Chapter 3
Kai awoke the next morning by a horrifying scream. He jumped out of bed and grabbed his mace that lie next to his bed and got into fighting position. He looked quickly around the room, nothing was wrong. Nothing was stolen; no one was there except him and Kyndie. Kyndie! His eyes fell on his companion's curled body, sleeping like a newborn kitten. Maybe it was a dream, he thought, but at that exact moment the scream rang again, but now he knew from where: Kyndie's dreams. She seemed to be having a nightmare, but it seemed too odd that she could scream that loud in her dream. Kai, mace now in his off hand, touched the beautiful maiden's shoulder. Like lightning, she shot up out of her slumber and leaped into Kai's arms. "Oh, Kai. It was horrible," Kyndie said with tear stricken eyes. She calmed down, then suddenly leaped back and began to gather her things. "We have to leave, now!" "Why? It was just a dream," Kai said quietly, reaching for Kyndie's shoulder to settle her down from her rage. As soon as his fingers made contact, she spun around and got right in Kai's face. "NO, KAI! IT WASN'T A DREAM!" Kai starred her, puzzled. Kyndie grabbed Kai's armor and threw it at him, catching the druid by surprise while he fumbled to catch it all. "It was another vision. They're coming for me; for us." "Who?!?" Kai shouted. "Stop talking in shadows and tell me what's going on! Who's coming?" Kyndie stood still, her arms wrapped across her chest. "Who are they?" "I don't know what they are," Kyndie replied. " All I know is that they're pure evil and they want you and me dead because we're searching for the book." She walked over to Kai and took his hands, her eyes filled with fear and sorrow. "This is your last chance to leave, Kai. You can leave and never have to deal with all of this." Her head drooped in sorrow, admitting to the fact that she may have to say good-bye to he love forever, but she was wrong. Kai put his hand on her cheek, warming it with his strong hands, wiping the tears away. "You think I'd let you have all the fun?" Kyndie chuckled a little, then stared lovingly into Kai's eyes. "Besides, I want to kick some butt, you know. It's been a while since I've been in the field of battle. I'm getting rusty." He finished putting on his armor and gathered the rest of his items, then opened the door to find a large being standing in the way, his enormous bulk blocking any way of escape. Kyndie gasped in fear and grabbed for her staff when the giant figure spoke. "Wait! I don't want to hurt you." The gargantuan man entered the room, the floor shaking with every step. He wasn't a monster, no, only a barbarian, but this one was strange. His eyes held and enduring gaze, as if he could peer into someone's soul. He stood many heads over both the elves; Kai only reached the bottom of his chest. His long locks and his beard were a snowy white, much like the snow that surrounds his home. His arms where like two tree trunks; larger ,maybe, than Kyndie's waist. His clothing was of animal skins and exotic fabrics. His weapon was a long spear, also taller than both elves. Its tip was stained with the blood of many departed beings. It emanated a holy glow that washed the lovers with a warm feeling. He smiled at them, attempting to show his friendship. "My name is Mercosis; Mercosis Shadowbaine. I've been searching for you two, but we cannot talk here. We must leave while we can. Come. We must make our way to Luclin. The harnuchai can't reach us there." "The harnuchai? Are they the one's who want us dead?" Kai asked. "They want you more than dead, my friend. They want to sacrifice you so they can overrun this world, killing all in their path." This comment brought sheer terror to both elves faces. "Let's make haste. We don't have much time." At that very moment, a thud sound on the ceiling. Something was upstairs. "Damn, they're here. We'll have to fight our way out." He began casting spells on his new companions, shielding them and giving them strength. "I suggest both of you cast some defensive spells as well. These creatures aren't amateurs. They surpass mortal boundaries. We must outsmart them to survive, so we must be in our top condition." Both Kyndie and Kai cast their best spells, taking time once and again to rest and regenerate their energy. When they finished, They followed the barbarian up the long stairwell. When they reached the top, the found bodies flung about the tavern, but no enemies were to be found. "Where are they?" Kai asked, hand clutching his mace hard. Merc took a quick look around, then turned to his friends with a grin on his face. He looked devious, almost evil. His eyes weren't fixed on a single point; they just stared into oblivion. "What are you doing?" Kai and Kyndie both gawked at the tall man, still dormant and grinning. With a fatal swoop, Mercosis shot his spear forward, right for Kai. Kai's sheer surprise prevented him from moving, frozen like ice. He and Kyndie closed their eyes, ready to embrace their mistaken judge of character. The spear hit, but Kai felt no pain. Only a quick breeze. He turned his head to the right to find the spear lodged in the skull of another being. The creature fell to the ground, it's life fluid flowing onto the floor. "How did you know it was there?" Kyndie asked. "I've a gift you won't understand until you receive it as well. Come now. We must flee." The barbarian sped for the door and kicked it open, not realizing that peace was still withheld outside the tavern walls. Both the elves followed behind him, afraid to let their guard down. A gust of wind blew from behind them, carrying many of the fell creatures that hunted the companions. Mercosis cast a spell and rushed forward into battle. He bellowed a barbarian battle cry, his voice echoing throughout the city. Kai gathered his thoughts and readied himself for combat. His hand flickered with a green light and thorns sprouted from his skin. He targeted one of the ominous creatures, it's face hidden by a cowl. His feet moved quickly as he rushed at the being, his mace high in the air. It made contact with the harnuchai's exotic weapons, bracers with wide, dagger-like blades attached. He recovered from the block and parried a strike from the creature, sending into the dust. His mace swung down, colliding with cobblestones. The harnuchai rolled away from the attack and was back on its feet, but the mace had caught the cowl. Its exposed face was not a foul one, but a beautiful one. The harnuchai had shimmering white hair, cut short and clean. Its skin was a silver-blue, glistening in the sunlight. It had no horns, no fangs or any cliché signs of an evil creature. This one was a young male, his face covered in sweat and clenching his teeth. He thrusted his blade forward and made contact with Kai's mace, sending sparks everywhere and catching it in its spikes. Kai decided to gather some information from the young man and threw him to the ground. He was the only one left now. The rest of his companions had fled in fear of death; not a very evil thing to do. Kai wanted answers. He threw his mace away, as well as his wisdom item. Using both hands, he held the harnuchai down and cast a spell on it, binding it to the ground. He stood up from the struggling boy and stopped the vicious Merc as he felt the barbarian charging behind him. "What are you doing? Kill him!" Merc shouted. "No," Kai replied. He peer over his shoulder at the boy to find his settled now. He walked around him and crouched down by his head. He cast a devious smile on the boy, casting a shadow on the boy by blocking the sun. Kai decided to talk to him, even if he didn't speak common. "What's your name, boy?" The harnuchai thrashed about and screamed in an odd language, but oddly enough Kai understood. So did Kyndie. He spoke elven.
Kai awoke the next morning by a horrifying scream. He jumped out of bed and grabbed his mace that lie next to his bed and got into fighting position. He looked quickly around the room, nothing was wrong. Nothing was stolen; no one was there except him and Kyndie. Kyndie! His eyes fell on his companion's curled body, sleeping like a newborn kitten. Maybe it was a dream, he thought, but at that exact moment the scream rang again, but now he knew from where: Kyndie's dreams. She seemed to be having a nightmare, but it seemed too odd that she could scream that loud in her dream. Kai, mace now in his off hand, touched the beautiful maiden's shoulder. Like lightning, she shot up out of her slumber and leaped into Kai's arms. "Oh, Kai. It was horrible," Kyndie said with tear stricken eyes. She calmed down, then suddenly leaped back and began to gather her things. "We have to leave, now!" "Why? It was just a dream," Kai said quietly, reaching for Kyndie's shoulder to settle her down from her rage. As soon as his fingers made contact, she spun around and got right in Kai's face. "NO, KAI! IT WASN'T A DREAM!" Kai starred her, puzzled. Kyndie grabbed Kai's armor and threw it at him, catching the druid by surprise while he fumbled to catch it all. "It was another vision. They're coming for me; for us." "Who?!?" Kai shouted. "Stop talking in shadows and tell me what's going on! Who's coming?" Kyndie stood still, her arms wrapped across her chest. "Who are they?" "I don't know what they are," Kyndie replied. " All I know is that they're pure evil and they want you and me dead because we're searching for the book." She walked over to Kai and took his hands, her eyes filled with fear and sorrow. "This is your last chance to leave, Kai. You can leave and never have to deal with all of this." Her head drooped in sorrow, admitting to the fact that she may have to say good-bye to he love forever, but she was wrong. Kai put his hand on her cheek, warming it with his strong hands, wiping the tears away. "You think I'd let you have all the fun?" Kyndie chuckled a little, then stared lovingly into Kai's eyes. "Besides, I want to kick some butt, you know. It's been a while since I've been in the field of battle. I'm getting rusty." He finished putting on his armor and gathered the rest of his items, then opened the door to find a large being standing in the way, his enormous bulk blocking any way of escape. Kyndie gasped in fear and grabbed for her staff when the giant figure spoke. "Wait! I don't want to hurt you." The gargantuan man entered the room, the floor shaking with every step. He wasn't a monster, no, only a barbarian, but this one was strange. His eyes held and enduring gaze, as if he could peer into someone's soul. He stood many heads over both the elves; Kai only reached the bottom of his chest. His long locks and his beard were a snowy white, much like the snow that surrounds his home. His arms where like two tree trunks; larger ,maybe, than Kyndie's waist. His clothing was of animal skins and exotic fabrics. His weapon was a long spear, also taller than both elves. Its tip was stained with the blood of many departed beings. It emanated a holy glow that washed the lovers with a warm feeling. He smiled at them, attempting to show his friendship. "My name is Mercosis; Mercosis Shadowbaine. I've been searching for you two, but we cannot talk here. We must leave while we can. Come. We must make our way to Luclin. The harnuchai can't reach us there." "The harnuchai? Are they the one's who want us dead?" Kai asked. "They want you more than dead, my friend. They want to sacrifice you so they can overrun this world, killing all in their path." This comment brought sheer terror to both elves faces. "Let's make haste. We don't have much time." At that very moment, a thud sound on the ceiling. Something was upstairs. "Damn, they're here. We'll have to fight our way out." He began casting spells on his new companions, shielding them and giving them strength. "I suggest both of you cast some defensive spells as well. These creatures aren't amateurs. They surpass mortal boundaries. We must outsmart them to survive, so we must be in our top condition." Both Kyndie and Kai cast their best spells, taking time once and again to rest and regenerate their energy. When they finished, They followed the barbarian up the long stairwell. When they reached the top, the found bodies flung about the tavern, but no enemies were to be found. "Where are they?" Kai asked, hand clutching his mace hard. Merc took a quick look around, then turned to his friends with a grin on his face. He looked devious, almost evil. His eyes weren't fixed on a single point; they just stared into oblivion. "What are you doing?" Kai and Kyndie both gawked at the tall man, still dormant and grinning. With a fatal swoop, Mercosis shot his spear forward, right for Kai. Kai's sheer surprise prevented him from moving, frozen like ice. He and Kyndie closed their eyes, ready to embrace their mistaken judge of character. The spear hit, but Kai felt no pain. Only a quick breeze. He turned his head to the right to find the spear lodged in the skull of another being. The creature fell to the ground, it's life fluid flowing onto the floor. "How did you know it was there?" Kyndie asked. "I've a gift you won't understand until you receive it as well. Come now. We must flee." The barbarian sped for the door and kicked it open, not realizing that peace was still withheld outside the tavern walls. Both the elves followed behind him, afraid to let their guard down. A gust of wind blew from behind them, carrying many of the fell creatures that hunted the companions. Mercosis cast a spell and rushed forward into battle. He bellowed a barbarian battle cry, his voice echoing throughout the city. Kai gathered his thoughts and readied himself for combat. His hand flickered with a green light and thorns sprouted from his skin. He targeted one of the ominous creatures, it's face hidden by a cowl. His feet moved quickly as he rushed at the being, his mace high in the air. It made contact with the harnuchai's exotic weapons, bracers with wide, dagger-like blades attached. He recovered from the block and parried a strike from the creature, sending into the dust. His mace swung down, colliding with cobblestones. The harnuchai rolled away from the attack and was back on its feet, but the mace had caught the cowl. Its exposed face was not a foul one, but a beautiful one. The harnuchai had shimmering white hair, cut short and clean. Its skin was a silver-blue, glistening in the sunlight. It had no horns, no fangs or any cliché signs of an evil creature. This one was a young male, his face covered in sweat and clenching his teeth. He thrusted his blade forward and made contact with Kai's mace, sending sparks everywhere and catching it in its spikes. Kai decided to gather some information from the young man and threw him to the ground. He was the only one left now. The rest of his companions had fled in fear of death; not a very evil thing to do. Kai wanted answers. He threw his mace away, as well as his wisdom item. Using both hands, he held the harnuchai down and cast a spell on it, binding it to the ground. He stood up from the struggling boy and stopped the vicious Merc as he felt the barbarian charging behind him. "What are you doing? Kill him!" Merc shouted. "No," Kai replied. He peer over his shoulder at the boy to find his settled now. He walked around him and crouched down by his head. He cast a devious smile on the boy, casting a shadow on the boy by blocking the sun. Kai decided to talk to him, even if he didn't speak common. "What's your name, boy?" The harnuchai thrashed about and screamed in an odd language, but oddly enough Kai understood. So did Kyndie. He spoke elven.