Halt strode into the open pavilion at the centre of the Gathering Grounds. Inside the pavilion, a group of green and grey clad men sat around a table, some deep in conversation, others frantically writing on bits of parchment. A tall, sandy-haired man stood up to greet him.
"Halt, it's about time you got here," he said seriously.
"Crowley," Halt responded, acknowledging the commandant of the ranger corps. "What the devil is going on?!"
"Take a seat, and I will explain everything."
Halt walked over to the only empty seat at the table, nodding in greeting at the other rangers seated. As he watched, one of the rangers, whom he recognized as Oran, shoved a dispatch towards Crowley, who signed it hastily and handed it back to Oran. He then ran to his horse and rode out of the Gathering Grounds.
"Where's he going?" Halt asked.
"Back to his fief." When Halt gave him a questioning look, Crowley sighed, and began to explain.
"A few days ago, a party of Wargals broke through the Three Steps Pass. They overran the sentries, and then headed north."
"How many were there?" Halt interrupted.
"Only about fifty."
"So few," Halt remarked. Then he narrowed his eyes. "You have an explanation for this." It was not a question.
"Yes. I believe that, under the cover of the fight, the two Kalkara escaped from the mountains."
"The Kalkara....." Halt breathed.
"And if I'm right, it explains a lot, not the least of which is the deaths of Lord Lorriac and Lord Northolt."
"Lord Lorriac is dead?" Halt asked incredulously.
Crowley nodded. "He was found a few days ago. Dead apparently from a stroke. But reports are coming in about a large beast seen in the area."
Halt abruptly changed the topic. "Is Morgarath still in the mountains?"
"Yes, for the moment. But he's destroying our command. The Kalkara need to be stopped." Crowley paused for a moment. "Halt, I want you to take Will and another ranger. Go to the Three Steps Pass. From there, I want you to find and kill the Kalkara."
A/N
Hi Everyone!
This is my first fanfic! Please review. I really want some feedback.
Also, this is just the prologue. It is just setting the scene, letting you know what is going on. Chapter 1 will get into the story that is described in the summary.