It was dark and the clouds hung low over the ruined buildings of Freeport.
The air felt like a heavy quilt being placed over a small child, making it
almost unbreathable, choking, and suffocating. Aldor smiled when he saw
Silva and Darin come into the zone.
"Why do you call us here Nimandle?" Silva was the enchantress well known for her high spirits and great messing abilities. Darin the cleric, his short stature and long beard always gave him away.
"Nimandle wants to save the life of one little girl, because he wants to be well known for is good deeds." Aldor groaned and tried to be cheerful but couldn't help it; nothing was going to be fun about this.
"Aldor shut up." Nimandle turned and stared coldly at the mage. "I do want to save this girl, but you should see her! She has long black hair, and cream skin, she wields a sword so well, I can see it now." He went into a daze.
"He likes her." Darin laughed lowly and then shut up.
A cool breeze blew though the ruins and the dust was swept up into the air. The barren wasteland had been left unattended for twelve years, no know had ever come out of the zone.
"I don't like it here." Silva shivered and clutched her snake staff epic in her hand. Aldor comforted her calmly with a pat on her slender shoulder. From what Nimandle had witnessed Aldor was intrigued by Silva, and was always there for her.
"Well let's get this over with can we?" Darin grunted he didn't like standing around and socializing very long.
The quiet atmosphere clutched onto the travelers, the wind pulled at their armor and hair, urging them to take the risk of the first step.
"Not so fast human." A deepened voice whispered of into the distance, the breeze carrying it slowly. "I know what you seek." It called from a different direction. "I know what you wish to accomplish." The voice faded quietly and Nimandle was unable to hear the last part. "But your to late, we knew she was coming, and we were ready for her." Nimandle turned quickly to see if the voice was actually an object behind him. "We have her." The voice spun in Nimandle's ears. The hunting sound rang in circles around his head; he felt dizzy a moment before the quietness reigned.
"Something wrong Nimandle?" Aldor grinned.
"Didn't you hear it? They have her, they were already here." Nimandle pushed to get the words out and make them sound like he wasn't horrified.
"Who has her?"
"The Guild that wants to kill her."
"Then lets get going human, so we can get her back and get out of here!" Darin groaned and took a stop forward the other travelers following silently. Nimandle unhooked his sword and carried it in his left hand. Listening closely the travelers walked around the ruins and though the city's gates. When the wind blew they heard the fait cries of dieing humans, which were being casted upon by the powerful Erudites. There were skeletons around the rims of the cobblestone walls, both human and Erudite alike.
"Lets split up, Aldor go with Silva, and I will go with Nimandle." Darin took Nimandle and thrust him the other way. "We will search the inner city."
Aldor and Silva went the other way looking in every place possible. Both their robes were tugged and pulled at by the wind. Silva clutched Aldor's arm tightly pulling her body close to his.
"Silva, 'It's not what it is that frightens you; it's what you think it might be; or what it was."
"That's the problem Aldor, it's what it was! This was Nimandle's home, and apparently it was this girl's home. So many people died in this city because of hatred towards one another. And they were both decedents of the same race."
"Silva, her name is Tersha Thindlewood, she's a druid."
"Tersha, the Tersha in your book?"
"Yes surprisingly I found that out too. But we saved her life in the swamp and now Nimandle wants to save her again. He is right, she is captivating, but I wonder if he is taking this to far. He his hearing things now and this city spans miles we will never find her. "
Silence fell over the two once again.
"He's worried about me?" A faint whisper came to Aldor's ears. He turned frantically to see whom it was but no one was around him except Silva.
"He came to save me?"
Aldor blinked and looked at Silva. She opened her spell book quickly and memorized some different spells.
"Yes he is here, where are you?" Aldor said aloud.
"With them." The voice faded.
"What is with this place? Now I hear voiced like Nimandle did." Aldor's skin turned white as if he had just seen a ghost.
"You aren't crazy don't worry. This city probably has some ancient spell cast on it. What did the voice say?"
"It was Tersha. She was worried that Nimandle came to save her. We have got to be close to her for her to send that message, lets keep walking."
Both stepped off again walking slowly their boots picking up dust as they scooted along. The moon moved across the sky from east to west. Once it dipped below the horizon the travelers expected to find daylight, but it never came. The clouds still hung thick and there was no trace of even a sun. The group met up later in the afternoon to try to see where the others had looked. Nimandle was starting to loose all hope and a feeling of emptiness ran deep into his heart. Aldor tapped him gently on the shoulder.
"I heard the voice, she was worried you came to save her. I don't think she wanted you to get hurt." Aldor bent down and drew an ancient figure in the dust. Then stood upright and erased it with his foot. "Lets just go, its no use, we have searched this barren city only to find rocks and papers."
"What papers?" Nimandle's eyes widened as he turned quickly to the mage. Aldor handed him a paper that was dusty and the ink could barely be seen.
"Words cannot describe this city built on fertile sand and grass. So I shall not attempt it. Suffice to say that these humans are every bit as industrious and hardy as any other race. I was brought before their king and this mighty warrior welcomed me to his realm." Nimandle's voice faded as Silva picked up from memory, she had heard this letter before.
"He took me in and proceeded to query me for information about the world beyond Freeport. In the process I learned much about the city itself and felt that Erudin was nothing. I soon left and told my king Erud of this great race and he became angry. This war began and it ended killing millions, who ever thought it would be us?"
"Silva?"
"I have heard it before." She said in a voice that seemed as distant as Velious. "Don't ask where though, because I cannot answer that. I feel as if it is imprinted in my mind." The wind kicked up and became fierce and Nimandle looked around as if this was a result of one of his actions. The dust and sand started clouding everywhere around the travelers and they couldn't see. As fast as it started it stopped and a band of people came into view the wind ripping calmly at their garments. A man stepped forward with a thin figure in his grasp. His long dark brown hair blew violently to the right and he had a scar across his face that dripped slowly with ruby blood.
"You want her don't you Nimandle?"
"What have you done to her?" Nimandle looked at the frail body that was laying over one of the leaders strong arm.
"Nothing, she did that to herself as well as this slash across my face." He said calmly. Aldor nudged Silva and he took her hand.
"Nice group you have here." He dropped Tersha lifelessly on the ground and the body didn't move. Her black hair was blown across her forehead. The man stepped forward closer to the group and he slowly reached out his hand. An invisible force of wind struck Aldor in the chest pushing him back ten feet and onto his knees. The hand moved slowly to Darin and then to Nimandle. He slid the hand down and turned to Silva.
"Scared?"
"Not of you." Silva whispered her voice shaking slowly. Aldor attempted to get up but he was pinned to the ground. Nimandle took a step forward his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Don't try anything foolish human." The darkened voice boomed. "Step back or this lovely enchantress will be dead, just like your Tersha." Nimandle stepped back. The man motioned to his ban behind him. "Take her."
"No, Don't!" Aldor pushed to stand up with all his might trying to break the invisible force that tacked him down. He fell weakly back to the ground.
"Don't defy me mage, or that will be the end of you. As well as her." He ran his finger over the frame of Silva's face. She pushed away and tried to run but the leader's people had a firm grip on her shoulders. She screamed loudly and it echoed off the ruins. The leader tugged on Silva's long light blonde hair then looked at the group.
"My name is Myosin, don't forget it." He whispered as his image faded into the shadows, taking Silva and having one of his followers pick up Tersha. Dead or Alive.
"Why do you call us here Nimandle?" Silva was the enchantress well known for her high spirits and great messing abilities. Darin the cleric, his short stature and long beard always gave him away.
"Nimandle wants to save the life of one little girl, because he wants to be well known for is good deeds." Aldor groaned and tried to be cheerful but couldn't help it; nothing was going to be fun about this.
"Aldor shut up." Nimandle turned and stared coldly at the mage. "I do want to save this girl, but you should see her! She has long black hair, and cream skin, she wields a sword so well, I can see it now." He went into a daze.
"He likes her." Darin laughed lowly and then shut up.
A cool breeze blew though the ruins and the dust was swept up into the air. The barren wasteland had been left unattended for twelve years, no know had ever come out of the zone.
"I don't like it here." Silva shivered and clutched her snake staff epic in her hand. Aldor comforted her calmly with a pat on her slender shoulder. From what Nimandle had witnessed Aldor was intrigued by Silva, and was always there for her.
"Well let's get this over with can we?" Darin grunted he didn't like standing around and socializing very long.
The quiet atmosphere clutched onto the travelers, the wind pulled at their armor and hair, urging them to take the risk of the first step.
"Not so fast human." A deepened voice whispered of into the distance, the breeze carrying it slowly. "I know what you seek." It called from a different direction. "I know what you wish to accomplish." The voice faded quietly and Nimandle was unable to hear the last part. "But your to late, we knew she was coming, and we were ready for her." Nimandle turned quickly to see if the voice was actually an object behind him. "We have her." The voice spun in Nimandle's ears. The hunting sound rang in circles around his head; he felt dizzy a moment before the quietness reigned.
"Something wrong Nimandle?" Aldor grinned.
"Didn't you hear it? They have her, they were already here." Nimandle pushed to get the words out and make them sound like he wasn't horrified.
"Who has her?"
"The Guild that wants to kill her."
"Then lets get going human, so we can get her back and get out of here!" Darin groaned and took a stop forward the other travelers following silently. Nimandle unhooked his sword and carried it in his left hand. Listening closely the travelers walked around the ruins and though the city's gates. When the wind blew they heard the fait cries of dieing humans, which were being casted upon by the powerful Erudites. There were skeletons around the rims of the cobblestone walls, both human and Erudite alike.
"Lets split up, Aldor go with Silva, and I will go with Nimandle." Darin took Nimandle and thrust him the other way. "We will search the inner city."
Aldor and Silva went the other way looking in every place possible. Both their robes were tugged and pulled at by the wind. Silva clutched Aldor's arm tightly pulling her body close to his.
"Silva, 'It's not what it is that frightens you; it's what you think it might be; or what it was."
"That's the problem Aldor, it's what it was! This was Nimandle's home, and apparently it was this girl's home. So many people died in this city because of hatred towards one another. And they were both decedents of the same race."
"Silva, her name is Tersha Thindlewood, she's a druid."
"Tersha, the Tersha in your book?"
"Yes surprisingly I found that out too. But we saved her life in the swamp and now Nimandle wants to save her again. He is right, she is captivating, but I wonder if he is taking this to far. He his hearing things now and this city spans miles we will never find her. "
Silence fell over the two once again.
"He's worried about me?" A faint whisper came to Aldor's ears. He turned frantically to see whom it was but no one was around him except Silva.
"He came to save me?"
Aldor blinked and looked at Silva. She opened her spell book quickly and memorized some different spells.
"Yes he is here, where are you?" Aldor said aloud.
"With them." The voice faded.
"What is with this place? Now I hear voiced like Nimandle did." Aldor's skin turned white as if he had just seen a ghost.
"You aren't crazy don't worry. This city probably has some ancient spell cast on it. What did the voice say?"
"It was Tersha. She was worried that Nimandle came to save her. We have got to be close to her for her to send that message, lets keep walking."
Both stepped off again walking slowly their boots picking up dust as they scooted along. The moon moved across the sky from east to west. Once it dipped below the horizon the travelers expected to find daylight, but it never came. The clouds still hung thick and there was no trace of even a sun. The group met up later in the afternoon to try to see where the others had looked. Nimandle was starting to loose all hope and a feeling of emptiness ran deep into his heart. Aldor tapped him gently on the shoulder.
"I heard the voice, she was worried you came to save her. I don't think she wanted you to get hurt." Aldor bent down and drew an ancient figure in the dust. Then stood upright and erased it with his foot. "Lets just go, its no use, we have searched this barren city only to find rocks and papers."
"What papers?" Nimandle's eyes widened as he turned quickly to the mage. Aldor handed him a paper that was dusty and the ink could barely be seen.
"Words cannot describe this city built on fertile sand and grass. So I shall not attempt it. Suffice to say that these humans are every bit as industrious and hardy as any other race. I was brought before their king and this mighty warrior welcomed me to his realm." Nimandle's voice faded as Silva picked up from memory, she had heard this letter before.
"He took me in and proceeded to query me for information about the world beyond Freeport. In the process I learned much about the city itself and felt that Erudin was nothing. I soon left and told my king Erud of this great race and he became angry. This war began and it ended killing millions, who ever thought it would be us?"
"Silva?"
"I have heard it before." She said in a voice that seemed as distant as Velious. "Don't ask where though, because I cannot answer that. I feel as if it is imprinted in my mind." The wind kicked up and became fierce and Nimandle looked around as if this was a result of one of his actions. The dust and sand started clouding everywhere around the travelers and they couldn't see. As fast as it started it stopped and a band of people came into view the wind ripping calmly at their garments. A man stepped forward with a thin figure in his grasp. His long dark brown hair blew violently to the right and he had a scar across his face that dripped slowly with ruby blood.
"You want her don't you Nimandle?"
"What have you done to her?" Nimandle looked at the frail body that was laying over one of the leaders strong arm.
"Nothing, she did that to herself as well as this slash across my face." He said calmly. Aldor nudged Silva and he took her hand.
"Nice group you have here." He dropped Tersha lifelessly on the ground and the body didn't move. Her black hair was blown across her forehead. The man stepped forward closer to the group and he slowly reached out his hand. An invisible force of wind struck Aldor in the chest pushing him back ten feet and onto his knees. The hand moved slowly to Darin and then to Nimandle. He slid the hand down and turned to Silva.
"Scared?"
"Not of you." Silva whispered her voice shaking slowly. Aldor attempted to get up but he was pinned to the ground. Nimandle took a step forward his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Don't try anything foolish human." The darkened voice boomed. "Step back or this lovely enchantress will be dead, just like your Tersha." Nimandle stepped back. The man motioned to his ban behind him. "Take her."
"No, Don't!" Aldor pushed to stand up with all his might trying to break the invisible force that tacked him down. He fell weakly back to the ground.
"Don't defy me mage, or that will be the end of you. As well as her." He ran his finger over the frame of Silva's face. She pushed away and tried to run but the leader's people had a firm grip on her shoulders. She screamed loudly and it echoed off the ruins. The leader tugged on Silva's long light blonde hair then looked at the group.
"My name is Myosin, don't forget it." He whispered as his image faded into the shadows, taking Silva and having one of his followers pick up Tersha. Dead or Alive.