Chapter Four: Ventus... The Sorcerer Knight of Foreign Lands
Deep within the ruins of Wagnard's domain in Marmo, on a stand placed upon a table made of onyx, Karla's circlet, with that Grey Witch's soul inside, became aware.
'I know this place,' Karla's spirit said. 'But why am I here?'
"To serve me, Grey Witch," said a voice from the shadows. Then, one shadow untangled itself from the many, and became a human, adorned in black and red armor. "I am Ventus, The Sorcerer King."
'King? There are many kings,' Karla scoffed. 'Which kingdom do you claim?'
"I claim all of Lodoss," he said with confidence. "My people were the first, the children born of the very soil of the cursed island. And yet we were driven away by leeches and vagrants. Driven to foreign lands where we are outcasts, and spat upon by even the poorest, most disgusting creatures. I would not endure such humiliation so long as Lodoss exists. Therefore, I returned, to take my throne as the true King."
'And you want my help in claiming your throne,' Karla said, knowing his intentions. 'You know my quest is to keep any one man or force from gaining too much power.'
"What of those with too much power already?" Ventus asked. "The alliance of kingdoms between Moss, Flaim, Valis, and Kannon, and Alania? They already have far too much power, and their offspring grow stronger still."
'Offspring?'
"The children of the heroes of Lodoss have united," Ventus said, conjuring an image, "See for yourself. The Son of the Great Knight and his She-elf bride, the daughter of the Knight who vanquished Kardis, the heir to the throne of the Dragon Riders. They are coming here, to oppose me. Against one, I can win. But against many, I am powerless. I need your help, Mistress Karla."
'And if I should refuse?"
"Then you will never gain a new body. You will be a lifeless spirit, hidden within that circlet where none can touch you."
'And whose body do you propose I take?'
"The Queen of Flaim bore a voiceless child," Ventus explained, displaying an image of Gemini. "She has her father's strength, and her mother's beauty. In the right hands, she can make kingdoms fall."
'A very tempting offer,' Karla said, 'But how do I know I can trust you?'
"I will offer my own body if that would please you more," Ventus said. Karla was indeed tempted. With either, she could wipe out all the kingdoms without effort.
'What need have I for a voiceless child?'
"I only need you to make her sing," Ventus said, "Sing the Song of Destruction! The song that will destroy every kingdom, every fiefdom, that dwells on this stinking ground. Then, you shall have obliterated all who gain power, and I shall have my kingdom."
Karla was silent for but a moment. Then, she answered, 'We have made a bargain. Bring me the girl, and I will unlock her voice. '
Transition
"Princess Gemini?" Maar asked the young lady in the lead, "Will you play your lyre tonight? Please?" The rest of the group groaned.
"You hear it every night," Magnus said, speaking for Gem, "Can't she take a break?"
"And deprive the world of such enchanting music?" Maar explained, "Why it would be a crime!"
"Then consider her under arrest," Gerrek said, picking the little sprite up by his shirt tales, " Now shut up."
"Hey, can't she speak for herself?" Prince Orson asked. Leaf turnbed to him and smacked him across the head.
"OW! What was that for?"
"That was for Gem," Leaf said, "If you're going to travel with us, then you have to understand that Gem can't speak; she's mute. And only Magnus and I can hear her thoughts. It's a half-elf thing."
"And this is our leader?" the spoiled prince outraged, "A mute princess? I was better off with the prospect of dying in the desert! At least then my death would have meant something!" Orson stopped, drew his sword, and cried, "That does it! Magnus, draw your sword! We're goin' at it right now!"
"I'm not a soldier," Magnus said, "I won't fight you. Besides, I don't have a sword." Beside him, Gem growled, and drew her own, stepping up to Orson's challenge.
"Oh, the little quiet girl's gonna fight me. I'm so scared."
"You should be," Magnus and Leaf said at the same time, for then, Gemini charged, and with one quick strike, disarmed Prince Orsonwith the point of her sword.
"Okay!" Orson cried, "I really am scared! Put your sword away!"
Gem sheathed her blade, then Magnus and Leaf both stepped up to Orson and both said, "Do not tempt me again, for next time, treaty or no, I will have your life. Your mother will deal with me as she sees fit."
"The sun is getting low," Greebus said. "We need to make camp for the night." They dropped their gear and weapons on the ground- marking where they would sleep- unrolled blankets and built a cook fire to roast their dried meats and stale bread. The night had grown cold, as cold as the day had been sweltering, and the wind blew spurts of sand around and in the camp, getting into the company's eyes, ears, noses, and everywhere else. One consolation was the softness of the sand as they lay to sleep.
All slept heavily, except the Princess and her body guard. Gem walked over to where Magnus kept watch for the night.
'Are you tired?' she asked him.
'Not really,' he answered, 'My mother's kind don't need much sleep. Thanks for defending me, by the way.'
'No one, even a prince, has the right to insult either myself or those I love,' she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
'Are you sure of your feelings for me, Princess?' Magnus asked, 'We've only known each other for a short time.'
'I've never been more sure of anything in my life,' she said. 'I love you Magnus, and I want you to stay with me.' Behind the couple, a solitary sniff, and a heart that ached with bitter sorrow lay listening with his mind. His secret power hidden from even the strongest magic wielders.
Suddenly, cracks in the earth opened, and sand began to pour into the cracks. The breaks widened, and long, clawed hands reached up for the surface. Their master spoke to them through the wind, 'Kill the others, but leave the Princess alive.'
'Magnus!' Gem said, pointing to the hands, 'Do you see that?'
'I do!' he said, drawing his dagger. He leaped to his feet, and yelled, "Alarm! Alarm!" The others jumped up from their slumber, grabbing their weapons (or looking for a hiding place in a certain Grass Runner's case) and they stood together, to face the creatures under the burning sands.
The monsters that arose were gruesome indeed. Eight feet tall, three horns protruding from their brows, and tongues a mile long hanging frothier limp jowls, acidic saliva dripping to the ground.
"Kill them all," they growled, "Leave Princess. Feast on Manflesh!" they lunged and snapped their razor sharp teeth at the heroes. Magnus whirled around and kicked them away from Gemini. Orson stabbed one of them through what he assumed was it's heart, but the thing kept coming.
"These things aren't alive!" Orso cried.
"That makes it easier then," Magnus said, slicing off one creature's arm, "If we can't kill them, then we'll just have to hack them to pieces."
"Killin's killin' by my book," Gerrek said, chopping three creatures down the middle. Behind him, Ryna chopped and severed the heads of many sand monsters, while Greebus and Elska used magic to blast the beasts apart.
"This is a little too easy," Rayna observed.
During all this, as Gem partook in the hacking, she heard the wind whisper across her ear. "Princesssssssssss," it hissed.
'Who goes!' she cried in her mind. Then, she felt choke her throat.
'You have spirit, little Princess,' the voice that owned those said. 'But you cannot your destiny. You cannot escape me. I will have you, I will have Lodoss! You are mine..."
'MAGNUS!' she cried in head. Magnus turned from the creatures, and sprang to the air. He saw the Princess on her knees, clutching at her own throat, struggling for breath.
"Gemini!" he cried. "Spirits of the Wind, silence this dark power which speaks through you. Release this girl from your spell!" Then, the hold on Gem's throat let go, and screamed away into the night, just as the last sand creature was decapitated.
"Gem?" Leaf asked.
"Princess!" Maar said, distraught, running over to her.
"Magnus, what happened?" Elska asked.
"The Sorcerer Knight," Magnus said, putting his dagger away. "He used the Wind Spirits to attack her."
"We're lucky to have such a powerful Shaman with us," Greebus said, stoking his beard.
"This won't be the last time he'll come," Magnus said.
"We know his kind all too well, son," Gerrek said.
"He's stronger than Wagnard, though," Ryna observed, "If he can used the elements to his advantage."
"I thought only Elves could do that?" Maar said.
"What about you? You can cast spells and you're just a little Grass Runner," Prince Orson pointed out.
"Yeah, but I can't control Wind or Water or Fire or the Earth. Only people like Leaf or Magnus or Lady Deedlit can."
"He can't be an Elf!" Magnus declared. "It's not possible! Even dark Elves don't have this power! It's just not possible!"
Transition
"D------ it!" Ventus cried, as he got up from the floor. The power of the young half elven boy's magic had thrown him from the pool where he conjured the wind spell. "I had not known he was yet so strong! I should have known better. He is the son of a High Elf after all." He turned swirlin his cape, and sat on the old throne of Marmo. Then, he threw back his hood, revealing long black hair, a young face, empty blue eyes, and long Elven ears. "I shall not make the same mistake twice. But as long as the Princess is by his side, I cannot take hold of her mind and draw her here... I need rest." He got up from his rumbling throne, and disappeared into the shadows.
AN: Sorry it's so short. If anyone has any ideas, or wants to see something done in fuutre chapters, then please tell me! Review!