"Yes, M'lord." She walked away bowing.
*****
Cantering her steed along the shore, the horse's hooves splashed through ocean waves and sent up cascades of salty spray. The sea wind blew her hair that fanned out behind her. Lorilie easily dismounted the horse and led it up a steep wooded trail that curved and swayed. Nearing the top the melodious sound of the pan flute filled her ears. Brand stood in a shimmering patch of clovers with the tiny instrument in his hand. She dropped the reins and glided over to his arms. The dream dissipated like pipe smoke and darkness took her vision.
Moaning in the bed across from hers, made Lorilie's eyes flutter open. Caleb screamed in his sleep and kicked wildly. Lorilie wrapped a blanket around her and sat next to Caleb's fidgeting body. His fever had increased so much that Lorilie was afraid that his head would scorch her hand if she touched it.
Dark clouds were scattered all across the sky at midday. Lorilie's eyelids became heavy as she leaned on the helm for some much deserved rest. Tegid walked around the ship excitedly, he had asked Lorilie where they were going and she replied Firiona Vie. He started going off about someone who was waiting for him there. Lorilie tried to listen to Tegid while he told her about his wife, Minea, whom was in Firiona Vie with a friend, but Lorilie kept falling asleep and banging her head into the wood railing. Tegid gave up on her and migrated to Lanie.
Kel and Slith were talking with Caleb in his cabin to keep him company while he got over his seasickness. Resting his feathery head on the bed's soft quilts, Kel fell sound asleep. Slith was showing off his kicks while talking to Caleb who wasn't very interested since his soup kept sloshing everywhere. He started to feel much better with all the rest he had had.
Bare-chested on the deck, Brand was practicing with his sword. His swift moves put Lorilie in awe and utter amazement. Sweat glistened on his skin as the blade sliced through the air faster and faster. He lowed his sword and brought a water pouch to his mouth. Sheathing his blade he grabbed his lute and climbed up to Lorilie.
"You smell." Lorilie crinkled her nose.
Plucking a few notes he smiled, "Do you want to hear a story?"
"Does it involve music?" she eyed his still bare chest.
"No. It's just something I heard a long time ago." He put his lute on his lap.
"Sure." Lorilie gave him her full attention.
"It was once said that when Norrath was still young and the gods were still creating all life, that mighty dragons rampaged through the continents. On Faydwer, the Unnamed Dragon began scorching all the beautiful green lands and terrorizing the new creatures. Tunare was very angry at the dragon and banished him to Lesser Faydark where he began to hatch a plan to destroy all the gods that opposed him. Tunare yet again found out his evil scam and transformed him into a giant volcano with unimaginable flames."
Lorilie held up her hand for Brand to stop. "There isn't any volcanoes in Lesser Faydark." She pointed out.
"Or so people think. The Dragon Volcano is magical. It is also said that if you sacrifice yourself all your deepest wishes would come true. Only the good ones though." He smiled.
"If your dead how would you enjoy your wishes?" she rolled her green eyes.
"Your ruining the story, stop it! The wishes are usually for the person's loved ones." He pinched her arm.
"Oh, let's say if Caleb was dying, I could go to the Dragon Volcano and jumped in and he'll be fine?" she rubbed her arm.
"Yes exactly." Brand smiled.
"OK. Well continue with your fairy-tale." Lorilie tucked her arms in.
"No one knows the location of the Dragon Volcano, you can't find it unless you're willing to sacrifice yourself."
"So, if I took a walk in Lesser Faydark I wouldn't find it?" Lorilie interrupted again.
"For one thing you just don't go walking in Lesser Faydark and the other thing is, yes, you could find it if you want your wishes granted or you secretly follow someone. Don't you listen to anything?" he raised his brows.
"Huh? I'm just kidding. That was an interesting tale. Did you make that up?" she laughed lightly.
"No, I swear. I heard other bards telling it, but they just added more and sang it to music." He glanced at his lute.
"Thank Tunare you didn't sing." Lorilie stretched.
"I have a great voice. Why do you think I became a bard?" he sat up straighter.
"To annoy people to their deaths." Lorilie giggled.
"No only you." Brand laughed.
Lanie stepped behind Lorilie and rolled her eyes. "You listen to Tegid now. I think he's told me about his wife a hundred times in the past hour."
"Very funny Lanie." Tegid joined them.
"I'll take note." Brand picked up his lute.
Tegid grinned boyishly. "Minea. She's the most beautiful wood elf Tunare ever made. Her lovely blonde hair shimmers even in the dark, and oh, her eyes. Her eyes are such a deep brown that you could drown in them for all eternity. I miss her so much, we usually aren't separated for long periods of time." He shook his head as if agreeing with himself.
"She sounds wonderful." Brand gave Tegid an encouraging smile.
"She's more than wonderful in person!" Tegid sighed.
"I feel the same way for a certain wood elf myself." Brand rolled his head and grinned at Lorilie. Lorilie blushed, grabbed Lanie's arm, and took her to a different part of the ship. Brand shoved his hands into his pockets and closed his eyes while listening to Tegid again.
"Anyone could tell you worship the ground she walks upon." Tegid chuckled.
*****
Albain and Aubrey threw all their bags onto the dusty floor of the abandoned cabin. Albain's old house in Greater Faydark hadn't had anyone living in it for over twenty years. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust even the spider webs. Aubrey sneezed as he opened a cabinet and a large cloud of dust fell into his face.
"I've already contacted some men to pursue the assassins that are following Lorilie." Aubrey picked up a cloth and wiped clean the table.
"They are going to Firiona Vie right?" Albain wrung his hands.
"Yes that's where you told them to go." He tossed the dirt-covered cloth into a rusted bucket.
"I'm just so scared, Aubrey. What if they do hurt Lorilie? I would never forgive myself." Albain's voce was shaken.
Aubrey flung open the window and watched the dust fly in the air. Albain's pointed ears twitched nervously as he sat thinking. A well-built barbarian ducked through the doorway carrying a large parcel, he tilted his head and stared at Albain. Waving his hand to a room, Albain motioned the barbarian to place the package in there. He stood guard outside the house and eyed every falling leaf carefully once he was dismissed. Hours later, the once filthy cabin stood clean and in much better condition. All the cabinets were stocked with supplied that Aubrey, Albain, and his three servants needed. The barbarian, Kron, rushed into the cabin and shouted in his booming voice for Albain.
"What is it? The wood elf was tiny compared to Kron.
"Ogre's are approaching, they are trying to be sneaky about it too." Kron smirked.
"You never miss a thing do you, Kron? Well, those stupid creatures will be sorry they found my house." Albain rolled back the sleeves of his robes. Walking outside and stepping into the sunlight, Albain faced an extremely ugly ogre. "You are trespassing on private property, you pitiful excuse of an ogre."
"Gonna bash tiny elf and take all da house for Boss." The ogre pulled out a monstrous club.
"I'm not afraid of you or your boss."
Kron stood beside his master with his arms crossed. Aubrey, another human, and a half-elf, all males, were outside also. The ogre's moved clumsily towards the smaller beings. Kron pulled out a mace and waited for the stupid things to come. The half-elf and human rushed inside the cabin and slammed the door shut. They peered out the window with wide eyes. Kron shook his mace towards the window at the two scared servants. One ogre flew ten feet in the air and crashed into a tree when Kron turned back. Albain's palms were raised and his face was blank. Four more ogres charged the three, yelling in their poor speech.
"Stay close master." Kron said to Albain.
"Come now, I can take care of myself. I've dealt with worse things then ogres." Surging power enclosed all around Albain.
Aubrey swung his long sword into the thick leg of an ogre, slimy blood squirted out. The ogre waved his club in the air pointlessly hoping it would beat someone. Again the sound of a blade slicing into flesh was heard. Falling to the ground with a thud, the bald ogre's blood soaked the grass.
Kron's mace slammed against the head of the ugliest ogre as it tried to step on Albain. Albain sat on the ground holding his middle; blood drenched his robe and hand. Tiny blue lights flew over Albain's head. His graying hair had streaks of blood dripping down onto his face.
Sprinting to help aid Aubrey, the human servant charged the oncoming ogre. His foot long dagger was shoved deep into the ogre's neck. The ogre stumbled and fell onto the two human's legs. The two pushed hard to move the tremendous weight off and gain the blood and feeling back in their legs.
The last creature died from Albain's magic soon after the whole thing started. Kron helped Albain up and led him into the cabin. The half-elf scurried to a bag and pulled out some bandages. Aubrey shook the human's hand and congratulated him on a job well done. Minutes later, Kron was outside hauling the heavy bodies into the thicket of trees.
*****
Lorilie rubbed the massive welt on her forehead furiously. Her ship docked into Firiona Vie and the first person Lorilie talked too, attacked her. Brand had thrusted his flute case into the man's head and knocked him out. The man was sprawled out on the dock, passerby's barely noticed. Meanwhile Caleb, Tegid, and Slith entered the bright city in search for a building that only Caleb knew. Tegid just came to look for his wife, Minea. Slith said he was with Caleb to protect him; Kel snorted at him with laughter and took his place next to Lorilie with his head held high.
"Would you two lovely ladies care to join me for a drink?" Brand held out his arms.
"I'll wait with the ssship." Kel trotted up the ramp and lay there. "Sssince I don't drrrink."
"A drink sounds good." Lanie took Brand's left arm and waved to Kel.
"Oh, all right I'll go." Lorilie sighed.
Strutting into the closest tavern Brand puffed out his chest and smiled to all the staring men. Having a beautiful woman on each arm tore many a man's eyes away from their liquor. After seating Lanie and Lorilie Brand went and got three large mugs of honey mead for the table. Lorilie sipped small amounts as she listened to the buzz of talk flowing around her head. A hand on Lorilie's shoulder made her jump and spill her honey mead all over her pants. She turned around and glared at a drunken wood elf. Brand stood up and pushed the elf gently aside. Lanie helped Lorilie clean herself while Brand faced the elf.
"Two women, ehh?" the elf burped rudely.
"Yes, and you best stay away from them." Brand folded his arms.
"Would you share some of your good fortune and lend me a woman for the night?" the elf grinned making his face ever redder then before.
"Lend a woman? This isn't a whor." Brand covered Lorilie's mouth.
"Can we leave?" Lanie pulled Lorilie back.
"That tall one caught my eye." The wood elf reached for Lanie.
Tackling the elf to the cold stone ground, Brand struggled to reach the smaller elf's neck. Lorilie fell onto the table laughing and from being pushed by Brand. Onlookers started a circle around the two on the ground and stared dumbfounded. Some let out a cheer before two burly men each picked up an elf. Grabbing Lanie's arm and Lorilie's shirt by the collar, Brand dragged the two out of the tavern.
"I'm not the only one with a hideous bruise now!" Lorilie continued to laugh as her fingers brushed off of Brand's cheek.
"Let's not do that again." Lanie wrapped her shawl around her shoulders.
"I'm never taking two women into a tavern again!" Brand frowned.
Lorilie laughed even harder then before. "Don't worry Brand, you're bound to make that happen time after time."
"I'd never make the same mistake twice." He blushed.
His rayin His
*****
Cantering her steed along the shore, the horse's hooves splashed through ocean waves and sent up cascades of salty spray. The sea wind blew her hair that fanned out behind her. Lorilie easily dismounted the horse and led it up a steep wooded trail that curved and swayed. Nearing the top the melodious sound of the pan flute filled her ears. Brand stood in a shimmering patch of clovers with the tiny instrument in his hand. She dropped the reins and glided over to his arms. The dream dissipated like pipe smoke and darkness took her vision.
Moaning in the bed across from hers, made Lorilie's eyes flutter open. Caleb screamed in his sleep and kicked wildly. Lorilie wrapped a blanket around her and sat next to Caleb's fidgeting body. His fever had increased so much that Lorilie was afraid that his head would scorch her hand if she touched it.
Dark clouds were scattered all across the sky at midday. Lorilie's eyelids became heavy as she leaned on the helm for some much deserved rest. Tegid walked around the ship excitedly, he had asked Lorilie where they were going and she replied Firiona Vie. He started going off about someone who was waiting for him there. Lorilie tried to listen to Tegid while he told her about his wife, Minea, whom was in Firiona Vie with a friend, but Lorilie kept falling asleep and banging her head into the wood railing. Tegid gave up on her and migrated to Lanie.
Kel and Slith were talking with Caleb in his cabin to keep him company while he got over his seasickness. Resting his feathery head on the bed's soft quilts, Kel fell sound asleep. Slith was showing off his kicks while talking to Caleb who wasn't very interested since his soup kept sloshing everywhere. He started to feel much better with all the rest he had had.
Bare-chested on the deck, Brand was practicing with his sword. His swift moves put Lorilie in awe and utter amazement. Sweat glistened on his skin as the blade sliced through the air faster and faster. He lowed his sword and brought a water pouch to his mouth. Sheathing his blade he grabbed his lute and climbed up to Lorilie.
"You smell." Lorilie crinkled her nose.
Plucking a few notes he smiled, "Do you want to hear a story?"
"Does it involve music?" she eyed his still bare chest.
"No. It's just something I heard a long time ago." He put his lute on his lap.
"Sure." Lorilie gave him her full attention.
"It was once said that when Norrath was still young and the gods were still creating all life, that mighty dragons rampaged through the continents. On Faydwer, the Unnamed Dragon began scorching all the beautiful green lands and terrorizing the new creatures. Tunare was very angry at the dragon and banished him to Lesser Faydark where he began to hatch a plan to destroy all the gods that opposed him. Tunare yet again found out his evil scam and transformed him into a giant volcano with unimaginable flames."
Lorilie held up her hand for Brand to stop. "There isn't any volcanoes in Lesser Faydark." She pointed out.
"Or so people think. The Dragon Volcano is magical. It is also said that if you sacrifice yourself all your deepest wishes would come true. Only the good ones though." He smiled.
"If your dead how would you enjoy your wishes?" she rolled her green eyes.
"Your ruining the story, stop it! The wishes are usually for the person's loved ones." He pinched her arm.
"Oh, let's say if Caleb was dying, I could go to the Dragon Volcano and jumped in and he'll be fine?" she rubbed her arm.
"Yes exactly." Brand smiled.
"OK. Well continue with your fairy-tale." Lorilie tucked her arms in.
"No one knows the location of the Dragon Volcano, you can't find it unless you're willing to sacrifice yourself."
"So, if I took a walk in Lesser Faydark I wouldn't find it?" Lorilie interrupted again.
"For one thing you just don't go walking in Lesser Faydark and the other thing is, yes, you could find it if you want your wishes granted or you secretly follow someone. Don't you listen to anything?" he raised his brows.
"Huh? I'm just kidding. That was an interesting tale. Did you make that up?" she laughed lightly.
"No, I swear. I heard other bards telling it, but they just added more and sang it to music." He glanced at his lute.
"Thank Tunare you didn't sing." Lorilie stretched.
"I have a great voice. Why do you think I became a bard?" he sat up straighter.
"To annoy people to their deaths." Lorilie giggled.
"No only you." Brand laughed.
Lanie stepped behind Lorilie and rolled her eyes. "You listen to Tegid now. I think he's told me about his wife a hundred times in the past hour."
"Very funny Lanie." Tegid joined them.
"I'll take note." Brand picked up his lute.
Tegid grinned boyishly. "Minea. She's the most beautiful wood elf Tunare ever made. Her lovely blonde hair shimmers even in the dark, and oh, her eyes. Her eyes are such a deep brown that you could drown in them for all eternity. I miss her so much, we usually aren't separated for long periods of time." He shook his head as if agreeing with himself.
"She sounds wonderful." Brand gave Tegid an encouraging smile.
"She's more than wonderful in person!" Tegid sighed.
"I feel the same way for a certain wood elf myself." Brand rolled his head and grinned at Lorilie. Lorilie blushed, grabbed Lanie's arm, and took her to a different part of the ship. Brand shoved his hands into his pockets and closed his eyes while listening to Tegid again.
"Anyone could tell you worship the ground she walks upon." Tegid chuckled.
*****
Albain and Aubrey threw all their bags onto the dusty floor of the abandoned cabin. Albain's old house in Greater Faydark hadn't had anyone living in it for over twenty years. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust even the spider webs. Aubrey sneezed as he opened a cabinet and a large cloud of dust fell into his face.
"I've already contacted some men to pursue the assassins that are following Lorilie." Aubrey picked up a cloth and wiped clean the table.
"They are going to Firiona Vie right?" Albain wrung his hands.
"Yes that's where you told them to go." He tossed the dirt-covered cloth into a rusted bucket.
"I'm just so scared, Aubrey. What if they do hurt Lorilie? I would never forgive myself." Albain's voce was shaken.
Aubrey flung open the window and watched the dust fly in the air. Albain's pointed ears twitched nervously as he sat thinking. A well-built barbarian ducked through the doorway carrying a large parcel, he tilted his head and stared at Albain. Waving his hand to a room, Albain motioned the barbarian to place the package in there. He stood guard outside the house and eyed every falling leaf carefully once he was dismissed. Hours later, the once filthy cabin stood clean and in much better condition. All the cabinets were stocked with supplied that Aubrey, Albain, and his three servants needed. The barbarian, Kron, rushed into the cabin and shouted in his booming voice for Albain.
"What is it? The wood elf was tiny compared to Kron.
"Ogre's are approaching, they are trying to be sneaky about it too." Kron smirked.
"You never miss a thing do you, Kron? Well, those stupid creatures will be sorry they found my house." Albain rolled back the sleeves of his robes. Walking outside and stepping into the sunlight, Albain faced an extremely ugly ogre. "You are trespassing on private property, you pitiful excuse of an ogre."
"Gonna bash tiny elf and take all da house for Boss." The ogre pulled out a monstrous club.
"I'm not afraid of you or your boss."
Kron stood beside his master with his arms crossed. Aubrey, another human, and a half-elf, all males, were outside also. The ogre's moved clumsily towards the smaller beings. Kron pulled out a mace and waited for the stupid things to come. The half-elf and human rushed inside the cabin and slammed the door shut. They peered out the window with wide eyes. Kron shook his mace towards the window at the two scared servants. One ogre flew ten feet in the air and crashed into a tree when Kron turned back. Albain's palms were raised and his face was blank. Four more ogres charged the three, yelling in their poor speech.
"Stay close master." Kron said to Albain.
"Come now, I can take care of myself. I've dealt with worse things then ogres." Surging power enclosed all around Albain.
Aubrey swung his long sword into the thick leg of an ogre, slimy blood squirted out. The ogre waved his club in the air pointlessly hoping it would beat someone. Again the sound of a blade slicing into flesh was heard. Falling to the ground with a thud, the bald ogre's blood soaked the grass.
Kron's mace slammed against the head of the ugliest ogre as it tried to step on Albain. Albain sat on the ground holding his middle; blood drenched his robe and hand. Tiny blue lights flew over Albain's head. His graying hair had streaks of blood dripping down onto his face.
Sprinting to help aid Aubrey, the human servant charged the oncoming ogre. His foot long dagger was shoved deep into the ogre's neck. The ogre stumbled and fell onto the two human's legs. The two pushed hard to move the tremendous weight off and gain the blood and feeling back in their legs.
The last creature died from Albain's magic soon after the whole thing started. Kron helped Albain up and led him into the cabin. The half-elf scurried to a bag and pulled out some bandages. Aubrey shook the human's hand and congratulated him on a job well done. Minutes later, Kron was outside hauling the heavy bodies into the thicket of trees.
*****
Lorilie rubbed the massive welt on her forehead furiously. Her ship docked into Firiona Vie and the first person Lorilie talked too, attacked her. Brand had thrusted his flute case into the man's head and knocked him out. The man was sprawled out on the dock, passerby's barely noticed. Meanwhile Caleb, Tegid, and Slith entered the bright city in search for a building that only Caleb knew. Tegid just came to look for his wife, Minea. Slith said he was with Caleb to protect him; Kel snorted at him with laughter and took his place next to Lorilie with his head held high.
"Would you two lovely ladies care to join me for a drink?" Brand held out his arms.
"I'll wait with the ssship." Kel trotted up the ramp and lay there. "Sssince I don't drrrink."
"A drink sounds good." Lanie took Brand's left arm and waved to Kel.
"Oh, all right I'll go." Lorilie sighed.
Strutting into the closest tavern Brand puffed out his chest and smiled to all the staring men. Having a beautiful woman on each arm tore many a man's eyes away from their liquor. After seating Lanie and Lorilie Brand went and got three large mugs of honey mead for the table. Lorilie sipped small amounts as she listened to the buzz of talk flowing around her head. A hand on Lorilie's shoulder made her jump and spill her honey mead all over her pants. She turned around and glared at a drunken wood elf. Brand stood up and pushed the elf gently aside. Lanie helped Lorilie clean herself while Brand faced the elf.
"Two women, ehh?" the elf burped rudely.
"Yes, and you best stay away from them." Brand folded his arms.
"Would you share some of your good fortune and lend me a woman for the night?" the elf grinned making his face ever redder then before.
"Lend a woman? This isn't a whor." Brand covered Lorilie's mouth.
"Can we leave?" Lanie pulled Lorilie back.
"That tall one caught my eye." The wood elf reached for Lanie.
Tackling the elf to the cold stone ground, Brand struggled to reach the smaller elf's neck. Lorilie fell onto the table laughing and from being pushed by Brand. Onlookers started a circle around the two on the ground and stared dumbfounded. Some let out a cheer before two burly men each picked up an elf. Grabbing Lanie's arm and Lorilie's shirt by the collar, Brand dragged the two out of the tavern.
"I'm not the only one with a hideous bruise now!" Lorilie continued to laugh as her fingers brushed off of Brand's cheek.
"Let's not do that again." Lanie wrapped her shawl around her shoulders.
"I'm never taking two women into a tavern again!" Brand frowned.
Lorilie laughed even harder then before. "Don't worry Brand, you're bound to make that happen time after time."
"I'd never make the same mistake twice." He blushed.
His rayin His