Published: 1 Feb 2021

Soil, Wind, Fire and Water

As the morning sun rose up from the east, Ranjer came out of the forest in his wolf form, followed by Sima. The Yetu camp was less than one hundred feet in front of him.

The camp was busy, packing their things for the assault on the Wolf’s Lair. He howled a warning to Niro, Yarden, Myor, and Hoddie, telling them the Trolls were ready to move out. Sima, at Ranjer’s side, clawed at the ground. She was anxious for battle. The cat hated Trolls. Years ago, they had marched into her mountain and killed a litter of her cubs. Mountain cats had long memories and they understood the concept of revenge.

As the Trolls started out for the Lair, Ranjer sent Sima out in the back of their path. With a quick audio spell, Sima was ready to do her part.

[Now,] Ranjer sent.

Sima roared. Her roar was loud enough to shake the trees. The Trolls heard that roar and changed their path, hoping to avoid what they thought had to be one giant cat. Ranjer shifted to his mist, crept out of the forest and settled all around the Trolls. Waist deep in mist, the Trolls slowed their progress through the forest. The line of Trolls was fifty in number. Hidden in the mist, Sima came in and started to pick them off, one by one. As the Trolls started to die, their screams filled the line of Trolls with fear. One by one, Sima slipped in and brought down six Trolls. As Yarden crept into the mist, his howls rolled out along the side, pushing the Trolls west. The lead Troll pointed his sword at a trail that ran west then turned back north toward the Wolf’s Lair.

With Sima coming in from the rear and Yarden in the west, Ranjer sent Niro his orders to cut off the eastern trails. That left him and Myor to come in from the north.

As Yarden leaped out of the mist in his beast form, he pulled two Trolls down, smashing their heads then leaping on for his next target. In the east, Niro heaved boulders up and threw them like small rocks, to crash down on Trolls gathered on his trail. Hoddie zipped in, hidden in the mist, with his knives out and ready. In a flash, two Trolls were down. As they fell, he leaped at another group and slashed out, taking two more down.

With their numbers cut down to thirty-eight, a Troll in dark robes screamed out something they couldn’t understand. Suddenly lightning crashed down striking the ground next to where Niro was standing. As the bolt struck the ground, Niro jumped up into the air and high in the trees. His head went out and the gem in his ring flashed. A boulder came sailing up to catch him before he fell. Surprised, Niro surfed his way over the heads of the Trolls, swinging his hammer, down to smash the Troll’s heads. As Niro whipped around, the Troll warlock shot bolts of lightning at him. Swinging his hammer out, Niro caught lightning strikes and deflected them down into the Trolls. Gray bodies leaped up sizzling with electricity. This warlock was going to be a problem. Niro could deflect most of his bolts, but sooner or later a lucky strike was going to bring Niro crashing down.

He needed someone that could stop him or this might be over in a heartbeat.

[Ranjer!!!]

As Niro sailed out of range, the mist started to swirl. Trolls ran, scared of what might come out of the mist next. But their warlock wasn’t scared. He knew what it was. As the mist collected into one area, Ranjer dressed in black stepped out to face the Troll.

“Who are you,” The Troll called out.

“I am Prince Ranjer Zlenka,”

“A Vampire?” He said. “What is a Vampire doing here fighting for these Dogs?”

Insulted by those words, Ranjer stepped forward with his fist clenched as his eyes started to glow.

“This is my family,” He said. “You dare to threaten our home and you hurt one of my people. I’ll give you this one chance to take your Troll trash out of here and to never come back.”

The Troll laughed, a deep gravelly sound as he held onto his stomach.

“You think one stupid young Vampire will scare me? I am Zoot Sol Junn, the High Sorcerer of the Yetu. I have taken down warlocks one hundred sun turns your senior.”

“Then shut your mouth and get ready to die!!

Ranjer took his fighting stance, swung his arms around then pointed his right arm toward Zoot. Lightning flashed as his first bolt struck out at the Troll. With a sweep of his left, bolts rained down striking all around Zoot. As the bolts got closer, Zoot raised his shining mystical shield. Strike after strike slammed into the shield.

The strain of his magic nearly tore Zoots arm off. But he wasn’t giving up. The King had ordered them to take Tir Na by force and Vampires or not, he would do it.

As his shield faded away, Zoot spread his arms and summoned a club made of pure magical force. With a bone-chilling battle cry, he charged at Ranjer. His club went up and came down at the Vampire. With a twist of his wrist, Ranjer summoned twin blades of power. He raised them in a crossed position and caught the club between his blades. As the weapons met, Ranjer sent a stream of power up into the club. Electrical energy ran through the club into his arm. Zoot held on tight and summoned more strength into his arms. He pulled back on his club and took another swing. Ranjer stepped back, feeling the club whiz right by his face. He thrust out with his swords sending a force pulse at the Troll. Zoot swung his club, hitting the force pulse back at Ranjer. Ranjer roared and braced himself as the pulse hit him. Though the pulse was painful. Ranjer pulled the power back into himself, raised his arm and sent a fireball at the Troll. When it hit him, Zoot’s hair caught fire. He screamed in pain and beat at the flames. As Zoot fought the flames, Ranjer sent another fireball at him. When it hit him, his robes burst into flames. Zoot fell to the ground gasping for air. Ranjer stuck out his hand and brought one of his swords back into existence. The battle was over and the Troll had lost. Right now he was rolling around in pain.

[Finish this,] Niro sent. [Don’t let him hurt anymore.]

Ranjer stepped down to where Zoot was sobbing. He reached down and sent enough electricity into him to stop his heart. As Zoot lay there, Trolls stopped fighting to stare down at him.

“Stop this fighting now and go home,” Ranjer said. “Or I will come to your land and do this to every single Troll there.”

One by one the Trolls dropped their weapons, turned and ran away. Ranjer’s friends all came over and watched as the Trolls ran off.

[Tof,] He sent. [The Trolls here are all in retreat.]

[Here too little brother,] Tof sent. [It’s over. Bring your friends home to rest.]

As Caius rode through the gates of Settlement, he had his cloak hood down and a cheerful smile on his face. His mind was clear of any malicious intent. It had to be. There were people here who could invade his mind with just a thought. He had been warned that there would be someone there at the gate reading people as they entered the city. He had to find a way to shield his mind from Dragon intrusion. He knew Cutter, the strongest of all the Dragon minds wouldn’t be there. But, Pelic and Jayce would. The two Shadows would be stationed either on the wall or in Rage Manor. Both would be listening to the city for any signs of spies.

Jayce stood on the wall and watched as Desi birds flew over Kovir Bay diving in and out of the surf for their morning meal. The bright blues, reds, yellows, and greens flashed in the morning sun. Jayce had an urge to be out there dancing with the citizens of the air. The music of the warm morning breeze always had that effect on him. But right now the city’s protection was more important. Jandar and Rage had warned them of Bram Thorne’s coming. They knew revenge was all he had on his tormented mind. Revenge on Keanna and the Gods.

From the city wall, Jayce watched as the wagons rolled in, one at a time. There were vegetables, cattle ranchers, dera, fenra and choka birds. Wagons of grain, iron, bronze, copper and mithral. Stocks of all kinds, from clothing to fabrics, furniture, utensils, and weapons, both ordinary and magical.

As he looked out into the crowd, Jayce watched as people came in, heading about their business in the market or one of the many shops in the commerce district of the city. So far, Jayce hadn’t read anything that seemed dangerous, other than a few thieves and a man looking to start a fire in one of the stalls in the marketplace. After he warned the guards, Jayce went on with his day’s surveillance.

As Caius rode into Settlement, he kept his mind on a song he had learned in school. It was about an old man and the bottles of wine on his mantle. One fell off and crashed on the ground, ninety-nine more bottles to go. Over and over from ninety-nine to one and then he would start all over again. As he stepped through the gate and met the first guard, Caius pulled back his cloak to show he was unarmed. With a wave, the guard sent him on singing his happy song under his breath.

The road into Settlement was busy with shoppers and people supplying the shops with their wares. Caius rode in, keeping his eyes open for Dragons and anybody else from Rage Manor. He had seen the man with wings at the gate. He wasn’t sure who he was, but he knew he was one of the Shadows. Bram had told him there were three here in the city. Two with wings and one in a dark cloak. The old fool said the man with the white wings would be the one he should stay away from.

With Jayce on the wall, Caius thought he would take a chance and go right to where his target could be found.

From the gate, Caius moved in through the city. He passed the business section, where the city bank and the shipping agents were found, and into the marketplace. He passed the blacksmith shops and the food stalls, then moved left, heading for the back gate to the city. As he passed the back gate, Caius found a cliff wall where a dark cave sat lit only by a single set of torches.

As Caius rode up to the cave, he looked around to make sure no one had followed him. He climbed down off his horse’s back, took his saddle bag and smacked it on its rear setting it free. As he entered the cave, Caius snapped his fingers and lit his hand, to show him the way through the dark tunnels. He followed it straight in, then made a left at the first crossroad. As Caius made his way deeper into the cave, small, minute sized lights flickered on and off from the light reflected on the walls. He wanted to stop and investigate, but didn’t know how much time he had. Somewhere in here, there was a guardian set here to protect the cave’s treasure.

Hurrying on, Caius followed the tunnel in. It led him to a great chamber with walls covered with shining colored stones. Light from the stones dimly lit the chamber showing Caius the way. He walked in to inspect the glowing stones. Set high and low all through the chamber, Caius found hundreds of stones. They were all colors and cold to the touch. This is not what he had come for.

“Then what are you looking for?”

Caius spun around and raised his hands, ready for a fight. Before him stood a tall man with dragon armor. His helmet had long horns, glowing eyes and a long, drawn out maw with sharp looking teeth. His body armor had iridescent scales that looked strong enough to stop an arrow made of iron. There were two wings coming out from his back that wrapped around his shoulders like a long cloak. A long pointed tail whipped out from behind him and he had sharp looking claws on his hands and feet. He looked formidable.

“Thank you,” The dragon warrior said. “Forgive me. I am Gird, the protector for all that you see here. Why are you here?”

Caius knew this one could read his thoughts so there was no point in trying to deceive him, so he thought this would be his chance to tell the truth and see where that got him.

“My name is….”

“Caius Regulas,” Gird said. “I know who you are. Well I know who you think you are, but I don’t know why your here.”

Gird stepped out and walked around Caius. He looked deep in his eyes and saw his honesty. He knew Caius had done things that were wrong. He had been a bully, a thief, a liar and a cheat. But there were times when he had been honest and a true friend. He had done things to spare friends from being hurt and he had truly loved someone and walked away when he realized he didn’t love him back. Caius knew pain. Gird could feel it in his heart, but it’s not too late. Love could repair what it had damaged and he only needed one thing.

“I know why you’re here,” Gird said as he stepped aside to let him pass. “Go in and find what you’re looking for.”

Caius looked at Gird like he was crazy. What did he know that Caius didn’t know? What had he seen in his mind? It didn’t matter. Caius was here to get something for Bram, and that’s exactly what he would do.

At the gate to Settlement, Jayce watched as something launched itself into the sky leaving a fiery trail behind it. The second he saw it, Jayce knew what it was. Someone had slipped in under his watch and stolen something important. Rattled, Jayce launched himself up to go after the intruder.

[Pelic! We missed him. He came in right under our nose and took what he was looking for. We have to stop him!]

[No, Jayce,] Gird sent. [Let him go. He hasn’t taken anything that wasn’t meant for him.]

[I don’t understand.]

[Trust me,] Gird sent. [He is not our enemy. Let him go.]

[If you say so.]

Jayce came back down to settle in his place on the wall. He had no idea why Gird had stopped him, but he trusted the egg chamber guardian. If he said there was no danger, then all Jayce could do was to go on with his watch. He hoped this would all be over soon and someone would tell him what had just happened.

As Quyyn, Sky, Bly and Cutter arrived in the hills that overlooked the gates to Sorrowdown, Quyyn sent out a probe to find out where their friends were.

“Do you think that’s a smart idea?” Sky asked.

“Why not?”

“Because Bram might sense your search.” He said.

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Cutter said. “I think he already knows we’re here.”

As they watched smoke rising up from the city, Niro, Hoddie, Yarden, Myor and Sima came riding out of the forest to meet them. Ranjer, Niro, Hoddie and their mounts were dressed in new armor. It all looked as if it had been forged from mithral. It shone like silver, with gems encrusted in the chest plates and helmets. At Ranjer’s side, he wore a blade made of the same magical substance. It had a gold hilt with small emeralds and diamonds. The armor and weapon looked like they had been crafted by Elven hands.

As Hoddie, Ranjer and Niro climbed down from their mounts, Sky, Bly and the Dragons came over to greet them.

“Aiya!” Quyyn said as he shook Niro’s hand vigorously. “Sorry we missed you in Winterhaven. We heard you had just left and we were exhausted from flying. I figured you went home so we stayed to rest. Nice armor.”

“Tof dug it out, to thank us for our help with the Trolls,” Quyyn said. “You could have come to visit. Everyone said they missed you.”

Quyyn didn’t speak for a minute. He didn’t know how to tell him how much he missed his Grandparents since they’re move to Pentanthin. Being in Tir Na reminded him of them, that’s why he stayed away.

“I’ll see everyone on Ono’s birthday,” Quyyn said. “Father made me promise to go.”

Ranjer gave Quyyn a curious look. He knew Tof and Ono wouldn’t want him to come if he didn’t want too. But right now, there were more important things to discuss.

“How are we going to do this?” Ranjer asked. “I don’t think we can slip in without Bram knowing.”

“Then why try?” Cutter said. “Bram’s waiting for us right now. I say we go in and put an end to this. Too many people have died, this needs to end tonight.”

“I agree,” Bly said. She looked around. Someone was missing. “Where’s Rowyn?”

“She’s in the Academy,” Hoddie said sadly. “She got caught up in its transport spell.”

“Do you know where it went?” Bly asked.

“No,” Niro said. “We made it out just as it disappeared.”

“We have to find her,” Hoddie said. “When this is over, I’m going to find her.”

“We all are,” Sky said. “Let’s get this over with.”

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