Escape from Marna
The graceful flicker of the candlelight in the small hidden room was suddenly blown out; a tendril of smoke rose in air. Bern's green eyes widened, his ears focused on the door.
Footsteps, nay, the trot of a horse was approaching them. The sound abruptly stopped outside their room. A metallic clanking soon followed, the noise a man makes when getting off his steed. There was a light rapping at the door.
Silence.
"I know you're in there," a grisly voice muttered.
Bern silently changed into his child form and walked towards the door.
"Come in," Bern whispered.
The door quickly opened, and a large man stepped in, creaking the wooden floor boards beneath his weight.
"Whatcha' doin' in the dark now Bern?"
Bern lit a lamp, which illuminated the whole room revealing Corban and the two elves. The man wore thick leather clothing with metal armor protecting his shoulders. A dark red cape hung from his back. He had long black hair with a small beard at the end of his chin. His face had sharply defined cheekbones and rugged brown skin, aged by the relentless sun. Hazel beedy eyes shadowed by his prominent brow bore into them. The man stopped on Corban's face for a moment but then looked at the others.
"Ahh, there they are. I was wondering where you guys went. I saw you dash off down an alley somewhere, figured Bern here took you in."
"Do you know why they are after us?" asked Eduril.
"Ah, I think I do," the large man said. "No less than a day ago an elf came to Marna. Now I've lived here for a while and elves coming here is no common thing! Actually, I don't think it has ever happened before."
"Yes, that's Vadrian. He slew many members of the elves of Delvan. He is the reason that we're here," said Corban.
"The elves of Delvan eh? Never heard of you before," he paused for a moment. "But yes, when Vadrian came it was an extraordinary thing here in Marna. The guards were very curious as to know why he was here in the first place. I managed to overhear a few words exchanged from them. From what I remember, Vadrian told them to capture any elves and a mysterious creature followin' him. He showed them a large some of money and gave them half of it. He said he would give them the other half when they caught you, or killed you..."
The last part of the sentence hung in the air. Corban didn't know what to do, or how he was going to escape this wretched place.
"Sir, can you help us?" asked Eduril.
"So sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. No need to call me 'sir' or anything, I just don't like it. My name is Noland, leader of the Nomadic Riders. Here in Marna I train and sell the finest horses in all of Alagaësia - well, besides the elven steeds. My shop isn't far from here, and I know a secret way out of Marna."
Corban ordered the elves to change into their cat forms, Eduril into a couger, and Súndvar into a panther. Corban put on his cloak and hood.
"Well I'll be..." muttered Noland. "You're just like werecats."
"Yes, I once was like them, had it not been for Vadrian," responded Corban.
"Alright, let's get you guys out of here. You elves follow me, pretend you're my pets," said Noland.
Before they left the room Corban and the elves thanked Bern for his safety and hospitality. Bern merely nodded and further warned Corban of the tigerseye cameo, "Never let the enemy get their hands on it. At all costs."
Noland stepped outside into the mid-day sun and jumped onto his great sandy-white steed. "This here boys is Aleander." Noland began stroking its neck and wild black mane. "He's helped me many a time in battle, to escape enemy hands, and charge enemy lines. Never could have survived without him. Now quickly, follow me."
After a short distance, they approached a large wooden stable. Guards were swarming around the house.
"What in the..." Noland murmered to himself.
"We cannot go in there! They will catch us," exclaimed Eduril, still in cat form.
Before they could move away, the guards looked in their direction.
"Damnit!" exclaimed Noland. The guards hastily advanced towards them.
"Noland, are you the owner of this stable?" one of the guards yelled.
"Of course I am, and have been for many years!"
"You're under arrest for the illegal exit out of Marna."
"What are ya talkin' about!" roared Noland.
"Don't act stupid," replied the guard. "We've been seeing many men on horseback late at night running around the city walls. We knew there must be a hidden exit. You've lived here long enough to know the rules."
"I'm not going to let us get caught," whispered Noland to Corban and the elves. "You must follow me, and do exactly as I do. Run straight towards the entrance of the stable, ignore the guards. I will get us out of here."
Noland kicked Aleander in the sides and with incredible acceleration the horse was gone, leaving a thick cloud of golden-brown dust in its wake. Corban and the elves immediately followed.
Aleander plowed into several guards protecting the entrance sending them flying. The newly formed gap allowed Corban and the others to enter the stable.
"Alright," yelled Noland. "Now each one of you pick yourself a horse and be prepared to fight!" Noland grabbed his sword and attached it around his back, then grabbed an immense lance with a jagged edge at its end.
When they were all ready, Noland roared, "Let's go!" and burst out of the stable, trampling numerous guards. Noland's long lance speared one of them who screamed in agony. He quickly turned his horse towards the back of the stable. "This way!" he cried out.
The guards were sprinting after them, but were soon left in the dust from the great speed of Noland's horses.
"Well that was fun 'eh?" Noland said with a grin. "Watch this." He jumped from his horse and with incredible strength, pushed over an immense boulder, revealing a large gap in the stone wall. He got back onto his horse and grabbed his lance. The wind began to pick up and sent clouds of dust and dark sand into the air, Noland's maroon cape billowing in the breeze.
Aleander trotted through the gap, and out into the grasslands. Corban and the elves followed.
"We need to capture Vadrian," Corban said to Noland. "He is capable of causing much harm to the elves and Du Weldenvarden if we don't stop him."
"And where do you expect he'll go from here?"
"Helgrind," said Corban bluntly.
"Aye...now that's a dangerous place. Because I've got no where else to go for now, I'll travel with you guys. I know this land better than anyone, and will help you out until I find a place to live, or return to Marna."
"We thank you immensely."
"Ok, what we need to do first is head toward the Ramr river, get a raft then travel by water. It is the fastest way. That will lead us past the city of Bullridge and eventually towards Uru'baen. If we are able to evade the guards of Uru'baen, the river continues a few leagues more towards Helgrind." Noland paused, wiping his sweaty brow. "There's still a good bit of sunlight left before night falls. Let's get a move on."
Noland led the way, closely followed by Corban and the elves on horseback. After a few hours of travel shadows crept across the land, and the day was plunged into darkness. The stars in sky glistened like magnificent deep sea pearls.
They soon stopped for camp, and quickly began to drift off into sleep, unaware of the pack of nomads following them in the distance.
The new day began faster than anyone had wanted. The cold earth quickly warmed to the nearly unbearable heat of yesterday.
"Corban, Noland, what's that off in the distance?" questioned Eduril.
"I don't belive it," Noland replied. He saw a faint cloud of dust moving in the outskirts. "It's a traveling pack of nomads. They're following us."
The elves stared in astonishment.
"Pack up, we are leaving now," said Noland. "If we travel fast enough, I think we can get to the river before they catch us. Let's go!"
"Yah!" yelled Noland, encouraging Aleander to sprint. The elves did the same, and continued their journey.
But the nomads were gaining. Noland didn't believe it, he swore to the gods that his horses were the fastest. "I don't have a good feeling about these nomads. They're like none I've seen before," he said solemnly.
Off in the distance a cry was heard, "Stop you fools! You cannot escape us!" followed by faint laughter.
"We should turn around and fight!" said Corban.
"I don't know about that. They seem, different," replied Noland. After a moment of thought he then changed his mind, "Alright, they are gaining too quickly, we will not make it to the river in time. Let us fight."
They quickly turned their horses around and charged the wandering nomads, who were now yelling madly.
From twenty yards away, Noland released his lance with incredible strength. It struck a nomad straight in the chest and toppled off his horse.
Eduril brought out his bow, and released many arrows. Cries of anguish were heard as more nomads fell to the ground.
The clash of horses and swords caused a dense storm of dust and sand to arise, clouding everyones view. Corban and the elves easily killed many of the nomads with their superb fighting skills. It was an unfair battle from the start, elves versus human nomads. When the dust had finally settled, one nomad remained.
The nomad sat atop a black horse with flaming red eyes. Strapped to the side of the horse were human skulls. Around his face he wore maroon bandages, leaving only a small slit for his eyes to gaze through. He had a torn red cape, and held a wretched spear.
"You do not know who you are up against. No one has escaped me!" He quickly muttered a few words beneath his breath and extended his hand out towards Noland. A bright red ball of flame erupted from his palm and hit Noland in the side, sending him flying off his horse. He didn't move.
"My name is Morag the Shade. I sensed a powerful presence within your group. And I want it." He quickly glanced towards Corban and saw the amulet around his neck.
"Give me that and you and your friends shall leave with your lives."
"Never. I will never let your cruel hands grace such a precious item."
Morag laughed haughtily. "You fool." He then quickly extended one hand toward Eduril and Súndvar as two jets of flame flew from his palms and struck them both. Their lifeless bodies fell to the ground.
"Let's fight," said the shade in a menancing tone.
Corban's brow furrowed, his mind overwhelmed with rage. In a frenzy he tore off his cloak and hood, revealing a half-elf, half-tiger. He could have swore to see Morag's eyes widen with fear.
With powerful legs Corban jumped from his steed and flew towards Morag. In mid-air he unsheathed his two swords and struck Morag with such a force it sent him plummeting off his horse.
Morag quickly got up and began to attack with his spear.
A spectacular display of acrobatics ensued in the battle. Corban slashed wildly with both swords, but Morag was able to parry each blow with a twist and spin of his spear. The fight seemed to be in a deadlock. Morag was getting frustrated.
He quickly extended his hand out towards Corban but before he could say the spell Corban yelled, "No!"
Corban clutched the amulet strung around his neck and let the energy run through him, coursing through his veins and releasing a golden hue from his body.
The fireball struck Corban in the chest, but it did matter. He felt invulnerable. Corban's amber eyes widened and let loose a roar that was heard miles around, his brilliant white teeth showing spectacularly.
Morag was stunned with fear. "Who...are you?" he quietly asked, frightened.
Corban gave no answer. He let loose a fury of attacks with his swords that sent Morag to the ground and his spear flying. With great precision and accuracy he slammed one sword through the heart of the shade, the other blade cleanly chopped off his head.
Corban walked toward Eduril, Súndvar and Noland. He extended his hand over their faces and silently muttered, "Waíse heill." Be healed. They immediatly sat upright and breathed in the breath of life.
Corban disconnected the link between him and the amulet and felt the powerful sensation stop. He quickly fell to the ground, energy drained and gasping for breath.
"What happened?" asked Noland.
"It was a shade. I killed him. I used the amulet and..." he didn't know what to say next. "I felt this energy, this powerful energy run through my body. I felt unstoppable."
The group stared at Corban in amazement.
"We must leave now and find the Ramr river before it gets too late. Each moment we waste Vadrian is edging nearer to Helgrind."
He helped Noland and the elves to their horses and galloped off into the distance.