Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 18: Windflame


Terryn led the way onto the dais to the Gem. Elowen noticed that his back was strait, and his shoulders were tense.
He stopped a pace away from the wards and she heard him take in a deep breath.
She laid a hand on his shoulder, coming up beside him.
   "Just breathe. Remember?"
He looked at her, his bight eyes even brighter than usual because of the anticipation.
   "Lets just get this over and get out of here. I'm tired of the musty air."
Ellie nodded and gathered her energy, knowing he was doing the same.

The other four stood anxiously by, wanting to do something useful but knowing there wasn't much they could do other than sit there and wait.  Which none of them liked.
   "I sure hope they do it quickly." Ysmay whispered to Merek.
   "It would go a lot faster if you weren't whispering back there." Terryn called over his shoulder.
Ysmay jumped like she had been caught with her hand in the gravik candy.
   "Sorry!" She whispered back, causing a ripple of laughter from everyone. She blushed deeply and sunk behind Merek's shoulder a bit, but not before she saw Terryn wink at her.
Sonera just smiled, seeing as she had received that wink a thousand times before, but it was just now she realized what it meant. Kade had winked at her like that whenever she had gotten nerves or scared. Now it dawned on her that he had meant it out of love. Not the kind of friendly love he had always shown her, but a deeper love then she could have never guessed.
This sudden realization made her stifle back a sob.
   "Are you alright Sonera?" Ysmay asked, noticing the change in her demeanor.
Sonera sucked it up and hid her feelings away. Those feelings would do no good to her now. She had no idea where Kade might be, but she knew he was safe with Eleyos, and she couldn't dwell on the feelings that might be just a figment of her imagination.
She shook her head in response to Ysmay's question, and then turned her attention to the two Magi on the dais.

   "Are you ready?" Elowen asked.
The boy nodded eagerly.
   "Alright, then lets begin."
Their voices rose and fell melodically as they chanted the spells to take down the wards.
The spectators watched in wonder as the area around the pedestal seemed to shimmer until the invisible wall around it melted away.
It's hard to make out what exactly they were melting, but what ever it was, it was melting. Ysmay got excited, jumping up and down like a little girl, doing all she could to contain her squealing. Drey looked at her and grinned wildly, equally excited, but not giving it away so obviously. Sonera and Merek smiled as well, not as excited as they're friends, but excited none the less.

Finally, none of the wards were left up, and the two Magi stopped chanting and took several deep breathes. Trying to regain their strength.
   "El are you alright?" Drey asked, coming up behind her.
She nodded as he helped her up and she tried to stand on her own, only she teetered and quickly grasped his arm that hadn't gone far.
  "Okay, so maybe I'm not so alright." She muttered. Drey nodded and wrapped his arm around her waist so she could use him as a support.
Once she knew she wouldn't be going anywhere, she turned to Terryn, who looked slightly winded, but other wise unaffected.
   "How are you holding up Terryn?" She asked.
He shook his head, trying to clear it.
   "I'll be good in a moment. That took more out of me than I thought it would."
She nodded in understanding.
   "Yes. Now, go get Windflame."
He looked at her in surprise.
   "Me?" He pointed to himself. "Why me?"
   "Because you were the first one to know what element it was."
   "I thought it was an obvious thing." He pointed out. She smiled.
   "For you, yes. Because it's calling to you, now go pick it up and lets be done with it." She urged.
Terryn moved cautiously to the pedestal, still expecting the wards to be up. But the closer he got the more he realized that the magic had actually worked, and he arrived at the pedestal unhindered and perfectly fine.
He glanced back at Ellie, who motioned for him to hurry up.  He turned back to the Gem and hesitantly reached up to take it.
The heat that he had felt earlier, was stronger now. His fingertips brushed the Gem, where he expected it to be steaming hot, burning to touch. It was hot, but cooled some once he touched it.
He took the Gem off it's pedestal and held it close.
He made his way back to the others, starring in wonder at the small Gem that made such a big fuss over.
   "Do you think it'll have a tiger in it like yours does?" He asked.
   "Uh...." She racked her brain for information on the Lost Gem's. "No, I don't think so, but it'll have something I know. Some kind of animal. They're the Guardians of the Gems, they're last line of defense. So yes, I think this one will have some kind of animal. But I do not know what."
Terryn nodded but suddenly jumped, almost dropping the stone when that animal appeared.
The rest of the crowed jumped back a pace, Merek almost cried out.
A sudden ball of flame, hovered over the Gem, still clutched in Terryn's grasp. Slowly, that flame, formed a body, then wings, finally a head and tail. Though none of it was any less a flame.
Elowen gasped in delight.
   "It's a phoenix!" She cried.
Terryn looked back between her and the animal.
   "A what?"
   "A phoenix you daft dimbo. Where have you been living? Under a rock?"
Elowen smiled as the others tried to figure out where the voice was coming from.
Their eyes finally fell on the phoenix it's self. His eye looked at Terryn suspiciously. Taking in the boy's innocent gaze.
   "Oh just my luck," The phoenix said, shaking it's head. "I finally get someone to take me away from this cursed place, with the only person to talk to an old ghost, and I get some plot who doesn't know a phoenix from any other bird." He complained.
Elowen nudged Terryn, who looked at her with wide bight eyes.
   "Ask it's name." She suggested.
   "I -" He looked back at the strange bird. "You want me to talk to it?" He asked in shock.
Drey tried to disguise his laughter as a cough.
   "I talk to Lorem all the time." She reminded him.
He turned back to the  phoenix and cleared his throat.
   "Um...what's - what's your name?" He asked hesitantly.
The phoenix eyed him with a beady eye for a moment before replying.
   "Raklos."
   "Well now that that's over and done with, let's get out of here." Merek said.
As they moved towards their camp to gather their things, a low rumble could be heard.
   "What was that?" Sonera asked, her head tilted towards the sound.
Merek stalled for a moment, before hastily packing up his things.
   "Probably some of the rocks coming down or something. This place is old and I'd rather get out of here before it fell on top of us all."
The rumbling got louder, several stones that laid on the ground began to vibrate.
   "I think it's too late for that." Elowen said. She looked up at Drey, the meaning, clear to him.
   "Get your stuff!" He cried. "Hurry!"
They all scrambled to grab their things before he led the way out of the Citadel and into the tunnel and back up the stairs.
Stones were falling everywhere, making it hard for them to get any purchase on the stairs.
They were constantly ducking and holding their hands over their heads to ward off any stones that might hit them.
They were quickly out of the secret tunnel to the Inner Sanctum, they burst into the throne room.
   "Keep moving!" Merek yelled over the thundering sound of crashing boulders, and cascading glass from the high windows.
The gang ran through the throne room, to the open door at the end. As they came out, several heavy stones fell in the doorway, blocking it.
   "Well there's no going back that way I suppose." Terryn remarked.
They all nodded, seeing as that was all they could do as they tried to regain their breaths.
    "Come on then. We had best - " Merek's voice was cut off when he suddenly saw a young boy standing in front of them.
   "What in the blazes?!" He cried, jumping away from the child. "Where on Cevlon did you come from?!"
The boy's gold eyes looked him over as he smiled, his gold hair whipping into his face.
   "You must go strait to Asmodea." The child said. The authority in his tone was quiet obvious, making Merek and Dreyden stall for a moment.
   "Why?" Drey asked, gathering his wits about him once more. "We have to go to other places." He answered.
   "You must go strait to Asmodea." The boy repeated, starring Drey in the eyes.
Drey opened his mouth to speak but words refused to come.
   "Is there a particular reason as to why we must go to Asmodea right now?" Merek asked.
   "You will find what you are looking for in Asmodea. There is not much time left. You have to go strait to Asmodea to avoid the ruin of both worlds."
Elowen jerked her head up at that thought.
   "And by the things we are looking for, you mean....?" She asked letting her sentence hang, but the meaning was obvious.
   "The Lost Gems will be waiting for you, along with your rightful place." His eyes were back on Dreyden, only he and Ellie of them all knew what the boy was talking about.
   "I can't take that place." Drey muttered.
   "You have to. She will get you through it. Now go before you waist more time." He ordered, and then he was gone, just as quickly as he had appeared.
Everyone exchanged looks, Merek was dying to know what the boy was talking about to Dreyden, but he knew by the look in his brother's eye that that wasn't a topic open for discussion.
   "I guess it's off to Asmodea." He said, starting out across the rickety draw bridge and through Arricsent.
The others glanced at each other before taking off after him, not wanting to be left behind in the dead city.

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter 17: A Light Heart


Terryn gave the simple spell another go, quieting his mind and giving his entire concentration on the words he was speaking.
   "Ceo ke'veen." He said in a firm tone, his eyes squinting at the bolder he was trying to levitate. He could feel the magic leaving his core, moving through his finger tips, and move to the rock.
Elowen bit her thumb nail as she waited anxiously to see if he would harness his power this time.
She watched as redish orange magic poured out of his finger tips, and towards the rock. The tendrils caressed the rock, encasing it, and raising it up steadily.
She barely contained her shout of glee, scared she'd break his concentration.
He was much more powerful then she thought. This was the seventh test she had put him through, and he had passed them all with flying colors.
The bolder made it off the ground a good two feet before he let the magic go, and turned to her with an excited smile.
   "You're simply amazing!" She cried. "I could have never done that as fast as you have. It's simply amazing." She gapped in wonder.
   "So does that mean you two can start working on those wards so we can get out of here?" Dreyden asked. Coming over from the camp fire the others had made a little ways off.
Elowen nodded eagerly.
   "Really?!" Terryn asked in shock. "You think I'm ready for that?"
   "Oh definitely! You've already shown extreme knowledge and control over your power that we shouldn't have a problem." She said, hesitating a second when she finished that sentence. "If I've got the strength to do it." She added.
Dreyden thought for a minute. He didn't want to see her go into a coma again, and also knew that she had been performing a lot of spells lately, so her energy level would be lower then normal and they had to get it back up.
   "Tell you what," He said, coming to a decision. "Why don't you two start on this first thing tomorrow, after a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast? I'm sure you will both feel much better in the morning since both of you have been going at this for quite some time now."
Elowen smiled and thanked Eleyos for his clear thinking. It was true, she was very tired and her mind was beginning to get clouded.
   "Alright, lets do that then, I'm exhausted and just want to lie down before I pass out on all of you and become a nuisance." She remarked as they walked over to the small campfire.
   "You're never a nuisance." Dreyden whispered in her ear as they approached the others. She couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks that stood out against her pale complexion, but the smile wouldn't leave her lips either.
She sat down next to Sonera and Ysmay, as Terryn and Drey moved to the other side.
Ysmay handed Ellie a cup and she smiled.
   "Nothing like a good cup of coffee to give one some strength." She said with a smile. Ellie smiled back gratefully and sipped the warm drink, thankful for it as it warmed her body against the damp chill.
Ysmay gave a cup to Terryn as well, who smiled at her.
   "Did you see? I actually moved the bolder! That thing must weight several tons!"
Merek hid a chuckle as he saw the boys excitment.
   "Yes we all saw it Terryn. You're much more useful then we thought." He remarked.
Terryn beamed at him for a moment, then realized the stab in the back in that statement.
   "Oi!" He shouted.
The company laughed and couldn't stop even after Terryn had joined in with them.
When they finally died down, Elowen finished off her coffee slipped off her white robe and rolled it up to use it as a pillow. Then she lied down on the hard stone, covered in a bed of moss. Peace flowed over her like a river, allowing her mind to go still and fall into a deep sleep where she prayed dreams would leave her be.

{+++}

Tears streamed down her cheeks, her long blond hair hung loose around her shoulders, swept in her face by the wind and the storm. 
They had feared this would be their fate. 
Her eyes took in the flaming torches and the spears and swords held firmly in the grasp of the city she grew up in. They're resentment towards her and her family was like a knife in her heart. 
   "Feyeon!" 
She turned to see her beloved standing in the door way of the keep. He walked up to her and looked out at the walls. 
   "We must get the boys out of the city. It is not safe for any of us here." He said, taking her hand and guiding her into the keep. 
Two boys followed behind them, packs on their backs, their faces solemn and sad. 
Elowen realized the youngest, who couldn't be older then four years old, looked strangely familiar.
   "Mother, why must we go?" He asked, jogging a step and taking her hand.
Feyeon looked down at him with a forced smile.
   "We're going, because we need a vacation." 
The little boy cocked his head at her, his blue eyes piercing hers with curiosity. She could tell he wanted to ask questions, but he knew it was not the time to ask them.

{+++}

Elowen awoke, gasping for air, and jolting upright.
Her body shivered of the usual cold sweats that always accompanied the dreams. She pushed her fair hair away from her forehead and glanced around.
The fire was still burning bight, but the others were fast asleep.
After a moment, she rose from the ground and walked away from the camp, yearning for fresh air to clear her head.
   She found it in one of the cracks in the wall. Dawn was just approaching, the soft rays warmed her face and soothed her racing mind. She knew now her dreams were of the past. Feyoen, and her husband had indeed fled from Asmodea when her father died. He had been the only thing between his daughter and the rising rage of the city for what was viewed as betrayal to her people.
It was written in books that when the mob broke into the keep, they found no trace of the family, or where they had gone. This is when the line of the kings was broken because no one ever came back to claim it.

   "Ellie?"
The voice broke her out of her thoughts of the past, making her jump slightly. She turned her head and found herself looking into a piercing blue gaze full of curiosity.
The air got sucked out of her as some of the pieces fell in place. But she had let it show on her face, which he noticed.
   "What's wrong?" He asked.  
She hastily shook her head.
   "Nothing I just..." She sighed. She hated lying, she always avoided it as much as she could, and she didn't want to start now. He looked at her, knowing she didn't want to say what was on her mind, but having a feeling it was about him the way she was dodging his gaze.
   "I have something to tell you." He said, deciding to break the ice first. He watched has her breathing hitched and she slowly looked his way. Ultimately, she was a mess. There was dark circles under her forest green eyes, she was pale and her skin glistened with sweat telling him she hadn't slept well.
   "There are something's you don't know about me. And I know that if we're going to be friends I've got to be a bit more trusting." He started, feeling a bit dumb but did his best to ignore the feeling and keep going.
   "I -"
   "You're a Falionite." She answered for him.
He looked up at her in shock. He never told anyone that, he had lived most his life on Cevlon, so most believed he had lived there all his life. And he saw no reason to contradict them.
   "How did you...?" He asked.
She drew in a sharp breath and gazed up at the rising sun.
   "Ever since I...I died," She struggled to get that word out, still not fully believing she had died. "I've been having these dreams. I didn't know what they meant, but now they're far enough along I know what Eleyos is showing me."
Dreyden still hadn't the slightest clue what she was talking about.
   "It started out with the last princess Falion ever had. Feyoen..."
She spent the next half hour explaining the dreams she's had since she woke up from death. As she did, she watched Dreyden carefully, not sure how he'd react when she had learned his past. His eyes showed shock, but his face was marble. Hard and cold, showing no emotion at all.
When she was finished, he didn't say anything for a long time.
He looked at the still sleeping forms to make sure none of them had awaken before he went to speak.
   "It's true. You already know that."
She let out her breath as if she had been waiting for him to claim she was mistaken.
   "All my life I've kept that a secret. It weighed me down to the point I thought I might die from it's weight. So first off, I want to thank you." He said, meaning every word he said. Elowen smiled reassuringly and gratefully at him, knowing he meant it.
He waited a moment, expecting her to speak.
   "This is usually where the volley of questions come in, or the broken jaws, or the yelling, or something!" He said anxiously.
Elowen's smile grew bigger as she shook her head.
   "I know you better then most people who would do that. Just because you have a fancy title doesn't mean you, yourself has changed."
Drey was shocked by her level head, and how she handled the news. But something told him she had guessed it a while ago.
   "But I do have one question," She said slowly.
He nodded, knowing that was bound to happen.
   "How did you get to Cevlon? I know your family was desperate to get you to safety, knowing they had to preserve the line somehow. And I know your father was in a field when the Nigvourians attacked, but...what happened after that?"
He drew in a deep breath and propped himself up on the bolder Terryn had moved the day before.
   "Because my father was a Cevlonian, he still had his yerto. He had kept him hidden in a grove, in middle of the forest for emergencies like that night. Originally he had hoped to save us all, so he had several other yertos there so my brother and mother could come as well. But..."
The memory was a painful one as it flashed back into his mind.

He tore through the underbrush, ignoring the cuts he got from the branches and thrones. Falling several times along the way, but those weren't the cause of the tears.
When he broke through the forest and into the grove he saw three brightly colored yertos. His father stood saddling them up, tightening the straps, making adjustments. But when he heard the rustling of the leaves, he pulled out his long sword and stood ready. When Dreyden appeared out of the bushes, he quickly lowered his sword and rushed over to his son.
   "Drey! You're alright." He said, hugging him tightly. 
Drey had tried to keep the tears from falling, had tried to be the bigger man but he was only eight. 
   "Where's your mother and brother?" His father asked. 
That's when he lost it. 
His father's eyes grew misty when he realized the cause of his tears. He hugged his only living son closer and took a minute to get himself composed. 
   "Come, we must get you away from here." He said quickly. Leading him to one of the yertos. He gave him a lift up and quickly instructed him how to keep control over the massive bird. 
There was a yell, and the crunching of breaking branches could be heard coming closer. His father pulled out his sword and turned to the oncoming Nigvourian. 
   "You must go Dreyden!" He shouted of the battle cry. 
Drey was screaming at his father, but he turned and gave him a look that silenced him. 
   "One of us must make it out of here alive. You must take up your place on the throne Dreyden. It must be you! You're the one who has equal claim to both. you have to join the worlds together. Now go!" 
His father had made a hand signal to the bird Drey was on, and the bird ruffled out it's wings and took flight. Taking a devastated boy with him, and leaving behind a doomed father.

A warm hand was intertwined with his. His eyes snapped up as he saw Elowen's face close to his. Tears were in his own eyes, clouding his vision, but he couldn't mistake the sadness in her eyes as she squeezed his hand hard.
She knew.
She knew what that grief was like. She had been ripped away from her own family more times then she cared to remember.
He wasn't alone.
Drey rose from the rock and pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her, resting his head on her shoulder.
Elowen was slightly shocked by the sudden embrace, but quickly hugged him back. She knew what a simple hug could do, even if it came from a stranger that understood.
She could feel his tears against her skin, her arms squeezed tighter as she tried to keep her own from spilling.
She had seen it. She had seen the whole scene. Before, she had never understood how much this boy had lost. But now she realized that he had lost more than any child should at such a young age. He had not only lost his home, but his family that loved him dearly, and because of that love, were willing to sacrifice their lives to make sure his was spared.
   "You're not alone Drey." She whispered, giving up the fight of keeping her tears back. His grip on her back tightened to the point she struggled a little to breath, but she didn't try to weasel out of it.
   "Thanks Ellie. It means a lot. Especially coming from you." He answered.
   "Ahem."
Ellie jumped in shock, pulling away from Dreyden and turning to see who was standing behind her.
It was just about everyone.
Merek had that look on his face that said 'I know everything, don't try to deny it', where as Ysmay and Sonera were giving genuine smiles like they were happy for her.
   "Well you two have been busy." Merek observed.
   "And if you mean by busy that we're simply getting to know each other then yes, Merek, we've been busy. But this is really not the time for that, so Terryn, you get a good nights sleep yes?" Elowen barely let him nod his head before she went on.
   "Good, then lets get to work. And Merek, keep your gop shut." She said in a playful but deadly tone.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16: A Dark
Heart



Kade awoke with a ringing in his head that could be the death of him.
It was too bright out, even behind his tightly closed eyelids. He wanted it to go away. He wanted it all to go away.
Why couldn't things be just the way they were before? All this magic, and all these strange things on Falion gave him nothing but an unwanted headache.
Maybe that's why they decided to ignore each other. He thought glumly. Too much of a pain to think other wise.

Moments slipped by and he realized he was cold. Freezing.
He finally opened his eyes and was blinded with the bright sunrays. When his eyes had finally adjusted he rose into a sitting position. All the leather he wore was stiff, making it hard to move. He moved his hand out to help himself up, but jumped back when they came in contact with something wet and cold.
   "What in Eleyos' name....?" His voice was gravely and horce. A groan left his lips as he forced his muscles to work with him. When he rose he looked around, and saw nothing but white to the north, but as he turned around, nothing but black dirt covered the south.
The winter chill nipped at him, a shiver ran down his spine as he pulled his cloak closer.
   "Where in the blazes am I?" He mumbled, rubbing his hands together, trying to keep them warm. Snow fell from the sky like ash, landing in his hair, and on his eyelashes.
He knew he had to keep moving or risk freezing, but there was the decision on which way to go. The north looked like a barren waist land full of snow and harsh winds, that didn't look inviting, but then it was either that or another barren waist land that was black instead of white. Neither option looked good.
   "Kade..."
He jumped and turned in a full circle. Seeing nothing but the snow, he suspected the voice had been his imagination.
   "Marvelous, I'm loosing my mind as well. It's all because of that bloody ghost, and that bloody Magi." He grumbled.
   "Kade..."
He rationalized that he wouldn't imagine the same voice twice. It was a child's voice. But it seemed to float across the wind, making it difficult to pinpoint the origin.
   "Who's there?!" He called out.
Only silence answered his call. Kade scowled at himself, now he was talking to the wind. Of course it wasn't as silly as talking to a ghost.
   "Kade..."
This time he was able to pin point it's location among the wind. It was coming from the south. Having no better idea, or place to go, he headed south.

The snow fell thickly around him, soon covering his eyelashes, and what ever black hair that poked out from under his cowl.
He shivered as the chill froze him, starting from the fingers and toes, and going up.
   "Kade..."
He growled at the voice.
   "It's definitely a child. Only children are this annoying. Well them and this gang of idiots I've been stuck with." He grumbled to himself.
As he moved towards the black ground, the chill grew stronger, eventually his whole body was going into spasms that made the going harder.

   When his feet finally met the black soil, he couldn't make it out, why would there be snow everywhere, but here?
   "What is this?" He whispered, bending down and grabbing a handful of the dirt. It was as light as snowflakes, and as it slipped through his fingers, he saw that it was more like snowflakes then he thought, it didn't look like any kind of dirt he had seen.
   "Kade."
His head jerked up as he realized the sound was closer than before. He spotted a figure a little ways off. It was small, but he couldn't tell if it was an illusion. He walked towards the figure, not knowing what else to do. But he unsheathed his broad sword as he did.
Better safe than sorry, he thought.
The closer he came to the figure, the more he realized with a shock, it really was as small as it had appeared to be.
Before long, he was standing face to face with a child, that came no higher than the middle of his chest. His pure gold hair was long, brushing his shoulders as it moved in the wind. His eyes matched his hair, Kade realized in disbelief. Sonera was the only one with a shocking complexion, but this boy was even more shocking. Another thing that bothered Kade, was that the boy wore only a light tunic and pants. No shoes were on his small feet, and he didn't seem to even feel the cold at all.
   "Kade, you've been forgetting me." The boy said.
Kade figured a normal child would make this statement with resentment, and hurt. But neither of these were in this strange boy's tone. Instead it was sadness, but not for himself, Kade realized, but for him.
   "You have forgotten my promises, and my commands." The boy stated again.
Kade shook his head and placed his sword back in his sheath, realizing the boy held no immediate danger for him.
   "Who are you? And what in Eleyos' name are you going on about?!" He asked, annoyed with the way the boy was looking at him. That even though he was just a sprout, he looked at him as if he held all the secrets of the world.
The boy's eyes lit up and he nodded eagerly, as if Kade had said something right.
Kade was confused by this and didn't know what to make of this.
   "What?" He asked as the boy gestured for him to go on.
   "You said my name. I had thought you had forgotten me!"
Kade looked at the boy like he was insane for a moment before it dawned on him. And then it was disbelief.
   "Unbelievable.' He muttered. "Are you series? You can't be..."
The boy just looked at him and smiled.
   "For someone who claims to be my friend, you are not very loyal."
Kade shook his head and ran a hand through his hair before laughing nervously.
   "This is insane. I must have hit my head, or that bloody ghost's magic messed up with my head. Because this conversation isn't happening. You are not real, I am dreaming that's all. And I'll wake up back on Cevlon and still have a job, still have the one I love and -"
There was a sudden stinging sensation on his jaw. He hadn't seen the boy move, but he stood now in front of him, a hard look in his eye as he lowered his hand.
   "You have never known how to love me Kade. You are an Infidel. You are a fraud. you do not believe what you preach. You never learned how to love, and that is why, Kade, you find yourself alone, with no friends to turn too."
The violet eyed boy stood speechless, as the sudden slap in the face awoken him to how he had lived his life.
He was suddenly overwhelmed by grief. He saw moments in his life when he had let other things take first place in his life instead of Eleyos which he had always claimed to follow. He realized that he thought his status and occupation was far more important than his faith. He remembered how Sonera lived her life. She always put Eleyos first before her status. He remembered the fire in her blue eyes when she objected to him killing Elowen. That was putting Eleyos before her occupation, she had been doing that all her life. But he had never learned from it.
   "You are sorry." The boy realized, his expression softening back into sadness. "I know you thought you were doing the right thing. But you should learn from your friend. She has been on the right path, while you veered from it."
Tears streamed down his face as he felt the remorse, and grief hit him like a crashing wave.
   "I'm sorry." He cried. "I do not deserve to follow you. I have done nothing but defy you, over and over again. You should have struck me down."
Eleyos shook his head, his gold hair ruffled against the wind.
   "No. I give people second chances. I do not with hold that from them. I love them too much. It hurts me when I know they don't want me, so I give them chances to turn back to me. But Kade, I want to know if you'll follow me with your heart and your mind. I want to know that you will not let earthly things stand in your way of following me to where I ask you too go."
Kade nodded eagerly, and fell to his knees. He felt so overwhelmed with emotions, that he knew that Eleyos was showing him his own grief when one of his followers turns his back on him. And he couldn't bear it.
   "I will do as you say, I swear it."
Eleyos saw the sincerity in his eyes and nodded.
   "It's nice to have a friend back." He said with a wonderful smile, that showed the joy that flooded over him and into Kade's heart.
   "But this is not the only reason why I have brought you here Kade. There is something I must show you."
Eleyos led the way across the black dirt to what seemed to be some sort of rift. Kade marveled as flowers, and green grass appeared in his footsteps as if spring had come again, leaving behind small luminescent flowers, but then his eyes were drawn to the black dirt once again.
   "What kind of dirt is this? I have never seen it before." Kade ventured to ask.
   "It's not dirt." Eleyos said, turning his head so he could look at him. "It's ash."
Kade jolted in shock as he glanced down at where his feet stood warily.
The two continued walking for some good time. Eventually Kade's muscles warmed up enough to work properly, he even began to get feelings back in his fingertips and nose.
The rift came closer steadily. And Kade realized it was wider and deeper than he could see.
   "What is this?" He asked as they came to the edge of it. He cautiously stepped on the edge and peered into the darkness. His jaw fell as he realized why the area around the pit had no snow on it.
Down in the darkness, a glow could be seen of lava that moved around gently, lapping at the edges of the pit of rock, occasionally an air pocket would burst through the surface, making a splash.
   "This is Viglour's prison." Eleyos said calmly.
Kade's eyes grew wide. As if invoked by his name, or Eleyos' presence, a man appeared in the lava. His torso was bare, his arms stretched out at his sides, chained to the walls by massive chains that could hold a boat down and crush it. His long black hair covered most of his face, but no one could mistake the great evil in his eyes that shone bloodshot red. But what scared, or surprised Kade the most was the set of black feathered wings on the man's back.
Yes, everyone knew the story that Viglour was the greatest angel, but had fallen when he tried to over throw Eleyos, but Kade had never imagined that he had yerto wings on his back!
   "Eleyos," The man said. Though he did not raise his voice into a shout, he could still be heard as plain as if he were standing right beside them.
   "How wondrous of you to grace me with your presence." The man faked a bow with his head before giving them an evil grin.
   "Viglour has been working on getting free." Eleyos explained, turning to Kade.
   "Slowly, he has been chipping away at the magic that restrains him. I can not keep him back on my own."
   "Is this why you need Elowen and the rest of them to get the Lost Gems?" Kade asked.
Eleyos nodded.
   "Yes but that is not the whole of the plan. I have someone very special in mind for a very special task. But it will take time for her to be ready."
Kade nodded slowly, understanding the boy's plan and caution. But he wondered why they were speaking of this plan in front of the enemy.
Eleyos turned and looked down at Viglour.
   "Viglour, I brought Kade to you to show that he is no longer yours to control. Your grip on his heart has slipped, he no longer belongs to you. He will keep your plan from working, he's the one who will delay it."
   "Ah, delay it! That does not mean I wont get out eventually!" Viglour snarled.
Eleyos shook his head in a sad manner.
   "Unfortunately, Viglour, you never took my word to mean much. You have always tossed it aside, always questioned my authority. But now I tell you, you will not win. Just because you will be delayed, doesn't mean you wont be destroyed if you keep this path."
Viglour seemed to roll his eyes at the boy and shook his head.
   "It's always the same speech with you Eleyos. You are so predictable. I'm shocked you haven't given up yet."
Eleyos still had that sad look in his eyes.
   "I never give up on anyone."
Viglour scoffed and looked like a parent that knew he would not get through to his child.
   "Kade, I have a special task for you." Eleyos said, guiding Kade away from the pit.
In low tones, he explained what he wanted for him to do. Kade nodded in acknowledgement, but one thing bugged him.
   "I was teleported here by magic. How am I to get to Asmodea?" He asked.
Eleyos smiled, rose his fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle.
Kade looked hesitantly at him.
Who was he going to call in the middle of a barren waist land? He wondered.
A dark streak made it's way across the dull sky. He looked eagerly, his hand going to the hilt of his sword on instinct.
As the streak got closer he realized with a light heart, that he recognized those feathered wings!
   "Thorodan!" He cried excitedly at the sight of his old friend.
The yerto landed a few feet away. Squawking when he rushed up and hugged his neck.
   "Go, and make hast. Show them this," Eleyos handed him an orb which he produced out of thin air. "they will believe you then."
Kade nodded, saddened to leave Eleyos, but knowing the weight of what he had asked him to do.
   "Safe travels Kade. And do not give hope, things aren't always what they seem to be."
Kade thanked him by touching his fingers from his forehead to his heart. Eleyos did the same and moved away as Kade nudged Thorodan into flight, making an oath to himself that he would never veer from the narrow path Eleyos had placed him on once again.
Never again would he fail him.

Chapter Fifteen

Merek nodded, and turned to the ghost, who hadn't moved from his position near the entrance.
   "King Taleus." He called.
The king was drawn out of his thoughts as he heard his name being called.
   "Hmm? Yes?"
   "Do you think we could have that clue now?" Merek asked.
The king floated over to them and studied them all one by one.
   "Ah, I see you have come to a stand still. Yes indeed young Elowen, you are not strong enough to open the wards. So here are my words to you: One alone is never enough, but two, can do what ever it is they set their minds too."
For a moment, all they could do was just stare at the ghost. Not believing that was all he had to say. But when the old ghost said nothing more, they got the gist.
   "Are you serious?" Sonera grumbled under her breath. "Oh Eleyos help us."
  "Okay so what does that mean? Any ideas lass?"
Elowen was drawn out of her thoughts when Merek waved his hand in front of her face.
   "I said, do you have any ideas what that means." He repeated.
   "Oh, well I have an idea..." She turned and studied Terryn for a moment. Drey had said he never showed the marks of a Magi, and he hadn't shown any signs of being able to see magic earlier either, but that also had to do with the fact that there was no magic on Cevlon. Which would account for why it was showing now. So the real question was, did he really just have the sight, but not the gift? Or did he have both?

   "Why are you starring at me? Do I have something on my face?" Terryn asked, getting nervous of her starring at him.
   "Would you do me a favor?" She asked, her mind made up. She'd test him herself.
   "Sure..." He answered hesitantly.
   "Hold this for me." She shoved her staff in to his hand before he could say a word.
   "What...? O-okay."
She stood back and watched, with her arms across her chest.
   "El? What are you doing?" She only acknowledged to Drey's question was telling him to shush.
   "Is there a reason as to why I am holding this staff?" Terryn asked. "I mean it's not that it's not a nice staff but..." His words were cut off when the staff began to glow.
   "What are you doing Ellie?" Terryn asked in rising horror. "Is this some spell of yours? A practical joke? Because it's not funny!"
   "I'm not doin' it." She protested, but with a slight smile on her face as her theory was proven correct.
   "But you have to be doin' it! There's no one else that could be!" Ysmay cried.
   "No one that would be doing it consciously anyways." Ellie corrected.
Ysmay was quick of wit, and had lots of smarts. Maybe even more then the boys. She caught on quick and looked at Terryn in shock.
   "Is that why he can see magic?" She asked.
Ellie nodded.
   "Okay will someone please explain what in the blazes is going on here?!" Merek shouted, getting their attention.
   "Yes please do!" Terryn squeaked.
   "You said," Ellie pointed to Drey. "that he had never shown signs of being a Magi. But what you should have said was, since you've known him!"
Drey's eyes grew huge as he understood the meaning in her words.
   "Wait, so you're saying that he...he's a..." For some reason he couldn't bring himself to say the word. But it was because of the same reason that he couldn't picture his friend and practically younger brother as that word.
   "I think I'd remember something like that Ellie." Terryn pointed out.
   "You were probably very little when it happened."
   "But why would it have happened at all? I mean I've lived on Cevlon." Terryn pointed out. Ellie cocked an eyebrow and studied him.
   "Did ya now?" She said slowly, in a tone that said 'lie to me and you'll be sorry.'
Terryn sighed and handed Elowen her staff back.
   "I have, for the past eight years." He answered quietly.
   "...Where were you before the past eight years?" Ysmay asked, her usual quiet and even tone becoming a pitch higher.
Terryn looked at her with deep sad eyes, giving her her answer. She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.
   "You...you're a Falionite?" She whispered.
He nodded with his head hanging loosely on his shoulders.
   "Why didn't you tell us?" Merek asked, his tone quieter then usual.
   "Because! You would have treated me differently. And it happened a long time ago anyways! I tried my best to forget my past. And I did...most of the time."
   "So..."
   "No we don't have time to ask him to retell his whole entire history." Elowen cut in before any other questions could be asked.
   "The two that king Taleus was referring to, was you and I."
   "But I've never had the training! And it's never even bothered me 'til now. So how am I suppose to help?"
   "We'll just have to hope that you are a very fast learner."
Once Ellie had a goal set in her mind, she worked hard to make it happen.
   "Alright it's really easy actually, with the...uh...proper motivation. Okay come here. Let me see if I can do this right." She motioned to him with her hand a little impatiently but still encouraging.
He was hesitant but came over just the same.
Ellie took his hands her own, his were startling cold compared to hers, but she didn't have time to dwell on that.
   "There was this spell that was used in times of war and great need. It takes years to learn how to channel a Magi's power and strength to where it will actually do something. But when war came the king needed Magi quickly. They were his...well his weapons." Terryn's pulse raced. "but also his healers." She added quickly. "But that's not the point really. As I said, it takes years, and years to train to be anything useful to a king. So the masters came up with a spell that allowed them to bleed information into younger Magi. Letting them become strong Magi in half the time."
Terryn looked at her with wide trusting eyes.
   "And you think you could do this to me?"
Elowen bit her lip and glanced down at her feet.
   "Well..."
   "No. In reality, she cannot."
Everyone looked up to find the ghost standing between Elowen and Terryn.
The ghost regarded her for a moment then looked at Terryn.
   "She has neither the strength, or the experience. If she attempts this spell it will kill her, and damage you."
She groaned, furious at her own weakness.
   "Then what do you suggest I do?" She cried at the old ghost. "How else are we to get this Gem? We need it, and the wards are too strong for me to undo by myself. And Terryn needs to learn anyways, you should know what happens when a Calling is ignored."
The rest of the gang couldn't help but feel they were missing half the conversation, and only got half the meaning in Ellie's words. Terryn glanced from the ghost to Ellie, then to Dreyden and Merek. Wanting some kind of explanation of what was going on.
The ghost nodded slowly.
   "Yes, I know all about a Calling being defied." His tone was one of grief and sadness. Elowen went quiet immediately and hung her head in disgrace. Of course he knew, how could she have been so naive?
   "I know you are trying to do two impossible jobs young maiden." The ghost's tone went from sad, to encouraging and understanding. Ellie looked up at him with hope flickering in her bright green eyes.
   "You are trying to keep your friends safe, while trying to accomplish a dangerous quest. Sadly, you cannot do both."
Tears stung her eyes. This was something she didn't want to hear, but something she knew in her heart to be true.
She was just a girl.
A girl with hardly any training, and an impossible goal to achieve. How she was going to do it, she didn't know. She wasn't even sure she could!
   "So let me help you by taking some of the burden off your shoulders." The ghost finished.
Ellie watched in shock as the ghost moved over to the boy standing several paces away. He rose his hand, 'til it hovered over Terryn's forehead.
   "Let your mind go blank child." He gently ordered. Terryn's fear was plain for all to see on his face, but his eyes locked with Ysmay's. He saw the fierceness in her eyes that was so rare to see if anyone saw it at all. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew it was meant for him. Her face gave him courage, and he did as the ghost asked. He closed his eyes and let everything go blank.
The old ghost began to chant a spell, and only then did Elowen really see how complicated the spell was, and how much energy it would take from her.
   "How...how can he do that?" Dreyden whispered to her from behind her.
She shrugged her shoulders in wonder.
   "I have no clue actually, it shouldn't be possible, but....ghosts aren't even suppose to exist either so...Eleyos can do what ever he wants?" She suggested, not taking her eyes off Terryn and king Taleus.
For a long moment, everyone stood still and as silent as a grave.
Ysmay was gripping Elowen's hand for comfort, or just to hide the anxiety she was feeling.
It seemed the whole world held it's breath as they watched the boy and the ghost.
Finally after what seemed like years, the ghost moved away from Terryn.
   "You will be in a bit of pain for a while," The ghost said. His voice softer then it ever was before. "but you can now access your magic willingly." He turned to Dreyden and looked him in the eye.
   "My job here is done, may Eleyos see that it was done to the best of my abilities. But listen," His gaze pierced Drey's not allowing him to move.
   "The day may come when you'll have to face the things you have forgotten, and the things you wish to no longer remember. And when that time comes, you will have to take on the responsibilities it entails. But remember...you are never alone."
The king held his head high, a noble and respected air flowing off him. He clutched his sword tightly as the outline of his transparent form began to dim.
Elowen moved towards him, but stopped when he smiled at her.
   "You are his strength." said his last words, before he faded completely.
Leaving them alone once again.

Ysmay looked around cautiously but didn't see the ghost reappear anywhere.
She let go of Ellie's hand and ran over to Terryn who was standing there dazed.
   "Are you alright? How much pain are you in? Do you...feel any different?"
She couldn't help but feel like a mother, since she had acted like one for so long with these boys.
She checked his forehead but didn't find it feverish. When she touched him he came out of his daze and looked around for a moment before seeing her in front of him. He gently pulled her hand down, causing her to blush a little.
   "I'm fine Ysmay. You always worry so much. My head just hurts a little, but I'll be just fine."
   "Are you sure?" She pestered. "I know I sound a little annoying, but it seems that I'm the only one who actually watches out for you and all your stupid cuts you get from playing with those stupid little knives and -"
Her rambling was cut off when Terryn's lips crashed onto hers gently.
Ysmay's eyes grew as wide as a ywen, and she lost her breath.
For years she dreamed of actually being able to kiss Terryn, but those were just dreams! There's a difference when one's dreams turn into realities.
But shocking herself, she didn't pull back, and when she didn't Terryn smiled against her lips. Relieved he hadn't made a huge mistake.

Elowen couldn't help the gasp from escaping her as she watched what happened. Sonera just  smiled, as if she had expected this any moment.
The boys on the other hand, obviously never had the thought cross their minds.
   "Terryn and....and Ysmay?" Merek muttered. "That's just...." He was silenced when the two girls gave him a look.
   "That's....just lovely. Yes indeed, it's just fantastic." Merek quickly covered.
Ellie grinned at Sonera, who let a faint smile cross her face.
   "You should have seen it coming from a mile away," Sonera commented. "Oh! but of course! You're lads."
   "What's that suppose to mean?" Dreyden asked.
The girls chuckled as they saw how clueless they were.

Neither Ysmay nor Terryn wanted to stop, but when Elowen tapped her shoulder, Ysmay pulled away and let her hair fall into her face, trying in vain to hide her crimson cheeks.
   "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but could you do that latter?" Ellie asked, in her innocent way. "Like, say when we get this Gem and get out of here? Besides I really don't think that's going to help with his concentration."
Ysmay closed her eyes in slight embarrassment and nodded, moving away from Terryn.
   "Yes of course. My apologies." She muttered quietly.
Elowen gave her a smile, but shook her head.
   "No need to apologize. It's not something you should be sorry for, but Terryn we really need to get to work."
Terryn nodded.
   "Alright let's get over with it then, I don't like it down here."
Elowen nodded and turned to everyone else.
   "Why don't you guys go and break camp." She suggested. "I don't want to be here long, but I have to make sure Terryn's got everything under control."
Merek looked at her like she had just suggested they go dance a jig and stand on their heads for an hour!
   "Break camp?! Why would we break camp?" He asked in pure shock.
   "I have to test Terryn to make sure he has everything under control! Just because he has the knowledge, doesn't mean he knows how to use it." She pointed out, but it was easy to tell they weren't convinced.
   "Unless of course you're keen to let the wards do their job if we tamper with them wrong and then everyone will be fried to a crisp."
Once she pointed out the danger, the boys understood her reasoning.
Sonera led them to a dry area a little ways away from the pedestal, and they all collapsed on the floor, secretly glad for the rest.

   "Alright Terryn," Elowen said, turning to the dirty haired boy next to her. But she noticed he wasn't listening. She followed his gaze and couldn't hide the smile.
   "Ahem." She cleared her throat and tapped on his shoulder.
   "Huh?" He turned to her with a look of questioning. She chuckled and shook her head.
   "You sure do like her don't you? I'm just surprised it took you this long."
Terryn's face turned from questioning, to annoyed, then to embarrassment.
   "What do you mean?"
   "Well it's obvious that she's liked you for a while."
   "It is?!" He asked in alarm.
Ellie nodded and then nodded to Ysmay as she glanced over at the two of them.
   "Yeah..."
   "How?" Terryn forced his voice to go lower as he glanced back at the dark haired girl.
   "Well...I could see it in her eyes when you were...uh...wounded."
   "So I've just been blind?"
Ellie shook her head hastily.
   "No! No, no, no! That's not what I meant...." She sighed. "I'm sorry, this isn't going well. That's the thing about me is I always blow my chance by talking too much and then it's all ruined."
Terryn surprised her by laughing.
   "I think you could talk all you want, and Dreyden wouldn't mind one bit." He kindly said, only causing her to blush.
   "Right, well I think we should leave each other's love lives alone for right now and move on to more important things. Like making sure you actually know how to work your magic, and then getting out of this accursed place."  

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter 14: The Inner
Sanctum




Failon - The Arricsent Ruins:

Inside the Citadel, all that greeted them was stiff air, and a deathly silence.
They had to break down the front door, the wood had rotten away a long time ago, so the lads had used their boots to smash it down, and then the lasses insisted they go first.

Now they held torches of branches they had found lying around near the doors, above their heads as they stepped across the stone threshold.
   "So you say you have no clue where this Inner Sanctum is?" Dreyden asked Ellie as he stepped farther into the shadows, drawing his sword in his right hand so he could defend himself if something jumped him.
   "No. Sorry." Ellie answered, pulling her staff from it's sheath and following him closely. "I was just an apprentice, I wasn't old enough to be trusted with those secrets."
   "Don't worry about it El. We'll figure it out." Drey spoke up gently, giving her a reassuring half smile.
She returned it but not so reassuringly.
   "Can you see if you can find it?"
   "Well I'm not exactly sure but -"
   "Oh!" He turned and saw that she had been bending down next to her white tiger.
   "I - I wasn't talking to you." She said bluntly, but in such away that it sounded like an apology. He sighed and turned back to the Citadel.
   "Yep." He muttered. Getting a grin from Merek.
The tiger came up to him, gave him something that looked like a smirk and then trudged on into the room.
   "Stupid tiger." He whispered under his breath. Kicking a rock towards the beast. It missed by a few inches, which he regretted, yet knew it would probably hurt Elowen more then it would the beast if he had hit it.
   Dreyden and the rest of the boys held their swords, or daggers at the ready.
Elowen hung back and watched they're backs. Though she was sure she would never do much good seeing as she had never held a knife in her life, let alone actually fought someone.
Lorem was leading the line, careful to step over the stones that had fallen down from the roof and walls.
The room looked like it might have been the great hall at one point, but now light peaked through gapping holes in the roof. It gave little light to their path, but with the torches the boys held, lit things up enough to find the rocks they need to step over.

    "Ah!" Heads turned immediately towards the sound, Ysmay blushed deeply as everyone starred at her.
   "Sorry." She apologized in a whisper. "I tripped and my ankle got twisted. I didn't mean to scream."
She glanced down and realized her hand was squeezing Terryn's arm hard. Upon realizing that, she let go and backed off a step.
   "Sorry." She whispered again, taking another step back, bumping into Ellie as she did.
   "Careful Ysmay. Or you might just step on something important." She joked with a smile as she caught Ysmay by the arm.
Ysmay chuckled nervously and tugged a stray stranded of her dark hair behind her ear.
   "Are you sure you're alright?" Dreyden asked.
Ysmay nodded hastily.
   "Yep. All's good." She said again.
The boys nodded and moved on. Elowen squeezed her arm and led her forward.
   "Are you sure?" She asked again, pulling Ysmay back away from the boys.
   "Or...is someone got your knickers in a twist?" Sonera whispered on her other side.
Ysmay blushed deep red and let her hair fall into her eyes.
   "Ooh." Sonera said it a little too loudly and Terryn glanced back at them.
  "Shh! Please don't say anything! Don't even joke about!" She whispered so urgently that Elowen almost believed it was a matter of life or death.
   "I'm sorry." Sonera looked extremely sad she had said anything. "I don't want to embarrass you. Or...what ever. I'm sorry."
Ysmay smiled and shrugged.
   "It's alright. Like I said, just don't say anything."
   "So...is it...?" Elowen gestured to the boy walking ahead of them, his dirty blond swaying slightly as he walked with reassuring steps.
Elowen got her answer by the even deeper blush on Ysmay's pale cheeks.
She nodded slowly and grinned.
   "Good for you." Sonera gave her a squeeze, but then they all three jumped when an ear piercing howl broke the silence.

The three girls ran over to where the boys were standing near the far left wall.
   "Did you find something?" Ysmay called.
Running up to the boys, the girls saw that they were staring right at a brick wall.
   "Oh...yes...maybe that slab of stone will move if we stare at it long enough." Kade mumbled as he sauntered up to the group.
   "Oh shut your gop already." Terryn snapped. "And your sulking while your at it."
The girls snickered quietly as they tried to hide it behind their hands.
Kade made a mean face at him, which earned him a nasty look from Merek.
He sighed, crossing his arms and stepping away.
   Merek stepped up to the wall and looked down at the tiger that was as still as the stone around it. He glanced up at Elowen with a questioning look.
   "Is this beast of yours reliable?"
   "Has he let you down yet?" She shot back, feeling defensive for Lorem.
Merek nodded then walked up to the wall. He ran his gloved hands across the stones, pressing down every so often.
But it seemed that he couldn't find anything. He finally threw his hands up in defeat and groaned.
   "There's nothing here. No seam, no scrapes on the ground. Nothing! I hate to say it Elowen, but I think your beast has let us down this time."
Her face hardened, but not at him, at the wall. She could just see it, a faint glimmer around it. She smiled.
Squeezing past the boys, she ran her own hands across the walls. Feeling for anything that would be out of the ordinary.
Finally she found it.
   "Aha! Yes here we go." She muttered.
   "What is it?" Terryn asked. "Magic?"
She smiled at him and pulled out her staff.
   "Yes Terryn. Very good. Now were you guessing?" She had only asked it half heartedly, not really thinking he'd answer.
   "No. I saw shiny stuff."
That made her falter.
   "W-what?" She turned to him in a whirl of red hair. Her face holding pure shock.
   "Well, there's light around here." he made a large rectangle with his finger, outlining the door Elowen only knew was there, because of the lingering hint of magic.
   "It kind of forms a door. Cant you see it?"
She nodded numbly, still shocked by the fact that he could see the magic.
   "Yes. Yes I can see it. But you..." She turned to Dreyden. "He's never shown signs of being a Magi has he?"
Dreyden shook his head slowly.
   "If you mean by 'showing signs' that he blew up into a fire ball. No. Not that I'm aware of."
She nodded again.
   "No of course not." She muttered. "That would be silly."
   "What's wrong with me?" Terryn asked. Not fully understanding what they were talking about. "Can't everyone see the light?"
Elowen shrugged. Her mind suddenly wondering if any of the others were aware of magic.
    "I don't know. Ask them yourself."
He turned to Dreyden, who shook his head with a sad look. Then Merek, who did the same. Ysmay looked long and hard at where he had pointed out the light should be. But she couldn't see anything either.
   "I don't see any light Terryn." She answered quietly.
His face fell, and he turned back desperately to Elowen.
   "Don't be so scared Terryn. It's not the end of the world. But it is unusual." She said reassuringly.
   "Why? Why is it unusual?" He asked, panic setting in.
   "You are not a Magi, and yet you are aware of the magic around you. Not many people in history were this gifted...Hmm..."
   "What does this mean? For me?"
   "Oh! It doesn't mean much. Only that you'll be able to detect when magic has been in used, that's all."
   "That's it? I'll just see, light or what ever?"
   "M-hmm." Elowen agreed. "That's right. Nothing about you will change. You wont wield magic, or anything. Don't worry about it."
   "Can we just get on with it? Obviously there's nothing here, so we need to keep looking." Kade snapped. Turning around and stalking off. Sonera sighed and gave an apologizing smile to the rest of the gang.
   "Yes, sorry. I was opening the door." Elowen moved her attention back to the wall.
   "Vik'oura...." Her voice faltered as she suddenly realized that the last time she used this particular spell was with her dear Master. Her throat choked up, as tears threatened to spill.
   "El?" Drey's voice broke through her melancholy state. She swallowed her tears and shook her head.
   "Are you alright lass?" Merek asked.
   "Yes, sorry. I'm fine." She renewed her concentration on the wall.
   "Vik'oura loctinya." The spell took it's toll on her energy source, but she found that, despite the fact that she was light headed, at least she was still on her feet. It was a sign that she was getting better.
   "Praise be to Eleyos." She whispered.
   "So it really was magic." Kade muttered. He observed that the rectangle that the youngster had pointed out earlier was now gone, in it's place was a gapping hole and only a sliver of the first step to a stair case could be seen.
A cool draft flowed past her, playing with her hair and dress. She moved aside and gestured to Dreyden, only because he was the closest.
   "You first."
He grinned and moved past her.
   "I thought it was ladies first."
   "And men just before when it comes to dark places. Everyone knows that." She answered immediately with out even thinking about her response.
   "Well aren't you two cozy." Merek declared. "But shall we leave the flirting for else where and get on with this quest of yours dearie?"
Dreyden grunted something close to a 'yes' and turned back to the darkness.
   "Stick close behind me. Terryn, bring up the rear."
   "Don't you think someone more experienced should bring up the rear?" Kade spoke up.
Merek sighed and turned to him.
   "And how is one to learn, pray tell, if we don't give him a chance to do so?"
Kade mumbled his agreement and the party ventured down into the dark abyss.

The torches' light showed chipped stone, and water that trickled down the steps, causing everyone to occasionally grasp either the person in front of them or the wall near by to catch their footing. Elowen lost her footing once halfway down the stairs and crashed into the Dreyden's back.
   "Sorry. I can't see a blasted thing, and the water doesn't do any good." She apologized. Pulling away from the lad.
  "It's alright. Here, I'll help you down the rest."
Ellie smiled but shook her head.
  "No that's alright. I'll be fine. Just don't freak out if I fall against you again." She muttered under her breath, not loud enough for any of the others to hear her.
Drey caste her a last glance before moving forward, not sure if she was actually fine, or lying. She was, however, lying. She didn't want him to put away his sword just to hold her hand for comfort, she could do with out. She wasn't some porcelain doll that could break by a single hit. She'd have to toughen up on this quest, she was no longer in her safe monastery, she no longer had the protection of her Master. She'd have to make it on her own.

Dreyden wasn't sure what to think when she said no. Then again he had to remind himself that not every girl always wanted to be treated like a lady every single minute of everyday. Some wanted to be strong on their own. Others needed to be.
But he kept his tongue quiet and continued on down the wide staircase.
They passed many old torches, and with each one they passed, Drey lit it, letting the ones behind him have light to see the steps below them.
   Finally, he stepped off the last stair and his foot came to land on soft moss.
   "Oh thank Eleyos we're at the bottom!" Sonera stated with a sigh as her feet met the moss.
   "M-hmm. But it's still pitch black. I can't see a thing!" He said.
   "Well, well. You're awfully good at pointing out the obvious. Thanks for that." No one was surprised to hear Kade's gloomy voice ring out from the dark somewhere behind them.
   "Alright, roll call." Merek shouted. Snatching the torch from Dreyden.
   "Ysmay?" He called.
   "Here." Her ever calm and quiet voice came from behind him, causing him to turn on his heel and nod as he saw her pale face framed by her long dark hair.
   "Terryn?"
  "Over here." There was a flash of silver as Terryn raised his hand, the light glinting off the two blades he held in his one hand.
   "Alright good. Um,...Elowen?"
   "Right in front of you Merek." She answered.
   "Oh! Yes of course. There you are dearie. Alright. The silver haired lass is here. What was your name again?"
   "Sonera." She answered from Kade's side. "And Kade's here too, though he wont answer your call."
   "Well it seems everyone's here then."
   "You didn't call my name." Drey pointed out, more for the sake of arguing then anything else.
   "Yes but I took the torch from you! I know your here so why call you out if I know you're standing right next to me?"
   "He has a point Drey," Ysmay cut in, ending the argument. "But shall we move on? this place gives me the creeps and I'd rather be out sooner then later, if you don't mind."
Merek sighed and turned around, taking the lead. But after a few more steps he cried out in pain.
   "What is it? Did something jump you? Bite you? Did you sprain your ankle?" Ysmay asked, taking up the motherly position and rushing up to him.
   "How about the bloody wall smashed in my nose?" He said, his voice muffled by his hand covering his bleeding nose.
   "Oh, did I mention that there was probably another door down here?" Elowen muttered. Dreyden chuckled, but quickly stifled it when he caught the death glare.
Ysmay suddenly stopped tending to Merek's bloody nose, and took the torch out of his hand.
   "Oi! What are you doing -"
   "Shh!" She snapped.
   "Ysmay? What is it?" Sonera asked, coming up next to the small girl.
   "Look at these writings." Ysmay's torch illuminated the stone wall, but at a closer look, the two girls noticed that there was a dial in the middle of it. There was a needle that moved in middle of the dial, but around it was markings of some sort. Sonera didn't recognize them, but apparently Ysmay did.
   "They're letters."
   "From what alphabet? I've never seen them before." Merek asked, his voice still muffled.
   "It's an ancient language, used when the worlds were one." Ysmay explained.
   "Oh I heard about that!" Elowen jumped in, scooting past Drey to see the markings properly.
   "Okay so it's some ancient writing, but what is the dial suppose to do?" Kade asked. Cutting strait to the chase.
   "I'm not sure exactly." She admitted.
   "Look there! At the top of the door." Sonera pointed out.
Ysmay's gaze turned to the inscription at the top of the arch way.
After several minutes had passed of silence, Terryn couldn't take it anymore.
   "What does it say?" He asked.
   "Well it's a riddle of sorts."
   "What's new?" Kade muttered.
   "The inscription says: "To pass through this golden gate, a price must be paid. Lay your weapon to your flesh, a score of blood from your chest.'"
Everyone was silent.
   "Th-that's it?" Terryn asked. "We - we have to cut ourselves and, then what?"
   "Wait there is more." Ysmay continued. "'Tell the dial what you gave, and then the price shall be paid.'"
   "So...what do we do with the dial then?" Drey asked. Completely lost.
   "We just have to type in the word 'blood'. Right?" Sonera asked.
   "Well if that's all! Get over with it!" Kade urged.
Ysmay looked at the dial and started turning it.
   "Something's not right about this." Terryn muttered under his breath. Elowen couldn't agree more. Something was off and she wasn't sure what.

Terryn had been studying the wall very carefully. Looking for a sign of any kind of magic. However, he was looking specifically for light. He didn't see the mirage effect until Ysmay was about to put in the last letter.
   "No wait!" He jumped at her and pulled her hand away from the dial. But it had already been set in motion. The needle pointed to what Terryn assumed must have been the 'd' in the word. However, his hand was still touching the stone.
There was a high pitched squeak that sent everyone's hands to their ears. Then it was followed by a low boom that shook the entire room.
   "Ah!!" Ysmay's scream was one of fright and terror. Everyone turned to look and gasps rippled through them all.
Terryn was leaning against the stone door, his face paler then usual, and his clothes were crimson. Ysmay was kneeling by his side, tears sliding down her cheeks as she set two fingers against his neck.
   "What happened?!" Merek cried.
   "Oh no..." Elowen whispered. Tears spilling down her cheeks as she choked back sobs. "I should have known! The door needed the sacrifice before the word could be put in." She ran her hand over the dark smear that ran down the door to where Terryn laid slumped up against it.
   "And now it has it."
There was a low rumble and they all took a step back, except for Ysmay, who instinctively pulled Terryn away from the door and close to her chest.
The door way opened, and light spilled into the dark hallway. They were all momentarily blinded by the light, but when their eyes got use to it, they marveled at the room before them.
One wall had large gapping holes in it where the moat leaked into the room, causing water falls to tumble down the rocks. When they reached the floor, they caused small creaks to form amongst the moss, grass, and vines that grew wild. covering as much rock as they possibly could.
The room was long, and wide. A grand stair case was at the end of the hall, they led to an alter that sat below crumbling archways and broken stain glass windows.
   "Does he have a plus at all?" Elowen asked, turning to Ysmay that was still clutching Terryn close.
   "Barely. I don't know what happened. I - I don't know what got to him."
   "Magic." She answered. "This magic was used by a dark user. Or one who wanted to preserve something very precious." She knelt down next to Terryn and unfastened his belt around his waist, and the one across this chest. Once they were off, she moved to his shirt.
   "I'll check the damage and see what I can do. - "
   "But your life energy! Are you strong enough to heal someone after that spell you just did at the top of the stairs?" Ysmay asked.
Elowen smiled.
   "A healing spell is the simplest there is. If I can't do that then I might as well give up my staff and robe."
She was careful to pull the shirt away gently, but couldn't help the moan that left her lips when she saw the wound.
   "Can you heal him?"
She looked up at Ysmay's earnest face.
   "That depends on how much you're willing to give." She answered.
Ysmay grasped her hand tightly, almost cutting off the circulation.
   "Anything to save his life." Her voice was deeper then usual. Her always kind eyes were now fierce and determined.
Elowen nodded. Ysmay already knew what she needed. So she wasted no time getting on with the spell.
Using Ysmay and her own energy, Elowen was able to heal the deep gash that had severed Terryn's lungs, she was also successful in patching up the lung it's self and healing the muscle around it.
But the cost was great, and the two girls lost energy very quickly.
   "Ellie?"
She managed to open her eyes and saw a set of deep blue eyes that seemed to hold the entire world's sadness in them. The rest of his face came into focus slowly, his growing hair hung down to his chin and his face was smudged with dirt.
   "Did it work?" Her eyes grew wide as she sat up. Dreyden let her, though he still stayed next to her, scared she'd faint again.
Elowen looked to Ysmay who was smiling down at Terryn. She was satisfied to see his chest rising and falling steadily. The blood was still there but when she checked, there was nothing but a scar left where the cut had been.
She let out a sigh of relief and took Dreyden's hand when he offered it.
   "Praise be to Eleyos." She breathed.
   "I believe that's the second time you've sacrificed your life to help others." Merek said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "I don't know how to thank you Elowen. We are all in your debt for saving our little brother."
Ellie smiled.
   "I'm just glad he's alright."
   "Alright indeed...For now."
Everyone froze. No one breathed, no one moved and no one dared to look.
   "You have passed the first test thieves. I will hear your reasons as to why you have broken into my home. But then you shall die."
Sonera gathered to courage to turn her gaze into the door way. The breath left her, and the blood drained from her face.
Hovering a few inches off the ground, with a broad sword lying lazily over his shoulder, his robes and long hair flowing in a non-existent wind, stood a ghost of a king long since dead.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter 13: 'High Noon,
And all's well.'
 - Not so much


Falion - The edge of Illumination Forest:

   "Are we there yet?"
Everyone groaned. Sonera kept a hand on Kade's arm to keep him from ringing the boy's neck out.
   "For the thousandth time Terryn. No! Now shut your gopper up or I'll cut out yer tongue!" Merek had been pushed beyond his limits with Terryn’s whining several miles ago, and now he really was contemplating whether or not to cut the lad’s tongue out.
   When Terryn saw the seriousness of his threat, he fell silent. Much to everyone’s relief.
   “Ah! Finally! I’ll be glad when you lot are gone for good. Not a moment’s peace I tell ya! It doesn’t do for a Pixie’s spirit!” And then there was Telly and Calistar. They wouldn’t shut up either. In fact, they talked about as much as Terryn did! Only they didn’t whine, they just went on and on and on about everything under the sun!
For the most part, the gang succeeded in tuning them out, but even then it was like a mosquito buzzing around their ears.

While the Pixie's went on talking about only Eleyos knows what, Dreyden did his best to keep his mind off Elowen and Swift. He occupied himself by concentrating on the Forest around him. His mind still hadn't fully accepted the glowing plant life of the Forest. In his own world, plants didn't glow, they didn't sing, they didn't send off rivers of colors. They just stood there normal and all, like good decent trees!
But in this glowing forest, he found that the soft colors was comforting in a strange way. Like what a greeting from a long lost family might be. Though he's never been greeted by a long lost family, so he wouldn't really know, but he was pretty sure that's what it would have felt like.

   "Is it just me..." Kade spoke up.
Yeah, he's definitely getting more comfortable around us. Terryn remarked to himself.
   "...or are the trees starting to thin out?"
Once he pointed it out, everyone else took a moment to look to see if he was correct, all except Ysmay. Who had been noticing that as the tree line gradually thinned out.
   "Yes it would appear so." She said in her whispering way.
Kade nodded and fell quiet once more.

Before long, the gang and their blue and red escort stopped at the Forest's edge. The new comers, just gapping at the scene before them. The Pixie's just crossed their arms eager to be released from their duty.
   Laying ahead of them was a sight both strange and familiar in a form they had only seen in pictures in old story books.
The trees gave way to green grass, the green grass grew into vines that had grown along what seemed to be the remains of a high wall.
   "What's that then?" Terryn asked.
Ysmay looked at him for a minute before slapping his blond hair.
    "Oi! What was that for?!" He hollered.
    "For being your usual daft dimbo self." Those words said in her quiet and calm voice sounded all to strange, yet held a certain air about them that told him he had really gotten under her skin.
Terryn patted down his blond hair, and tried to pick out words that would make an apology rise to her standards.
    "I...am terribly sorry....and beg your forgiveness for....being my daft dimbo self ma'am." He had given his voice a certain accent that he thought, made him sound more regal. But in actual reality, only made him sound more of the daft dimbo Ysmay claimed him to be.
This, in turn, caused everyone to stifle fits of laughter. Which only wounded Terryn's pride.
Ysmay laid a hand on his bare arm and smiled.
   "Apology accepted. But a word of advice? Don't ever stop being your daft dimbo self. Alright?"
Merek nudged Drey with a look that said 'ha-I-knew-it!'. Drey just slugged him in the arm and turned back to the crumbling wall.
   "Well lets go then, I say we should find out what's on the other side of this wall." He declared. Then Merek nudged him again.
   "What?! Can't you use your own pie hole?" Drey snapped.
Merek just looked up at the sky. The dark haired boy froze when he heard the ever so familiar screech of his yerto.
The rush of wind whistled past his ears, and the Pixies became anxious once again.
   "Oh not that blasted demon again!" One of them complained. If Dreyden had been able to pin point who it was, he would have pulled out his wings for saying such a cruel thing about his yerto.
The bright red bird landed, and a small form slipped gracefully off. Ignoring the gang for a moment, Elowen walked to Swift's head and whispered something to him before kissing his beak and sending him away with a wave of her hand.
Drey was slightly impressed, and slightly hurt. No one was suppose to send another person's yerto away. It might have something to do with the fact that the yerto wouldn't have listened. He only really listened to his master. So when Swift took off when Elowen gestured to the sky, it hit him like a cold knife in the heart.
And Elowen seemed to know that. She turned around and pulled her hood off her head.
   "I didn't mean to hurt you or something, but the Pixies were making him nervous and I can only assume much trouble would have unfolded had he stayed." She explained in that sweet voice that seemed to melt him no matter how mad or hurt he was towards her.
Drey gave a curt nod, but then looked on to the wall once again.
   "There is, one thing before you go." It was Calastiar speaking.
Ysmay was reminded of his presences and set to work with her silver tongue once again.
   "Yes?" She asked the little Pixie, who flew up to her nose and grinned. With out really realizing it, her hand which had been a very gentle touch on Terryn's arm, clamped down so quickly that he almost called out. But once he saw that she had done that to keep herself from not appearing scared, he let her, and moved slightly closer to her.
   "We were wondering if you might accept this as a last token of our hospitality." Calastiar made a motion with his miniscule hand, and several other Pixie's took it as their cue. They flittered forward, a pair holding what seemed to be a sack of some sort. Ysmay's keen eye immediately saw that there was seven sacks in all. One for each of them. The other's in the gang couldn't figure out the words to say, as they held out their hands to receive their package.
    "Cake?" Terryn asked in slight astonishment. Being the first one to open it, he saw a perfectly round cake with a red center and a yellow outside.
   "Yes. We felt slightly guilty for giving you such a hard time," Calastiar went on, making an apologetic gesture. "So we've made it up to you. I hope you enjoy them, and may Eleyos bless you on your journey."
Ysmay was still too flabbergasted to say anything, starring at the little cake in the palm of her hand, so Elowen stepped up.
   "Thank you Calastiar. I'm sure they're delicious. And thank you again for your hospitality and guidance. We are much obliged."
Calastiar dipped his head with his left fist over his heart.
   "Of course. Enjoy." The way he said the last word before he and the other Pixies melted back into the forest, left Elowen with a knot in her stomach. She stuffed the cake in her pocket and they stood in silence long enough for them to really see if the Pixies were truly gone.
   "Well I can't say I'm sad to see them go lads." Merek spoke up finally.
Kade nodded his agreement and glanced down at Sonera, they began whispering very fast and very quietly though no one was sure about what.
Dreyden nodded in agreement with Merek.
   "I'll second that." He said. But then he gestured back to the wall with his thumb.
   "Come on, lets get going. This place gives me the creeps."
Merek nodded and led the walk across the grass field to the looming wall.
   "The other side isn't any less creepy then the Forest." Elowen spoke up, falling in step with Dreyden.
   "Did you see what was on the other side from on Swift?" He asked. She nodded grimly and tugged her white hood back up onto her head.
   "It's amazing, yet....sad at the same time."
Drey was about to ask her why, but they came up to the wall before he got the chance.
   "So...Does anyone of you brilliant lads or lasses have any clue how to get over it then?" Terryn asked. Breaking the slightly awkward silence.
They gazed up at wall that must have stretched as high as a quarter of a mile. Going on as far as they could tell on either side as well.
   "We could climb up." Kade suggest. Stepping up to the wall and tugging on some of the vines to see if they could hold someone's weight.
   "But they thin out at the top." Sonera pointed out immediately. Being Kade's past partner, she was use to the habit of picking on him, but also picking up his slack when he came up short on plans.
   "Well, yes. But there's thicker vines twisted in with the thinning out ones." Dreyden had now jumped into the conversation and was viewing the wall with a critical eye.
   "Indeed..." Now joined Merek. "It does seam that there is a lot more thick vines over that-a way. Someone could go first, and try to find a path up."
All of this was lost to Elowen.
   "Can't you just fly...? Over?" She asked.
All of the ones from Cevlon fell silent, as if to remember a friend that had passed on.
   "We cant." Ysmay muttered.
   "Why not? Did, did something happen to your yertos?" Elowen whispered equally quiet.
   "Yes. - "
The shock on Ellie's face must have been obvious to Ysmay.
   "No, nothing bad. They're just on Cevlon. Back where they're nests are."
   "So you can't call them?"
Ysmay smiled sadly.
   "No. They are too far away. They can't hear us."
Ellie's confusion only deepened at that state.
   "Then how....did - did - Swift? He -"
   "He stuck by me when we landed for a long time." Drey jumped in. He moved to pass her, but was stopped short when he saw the look in her eye.
   "And don't start thinking it was something you did, alright? It wasn't your fault -"
   "Actually it was!" Kade cut in. Ignoring Sonera's death glares.
   "You're the one who got us on this bloody planet. If it weren't for you! We'd still have a life!"
Kade walked forward. Ellie instinctively took a step back, angling her body behind Dreyden.
   "I use to actually be someone you know?" He went on. "I didn't have to stoop so low as to become apart of some gang of mercenaries who have no morals at all! And then to end up here?! On some planet we don't even know. And so far, you don't even know it either! You're knowledge is in books! Books is nothing compared to actually being there yourself. And now we've lost our yertos thanks to you! Can you do nothing right? Or are you just some useless plot who has to cower behind someone else to defend you?!"
With each word Kade spoke, the more the guilt thickened, and the farther she stepped away.
She knew, she had pulled them all away from a world they knew into her own, but into a world they didn't know anything about. And she wasn't a sufficient guide. She didn't know as much, she realized, then she thought she did. And now she was paying the price for it, and they had to pay it with her.
    "I....I didn't mean to...I just - I have to be here. I have to get these, these gems. I have to before all of Falion dies." She stammered. Not quiet sure how to respond to his harsh words.
   "So why should we care if this Eleyos forsaken world dies off? All the better for us!"
   "No you don't understand!"
Her anger, and strong desire to some how break through to Kade over took her, causing her to loose her usual, kind, quiet, and patient self, and be replaced by a hard, fierce, warrior-like girl. Which was all too strange she couldn't even begin to put it into words.
   "I didn't force you to be here! You came here by your own free will. I did not force any of you here. I simply asked, that's all I did. And to be...quiet honest..." She turned to the mercenary gang. "...I'm not quiet sure how you came here."
Merek grinned at her and pointed to Dreyden.
   "We just followed this mad boy who was dying to please the only girl who's ever given him a second glance."
That jolted the warrior Elowen to disappear and for the usual, innocent girl to come back. Causing her to blush something fierce. But she wasn't the only one, Dreyden was too, but quickly hid it by pouncing on Merek with a round of fists.
Ysmay sighed and rolled her eyes before going in and breaking them apart.
Drey whipped the dirt off his sleeve and cast a glance at Ellie from under his dark eyelashes.
   "I won't say anything if you wont." He whispered only loud enough for her to hear. Ellie nodded, still in shock of everything.
   "Not a word." She replied quietly. Living most of her life in the monastery, she had no experience when it came to boys.

Through the boys skirmish Kade had been taking a verbal and slightly physical beating from Sonera.
   "Can't you see the poor girl's been through enough! And she's right you know you ridiculous plot!" She smacked the back of his head to make her point. "You came here because you were following me. So get over being mad and up set at her and give her a chance! She only wants to open your eyes from your dream into the real wondrous world that Eleyos has made for everyone!"
Kade's violet gaze pierced her own blue one and made a shiver run down her spine.
   "Oh so it's just me?! Just me who has scales on my eyes?"
   "No of course not you plot! We've all been tricked by our own council. That's a stab in the back if there ever was one! But we can't let that diminish our faith in Eleyos. He obviously wanted us here for a reason. The least you could do for all of us was accept that and move on with your life! It's not her fault!"
Kade just gritted his teeth and moved away. Ripping his gaze away from hers and turning back to the wall, crossing his arms and trying to figure out what action to take next.

Elowen had been trying very hard not to let Kade's harsh words get to her. She was also scared that Dreyden would try to take another hit at him.
   "Dreyden don't." She whispered. Stepping in front of him and placing a hand on his arm.
Drey glanced at her and sighed.
   "Why is it, that everyone is able to predict my next move before even me?! I mean honestly!" he turned around and sighed, running his hand through his tangled hair.
Elowen chuckled with Ysmay, her thumb rubbing across Stargazer that had now become her habit when she was under stress.
It hit her like cool water. She gasped and looked down.
   "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" She laughed at her own stupidity. "Why didn't I think of it before?!" Her sudden cry, caught everyone's attention, and they were all now watching her curiously.
   "Come out Lorem." She called, holding Stargazer in her hand for a moment. The large white tiger shimmered into being right next to her, with what could have been a smile on his face.
Ellie dropped the amethyst stone against her chest and ran her fingers through Lorem's soft and warm fur.
   "'Ello boy. How you holding up?" She whispered to him. Kneeling down and squeezing him tight.
A deep purr came from the back of his throat as he bent his head against her back.
   "Hey, I need you to do something for me." She said, leaning in, she whispered something into the tiger's ear. He growled and pawed at the ground, when she moved away he glanced at the others briefly then tore off at a full sprint away from them. He was so fast that he just became a blur to their slow eyes.
   "Where - what is he doing?" Terryn asked, gapping after the streak of silver and black.
Elowen rose to her feet and pushed her white hood back.
   "He's searching for the way." She answered, a small smile growing on her face.

Before long, Lorem came back and tugged at Elowen.
   "Come on." She called, running after the tiger, who somehow managed to go slow enough that they could keep up.
When they had reached their destination, they all collected their breaths.
   "Oh my." Sonera whispered.
   "By Eleyos, they're huge!" Terryn gapped.
Elowen smiled at him.
   "Just imagine what the city's like." She said.
Looming over them, casting a great shadow, was an arch way as tall as they could see.
One might expect it to find large wood doors filling the arch way, but there wasn't. Instead, intricate designs of rusted over metal wove their way down from the tip top of the arch, all the way to the ground where they came together and formed the base of the gate.
   "Come, Drey, Merek, Kade? Help me open it?" She asked, stepping forward and running her fingers over the cool bars, trying to find the latch.
   "Hey why didn't you call me?" Terryn asked, though not with his usual whining voice.
Elowen looked at him over her shoulder and shrugged innocently.
   "Oh, sorry. I just thought you were using all of your energy keeping your mouth dangling from it's hinges."
Immediately, he shut his mouth and was actually the first one to come up and help her find the latch.
Most of the gate had been overrun by askven vines along time ago, so they had to pull at the vines, sometimes cut them with daggers or swords to get them away from the gate.
   "Aha." Elowen said in triumph. She squeezed her hand through the bars and tugged on the lock from the inside. There was a click and the bolt was pulled back with a great groan.
She moved away as four strong shoulders braced themselves against the gate and shoved.
Elowen glanced at the girls, exchanging excited smiles.
After a moment of protesting, the gate gave in and with what sounded somewhat like a sigh, it moved inward. The boys stumbled through the gate and the girls quickly followed. Not that they had to run for too far.

The boys had stopped right after they had come out of the archway that ran through the thickness of the surrounding wall.
   "By Eleyos! It's - It's the most -" When Sonera's words failed her, Ysmay's made up for it.
   "Breath taking city I've ever laid eyes on."
All the others could do was nod their agreement.
   "'And behold, I say,'" Elowen quoted from one of her history books.
   "'Arricsent city was as beautiful as the stars were shinning bright.'"

What was once a cobblestone road, was now covered almost completely in moss and benna roots. As the band walked down it, their footsteps was only sound to be heard other then the wind, they looked up at the crumbling buildings on either side of the road.
   "This must have been the main street." Drey remarked. He pointed to falling down signs, some of the buildings only held metal frames now, the sign long gone.
   "See? These must have been stores once." Green leaves covered all stone, leaving it with a feeling that it had always been part of the Forest.
   "And there," Ysmay pointed down a fork in the road that led down a few stairs and into another slightly slimmer alley.
   "That must have lead to the living quarters of the city." She finished.
They moved through the city like this. Noting where small alley's broke off from the main road, and what must have been down there.
   "Do you hear that?" Terryn spoke up, gesturing for everyone to stop moving.
When they did they heard a faint noise.
   "What is that?" Sonera asked.
   "Water." Terryn answered. "There's a river in this city."
Merek nodded as he rubbed his week old stubble.
   "That would make sense. It would have given the city fresh water supply daily and it probably feeds into the moat surrounding the castle."
   "How do you know there's a moat around the castle?" Kade questioned.
Merek just shrugged and continued walking.
   "That's what I would do if I designed the castle." He answered honestly.

It was true, there was a running river that cut through the middle of the south side of the city, along with the north side as well, forming a fork from when it came through the west side of the city wall. Sprouting out from the middle of the fork on one side, was the moat, which surrounded the keep.

When the band reached the keep, they all stopped and starred. The keep had had, once upon a time, many tall spires that sprouted up from it's low walls, looming so high they seemed to touch the sky. Only now they were half as tall, weathered by all the elements. One had collapsed completely. Yet somehow they managed to look just as regal now, as when they were in their golden years. More askven vines had woven their way through the cracks in the walls, and they clung to anything and everything.
The four spires were set at the points of a compass. North, east, south, and west. The draw bridge was at the base of one such spire.
   "Why is the draw bridge down?" Terryn wondered aloud. "Shouldn't it be up?"
Elowen shook her head and walked to the edge of the stone road. She glanced down at the rushing river. Even after a thousand years, it hadn't lost it's quick current. She gulped and tapped the wood ahead of her with the toe of her boot. Scared to put her full weight on the rotten wood.
Lorem came up next to her and nudged her hand.
   "Hold on to me, and one another." He said, his voice suddenly much deeper then she remembered. Elowen nodded and grabbed a hold of the fur around his neck. She looked back and reached out her hand for someone to take. Everyone was slightly hesitant, but Drey trusted her, and took her hand. Ysmay took his other and Terryn took hers. They linked each other together with firm grips, then Lorem moved ahead and the line moved with him.
Elowen was careful to step where he stepped, and the others followed in her example.
   "So why is the bridge down?" Terryn asked again.
Ellie eased her tension enough to speak.
   "The tale goes, that when the king of Arricsent accepted a Supreme Gem, and became the guardian of it, the people cursed him and this city. Fleeing from it, leaving everything they had and disappearing into the Illumination Forest."
Terryn gulped.
   "What - what happened to them? The people I mean." He asked.
Ellie shrugged as she let go of Lorem's fur, having stepped back onto solid stone once more.
   "No one knows. Though people suspect the Pixies might have done something nasty to them." She finished. Glancing down at her and Dreyden's linked hands. He cleared his throat and let go hastily.
Terryn however, didn't see the exchange and walked up to her.
   "What do you mean? Nasty things?" His eyes were wide with terror and his hands shook slightly.
Ellie smiled and patted his shoulder.
   "They didn't physically harm them, don't worry." He let out a sigh. She let go and moved on. "They just drove them mad."
Terryn whimpered slightly, but when Ysmay came up beside him, he stifled it and sucked it up.

The inside of the keep was just as magnificent. Strait ahead of them was a tall doom shaped building, that connected to the surrounding walls, which connected with the spires.
   "So where are we going to find this Gem?" Drey asked.
Ellie pointed to the large building.
   "In the Inner Sanctum of the Citadel."
   "Really?" Merek muttered. Whipping his gloved hands off.
   "Yes, but we have to find it first. It's usually hidden, or guarded by booby traps. I'm not sure which. Of course it could be both as well."
   "Oh? Is that all?" Merek asked in a joking tone.
Elowen turned to the rest of the gang with a grave face.
   "You all have come with me this far, and I'm very grateful for that, but you don't need to go any further. I can go on on my own. And well, with Lorem. But I'm not going to force you to come along." Her dark green gaze held Kade like a vice. Making him feel slightly guilty.
He shrugged and stepped forward. His hand casually on the hilt of his sword.
    "We've come this far haven't we?" He asked. "Lets just get it over with."
She stepped aside and let him take up the lead, as he walked with determined steps up to the Citadel.
Elowen couldn't help but smile. Maybe she was getting through to him after all.