Chapter 6

The five companions continued to travel through a dark and narrow hallway, their light source provided by small glowing crystals that were mounted onto the tomb's stonewalls. Gilderoy had just finished explaining to Tanis about baelorns and their duty to guard their family's heritage and treasures. Tanis was intrigued that a creature, which was in so many ways like a lich, would continue to watch over the tombs of their ancestors.

They continued their steps until they found a small room. Freya stepped inside, holding her double-bladed axe at her side. Her eyes winced when she saw the seven skeletons that were laid up against the wall, begin to move.

"Not more undead," she whispered as she stepped back. When she stepped back, her boots stepped on Tanis's feet.

Though the half-elf's own feet were protected by his thick leather boots, he still let out a painful growl when Freya's feet came down on his.

"I'll handle them," Gilderoy yelled as he drew forth his holy symbol and pointed it at the skeletons.

Just like he did in the room with Reluraun's ghost, Gilderoy channeled the divine energy from Waukeen, and sent a wave of holy energy at the skeletons, destroying them on impact.

"I hope that's it for the skeletons," Lucilya commented, drawing a long sword from her belt.

"Now we just have to wait for the mummy," Kaylah added sarcastically as she drew her twin short swords Slice and Dice.

"Intruders, die at the hands of Reluraun!"

Everyone turned to see Reluraun's ghost flying in the hair, his lifeless eyes looking directly at the half-drow.

With his sword pointed forward, Reluraun flew at Kaylah, intending to impale the drow-spawn on his enchanted blade.

Kaylah stood tall, ready to fight the elven spirit. Her eyes quickly glanced over at Tanis, who was drawing his own sword.

The half-elf's eyes watched as the ghost's blade was getting closer to his intended target. Tanis closed his eyes and held Wyrmclaw high.

He prayed to his gods Kiri-Jolith and Mishakal, who were back in his home world. He prayed to any god who would hear his prayer He prayed to them all, to give him the power to save his friend from this wretched undead beast.

Just as Reluraun was about to swing his sword, a large blue flame shot from the tip of the half-elf's sword and wrapped around the ghost.

Reluraun let out an agonizing scream that made everyone in the room cover their ears. "What kind of foul magic is this?" he shouted before vanishing once more.

After watching the ghost disappear, Kaylah took her hands off of her ears and jump onto Tanis, wrapping him in a tight hug. She then kissed him deeply, and to her surprise, he kissed her back. Everything else in the room seemed oblivious to them as they were wrapped together in their tight embrace.

It seemed as if nothing could ruin this moment for them-that is until they both felt the sharp sword tips into their backs.

"Lucilya, I always said that you kept unusual company," Gileed said as he walked over to her. "Here in Reluraun's Tomb, I find you here with a halfling, a half-orc, and two half-humans."

The five prisoners that Gileed's men had captured, were bound in the middle of a room, in the lower section of the tomb. Like the outside walls, the room was decorated with various sigils and runes that were written in ancient elvish.

Gileed stared at the other four prisoners. When he looked at the halfling, he saw the look of anger on her face.

He then glanced at the half-orc, who was praying to his goddess. Gileed thought that he should slap the priest, and tell him that his goddess, no matter how powerful, could not help him, yet he didn't want to deny the half-orc any false hope he carried.

Gileed walked past Kaylah with his nose up. Such an abomination, he thought as he noticed the look of sheer hatred in her eyes.

He was about to walk past Tanis, when he noticed the half-elf's face. There was something strangely familiar about this half-elf, but Gileed couldn't put his slender finger on it. It was then that Lucilya let out a laugh.

"What's wrong Gileed, you look as if you've seen a ghost," she said.

Gileed walked over to Lucilya, his eyes filled with confusion. "And by what means do you say that?"

Lucilya smirked. "Surely, you don't see the resemblance. After all, it would be fitting that Tanis would resemble his elven mother Eneyla."

The mention of his lost love's name filled Gileed's stomach with pain. He looked at Tanis, and now began to see the similar features between the half-elf and Enelya.

"No that's impossible!" screamed Gileed. "Eneyla ran away thirty years ago."

"Tanis, how old are you?" asked Lucilya.

"Twenty-seven," answered Tanis in a calm voice. He looked at Gileed, whose eyes were now filled with sadness.

"That's impossible," the elf leader spat. "Eneyla was promised to me. She loved me. She would never fall for some wretched human."

Tanis's eyes now filled with anger. "My mother only loved one man. Jonathon Grey, a brave hero who was part of the Legion of Steel. From the day she met him, until she lay on her deathbed, my mother loved my father. This copper ring I keep with me is a symbol of their love."

"I grow weary of this," Gileed said in a calmer voice once Tanis was finished speaking. "Your words have done enough to wound me half-elf."

Tanis stared coldly at the elf. "Besmirch my father's name again, and I'll wound you with more than just words."

Gileed looked at one of his men and smirked. "Get me the half-human's sword," he ordered. The soldier nodded and brought the blade to his leader.

Gileed unsheathed Wyrmclaw and held it in front of Tanis. "Amusing weapon you carry. Look it even glows."

Tanis gave everyone a nervous look as the ground began to shake. Before anyone could guess where the earthquake was coming from, half of the stone ceiling from above, came crashing to the floor, and the huge red dragon who had attacked Gileed and his men, descended to the tomb's floor.

"I told you I would find you," roared the dragon, looking right at Gileed. The elf held Wyrmclaw forward, but the sword flew out of his hands, and over to Tanis's feet.

The scouts and soldiers stood by their leader. The dragon stood ready to face the elves, but took a moment to glance over at the five prisoners. He smirked as he watched the halfling used her strength to break free of her bonds, then began to free the other prisoners.

Gileed drew his long swords and flew at the dragon, his blades swinging at the dragon's scaly torso. The dragon blocked the elf's attacks with his own hard tail, and blew fire on the other elves. Seven of Gileed's remaining force managed to avoid the fire, but the other five, including Neidlarin, weren't so lucky.

Gileed watched in horror as his men died on the floor. His eyes scanned the area and found a large metal door. This must be where the vault is, he said to himself.

You must retrieve the amulet at any cost, Hill Elder Solostran had told him back in Evereska.

Gileed vowed that he wouldn't let Solostran down. As he stood up and made his way over to the door, he cursed the rest of the Solostran family. He cursed the Hill Elder's wizard son who had objected this mission, and sent Lucilya and her band to stop him. He cursed the Hill Elder's daughter he had loved long ago. He cursed her human husband as well.

Most of all, he cursed their half-breed son.

Using all the strength and in his legs, Gileed made a run for the door.

The three baelorns appeared on different sides of the room. Alamaxin had appeared in front of the dragon, while Simoniel appeared behind him.

Theodir appeared next to Tanis with a beautiful black hilted scimitar in his bony hands. The crosspiece was made of silver, as was the sharp, slender blade.

"This weapon is called Matafleur. Go after Gileed and protect your heritage."

Tanis smiled, then noticed Gileed run through the door. With his sword and new scimitar in hand, Tanis followed.

As the half-elf ran past, the dragon spotted him. After finishing the last of the elves with his fiery breath, the dragon stared at Tanis. He looks like his mother, the dragon mused as he began to follow the half-elf.

"Hey dragon!" yelled a high-pitched voice from his left. His eyes went down, seeing the halfling standing before him.

"Just what do you want little dear?" he asked in a low growl.

Freya grinned wickedly and replied," Now that you're done with the elves, let's see how you are against a halfling."