

PART 2 - Chapter 11 => End

A Poem: Before you read this first draft…read this.

A prologue and ten chapters

I have for your review.

Unless you’ve been requested,

Ignore all but these few:

Do read and pay attention to

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Or when you can’t stop reading,

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Chapter 11: The Steward

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 alright.”

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. It only he had been more careful crossing the tree branches.

Clal could hear Rythe rummaging through his pack and slip something out of it. He then heard Rythe striking two rocks together. A light burst form 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 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 alright...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 imaged 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 himself. 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 quite 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 arch way then disappeard 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 occationally. 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.” Here 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. The 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 foot steps 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 my command he came to Ansa’s shoulder and rested there once more.

Light begain 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 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 waste.

Clal looked at Feldaln, 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 leaned more toward friend, though, as someone had once told him, you can’t be too sure about trusting anyone but your own self.

“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 “Hmpf!” 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 it’s core. As his own stone the glow intensified until is began to illuminate the entirity 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 imaged 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 gazed spaned 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 plausable.” 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 nights slumber. Then, in the morning we can resume our conversations about your quest?”

“I would be much abliged 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 it’s 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 12: 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 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 Feldaln’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 eagar to be off and continue on our journey.”

“It was a strange thing coming into it like this this way...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, party from the torch but the room also seemed to illuminate from another source she could not quite understand.

Suddently 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 let 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 return, 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 councel 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 cealings, were a deep gray, and they were adorned with golden items as well as, what Clal thought might be, gold paint, sometimes entertwining around itself, or curling, sometimes thick and at times, thin streaks adorned the walls. This was the way of through the entire hallway journey.

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, intricute in design, thin chain and a tangle of golden wires wrapped around what looked like sun. Clal hadn’t notice 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 cealings 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 often times 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? It was her? This was something that Clal had not expected.

“I’ll have to thank her.” Clal said trying not to smile to 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 greatest importance, I really counldn’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 Kelvkeroth. 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 wild fire, 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, it’s 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 Kelvkeroth. 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 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 Kelvkeroth. 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 ever known 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 it’s 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 incredable.” Ansa said quietly.

“Yes. And the great wizard set this mountain upon the valley of Kelvkeroth. And there is 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 Kelvkeroth was no where 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 near the crystal 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 Kelvkeroth. 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 weild 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 Kelvkeroth. Then, a war began to kindle.”

Fendaln continue, “The power of the flame was too strong for the people. Before long the power to weild the flame had been turned over to every dweller of Kelvkeroth. 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 Kelvkeroth kingdom. It was then that Imforo cried in agony, ran like a mad man from the castle and could be heard through out 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 weilder of the flame of Kelvkeroth.” 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 stewarship 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 Crytal, even to the chosen one until you find some way to reverse what Felsawn bore upon us that dark night, deep in the anils 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 bare 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, is 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 bare 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 stweard of both, I bare the burden of reckoning the demands upon their fate. I must take great care.”

Clal felt 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 someway to move the mountain. As Clal spiraled downward into dispair 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 firey furnace of negotiation.

“Father?” Leara said with her hand on his harm. “Would it please you if I accompanied Clal, Ansa and Rythe while they journey beyond Kelvkeroth 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 fo the Dragon Summoner until it is time for Clal to gain his rightful possession of it? Would that be a fair compermise?”

“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 weilds 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 quite 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 it’s 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 is ended with a flat, pointed tip. The face of the dragon was neither feirce 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 13: 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 Kelvkeroth 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 Legands from the chest.

“This is the Crystal of Kelvkeroth.” Fendaln looked upon, smiling. “Some believe that the flame of Kelvkeroth burns at the heart of it beneath it’s stony walled exterior.”

Clal looked upon the stone. It’s read 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 heavy, 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 it’s 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.

The climbed up the stairs once more and Clal heard the same sounds of stone on and stone 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 heavy, 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 it’s 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 then 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 Kelvkeroth 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 Kelvkeroth 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 elvin 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 elvin 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 seeing as 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 Kelvkeroth. 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 along side 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 Kelvkeroth 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 lavendar 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 joint 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 occured while in the castle.”

Ansa, Leara, and Rythe were attentively looking at Clal and listening. Leara sat errect and still. Ansa sat with her back slightly hunched over as she habitutally 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 fixated 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 Kelvkeroth,” 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 from 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 bare 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 voiced 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 sad down. She was still holding her flame though it’s 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 Kelvkeroth. 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 Crytal away would be the greatest offense that has ever come upon the kingdom of Kelvkeroth. 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 theif, 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 so aweful 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 are 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 altogther gone. “I can’t let you do this?” She said, the cave 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 it’s proper peace and existance. 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 Kelvekoroth 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 Kelvkerothian 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 lavendar 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 wipping 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 Kelvkeroth, 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.” 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 Kelvkerothian 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 Kelvkeroth 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 Kelvkeroth 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 gather information that might be useful later on. I thought it possible that we might need to know something of 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 Kelvkeroth 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’ve 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 here. “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 Kelvkeroth 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 Kelkeroth.” 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…” here 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 father talking about going to see the Crystal.” She stopped and stood still. “It was frequently after visiting with the commander of the army, Tavi.”

“Could the secret passage way 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 Kelvkeroth, 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 passage way 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 than 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 him 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 pet 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 which Leara searched her belongings. “I do, this coin. Kelvkeroth currancy.” Leara held up a coin make of gold and silver. “This is the highest value in our monitary 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.”

In 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 obduct 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 ear shot 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 waived 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 wizzed passed Clal’s ear and flapped along side Ansa. Leara took them into a room where they rested and could talk freely in secret.

“Alright..,” 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 Kelvkeroth? 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 histories of our people. Take it.”

Ansa pulled the red book of 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 passage ways. It would seem to be safer to travel through way of secrecy, would it not?”

“Yes,” Leara said looking at Rythe, “it would.” Here 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.”

<< word count: Aug 24 >>

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 payed 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 passage way 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 ways, 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 whisphered, 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 crevis.

“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 weap.

“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 weaping 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, Seldenolum.” 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 rapic pace. They had only gone a few yards when Clal heard Seeshalar speak once more, this time ever the clearer.

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

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

<< word count: Aug 25 >>

“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 passagway. “What was that?” Leara said turning out her flame. They waited and listened. There were footsteps and they were gettting closer. “Quick, follow me.” Leara whispered. She brought her fire back though very dim, then turned and walked briskly down the passage way. 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 coliding into Ansa who was behind him. “Come, Seldenolum.” Seeshalar said as clear as ever.

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 presense of the Crystal as they continued. This time, he succumed to it’s pull, it’s power. He knew that they were one in purpose and would soon be one in hand.

His hand scrapped 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 quetly, “Sun. Moon. Stars.”

While all four of them huddling over the marking in the wall, Hittle on Ansa’s shoulder, Clal noticed that a thin line begain 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 violate 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 semetrically 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 scrapping 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 in 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 his 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 form 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 morter 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 morter 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 jossle 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 it’s 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 the 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 a different way. For instance, who do you suppose put the 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 neclace back in his pack and Leara had exstinguished 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 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 cicular 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. 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 woudl 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 lept toward the tunnel with her flame still lit. Ansa followed then Clal. Rythe dove into the darkness. Once inside the passway, 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 14:

“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 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 theif. 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 pursuade 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?”

In that moment noises were coming form the room they had just. They could hear the guards yelling and the scuffling 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 decifer 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 cealing 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 enterained, Clal imagined.

Lyluria led them to the double door opening of the room. She opened one of the doors and it squeeked loudly as it swung on it’s 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 knows 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 there rear, arrows knocked to the string.

Leara turned to Lyluria who was being held captive by the guard besider 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 than 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 shreaked, “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 Kelvoroth 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 the other girl.”

The guard holding Ansa let go of his grip and Ansa fell upon the floor before Fendaln weaping.

“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 feight only the chosen one could have hoped 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 is not yours. You are a steward only.”

...

We want to give you the crystal

But once the crystal is taken,

• The banished curse is broken
• Return us to our previous state…
  • They became crystal keepers…
  • We kept it and gve it to th chosen one, now we deserve for our people to return to how it used to be.

They will receive the crystal of fire…

And it has the power to turn the “dark one lurking” to ash

But the master weapon must be forged.

No short cuts.

And so they have this

...but it’s not enough power on it’s own

The point with the master weapon is not just to vanquish the dark one, but to vanquish evil forever.

Thus, there are five things that must happen,

• Defeat dark one
• Call the old country back
• Release the people
• Return the earth to it’s proper state
• Cleans the earth by burning it

---------------------------------

Climax to End

Previous Scene: content

“Clal” the king said. “We know you are the one, though you yourself might not understand it. Take what you can as we freely give aid. But whatever you take, beyond all, take the hope that resides within the ancient element. Take our hope with you.”

Clal took a chance of courage and peered into the face of the elvin king, into his blue flecked, gray eyes. It was a test to search for the truth within the King's words. When their eyes met a stream of knowledge and light filled Clal. More was said within the king's gaze than in any other spoken council or encouragement the king had said during his entire stay there at Edaphlas. It healed his heart. It stirred his soul. He stood a little taller and felt a little wiser for it.

“Larkin and Skyla are going with you,” the king said.

“Thank you, Sire,” said Clal. He bowed his head low. Ryth and Ansa also bowed to the great king. Larkin and Skyla descended the stairs from their father's throne and Clal, Ryth, and Ansa received them gratefully. The king raised his arm slightly and the chamber doors were thrust open by two guards. With heavy hearts at the realization of their ensuing departure, Clal, Ryth, and Ansa turned and walked toward the doors of the chamber. As he walked beside Ryth, Clal felt his hand reach for the f'element. The wonder and excitement of finding and obtaining the stone filled his senses. They approached the towering doorway. Clal envisioned himself passing through the doors of the dawning of time chamber. He'd place the stone upon its resting place and there his journey would have been safely concluded.

But, now, the guards heaved the doors shut and remained outside at their post.

Clal was not in the dawning of time place, but his feet were beside his companions' and his eyes beheld the same stone walls and iced over surroundings that he walked through when they first entered the palace. The lane was wide and the walls were made from a blue stone that appeared to be glass-like. They walked a short way before Clal turned around. One of the guards was now pointing in one direction with his hand on the shoulder of the other guard who nodded. The first guard placed his own hand on his own chest and pointed in the opposite direction. The other guard nodded once more and then departed. Then the remaining guard turned in his direction. Still as a statue he peer in their direction, at Clal himself. Though the company was now far away, the guard's gaze was a piercing threat which he did not understand. Cold, like the cut of the wind upon the skin, but much deeper, the stranger stared.

Clal looked down for only a moment to study the stone he was walking upon. He lifted his head up and turned to look at the guard again. But he had vanished.

Chapter 22: As the Crow Flies

Clal soon forgot about the guard as he marveled at the beauty that surrounded them. Ice statues that revealed distorted images of ancient trees within. Pathways that led in every direction splintering off from the main stone walkway. Clal noticed anew, the fantastic statues of blue and silver ice. There were gray trees with yellow leaves, glowing like stars or drops of sun. The stone beneath their feet was like broken pieces of numerous mirrors put together in the shape of a square; each one emitting a faint light and warmth. The entire scene was glowing, though the source of such brilliance could not be discovered by eyes alone. Soon, they passed through the great ice archway which marked the beginning of the road to the palace. They were leaving the realm of Edaplas. Clal looked back, one final time, remembering all the magic and wonder that had been there. He yearned for the safety and peace he had felt there. He recalled the peace he once felt in his own homeland where he often would climb the eastern face of Crescent Mountain to it's highest point. In the springtime he would look down upon the Crescent hills and upon the great river Lyrune. All the good things in his life came to him when Edaphlas was in his mind.

As they walked in the cold air, Clal found it difficult to hold on to the words of the Elvin king. He worried about the f'element and his soon to be concluding adventure. From within the brown pouch that was hidden on his left side almost to the lowest part of his back, he pulled out the f'element. Clal knew that he was holding something ancient and sacred in his hand. It was indeed part of the old world; all of what once was. Looking upon its glassy surface there was an inner fire, a voice within, and it was not cold like a stone, but warm and alive.

They finally came to a place where Larkin motioned to halt. They would be entering the path that would lead them to the other side of Edaphlas.

“As I understand it, Sedrak is waiting for us?” Ryth said impatiently.

“Yes he is,” Skyla said. “we will take you there.” She looked at Larkin.

“It is not far.” Larkin looked in one direction. “It will be at almost the same place you set foot upon our island...but we will need to take another way to get there.”

“How do you know where we were when we got here?” said Ansa, her head cocked to one side.

“All things are alive...” Larkin said as he bowed his head a little.

“...and have a voice, and a song.” Skyla smiled a slight smile.

Ansa's eyebrows lowered. She looked at the ground, then up at the wall, then finally at a nearby tree.

“I will lead you. Ansa will be by my side.” Skyla gave a quick nod to Ansa who smiled.

“I will be at our rear. Keen eyes will serve us all well if there be a time of danger.” Larkin was looking out upon the soon to be trodden path. “Ryth, you'll walk beside Clal.”

Larkin turned to them all. “Remember, we must bring the f'element safely across the outer wilds of Edaphlas. There, Sedrak will protect us. Every amount of effort to do so is required. Be aware and stay together.”

“Larkin, you speak as if there is some great evil lurking about. What do you know that...we don't know?” Clal was puzzled. What had not happened yet, however, was the realization that, if he did not complete his task, the great and evil one will gain so much more than he already has gained. The time of the ages was turning and could not be undone.

“There is evil out there, and always will be, until the f'element is safe. That is what we are doing now. We are no longer youth of innocence and frivolities.” Lark turned to peer at the path once more.

Skyla spoke next. “We will turn here and walk down the main pathway which is wide and bare. There is little shelter for some time. The elements have taken their toll on the land. Our forest froze many centuries ago. We will turn upon a path which is narrow and find ourselves cutting through the thickest part of the ice forest. It will be there that we end our journey, arriving to the place where Sedrak is expecting us. This is our path.”

Larkin pulled his hood over his head and gathered his powder blue cloak tighter around him. Skyla's clothing was woven with silver thread and shimmered some. The others were similarly clad. They turned a corner exiting the long semiclosed tunnel that led to the kingdom's gate of entrance. There was no wall to shield them from the elements now and the wind was relentless as it scrapped across their faces. Ansa gasped and stopped walking, but Skyla took her arm and they began to lead the travelers along.

Once they traveled further into the ice forest, the snow drifts changed and shifted almost at every step. It was all a maze of ice and snow and frozen statues with trees encased within. All but Skyla and Larkin were shielding their faces with their arms or hands. The elf maiden's silver hair was long and winding in the wind.

Clal kept his head down and continued to wade through the terrain for some time. They traveled down narrow paths, through fallen trees, and over a few hills. Occassionally they would stop and find shelter between a snowdrift or against the frozen trees. They began to feel defeated even before their journey across the outer world was even halfway begun.

They had just entered the main pathway, which was wide and flat, when Clal pulled the f'element more firmly against him. It was instinct that moved him so. As he did, a surge of fear entered his mind. His breathing became irregular. He looked at the others. They were walking beside him or in front of them; nothing was out of the ordinary. But, this fear was growing.

“Larkin.” Clal called. The wind stole voice away before he even began speaking. Even Ryth did not hear him, so fierce was the wind and snow.

To his great alarm, the image of the guard flashed into his mind, staring at them as they had walked. This thought filled him with a chilling dread. Clal stopped walking.

Larkin too had halted and was gazing up. The others did not notice as they continued to trudge forward. Clal held his breath as he watched. His fear heightened and Clal's heart began to pound faster. Larkin bent his knees and crouched down in a sudden movement. He was very still.

“Clal!” he shouted. “Something is drawing near.”

“What?” Clal said. “How do you know?”

“The wind is yielding to it.”

Yielding...to what? Clal wondered.

Larkin spoke, as if sensing Clal's inner question. “To him...Krothwing!” Larkin said pointing upward.

Clal followed Lark's gaze and peered up. He did not understand. But sure enough, there was a figure fast approaching. As it did, he recognized it first as a speck, then as a black bird, then as a figure of a man. But that was not possible. Clal froze. Though the figure was clad in mostly silver and white, there was a darkness found in the figures face and within the depths of his eyes.

Larkin sprang from his crouched position. Krothwing was met by the elves unforeseen attack. They rolled several feet away into the snow and down a large snowdrift. Both Skyla and Ansa were awakened out of their monotonous strides. They screamed at the sound of Krothwing's yelp.

Clal's senses were numb but he found his feet carrying him toward where the two battling forms had slid. The scene began to unfold as he looked around and took in his surroundings.

The snow had let up and his sight was less hampered. He spied Ryth run to Ansa and Skyla motioning them both to hide. They disappeared behind a cluster of ice trees. Ryth turned and fled to Clal's side. The snow was deep but they soon reached the top of the snowdrift. It was very steep and had caused their enemy and friend to slide out of their view, even at this high point. There was no sign of them.

“Clal, I know this might sound foolish, but I think we should split up.” Ryth said.

“No.” Clal answered. “Not yet...at least.”

“Let's just go straight then,” Ryth said.

Clal nodded.

They slid down the slope on their sides and reached the bottom. A few steps later they began to hear the faint sound of clanking swords. They ran and turned the corner of a high bank of snow and ice, that seemed like the wall of a long forgotten place.

Both Ryth and Clal were surprised by what came into view. Around the corner they saw the Krothwing hovering above Larkin circling around him. Clal and Ryth looked at each other with open mouths. Lunging in upon Larkin with sword drawn, moving with tremendous skill, Larkin was beginning to yield. It was an awful scene. He was on his knees with both hands gripping the hilt of his flashing sword. Clal could see that Larkin was desperately trying to fend off the blows, but his adversary had powers he himself did not possess. It was an unjust match and it pushed Clal to sudden action.

Clal lept from where he was standing and entered the small alcove. Ryth followed. With swords drawn, by less than skillfull hands, their hearts drew courage from their strength in numbers.

Krothwing's back was toward them so their approach was unnoticed. As they came closer neither Larkin nor Krothwing saw them. They could now see Larkin in detail. His eyes were swollen and blood was issuing forth from several places of his head and face. His clothes were torn in some places.

Suddenly, Krothwing broke his attack and landed on the ground. Larkin struggled to rise but so swift was Krothwing's final onslaught upon him that Larking fell to the ground in a cry of pain.

“Stop!” Clal yelled. Clal jumped up and swiped the air with his sword. Krothwing spun around. He skillfully dodged and kicked the sword. Clal fell backwards. Ryth jabbed at the foe, but Krothwing simply darted above them.

Ryth used Krothwing's height above them as a turning point. “Clal,” Ryth waved his arm, “to Larkin.”

They both darted across the alcove to the other side where Larkin lay. Krothwing continued to hover above them. Larkin was in a poor state, blood stained, bruised, and wounded in spirit. Clal was afraid for him. Larkin had been sent to lead them, and to protect them, but in this condition, he could no longer do so. It seemed that hope was waning.

They stayed there against the wall, Clal, Ryth, and Larkin, like caged rats. Clal leaned against the wall near Larkin's head. Ryth was beside Clal crouching with his sword in his hand. Larkin was laying sideways with his hand resting on his fist. They sat there for only a moment, clouds rising from their rapid breathing, lungs burning from the cold, before Larkin spoke.

“Clal, you must not let Krothwing get that f’element.” Larkin whispered. “In his hands it would become a terrible weapon. In your hands it will become the key to unlocking the gate to all deliverance.”

The three of them monitored Krothwing’s movements. He was descending. The tip of his toes soon touched the ground delicately followed by his heels which pressed upon the smooth ice. Krothwing stood still, though Clal's fears did not lessen.

Clal had not noticed before, but Krothwing wore a golden symbol on his right shoulder. It was curious to Clal. It was in the shape of some sort of five-sided square. Within, there were five small symbols unfamiliar to Clal.

“What shall we do?” whispered Ryth. His shaking hand was still holding his blade.

“Nothing, until we think of a plan” Clal answered.

Then, they said nothing; the air was still...and the whole world held it’s breath.

“Clal,” Larkin whispered at last, “give me the f’element.”

“Give you,” Clal lowered his voice, “give you the f'element?” Clal was about to glance at Larkin but Krothwing shifted his stance and he knew he was about to speak.

“Clal Winden.” Krothwing began. “It's unfortunate that we meet on such ill terms...” His towering figure resembled the frozen trees that dotted the landscape above. Krothwing’s face was in shadow.

Larkin leaned closer to Clal. “I have a plan…” his voice was low. He knew Krothwing was listening more intently, “let each play his part.”

Krothwing continued, “…I know what you have and I intend to take it from you...” his eyes flashed and a wry smile graced his lips, “...unless you give it willingly.”

Larkin whinced then moved closer to Clal. Ryth did the same, but without the wince.

“...that would be the wiser choice.” said Krothwing.

It was evident that time was dwindling like sand through fingers. Krothwing could not be held back much longer, they knew they had to act with hast.

From within his garments, Larkin snatched a large, smooth stone shaped much like the f’element. “Let us exchange the faux for the real thing. When he obtains it, he will fly.” Larkin’s face lit up. “He will not think to examine it, for so great is his lust.” It was the plan that he had invented long before the parting from his father’s throne. Larkin had been the guardian of the f’element ever since he was a youth, and once an author of trickery, always an author of the craft. Clal slowly replaced the f’element with the stone and slipped it to Larkin unnoticed. Any doubt or fear in doing so fled. There was no other way.

“It will be safe, Clal.” Larkin’s eyebrows raised. The f'element was now a secret that only Larkin knew the truth of.

He whispered a few more instructions to Clal and Ryth.

“I will remain here on the ground. I am useless and Krothwing won’t think to deal with me any longer.” Larkin’s voice trailed off.

Krothwing's voice heightened. “If you refuse, Clal, pain and anguish will accompany my acquisition as it has already,” Krothwing paused, “...for it is mine.”

“No, and it never has been.” Larkin spat. A fierceness grew as fire lit within his blue eyes.

Clal arose and Ryth stood from his crouched position. With swords in hand they began to move toward Krothwing. It was a scene they had rehearsed together since young boys, but this time the enemy was more than a bail of hay or the bark of a tree.

“There is no skill you possess that can meet my power.” Krothwing laughed. He drew his sword. “A mere boy and his heroic companion. What can you claim?” He laughed again and the sound echoed in a thousand directions.

“I claim all the powers of good,” Clal said, “and all the good that is within me.”

Krothwing's smile faded and he lunged toward Clal. The battle had begun.

Clal dodged Krothwing’s attack and both Ryth and Clal went running. Krothwing flew high and disappeared above. Ryth turned the corner first. Clal spun his head around to look at Larkin. Krothwing was gone. The image of the guard once more passed through his mind. At the end of the lane Larkin lay still, but the enemy was moving.

Once around the corner Clal met up with Ryth who was sprinting up the slope. Their plans were to continue running, but once Krothwing began his next assault, there was no knowing what to do next. Clal saw Krothwing just barely approach his companion.

“Ryth!” Clal yelled.

Clal realized how wrong he was to linger and Krothwing took Ryth to the ground. Krothwing pulled out his sword to inflict the wounds of death, yet, at the last moment he spun around to meet Clal. Krothwing's feet were planted firm near Ryth, so as to keep Ryth behind him. Clal advanced and swung his stout weapon at Krothwing's chest. But Krothwing quickly banished any hope of success with the slash of his own sword upon Clal's. The walls around them irrupted with Clal's shrill scream; Clal was unprepaired for the vibration of metal that came after the two swords collided; he dropped his sword and grasped his painfilled wrist. As one shoulder dipped and his whole body toppled to the ground, tears overwhelmed Clal's vision. Krothwing stood directly over Clal and was just shy of reaching to search out the place of the f'element when Ryth rose up behind him.

He had found some ice stones and began to throw them at Krothwing, a worthy weapon for the moment. Krothwing turned around. Ryth's good fortune landed one large ice rock right in the nose.

“Ah!” he said and he grabbed his nose and flew upward.

Ryth ran to Clal's side. “Get up Clal.” He said. “Run. We've got to get him further away from Larkin and the f'element. We need some time to regain our senses.” Ryth helped Clal stand and they ran up the slope. Krothwing came from the side. Ryth swung his sword. Krothwing thwarted the attack as he cut Ryth down with a backhanded swipe from the hand that held the blade. Ryth toppled backwards with blood streaming from his lip. His head hit the frozen earth and he saw no more.

“No!” Clal exclaimed.

Krothwing looked up from Ryth's lifeless form whose legs were twisted unnaturally. He began to levitate and their eyes met.

“Clal!” Krothwing yelled. “There is no one left to shield you from my devices. You will fall and I will ascend. The f'element was meant to be within my grasp,” he clutched his one fist while the other clutched his sword, “ever since Larkin took it from me.”

“He did not take it from you.” Clal heard his own voice. “It was never yours and it never will be.” Clal leaned forward. “Never!” he yelled and stuck his sword into the air. His emotions were raging. All he could think about was his pursuer. Clal's hate for Krothwing was complete and overcame him. Larkin was down and Ryth, dead or alive? There was no way to know now. The fear of what lay beyond the horizon of the moment was immense. At this thought, Clal turned and ran up the slope.

At the top he turned and the realization that he had not kept his eyes on his adversary. This struck him like a hammer on an anvil. He had now joined the pathway that they had deviated from in the beginning. The wind was a new threat. Snow began to swirvl and twist, whistle and howl. There was no way of knowing where his assailant had gone. His greatest fear set in. He spun around in an effort to calculate Krothwing's next move.

Clal gasped. Krothwing was in the midst of a speedy descent above him. Clal stepped back, then he stepped back once more. His mind broke into a panic and he turned around and sprinted.

“No!” Clal screamed.

The ground exploded in a cloud of snow crystals as Krothwing collided into Clal's right side. The impact sent both of them sliding across the icy ground several feet, Clal's chest hitting the ground with incredible force.

Once on the ground Krothwing turned Clal over so that they were facing each other. Clal couldn't breath; couldn't see. He was helpless. As soon as he had been turned upon his back, Krothwing began to strike Clal's face with his fists, first to his eyes, then to his nose. The blood began to fill Clal's mouth and ears. He choked and began to moan. Clal tried to turn to one side but Krothwing wrenched him back into position. He had never known such pain.

Clal tried to defend himself by moving his arms in front of Krothwing, but his attacker was quick and fought off any attempt to defend himself. With a few more blows to his stomach, he knew that he was going to die. This wasn't part of the plan, it never is. It had all gone wrong.

Krothwing grabbed Clal's throat and shoved his fingers into his skin. Blood immediately began to issue forth. Clal kicked his feet, scraping the ground to get away. Krothwing's other hand searched Clal, his pockets, his shirt.

“I know what you have,” Krothwing hissed between his teeth. “The dark one lurking awaits it.”

“Ryth...Lark,” Clal struggled to say over and over, but it only turned into gurgling noises.

Everything was turning black around him and he could no longer hear the wind or feel the bite of the frozen air. He was delirious. He felt Krothwing searching for the f'element still. Clal could do nothing. The sky was spinning and nothing made sense. All was lost and the enemy was going to prevail.

But all at once, Krothwing looked to one side, then above him, and leapt from off of Clal's chest thrusting what little air Clal's lungs had in them out. The sky above wrapped around the Devil's Crow, and in a moment, he altogether vanished.

Chapter 23: An Unwelcomed Farewell

Ryth found Clal first. He could not endure the scene. Clal was lifeless, cold, and pale. His lips were blue, but there was still a faint pulse. Ryth knelt beside him, nudging him gently and speaking to him. In this way, Ryth began to turn back the reconings of death.

“Clal. Clal.” Ryth's voice was shaking.

Clal's eyelids fluttered. He gasped and began to frantically search himself with his hands. To his horror the f'element was gone, stolen, taken in malice. It couldn't be he thought. But it was true. Clal turned to one side and in the snow began to sob. He had failed.

Ryth heard running and did not respond to Ryth's last words. His head jerked toward the sound. It was only Skyla. She knelt beside Ryth and Clal and retrieved some cloth from her cloak. Skyla began to sop up the blood from Clal's split eyebrow and lips. Ryth looked past Skyla and saw Ansa standing a ways off in the distance.

“The f'element is gone,” he muttered over and over again to himself. It was an unbearable sight for all and with each chant from Clal, the words seemed to burn the ear.

As Ryth and Skyla surrounded Clal, Ansa stayed aloof in the snow a few yards away. She had been the closest to Clal during the attack and was thrown aside by Krothwing's shoulder when he descended from the great heights above. With dozens of snowflakes clinging to her blond hair, she was hardly recognizable. Ansa was shaking violently as she buried her head into her hands. Skyla looked up and turned around. She slowly handed the cloth to Ryth with her gaze still fixed on Clal's sister. In her smooth and silent manner she glided to the side of Ansa who had now slipped down into the snow. Ansa was kneeling into an awkward position; she was crying uncontrollably. She cried, not only for her fears and surprise, but because she heard the words of Clal, of the absence of the element stone. Skyla held her there for some time stroking her hair and wept many tears with/for her. Moments seemed to drift by as oceans of sorrow. At length the girls returned to the sides of Clal and Ryth.

“The f'element is gone,” he muttered again as if in a fever.

“It is not gone, Clal,” came a voice. It was Larkin's voice.

Skyla and Ansa gasped.

Clal sat up straight away and Ryth buried his head in his hands. He had forgotten amid so much confusion. The exchange had been such a hurried moment.

“The plan” he said as he walked closer, “the fake.” Larkin pulled out the f'element from within his cloak. It's vibrancy lit up the scene. Larkin handed it to Clal.

“It was his lust for the stone that defeated him.” Larkin continued. “It blinded him so, and he did not think to examine the stone that he found within your garments. Krothwing shielded himself from it’s own true nature. His greed for what the true f'element could not give him in the end saved us all.”

For the first time, their hearts weren't so heavy. The burden, their ultimate burden, was lifted some.

“Yet,” he continued, “our fears should not all be cast off.”

“I sense things unseen, their location, the state of danger, a way of passage, and so forth. We must be careful, still. I know Krothwing.” He paused and scanned the sky. “He is still here.”

“This isn't the end then, is it?” he said. “We're being hunted now. To know this each step of the way is...”

“Clal,” Ansa said as she took his hand and clasped it with her hands. The sight of the f'element had brought hope to his sister. “Do you remember what Morgrith said...about the powers of good and the powers of evil?”

Clal ignored her and peered out into the dense snow. After a moment he looked at Ansa. “He said that the powers of evil are no match for the powers of good in the end. But what about in the middle?” Clal frowned.

“The idea is that we do what we can, and that somehow, if providence brought us together, there will be a way for us” she looked up, “even if an impossible foe strikes down upon us.”

For now, Clal seemed satisfied.

* * * * *

Though injured and slow in pace, they all knew that they could not linger and nurse their wounds; moving forward straightaway was the wiser of the three options they now had. During the remainder of their travels, to their good fortune, there was no sign of Krothwing. The wind became a breeze and the snow soon passed. Finally, the sight of Sedrak's mammoth shape in the distance came into view.

“Sedrak!” she said and she broke into a sprint. Clal had never seen her run and was surprised at her speed and agility.

Larkin called to Skyla, more out of his reprimand for her disregard to his words of caution, but he too was smiling as he hurried along behind her the best his body would allow.

Ansa had been linked arms with Clal and had walked with him like this the entire way since Krothwing had fled. Between Clal, Ryth and Larkin, Clal had received the greatest harm and was still hand on to Ryth’s shoulders and neck. It was his ribs and also his left leg that sent shocks of pain and discomfort at almost every step. Clal was more than grateful for healing he received from those by his side.

As the last three approached the edges of the floating island, there was a waft of salt in the air and the sweet smell of wild flowers. Warmth was in the wind. The end of their journey was drawing to a close.

Soon they were all surrounding Sedrak. He was truly grand to behold. Sedrak was an almost perfect white with a faint grayish blue at the edges of each of his countless scales. Clal could hear a low rumble from some unknown source. But as he watched in wonder at the great beast, he understood that it was caused by the Sedrak’s breathing, slow and methodic like. His long neck was slanted down where his head was found, listening to Larkin and Skyla relay an account of their journey.

Sedrak nodded his head once. The elves turned toward the others.

“Friends,” Sedrak said. His voice was like the call of a lion, but calm as a summer sea.

“Larkin and Skyla have told me of your travails and tragedies. It is no small thing that Krothwing has so boldly sought to thwart your efforts. Clal, it has been written that these days would come.”

Clal noticed that Sedrak wore a smile, not for the moment, but he could tell that his skin and scales had turned and shifted into the permanent position of it. This and everything about the massive serpent radiated the kind of hope and joy that life was meant to be about.

Clal’s gaze was fixed as Sedrak moved his head to one side. He looked behind him then lifted his great body off the ground. His great muscles tensed up his wings slightly unfolded.

It was all happening like before, the black speck, the black bird, and then there was Krothwing, perched upon the highest ledge above them. Even Sedrak’s neck could not reach the height.

“Fools!” Krothwing spat. “Roguish folly.”

“Say nothing.” Sedrak told them.

“Foiled.” Krothwing screamed. He was in a frenzy; face red, hair disheveled, he clutched the stone once beheld by Clal and thrust it down.

“I swear it upon you Clal, upon you all, ‘danger, mischief, vicious crime. Our craft will prevail. This isn’t the end, but the beginning.”

Clal looked at Sedrak who read the terror on Clal’s face. The beast’s head darted back in Krothwing’s direction.

“That’s enough you devil.” He raised his neck a few feet. “Be gone!” Sedrak leapt with great speed toward the undersized foe. Krothwing shot up just shy of running head long into the stone wall. The pursuit continued as they twisted and turned amid the air shrinking all the while. Soon Sedrak was gliding back and landing upon the earth once more with the greatest of ease.

“Sedrak,” Clal said looking up at him, “I don’t understand.”

“You will…” Sedrak replied, “…in time.”

Sedrak then laid flat upon the ground, head and all, and said, “let us leave this place.”

Chapter 23: The Crowned Eagle Descends

“I can only take you as far as the place of the Dawning of Time.” Sedrak said. The others had climbed on Sedrak's back. Clal was standing in front of the dragon's head as they discussed the plans.

“The world does not know me...has not known me. But it soon will.” Sedrak's already permanent grin heightened. “Though that time has not come yet.”

On the great beast's back there were spikes that protruded from his spine. Each wrapped their arm around one as Sedrak instructed. When all were secured, the dragon raised his head, stood in a crouching position like a cat ready to pounce, and sprung into the air. On both sides Clal watched his grand wings extend and flap with grace and agility. Soon Edaphlas was a tiny fleck in the sky, a bittersweet sight. Edaphlas, of paradise and peril.

Sedrak, though massive in size, could sail through the sky with the greatest of ease and gentle strokes of his wings. The wind was mild as his head deflected most of it and the top of his back was strait enough for the party to rest and sit upon.

Clal observed his companions. Ryth watched the patches of clouds move below or fidgeted with his clothing. Skyla and Larkin were standing up with the wind blowing in their hair, Skyla's long and glimmering, Larkin's feathered out. Occasionally, one or the other would turn their head or move their hand or shift their body. He could tell they were engaged in a quiet conversation. Then there was his Ansa, so tender in spirit. A sister that had been his friend, a true inspiration since the beginning, now weak and spent in all that had taken place. Clal's eyes welled up; oh how he desired to take it all away.

Clal could only pear at the shield size scales, dozes of them, that lay beneath him. The middle of each was of a brilliant white, almost emiting it's own source of light. There was a depth within that spoke to Clal of olden days and of times never to return. At the edges, each silver-white scale tapered off into a deep ocean blue followed by a crystal sky blue at the tips, almost indistinguishable. Though each scale seemed to be well polished, there was no sign or feature that worried Clal for their welfare to turn all of them sliding off into the earthen abyss below. He moved a bit to look over the side but jumped back at the sight of it and held tighter to the spike he'd been clutching.

Soon, they began to descend. He despaired at the thought that the dragon and all his glory and wonder would soon depart. An unfamiliar earth was approaching and the reality of the next stage of their quest rushed upon each of them.

Soon, all but Clal were standing on the red stone of a high and flat mountain like land mass; the place where the Dawning of Time had been named. It was a place where an almost hidden side of a cliff had been hollowed out into a cave. An iron door had been installed and was locked from the inside. It captured their interest instantly.

Clal was about to join the others when Sedrak spoke. “Come Clal. Let us share a few words before I leave you to what you were destined to complete.”

Clal turned around, and slowly walked across his back tethering himself to a nearby spike.

As Sedrak and Clal were lifted into the air, the others saw them. Nothing was said. Both the ascending and the land spectators understood. Clal had begun to change and his role as The One was setting the things around him and within him in motion, . As Clal looked down he knew that this scene would not be the last. His path, though traveled with many, would someday carry only one traveler.

Sedrak continued to rise upon the winds. The earth unfolded on all sides, the clouds were well beneath them and Illia was as a large island. It was breathtaking. Though he knew Sedrak would not let him fall, Clal was now hugging the spike that he once had casually gripped.

“Clal,” Sedrak spoke. “Do you see that speck of an island, black, over to the east?” The dragon's wings flapped in a loud rhythm but he made out Sedrak's words.

“Yes.” Clal squinted and could indeed spy a faint land mass separate from Illia. He was astonished.

“This is Hanone.” Sedrak hesited. “This is where the great enemy now resides.”

Clal gasped. Even from such a distance, it looked and felt sinister.

Many things were said and explained, but the dragon told him to keep them in his heart only. How ancient Sedrak was, began to set in. Sedrak spoke at length with Clal, and then said, “Let us now return to the others. You have yet to finish your task.”

“Show me more, Sedrak,” Clal said eagerly but Sedrak said nothing.

Sedrak sailed downward in a rapid descent. Soon Clal was standing on the ground with the others. He searched the cliff and found the Dawning place. Clal turned and looked at Sedrak. Their eyes met and Ansa sensed a moment of an unspoken understanding. Ryth was watching Clal and the two elves look upon the great dragon. He was sitting like a statue, upright and strikingly noble. Within his heart Clal pronounced a name upon the great dragon: The Crowned Eagle, the world's grand jewel long since in slumber.

“We'll meet again, fair ones.” Sedrak's voice resounded upon the ancient stone and cliffs nearby, like a clear trumpet call at daybreak. His glossy, crystal blue eyes scanned the band pausing at each of them.

“Never forget your place upon the wheel of the world, within the workings of the unknown. Each of you will have a purpose, no one purpose greater than another.” Sedrak smiled; that expansive grin stretched from the tip of his pointed snout to the furthest distinguishable point of his jaw line.

“There is yet much to accomplish. Stay together. My thoughts will be with you.”

Clal stepped forward toward Sedrak, “But when will we...” His voice was swallowed up by the flurry of dust and wind. Sedrak had raked the air with his wings and was pushing higher and higher leaping from an invisible ledge at every wing flap. They watched as the dragon turned at one point and sailed to their left. Even before he disappeared over the horizon his white appearance could keep him from within the veil of the heavens as he faded away. The great grand father of the world was, once more, a memory.

“He's not much for words, is he?” Ryth said to himself. He shrugged. Clal turned to Ryth and quietly disagreed within himself. He thought for a moment then breathed in through his nose and said, “Follow me.”

One by one the others pulled themselves from their skyward enchantment and followed Clal as he requested. They walked along the narrow cliff that led to Dawning's door. It was steep. Clal hadn't seen the place but the others had.

About four steps into the cave was the iron door. It had many markings. On the left door there were images and scenes that were clear to the eye but dull to their understanding. On the right door, there were words inscribed, characters that were unknown, even to Larkin and Skyla.

Clal turned to his sister. She was studying the scene for any clues. Clal turned back toward the door, but Ansa's sudden burst of energy severed his train of thought.

“Wait!” she shouted. “Clal, grab the f'element and hold it up to the doors.”

He hesitated, but slowly pulled it out of his satchel. As he held the life stone up to the center of the right door it read, “...ger, mischief, vic...”

The alarm caused by the word swept across the group, all accept for Clal; Ansa gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, Skyla stepped back a step, Ryth grabbed Clal's arm, and Larkin's hand found the hilt of his sword.

In just a few moments Clal moved his hand to the upper left hand of the door. A stream of words began to issue forth as Clal moved his hand past each character. Clal read the words aloud:

“Look to the East to find the One

Who only can unlock the Sun.

The powers of this world await

Who holds the key to open fate.

And when is found this One to name,

And take his place beside his fame,

Remember this, that with his time

Comes danger, mischief, vicious crime.

For not too far from this world’s birth,

There is one who roams the earth

Awaiting chance to stake his claim

Upon each heart that has a name.

Yet if our One completes his task,

The Dark One lurking, turns to ash.

But if our One turns inward spite,

All hope will fade, without a fight.”

Clal's voice trailed off into a whisper. They were stunned. But even so, Larkin spoke out of the silence.

“May I see the f'element Clal?” Larkin said.

Clal handed it to him.

Larkin held it before a few of the symbols. Nothing changed. He gave it back to Clal and returned to his reflective manner.

“Only in your hands, Clal, can the virtues of this gift be realized.” Skyla moved toward him and touched the f'element that he was was holding in front of his chest. “There is great wisdom here, in the depths of so small a thing. I am honored to serve you, Clal, in anyway I can during your quest for good.” She turned around and returned to where she had been standing. It was a kind gesture, one that would prove to extend beyond many trials that their journey would bring them.

They continued to study the doors before them. “Clal,” Ryth said, “what do the words mean?”

“I don't know. I've never heard such language, though it seems familiar to me.”

“It's a prophecy.” Larkin said raising his hand toward the door. “It's about you.”

It was then that Clal stepped forward and began to pass the f'element before the words again. As he did so he read, slower this time, searching and studying, but most of it made no sense to him. He was captivated, and as soon as he finished reading, his hand jumped up to the top again. He repeated the process until he paused on one particular word...who holds the key...

“Key,” Clal exclaimed.

All at once Clal touched the word “key” with the f'element. The doors began to fade, first beginning at the word “key” then spreading to the edges of the right door then through to the edges of the left door. Clal lept forward and ran down a short hallway. On each side there were sticks attached to the walls emitting blue flames. Clal reached the end of the hall where a large, flat stone resided. It was red with blue veins, a few large ones and numerous thin ones. There were others things in the room, curious things in corners, but Clal didn't notice any of them. He turned around and saw the others trotting toward him. Once they were beside him, he said,

“By the looks of this large stone and the holes in it, I think I'm supposed to put this f'element in one of the holes,” Clal thought, “but which one?”

Ansa answered, “Well if you used it to unlock the entrance to this place, then one of its uses must be as a key.” She touched her finger to her chin. “Clal, it was a key from Edaphlas.”

Ryth was looking over his shoulder.

Clal bent over and examined each hole. He discovered that there were small symbols above each hole. He knew one had to resemble Edaphlas or something from it. There was a triangle above one of the holes and an ancient looking flame above another. Above one of the holes Clal found a circle with a dot in the center and yet above another hole there was no symbol at all. But he knew where to put the f'element that was in his grasp, for there above the last hole there was indeed a symbol of a tiny dragon etched into the stone.

“Look,” Clal he pointed and turned to the others. Each of them leaned over at once.

“It's here, this is the place.” His finger was poking the dragon shape.

“Put it in! Put it in!” Ansa grabbed Clal's arm.

Clal hesitated then gently placed the f'element in the shallow hole. They waited for something unexpected to happen, like their entrance into the chamber, but it didn't. For Clal, it didn't have to.

They looked around the place. There was a mirror in one corner and a pool of water in another. A large and dark cave that appeared to have a slight decline filled up one wall. Then, the most curious of all, a spiral staircase leading straight down had been hidden from their view. It was directly behind the stone that was in the center of the room. The staircase went on infinitely to Clal's view, but he thought he saw a faint light, a twinkle amid the darkness.

“It's done then,” Larkin said.

“Yes. Our journey is through at last.” Clal signed.

“Not quite.” Ryth pointed to one wall that Clal had overlooked. There was a door there, which was slightly ajar. It was a simple wooden door found in simple wooden houses. All that Clal could think about as he drew near and opened the door, and the only word that was echoing within his heart was, “home.” This is where his journey should end, for that is where it began, long ago, somewhere in his memory.

And when he arrived back home again, he truly was not the same boy he once was.

“Not quite.” Ryth pointed to one wall that Clal had overlooked. There was a door there. It was a simple wooden door found in simple wooden houses. There was a small beam of light issuing from a crack. And as it shone it carried upon it many memories the light of joys once known. They walked toward it, led by Clal. All that Clal could think about was the word “home”. It echoed within his heart of hearts. “Home.” This is where his journey should end. That is where it began, long ago, somewhere in his memory.

Clal reached for the door knob, opened the door and walked through it. The others were at his heals.

And when he arrived back home again, he truly was not the same boy he once had been.