Prophecy:
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I don't own lod and I never will (sniff).
* * *
The next morning Dart had explained to Sari and Sean's parents about the urgency of the situation, and the need for Sari to come. At first they had been reluctant, but, both being practical adults, they soon decided they had little choice in the matter. Sari couldn't help but wish they would refuse to let her go, but she knew it would only cause trouble
Shortly after that, while the dragoon and the teens were on their way to rent horses, Dart was filled in on the other small change in plans.
"I'm going with you and Sari to Ulara." Sean said evenly.
Dart, who had been walking in front of them, stopped suddenly, causing Sari and Sean to run into him. He turned slowly around and looked at Sean, "What did you say?"
"I'm going with you and Sari." Sean repeated.
Dart stared at him, then looked at Sari, an amused smile playing his lips. He thinks it's a joke, Sari realized angrily.
"Sean is quite serious, Sir Dart, and frankly, I think he should." She crossed her arms, trying to emphasize her decision. Unfortunately, being nearly a foot and a half shorter than the dragoon, this didn't work very well. Dart made a rude noise, no longer smiling. He turned around, walking faster this time, so that the two of them had to jog to keep up with him, "Hello, didn't you hear me? I said I want Sean to come with us!"
"There is no way," Dart uttered as he walked, "I am taking some boy who doesn't even look like he's been in a fight before, let alone held a sword, on a journey this dangerous and important!"
"If I don't go, Sari isn't going." Sean stated stubbornly.
"You look here!" Dart was angry now. Turning around, he stuck his finger in Sean's face, "You are not coming. It's too dangerous!"
Sean pushed the finger away, "Oh, so it's okay for Sari to be in danger."
"No, but I can protect her. I can't protect you! The first battle we get into, you'll probably get seriously injured, or worse!"
"I'm willing to take that chance." Sean looked Dart in the eye.
"You've got to be kidding! Sari, you can't be seriously thinking about letting him come." He turned to her. Sari knew he was weakening, knew he couldn't win a contest of wits with too very stubborn teenagers.
"I believe it will be very difficult and perilous, but Sean can take care of himself. Trust me, I'm his sister." She smiled sweetly, showing him she was completely confident, even though she wasn't.
Dart sighed, giving in "You're both very foolish, but if you're willing to taking this chance, then I'm not going to stop you." He turned and they walked the rest of the way to the stables.
When they walked in, Sari breathed in the rich smell of hay. She loved this smell, and she loved horses. But even having two things she loved couldn't take away the nagging feeling of dread she had at the back of her mind. I could die, she thought, Sean could die and it's my fault he's here. She was so deep in thought she jumped when Dart spoke to her.
"What about this one?" He asked, turning to her. She looked up to see a very beautiful ginger coloured mare. The horse was medium sized with dainty hooves and gentle eyes.
"She's perfect." Sari whispered, and while Dart went over to decide a price, she went up and brushed her hand along her new horse's neck, trying to push out the thought that even this beautiful animal might die.
"What are you going to call her?" Dart had come back from talking with the rancher.
"Call her?"
"Yeah Sari, it's bad luck not to name a horse when you get one." Sean added.
"I think I'll call her Charm." She glanced at the horse. Charm wickered softly, and Sari took that as an approval.
"Alright then, I'll take that one over there," Sean said, pointing to a very tall roan gelding with large hooves and intelligent eyes, "And I already thought of a name. Zephyr." He smiled. Dart walked over to seal the deal.
"I guess now that we have rides, there's nothing stopping us from leaving," Sari whispered when she and Sean were alone.
"Are you afraid?" Sean asked.
"Yes."
"So am I." He took her hand in his and held it tightly.
* * *
They had decided to leave at dawn, so they wouldn't attract that much attention. As Dart waited outside, Sari and Sean got ready to go. Sean's father gestured for him to come over while the women were getting everything together.
"What is it Dad?" Sean asked as his father led him into their parent's bedroom.
"There's something I want to give you before you go." He reached under the bed and out a very long case. He unlatched the lid and opened it.
"Dad, what is that!" Sean gasped as he looked at the most beautiful, and deadliest, object he had ever seen. Two oppositely curved blades were joined together by a shaft painted a dark green with gold runes in a language Sean couldn't understand. In fact the runes seemed to change even as he looked at them.
"It was your grandfather's. You remember he was a warrior, don't you. This was his swallow, a very powerful and rare weapon. See the runes? They are spells that make this weapon strong, light, ageless and invincible. This swallow can cut through pretty much anything, be as light as a feather for travel, will not break or dull, the paint will never come off and the metal will not rust. This swallow is the reason your grandfather lived through his glory days."
"Dad, I can't take this, it means a lot to you." Sean declined.
"Well, it doesn't really. Sure it's the only thing I've got left of your grandfather, but I would never use it. I'm not a fighter. But your going to have to learn, if this journey is going to be half as treacherous as I think it will be. You are going to fight, whether you want to or not, for yourself or for your sister. Now take it." He held the swallow out to his son. Sean hesitated for a second, then reluctantly took the weapon.
Sari saw Sean walk out holding the swallow and discovered she would need some kind of weapon too. Looking quickly around, her eyes fell on the knife rack. Walking over to it, she pulled out the biggest, sharpest knife she could find, and stuck it in her belt. She prayed she wouldn't have to use it.
* * *
As Dart loaded the horses up, the family said their goodbyes. Their mother was crying and there was no calming her. She hugged both of her children and wouldn't let them go until her husband intervened, and separated them. He too hugged them, but swiftly, for if he held them any longer, he too would cry. They both wondered if they would ever see Sari and Sean again alive.
Sari on Charm, Sean on Zephyr, and Dart on his black stallion, Storm, with a month's supply of food and other necessities with them, started off at a gallop, down the cobbled streets of Fletz, and into the farmland and countryside of Tiberoa. Sari turned her head to look back at the city in which she had spent her whole life, sparkling in the rising sun.
* * *
They spent the whole day riding, stopping only to eat. At these times, Dart told them they would ride straight to the Death Frontier, leaving their horses at one of the small villages on the edge of the desert, then making their way to Ulara.
Sean didn't think this was a very good idea, "Why are we doing that? It's stupid! We should be going to Donau, taking the ship to Mille Seseau, and then going into the Frontier. It's safer that way!" He declared.
Dart gave him a withering look, "We are supposed to hurry. The way you described would take twice as long as my way, and that is time we don't have. About the danger, yes, there are dangerous monsters here and in the Frontier, but I am a Dragoon, and nothing we'll meet from here to Ulara can stand up to me." Sari noticed he wasn't trying to brag, he was just stating facts. How strong is he, she thought.
That night, Sari woke to the sound of movement in the forest. The fire was down and there was little light, but she could just make out the horses struggling against their ties, trying to get away from whatever was coming. Suddenly, with a crash, the creature jumped out of the brush, and Sari could see it. A ten foot maggot with a gaping mouth, crab-like arms, centipede legs and writhing tentacles, it moved towards the horses. Sari saw her beloved Charm was the closest to the monster, and she did the only thing she could. She screamed. Long and loud, hoping it would wake up Sean and Dart, and grabbed her puny kitchen knife from her belt. Sari ran toward the monster, just as the last of the fire went out.
She was in complete darkness for about two seconds but it was enough. All of a sudden, there was another light, brighter than ten fires, and she could see the monster clearly. It was only two feet from Charm now, but it's attention was on her instead of it's meal. Either it was the speed of her charge or the light that was starting to fade, but it backed up a step. Sari was about to attack, but there was a hand on her arm. Sean and Dart had come up beside her and were ready to fight. Sari realized the light had come from Dart's dragoon stone. The two of them with her, they started the fight.
Dart was first running up and sliced off one of the whip-like tentacles. Sean attacked one of the arms with his swallow in a downward slash. They were trying to reach the head, but the tentacles were to numerous. Sari ran around to the back and attacked the legs with her knife. She knew she wouldn't be much help at the front. The monster, noticing her pathetic attempts, must have realized she was the weakest and in an outburst of energy, used all of it's tentacles in unison and knocked Sean into a tree where he fell unconscious, and knocked Dart into the forest. It turned on her, and Sari tried to run, but one of the tentacles grabbed her ankles and she was lifted up into the air. The monster held her above it's revolving sets of teeth, preparing to drop her in, when there was another flash of light. This time though, it wasn't white, but a bright red, red as blood. A comet shot out of the forest, followed by another, and another, each hitting the monsters tentacles. The one that was holding Sari got hit and she fell to the ground.
She looked up just in time to see blur of fire fly from the forest straight at the monster. From what she saw, the blur flew right by the monster and stopped. The monster looked slightly surprised, if worms can look surprised, and the head slipped from the neck and landed right beside Sari. A second later the body fell on the other side of her. Purple blood oozed out of the wound, spreading on the ground. Sari stood up so fast she got a head rush, but she still ran from the carcass a least five feet until she fell to her knees and lost her supper on the ground. When she had finished, she turned to see the flame float down and land on the ground. There was another bright light and she had to look away, but when she looked back Dart was standing there.
"Next time, until you learn how to fight, maybe you should stand back and let us take the monsters." Dart said coldly, staring at her. Sari looked at the ground and nodded sheepishly, "Go to bed, I'll take care of your brother."
Sari stood up and walked back to her bed. Laying down, she decided that telling Dart he looked cool like that wouldn't be very wise. From the way he talked to her, she was even afraid to thank him for saving her life. She started crying and couldn't stop. She hated this whole situation and she wanted to be home so she could talk to her parents about it. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
* * *
Well that was really long. There's my action scene, I don't really know how good it was so please tell me. Those little villages I mentioned are going to be made up, because I don't think there are any little villages in the actual game. Hope you liked it.
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I don't own lod and I never will (sniff).
* * *
The next morning Dart had explained to Sari and Sean's parents about the urgency of the situation, and the need for Sari to come. At first they had been reluctant, but, both being practical adults, they soon decided they had little choice in the matter. Sari couldn't help but wish they would refuse to let her go, but she knew it would only cause trouble
Shortly after that, while the dragoon and the teens were on their way to rent horses, Dart was filled in on the other small change in plans.
"I'm going with you and Sari to Ulara." Sean said evenly.
Dart, who had been walking in front of them, stopped suddenly, causing Sari and Sean to run into him. He turned slowly around and looked at Sean, "What did you say?"
"I'm going with you and Sari." Sean repeated.
Dart stared at him, then looked at Sari, an amused smile playing his lips. He thinks it's a joke, Sari realized angrily.
"Sean is quite serious, Sir Dart, and frankly, I think he should." She crossed her arms, trying to emphasize her decision. Unfortunately, being nearly a foot and a half shorter than the dragoon, this didn't work very well. Dart made a rude noise, no longer smiling. He turned around, walking faster this time, so that the two of them had to jog to keep up with him, "Hello, didn't you hear me? I said I want Sean to come with us!"
"There is no way," Dart uttered as he walked, "I am taking some boy who doesn't even look like he's been in a fight before, let alone held a sword, on a journey this dangerous and important!"
"If I don't go, Sari isn't going." Sean stated stubbornly.
"You look here!" Dart was angry now. Turning around, he stuck his finger in Sean's face, "You are not coming. It's too dangerous!"
Sean pushed the finger away, "Oh, so it's okay for Sari to be in danger."
"No, but I can protect her. I can't protect you! The first battle we get into, you'll probably get seriously injured, or worse!"
"I'm willing to take that chance." Sean looked Dart in the eye.
"You've got to be kidding! Sari, you can't be seriously thinking about letting him come." He turned to her. Sari knew he was weakening, knew he couldn't win a contest of wits with too very stubborn teenagers.
"I believe it will be very difficult and perilous, but Sean can take care of himself. Trust me, I'm his sister." She smiled sweetly, showing him she was completely confident, even though she wasn't.
Dart sighed, giving in "You're both very foolish, but if you're willing to taking this chance, then I'm not going to stop you." He turned and they walked the rest of the way to the stables.
When they walked in, Sari breathed in the rich smell of hay. She loved this smell, and she loved horses. But even having two things she loved couldn't take away the nagging feeling of dread she had at the back of her mind. I could die, she thought, Sean could die and it's my fault he's here. She was so deep in thought she jumped when Dart spoke to her.
"What about this one?" He asked, turning to her. She looked up to see a very beautiful ginger coloured mare. The horse was medium sized with dainty hooves and gentle eyes.
"She's perfect." Sari whispered, and while Dart went over to decide a price, she went up and brushed her hand along her new horse's neck, trying to push out the thought that even this beautiful animal might die.
"What are you going to call her?" Dart had come back from talking with the rancher.
"Call her?"
"Yeah Sari, it's bad luck not to name a horse when you get one." Sean added.
"I think I'll call her Charm." She glanced at the horse. Charm wickered softly, and Sari took that as an approval.
"Alright then, I'll take that one over there," Sean said, pointing to a very tall roan gelding with large hooves and intelligent eyes, "And I already thought of a name. Zephyr." He smiled. Dart walked over to seal the deal.
"I guess now that we have rides, there's nothing stopping us from leaving," Sari whispered when she and Sean were alone.
"Are you afraid?" Sean asked.
"Yes."
"So am I." He took her hand in his and held it tightly.
* * *
They had decided to leave at dawn, so they wouldn't attract that much attention. As Dart waited outside, Sari and Sean got ready to go. Sean's father gestured for him to come over while the women were getting everything together.
"What is it Dad?" Sean asked as his father led him into their parent's bedroom.
"There's something I want to give you before you go." He reached under the bed and out a very long case. He unlatched the lid and opened it.
"Dad, what is that!" Sean gasped as he looked at the most beautiful, and deadliest, object he had ever seen. Two oppositely curved blades were joined together by a shaft painted a dark green with gold runes in a language Sean couldn't understand. In fact the runes seemed to change even as he looked at them.
"It was your grandfather's. You remember he was a warrior, don't you. This was his swallow, a very powerful and rare weapon. See the runes? They are spells that make this weapon strong, light, ageless and invincible. This swallow can cut through pretty much anything, be as light as a feather for travel, will not break or dull, the paint will never come off and the metal will not rust. This swallow is the reason your grandfather lived through his glory days."
"Dad, I can't take this, it means a lot to you." Sean declined.
"Well, it doesn't really. Sure it's the only thing I've got left of your grandfather, but I would never use it. I'm not a fighter. But your going to have to learn, if this journey is going to be half as treacherous as I think it will be. You are going to fight, whether you want to or not, for yourself or for your sister. Now take it." He held the swallow out to his son. Sean hesitated for a second, then reluctantly took the weapon.
Sari saw Sean walk out holding the swallow and discovered she would need some kind of weapon too. Looking quickly around, her eyes fell on the knife rack. Walking over to it, she pulled out the biggest, sharpest knife she could find, and stuck it in her belt. She prayed she wouldn't have to use it.
* * *
As Dart loaded the horses up, the family said their goodbyes. Their mother was crying and there was no calming her. She hugged both of her children and wouldn't let them go until her husband intervened, and separated them. He too hugged them, but swiftly, for if he held them any longer, he too would cry. They both wondered if they would ever see Sari and Sean again alive.
Sari on Charm, Sean on Zephyr, and Dart on his black stallion, Storm, with a month's supply of food and other necessities with them, started off at a gallop, down the cobbled streets of Fletz, and into the farmland and countryside of Tiberoa. Sari turned her head to look back at the city in which she had spent her whole life, sparkling in the rising sun.
* * *
They spent the whole day riding, stopping only to eat. At these times, Dart told them they would ride straight to the Death Frontier, leaving their horses at one of the small villages on the edge of the desert, then making their way to Ulara.
Sean didn't think this was a very good idea, "Why are we doing that? It's stupid! We should be going to Donau, taking the ship to Mille Seseau, and then going into the Frontier. It's safer that way!" He declared.
Dart gave him a withering look, "We are supposed to hurry. The way you described would take twice as long as my way, and that is time we don't have. About the danger, yes, there are dangerous monsters here and in the Frontier, but I am a Dragoon, and nothing we'll meet from here to Ulara can stand up to me." Sari noticed he wasn't trying to brag, he was just stating facts. How strong is he, she thought.
That night, Sari woke to the sound of movement in the forest. The fire was down and there was little light, but she could just make out the horses struggling against their ties, trying to get away from whatever was coming. Suddenly, with a crash, the creature jumped out of the brush, and Sari could see it. A ten foot maggot with a gaping mouth, crab-like arms, centipede legs and writhing tentacles, it moved towards the horses. Sari saw her beloved Charm was the closest to the monster, and she did the only thing she could. She screamed. Long and loud, hoping it would wake up Sean and Dart, and grabbed her puny kitchen knife from her belt. Sari ran toward the monster, just as the last of the fire went out.
She was in complete darkness for about two seconds but it was enough. All of a sudden, there was another light, brighter than ten fires, and she could see the monster clearly. It was only two feet from Charm now, but it's attention was on her instead of it's meal. Either it was the speed of her charge or the light that was starting to fade, but it backed up a step. Sari was about to attack, but there was a hand on her arm. Sean and Dart had come up beside her and were ready to fight. Sari realized the light had come from Dart's dragoon stone. The two of them with her, they started the fight.
Dart was first running up and sliced off one of the whip-like tentacles. Sean attacked one of the arms with his swallow in a downward slash. They were trying to reach the head, but the tentacles were to numerous. Sari ran around to the back and attacked the legs with her knife. She knew she wouldn't be much help at the front. The monster, noticing her pathetic attempts, must have realized she was the weakest and in an outburst of energy, used all of it's tentacles in unison and knocked Sean into a tree where he fell unconscious, and knocked Dart into the forest. It turned on her, and Sari tried to run, but one of the tentacles grabbed her ankles and she was lifted up into the air. The monster held her above it's revolving sets of teeth, preparing to drop her in, when there was another flash of light. This time though, it wasn't white, but a bright red, red as blood. A comet shot out of the forest, followed by another, and another, each hitting the monsters tentacles. The one that was holding Sari got hit and she fell to the ground.
She looked up just in time to see blur of fire fly from the forest straight at the monster. From what she saw, the blur flew right by the monster and stopped. The monster looked slightly surprised, if worms can look surprised, and the head slipped from the neck and landed right beside Sari. A second later the body fell on the other side of her. Purple blood oozed out of the wound, spreading on the ground. Sari stood up so fast she got a head rush, but she still ran from the carcass a least five feet until she fell to her knees and lost her supper on the ground. When she had finished, she turned to see the flame float down and land on the ground. There was another bright light and she had to look away, but when she looked back Dart was standing there.
"Next time, until you learn how to fight, maybe you should stand back and let us take the monsters." Dart said coldly, staring at her. Sari looked at the ground and nodded sheepishly, "Go to bed, I'll take care of your brother."
Sari stood up and walked back to her bed. Laying down, she decided that telling Dart he looked cool like that wouldn't be very wise. From the way he talked to her, she was even afraid to thank him for saving her life. She started crying and couldn't stop. She hated this whole situation and she wanted to be home so she could talk to her parents about it. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
* * *
Well that was really long. There's my action scene, I don't really know how good it was so please tell me. Those little villages I mentioned are going to be made up, because I don't think there are any little villages in the actual game. Hope you liked it.