FIRE AND LIGHT
CHAPTER 1: Date: 3A288 summer 9
In a long ago time, there lived a young elven child. His name was Takai and he was merely eight years old. His dark brown was disfigured by a thick streak of white hair that clung to the right side of his face. His eyes were a deep forest green color. But of all things strange about this young lad, nothing stood out so much as the token he bore on his neck, which looked like a fire rune. It was the only disguisable part of him that was not covered in the grime of his years living on the streets. For you see, he was a poor lad who lived in a place most people would think of as hell. There was no clean water nor any food. Takai had been living in these conditions his entire life so the hardships barely bothered him.
Little did he know things for him would soon change.
There was talk in the town about the King and his state of mind. It seemed he had taken up an ancient prophecies and was convinced of his downfall. Takai had heard the rumors as he slinked silently through the streets. The only food in the town was a service provided by the King. The food and water was transported into the town in large carts that would then leave with the townspeople's taxes and manufactured items. Although the town's food and water carts were most likely the most important thing to come through the gates of the town, nonetheless, they were poorly guarded and easy pickings for a starving boy. Takai hopped onto the back of a cart, gingerly lifting the tarp and slipping into the darkened cabin. He began to pick through the food silently.
"'Ave you 'eard what the King's doin'?"
Takai stopped his pillaging momentarily to listen to the driver's talk. Anything concerning the King was far above his understanding but he was sure if the King was being irrational, it could cause him many a night with tight belts.
"'E's convinced some boy is goin' ta be the downfall o' his kingdom."
"'E's gone crazy 'e has. I don't believe a word of it."
"I wouldn't say anythin' if I was you, which I isn't."
"WOAH!"
The cart suddenly jerked to a stop sending Takai flying out the back in the process. The driver's scrambled from the cart in a mad rush. People were screaming all around him. Takai squinted against the sun, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light.
It seemed to be bunch of knights taking away all male children under the ages of ten. Women screamed and young boys cried for their mothers as they were swept from their feet by the huge knights on horses.
Amongst all the commotion, Takai noticed a Knight that stood out. He looked to be very well off. His oily black hair and pale gray eyes were enough to make you go cold to the bone. Takai shivered. He carried a great sword with him. It looked like it could deal out a horrendous amount of damage, even to an ogre's tough, rock-like hide. He stood sneering near the dried up fountain of the town square. A mother rushed by him, clutching his leg and begging that her son be released. The Knight's face was grim, and with one swift movement, he clutched his sword and felled the woman.
Takai threw his hands over his head and cried out. The Knight, spotting the child began to race towards him. Takai leapt to his feet only in time to find himself in the clutches of the grim Knight. He threw him in the wagon with the other babbling children.
He sat huddled in a corner, slapping at the hands of younger children clutching at his rags. They all cried out for their parents, but there was nothing Takai could do. He sat in silence for the rest of the journey.
When they arrived at a great castle, it was nearly nightfall. Takai had only ever heard stories told of the King in his great castle. How he sat on his great throne of gold, with his many servants inside the castle's heavily guarded stone walls. Although the young lad was completely taken back by the beauty of the place where he now stood, he had little time to admire it. One of the sturdy Knights began shoving all the children into a great hall. For a moment all was silent. The children stopped and looked at the many colorful banners and tapestries that adorned the wall. Takai took particular interest in the nearest tapestry. It was of brave knights slaying dragons and rescuing princesses. Just the kind of things Takai was brought up to think of knights. Missionaries of valor and virtue, never ceasing to aid someone. Always in the light of goodness. It was not what Takai was seeing now.
Trumpets soon went off and the children went into a yet another room, perhaps more splendid than the last. A great man sat at the end of the room. He had dark brown hair and a fine wiry gray beard. He was over weight and had a bark for a laugh. Takai stared deep into the man's eyes, as if there were a kind of kingliness that was somehow lost over the years. But he was soon torn from his thoughts as the man raised his hand and began to speak.
" Ha, the children are here now. I except you got them all?"
"Yes my league." A quivering squire spoke up in a quaky voice. "According to the census there should be-"
He was silenced by the flick of the King's hand.
"That is all I need to know." He sneered down at the many children. No on spoke but, as Takai noticed, some had wet their pants.
"I do suppose you all know why you are here…?" Again, silence. " Well you are all here because of a prophecy. This particular prophecy says that a young elven child will come and DESTROY the city. Now I suspect you don't want that to happen." His tone was sweet and deceitful. To Takai's ears, it was pure menace.
" No, no I did not think so. So…the only proper thing to do would be to…" He seemed to be choosing his words with a great deal of care. "Dispose of this problem wouldn't we? Now…if any of you are of elven heritage or a descendant of an elf…it would be wise of you to step forward…"
No one moved. It seemed as if no one breathed save the King himself. Takai slunk into a corner, he did not like how the King said 'Elf' with such distaste. Still no on stepped forward, and it would seem the King was loosing patients. His face lost it's friendly gleam that was quickly replaced with anger. He swung his hand out in front of him and called to his knights: "Kill them all!"
As the knights went on slaughtering the young children one by one, you could hear the lads screeches and howls of there own blood splattering against the walls and floors. But the youngest lad of them all took a run for it, he went under and between knights and he could see the door way out but a knight pulled up in front of him and laughed so scarcely you could fall into tears from freight. His eyes were blood shot red, he had black scraggily hair and a scared face. He was very plentiful in strength and had a great sword at his waist. This knight also had one glove on a hand and none on the other. He soon spoke in a horrifying voice "Who are you child, tell for I may let you survive mawahaha." He barked and laughed.
The child brought up his voice and squeaked " I am Takai."
The dark knight laughed so hard "I am Gallon, and remember this name for it shall burn in your life" and then his hand without a glove began to burn in a glowing red soon sparks were coming from it and then it was on fire.Takai backed away slowly but this knight called Gallon un-sheathed his sword fast had slashed it at Takai. Takai retreated, Gallons sword missed his head and put a deep cut all the way across from his left high cheek bone to his jaw, blood slashed onto the floor Takai put his hand to his wound. Gallon lifted up his hand without the glove and flames started to show up, He sent flames towards this wounded child with no mercy. Takai burst back and the flames disappeared but he was still burned badly, He stood up holding his wounds and ran past Gallon while he was in a deep laugh he hadn't noticed that this burned and wounded annoyance was gone.
Takai ran out the door and when he was a few steps out Gallon noticed and ran after him. Takai saw this mad man running after him he ran through the alley and when he merged out he bumped into a very tall stranger. The man was about six foot four he had short rusty brown hair and had a dark cloak on.
He looked down at Takai and noticed his face smeared with blood and a deep wound on the left side of his face, which seemed to go all the way through into his mouth, and He noticed he was burned all over. This cloaked man then spoke "what has happened, Wee one why are you running?"
Takai looked up at the man and looked down again and stared at the enraged knight coming up close "he…he is trying to kill …Me. .I had done..." and then he collapsed.
The man picked him up and shouted angrily at the knight who was now drawing his sword to finish of the lad.
"Gallon, why do you kill is this one for fun?"
Gallon looked at the cloaked man in surprise " Camus, is that you, for surely it is not you they say you were murdered by the rebels?"
"Yes, it is I Gallon I see your keeping your self busy, but I will not allow to murder this child."
Gallon looked at Camus enraged " you have no choice I must kill him for kings orders and if not I will kill you."
Camus threw off his cloak and he was wearing red and silver armor, Gallon looked at him enraged and growled "How dare you change faith for I thought you were a true royal summon not some old Rebel. Stand aside you have no weapon of defense and for that I must kill this child for it is high kings orders."
Camus pulled out a sword the was hidden from everyone and commanded " would you like to live or die Gallon, I suggest if its live leave this child now and go babble to your precious king!" Gallon had run at this scolding to go tell his king sire Camus was back and had betrayed him.
Takai was picked up by Camus and he took him to a healer and then to the inn. As Takai woke up Camus told him who he as and Takai explained everything. "Ha, so Takai I see what has happened while I was gone and if it is true that you are the young elf. Then I will protect you for it is not what the king says, for I was there the prophecy said. On a night where there is no moon an elf and his company will come and rid of all evil, in this world it is not said how or when but I believe it is true." Takai nodded to that.
After a few nights of sleep at the inn and having a healer Takai's burns were all gone and he was all healed, Except for where the deep cut was put into him from the left high cheekbone to his lower jaw. There was a deep cut and a burn mix into a scar the healer said it would be there for the rest of his life, because it was a enchanted weaponry that caused it.
Camus decided that he would be Takai's guardian and take care of him as if he was his own child. Takai soon asked Camus " Camus when shall we leave, I am as fit as a horse but we are not leaving. Where would we leave to though?"
"Oh wee child, Takai you seem as fit as a fiddle so we shall pack or bags and get two horses to leave for the ka'ti woods and there I shall train you."
Takai looked up at Camus from the maps and replied "but, Camus I do not under stand train me for what?"
Camus barked "ha, have you no idea child the real world is a dirty hel', There is nothing but violence and murder. You shall need to train in weapons I think you're fit for a bow and arrow and maybe a long sword."
Again Takai looked up at Camus with confusion " I know not how to use a bow or a sword , isnt there something easier?"
Camus looked at Takai as if hopeless after a moment of silence he soon replied "You shall learn for that is what I will train thou for and when we are there you shall not ask so much. And that is the last question or answer you will get out of me for tonight so get some rest and sleep now and I will be in the room across the hall doing some work."
As Takai was already off and resting before Camus could finish his statement.
In the next morn when Camus shook Takai awake, they breaked fast and journeyed out to the weaponry and armory stores. Camus bought Takai a fancy bow, the bow was curved into a swirled shape at the ends and had carvings of leaves and trees at the ends, the quiver case was sturdy and made of leather, With red and black arrows. Camus then rummaged through his saddlebag on his horse and found a sword that fiited Takai he handed it over in leather wrappings to Takai. When Takai un raveled it his eyes shun with fancy for the sword was specially made by dwarves it had bin made from silver steal and the power of the sun stars was put into it when you moved the blade you could see the dark stars in it. The handle was made out of a light gold and had a Sapphire sphere at the end told to say if the right holder is good, it would heal and restore them with energy. The scarab was made in a hard leather and steal on each corner it had green gems in a rounded half circle. Takai took his eyes off of this master piece and stumbled in his own words " Camus i can not accept this gift for surely it is to precious for the ones like I to handle."
" Takai, I would not take this Sword back for it is yours and only yours, but it is not a gift from I and in a seasons rest you will meet of whom it is from" with a negating hand Camus pushed the sword back to Takai. And headed back to the inn with Takai shortly following.
In the morn Camus and Takai saddled there horses, Camus gave the young elf a boost up for he was not yet tall enough to get up on his on. The bided farewell to the innkeeper and were off.
CHAPTER 1: Date: 3A288 summer 9
In a long ago time, there lived a young elven child. His name was Takai and he was merely eight years old. His dark brown was disfigured by a thick streak of white hair that clung to the right side of his face. His eyes were a deep forest green color. But of all things strange about this young lad, nothing stood out so much as the token he bore on his neck, which looked like a fire rune. It was the only disguisable part of him that was not covered in the grime of his years living on the streets. For you see, he was a poor lad who lived in a place most people would think of as hell. There was no clean water nor any food. Takai had been living in these conditions his entire life so the hardships barely bothered him.
Little did he know things for him would soon change.
There was talk in the town about the King and his state of mind. It seemed he had taken up an ancient prophecies and was convinced of his downfall. Takai had heard the rumors as he slinked silently through the streets. The only food in the town was a service provided by the King. The food and water was transported into the town in large carts that would then leave with the townspeople's taxes and manufactured items. Although the town's food and water carts were most likely the most important thing to come through the gates of the town, nonetheless, they were poorly guarded and easy pickings for a starving boy. Takai hopped onto the back of a cart, gingerly lifting the tarp and slipping into the darkened cabin. He began to pick through the food silently.
"'Ave you 'eard what the King's doin'?"
Takai stopped his pillaging momentarily to listen to the driver's talk. Anything concerning the King was far above his understanding but he was sure if the King was being irrational, it could cause him many a night with tight belts.
"'E's convinced some boy is goin' ta be the downfall o' his kingdom."
"'E's gone crazy 'e has. I don't believe a word of it."
"I wouldn't say anythin' if I was you, which I isn't."
"WOAH!"
The cart suddenly jerked to a stop sending Takai flying out the back in the process. The driver's scrambled from the cart in a mad rush. People were screaming all around him. Takai squinted against the sun, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light.
It seemed to be bunch of knights taking away all male children under the ages of ten. Women screamed and young boys cried for their mothers as they were swept from their feet by the huge knights on horses.
Amongst all the commotion, Takai noticed a Knight that stood out. He looked to be very well off. His oily black hair and pale gray eyes were enough to make you go cold to the bone. Takai shivered. He carried a great sword with him. It looked like it could deal out a horrendous amount of damage, even to an ogre's tough, rock-like hide. He stood sneering near the dried up fountain of the town square. A mother rushed by him, clutching his leg and begging that her son be released. The Knight's face was grim, and with one swift movement, he clutched his sword and felled the woman.
Takai threw his hands over his head and cried out. The Knight, spotting the child began to race towards him. Takai leapt to his feet only in time to find himself in the clutches of the grim Knight. He threw him in the wagon with the other babbling children.
He sat huddled in a corner, slapping at the hands of younger children clutching at his rags. They all cried out for their parents, but there was nothing Takai could do. He sat in silence for the rest of the journey.
When they arrived at a great castle, it was nearly nightfall. Takai had only ever heard stories told of the King in his great castle. How he sat on his great throne of gold, with his many servants inside the castle's heavily guarded stone walls. Although the young lad was completely taken back by the beauty of the place where he now stood, he had little time to admire it. One of the sturdy Knights began shoving all the children into a great hall. For a moment all was silent. The children stopped and looked at the many colorful banners and tapestries that adorned the wall. Takai took particular interest in the nearest tapestry. It was of brave knights slaying dragons and rescuing princesses. Just the kind of things Takai was brought up to think of knights. Missionaries of valor and virtue, never ceasing to aid someone. Always in the light of goodness. It was not what Takai was seeing now.
Trumpets soon went off and the children went into a yet another room, perhaps more splendid than the last. A great man sat at the end of the room. He had dark brown hair and a fine wiry gray beard. He was over weight and had a bark for a laugh. Takai stared deep into the man's eyes, as if there were a kind of kingliness that was somehow lost over the years. But he was soon torn from his thoughts as the man raised his hand and began to speak.
" Ha, the children are here now. I except you got them all?"
"Yes my league." A quivering squire spoke up in a quaky voice. "According to the census there should be-"
He was silenced by the flick of the King's hand.
"That is all I need to know." He sneered down at the many children. No on spoke but, as Takai noticed, some had wet their pants.
"I do suppose you all know why you are here…?" Again, silence. " Well you are all here because of a prophecy. This particular prophecy says that a young elven child will come and DESTROY the city. Now I suspect you don't want that to happen." His tone was sweet and deceitful. To Takai's ears, it was pure menace.
" No, no I did not think so. So…the only proper thing to do would be to…" He seemed to be choosing his words with a great deal of care. "Dispose of this problem wouldn't we? Now…if any of you are of elven heritage or a descendant of an elf…it would be wise of you to step forward…"
No one moved. It seemed as if no one breathed save the King himself. Takai slunk into a corner, he did not like how the King said 'Elf' with such distaste. Still no on stepped forward, and it would seem the King was loosing patients. His face lost it's friendly gleam that was quickly replaced with anger. He swung his hand out in front of him and called to his knights: "Kill them all!"
As the knights went on slaughtering the young children one by one, you could hear the lads screeches and howls of there own blood splattering against the walls and floors. But the youngest lad of them all took a run for it, he went under and between knights and he could see the door way out but a knight pulled up in front of him and laughed so scarcely you could fall into tears from freight. His eyes were blood shot red, he had black scraggily hair and a scared face. He was very plentiful in strength and had a great sword at his waist. This knight also had one glove on a hand and none on the other. He soon spoke in a horrifying voice "Who are you child, tell for I may let you survive mawahaha." He barked and laughed.
The child brought up his voice and squeaked " I am Takai."
The dark knight laughed so hard "I am Gallon, and remember this name for it shall burn in your life" and then his hand without a glove began to burn in a glowing red soon sparks were coming from it and then it was on fire.Takai backed away slowly but this knight called Gallon un-sheathed his sword fast had slashed it at Takai. Takai retreated, Gallons sword missed his head and put a deep cut all the way across from his left high cheek bone to his jaw, blood slashed onto the floor Takai put his hand to his wound. Gallon lifted up his hand without the glove and flames started to show up, He sent flames towards this wounded child with no mercy. Takai burst back and the flames disappeared but he was still burned badly, He stood up holding his wounds and ran past Gallon while he was in a deep laugh he hadn't noticed that this burned and wounded annoyance was gone.
Takai ran out the door and when he was a few steps out Gallon noticed and ran after him. Takai saw this mad man running after him he ran through the alley and when he merged out he bumped into a very tall stranger. The man was about six foot four he had short rusty brown hair and had a dark cloak on.
He looked down at Takai and noticed his face smeared with blood and a deep wound on the left side of his face, which seemed to go all the way through into his mouth, and He noticed he was burned all over. This cloaked man then spoke "what has happened, Wee one why are you running?"
Takai looked up at the man and looked down again and stared at the enraged knight coming up close "he…he is trying to kill …Me. .I had done..." and then he collapsed.
The man picked him up and shouted angrily at the knight who was now drawing his sword to finish of the lad.
"Gallon, why do you kill is this one for fun?"
Gallon looked at the cloaked man in surprise " Camus, is that you, for surely it is not you they say you were murdered by the rebels?"
"Yes, it is I Gallon I see your keeping your self busy, but I will not allow to murder this child."
Gallon looked at Camus enraged " you have no choice I must kill him for kings orders and if not I will kill you."
Camus threw off his cloak and he was wearing red and silver armor, Gallon looked at him enraged and growled "How dare you change faith for I thought you were a true royal summon not some old Rebel. Stand aside you have no weapon of defense and for that I must kill this child for it is high kings orders."
Camus pulled out a sword the was hidden from everyone and commanded " would you like to live or die Gallon, I suggest if its live leave this child now and go babble to your precious king!" Gallon had run at this scolding to go tell his king sire Camus was back and had betrayed him.
Takai was picked up by Camus and he took him to a healer and then to the inn. As Takai woke up Camus told him who he as and Takai explained everything. "Ha, so Takai I see what has happened while I was gone and if it is true that you are the young elf. Then I will protect you for it is not what the king says, for I was there the prophecy said. On a night where there is no moon an elf and his company will come and rid of all evil, in this world it is not said how or when but I believe it is true." Takai nodded to that.
After a few nights of sleep at the inn and having a healer Takai's burns were all gone and he was all healed, Except for where the deep cut was put into him from the left high cheekbone to his lower jaw. There was a deep cut and a burn mix into a scar the healer said it would be there for the rest of his life, because it was a enchanted weaponry that caused it.
Camus decided that he would be Takai's guardian and take care of him as if he was his own child. Takai soon asked Camus " Camus when shall we leave, I am as fit as a horse but we are not leaving. Where would we leave to though?"
"Oh wee child, Takai you seem as fit as a fiddle so we shall pack or bags and get two horses to leave for the ka'ti woods and there I shall train you."
Takai looked up at Camus from the maps and replied "but, Camus I do not under stand train me for what?"
Camus barked "ha, have you no idea child the real world is a dirty hel', There is nothing but violence and murder. You shall need to train in weapons I think you're fit for a bow and arrow and maybe a long sword."
Again Takai looked up at Camus with confusion " I know not how to use a bow or a sword , isnt there something easier?"
Camus looked at Takai as if hopeless after a moment of silence he soon replied "You shall learn for that is what I will train thou for and when we are there you shall not ask so much. And that is the last question or answer you will get out of me for tonight so get some rest and sleep now and I will be in the room across the hall doing some work."
As Takai was already off and resting before Camus could finish his statement.
In the next morn when Camus shook Takai awake, they breaked fast and journeyed out to the weaponry and armory stores. Camus bought Takai a fancy bow, the bow was curved into a swirled shape at the ends and had carvings of leaves and trees at the ends, the quiver case was sturdy and made of leather, With red and black arrows. Camus then rummaged through his saddlebag on his horse and found a sword that fiited Takai he handed it over in leather wrappings to Takai. When Takai un raveled it his eyes shun with fancy for the sword was specially made by dwarves it had bin made from silver steal and the power of the sun stars was put into it when you moved the blade you could see the dark stars in it. The handle was made out of a light gold and had a Sapphire sphere at the end told to say if the right holder is good, it would heal and restore them with energy. The scarab was made in a hard leather and steal on each corner it had green gems in a rounded half circle. Takai took his eyes off of this master piece and stumbled in his own words " Camus i can not accept this gift for surely it is to precious for the ones like I to handle."
" Takai, I would not take this Sword back for it is yours and only yours, but it is not a gift from I and in a seasons rest you will meet of whom it is from" with a negating hand Camus pushed the sword back to Takai. And headed back to the inn with Takai shortly following.
In the morn Camus and Takai saddled there horses, Camus gave the young elf a boost up for he was not yet tall enough to get up on his on. The bided farewell to the innkeeper and were off.
