"This is all wrong." The Orc said. You can not take any of this."
"Why not?" Craven asked. "I'll need the cloak and the weapons."
"These are Human clothes." Zark told him as he picked up the sword. "No Orc would dress like that. And you can not carry that as a weapon. Our sword are much bigger and heavier. And you will not need a sword anyway. But you can keep the dagger."
"No sword?" Craven looked from Zark to Adanar confused."What am I supposed to use?"
"I think Zark means for you to be an Orc warlock." Adanar explained.
"Yes, you would never stand a chance in hand to hand combat against an Orc." He said. "Your only choice is magic. We can make you a staff to use but you will have to enchant it or Gorak will see right through the disguise."
"What about clothes?"
"I have something you can use." Adanar called over one of his staff and give him and order. "We have had some experiences with Orcs. Garrik will bring you out a few things. They won't be clean but they will be Orc and something you can use."
"Good." Zark nodded. "Then we can leave and head for Ardia."
"How are we getting there?" Craven asked. "It's a long way to walk."
"I have friends who can take you if they agree." Adanar smiled. "But you'll have to ask them yourself."
"Dragons?"
"No." Adanar waved them on. "Follow me."
With Craven and Zark at his side, Adanar led them deep into the elven glade among the great oaks, elm and ash trees. Craven could feel the magic and spirits all around them. He stopped and took in a deep breath.
[Do you feel it?] Micah asked. [Do you feel the power all around us? It's magnificent. The Eventide are powerful indeed.]
"Yes Grandfather." Craven felt the magic running through him filling him with power.
[The oak would make a staff we can form into a great weapon.] Ask Adanar if we can have a branch.
"Adanar." Craven tapped his shoulder. "Your forest is great. Can I have a piece for my staff?"
"A piece will be provided if the forest agrees to your request." He said.
A few minutes later they found a clearing with a crystal clear pool in the center. Adanar stopped them there.
"Here we are." He said holding up his arms. "Go down to the pond and sit down and wait."
"For what?" Craven asked.
"You'll see." The Elf king said. "Just relax and clear your mind of all hostility. If you can do that, you'll get what you need."
Dropping their bags, Craven and Zark went down and sat at the edge of the pond. A cool breeze blew through the trees as the sweet sound of the nymph's song drifted through them on the wind. Peaceful thoughts filled both Craven and Zark's mind which was strange because peace was not a easy thought for an Orc.
As they sat relaxed, the sound of a trumpet and a windpipe litely drifted down and mixed with the nymphs song. Craven looked around to see there it was coming from, then realized it came from behind his. As Craven turned he heard a huff and the sound of neighing. Looking up he saw two beautiful unicorns, one black and one brown come galloping from the forest to stand with Adanar. With a smile Adanar reached up and ran his hand along their necks stroking their manes.
"The forest answers your call." He said as they walked to to them. "This is Rychs. He will carry you Craven, and this is his mate Nayr. He will carry you Zark."
"They're beautiful." Craven stepped up for a closer look. He held out his hand then stopped. "May I?"
"Be my guest."
Craven reached out and let Rychs get a scent from his hand then he rubbed its face. Rychs snorted then trumpeted a note from its horn. Craven jumped surprised,
"He said hello."
"Of course. They are very intelligent. As smart as you or I and they will take you to Ardia."
"How long will the trip take?" Zark went to Nayr and looked him over. He had strong legs and hooves that looked as if they were made from diamonds. Zark guessed that these two could run all day without getting tired.
Rychs blew a few quick notes from his horn in answer to Zark's question.
"Twelve hours?" Zark looked to Adanar and smiled. "I am impressed. They will do."
"As for a staff. " Adanar walked over to the closest oak and whispered something to the tree. Suddenly they heard a cracking sound from above their heads in the trees. Like a leaf, a five foot long branch came tumbling down to land at Adanar's feet. Picking it up, the Elf king returned to Craven and Zark and passed it to Craven.
"The Orc garb will be waiting at the gate for you." He said. "Rychs and Nayr will take you to Ardia. They are proud magical beast and will protect you while you ride. They have many talents, they can hide their horns and pose as normal horses. Bring them back safely. The staff is yours to enchant however you see fit. Quel Marth. Until we ride together again."
From Eventide, they rode north through Fay Shrea, the faerie lands and stopped outside of Aspara Baugh. Craven put on the Orc robes and took a few hours to enchant his staff. With spells provided by his grandfather Micah, Craven connected the staff to a shadow pocket of its own where he could hide it when it wasn't in use. He added fire, earth and air spells and a few shadow spells for a surprise. Though Micah was familiar with dark magic, he decided not to use any. He didn't want to take the chance that Craven might get corrupted in any way. The staff was fairly long, five feet in length made of Eventide oak. It had spells and incantations craved around it in a spiral design and Craven added flecks of silver and gold to strength the magic. At its head he had placed a gem from one of Zark's sword to help focus its magic. When he was done he examined his staff and Micah gave it a name.
[We shall call it Saronul.] The staff glowed accepting the name. [That's your grandmothers name. She was an incredible sorceress and the love of my life.]
"I hope we honor her memory." Craven took the staff into his hand and let it bond with him.
"Now before we leave Fay Shrea." Zark said. "You should make ready your Orc disguise. And you will need a name and a tribe. Something that Gorak will not question."
"Like what?" Craven asked as he put on the tunic and heavy robes.
Zark thought for a minute. .
"It will have to be from a tribe in Ardia's far west." He said. "Somewhere that Gorak will not know. I know Gorak very well. He loved to brag about where he had been and things he had done. Fortunately I have travel much more than he has and I know Ardia better. There is a place, the Klymyrk Volcano where the Dread Claw clan rules the mountain. They are a savage ruthless people that almost never leave their steam filled hot caves. Gorak may know if their existence but with the right answers you can pass as one of them."
"And of course you know the questions he will ask." Craven adjusted the robes then cast an armor spell on the robes to make them strong enough to resist arrows and swords strikes.
"Yes." Zark's lips curled in a sly way. "Xonoth the Mute. He attacked me on my journey through Klymyrk. He was a very adapt warlock who rarely spoke, even to cast spells. But he had a very powerful mind. Unfortunately for him, not powerful enough. He died with my sword in his throat. That will be your name. Let me do all the talking and if you must, use mind speak only. Do you understand? This is important."
"Yeah." Craven said. "Keep my mouth shut."
"Now, make your disguise." Zark stepped and folded his arms ready to advise Craven with adjustments.
Looking at Zark, Craven walked around him taking in every small detail of his physical being. His deep set eyes, narrow nose and mouth full of jagged teeth. The green hue of his skin and powerful arm and leg muscles. His height and heavy weight. As Craven studied him, he thought of the changes he would have to make like since Xonoth wouldn't be a warrior, he wouldn't be as tall and muscular. His hands would have to be better formed for the use of gesture spells and his eye would be brighter since he was a warlock. Ready to cast, Craven spoke his spell.
"SPELLS AND CHANTS, RUNES AND SYMBOLS.
WHATS PASSED HAS CHANGED TO SOMETHING NEW.
FROM HUMAN TO ORC I WILL BE RENEWED.
TO HIDE MY FACE AND DISGUISE ME.
A SPELL I CAST FOR ALL TO SEE."
As Craven finished his spell, he slammed his hands together and a globe of shadow surrounded his body. With Zark watching the shadow slowly faded away and Xonoth the Mute stood before him.
"Terrible spell." Craven said. "How do I look?"
Where the young brown haired Craven had stood moments ago, now a mid size green faced Orc stared at his through red piercing eyes. Zark walked around him inspecting the change. Craven had become taller and covered with the green mottled skin of an Orc. He had a crooked nose and a slightly slanted mouth filled with rotten teeth. His eyes were red and shined with magic.
"This will do." Zark smiled. "You look absolutely frightening. It is perfect. Just remember, no talking. Mind speak as little as possble. Now, we ride for Ardia."
The next to leave Eventide was Zarin, Reno and Rese. They had a quick breakfast then left the city. Once outside, Rese made the shift to Tempus then gathered Zarin and Reno on his back and took off. From high over Eventide, Zarin looked over the old map Adanar had given him and found Slovonia. Slovania on the map. Zarin had assumed it was a land here off in a far away corner of Taggitia, but it wasn't. Slovonia was a land off across the ocean on another continent. He wasn't sure if they could fly that far. Was Tempus strong enough?
Listening in on his thoughts, Tempus got a look at the map. He assured Zarin distance wouldn't be a problem, neither would time. He could get them there in a few hours, but he would have no idea where they should be looking for Brawn's lair.
[We'll have to find someone there that can guide us,] Zarin told them. [Or maybe if we're lucky, there will be Dragons.]
[Insa did say Brawn's clan was very old.] Reno sent. [When Delios was destroyed, there was only one Dragon left. His name was Scorch and he was the last of the Delios Dragon. He died while he was still young, but I owe him my life. He died saving Thalia. Trip and my life. If it wasn't for him, Mahlos would have killed us and invaded Taggitia.]
[Insa never told me your story.] Zarin said. [When I asked, he said it was not his to tell and that I should ask you one day.]
[I would be happy to tell you.] Reno smiled. [But it's a long story meant for another time. Right now we have something else more important to do.]
[I can have us in Slovonia in three hours.] Rese sent. [You hold on and rest. And be ready. We don't know what we'll find in there.]
As time slipped by, the ocean below was like a warm blanket. The sight of the rolling waves wrapped itself around Zarin and Reno's mind and lulled them to sleep. In Zarin's sleep, he dreamed of Shayn and Ono and the academy. He saw them fighting on the plains somewhere on Pentanthin. He saw great beast come crashing from the forest to attack Gabor and his clansmen. Savonti warriors in black rode in with staff weapons raised firing at the clansmen in the cliff side caves. As Zarin watched, Daru on his great tracker rode in with his Savonti lord allies beside him. He directed his lords to take there warriors and attack the clans. Soon the fighting had grown intense until it looked like the Savonti were getting the upper hand. That was when the red armored warriors of Lords Lesu and Paru came charging in. Paru sent flames blasting at ranks of Daru's warriors while Lesu slashed and hacked at the enemy. With burning eyes, Lesu used his death stare to sear the brains of any enemy warrior that came within ten feet of him. Then Thalia's friends then Nevac joined the battle.
As the battle waged on, Zarin watched wide eyed as his father, Lowell Testa fought side by side with Gabor and Bella. He watched as they slew warrior after warrior before the cave openings.
Then a sudden roar grabbed his attention. Zarin looked up just as Lord Daru merged with the largest of the great beast monsters and charged into the fray. He tore into the clansmen with a frenzy tossing bodies like rag dolls into the air. Then he came face to face with a giant of a Savonti. Like two thundering beast they fought the giant with his tree club against the huge six armed Chadaka. Back and forth they fought tearing at each other.
Fear filled Zarin as he watched. Dragon flew dropping down to blast Savonti and Lords fought back using each of their special abilities. The battlefield was littered with the dead of both sides. They a voice broke into his mind calling his name and Zarin shook himself awake.
[Zarin, wake up we're here.]
As Zarin opened his eyes he looked out and saw green fields and forest beneath them. He saw small villages that dotted the countryside. Cultivated landed with fields with crops and ranches with cattle and horses.
[It's beautiful.] Zarin sent. [Just like back home. We should be careful. Someone might see us and attack.]
[Don't worry.] Reno said. [I've cloaked us. Where do you want to start our search?]
[Well we're looking for Dragon. Maybe it would be easier to let them come to us.]
[That is if there are any.] Tempus sent.[So far I don't sense any Dragon presence here. Exposing ourselves could bring on something we're not ready for. I suggest we head into those mountains and take a look around.]
Tilting his wings, Tempus circled around the mountains looking for a place to land. The mountains were not that high and covered with trees. With his sharp eyes, Reno spotted a clearing and pointed it out to Tempus. Riding a thermal, Tempus slipped down to land. Once Zarin and Reno had dismounted, he shifted back to Rese and went to join the others.
"Which way?" Zarin asked. "Do you sense anything?"
"Yes and no." Rese told him. "There were Dragons here."
"Recently?"
"I can't tell." The young boy said. "I can feel their presence, but I can't tell you much more. There was more then one. It feels like a whole clan but dragon scents last a long time, sometimes century's. They could be here now but it might have been here long ago."
"What about you Reno? Do you smell anything?"
"Yeah." Reno sniffed the air looking around. "I smell people, scared people. And something else. It's an earthy smell like mud and moss and a deep forest."
"You're in a forest Reno. Of course you smell forest."
"No," He shook his head. "This forest has a totally different smell. What I smell is different."
"Can you find it?" Zarin asked.
Reno stepped forward and scented the air around him, then he stopped and pointed north. "That way."
With his nose in the air, Reno took the lead. He followed the scent down a slope and up through the trees. They crossed a stream and went through a stand of pines until they came to a trail. Reno stopped and looked in each direction. He sniffed the air then bent over and felt the ground.
"We go that way." He pointed up the trail. "And we should hurry. Be ready."
Together they took off running up the trail. Zarin reached for his sword and pulled it free.
"You won't need that." Rese said.
"Why?"
"You'll see."
As the ran they heard the sounds of crashing and screaming coming from ahead of them. Zarin picked up his speed and ran faster just behind Reno with Rese in the lead. As they turned a corner and came out of trees, a terrible howled echoed through the mountains. Just out of the trees, zarin looked out and saw what looked like a huge man shaped mound of earth, mud and rocks attacking a group of kids running into a cave. Standing outside of the cave a man with glowing hands tossed spells bolt after both at the mud monster.
"What is that?" Reno asked.
"An earth elemental." Zarin said. "I've seen one before long ago."
"How do we fight it?" Reno asked.
"We don't." Rese run out of the trees and shifted to Tempus. [ I do. I'll get it away from the cave. You go in and make sure the kids are ok.]
Taking off into the air, Tempus bolted high into the sky then dived back down sending a sonic wave at the mud thing. It hit it like an explosion sending pieces of it flying everywhere. As Tempus pulled back up into the sky, Reno went to run for the cave. Zarin grabbed him.
"Not yet. Watch."
As Tempus came back around, the pieces of the mud monster started to gather and reform. In seconds it was back in its original man form reaching out for Tempus.
"Now!" Zarin said. "While its distracted!"
Stuffing his sword back into the scabbard, Zarin ran after Reno to the caves. Once there, Reno went in to check on the children while Zarin helped the young exhausted mage outside into the cave. Gently he put him down then hurried back to the cave entrance and looked for the earth elemental.
"Reno, keep them safe. I'm going to help Tempus."
Dashing out of the cave, Zarin dived to the side as a series of watermelon sized rocks pelleted the cave opening. He jumped to his feet running and sent his own energy bolts at the mud thing. Like a sponge the bolts sank in causing no harm. Zarin knew this wasn't going to be easy.
From high above in the sky, Tempus streaked down sending a sonic scream down to smash at the elemental. It tore through its chest sending its arm flying into the trees. Spinning around Tempus flew back up then came in from a different direction with his claws out stretched. As Tempus charged, the reformed. It cast out and sent a stream of mud at Tempus. Angling his wings Tempus rushed in under the stream and slashed down with his claws ripping its head off then speeding back up into the sky.
From the forest Zarin watched as the elemental spinned its muddy body around and re formed.
[This isn't working.] He sent to Tempus. [No matter what you do, it re forms. There has to be another way.]
[It's mud Zarin. How do we fight mud?]
[With water!!] An idea hit Zarin. [Tempus, come pick me up. I have an idea but we have to be fast.]
[I can be fast. I'll be right there.]
Swooping in, Tempus dropped down long enough for Zarin to climb on his neck then he was back in the air. The elemental launched itself at him but it was to slow. Once airbourne, Tempus wanted to know what his plan was.
[The only thing I know that works against an earth elemental is its elemental equal.] Zarin explained. [That would be water. Fly me down to the ocean. We have to bring it back with us and hit it with a ton of water.]
[I hope you know what you're doing.]
Like lightning, Tempus streaked down over the forest and to the ocean, Once there he started to circle. Zarin sat high on his back and cast his spell at the water. Whole swinging his arms over his head in a circular motion Zarin cast a spell to form a tornado which became a water spout when it touched the surface of the ocean.
[Now circle around the water spout and lead it back to the elemental and drop it on it!]
Swinging around like a top with the water spout in the center, Tempus led it back through the forest to the hills and up into the mountains. As they neared the caves, Zarin sent out to Reno.
[Block the entrance with your strongest spell and hold it. There's a small flood on its way!]
As Tempus and Zarin came up over the ridge, the mud monster roared and reared up to try and grab them out of the sky. Tempus circled down and Zarin gave him the signal.
[Now!] He sent. [Let it go!]
Angling up, Tempus let go and sent the spout straight at the elemental. Opening its mouth like a giant maw, the elemental tried to take in the spout and swallow it. With a great explosion the two forces of nature collided and muddy water splashed the landscape in a great wave. The cave entrance was doused in mud and the entrance was sealed.
Tempus quickly came down to shift and land. Zarin jumped from his neck and ran for the cave.
"RENO!!"
With their hands Zarin and Rese started digging. They threw mud behind them by the hands full as fast as they could.
"Stand back." Rese said. "I'll shift. Tempus can dig faster."
As Rese stood back to make the shift, a light vibration started in the mountain side. Zarin stepped back sensing what was about to happen. Suddenly the vibrations grew to rumbling and the entrance exploded out. Zarin and Rese covered their face as they were splashed and soaked with mud. As they uncovered their eyes, Reno and the young mage led the kids coughing out of the cave.
"Are you alright?" Zarin asked.
"Yeah." Reno waved him off. "We're fine. Thanks for the warning. We had just enough time to create a shield to block the mud when it hit. What was that?"
"It was an earth elememtal." Zarin said patting Reno on the back. "The only way to fight it was with a forse just as powerful."
"We hit it with a water spout." Rese grinned. "Zarin's idea."
"Good thinking." Reno sat down on a boulder to rest. As everyone laughed, the young man went to Zarin.
"Excuse me." He said. "That was a Dragon I saw fighting the mud man wasn't it?"
"Yes." Zarin looked at Rese. "A friend of ours here to help."
"Thank Rimnar!" He smiles. "Our prayers are answered. It heard our call."
"I'm not sure what you mean." Zarin said puzzled.
"Forgive me." He bowed to Zarin. "I am Elias Stone. My friends here and I are from a small town on the other side of the mountains named Woodburrow. My father was the town Mage until the Priest of Tezor invaded and killed him and took us hostage. We were to me sacrificed in a ritual to revive the Dark lord."
"Let me guess." Zarin said. "Azariah Tezor.
"Yes, you know of him?"
"Not much." Reno said. "Just a little. We're here to find the earth dragon Brawn's lair. There's something there we need."
"I can take you there." Elias said "That's where my father was sending me when the priest attacked. I was to wake Brawn and beg him for his help. I can take you there if you will help me get the children home."
"You mean Brawn is still there?" Zarin asked. "Asleep?"
"That's what our legends say."
"I think we can do that." Rese smiled. "I can have you all home in an hour, then we can be off to find Brawn's lair."
"How?" Elias asked. He had a puzzled look on his face. "Are you a Mage? Can you teleport that far? Our home is almost a day's ride away."
"I'm no mage." Rese smiled. He walked out into the clearing away from then shifted to Tempus and roared. [I am a Dragon.]
From there, Tempus flew them across the mountains and over land through the forest. Again Reno had cast a spell to cloak them and make them invisible. Like Taggitia the land was war torn. There were many smoldering towns. Farms and home that had been burned. Elias explained that the Priest of Tezor had come in the night and went from town to town gathering the young and burning the villages and towns when they left. He told them the Priest had taken them to an old castle back in the mountains.
Because of his magic, Elias had been able to free a few of the captives and get away before an alarm was raised and that elemental had been sent after them.
With their village in sight, Tempus dropped down to land. Elias told them to wait there. He would get the kids back to their parents, and come back to lead them to Brawn's lair. Once Elias and the children left, Reno looked to Zarin for answers.
"What are we going to do about this?" He asked. "Can't we help them?"
"I don't know how we can." Zarin said. "We have to get back as fast as possible. We don't have time or the man power to take on an army."
"But these people are desperate." Reno pleaded. "We can't just grab the chain and leave them to be slaughtered. If we do, I promise these Priest will be in Taggitia next year if not sooner."
"He's right Zarin." Rese agreed. "If we can help here, we have to. It's my duty as a Dragon to help."
Zarin wasn't sure what to do, but he knew they were right. If they left, this would find its way to Taggitia in no time. His only hope was that Brawn would wake and deal with the problem in Slovonia, or they might have too.
In less than an hour, Elias was back and ready to go. he directed them to back to the mountains then to head north. Tempus stayed low so Elias could watch for landmarks. After a few minutes, Elias pointed to a cave to their left.
"There." He said. "Land there."
Spiraling down, Tempus made a soft landing and let them climb down his leg. Once he shifted he joined them At the great caves mouth.
"This way." Elias summoned a globe of light to light the way. Through twists and turns they walked going deeper and deeper into the mountain. They passed veins of gold ans silver, great pieces of diamonds and ruby's set in the walls. This was a Dragon cave no doubt. Deeper and deeper they went and it became hotter and hotter until they stepped into a great caverns filled with mounds of gold, silver and platinum.
"This is the lair of Brawn." Elias said. He knelt and said a quick prayer to Rimnar the protector.
"Where is he?" Reno asked looking around.
"Everywhere." Rese said. His dragon senses were on fire telling him he was in the presence of a powerful Dragon. "I feel him everywhere."
"So what do we do?" Zarin asked standing knee deep in gold..
"You speak." Rese said. "If he wants to answer, he will. He knows we're here."
"Brawn, Dragon of earth." Zarin spoke loudly. "We have come seeking your aid."
[WHO WISHES AN AUDIENCE WITH BRAWN OF SLOVONIA. SPEAK AND BE HEARD.]
"We come from a far away land with news for the great one." Zarin said. "We need a favor from you."
[I SENSE THERE IS A DRAGON THERE WITH YOU. A YOUNG BROTHER, LET HIM SPEAK.]
Zarin and Reno looked to Rese who stepped forward and roared a dragons roar.
[AHHHHHH!!! IT IS GOOD TO HEAR A BROTHER ROAR AGAIN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TEMPUS?]
[First, I have news that is important to you.] Rese said. [You have invaders in Slovonia. Priest of the Brotherhood of Tezor, they're here..]
[I KNOW WHY THEY ARE HERE!!] The walls shook as Brawn's anger bellowed out. [THEY LOOK TO REVIVE MY OLD ENEMY AZARIAH THE DAMNED. THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN!!!!]
"The people ask that you wake and save us from them." Elias stepped forward. "The priest burn our homes. They steal our children for sacrifice. Only Brawn has the power to defeat them and stop Azariah Tezor from being resurrected."
Brawn was quiet for a minute then spoke.
[YOU DID NOT COME HERE JUST TO TELL ME ABOUT AZARIAH. YOU CAME FOR SOMETHING THING ELSE. TELL ME TEMPUS, WHY ARE YOU HERE?]
"Someone has found the Ring of Endrin." Rese told him. "It's in the hands of a very evil man."
[YOU CAME FOR THE CHAIN OF POWER.]
"Yes we did." Rese said. "There is evil in the world and Dragons must fight it. We need the chain to defeat the ring."
[I AM 10,000 YEARS OLD. I AM A SPIRIT NOW AND CAN NO LONGER GO FORTH TO DO BATTLE. BUT YOU CAN TEMPUS. YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN FIGHT FOR ME. I WILL GIVE YOU THE CHAIN, BUT YOU MUST DO TWO THINGS FOR ME.]
"Whats that?" Zarin asked.
[PUT AN END TO THE PRIEST AND MAKE SURE AZARIAH NEVER STEPS FOOT ON SLOVONIA. SAVE MY PEOPLE.]
"And the second?"Reno asked.
[SLOVONIA NEEDS A NEW DRAGON CLAN. I HAVE EGGS HERE BUT NO ONE TO GUIDE THEM AS THEY MERGE AND GROW. I NEED AN OLDER DRAGON TO WATCH MY YOUNG. ASK YOUR KING TO SEND A MENTOR.]
"I can't promise he'll do it." Rese agreed. "But I will make your petition."
[NO DRAGON HAS EVER DENIED ANOTHER DRAGON WHEN ASKED FOR HELP. HE WILL HELP JUST AS I WILL HELP YOU. NOW GO, FREE SLOVONIA AND DESTROY THE INVADERS. THE CHAIN WILL BE HERE WHEN YOU RETURN.]
"Thank you Brawn." Rese bowed and turned to take them out.
[ELIAS.] Brawn called him back. [PLEASE STAY. THERE'S SOMEONE IN WANT YOU TO MEET.]
Rese smiled at the young mage. He knew he was about to be given the gift of a lift time.
It didn't take them long to find their way out. Rese had an unerring sense of direction. Once out he shifted and they were off to find the Priest of Tezor.
From Brawn's cave, Elias had told them to head east deeper into the mountains. They would see a lone peak devoid of any growth, from there Tempus was to turn south and fly no more than ten miles and they would see a castle overlooking a great lake. That would be Darkham castle, once home of King Blaylok Alavarra lord of Darkham a realm that lived on and around the lake. King Blaylok had ruled many centuries ago. His lands went from Darkham all through the mountains and down to the ocean. He had been a good king, peaceful and benevolent to all his subjects. In his rule he had encouraged many changes in his realm. There were new ideas for farming and irrigation. Metal work and carpentry. He had schools built and hospitals with magic and manual techniques to be use. His was a learning era and all that was destroyed by greed. The greed of a son to overthrow his father and become king.
Poison was Oba Alvarra's weapon. He slipped into the kitchen every day for a month and slipped it in his father's tea. Blaylok grew sicker and sicker every day until his body couldn't take it anymore and he died. Oba became the king. But cruel as he was, his rule was to be a short one. In less than two years, his crime was discovered and there was an uprising that tore him from the throne and sent Darkham into a tailspin toward disaster.
Crops failed and hungry and war ripped Darkham apart. Brother fought brother in a bloody war for control of the kingdom until plague cause and devastated the population. With the coughing sickness creeping from house to house, Darkham was soon abandoned as call the people fled for their lives.
That, Elias said had been over two hundred years ago. A few had tried to reestablish it but none had every succeeded. The castle and the towns around the lake stood empty as a reminder of past history until the Priest of Tezor came and made it their base of horror.
From the air, Zarin looked down and saw torch lights burning all through the castle. He ordered Tempus to find a place to land up above the castle on the cliffs. Once down they, decided the best way to start would be to go down and investigate. To see what these Priest were really up to. Shifting to his eagle form, Zarin took flight and soared high overhead and circled the castle. Reno in his wolf form made his way down the southern side of the cliff. Zarin ordered Rese to stay on the cliff and wait for his call.
As Zarin circled, he gazed down at the courtyard with his eagle vision. There he saw twenty men in red hooded robes gathered in five lines in front of some strange altar chanting. The altar was of black stone with a high slab covered in something red. From the air Zarin couldn't tell what it was but he had a feeling it was blood. Circling lower he got a better look at the altar. It wasn't black stone at all. It was glass. It was a glass sarcophagus and inside there was a boiling mass of bone and muscle. Zarin wasn't sure what it was but whatever it was, these priest looked like they were praying to it.
As he watched, a priest in white came out of a rear area and the chanting stopped. He walked out to the altar and pulled a long silver athame from the folds of his robe and the chanting started up again. From a room in the corner, a door opened and a young girl was dragged out screaming. At that moment. Zarin knew what was about to happen. The girl was about to become a sacrifice to whatever was in the sarcophagus. And that could only be one thing. Azariah Tezor. Zarin knew somehow he had to stop it.
[Reno!] He sent. [Get in here, I'm going to need your help. Tempus, attack the courtyard. We have to stop this ritual now before it's too late.]
[I'm on my way.]
Outside in the town, Reno shifted to man wolf. A low growl started in his chest as he started running towards the castle. Dressed in red, a group of priest armed with swords charged at Reno. Like a savage beast he dived in slashing and ripping into them. Whispering a quick spell he encased himself with a shield protect against their weapons. Like lightning he jumped from one priest to the next slashing and avoiding their mystical bolts until he was charging his way up bridge and into the castle.
As Reno charged the gate, high overhead a strange piercing sound could be heard as something black and red streaked in. Like an avenging angel Tempus soared down sending his sonic scream down to scatter the chanting priest. Priest ran and dived for cover trying to get away. The priest in white looked up then grabbed the girl and stabbed her in the heart and threw her on the altar.
"Your will, will be done!" He screamed. "Azariah the Damned will rise!!"
[Not if I can help it!] Zarin dropped down and shifted then sent a bolt of energy at the priest. The priest held up his atheme and deflected the bolt.
"You have no idea who it is your up against! This is Azariah Tezor the Damned! Dark lord and master of Endrin! You should bow before his greatness!"
From all around them priest ran out to protect the bubbling mass in the sarcophagus. They pulled their swords and stepped toward Zarin. From behind him a brown blur leaped in to stand snarling at his side. With blood dripping from his claws and fangs, Reno stood ready for battle.
"KILL THEM!"
As the priest charged, a sonic blast came down and blasted the ground around them. Reno leaped high and dropped in the middle of the crowd cutting them down. Zarin waved his hand and pushed his way through the crowd going for the white priest.
"You're no match for me!" The priest said. "You're a child. Your magic is weak!"
"Let's see about that."
Raising his hand, Zarin sent bolt after bolt at the priest not giving him and chance to counter, only to deflect as many as he could. Insa had taught him well in defense and offensive magic. He knew his only chance was to overwhelm the more experienced priest. Force bolts and fire bolts, ice shards and energy bolt rained down on the priest until in his rage, he cast out with a force that knocked Zarin back and on to the ground.
Laughing the priest reached out with a force shield and grabbed Zarin. He picked him up and held him up at face level.
"I should kill you." He said. "You are my masters enemy. But instead how, about I give you to him so he can absorb your magic. He will be hungry after all the centuries of sleep. Look, he rises now,"
As Zarin turned to look, the lid on the sarcophagus pushed open and a decrepit arm reached out.
"Behold! Azariah lives!!"
[No, he doesn't!!]
Suddenly a blast of high intense flame came blasting down out of the sky and engulfed the sarcophagus. Blue flames blazed high into the sky as Azariah screamed, roasted and withered to ash and dust. From high in the sky, a dragon with blazing blue eyes came down and swatted the white priest. He rolled across the ground and came up ready to send a blast at the dragon. With his strongest spell, Zarin blasted the priest, and blew him apart.
Covered in blood, Reno came over and joined them looking exhausted. He shifted back to human and collapsed tired on the edge on what was once the altar.
"They're all dead." He said. "We did it! Who's your friend?"
[Torch.] Tempus sent as he dropped down to shift. "Welcome Elias. A new brother."
Shifting to human, Elias smiled at them happy to have helped.
"Thank you." He said as he walked to a door in the back and opened it. Inside, Zarin saw the cells full of children. "You saved a lot of people. Azariah would have killed everyone had it not been for you."
"We were glad to help." Zarin said smiling. He looked at Reno and Rese and sent a thought. [You were right.]
"Brawn wanted me to give you this." From the pocket of his blue leathers, Elias took out the chain and gave it to Rese. "He sends a message. Don't forget your promise."
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