Chaos Begins. 21

Larin Manor had been quiet in the last week. All the house staff had been sent to Lord Larin's new seat of power, the old council building to make it more comfortable for him. Tabor was missing with the academy and lately Lord Larin had been busy with his coup of the city. But now he was back home. He had work to do that could only be done here in his laboratory. Lord Larin had had many prisoners delivered to him at the manor. There were three ex fellow members of the city council and a few others that he had captured. He had plans for these people. Plans to mold they're weak minds to something he could use as he willed. There were people of many races here, humans, vampires, a werewolf, elves, dwarves and even a few of the faerie folk. He smiled as he watched them all lined in a trance in their cells in his dungeon. Each man or woman he held was very highly ranked in their homelands with great influence with the ruling bodies of their countries. They had all been in Winterhaven at the time of the coup trying to negotiate some sort of relation with the council or for trade with the merchant guilds or just for pleasure. This was good for the new lord. They would all become agents under his power working towards his goals.
First he took the humans and dwarves for there's were the weakest minds. A simple spell of compulsion would work on them. But it had to be strong. He gathered them all in a single cell and held his cane out in front of them and sent his power out to them. As the cane began to glow he gave each them a specific gift to present to there kings and queens. Then he sent them all home and went to work on his ex council members. For them he had a was special job, a very dangerous job.

Evening shadows creeped through the windows of the Eventide palace. All the business of the day had been done and the evening meal was being cleared from the table. Ryel had been in a strange mood all day. He was worried about his brother and sister Adanar and Emrel. They had heard of all the happenings in Winterhaven. How the cities council had been overthrown by Tayor Larin and he now ruled there as it's new king. This was a large concern to his brother Evindel and there mother. For there were Eventide's in the city at the time and no one could reach them. Not Adanar, Emrel or their cousin Morganz. As a matter of fact, none of the elven in Winterhaven could be reached. Evindal had even tried some of the city council members they knew, but still nothing. It wasn't until he tried Jake and Seven that they really began to worry. Not being able to reach Jake and Seven who were in New Keanna meant it wasn't just Winterhaven. Something was stopping their communication either from going north or from leaving Eventide all together.
Ryel rushed to his brother in his study and found him surrounded by his councilors and advisors discussing the Winterhaven troubles in hushed tones. There was General Kerym Ash, leader of the Eventide house guard. Vartan Drama, Evindal's oldest and closest friend. Lonar Rockender, The dwarven smith master and Lady Olinda of the fairy folk dressed in her shimmering gown and gossamer wings along her back.
"Sire." General Ash called. "I've had all the surrounding lands around Eventide patrolled for any sign of invasion. We've found nothing amiss. There's been no strange activity or anything other then the arrival of the dark queen in weeks."
"Could she have something to do with this?" Vartan asked. "Can her arrival just be a coincident?"
"I don't know." Evindal told them. "It's possible."
"Well, what does she want?" Lonar asked them, his red hair in a tight braid down his back. He paced back and forth in front of Evindal's desk.
"It all means that dark times are in front of us." Lady Olinda said in beautiful sing song voice. "There are sign's to be seen all around us. Look at the sacred glades. The leaves have changed color for the first time in over one hundred years."
"I've seen the glade." Evindal looked up at them all. "I know the problems here. I need solutions from you all."
"Throw Talsara out of Eventide." Ryel called from behind them. They all turned and noticed he was there. "We all know she's a part of it. You're just afraid to speak out."
"Ryel." Vartan stepped over to him. "You're to young to understand what goes on here. Leave this to us."
"No!" Evindal stopped his friend. "He may be young, but he's right. I'm sure she is a part of all of this. I just don't know how or what is going on here."
"What of Adanar and Emrel?" Ryel asked his brother. "How will we find them?"
"I'm leaving that in mothers hands." Evindal said. "She and master Arius will find them. Perhaps you can be my eyes there Ryel. Keep me informed of what's going on."
"I can do that." Ryel nodded agreeing with him.
"There's one more thing I want your help with." Evindal stood and walked to his brother and took him aside. They could still hear the others talking behind them as they moved away.
"What can I help with?" Ryel asked.
"Since father, Shael and Zaoir died, I've noticed you have grown up into a true son of Eventide." He put his arm around his brothers shoulder. "No more games and gags. You've become so serious in the last two years. I'm very proud of you."
"Thank you." Ryel beamed with pride at his brothers words. "I didn't think anyone noticed."
"Of course I noticed." He smiled at the young elf. "You are my youngest brother. I will always be watching over you and Adanar and Emrel. It's my first job to see to it that you are safe and well. Now here's what I want you to do. I want you to find a way to reach Jake and Seven. Do whatever you have too. I think we will need the dragons help soon. I'm not sure exactly what's going on right now. Can you do that for me?"
Ryel looked up at his brother and answered him in a way he never had before. He bowed and said proudly.
"Yes my king."
"Now go check on mother for me and see how she is." Evindal smiled. "I have to get back to the others. Let me know if I can help in any way."
"I will." Ryel turned and ran from the room to find his mother and Uncle Arius.
Evindal proudly watched the young elf go thinking of his missing brother and sister. Where were they? He had heard what had happened to the Academy. That it was no longer in Winterhaven and no one knew what had happened to it. This angered Evindal to no end. If Adanar and Emrel were in the school and it had been destroyed by the new lord of Winterhaven, then he would be declaring war on Winterhaven. Nothing on Keanna would stop him from killing Lord Larin, and that he vowed to his father as he walked back to his desk.
"What are your thoughts, Evindal?" General Ash asked.
"Olinda, Lonar." He looked in there eyes. "I want to hear what's going on in the dwarven lands and the faire lands. Vartan, I want you to reach out to your contacts with the vampires and the werewolves and see what's happening there. General Ash, You are going to send riders out to the furthest reaches of our lands and learn all you can about what is going on in Winterhaven and with the dark elves. Especially in Darkshade. I'll bet my crown she is up to something. The more knowledge we gain, the easier our fight will be. Oh and General, you can begin gathering our troops. Get them ready just in case."
"Yes Sire!" He saluted and he and Vartan rushed out of the study. Lonar and Olinda stayed behind for a while to talk.
"Olinda." He said. " I have a problem."
"What is it my friend?" She asked as they all sat down, her wings high on her back out of the way.
"I can't send or receive from anyone outside of Eventide. " He said. "Your magics much stronger then mine. Have you tried?"
"No I haven't." She said. " Now that you mention it. No one from the Almadrin Na Rael has made contact with me in two days. And that's very usual. One of my sisters or brothers should have hailed me by now."
"As you know Evindal. We dwarves don't communicate by mind." Lonar said. This was his chance to introduce something new to the Elves. He reached in his pouch and pulled out a perfectly round stone made of crystal the size of a coin. "We use our message stones. I have been trying for years to get you to try one. This is the perfect opportunity. This can keep you in contact with others far away using dwarven magic."
Evindal had no real wish to try some new magic, but he did trust Lonar and if he said it was useful, then he'd give it a try. Besides he may need the dwarves help and the humans and maybe whatever else he could find. He took the stone from Lonar.
"How does it work?"

After leaving Evindal's study, Ryel made his way to the airway to go find his mother still happy from Evindal's praise. That wasn't something he was use to. He always thought that he was nothing but a nuisance to his older brothers and sister. They were always yelling and never seemed to have time for him. Adanar and Emrel being closer to his age were different. They had cared for him when he was younger and took time to play and learn about his interests in the animals of there glade.
He and his brother Jake were always at odds because Ryel would always open his pens and free all his pets. What Jake never understood was that Ryel was just doing what the animals asked. Most of them had cubs and young ones to care for. Jake treated them all well, but freedom was what they wanted. So Ryel would do as they asked. Jake never did have any idea that Ryel could communicate with the animals. He always could for as long as he could remember back even as a child he called birds and squirrels to play from the trees around him. His parents thought he was just being blessed by the glade and accepted the animals as his protectors. Maybe that was true, he thought. Maybe the glade had given him this ability to help him when he needed it.
Ryel stepped from the airway and ran down the hall. He had an idea how to find Adanar and Emrel. He had to tell Mother as soon as possible. Ryel stopped at her door and pushed it open.
"Mother!!" He called. "Where are you?"
He looked around the room and saw nothing but her lavish desk and furniture and the rack after rack of books lining the walls and shelves. On her desk he saw that a maid had bought her tea to her. There was a spilled cup dripping on the edge of the desk. Ryel walked over and looked behind the desk and saw her lying on the floor.
"MOTHER!!"
He ran to her and lifted her in his arms off the floor. Her breathing was shallow, very faint. But she still breathed.
"Ryel." She gasped weakly. She reached up to touch his face and smiled at him.
"Mother, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Ryel listen to me." Dasyra took his hand. "There's some thing you need to know and I don't know if I can survive this. There's someone out there that you have to find."
"Who mother?
"Your brother." She said weakly
"I'll get Evindal." He cried. "He can get healers to help you."
"Please Ryel listen! You have to leave Eventide now. Don't tell anyone your leaving or where your going. Just find you brothers and sisters." Her eyes closed as she began to lose her strength. " Only they can help. Find your brother."
"Brother?" Tears began to fill his eyes as he listened.
"Look for the star on his back." Hey eyes closed as she began to loose consciousness. "Find him and bring him home."
[Help!!] He called out to Evindal and the rest of the house. [Mothers hurt!]
It didn't take long before Evindal and the guards came running into the room and pulled her from his arms. A Healer checked her and tried a spell to bring her around with no success.
"She did it!" He screamed. "Talsara that witch did this to her!"
"Calm down Ryel!" Evindal took him by the shoulders. "We don't know that she did anything to mother."
"I do. I warned you to get her out of Eventide!" He cried. He pushed his brother away and ran to the door. "I know it was her and I'll prove it to you. I'll show you Evindal!!"

Tears ran down Ryel's face as he ran through the palace. Mother was sick or under some strange spell Talsara had cast on her. He had to find someway to cure her and make her better. He stopped in the guest wing and hid himself in a unused apartment and listened the the house staff and the chaos going on outside. He had heard two maids in the hall saying that Evindal had called healers from all over Eventide to see her, but he didn't know if they would even have time to get there. He also heard them say he had the staff searching for him, he knew was there somewhere upset over Dasyra's ailment.
Ryel sat brooding in the guest suite wondering what he should do. He knew Talsara was the one that had caused his mother to be ill. But what could he do about it? What had she done to her? Was it a spell? Maybe some potion she had concocted. Either way he thought there might be some evidence of her treachery in the suite she was using. Ryel stood and walked to the window and opened it. He knew he had to get in her apartment to search it. There could be something there that might even cure her.
He put his fingers to his lips and sent out a loud whistle to call one of his friends to him. It didn't take long before he heard the call of one of his crows coming back as the bird came flying over roof and dropped down to land. Ryel smiled and ran a finger along its back.
"Laev sigil." Ryel whispered. "I have something I want you to do."

In a king sized bed covered with silk sheets and the softest pillows, Talsara lay and listened to the commotion going on in the palace. It seemed the youngest of the Eventide's had found the Queen mother passed out on the floor of her study. She smiled as she stretched herself on the bed and reached for her saddle bag and took something out. Talsara rubbed it between her hand and sat it on the table beside the bed. Multi colored lights flashed in the crystal as the magic was activated and it came to life. Talsara looked into the message stone and saw Lord Larin staring back at her.
"The gift worked perfect." She smiled. "You are to be commended on your work."
"It's not done yet." Lord Larin said. "The necklace will absorb her magic and broadcast the spell to everyone in Eventide. Soon they will all be asleep and we will be free to take the country as our own."
"What of the others?" She asked him. "How are they doing?"
"All is well." He said. "Soon we will be the masters on all of Keanna. Not even the Dragons will be able to stop us."
"The Dragons." Talsara thought about Jandar and Rage. "Of course they will try. I hope you have something planned for them."
"I do." Lord Larin smiled. "I have something very special planned for them. In fact they're the biggest thorn in my side. We can't go to far forward as long as they're a threat to us."
"Then they will be our next target?"
"Yes." Lord Larin assured her. "Once you have Eventide in hand, we can proceed to our next targets. The werewolves and vampires."
"Then find Elan and get him here." She sat up. "He's going to be master. Him and his princess."
"And what makes you think she will agree to all this?"
Talsara smiled. "That's what the second spell is for. Once she wears the necklace, her will will be mine to command. Then she will have no choice. She will be just a pretty face for Elan to do with as he pleases."
"We have one more thing I need done." Lord Larin told the dark queen. "There's a ring I need. It might be here but it may also still be in one of the dwarven cities. Certain students of that damned dragon may have hidden it somewhere. But that could be just a rouge to throw me off."
"Have you questioned them?"
"Unfortunately," Lord Larin said. "They're out of my reach. But the dwarves aren't."
Suddenly there was a knock at her door. Talsara took her robe off the hook and dressed then grabbed the message stone and threw it in her bag.
"Yes." She called. "You may enter."
The door opened and Eolis stepped in. He bowed to her.
"Well." She looked at him annoyed. "What is it?"
"Your pardon Lady Darkshade." He said. "But my lord request you come see him at once."
"Very well." She looked in the mirror then quickly brushed her dark hair back. Once she was ready she turned back to Eolis. "Take me to him."
"As you wish."
Together they left her apartment to see King Evindal and hear what he had to say. Once the door closed the closet opened and Ryel's crow peeked out. He saw she was gone and stepped out and to the window where it took off after sending what it had heard to Ryel.
"So I was right." He said to himself. "It was Talsara. But what did she mean about a necklace?"
He thought back to what his mother had said before she passed out. She wanted him to leave Eventide. Not tell anyone or worn them about Talsara. Maybe she was right. He hated leaving Evindal and the others but maybe the best way to help was to get help. Then he could come back and rid Eventide of the Dark queen and her influences.
Ryel went to the door and looked out. There was no one in the hall. Quickly he ran out and made for the airway that would lead him down to his room so he could grab some things he might need. Once packed, he quietly slipped out and back to the airway and down out of the palace. At the palace tree entrance Ryel passed two guards.
"I'm going for a ride." He told them. "If anyone asked, tell them I'll be back before dinner."
"Yes my Prince." They nodded.
Ryel walked quickly to the stables and saddled his horse Thunder, a stallion of a deep grey color. He led it out of the stable and then looked back at the great tree that was his home.
"I'll be back." He swore. "And when I do I swear if anyone's hurt, If Evindal, Alisa or anyone else from Eventide is hurt, there won't be a safe place anywhere on Keanna for any Darkshade to hide."
With that he climbed on Thunders back and called Dagger his crow to his shoulder and rode out through the grove to find his kin. The dwarven lands were on his way north. He would see what he could find there. With a little luck, he just might find what it was they were looking for.

Lately things had been very quiet in the Wolves Lair. Sharone's wedding was a few weeks away and Tresandra and Sharone were very busy planning the royal event. Aggar was away in Vasagi helping there closest and most trusted ally with problems dealing with what was happening on their western border. Drake was recovering and getting better by the day from his long bout of depression over the disappearance of Ono and Shayn. Things actually had been looking up lately Tof thought as he sat and watched Ranjer chase Cheshire around the garden of the Tyr manor. Ranjer was getting big he noticed. The little cub they all loved so much had grown a foot in the last year. He had been spending a lot of time visiting his father in Vasagi Palace getting to know him better lately which was good. But know he was back home safe which was a relief to Tof. It wasn't that he worried about Ranjer when he was in Vasagi, it was more like he worried about him more when the young vampire was anywhere but there in Tir Na.
As Tof sat he thought about his last talk with his brother Jandar about what was going on in Winterhaven. As the temporary leader of Tir Na, Tof was in control of all the affairs of the werewolf nation. Jandar had told him all about Lord Larins take over and that he had been so worried about the people in Winterhaven. He also told Tof that Raf, the son of Count Trema Thorn of the Silverback clan, had been in Winterhaven when all the trouble started. This had troubled Tof for a while until word came that Raf was at home safe. Jandar and Rage had flown to Remus home of the Silver backs to question Raf. After a long interview Jandar had said he felt something strange from him but it might just be all that he had gone through in the city. Raf had said with the help of a resistance faction in Winterhaven, he and a group of hostages had been smuggled out of the city. All seemed well Jandar told Tof, but he still felt something wasn't right. Lord Larin had clamped down completely on Winterhaven. But he couldn't possibly get total control over everyone there. The only problem was that Raf had no memory of anyone in the resistance in Winterhaven. Jandar had probed Raf's memory but found nothing. Raf said they erased their memories to keep them from revealing who they were to anyone. But how could the dragons help them in any way if they had no idea who they were. Before leaving, Jandar had warned Count Thorn to keep a watch on his son for any strange behavior. Anything that just didn't seem like Raf. Still Jandar was worried he had told his brother. Count Thorn had been one of the men that had recommend Jandars banishment, so he wasn't sure if he would take Jandars advice seriously. They would have to wait and see.
Evening fell and Tof and Cheshire were out running in the hills around the Wolves Lair. He did that each night to relieve the stress of all the things he had to deal with in the council building. It had been a rather stressful week with Jandar's news and all he had told him He was happy for the time to himself. Tof was still worried about the Winterhaven problem but he had hadn't heard anything from Remus in the last few days so he guessed they were safe for now. But what of New Keanna? They were so close to Winterhaven. They had to be in danger in some way. This Lord Larin would be stupid to think the dragons and their allies would sit by and allow him to claim the largest city of magical knowledge without doing anything to stop him. Tof had no idea what Jandar and Rage had planned, but he would have all Tir Na's resources ready to help.

Tired and thirsty, Keya Thorn in wolf form ran at full speed through the forest fleeing wolves not to far behind her. It had been two days that she was on the run and she was coming close to her destination. She had to get to the Wolves Lair to warn them of what had happened back in Remus. Breathing hard Keya ran on hearing the howling of her pursuers closing in on her. She was so close she thought. The Lair was just over the ridge but would she make it? Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of grey coming at her. From the side something hard slammed into her knocking her off her feet into the brush.
[Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!] She screamed out with her mind as she rolled into the feet of her pursuers. She tried to get up on all four paws to run but suddenly she felt teeth close around her throat holding her down. She looked up and saw four other men standing over her leering at her.
[This is the end of your run bitch.] She heard. [You are going back and no one can help you.]
"Is there a problem here?"
Quickly they turned to find Christof Tyr and a huge dragon cat watching them, Tof with arms folded and a menacing look on his face.
"This is not your concern." One man stepped closer to Tof. "Just walk away and you won't get hurt."
"Not true." Tof shook his finger at them and Cheshire hissed and pawed the ground. They had no idea who they were. "I don't think you know where you are. Now, why don't you just let the lady go and we can talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about." The werewolf said. "This is the last warning. Go on your way or else."
"Or else what?" Tof growled as he shifted to his man wolf form. He grew taller as fur began to cover him. His arms grew longer and more muscular as his claws extended out from his hands. His face became wolf like with a long snout and sharp fangs as he readied himself for battle.
[Who's first?] Tof growled.
In a flash the two men shifted to wolves and leaped at him. Tof slashed out and ripped the side of one open. He ducked the other and grabbed his victim out of the air and threw him to the ground howling in pain. After missing his target the wolf landed in front of Cheshire snarling at him. Bold as can be it leaped at the dragon cat with claws slashing at its face. Cheshire took a step back and with all his speed he whipped his tail around and jabbed his stinger into the wolfs back. Cheshire's poison was quick and deadly. Before the wolf could take another step the poison had paralyzed him. With a swing of his mighty paw, Cheshire batted the wolf out of his way to get to his next foe. Two more wolves stepped in to attack Tof and Cheshire. Cheshire roared out his challenge at them with his tail high ready to strike. Together the two wolves jumped at Tof teeth snapping at him claws slashing trying to reach his throat. In a flash Cheshire charged in butting one wolf aside from Tof. It turned in the air and came down on its feet ready to fight. Cheshire reared up on his hind legs batting at the wolf like a boxer. He hit the wolf again and again until he knocked it back with blood smeared all over its snout. Frustrated in anger the wolf made one last lunge at him teeth aimed at Cheshire's throat. With a quick spin, Cheshire caught the wolf by the throat and clamped down killing it. Dropping their captive the two last wolves circled Tof as they readied themselves to attack. In unison the two wolves jumped on Tof. Swinging out he bashed one in the mouth knocking him to the ground and caught the other as he snapped at Tof's face trying to bite him. Tof closed his hands around the wolfs throat and strangled him to death. He tossed its dead body aside and looked for the last wolf and it's attack. He found it bleeding from its mouth ready to fight. Without warning it leaped at Tof and was stopped by the girl as she grabbed a tree limb and bashed the last wolf in the head killing it.
[Thank you lady.] Tof bowed to her, Cheshire sat quietly looked at her. He wasn't sure if she was friend or foe. For the first time Tof actually had a chance to see the damsel he had saved and she was beautiful. She had long blond hair and dark eyes. Her face was dirty from her long run but still very attractive. He shifted back to his human form and smiled.
"Why were they chasing you lady?"
"They were sent to take me back to Remus." She said brushing herself off. "I'm here to find help."
"Remus?" Tof asked. He knew this was going to be bad news. He sat her down, she looked exhausted. "What's this about Remus? That's Count Trema's lands. How is he?"
" Remus is in trouble." she told him. " Our whole town is asleep under some spell, My father included."
"Your father?" Tof was surprised. This must be one of his children.
"Pardon my manners." She smiled at him. "I am Keya Thorn, daughter of Count Trema Thorn and I have to get to the Wolves Lair to find King Drake. Only he can help us."
"I can take you there." Tof said. "As long as you can still run."
"I made it this far. I can run a little longer." She got to her feet. "What's your name?"
"I'm Tof, and this is Cheshire." He smiled, Cheshire purred. "Don't worry about him, he likes pretty girls. The Lair is this way. We can take you there. Come on."
With a quick shift the two wolves were off running through the forest for the Lair with the dragon cat right behind them. Once there he would get to the bottom of this and see exactly what was going on in Remus.

The city of Prafa had come a long way in the time since Balthazar Gaelichs attacks. There hasn't been a nightwalker seen in the area since the then and Arturus was now Baron of this entire part of Yadessa. The city had grown much larger because Valkar had sent people in to rebuild and sent many of the dislocated to live there. The people were very content there now. No more over taxing and there market was now known for its huge selection of wares. One could buy livestock or any crops you could think of. Dwarves had come in and established trading, selling of their metalwork's and all kinds of trinkets. Prafa was doing very good until today. Today everything would change.
Darkness fell on Prafa as a wagon rode up to the gate to seek entrance. It was a special night in Prafa as Tomaz Arcos was free and coming home. Tomaz was visiting relatives in Vasagi and had decided to stop in Winterhaven to see the academy and the rest of the magical city before returning home. While there he was taken hostage during Lord Larins coup and no one had heard a word from him for almost a week. Then out of no where word came that he was free and on his way back home. Arturus and his niece was amazed at that turn of events. They had been told by the dragons of what was happening and plans were in the works by Valkar to try and free him by force if necessary. But all that now seemed unneeded. He was free.
Up on the wall over the gate, Athene and Adam watched him ride through the cheering crowd waving to everyone. The wagon stopped at the gate station they had newly build for arrivals and Tomaz climbed out.
"Let's get down there." Athene tugged Adams arm. "Jandar wants him checked for any spells on him."
"What kind of spells?" Adam asked following her down the stairs to the gate.
"I'm not sure." She said. "They want anyone that escapes Winterhaven probed just in case."
"He looks fine to me." Adam shrugged.
Athene and Adam made their way into the office of the gatehouse where Tomaz waited with the guards on duty. He looked a bit haggard from his journey but that was to be expected. Hostages usually weren't fed very well in captivity. And being a vampire, it was very doubtful he was fed at all.
"Welcome home Tomaz!!" Adam called as the entered. "We're happy to see you back home."
"It's good to be back." He smiled shaking his hand. Tomaz eyes were very red and he was paler then usually. But again, that must be hunger Athene thought.
"Come sit down." Adam pulled waved for a guard to bring him a chair. "You must be tired and hunger."
"No." Tomaz shook his head. "Just anxious to see Baron Gaelich to tell him all that happened in Winterhaven."
[He's not hungry?] Athene found that strange. Hunger was the only thing she could think of that would cause he eyes to be so red. [Talk to him Adam and I'll probe his mind gently.]
[Be careful] He sent back sitting down across from Tomaz. "So tell us what happened in Winterhaven."
"It was a very frighting ordeal." Tomaz started his tale. "As you know I left here going to Vasagi to thank Valkar and see a few old friends. While I was there I thought I would go see if there were any openings in the Academy for my son. He shows a good aptitude for magic and I'm told that is the place to send him. One of Valkar's staff wrote an introduction for me to a Professor Insa and the city council and I was on off to the magical city. I must say upon arriving I was very impressed by the looks of the city. It gleamed and shined with magic and it was so beautiful."
"As I walked around looking for the city chamber building I got the feeling something was wrong. The people seemed nervous like there was something in the wind they didn't want to talk about. I found lodging for the night and decided to present myself in the morning. Little did I now there would be trouble that night."
"So you all know there are places for vampires to lodge in the city. I never know what to expect in human cities but I surely didn't think I was stepping into a war."
"As I was saying. It was late and as we are usual up at night I was in the lounging area in the inn when the door was kicked open and all the guest were rounded up and taken out to be detained. A man tried shifting to a raven to get away and was shot down by crossbow immediately. There were three of us and we were really scared now. We would have fought, but there were to many. We had no idea what was going on."
"Without telling us anything they had us all march down to a place that looked like a guard house where prisoners were kept. There we were imprisoned. There were maybe a dozen or more of us of many different types there huddled in cells. We were told there would be no ransoms asked of our government and that all hostages would be disposed of quickly. Lord Larin had no use for rabble in his city. You can guess we were now scared to death. We knew what disposed of meant. They were going to kills us and just say we were killed in the uprising panic. No one would be able to prove otherwise so no one would really be blamed."
"Two nights later we heard a noise coming from out beyond our cell doors. There was some kind of fight. We all ran to the door to see men dressed as guards unlocking our doors and telling us to hurry out. They were here to get us back home. I thought it was all a trap, we get out and they kill us trying to escape. But it was real. We were told they were some kind of resistance fighters fighting to get their city back. They said saving us might help get others to help in the fight. Still not quite trusting them, I went along. What was my choice really, to stay and be executed? I don't think so. I'd take my chances. If I found the chance I would shift and fly off."
"They led us through tunnels that twisted and turned until there was no way any of us could retrace our steps back. Not that we would want to go back to those cells. Finally we came to a chamber where there was food and we were told to rest. We were told they would be looking for us, so going out would be dangerous right now but in a few days they would get us to safety."
"They kept their word and in a few days, we were free. They said Winterhaven was a captured city now but that they would keep fighting to free it. That's my story. I was told to take it to the Lord of my land and to ask for his help."
"Very interesting." Adam leaned back in his chair after Tomaz was finished. "Can you tell us anything about the men that saved you?"
"No." Tomaz said. "They used a memory spell on us so if we were caught, we wouldn't be able to identify them."
"Then how can we help?" Athene asked him. "We can't just storm Winterhaven. We would need their help from the inside to do any good."
" I don't know." Red eyed Tomaz stood up from his chair. " I'm not a warrior. battle plans and invasions are beyond me. I just have to report what happened. May I go now? I'd like to see my family."
"Yes." Adam nodded. "You can go. And welcome home."
"Thank you." Tomaz smiled and turned to leave. Then he stopped and looked back. "When can I see Baron Gaelich?"
"I'm sure you'll see him sometime today or tomorrow." Athene said. "He will call for you."
Tomaz nodded and walked out followed by two guards to take him home.
"Brave story." Adam said. "What do you think?"
"I'm not sure." She said. "But something felt strange. We'll see what Uncle has to say after they meet. But I think we should have him watched."
"I agree." Adam took her and and helped her out of her chair. "I'll find someone to watch him. Right now, Lets get back to the main house. I want to speak with Jandar and Rage. I need to hear more about this Lord Larin."