This is one of my earlier storys, i only ended up writing 30 pages before another idea for a novel hit me and i started writing that instead. This is unedited and my grammer isnt the best but it shouldnt be too bad.
This is only the first pages of it, if any of you want me to post the other 29 pages i will but i think that after you've read the first page of unedited work you will see why i didnt post all of it.
Also it doesnt space out properly when i post it so if any off you know how to fix that i would be grateful.
Running through the streets that he had so reticently become familiar with, his armoured boots throwing up sparks on the cobbled streets, the rhythmic pounding distracting him from the sharp bursts of magic that quickly died only to be followed by the screams of the fallen.
Cities across all of Masiconia had been falling for weeks, with only sketchy reports of giant flying beasts with shinnying scales. As of yet not a single city has been able to hold them off let alone fell one of the giant beasts. Hope was failing fast and so as a last hope to stop the spread of destruction all magicians had been called to the capital as a last stand.
We had all thought that this would be where we stopped them. None of us had expected them to be so strong. On the second night of the continues pounding on our shields Gerith had said to his master “Why do they attack us like this, what is it that we did to anger them so?”
In the three years Gerith had been apprenticed to Verish he had never heard his master say a word against the decisions of the council but it was obvious that he disagreed with them this time, “We brought this on ourselves Gerith, three weeks ago a Gate was found, it had been sealed with wards that could only have been placed by a Shadow Lord and warnings were written on every wall in the chamber,” he paused for a second before continuing, “We knew what was on the other side but still it had been so long, we had to know if they still searched for us. We where so sure that we could handle them, or at least close the Gate before they got through.” Pausing again this time for several minutes before continuing the tale.
“Two weeks ago Hayes was sent to the site to unseal the Gate, we know he succeeded and just before they tore through the Gate he sensed something and sent us a warning. That was the last we heard. If we all die Gerith it will only be our own fault for not heading the warnings because we assumed that we knew better then those that came before us,” that was the first time his master had every spoken to him about anything that didn’t have to do with their lessons that Gerith was so shocked he simply stood beside his master and watched the shield ripple as balls of liquid fire and other such magical attacks struck it. Although most of what his master had said made little sense to Gerith and a lot of it didn’t seem to add up the simple fact that he had told him what he knew gave Gerith strength, his master trusted him.
Gerith could still hear his master’s last words to him, “You must flee Gerith, run now, get to the Great Hall, their should be a magician there guarding the Gate, do as he says and remember, run, do not try anything foolish, enough heroes will die today there is no need to add another to there numbers. The High Lord should be here soon. He will know what to do. Now go.” His master was an imposing figure standing at six feet six inches, towering over all but his fellow Shadow Lords but contrary to his appearance he had always been kind and understanding teacher, never punishing Gerith for his mistakes only ever telling him that there was nothing he couldn’t do, always pushing him that extra step.
Gerith knew he would always hold that last image of his master standing on the walls his black robes flying around him covering all of his armour except for the dark curling braces and neck guards. He looked nothing less then a giant mountain surrounded by a raging storm.
Tears streaming down his face Gerith pushed on, his breath coming hard leaving a burning in his chest. The beautiful city burned around him filling the air with acrid smoke burning his eyes and making his lungs burn all the more. Seeing the hall ahead of him Gerith drew on the last of his strength and with the last burst of speed he took the stairs leading to the hall two at a time quickly wiping away his tears before crashing through the large wooden doors.
Standing in the hall he saw a sea of startled faces, there were at least thirty other apprentices all with fear written on there faces.
Looking around Gerith couldn’t see the magician that was supposed to be waiting here for them. The Gate was clearly visible in the centre of the hall, sharp flashes of light bursting out of a shimmering door of light held in place by four enchanted stones. The magician should have been standing within a few feet of it but the only people Gerith could see near it were brown robed apprentices.
“Where is the magician?” asked Gerith.
Grabbing the collar of a short brown harried apprentice who looked to be fifteen years of age Gerith said again “Where did the magician go?”
“He left saying that their was something he had to do,”
“Which direction did he go in?” asked Gerith
“I’m not sure” said the short youth.
“I saw him heading over to the living quarters,” supplied another apprentice from somewhere in the group.
“Damn, he must have been trying to rescue what ever he could from his quarters,” Looking around he came back from his thoughts and realised that all the apprentices were now looking at him.
He had become something of a celebrity since coming to the city, been the only Shadow Lord apprentice found in over a hundred years. He was kept away from the other students, attending private lessons and otherwise remaining with his master.
Standing a little taller Gerith said “Stay here, if the retreat is sounded flee through the Gate,” a tone of command he had so often heard in his masters voice reverberated through the hall, he had never heard himself sound like that before. But then again this was the first time he had ever told anyone what to do. In his masters presence no one could help but feel small and insignificant but here in this hall he truly felt like a Shadow Lord.
“The Gate has been sealed to prevent the enemy using it,”
“Damn that magician again,” thought Gerith, his new found confidence faltering. Maybe there was a magician somewhere near by who could take charge?
Doubt began to flood through the crack in Geriths confidence, all the worry that had hammered on him a few minutes ago returned. His master was dead, the shield guarding the city was waning and now the Gate was sealed.
“No” he thought, his master had taught him better then this.
“Who here is of the earth?” asked Gerith his eyes scanning the crowed looking for the dark green sash worn by the earth apprentices.
He could see several but they were all too young, he needed a year three to break the seal on the Gate.
“We are” said two blond haired twins.
Looking them over Gerith said “ok keep it sealed for now but do not hesitate to break the seal,” turning Gerith strode out of the hall to the blazing war raging around the soaring city of the Eagle Rest Mountains.
Gerith could feel the power of the shield waning, clear signs of its imminent failure were everywhere. Rich and once tall houses where reduced to rubble turning large areas of the city into clouds of dust that blanketed out the sun turning the sky a fiery red.
As he neared the living quarters Gerith could see that it had been hit hard, an entire wing had collapsed in with the others looking soon to follow.
Worrying about how he was going to find the magician Gerith entered the tall towering building, the entrance hall separated off in two directions, one heading down to where Gerith assumed the kittens where and the other heading up.
