A Remus chapter

I sat up from my bed, sweat ripping from my forehead; I looked around the bright room to be sure I had been dreaming. I grabbed the quilt on top of me and threw it aside, pivoting in my bed and resting my bare-feet on the cool earthen floor of my home. I rested my head in my still shaking hands and took in a deep breath, I had been dreaming, I must have been. I could still see it all before my mind.

I was in a small room with a faint green glow, there were chains on all the walls and people where withering away on them. I tried to run from the room when a man with a smiley-mask face stepped in my way. Then I was looking into the crying eyes of a young child, and that's when I woke up.

I stood and wiped the sweat from my forehead, then quietly walked to the silhouette of my door and turned the handle, stepping out into my living room, though truthfully I didn't spend much time there. I walked to the wall and took down Blacktear, my sword, and my father's before that, and his father's before that for as long as anyone can remember. I strung the harness over my neck and made sure that it was in place.

It was a custom made sword with a hilt of strangely dark steel that was a soft-black in colour. The hilt was for all terms 'normal' for the most part, except at the very top, which rested below the hand. It was made of the jaws of a wolf, and was carved into a miniature of the very wolf that it had come from, a symbol of respect. The blade too was mostly normal, except at certain lights it seemed to shimmer coldly and almost radiate a deep, impenetrable darkness, and at others it shone silver and invited all to love it and die upon its blade.

I walked out to my kitchen and grabbed a green apple from a bowl on the table and shinned it on my shirt, realizing I was still in my clothes, I must have fallen asleep in them, I bit into it and picked up my cloak off the back of a chair, draping it across my shoulders and tightening the hood at my neck, tying it tightly and pulling the hood over my face. I grabbed the door handle and twisted it, making sure I had forgotten nothing, then I stepped out into the cool Morning.

I walked down the streets of Al De Baren at a quick pace, determined to meet my friend before he left his home. I turned right and climbed the rise to his house. I stopped at his door and raised my hand to knock when Quel opened the door.

Quel+

Name: Quel Sauron

Eyes: pale blue

Hair: long, silver, held in three ponytails at the back

Distinguishing marks: Jagged scar from the right eye to the mid-cheek

History: Remus and Quel had been best of fiends as long as either of them could remember, some say they were even friends before they could form the thoughts to know what that meant, but all it meant to Quel was that he was Richard's man till death, and no matter what, he would never allow his friend to die, and he knew the feeling was mutual.

"Well met, Quel," I chuckled to my friend.

"Well met, Remus," My friend mumbled while wiping sleep from his eyes.

Remus+

Name: Remus Dryden

Eyes: Grey

Hair: Jet black shag

Distinguishing marks: Tattoo of a cloaked man on his neck, called a "Reaper"

History: Quel and Remus grew up together as best of friends. They trained together and became equally dangerous swordsmen, though Remus was always slightly better, which he felt suited it well, it gave his friend a goal.

"Shall we be on our way?" I inquired as we walked back down to the road.

"I suppose. Where do you plan on dragging me today?" Quel asked half sarcastic, half serious.

"Who knows? Maybe into a wolf's den?" I laughed as I patted my near sleeping friend on the back. "I have an idea, let's follow those new people in town, they sure had some interesting adventures in the clocktower." Quel perked up at my proposition.

"Now that, my friend does sound like fun." We headed on our way.

We knew where to find them as we had followed them out of the clocktower the day before after witnessing their adventures. We walked to the door and Quel checked to be sure that his sword, Ahruman, was in place at his side. Why he kept such a fine blade hidden in a sword-belt I'd never understand, but it was his choice. I knocked once loudly on the door then waited as we heard someone coming to answer us. Quel and I stood quietly as an elderly woman answered the door.

"Yes?" She asked kindly.

"Hello, my name is Remus, I was wondering if I could speak with your son, or William, they will not know my name if you give it, but I assure you they will be interested in hearing what I have to say,"

"I'll go get them both," she nodded curtly and walked back inside the house, closing the door.

A few moments later we were joined by both William and Richard. They eyed us suspiciously while judging whether or not we were a threat.

"We wish you know harm," Quel assured them.

"I am sorry, it's just, we are not accustomed to strangers asking for us by name," Richard answered bluntly.

"Well then, allow us to shed some light. This is Quel," I motioned to my friend and he gave a friendly smile, "And I am Remus, we thought you may have some interest in something we saw yesterday." Richard looked at William suspiciously, while William kept his eyes on us with carefully guarded fear.

"I see, would you like to speak about it somewhere privately?" He asked us.

"Why yes, we would," Quel told them.

"I have a suggestion, why don't you get the rest of you're band, Mandis, Alexia, and Angel, and we can discuss it while we walk to the clocktower." Richard and William exchanged worried glances then William whispered something into Richard's ear and he went inside, while William closed the door behind him.

"What exactly, do you know of the clocktower, and how do you know all of our names?" He asked with a slight tone of anger to his voice.

"No, not all, not yet," I stated flatly, as he obviously knew we had left out one member of his party. A moment later we were rejoined by Richard, his friends in tow, the girl who remained unnamed hidden in the back behind the lovely Alexia. I turned on my foot and motioned for the others to follow as Quel fell in step beside me. William came up beside me, and got right to the point.

"So, want to tell us what's going on." Not a question, a demand.

"Ooh, very nonchalant Bill," Quel laughed, and I saw William's ears twitch in anger at the shortening of his name, but it was our way.

"No more games." Richard had appeared beside Quel, looking down on him as the other member of their party whispered quietly behind us.

"All right Dick, here's how it goes," I began to explain before he cut me off.

"There is no need to call names."

"Don't be worried Raul, he's merely shortening your name," William stated.

"Exactly, thank you Bill." I chuckled as his body quivered at the name. "As I was saying, My friend and I are always seeking ways to better ourselves before we decide on the next step on the path of life," Quel chuckled beside and I stopped and glared at him, it was my turn to speak, "Well, it just so happens that yesturday we decided to see what was on the top floor of the clocktower." I looked over and Quel and nodded to signify he could talk now. He cleared his throat and continued from where I had left off.

"So, we climbed the stairs of the tower after adventuring threw the floors. We got to the third last floor when we were stopped by a strange barrier. We tried to break it with our swords, but it was no use, so, unable to even get to the second last floor we turned back, disgruntled. Just before we were leaving the tower altogether we just happened to stumble by your little band, that's when we noticed that you were a Sage, and frankly, we knew you could help us get to our goal." He took a deep breathe and we waited for the story to settle into their minds.

There is one thing you have to know about Quel. He's fairly straight forward, he knows what he wants, he goes for it, and he usually gets it. Unless, that is I want it as well. At this moment the thing that caught both of our eyes was Alexia. We both knew the other wanted her, and we both intended on making her ours. While Quel was telling his story I had been studying Alexia, who, whenever was not talking, was preping herself, making sure she looked perfect, and knowing she did.

"You mean you want us to accompany you back into the tower?" Richard's voice cut into my thoughts, bringing me back into reality.

"Basically yes, however," I stopped as we had arrived at our destination, "I feel some proper introductions are in order." Richard scoffed.

"You already know us all by name, what's the use?"

"We know you by name, not by introduction." I pointed out.

"Can I start?" Alexia asked.

"Of course,"

"My name is Alexia," She curtsied, "Umm...I'm an archer...and I have pretty hair." She nodded, that suited her fine.

"I'm Mandis," The thief beside her pinned up, "and if this is a trick, I swear I'll make you two into choir boys." She had a fiery attitude, but a little to edgy for my tastes.

"Angel," The merchant we knew to be Richard's girlfriend, "Ah...I'm Richard's Girl friend."

"Like you said, my name's Richard," He leaned against the wall, "And I'm from here."

"I'm William," He said, I looked Alexia squarely in the eye and watched as her face flushed.

"My name's Remus," I gave a swooping bow, as I stood I shrugged my left shoulder to emphasize my blade "And this is my sword, Blacktear." Quel followed suit, stare, bow, except he went as far as to unsheathe his blade. He held it naked before him.

"I am Quel Sauron, and this is Ahruman." He then resheathed his sword as we all looked at the Novice who had not yet spoke. Her face turned deep crimson as she looked to the ground. She mumbled something unintelligible into her shirt.

"Pardon?" Quel asked.

"Taiki, m...my name is Taiki."

"Ok, now that introductions are out of the way, how about we get on our way?" I turned abruptly and the rest of them followed suit as I stepped inside.

After many battles, and a few near death experiences we made our way up the floors and to the barrier. We stood before it and William looked it over. He tried a few spells and charms but none of them worked. He spoke with Richard for a moment and he looked at him in surprise.

"What?" I asked.

"Well, William says it's obviously formed of some sort of dark magic, so he wants me to pray for his magic to work." Richard shrugged, closing his eyes. William put his hand to the wall then snapped it back as it was burned by the field.

"You shouldn't do that by the way, it hurts." Quel and I chuckled. William glared at us coolly then closed his eyes and put his hands against it.

The room seemed to glow as William concentrated his power on the wall. Light seemed to emanate from his hands, pulsing warmly. He opened his eyes in a snap and wind came rushing into the room from no where. The wind pooled at his hands and the wall shattered like a window. Richard had opened his eyes and was staring in wonder. William turned to look at our awe-struck faces.

"What?" William asked. He turned around and opened the door to the darkened room when Taiki screamed in horror.