The Island

Come, come, come to me
Sail upon your boat so white
Across the wide and empty sea
To my far off island of delight

There where the warm yellow sun
Bakes white sands and green palm trees
Where all of time becomes undone
To relax and sit on the island of ease

Here where the sea of crystal and blue
Is warmed by the hot tropical wind
Let us dive, swim, me with you
Into the ocean that has no end.

As night falls, bonfires will blaze
The drums resound with a new beat
Moonlit dances are the island ways
The bright nights radiating with heat

Counting stars and drinking coconut milk
Watching the world turn ever slow
The scent of large red flowers, like silk,
Covers everything with their fragrant glow

Come, come, come with me
Across the far ocean blue
To where white sands meet the sea
To breathe the air free and true

The Wanderer

The Wanderer
by Kahlil Gibran

Wow, amazing! I just had to get that out there first before I continued. Gibran's collection of short stories is very impressive. While most are only the length of a page they are so masterfully told that in their sweet simplistic ways, the secrets and meaning of the universe is revealed. He was definitly a master story teller. His style, while consideriby higher in tone, voice, and vocabulary than today's standard, was actually plain and unadorned compared to his contemporaries that lived during the turn of the century.

The content is most wholesome, having truth, wisdom, and light woven in between the lines of the words. His story are more accurately parables in many ways because of the deeper meaning they carry inside of them.

Over all reading him is very relaxing, almost calming. Its unlike most things you will ever read, no complex words and vocabulary to get stuck on. No over complication of the issues and problems. And yet, captivating all the same. His style is minimilism at its finest, but the message behind the words carry hope.

While content and style were up to par, he brought something fresh and new to the reading experiance and was able to surprise me greatly, and because of this the Wanderer gets 7 out of 5 stars. For going above and beyond any expectations.

If you have not read this yet you have to!

Here is an example of one of his stories:

The Shadow

Upon a June day the grass said to the shadow of an elm tree, "You move to right and left overoften, and you disturb my peace."
And the Shadow answered and said, "Not I, not I. Look skyward. There is a tree that moves in the wind to the east and to the west, between the sun and the earth."
And the grass looked up, and for the first time beheld the tree. And it said in its heart, "Why, behold, there is a larger grass than myself."
And the grass was silent.


So you see, a foot wide, but a mile deep. If you are an intelligent person, he makes for great reading. Because no matter how many times you read what he wrote, you will always find some new and deeper meaning of his meaning of his words. And thats why I recommend Kahlil Gibran to everyone who enjoys the long forgotten past time of pondering and thinking. :D

The Russian Dancer

The year was 1916, the world was in the bliss of richness and indulgence. Young men left school or returned from the war to take the Grand Tour, the journey through Europe as they had always done. One of those men was William Andrew Reeves IV. However he was know by all his fellows and friends as merely Andrew.

Andrew followed the Grand Tour through misty Edinburg, spicy Madrid, a few weeks in romantic Paris, and then through Geneva towards the Hague. As his journey grew near its end, a school fellow named Antov invited him to Petrograd for a fortnight. As Andrew boarded the locomotive, he had no idea how his life would change.

Antov’s family were of old Russian blood, in line for the throne, though relatively far down the line. And like so many would-be-royals, they were continually trying to claw higher up. Much to Andrew’s amusement, he was dragged along with them to plays, ballets, and operas that the Tsar and his family might be attending. And it was on one such night that he met Elena.

He walked in through the glass doors and up the plush red carpet stairway as the woman in the large minx coat in front of him dropped her glove. He had picked it up, and as he looked up he saw the face of an angel. Wordlessly their eyes had met for a few brief moments before he had gently let the white glove drop into her hand. Her fingers had curled around the glove slowly, her brilliant eyes not leaving his.

Then she was gone. He walked in to the lobby and found Antov, who seemed peeved that the tsar was not present. While Antov continued lamenting, Andrew merely smiled and nodded as he scanned the crowded lobby to catch a glimpse of the woman with the glove. But she was nowhere to be found. Finally, the show was about to begin and so he gave up and went into the dark concert hall.

The gas lights were all dimmed and the heavy velvet curtain raised as the soft violins began to play. They played and several women in leotards and gossamer skirts moved across the stage in fluid movements, like serene swans floating on a crystal lake. The light pink and powder blue swan maidens move across the stage with grace and beauty.

Then the violins stopped, and the swans froze. A new instrument rang out soft but clear, like small snowflake feet treading the surface of a frozen lake. The sound of icicles in the breeze gently tinkling against each other. And then she appeared. Andrew sat up in his seat as he saw her. It was the lady with the glove.

She was dressed as the others, but in pure white, with swan feathers adorning her dress and interwoven into her hair. She seemed for all the world to be a beautiful swan queen brought to life from some amazing fairy tale. And then she brought one slippered foot forward and rose up on that one point. And she danced.

As she danced, he felt himself loose track of time, of where he was, or who he was with. Nothing else mattered but her, and him, and this sacred moment in time. The music was there but it no longer mattered. As she finished a motion and pirouetted she looked up and her eyes met his. As if to make sure he was there.

And in what would have only been a moment for everyone else in the small dark theater, was a lifetime of conversation passing between the two. Their hearts and their very souls became one in that moment. As she continued dancing he felt as if he were right there, with her, guiding her with his heart, following her with his soul. When he feared she was about to loose her balance, he almost leapt from his seat to steady her, to offer her his strength. And as she flew across the stage, he wept for the amazing beauty and grace he had been allowed experiance.

And as she finished, spinning again on that one point, from somewhere above her, silver flecks floated down like snow, landing on her dress and skin, as if all of heaven was standing still to watch the displace of beauty and grace. And as she stopped, one leg stretched out behind, one arm ahead, she turned ever so slightly and whispered to him with her eyes. And then the curtain closed.

He jumped from his seat amid the applause, running out, looking for the dressing room. He searched but the theater was impossibly built. He finally found the dressing room. She was gone. All that remained was a small note, written in smooth script.

“To the man with the beautiful eyes,

Thank you again for retrieving my glove. I hope you enjoyed the show tonight. I will be dancing at the Royal Theater tomorrow night. There will be a seat reserved in the front, simply ask the usher for my special seat and he will show you where it is.

-Elena”

The next night Andrew was there. He was sitting in the very front, a stone’s throw away from the tsar himself who had decided to come that night. Even as Andrew thought of the humor in Antov’s refusal to come with him, his mind settled on the beautiful woman from the previous evening.

The show began. It was more magical than before. Her movements were even more graceful, her eyes spoke longer this time. He knew in that instant he had fallen in love. After she was done he ran to the backroom with a large bouquet of roses in his arms.

“Elena?”

“Yes?” she said smiling as he approached.

“My name is Andrew.” He said handing her the roses, “You were magnificent tonight.”

“Thank you.” She said shyly as she blushed deeply, “I am glad you found my note. And that you came.”

“I would not have missed it for the world.” He said feeling himself growing breathless in her presence.

“Can I tell you something?” she said as she leaned forward and whispered, “Promise you won’t laugh?”

All he could do was nod as he felt the cascading heat from her lily perfume fall upon him, draining his ability to speak.

“Tonight, when I danced, I only danced for you.” She said as she took a step back, allowing him to focus again.

“For me?” he said in shock as the realization of her words dawned on him, “W-why?”

“I don’t know. It was as if, when I dance and you watch, you are there with me. Moving with me, catching me when I feel like I’m loosing my balance.” She said smiling, “I know it may sound silly. But its true.”

“I don’t think it sounds silly at all.” He said taking her free hand and gently kissing the soft skin, “When can I see you again?”

“I will dance again tomorrow night. At the Winter Palace. The Dowager Empress said I could invite anyone I wanted to come along. Will you be there?” she asked almost with a ting of fear.

“Of course.” he said smiling, “I would not miss it for the world.”

The next night came all too soon, and it was the night Andrew would never forget. He walked in the magnificent hallway, the calls of envy and indignation from, Antov long gone, and was escorted to the private theater in the Palace. There he was seated next to the Dowager Empress herself, who seemed to be watching him almost as closely as she was watching Elena.

The dance began. He could feel Elena’s apprehension and nervousness as she began. He lent her all of his strength, speaking words of comfort and reassurance in his heart. As if hearing him, she straightened, smiled, and their eyes met. And for the rest of her dance, she did not look away. As the final note was played and she finished in her graceful pose, the entire royal family clapped, Andrew only being able to watch and smile.

“Come here dear girl,” the empress said as the rest of the family went to the parlor room, “Tell me, how long have you been dancing ballet?”

“Your Highness, almost my entire life.” She said as she bowed.

“Hmmm. Not much time for pursuing the other things a girl needs in life. Such as love.” The empress more stated than asked.

“Well… um.” Elena blushed bowing again.

“And you lad.” She said turning on Andrew, “You are not Russian are you?”

“No Your Highness, I am from the Netherlands. From Orange actually.” He spoke bowing as well.

“Enough bowing! What I am speaking of is serious.” She said coming closer to both, “My son thinks I am blind but I am not. The city is bursting with revolutionaries. It will not be soon before, I fear, things will turn for the worst here in Russia. And when that happens, we, the Russian people cannot afford the world to forget the greatness of our empire and our people. So I, as Dowager Empress of Russia, and relative to your King Willem of Orange, charge you to escort this girl and her entire troupe of our national ballet, out of the country. Take them somewhere where they will be safe, and let them continue showing the world the beauty of our people.”

“But my manger.” Elena protested.

“Ha! He will not defy an order from the Tsar. Besides, I think its time you left him anyway.” She said dismissively, “Our laws state that if you were to get married now, your contract with him would be void. Now if only there was someone willing to marry you.”

The Dowager Empress smiled slyly as she walked away, saying to the two shocked youths behind her, “Come. Your destinies are upon you. The time for a decision has arrived. Just choose quickly or you will loose everything.”

And so it came to pass as the Empress has foreseen. The revolution began in February and Andrew escorted the troupe, along with Elena, out to Holland. Later he went with them on tour, to be with his wife as she continued dancing. And then, three years later, she performed her last performance in Copenhagen, and in the very back sat a much aged Dowager Empress, exiled from her own land too.

That night, even with words of the new regime’s cruelties in the headlines, no eye was dry as the beautiful dancer danced her soul out to the audience. The impression she left was unforgettable in every eye that saw her. And the Empress smiled happily as she saw the room burst into applause, and the young man Andrew, jump on stage and kiss the woman he loved. Even in dark hours, lights still remained shining, and the hope of youth is never extinguished.

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LOL Just my little attempt at Historical Fiction. :D

Secrets Kept in Glass Boxes

Your tears of ice have moved my soul
Of whispers made by darkest candlelight
Your words of silk have reached their goal
Breaking stones laid down in youth’s pure sight

Your vows unspoken and subtle eyes
These chains of light, adamant, and air
Your anchor bout your neck you tie
Your mask of indifference you wear

Your cries in night’s darkest hour
Thru my ears have settled in my mind
Your logic that you weave with power
Tears down all my work that it can find

You gaze at me with earth green eyes
To seek an answer that you may never see
You scold me with your night blue eyes
For the things that are yet to be

Secrets kept in glass boxes
And promises made to the moon
Like sly and clever thieving foxes
Will break many hearts all too soon

One calls to me across the darkness
Cloaked in midnight’s veil to hear sense
One hides her heart in mists and starkness
Wishing me to cross the line, the fence

One calls me with eyes of laughter
And a small seed of hope in the ground
The decision is still to come, but then after
Where He calls me there I will be found

Robins in the Snow

Like robins in the snow so are you and I,
Here in a world so cold yet bright,
The bittersweet cost of living life
Enjoy the time before eternal spring
Takes away this precious time

Like robins in the snow, us two,
From branch to frozen branch we wing
As we call to each other ‘cross frozen space
Where voices seldom trod the silence
For we are together alone

Like robins in the snow, me with you
Shall we continue playing on the breeze,
Between frozen branches and cold wind
Making snide remarks to the ancient trees
Too soon childhood withers away

Like robins in the snow, together apart
A veil stronger than glass itself stands here
Your eyes I see and yet do not in my eyes
But deep in the red places of my heart of hearts
Let us fly once more in the morning hour

Like robins in the snow, we and us
Were made to endure the long winter hours
To sing, to wing, to call and make merry
For spring is coming, is coming, is coming
And soon no longer shall we be
Like robins in the snow

The Road Less Taken

“I’m home!” she called as she stepped in from the chilly weather.

She walked into the spacious living room where the large television was flashing colors from the news. She placed her things down on the small entry way table and turned on the volume of the muted television. As the newscaster droned on behind her she walked to the kitchen and poured a steaming mug of coffee from the French Press.

“… and we’ll keep our eye on it as the situation continues.” A woman was saying.

She walked to the couch and sat down wearily as she sipped from the warm, earthy liquid at her lips. She felt the weariness of the day and knew she could very easily fall asleep right there.

“Hey sis.” said the other girl as she walked into the room. “So I see you helped yourself to the last of the coffee?”

“Sorry.” The first girl smiled.

“It’s fine. I’ve probably had enough caffeine for now anyway.” Her sister said sitting next to her with a textbook in hand.

“Still studying?” she asked as she sipped more from the cup.

“Yes. But I’ll have to go get some groceries… and coffee before this snow storm comes in.” she said looking at the meteorologist standing before a map covered in little snow storms. “Unless of course if you wanted to go.”

“Fine.” She said getting up and drinking the last of the coffee in her cup, “I have to go get some new gloves anyway.”

“Thanks.” Her sister smiled as she picked up her textbook and walked back to her room.

The young woman bundled up and walked back outside in the cold air that stung her cheeks and made her breath smoke. She walked to the small car and hoped in quickly. Starting the engine she quickly turned all the heating devices to full blast to heat the vehicle. When she was sufficiently warm she slowly pulled out of the driveway and began the drive down the winding mountain road to get to the nearest mall.

And then it began. First only as a light powder of white that gently drifted down from the heavens and then slowly beginning to grown into larger and larger piece, the snow came. It fell and stuck to the frigid roadways and car window. She found herself having to turn her wipers on in order to see in the inclement weather.

“Oh great.” She pouted as she saw the stopped cars ahead of her. She had left her home ten minutes ago as the sun was just setting behind the far mist covered hills. Now the blue light of twilight was everywhere and the brilliant white of the snow made the light hurt her eyes. The stopped cars in front of her moved a few feet then stopped again.

“Come on! Just when the winter storm begins we suddenly have to have traffic!”

She sat there as the sky grew darker and darker. Finally the car in front of her began to pull away again. She drove down a few more yards before it stopped again. She was about to yell with frustration when she saw it. Just ahead of her the road forked. It was a country road but if she remember right it would take her to the bottom of the mountain.

“Here we go. I’m not waiting for this idiot any longer.” And with that she turned onto the side road and began to drive.

She drove on further and further as the snow kept falling and the last glimmer of light receded from the world. The woods around her were ominous and dark and the snow ket falling faster and faster. She tried turning the radio on but then she remembered that she was having it repaired. Driving on in the utter, dark, silence, she felt completely isolated and alone. If she screamed for help there would be no one to hear her. No one to help her.

The snow became thicker, falling faster and harder. It was like a smoothing blanket of white that fell so thick and fast that it didn’t leave any room to take a breath. She began to feel a trickle of fear and panic run down her spine as goosebumps crawled over her skin. And then, with hear heart pounding in the lonely, suffocating, black, snow she heard it.

BEEP!!!

It was a loud horn behind her that made her jump in her seat. Behind her, ever so faintly, she could see a large pair of headlights from what must have been a truck, thundering down towards her. She felt a mixture of relief and panic at the strange truck behind her. She couldn’t see anything else but the two bright headlights that stung her eyes.

“Gosh! You don’t have to have your brights on you know!” she said irritably at the truck diver behind her.

As if hearing her comment the truck’s lights seemed to shine even brighter, blinding her entire rearview mirror. The loud honking continued as she heard the truck’s engines rev to go faster. She saw the two headlights coming closer, the loud angry honking continued as he was getting closer and closer.

“Oh my gosh! This guy is insane!” she said as she began speeding up too to make sure he didn’t hit her.

Again it was as if he had heard her words. His horn honked louder and his speed increased as the engine roared loader. He came up close behind her and rammed her small car hard. She felt adrenaline course through her body as she struggled to keep her car straight on the ice covered road. She finaly got the car straight again just as the truck driver came up behind her again.

“Psycho! Get away from me!” she screamed as she dug through her purse to get to her cell phone.

She pulled it out and began dialing the number. As she was about to hit call the car lurched again with another blow from the deranged truck driver. The hit caused her to drop her phone, which skidded and slid across the wet floor and under the seat, out of reach.

“No! No! No!” she yelled as the truck was getting closer. She pressed her foot down on the pedal going faster too now.

Then as she rounded a corner she saw them. Two small brake lights ahead of her. Her first instincts were to brake but then she realized that they weren’t stopping, they were speeding up, going the same speed she and the killer truck were going. As she kept driving, the truck came faster, she sped up and so did the car ahead of her. A sickening feeling overcame her stomach as she realized that they were going too fast. They would all slip, slide, crash, and she would die.

The car ahead of her sped up more and she decided to follow suit. The glowing red lights seemed to smile at her for figuring out what they were doing. The truck behind her bellow its loud horn as its engine roared with fury. She sped up more, following the car ahead of her, hoping they knew where they were going.

“Oh, Jesus! God, help me! Save me from this psycho! Please God, protect me!” she yelled as she suddenly saw the red lights stop.

There was nowhere to go, nowhere to swerve on the small icy road. She pressed the brake down hard and came to a skidding stop behind the car ahead of her. And behind her she saw the two headlights from before coming around the bend. The truck bellowed and fumed and was almost on top of her. She cried as she tried her door handle only to feel it frozen shut.

“Jesus! Jesus! My Jesus! Save me!” she screamed.

And then it happened. The truck gave a loud bellowing howl, the red lights in front of her seemed to flash twice, and then she shut her eyes. Her heart beat like a drum as she waited for the crunch of metal impacting metal. She waited to be sandwiched between the two cars. And in the second of waiting she realized she would be in heaven soon. And it all seemed okay. It all seemed alright.

But of course there was no crash. No broken glass or crumpled metal. No broken bones or bleeding body parts. After waiting what felt like an eternity she opened her eyes to find she was completely alone. She looked behind her and saw nothing. She looked ahead of her and the brake lights were gone. Unconsciously her hand went to the handle and it opened with ease.

She gasped and got out of the car on shaky legs. She walked to the back where the truck was a few seconds before but the only tracks in the snow were hers. She ran to the front to see where the red taillights had gone, but there weren’t any tracks at all. As if none of it had really happened. Shaking she got in the car and drove down the road to the small mall. After grabbing the few things on her list she drove home as fast as the ice would permit, her hands still shaking.

“What took you so long?” her sister called as she stepped inside.

“Nothing. Hey can you help me unload the car?” she asked as she placed the groceries on the kitchen table, still shaking.

“Sure.” Her sister said worried, then a few seconds later, “What happened!”

She ran outside to where her sister was standing after closing the trunk. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw it. The entire back side of the car was pushed in, with two large circles where headlights would have been clearly imprinted in the crumpled metal from when the truck had bumped her. It had all really happened.

The Compass

There once was a sailor who sailed the seas,
And endured many storms with grace and ease
And the sailor’s wisdom was hard earned
For the lesson were all from error learned.

One day their ship came into a port
The captain took a new hand for the navigational work
The brown haired boy seemed young and unsure
And the older sailor his company endured.

The storm came suddenly from out of sight,
The waves were like mountains, the wind blew with its might
The warm tropical rains drenched them to the bone,
Then said the sailor as they felt lost and alone.

“Now listen lad, hold fast and don’t fear.
For in weather like this many opinions you’ll hear,
Some to go this way and some to go there,
‘Seek the safety of this isle’ or ‘the comfort right here’.

But I know these seas, like the back of me hand,
And there’s no port better than in my homeland,
It’s as dear to me as my own dear sister,
And I’ve missed it almost as much as I’ve missed her.”

But the ship’s captain was of another mind,
“There’s shoals in these waters, another way we must find!
For the only safe passage is to the far south,
And there is a bay at the river’s mouth.”

“But in this storm wit it’s inky cloud cover,
We can’t see the stars, we must go to the other!”
The sailor called from the wisdom so true,
And the lad, the navigator, knew not what to do.

“Listen lad! You know I am wise,
And if stars there were I could read the skies!
But they are covered by the clouds of the storm,
So go to my land,” the sailor warned.

“Boy you know what course I have planned,
And if you follow it we shan’t be unmanned,
But fear not when the storm block the skies,
For I gave you something they can’t see with their eyes.”

And at the captain’s words, the lad did recall,
He would never be lost for he had something so small,
A metal circle that hung over his heart,
The captain had given with the navigational chart.

“We shall sail south for the Captains says so,
And my compass as well points to it, I know.
And sorry I am, dear sailor wise and true
For I have made my decision, but will always respect you.”

Now this doth drip deep with much allegory,
But only the wise can perceive the hidden story.

Reflections in a Forest

“Will you love me?” asked the shining star
From up above in the heavens far
As she told her tale to the ears below
Of her hearts true love and teary flow

The small tree said, “I do but I don’t
As a sister dear but as wife I won’t
For our passions and vices are so near
That if we draw too close, our love will disappear.”

“Will you love me?” asked the moon so white
As she stopped half way in her nightly flight
And she guarded her heart with iron and steel
For once a wound made it would never heal

“O sister moon”, the tree did cry
“Stop not your climb into the sky
For my love for you is as a friend
And I wish you no harm come from my end.”

“Will you love me?” asked the sparrow black
As she sang her song of love and lack
Her words were piercing her meaning true
Love’s painful fires she had gone through

“Oh dear sparrow go seek another
For in your eyes I would be but a brother
The other waits ready to hold and heal you
And for you his heart burns ever true.”

“Will you love me?” asked the brown goose
As she wandered and pecked at the ground loose
Her wings were broken she could not fly
Her face was stern and she would not cry

“Oh gentle goose with wings all broken
I would not fool you with a love token
For I feel not love but merely empathy
Please do not mistake this, it is only sympathy”

Will you love me asked the smiling flower
With a hungry smile the tree to devour
Her stem was broken like the goose’s wings
But she lamented fiercely, of her plight she sings

“Smiling flower,” the tree said with grace
Let not just smiles but truth grace your face,
I’ve seen your pain, but as with your kin,
Not love but compassion I have within”

“Will you love me?” asked the scarlet rose
Surrounded by thorns and many foes
With dew drops upon her petals of silk
To tempt all creation with her aroma and milk

“No fair rose, your time here is brief
And mine also you’d steal like a thief
But wither thy beauty shall in time
Then lucky will be I when thou aren’t mine”

“Will you love me?” asked the flickering flame,
“For you know me deeply by many a name,”
And the flame spoke truth but with grace
Having knowledge, and wisdom and also faith

“O my flame, my passion thou art!
For thou I have hid my eternal heart.
But wait anon, till I see score and four,
Then in the hearth together forever more.”

NEW Chapter 3 Part B

hey sorry about not getting this up asap... I was watching persuasion and lost track of the time... :D

Chapter 3 part B

The fires had all died down and the small trails of smoke wound lazily into the cold evening sky from the glowing embers. The children were all asleep, the song of crickets from the plains and the warm food in their bellies soothing them into sweet dreams. The world was quiet as the Archer walked slowly through the camp, tucking in an arm here, fixing a pillow there.

“Hmm. You always had a way with the small details.” The Leader spoke quietly from the shadows. “Your gonna make some man very happy some day.”

She smiled standing up, “We’ll that’s if I can find one good enough.”

He stepped forward, the moonlight illuminating his rugged features as he held out his hand. She took it lightly and they walked through the masses of sleeping children to the pass. From there they could see the entire canyon leading up to the valley. The valley itself was a basin just on the other side of the mountain, with fields of the same golden grass waving in the evening wind. Here and there large oak trees stood firm and stately, adding the only features save for the small village at the far off end. And all around the basin on the walls of the valley there were gigantic stones lying on their backs, with their faces to the valley center, gigantic runes carved in them, the shield of the valley.

“I would have liked to have everyone in the valley, but they couldn’t go any further.” He spoke softly.

“I know. You can’t blame therm. They are all still so small. Tomorrow morning they will make it through the pass and will be safe from any harm.” She said taking his arm.

“We should have brought them directly here. We would be in the valley by now.” He spoke hauntingly.

“Nothing has gone according to plan so far. That monster has never pursued us before. Never sent the Styx, or even made any attempt to find us. You had no way of knowing. The plan to keep them close to the village was good then. Now we know better.” She tried comforting him.

“I don’t know. I just feel uneasy.” He spoke looking back toward the camp.


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Back at the camp, a small head of curly blonde hair woke up. Bella rubbed her large blue eyes with her small pale hands and looked to Sahrina who was still sleeping softly. She got up to go drink from the water canteens when she noticed the woods. They seemed warm and inviting to the curious girl. She began walking towards the ominous forest.

“Wow there! Hold on Bella.” said Nicholas as he grabbed her arm and directed her back towards the camp. “Where are you off to?”

“I wanted to go see the forest. Do you think there are any ponies or unicorns living in there?” she asked serious faced.

“Umm. Gee, I dunno.” Smiled Nicholas, “But what I do know is that the Leader doesn’t want anyone going in there. It looks kinda scary don’t you think?”

“Nope. I’m not afraid of the dark.” She said smiling, “I’m almost seven and a half.”

“Wow,” Nicholas said as he got down on his haunches to be at her level, “You’re really big. Well, what about this. I’ll make a deal with you. We go to the very edge and check for any unicorns. If you don’t see any we go straight back to bed. Deal?”

“Okay!” Bella said excitedly.

They walked down the gentle sloping hill, across the barren path, to the very edge of the dark woods. The ominous evergreen giants swayed gently, as the warmth radiating from within the woods made the air seem thick and heavy. He looked at her, then made a big show of scanning the darkness within.

“Well, I don’t see anything. Do you?” He said raising his shoulders.

“Wait, what’s that!” She cried excitedly. “There’s something in the bushes over there! Look its coming closer.”

Nicholas saw the swaying ferns as something crept closer and closer to them. He stepped in front of Bella, picking up a large branch to defend them with as he stood his ground, swallowing hard as it came faster. The rustling grew; Nicholas felt his heart beating in his ears, and Bella’s small hands clutching the back of his pant leg. This was it. It was within pouncing distance. Whatever it was would launch itself, fangs, teeth, and claws bared to kill. And then it jumped.

“Ahhhhh!!!!” He yelled as he swung hard at the yellowish tan shape that came out.

“Wait! Stop! Don’t hurt it!” called Bella slipping between his legs and throwing herself on it. “It’s just a puppy!”

And she spoke the truth, a young golden retriever stood before them, its large chocolate eyes sparkling with amusement, watching the stick. Nichols lowered his guard as he dropped the stick and stepped forward petting the shaggy dog’s head.

“Why hello there. And where did you come from?” He asked as the dog leapt on him and began bathing him with licks, “Wow there! Easy girl! I’m glad to meet you too!”

“I always wanted a dog! Nicholas, can I keep her!?!” Bella cried as she hugged the animal.

“Hmmm. Well, I’ll think about it. You’ll have to ask you parents when you get back but I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He was knocked over by child and dog alike as both leapt on him with barks and squeals of delight, “But! But we have to go back to camp now. We don’t want Sahrina noticing you’re gone.”

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The large horde moved closer and closer, passing the standing stones the children had camped at the day before. They were making good time and the leader in his chariot calculated they would reach the camp at around sunrise. Glancing at the stars, he noted the position of several and smiled. Victory was on his side. He raised a large whip out of his chariot and snapped it in the air, willing his horde and horse onward.

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Cricket song filled the quiet of the campsite. The sky had grown lighter and lighter by the hour and a faint line of light ran the distance of the eastern horizon. The small dog who had been sleeping soundly next to Bella raised her head suddenly. She let out a low growl, which stirred the young girl too.

“What is it Silver?” the name she had given the golden retriever.

The dog jumped up and ran down the incline to the path. Bella got up and scrambled after her dog. There was only one person up, Ivan of Janez. He yawned and stretched once more, trying to shake the nightmare about the gigantic golden bear that kept roaring at him to get up. He was thirsty and walked over to the canteens when he saw the dog and the little girl run towards the path, past it, and into the woods.

“Hey! Wait! Little girl come back!” he called as he pulled the black cloak about his freezing arms in the cold morning.

“Someone! There’s a girl that just ran into the woods! Wake up!”

Instantly two heads were up, Sahrina and Nicholas both seeing the empty spot by the fire. They were both up and joined by the Archer and Leader at the forest edge, where Ivan stood, still calling.

“Where’d she go?” asked Nicholas as he ran up.

“In there! She was chasing after some kind of dog. I tried stopping them but they were gone before I could reach them.” He spoke hoarsely from the calling.

“Next time try leaving your coat so you can actually run, moron!” said Sahrina venomously as she dropped to all fours and began looking for the trail of the two.

“Sahrina! Be nice!” said the Leader sternly.

“I suppose we should thank you..” Nicholas began saying to Ivan when a screech echoed through the morning light.

“Styx!? Here?” The Archer said with a look of fear in her eyes, “the children!”

And she ran back, arrows already at the ready, calling for the children to wake. The Leader watched her go and turned to the three before him quickly.

“Alright, the situation just got more complicated. You three go after her and meet us in the valley later. Defend, guide, and stay with each other. Wait in the forest until the coast is clear before following us!” and with that he ran off.

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The small girl laughed as she pursued the dog. Silver would run fast ahead of her and then slow down until she almost caught her. Then the two would roll in the moss laughing and barking before the merry chase was on again. Bella had no idea the worry and stress she was causing everyone. She was simply chasing her dog.

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The first Styx which had flown eagerly ahead had been slain by a well placed arrow. The Archer had roused all the children and they were already sprinting down the path towards the narrow winding canyon that led to the valley. As she was pushing them in, Sato came back and stood by her, giving her one signal.

“So the monster has come forth.”

He nodded, but as if to prove his point, several Styx screeches echoed around the group. She hurriedly pushed more children in, the screeching causing them all to realize the seriousness of the situation. As she watched the line move into the canyon, she saw the black shapes in the sky growing closer, and the column of dust heading their way.

“The children need more time.”

Sato nodded again, taking two sharp throwing knives out of the many on his belt and back. He knew what she meant. Leland was next to them, looking at the far off cloud moving closer.

“I think there are runners with them. Looks like you’ll need my help. Its been a while since I dealt with their kind but I think I can manage.” He said getting his staff ready.

“So then we just need someone to stop their leader.” Spoke the Leader from behind them, his daggers drawn.

“No! You need to take the children through, guard their backs! If even once slips past us and they’re not in the vale everything will be for nothing!” said the Archer as she let loose her first shaft, killing the over eager Styx that had flown in front. “But once they’re all safe, don’t think you can sit out. You may be the leader but you can’t get lazy now.”

“I love you Mara.” He spoke urgently as he helped the last child into the pass. “I’m coming back for you all.”

“I love you too Jullius. Good bye.”

And then he was gone. The three stood there guarding the entrance to the pass as other guardians fanned out across the path and incline, weapons ready as the column of dust moved closer. In the front, several pikemen with their long sharp spears stood ready. With a sound of angry buzzing the archers loosed volley after volley. And then there was the sickening crunch as the horde slammed into the guardians, like an ocean wave crashing over the rocks.

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Bella had caught up to the dog earlier that day just before sunset. She had followed the dog to a clearing surrounded by bluish green bushes. The Silver had gone and laid down by a small pool next to a tree and a slab of moss covered granite. They reached the clearing as the final rays of the sun colored the sky pink, with the blue clouds running across it.

As the white moon rose above the tree tops in the blue sky, Silver let out a howl. As she did, the bushes around the clearing suddenly opened millions of plate sized bright pink flowers that let off a dull glow. The clearing was filled with the scent of vanilla and roses. In the pond, Bella saw large bright blue fish swimming around that also let of a soft glow. The bubbles from their mouths rose up in the water and out of the water into the air, and floated around the clearing.

Silver ran around, jumping up trying to bite the bubbles, and Bella joined in, jumping to pop the bubbles. She bumped the tree and what had looked like bark turned out to be large brown moths that had been sleeping on the tree. With a flutter of dusty wings the moths flew off, revealing their glowing purple wings.

Bella danced with the moths, the bubbles, the dog, and the moon. It seemed as if magic and music was all around her and on the air, coming from the mystical woods. Next to the stone slab she found a patch of large ripe strawberries and ate as the sweet red juice ran down her chin. Then she drank from the cool fresh pool and lay down on the soft moss. Silver lay down next to her and soon she fell asleep to the dull glow and the beating heart of her puppy.

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“Poor girl, lost and alone in the woods like this.” said Ivan as he fell over another branch. “and its getting dark too. Being alone in the dark at night does not seem like a very smart thing… for a little girl to do. I mean, that’s when most things are out hunting, at night.”

“Will you stop babbling like a little baby! I’m trying to focus! And worrying about her won’t help her!” spoke Sahrina.

“Well sorry! I was just pointing out the fact that we are in a forest that, last time I checked, was a cursed place, and filled with all sort of monsters! And we’re here at night too!” His anger had surfaced really quickly from Sahrina’s cold manner.

“Hey, you two. Look at this! Its one of her bows from her hair!” spoke Nicholas as he beckoned them to him.

“Good it means we’re on the right track.” spoke Sahrina relief on her face.

“We’ll we better find her soon because she’s heading farther and farther away from the camp.” Ivan said as his brows furrowed while he focused on north and figuring out their location.

“That’s the plan. We find her… before something else does!” said Sahrina as she continued on her pursuit of the trail.

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It was dark when Bella opened her eyes and felt the rhythmic swaying of horseback. She looked at the foggy world as she faintly saw the golden mare she was riding on. From somewhere around her she heard a strange song, in a language she knew but didn’t know, and her eyes grew heavy again. Bella fell asleep as the horse took her further and further away.

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The three ran through a clearing with a small pool and a single tree. By the light of the lantern they saw small white flowers on the bushes, ugly brown moths on the tree, and pale bland fish in the pool. They saw the clear imprint of where Bella had slept. They also saw the dogs tracks go off into the woods, and then what looked like hoof prints come into the clearing.

They were about to follow the new trail, when they heard what sounded like a dirgefull drum beat. Voices sang from the trees a very saddening song, and the trees seemed to grow again. Nicholas felt himself suddenly grow tired. He sat down, looked over and saw Ivan already asleep on his knees with his face in the dirt and his hindquarters in the air drooling into the dust. Sahrina lay down on the moss against the tree and closed her eyes. Nicholas, felt himself slip away too.

As his eyes were closing, he vaguely saw several short figures in long light green robes walk forth and snuff out the lantern. Darkness fell with his eyelids.

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And there you are! hope you enjoyed it! :D

The Swan's Song

My days are over,
No longer will I fly,
For I touched the silver apple
So here I lie
O great Fisher King,
Master, good bye
I have done as you asked
Now hear my poor cry
O Weaver of Veils
Raise my soul up high
May I not be forgotten
By the servants of the sky
My days are over
No longer will I fly,
Oh Lord of the mists,
Remember me when I die.

NEW Chapter 3 part A

Okay so chapter 3 is done. I just thought I'd be evil and make it into two parts, making you wait another day to see the next part. Plus, its also almost 13 pages long (don't ask how that happened) so I figured I wouldn't post one enromous post, but two smaller ones instead.

So, things to pay attention to, or be looking for, are:

Deeper story
Detailed settings
Rounder characters
Difference in main character personalities

Chapter 3

Small padded paws beat the hard pine needles into soft forest floor. The animal was running as hard as it could, its tongue hanging from its mouth as it panted. Then as it broke into a clearing, there was a bright flash of golden light and where the panting animal had been a golden eagle had suddenly taken off, her long large wings flapping through the clearing and past the canopy of evergreen branches. It soared higher and higher, scanning the ground below, looking for the mists.

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“Bella!” called Sahrina as the black owl beat its wings to fly away with the young girl.

Time seemed to move slower as Nicholas looked to the archers to bring the bird down. But he knew that they couldn’t risk hitting Bella. Then he saw a dark blur shooting through the sky like an arrow. It was Sahrina. She landed on the bird’s back and wrapped her legs around its neck. Then like an acrobat, she swung down and began wrestling Bella free from the Styx’ claws.

As soon as Bella was free, Sahrina made a jerking motion with her legs and a loud ‘crack’ echoed from the birds neck. As the creature’s eyes rolled back in its head, Sahrina swung Bella and herself upward onto its back as it began crashing down towards the golden grass. At the very second when the Styx would have impacted the ground, Sahrina hoped off and rolled in the grass, keeping Bella safe in her arms.

“Bella! Sahrina! Are you two alright?!” called Nicholas as he ran up to them.

“We’re fine.” said Sahrina with the fierce light from before in her eyes, “We need to find shelter fast!”

The last few Styx had been brought down by the archers and soon the line was moving again. As they trudged along the children all chatted excitedly about the Styx and more about their giftings they had discovered.

“That was incredible!” said one Matvian boy, “I could feel them pushing against our shield, but it didn’t work. We won!”

“That’s because we could sense where they were!” said one Lucian girl, “Our power is so much better than yours!”

“Please! Yours is almost as useless at the Janesians!” cried another as they trotted along.

“It’s thanks to the Janesians we know where we’re going right now. I’d be a bit more polite if I were you.” said the Archer walking alongside them.

“But what about the girls from Marek? What’s their gifting?” said one girl.

“What?! You must have been on the other side of the circle. I saw it all. She was incredible. She jumped on a Styx and broke its neck with her legs!” yelled one boy excitedly. “Obviously their gifting is amazing fighting skills!”

The Archer walking with them said nothing. She only looked back pensively at the two girls coming up close to the rear. She had her doubts and theories but the Leader had refused to answer any questions about them. There was no way of knowing for sure. All she knew was that every Marecian she had ever met only had the gifting of predicting the weather. These girls were no ordinary Marecians.

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“Noooo!!! Fools!!! Complete and utter imbeciles!!! We had her!!!” yelled the figure in armor in the ruins of Luca.

“My master.” said one unlucky servant, who was quickly slammed into the blue sky by the mace of the figure.

“Incompetent fools! I don’t want to hear excuses! I want at least one idiot who can do as they’re told! Now! Send out all the Styx!! Send our best riders! I don’t care what you have to do! Find them! And bring it to me!” the ranting anger of the armored one continued.

“What of the guardians and the children?” asked another unfortunate slave.

“Let me give you an idea of what I want done to the rest.” the tone was flat and dangerous as the armored figure’s shadow fell upon the slave.

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“Wait. Stop.” said the one in the scarlet robe, as they stopped in front of a tavern.

She got off of Stultius and quickly walked inside. At first muffled words and bellowing laughter was heard inside. Then there were a few angry shouts followed by a popping sounds and screams of terror. The scarlet robed one walked out, rats skittering across her feet as she walked out with a small pouch.

“Hmm. Maybe that will teach you to be more generous.” she said scowling at the rats.

Stultius watched with amazement as she brought forth three gold coins and laid them down in the dust. In one swift movement she grabbed a passing rat, flicked out a sharp dagger, and sliced it unemotionally across the rat’s back. Then she dipped one of the coins in its blood. Next she brought forth a large mug of water and dipped the second in it. Then holding all three in her hands, she closed her hands tightly about them as if praying, muttered under her breath, and threw the coins into the air. They landed with small dull thuds in the dirt road.

“Hmm.” She said as she examined the positions of the three coins. “So, it is as I thought, we lost it again. I guess its back to the original plan”

Stultius looked at her puzzled, but she just rolled her eyes at the stupid horse. She brought her forehead against his and as their eyes met he felt as if he was getting very dizzy and the world was spinning around them. His muscles ached and contracted and he felt a tingling prickling sensation like goosebumps running across his whole body. He gasped as he suddenly sat down hard on his hindquarters.

“I have restored you as best as I could. It seems we still have need of you Stultius. For now. Be a good little man and maybe I won’t kill you. I may even reward you beyond your highest dreams.”

Stultius tried to answer but as the fat man spoke a loud neigh and a winy was all that came out. He looked down and saw the rough horse hair still on his arms and felt the scraggily beard it left across his face. And then he felt a strange movement beneath him as his mangy tale popped out.

“Like I said, this is the best I could restore you. Don’t worry. You’ll gradually change back to your old putrid self. Personally I prefer a stinky horse to a revolting man. In a few days you’ll be fine. Unless you disappoint me. Then you’ll be dead.”

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“Well?” asked the Leader urgently as he watched Leland and his young apprentice at work.

“He’s doing fine. I’m glad we caught him. He may have slipped through our notice if we hadn’t needed someone so badly. He actually has the gift very strongly. I’ll recommend him to the Academy myself once this is all over.”

“Careful Leland. This boy may be special but there is something much more special that apparently needs more guarding than I thought. Don’t lead us on any elaborate trail. Just enough twist and turns to make them loose our scent.”

“Yes sir. But about our… special cargo. It needs more guarding, that’s for sure. The only problem is who’s gonna guard it? It seems that we’re tightly stretched as is. Besides, until we go beyond the pass, it really won’t be that difficult a job and pulling someone away from the defenses seems illogical.”

“Well, there is someone I had in mind. Someone who will need a little practice.” the Leader said as he looked back on the line.

“You mean the boy? The ones who’s joining us?” Leland asked skeptically.

“I don’t know why Leland. It’s like with your prodigy here. I just… I feel like its fate. Like I couldn’t go against it even if I tried.”

“Careful there. Your starting to scare me, pardon my saying so.”

“No. You’re right. I’m scaring myself too. Well, we’ll see. He can guard them until we reach the pass at least.”

“Hey, you’re the boss. What ever you say.” Leland said as he brought his attention back to Ivan and his navigating through the misty golden fields.

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The eagle had been flying for hours and dropped down wearily for a snack. It snatched a large salmon right out of the stream below and tore hungrily at the juicy meat. It dropped down on a branch to finish its meal. As the last bite of fish went down its beak the eagle saw it. There next to the stream was a small dark blue piece of cloth halfway in the water. The eagle gave a startled cry and in a flash the eagle was gone and a large russet bloodhound was splashing through the creek water. As it neared the cloth, it sniffed eagerly. Then with a sad look it gave a direful howl of disappointment and in a flash rose in the skies as an eagle again. Mentally it chided itself for getting distracted. It had one mission and one alone right now. Its personal matters would have to wait.

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The evening sky was beginning to color the perpetual mist darker and darker as the sun lowered on the horizon. The line of children had slowed from a run, to a jog, to a walk, and finally to a wearisome plod. The Leader walked down the line as he surveyed the condition of his guardians and children. When he reached the end where Bella, Sahrina, and Nicholas were, he pulled Nicholas aside to speak with the boy.

“Alright Nicholas. If you were serious about your commitment to our group, we have our first order for you. You are to be a special guardian.”

“A special guardian?”

“Yes, while we are all guarding the line, you will be charged with guarding someone very special.”

“Who?”

“You see those two girls form Marek? The small one. Bella. We need you to make sure she’s safe and keep her from harm while we’re moving. Think you can do that?”

“Sure.” Nicholas said, slightly disappointed that his first task was so small.

“Good. Now, get back over there to your charge.”

“Yes sir!”

As Nicholas ran back, the Leader smiled to himself. He turned and jogged back along the line as he checked once more on everyone. When he reached the front he and Leland began talking in low voices. Ivan who was acting as if he was still concentrating hard on navigating eavesdropped as they all walked on through the tall golden grass.

“They’re exhausted Leland. We can’t go much further.”

“Well it seems our options are getting limited.”

“How’s Ivan doing?”

“Very good. Poor boy is gonna exhaust himself if he keeps putting so much effort into it though.”

“How long do you think it will be until we reach the end of this mists?”

“Probably by night fall. He sensed the end of the mist this afternoon.”

“Then we’re close.” He gulped.

Leland nodded, “To both of them.”

“The pass and the… the woods. Is there a place nearby we can make camp. I don’t want a repeat of this morning. And I would prefer to be as far away from the woods as possible.”

“There is a place. We’ll reach it in an hour or so.”

“Good. I’ll pass the word along, an hour before we make camp. Oh, and Ivan…,” The Leader said turning to the boy, “Make sure that when you eavesdrop you don’t stop breathing like that. It’s usually a dead give away that you’re listening. Check your baring. I’m no navigator but I think we’re beginning to get a little of course.”

Ivan blushed deeply as they kept walking. He corrected the error on their way. The Leader went to Sato and whispered something in his ear. Then Sato left and talked with the Archer at the back using his hand motions. The Archer notched her bow, and Ivan became aware that all the guardians had their weapons at the ready.

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The two were back at the docks, the sun beginning to dip into the frozen ocean. Oily albatrosses called harshly overhead as they wheeled in the changing breeze. Soon the evening tide would begin to move out towards the sea. The woman in the scarlet cape moved fluidly over the stones of the docks towards a large vessel that look rusty and worn.

“I will be right back.” she more threatened than said.

Stultius sat on the cold wet ground and waited. As he did, he felt a painful cramp in his hindquarters and back, and the next moment became painfully aware that his was tail retracting into his spine. He was yelling and cursing on the ground, writhing in pain, when she returned.

“Hmph. Well, it seems you have completed your reversion. Just in time too. Now, get on board! You will take this vessel to the first port it pulls into. There, buy yourself a slave. You’ll know which to buy. Trust me. From there, you will follow the path through the forest toward Alexandria. Now get going!” She said coldly.

Stultius walked slowly and deliberately up the gangplank. He felt a nervous twitch in his eye as he tried not to let his hands tremble. This was it. If he could get away from them now he could escape, change his name, and never use magic again. It was the perfect plan.

“Oh, and Stultius darling, don’t be a fool. We will be watching you of course. If you make one wrong move you will feel how quickly I will wrap my fingers around your heart and quench your miserable existence.” Her tone carried across her seriousness.

He didn’t even acknowledge her. He just kept walking. He walked up the plank, and onto the ship. Soon they had set sail over the choppy, icy, sea as the last light of the sun blushed faintly across the horizon. Stultius did not notice. He was in his dark cabin, alone with his fears eating at his soul.

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Night found the children and the guardians camped underneath a large rocky outcrop that was a part of the tall mountain towering over them. The ground sloped down gentle from there they sat to a tan winding road covered in rocks. And beyond the road, a stone’s throw away from it, was the woods.

“Alright! Lets get them cooking fires lit! Nothing like some grub to cheer up a place and put a smile on yer face!” called the fat cook as he ordered children and gaurdian’s alike to gather firewood and stones.

Soon several fires were going, the smoke carried to the top of the rocky overhang and out a side crack like a natural chimney. The children were all eating hungrily at the soup of wild hair and leek the cook had come up with. As they sat eating, the Leader sat crouched and ready at the very top of the hill, continually scanning the skies and the road. His nervous gaze kept returning to the evergreen woods before them.

“You need to eat!” said the Archer as she walked up to him with a bowl of soup.

“Thanks, but I’m really not hungry right now.” He was still watching the woods.

“Calm down. Nothing’s going to happen. At least nothing that wasn’t already planned.” She said sitting down next to him, slinging her bow off and testing its tension as she spoke, “Haven’t you been getting that feeling today? The feeling that everything that’s happening couldn’t just be chance?”

“What, you believe we were suppose to end up here?” he said even more nervous at the thought. “Why? It’s not the agreed on time yet. There are still at the very least seven years left before anything is suppose to happen.”

“Plans change. They may need ‘it’ sooner than they thought.” The Archer said looking to the woods as well.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve been home.” He said as he noticed her far off look.

“Eight years, seven weeks, and three days.” She said softly.

“Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe it is time. Maybe its time we all went back there.” He said sighing as he looked to the forest. “Once the children are safely in the glade, we’ll taker ‘it’ to them.”

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Far across the plains of golden grass, where the other mountain rose up, a large cloud of dust rose into the air. At the head of the column was an elaborate steel chariot. And in the chariot was the armored figure. The mists on the golden plains parted as the chariot pulled by the armored horses drew near. In the air behind it large swarms of Styx were flying, while strange shadowy shapes moved in the darkness of the mist and dust cloud.

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And there you go! So, hopefully you're seeing some of those changes already. Part B goes up tomorow morning super early ( I may even post it after midnight tonight, so watch out :D) Please comment b/c as an author I live on comments as my only source of sustenance. You wouldn't want me to starve to death. ;) Thanks.

The First Snowflake

As fiery Apollo steps down in the skies
The whole earth in gold and red hues lies
The fairy king and his elves arise
For mischief and fun beneath the moon flies

And upon such a wonderful winter night
As the gleaming stars shone forth with pure light
And all manner of bird and moth take flight
Came forth a tender and lovely sight

The first snow flake of the year’s making
Twinkled down with twirls and shaking
From the foggy mountain its flight taking
A small flying diamond in a world unwaking

And all of nature spied the herald dear
Of winter’s frost and ice so clear
But its cold was small and brought no fear
Instead all loved the little snow flake’s cheer

But it fluttered down toward the ground
Twixt river clear and green earthy mound
To where the malicious ivy abounds
And came to rest without a sound

There it rested in the light of the moon
And felt the cool evening breezes come soon
And fluttered of from its perch on the dune
Back into the heavens towards it doom

For Sweet Aurora in the heavens soon glowed
Her warm hands in the sun’s yellow
But the little diamond did not know
Not to go and greet her because he was made of snow
And so passed the first snowflake, as you may know.

The Ballad of Brandur

The forest silent in dawns early hour
As the warming sun the night did devour
The small bird cried not unto its mother
For there in the shadows lurked another
Stranger was he to the forest of the West
His gleaming armor, his sword of the best
The man with the helmet searched for the trail
He had followed the beast with no avail
But now he drew near its shadowy berth
And soon he would test it for all its fierce worth
The horrid fiend with the maid did flee
Across mountains, rivers, plains, and the sea
To this shaded forest, to the architect of the deed
A fiery beast of ancient void’s evil seed
And now the brave knight drew near its dark cave
And before it he saw the wicked stone altar to the knave
These peasants of the woods, in stupidity and pride
Had not only saved but worshiped his beastly guide
But no moment for reflection on the ghastly rites
There stirred in the cavern a roar and strange red lights
A long serpentine head extended outside
Its eyes were black like some thing long died
Its scaly body was covered in grey
And from its nostrils came coals as red as the day
He stepped forth, with his brave sword drawn
And cried to the beast as the sun broke the dawn
“Ancient deamon, last living of your cursed kind
Know the name now that shall extinguish your mind
I am Brandur the Brave here to cleave you asunder
And your blood will flow freely, your wounds without number.”
But hearing the words of the Knight from the East
The ancient fiend chuckled for he feared humans the least
“Be gone, thou man, thy kind shall also fail,
Think not thyself safe, boy, with thy sword and thy mail.”
But Brandur charged with his sword drawn and gleaming
The vile fiend’s mouth opened with smoking and steaming
The fiery column flew forth from its jaws
But Brandur leapt aside with haste while avoiding its claws
Then he rolled forth quickly and with a quick swing
He drew his blade sharply across the tail of the thing
But though great was the wound no blood spilled free
The wound simply healed quickly and then saw he
The villain with pure malice and hate
Seemed to be smiling in his immortal state
But Brandur was wiser and knew right well the fact
That the beast would die only from one simple act
But before he could move to strike it so true
A claws hand descended and clove his shield in two
The young knight ducked, as the second hand flew by
Then he leapt to the side, but did not see the tail fly
It struck him hard, against the cave’s old ancient stones
Blood flowed from his mouth and he felt his broken bones
And then the creature with its talons of steel
Grabbed the knight and would have made of him a meal
But the knight in his courage and wisdom moved not
And the creature drew near to let him meet his lot
But as the large toothy mouth stood ready agape
The knight pulled forth his dagger from beneath his torn cape
And struck true and hard at the mighty beast’s face
And as the blade entered its eye, so died its race
For with the one blow, the villain was undone
And changed into nothing but smoke in the sun
The brave knight staggered forth, his wounds grave
But he had to endure for he had her still to save
And so he found her, bound in the dragon’s keep
He freed her, and bowed, then staggered into sleep
And so they returned to the castle by the sea
And all proclaimed his great act of bravery


This would be a shortened and more well known version of the tale of Brandur and Perlise (which I'm still working on), a well known legend in my imaginary world that still lacks a name... and a title... gosh I am so lame...

The Belgariad

The Belgariad
Vol. 1 & 2
By David Eddings

The Belgariad follows the life of a young boy, Garion, as he tags along with his aunt and grandfather, two sorcerors, as they journey to gather various people needed to stop an ancient evil from returning. Along the way Garion also finds out more about himself and what he really is. I won't say anything else at all because the story is too good to spoil.

The style of writing is simple and easy, but the descriptions of the people and places are so well done that you don't feel that the over complicated words are even needed. One thing about his writing that is amazing is that even the most minor characters have a story and a part in the plot. You connect with everyone. In the same way the no person in real life is ever really a minor character, so also even the most insignificant seeming person has a story, a part in the main conflict. It is probably the reason I liked the books the most.

As for content, just to be warned, the book is not a children's book and does deal with some more mature themes. Nothing explicitly inappropriate, more just a few cultural practices in some of the countries they visit. A subtle theme in the books was that each villain personifies and is overthrown because of one of the deadly sins, lust being one of them. Also, the book does included magic, which may make some people uncomfertible. It does distinguish between sorcerors and magicians. Sorcerors, the good guys, are said to use something more like the 'force' in Star Wars, while Magicians, called the godless ones, try to control demons in order to affect their serroundings. In the books, one such magician is torn apart by his demon, as a way of making teh dangers involved explicit. Because of these two main things some may feel uncomfertible reading it or may choose not to. Luckily the story is not accesory to these themes, the themes are to the story.

In conclusion, the plot is amazing, the style is great, the themes are right on, the characters are the best I have ever seen, and the content, while having some questionible parts, does not affect the overall reading experiance. It is the most realistic fiction book I have read. And personally, I liked it.

Five Stars!!!

A Boy Named Simon

BANG!

The car door slammed shut as the man with the messy head of black hair slipped behind the wheel. He started the ignition, twisting the key hard not out of necessity but out of anger. His usual calm demeanor was broken by a sneer as he thought about her words again.

This is all your fault!

Of course it was. Every time it had been. And every time the same verbal assault had begun between the two.

You never wanted her! You never wanted me to have the baby! If you had tried harder we wouldn’t have lost another one!

Well maybe that was true. When she had told him she was pregnant again, he didn’t feel the same bubbling joy as the first two times. With each miscarriage, the joy and anticipation had turned more and more to unimaginable dread.

Get out! Get away from me! I don’t- I don’t want to ever see you again! My baby girl is gone because of you! You have no idea what I have to endure. The emptiness. Like my heart’s been torn out. Don’t pretend like you care! Just go.

He pulled his car in between the two white lines of the parking space and turned it off. He simply sat there for a few moments, alone with his thoughts in the cold and empty parking garage. Outside, the snow had begun falling again, the stark white seeming to emphasize the bleakness of the concrete all around him.

With a sigh, he stepped out of the car and pulled the bag out of the back. He closed the car door, promising himself he wouldn’t go back this time. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of having him to blame. Let her find someone else. Someone else to be the scapegoat. And then when things don’t change, maybe she’ll finally realize who’s really to blame.

“Yeah right.” He said aloud as he walked away from the parked car, up the flight of concrete stairs, and across the plowed street that would soon be covered in busy people. He walked alongside the mammoth building until he found the small green side door. He slipped in his barely used key and the warmth and light inside greeted him.

He walked down a long hallway until he came to the restroom. He stepped into the stall the smelled of bleach and overbearing flowers and set the bag down on the baby changer. He sighed, then slowly unzipped it and pulled out his uniform. He liked calling it his uniform. It gave him some semblance of dignity every time he wore it. But as he pulled the black boots on, and adjusted the overstuffed jacket, he saw the red hat and fake beard, and immediately all hope of dignity drained from his face.

He stepped out and looked at himself in the mirror. With a little reddening on his cheeks he almost looked the part of Jolly Saint Nick, no trace of the mid-twenties young businessman. No trace of the stress from five years of fruitless marriage. No trace of the pain, sorrow, and despair that was his life. No, right now he was Santa Claus and had no troubles and had joy to spare, to hand out to all the children who would be at the busy mall today.

The hours passed, the mall opened, and the people came as expected. He “ho-ho” and laughed and watched as more and more parents and grandparents ushered children to the line stretching far on the cheap red carpet. After a quick lunch it was back in the seat, and he listen as he heard the same request over and over again. A new video game, a new instrument, a new movie, a new doll. At least today there weren’t any criers so far.

As he sat and listen to a serious faced boy explain the deeper meaning and intricacies of his favorite TV character, he found his mind wandering. His psychologist had recommended the job, as a way of connecting with children more. She blamed him too. Yet he found himself answering almost automatically. He knew she didn’t know what she was talking about. He wouldn’t even have taken the job if the business hadn’t taken the dip in profit. So here he sat, dressed as an old man and feeling the part as he contemplated his life.

“Alrighty. Well, if you’ve been a good boy all year long, I’m sure you’ll get at least one of them.” He answered as he helped the little boy down, the boy’s mother giving him a venomous look as she walked away pulling her son along.

“Well then, who do we have next?” He said smiling out of habit not sincerity.

A small boy in a bright lime green shirt walked up and hopped onto his lap. He couldn’t have been more than seven, with his dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He smiled a large white toothy grin as he looked up into the Santa’s face. The Santa looked past the boy expecting to see some eager mother with camera ready. But there was none. It was odd, but not the first time. Many parents dropped children in line while the quickly snagged a last minute present.

“So little boy, what’s your name?” He asked with his jolly voice.

“Simon.” He said in his small clear voice.

“And what do you want for Christmas, Simon?”

The boy seemed to sit for a few minutes, his face scrunched up as he thought. Then a light seemed to come on in his mind, and his eyes sparkled as he leaned forward and cupped his hands to whisper.

“Santa?”

“Yes.”

“If I’ve been a very, very, very good boy all year long, I get a present, right?” he whispered still.

“Yes.” He answered, not sure what to do with the abnormal actions of the boy.

“So I can wish for anything I want?” His eyes begged for an answer.

“Yes, Simon, you can wish for anything you want.” He said smiling.

Simon smiled that toothy smile again and leaned up to his ear to speak, when suddenly, he sat back, his brow furrowed again in thought. He slowly reached his two small hands up and placed one on each cheek. The boy’s blue eyes locked with his deep brown ones and seemed to be searching his very soul. He suddenly felt exposed, as if everything he had been keeping hidden was slowly being examined by the boy’s eyes.

“Santa? Why are you sad?” He asked in a straight forward way.

“I’m not… I mean… that is… Santa is just having some trouble with Mrs. Claus. That’s all. It’ll be alright.”

“Is it bad?” He said as if knowing full well the truth.

“Not yet. I wish it were better.” Then as if realizing what he had just admitted to he quickly said, “But that’s enough of that. What do you want for Christmas?

“Santa. I know what I want. I want you and Mrs. Claus to be happy. You can have my wish, if it’ll stop you from being so sad.” Said the small boy.

“Well, th-thank you.” He said, feeling tears in his eyes at the small boy’s act of kindness. “But what do you want for Christmas other than that?”

“Simon? Simon! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” A large African-American woman dressed in a matching green t-shirt said walking up, “Well, it looks like you already found Santa. Good. But we have to go now. The others are already waiting in the van. Come on.”

Simon jumped down from his perch on Santa’s lap and ran to her, and the two of them were quickly swallowed by the rushing waves of humanity. But in those few steps Simon took in reaching her, the Santa saw the back of his lime green shirt for the first time. He felt emotion grab his throat as he read the simple line:

“St. Simeon’s Home for Orphaned and Abandoned Children”

The last hour of his shift was lost to time and thought. He quickly ran to his car, not caring to take of his red suit, and opened the door with new hope. In a few minutes he was home. In a few hours, and after a couple of explanations, he and his wife were in their car again. And after a two weeks, on Christmas Eve, three Christmas wishes all came true. All because of one small boy named Simon.

The Cruel Anvil

The Cruel Anvil

O how the anvil weighs down,
Its chains around Cupid’s target
But no Eros here can abound
For fear of the eyes that mark it

The heart wails of the tear deep
As bright red life spills free
What caused this rent in nightless sleep?
What has broken so utterly?

Words of the soul and whispers dark
No voice ever to be found
Secrets hid deep in the heart
There wordlessly, eternally bound

The anvil heavy, the secret kept
What ask you me for its name
My lips have vowed, my eyes wept
Never spoken it shall remain

Press me not, do not inquire
I shall not consent, will not reveal
This leaden anvil, Orphian desire
Ask no more, for lies my soul kill

O Venus cruel and ever vexing
O Cupid why torment me night and day?
O Muses guard my lips’ stretching
May my meaning not fly away.

The Day at the Beach

The Day at the Beach

Everything is dark and humid and tight. There is a low rumbling sound coming from all around and the walls and the roof and the floor I’m lying on shake and shutter ever so often. I bounce with the motion of the floor and bump against something wicker and woven. After what seems like an eternity the noise ebbs and then stops, with one awful penultimate shudder as I suddenly fly towards one of the cool metal walls.

Then there was light. Bright and beautiful light that streamed in like cascading waterfalls of brightness and joy. I lay there, and saw clearly now the picnic basket beside me and the beach ball at my side. And I saw his face, bright and eager as he looked over the rim of the metallic mouth into the trunk where I lay. And ever so slightly behind him I saw another figure, obscured by the light, standing strong and tall behind him.

“Poppa! Poppa! Can I fly my kite now?” he asks with an excited high pitch peal of laughter from his throat.

“Yes. You may. Go over there, further along the shoreline. The wind will pick him up high there.”

His small clean hand reaches down and takes me firmly, yet comfortingly, eyes shining with anticipation and fun. We run down the sandy dunes, past the long flat grasses and the driftwood logs that lie scattered across the beach like bodies. His small feet kick up sand and shell alike as he ran faster and faster, holding me up so I can feel the air rushing over me already. I tremble, not from the breeze, but from excitement. This is it. Today I will fly. This is what I was made to do.

The Father holds me while he walks away slightly, strong hands positioning me just right for the breeze. He has the same twinkle in his grey eyes, the same as the boy. And then with a roaring laugh he calls for his son to run. He does, and as he does I feel the tug at my heart, where the string lies firmly, and I begin to go up.

I rise and rise and go higher and higher, a few twist and turns on my way there. I soar stronger and stronger, and then suddenly feel the winds catch me and I shoot up like a rocket. He woops down below and his father smiles proudly as they watch me climb into the skies. My sails taught and full I know this is what I was made to do.

“Careful son.” I hear him say. “Give him some slack on the line. If you don’t let him go where he wants to, he’ll be torn apart by the wind.”

“Like that Father?” he asks making some adjustments.

“Perfect. Now just make sure he doesn’t go further out over the water, otherwise he’ll get sucked into the storm.”

I have stopped listening to them down there. I’m flying and am going higher and higher as he gives me more line. I’m soaring like an eagle now, reaching to breach the veil of the cerulean heavens and see the stars. But as I climb and reach, I feel the string at my heart pull again. It’s the boy and his father. They’re trying to keep me back, stop me from doing everything I can. Angrily, I pull on the string, the boy remains steadfast. I pull more, frustrated and seething at my tether. Then it happened. The string snapped with a twang and I was free.

“My kite!”

“There, there son. Its alright. Hopefully it will fall down again. Go and gather its string until then.”

I no longer care to listen. I am flying. I am truly free. I can do anything I want. I climb higher and higher, past the first layer of clouds and into the vast kingdom of behemoth white monsters that soar past me. They change subtly and slowly, rolling and churning as I dodge and weave between them. I laugh as I think, this is why they kept me on the string, to stop me from seeing all this!

As I fly further and further out over the aquamarine waves capped in white, the cloud castle grow larger and larger, changing shades now from simply whites to all shades of grey and silver. The clouds begin to rumble and mumble as they speak to each other and to me. I soar on the zephyrs closer to them, to hear what they have to say.

But they are not truly my friends. They beat their rage against me and make me burden down and heavy with rain. As I sag lower and lower, their thunderous roars shake me and their bright bolts of anger break my once proud heart. And as I begin to fall from the sky, my once beautiful white sail smoldering and black, I stretch out and try to catch a breeze, but there is none to carry me. And so I fall into the cold sea, and drift through the cold currents.

My broken arms that held my sail so high, my broken heart with the small piece of string left on it, all go tumbling through the salty sea as darkness once again enfolds my face. Strange things pass past me, in me, and through me, but I can think about is the boy and his father and the sadness as they watched me fly away.

In my despair and anguish, I feel something rough scrape across my back. I open my eyes and see vaguely, the golden yellow sand that his young feet had once run across so briskly, kicking it up into the sky. Then, as the wave crashes me against it and runs me across it, I finally come to a stop. The water pulls back and here I lie. No breeze to take me no current to shake me. I lie and in my broken heart I cry.

And then I hear a cry.

“Poppa! Poppa! Look! Look over there! Its my kite! Its come back!”

I dare not hope. I dare not look. But as soft small hands pick me up, I do, and then I can barely stand my joy. They have found me! They have saved me! I’m going to be alright! I’m going home. As he picks me up, I see something I hadn’t seen before. His small hands have cuts on them. Cuts from where the string had been held when I had pulled away. As if reading my mind, he smiles at me and then his father before speaking.

“Poppa! I’m so glad my kite is back! I can’t wait to go back home and fix him! I have a new cross piece to place at his heart and I’ll paint him bright red. He’ll look as good as new!”

“Good my son. I’m so glad you got your kite back. When we get home we’ll get some ice cream to celebrate!”

And so I sit here, on his lap as I see the world pass by me in a blur, strange things I have never seen before. The car still shudders and shakes as we drive back, but I am content in my savior’s hands who holds me ever so gently as he and his father talk about all the things that await me at this place called home. I cannot help but smile, because once I was lost, but now I am found. Once I was dead, but now I am truly alive.

Tea Cups and Mountain Tops

Afternoon tea in the large house by the lake and the two gentlemen sat down with their papers and books. The first took a sip of his cup and commented upon the weather and the season and the view from his room. The other smiled cordially, sipped too of the tea, and spoke of the house and the gardens and the village by the lake. As they spoke and they ate and they sipped of their cups, said one to the other:

“My good fellow. This morning was terrible. The air was so cold, the clouds rolled in and painted the sky a rather sickly grey.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Then it began to rain and I was awoken rudely by the unceasing twitter of birds outside my window as they sought shelter from it. It took the servants forever to get the firewood for my room’s fire and then it was soaked so that they could not light it until it had dried.”

“I am sorry to hear of your ill morning, friend.”

“And how did yours go, pray tell. Hopefully not entirely as horrible as mine?”

“Oh, no. Quite the contrary. I arose early this morning, while the sky was still black and was privileged to see Orion’s belt came into perfect alignment with Sirius. A most infrequent occurrence.”

“Hmm. But still, to rise so early must truly have been vexing, was it not?”

“Not by any means. For after watching the glorious ballet of the stars, I had one of the servants take me upon the route to the very top of the mountain behind the old house.”

“Well I pity you friend. It must have been a horrid climb in this weather.”

“No, indeed. It was for sure a challenge, but the magnificent view of the other mountain tops was worth the climb to be sure. And not just that, but then the clouds rolled in before sunrise, the same ones that were the cause of your consternation, and formed a pure white blanket beneath us, which caught the light of the morning sunrise in its many pockets and folds.”

“I see. But what of the rains? Surely that was not entirely pleasing to you?”

“As we descended the rains began, but only slightly, and we chanced upon a grove of trees in which we could take shelter. It was some wild and free dryadic orchard, with apples and plums and wild grape vines all about. We ate our fill and then drank from a nearby stream of pure water from the snowy mountain’s veil.”

By now the first gentleman had grown silent while the other had become more and more passionate about his adventure that morning. One tea cup lay forgotten, the other was filled continuously by it’s sullen user.

“But I must apologies for the fire wood my friend, for that was my fault entirely. You see as we were coming down the path, by way of the small dyke that holds back the lake, we came upon a hole. I stopped it up as best as I could while the servant ran and took the first sturdy wood he could lay hands on. Unfortunately it was the firewood next to our abode. We held it in place until the stonemason could come and repair the gap, and that’s why your logs this morning were soaked. I hope it wasn’t too much of a bother.”

“Hmm. No. None whatsoever.”

Just then a servant of the lodge came up and spoke regally, “Excuse me sir, but the owner of the house and the major of the small village below are in the main parlor. They wish to speak to you about your heroic deed this morning. I believe they mentioned something of a statue in your honor.”

“Well friend, I enjoyed the tea. Mayhap I will see you again. Farewell.”

“Farewell.” Said the other gentleman as he rung for his servant.

A small fat man appeared, out of breath and with a slight rosy hue to his nose.

“Ah. Felix. I think tomorrow morning I will take a stroll up the mountain. Awaken me before sunrise.”

“Um. Yes sir. Pardon me sir, but you do know that it’ll still be dark?”

The gentleman simple sat his tea cup down and walked out of the tea room. Outside, the clouds had parted and a rainbow could be seen in the heavens over the white veiled mountain. Birds sang lustily at the beauty of the afternoon sky as the blue of the lake reflected the clear blueness of the alpine sky.

NEW Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Nicholas awoke with a start. The children were all outside lined up waiting for their ration of barley meal and water. The sky was a livid grey with streaks of oily smoke coming from the south. Nicholas felt the fear begin to well up inside of him. He yelled when he saw the large ominous birds fly out from the woods. There were three and their smoky black eyes were watching him. He began to run but no matter how hard he sprinted he didn’t go anywhere.

“They’re coming!” he yelled as his eyes opened.

He was in the dark tent. Several boys moaned and called sleepily in anger at his loud disturbance. From the depths of the dark stuffy tent a pillow came down hard on Nicholas’ face as an agitated voice said,

“Loudmouth! Will you stop kicking me!” The boy next to Nicholas complained.

“S-sorry.” Nicholas said feeling the glare coming from the rest of the tent.

“Just go back to sleep. You were just dreaming.” said the other boy with a yawn.

Nicholas lay in the tent but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the birds were still watching them. In his mind’s eye he could see the three large oily black owls with their smoking eyes and horned heads as they sat in the grass just watching. He shuddered and got up, slipping out of the tent into the morning light.

The fog still covered the entire area like a thick woolen blanket trying to smother all life. The line between heaven and earth was gone and in the endless white there seemed to be shades of silver and grey prowling. The sandy clearing where the large monoliths stood was an island in the sea of long golden grass which stood motionless in the windless morning air. Nicholas listened to the far off call of some bird and the croak of a frog before he started moving.

He walked to the large monolith on its side where the foodline had been the previous night. In a hollow in the stone surface a pool of rain water had collected and reflected his wearied and tired face. His deep brown eyes stared wearily back up at him, while his curly dark brown hair looked like a large tangled bush or shrub. He washed his face with the water from the small pool when he heard someone behind him.

“Hmm. It’s a bit early to be up.” It was the Leader.

Nicholas turned and said, “…I couldn’t sleep…”

“That’s alright. A lot of children couldn’t sleep being away from their parents. Don’t worry in a day or two you’ll be back with them safe and sound.” the Leader said, attempting a rough smile on his dark features.

Nicholas turned obtusely and said, “No, I won’t. I don’t have any parents.”

The Leader’s smile faded and he walked over to where Nicholas stood. Then leaning in he asked, “And what’s your name son?”

“Nicholas. Nicholas of Luca. I am the servant of the village elder.”

“I see. And tell me, Nicholas of Luca, do you want to be his servant for the rest of your life?” a strange light in the Leader’s eyes.

“No. But I don’t have any choice. I don’t have anywhere else to go.” Nicholas said sulking.

“Well, if you’re a good worker and a fast learner, we may have an opening in our… group for you.” He grinned out of the corner of his mouth.

“What does your group do?” Nicholas asked pensively.

“Hahaha!” the man leaned back his thickly braided head and laughed heartily, “The better question is ‘what do we not do’! Right now, we are protecting something that needs to be kept very secret and safe. You could say we’re like special world traveling guardians.”

“Really!?! You guys get to travel all over the world?” Nicholas asked with eyes wide.

“That’s right. We have an opening left if you’d like to join.” He said smiling warmly, “After all, we orphans need to look out for each other.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In a distant land the morning sun was also rising over the choppy icy sea, the green grey waves of salty water crashing against each other as the Seakings made war beneath the depths. Above the raging waves a small craft creaked up the mountains of water and raced into the valleys. On board a dirty, greasy looking fat man was retching over the side cursing his bad luck.

He wanted to pull his deck of black cards out right then and there and freeze the whole ocean so he could just walk across. But that would require walking, not his most loved pastime. Besides, she had instructed him not to use any magic until he was in Teaul.

He snorted to himself as he thought about the woman in the black gossamer cape. She wasn’t so tough. Sure she could do some tricks with her cape and with his mind, but that had been when he wasn’t ready. If he had really been fighting her will, he would not have fallen so easily. She couldn’t tell him when and where he could use his cards, he thought angrily.

With contempt he opened the seal of the black scroll she had slipped in his pocket to give to the Vestal in Teaul. He started coughing again and had to steady himself on the careening ship before he could read the curving elegant handwriting. As he read he spat a few times to get the taste of vomit out of his mouth.

“Unto the Chief Vestal in Residence on Teaul,

My sister, I send to you the vessel for your deceptive plot. The pieces are moving across the board and soon your part will be required. This creature should do nicely in the role you have planned. If he does not fit your requirements or if you have already found a replacement than feel free to sacrifice him to the Void. Hopefully this one will last longer than the others.

Until the next full moon
High Matron in Sylvania”

The fat man’s hands were shaking as he reread the words. He felt a cold sweat begin to cover his body and he could not stop himself from swallowing several times, causing his engorged double chins to wobble and sway. He wished the nauseating sea sickness would return and replace the terrible weight of dread he now felt in his stomach. He slid down against the railing of the ship and covered his head with his hands.

“What am I going to do?” He said despondently as he smelled his reeking breath curling about him. “If I run, she’ll find me and kill me for sure, but if I stay they might sacrifice me to the Void. Either way I’m a dead man. I should never have gotten involved with the Circle.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The early morning light shone through the large columns of black smoke that billowed up towards the sky. A light snow began to fall on the remains of the village of Luca. A small figure, a man bent over double with a rat like face and four yellow teeth in his mouth skittered as he ran between the large craters that had been houses before. He bowed several times as he neared the ominous presence of his master.

“What is it Lurq?” The armored one said without turning, the glowing eyes staring into the large crater surrounded by concentric cracks in the stone ground.

“Mye mystirr, Aye feer de veelijers have fled eento de mounteens. De troops could not peersue dem, oh crusheer of skulls.”

The armored one turned and raised the large glowing mace, the light sending odd ripples across the silver chainmail and large horned helmet. The shriveled man made several whimpered pleas before the large mace swung down. The force was so great that a wave of dust flew in all directions. When the dust had cleared the whimpering man was lying on the ground in a ball crying and shaking.

“Before I crush your bones, what was the report of the scouts?” the triune voice speaking deeply.

“De-de-de reeport… oh, de reeport!! We have dem! Tree of de birds reetruned erleer. Dey are camped at de stones!”

“Good.” it came more as a rumble than a word, “Awaken the best Styx we have and prepare my chariot. Lurq, fail me a second time and you will wish I had given you a quick death today.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

“Alright everyone. Gather round!” Called the Leader as he beckoned all the children together around the fallen stone upon which he stood. “Come on, make sure everyone is close enough to hear. Good, good. Alright, is that everyone?”

A female archer did a quick head count and gave a nod. The Leader did his best to smile patiently as he called for silence from the talking children. There were probably fifty or more children and it took a while. Finally with a loud whistle he got everyone’s attention.

“Alright! Now, I’m glad you’re all a bit more energetic because today were going to do exercises!”

There was a general groan that came up from the kids that had to be silence before he could continue.

“But not that kind of exercise. For the next two days we’ll be out here until its safe to go back to your villages.”

“Why isn’t it safe?” Called a small boy of about five.

“Because the evil armored lord is looking for us!” called an older boy.

“I heard he has wings like a bat and twelve arms and really really really big yellow eyes!” said another boy.

“Well I heard that long ago someone in the villages killed his son and now he wants to come and kill us in revenge!” cried another child.

“I heard he’s actually a wolf from the waist down!” Said a frightened girl.

“Will you stop all this stupid babbling!” yelled a pale faced boy with goggles in his black hair, “Those are all old wives tales! The lord who owns the lands our villages are built on needs servants and wants to take us. That’s why we have to hide. He’s no supernatural monster, just the regular human kind.”

The Leader chuckled and said, “Thank you…”

“Ivan of Janez. I’m the apprentice of Racha the Scholar.”

“Thank you Ivan. Now, as I was saying, today we’ll be practice emergency drills in case of an attack. Have you all been tested for your giftings?” He asked with a look of concern.

“Oh! Yes! My mommy says I’m the best daisy chain maker in the whole village!” called a girl from Matvie.

“I can throw rocks really far!” said a boy from Luca raising his hand.

Before another wave of talking could begin the Leader quickly interrupted while motioning to the female archer, “Alright, well those are all really good gifts but the ones I’m talking about are a little different. You are all probably still too young for your giftings to have manifested but hopefully we can coax them out.”

The children all just stared at him as if he was a lunatic and he gave a nervous laugh before motioning to the Archer to go ahead. She stepped forward and spoke in a deep sonorous voice, “Lets start from the beginning children. You all come from the four villages, between the mountains and the forest, on the grassy plains. That’s where we are right now. Each village has a special gifting that only they can do and everyone in the village can do the gifting more or less. Do you understand so far?”

There were a few confused faces but most of the messy heads of hair nodded yes. She was about to continue when a screech was heard in the distance. Several of the children began to tremble slightly while the rest looked fearfully into the mists. Nicholas who stood next to the Leader spoke hauntingly, “It’s them. The birds from my nightmare!”

Turning quickly he grabbed hold of Nicholas’ shoulders, “What birds!?! What did they look like!?! Speak quickly!!!”

“I-I dunno… birds like I’ve never seen before! Big black owls! With horns! And eyes…. eyes that looked like smoke was coming from them!” Nicholas said fearful at the kind Leaders’ sudden urgency.

“Styx!!! We’ve been found! Quick, forget the fire and the tents! We move now!” The Leader called to the rest of the guardians in their dark cloaks.

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The armored figure paced the ground pensively, reveling in the rush of fear and anxiety coming from the children and the guardians far away. The figure walked into one of the houses that seemed to have belonged to a scholar of some sort, half of it destroyed by the armored one’s mace. He reached his clawed gauntlet into a pile of parchment and pulled out a clean piece. As he began to write he spoke to himself,

“What will you do now that the children have been discovered, oh great leader? Will you risk the mountains? No, those cloaks of yours are strong but they cannot resist the mountain cold. That is my domain. The forest then? Ha, you fear those woods more than you fear me. You know what lurks in the shade of the ancient trees. So, you will try to hide in the sea of grass. That will be of no use if you cannot find your way. Hmm, time to repay an old enemy.”

On the parchment was written many strange block like characters and in the middle a name was printed. The figure walked to the still lit fire and lit the parchment. It burned quickly and the ashes danced upon the wind in the hand of the evil one. Then he blew them whispering an ancient word as they flew away fast.

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The children were running through the sea of long golden grass, the heavy white mist above them like a blanket. They pushed through in a single file line. The Leader and three other guardians were at the front while the rest of the guardians were scattered along the line urging the children on. As they ran breathlessly through the tall grass Nicholas had worked his way through the line near enough to hear the Leader and the other three talking.

“How did they find us, Sato? I thought you said we lost them yesterday!”

“It wasn’t Sato’s fault. We did loose them. They used a child to get near us.” Said the Archer fiercely, “Those monsters will stop at nothing. It was the little girl from Luca that cried so much. They followed her tears here.”

“Well is there another safe area Leland?” The Leader asked the third guardian who seemed to be really leading the line.

“Hmm. There is but it will take us through the pass.” he said cautiously.

“You know I don’t like the pass. Getting there we get too close to the forest.”

“It may be the only safe haven left for the children. If that monster finds them there’s no knowing what will happen to them.” the Archer said worriedly.

“Fine. Take us to the pass Leland.”

Then Nicholas heard Sato speak for the first time, “The mists. They are bad. A whisper. An echo. Something not right.”

The Leader looked concerned from Sato to Leland and then said in a hushed voice, “Leland why did you not sense this too?”

Leland looked blankly at the Leader and then the whole line was stopped as the Leader held up his hand. His eyes bore into Leland’s as he spoke softly, “Leland, does he know your name? Think hard.”

Leland seemed to think for a few seconds then his eyes grew with alarm as he spoke softly, “Oh no, you’re right! He does! Twelve years ago when we snuck into the fortress to steal the scrolls and I had to open the navigator’s door. It required my name!”

The Leader closed his eyes and Nicholas stepped forward asking worriedly, “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

The Leader looked at Nicholas before he took a deep breath and spoke, “Our navigator has been compromised. The thing we are escaping from sent this mists. Here look.”

The Leader pulled a round metallic box from his pocket and flipped it open. The inside had a compass with a golden letter n at the top showing north. But the arrow was not stationary. It pointed to the right, then suddenly swung to the left, then after a few more moments it turned to the right again.

“Not just that, but any natural way of telling direction won’t work. The moss changes sides on stones, the sun and moon are blocked completely, even animals that migrate through here will get lost. That’s why we needed our navigator. But since he knows Leland’s name it means the creature must have blocked his senses and he’s no better than my compass.”

“So now what?” asked Nicholas looking hopefully to the others guardians, “There must be a way! Someway to get out of here!”

“Well, there is one way.” said Leland as his eyes scanned the children, “ How many children do we have from Janez?”

“About twelve,” said the Archer, “eight girls and four boys.”

“Hmm. Bring me the boys.” Leland said hopefully.

“Leland if you want to do what I think you want to do then we’re going to need time. And that’s something we don’t have!” Said the Leader still scanning the skies.

“Well, just need a few minutes. If even one of them has the gifting strong it can work!” Leland said defensively. “In the mean time, why don’t you get the children in the emergency drill patterns. Every second you buy me might get us out of the sea of grass and into the pass.”

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Twenty large black owls were flying low over the golden sea of grass barely visible through the thick heavy fog. Their smoking wings beat the air and their cries echoes like screams on the wind. They flew faster and faster as if their master was right behind them in full fury. The trail of tears had long since dried up but that did not matter. They could feel the fear of the children close by.

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The heaving fat man stepped off the boat and looked about. He began walking down the wharf when he heard the chillingly rustle of silk behind him. The sick cloyingly sweet voice behind him purred and scraped against his soul.

“Don’t even think about running. The last one that ran made such a mess when I had to suck his soul from his body in the middle of the market place. Just turn around slowly and walk with me.”

Stultius did as he was told and followed the figure in the scarlet red hooded cape through the busy market place. Somewhere deep in his mind he knew he had done it. He had made his decision and there was no turning back now. He gulped and tried not to think about the gnawing fear in the pit of his stomach.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

“Here they come!” cried the scouts as the edge of the group.

“Steady now.” said the Archer reassuringly to the children who were standing in a large circle. “Now, all of you, remember what I told you. How special all of you from Matvie are. Its very important that you not let go of each other’s hand. Even if you get scared don’t worry. You’ll be fine and I’ll be here to keep you safe.”

The children were scared but they nodded and gripped each other’s hands tightly. The Archer nodded and then looked at the smaller circle of Lucians inside the circle of the Matvians. Each guardian was close enough to keep an eye on the trembling children. And then within that circle was Leland with the boy from Janez who he had said had the gifting.

It was Ivan of Janez. He was visible shaken and was trying hard not to let it show. He played with the goggles in his hair as he listened to Leland’s instructions. The Archer close by nodded approvingly as she continued circling the Matvian children and watching the trembling ones from Luca.

Then the children from Luca all seemed to stop trembling and looked to the left. The Archer let three shafts fly towards the wall of fog as she kept walking forward. The next moment a large Styx broke threw the wall and was instantly slain by the three arrows. The Archer already had her bow notched again with one eye on the Lucian children who were trembling again.

Then the Lucians all looked up with fright and she spun around loosing more shafts upward. Another guardian did as well but five Styx had all broken through at once and only four of them were slain. The last one descended on the children with large black wings billowing and sharp iron talons ready.

It impacted the circle of children and enveloped them completely with dark smoke. Then the smoke dissolved into the air but the children were still fine. A few were scared and a few seemed to be ready to cry, but most seemed to be fine. The Archer ran up and reassured them all while watching the Lucians and glancing at Ivan and Leland.

“Now, you try. Which way?” Leland was saying.

“Hmmm. That way!”

“Very good. You’re ready. That small nudging you’ve always felt. That is the pull of the South Pole. Now, keep feeling it until it’s the biggest feeling in your body. Now turn so its over your left shoulder. Good.”

Several more Styx came out of the clouds and they were felled by well placed arrows. Another came towards the Matvian children but this time they stood their ground and as the bird was a handbreadth away, it seemed to hit an invisible wall and crumple into smoke and nothingness.

“Oh fearless Leader!” called Leland triumphantly, “We have our heading!”

“Good! Everyone move! Keep Ivan at the front and the Matvians at the back!”

The line headed out again and was on the move. Nicholas found himself at the back near the Matvians. He also saw Sahrina and Bella there. They were both walking briskly, Sahrina looking worriedly and Bella looking scared. Then suddenly Nicholas and several other Lucian children all looked to the left. Ten Styx flew at the children and nine were slain instantly by arrows. But the last one wasn’t and had caught its prize.

“Sahrina! Help me!”

“Bella!”

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In the ruined village the armored one suddenly jerked as if a bolt had stuck him. He staggered and groaned, then leaned back as he gave a roaring laugh and struck the ground several times with his mace.

“Hahaha! Yes! They did it! I’ve done it! The key is mine!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the far off sea town, the crimson caped one stopped. She raised her hand as if she was trying to remember what she wanted to say. Then she turned and lowered her hood. He saw with amazement that she had a beautiful face, red lips, and green eyes, all framed by her rich auburn hair.

“You want to kiss me don’t you?”

He could only nod.

“You know its prohibited. You could be in so much danger.”

He didn’t seem able to understand the meaning of anything else at that moment. She leaned forward and placed her red lips on his. He felt like he was dissolving into the kiss, as if hundreds of tiny feathers were tickling against him. And then as he opened his eyes, she suddenly seemed shorter.

“Hmm. You’ll do fine.”

And with that she leapt up on his back, which was no a dappled grey color. He began walking forward and saw his hooves on the street. But for some reason it was all fine. He was fine because suddenly he didn’t need anything else in the world. All he could think of now was maybe getting a juicy carrot.

“We must make haste. If Oleander has found the key then our time is almost up!”

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Okay

so as you may ahve been able to tell, this story is slightly diffrent from the first. Don't worry, its actually working its way towards merging with the other version. In fact, at the end of chapter three I will be using large sections of my first and second chapters of the older version for the story....

Question though, I am thinking of going back to the original very first story, which had Laburnum as Queen of Alexandria and Alexi as her niece. Then the group has to overthrow Laburnum (who actually dies in that version). So, my question is, which do you prefer... or better yet, which do you think would be the better story?