I owe nothing but Ashmorlenna but I will own Bioware very soon. HAHAHAHA
Chapter Two- My Paper Heart
The night came and went fast as I and Delphie conversed about our lives and what we wanted out of them, other than her need for a courting partner we but are a lot alike. Both of us don't have and/or don't know our real parents. Her real father is died defend Avarivase in the Time of Darkness just before the year of both of our birth year 70 years ago and her mother become a prostitute to financially support herself and her child in the sailor town of Raaspook to the East but hasn't seen her daughter in over 30 years. My mother died because of giving birth to me, I was overdue I was told and she could not recover from having such a large child as I and sub-sequentially my father left on a journey to "find himself" and has yet to return. We both were raised by my aunt Zellah and my uncle Alorfin, the Mightiest of Bladesingers. At about age 40 we all noticed that Delphie had gifted talents in divination and conjurations, though we still have no idea where she gets the blood to perform these feats. She and I were trained to read, write and cipher at the First School of Uere at Uere Temple of Avarivase and finished one and two in our class of 49, Delphie being atop and she went into wizardry school to hone her skill and I set out to fund my career of adventuring then four years ago my uncle finally convinced me to join the Bladesingers and "try it out." Now, after four years of living in the Shadow Field, I'm thoroughly convinced that I will not pursue that avenue.
"Lena, are headed to the palace to drop off your map and gather your gold."
"Why, are thinking off tagging along and taking out another loan."
"No, but now that you mention it, ha, ha, but I wanted go and see the bustle that's going on in the courtyard."
"What are you talking about there was no one here I left for my expedition."
"Oh yeah, they came the morning that you left."
"I saw no tracks, I would have known if …"
"They came by airships from the south there was no way for you to see them since you were going down the Mount in the opposite direction," said Delphie as I looked at her with my quizzical eye.
"I have to check this out. I've never trust Southerners and have seen none off which have the capacity to produce anything remotely close to an airship," I was really interest and for the first time in my life I wanted to travel to the Castle, hopefully Landramie would be out or possibly dead.
An hour and a stop by the house, we at Okphlae Castle and I started noticing all of the additional mass crammed into the courtyard and then at that moment I noticed it, the largest most complex structure that I've ever seen.
"Those ships are amazing aren't they, huh," said Delphie.
"Yeah, they are magnificent," I said as I notice that they were constructed of glassteel much like our buildings.
"So, the great mapmaker has return from her grandest journey I have seen, did you write anything along the way," asked the long-breaded guard Ullyzsih with a immense smile stretched across his face.
"No, sorry. I didn't have much to write about other than Delphie's practical joke which I'm sure you were part of planning." He started to smile and Delphie cracked up and giving him all the blame.
"Well, the King is really busy with those Southern elves but I think that Prince Salzatorre will help you out." Salzatorre, other than his snot-nosed sister Landramie the most repulsive person on the planet was he. I rather stick my hand down the mouth of a muckfish than to chat with the arrogant future King.
He came out walking his cocky little royal walk, carefully moving his long legs and arms in unison carrying his six foot physique across the room in a gliding motion, how I hate the way they just walk as if they are better than everyone. His neck length dark hair brushing over his long pointed ears in harmony with the rest f his body. He stood in front of me and bowed as I handed him the map. He reached into my hand slowly and gently gathered the map caressing the heart of my palm. He looked at my map with a seeing guide. He smiled, wait a second, I have never seen one of them smile… not at a map especially. I wondered if he were ill or something. I realized that in my many years of avoidance that I've really never seen the Prince face to face, so I study his face, high cheek bones, wide cleft chin, very smooth forehead…
"I've always admired your work," he said breaking my death glare deviated at his features, "you are always so accurate. I'm sure the claims of you not using a straight edge on your products are fictitious," he looked up at me and for the first time I looked at him in his eyes, such wondrous eyes. I've seen him in passing but I never looked at him, my Uere, he was handsome, almost well, princely, short of his some what smallish shoulders he was quite well muscled, about two inches taller than I and his eyes, oh his beautiful teal eyes ruptured me and for a moment I just stood there staring at him. I felt my heart flutter like a feather in the wind.
"Ah, Lena, are just going to stand there or are you going to take the gold," elbowed Delphie as I shook myself out of my trance and carefully grabbed the bag of gold and Ibowed very charmingly and gave the Prince, my prince, a dazzling smile showcase my pearly white teeth, a smile so genuine that I just knew Delphie would tease me about it later but I didn't care, I inferred something for him, he seemed real but at the same time he was hiding something, I contemplated what that something was.
"I'm sure that you have plenty of plans to attend to so I'll stop pestering you and let you go," I'll never forget the way he said go, I was so saccharine and melodious that it rang in my head and at that moment my heart literally skipped a beat and I mentally fell faint.
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"I saw that," here it came as we walked down the merchant square, "I saw you flirting with him. My Uere, you are the boldest creature I have ever met. Ashmorlenna flirting and flaunting about in the presence of the future King of Gamlesh, there truly is not a thing that frightens the unshakable one is there."
"I wasn't flirting. I didn't even say anything."
"So he took your breathe away," she said as she threw her left arm up and feigned fatigue.
"No, I mean…, he was flirting with me."
"Oh right, you're beautiful but are you aware of whom we are talking about right. He could have any woman in the land. I am surehe was just being nice."
"If hewere being nice, why didn't he say a thing to you," I said with a raised eyebrow.
"He…I think…I don't know but I do know that you are head over heels for him. I bet you are already thinking of some song about him already." I was but she made it sound like a bad thing.
"He's no different from you and…"
"You must always go after the big prize," she said with a smile as we entered the merchants shop. In the corner farthest from the door there were to off the elves, wingless one's, that came here from wherever. I decided that I was interested in their private conversation and nonchalantly listened in. They were talking about sneaking in the deep cavern, I peered over to Delphie and see quickly looked back. It was a tome that was their target, and they would sneak into it by veil of darkness that night to retrieve it. I got my arrows and refilled my quiver and we walked out off the store with Delphie an arm's length next to me.
"Let's go to the Temple and talk, okay Delphie," I said looking inside. I knew they knew we knew but also we were just a couple of schoolgirls to them. But my get up could of let me give away my prowess, I didn't have any idea of how to approach it.
"They care little about us, they just think that we look nice. If I say so myself the one on the left was very attractive, did you see his chest," Delphie grinned and grabbed my arm we went to the Temple.
At the Temple of Uere, we sat in the halls and stared at each other. Neither wanting to bring up the circumstance that we faced this evening.
"You both look like much is on your mind," spoke a familiar voice.
"Hey Amarashee," I said to the young cleric that was 8 years our senior, "we are thinking about doing something dangerous ."
"I know. Delphie told me that you both want to go down into the cavern and receive the cursed tome that's there she's been think about of the last four days," he said as she slightly shook her head.
"Really," I said turning my head from the brown haired five and half foot clerics to the shorter mage he was conspiring with who was gleaming mischievously with her smirking freckled face, "if we were to, what advice would a cleric of Uere give us about this place."
"Not to go there. Ruin and destruction are only to follow, the tome is DEATH itself and certainly nothing good will come out of anyone having possession of it. More importantly," as he said this he looked at Delphie, "I wouldn't want you to get hurt or worse. If those ignorant heathens wish for a death sentence than let them have it."
"What is so special about this tome, anyway."
"Uere has many mysteries, one of which is his way of dealing with evil and evil beings. He gives all a second chance and I believe that that stupid book tells of how to release those whom should not be let loose."
"Amar, we cannot allow no othersider that power, I and Lena will fend off these pirates all day and all night if needed. Do you really think that this tome carry this power though."
"I know. All the other clerics think it's myth but I've seen the future. You will gain this and death will be over all of our heads. Go rest, your fate is waiting you. I pray Uere's blessing over you."
It was unusually bright that evening as the golden, half-filled moon glowed intensely and seemed to bide the customarily powerful breeze to stand still. With the exhilaration of the forthcoming events that were on the horizon, I and the real Delphie situated ourselves in the shadows of the cliff side near the foyer of the entrance of the cavern that our looters would be targeting this night. I could sense that they were nearing us from their scent and also their heavy feet digging into the countryside beneath their toes. Soon a pair of figures joined the reverberations and we noticed they looked very different tonight, much more like a pair of fortune hunters than of their counterparts that sat idle in the merchant shop. Crowning their heads were helms made of silver that reflected the countless stars, their hearts were protected by what looked like adamantium adorned with scales of red dragons and in the hands of the elven warriors were twin-bladed swords that stood five feet tall. I could hear them whispering to one another.
"Do you smell what I smell, Javeral," spoke the shorter of the two though both of them were well over six feet tall.
"Yes, I do. I think it is… a wingee if I say so my self," Javeral said. They stealth fully moved through the dense woods and leisurely approached the entrance where they noticed a figure, actually Delphie's figure and motioned the other to move from the other as to surround her. They sheathed their weapons to their sides and set their balance, then, they leaped onto the fake Delphie. I leaped up as the snare trap that I had set collapsed around the attackers.
"Let us go, little girls," they shouted.
"First," I spoke, "you are in no place to make any demands."
Delphie added, "yeah."
"From this point on we will addressed to as ladies," I grabbed my bow from its case that sat beside the back quiver that I quickly grabbed a pair of arrows from and placed one through the bow then land it on the rest holding it with my mid and ring finger and my second being held with my thumb and index finger. I then stared at them, I felt so in control.
"Ah, yes ma'am… I mean lady," said Javeral, "we meant no harm to anyone… you must know of the intention of our undertaking, don't you."
"I do not know of any intention except to pillage my community of some ancient artifact probably worth a great fortune."
"No, the tome is invaluable. Our towns are being squalled by demons from an unknown plane and have come in hopes of the tales of our forefathers are ingenuous in hopes of ridding our lives of these beast from the dark realm," spoke the unnamed elf.
"Okay, and how do you know this is the place where it is located," said Delphie with her hands on her hip.
"Your King, Salzatorre, told us of its location. We were drawn first to this place from the fact that the demons do not come near these mountains and since own coming to this place we have yet to see a possessed creature," Javeral said.
Delphie poked my side and whispered, "they met our King and they say that they haven't seen a possessed person," then see smiled.
"Are you willing to allow us into your party. I am the greatest mapmaker of …"
"Ashmorlenna," they spoke in unison.
"Why, yes, I see you have heard of me."
"When we arrived the this radiant city we were issued some of your maps, they are incredible. I would not think that some of that talent would be so… youthful," said the shorter elf.
"What I lack in age, I definitely make up for in aptitude I can a sure you," I said and looked at Delphie, "this is Delphie. She is a well trained wizard in the illusionary and divine arts. One can already see that," I smiled thinking of her double.
"Why yes, the help would be blessed. The other half of our party cowers back at the Castle so your assistance would be greatly appreciated," said Javeral.
"I will be a ideal party a pair of potent blades, a valiant bard and," the shorter elf turns his head carefully to Delphie adding, "the most dazzling wizard in all of Faerun." Delphie started to blush, there goes our control over the situation. We freed them and they tended to their minor wounds.
"Are you two ladies ready to journey forth," said Javeral.
"Let Lena have a quick moment to gather her mind because she is a touch claustro…"
"Delphie, I am not claustrophobic. I am prepared to go."
"Soon you go by Lena," the still unnamed elf said.
"I am Ash-mor-len-na, only those like Delphie who love me call me Lena."
"Lena it is than," he said with a wink and a twinkle in his eye, " I am Rasfael, and this is my little brother Javeral."
"Ah, Rasfael. I think they know who is little," said Javeral.
"Well," Delphie whispered in my ear very closely on her tip toes, "I think little of both of them."
"Let's get moving," I directed.
So we started into cavern my night vision started to kick in and I could see shadows move along the wall. My stomach was slowly clenching and my throat seemed as if were collapsing on itself. I noticed that Delphie look at me with a sly little glance. Then she muttered some words into her hands and thrusted her fingers over my face. I suddenly could see nothing, but my tenseness did whittle away sharply.
"Delphie, could explain what you did, and how I'm supposed to fight with no sight," I said a bit angrily.
"You do not need vision to fight. You know where we all are, use your other senses. You wouldn't be able to fight if you were cataleptic anyway. I have placed a simple blind spell on you, and once you have calmed it will wear off."
"Okay," I hate it when she does stuff without consulting me but it is a good scheme, "we should be wary I sense many different creatures in here."
"Careful, a great beast, a wyrmling actually, slumbers in this cave. You must not awaken it, that would be calamity. You bow would be great to snipe our enemies from a far to keep the beast silent," said Javeral. I took out my bow and breathe in, set my feet and then I saw, with my mind's eye, that we were on a ledge and that many small creatures were below us.
"I'm going to shoot our enemies and then we are going to climb down," I said and started to fire my arrows with great precision apparently from the comments of my companions.
"My goodness, you are a remarkable shot," Rasfael said as we started to scale down the side of the ledge and landed inauspicious in… waste from a very large beast, probably a wyrmling.
"This is so disgusting that I don't want to even touch myself," said Delphie who was didn't like our location anymore than I but was more vocal about it.
"I wouldn't mind touching you," joked Javeral, "just joshing but this wouldn't be the worst we ever landed, ah Rasfael."
"Yes, remember the time that we were vomited on by that fire giant."
"Owww, and the dwarves sewer we were stuck in for a month," Javeral added.
"Can we talk about things more pleasant so that I will not have to puke," said Delphie who was probably holding her stomach.
"Shhhh, I hear something," something was rustling, I knew what it was, "brace yourself! To arms the wyrmling lurks behind us." I said and aim my bow in the direction of the scent.
Then I heard a strange tongue, "Ashmorlenna who have returned and with Delphena. You may walk about this floor but I am still not able to allow you to go lower," a slight chill with through me, it was the wyrmling that was talking.
"How do you know me," I said in no direction particularly.
"I am a part of this sanctuary, you are our hope. All other's will fail trying to gain the tome."
"Our homes are being pillaged, children are possessed, no souls is safe from the walking dead," spoke Rasfael, "We need the tome."
"You are too weak and your people's plights are no concern of mine, you do not belong here and I…" spoke the wyrm as I heard Rasfael slowly step forward.
"Quiet you filthy little dragon, we will go where please," screamed Rasfael and rushed the wyrm I heard a loud clang and then a scream, a bit girlish but I know whose it was.
"Brother," hollered Javeral, "you will have my vengeance upon your cursed head." Then he ran and sounded to fight valiantly for several minutes while I and Delphie just stood there frozen with fear remembering the great ordeal we went through in here and trying dreadfully to forget it and battle this creature but just couldn't.
"I am prepared to defeat you. I know that your kind are in association with this demon bringer," rage Javeral as he seemingly had stabbed the creature and it screeched in great pain. Then all of a sudden it became very hot and I felt Delphie run toward me and she grabbed my arm and raced me over to a cleft in the walls. The back of my eyelids were color with a radiant red-orange light and I started to hear Delphie crying.
"Delphie, are you okay."
"He's dead. He killed him. The flames, oh my Uere, the flames ate him!"
"Who killed who?" UI asked grabbing her by her sleeves.
"The wyrm, the Guard burnt him and Rasfael body…" then she leaned on me and started to bawl some more.
"Is the wyrm after us also."
"No, he's just sitting in front of the doorway. I don't want to die here."
"We are not going to die, I'll kill him," I said and started to walk forward and ran smack into a wall. My head was singing with sorrow as I continued, "Can you remove your spell?"
"I can't think. I doesn't matter, we both are going to die just like Rasfael and Javeral." She said and dove on me again, enrapturing me with her arms and legs causing me to fall over.
"It's okay. We'll get Amarashee to resurrect them…"
"No, Lena. We won't, we aren't going to be able to get them there in time."
"What are you talking about? We'll just…"
"You're going to try to get the tome, there is no time. You'll going to faint just like you did went were little but you weren't nearly strong enough then but now, now you have me. I don't want to die, I can't die." She quickly inhaled and released me for her grasp, "I've seen this already, you are going to understand soon but…"
The wyrm than spoke, "Your past, your present and your destiny are planned. You are the chosen guardian, I have been chosen, as well, to protect this place until your arrival and until you are strong enough too complete the sacrament."
"The sacrament of what," I said. Sounds to me like everyone else knows what is going on better than me, I hate that. Then suddenly I fall to the ground and I felt my mind drift off to a far away place, in a time that as not of my own.