Medieval/Fantasy

[Heero007]

Thawheneb nodded, hearing the sounds of the forest wildcats attacking the younglings and their shouts of panic. He snarled, "When I was a youngling we would go into the forests and kill beasts all night while we trained. It was a game for us, only one fell and that was because he was a fool and thought that he could take on the havrihssh' by himself." he said in disgust. "These ones panic at the sight of a hsih. How the Warrior Caste has fallen since my days."

He shook himself out of his reverie. "My I be the one to torture him if he does not turn?" he asked the queen eagerly.

* * * * *

Hjary looked at Havin. "Do not refer to me as having any position of nobility. I am a slave, nothing more." he looked at the artifacts. "And these prove nothing. All it shows is that someone kept a bunch of junk from a ruined realm and is hoping to use me as a restorer of a destroyed realm."

In all truth there was a part of Hjary that believed it, but he would never admit it. He had been a slave only hours before and now he was a King, and these artifacts were his. Hiw could this be, and why had his mother not told him? Furthermore why had the Drow not destroyed him and ended the threat once and for all? These and a million other question popped up in his mind as he looked at the objects.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Diae also shook herself out of the reflection. She remembered how she and the rest of the noble Drow girls would spend their free periods between tutoring watching the boys in their training and combat games. There was always a great deal of giggling and swooning as young woman naturally would impose.

"Yes I think that you've earned the honor of disposing the last of the Immortal Line if the opportunity should arise. I've always found your executions the most amusing anyways. But we shant be hasty; the boy is still a priority and I'm ready to take every precaution to ensure his recaptivity."

Slowly the sounds of fright outside had died down; it was obvious whatever beast had attacked was now gone. But not far off a low roll of thunder rumbled threatening a storm.

"Well I suppose it's best we conclude our meeting for tonight now and you get back to your tent safely." The queen gave another salute and set off behind a curtain to change into her night clothes.

*****

Havin tried to keep a clear mind. The boy was obviously reluctant to accept anything he was saying.

"Well, okay then William tell me this. Since you seem to be stuck to the concept of being nothing but a slave would you prefer to just turn your back on this and return to a life of forced servitude and unjust beatings? And completely neglect the fact that you're probably one of hte few that can finally put an end to the people who have been holding you in slavery all these years? Does it matter at all that they are now approaching this city with the intentions of laying waste to it all!?"

He tried hard not to show his present enragement but Havin had planned for the day he would bring forth the true king too long to be faced with such awkward opposition. He took a deep breath and continued.

"Look. Your people need you. The human race grows smaller each day. Not only that the Light Elves,our atural allies, need you. Sometime tommorow they will probably bring you to be introduced to the counil and court. Try and make a good impression..."

[Heero007]

Thawheneb nodded, saluted and bowed deeply. He spun on his heel and walked towards the exit. "I only hope that we intervene in time to stop them from teaching him the Shadow Arts. If they start that training he realixe his true power." he remarked as he walked out of the tent and out into the camp. He looked at the dead beasts and snarled at his soldiers. Twenty dead warriors! And only four hsih had been killed, the others had either fled, or this was the entire strength of the attack animals.

He looked at the surviviors. "Burn the bodies of the dead." he ordered, "They do not deserve an honorable burial. They couldn't even kill hsih." He watched at the constructed a massive fire and threw the bodies onto it, after taking their armor and swords. "We shall find more honorable warriors and supply them with this armor. And we shall start training in the old ways again." he said as he walked into his tent, thouroughly disgusted with his men.

He looked at on of the walls of his tent, the crest of the ancient Shadow Arts on one wall. A constant reminder of the Art form that the Drow hated the most. It had been the founders of the Shadow Arts, none other than the ancestors of the Hjary line that he first started it. It was rumored that only a Hjary could use it to its fullest power, to use the one form of the Arts that was more lethal than either the Elven Arts or the Drow Arts to its fullest extent a Hjary had to be at the hilt of the sword. The Drow had witnessed the horror of the power of the Shadow Arts during the Banishing Wars, when they had been cursed. Then they had seen it again during the Clan Wars, these events had cemented the Drow's hatred of Hjary and Kretog. The Drow had defeated Kretog and the Hjarys once, what was to stop them from winning again? Any brief fire of hope the Drow would end and there was no way that Thawheneb would let Kretog rise again, even if it meant his death.

* * * * *

"Why must I be the King?" he asked, "You're asking me to believe that I am the only heir to the throne of Kretog. I have no place as King! I don't even know how to fight, much less lead a people to victory over a foe that has reigned for hundreds of years." he sighed and shook his head. "Why wouldn't my mother have told me this? Why would she risk me not knowing so that when the time came for me to embrace it I wouldn't?"

He picked up one of the artifacts. "How am I supposed to defeat an enemy that has been corrupt for generations and had many centuries to perfect the ways of war." he shook his head again. "If I lead men they will die. I have seen many rebellions rise up, but they always end with the same result, the fist of the Drow comes down and ends it with the same suddenness that it started." He looked at the artifact in his hand. "How can I be the one to free men? I am only thirteen years old, no one would follow me and if they did it woulf be like a fool leading a fool. The blind leading the blind. How can I do this when it would mean the death of all men."

William was the name of the first King of Kretog, the first of the Immortal Line of Hjary. Havin's brother Jamaitre sent telopathicly to his brother. You know the History of Hjary as well as I do Havin. Use it to convince him, if you can I will train him in the ways of his fathers. He has given you a chance to prove that he is who we say he is, do not waste it my brother. We need him to fulfill the prophecy. If we do not have him, we will die as you know well.

[Zylaa]

The wildcat ran into the woods for several minutes, then turned and began to wind it's way to the Light Elves, Tessa still clinging to it's back.
***
"Puny soldiers, if they can't even deal with one measly cat," Arajay taunted the guards.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Tessa stared down at the cat bewildered and let go of its fur and carefully slid off it's back.

"You...you can speak?"

*****

Havin though over Jamaitre's message and took a deep breath sitting down on at a desk near the doorway.

"This is going to be...difficult to fully explain. In Kretog's ancient days there were three general races that resided. The Light Elves, the Drow and the Humans. The Light Elves and Humans lived in cooperation but the Drow were simply another group living in the neary mountains and seldom kept contact with the others. As you would've guessed the Drow had been planning a take over for centuries at that point. Their average lifespan far surpassed those of their Elven cousins and aged even slower making them each refined intellects and warriors."

Havin paused a moment to colelct his thoughts and to make sure his brother had nothing to add thus far. When no reply came he continued.

"'Unforetunately the Light Elves were a peaceful people and had never considered preparing defence. At consequence over half their population was lost to blade and poison. The humans however had already a system where the most fit of their men were trained from a young age a form of Arcane known as the Shadows Arts. The most worthy of them all were three brothers by the name of Hjary. Timor, Francis, and the eldest, William. Working together with the help of select Light Elves they were able to defeat the army of Drow and sent them back into retreat. Unforetunatly the only surviving brother was William. When the dust had finally cleared and hte Drow were banished back to their lands he was made king..."

Havin took another deep breath. "There's still alot more to explain but I need to refresh my memory. The details are fuzzy..."

*****

Diae silently watched the cremation fire from the entrance of her tent. Disappointed she was that so many soldiers were lsot before the battle had begun but knew the weak ones were better disposed of now. Carefully she slipped back inside as the flame died down and the onlookers went back to their tents. The only light now came from the purple taper from the altar as she set it on a wide, bare spot on the floor. Neatly she set three different bells in from of it and rang them each 4 times.

The queen closed her eyes and sat straight as a chilled breeze rushed through and rustled papers and tent flaps about and she quietly chanted "Te naramuc silim gian..." When she opened her eyes to see the spectre of the late Ling Marsethius sitting opposite the altar.

The spectre smiled warmly and bowed his head to his daughter "You're doing well child. Better than I could've accomplished. You've mastered your arcane and martial arts and have brought our people into a new golden era."

Diae blushed slightly but still smiled weakly "Now father you would've done the same if you had the time. I've simply made the first step towards reclaiming Kretog as we rightfully should. But I also have found the key to our victory and that is why I've summoned you. The Heir of Hjary has been located and I need you to follow him and fill his head unknowingly of the thoughts of joining our forces. Right now he is under care of the Scum and is the only human in their lands as of now."

Marsethius sat and pondered the concept for a moment. "So he has finally been born at last. Normally I'd would have expected you to do away with the lineage once and for all dear Diae but now I see that control is a much better option. But before I leave there's a favor I must ask of you also."

She nodded "Anything Father."

"As brilliant of a ruler as you may be I feel it's best that you take on a husband before your second millenium. Our people deserve two devote leaders and will prosper. I trust you'll be able to complete my request before then."

Without another word the spectre disappeared leaving behind a shock-ridden Diae behind.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

((Dang I didn't realize it'd be that long ))

[Zylaa]

((Er... Arajay is the person, not the cat. The cat doesn't talk, it's just a familiar of sorts))

[My email doesn't work anymore]

((Oops sorry n_n;)

Tessa clung to the cat's back tightly hoping it knew where it was going. All she could do was trust in the kind lady at the camp.

[Heero007]

Thawheneb snarled inside of his tent. What had happened to the fighting force his father had trained? What had happened to the mighty army that had crushed Kretog? Where were those men! How could his army have fallen into such ruin? How!

He slammed his fist into a table in his tent, which promptly broke in half at the same moment it's legs broke. Where were the men he had trained? Where were the mighty youngling soldiers who had skill with a blade? Where were they!

The General clenched and unclenched his hands several times. Calm down, he told himself, calm down. Upon regaining his composure he thought of the battle to come. They would destroy the scum and rule the surface world with an iron fist, he knew. They would finally kill off the Scum and take the surface for themselves.

A wildcat sliced through the thick canvas of the Great Pavilion, roaring at the stunned Queen as it prepared for its next meal. Suddenly a guard appeared. "You shall not harm the Queen." he said to the beast as he drew his swords.

The wildcat took little notice of the gaurd and lunged at the Queen. But was stopped short at the gaurd executed two smooth slashes that cut the beast's head off and cut the carcass in half. He stepped in its way so no blood would get on the queen.

He turned to her. "I am sorry for the intrusion my Queen, I will see that your tent is fixed this moment." the promptness of his words and his respect for the Queen indentified him instantly as Demith, Thawheneb's apprentice.

* * * * *

Hjary looked back at him. "I am named after the first king of Kretog?" he asked, obviously surprised.

You have an opening now brother. Jamaitre sent telopathicly. Show him how to tap into the powers of the Crystal Sword. You know the method that must be used.

[OG Loc]

(Please, will someone explain to me what's going on? I'm really sorry, but I've been lost for several posts now...)

[Heero007]

((Basicly the cat attacked the soldiers around Tessa, Arjary disappeared into the forest with Tessa. Wild cats attacked and killed twenty of Thawheneb's men after he met with Diae and took the Ring of Scions, meaning that if she dies in the battle he will take the throne. Jamaitre, Havin brother, is comminicating with Havin telopathicly, telling him how to convince Hjary that he is the Heir to the throne of Kretog.

Mindela might be able to come up with a more useful summary. This one is extremely rough and breif, it also doesn't explain all that has gone on in these posts, only what I can think of at this moment.))

[My email doesn't work anymore]

((Heero pretty much got it so far. There's like 7 different things going on at the same time so it's confusing. Hard to believe that thus far everything since page one has supposed taken place within the same day XD))

Havin nodded glad that the boy was finally realizing his purpose.

"And there is more. Soom after being crowned King Hjary had a pyre temple built for all would had lost their lives in the war. Once all the bodies had been laid and the purifying flames engulfed the temple a great flaming phoenix sprang high up from the ashes. It was the birth of the Golden Phoenix, a creature of overwhelming power. As it soared above the King it cried a single tear that crystallized around a piece of it's down."

Havin handed the crystal on it's chain to William.

"As the bearer of the trinket the King had control over the phoenix. For years from then on Hjary used it's power to create fertile land, eliminate hunger any many other valiant deeds for his people. But one day he suddenly became infected with a termanel disease and passed without warning. A century after his death Light Elven's elders recieved a prophecy. Each said that in the spirit realm William had reached divinity. And in the eve of Kretog's darkest hour he would be reborn and eventually become the last remaining of the Hjary lineage; the Heir of Hjary. And then in the time when he is most needed he'll restore the kingdom."

Havin took the sword from the bed and held it out to William by the scabbard.

"To prevent the fall of Kretog the phoenix blessed each of the Hajry lineage with immortality so the prophecy would never need to be fufilled. But many centuries later the Drow had discovered a technique to slay the immortal ones without facing the Phoenix's wrath. So in uttermost secrecy they sent my family, the Roalds, into hiding as the protectors of the Hjary talismans and the secrets of hte Shadow Arts. So that one day, if the prophecy was fufilled, the Heir of Hjary would be able to realize his destiny."

Havin motioned William to the hilt of the sword.

"This was King Hjary's Blade. If you are, in fact, his heir you'll be able to remove the blade form the scabbard...."

*****

Diae turned suddenly at the sound of the ripping canvas and screamed stumbling backwards as the cat tore into her tent. She looked fearfully into it's hungry eyes as she inched back. The queen was about to breathe out a protevtie spell but the creature lunged and she cringe back and shrieked awaiting the blow.

When it never came Diae unfulrled herself and stared wide-eyed at the scene. The beast's carcass lay severed in three pieces on the ground. Standing above the slain beast Thawhenebs' favorite apprentice, who she barely recognized through his armour and the spray of blood, stood dutifully wielding blooded blades. She barely heard his words as the combined shock of her father's request, the cat's would be attack and the sight of blood sent the queen into a daze as she fainted to the ground.

[Heero007]

Thawheneb walked out of his tent and ran into the Great Pavilon. He saw the ripped canvas, the hsih's carcass before he saw his apprentice. "Well done Demith." he congradulated his student. "See that the tent is repaired immeadiately and that guards are stationed around the Queen's Tent." He ordered.

Demith bowed deeply. "It shall be done Master." he said, turning sharply on his heel and barking orders at the nearest warriors and slaves.

The General bent down and scooped the Queen up into his arms. He carried her over to her bed and carefully put her down on it and pulled up the covers carefully, not wanting to disturb her.

He walked out of the Queen's Tent then and back into his own, wondering all the while why the Queen had fainted. It wasn't like her to do so, and he'd certianly never seen her faint at the sight of blood. She'd attended all of the gladatorial games her father had declared on the Drow Holidays before he'd died. In these not only slaves competed, but Drow too. As part of his training young Thawheneb had had to face much more skilled Drow than he. It was the Drow way that only the strong warriors live, and so he had fought, killing every opponent he was put up against, gaining favor in the sight of the King and in the military's eyes. He'd killed thousands of slaves and hundreds of his own people in the arena, but given the Drow's long life span and their immense population it was nothing. Thawheneb had early on lost all remnant of guilt from killing his own people in the arena, and thus when he killed one today he felt nothing, only disgust at the sight of weakling Drow who were afraid of blood shed.

Let the weak die and the strong live. Thawheneb thought. Then put them in the arena one by one and see if they can defeat a havrihssh' alone. Then we will see if they are worthy of being warriors. After that we will make them fight their own kind and purge weakness from them. If they cannot handle it then they shall die...

* * * * *

Jamaitre watched it all from a distance through his brother's eyes. Havin, if this works, we will have to teach him the Shadow Arts. He sent to his brother. But we must remember, the Elves have the Grand Master's sword. We must have that sword and present it to him if he learns the Shadow Arts and reaches that rank as fast as I think he will. Only with that sword and the Crystal Sword will Hjary be able to recover the Shadow Armor from the portal that King Hjary stored it in. Only if he lives and learns will he be able to recover one of the few artifacts we don't have.

William reached forward, nervously touching the hilt of the sword with a shaking hand. The sword felt right to him, but he didn't know why. He firmly grasped the hilt and pulled it out of the scabbard. He nearly dropped the sword in shock, but stopped himself before he could drop it. He looked at it in shock. "H...how can this be?" he asked.

One of the Elven Scouts saw Arjary and rode along side her then he saw the little Elven girl Tessa on the back of the wild cat. "Tessa." the scout said, "It's me, Gertin." The scout was her cousin. There was a ninty-three year age difference between them but that was small by Evlish standards.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Diae regained conciousous only briefly before drifting back into sleep that night. But it was an uneasy slumber as she dreamnt of her past.

The young girl stood leaning against the fireplace in the large room trying to catch her breath. Disgusted she grabbed a rage from her pocket and wiped the fresh blood from her blade trying not to look at it. That fight was long. Probably too long. She would need ot work on her skills upon returning home. Still a bit weary she looked over to the Drow soldiers now binding the young man still groaning and bleeding heavily. She waited for them to finish before giving futhur instruction.

"Take him out into the streets and torture him mercilessly in front of his people. I want his death to be slow and excruciating. Kill anyone who tries to help him." Resheathing her sword she strode over and slapped the man square across his bloodied face. "Next time, Hjary, think twice before insulting my father's name in my presence."

The human king glared at her with pure hatred and grunted through his mouth gag but the girl ignored him and snapped to her guards. "Now do as I told you!"

She watched as the guards dragged Hjary from the hall then turned to look out a large window into the humans' capitol of Grifiss. Smiling bitterly watching her soldiers chaining newly captured slaves together and driving them from the city. Suddenly she realized she wasn't alone and turned to see a young human woman standing opposite the hall holding a bundle.

Acknowledgingly she nodded in her direction striding over "Queen Liira."

The woman returned the gesture "Queen Diae." Gently she handed the bundled infant down to the Drow Queen and kneeled before her.

Diae's expression grew smug reading the locket around the child's neck. "William? Quite appropirate. I suppose this means you knew all along about his fate my little puppet. But seeing you've now fufiled your duties so I have no more use for you."

Hastily she released the controlling spell over the human queen and breathed out a death spell upon her as she fell...

*****

Havin stared intrigued at the sight of the blade. All his life he had been trained to be a guardian to the Heir of Hjary like all of his ancestors before him. The one thing that he loked forward to, but most likely had no chance of ever achieving was to see the legendary Crystal Sword. But here he was seeing the gleaming, translucent blade being unsheathed for the first time in milleniums.

"Then it's true." he said with awe. "You, William Hjary, are the reincarnate of your ancestor the lengendary first King of Kretog. When morning comes and you're called to an audience with the Elders Council you must make the meeting brief. All you must request of them is that you "borrow" form them the Grand Master's sword. I can explain more later. But I trust it wont be too difficult. I'm quite positive it is simply lying in some hidden treasure trove of theirs collect dust."

Havin gathered his things but left William the three artifacts and moved back towards the door.

"Tomorrow meet me by the large Silver Beech tree near the northern forest of the city. Get some rest Lor...I'm mean William."

Quietly he slipped out the door and back into the streets.

*****

"Gertin!" Tessa cried leaping off the cat's back and hugging her cousin around his leg. "Where is everybody?! Did Uncle Theningwanur make it home safe? Mama and Papa are here right!?

The little girl rambled on with questions energetically as if nothing happened at all.

[Heero007]

William watched Havin go as he looked at the Crtsyal Sword he held in his grasp. The sword of the first king, the sword of the first William Hjary. How could all of this be true? And why was he so willing to believe it now?

He sighed an sat down, sheathing the sword and looking at the two other artifacts that Havin had left. A ring, silver and gold rivers wrapping around eachother, set in the center of it was the symbol of the Pheonix, two small fire diamonds serving as the creatures eyes.

Slowly William placed the ring on middle finger, for some reason it felt like it belonged there. This feeling almost caused the Hier of Hjary to take the ring off, but he didn't. While it surprised him at first it felt good to have something that belonged to him.

He looked at the other artifact that Havin had left, a gleaming golden necklace, again with the symbol of the Pheonix on it. He picked it up and put it on. He had the same feeling that it belonged there as he had had with the ring. He looked down at the jewel in the center of the chain, again it was a fire diamond , but larger than the ones in the ring.

He unconciously twisted the ring around his finger. He didn't know why it felt like he all of these things felt like he'd worn them for years, but he liked it. He would have to trust Havin and hope that they really weren't working for the Drow.

* * * * *

Gertin laughed at his little cousin's questions and picked her up. "Yes, Uncle Thenin made it to the Capitol safely, everbody is there. Your parents are safe, and Uncle Thenin is worried about you." he said as he placed her on his horse, mounting the beast only after he was sure that she would not fall off. "Now let's go. Uncle Thenin is very worried about you, he's barely resting at all." Without another word they were off, Gertin kicked his horse into a gallop and hoped that they would make it to the capitol in time to let their Uncle rest peacefully.

* * * * *

Thawheneb looked at his apprentice as he entered his tent. "Did you succeed?" he asked.

Demith shook his head, "No Master, the Queen's mind is too resistant to telopathy, I couldn't get inside of her mind." he sighed. "She was trained well, and it looks like she was trained by you in resisting probing techniques."

Thawheneb soghed and nodded, "Yes I did train her." he said, "But I never anticipated her becoming this good at it." He grinned, "She has surpassed he teacher's expectations." he pasued. "She will not know it was you who probed her mind when she wakes, will she?"

"No sir." he smiled briefly. "I forced Captain De'ityh's mind singature into mine, and blocked mine from showing. Captain De'ityh doesn't know, and you know that forcing someone's mind pattern over yours doesn't make them see what you do. Plus he's a known telopath and it will appear that he was trying to force his mind on the Queen's to make her choose him to be her mate."

Thawheneb chuckled lightly, "Very good, then the Queen will kill him." he said. He knew that no one could hear them. For they were transmitting another conversation memory into anyone who might have been eaves dropping's mind.

((Cool, so Diae knew all along that William was alive.... interesting....))