The Sacred Stones Retelling
Disclaimer: Two reviewers. Yippee.
A/N: Don't be so mean, Disclaimer. I love reviewers! And I'm glad you think this is a great fanfic, DeathsRain! Love ya! Thanks for reviewing "When Nothing Is Said", too!
Let's carry on now!
Chapter Two: The March to Grado
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Before the man could bring death upon Ewan, Ephraim charged in and thrust the spear right through the mans gut! Burn! "Hey, leave these kids alone!"
The man grunted in pain as Ephraim pulled Reginlief out. "Urgh…Blast…" he looked up at the prince. "Ah…well, if it isn't…Prince Ephraim…"
"Prince…?" repeated Myrrh.
"That's right," agreed Ephraim. He held out Reginleif warningly before him. "And I'll do it again. Get you and your sorry men outta here."
"…fine. We're retreating…for now." he snapped his fingers, hopped on his horse, and he and his men rode away.
Ephraim sighed and lowered Reginlief. "Wow…that was intense…" he looked down at Myrrh. "Are you all right? What's your name?"
"…" Myrrh backed up to Ewan.
"Please, don't be scared, I won't hurt you," promised Ephraim, sheathing Reginlief. "Is your friend hurt? You called him Ewan, right? I have an elixir right here…"
"Are you headed for Grado?" asked Myrrh unexpectedly.
"What…? Uh…" Ephraim looked at Myrrh. "Why do you want to know?"
"If you really are Prince Ephraim, then you must be on your way to Grado to stop the darkness that has arisen there," said Myrrh.
"Stop…the darkness?" repeated Ephraim. "What are you talking about? Are you a mage, too? Can you see this darkness?"
"…" Myrrh didn't answer; instead she knelt down to Ewan. "…Ewan, when Saleh comes over here…please tell him that I'm sorry… You and Saleh have done so much for me…I can't put you in any more danger…"
"Wait, are--are you leaving him here?" stammered Ephraim in surprise. "He's a kid, too! We can't leave him here."
"Lady Myrrh!" called a voice in the distance. "Lady Myrrh! Ewan!"
Myrrh looked over her shoulder sadly, and stood up. "Prince Ephraim…Please, allow me to accompany you. Those men left, but they still carry something of mine. Until I can get it back…"
"Will you explain what's going on?" asked Ephraim as Myrrh walked away, heading for the village. "I just rescued you and your friend, and you're gonna leave him here for dead?"
"He won't be alone for long, I promise. Now please, let us hurry."
Ephraim stammered, looking between Myrrh and Ewan. "What is going on here…? Who is this Myrrh…?" he sighed. "I guess the only way to find out is to follow her back to the village and hear her story…"
With Saleh…
Saleh shifted through bushes and thick branches, finally reaching the clearing where he heard Myrrh's voice. But when he got there, it was just Ewan there. "Oh…!" he ran over to Ewan andl lifted his head up. "Ewan…Ewan!" he called. "Wake up!"
"…mm…whu…?" Ewan blinked slowly. "What's going on…?"
"Ewan! Try to wake up! Where is Lady Myrrh?" asked Saleh urgently.
"Teacher…? Wow, is that you?" asked Ewan with a tired smile. "Am I still dreaming…?" he sighed and closed his eyes. Then his eyes flew open and he shot up. "Oh, no! Lady Myrrh!"
"Yes, yes, what happened?" asked Saleh.
"We…we were attacked," said Ewan slowly. "My head…" he slumped back down again. "I'm sorry, Teacher…I didn't see what happened to Lady Myrrh, I passed out when I was thrown to the ground, my head was hit hard…"
Saleh sighed. "At least you're all right, I can stop worrying about you…" he looked up and around. "But Lady Myrrh…Where could she have gone…?"
With Ephraim and Myrrh in Ide…
"Ah! Prince Ephraim!" exclaimed Forde when he saw him. "You came back. You were gone a long time you know."
"Oh…I was? Sorry," said Ephraim, rubbing his head. "A lot has happened…"
"I'll say," agreed Forde. "Come on, we're staying at the inn. Kyle's patrolling the village, and Orson's back in our room."
"All right then." Ephraim looked back at Myrrh. "You, will you explain what that was all about back there?"
Myrrh looked down and nodded.
"Oh…?" Forde noticed Myrrh. "Prince, who's this?"
"Her name is…uh…" Ephraim searched his mind. "Oh…I don't know her name, I think…"
"I'm Myrrh," said Myrrh, entering the inn.
"Oh, so she was Lady Myrrh," said Ephraim. "She's a noble lady…?"
"Certainly not from Renais, that's for sure," said Forde as he and Ephraim followed Myrrh inside. They went upstairs to their room at the inn.
"Come on here, Myrrh," said Ephraim, sitting down at the table and gesturing to the seat across from him. "Please, come tell me what this is all about."
Myrrh sat down across from Ephraim, looking down at her hands, not saying anything.
"What's the matter?" asked Forde. "Cat got your tongue?"
"No…I--I was just wondering where to begin…" said Myrrh quietly.
"Begin?" repeated Ephraim. He rested his head on one hand and rested his other hand on the table. "Start there. At the beginning. Tell me what this is all about, and what Grado has to do with this."
Myrrh nodded. "Very well…It began at my home, in Darkling Woods."
"Darkling Woods!" exclaimed Forde. "I heard of that place. Isn't that where the Demon King was felled? In that legend of the Sacred Stones."
"What legend?" asked Myrrh.
"Forde, quit interrupting her and let her speak," said Ephraim.
"Oh…sorry, Myrrh. Do continue," said Forde, sitting down next to Ephraim.
Orson, from the bedroom, looked up with mild interest as he cleaned and repaired his weapons.
"Okay…in Darkling Woods…" Myrrh looked up at Ephraim. "An evil has arisen in Grado. That is what my father told me. He wanted to go and dispel the evil himself, but I offered to go instead. After all, if this evil light had something to do with the Demon King, he would be needed in Darkling Woods to stop his servants from arising again."
"…" Ephraim nodded. "Go on."
"I…Oh…" Myrrh looked down. "Perhaps I should have told you earlier…that I'm not human. This form isn't my true form."
"What do you mean?" asked Forde.
"I'm…a one of the dragon-kin. A Manakete," said Myrrh.
"A Manakete!" repeated Forde. "So you're a dragon…"
"Yes… I took this form and traveled to Caer Pelyn. The people there have long been friends of the dragon-kin. I knew I'd need a guide, for I don't know Magvel very well. A sage named Saleh was asked to guide me to Grado, and his student Ewan tagged along. We traveled some distance, passing through Renais to Frelia to take the Frelian road to Grado.
"But things didn't go so well after we passed this very village," said Myrrh, looking down. "We ran into a few bandit troubles, but those men that were after us…after me…they were from Grado. They weren't bandits at all. They were quite plainly after my Dragonstone."
"Your Dragonstone… What is so special about your Dragonstone?" asked Ephraim. "Why would Grado be after it?"
"To tie in with their power, to add to the darkness," said Myrrh gravely. "I fear they'll use my Dragonstone to try and revive the Demon King."
"Revive the Demon King!" Forde stared in shock. "That's a pretty bold goal in mind…Why would Grado plan this?"
"I don't know…" said Myrrh. "But now that my Dragonstone is taken, we have no time to waste…We have to get it back."
"And that is why you were trying to get to Grado," mused Ephraim. "I see…" he looked up. "When I get to the Grado capital, I'll find Lyon. He must know what this is all about…"
The door opened and Kyle came in. "Prince Ephraim!" he said when he noticed him. "You're back! That's good…And who is this?" Kyle pointed at Myrrh confusedly.
"This is Myrrh, and she's a Manakete," answered Forde. "I think Prince Ephraim is gonna have her accompany us to Grado."
"Oh…okay," said Kyle. "When do we resume the march, Prince Ephraim? We'll take the road from Ide to a small frontier at the borders of Frelia and Grado. And from there, onto the capital. We'd have to pass through Fort Rigwald."
"Kyle, I think the prince knows the whole plan now," said Forde. "Calm down, why don't you?"
"I'm just filling Myrrh in," said Kyle. "But…speaking frankly, Prince Ephraim… what use will she be on the road? Can she fight?"
"I promise not to burden you," said Myrrh. "I am stronger than I look. Please… Let me come."
"Yes, don't worry, Myrrh," said Ephraim, "you'll join us in the march. Once you get your Dragonstone back, though, it might be best if you regrouped with your friends. All right?"
"Oh…all right," said Myrrh.
"Orson, are you ready to go? Are our supplies okay?" asked Ephraim.
"Yes, Prince Ephraim…" said Orson. "I just got finished with repairing our weapons, and restocking the vulnerary. We should be good…"
"All right then." Ephraim stood up and turned to Kyle and Forde. "Both of you, get some rest. I'll take one more sweep through this village, and then rest up as well. Orson, you too, okay? I want us all well rested and ready in the morning."
"Yes, Prince Ephraim!" said Kyle and Forde.
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Well, there ya go. Next chapter, they're gonna go to Grado! There, we'll meet some peculiar people…What's this? The Generals of Grado! Er…general. Ah, you'll see what I mean when I post it! So, don't forget to review now! See you later!