The next few days were perilous but the strength of another skeleton has proved very valuable indeed. Also his energy did not drain quite so easily now and for this Macad was thankful, he did not want to wind up defenseless. A few more occasions had been called for Macad to call upon more skeletons but usually the weight was enough for Macad to succeed. He had not yet left the place the rogues called the Blood Moor nor had he wanted to just yet, he was quite comfortable learning the ways of the land and growing stronger. Around him were three skeletons and Macad smiled at their glory. They had improved, now using swords instead of the brittle axes, but their shields had improved very little. The only thing that differed was the fact that less rust dared to creep upon the undead's defenses. They grew smarter to, picking out the weakest and saving it for last while they did battle with the stronger forms. He had not found many different creatures but had seen the reoccurrences of the spiny rats and zombies and of course the little red demons that fled in mortal terror when they saw the blade come down to slay one of their own. Macad now felt that he could wear better armor, he felt stronger and his vitality seemed to be growing. He had come across the usual chest and found nothing good except for a broken wand that had an inscription which Macad could not decipher. He picked out a few words and knew what it could be, his first drone or golem, but Macad could not use it until he knew the proper incantation. In front of him he found the peaceful fortress that protected many people from the oppressing harm that the lands beyond produced.
"Halt!" screamed a tired voice "State your name or I will run you through with my arrow!" Macad looked up and saw that a rogue had a bow pointed on him tracking his very movements; he saw that the wind blew her pretty brown hair in waves of flowing brilliance. "I said state your name!" An arrow flew at Macad in a swift flight and pinned its target. Macad turned to see one of his skeletons with a shaft protruding from the base of the skull, it fell down instantly. "I mean business!"
"Relax, my name is Macad, I have come in search of shelter, I left three days ago and would like to find my bed left untouched." From where he stood Macad sensed the rogue lift her brow as she called for him to come. Crossing the bridge Macad saw his greeting as a fully fledged rogue clad in silver armor, with a precious looking bow with a simple arrow notched in it. Behind her were a few rogues in brown skirts and leather attire all with bows and arrows notched and pointed at Macad. The higher ranking rogue took a few seconds to look over Macad and then gave the order to stand down. The rogues lowered their bows and loosened their grip on the arrows.
"You appear to be alright, my name is Kashya and I am the protector of this frail city, you're a necromancer aren't you, I don't care much for your kind and if you want to come in to our town you're "minions" will have to stay. We don't allow evil in our town but with you I'll make an exception."
"Why thank my dear lady, but if I go in my "minions" as you call them shall come in with me whether you like them or not. Besides, I am here to eradicate you of your "infestation problem." Replied Macad with a smirk.
"You are funny you know that" said Kashya with calming ease "but I meant what I said and they will not come into this fortress." Kashya gave a slight nod that was barely recognizable and behind her the rogues picked up their bows and quickly regained their grip and arrows flew their feathered flight, quickly decimating Macad's force in a single volley. "Now you may come in." Kashya laughed as she turned away leaving her subordinates to keep the necromancer in check.
The necromancer had the wit to keep quiet as loathing anger filled his heart. He watched the departing rogue and knew that soon he would have his time but in the meantime he just turned to look at his fallen comrades and turned again to go into the fortress. The last time he was here the place was a feeble fortress which many could laugh at but when you got in it was even more comical. All in all there were probably twenty people in the whole place. There was a caravan leader which Macad had talked to from his last visit; the caravan leader promised him a passage to the next city if he could lay a safe passage in which he could travel on. Macad didn't know if he wanted to accept the task but he really didn't care what he was here for was adventure and what he was getting was a good taste of it. He was in the middle of the town able to get a good view of pretty much everything, especially the iron studded chest behind him to which only Macad had the key to. He locked it for precautionary methods only but there was nothing in the chest though. Macad could here the chink of metal on metal as he looked beyond the chest and the crumbling mortal and stone wall surrounding it and he could barely make out a figure that raised something in the air and swiftly brought it down producing another chinking sound. Macad recognized her as Cassie or was it Carsie whoever she was she really didn't like the young necromancer much. Macad walked over to the warming fire where the caravan leader Warriv sat. Warriv produced a hello and Macad returned one of his own as he continued to walk to his treasure chest. Fumbling for his key Macad pulled it out of his robes and put it into the lock. The chest top opened and Macad put his new wand he found in it and deposited his gold which totaled about two hundred and eight pieces. He shut the top and twisted the lock and left the chest. He sat around the fire for awhile thinking his next plan out. He figured he would talk to Akara the elder in the town but for now he allowed the fire to bask him in its warm glory and heat resting his muscles letting his energy regenerate.
Aura walked through the rogue encampment searching for Akara. She was in the middle of town next to Warriv and a dark brooding but sleeping form of a man. She stopped to ask for directions and Warriv being the nice man he is honestly pointed her in the right direction. Aura picked up her feet and soon came to a tent. Behind the tent was a fence that was poorly constructed as if in a hurry, in front of the tent was an elderly woman clad in all purple robes which billowed down to her feet. Her face was partly hidden from the hooded veil perched on her head. Aura gathered that this must be the infamous Akara and strode forward to talk to her.
"Hello young sorceress, I haven't seen your kind around here and it's been awhile since I had one to train. My name is Akara and I am glad to meet you. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Akara spoke loud and clearly like someone who has that demanding tone and could control legions of ranks. Aura felt a little bit afraid but it calmed when she heard Akara's soothing voice.
"Hello Akara, my name is Aura, My teacher sent me here on a test to prove my abilities. He said that there would be someone here for me to meet. Someone I am supposed to travel with but first he said that it was imperative to meet you and to give you a message. And the message is that he is taken and we must eradicate him. Do you have any idea what that might mean?" The young sorceress stood before the frail mistress and waited for her reply.
"Thank you Aura for the message but for now this matter is not in your hands. Yes, it was wise for your master to inform me of this drastic matter but I don't understand why he sent an inexperienced sorceress to do his bidding. Young sorceress have you even been in a fight with the perils that lay beyond yet?" Akara looked up appraisingly waiting for the young sorceress to answer. Part of Akara's hood came off showing her sparkling blue eyes which made the sorceress quail under her stare.
"I'm sorry for bothering you Akara, but no I have not been in a fight yet. My master died sending me here. We were overrun by a bunch of goat like men. We didn't even stand a chance. And there was nothing I could do so don't give me any crap about it!" The sorceress's chest heaved as she expended her breath for her short little outburst.
"Now don't be angry, I just meant that you might be a tad to inexperienced but I think I might have something." Akara went into the tent as Aura just stood outside waiting feeling the anger dissipating from her. The woman's voice was just to calm. A few seconds later the lady came out holding an old but gnarled staff. "I think this might suit you just fine. It is an oak staff imbued with the forces of fire. It can allow you to cask a tiny fireball at your opponents. I'm sorry for upsetting you my dear but I'm afraid that the job your master spoke of is just too hard to handle for the mean time. Anyway, the man you seek is named Macad. He is a young necromancer. I do believe that you have seen him already. He was the figure you saw by the fire. He is the one that your master wants you to travel with. He is a little more experienced than you but I am afraid that he may be to rash. Already the forces of his studies are taking a grip of him and making him more evil in appearance but I do not think he is evil at heart. Please young sorceress, forgive me, I am sorry again for my comments but I think that you may be able to become more powerful. That staff is just the beginning of your extraordinary power." Akara finished and took a moment to look over the sorceress. The sorceress appeared shocked while holding the staff and Akara knew that she was feeling its great power flow through her. The sorceress looked up and did not speak, waiting for the older woman to speak. "Now if you want to prove yourself, there is a place in the wilderness which holds great evil..."
Macad woke up a short time after Aura's and Akara's talk about the Den of Evil. He looked around stretching his muscles and noticed the small form of a woman curled up clutching an old and gnarled staff. He stood up and looked at the peculiar figure and also noticed that Warriv, the caravan leader, had gone while he was sleeping. The woman stirred when Macad stepped into the pathway of heat, making the young sorceress cold. She rolled over and muttered "wake up" but didn't, she just curled up some more and went back into a deeper sleep. Macad stepped away from the girl and went about to do his business for the night. While he was sleeping, day must have crept into a sleep as night rose to take its place, showing the nice and peaceful stars for all their glory. Macad turned and decided to finish what he came to do. He knew where the exit was and started to walk there. After all he only came here to rest and it was obvious that no one liked him so he might as well leave the place. He got maybe five feet before the girl sitting next to the campsite moaned and Macad turned to look at her. She sat upright bringing her hand to her face and wiped it across her eyes trying to wake herself up
"Please don't go yet, wait till I'm ready." the young sorceress said, she quickly got to her feet and stumbled a bit on the way, she apparently had not fully waken up yet, she stumbled back up and moved toward Macad. "Akara said I was to go with you."
"You can only go with me if you can provide me with usefulness, and besides how can you be of help, you are a little girl." Macad sneered. He turned back around and proceeded to the exit, behind him the young sorceress's face fumed red with rage but she kept it under control. She picked up her staff and followed the death mage out of the encampment.
"These things just keep coming back don't they?" Macad laughed as his skeletons easily overpowered another fallen. Aura had proven to be a valuable asset to Macad's little party, with her throwing miniature balls of fire at the enemies his skeleton's didn't die so easily. The charred flesh of the fallen fell away with the downward swing of the skeleton's sword. "You know, you are getting better, are you sure you don't feel stronger?" Macad looked the sorceress over and knew that it couldn't be too much longer.
"No, I don't feel stronger are we traveling around like this, Akara said to look for the Den of Evil." Aura retorted, pausing to regain her depleted mana stock.
Macad stayed with the sorceress momentarily casting an armor of bone around him. "What this Akara also said was for you to follow me, and so far so good, now let's get moving, I believe I have seen this 'Den' before as you call it." Macad continued walking leaving the sorceress to follow in his wake. It had become daylight again and Macad felt very refreshed, the sorceress on the other hand did not have the stamina to keep up with him so he had to keep stopping and waiting for her to catch her breath. Oh these times were sure to be hard, come later periods but if the sorceress got stronger the necromancer might not have to build up a massive force of the undead. He could travel in his gods footsteps, the legendary Trang'Oul sure it was a high goal and Macad did not think he would make it but he would strive for it, trying to learn the powerful bone spear and other bone spells. The sorceress could learn after the Legendary Tal'Rasha but Macad did not think she would survive without his help. Maybe he would stay with her for awhile.
Is it better? Yes, as you can tell I have added a character and next chapter will hopefully be the den of evil where they will find an unconscious barb, druid, or amazon, I don't know you choose and thanks for my readers and please remember read and review. Oh and the sorceress will level up and the unconscious fellow will be at level five or six I don't own any thing except for characters. Give me ideas for the items they find and Macad is currently level four, well enough of my rambling let me start typing the next chapter, but I need ideas and the parallel structure story has been moved to dungeons and dragons thanks again.
