Chapter 3
The Voyage to De’ad
He awoke to find himself in the forest. He looked around and noticed a fire ringed with stone and a pot of meat already stewed. It looked about mid-morning maybe early afternoon. He felt alone but remembered Misery. He tried to call him and succeeded.
“Wait until you see me now. I’ll be there in a little bit. I there something bothering you?” questioned Misery
“Yes but you wouldn’t understand.” said Aeron
“Is about what you feel when you pass out?” he asked
“Yes but how did you know?”
“Remember we share a mind. I know everything about you. Like that you lost your father in your younger years and that you had to leave your first life in De’ad.
“Yes but about the feeling I think someone is in trouble. I’m going to talk to Zorach about it.” said Aeron
“Well wait I’m here.”
“You’ve grown a lot.” exclaimed Aeron
“Yes. Would you like to take a ride?”
“Sure.” he said excitedly
Aeron climbed on his back and found a groove in between Misery’s shoulders.
“Hold on”
And they were in the sky with one mighty leap into the air. The feeling was incredible. In two great flaps they were a half-mile in the air.
“What happens if I fall?” he asked uncertainly
“Then I’ll just have to catch you.” he replied
When they were more than a mile in the air Misery did an aerial flip that made Aeron lose his balance and slip off his back. Aeron flailed his arms in attempt to stop himself, but only made it worse. He started to fall but Misery twisted and caught him.
“That was amazing. How did you learn to fly like that?”Aeron asked in awe
“It’s hereditary. Dragons are born with the skill of flight. We can also do magic. But it’s not like the magic humans’ use.”
“Wow I wish I could be a dragon.” he said with the expression of pure happiness.
“Oh but you can.”
Before he could answer his mind went blank then he opened his eyes. Everything was distorted and different hues. He didn’t have arms but he had wings and a tail.
“This is how I see the world. You’re in a dream induced by magic. You may wake at any time.
He awoke to find himself where he had laid before and Zorach was beside him.
“Hello sleepy head. He said with sarcasm. You’ve been asleep for four days. I was beginning to worry about you.”
“Why did I pass out? I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes you did. You killed the Ewenki with garna.”
“But how, I don’t know magic?”
“Yes that is a question indeed. I think that it was Misery who acted through you.”
“Oh well he told me he could do magic but not that he did magic. Don’t make fun of me but every time I pass out I get a feeling that someone needs me. The thing is though I don’t know who or what wants me. Do you understand?”
“Have you seen visions of the person or is it just the feeling?’
“Just the feeling.”
“This could lead to bad things. Aeron tried to interrupt but Zorach shushed him. Listen to me; it’s not good to have someone in your head. And get ready we leave at Noon.
“They rode into the night. They stopped at the Udna River which was southeast of Belguim about 50 miles. They broke off from the Udna River at dawn and traveled north toward De’ad.
“Why do we have to come here?” questioned Aeron
“Because we do. And so help me you perform more magic without my supervision I’ll whip you to threads.” He said with a chuckle.
“Okay but I’m not going out of our room without a disguise.” Aeron said with a look of fright as he stared at the gates to the city. Do we really have to...?
Just then they heard the shriek of an Ewenki. They saw the arrow just before it hit them and Zorach deflected it with magic as a second came. There must have been ten Ewenki surrounding them.
“Now would be a good time to use magic.” stated Zorach
Aeron sent a ball of fire in the direction of the Ewenki but missed. Zorach sent twenty of their arrows back at them and killed two of them. Aeron broke three of their necks using garna. Then Zorach a ball of energy that killed the remaining five. By the time they were done piling the bodies a crowd of people had shown up.
“Well what is a better way not to get noticed then fighting ten people with magic. Zorach said with a smile on his face. You did good Aeron you did good. Now let’s go get something to eat shall we not.” He said with a smile
Chapter 4
Trouble in De’ad
When they got to their room at The World they had privacy to talk.
“How did you make the ball of energy?” asked Aeron
“All you have to do is let garna flow through but if you let it flow to long you’ll lose all your energy.”
“What do we do tomorrow?”
“We go to the port.”
“But why?”
“We have to get across this lake. If we go by land it’ll take weeks. We have to get to Sudan. There we can meet with the rebellion.”
“Fine but when are we leaving.”
“About noon tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Aeron went to his bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Help me Aeron help me. I’m at the chapel in De’ad. You’re the only who can help me.
He awoke in a sweat and he was like a fire.
“What do you think I should do?” He asked Misery
“I think you should rescue her but before have a good time. Oh and I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Me neither.”
He went to The World’s bar and diner for breakfast. When he had his full he went to a bakery and bought a pie. After his pie he started to explore the city and soon found where the chapel was.
“I’m going to the chapel now so be ready to leave.”
“Okay if you need help just tell me.
Aeron started toward the center of the city. When he arrived at the wrought iron gates he noticed that they were locked. Under his cloak he used garna to open them. Once inside the gates he made himself invisible by bending the light around him. The chapel was huge and almost impossible to see the top of. When he was at the entrance he found five guards. Aeron used garna again to unlock this door. The guards must have heard something because they turned around.
Now’s my chance He thought desperately.
He broke the first guard’s neck then the remaining guards turned around. One of the guards shot a revealing spell at him. He was once again visible. Guards from all around came now. Aeron used a ball of energy to kill several of them. The remaining drew their bows and swords.
He broke several more guards’ necks and heard an alarm sound.
“I’d better get through the gate and lock it before they get me.” He thought.
He shot a ball of fire at the guards in front of the doors catching them ablaze. He broke their necks to put them out of their misery. He darted toward the doors. Once inside he locked them using garna.
“Now to find her.” He said aloud.
He found a guard in the room to his right.
“Give me the keys to all cells.” He said
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The guard said defiantly. There are no cells in case you didn’t notice. This is a chapel.”
“Yes I know. Just Give Me The Keys.” Aeron said as he broke the man’s arm.
The guard squealed in pain then reached in his jacket and got out a pair of keys.
“Thank you. That wasn’t so hard now was it?”
Aeron hit the guard in the mouth. He tried every room on that hallway. He went up the stairs and found three people lying dead on the floor. The rest of the floor was covered in dry blood.
He tried the first door on the right. The keys didn’t work on this door.
“This might be the door.”
Aeron sent a ball of energy toward the door. The door instantly splintered. He heard a nearby scream as he stepped into the room. There she was lying unconscious on a cement slab. Aeron picked her up and she stirred. He heard another scream but only closer. Stepping through the door was a Helkin.
“Hello I see you know my friend. He said with a demented smile. Do you like what I did with her?”
Aeron didn’t answer. He was in a trance of fear. He had never actually sword fought someone before especially a Helkin. Nobody had ever fought one and lived or even escaped.
Aeron decided to act first. He drew his sword as the Helkin shot a ball of energy at him. He missed and it ricocheted off the wall. Just then Zorach appeared out of thin air. He stood between the Helkin and Aeron.
“Aeron stay back just take the girl. I’ll take on the Helkin.” He said as the Helkin charged.
Zorach parried the blow and then took strike but was blocked. As the Helkin was stunned Zorach took another strike but this time connected. The Helkin’s arm was lying on the ground. As the Helkin screamed he took another blow to the leg only getting a little under the armor.
Zorach shot a ball of energy at him blowing him backwards into the wall. Then he took the Helkin’s sword and cut off the man’s head.
“That was amazing. You are the only known person to kill a Helkin.” Aeron said with excitement.
“Yes but what are you doing here. I told you to have a good time not to go getting yourself into fights.” Zorach said with a chuckle.
“Well I had a dream and she told me to come to the chapel. I spoke with Misery about it and he said it was a good idea. But how did you know I was in trouble or where I was?”
“Well Misery told me that you were at the chapel as soon as you broke your connection he told me to go in case you needed help.”
“Let’s get out of here before more come.” Aeron said.
“That’s a good idea.”
They left the chapel invisible. Then they traveled up through the middle of the city. They took a side road that headed east toward the port. When they arrived there were only three boats docked.
“How are we going to get on a boat?” He asked
“We aren’t going to get on a boat. We are going to steal a boat.”
“But I don’t know how to steer a boat. Nor do I want to kill all these people.”
“But we don’t have to. We’re going to get on a boat about to leave. Then threaten everybody. If they don’t run the boat we kill them.” Zorach explained
“Okay.” Aeron knew there were no beginnings in the world; however, he felt as though this was a beggining.
