Chapter 1: Attack on Lut Gholien

Chapter 2: Out in the Desert

She stood there, a scared and alone little girl, in a dark, disturbing room. The four wooden walls were engulfed in darkness; the only light held by the little girl's mother. She was dressed in black robe and reading out of an old, dusty book. A very old dusty book, that looked like it had been buried for 2000 years. The mother was chanting something, and suddenly the room began to shake, as flames appeared in the middle of the room. The flames began to die as a figure emerged from the fire. Dressed in a red dress, the woman looked over to the little girl and then to the mother. They began talking, but even though their mouths were moving, the girl could not hear a thing. It was as though they had no voices. She moved closer. She was so close now, she'd have to be deaf not to hear them, but still, she heard nothing. Her mother then turned towards her, with tears rolling down her cheeks. She said something, but the little girl heard nothing. By the look of it, she seemed to say, 'I love you, but it's necessary. I'm sorry'. The little girl was confused and tried to ask why, but her mouth refused to open. The mother stood aside, and the woman, whose eyes looked like the colour of hell fire, lifted her arm. A crimson coloured portal opened beneath the little girl, and she screamed, but silence still covered the room. Hands grabbed her and began dragging her down. Her mom looked away, while the other woman watched with a smile as she struggled. The arms pulled on her, but she resisted. They were to strong and finally, the girls head was pulled under with a forceful yank.


Kiera awoke in a cold sweat, startled by the dream she had. Before she could catch her breath, she was tackled by Zethar, who hugged her tightly.

"You're alive!" he screamed in excitement as Warriv walked in.

"Ah, so you're awake I see," Warriv stated. "Welcome to my caravan."

"It's a pleasure," Kiera replied. "My name is…"

"Kiera," Warriv interrupted. "Don't worry. This young boy told me."

"How did I get here?" she asked.

"I brought you here," Zethar said, proud of himself.

Kiera smiled a bit. "Am I still in Lut Gholien?"

"Yes, we are."

Kiera listened closely when a sound outside caught her attention. It sounded like people talking, or rioting. Was the attack still going on? Kiera stood up.

"Where do you think you're going?" Warriv stopped her.

She noticed her equipment in a bag and began placing everything where it should be. Ninja stars on her belt, her katars in their holsters. "I'm going to see what that noise is."

"It's the people," Zethar answered.

"They've gathered at the palace to discuss the attack," Warriv added.

Kiera's expression changed as her mind traveled back to that man. She was angry and if he thought he was going to get away almost he nearly killed her, he had another thing coming. She stepped out of the caravan, to find Iago and Kasha waiting for Zethar, who appeared behind her. They walked over to the palace, where huge crowded stood, being addressed by Jerhyn. Kiera walked up to the crowd. The last time she was in a crowd this big, she was targeting someone, but she decided to focus on now and not allow her mind to drift off.

"What did they want?" a voice from the crowd questioned.

"We do not know for sure," Jerhyn answered. "But we assume they wanted the treasure. We assume they were thieves."

"You assumed wrong!" Kiera's voice came from the back. "They didn't want your treasure."

She walked forward as the crowd made way. She climbed the steps and turned to the people. They were all silent as Kiera examined them.

"What did they want then?" another voice asked.

"They wanted a special item," Kiera addressed the crowd. "One that Atma knew the location of."

"So they attacked our city for a stupid artifact?" another citizen said. "What is it?"

"I don't know what it is, but the man said something about it bringing back the prime evils."

The silence was broken as the crowd spoke among each other. It seemed panic was underway.

Jerhyn soon interrupted. "Please! What you speak of is impossible."

"I heard him say it," Kiera snapped back.

"It doesn't mean it's true," Jerhyn argued.

"And if it is?" she questioned as she looked back at the crowd. "I'm going to look for them. If anyone wishes to join me, speak now."

Everyone stayed silent for a while, thinking of what they should do. Then a voice came from the crowd. "

I will," Korlic said as he made his way to the front of the crowd and up the stares.

"They took Atma; one of my dearest friends. Now it's personal."

"I'll come too," Cylene climbed the steps. She was looking for her father, but she figured it could wait. Plus, she was becoming worried about Greiz.

"I'm up for it," Drakul followed.

"I always needed an excuse to test my skills," Zyka joined the group.

"I want to come too," Zethar, riding Iago, tore through the ground.

"Do you truly believe that these men will resurrect the Prime Evils?" Damien asked, standing in front of the crowd.

"If it was lie, why would Atma risk her life to guard a piece of treasure?" Kiera replied.

"So, it might be true," a burning hatred entered the paladin's eyes. "I swore on my life that I'll hunt down every evil in this world. I will accompany you."

Kiera smiled at the people who joined her. "Anyone else?"

The crowd was quite.

"Very well," she said, "Lets meet at the entrance tomorrow morning. That gives us time to prepare."

The seven warriors descended the stairs and walked past the crowd. Some looking at them as though they were heroes and others as though they were crazy. Which one they truly were? They didn't even know the answer to that.


The next day…

Kiera stood by the entrance of Lut Gholien, with two guards by her side, watching over the entrance. The sun was still rising this early in the morning. Kiera went back to what the man had said in the palace. When she caught him, she thought about how she planned to kill him. She was a peaceful person, ever since she left her clan, but she refused to let innocents be harmed. That was how she would pay the world for the lives she had taken. Cylene was the first to arrive, with a bag on her back, waking Kiera up from her day dream.

"I'm ready," she stated.

Kiera smiled. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Kiera."

"Cylene," the amazon stated. She looked down the city's path and noticed Zethar walking towards them, with Iago by his side and Kasha on his shoulder.

"Are you sure you want him on such a dangerous quest?" Cylene asked. "He is, after all, only a boy."

"He saved my life," Kiera said. "He can handle himself. And besides, he'd get into a lot less trouble if I can keep an eye on him."

Cylene smiled as she turned her head, thinking of how an assassin cared for a mere boy. She'd never seen an assassin care for anyone, never-the-less a strange boy. After Zethar, Korlic and Drakul were the next to arrive, followed by Zyka and Damien arguing about whose still of battle is better.

Now that the team was there, they got through introductions, finally grabbing hold of their belongings and moving out. They traveled across the desert as the blazing sun began to rise. They ran into a few demons and creatures while crossing the sands, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. In fact, they worked quite well, despite certain differences. The all seemed to be able to handle themselves, even the young Zethar. The only real problem any of them really saw was that Drakul was extremely uncomfortable, always looking over his shoulder.

"Is something wrong?" Korlic asked the young necromancer.

"Not really," he replied. "It just feels like someone is watching us" - he thought for a minute then smiled - "It's probably nothing."

"You should never doubt your instincts," Korlic replied.

"My instincts weren't always the sharpest," Drakul's mind wondered.

"Maybe. But it couldn't hurt anyone to listen to them once in a while."

"You'd be surprised."

Cylene stared at Zethar as he rode Iago. She couldn't believe how this boy could trust animals and how animals trusted him so easily. It appears they would give their lives for him and vice versa. He seemed to go a head of the group along with Damien, so she decided to catch up. She walked along with Iago for a while before speaking.

"What's her name?" Cylene asked as she looked at Iago.

"It's a boy," Damien replied at the other side of Zethar.

"Finally, someone didn't call him a girl," Zethar said.

"Sorry," Cylene smiled at the child's ranting. "What's his name?"

"Iago," Zethar replied.

"And the crow?"

"Kasha."

"What beautiful names."

"I think I just had déjà vu."

"Why?"

"Kiera said the same things you said. I like her, she's nice."

"She is, isn't she?"

"Too nice," Damien interrupted.

"You're optimistic," Cylene joked.

"People who are optimistic are fools," Damien replied harshly. "If you face the reality of the world, you'll see there is nothing to be optimistic about."

"A little cynical, aren't you?"

"I'm a realist."

"Oh really? And what exactly is this… um… reality you see?"

"Are you that naïve? Can you not see the filthy, dark hearted, demons that run our land? That kill and torture our kind? That destroy our towns, our lives? They all deserve to burn in hell. In fact, they deserve worse!"

"What happened?"

He seemed taken back by the question. "What do you mean?"

"Everyone hates demons, no doubt about that. But you have a stronger hatred for them. Like it's personal. What happened?"

He stayed silent.

"Well?" Zethar became curious too.

"Nothing," he answered as he walked a head.

Kiera walked along in silence. She tried to discover everyway she could possibly torture the man who had beaten her in battle. It wans't long before she had decided that it would be best to just kill him. After all, there was no way he was human and she couldn't risk it. Still, she couldn't stop thinking about torturing him.

"You shouldn't think like that," Zyka said from behind her.

"Like what?" Kiera answered.

"Of how to torture someone," Zyka shocked the assassin. "It's not good for the mind or soul."

"How…?"

"I'm special," Zyka quickly answered. "I can sense things; thoughts, emotions, when someone's lying, memories. I can even see the future and past. Though, my gift doesn't always work so well."

"That's quite a gift."

"I know. But you know all about gifts don't you?"

Kiera didn't know how to answer such a personal question. She had never shared her gifts with anyone but her victims, who never lived long enough to tell anyone about it.

"Well?" Zyka asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kiera walked away.

Zyka smiled a bit.

"You will soon enough," she said calmly.


They continued their journey, stopping when necessary and then carrying on. Finally, it was nightfall. The desert was dark, so dark that the team could barely see their own hands in front of them. The clouds covered the moon, which didn't help ease the darkness or Drakul's suspicions that someone was following them; or at least watching.

"I think we should set up camp for the night," Cylene suggested.

No one argued. With in no time, Zyka had started a fire, which brightened the place, while Korlic began to teach Zethar how to put up a tent. Drakul had disappeared for a second, but Kiera saw him standing on a dune, looking ahead. He hadn't seemed happy all trip, as though something was bugging him.

Up on the dune, the moon light finally brightened the desert. Drakul thought of his past, or what he thinks was his past. He was in a sort of daze, much like his memories. He seemed as though he was dreaming, but he wasn't asleep. He went back in time, through his memories:

The young Drakul walked into the room, to find a horrific sight. His mother's bloody body lay on her side staring at him, while his father's lifeless body lay on his back, watching the wooden ceiling with a horrified stare. His brother lay face down on the cold floor. They were all covered in blood. Someone had attacked his family in the middle of the night. But why spare the child, why kill his family and not him. Was he no threat? Did they not notice him? Tears ran down his face. He wanted to cry, but his big brother said only babies cry, so he held his tears back.

Soon, Drakul's stunned state was gone when he heard a creepy distant voice, that sent shivers down his spine say, "What's wrong, Drakul. You don't need them"

"Don't listen to him Drakul," another voice said. He noticed this one. It was his mother, "Run Drakul. Run away from here. You'll be safe."

"She's lying," the creepy voice said. "She wants you to get hurt."

"That's not true," the mother argued. "You know I'd never hurt you."

"Don't believe her," the creepy voice said. "She wants you dead."

"No, Drakul," she replied. "He is a monster. He's trying to trick you. Don't believe him."

"Believe me," he said. "And you'll never be hurt again."

"Drakul," the mother pleaded.

"Drakul," the creepy voice said.

"Drakul."

"Drakul."

"Drakul!" Kiera shouted for the fifth time, as she shook his shoulder, sending him out of his trace. He looked at her.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes," he smiled a warmly. "I'm good."

"Good," she relaxed. "So tell me about yourself."

"There's not much to tell," he lied.

The fact was that all these warriors, with the exception of Zethar, had something in their pasts they'd wish to hide.

Soon, over the two, came Kasha, the crow. She landed on Kiera's shoulder and started crowing. The assassin and necromancer smiled and then looked at each other.

"Why'd you come?" Kiera wondered.

"Honestly?" he looked forward, onto the sands. "I don't know. Something drew me here. And what about you?"

"I just want revenge on that thug," she clenched her fists.

Kasha crowed again. "That boy's grown on you."

"You think so?" she replied, rubbing Kasha with her index finger.

"Yes."

Meanwhile, down by the camp site, metal hitting metal could be heard. Korlic had two short swords in his bag. When Zethar had told him he'd never fought with a sword before, Korlic had to teach him. There blades hit each other, Zethar with a big grin on his face, truly enjoying the sparring match.

"This is fun," the young druid said.

"I guess it is," Korlic replied, clashing blades. "I thought you'd never done this before?"

"I haven't," Zethar laughed. "I think it just comes naturally."

"Now don't get full of yourself," Korlic advised. "Loose concentration and this might happen."

Korlic's blade slide down Zethar's and as his point hit the boy's hilt; he flung the sword out of Zethar's hand.

Zethar had a shocked look on his face and then smiled as he picked up his sword.

"How'd you do that?"

Korlic laughed and explained to the boy what he'd done.

"Now you try," he instructed Zethar.

The child couldn't do it, but Korlic reassured him that it was a difficult move to do. Zethar had tried to learn as much as he could in one night. He wanted to be the greatest warrior in the world, but he would take one step at a time. They went back to sparring again as Cylene, Zyka and Damien sat around the fire watching them spar and laugh while doing it.

"Look at him," Cylene said. "He's like a kid."

"He is a kid," Damien replied.

"She's not talking about the boy, idiot", Zyka shook her head. "She means Korlic."

Cylene laughed. "What's wrong with you two? Every time you talk to each other, you insult one another."

"I just don't like sorcerers," Damien said. "They don't fight like noble warriors. Instead they hide behind their little magic tricks."

"Let's think back, shall we", Zyka got cocky. "If it weren't for my magic tricks, that Sabre Cat would have been eating you for supper right now."

They began to argue, while Cylene sat back and watched them, laughing at how they argued like a married couple. She seemed a little saddened by the thought of marriage though. She had always wanted to find the right man, but never could. Most men feel intimidated by amazon woman.

Back on the dune, Kiera and Drakul were sitting down, Kasha next to them, now laughing at each others stories. They were going mad with laughter, but eventually calmed down. They looked into each others eyes. There was something between them neither had felt in along time. They continued staring and, almost like a reflex, their heads slowly moved in and their lips almost touching. Suddenly, Kasha seemed to go mad, crowing like crazy, and took off. Kiera looked at the bird heading for camp then turned back to Drakul, who was now standing, blade drawn, with a sharp look in his eyes. She stood up. She didn't need to ask if there was trouble. The look on Drakul's face said it all. She drew her katars and they made their way down the dune.

They sparred for awhile, when all of a sudden, Zethar and Korlic were interrupted by Iago's growling. The wolf was following the floor, like there was something on the sands. He began barking, viciously at the ground.

"What's wrong with him?" Korlic asked.

"I don't know," Zethar looked worried. "I can usually sense what he senses. But I don't feel anything."

Damien drew his blade and raised his shield. "Well I do and it doesn't feel friendly."

Korlic put his sword away and released his axe. Cylene and Zyka followed his lead, while Zethar with in an instant was a were-wolf. Soon, Zethar, with his animal instincts heightened began sensing the same thing as Iago.

"Anyone care to guess what it is?" Korlic shouted.

"Probably one of those giant maggot things," Zyka replied as she saw Drakul and Kiera heading for the group.

Suddenly, the sand in front of the duo blew, as though a bomb had landed beneath it, sending them to the ground.

"I change my mind," Zyka said. "Definitely not maggots. It's stranger."

"Is that your gift talking?" Kiera asked as they pulled themselves to their feet.

"You two alright?" Cylene screamed.

"We're fine", Kiera replied.

Another patch of sand blew into the air and another and another.

"What the hell?" Drakul shouted, as the explosions got more rapid. "Show yourself you coward!"

The sand stopped blowing. There was silence like nothing had just happened. If someone was staring at them, the person would think they were crazy, with there weapons out, but no one to attack. They all stayed on guard for a while, but slowly lowered their weapons.

"I wonder if we scared it away." Kiera said.

Suddenly, the ground started shaking, the sand moving like waves across the ground, all coming from a small hill of sand. Two hollow holes formed on the side of the hill facing the team as it began to rise. The holes were eyes and soon the mouth appeared, as the sand kept rising. Soon there were arms and finally, there it stood. A sand beast, with its waist connected to the desert sand, while upwards from the waist was a body, arms, a head, two eyes and a mouth. What stood in front of them looked like a giant sand golem.

"Somehow," Damien addressed Kiera, as they watched in awe, "I don't think we scared it away."

"Really?" Drakul said sarcastically.

The beast raised his left arm and brought it down towards Kiera and Drakul, who rolled to the sides, separated by the huge arm between them. The monster groaned as it lifted the other arm and attack Zethar who easily dodged the attack. Damien, using the others as distractions, ran towards the creature, and cut into its body, which easily regenerated. Two human sized arms grew from the front and began hitting Damien, until he managed to back away.

Drakul shot a bone spear at the shoulder and as it hit, a pile of sand had been blown off the monster, which was immediately replaced by more sand. Kiera used a spell to make herself faster and sped for the creature, jumping and slashing as she hit the creature's body. The speed she was going caused her to go right through the monster and lose her balance, causing her to hit the ground and roll. As she stood up, the monster swung his fists towards her and slammed her, causing her to fly away and smash into the ground.

Cylene shot arrows which just got trapped in the creature. It tried to hit her, but she was too quick. Damien and Korlic tag teamed with each other and charged the creature. An arm sprang out of the creature smacking Damien away, while another four grabbed Korlic and began to drag him into the body of sand.

Zyka, gathering energy, threw a huge fireball, which blew the monsters head clean off, helping Korlic escape. But, the attack proved useless against the creature as its head just grew back again. It opened its mouth up wide, but not to groan. A beam of sand came out of its mouth, threatening to bury Zyka, who instinctively used her shield spell. The sand hit the shield and flew off it, spreading everywhere. Zyka then absorbed the shields power and released a lightning bolt that would have blown most creatures away. Unfortunately, it went straight through the beast, not even phasing it.

"How the hell do we beat this thing?" Zyka screamed. "None of our attacks are working."

Drakul kept shooting bone spear, but the creature just regenerated itself. He tried to get closer, but was hit away by the beast, followed by Kiera who was hit away after him. They both hit the ground. Kiera immediately rose and moved to attack again, but Drakul got to his knees. He looked at the top of the dunes, where he saw a figure standing there, a figure he thought he would never see again. He knew who the figure was. A person from his past, but it was impossible for him to have been there. Drakul rubbed his eyes and when he looked again, the person was gone.

"Was that," he whispered to himself, "a sign?"

He turned towards Damien who was kneeling, breathing heavily as the others attacked. He attempted to attack again, when Drakul grabbed him.

"Do you know of any spells to destroy angered spirits?" Drakul asked the angered paladin.

"What?" Damien replied.

"Yes or no?" Drakul urged Damien for an answer. "Do you know any spells?"

"Yes", Damien answered. "Why?"

"Use it!"

Damien, a bit confused, reluctantly agreed to do something he was dead against; using a spell to win a battle. The duo pointed their blades to the monster, and began chanting their spells. Everyone turned to them and watched as Drakul's dagger began glowing a green-white colour and Damien's sword began glowing a blue-white colour. The sand beast moved for them. He was fast for his size, but not fast enough. They had completed the chants and the aura glowing around their weapons shot off plunging into the monster. In an extraordinary flash of a white-blue-green light, that illuminated the monster every few seconds, the sand golem began to sink, as the spell took effect. And as its head hit the ground, one last groan echoed through the night's sky and the flashing light inside it died out.

"How'd you know to do that?" Damien asked.

"I'll explain later," Drakul replied. "Follow me."

He ran up the dune where he had seen the person from before. He was followed by his companions. As they reached the top of the sand hill, an image they didn't expect so soon had greeted them. A camp full of tents, guards and fires was standing just a head of them. It was unbelievable that the enemy they'd set out to find was just a few feet away from their campsite. Drakul turned to see the man he'd seen earlier; the spirit that had given him a clue on how to beat the sand monster. Drakul smiled at the spirit and even though he wasn't truly there, it was good to see him again. Kiera looked at Drakul, and turned to see what he was smiling at.

"Drakul?" she caught the team's attention. "Why are you smiling at that man?"

"You can see him?" Drakul was in shock.

"Yes," Kiera said, followed by the group's agreement.

Even Zethar grunted in his wolf form, which probably meant 'yes'.

Drakul walked past Kiera and stood a few feet away from the smiling man. They stared at each other, until the man finally said, in a calm voice…

"Hello," he paused for a second, ", baby brother."

"Baby brother?" the others said in unison.

"You didn't say you had a brother," Cylene added.

"I don't…" the horrified Drakul managed, "My brother is…"

"Dead?" the man interrupted. "No, Drakul. I am very…much…alive," the man chuckled under his breath.

"Well," a voice behind the group said. "Isn't this an awkward reunion?"

The team turned around to face the woman behind them; all except Kiera. She knew all to well whose voice that was. Eventually, she turned around, only to have her worst fears confirmed and a slide show of her past flash before her eyes.

"Hello Kiera," the strange assassin said as she drew her katars. "How lovely to see you again."

Kiera examined her old enemy, looking into the eyes filled with hatred and evil. The eyes she thought she'd never see again.


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