33

Chapter 2

The Great Tower of Narfemsar

Glarthen had never seen a bigger place in his entire life! All he had ever seen was his little village, Greyhorime. This place had the best stone work he had ever seen, and he was a stone mason! As the walked up to the gates' he marveled at the intricate patterns in the stone work. The stone, made from the best quarry in mountains of the grey in the south, was made into a great pattern of interweaving swirls as it rose fifty feet into the air. The gates were made of gold, silver and the best, strongest steel he had ever seen. As the walked passed the guards, they stopped and stated their names and business in The City of The Rising Sun, he then looked up and saw that on top of the gate there was a sun

that did seem to be rising. Gorugu said in a nice voice "we have been summoned by the Lady Of The Tower, Narfemsar." The guard's eyes widened as Gorugu said it and he personally raised the gates himself, then escorted the eight to the tower. As they walked through the city they passed more peddlers and merchants than Glarthen could count. The people that were there were warring different thing that meant where they were from, but his gaze was almost immediately drawn to the giant tower in the center of the city. Protected by a wall that rose one-hundred feet into the air at least, the top was in the clouds. The tower and wall were much like the outer wall the passed. The gate, this time, was made of pure gold and silver with at least eighty feet of wall on top of it. "this is the best stone work I have ever seen." Glarthen said in his amazement. He gave an embarrassed look as Greyhem looked at him mockingly. "well it is," Glarthen mumbled. As they passed through the gates, they saw a beautiful woman in a silk green dress that was embroidered in white. "The Lady of The Tower, Lady Narfemsar," the guard introduced. She was surrounded by men and women warring different things but all had a staff. The women wore silk dresses divided for riding, the men wore wool shirts and pants. The men had staffs that were made of pure white crystal, the women had staffs of strong thick wood carved with patterns and roses. But Narfemsar had the best staff of them all. A staff that was made of marble and crystal, a very rare thing to even see!

"come into my home, Gorlthon, Gorugu, Glarsnal, Glarthen, Ulara, and Greyhem. I know you are wary from

your travels, we have rooms for you all. In the morning I am holding a meeting for those who have come to my summon. I wish you a good night's sleep and hope that you will be well rested tomorrow. We will have a feast for you, tonight. Eat well and you will be summoned when I need you." And with that she and the people around her went into the tower. A servant girl came and told Ulara to follow her and she will show her to her room. Greyhem was reluctant to see Ulara go, but did not show it. He had come to like her soothing presence. A servant boy came and took him to his room. After he got dressed he went down to were the feast was going to be. There were many people there, although he could still easily pick out Ulara, Wearing a blue dress with light red at the end of the long sleeves. He was wearing a black shirt with grey long pants and a cloak that was made of grey and had a gold embroidered edge. He went to Ulara and herd music. Apparently he thought angrily Narfemsar wants me to dance with her! It was his favorite dancing song, The cat eats the mice, with different words.

Ulara was tapping her foot as she saw Greyhem come into the room. She got up considering weather or not she would dance with him if he asked her, this is his favorite dancing song she thought I hate you Narfemsar, trying to make us get together to fulfill your stupid prophecy. Although I don't think it would be to bad being queen to two nations

and having a nice king to fill in my absences. She looked up as Greyhem walked up next to her and said "how's the party going for you?"

She replied in as calm of a voice as she could manage, which for once wasn't that calm, "Fine, what do you think of it?" She gulped and hoped he wouldn't ask her to dance. She hated dancing, although she was very good at it.

He asked for what she dreaded, "Ulara... uh... would you like to dance with me? Not that I want to force you or... uh... anything." It was his turn to gulp now, she herd it. She thought for a moment and finally decided on saying "yes, I would like to dance with you... uh... don't laugh at me though." She went with him to the dance floor and she danced with the worst dancer she had ever danced with, though she didn't care, she was completely absent of though as she danced. When the song ended Glarthen said to her something very stupid on his part, he said "How did you like dancing with your boy friend" after he said that he grinned like a idiot and she punched him as hard as she could.

He got up and said "I was only kidding! Ouch. That hurt more than I thought it would." He left rubbing his chin were she had punched him. She walked away and decided not to do anything but fight alongside Greyhem in battle, also she resolved that Glarthen was a complete idiot.

Gorlthon left thinking to himself that rely hurt. I didn't think that a girl could hit that hard, even a gronsot. I think that I was actually rite she likes him. oh well. I wonder what Narfemsar actually wants with us. I know she didn't make us come all this way for a feast... although, the dancers are good looking. I haven't seen Gorlthon, I wonder were he is? As if an answer to his question, the big double doors opened and in came Narfemsar and Gorlthon. Oh boy. Here it comes, his lengthy announcements that are pointless. It was Narfemsar who spoke first. She said "all have come who will. Come, fadane, Borathor. We will hold the meeting now."

Borathor walked in and, being taller than every one else, parted the crowed with ease. I wonder what she wants with me and the other people and spider... oh well, my job is to sit and listen and wait for Narfemsar to ask my opinion on whatever she wants. Or so he thought. As he walked into the large conference room, he was not at the front of the table, he was used to being the head of the conference. An elf sat next to were Narfemsar sat. He looked at the Giant spider hanging from the ceiling in a web made of spider silk. The young lord took the seat that Narfemsar offered him. he looked around and found that he was not the only one that had a blank look on their face. He looked at a woman sitting across from him, she had on armor. What kind of woman wares armor? He thought She must be insane, women can't fight. He looked up at Narfemsar and she had a plain expressionless look on her face. She said "I have called you here to witness a foretelling one of my students had. She said during her foretelling 'In the darkness one who is king will be re-crowned and The Evil One will fall, by the hands of he and his followers Ulara, Gloren, Borathor, Fadane, Gorugu, Gorlthon, Glarthen, Glarsnal and Narfemsar. They will create the down fall for The Evil One. And on the lands of evil, new life shall be borne from death. Many thousands of men and women will die to destroy The Evil One and create this new land, but all will be well.' Those were her exact words." silence ran through the room for a moment then Narfemsar continued, "Any of you who do not wish to go into the great battle, that is what I call it, will not be seen as shameful people, but the consequences may be devastating to the world."

Gorlthon nearly fell off of his chair as Narfemsar recited their names in the prophecy. Oh my god, I wanted to be in history but not like this! He thought with mixed emotions, how am I going to make this decision? He sighed and said "I'll go, but who is this 'king to be re-crowned?'"

Narfemsar replied quiet calmly "He is sitting next to you, Greyhem." She turned to him, "You will lead us to victory... my lord." She looked at him and said "I have in my possession the sword and of the king of the Malkerie. It is your choice alone weather or not you chose now or later to be crowned, but you will be made king." Yikes! He is truly the king.

Greyhem stood and looked around the room. He took a few seconds before deciding and saying "Yes I will lead the armies of all lands into battle as a king. No I will not be king of all, just part a nice big alliance between countries and we will drive the goblins and Darkelves out of the lands of humans, dwarves, elves and ogres. We will free the spiders, and the rebel goblins and Darkelves will join us."

"Aye and I will lead the dwarf armies on their scorpions." Gloren said very quickly. "We will fight alongside any you see fit to fight... My lord." The dwarf was very formal and sincere for their kind.

Ulara was next to stand "I will lead my armies with him and all others. I shall hold this to my fighter's oath of pain and death."

Glarthen and Glarsnal stood up at the same time and said, "You need some one to keep you out of trouble, don't you?" They said in unison.

Gorugu then stoodstoop and said "You have the alliance of the ogres."

Fadane then dropped and stood at full height of seven feet and said "The spiders will fight for you!"

The elf finally introduced himself as owyn and said "I will fight for the death of Al'drakene!

Borathor then stood and took in a breath and said "I will fight and so will my men. We carry the fate of all with us let the alliances never be broken."

Narfel then stood up and said "Even though I am not part of the prophecy, I will go and my people will fight with you. The rebel Darkelves will fight!"

Greyhem looked at him and said "what are you, the king of rebel Darkelves or something?"

Narfel said "precisely. And we will fight for our freedom."

"Then it is settled." Narfemsar said, "In the morning we will set out on the journey to Greyhorime, for it is under attack. I will muster as many men as I can by tomorrow, then we ride for Greyhorime."

At that time Gloren stood and said, "I will head for the mountains and form my army that will march to Greyhorime, my second home."

Fadane then said something similar, he said, "I will get my spiders and we march. It may take a day or so, but we will be there!"

I will go to Greyhorime," Greyhem said, "Who goes with me?"

Ulara, Glarthen, Glarsnal, Borathor and Gorlthon stood and said one at a time "I will go with you."

"Take the Griffons of the Gronsot and we can be there in at least three or four hours," Ulara said. They all agreed to take the dragons to Greyhorime, and so the alliance began. The alliance of the eight kingdoms.

"wait," Narfemsar said "you cannot go with no type of force what so ever!"

"We have griffons, don't we? And we have a sorcerer, don't we?" Narfemsar nodded, "so what's the problem?"

"You cannot hold them off with just griffons a sorcerer and a few warriors!" Narfemsar yelled angrily "This is a force that has not been seen since the thousand years war!" At that Greyhem's eyes widened. Wow he thought to himself I didn't know that Al'drakene was that strong. "Further more, I cannot allow a king to go into battle unaided! They have over twenty thousand!" Narfemsar continued.

"What do propose we do?" Greyhem said questioningly.

"Take the griffons to the dwarf city, the Gronsot city, and the spider city. Gather a great force! Then go into battle!" Narfemsar agued.

"I cannot and will not stand on the side lines on this fight. My home is at stake!" Greyhem said raising his voice.

Narfemsar sighed and said "Ok but the guards of the city of the rising sun will go with you, at least half that are not on duty, a bare three-hundred, if there is that many griffons. If not take as many as you can."

"Fare enough" Greyhem said simply.