Craven's Plot. 4

"Where's the ring?" Tayor asked his son. "They didn't have it. Where's the damned ring. I need it!!"
"I don't know father." Tabor sat on the other side of his father's desk in his study surrounded by his tombs of dark magic. His father was angry he had failed him. Now all his plans were ruined. Tabor knew he had to get that ring back if he ever wanted to be respected or at his father's side again.
"I don't care what you have to do." Tayor fumed at him. "I don't care if you have to torture them. But you better get it back, and soon."
"I will." Tabor got up from his chair and went to the door.
"Tabor." He stopped him. "That ring will still work. Once your near it, it will glow. Now get out."
Looking at the ground in shame, Tabor opened the door and left. Out in the common room Aron and Elan waited for him. They stood as he approached them.
"We heard him yelling from here." Elan said.
"I've never seen him this mad at me. We have to find that ring fast."
"How?" Aron asked as the left the Larin manor. "You thought the mine was big, Winterhaven is a hell of a lot bigger."
"I know that, damn it!" Tabor looked around the street they were on. All the shops were still open late in the afternoon. Dealers of magic items, hardware and potions seemed to be having a good night."
"It has to be them." Tabor told them. "I don't know how they got rid of the ring, but they have it. We watch them, then take it from them. Elan, you watch Zarin. Aron, watch Dack."
"Right Tabor." The two elves headed off to start then assignments when Tabor stopped them
"First get me Craven. " He turned back to his home. "I think he could be the answer."

Zarin walked along the first floor corridor past empty classrooms and study hall. There were practice rooms and testing areas all empty of students now. Zarin made his way to the end of the hall were the transport stones were located.
"Prof Insa's study." power flashed around him and he found himself standing on the stone just in the entrance to his study. Zarin stepped in to find Professor Insa standing at the window.
"Professor?"
"Come in Mr. Testa." He turned and sat at his desk. "Have a seat."
Zarin walked in looking around. This wasn't his first visit to this office. His office walls behind his desk was lined with books of magic and history. Zarin loved reading in here. He remember his first visit when he and his parents first came to this amazing city. How the professor had been his personal tutor to teach him the basic. Zarin had learned fast and Professor Insa had praised him high for it. Soon he was in classes and his family settle in there house. His father had been givin a job in the city guard where he rose to a captains position and his mother became a teacher in the none magical school. Life here became very good for them until Tabor Larin decided to make him his target.
Tabor bullied many kids in the academy and made many enemies. He treated everyone like the academy was his own personal kingdom and he was lord and master to them all, just because he was from one of the riches families in Winterhaven. He put them all through hell with beatings to harassing and stupid tricks. The only relief Zarin found was when he met Prince Shayn and his best friend Dack. They band together for protection. Two years later Reno, Thalia and Trip came along after Andros their home had been conquered by the evil Mahlos. But that's another story for another time. As time went by the six friends became inseparable. They watched each others back and protected each other. Tabor found it much harder to attack or hurt any of them because none of them ever traveled alone. Tabor's treatment of the students was known to the academy administration and he was punished often. But it did no good. That was the kind of person Tabor was and he was encouraged by his father. It seemed Tayor's creed was fear. As long as his son was feared he would be respected. The teachers tried hard to show him that fear was no way to gain respect. Only kindness, fairness, and compassion could really get him the respect of others, but that was not the Larin way. Only ambition, distrust and power ruled the house of Larin. So Tabor followed his father in his devious plots to gain control of Winterhaven, no matter what the cost.

"Professor." Zarin sat straight up in his chair. "You want to ask me about this ring Mr. Larin said we took."
"Yes I do." The Professor looked at him wondering what was in his mind.
"We didn't take anything from Tabor that belonged to him or his father." Zarin told him. "And we would never do anything to disrespect you or the council, that I promise you."
Professor Insa sat back in his chair and contemplated his favorite student. "I didn't think you did. And I get the feeling you would rather not answer any more questions about this. Am I right?"
"Yes sir."
"I trust you Zarin." The Professor told him. "But if this his anything to do with Tayor Larin, I think you should let me know. He's not to be trusted. Neither is Tabor. If this gets out of hand, promise you will come to me."
"I promise sir." Zarin got up from his chair to leave smiling at his mentor.
"Zarin." He stopped him. "If you need me, just call out in your mind. I'll answer, anytime you need me."
"Thank you Professor." Zarin smiled at him as he left his office.
Professor Insa stood from his chair and walked over to a table where in the middle was a large shard of a smoky crystal. It was a piece of shell from the egg his dragon had hatched from. He smiled as he passed his hand over it. Pictures began to reflect on the table. He saw Trip in his raven form fly from the Golden Goblin. He was carrying something shiny in his beak. Insa made the picture clearer. It was a gold ring. Exactly what Tayor was looking for. Insa knew Zarin wouldn't lie to him so he knew the ring didn't belong to Tayor. It must be something of power he wanted and Zarin took it to keep from him. He watch as Trip hid the ring in a place no one would ever look for it. Folding his arms as he sat, he decided he'd better keep an eye on Zarin. He would need his help before long. Tayor and Tabor would stop at nothing to get that ring. He wonder what it was.

It was late at night and Tryphen Tricolos hurried his way through the quiet streets of Winterhaven. He was late to meet Zarin and the others at there meeting place. Prince Shayn's old house. Together they had cast spells on the house to keep anyone from seeing them enter or exit. There were also spells to cloak the fact that anyone was using the house. They had made the place safe from prying eyes and certain people looking for them.
Walking down the cobblestone road, Trip was lost in his thoughts. He was a little tired from his earlier flight and the trip to Lands End today. As he made his way down the street, he thought he heard something behind and stopped to have a look. Looking left and right he didn't see anything, but he had the feeling someone was there. He moved on a little more quietly keeping his ear tuned for the slightest sound. He heard the wind rustling through the trees. He heard a stray cat searching through the garbage across the street. Then he heard it again and spun around for a look. Still nothing.
"I must be losing it." He said aloud.
Suddenly a bag dropped over his head and someone hit him, knocking him out. No one saw Craven as he dragged Trip from the street into the darkness. But someone would miss him very soon. But could they find him?

It was getting late and Trip still hadn't arrived yet. Reno was pacing back and forth wondering where he was. He had gone out and looked for him but found nothing. He had even shifted to wolf and looked for a scent. It went as far as a store on the boulevard, then vanished in an alley. This scared Reno a bit. But Trip could have shifted and flew off. So Reno returned to Shayn's place to see if he was there. He wasn't.
"Where could he be?" Reno asked his friends. "I looked everywhere and nothing."
"I don't like this." Thalia got up from her seat and went to Reno. "Somethings not right. Trip knows we're waiting and he wouldn't make us wait like this."
"I agree." Zarin told them heading for the transport point. "I think we should go look for him."
"Not you and Dack." Reno stopped him. "It's pretty late. Your parents will be worried if your not home soon. Thalia and I can look."
Thalia nodded. Dack protested, he wanted to know where his friend was too. He looked at Reno ready to argue with him. Zarin held up his hand to stop him.
"He's right. My mom and dad would be pretty upset." He said. "And yours will call out the guards to find us."
"I guess your right." Dack kicked over a chair in frustration. "But you better let me know the second you find him."
"We will." Thalia said. "We'll walk you both home. Lets get going."

After walking Zarin and Dack home, Reno and Thalia shifted to wolf and searched the city. They checked every part of the Academy grounds including classes, labs and dormitories. They searched the playing fields where Witch ball was played and the practice fields where dueling and power ball was practiced. Nothing. Then they moved on to the city proper. Where from street to street they went sniffing for Trips scent. Reno and Thalia then moved to the docks and search every ship moored there. Still no luck. Now they were really worried. Next came the residential areas. They couldn't go house to house, not without the approval of the council. But they could check the outsides to see if he'd been there. Still nothing. Next came the manses of the rich and nobles which included Tabors home. Thalia used a spell to cause all wards and magical traps and alarms to become visible before they came close to the manor. As her spell took affect they made their to the gate. Reno sighed. There was no way in he could see. Even shifting to something that could fly wouldn't get them in. The air crackled with magic. One step in and they would be incinerated.
"This could be it." Reno whispered to Thalia. "But it will take better magic then I have to get us in."
"I don't think he's here." She frowned and folded her arms across her chest.
"Why not?" Reno asked. "Tabor hates us and wants that ring."
"I know." She said. "But if we went to Professor Insa, they would be caught."
"They could be hiding him in there." Reno wanted to inspect the manse. He was all for calling the Professor.
"They couldn't hide him from the Professor. She said. "And if Trip was found in there, Tayor would be dispelled from the council. He wouldn't take that chance. He's evil, not stupid."
"Then where?" Reno asked. He was beginning to get really mad now. "We've checked the whole city."
"No, we haven't." Thalia looked at her friend. "We've searched the city, but we haven't searched under the city."
Reno's eyes flew open in surprise. "The sewers!!"

The first thing Trip felt when he woke was pain stabbing into his mind. He moaned and opened his eyes to total darkness. He got to his feet and snapped his fingers to summon a light orb. Nothing happened. Trip closed his eyes and concentrated on a stronger spell. He clapped his hands and a light flashed before him revealing a dungeon cell furnished with nothing but a cot and a bucket for private use.
"This isn't good." Trip mumbled. He made his way over to the cot and sat down. His magic wasn't working right. That could only mean one thing. Wherever he was, the place was guarded with some powerful magic. The fact that he made the light flash meant that the spells on the cell were old and failing. If he gathered enough magic, he might be able to do something in time. He just might be here for a little while. Suddenly he heard a noise from outside of the cell. It was the sound of a door slamming. Then he heard heavy footsteps moving towards him.
"Who's there?" Trip called.
"Where is it?" Came back.
"Where's what?" He answered. Trip moved to the cell bars trying to figure out who it was out there.
"Where is it?"
"You can ask that question all day." Trip said. "But I don't know what your talking about."
A flash of energy came flying into the cell and struck Trip knocking him back to the wall.
"WHERE IS IT?" The voice yelled.
Getting to his feet Trip staggered to the cot and crawled underneath it hoping he could fine a little protection there. He knew what it was they wanted. He even thought he knew who was out there torturing him. but he'd be damned if he would tell them where the ring was.
"You can shock me. Torture me all you want." He called out. "But I don't know what you want, and if I did, I still wouldn't tell you Mr. Larin."
"We'll see." Another bolt of energy flew into the cell striking the wall as Trip screamed out and covered his head in fear.

Home Trip. 3

Once back with the crowd, Craven realized what he had done. Tabor was beyond angry with him. He was furious. He would have to face his father and tell him he had failed. Craven knew it was all his fault. Zarin had outsmarted him again. He was so mad at himself. He had to find a way to make up for his failure or Tabor would out him from his group of friends. Already he refused to talk with him and made him walk behind them. Craven wasn't exactly the brains of the group and he didn't come from one of the most influential of families. All he had was his magical talent and what wits he could summon. Would it be possible for him to get the ring back from them? Or should he just find some other way of taking his revenge? Magically, he was no match for Zarin and physically, he couldn't match Reno. But maybe there was away. The weakest one of the group would be his target. Trip. He had no family in Winterhaven like Zarin and Dack. Trip had come with Reno from Andros, a country far away from Winterhaven. Not very much was known about Andros, except that it had been overthrown by a mage named Mahlos, and the royal family had been killed. Reno was supposed to be a cousin to Prince Shayn so Craven guessed it was possible he had belonged to the Andros royal family. Trip was Reno's best friend very good with his magic. But magic wouldn't be enough to save him if Craven could do this right. He smiled as his thoughts begin to come together into a plan. He decided to work alone. That way there would be no one but himself to blame if the thing went wrong. but he knew he would have to tell Tabor.

As they boarded the Golden Goblin to return to Winterhaven, Craven went to talk to Tabor. He found him alone on deck stewing over his failure.
"Tabor," he said. "I need to talk to you."
"Haven't you done enough already?" He turned from his ex-friend.
"I screwed up bad I know," Craven said.  But what if I can get the ring back?"
"Then you will be my second again." Tabor turned to look at him. "What do you have planned?"
"To get the ring back." He turned and walked off. "By myself."

"You should have seen us, Thalia." Reno patted Dack on his back. "If Dack's spell had affected you, you would have thought we were Tabor, Aron, and Elan. We had Craven so mad, I thought his head would explode."
Thalia and Trip laughed with the rest of the group. " See, the studying is paying off." She told him.
"What are we going to do with the ring?" Trip asked. Everyone looked at Zarin for the answer.
"I don't know." Zarin shrugged. "I didn't think beyond keeping them from getting it."
"But I just had a thought." Trip said. "What if we get back to Winterhaven and Tayor is waiting at the docks with guards. He could say we stole it from Tabor. What would happen?"
"They would take it from us and give it to him," Reno said. Everyone had a scared look on their face. "I'm sure he could come up with some false proof that it was his ring."
"Then we need to get rid of it." Zarin pulled the ring from his pocket and held it over the side of the ship.
"Wait." Trip stopped him. "I could fly it back and return before we dock. No evidence, no charges. Besides, If we don't have the ring, Professor will back us. He knows we wouldn't steal."
"But we did steal it," Dack told them.
"No, not really." Thalia stopped Dack. "If it belonged in the mine, it would have been detected by the magic of the dwarves and the mine. We never would have made it out with it in our pocket."
Zarin handed the ring to Trip. "Go, and get back fast."
Trip popped it in his mouth then looked around to be sure no one was watching. Then he climbed on the rail and dived off. Shifting in the air he took off on the winds and sped for Winterhaven.
A few minutes late Tabor and the Elves walked over to confront them
"What do you want?" Zarin asked.
"You know what I want." Tabor spat at them. "Give it to me now and save yourself from the city dungeons."
"We don't know what you're talking about," Zarin told him as the Elves stepped upon him. Reno and Dack stood with Zarin.
"You know what I'm talking about. You have the ring." Elan reached for Zarin's bag.
"Touch that bag, and I'll rip off your arm and beat you with it." Reno took Zarin's bag from him.
"Why don't you trolls get lost." Walking out in front of Tabor, Thalia frowned at them. "We didn't do anything to you, so get away from us."
"LIARS!!" Tabor's face turned red as he screamed at them. He raised his hands focused on a spell.
"Mr. Larin don't you dare!!" In an explosion of smoke, Professor Insa appeared between them smoke rising all around him. "What is the meaning of this!!"
"They took something of mine!" Tabor shouted. "And I want it back!"
Professor Insa turned to Zarin and his friends. "Is this true Mr. Testa?"
"We don't have anything that belongs to them, Professor."
"He's lying!" Elan reached again for Zarin's bag. Reno pulled away snarling at Elan. "Search them, you'll find it."
"Can I see the bag Mr. Andropolos?" Prof Insa held out his hand.
"Of course you can." Reno handed the bag over to him and stood with his friend. Prof. Insa opened the bag and went through it.
"What exactly am I looking for in here?" He asked.
Zarin smiled at Tabor.
"Yeah, Tabor. What did we steal from you? Was it expensive?"
Aron started to say something when Tabor shot him a look. He knew if the Professor found the ring, he'd know what it was. Tabor couldn't have that. He could wait until the ship docked and his father was there.
"Never mind Professor." He turned to walk off.
"Mr. Larin!" Prof Insa called him. "Don't you think you owe them an apology?"
"HUMPH!!" Tabor and his friends all stormed to the other side of the boat.
"What was that all about," Prof Insa asked them. "Did something happen while I was away?"
"No," Zarin told him. "We had an interesting tour of the mine. Dack didn't feel well, so we let him get some rest.Tabor's a jerk. Other then that, it was fun."
"Yeah." They all echoed Zarin smiling.
Prof Insa looked at them like he suspected they were leaving something out. He looked around for a second.
"Where's Mr. Tricolos?"
"Here!" They heard coming from behind the cabin deck. Trip came out sweeping his jet black hair back from his face. It was wet. They looked at him.
"Big waves up forward. Stay back from the rails up there."
"If you're all OK." Prof Insa turned to go. "I'll go get the others ready to disembark. We're almost home."
"See ya Professor!!' Thalia wave as he left. Once he was gone they all went into the cabin and shut the door.
"That was fast!" Dack brushed feathers from Trip's shoulder. Trip nodded.
"Any problems?" Zarin asked.
"No," He said "But I was right. Tabor's father is waiting at the docks with guards. We'll be searched when we get back."
"You hid the ring?"
"Yeah." Trip said. "They won't find it."
Over at the window, Thalia had been watching to be sure Tabor couldn't spy on them. She saw something that disturbed her.
"Look, everybody." She waved them over.
"What?" Reno asked.
"It's Craven. He's all alone out there. They won't talk to him."
"Of course. Tabor's pretty mad at him." Reno looked out at him. "Not only did he blow it, but he also hit him."
"Don't feel sorry for him." Dack stepped away from the others. " Not after all the bullying, he's done to us. I'm not sorry."
"Dack, he uses to be one of your closest friends." Thalia looked depressed. "How can you stand it?"
"He changed," Dack said. "It was weird."
"You want to go cheer him up," Zarin asked.
She turned to look at them giving them the eye."As if."
"Good." Zarin walked to the door and opened. "We're docking. Come on. Let's get this over with."
Zarin and his friends were the last to leave the ship. As they came down the gangplank they saw Tayor Larin standing there with two city guards and Tabor and his friend. Professor Insa was there arguing with Tayor.
"This is a serious charge your making against my student." He said sternly. "You have proof, I presume?"
"Yes, I do," Tayor said stepping towards them.
"You mind telling me what was stolen?" He stepped in front of Zarin.
"A ring Tabor was wearing." Tayor looked at Zarin. "They attacked him in the mine and took it."
Professor Insa looked at him like he was crazy. He knew better than that. If it was the other way around he might believe it. But no one attacks Tabor as big as he is, and with two or three of his buddies with him. No way.
"Let me get this straight." Professor Insa said to Tayor. "Your saying Zarin and Dack attacked Tabor and robbed him? Is that correct?
"We want to search for them." Tayor said
"Wait a minute." Professor Insa held out his hand to stop him
"No Professor." Zarin stepped over to him. "We didn't take anything from Tabor. They can search for us."
"Inside and out." Tayor smiled.
"Now you wait just one minute." He said angrily. "I won't allow..."
"Inside and out," Zarin said. "We don't have any ring of his."
"Are you sure you want to submit to this?"  Prof Insa asked. "You don't have to."
"We want to prove our innocence," Zarin said as Tayor stepped forward. "But, we want you to do it Professor, not him."
"This is outrageous!!" Tayor yelled. "I have a right to..."
"You have no right to touch or examine these children against their will." Prof Insa had had enough. "I will do it with the guard's presence. Step away Please."
Tayor took another step towards Zarin and the others. Professor Insa held out his hand to stop him.
"Step away!" He said smoke beginning to rise all around him. "Or I will make you step away. Your choice."
Tayor looked deeply in Insa's eyes. The hate they had for each other was almost like something so solid they could beat each other with it. Tayor stepped away and moved Tabor and his friends further up the docks.
Professor Insa turns to Zarin and the others. "This won't hurt at all. If you have anything on you it will show. You ready?"
"Yes, sir." They all said.
"Just line up along the pier here and I'll cast on all of you at once."
Zarin and the others lined up one by one next to each other. Prof Insa stood in front of then and put his hands together. He started a spell in the deep voice they couldn't understand then waved at them. All five kids felt a strangely warm feeling in their bodies. Prof Insa and the guards inspected each of them one by one and found nothing. Not in there clothing or in their bodies.
"Nothing." The guard said. "I'll let Councilman Tayor know we found nothing."
"Good." Prof Insa said. "And get him out of here."
They watched the guards salute then go and talk to Tayor. It didn't look like he took it to well. He was screaming at the poor guards. They saw him start back towards them, but the guards stopped him. He left in frustration. Prof. Insa looked back at them snickering with laughter. He had a serious look on his face.
"Mr. Testa. I will see you in my study in one hour."
"Yes sir." He answered. Prof Insa turned to leave. "Professor?"
He stopped and looked back. "Yes?"
"Am I in trouble?"
"I don't know yet." He grabbed his cloak and spun into a cloud of smoke and disappeared.

The Mines of Lands End. 2

"All right." Insa waved his students down the gang plank. "Lets be quick about this. We shouldn't keep our host waiting"
Zarin, Dack and the others made their way off the ship keeping a sharp eye on Tabor and his group. The trip through town was quiet with Tabor looking back at them then whispering to one of his friends. Dack noticed Craven wasn't with his friends anymore. He had moved back behind them to keep an eye on them.
The dwarven city Lands End was quite a nice little place with almost anything you could find in Winterhaven accept the magic. It was much more of an industrial city. Where Winterhaven used magic for certain things, the dwarfs found mechanical answers to problems like sewage or street cleaning and trash collection. There were tall buildings and shops and schools. People moved about their business just like anywhere else. They passed schools where the children were being trained in their letters numbers and mining. They also saw older kids learning how to mold gold and other precious metals and gems. This was quite a fantastic place the kids thought.
Soon the found themselves at a large fence surrounding one of their mines. At the gate there was a bell rope and a sign which read.

No trespassed. Anyone caught will be judged and disposed of by dwarven law which is swift and final. Theft will be dealt with by death. Welcome to Aesop's gold mine. We sell gold in any form you wish. Please report to the front office before entering or exiting.

"They're serious about their gold." Reno told his friends.

"Yes they are. This will tell you what happens if your caught stealing gold from them." Professor Isa said as he walked to the gate and pulled the bell. The gate opened and a bearded dwarf came out to welcome them. He was dressed in a leather tunic and kilt with a tool belt around his waist.
"Welcome my friends." He smiled. "My name is Gronk and I will be your guide today on your tour. Please come in."
Gronk and Professor Insa stood at the door as they all marched in one by one until the class was all standing in the hall.
"Professor. I have a message for you." He gave him a note. Professor Insa opened it and read it. Zarin turned to the others. "Tabors father set this up to get him away so Tabor could search."
"Tell him." Thalia said.
"Tell him what?" Zarin whispered. "That Tayor is trying to overthrow the council? He won't listen. We have to take care of this ourselves."
"I have an emergency back at home." Professor Insa told the class. "Gronk, can I trust you for a few hours with my kids?"

"I'd be delighted to care for them." Gronk bowed.
"I expect all of you to behave and don't give Gronk a hard time." He looked at Tabor. "That means you Mr. Larin."

Tabor stuck his nose in the air and turned away from the Professor and back to his friends.
"I will be back as soon as I can." Professor Insa excused himself as a trail of smoke followed him out the door. Zarin and Reno watched as he shifted to his dragon form and took off into the air for Winterhaven.

"He's gone at last!" They heard Tabor say. Dack angrily turned and started for him. Reno yanked him back from the mistake he was about to make.
"Are you crazy?" Reno said. "He'll kill you. Besides, we have to stop him, and we can't do it without your help."

"I'm sorry." Dack told his friends. "You're right. I wasn't thinking. I'll follow the plan."
"OK children." Gronk said as he turned toward the mine. "Everyone grab a helmet and follow me."

On a table beside a rack of picks, shovel, lanterns and other mining equipment was a stack of mining helmets. Gronk passed them out then led them in.

There tour was interesting and boring at the same time. All Zarin and his friends could do was listen and keep an eye on Tabor so he couldn't slip away. Gronk told them everything he thought they would find interesting about gold and mining. Craven stayed close to Zarin being careful not to tip Reno off that he was stalker Zarin. Reno was the fighter of the group. He had stuck up for Zarin, Thalia, Dack and Trip since the day they had all become friends. He and Tabor had had plenty of fights over the years they were in school. And Reno usually won, unless some of Tabors cronies jumped in and he was terribly out numbered. Then Zarin and an old friend Prince Shayn would help. But since Shayn had left, it was just Reno and Zarin fighting, Unless Thalia was there. Shes part vampire, so Tabor knew better then to start anything.

An hour into the tour, Gronk announced it was time for lunch. He took them all back to a lunch room where a table had been set up with a banquet for the class. Most of the kids were starving and rushed over and grabbed plates and began filling them up and then moving to the lunch area to eat. Zarin looked around for Tabor and his crew. He didn't see them anywhere. He also couldn't find Thalia or Trip.
"Don't worry." Reno said. "Thalia and Trip are following them. They shifted into bats so they won't be noticed. He's the only one left." Reno indicated Craven over his shoulder.
"Dack." Zarin said. "You still think you can take care of him?"
"Yeah." He smiled. "Just get us out of here and give me a second. Distract him for a minute while I cast and you'll see."

 "Alright. Lets go." Zarin started towards the Dining hall entrance. Gronk was standing there talking to another mine employee.

"We need to use the out room, Dack doesn't feel well."
"Its around the bend there. " Gronk told then. "He can lay down in there and rest too.

"Thank you." Zarin smiled at him and they hurried around the corner. As the left. They saw Craven dump his food to follow after them.
"He's coming!"

AUDIO VISUAL, SIGHTS AND SOUND.
US FOR THEM WE SWITCH AROUND.
LET HIM THAT COMES AROUND THE BEND.
SEE AND HEAR US AS FRIENDS.

Just as Dack finished, Craven came running around the corner. He stopped when he saw them. Reno thought they were in trouble and started forward. Dack stopped him.
"What are you doing here?" Craven asked looking around. "And where's Zarin?"

"You lost him?" Dack gave him an annoyed look. "Find him before he messes things up for us! Go!"
"I'll find them!" Craven yelled back as he ran down the mine shaft looking for them.
"What just happened?" Reno asked Dack. "I thought we were gonna have to fight."
"He saw Tabor and the Elves instead of us." Dack laughed."

"What happens if the runs into Tabor?" Zarin asked.
"He'll see us. That's the beauty of the spell. He'll attack Tabor instead of us."

Zarin and Reno patted him on the back. "You going to have to tell us later how you came on that spell. Let get moving."

"So how do we find this ring?" Elan asked as the moved deeper into the mine. Tabor shrugged.
"We look for it."

"That's it?" Aron said. " You have no way other then to look for it? You know how big this mine is? It could take us years to find it."

Tabor turned and grabbed Aron by the front of his tunic. "You didn't come up with any swift ideas on the ship and you were all with it as I recall."

"That's cause I thought your father had given you the location of the ring." Aron pulled himself free from Tabor's grasp.

"He did." Tabor said. "He gave me his ring. He said it'll glow when we get near it. So we keep searching, got it!"
"Yeah, we got it." Elan said.
Up over there head two bats crawled across the barn ceiling. Tabor didn't know it but these weren't really bats, and they were following him and watching him. One called out in his mind to a friend in another part of the barn
[ Zarin. Tabor has a ring that will glow when its near the ring. I hope you have an idea.]

"We have to get to that ring first." Reno said. "Or Winterhaven is in real trouble. There has to be some way we can find it. Some magic we can trace."
"That's it!." Zarin said.
"What?"

"Magic! Don't you get it!" Zarin smiled. "We can trace the magic of the ring."
"Can you do that?" Dack asked.
"Watch me!"

Zarin sat down and put his hands to his temple. He felt for any magic in the mine. He felt the magic of the tunnel diggers and the instruments used to check the gold. He sent his probe out further into as many tunnels as he could. Suddenly he saw a light flair up in his mind. That was it! He found it!

"Found it!" Zarin jumped to his feet and took off down the shaft . There was a turn and then the shaft split into three tunnels. Zarin dashed into the left tunnel with Dack and Reno right behind him. Up ahead they could hear voices. The boys slowed as they approached the end of the shaft.
"Listen." Zarin crept closer to the entrance. They could hear Tabor and the others in there.

"It's in here somewhere." He said "Keep looking!"
"Oh on!" Dack whispered. "There going to find first."
"Maybe Trip or Thalia can get it from them." Reno stepped closer to Zarin. "Or I can shift to my wolf form and take it from them."
"Let's just see if they find it first." Zarin said hushing them. They listened as Tabor, Aron and Elan searched noisily. Suddenly they heard a noise coming from behind them. It was Craven.

"It's Craven!" Dack smiled. "I have an idea."
Moving quickly, Craven walked down the shaft. As he reached them, Dack reached out and grabbed him covering his mouth. Surprised Craven started to fight until he recognized them and stopped.

"Shhhh!" Dack uncovered his mouth. "They're in there. So's the ring."

"What do you want to do?" Craven asked as he peered in.
"You lost them." Dack said. "You get it from them."

"Found it!" They heard. "We got it!"

"Go!" Dack shoved him. "Get it and hurry back!"
Craven nodded and ran into the mine shaft. Zarin called Trip and Thalia and told them to get back to the cave entrance. They dropped from the ceiling and flew out and back up the tunnel. Standing at the entrance, Zarin, Dack and Reno listened and waited to see what he would do.

Craven stormed into the shaft as Tabor and the Elves congratulated each other on their success.

"Now we get this back to Winterhaven and the fun begins." Tabor grinned. Then he turned and noticed Craven coming toward them looking angry.
"We found it!" He held the ring out in the palm of his hand. "We can get back to the others now."
"Not with that you can't!" Craven pulled back his fist and sent it into Tabor's jaw. The ring flew up into the air as Tabor fell to the mine floor. Craven reached out and snatched it out of the air and quickly ran out of the Mine shaft.
"What the hell are you doing?" He heard from behind him. Craven found Dack, Zarin and Reno waiting for him. He gave Dack the ring.

"You get back to the class." He told them. "I'll keep them here. I told you I could deal with them. Now go! hurry!"
"Thanks Craven!" Dack took off running with Zarin and Reno laughing,

Prophesies of Light and Darkness. 1 Book III

In the magical city of Winterhaven a young boy named Zarin Testa woke up and rolled over. He stretched and glanced over at the time candle on his bedside table and jumped up. By the lines on the candle, it was almost nine in the morning. He was going to be late for his magic class if he didn't hurry. Zarin leaped out of bed and grabbed the clothes his mother had set out for him and dressed quickly. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his bag with all his school stuff and ran into the kitchen for something quick to eat. His mother had left his breakfast on the table for him with a note.
Zarin.
If I know you, you're standing here late for class. There's a roll with egg and sausage wrapped and ready for you to go. Hurry, remember your're going to the Dwarven mines today, so don't be late.
Love you. Mother.

Zarin smiled and grabbed his breakfast. With a wave of his hand, the door opened and he was gone running down the lane.
Andrake Academy was the elite school for wizards, warlocks and witches and other magical beings in all the lands. All types of kids were sent here from elves to dwarfs, vampires and humans that had the talent for magic use. Zarin happened to be one of the best students of his class since Prince Shayn. And since Shayn had accepted the dragon egg and left a few years ago, he was now the top boy in the school.
It took Zarin less than ten minutes to get to school. There he found his class waiting out by the docks for the ship to take them off to Lands End the home of the dwarven people and their mines. As Zarin walked up, he saw his best friend Dack Rainer waving him over.
"I knew you'd be late." He laughed. "I can't believe the best mage in class over sleeps almost everyday."
"I was studying." Zarin smiled. "Something you seem to know nothing about."
"Oh I study." Dack said pointing to Emrel Eventide standing talking to her brother Adanar. Both boys laughed at that. Emrel looked over at them and frowned.
"That will be enough." They heard from behind them as Professor Insa walked out into the crowd smoke trailing behind him. Professor Insa was their favorite teacher. He was a merged smoke dragon and one of the most powerful Mages in Winterhaven.
"Is everyone here?" He asked. "Zarin?"
Everyone snickered as Professor Insa looked over and saw Zarin waving at him.
"Glad you made it." He said. "As you all know we're visiting the gold mines of Lands End, the dwarven city today. Now you will all remember. I expect to have no problem today. We will be receiving samples so there will be no stealing from the mines. Do I make myself clear?"
"We'll see about that." Zarin heard Tabor Larin say with a smirk. Zarin looked over at him and frowned.
"What are you looking at?" Tabor said looking menacing at the two boys.
Zarin just ignored him and pulled Dack away to go watch for there ship. He wasn't afraid of him anymore. He knew he was just a blowhard. Tabor Larin was the school bully. For as long as he could remember he had picked on Zarin and Dack. But once Zarin had passed him in defense class, and Reno, Trip and Thalia arrived, Tabor had been less of an ass to him. But Dack was still a target for him and his friends if they could catch him alone. Zarin planned to do something about that soon. Tabor was the son of a very powerful mage of the dark persuasion. Tayor Larin, his father was a member of the council. He and Insa were in a long and constant battle for control of the council. Being a dark mage, Tayor would do anything to win. Insa had to be on constant watch for his treachery constantly. And it looked like Tabor would defiantly follow in his fathers ways.
As they waited a tall ship came floating out of the mist, It was a great galleon with four mast riding in on the waves. The ship was called the Golden Goblin. Zarin looked up to see the sails bellowing out. This had to be a magical ship. He knew that because there was no wind blowing. It pulled up to the dock and dropped its anchor. The whole class stood and watched in amazement as the gang plank came over all by itself for them to board.
"OK." Professor Insa called out." I want you all to board in a single file and take a place on the deck. It won't be long before we up anchor and depart."
One after the other the class made there way up the gang plan laughing and joking . Tabor kept grabbing kids and pushing them towards the edge scaring them. Insa had to scold him to get him to stop. Once aboard they all made there way over to the rail to watch as they made ready to begin there trip. Magically the sails dropped in place and the gang plank pulled itself up. They heard the anchor chain rattling as it pulled itself up and they begin to sail out of the harbor.
"Hey," Dack said. "This is great. I've never been on a ship before."
"Well just don't get seasick." Zarin joked with him. "If you blow chunks over the side, its going come right back in your face."
"I'll be fine."Dack said nervously. "I hope. Have you ever sailed before?"
"Once." Zarin told him. "It was horrible."
Dack looked at his friend a little afraid. His stomach was feeling a bit queasy.
"I'm joking Dack." He punched him in the arm. "You'll be fine. I'll just keep your mind off the waves."
Dack smiled a weak smile as he listened to him. Out of the corner of his eye, something caught Zarin's attention. It was Tabor and his friends pushing the way through students. Tabor whispered something to his friends then waved them towards the cabin area.
"I think somethings up with them." Zarin pointed to Tabor. Dack turned and looked as they entered the cabin. Before closing the door, Tabor looked around to be sure no one noticed them.
"Come on." Zarin pulled Dack away from the rail.
"I wonder what it is this time." Dack asked. "Think its trouble for us?"
"You mean the the guy that once changed the ingredients in my healing potion to make it a poison?" Zarin frowned. "Yes I do."
Keeping out of sight. Zarin and Dack slipped over to the door to listen. But the cabin was soundproof and they couldn't hear a thing.
"I don't hear anything." Dack said. "I wish we could be a fly on the wall in there."
"Now that's an idea." Zarin smiles.
"What?"
"Hold still." Zarin spoke a spell in words Dack couldn't hear and there was a sudden flash. Disoriented, Dack blink and realized he was seeing in multiple frames.
[What did you do?]
[We're flies.] Zarin sent to his mind. [Try your wings.]
Dack spread his wings and jumped into the air.
[Whoa!!!] He said. [This is great!]
[Come on.] Zarin took to the air. [There's a crack here. We can get in through there.]
Buzzing up to the wall they found a crack and made the way in. Inside they saw Tabor and his crew talking quietly. Flying closer they came down on a lamp and listened.

"I know." Tabor said. "My father thinks Winterhaven could do better under his control and he's found a way to gain control of the city."
"It won't be an easy task defeating the Professor." Aron Neveral said. Tabor looked to the other two boys for there opinion. Elan, Aron and Craven. Elan, a dark elf from the southern regions and Aron his lighter best friend. Craven, newest to their group was surprised to hear what he had to say.
"You know we're with you." Elan Darkshade gave him a crooked grin. "What's the plan?"
"Somewhere in the Gold caves." Tabor told them. "There's and gold ring called the Gold Ring of Endrin. It has the power to steal power and knowledge from your enemies. My father wants to rip Insa from his place as the head of the council and take Winterhaven to a dark future. If we help, he promise to put some of the councils knowledge in our heads. Think about it. We could run the Academy ourselves."
"No more studying from those stupid scrolls!" Craven Tasco smiled.
"My mother would ally herself with your father if this works." Elan told him. Aron know what he said was true. "Many dark elves will."
"There's only one problem." Tabor held up his hand. "Zarin. He's always getting in the way. Somehow he finds out what we're doing and stops us. Father wants him taken care of."
"You mean dead?" Craven asked. He didn't feel right about that. Deep down, he felt something wasn't right..
"Only as a last resort." Tabor said. "We have plans for him. I want his knowledge myself. I want you on him and making sure he doesn't interfere."
"Once we get in the gold cave." Craven said. "I'll trap him somehow. Then we'll be free to search."
"What about the professor?" Elan asked.
"Fathers going to find a reason to call him back to Winterhaven." Tabor said. "Some kind of emergency. We can do this. My father is counting on us."
"I'm not sure this is a good idea." Aron stood.
"Either your with me." Tabor said. "Or your not and I'll have to deal with you myself."
"Don't worry Tabor." Elan said as he pulled Aron behind him. "Aron is with us."
"Lets get back out on deck. We should keep our eyes on Zarin."
With that the boys got up and left the cabin. Zarin and Dack flew down and perched on the couch and changed back.
"What are we going to do?" Dack said worried.
"Stop them." Zarin said. "We can't allow Tabor and his father to take control of Winterhaven. We have to find that ring first."
"Craven's going to be on us the minute we walk back out on deck." Dack stood up and paced the cabin. "I have an idea how to deal with him. I know a spell that might work."
"You do?" Zarin looked at his friend shocked.
"Hey." He said. "I study you know and I'm passing in my classes. Checking out girls is not all I do. I'm not stupid."
"I know." Zarin told his friend. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that."
"Let me take care of Craven." Dack smiled. "He won't know what's going on."
"We can get Reno, Thalia and Trip to help us with this." Zarin look over and saw Reno and Thalia talked to Trip. He waved them over to them. The three walked over laughing at something. Thalia looked up at Zarin and stopped laughing.
"I know that look." She said elbowing Reno. "You're about to get us all into something again."
"It's them isn't it?" Reno nodded towards Tabor and his friends. "They're up to something."
"Oh no!" Trip moaned."How serious is it?"
"Shh!!!" Dack quieted them. "They're trying to overthrow the council."
"Those four?" Thalia smirked putting her hands on her hips.
"And Tabor's father." Zarin whispered.
"That I believe." Reno said. "He's an evil creep. What do you have?"
Zarin explained what they had heard in the cabin. He told them about Tayor Larins plan to gain the Gold ring and use it to turn the council and steal their powers. Lastly Zarin told them how they planned to steal Professor Insa's magic and Zarin's.
"Can that even be done to a dragon?" Trip asked. "Their powers are more apart of them then learned magic."
"Do you want to find out?" Reno turned and looked toward Tabor who was whispering in Craven's ear.
"What do you what to do?" Thalia asked. "We're in."
"We have to find that ring before they do." Zarin said. "And we can't let them know we're on to them. Trip, I want you and Thalia following them once we're in the cave. You're the best at shifting into small things, Dack, Reno and I will search for the ring."
"What happens if they find it?"
"Take it if you get the chance." Dack said. "But let us know so we all can figure something out."
"What about Craven?" Reno asked.
"I can take care of him." Dack smiled. "I know just what to do."
Zarin looked over the side and saw the harbor of Lands End in sight. The sails began to drop as the ship slowed down.
"We're here." Zarin told them. "You all know what to do once we get to the mine. But watch them just in case. You all ready?"
"Yeah." Dack held out his hand. The others looked at him and grinned. "Come on. We're a team."
One at a time they put their hand in.
"For Insa!"