Chapter 1

The recognition of Al'drakene

Greyhem was going to his best friend's house, Gorlthon and Glarsnal as he rounded his friends house, Gloren, another of his friends, came yelling after him saying "the peddler has come to town in time for Beltaine!" He and his friend went into Gorlthon's house and they found a beautiful woman (Gorlthon's wife) and another beautiful woman that neither of them had ever seen before although she looked familiar. There was a dinner set out for them and Gorlthon and Glarthen walked into the room announcing the name of the woman as Helen. Greyhem thought he had never seen a more beautiful woman in all his life when he saw Helen. After dinner Greyhem, Gloren, Glarthen, and Gorlthon all went down to the bar for a drink. All of the sudden the door of the bar slammed open and in came something a little shorter than an ogre! "My name is Gorugu and I have come to take Greyhem, Gloren, Glarthen, Glarsnal and Gorlthon by order of Narfemsar."

"What do you want with us?" Gorlthon asked.

"Narfemsar wants you. That's all I know."

"I guess we have no choice. Come on" Greyhem said. And so the journey began, going from the land of Greyhorime, Greynor to The Tower of Narfemsar. First they would have to pass the paths of the grey. But the moment they left Greyhorime they hit trouble; they found that they ran low on food, water, and supplies. As they traveled on they grew more and more weary. As the first week rounded off, they came to a small town with an inn called the Green Gerry Inn, which is where they stayed for the night.

In the morning the six traveled from dawn till dusk, stopping only a few times. At dusk they made camp some- where in the wilderness. That night they made a camp site in a clearing about ten feet wide with dead or dieing trees surrounding them. Gorugu took the first watch, although none of them were expecting to be attacked, it was still a good idea because of bandits and other criminals. Of course, nobody in there right mind would go and rob an ogre. The first change happened around four hours after first watch, after that Gorugu lost track of time.

The next day the six travelers started to get into some small mountains. It was easy for the ogre, but hard work for the rest of them, and Gorlthon started showing signs of increased strength after mumbling something. As the five got closer and closer to the mountain pass, they started to find more travelers that traded with them.

When they finally got to the mountain pass, Gloren said something to Gorlthon and suddenly changed into a dwarf! "What the heck was that!!?" Greyhem exclaimed

"That," Gorlthon explained "was some sorcery casted by yours truly."

"You're a sorcerer?" Greyhem inquired

"Yes, I am" Gorlthon replied. Every body got together enough gold to make the passage through the pass for all of them. The first two days into the underground pass was a joy! Filled with merchants, humans, elves, and of course dwarves they even found some passive ogres for Gorugu to talk to. They found an inn to stay at for the next two nights to recuperate and get their supplies replenished. They also bought five horses with some pack mules, with the help of Gorlthon's powers.

The third day was not too pleasant. When they left the inn they found that they needed better pockets for the pack mules, but when they realized this they were many miles from the nearest underground town they kept going.

As they neared the tenth day in the underground pass, they found the exit! "At last, we're here!" Greyhem said. They found another little inn and ate a good meal. "Well this hasn't been very enjoyable until now." Glarthen said.

"No not to enjoyable...except at night when we made camp. Best time of each day." Glarsnal agreed. Just then the waitress appeared "ah yes could I have another drink?" he then continued, "if Gorlthon could teleport we would be there in no time, but I like to travel," he added as he saw an angry look from Gorlthon. "Do any of you know that woman over there? She keeps starring at us," Glarsnal said to change the subject.

"Yes, I do know her," Gorugu said, "She is Ulara of the Gronsot. She, too, has been summoned by Narfemsar."

"Then call her over for god sake," Gloren said.

"Ulara! Come here!" Gorugu called. She nodded and walked over. "This is Glarsnal, Gloren, Gorlthon and"-

"Greyhem, I know who he is," Ulara said.

"Oh you do, do you?" Greyhem replied.

"Yes...king" She replied.

"HOW DID YOU NOW THAT!?" Greyhem exclaimed.

"I know many things you think are safe from other people," Ulara said slyly.

"King?" the rest said at the same time.

"Yes, I am the king," Greyhem said, "But not the one you are probably thinking of...I am king of the Malkerie."

"There is a little thing I never mentioned because of fear," Glarthen began, "I am part of the Malkerie."

As Greyhem's eyes widened he said "you neglected to mention that, my friend."

Boom! The wall suddenly crashed down with much smoke emitting from the new hole in the wall. As the smoke cleared they herd a loud roar of a mountain troll! "Let's get this troll out of the way! No magic." Greyhem said as they charged forward. Gorlthon took out his bow and so did Glarsnal, Gloren took out his ax, Greyhem and Gorugu took out swords. But as they charged forward, the troll fell and died. In its place stood one elf warrior, they looked at the troll and saw an arrow embedded in its head system. The elf said to them "my name is Narfel" He said "and yours?"

"My name is irrelevant to any one whom dose not have authorization," Greyhem replied quite cruelly to the elf, "Though I suppose it would be common courtesy to

give my name after you so willingly gave yours. My name is Greyhem."

"Surly not the Greyhem that is king of the Malkerie," Narfel said.

"The very same, I am curious as to how you know me, since I told no one I was leaving," Greyhem said formally as a king should.

"All the elves in my family know who you are, although I would not spend time with bozos like these if I were king."

"What's wrong with us?" Glarsnal said very defensively.

"Nothing I just think a king would spend time with people who do not kill things for fun."

"EXUSEME but the things we kill are evil!" Gorlthon replied very angrily."

"Calm down and"- but he was cut short as a loud screeching sound became noticeable. "Oh no... the goblins have passed the inner wall! Prepare for battle master Gorlthon for I look forward to seeing you in battle." They soon found themselves surrounded by goblins. Greyhem, though knowing it was hopeless, charged forward and started cutting through the goblins, as the creatures shot arrows at them they charged forward killing as they went. Narfel shot arrows at a tremendous speed faster than anything ever to shoot an arrow.

"Al'garthen shemal tengoul!!" Glarthen screamed as he charged towards the goblins and attacked them. The others charged forward and attacked the goblins saying the exact same thing, except for Goruguof which yelled "Im'goule shemal tengal boruthengal!!"

Ulara ran up stairs to her room were her bow, arrows and spear resided. The gronsot never used swords or axes, except when there was no choice. When she turned around there were ten goblins bearing down on her. She calmly looked at the goblins with their scythe like swords and went into an attack that looked a little like a dance with a deadly spear as the dance moves. When she stood up straight she marveled at how quickly she killed the goblins and then ran down stairs. When she got down stairs, she found the seven bound to Narfemsar's tower fighting for their lives. She decided quickly to help them and charged forward. Narfel, Greyhem, Ulara, Gorugu, Glarthen, Glarsnal, and Gloren fought the many goblins until there were no goblins left. Ulara threw her spear into the last retreating goblin and severed it's head. Greyhem and the others looked at Ulara and she said "what, you have never seen a woman fight before?" Greyhem shook his head "no" and kept staring while all of the others looked away. I wonder what he is thinking. She though to herself. Fool! Do not be thinking on fantasies, just keep your mind on your oath to your country, I will not abandon them for some farmer boy

even if he is the king of a dead nation that imprisoned The Evil One. She shrugged her thoughts about him out of her head. She ran upstairs to gather her saddle bags and belongings and when to the stable. She found that every body was already there, arguing over the prices for the horses to have been stabled there. "I don't care what kind of trouble we caused we want our horses saddled now or there will be more trouble!" Greyhem was telling the stable boy.

"Allow me." She said to Greyhem she turned to the boy and said in a strangely commanding voice "Get the horses saddled now boy, if you want to be paid one golden coin, a very high price for something so trifle as that, don't you think?" He did as she told him quickly after that. "You have to know how to talk to the business man," she explained.

"Well, 'The business man' is about to get his butt whooped if he doesn't do what I say!" replied a very angry Narfel. After that they were soon on their way to Narfemsar's tower, again. Although they were many days from Narfemsar's tower, they still rode at as quick as a pace as their horses could maintain. They rode from dawn till dusk, again. This time Ulara took the first watch. Just as she was about to wake Gorugu though, a group of about fifty bandits arrived on the field that the seven friends were sleeping at. Well great, she thought just when I thought I could sleep! She grabbed her spear and called "wake up you fools! We are under attack!" the seven sleeping members awoke with a start as the bandits charged forward. A very bloody fight broke out and there were bandits heads flying every were. In the midst of the battle, Ulara was caught by the bandits, taking a nice looking girl prisoner was, what they thought, a good idea. She was overpowered immediately, they took her bow, and spear rendering her defenseless. She escaped by Greyhem killing the bandits in seconds making her feel strange, though she discarded the feeling as a thanking feeling. I must be going crazy she thought I couldn't be actually liking him... can I?

Greyhem looked at Ulara, remembering that he was not the king he should be, but a humble farmer and that she was a Gronsot! He helped Ulara up to her feet, she thanked him and walked over to her horse. I wish I was Gorlthon he thought he always has a way with women. He walked over to his horse and they rode forward immediately. They did not stop until night fall the next day, a full twenty-four hours they pushed themselves and their horses. When they finally got to a suitable camp ground they dismounted and made camp, careful to make a small campfire just big enough for a good meal and then put it out so they didn't attract attention. This time when Ulara took watch, she was awake with Greyhem. They talked for a while, first about war and battles, then about friends, and then something suddenly popped about their life history. Apparently Ulara had become a warrior when she was about thirteen years old. Greyhem told her about how he would have liked to be king and what he remembered about his parents. I like this girl he found himself thinking Idiot! She is a Gronsot

Queen! You aren't even a prince! Although she does seem to like me and I think she is impressed with how I dealt with the bandits.

"You know I think that I like you. That's crazy though, cause you are no offence a farmer." She was saying to him.

"hahaha. I think I like you to." And he quickly added after seeing the look on her face, which was more towards surprise than any thing else "I just think that you are cute, that is all" Just then they were interrupted by a loud grunt from a sleeping Gorugu. "He's waking up," Greyhem said, "I think I need to sleep some." But with sleep came the terrors of the night, dreams that would make the toughest ogre scream, dreams of death, Killing and The Evil One released into the world and the few men, gronsot, ogres, rebel goblins, rebel giant spiders with a lord of spiders called fadane, last of the Malkerie, elves with an elf lord named owyn, and rebel Darkelves fighting to kill The Evil One, but none prevailing but the people he was with now and one tree others that he did not know, but knew the names as Borathor, Owyn and Fadane. The eight ripping Al'drakene's fortress apart, killing anything in their path mercilessly. Then they got to the top of The Evil One's fortress and a huge black beam of evil energy came and nearly killed them had it not been for Gorlthon's staff that he used to blast the beam back to it's creator... and then he woke up screaming in terror of the sight of The Evil One, Pail white skin with a shadow that seamed to swallow up all light ever emitting from the room... Greyhem awoke very suddenly as every one else did at the same time. Gorlthon woke and muttered something and they all fell asleep again. If he had any further dreams, he had no recollection of them. He woke in the morning with a quiet grunt of surprise as Ulara, the only one that was awake, was sitting at the fire. He got up and went over, then sat down next to her. She was looking around as if to run and kill something. He said hi and she said hello in a very tens voice and stated that she wanted to be alone to think, then she walked of into the forest.

As Ulara was walking she thought to herself what has gotten into me? My people would think I was crazy if they saw me, especially father. If I were ever to return, I need to go back to my detached emotional state of mind with no feelings what so ever! I don't know what has gotten into me but I will never rule the country if I act this way. Or will I? I could be the prophesized one, the female Gronsot that goes against the policy of no emotion. I am a queen, he is the king of the rite country... I am going crazy if I think I am that person. She then herd a noise behind her. She turned around to remind Greyhem that she wanted to be alone, but what was in front of her she did not expect to find, a Darkelf! She looked for her spear, but it was not there. She was defenseless. She tried to call for help, but the Darkelf Grabbed her by the throat, all she could do was make a choking sound. But just then, when she thought all was lost, an arrow hit the Darkelf in the head. Greyhem drew his sword and Gorugu was rite behind him. The dark elf stood and, seeing as Darkelves don't die easily, charged and attacked Greyhem and Gorugu. Of course this was a BIG mistake, the last one this Darkelf would make. Greyhem didn't Waite for the Darkelf to come, he went to it. the two clashed in battle...

As he charged forward, Greyhem had only one thing in his mind; save Ulara, kill the Darkelf. He went into the forms his teacher taught him, Defense of the fortress met destroyer of armies of which met whirl wind of death which met shield of the living. The two met, swords sending sparks into the air, he then went into charge of death and his sword met, instead of another sword, flesh. The Darkelf fell to its death on the ground and then its body turned into shadow. Never before had he met a foe like that, although he beat it easily, he knew that the Darkelf that he just killed would only be a rookie. He gave the command to ride on and the rode, only slowing when the tower of Narfemsar finally came into sight for the first time. They finally were there!