Hidden Walls of Knowledge

Hidden Walls of Knowledge

1

The Times to Come

Lamant forked hay into a stall, for the sixth time, and stopped, rubbing the sweat off his forehead. I stabbed the fork into the hay, and walked away from the stables, and up the hill to the house. Every boy's dream today was to become a knight, but not all of those dreams were possible, but my Father was one of the lucky ones, and now he has been sent out on a quest, we’re not allowed to know what his quest is, but that led to something dangerous.

Lamant entered through the rough wooden door, and set foot in the house full of smell of bakery. Tomorrow, was my Father's day of return. We hope for him to come home in one piece, but all is never well, this kingdom is at war with the dragons. But there is still hope. I walked into the kitchen where Mother stood, baking her special bread. “Father should be happy when he returns.” Mother said with a smile. I heard a knock on the thick wooden door, and I walked to it, and opened it slowly seeing who it was. A man in a tunic, nothing fancy. He held a letter. “This is from the king.” The young man said. I took the letter closing the door. I opened it slowly, pulling out a parchment, with fancy writing on it. I flipped it open and began to read. Letter: I'm sorry to say this, but your Father is not to return, his loss was fought greatly with honor, and pride. He died a hero, there is much to be done, and I would like to see you at my palace tomorrow. I'm sorry if there is no time to grieve, but time is very valuable here. - Gardhane. I looked down at the letter again, reading it for the second time. “Mother.” I called. She walked out of the kitchen with flour all over her. “Yes?” She asked shifting her weight. I hand her the letter, and she began to read, unsure what to say. A tear dripped down her cheek and looked at me. “W-we must prepare you for your journey.” Mother said, and I walked into my room, looking as my past will be long gone. I must move on. I began to pack my belongings in a leather bag. After finishing, I took two pieces of Mother's special bread and ate it, and laid in the hay bed. I stared at the wall in thoughts of becoming a knight. It would be a while before I fell asleep. Soon, time passed on, and rest overcome my eyes. I woke up to the morning light shining through the window on me. I stood up, and walked out of the room, with the leather bag, filled with my belongings for my journey. A horse was packed with food, and groomed, ready to ride. I looked over to Mother by the stables, and I walked over to her, and wrapped her in my arms. “Now you be a good boy.” Mother said into my ear. I pulled from her. “I will.” Lamant replied. I hopped on my horse, and gave the horse a kick, and I began on a trot. I looked back at Mother, and we waved each other fair well. I sighed as a long journey was ahead of me. I began my journey with an apple to munch on while I ride along the horse. Hours passed on faster than he would like, he was losing sunlight. Finally after another hour into dusk, the warm air rushed around my body, I sighed as I saw apples in the trees. Lamant slowed down to a stop, and stood on his horse, and jumped grabbing a branch, and lifting his weight over the big branch. Lamant straightened himself out and began taking apples. “A good way to make due for dinner.” He said to the horse. The horse snorted like he knew what he was saying. I climbed down another branch, making sure he didn’t fall out of the tree. I climbed down another branch before jumping down. I brushed the dirt and leaves off of me, after standing up. Lamant gave the horse an apple, and grabbed his flint and steel from the leather bag. He put some twigs, and a little bit of dead leaves to get the fire started. He blew carefully into the fire, giving it air, to gain in mass. Soon, Lamant was finished getting the fire at a steady stance, and he grabbed a small pan from the leather bag, and began to cook some of the pig meat he had in his bag. He had packed almost everything he needed for his journey, the only thing he would worry about is getting robbed in his sleep. He watched as the meat cooked in the pot, sizzling. I smelled roast pig. I smiled, but the thoughts of my Father dead, weighed down my smile as soon as it raised. I had been trained by my Father since I was just a boy. I looked down at the meat. It started to gain a slight amount of brown on the outside of the meat, and I took it off the fire, setting it in the grass, ready to eat. Lamant set out a wooden plate from the leather bag, and plopped the chunk of meat on the plate. He also grabbed a silver fork, and began to eat. With his other hand, he gave the horse another apple. I took another bite of my food, as I felt a knife point to my throat. I felt as he took the dagger from my boot.

“Now, we are here to play nice boy, just let us take what we need, and we will be on our way, with no harm done.” The man behind me said with a crackly voice. The corner of my mouth twitched into almost a smile.

“You might as well slit my throat here now.” Lamant said in a sarcastic voice. The man behind me sighed.

“Now why would we need to do that?” He asked his voice crackly.

“Cause you might not live if you don’t.” I said elbowing him in the ribs, and he released me, a bit knocked out of air. I saw another old cranky man, taking stuff from the leather bag. I walked up to him, and he dropped the leather bag and pulled out a sword. He thrust the sword toward me, and I saw the movement already and moved to the side. I walked by his side, and punched him in the face, and I looked back to the other old man. I walked up to him, and he pulled out an old rusty dagger, and I rushed to him, and hold his hand with the rusty dagger, while I punched him in the face. He dropped to the ground, as I punched him in the ribs again. Now that’s got to leave a nasty bruise. I thought to myself. I looked down at him, and while he was still regaining from the punches, I grabbed the pan I used to cook the meat and wacked him in the head hard enough to knock him out. I turned to the other old man, took the rusty dagger from the knocked out poor old man, and threw the dagger at the other man’s foot, missing it by inches. I rushed over to him, and dodged another blow that would have entered my skull, and wacked him in the head with a pan. Lamant watched as his body slumped to the ground, and he sighed. These people need to stop trying to rob people. They only make matters worse for them. Though I wouldn’t be surprised, since the king has raised the taxes by double. I took what I had brought with me, from them, and tied them around a tree with a rope keeping them tight against the tree. I smiled almost in a sad way, then I put out my fire, and hopped on my horse. I clicked my tongue, and Lamant gave another steady kick in the ribs, and the horse began on a trot. It was nearly often that you would get robbed during a trip to town, or to Magewood, it is where I am headed now. Seeing the sun only half way through the sky, and I looked over to the castle in view, but the castle did seem deserted from the outside point of view. The horse snorted as he looked up at the apples on top of another tree. I sighed, and gave the horse another apple. The horse munched on it proudly as it trotted along. My thoughts remained to my Father, when the last time I trained with him, was before left for the quest. Father, with his wooden sword, laughed as I tried to get through his defenses.

“One day boy, you will be able to break through.” Father said, as he drank from a cup, with ease keeping me from able to even hit him once. He was getting fairly old by then. At the age of 57, he still remained as a knight. I thrust my sword at him, and he swiped his blade down to knock it off course.

“Surely you can do better than this.” Father taunted. I grunted as I throw one last blow at him with all my might, and he blocked it from cracking his skull open. He drank more from the silver cup, and sighed with sweat on him. He blocked another blow from me to the side, and I did an upper-cut he blocked it with ease. I watched as his movements, shifted, and I got this one time, just this once, to strike him. I swung my wooden blade at his ribs where he had blocked from my other blow, and my wooden blade touched his ribs before he could block it. He drank the last from the silver cup, and sighed. “Well done son.” He said as we drop the wooden swords and hugged each other. I had been training since I was 12, it meant a lot to me to break through his defenses. Lamant looked as the castle grew closer. Vines grew on the castle its self, it remained purely beautifully as the sun shined upon the cobble stone castle. I patted the horse on the side of the neck.

“We’re almost there.” I said to the horse, and he snorted. I swear, this horse can hear every word I’m saying. I thought to myself. I gave a slight kick in the ribs to the horse, and we began on a sprint, as the castle was only maybe not even 1000 feet away. I pulled the horse to a small walk, as I reached the stables, and I pulled a purse of gold, silver, and bronze coins out of my leather bag, and paid 1 silver coin for the horse to rest, and feed. I walked up to the Magewood, city gates.

“What is your business here?” The guard asked. I pulled out the letter the King gave me and showed him the signature. I put the letter back in my leather bag. “You may pass, sorry to bother with the King’s business.” I looked at him as he opened the gates.

“Don’t be sorry, you’re just doing your job.” I said walking into the city.

2

Knighthood

The streets crowded, I made passed people. I watched as people continued on with their life, taking care of rugs out of the windows, and dumping buckets of dirty water down at the street. You’d be lucky to not get poured on. I looked as a bridge was just up a ahead. I passed more people, and I was on the bridge. I looked over seeing it lead out of the city, in sewers. I continued walking to the castle, and I looked as a tower of stairs that led to the Palace. Two pillars stood up swirling with blue energy. Lamant began the journey up the tower of stairs passing people as he goes up the stairs. Soon he reached to the doors, and two guards stood by the huge doors.

“What is your business here, the King already has an appointment.” The guard said walking up to me. I looked at him, he should have been expecting me… But guess it’s just doing their job. Lamant thought to himself.

I pulled out a letter signed by the King, and showed him the letter.

“I am his appointment.” I said fixing my hair and took back the letter. “Now, may I please go in?” I was getting a bit disappointed how stubborn these guards are. The gates opened, and I walked into the castle throne room, cobblestone floors, with a black rug that led to the tables, and the other rooms and halls. The bearded King, sat on the throne. I walked up the black rug to the throne. I stopped by the steps that led to the throne. I bowed, then looked up at him.

“You’re the boy I was expecting?” The King said with his crackly voice. I nodded.

“I’m sorry if I don’t… Look what you expected.” I replied as he shifted in his seat.

“Why you say you’re sorry, I didn’t think of the sort… I’m just seeing how fit you are, nothing wrong with that is there boy?” The king asked.

“Well… I just thought that I was a bit under fit for what you might have ahead of me.” Lamant managed to exclaim. The King laughed.

“That’s what you think, that you’re not fit to become a knight.” He laughed a little more. I stood there wondering why he was laughing. He stopped laughing. “You people don’t have any humor.” He said rubbing his beard. “Anyways, we needed to talk about you going to Knighthood.” The King said looking into my eyes. “What would you think of that?” Well… this was my only chance so, I might as well take it, before there isn’t a chance. “Your Father told me how well you are master at swordsmanship.” I looked at him as my Father had put my trust into The King.

“Yes, I would like to join the Knighthood.” I replied. The King pulled out a paper. “Very well then, you will go to Knighthood class.” He stood up, and took his sword. “Kneel down.” I complied his orders, and he tapped my left shoulder, then my right. “You vow to bound you’re orders to the Knighthood and draw blood with your fellow brothers?”

“I do.” I said, as everything was coming through so fast.

“You may stand.” The King said putting his sword away. I stood up, and looked at him. “You will report to your master tomorrow morning at 6 AM, here is a letter, you have joined the Knighthood, and the resting rooms are down the hall, and there is a training room.” The King rubbed his beard once again, handing me the letter. “And the Sword master’s headquarters are in the East Tower.” I nodded. “You’re dismissed.” I walked away, to the gates, and two guards opened them, and I exited the castle. I walked down the tower of stairs, as I decent I looked at my Knighthood letter signed by the King. I walked across the bridge, and continued across the cobblestone streets, walking around what was to be seen. The sun was still high in the sky, I still had a good day worth of exploring around here. I walked into an inn, and to the counter crossing my arms on the counter.

“I would like a room.” I said holding a small bag of bronze coins. The man behind the counter took it.

“Second floor, left hall, second room down.” The man said, and I walked with my leather bag over my shoulder, and I began up the stairs. I reached the second floor, and turned. I walked down the hall, until I reached the second room down, and entered with a rusty key. I opened it, and walked in, with the leather bag over my shoulder, I set it down, and laid down on the bed. I closed my eyes, my dreams drooping overcomes me. I woke up to young sun beams shining through the dimmed window, and I stood up. From the sun’s beams, it looked to be 5 AM. I started to grab what I need for Knighthood, and I grabbed the leather bag and hopped it over one shoulder, and walked out of the room locking it, and walked down the stairs to the lobby. I gave the Innkeeper the key, and walked out of the Inn. I walked over the bridge passing many people. I ran up the tower of stairs and stopped by the gates. Before I could let the guards say anything, I pulled out the letter of Knighthood out and showed them it was signed by the King. They opened the gates, and I walked in, walked up the rug that led to the halls, and rooms on sides. I walked until I reached a door that had carvings Resting Room. I walked in, keeping a quiet, and fast pace, I made my way to an empty made bed, and set my stuff down. I sat down, as a few other people my age, stood up out of bed, getting ready. The other guy about my age pulled on a shirt, and walked over to me.

“You must be new here.” He said. I looked at him. “By the way, you won’t be needing you’re belongings for training.”

“Yes, I just got here, and okay.” I said putting back some of my stuff.

“You better hurry if you want to make it to the mess hall in time.” He said. “Come on, I’ll show you the way.” I shrugged and followed him.

“How long have you been here?” I asked fixing my morning hair.

“Less than a week.” He replied as we walked to another door, entering it, the tables mostly filled, Lamant followed the other boy, to the counter where they handed out trays of food. “Take a tray.” He said, and I took a tray from the counter, and we walked to a less crowded table. Leaves, some tiny hand full of meat, worth on the plate, and a small amount of white like glob. I took a fork and began to eat. I ate the Leaves, then the glob, and finishing my breakfast with the small hand full worth of meat. “Come on, we don’t want to be late for practice.” He said, and I stood up, taking the last bite of the small amount of meat, and rushed out of the mess hall with him, and a lot of other people our age, or even older. The food tasted kind of bland, but it did fill me up. We reached to a room, seeing the Sword Master standing with his hands behind his back, and I stood in line with the others.

“You and you, will train against each other today.” The Sword Master said pointing at me, and the boy next to me, that was showing me around. “Take a wooden sword, and begin your fight, and those mistakes you have done will be taught later.” I took a wooden sword from a rack, and he did the same. We stood on a mat, facing each other. “Begin.” And he rushed at me, and I stepped to the side easily, and I stuck my sword out to block a blow from the side of my ribs. I threw a blow to the skull, with a quick switch, and cut his stomach. I blocked another blow, and thrust my sword at his stomach. He thrust at me. I stepped to the side and hold his sword down to the ground, and hit him on the arm. He was panting and sweating, and I stepped to the side as he threw another thrust at me, and I hit him on the chest.

I raised my sword quickly, and dropped it at him, and he blocked.

“Not bad, you’re a natural.” The Sword Master said with his hand to his chin. I looked over at him. “Don’t just stand there looking at me, fight!” He yelled, and I continued fighting. I did an upper cut he blocked, and I thrust again, he swiped my sword to the left, then I brought my sword back blocked two blows, and did a side cut, hitting him. We rushed at each other, sword by sword. I pushed him, and he tripped and fell, and I put a foot on his stomach, and brought my sword to a down point, and hit him lightly, on the chest. I put my sword in my other hand, took my foot off his stomach, and helped him up.

“Next, step back in line.” Me and the other boy smiled, and walked back to the line. Hour pasted on, and next, we were running through courses, rough terrain, and a lot of fighting courses as well. Bruises all over me, I walked to the wash up hall, before going to the mess hall to eat. I finished eating and walked back to the Resting Room. I plopped onto the bed closing my eyes. I will have to do this for 2 months. I thought to myself. This is going to be a long hard time here. I finally felt dreams come, and I fell into the deep darkness of sleep. I woke up, seemed fairly early, I stood up out of bed, and got ready for another day. I walked into the mess hall, and walked to the counter, and grabbed a tray of food. I walked to the table and sat down by the boy I met yesterday.

“I never got to know your name, I’m Lamant.” I said. He looked at me, and finished swallowing a bite.

“I’m John, nice to know you Lamant.” He replied continuing to eat. Soon, they finished eating, and went to fighting class. After about 2 hours of pure fighting, I had gained more bruises. Then we went through a running course. I run past trees, I jumped over a log, and continued running at a paced jog. Lamant soon reached the other line and stopped to catch his breath, clothes soaked in sweat. Lamant walked to the mess hall, and picked a tray from the counter and sat down at the table. Lamant looked down at the food, so tired. Lamant began to eat my food. This was only my first week. Lamant watched as the others walked in sweat soaking them. They began to chat quietly, everyone in this room is fairly tired. Lamant finished his food, and walked out of the mess hall, and walked to the bathing rooms. Lamant scrubbed himself until he was clean. He grabbed a towel, and walked out of the bathing rooms and to the resting rooms where he began to change into sleeping clothes he had prepared for himself. He plopped onto the bed stretching, feeling his muscles ach everywhere. If only it was easy here. He thought to himself. But it was true that every day you don’t get to go to Knighthood. Lamant closed his eyes, feeling the darkness welcoming him, leaving his aches behind.

3

The Long Journey Ahead

The king sighed rubbing his beard.

“He learns quickly, he bested some of the teachers here, I’m sure he would be excellent knight at this age.” The Sword Master said with a slight amount of hope in his voice.

“But the boy has only been training for a week.” The king replied.

“I understand, but he was also trained by his father, I’ve seen his skills with a blade and a shield.” The Sword Master protested.

“I’ll take your word for it, I’m just afraid that he might end up dead, or lost like his father did.” The king said with some sorrow in his voice. The Sword Master nodded with a frown on his face.

“It would be a disaster to lose another knight like him at such a young age, but sometimes you just have to believe in someone.” The Sword Master spoke politely.

The king nodded once again.

“Fine, he shall go on the quest for the kingdom at dawn, and if not to return, will be remembered a hero.” The king spoke and waved his hand. “Prepare the boy for his journey, and also give him my regards, and as a token of hope, I give him my sword.” The king handed the sword to the Sword Master and he smiled sadly at the king, before walking away.

Lamant woke up to a voice, but it seemed too early for even the mess hall to be open. He looked as the Sword Master had a pack, and a sword on top of the pack. He stood up, fixing his morning hair.

“Be quiet, it’s still going to be another hour until they get up.” The Sword Master whispered.

“What’s with the pack and sword?” Lamant asked softly.

“You are going on a quest, the same one your Father had set out on.” The Sword Master replied. I gulped quietly thinking, they really need those dragons dead don’t they.

“I’ve only been here a week, the main training course takes 6 months.” I said with confusion. The Sword Master sighed.

“You were trained nearly till manhood, I’ve seen you fight, and I can sense the skill you acquired in the time training with your Father.” The Sword Master replied. “Now get ready, and put some proper clothes on.” He walked out of the Resting rooms and Lamant took off his sleeping clothes, and pulled on some traveling clothes. Lamant walked out of the resting rooms quietly, after finishing, and followed the Sword Master to the Throne room. Lamant looked at the king on the throne who smiled at me sadly. I gulped as my thoughts wondered if I was even going to survive the first two days on my journey.

“I wish you my regards, and as a token, you may take my sword into glory.” The king said standing up. The Sword Master handed the king the sword, and handed me the blade. It felt just right, not too heavy, and not to light. “Everything you need will be in the pack, a map, food that would last you a week at least, some coins to help you on your journey, and another pair of clothes.” The Sword Master handed me the pack, and I plopped it over my shoulder, and wrapped it around my other shoulder.

“And here is my token of luck, I bid you a safe journey.” The Sword Master said with ease handing him a dagger. Lamant took it, sticking it in his boot, so it remained hidden.

“You will head east from here, and continue to the town of Ravenstock, and there should be a friend of mine, his name is Athos, you can find him in the pub most of the time, he should help you on this quest, and send him my regards.” Lamant nodded taking in everything they were informing me with. Lamant walked away, down the steps, and opened the gate, and left the castle, leaving more steps for me to climb down. Lamant walked down the steps and to the wooden bridge. Lamant walked along the bridge as his soft leather boots made barely any noise as he walked. Soon, he reached the gates, and the guards opened the gate, and I exited the city, leaving only outskirt houses to pass by. Lamant walked to the stables, retrieving his horse, and hopped on the horse, grooming his hair, and then he was riding at a trot. He pulled the map from the pack, and began to see where he was. He had just began to learn how to read a map in Knighthood. He could see that Ravenstock was only one day’s ride from here.

I put the map way, and began the journey to Ravenstock. It wasn’t every day you get sent on a quest, only one week into Knighthood school. Hours passed by, nothing interesting never seemed to happen. Lamant sighed as he began to feel the need to get off the horse and take a break. He hopped of the horse, giving him an apple, and looked in the pack, seeing what he had. He had some dried fruit of different types, some jerky, and some countless amount of different berries. He picked two berries, one strip of beef jerky, and one dried fruit, and began to eat. Soon he finished his break and hopped back on his horse, and began on a trot again, soon he reached a clearing view. Seeing nothing but trees. But I could see smoke coming above the trees. Lamant smelled the air, and burnt wood filled his nose. Lamant stopped the horse, as f waiting for something. He saw flames stretch across the trees, and he could make out a wooden house, but it no longer stood, it was burnt to the ground, and he heard screams. He turned his horse, and began into a sprint across the field, and a massive roar came over his ears, and he pulled out the sword the king gave him. He saw a beast, towering as high as the house once stood, and the wings of the beast flapping as he took off, and Lamant looked over to see a woman screaming holding her child close to her, sheltered by a big rock. Lamant heard another scream come from the dragon as he hopped off the horse, and he rushed over to the rock sword drawn. He looked down at the woman with her young boy held close to her.

“Are you alone?” I asked hearing another roar in the sky. The woman nodded.

“The dragon killed my husband.” She replied tears stinging her eyes, and the young boy stunned with his eyes closed tight.

Lamant felt the ground shake as the dragon landed only 50 feet away from him.

Oh shuckles… He thought to himself. He ran to another big rock, since the other one was occupied. Lamant felt heat through the rock, flames towering over the rock. He rushed from out of behind the rock, and to the dragon. He jumped onto the dragon’s neck before it could send another wall of flames at me, and began to stab its head rapidly as he tried to fling me off him, but he failed, only making the stabbing worse for him. Finally, Lamant stopped stabbing it, and the dragon seemed too weak to do anything else, but then a voice came.

“You… Will, not destroy the last of us, we have come back, and we will swallow the world.” The dragon said in an old accent that I couldn’t describe. Lamant raised his sword, and cut the dragon’s jaw off. Blood all over me, wounds from spikes on the dragon’s body. Lamant looked at his sword, blood all everywhere. I looked at the woman and young boy.

“You… You killed it?” The woman asked afraid. Lamant left a strange feeling over him, as he just killed a dragon, and I should have died, but I’m still here talking with a woman.

“I-I think so.” I said, just as stunned as she was. Lamant put his sword away, and looked for his horse, he found it dead, ripped apart from claws of the dragon.

Lamant sighed as his ride to Ravenstock was dead. He took the pack off the horse, and began walking back to road he was riding on. He walked along the road muscles aching, thinking how did he killed that dragon without dying himself. Soon, he reached to a point where he just had to stop for the night. He ate some beef jerky, and then some dried fruit, and closed his eyes, laying against the tree. He let darkness take him into the void where his aches wouldn’t bother him anymore.

Lamant woke up to early light shining on him, and he stood up fixing his morning hair once again, and pulling his pack and pulled some dried fruit for breakfast. He ate as he walked along the path. He looked as there was a stream down the hill. He sighed as he rushed to the stream, and took off his shirt, and began to wash it. Soon he finished washing his clothes, and he washed himself up, then took a sip from the water, being careful not to get something nasty in his body. He walked back up the hill to the path, and he continued walking, his clothes wet from washing them. He soon came across a cobblestone bridge and crossed it, seeing houses coming into view. Then he saw two watch towers, and the whole town came into view. Lamant looked at a sign after crossing the bridge, it read, “Ravenstock”. Lamant smiled as he walked pass the sign, and into town, seeing people have markets set up outside of their houses, people crowding around seeing what they could buy or need. He walked around town until he found the pub building, and he walked in with ease. Lamant walked to the counter, and the man behind the counter walked over to me.

“What can I do for you today?” The man asked carrying a bottle of wine.

He looked at him sitting down in one of the stools.

“I’m looking for a man named Athos.” Lamant replied. The man looked at me.

“He’s over there, you must not be from around here are you?” He guessing pointing to where he was.

“No, I’m not from around here, but thank you.” Lamant replied once more, walking over to Athos. I sat down at his table, and he looked at me.

“State… your business.” He said with a low voice, taking another sip of his beer.

“I’m on a quest, and the king has sent his regards, and he said you could help me on my quest to stopping these dragon attacks.” I said as he moved a big metal mug to me. “I’m sorry, I don’t drink.”

Athos shrugged.

“Your loss.” Athos said drinking the whole mug, then wiping the foam from the beer off his upper lip with his wrist. “Yes, I have been hearing about rumors about dragons, attacking small towns, and even cities, and it’s true they need stopped.” He drank some more of the beer that remained in the mugs. “Tomorrow… We will see if I help you or not.” Lamant looked at him strangely.

“What do you mean by that?” He asked wondering what he was planning to do.

“I mean… we will see if you are a worthy partner, or you can be on your way.” Athos replied with a growl. He let out a small burp, and he passed out his face hitting the table.

“Athos had too much to drink again.” One of the men at the table said to the bartender. The man behind the counter sighed, and stopped what he was doing and walked over to Athos, and the man was big, so he picked Athos up, and took him outside, setting him on a pile of leaves. I stood up, and walked to the bar as the bartender walked back to the counter.

“Can I get a beer?” I asked the bartender.

“Coming right up.” He replied pouring beer from the keg, into the metal mug. The bartender set the mug in front of me, and I looked at it, foam on the surface. Lamant pulled a few coins from his pack, and dropped them in front of him. He took them, and I took the mug, and began to drink the mug empty. I finished, and burped lowly, and wiped the foam off my upper lip, and set the mug down. I pulled the pack over my shoulders and walked out of the bar, and walked around the town for a bit more, than walked to “The Feisty Inn”. I opened the door, and walked to the counter, and pulled a silver coin out, and gave the man the coin, and asked for a room. After he gave me the key to my room, I walked up the stairs, and turned left, and two doors down I found my room. Lamant walked in, setting his pack down, and looked at a bowl of fruit on the end table, and two lit candles, and a plate with soft bread, and some jerky. Lamant set his sword beside his pack, and walked out to the balcony looking at the sunset over the trees. I sighed looking over the trees. Lamant mind continued with the thoughts of the dragons words.

“You…Will not destroy the last of us, we have come back, and we will swallow the world.”

I just wondered where they were coming from. Two centuries ago, we had a war with the dragons, we won, but they killed our most valuable men, wizards, lycanthropes, witches, have gone into hiding after the war, since their power was used in the war, and they are now hunted for their power is to strong, and they have become afraid of them. They used to be in peace, but then they started executing them. Lamant walked back inside, and laid in the bed. He closed his eyes, letting darkness take him away from reality.

I woke up to Athos shaking me.

“Wake up lazy head.” He said loudly. “We got to see if you are worthy enough for me.” He walked over to my pack, throwing it on me. “Get dressed into some new clothes.” He walked out of the room, and I changed, pulling the sword on my belt. I walked out of my room and saw Athos waiting for me down the hall. Lamant walked up to him, they walked down the stairs, and out of the Inn. “Follow me behind here, then we will see if you got some skill.” Lamant and Athos walked behind the pub.

“Draw your sword.” I complied and readied myself. He drew his, and he began to flip his sword, and readying himself.

We both approached each other and our swords clang together, and the fight started. Lamant sent a blow to his head after blocking a blow to the side, and Athos blocked with a fair amount of ease. Lamant stepped to the side dodging a thrust and he clanged Athos’s sword to the ground. “Good enough.” He said picking his sword up, putting it back in its sheath, and as did Lamant.

“So, where do we begin our quest?” Lamant asked. Athos frowned folding his arms.

“There is half a day’s ride to Foirt, they contain the information we need, but this information I’m about to tell you can never leave your mouth.” He said with ease.

“I understand.” Lamant said.

“Foirt has sided with the dragons, and the dragons are sparing them, while Foirt contains the information we need to find the location of the Hidden Walls of Knowledge." He replied.

“How did they obtained the information of Hidden Walls of Knowledge?” Lamant asked confused knowingly that Hidden Walls of Knowledge, is hidden.

“They have spies everywhere, I’m guessing they got the information from the dragons when they were spying.” Athos explained.

Lamant sighed.

“But if they have that information, does that mean they are our ally, or our enemy?”

Athos thought for a moment.

“It does make sense they would side up with us to take down the dragons since they knew where to find the book that could stop this war, but the dragons are smarter than that, they would have made a bargaining that could change their plans, for all I know is that the dragons will tear their castle to ribbons if they say a word about the information.” Athos explained wisely.

I took in everything he said and sighed.

“It’s true, they would be smarter than to just give them that information.” I said. “So, I guess we better get going.” Athos nodded and we walked to the Inn, gather our stuff. I rushed to my room, and opened the room with the key, and grabbed my stuff. I wrapped the pack over my shoulders and Lamant walked out of the room. Lamant met Athos at the door, and they walked out together.

“Do you have a horse?” Athos asked as we walked to the stables.

“No, I don’t, I mean I did, we can talk about that later.” I replied.

“Then we’ll have to get you a new horse.” Athos said sighing after his words left his mouth. Athos walked up to the man, and began to talk, then handed him two gold coins, and the man walked away. Then a few moments later, he brought another horse and he walked away into the house. Lamant hopped onto the horse, and waited for Athos to get on his. Soon they were riding out of town, and passing trees along the dirt path. They trotted along the path, with ease.

“So, what do you plan to do when we get there?” Lamant asked as they trotted through the forest on the dirt path. Athos looked at me.

“Well, we get in their castle, and we take out their guards, then we go to king’s Scott’s desk, and we search for the information.” Athos replied smoothly. “The matter shouldn’t be too hard, unless they didn’t contained the information, and it could also be a trap.” I looked at him taking a bite of dried fruit.

“True, but we shouldn’t keep our guard down.” Lamant said with ease as they passed by more trees, rubbing his hair with one hand, while the other hand controlled the horse. Athos nodded.

“Letting our guard down would most likely only kill us.” Athos advised. “We’ll strike at midnight.” Lamant nodded as they continued to ride along the dirt path. Soon they came to a stop.

“Let’s take a few to rest for now, then we will continue later on.” Athos said as he munched on some dried fruit, sitting against a tree. Lamant sat down next to him muscles aching.

“So, how did your horse die?” Athos asked taking another bite of his dried fruit. Lamant gave a slight frown, and began to explain. Athos nodded as he continued on explaining how his horse died. Athos stopped munching on dried fruit and looked at Lamant. “You killed the dragon?” He said stunned. I nodded.

“But before I killed it… The dragon said: “You… Will, not destroy the last of us, we have come back, and we will swallow the world.” Lamant replied starring. Athos nodded.

“Sounds like they come to take over the world.” Athos said standing up. “Come on, we better get going.” Lamant nodded and stood up, hopping on his horse. Athos and Lamant began on their journey again. Soon, Foirt came into view over the hill. The sun was beginning to set. “We’ll camp out here for tonight, and at midnight we strike.” Athos said hopping off his horse.

“Well, we got a plan now, all we have to do is wait.” Lamant said getting off his horse, giving the horse an apple. Lamant pulled some jerky, and some berries. Lamant munched on them, while making small talk with Athos as they waited for time to come. Soon, the moon rose in the sky, as darkness covered the land, leaving only the glow of the moon for light. Athos looked to the sky.

“It’s just about time, come on.” Athos said, and Lamant stood up with him. Lamant got ready for what was to come. He put his sword on his belt, then he put his cloak on Athos given him. “I’m ready.” Lamant murmured. Athos nodded slightly, and we tied the horses’ ropes to the tree, and we made our way down the hill quietly. Soon they reached the walls, and we began to climb. Lamant watched his stepping, soon they reached the top, and Athos took out the guard. We rushed, with our heads low. Athos opened the tower door, checking if the cost was clear, and we continued down the steps. Lamant followed Athos down the steps quietly and soon they reached the bottom, where stood a wooden door. Lamant opened it slightly, seeing no one in sight.

“Clear.” Lamant whispered opening the door wider, and we exited the door. Athos and Lamant rushed along the walls, and soon reached to the gates of the castle doors after passing countless houses. Athos snuck behind a guard, and knocked him out with his hand. I did the same movement, and the guard passed out, slumping to the ground. We smiled, entering the gates, and knocked the others out. Soon, we reached to the stairs that lead to the king’s desk. We climbed the stairs, barely making any noise, our ears open for any sign of guards. We heard none, and we rushed up the rest of the stairs, and we reached the door. I stood behind Athos, and Athos got his lock pick out and began to unlock the door. Soon we heard a click, and he opened the door slowly, and we saw someone dressed in dark clothes. We entered drawing our swords.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Athos asked the unknown person. The person hiding behind their clothes looked up and down at us.

“From your looks, you’re on the same side as I am.” Came the female voice, her accent was mixed with British and English. Athos looked at her, thinking maybe she was stalling.

“State your name.” Athos said with his eye glaring at the unknown person. She took off her black cloth clothing her face revealing dark brown braided haired girl, hazel eyes, and she looked about the same age as me.

“My name is Sarah.” The girl replied. I looked at her, seeing she was no noble.

“When did you get this information about Foirt getting information about the dragons?” Lamant asked shifting his weight his sword pointed down to the ground.

“I keep my ears open.” Sarah replied softly. Lamant sighed.

“You look like a local.” Lamant said surprised. She smiled.

“Hmm, I am, but I wish to fight, and I have been training for a while now,” She said, “My parents knew this day would come.” Athos looked around the room.

“Did you get the information from Scott’s desk?” Athos asked Sarah. She nodded pulling out a small map. She walked to him with ease, but Athos still kept his guard up. “Don’t try anything stupid.” She scowled.

“We are on the same side right?” She asked running her fingers through her hair. Athos looked at her.

“I think we are… just try and keep to yourself before we can trust you.” Athos replied as Sarah walked closer, giving Athos the hand written map. Athos looked at it almost relieved. “Seems like it’s not a fraud piece of information.” Athos folded it and put it in his cloak. “So, you coming with us?”

Sarah shrugged.

“Perhaps.” Sarah said slowly. She sighed. Athos looked at her.

“We don’t have time, we are going to leave, come, or get left behind.” Athos grumbled. Lamant felt a bit uneasy around here.

“I agree.” Lamant added. Sarah looked back at me, then at Athos.

“I’ll come.” She said. “But if we are going now, then let’s go.” Lamant nodded at Athos, and they left the door, as Sarah behind us locked it. We rushed down the flight of stairs, and out of the castle quietly, passing by the unconscious guards. Then we rushed along the wall, and back into the tower, and up the flight of stairs we went. Lamant, Athos, and Sarah reached the top, Athos opened the door, and they were on top of the walls of the castle. We began to climb down, taking each step, carefully not to fall to their deaths. Soon they reached the bottom, they rushed back into the trees, Sarah behind me as we rushed through the trees to get back to our camp site. We stopped to catch our breath, looking back down at the hill.

“Did we get followed?” Sarah asked, the first to catch their breath. Lamant shook his head. Lamant and Athos caught their breath shortly after, and Athos pulled out the map Sarah had given him. Athos looked down at it for a few moments before looking up at Lamant and Sarah.

“If we head north from here, we should reach the Hadruf’s temple, then we head up the mountains, then once we climbed the mountains to the other side, we go west from there, and we reach Solagroth, the dragon keeper of Hidden Walls of Knowledge.” Athos said smoothly pointing in the direction. Lamant and Sarah nodded. “And from there, we complete the quest.” Lamant sighed.

“We should get some rest before we make our way to the temple of Hadruf.” Lamant said taking his sword off his belt, and setting it aside.

“I’ll take first watch.” Sarah said. Lamant nodded.

“Then me, and Athos.” Lamant added. Athos nodded, and Sarah leaned against the tree as me and Athos lay on the ground, as crickets chirp. Soon darkness took over.

Lamant woke up to Sarah shaking him, and he stood up taking his sword. She must be trust worthy if she could have taken the chance at Athos and himself. Lamant leaned against the tree, looking as she prepared herself for rest. Soon she was breathing smoothly, and I looked around me. The sound of wind push leaves and crickets seemed too make more noise than you would think. The moon moved in the sky until it was blocked by the trees. Soon I felt as my shift had finished looking at the sky, and woke Athos up. He stood up, taking his watch, and Lamant laid down, letting sleep overcome him once again.

Lamant woke up to very early morning light shining on him, birds chirping, and faint crickets. Lamant stood up, seeing Athos leaning against the tree.

“Awake already?” Athos said stepping away from the tree, packing his stuff on the horse. Lamant nodded fearing what could be next, and for all who knows, we might die before we reach the Hidden Walls of Knowledge. Lamant stepped over to Sarah, shaking her shoulders.

“Come on, we got a long journey ahead of us.” Lamant said, as Sarah stirred to a wake. She nodded standing up, gathering her belongings. I hopped on my horse, and she finished gathering her stuff, packing it on my horse. She hopped on the horse, her touching my back. Athos took the lead, and we began the long journey we had prepared for. Our horse trotted passed many trees, all changing into autumn colors. “Have you done much traveling?” Lamant asked Sarah who had loosened her grip on him.

“Not really, but I’ll get used to seeing the country side.” Sarah replied softly. Lamant nodded, and they passed more trees, and a deer passed the dirt path up the hill. More country side remained down the hill, revealing fields of grass, and wheat. Farms were here and there, not really hard to find. The horse remained at a steady trot for another hour or so, before we hop off the horses giving them a break, while we eat breakfast. Jerky, dried fruit, and berries was on the menu. Lamant hoped maybe they would come to an Inn sometime soon, instead of munching on jerky and dried fruit all day. It would be nice. Lamant thought. Soon, they finished, and were on the horses again, taking breaks as they went on, not to tire the horses out to much. The sun raised in the sky as the day moved on. Sweat washed over my forehead, as the heat was beginning to get to me through the trees. Leaves crunch as the horses walked along the covered dirt path. We stopped for another break seeing the temple of Hadruf only down the landscape. Lamant had a good view since they were on a hill.

“Seems like we’ll be there in about… three hours.” Lamant said with almost relief. The temple of Hadruf, seemed to be covered in vines, with a fountain of water in the center of it. Lamant sighed as they got on their horses again, and began to reach slowly, towards the temple. The sun began to fall to the west, and the light changed drastically. Another two hours passed, and the temple was beginning to come closer as they reached for it.

“So, do you think we’ll make it to the Hidden Walls of Knowledge?” Sarah asked looking over my shoulder. I thought about it for a moment not wanting to think about it.

“Let’s just hope we do, for who knows what lies over those mountains.” Lamant replied almost scared for what could lurk in the shadows of the snow up in the mountains. Passing more trees as we went, the sun went down, and the moon came up. Only about 300 yards away, was the temple.

“We’re here.” Athos said pulling his horse to a tree, once we reached the temple, tying the horse to the tree with rope. Lamant did the same with his horse, and they walked to the temple. Athos examined it, looking at the fountain, and the pillars.

“Hey, look, there’s stairs around the fountain, it must lead underground.” Sarah said pointing. Athos nodded.

“Don’t go down there, for the fear of what may lurk under this floor of polished stone.” Athos said with ease. Lamant and Sarah looked at each other and shrugged.

“What do you think lurks those halls down there?” Sarah asked Athos. Athos shot a look at Sarah, saying: Don’t ask. Sarah got the look, and she walked away, preparing a fire. Surely there was something down there, maybe it wasn’t bad, and perhaps there was an artifact. Sarah thought to herself. She shrugged the thought off, just the fact that Athos would be telling the truth. Soon she got the fire going, and she sighed in relief as heat warmed her.

“No, fire tonight.” Lamant said, but he wanted a fire as much as she did. Sarah frowned.

“Why is that?” She asked folding her arms. Athos smiled slightly.

“Just a safety precaution.” Lamant replied wishing he could have a fire. He walked over to the fire, and stomped on it, putting the flames out. Sarah seemed disappointed, but it would be worse if Scott found out who did this and he tracked us. We set up camp, but had no fire, and Lamant took first watch. I looked down at Athos and Sarah, seeing them breath smoothly. I listened hearing a small voice. I frowned and stood up. I shake Athos and Sarah awake, and I draw my sword. “There is someone, or people following us.” Lamant said in a quiet voice looking into the trees. Athos nodded, as we saw men with armor, and sword and shields rush out of the trees, and I charged, with Athos at my side, while Sarah, stood back. I blocked a blow to the side, and cut the man’s side open blood touching my blade. Lamant grunted as another man rushed at him, throwing all his weight onto his sword with his claymore, and I fell to the ground, my arm hurting from blocking such a blow. He pointed his claymore down, and before he could thrust his claymore into me, Sarah rushed over to him, stabbing his gut with a knife.

“Thanks.” Lamant said standing up. Sarah nodded and Lamant picked up his sword ready for another opponent. Another man rushed to me, and I blocked an upper-hand cut, and thrust my sword into his gut. He gurgled blood and slumped to the ground, dead. Blood on my sword, I saw a man a little bigger than me, and he held a two-handed sword, and he wore a uniform that appeared to lieutenant of the Foirt army. Oh shucks… Lamant thought to himself, and stepped forward, as he walked toward me. He threw blow and Lamant blocked, sending him to the ground. Lamant rolled to the side on the dusty ground before he could thrust his claymore into me. The man grunted walking toward me. I threw a blow to his side, and he blocked. Lamant blocked another blow that would have cracked his skull in half. Lamant grunted, and threw a blow to the man’s leg. He blocked, and thrust his claymore at me. Lamant stepped to the side, and clanged his claymore to the ground, and the man approached me with his fists. Lamant threw a blow to his skull, and he block catching the blade between his hands, and he threw my blade to the ground, and I remained with my fists.

“Not so tough now are you?” The middle aged man said approaching me. Lamant shrugged slightly, as Sarah and Athos worked on the others. Athos looked at me, as if almost wanting to reach and help me, but he was being attacked by the others. Lamant looked back at the middle aged man, and he was only a few feet away from him. He threw a fist that would have cracked a tooth. Lamant dodged to the side, and threw his fist at the man’s gut. He hit him successfully, and the man punched me in the face. Lamant backed up a little, recovering from the blow. Lamant threw his fist at his gut again, and the man dodged, grabbing my shirt, and throwing me into the dirt. I stood back up, blood on my lip. Lamant threw a punch at his chest, and the man grunted, throwing another punch to his gut. I dodged to the left, punching him in the face with all my strength, and stood back. The man wiped his blood from his face, and he charged, punching me in the gut. He tackled me to the ground, and he punched me in the face again, and I rolled him over, him now facing up at me. Lamant punched him in the face, holding his hands down, and we rolled again, him atop of me. He threw his head, connecting to mine, and I felt dizzy the moment we impacted. Lamant punched him in the face again, and rolled over jumping off him. I reached for the sword, but then he threw me to the ground. Athos looked at me, and continued to fight the others with Sarah. He punched me in the face again, blood on me, I reached for the blade, but failed again. Lamant rolled on top of him once again, and began to punch him rapidly. Lamant jumped off, and rushed to the blade, and the man behind me didn’t see it coming, and the blade went into his gut, and showing through behind his back. Lamant twisted his sword, and the man grunted, blood coming out of his mouth. Lamant took the blade out of him, and the man slumped to the ground. Lamant looked over at Athos, and the others began to retreat. I panted, blood on my face.

Athos walked over to me, and as did Sarah, blood on her leg.

“You alright?” I asked looking at the cut on her leg. She shrugged.

“I’d be asking you right now, I’m fine.” Sarah replied. Athos nodded, he put his sword away, looking as they retreat, and bodies laid everywhere.

“He beat you up pretty good, he was one of the best knights in Foirt.” Athos said almost surprised I lived. Lamant seemed surprised he beat a man bigger than him, and a real knight. I was only a trainee. Lamant looked at Athos blood on him.

“Think they’ll be back?” Lamant asked wondering if they would have to deal with more of them. Athos looked at Lamant and Sarah.

“I trust they will not give up so easily, for the information we have, could mean the death of dragons, and the death of Foirt, since they lost the information, and they will most likely die.” Athos said wisely. Lamant thought of villages and cities burning to the ground, images flashed in his head. He shook them out of his head and sat down by a tree.

“I’ll finish my watch, you guys get some rest.” Lamant said. They nodded, and laid down, but they seemed to be awake, for the fear of more of them.

4

The Mountains

Lamant, Athos, and Sarah on their horses, climbed up the mountain, the air getting colder as they went higher. Sarah hated heights, it always bothered her to go up steep slopes, or climbing up the mountain. She kept her eyes forward, rather than looking down the mountain. Soon they stopped for a break, reaching only half way up the mountain. They went higher and higher after their small break to munch on jerky, and dried fruit again. Lamant frowned as he continued his way up the mountain with Sarah, and Athos. Cold chilled to the bone, as snow was starting to fall. Lamant shivered, and Sarah cuddled against him. Cold chilling to the bones, snow covering us, we continued our journey across the mountains, leaving snow tracks of our horses. The light from the sun was dying, and we jumped off the horses, and began to set up camp. Sarah began to make a fire, despite the fact that we might get seen, we had to keep the heat in our bodies. Athos, Sarah, and Lamant huddled together, keeping the heat inside of them. Lamant took first watch, while Athos took the next one, and Sarah last. Light shined in the cold sky, and they got on their horses again, and began the rest of the way up the mountain. Soon they reached the top, and sighed at the sight of the landscape that laid below them. They took a break eating jerky, and berries, then began down the mountain. Heat slowly returned to the sky, as we decent down the dirt path. Passing trees with snow on them, snow began to melt as we decent down the mountain slowly. Soon they were far enough down the mountain that the snow was nowhere to be seen. We took another break, munching on a few berries. The food began to taste bland.

“I’m looking forward to a nice warm bed, and some stew.” Lamant said as he munched on the berries. Athos nodded.

“I would say the same thing.” He replied dryly in the cold weather. Sarah sighed.

“We best get going down the rest of the way before nightfall.” She said standing up. Lamant nodded. He stood up, and hopped on the horse, and Sarah behind him. Athos took the lead again, on his horse, we decent the rest of the way. Another hour passed, and we reached the bottom, where the air is still chilly. This land seemed to me cold itself. We looked over the landscape, seeing scorched land, trees, leafless and burnt to ash. Athos frowned at the sight, and continued. The sun began to go down again, and we set up camp on the scorched earth. Lamant touched the ground with his fingers, looking at them disappointed.

“They really are here to destroy the world.” Lamant said softly with a frown spreading across his face. Cold air rushed through the dead fields. I could make out a village out to the north. And that’s where we’ll check when we make our way to the Hidden Walls of Knowledge.

“Look, over there, there is a village.” Lamant said. “We should check for survivors in the morning.” Athos nodded. Deep back in my mind, I knew deeply, that there would be no survivors, but it’s worth a shot.

“I’ll take first watch, then Sarah, and Lamant.” Athos said squinting looking around the scorched landscape. Sarah and Lamant looked at each other and we gave a sad look at each other, knowing this was worse than they thought. It was something no one would have a chance against. Lamant laid against the ash ground, setting his head against his pack. Soon sleep overcome him and the sweet dreams were all that remained.

Lamant woke back up to the reality when Athos woke him up for his watch. Lamant sat down, watching the sky, as no sounds were here like in a forest. There was only death, and silence. Hours passed, moon moving in the sky, shining on the ash land. It forever will be scorched, till a new seed of life came. Lamant watched the moon move slowly across the sky. Soon, it was about time for Sarah to take her watch, and Lamant woke her up, and he laid back down on his pack, hoping one day, this will be back to normal with peace across the land. Before he could think of anything else, sleep took over him.

“Lamant, come on, we got to go.” Sarah said shaking my shoulders. He stood up, morning light shining on him once again. A nice warm bed, and some stew was all he could think about at the moment. Soon his thoughts were replaced by finding survivors in the burnt village. We rode the horses to the village. We got off the horses, and began walking around the village, checking each house and buildings for survivors. The only thing we found was bones, and burnt objects. Some bodies having little burnt to ash skin. The dragons that did this will pay for what they have brought upon this land. Lamant walked back to the horses where Sarah and Athos were.

“All I found was bones, no one survived.” Lamant said sadly. Sarah and Athos sighed. Athos pulled out the map, and hopped on his horse.

“Come on, we still got a long ways to go, we can’t spend the whole time thinking about what to do.” Athos said. Lamant nodded, and hopped on his horse, and Sarah hopped behind me as well. They traveled along the ash planes, finally stopping for a break. Athos pulled out some jerky, and dried fruit, and began to eat. Lamant sensed that he was tired of jerky and dried fruit as well. Lamant and Sarah ate dried fruit, and some berries, then the mounted on their horses again, and continued. Another hour passed, leaving nothing but time, and ground to cover. My back muscles ached from riding the horse. Athos continued to lead, and we finally stopped to look at the rock, and a dragon, twice the size I fought, stood on it. The horses seemed to notice the dragon, and they backed up a little. We hopped off of them.

Athos looked at the horses, as he jumped from his.

“The horses won’t be of use anymore.” Athos said taking off the supplies on the horses. Lamant nodded, and Sarah jumped off with Lamant, and gathered their supplies. Soon, we finished gathering our supplies, and we began to walk, as the horses ran away. Only about 100 yards is the rock with dragon standing atop of it. Sarah gulped at the sight of the huge dragon.

“Why have you come such a long ways to seek such power?” The dragon asked Lamant. I stepped forward and sighed looking back at Sarah and Athos, then back at the dragon.

“We’re here to seek knowledge to bring death to the dragons.” Lamant yelled.

“Bring the dragons to death? There is no such thing, our power is greater, but there is always a way.” Lamant shifted his weight uneasily.

“Surely you are more powerful, but why kill us?” The dragon sighed.

“I’m on no one’s side, I’m just a mere keeper of knowledge.”

Lamant thought for a moment before speaking.

“What is it we must do, to gain access to the Hidden Walls of Knowledge?” Lamant asked. The dragon smiled.

“There is nothing to gain access to… But to survive the tests that wait ahead inside.”

Lamant thought for a moment taking in his words.

“You mean, we’re going to take tests to enter?”

“I mean, you will not survive the tests, for they are most dangerous, and thinking is the key to surviving these tests.” The dragon spoke in a crackly voice.

“How many tests are we to pass?” Lamant asked.

“You will see what awaits behind the door, but beware, that once you enter… There is no turning back.” The dragon warned.

Lamant looked at Athos and Sarah with a frown. Athos walked over to Lamant and spoke in his ear.

“This is going to be a long day, be prepared for anything that you would think would lurk behind those doors.” Lamant nodded in response.

“Now, you must enter before nightfall, or the door is locked to no one, and it is a one way door, I would enjoy another visitors, it has been years.” The dragon said. Athos and Lamant looked at each other. We walked away, getting prepared, my dagger in my boot, the gift I had gotten from my Sword Master, and my sword from King Gardhane. Soon, we finished getting ready, and we prepared for whatever might lurk behind the door.

“One more thing, fellow visitors, the first test is always the easiest.” The dragon said blinking. Athos, and Sarah behind me, we opened the door, and entered into the first room. The room was made of sandstone. We walked around, then the stone moved across the door we just entered, blocking the entrance.

“Well, he didn’t lie about that.” Sarah said with a sigh. Lamant nodded looking around the room. There was hole about as big as my hands, covering the walls. Athos looked inside of them seeing nothing, only a dead end of sandstone.

“Well what do you think it is?” Sarah asked. Athos shrugged. Lamant carried the pack, while the others examined the room. I looked up seeing a big hole.

“What is that?” Lamant asked pointing into the hole. Athos shrugged.

Sand started to pour out of the holes, including the big hole in the ceiling. Lamant thought for a moment.

“Get to higher ground!” He yelled. Athos stood below the big hole in the ceiling.

“Lamant, stand on top of me!” He complied, standing on Athos’s shoulders.

“Sarah! Get on top of me!” I yelled as she rushed over to me, and was now on top of me. Sarah’s head looking down, trying to not get sand in her eyes. She put her hands on the inside of the sandstone walls of the big hole in the ceiling. Think, think! Lamant kept saying to himself in his mind. One of his worst fears was suffocating, he didn’t want to die like this. He would rather die in battle sword in hand. The sand was now at Athos’s shins. There didn’t seem to be anything in the room that would stop the sand from flowing. No buttons, or levers. The sand was increasing in speed, now at Athos’s knees. Think! He thought to himself again. Sand ran through Sarah’s hair as she looked down at the ground to make sure no sand got in her eyes. This may be her ending, she sighed as she continued to try and think what could have stopped the sand. Nothing came to mind, and she kept her head low. The sand was now at Athos’s thighs. He looked around the room without getting sand in his eyes, as the sand rushed over top of him, down onto Athos. The sand raised in height, now up to Athos’s chest. The sand began to come out faster. Sarah looked down seeing the sand at Athos’s chest.

She looked around the hole, trying to see if there was anything that could have stopped the sand. She saw something, almost like a lever.

“Guys, I found something!” Sarah yelled. Athos could not speak, since he was buried in sand.

“Well, hurry!” Lamant said to Sarah. Sarah reached for the lever, and touched the tip. She tried to grab it, and failed. I’ll have to jump for this. She thought to herself. 1…2…3… She jumped, grabbing the lever, pulling it down with her. The bottom of the floor opened, and the sand began to fall, along with Lamant, Athos, and Sarah. Lamant looked down, seeing water. Lamant impacted, and surfaced, catching his breath, while Athos beside him, and Sarah, Athos breathing deeply.

“You alright?” I asked Athos. He nodded.

“For now.” Lamant looked around seeing no land, but a cave.

“I’m going to check how deep it is, you guys try to find a piece of land.” Lamant said taking a deep breath, going under the surface of the water, seeing that it was just about 10 feet deep. Lamant looked around under water, seeing a cube about as big as my chest. It was made out of pure steel. Lamant swam back up to the surface, taking in breaths.

“There’s a cube of some sort down there, and it’s about 10 feet deep.” Lamant said to Athos and Sarah, who were only 30 some feet away. Athos looked at me, as the water was beginning to get colder.

“I think we’re about to freeze to death.” Athos said knowing this sort of trap. Lamant and Sarah frowned, as the water got colder as time went on.

“It has something to do with this cube.” Lamant said pointing right down below him.

Athos swam to him, and dived down. I and Sarah waited for him to resurface.

Another minute passed, and he surfaced with the cube in in hands.

“This weighs, about 50 pounds.” He said grunting. “Just where to put it.” The water was beginning to get really cold now. Lamant and Sarah began to search for anything that could have had a cube like hole. We searched and searched, but found nothing.

“I’m going under!” I yelled letting the others know. Lamant plunged into the water, and looked around, perhaps there was a cube hole somewhere. I looked down seeing a cube like hole, and surfaced gasping for air. After catching my breath, I could fell the surface beginning to freeze rapidly. “Athos!” I yelled. “Over here!”

Athos began to swim as fast as he could, pushing the ice out of his way, barely able to swim with a 50 pound cube. Athos reached me with in a few minutes, and Sarah reached me as well.

Athos plunged into the darkness of the cold water that was freezing over the surface. We heard a click, and a rock lifted up, showing a cave twice the size as this one, but land. The water began to drain, and air returning to normal.

Athos surfaced breathing deeply. The coldness was replaced with warm air rushing from the other cave.

“Well, we survived so far.” Athos said with relief. Sarah nodded, and we walked out of the water, steps revealing as the water drained more, that led to the other room. Water soaked me completely with the other, water dripping to the floor.

The rock dropped behind us, and we looked around the room. There was a door at the end of the room. Lamant draw his sword, walking towards it. The doors opened inward and a beast latched out. Wings a neck, sharp teeth, and fire blazed over me, to Sarah, while Athos rush over to the dragon, with his sword in hand.

Lamant rolled to the side before the dragon could scorched him to ash. Sarah, laid on the floor blood on her leg, while scorch marks remained on her.

“Sarah!” I yelled, and stood up ready to fight the dragon. The dragon remained fixated on Athos, so I ran to Sarah, and helped her up. She slumped back to the floor.

“Kill the dragon, before it kills Athos, I-I’ll be fine.” Lamant hesitated, then rushed over to Athos and blocked a blow from the dragon with its claws. Lamant stabbed its claws, and began to slice at the dragon. Lamant began to realize that the dragon’s wounds healed instantly. This was going to be hard… Lamant thought to himself.

“Trap it inside of the cage it came from!” Athos yelled, helping Lamant control the beast. The dragon sliced its claws at Athos, and he fell to the ground blood on him. Lamant kept cutting at the dragon as it backed up slowly. Sarah watched as Lamant struggled against the dragon. Thank god it was a fairly small one. Sarah thought. He began to push against it harder, into its cage. The dragon clawed at me, and I blocked. The next time, he claws me on the side, and I grunted, trying to not let it get me pinned. Athos rushed to my side, still bleeding. We were now only a few yards from locking it back into its cage. Lamant and Athos pushed against it harder, than Athos closed the door in front of the dragon, and I rushed to lock it with the lever before it could latch out again. Lamant and Athos panted, and Lamant looked back to Sarah. He rushed to her.

“Think you can stand?” Sarah moaned in pain.

“I can try.” Sarah stepped up, Lamant grabbing her hand, and she was on her feet. We heard a loud noise, and a gate had appeared on the other side, opened.

“Come on, let’s finish this.” Athos said. We walked through the gate, while I help Sarah walk. The same dragon stood on top of stone walls. But they weren’t stone walls, they were shelves. Books occupied the shelves, leaving no space for another book.

“You have past the tests, you are the second to pass these all these tests, and live to tell your story, and for all your trouble, you have been granted access to the knowledge that mankind had never known, and may never know.” The dragon said looking down at us.

Athos, and Sarah looked at me. So we did it. Lamant thought. A book stood on a stone book rest. Lamant walked over to it, and opened it. The first page read:

The time of Dragons

Lamant skipped another page, and began to read:

History of the Forgotten Times

Centuries have pasted, dragons ruled the earth, but unstoppably, they were like gods. There came a day when they would have fallen. But they didn’t. Ages ago, the forgotten time, when humans entered the world, ruining the peace between the dragons and humans. The humans began to make spells, ones that would enchant their weapons, give them godly powers. These spells could be gained throughout the world, sought to be written in books. One day, there was a break point, where the verge between worlds was thin, and they used a spell, that could bring the dragons back down to the earth. Time is the key to mastering the spells. Finding someone who could train you would be your only hope for the death of dragons. For their power can be caged. You must study the language of Fuiste that forms words, into spells, in order to gain enough power to take down the dragons, and the death bringer. Spano.

Lamant closed the book after repeating the words, looking back at Sarah, and Athos.

They sighed knowing long days await just ahead. Lamant took the thick book, and put it in his damp pack.

“Do you know Fuiste?” Lamant asked the dragon. The dragon looked at me.

“What is your name boy?” He asked Lamant.

“My name is Lamant.”

“My name is Solagroth.” The dragon said looking down at Lamant, Athos, and Sarah. Lamant nodded. “And I do not know of the language “Fuiste”.” Lamant frowned, as this quest was stretching longer than he liked. “Now take what you need, and be gone from this place of knowledge. “ The dragon pointed to the iron door that led out to the ash wilderness. Athos, and Sarah follow me to the door after gathering everything. We stepped outside, into the sun set sky, wondering when the world would be normal again.

5

Home Land

Lamant, Sarah, and Athos made their way up the steps of the tower of stairs that led to the gates. The guards opened the door, once Athos stated their business, and they walked along the carpet, and we bowed before the king. Lamant’s shoulder pained him to bow, but he did it in the presence of the king.

“We have returned.” Lamant said taking the book out of his pack. Dirt on his arms, hands, and face, he began to think about a nice warm bath awaiting him. The king stood up looking down at them, more than a little surprised to see us.

“By the gods you have returned!” He said almost laughing. “So, did you get what we were looking for?” Lamant sighed. He nodded, and handed the king the book.

“The only problem is… We have to learn of the language of Fuiste, and that would take years to learn it.” The king frowned, but a lopped sided face, he seemed happy, and sad at the same time.

“Well, I’m glad to have some piece of information, and it’s better than a burnt book, I will have one of my most loyal mages take a look at this.” The king said with ease. “But for the moment, please enjoy a day to rest, and we will serve a banquet tonight.” He said sitting back down.

Lamant walked away with the others, to the bathing room, while I gave Sarah a last look, as she walked into the female baths, and I and Athos remained in the men baths. Lamant scrubbed himself, giving himself the pleasure of warm water, and a clean body. After he was finished, he walked into the resting rooms, and fall on a bed, letting sleep overcome him the instant he closed his eyes.

He awoke from a servant shaking his shoulders.

“The banquet starts in one hour, the king would expect you to be there.” She replied. Lamant nodded still half asleep. Surely he could get another few moments of sleep.

“I have also prepared some clothes for you.” She set them beside his bed, leaving the room. Lamant sighed, getting up, dressing into his nice clothes the servant had left for him. Soon he finished dressing, and he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” He said, and Sarah walked into the room, closing the door behind her. She smiled at me, while I looked at her dress.

“You look nice.” She said. Lamant shrugged.

“Not as pretty as you are.” Lamant said, putting his shoes on.

“So, we didn’t save the world yet did we?” Sarah asked shifting her weight. Lamant sighed, hoping that she wouldn’t have asked that, just to let one day free from those thoughts.

“No, we still have to learn the language of Fuiste, then stop the dragons, but I suspect it would be harder than just fighting and shouting spells.” Lamant replied to Sarah.

She nodded, wondering why she wanted to save the world from the dragons that promised a world to be swallowed in flames, and ash. She walked out of the room, knowing that fighting the dragons was the only way this was going to end. Lamant walked out of the room, down the hall to the dining room, where almost everyone was here. Athos sat by two empty chairs. The king looked at me in the eye, giving a wink. Lamant smiled sitting down beside Sarah and Athos. They sat there talking, until soon, the food entered the room. Two servants set down 4 bottles of the best wine in the whole castle, and poured some into everyone’s goblet. Lamant looked forward to something other than dried fruit, jerky, and berries. Some nice pheasant, and cooked carrots would be good. He thought to himself. Finally food was served to the plates, and everyone raised their glass.

“Too, Lamant, Athos, and Sarah.” The king said. Sarah smiled at me, but him could also manage one, knowing that this was not the end of the war, only letting half a smile on my face, and then he began to eat. Sarah set her goblet down after taking a sip, and frowned at the taste. She never really liked sweet wine.

“Don’t like wine?” Lamant asked her. She shook her head. A shame. he thought to himself. He took a bite the juices from the pheasant explode in his mouth, full of strong flavors. Finally… Some real food. He ate until he reached his fill, and drank some more wine. He stood up walking out of the room with his goblet of wine. He walked to the room he had slept in. He sat on his bed, sensing something was going to happen, with Foirt and Magewood. He was to suspect a war, since they had snuck into their castle, stealing information. Maybe they would send assassins instead of war. Though, maybe it was worse than war, maybe it was worse than assassins. They just didn’t know yet. While the castle would live in peace, not knowing that there was trouble near.

6

Noble Outcasts

Lamant awoke to the king shaking his shoulders.

“I am sorry, but… We can’t talk here. Follow me.” Lamant stood up wondering what was going on. He fixed his hair as they went up the tower to his bedroom. Lamant rubbed his eyes, waking himself up from his sleepiness. Soon they reached up the tower of stairs, and he opened the steel door with a key, closing it behind them.

“You can’t be here as much as I would want you here. I and Scott had made a deal, that if you leave, my city is to not bring war upon itself.” The king said worried. “But, I fear they will do whatever it takes to kill you.” Lamant knew this was coming.

“So, I’m to be cast out?” Lamant asked. The king sighed, knowing this was hard for the Lamant.

“Yes, and never to return upon the life of Scott.” Lamant frowned at that thought.

“So, what am I to do? Live out the war that will never to be won?” Lamant said angered at this war had been ruining the world, and people around it.

“I have a plan, you, Athos, and Sarah, can go to Foirt, assassinate Scott, and perhaps get the pursers off your trial.” He said. Lamant sighed, knowing Foirt was more of a problem then they thought.

“Do Athos and Sarah know?” Lamant asked the king. He nodded.

“They are preparing as we speak.” The king replied. “Now, you go prepare, have a safe journey on the perilous the roads.” Lamant nodded, walking towards the door, as the king said one last thing.

“Don’t give up, letting the dragons bring the land to ash and flames.” I looked at him. Lamant looked away, closing the door behind him, and walking down the stairs of the tower. I rushed to my room, opening the door, and closing it behind me. He pulled on some traveling clothes, and packed up his belongings, and took his sword. He heard a knock on the door, after finishing packing.

“Open.” He said, and Sarah walked into the room holding steel armor, along with chainmail.

“The king said he wanted us to have the best of his steel armor, and wishes best of luck for us.” She said. Lamant nodded, taking it from her hands. She walked out of the room, and he pulled on his armor. He switched out a pair of old leather boots, and took the new ones into his feet, fitting nicely. Soon, he walked out of the room, carrying his pack over his shoulders, and sword in sheath. He met up with Sarah, and Athos by the entrance of the castle.

“The king as signed the best horses for us, and would like to see us return after our work is done.” Athos said. Lamant and Sarah nodded, exiting the castle, heading to the stables. Athos showed the horse sales man the card signed by the king, and let them take the horses. They began their journey, crossing over the fields. Minutes felt like hours, and time passed on. They took breaks rarely. Athos rode in front, I behind him, and Sarah behind me. Hours passed by, only taking two breaks. He really hated the thought of war, but it was the dragons that has brought it upon themselves, not us. The sun stretched across the sky. I squinted my eyes looking up at the bright sky. I looked back down watching as the dirt road kick up dust as the horses walk. Soon, they took another break, letting their muscles relax for a bit. Lamant fed the horses a few apples, and sat down beside Sarah and Athos, eating some berries. They soon were back on the road, passing many fields. Birds chirped, as we passed trees, nuts dropping as squirrels ate at them.

The sun began to go down the sky, and they began to set up camp, and Lamant took first watch, while Sarah next, then Athos. The night went uneventfully so far, leaves rustling in the wind, the moon shining across the land, sounds traveling, and bouncing off trees, making weird monster like sounds. Sometimes even screams. It seemed quiet for the most part. But then I could make out a growl. I stood up slowly, looking around wondering where the noise was coming from. He drew his sword, walked slowly toward the brush. He could make out a glow of eyes, he locked into a stare, and then the creature lashed out, pinning him to the ground.

“Help!” Lamant could make out, struggling with the huge beast. Athos rushed over to him and the beast, drew his sword, and prepared to fight. Then Athos was pushed down to the ground by the beast, and I struggled to use my sword, by hands still pinned along with the rest of me. Lamant could feel claws penetrate his skin, and go deeper into his flesh. The creature, seemed to enjoy the pain I was in. Lamant grunted, and Athos raised his sword above his head, and let the blade fall onto the back of the beast. Blood dripped onto me. The beast looked down at me with its golden eyes, and took a bite at my shoulder, and Athos chopped the beast’s head off, letting it drop to the ground. Blood dripped from the beast’s decapitated head.

“What was that?” Lamant yelled, injured. Athos looked at Lamant worried, and Sarah had been hiding behind a tree.

“You have been bitten.” Athos said. “By the beast of the moon. God help you.” Lamant thought for a moment thinking about what just happened. If he was talking about that… A werewolf appeared to have bitten me. Lamant gulped. He never wanted this to happen, neither be bitten by one.

“I’ve been bitten by a werewolf?” Lamant asked. Sarah looked stunned at him. She nodded afraid as well. “Well, that’s something I never would have thought to happen to me.”

Athos sighed.

“Let’s hope you can last a few days before you transform, the king will be displeased.” Athos said. Sarah walked over to me, patching my wounds. “At least it didn’t leave a nasty bite, like others that had suffered greatly from.” Lamant nodded. He would call it a curse, but it also has some advantages. He must use them to his will, and learn to control himself. Soon, Sarah had cleaned his wounds, and used some herbs that would help heal him. “Get some sleep, I’ll watch for the rest of the night.” Lamant remained in pain, but let the sweet dreams sooth his mind, darkness taking over.

Lamant woke up to faint light shining through the trees. Sarah, leaning against the tree, looked down at me.

“You alright?” She asked. Lamant gave a faint nod, standing up. The claw marks pained his chest. He stretched, waking Athos after.

“Come on, we still got a few hours till we reach Foirt.” Lamant said, and they began to ride. The son rose in the sky gradually, autumn leaves falling to the ground, colors dark brown, red and yellow. Light shined through the leaves and trees, more nuts dropping as animals ate them. Soon, they could see Foirt over the hills. They had taken a different path to Foirt, cause they were moving south, behind the castle. The sun had reached to almost noon by the time they set up their camp, getting ready to assassinate king Scott of Foirt. Athos stood, leaning against a tall red wood tree, sharpening his sword. Sarah was building a fire, while Lamant took care of the horses. Brushing the horse’s hair on its back, patting the horse’s head. The trees shake in the wind. Winter was on edge. Leaves were falling everywhere, almost too much to find anything. The sun moved as they did what was needed to be sought. Sarah gathered some water in a container by the river down the hill. Dipping it in the water, drawing it into the container. She stood up from the river bank, walking up the steep hill, careful not to trip, and roll back down, sprain an ankle or worse break it. Finally reaching the top not injured, setting the container of water on the ground. Lamant began to take care of the last horse, then walked away from the horses, sitting down on the ground beside Sarah who was cooking stew. Something other than their jerky… Lamant thought to himself, happy to see it cooking.

“So, what do you think you will do when this… war is over?” Sarah questioned Lamant. He shrugged slightly wondering why she would ask suck a question at this time.

“Depends… I suppose I’m going to be a great knight. But there is no need for that since I have already become one of them.” Lamant began to remember that his Father was dead. “I never planned ahead of my life, but I have gotten my dream.” Sarah stopped stirring the stew and looked at him for a moment. “I don’t really know what’s going to happen when this war is over.” “So, do you have any plans?” Sarah shrugged looking back at the stew stirring it with the wooden spoon she held in her hand. She let out a quiet laugh.

“My Mother always wanted me to be a cook… but I took my matters into my own hands, my brother taught me everything he knew…” Lamant scratched at his hand.

“What did you teach you?”

“He taught me how to pickpocket, picklock complex doors, and throwing knives. But this past year, he got caught snooping information in Foirt since the rumors have been going about that they were sided with the dragons. They… hanged him.” Lamant looked down at the grass and leaves.

“I feel sorry for your loss.” Sarah wiped a tear form her eye.

“Nothing to be sorry about, I warned him, but he insisted that he would not let King Scott just get away with it. And now, I vowed I would avenge for him. And here I am now, in this twisted war.” Sarah began to scoop stew into the wooden bowls. She handed Lamant and Athos a bowl with a small spoon dipped in it.

“My Father had been teaching me sword ship for years, until only three months ago, he died on his quest, the same one we remain on.” Lamant said taking a scoop of the stew, and lifted it to his mouth. The stew tasted good, seasoned with the herbs to near perfection.

“You’re our new cook.” Athos said raising another spoon full to his mouth. Lamant let out a laugh, and Athos followed along with him. Sarah looked at them like they were crazy.

“It’s just a stew… Nothing special.” Lamant looked at Athos, and he snorted.

7

The Assassination

The sun began to set in the dim sky, the air beginning to chill against their skin. We could see the castle of Foirt through the trees, as dusk fell. The horses walked along the leaves. We were off the dirt path, passing trees, going uphill, and downhill. Time passed on and we reached the walls after nightfall. We climbed down our horses, and walked close to the wall not to get spotted from the guards above our heads.

“Got any ideas?” Sarah whispered. Lamant looked at Athos.

“We climb.” Lamant whispered back. Athos stood up slowly, and find his footing, and began to climb the wall. Lamant followed behind him, while Sarah remained on the other side. He put his footing in between two cobblestone pieces that stuck out, hoisted himself higher getting another grip, and footing. Athos crossed over to the top of the walls, and punched a guard in the face, slumping to the ground knocked out. A hand reached out for Lamant and he took it, and Athos hoisted him over the wall.

Sarah neared to the top, and Lamant looked down at her, smiling reached for her hand. She took his hand, and was pulled over to the top of the walls. Athos remained near the tower entrance, waiting for the others. They rushed beside him, and Athos opened the door, and rushed down the stone steps, quietly. They reached the bottom, and Lamant used the end of his sword, and wacked a guard in the head, and he slumped to the ground before he could grab his sword. They carefully opened the door to the city, and ran along the side of the walls, being sure not to get spotted. They reached the streets, and hoods covered their faces from the cloaks. The blended in the crowd, and rushed up the stairs that led to the castle, and they remained on the side of the tall wall, rushing to the gate doors, and sticking our swords into the two guards, taking our swords out of them, blood dripping from our blades. We opened the gates quietly, and slipped to the side after closing them. We watched as the guard took no notice of us, and rushed to a hall. The hall ran down with a black rug, doors on each side. At the end was another door, which led up the tower to King Scott’s desk. We rushed down the hall, making sure we didn’t make too much noise going up the steps. We reached the door, in another moment after climbing the stairs.

“Let me.” Sarah said looking at Lamant and Athos, then they stepped out of the way. She pulled out a lock pick and got to work on the lock. Moments later, we heard a click, and Sarah opened the door slowly, seeing King Scott at his desk writing.

“Hmm, you seem to be a preoccupied.” Sarah said pulling out her knife from her belt. King Scott sighed.

“Well, you didn’t think I would have the information you were coming here?”

“What do you mean? We came UN noticed, I’m sure you could have not.” Sarah informed.

Lamant stood beside Sarah, looking at King Scott.

Scott remained in his chair, still writing.

“Athos, come in would you?” King Scott said softly looking up from his writing.

Athos entered the room, and closed it behind him. “I’m not always alone you know… I have had you set up since you met up with Athos, Lamant.” Lamant felt a shot of guilt on his stomach. All they had been through together… And he betrayed us like this. He almost couldn’t believe it himself. After they had fought together, saving the world, but he was on the wrong side. Another shot of guilt hit his stomach. “You see, the information may have gotten to the king, but we took it back. Athos, please show these two lads, that we got the information that was held in Hidden Walls of Knowledge.” Sarah looked at Athos along with Lamant. He held the book they had gotten. Athos walked passed us, giving King Scott the book.

“You traitor!” Sarah yelled at Athos. Sarah wanted to kill him after all they have been through, he betrayed them just like that. She rushed over to him, and Athos held her hand from stabbing him. Lamant stood stunned. King Scott walked over to Lamant.

“Now for you young man, I would have not expected a challenge, but why not give it a try?” King Scott said. Lamant readied himself for whatever he was to face. He pulled out his sword, while King Scott muttered some words, and fire appeared in his hands. He uttered some more words, and I was flung to the wall, air knocked out of me. He rushed over to him, and reached to put his hands on Lamant. He rolled to the side before he could touch me.

“Slippery one ey?” Lamant stood up again, as me muttered a few words, and black aura swirled in the air beside him, and a skeleton began to form, with a shield, and black sword in hand. Next he was blocking a sword blow to the hip, and sent the sword up and thrust the blade into the skeleton, and got a grip, then threw it. He felt hot flames on his arm and screamed, and sliced at King Scott stomach. He rushed away from his reach, and then charged, and as he raised his blade for the finally blow, as the blade touched him he turned into a puff of smoke. Lamant looked at his burn for a moment, and looked over at Sarah struggling to not die by Athos dagger. She held his hand away from her chest. Lamant rushed over, and stuck his blade into his back, pushing out the other side of his stomach. He gurgled blood, before slumping to the side. He took the blade out of him, blood dripping from the blade.

Sarah stood up, and wrapped her arms around me.

“Thanks, for saving me.” Lamant almost smiled.

“Don’t dwell on it. Come on, we need to get out of here.” Lamant rushed over to the desk, seeing the book was gone.

“Dammit.” He said. Sarah looked at him.

“What?” he stuck his sword into his sheath.

“King Scott got away with the book.” Sarah put her hand to her face rubbing her eye brow.

“We were so close… to bringing this war to an end.” He nodded sadly.

“I know, but we don’t have time to dicker around, we have to go.” Sarah nodded, and they left the castle un noticed, and reached their camp site that was in the hills.

“I can’t believe Athos betrayed us.” Sarah exclaimed. Lamant nodded. He felt guilty for having to kill him.

“I’ll take first watch.” Sarah nodded, and laid on the ground, soon her breaths were even. He sighed quietly, leaning his head against the tree looking up at the night sky. Time passed on, he wondered what was going to happen, and the war was getting out of control. He swear he could make out something up in the sky. A loud roar came from the beast. Lamant stood up, wondering where it was going. It got closer, it roared again, and it landed. He looked back at Sarah, who still remained asleep. He hesitated, then ran down the hill, and saw something up ahead where the dragon had landed. He could make out ruins in the darkness, and also voices. He rushed passing trees, silently not to be spotted by the giant dragon. Horns stick out of its head, and huge spikes running down its back. The tail of the dragon looked to be around 45 feet long, while the rest seemed to be about feet 30, giving a total of 75 feet long.

An unknown language came from mouth of the dragon. Lamant looked to the other side, and rushed behind a big rock. He looked over to the left side of the rock, seeing another dragon.

They appeared to be talking. He breathed slowly, making sure they weren’t sneaking behind him. Lamant mouth hanged slightly open, watching as the dragons talked, but he didn’t even know what they were saying. He leaned against the rock looking at them. He stood up slowly, and rushed up the hill. They were planning, they didn’t have much longer before the real battle began. He heard a voice. Not a dragon’s voice… but a human voice. “Lamant!” was all he could make out, he rushed up the hill, and saw Sarah looking around for him.

“I’m over here.” Lamant said finishing the climb. “Be quiet, dragons are down the hill.”

Sarah looked at Lamant, then rushed at him, wrapping her arms around him.

“You worried me you were taken, or left.” He looked down her back to the ground, and she pulled away from him.

“I wouldn’t leave, the dragons are planning.” Lamant sat down against a tree. “And if worse, it seems as if we have only so much time before the battle begins. I suspect two weeks at most.” Sarah nodded, knowing a battle was to come.

“We need to get going, before they know we’re here. And worse, kill us.” He nodded, and stood up with her. They gathered, packing up their stuff, and climbed onto their horses.

“I… Forgot something, remember… I was bitten by the werewolf…” Lamant said. Sarah looked at him, then sighed. Almost worried look on her face. “I’ll need a day or two before setting to Magewood, I bid you a farewell journey, and I’ll see you at Magewood when I have returned.” Sarah nodded.

“This is the first time meeting a werewolf.” She said with a smile. Lamant shrugged.

“I suppose you could say that, don’t forget to inform King Gardhane.” She nodded once more, and we went our separate ways. The night sky began to turn dawn. The leaves rustled, and fell to the ground, the sun shining on him brightly. Time passed on, and he came to a stop, and began to set up camp. He smacked flint and steel against each other, making a small spark. After about ten minutes, he had a steady fire going. He spent most of his time, relaxing, and eating stew, watching the leaves fall. He loved the autumn colors on the leaves, but they were already falling. The fresh air relaxed his mind. He wasn’t a person who was used to traveling, but now… that has changed.

Sarah rode her horse downhill, hours passing by like minutes. She worried for Lamant… but there was nothing she could do. All she could do to help was inform King Gardhane, and wait for him to return. She slowed the horse down to a walk, then stopped, getting off her horse. She sat down by a tree and ate some apples, along with the horse. Soon, she was on her feet again, and she got on the horse, and began on the road again. Leaves were falling everywhere, the air chill on her exposed skin. She broke into a sprint, seeing Magewood in sight. She rode hard, until she neared the gates.

“What is your business here?” Asked a guard beside the gate. She looked at him.

“I’m here on King Gardhane’s business. I assume you will let me pass.” He nodded, opening the gates, and she trotted in the castle. She climbed down her horse, and walked to the stables.

“I’m looking for a place for my horse. Will this be enough?” Sarah holding a small purse of coins.

“Well, I’m sure we can make room for your horse here, come right this way.” He said taking the small coin purse. Sarah followed him, holding the horse by the reins. They walked down a hall, where stalls were on each side. After looking for an empty stall, they put the horse there.

“I expect the horse to be feed, and watered.” Sarah looked at the man.

“That shall be done milady. Good day.” Sarah nodded, walking away out of the stables. Sarah walked the streets, walking up to the castle. She walked into the throne room. King Gardhane remained settled in his throne.

“I did not suspect your return to be… so soon.” He said. “No matter, was the job done as expected?” Sarah looked at him, a hand on her hilt of her knife. “Also, where is Lamant and Athos?” Sarah sighed.

“Athos was… a traitor. He was a spy for King Scott. We didn’t expect him. When we were about to Assassinate him, he betrayed, and nearly kill me.”

“Is Lamant alive?” Sarah nodded.

“We encountered the beast of the moon two days ago. He is well, but… He remains until he is to get his business over with.” King Gardhane nodded.

“Well, god help him.”

“I was to inform you that, King Scott was not killed, he escaped alive, and Athos gave him the book, the book where we could learn Fuiste.” His expression showed he was angered at this news.

“We must find him, and get the book from him.” He said. “I will send a search party. And they will not return until they have return with his location. And for the mean time, you can spend your time relaxing until Lamant has returned. Then, we will discuss this matter.” Sarah nodded.

“Do you think he will be alright?” Sarah asked. He shrugged.

“Your guess is as good as mine, I do not know.” She nodded, walking away to the bathing rooms. She took off her clothes, including her armor. She laid down in the bath, resting her head against the tub. Sarah closed her eyes.

Finally… Sometime to relax. But those thoughts, still remained far away from her. Her mind was away, wondering, thinking, ask questions that she could not answer herself. An hour passed, and she got out of the hot steaming tub of water, water dripping down to the floor. She dried herself off with a towel, then pulled on some fresh clothes. She returned her armor, and dirty clothes to her room. Sarah finished cleaning up, then walked out of her room, and down to the dining room. People had just began to eat. She sat down, and began to serve herself, carrots, pheasant, and wine. She liked the taste of pheasant. Tasted great with the herbs to perfection. She made small talk with the folks, getting to know them some. She finished her first plate, and took a sweet role. Sarah savored every bite, and left. She walked down the hall, to her room. Sarah closed the door behind her, and looked in the wardrobe. She took a nightgown, taking her other clothes off, putting it on. She looked at herself in the mirror, and laid in bed. She pulled the covers up to her chest, setting her arm over the covers, closing her eyes. Soon, sleep took her into dreams.

Sarah stood in a field. Ash everywhere, dead bodies littering the fields. Dirt covered her entire body, armor bloody. She held a sword in her right hand, and a shield in the other. Her shield cracked down the middle. Sarah looked at the castle of Magewood, burning. Walls crumbled to nothing. There was an army to her right, Magewood last forces, fighting another army, must be Foirt. The army remained only about 100 yards away from her. A man seemed to see her, and began to walk towards her. He wore a Foirt uniform. About four dragons flew around the battle, searching for any survivors. Frequently she would hear the loud screams that came from the dragons. He was now only 30 feet away, holding a steel claymore. He now was 15 feet away. He charged, and was neared to me. She moved to the left side, as he struck with all his strength. Sarah held her sword ready, her shield ready to black any blows that would be too hard to dodge. He thrust the claymore at her. She dodged to the right, and sliced open his arm. He yelped in pain, and gained his stance again, ready to fight. He charged at her, claymore facing her way. She didn’t have time to move, and the claymore went into her shield, stopping once it cut into the armor, and into her flesh. She pushed the claymore out of her, and swung her blade at his collarbone. He fell down to the ground dead. Blood dripped from her sword. She grunted, pain in her stomach. She fell to the ground, on her knees clenching her stomach. Darkness took over her.

Sarah bolted up sweating. She put her hands in her hair, and plopped back on her pillow. Her breathing was heavy for a few moments before she realized it was just a dream. She got out of her bed, walking to the window head cocked to the side. It was barely light out. She could make out a horse running across the field, to the gates. Lamant! Lightning flashed across the sky. Was her first thought. She pulled off her nightgown, and put on dress. It reached down too her knees. She rushed out of her room, and down the hall. She entered the throne room. The throne chair was empty. She waited, then the gates opened seeing Lamant walking up the black rug. His eyes looked exhausted. She smiled running up to him, wrapping her arms around him. She didn’t care if he was soaking wet. It was nice to see him again.

“You alright?” She asked him. He let out a sigh before responding.

“I’m fine for now. I didn’t expect you to be up by this time.” Sarah pulled from him.

“I had a dream, nothing else. I saw you riding down the field.” He nodded. He wondered if she was beginning to like him. “What was it like?” He looked at her.

“I don’t feel like talking about it.” She nodded.

“You must be tired. Come on, we might be able to sneak some sweet rolls to my room from the kitchen. I’ll be right back.” She rushed away from him, walking down the hall, entering the kitchen, peeking to make sure no one was there. She saw no one. She looked around, seeing sweet rolls, meat pies, and cakes on the other counter. She looked around seeing no one, and took two sweet rolls. Sarah rushed out of the kitchen, then down the hall into the throne room seeing Lamant still standing there. Lamant took one from her.

“Thanks.” He said. They walked down the hall.

“Did anything else happen when you were out there?” He shook his head.

“Nothing. I was hoping to maybe stumble upon King Scott along the way.” They walked into her room shutting the door behind them.

“King Gardhane has planned a search party to look for King Scott.” Lamant nodded, taking a bite of his sweet roll. They ate in silence for a few moments.

“We don’t have long until we have to battle.” Lamant said.

“I know.” Sarah admitted. Lamant finished his sweet roll. He wiped the crumbs around his mouth off.

“I best get some rest.” She sighed. He stood up, and walked out of the room. Lamant closed the door behind him. Sarah looked at her feet. She looked around the room, seeing a book shelf of books. Sarah stood up, walking to it. She searched until she found an interesting book. Sarah pulled her dress off, then put on the same nightgown she used. She laid in bed, candles lighted in the room. She read in the dim light. After a while of reading, she closed the book, and set it on the end table. Then turned to the other side of the bed. Sarah closed her eyes. Time passed on. She turned, tossed, twisted, but could not find sleep.

“Ugh.” She got out of bed, making it. She opened the wardrobe, then pulled a shirt, including a pair of pants. It wasn’t common for women to wear pants, but she decided to. Sarah put on the clothes, putting the other clothes she had pulled out, back in the wardrobe. She peered outside the window, the clouds hovering above the castle, still raining slowly. It was early morning, about 7. She walked out of the room after finishing cleaning her room. She walked to the dining room. There was still no one. She walked out of the castle, down the steps. Passing a few trees here and there. Sarah walked over the bridge, viewing to the side. She looked up, seeing people dumping water from buckets from their windows. People passed her, as she walked into the market area. She looked around, seeing pots, food, weapons even on the market. She saw nothing in interest. Walking around, exploring the city some more, before deciding to head back to the castle. She took the same route back as she went. Sarah walked passed the market area, then over the bridge. She rushed up the steps, then into the castle. It was about 8 now. By now everyone was up. Sarah walked into the dining room, seeing everyone else here, along with Lamant. She sat down next to him.

“Morning.” She whispered in his ear.

“Did you rest much?” She shook her head.

“Couldn’t get to sleep.” He took a bite of his food with a fork. Sarah looked at her plate, eggs, cheese, ham, and softly baked bread. She frowned at the ham, and put it back on the tray, and began to eat.

“Feeling better?” She asked Lamant. He nodded. Lamant looked as she had put back the ham. His eyes widened for a moment.

“Better, than I felt last night. Cold rain. You don’t like ham?” He cut a bite sized piece of ham, and brought it to his mouth.

“Um, I don’t like pig at all.” She took a bite of her eggs. Lamant loved pig itself.

“What did you do while I slept?” He asked her.

“I went out of the castle for a bit, looking around here. Just getting to know my way around here.” She replied.

“I been around here a few times myself, I was younger, a baby then. That’s when my Mother and Father just had me.” Sarah took a bite of her bread.

“Do you remember any of it?” She asked him. Lamant shook his head. “My whole life I lived in Foirt, but now… I live somewhere else.”

Lamant took a last bite of his ham.

“Where is that?” He asked. She scowled. Boys can be so dumb sometimes. She thought to herself.

“Are you that stupid?” She said. He looked at her. “It would make sense I live here now.”

He laughed. “What’s so funny? You being stupid?” He took a bite after laughing.

“First of all, I was not laughing about me being stupid. Second, you should have seen your face.” He replied. Sarah blushed looking down at her plate of food. She looked back at him.

“King Gardhane shouldn’t have anything for us today. I was thinking…” Sarah began.

“What?”

“That we could go and spend some time together.” Sarah finished. She took the last bite of the food on her plate. He nodded.

“I think we can do that… but what would you want to do?” Sarah shrugged standing up.

“You take me somewhere.” He smiled.

“Okay.” He grabbed Sarah’s hand after standing up, and began to drag her. Moments later they were at the stables.

“Where are you taking me?” He smiled as she asked.

“You’ll see.” He replied. Lamant retrieved his horse from the stall. Sarah followed him, as he held the horse by the reins, taking her and the horse outside the gates. Lamant climbed onto the horse, then grabbed my hand, pulling Sarah up with him. Wind rushed through my hair as we rode along the dirt path. Soon, we came to a stop by a river, leaves falling, sun shining on the water and us.

“Beautiful.” Sarah said looking around them. Lamant held two sweet rolls. “Where did you sneak those?” He shrugged with a smile.

“I’m good with that type of stuff.” He said handing her one. Sarah took it. She took a bite from it. “Beautiful here. Why I took you here.” She nodded, watching as water ran along the river bank. Lamant stood beside her. The air chill against her. She looked up at Lamant who was looking into the trees.

“Thanks, for taking me here.” He looked down at her.

“Don’t think of it.” She got closer to him, and their heads nearly touching. Sarah held a hand to his face, and they kissed. Her hands wrapped around his neck and hair, his doing the same. The falling onto the ground, laying against a tree. Sarah on his lap, kissing. The birds chirped, nature going on with their life.

8

The Book

They had just finished discussing with King Gardhane that what their plan was when they had returned from the woods. The search party had found King Scott, located west from the kingdom. Sarah was in her room, preparing to go. Lamant pulled on a new shirt, and his armor. He grabbed his sword, holding it in his hand. He held the shield King Gardhane had gifted to him. Lamant walked out of the room, seeing Sarah down the hall dressed in armor, and clothes.

“Hi.” Sarah said with a smile. Lamant walked over to her, passing her.

“Come on, we got to get that book back.” She nodded, and they walked out of the castle. The crossed the bridge, Sarah looking over the water. They neared the stables, and got their horses. Lamant and Sarah pulled their horses by the reins. Soon, they were outside the city gates. Sarah and Lamant climbed there horses, and began the journey, heading west from the castle, off the roads. They passed trees, thorn bushes, many plants, most of them flowers. Soon, they had reached their destination.

“Quiet, we don’t want to get caught.” Lamant said, walking into the cave, slowly. “Stay here, I’ll be back in a few minutes, if not, get help.” She nodded. Why couldn’t she go with him? It angered her to see him go alone. Sarah leaned against a tree and sighed. Lamant watched the light flicker across the cave walls. I hope this goes alright… He thought to himself. Lamant pulled his sword out slowly, his shield ready. He felt heat coming from the cave. Then he shielded the light that was coming, and it struck his shield exploding.

“Boy, you don’t know that I am always to be more powerful than you.” King Scott said, as Lamant regained from his blow. He walked deeper into the cave, seeing a room full of pillars. It was pitch black, other than the flames King Scott had in his hands.

Lamant let out a chuckle.

“There is more to me, than just being a knight. I suspect we should have a real fight, no escaping.” King Scott nodded.

“I suppose we can have a real fight, but be for warned, I’m more than an expert at magic.” Lamant felt a heat wave struck his shield. He hid behind it, then returned to view. He rushed to him, then another fire ball was shot at him. He rolled onto the floor, and stood up having another blast at his shield, knocking him to the ground. Lamant hurried onto his feet, and rushed at him again, dodging to the side, and swinging his sword at him. King Scott was surprisingly fast. He had pulled out a dagger, and blocked his blow. How could he do that? Lamant asked himself. After all, he was a wizard.

“Boy, your making this too easy, I was hoping for a real battle, but you can’t even keep up.” He taunted then laughed. Lamant grunted, as King Scott pushed his sword away from his face. Lamant was now fighting to prevent a dagger piercing his chest.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Lamant said paining to keep himself alive. Lamant threw King Scott off him, then picked up his sword, raising it and swung it down, before it could hit King Scott, he rolled to his side, and threw his dagger into my side. Lamant grunted, taking it out, and swung his blade at him again, cutting open his arm. King Scott backed up, and hurriedly spoke words, then ice spikes appeared in his hands. Oh shucks… He thought to himself. Ice steamed against his warm skin, and now he was charging at me. Lamant moved to the side, and he didn’t see it coming. An ice spike went flying into his other side, while Lamant stuck his sword into leg. He took the ice spike out of his leg, blood coding at least half of it. He punched Lamant in the face, the blade still in his side. Lamant stood back stunned. He regained, grabbing the hilt of the sword, pulling it out of him, and swung his blade into his side, cutting deep. King Scott, slumped to the ground, blood coming out of his mouth. Lamant panted, blood dripping from him. King Scott grab the collar of my shirt, and armor.

“I… Will come back for you boy… Mark my words… The power of the dragons they have granted me… Was more than just magic.” King Scott lost his strength, slumping back down to the ground. Lamant gulped at the thought. He searched for the book. He looked in the robe, seeing books of all sorts. Lamant read the titles. They seemed to be magic books. He took them all, if there was any sort of helpfulness in them. He walked out of the cave limping. Sarah saw Lamant walking out of the cave, blood on him. She stood up rushing to him.

“What happened?” Lamant grunted.

“I almost died. He was a bit… difficult. I’ll be alright, as long as I don’t bleed out.” Sarah applied some herbs, fixing his wounds up before setting back on the road. They climbed their horses, and began to ride through the forest, heading east, instead of west. Another hour passed, and they reached the gates. Soon, they had their horses in the stables, and were in the throne room. Sarah and Lamant informed King Gardhane. Soon Lamant was in his bed, then dreams were his thoughts.

9

The Swamp Lands

Lamant woke up, light shining through his window. He stood up slowly, then walked to the wardrobe. He pulled out some clean clothes, and grabbed a towel out of it. Lamant walked into the bathing rooms, then, laid in a hot tub. He scrubbed himself clean, then got out, steam coming off his skin. He took the towel he had pulled out, then dried himself off. Lamant walked out of the bathing rooms, then back to his room. He pulled his new clothes on. Lamant heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” He said. The door opened to Sarah. “Hi.” She closed the door behind her.

“We need to learn that language, Fuiste.” Sarah said. Lamant nodded looking at her. “Oh, King Gardhane had one of his servants get us some clean armor.” She held some armor, then set it on his bed.

“We have one problem. Learning Fuiste would take years. We don’t have the time. We need to find someone, who knows Fuiste.” Sarah thought for a moment.

“I should have thought of that. But where are we going to find someone who possesses such power?” Lamant shrugged.

“I’m sure we could find something in the book that could help with that.” Sarah sighed.

“How long would that take?” She asked.

“As long as it takes.” He replied. He walked passed her, opening a sealed iron box with a key, then taking the book. It was thick, and heavy. He sat on the bed, opening it. He began to search, passing through pages.

Sarah walked over to Lamant, then sat beside him. She also began to read, seeing nothing of the sort that would give even a hint of someone possessing these powers. Another hour passed, nothing came up. Time that’s were hours, felt like days. Soon, they stopped looking, and went to the dining room to eat. They sat down beside each other, then fixing their plates. Lamant filled his plate with chicken, berries, and cheese. A servant came to him, pouring wine into his goblet. He took it, sipping it. It tasted of sweet wine. He began to eat, talking to Sarah about the plans. Soon, they finished, and returned to his room. Lamant and Sarah started back on the book, flipping through pages. Still nothing. Hours passed. It was getting late. Lamant stood up stretching, looking outside the window, the skies already dark.

“We should get some rest.” Sarah said. Lamant nodded, taking the book, and putting it in the iron box, locking it. Sarah walked to the door.

“See you in the morning.” Lamant took his shirt off as she left, and laid in his bed. He pulled the covers up to his chest, and closed his eyes. Soon he fell asleep.

Lamant woke up, seeing Sarah on his bed. She held the book in her hands.

“Did you find anything?” He asked, startling her. She nodded looking at him.

“It says, that the Vikings have had such power. Only the leaders of villages hold such power, and barely teach it. Only to heirs.” Sarah replied. Lamant remembered the tales of Vikings holding a power, but one as this? This was crazy. It would be a longer journey than any of them had. They would have to travel through the north cold conditions, Vardinfell was the Vikings home land. The lands, such as the swamp land, and the iced surface land, was one of the most dangerous.

“That journey, would take at least two weeks, we don’t have the time!” Sarah looked at the book.

“It’s our only chance to end this war.”

“But, they only give such powers to their heirs. Why would they give a few strangers such powers? It would take years to gain such trust. Even if we explained the matter we were in.” Sarah sighed, knowing this was a long shot.

“It is our only chance, even if you could kill the dragons, they would keep coming back, without that power, we are useless against them.”

“I know that, but… that’s too much time.”

“Well it’s our only chance! And if we don’t act now, there won’t be any chance left!” Sarah yelled. Lamant moved to the side of his bed. He sighed.

“Then we shall inform King Gardhane.” Lamant finished. He pulled on his shirt, and followed Sarah out the door. They walked down the hall, to the throne room. Sarah and Lamant explained their plan, telling him it’s their last chance, even if it was crazy, they had to. They were to set out at first light.

A day later, they had set out, already on the move. They rode, hard for an hour, making a day’s worth ride. The sun shined across the land scape. There remained 5 miles of traveling before they reached the mountains to pass into the swamp like land. They set camp, the leaves had already fallen off the trees. It was only a matter of time before the battle would begin. Time was not on their side. They had rabbit stew, before setting out into the trees again. They remained off path, passing through trees, leaves crunching at the horse’s hooves. The mountains neared able to see the trees clearing into a field. Two mountains nearly touching each other, made a v like shape. They reached the entrance, Lamant examining it.

“There isn’t room for the horses to squeeze through. Looks like we’ll be on our feet the rest of the trip. The horses wouldn’t be of much use in the swamp lands either.” Lamant said, climbing down his horse. Sarah did the same, and they collected their belongings before setting out into the v shaped mountain. It was even hard for them to squeeze through with all their supplies.

“A bit tight.” Sarah said. Lamant nodded in agreement. They reached into a more open spot, and they sat down. It was twice as dark being down in this ravine, and the sun was only half way down. It would be pitch black if the sun was to go all the way down. Sarah and Lamant snacked on jerky, before continuing. Another mile into the ravine, and the winds were howling inside. The rocks are sharp, and pointy, they made sure not to cut themselves. The rocks were jagged around, it was hard to not trip, or sprang and ankle. Sarah looked up ahead.

“There’s an opening, look.” She said, Lamant looking up from his footing, seeing dark light shining. It was dusk by now. He followed behind Sarah, exiting the ravine. The sun was below the trees. Tree roots run deep into the ground, sprouting around in twisted angles. Water ran in a stream, running for miles it seemed. It was even dimmer out here than it was in the ravine. They began to walk through the swamp, trying to find dry land of some sort. Another hour passed, and it was pitch black. They walked through the running water, mud sticking to their boots.

“When they were talking about a swamp, they mean nothing dry.” Sarah said. “Look, the roots are soaking wet, where are we going rest without the heat?” Lamant sighed. It was true, they hadn’t come across any dry land yet. He felt for dry roots, and surprisingly found a couple.

“I found some dry roots, we can rest here for the night. I’ll take first watch.” He laid across one, about twice as thick as his body. The trees were truly huge, he wondered how deep the roots went into the soil. Sarah laid next to him, looking the other direction. He looked around, he could see in the dark. Her breaths soon were even, and the night went on uneventfully. Sarah took her shift after his. He closed his eyes, falling asleep.

Bug nipped at him. He smacked at the bugs, waking up Sarah.

“Stop it will you?” She asked. Lamant smacked at a bug on his arm before standing back in the muddy water, now higher up to his knees.

“Sorry, bugs.” He said. She sighed, climbing down the roots into the muddy water.

“Nothing is going to help keep away the bugs, unless we can get to some dry land, and make smoke somehow.” Lamant nodded.

“But there is no time to rest, we must carry on.” They walked along the swamp forest, water kicking at their feet. Lamant could make out something moving along the water’s surface. He pulled out his sword, unsure of what it was. It was a snake, and it was heading towards him. He swung his sword at it, cutting its head off. “Aah!” Lamant yelped, looking down at the snake, rushing at him. He hated snakes. He wish they didn’t exit. Or any type of reptile. “Be careful, these snakes in the swamp are more deadly than friendly.” Sarah nodded in agreement, pulling her blade out, following close behind Lamant. Another hour passed on, frogs croaking, insects biting at them. Time went on as Sarah and Lamant went deeper into the lively swamp, mud threatening to take them under. Two more hours passed, still nothing other than snakes, and lizard like creatures flying above the vines tree tops. Water stood still among their feet as ripples ran across the water when they walked. They finally found higher dry ground, and sighed with relief. Sarah made a fire, while Lamant collected some wood for the fire. The ground was still damp, but it was drier than any other place they had been.

“Wish we had a boat.” Sarah complained. “My feet are soaking wet, and my boots muddy.” Lamant looked at her.

“It’s the least of our worries right now.” At night the air was chill against their skin, and the day light warm against them. They smoked leaves over the fire, helping to keep some of the bugs away. “I have an idea.” Lamant said standing up walking away from the fire. Sarah followed him down back to the muddy bank. “If we rub mud on ourselves, the bugs won’t be able to bite us, and we can continue our journey.” He started to apply the mud onto his arms, and face. Sarah did the same, and they sat down on the damp ground by the fire, and ate dried fruit before continuing along the swamp floor. The bugs seemed to ignore them ever since they put the mud on them.

“Seems to work.” Sarah said. Another hour passed peacefully walking, their legs tired, frogs croaking, insects chirping, wind howling in the trees, lizards flying across tree top to tree top. It was nearly evening. They continued, time passing on. Soon they were stopping for the night again. Sarah took first watch, and Lamant next. He laid against the damp ground, falling asleep.

10

The Ice Lands

After 5 days of traveling in the swamp, they had made it out alive, but exhausted. The air was cold, burning against their skin. Sarah rubbed her arms, cloak around her. The snow was falling slowly, the ground high with snow at 1 foot. Time went on, walking through the dangerous cold weather, snow blowing in their faces.

“How much longer until we reach to Viking’s village?” Lamant asked, hand hovering over the snow that blew into their eyes, helping repel it.

“At the rate we are traveling. I’d say about 3 days.” Sarah yelled over the wind. Lamant was surprised they made this journey more fast than they would have suspected. Time went on, Sarah and Lamant traveling through the snow. Then, he felt the cold snow hit his face. Sarah laughed. Lamant looked at her.

“Stop.” Lamant said. She frowned, feeling more snow on his face. He pushed her hard enough to send her stumbling into the snow. “We don’t have time to mess around! A battle is nearing, and the world can’t afford any more time wasted on silly games! The world is at the brink of end, why now?” Lamant walked along, not waiting for Sarah to recover. For some reason, his anger raised. And yes it was true the world was at an end, there was no time to play games. Sarah frowned at his behavior. Why did he have to be so rude? She stood up, hurrying over to him. His face remained straight, and plain for the rest of the day, until they had set up camp to rest.

“What was wrong with you back there?” She asked him. Lamant got a fire going, and looked up.

“We can’t play silly games right now, we might not even be back in time to be in the battle.” The snow fell on his face, and he rubbed it off. “As much as I would like to… there is no time. And for all we know they might not even teach, or come with us.” Sarah remained angered, but understood.

“You realize it might not be two weeks before the attack. You guessed. You are never sure. And who knows, maybe they are talking about making peace!” Sarah tucked her brown hair behind her ear. The snow howled, and they remained silent for a few moments.

“Then why would they burn down villages? Kill our people? Walk the earth like they are our gods?” Lamant yelled. “I don’t think they mean peace.” Sarah silenced herself, wondering why they were fighting like this. Their relationship was going fine days ago, this war was tearing them apart. Sarah and Lamant ate their stew in silence, and took their turns doing watches.

Morning came, and they gathered their belongings, and began their day’s walk. An hour passed speechless, they kept to themselves. The snow drained Sarah and Lamant’s energy, the snow now over 2 feet. It wasn’t snowing as hard now. Time went on peacefully, the clouds clearing up, sun shining on them.

“Beautiful.” Sarah said softly looking throughout the trees, snub shining across the land.

“Yes.” Lamant agreed stopping to look at the sight. He observed for a moment more before continuing. Sarah followed close behind him, pulling her legs over the snow, taking big steps. It was midday, and there was dark clouds coming.

“Looks like we need to take shelter, we can’t be in the open when it comes.” Sarah said. Lamant nodded, and began to look for a cave, or something that would cover them safely. 10 minutes passed, and Sarah called him over, a cave big enough to fit a small house in.

“This should do.” Sarah said plainly. They walked in, seeing a ledge about 8 feet high. It’s width about 4 feet. Lamant gathered some twigs and leaves to start a fire. He clanged the flint and steel against each other, and soon had some stew going again. He couldn’t wait to have some warm food in his belly. After they ate their stew, Lamant took first watch, while Sarah was sleeping. The winds began to howl, snow pouring across the trees and land outside. It was dusk now. He heard a faint breath. He looked at Sarah who remained in the same spot, breathing evenly. Then he heard shuffling at the cave entrance. Lamant looked and saw a figure.

11

Bloody Blade

“Sarah, wake up.” Lamant said shaking her awake. Her eyes opened.

“What’s wrong?” She asked leaning on one elbow, looking around.

“No time to explain.” Lamant looked at the ledge, and decided it was their best chance. “Get on my shoulders, and climb up that ledge. Hurry.” He felt her weight across his shoulder, and relieved once she pushed herself onto of the ledge. “And stay up there. I fear that… I may not live.” Sarah felt a guilt of pain in her stomach. What did he mean? She looked around, then noticed a figure staring at her. It stood by the entrance. It white fur covered its massive body. It stood to be about 7 feet tall, hands huge and rough. It was a snow troll. One of the most dangerous types of trolls. Sarah wanted to jump down this ledge and help him kill the beast, but she imagined herself dying by the beast. Lamant pulled out his sword, and looked into the troll’s eyes. It growled and charged at him. Sarah couldn’t close her eyes or turn away. Lamant had dodged to the side, and the troll had grabbed his shoulder and threw him against the rocks. He stood back up, ready to fight. It charged at him again, and the beast hit him in the side of the ribs. Lamant sliced at its arm. It growled in pain, even more angered this time. He was only pissing it off more. He ran at it and stabbed the sword into the beast’s side, and took it out. The beast wacked Lamant in the head, knocking him to the ground, blood on his head. The snow troll held a rock in his hand. His vision was blurry. Blood was on the rock. Sarah couldn’t shut her eyes or look away. Lamant stood up, and sliced the hand of the beast off. It was now hurt, and screaming in pain. It ran at him, and grabbed his shoulders, and threw him a few feet away, falling to the floor again. The troll picked up a rock about half the size of him over its head, and dropped it above Lamant. He rolled to the side before it could crush him, and stuck his blade into the troll’s stomach. He stood up, and shoved it deeper, twisting it. He took the blade out of it, and let the body slump to the ground. Taking the blade out of the beast, Sarah hopped down from the ledge rushing towards him.

“T-That was… Frightening.” Lamant said slowly, sitting on the cold stone floor. Sarah looked at his head. Blood covering the side.

“I can’t believe you took such a blow to the head, and you’re still awake. I would have expected you to be passed out by now.” Sarah softly tended to his wounds, most of them from being thrown around. He smiled.

“Got a thick skull.” She laughed.

“You can say that again.” He was thankful that he didn’t passed out, for all he knew, he could be dead along with Sarah. Then the world would have ended without the heroes to return. After she finished, she took his watch, and he fell asleep.

Lamant woke up to Sarah shaking him awake. He didn’t want to get up, but he had too. He sloppily stood up, falling back down, his head thumping with pain. He stood back up, and began to gather their stuff before setting out again. The storm had passed, leaving a couple of trees on the ground. The snow covered everything. Time went on as they walked. Lamant looked up ahead seeing smoke rising above the trees.

“Look, there’s smoke!” He said and broke into a run in the deep snow. Sarah sighed, barely able to keep up with him. The snow was nearly too high for her. She was a head and a half shorter than Lamant. Soon they reached a clearing, houses made out of wood and logs, smoke rising from the chimneys. People in thick heavy armor walked about, swords at the belt, or battle axes attached to their backs. Lamant approached one, and asked where they were. They were as big, or bigger than Lamant. She never thought to see giants like this. After all they were Vikings.

“Who are you?” He asked Lamant, looking up and down at him.

“I’m a knight of Magewood, I’m here to talk with your leader.” He pointed to a house twice as big as the others.

“Go to the hall, and speak your business.” Lamant walked into the thinner part of snow, only remaining a few inches high. They must have taken care of the snow after the storm hit. Sarah followed him, far behind. Lamant entered the wooden doors, and they swung closing behind him. After a few moments, she reached the doors, and pushed them open, entering. He was already talking with the leader.

“I’m not sure if I would even give you such power in matters such as this.” The big man said, white hair over his shoulders. Lamant sighed.

“I understand your keep to this power, but it is our only hope to defeating the dragons.” The big man shifted his weight, and peeked over Lamant’s shoulder, looking at Sarah.

“And who might she be?” He asked. Lamant looked behind him, seeing Sarah then back at the Viking leader.

“She is my companion.” He replied. The Viking folded his arms, raising his chin slightly.

“I have a friend that could help you, but he lives at the dragon totem. He will be able to tell if you lie, or tell the truth. I shall escort you there, if you don’t mind.” He said unfolding his arms. Lamant agreed. Sarah didn’t know how this was becoming too easy. She sighed, and they set out of the village, walking through the deep snow. An hour passed. They stopped, and a tall totem stood tall, a dragon skull at the top. At the bottom of the totem, was a shield, battle axe, and candles. And a man stood there.

“Yon-Tong, long time no see.” The voice came from the Viking Leader. Yon-Tung stood up, and grasped him in his arms.

“What brings you at this time of year my friend?” He asked him. Yon-Tong leaned back arms on his chest, eyeing the two young people who stood beside his friend.

“I have urgent business we need to discuss.” He replied. “I need to know if the dragons are really at war with this world. Do you mind?” He shook his head, and took his shirt off, sitting on the ground, legs folded crossing each other.

“I demand the spirits of the dragon totem to talk with the dragons.” He said, and nothing happened for a moment, then a ungodly strange voice came. Yon-Tong’s eyes rolled back showing only white.

“Why must we kill humans?” An angry voice came.

“They have been killing our kind for years! Why let them walk the earth? When they can be destroyed, and we can reproduce. And wipe the filthy creatures of the planet. They have no purpose here, they are merely children. They should not be walking the land we rule. We are more than gods to them.” Replied a booming voice.

“Even if they do walk like they own the land we do, why kill them? It is time a new race has evolved, there shouldn’t be death wherever we fly. The planet needs a new race to grow, even if it destroys the older ones.” Another voice said.

“We will not bow down to them! The dragons are the rightful rulers! And we will rule all! There is nothing to stop us!” Another voice boomed.

“They brought war upon themselves. We cannot let them get away with killing our kind, it would only make it fair. They destroy us! We destroy them! We will not let them just pass by like a child would to them! We will bring them down, and beg for mercy!” Came a dark voice. “We are going to war with them, and if any of you disagree, you will be killed. Now, do any of you disagree?” They all agreed to the plan. ”We attack in two weeks then.” Whoever was speaking must have been their leader. The only dragon he could guess would be Spano. Yon-Tong recovered, his eyes rolling back into place. He panted. The Viking leader looked at Sarah and Lamant, then back at Yon-Tung.

“Then it is true, they really are going to war.” He said. “I still feel like I should not be giving such power to… Strangers such as you.” Lamant folded his arms across his chest.

“I wish for you to believe and trust me. Perhaps there is a way to reverse the power after you have given it?” Lamant asked.

“There is one way, but your life source would have to be absorbed to nearly death, it is absorbed into your life source if you are asking. And you may not live. It is a dangerous process. If we are to give you such power, you must agree to these terms, after the war, you must return and do the ritual. I’ll spare you a few moments to decide.” Sarah grabbed his arm dragging him away behind a tree.

“You can’t do it. Let me. It was my idea to go here.” Sarah said looking into his eyes. Lamant look around, not wanting to have to go through this. He couldn’t let her do this, he had too.

“I can’t let you do this, it’s my job to risk my life… not yours.” He said grasping her shoulders.

Sara frowned, her hands balling into fists, her face getting red.

“Just because I am a lady, doesn’t mean I can’t risk my life for the world, or others!” She said. “I am rightfully able to do whatever I want with my life! And right now, I could kill myself if I wanted. But I’d rather risk my life for the world, than suicide.” Lamant sighed rubbing his forehead. Why did she have to make it any harder? He asked himself. He closed his eyes, and she walked away. He opened them, and rushed after her.

“I’ll do it. I’ll return after the war. You have my word.” She said. He felt a shot of guilt in his stomach. Why her? Just why?

“Then it’s settled then. She shall hold the power, and then return after the war.” Lamant wanted to break down into tears. He didn’t want her to die. He didn’t want her to go into battle. He wanted her to live a life a human should. Lamant watched as bright strings of light swirl around her, and swirled faster and faster as Yon-Tung and the Viking leader mumbled words that he couldn’t understand. Then it went into her shining against her skin, clothes, and armor. She walked over back to him, eyes dazed.

“That felt weird. Felt like I was being pierced by something that didn’t draw blood, nor hurt.” He frowned, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“We must be going, before we lose any more time.” Lamant said to them. The two looked at each other and nodded. They began their journey back.

12

The Return

Sarah and Lamant walked up the steps of the castle, completely exhausted, they rushed into the castle, and up the rug, to the throne. King Gardhane stood up.

“My fellow friends… You have returned. Did you get what you were looking for?” He asked. Sarah and Lamant looked at each other before Sarah began to speak.

“We have returned with the power we have been seeking, but after the war, I may not return.” Lamant didn’t want to think about it. But guilt was building up in him. Why did she have to do it? “They will strike in 3 days tops. I suggest you prepare fast.” Gardhane rubbed his beard, and frowned. We may not have time. He thought to himself.

“I shall have my guards prepare the castle for war, and in the meantime, I suggest you get some rest for the upcoming battle.” He said. What a relief it would be to get some rest. He followed Sarah to her room, and closed the door behind them. Lamant laid on the bed, pulling the covers over him, Sarah, now in her nightgown, and laid beside him, her arms wrapping around him. Her body was warm. He smiled, then sleep took over him.

He woke up to light shining through the window. He could feel her breathing on his back. He leaned his elbow on the bed, looking over his side, meeting her eyes.

“Finally you awoke sleepy head. Slept like and old man.” She said smiling. He shrugged.

“What would you expect? We were up for 2 days and a half straight.” He replied.

“Oh stop fussing.” She said, pulling him into a kiss. Then she dragged him across the king sized bed. Wrapping him in her arms, kissing. “Well, we still have some time before we can get up.” They continued kissing. He still wore his same clothes as his last journey, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was him. Their breaths got heavy, Lamant ran his fingers through her hair. After a few more minutes they stopped to go get clean, and a change of clothes. Once they finished changing, they went to the dining hall, where the food was served. King Gardhane wasn’t there. He must be too busy making preparations. Lamant had wine, while Sarah chose water. Lamant had eggs, bread, ham, and grapes. Sarah had Pheasant, bread, and cheese. They ate, then watched as guards ran errands, getting citizens out of the castle and town. Lamant thought of what King Scott had said, when he was retrieving the book, which he would come back for him. He wondered how. Lamant and Sarah began to help the citizens out of the castle and towns to the east where it would be safe. After that, they began to help move the castle’s riches somewhere safe with the citizens. The birds chirped loudly, animals carrying on with their life.

Sarah and Lamant talked while they help around, time flying by. Soon, it was night. Sarah and Lamant looked outside the city walls, seeing things flying in the darkness, then flames burst in the night sky. They were scorching the land. Why? It seemed useless. Perhaps all they carried about is destruction. Time went by, doing what was needed to be done. Some citizens decided to join the fight. Weapons needed sharpened, armor made, and repaired. After a full day’s worth of pure work, they plopped on the bed. Lamant crossed his arms behind his head, Sarah lying beside him. They had dressed into more night clothes this time. Lamant remained on one side of the bed, Sarah on the other. Lamant looked at the ceiling, wondering if they were going to make it out of this war alive. He let his thoughts slide away deep into his mind, and fall asleep.

13

The Battle

In a few hours’ time, the war would begin. Sarah stood beside Lamant on the front lines. The ground reduced to ash, trees burnt to nothing. And up ahead stood an army, about 13,000 men. At this moment, they took every person they needed. Our army has about 12,500 men, but we also didn’t have dragons. There was about 14 dragons on their side flying around in the sky. The screams came from the dragons, keeping a lot of the people here quiet. They watched carefully as the dragons fly above the other army. They were downhill, while we were uphill.

“You there?” Sarah asked flicking her fingers in front of Lamant’s face. He looked at her.

“Yes. I was just gazing across the army.” He replied. He kicked at the ash ground. Lamant gazed out into the black clouds blocking out the sun. He didn’t like the idea of this war. It would be bloody, and one of the worst battles of time. Another hour passed quiet whispers across the army. It was like they had lost all their hope, and there one last shining hope of ray, was Sarah who held the power to save them from the retched dragons. She didn’t even know how to use it, but before they left for their home land, they said that the power could be used to bring the dragon to the ground, giving the humans a chance against the dragons. There were some words that could do such things. Only Sarah knew. Then another hour passed. In a few minutes, they would be charging at the army.

“We will survive this battle like we have done every time!” The king’s voice came, riding back and forth across the army. “This is a battle we will win! Scream it!” The army screamed it’s words, Sarah almost smiled, and they raised their blades, and weapons, shields at hands.

“You my friends, will not die in vain, but die with Honor! We will bring these dragons to the ground, and kill them!” Cheered King Gardhane. “Are you ready!?” He yelled.

“We are!” were the voices that came across the army again.

“Attack!” He yelled, and the army began to run across the field to meet against the other army. The slaughtering began. Lamant raised his shield, blocking a deadly blow, and stuck his sword into the Foirt soldier. He crumbled to the ground, and Lamant was facing another enemy. He cut him down, swinging his sword across his side, cutting it open. He stuck the blade into his stomach, as he felt a blow to his shield, and dodged to the side, and thrust his blade into another enemy. He watched as dragons picked up our soldiers, making them fall to their death. He could make out a dragon coming his way, looking straight into his eyes. He rolled to the side, falling to the ground before he could fall to his death as well. Time went on, fighting for his life. He could see enemies everywhere he turned. He was cutting down enemies, while watching out to see if dragons were coming to pick him up, and drop him to his death. He looked among the dead piles of bodies, blood pools everywhere. He began to search for Sarah, wondering where she was. He spotted her, fighting three people at once. She was on the ground, dodging their blows. He rushed towards them, and cut one, and two down, then blocked two blows, and thrust his blade into the other enemy. He held out a hand to Sarah, and she grabbed it standing up.

“Thanks.” She said smiling at me, then looked to the side, and dragged us to the ground. A claw just barely missed our bodies. We stood back up.

“We need to kill some dragons, their taking too many of our soldiers out.” Lamant said. But that was the hard thing to do. Sarah shouted out some words, and Lamant covered his ears. A dragon screamed, and there was a light source drawing the dragon to the ground. It landed beside them, with a loud crash like sound. It recovered as Sarah came up to it, and began to slice at it with her sword, then she blocked a blow with her shield, and fell to the ground. She covered herself with a shield, and fire came out of the dragon’s mouth going around her. Lamant dodged to the side before he was burnt to ash. She rushed up to it after it blasted fire, dropped her shield, and used both hands brought the blade over her head, and swung down, cutting the dragon’s neck off. Blood dripped from her blade, and she backed up a bit. The dragon began to dissolve into white flurries, and went into the sky, bones and all gone. She shouted the words again, and took down another dragon, then another. One remained left in the sky. She was using her blade to hold herself up.

“You child, you will die!” Came a dark and booming voice of a dragon. The last remaining one. Lamant stood beside her. He was surprised to hear the dragon in English. They don’t seem fond of our language. He was sure it was Spano. And he could tell Sarah knew too.

The dragon landed without her powerful words, remaining only 100 feet away. He wanted to run away, but he didn’t want to leave Sarah to fight him alone. Sarah rushed at the dragon, and flicked her away. She shouted words, and her blade glowed. She stood back up, rushing at the dragon. She raised the blade, and slashed at it’s wings. The dragon screamed.

“How dare you!” He screamed. He burst the flames at her, the blade seemed to reflect the flames off, but she stood their holding her stance. He rushed at the dragon, then began to slash at the dragon’s wings. He was flung to the side. He laid on the ground, air knocked out of him. He looked up at Sarah slashing at him. He stood back up, and rushed at the dragon with her, and began to slice at his neck. The scales were too hard for his sword to get through. Next thing he knew, he was getting flung about 200 feet away. He tried to catch his breath when he stopped rolling against the floor of dead bodies. His vision began to fade. No! I can’t leave Sarah too fight Spano by herself. His vision faded completely.

14

No Return

Lamant woke up on a bed. He stood up looking around. Sarah! Was his first thought. Had she set out to the ritual already? He didn’t even get to say good-bye. He burst into tears. Why did she have to do this? Why couldn’t it be him going to the ritual. What if she dies along the way there? What if she doesn’t survive the ritual? His crying became more intense.

Two weeks later…

Lamant was at the pub, drinking. He guzzled at his bear. He burped after finishing another one. He continued to talk to strangers about his loss. He hadn’t seen her yet. And she should be here already. He was drunk. Lamant went on about his loss, strangers sometimes leaving just because he kept going on and on about it. Everyone else was celebrating. They had won the war. He on the other side was suffering. It had been so long since he had seen her. He had grown half a beard that crossed over his chin, and around his mouth. He sobbed, ordering more drinks.

He drank them all, then asked for another.

“Sir, I think you have had enough.” Lamant grabbed the man by the shirt and lifted him off the ground.

“Give me another drink!” He yelled dropping more coins onto the counter. The man shook his head, then Lamant drew his sword putting it up to his throat. “Now!” The man served another mug full, and Lamant sipped at it. The strangers who sat at the tables kept their heads low, and talked quietly. Lamant ordered a few more, and drank them. He passed out, head laying on the counter.

He woke up, light shining on his face. He opened his eyes, looking around in a bed. It was a room so familiar to him.

“Hello, drunken sailor.” A female voice came. He looked over his shoulder and saw Sarah, in her nightgown. He wanted to cry at the sight of her. She wrapped her arms around him, staring at the floor, tears dwelling in her eyes. She managed to hold them back. Sarah leaned back, looking at Lamant.

“I thought you were dead.” He said, his eyes watering. She shook her head.

“I’m here.” She replied, grasping his face, kissing his lips. He let his hands run in her hair. She did the same. They stopped a few minutes later. They had dressed, and walked to the dining room. They sat at the table, and ate breakfast. A couple of weeks ago, there was a war raging across the land, the land reduced to ashes, life will grow again. Life will resolve its problems. The spring days were slow, but happy, and animals carrying on with their lives. The land was brought to peace.

An original version, un-edited.