Valgard Goldenblade looked eagerly at his scribe, Erik Lorelighter, as he was presented with a rather large book. The cover was made of a fine brown material and was carefully etched with large golden letters that read, "THE ISOLATION PERIOD- PART I." Valgard smiled at Erik and took the volume. He glanced at the title then looked up at the bear scribe.
"Part One?" he asked. "What are you trying to say, Erik?"
Erik replied to the king of Grizzleheim with a look that said, "You know."
And Valgard certainly did know. Erik was one of many who believed that the terrible time of isolation that had befallen Grizzleheim would eventually end. Valgard himself was skeptical of the idea, but respected the opinion of the majority of Grizzleheemians. In many cases, it was the king's tolerance that made him such a popular leader, and the current state of things in Grizzleheim was a perfect example. Yesterday, Valgard's adviser had suggested that he send out an expedition to look for other worlds on the Spiral. A merchant, Baldur Goldpaws, had developed a way of leaving the realm of Grizzleheim not by using the Spiral chamber, but a boat. Valgard was currently in the process of deciding on the adviser's proposition, one of the most difficult of his reign.
Suddenly, Valgard's thoughts were interrupted by Erik's voice, asking if he may approve the new rune. Snapping out of his daydream, Valgard instructed the scribe to leave the throne room for now. He would get back to him with a response in due time. For now, however, he had a more serious issue to consider.
The king was about to learn just how serious this issue was.
Erik had just turned to leave when a page burst through the doors with a worried look on his face. "King Goldenblade!" he shouted. "The world of Grizzleheim is falling apart! The Red Claw has pillaged the village of Ander's Holt, the grendels have laid siege to Draugarth Fort, and the Coven are headed for the palace at this very moment!"
"What?" Valgard stared at the page in disbelief. "If what you say is true, then we all must leave immediately! Tell me, do you know if the Coven plan to sack Northguard?"
"The scouts who sent me here say it is unlikely for now. The villagers should be safe for the time being, but you yourself must be gone beforeā¦"
The page never finished his sentence. At that moment, the door burst open in a shower of death wisps. The page shrieked and dove into the corner. A skeleton hand followed the sparks, reaching out and grabbing Erik. He screamed aloud before he collapsed, dead as a doornail. "Your punishment for treachery was quite overdue, Erik." A raven dressed in all black, except for the ruby red Mystic Talon around his neck, stepped inside the throne room. A sneering black beak protruded from his hood. The skeleton hands that had killed Erik receded into the staff he carried, which glowed vibrantly with the colors of death magic.
"What do you want, Loki?" Valgard eyed the raven with a terrible gaze that was not characteristic of his demeanor. "I suggest you make it quick. I have a two score of guards collecting as we speak to haul you out of here."
Loki the Deceiver snickered. His staff glowed brighter, as did the pendant. "Your bluff, Valgard, is quite comical," he replied. "Alas, even if your pathetic little threat was true, it would take much more than forty bear guards to take me down. I came here for two reasons. One has already been taken care of. The traitor Erik Lorelighter is dead. The second is a message for you. Let it be known, Valgard, that the bears' dominance in Grizzleheim is coming to an end. Before long, it will be the ravens of the Coven who will be in control."
"Never!" Valgard roared. "The fierce benevolence of the bear soul will always win out over you and your vile raven clans!"
Loki snickered again. "We shall see then, Valgard, who emerges as the winner. Will it be Claw- or Wing? We shall see." He cackled menacingly and raised his staff into the air. Then, as quickly as he had appeared, Loki the Deceiver vanished in a cloud of skulls.
The page, whimpering, peered out from under the corner table. He gasped at the sight of Erik lying on the floor. Valgard stared sadly at the lifeless form. For some time now, he had known in the back of his mind that something like this would occur. And now, whatever was happening to Grizzleheim had begun. It was at that moment that Valgard understood that things were truly bad. And even he wondered if the great world of Grizzleheim would ever be safe again.
