《Saviour of the World》


 Volume 1 - Fighting Demons - Chapter One

    Davidor scanned the darkened skies for a clearing, but thick clouds enveloped the flat, green land and the downpour showed no signs of abating. Wait it out? Find shelter? He emphatically shook his head, flinging droplets of water. He couldn¡¯t miss the two full moons again.


    The muddy road sucked at his feet as he trudged on, his head bent downwards. A cart pulled by a donkey came up alongside. The driver, a plump, red-nosed man, leaned forward to attract Davidor¡¯s attention.


    ¡°You look dead on your feet, young fellow-me-lad. I can give you a ride to the next village, if you¡¯re not minding the smell.¡±


    One glimpse of the portly driver¡¯s gap-toothed smile convinced Davidor the man had no ill intentions. And if he did, then Davidor could always beat him to death with the small crop he used to whip the donkey.


    ¡°The name¡¯s Bilk. And what might I call you?¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Call me Dav.¡± He clambered on and collapsed on his back. Sawdust and bloodstains covered the cart. The man could have been a farmer or a butcher, or maybe something more nefarious. Davidor didn¡¯t care as long as he kept moving forward. A sigh of relief escaped his lips.


    In fact, Bilk was a corpse carter. He followed behind marching armies, checking the bodies of the fallen for men who had pinned a cloth to their shirts with their name and the name of their village. Men like Bilk would load up their carts with bodies and take them home in return for a fee. He charged only a few coppers, but business was brisk and regular.


    ¡°Now the pig, friendly, loyal and brave. The lion of the animal kingdom. And delicious, too.¡± Bilk liked to talk, and mainly about his favourite foods. Davidor didn¡¯t mind. Lying there, being jogged back and forth by the movement of the cart, he felt his body recovering. He would need his strength for the battle ahead.


    ¡°Goats, not a lot of people know this, can actually be ridden into battle. Very aggressive. And then, after the battle, you simply prepare a nice stew with¡­ Ah, Dav, are you awake?¡±


    The cart came to an abrupt halt. Davidor opened his eyes and sat up.


    ¡°We may have a little problem,¡± Bilk said in a shaky voice.


    Davidor turned and leaned over the side of the cart. Half a dozen wolves sat in the middle of the road, some on their stomachs, others on their haunches, yawning and casually licking their huge teeth in a bold display of arrogance.


    ¡°Not like wolves to be so brazen,¡± Bilk whispered from the side of his mouth. ¡°This don¡¯t feel right.¡± He wrestled with the reins as the donkey attempted to climb out of its harness.


    Wolves preyed on the weak. They harried and harassed until they found an opening. They avoided direct confrontation, usually. Davidor wondered if these wolves had been sent to delay him. He hopped out of the cart and strode purposefully towards the pack.


    They wolves watched him, their practiced disinterest turning to curiosity. This man came at them alone, and he didn¡¯t have one of those pointy sticks that wounded with the lightest of blows, yet he didn¡¯t give off any scent of fear.


    The youngest of the pack, a male sired by the alpha and keen to prove his worth, loped forward and bared his teeth. Davidor took no notice and kept coming. The wolf stood its ground and started snarling. The ones behind it got to their feet.


    Davidor kept coming.


    The wolf¡¯s yellow eyes took on a manic appearance and its growling grew more fierce, but it took a step backwards, then another. A yip from the rear caused it to stop. An order from the alpha: Stop messing around and deal with the prey. The young wolf lowered its shoulders and pounced.


    Davidor¡¯s foot shot out and caught the wolf in the throat. The head snapped back, instantly killing it, and the body flew into the air, landing in a heap. Davidor walked over to the dead wolf and picked it up by the hind legs. With a snap of his wrist, he straightened its body like flicking open a lock knife and swung it over his head. Once, twice, then he released it.


    The pack watched dumbfounded. The body landed at their feet and they scattered, only checking their retreat when a rumbling growl sounded from the rear. At last, the alpha rose. His white coat marked him out from his grey-coated underlings, and his dagger-like canine teeth protruded even with his jaws closed. He watched from the back, giving commands and taking the best of the meat, but occasionally he would intervene. Then, his powerful jaws would end the struggle decisively. He eyed up the man still walking towards them, turned and fled.


    After that, Bilk wanted to keep his travelling companion on board for as long as possible, gladly adjusting his route to accommodate. The surprisingly violent young man seemed in a great rush to reach the middle of nowhere, but a slight detour made no difference. And the wolfpack could be stalking them, waiting to attack once Bilk was alone.


    ¡°We should probably look for somewhere to camp for the night,¡± said Bilk, sure he could feel lupine eyes staring at him from behind every tree and rock.


    ¡°I¡¯ve an appointment to keep,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading on.¡±


    ¡°In the dark?¡±


    ¡°Moons will be full tonight, won¡¯t be so hard to see.¡±


    Bilk clucked his tongue. ¡°I should probably keep you company, what with wolves and such. Old Nell here is used to pulling much heavier loads, so she won¡¯t mind an evening stroll.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be very grateful,¡± said Davidor. ¡°It¡¯s not far now.¡±


    Old Nell plodded forward as the dark closed in, but then the two moons rose, so close together they practically touched. Their brightness lit up the surrounding land. The sight of them hanging in the sky lifted Davidor¡¯s spirits. He was going to make it.


    Double full moons only occurred once a year, a holy night for most people. Some held festivals with music and dancing. Others conducted sombre religious services. And then there were those who performed sacrifices and indulged in wild orgies.


    For Davidor, though, the moons held no religious significance. To him, they merely provided a key. A key to a world he had to return to, no matter what.


    The cart lurched from side to side as it trundled along the muddy track. The damn thing threatened to fall apart any minute. Still, thanks to resting for the final few miles of his journey, he felt ready for the fight ahead.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the right way, Dav?¡±


    ¡°Almost there.¡± Davidor rolled over and rose to his knees. ¡°See that copse? Beyond it lies my destination.¡±


    Bilk peered into the distance. ¡°As far as I recall, the only thing past those trees is an empty meadow and a lake. You planning on doing some midnight fishing? Bream¡ªdelicious on toast, ah, oh....¡±


    Three figures on horseback emerged from the silhouetted trees, their outlines immediately familiar to Davidor. The battle, apparently, had come to him.


    ¡°Friends of yours?¡± Bilk asked.


    ¡°Well,¡± said Davidor, ¡°depends on your definition of friendship. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re harmless. Feel free to speak to them as if they were human.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Bilk turned to Davidor. ¡°What do you mean? What else would they be?¡±


    The three figures made their way forward. The two in front had very similar builds, both with long hair shining white in the moonlight. They stopped in front of the cart, blocking its way. The horses towered over the donkey, exuding aggression as they pawed and stomped the ground. Their eyes flashed red in the moonlight.


    The riders stared at Davidor. They had long, sharp noses, large, angled eyes and ears that rose to a point.


    ¡°They¡¯re Elven,¡± said Davidor.


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    ¡°Elves? Really?¡± said Bilk, not sounding convinced. ¡°They¡¯re mighty big for elves aren¡¯t they? And they¡¯re not wearing those pointy hats.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of pixies,¡± said the rider on the left, his voice soft and melodic, but carrying a note of irritation.


    ¡°Oh,¡± said Bilk, ¡°I do apologise, milady.¡±


    The elf started in his saddle. ¡°Is this fool mistaking me for a female?¡±


    ¡°Easy there, Carrick,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Think of it as a compliment.¡±


    ¡°How is that a compliment?¡± said the now fuming elf. ¡°And I¡¯m Merrick. He¡¯s Carrick.¡± He pointed at the rider alongside.


    Carrick stifled a laugh and raised a hand in half-salute. ¡°Greetings, Davidor. Been a while.¡±


    ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± said Merrick. ¡°We have the same face. If he thinks I¡¯m a woman, then he thinks the same of you.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I don¡¯t have a tenth of your feminine grace, milady.¡± Carrick started laughing again.


    Davidor put a hand to his mouth and, in a very audible whisper, said, ¡°It¡¯s a very secluded society, lots of inbreeding, which is why they all look so similar.¡±


    Bilk nodded. ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    The third horse came forward, even larger than the other two, but much calmer. It shook its head and rolled its eyes sideways at the donkey. The donkey shuffled from one foot to the next, acting more nervous than it had in front of the hungry wolves.


    This rider¡¯s appearance differed from his companions. He had short, black hair and a crooked nose broken numerous times. A scar ran down one cheek. ¡°They look alike because they are twins,¡± he said to Bilk. ¡°Please don¡¯t spread unfounded rumours about the Elven on the say so of this man.¡± He waved a gloved hand in Davidor¡¯s direction. ¡°The Saviour of the World has rather a malicious sense of humour.¡±


    ¡°Saviour of the¡ª¡± Bilk opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. ¡°You¡¯re Davidor? The Davidor?¡±


    ¡°I am he.¡± Davidor jumped off the cart. ¡°Saviour of the World, Slayer of the Demon God. Thanks for the ride. Much appreciated.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ah, yes,¡± said Bilk. ¡°You¡¯re very welcome. My, I can¡¯t believe it. Davidor.¡±


    Merrick leaned forward in his saddle and sniffed. ¡°You smell like death. Although, still a marked improvement on how you normally smell.¡±


    Davidor pulled back his fist and let fly. Merrick leapt from his saddle, hitting the ground rolling, and rose to his feet in the same motion, screaming, ¡°Why did you punch my horse?¡±


    The horse lay flat on its side, tongue hanging out, eyes closed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like the way it was giving me the eye. You want to teach that beast some manners. Now, Captain,¡± he said as he turned to the dark-haired elf, ¡°shall we go? I¡¯m eager for my audience with the Queen.¡±


    ¡°I regret to inform you the Queen won¡¯t be able to see you tonight,¡± said the Captain, not sounding regretful at all. ¡°Perhaps next year?¡±


    ¡°After I¡¯ve travelled all this way? I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll have time for a quick visit. Where¡¯s Roo, by the way? I thought she¡¯d be here.¡±


    ¡°Lady Roona did not receive permission from the Assembly to leave The Vale.¡±


    ¡°You mean she didn¡¯t receive permission from her mother.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°Captain, how long have you known Roo?¡±


    ¡°Since the day she was born,¡± replied the Captain. ¡°Four hundred and twelve years.¡±


    ¡°And when was the last time she did anything her mother wanted?¡±


    A woman¡¯s voice answered from behind them. ¡°Four hundred and eight years ago.¡±


    They all turned. A white mare cantered towards them, smaller than the other horses but no less impressive. A woman sat on its back, her hair short and wavy, her face glowing in the moonlight.


    ¡°And my mother isn¡¯t the only Elder who can give permission to leave The Vale.¡±


    ¡°Ah, finally,¡± said Davidor, throwing up his arms. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± He rushed forward and threw his arms around the horse¡¯s head. ¡°Did you miss me, girl?¡± He kissed the horse¡¯s snout. It nickered in response. ¡°You see? This is how a horse is supposed to act.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± said the woman in the saddle, ¡°I sometimes wonder who it is you come all this way to see.¡±


    Davidor released the horse and smiled. ¡°You look very nice, Roo. I like your hair.¡±


    ¡°I should stab you in the heart. Where were you last year?¡±


    ¡°I tried to get here, really I did. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not me you should be apologising to, it¡¯s¡ª¡±


    Davidor grabbed the lapel of her riding jacket and dragged her out of the saddle. Her legs followed, swinging under her until her feet met the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He pulled her in close.


    The composure in Roona¡¯s face crumbled. Her lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. She threw her arms around his neck and plunged her face into his chest, squeezing tight. He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed back.


    The dark-haired elf turned his horse away from the reunion. ¡°Carrick, go on ahead and let the Queen know we¡¯re coming.¡±


    Carrick nodded and pulled back on his reins. His horse pivoted on its hind legs, twisting to face the opposite direction in one motion, and set off at a gallop.


    ¡°But Captain, the orders...¡± said Merrick. He had his horse¡¯s head in his lap as he stroked its sinewy neck. Its open eyes  still somewhat dazed.


    ¡°The orders were to let the Queen know if he returned. Those two have defeated armies, I doubt we¡¯d be much of a challenge. Get your horse back up.¡±


    Merrick yanked on the reins and the horse jerked to its feet, staggering like a newborn foal.


    Davidor released Roona from his embrace. She took a step back, wiping her eyes with the edge of a sleeve.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s not keep them waiting.¡± She took his hand.


    Davidor glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be escorting us? Well then keep up, you slanty-eared bastards.¡± He turned back to Roona, grinning provocatively. ¡°No offence.¡±


    Roona shook her head, refusing to rise to the bait. He only got into this kind of mood when spoiling for a fight. No doubt he would get his wish. They set off, hand in hand, like a couple going for a moonlit stroll. The white mare followed behind without needing to be told.


    ¡°Ho! Saviour!¡± Bilk stood and raised his arm. ¡°Do you want me to wait?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Davidor called out. ¡°I¡¯ll make my own way back. And hang on to my cloak. The scent should keep those wolves at bay.¡±


    Bilk looked in the back of the cart and found Davidor¡¯s tattered cloak rolled up into a makeshift pillow. He picked it up and held it close. It smelled awful. He quickly unfurled it and threw it around his shoulders, immediately feeling more secure. A hero¡¯s stink would protect him from whatever the night had in store for him, of that he was sure. When he looked back to offer his thanks, the group had disappeared.

 Volume 1 - Fighting Demons - Chapter Two

    Roona led Davidor through the tall grass, down to the edge of a large lake. The position of the two moons, one above the other, made them look like a figure eight. Their reflection formed a broad, white strip across the surface of the water. From a distance it looked no more than light playing across ripples, but the closer you got, the more solid it appeared.


    The party stepped off the grass verge onto the walkway. The chalky stone, covered in dust and dirt like any bridge, felt firm underfoot. It rose from the lake¡¯s edge and levelled off before ending in a large archway at the lake¡¯s centre.


    As they approached the arch, accompanied by the sound of horses¡¯ hooves and the breeze across the water, Carrick appeared through the archway.


    ¡°The Assembly has gathered.¡± He spoke brightly with hands on hips, as though he had personally convinced the Assembly to convene. In fact, he had nervously informed them of Davidor¡¯s imminent arrival, and hurried back, overjoyed, when they didn¡¯t blame him for failing to keep the Queen¡¯s least favourite person out of The Vale. ¡°They aren¡¯t too pleased about it, but they¡¯ll see you now.¡±


    ¡°Marvellous,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be along shortly.¡±


    Carrick¡¯s face dropped. Nobody made the Assembly wait. ¡°No, they¡¯re ready for you.¡±


    ¡°I understand. But first I¡¯ll see my boys.¡± He walked past a baffled Carrick.


    Roona, still holding Davidor¡¯s hand, followed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t keep him long.¡±


    Although a shimmering haze covered the archway, Davidor knew what lay beyond. He had entered The Vale many times. Entering didn¡¯t pose a problem. On this special night, anyone who crossed the Moonlight Bridge had the right to enter. Leaving, on the other hand, required a blessing granted by one of the three Elders, which Davdor usually received the moment he arrived. They encouraged him to leave at his earliest convenience. The problem lay in the fact he always left alone.


    Davidor passed through the archway, into a dank, dark tunnel. Glowing veins ran along the walls, producing light equivalent to a lantern turned down low.


    The tunnel opened into the central hall, an enormous cavern, in the middle of which stood a number of wooden buildings. A market with merchants stalls teemed with life as people milled around, doing their shopping. An average day, if you happened to live in a village built inside a mountain. No one paid attention to the small group¡¯s arrival.


    Large, glowing boulders provided light, but Davidor still had to squint to see clearly. Passageways led in every direction¡ªthrough one of these Roona guided him, leaving her horse with the soldiers. Merrick and Carrick looked to their captain for instructions. The Captain sent them to stable the horses and then slowly set off to inform the Assembly they would have to wait. He sighed. In peacetime, the chances of a quick death were few and far between.


    The tunnel Roona had chosen could have easily accommodated a mounted rider, although that was forbidden except in emergencies. Pedestrians, however, walked in both directions and in great numbers. They stopped and stepped aside to let Roona pass, bowing their heads, their murmuring reflecting off the polished tunnel walls.


    ¡°It¡¯s him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°Blasphemy.¡±


    Down offshoots and up flights of stairs, they eventually came to double doors made of heavy timber. Roona pushed one side with her free hand and it swung open noiselessly. Inside, a fire burned in a large room. Rugs littered the floor around a circular bed, on which sat two young boys.


    ¡°Children, your father is here.¡± She finally let go of his hand.


    Davidor¡¯s stomach tightened. Would he see disappointment in their eyes? An absent father who had failed in his parental duties. Perhaps they wouldn¡¯t even remember him.


    The older boy, Gart, had black hair that matched neither of his parents, although his eyes unmistakably came from his mother and his wide mouth undeniably from his father. He leapt off the bed and came bounding forward, arms outstretched.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± He threw his arms around Davidor¡¯s waist.


    The younger child, Fen, had the same sandy coloured hair as Roona, and a face that matched his brother¡¯s in all but size. He followed Gart, but stopped short, hesitant to take the final step.


    Davidor waddled closer, his eldest still stuck to his waist, picked up the younger and hugged him.


    ¡°How big you¡¯ve grown. And so pale. Don¡¯t they ever let you out in the fresh air? This whole place is a tomb for the living.¡± He turned to Roona, covered in children. ¡°No offence.¡±


    ¡°The Elven think the sun is a curse,¡± said Gart, his voice muffled by Davidor¡¯s stomach. ¡°They¡¯re all crazy. No offence, Mother.¡±


    ¡°No offence, Mummy,¡± said Fen, giggling.


    Roona tried not to smile, but failed.


    For the next hour, Davidor regaled them with stories of his exploits since his last visit. Battles with monsters and adventures to find lost treasures. The boys ooh¡¯d and ah¡¯d, and demanded details about the size of claws and number of horns. He produced two ornate knives from inside his cloak, and gave one to each as he told them about the tomb of an undead king from where the daggers had come. The boys inspected their gifts with large, delighted eyes.


    Roona said very little other than gentle admonishments when the boys tried to re-enact various fights with their father, wrestling each other off the bed into a heap on the floor. Davidor could feel her eyes drinking it all in. It made him sure his choice to come here, to put his plan into action, was the right one.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done a wonderful job, Roona. They¡¯re both so big and strong.¡± He squeezed his sons into his chest. ¡°What a wonderful mother, eh boys? We just need a little sister for you and we¡¯ll be all set.¡± He locked eyes with Roona as he said it.


    Heat rose in her cheeks and she looked away. ¡°D--don¡¯t be so ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think that¡¯s five points to me,¡± said Davidor with a grin.


    ¡°Five points for what?¡± asked Gart.


    ¡°Well, you see, your mother likes to pretend she¡¯s always in control and unflusterable. When she¡¯s holding a sword, nothing can distract her. So, when I get her face a little red, that¡¯s worth at least five points. If you keep score, then you can tell who¡¯s winning in a relationship.¡±


    ¡°Are you winning, Daddy?¡± asked Fen.


    ¡°Definitely. I¡¯m way ahead.¡±


    ¡°Oh, please,¡± said Roona. ¡°Don¡¯t fill their heads with such nonsense. Boys, ignore everything said by your father. Always.¡±


    Gart, released himself from Davidor¡¯s embrace and crawled across the bed to his mother.


    His face smoothed out and his smiling eyes softened. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re my mother. If I could choose anyone in the world to be my mother, I would choose you. Always.¡±


    Roona¡¯s face flushed a deep crimson and tears welled up in her eyes at the sincerity of her son¡¯s declaration.


    Gart raised his hands triumphantly, his sincere expression gleefully abandoned. ¡°Five points to me!¡±


    ¡°A ten pointer, at least,¡± said Davidor, genuinely impressed. ¡°Nicely done, son.¡±


    Roona buried her face in her hands, rubbing her cheeks as though trying to chase away the colour. ¡°Ugh, I tried so hard to raise them to not be like you. How could I have failed so miserably?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± said Davidor. ¡°You¡¯ve done a fantastic job. I couldn¡¯t be prouder.¡±


    Another hour passed. The roughhousing got a little less intense, the cuddling a little more. Davidor had fought huge beasts and fearsome warriors in his time¡ªsometimes the battles had lasted days¡ªbut these two boys had exhausted him. He would have quite happily fallen into a deep slumber. As Roona eased the sleepy boys off their prone father, there was a knock at the door. More of a repeated thump.


    Roona rose from the bed and pulled the two sides of the door open. The Captain stood there, now dressed in full armour. Behind him, a dozen Elven stood to attention, all dressed for battle, hands on sword hilts.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to escort you to the Assembly,¡± said the Captain, wearily. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could come with us, Davidor. Please.¡±


    Davidor lifted his head. ¡°Of course. We were just about to make our move.¡±


    The soldiers escorted them through less crowded tunnels, reserved for those with special permission, eventually ending up back at the main hall. The crowds had disappeared leaving the marketplace deserted of even merchants. Gart held his mother¡¯s hand, yawning. Davidor carried Fen in his arms, fast asleep.


    ¡°Do you actually think this time will be any different?¡± Roona asked as they walked.


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    ¡°It will be different,¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°You have a plan?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    Davidor¡¯s words filled Roona with trepidation. She had seen his plans enacted many times, and they all tended to have a similar outcome.


    ¡°Can you promise me there will be no bloodshed?¡±


    ¡°I can promise you none of my blood will be shed.¡±


    The soldiers ahead and behind them gripped their weapons tighter as they marched.


    Once the group passed through the main hall, they quickly reached the huge metal doors of the Assembly. The doors opened and their escort peeled away to allow them to enter alone.


    Inside, three thrones dominated one wall. The backs rose to almost the ceiling, merging with the rock wall. These were the Seats of Power, one each for the three Elders who ruled the Elven.


    In the left chair sat Car Nor, bald but heavily bearded and glaring hard. The intensity of his gaze increased with every visit, or so it seemed to Davidor.


    In the right hand chair sat Queen Lyr, resplendent as ever. She was Roona¡¯s mother, and her gaze never changed as far as Davidor could tell. Extreme hostility from the day he first met her.


    Nobody occupied the middle chair, the same as every visit, other than Davidor¡¯s first.


    All around the chamber, simple wooden benches formed a semicircle, filled with almost every Elven in The Vale. Once word had spread that the Saviour of the World had returned to make demands of the Assembly, everyone had left what they were doing to watch. The Elven, like anyone else, enjoyed seeing people struggle against overwhelming odds, preferably from a seat with a good view.


    Heads turned as Davidor walked in with his family. He smiled and waved at random people, who averted their gaze, no doubt mortified that others might think they sympathised with him. He could feel Roona roll her eyes behind him.


    In the centre of the chamber was the Seat of the People, a square block of stone, roughly hewed with no marks or engravings, where the person speaking to the Assembly sat and made their request. The simplicity of the stone seat represented humility, but Davidor considered it a way for the Elders to boost their own self-importance.


    He turned and handed his sleeping son to Roona. She took Gart in her arms and backed onto the bench behind her, which immediately cleared of its previous occupants. Fen snuggled in next to her as Gart raised his head, blinking. He appeared somewhat confused by the change of surrounding, until he found his father¡¯s grin. He returned it, and then spun around and made himself comfortable in his mother¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Thank you for making time to see us,¡± said Queen Lyr, not sounding the least bit appreciative.


    ¡°My pleasure,¡± said Davidor, pointedly ignoring the nature of her remark. ¡°How have you been? Good, I hope.¡± The tightening of her jaw warmed Davidor¡¯s heart.


    ¡°You realise the Assembly¡¯s time is precious and not something to treat lightly?¡± The Queen asked, her patience already running thin.


    Davidor looked across to the other chair. Car Nor had his legs crossed, his elbow on his knee and his chin balanced on the heel of his palm. He had once treated Davidor as a welcome guest, but even his tolerance had waned over time.


    ¡°That time I saved the world,¡± said Davidor. ¡°It was some time ago, so I don¡¯t know if you still remember¡ªnot only the human world but also the Elven world, the whole world¡ªringing any bells?¡±


    The Queen closed her eyes and took a breath. ¡°We remember it well, and are eternally grateful, Saviour of the World.¡± The way she said it didn¡¯t sound like a commendation.


    ¡°Good. Just checking. Anyway, as I recall, I believe I was told that as a mark of gratitude I would be granted the right to an audience in front of the Assembly as and when I pleased. If memory serves, it was Tas himself who passed down that edict.¡± He casually waved a hand at the empty middle chair.


    The occupants of the chairs on either side stiffened at the informal use of the revered Elder¡¯s name.


    ¡°As far as I know, there were no restrictions. No requirements for being punctual. But it has been a while since my last visit, has Tas¡¯s command been rescinded in my absence?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°We are at your disposal, as always.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. For a moment I feared my presence had become an imposition.¡± He tried not to sound too gleeful, but judging by the Queen¡¯s tormented reaction he had failed, as usual.


    ¡°You know, Davidor,¡± said Car Nor, his chin slipping so his cheek slid into his palm, ¡°we all know what you¡¯re here to ask, and you know full well what the response will be.¡±


    ¡°Not this time,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Today I am not here to make a request, I am here to make an offer. Two, in fact. Whichever option you choose, I am confident this will be the last time I grace this rather uncomfortable lump of rock.¡±


    Car Not sat up, transferring his hand into a beard-stroking motion. ¡°Really?¡±


    A long-lived race, the Elven suffered greatly from boredom. Something new always caught their attention.


    ¡°Yes. The time has come for us to part ways. I intend to leave here tonight and never return. Something I think we can all look forward to.¡±


    Queen Lyr leaned forward. ¡°What is this... offer?¡±


    ¡°Option one.¡± Davidor raised a finger. ¡°I will face in combat any Elven of your choice. If I am defeated, since I won¡¯t be returning from the afterlife, problem solved. If, however, I am victorious, then my wife and children will be allowed to leave with me.¡±


    ¡°I accept the challenge!¡±


    All heads turned towards the voice. A few benches behind Roona stood a giant figure, heavily muscled with a determined expression on his face. Davidor had never seen him before, but he looked like a worthy adversary.


    ¡°Sit down, Bellerin,¡± said Roona, her eyes still facing front.


    ¡°But I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sit down. You aren¡¯t qualified.¡±


    The volunteer retook his seat in less than voluntary fashion.


    Davidor faced front once more. ¡°What say you? Could be quite diverting, right?¡±


    ¡°Firstly,¡± said Queen Lyr, ¡°she isn¡¯t your wife. There has never been a ceremony. And there never will be.¡±


    Davidor pulled his arm back in a sweeping motion. ¡°If I can draw your attention to the two handsome young men sitting with your daughter. I feel they are all the ceremony necessary. But there is no need to argue the point. However you wish to view our union, she is mine and I am hers. Nothing will change that.¡±


    The Queen leaned back in her chair and took a moment to compose herself. ¡°And what if the Elven champion we choose for this duel is Lady Roona, herself?¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡± cried out Roona.


    ¡°He said he would fight anyone. Why not the greatest warrior ever born to the Elven?¡± The Queen¡¯s grimace slipped into a menacing smile.


    ¡°That,¡± said Davidor, ¡°would be perfect.¡±


    The Queen¡¯s grimace returned. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Well, Roo would yield to me immediately and we¡¯d be on our way within the hour.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± The Queen shook her head. ¡°Wife or not, she is still Roona Set Neer, first warrior of the Elven Horde. She carries the pride of our people on her shoulders. The Elf Without Mercy yields to no one.¡± Her fist banged down on the stone arm of her chair.


    Davidor once again swung his arm out behind him. ¡°The existence of these two young gentlemen would suggest she has yielded to me at least twice, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    The Queen¡¯s pale, white face flushed a deep red.


    ¡°Five points,¡± called out a small voice from behind. Davidor stifled a laugh.


    ¡°Of course, if you do not wish to take up this offer, then there is always option number two.¡± Davidor raised two fingers.


    ¡°Which is?¡± asked Car Nor.


    Davidor¡¯s smile fell away and showed his true face, the one he reserved for his enemies. ¡°I will take my family with me and kill anyone who tries to stop me.¡±

 Volume 1 - Fighting Demons - Chapter Three

    A chill descended on the room. The stillness of the air took on a tangible quality, even the motes of dust seemed to stop drifting and hung there, stunned by Davidor¡¯s proclamation. Then the silence snapped as an uproar filled the room, a thick fog of sound unified in expressing one thing: outrage.


    ¡°Quiet!¡± Car Nor jumped to his feet, his booming voice in stark contrast to his previous tone. The silence immediately returned. ¡°Davidor, have you lost your mind?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Davidor, his eyes on the Queen. ¡°Only my patience. My children have grown into little men, already. How many more years do you expect me to miss? Roo wanted me to wait, out of respect for you, but you don¡¯t deserve my respect. Lyr, you have a cruel heart. Let us leave or suffer the consequences.¡±


    The Queen smiled and nodded, as though confirming something to herself. ¡°Nobody doubts your abilities, Davidor, or your achievements, but do you really believe you could defeat the entire Elven nation?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°Please, Queen Lyr, allow me to teach this madman his place.¡± The voice belonged to the giant elf who once again stood at the ready.


    Roona stood, shifting Tor in her arms so he fit better on her hip, and twisted around. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! He defeated the Demon God single-handed. Do you really believe you would be anything more than a mild inconvenience to him? And that was before¡ªnow he wouldn¡¯t even have to break a sweat to beat you into a pile of mush. Sit down and be quiet.¡±


    Dazed by the onslaught, the giant elf slumped back to his seat.


    ¡°What do you mean, single-handed?¡± The Queen¡¯s voice lost its vicious edge to confusion. ¡°Our understanding was you defeated the Demon God together. Are you saying you weren¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°I was there,¡± said Roona, ¡°but little more than a witness. It was Davidor who fought and killed the Demon God.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Why didn¡¯t you¡ª?¡±


    ¡°Because I had taken irizen.¡± Gasps sounded around the room. ¡°The effect had already started to wear off. It had enabled me to fight my way to the temple, but by the time we reached the inner sanctum, I couldn¡¯t even walk, never mind wield a sword. All I could do was watch.¡±


    Conflicting emotions washed over the Queen¡¯s face and her voice came out in a whisper. ¡°But where did you get irizen? It hasn¡¯t been¡ª¡±


    ¡°Tas Tel Muir Ley gave me a vial before I left. He didn¡¯t expect me to return and neither did I.¡±


    Quiet descended on the Assembly as everyone tried to process what they had heard.


    ¡°You said Davidor would be able to easily defeat young Bellerin, even before. Before what?"


    ¡°Oh,¡± said Roona. ¡°Before Davidor became Undeniable.¡±


    An even more pronounced gasp spread around the room. Davidor could swear he felt a breeze sweep across his face.


    ¡°What nonsense are you speaking, child?¡± The Queen now also stood. ¡°How is that possible? He is human.¡±


    ¡°He may be human,¡± said Rona, quietly, ¡°but he is Undeniable. He is immune to pain or injury. He cannot be cut or bruised.¡±


    ¡°Or poisoned, burnt or drowned,¡± added Davidor, enjoying the looks on all their faces, until he caught the one on Roona¡¯s. She held his gaze with hers in a way that pierced his soul.


    ¡°What is Undeniable?¡± asked Tem.


    Roona unlocked eyes with Davidor and shifted her attention to her son. ¡°It¡¯s an ancient Elven gift one person can give another, but only if they truly love that person, and it is very, very rare. The last time was over a thousand years ago.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Queen Lyr, shaking her head. ¡°It isn¡¯t possible. It can¡¯t be.¡±


    A dagger struck Davidor on the side of his head. It bounced off and clattered to the floor.


    ¡°Hey, careful, you could¡¯ve taken my eye out.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Roona, ¡°I couldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Well, no,¡± said Davidor, ¡°but what kind of example is that to set? Boys, don¡¯t ever throw knives at your father.¡±


    Two daggers immediately struck Davidor, one on the arm, the other on the leg, followed by giggles.


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Car Nor, ¡°to become Undeniable takes more than a love beyond reason, it requires the sacrifice of a life. And you appear to be very much alive, Roona.¡±


    ¡°Yes. The Demon God saved me.¡±


    ¡°He did?¡± The Queen sounded endlessly flabbergasted. ¡°But why would he do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°I made a deal with him,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I can be quite persuasive when I want to be. I direct your attention once again to the two young gentlemen.¡±


    The Queen sat back down with a bump. ¡°Nothing makes sense anymore. Why did you keep this from me?¡±


    ¡°Because he asked me,¡± said Roona.


    The Queen turned to Davidor. ¡°For what reason?¡±


    ¡°Not him,¡± said Roona. ¡°Tas Tel Muir Ley. He asked us both not to tell anyone. He felt it would be divisive if people knew a human had alone been responsible for saving us all. But the way things turned out, the distance between our worlds has only grown, so it makes little difference to reveal the truth now.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me. Tell me the truth of how you defeated the Demon God.¡±


    For the first time Davidor felt the Queen had shown him her true face, without anger, or resentment or spite. The face of a mother who worried about her daughter. So he told her.


    ***


    A war raged across the continent. Massive armies clashed and thousands perished on a daily basis, but neither side held the advantage for long.


    Far from the fighting, in a tunnel that led from a the lowest levels of a supposedly impregnable temple to deep inside a mountain, two people made their way into the heart of the Demon God¡¯s lair.


    Although, more accurately, one person made his way while dragging the second behind him.


    ¡°Leave me here,¡± said Lady Roona, First Warrior of the Elven Horde.


    ¡°What, and have no one witness the Demon God¡¯s defeat at my hands?¡± said Davidor, a man of no reputation up till this point. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be much fun. In any case, I fight better with an audience. Plus, you still have an important role to play.¡±


    ¡°What role? What good am I when I can¡¯t even stand up?¡±


    ¡°You sell yourself short. I will attack the Demon God while you give him the evil eye.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a spellcaster. I don¡¯t know how to ¡®give him the evil eye¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Of course you do. Look at him the way you look at me. The sight of your violent disapproval should have him on his knees in no time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mocking me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being perfectly serious. Look at him like you¡¯re extremely disappointed by his choices. It¡¯ll sap his self-confidence, trust me.¡±


    Roona didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°Roona? Are you still with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was just practicing.¡±


    Inky darkness surrounded them, the dwellers of this place needing no illumination to find their way around. Davidor had Roona by the back of her collar, scraping her across the uneven surface as he tapped the ground ahead with the tip of his sword. Not a very dignified way to travel, but it not uncomfortable thanks to her body¡¯s numbness from the neck down.


    Davidor stopped and tapped in various directions with the tip of his sword. ¡°The tunnel splits into two, here. Any ideas which way to go?¡±


    ¡°The one going down.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Which is the¡­ ?¡±


    ¡°The left one.¡±


    ¡°You can tell, just like that?¡±


    ¡°The Elven home is not dissimilar to this place. Better furnishings and lighting, but otherwise not much different.¡±


    ¡°See. You¡¯re already proving yourself useful. So, you live underground? I always thought you¡¯d live in elaborate treehouses. But then, I also thought you¡¯d be a lot smaller and wear a pointy hat.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of pixies.¡±


    ¡°Am I? Oh.¡± Davidor continued the journey, jerking his companion into motion.


    ¡°This is pointless, I¡¯m already dead. Why can¡¯t you understand?¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you have a little more faith? How many times have I saved your life already?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t kn¡ª¡±


    ¡°Seven. No reason why I can¡¯t make it eight.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realise you were keeping score.¡±


    ¡°Of course. How else will we know who¡¯s winning?¡±


    ¡°You realise we¡¯re on the same side? And how many times have I saved your life?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not sure. Is it two or thr¡ª¡±


    ¡°Nine.¡±


    ¡°Really? I hadn¡¯t realised you¡¯d caught up.¡±


    ¡°It makes no difference. I have taken irizen. It is why I was able to fight on, even after I was injured. It more than doubled my strength and my stamina.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve been cheating.¡± Davidor shook his head, although the darkness prevented Roona seeing it, even if she¡¯d been facing the right way. ¡°We¡¯ll have to deduct points for that.¡±


    ¡°And once it wears off, the side-effects kick in. Those side-effects being paralysis, followed by agonising pain and certain death. Even if you manage to drag me to the centre of this mountain it will serve no purpose, I¡¯ll still die. Better you save your strength for the battle ahead and let me meet my end alone.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some way to fix whatever ails you.¡±


    Roona scoffed. ¡°Ha. You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if the others had listened to me, they would still be here. I told them not to get on the boat.¡±


    There had been nine of them. The greatest warriors of their generation, gathered from all nations, picked after a tournament to choose the mightiest of the mighty. Secretly, they had made their way behind enemy lines to bring down the Demon God in his stronghold. The world¡¯s best hope for victory, but they had fallen before even entering the labyrinth under the mountain, leaving only two.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°How did you know the behemoth was going to devour the boat?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t. But a small wooden platform in the middle of a large expanse of water is not an advantageous battleground. Plus, I don¡¯t know how to swim, so I avoid crossing water whenever possible.¡±


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want to get on the boat? I¡¯m such a fool. I genuinely thought you had some gift of foresight. We¡¯re doomed. I wonder if it¡¯s too late to switch sides.¡±


    Davidor continued to tap-tap his way forward. ¡°You worry too much. We¡¯ve already come this far, just the two of us. Once we reach the end of this tunnel, assuming it has one, we only need to kill one Demon God and the world will be saved.¡±


    ¡°What is it, exactly, that makes you think you will be able to beat him. You aren¡¯t as strong as Kel, nor as fast as Nori, and while your sword skills are above average, they¡¯re nothing as impressive as Feltham¡¯s.¡±


    Their comrades had all been masters of their particular arts, each expert with their chosen weapon, while Davidor had no speciality. During the trials by combat, he never used the same approach twice, and only scraped through every time.


    ¡°And yet those three are all dead and here I am. Victory doesn¡¯t require you to defeat your opponent¡¯s strength, it only requires you to defeat their weakness. As long as you know where they¡¯re vulnerable, you have a chance.¡±


    ¡°I see. And you¡¯re good at finding weaknesses, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me, what is my weakness?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re unable to walk and you can¡¯t hold a sword.¡±


    Roona let out a breath that sounded more like a growl. ¡°I mean before I ended up like this.¡±


    ¡°You have a soft heart.¡±


    Roona burst out laughing. ¡°What are you talking about? I am Roona Set Neer, Elf Without Mercy. Do you think they named me thus because of my kind and gentle nature?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of your reputation. Back at the tournament they called you the Murder Elf.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it has a good sound to it. I like it.¡±


    ¡°But someone so relentlessly unforgiving must be trying to protect something very fragile. I suspect you were horribly betrayed at some point, and now you trust no one, especially not an enemy who wishes to surrender. A ploy so they can stab you in the back when you let your guard down.¡±


    After a long pause, Roona spoke again. ¡°It was my father, not I,  who was betrayed. I fail to see how it is a weakness, though. All my enemies are dead, and dead people rarely break their word.¡±


    ¡°One day, someone will break through your defenses and like parched earth receiving its first drops of rain, you will soak it all up and become overwhelmed. You will become fanatical in your devotion, and then, I suspect, you will do something extremely foolish. Fanatics tend to be terrible at making decisions, in my experience.¡±


    ¡°You really are an idiot. The only thing I¡¯m fanatical about is punching you in the mouth. Fortunately for you, I will be dead before my dream can come true.¡±


    ¡°Such a pessimist. What will you give me if I am able to defeat the Demon God and save your life?¡±


    ¡°Miracles don¡¯t happen just because you¡¯re desperate.¡±


    ¡°Miracles happen only when you¡¯re desperate. Such a miracle would surely deserve a fitting reward.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you do it because it¡¯s the right thing to do? Have you no honour?¡±


    ¡°The fact is, a properly motivated warrior will fight beyond his means. Which is why the king offered us each a reward of our choosing. What did you ask for?¡±


    Before they had left on their mission, the king had summoned all nine warriors and granted each a request to be fulfilled if they achieved victory, whether they returned or not.


    ¡°I asked for a cessation of hostilities between humans and the Elven. What did you ask for?¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°Davidor, what did you ask for?¡±


    ¡°Well, obviously it isn¡¯t going to sound very good compared to your grand and noble gesture.¡±


    ¡°Davidor?¡±


    ¡°I asked for a statue.¡±


    ¡°A statue of what?¡±


    ¡°A statue of me. I wanted it placed in the central square in front of the palace. The king will have to see me standing over his kingdom every morning.¡± Davidor chuckled to himself.


    ¡°Why would you ask for something so pointless?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not pointless, it¡¯s funny. He¡¯s such a narcissist, the idea someone else will be seen as saving the kingdom will drive him crazy. That¡¯s the inscription I insisted on. Davidor - Saviour of the World.¡± He laughed again.


    ¡°I see. You want a statue, but he¡¯s the narcissist.¡±


    ¡°The problem with you Elven is, you have no sense of humour. Anyway, my point still stands. So, what do you think would be a suitable reward for achieving the impossible? Perhaps a night of passion with an enthusiastic Elven princess?¡±


    ¡°When the Demon God rips your heart out of your chest it will mean a victory for the forces of darkness and a thousand years of chaos, but I¡¯m starting to see it as not all bad.¡±


    Davidor stopped moving, changed his grip on the back of Roona¡¯s collar to get better purchase, and then set off again. ¡°Since I am the only person left who can save the world and everyone in it, would it be so great a sacrifice to simply offer me a little encouragement? You could at least cheer me on, even if insincerely. After all, it¡¯s not like either of us will make it through this alive. What have you got to lose?¡±


    ¡°My self-respect,¡± said Roona, emphatically.


    ¡°And is your self-respect worth more than the lives of everyone counting on us to succeed?¡±


    Roona let out a long, rasping breath. ¡°I suppose you make a fair point. Very well, if you defeat the Demon God¡ªwhich is highly unlikely¡ªand also rescue me from death¡ªan impossibility¡ªthen I, Roona Set Neer, First Warrior of the Elven Horde, vow to use my mouth, my tongue and my hands to pleasure you from sunset to sunrise. Happy now? Feeling motivated?¡±


    Davidor didn¡¯t reply, but suddenly their speed increased. For a second Roona wondered what she would do if he actually managed the impossible, and in the dark tunnel in the centre of the mountain she blushed at the images appearing in her mind.


    An hour passed before either spoke again. Davidor came to a sudden stop and said, ¡°I can see something.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°A light. I think.¡±


    ¡°Well, try getting closer.¡±


    Davidor started moving again. ¡°What do you think the Demon God will look like?¡±


    ¡°A demon?¡±


    ¡°Have you seen a demon before?¡±


    ¡°No. Not in the flesh.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, according to the old stories, they can take on any form they wish. I¡¯m hoping he¡¯s a little old man. Or maybe a small child.¡±


    ¡°How charming. Do you have a plan?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to hit him with my sword. Repeatedly.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant. I see you¡¯re also a master tactician.¡±


    ¡°Any chance of a kiss for good luck?¡±


    ¡°Certainly. Since my mouth is the only part of me that still works, a kiss is the only way to rip your stupid tongue out of your fat head. Then, at least, my last moments won¡¯t be filled with your inane prattling.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no. There¡¯s a doorway of some kind. We¡¯re close, try not to die before we get there.¡±


    ¡°I can taste the poison in the back of my throat. I doubt I¡¯ll be able to hold on much longer.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, isn¡¯t there a big, strapping elf waiting for you back home? Some prince or duke or whatever must have expressed an interest, no?¡±


    ¡°There have been many. But I have a strict policy when it comes to marriage. Defeat me in mortal combat and I am yours.¡±


    ¡°Wait, in mortal combat? You mean to the death? How would that work?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll never know. No one ever took me up on the offer.¡±


    Davidor laughed quietly to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of playing hard to get, but you... Good thing we¡¯ve already come to an arrangement.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? What arrangement?¡±


    ¡°Once I save you, and the world, you¡¯re going to use your mouth and tongue and fingers, you remember.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not pretending you didn¡¯t say all those things, are you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. My word is sacrosanct. Please do your best.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. I will. Okay, this is it. I hope there isn¡¯t another tunnel through here.¡±


    The light coming through the archway wasn¡¯t particularly bright, but after so many hours in the darkness, Davidor stepped through shielding his eyes with his forearm. It took a few seconds for his vision to settle.


    ¡°Oh,¡± was all he could think to say.


    ¡°What is it? What can you see?¡± Roona still faced the wrong way and didn¡¯t have the strength to even turn her head.


    ¡°It seems the Demon God is a dragon.¡±

 Volume 1 - Fighting Demons - Chapter Four

    In the middle of the vast cavern, surrounded by hovering balls of glowing gas, sat a large, black dragon. Not so huge Davidor couldn¡¯t get both arms around its long, serpentine neck, but he¡¯d need a ladder to get up there.


    He swung Roona around and crouched beside her.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± whispered Davidor. ¡°Frontal assault? I wonder if he breathes fire.¡±


    I certainly do not.


    The voice appeared directly inside their heads.


    Death by belching¡ªhow disgusting. I take it you¡¯re the advance party. Shall we wait for the others to arrive?


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no one else coming,¡± said Davidor as he got back to his feet.


    Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re all they sent. You must be incredibly powerful, then.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know about that, but I have been told my sword skills are above average. Isn¡¯t that right, Roo?¡±


    Roona carefully swallowed the saliva welling up in her mouth. Her throat had started constricting and soon she would lose the power to talk. Most of her energy, though, went into giving the impression she had nothing to do with the man standing next to her.


    We shall see. You might as well come over here if we¡¯re going to fight. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bite. Not yet.


    Davidor sheathed his sword and scooped up Roona in his arms. Her head flopped against his chest. He started walking towards the dragon.


    ¡°Why are you carrying me like this?¡± said Roona in a hiss. ¡°It¡¯s undignified.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I think it makes me look quite manly.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean undignified for you, you oaf.¡±


    Images played across the balls of gas¡ªviews of various battlefields from the air. He placed Roona on the ground, propping her against a large rock, and crept forward to get a closer look.


    As you can see, the war is ongoing.


    The dragon swung around to inspect another of the globes. Davidor leapt a good distance backwards to avoid the swishing tail as it swept past him.


    Of course, what your side doesn¡¯t know is that they are only facing a fraction of my forces. Once your comrades are on the verge of a momentous victory, I shall give the signal for the full might of my armies to descend on them. I can¡¯t wait to see their faces. It should be quite amusing.


    The tail went up and smashed downwards repeatedly as the Demon God chuckled to itself.


    The man there, the Elven commander¡ªwhat¡¯s his name?


    ¡°Car Nor,¡± Roona whispered.


    Yes, that¡¯s right, Car Nor. See how he cuts through the ranks of the undead. Impressive. Even if he is only fighting the weakest of my forces, his effort cannot be faulted. A mighty warrior with a fine beard. I think I would suit a beard.


    The dragon lifted its claw and rubbed at the underside of its elongated jaw. Davidor drew his sword and tried to size up his enormous opponent.


    The dragon tilted its head. Are you sure you don¡¯t need to sharpen it or anything?


    ¡°No. Ready when you are.¡±


    As you wish. Here.


    The dragon stamped down its right foreleg. Davidor looked at the large talons splayed at his feet, then up at the dragon, unsure of what he was meant to do.


    I¡¯m offering you the first strike. Have at it.


    Not the kind of fight Davidor had expected, but he wasn¡¯t one to turn down a free hit. He raised the sword above his head, decided to make it a two-handed effort, and brought the blade down. The sword made a sharp squeal and bounced off the scaly claw, leaving not so much as a scratch. He followed up with a stab, then hit from the side. He tried to slide the edge between the scales. Nothing worked.


    Maybe try a run up?


    Davidor took a couple of steps back and then ran forward. He leapt into the air, hands overhead with the sword pointed downwards, and forced it into the dragon¡¯s foot with all his strength. The tip slid across the top and Davidor stumbled to keep his footing.


    Refusing to give up, Davidor spun around and brought the blade down with momentum. Nothing. He twirled through the air, round and round, and then sliced at an angle. No effect.


    The dragon lifted the claw into the air and swivelled it at the joint, as though stiff from keeping it in one place too long. Davidor didn¡¯t miss the implication: arthritis posed more of a threat than him.


    As the dragon brought its foot back down, Davidor dived under it, rolling onto his back and holding the sword straight up. With precise timing, he held the pommel against the ground as the bottom of the dragon¡¯s foot touched the tip of the blade, and then rolled out of the way.


    The dragon¡¯s own weight would force the blade into its flesh, or at least so Davidor hoped. The sword snapped in two and went skittering in different directions.


    Sweat coated Davidor¡¯s face and his laboured breaths came fast and heavy. ¡°One moment.¡± He sprinted over to Roona, who sat motionless with only the movement of her eyes suggesting she still resided within her useless body. ¡°Need to borrow this.¡± He took her sword from its scabbard. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose this is made of magic Elven steel or anything.¡±


    Her head shook almost imperceptibly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think so. Anyway, have to go.¡±


    He ran at the dragon, sword raised, but the blow he dealt produced the same result. Not a mark. It occurred to him that maybe the Demon God had very resilient feet. He attacked the neck, the not-so-soft underbelly, the tail, all with the same results.


    Admit defeat? the dragon asked.


    Davidor nodded, breathing hard and unable to think of what to try next.


    Very well, now it¡¯s my turn.


    With a simple swipe of his claw, the dragon struck Davidor, sending him flying across the cavern. He slammed into the rock wall sideways on, his right arm shattering in the process. He fell to the ground, on the verge of passing out.


    Through blurred vision, he saw the dragon approach Roona. It lowered its head, sniffing at her.


    Ah, irizen. Who but the Elven would create a potion to enable great power at the cost of the drinker¡¯s life? The level of stupidity is hard to calculate. Perhaps I should end your agony before it starts? Or, if you swear allegiance to me, maybe I¡¯ll negate the effects, hmm? No, I think I¡¯ll eat you. I haven¡¯t eaten elf in such a long time, and you¡¯re a particularly juicy specimen.


    The jaws opened to reveal large, glistening teeth.


    ¡°Leave her,¡± cried out Davidor.


    Little man, do you not understand? Her fate is sealed. Once the effect wears off, she won¡¯t simply pass on¡ªevery cut and graze, every broken bone and severed artery the irizen has supressed, will turn her body into an inferno of pain. She will expire writhing in agony. Better you let me end her misery now, don¡¯t you think?


    Davidor rose to his feet. ¡°As long as I live, her misery will continue. No, wait, that came out wrong.¡±


    The dragon returned its attention to Roona.


    Davidor staggered forward. ¡°Touch her, and I will not only kill you, I will devour your eternal soul.¡±


    The jaws about to close around Roona¡¯s neck stopped moving. The Demon God did indeed have an eternal soul. It enabled the infinite cycle of reincarnation stretching back to before the world¡¯s creation. Could a mere mortal know this? Did he have a way to carry out his threat? Of course not, the idea was ridiculous.


    With the dragon lost in thought, Davidor started to run. On the ground lay his broken sword. His right arm hung limp, but he picked up the weapon in his left without slowing. He stretched it out in front as he ran, aiming at the eye now lowered to a reachable height.


    The dragon¡¯s gaze shifted at the last moment, but too late. The sword entered the large black pupil and met no resistance. The blade slid in easily, then the hilt, then Davidor¡¯s arm up to the elbow. The dragon¡¯s eyelid came down and Davidor heard his arm snap but felt nothing. The eyelid went back up and he fell backwards, his hand now empty.


    The dragon froze in place. The sword lodged somewhere deep inside its brain severed the connection between mind and body. All at once, the huge body collapsed and lay there, unblinking eyes showing no signs of intelligence. But though it couldn¡¯t move, its thoughts continued to be transmitted to Davidor and Roona.


    No. No. To think it would end this way. So¡­ so... very disappointing. I had such plans. A world working together towards a common vision. A beautiful dream now lost.


    Davidor, his arms throbbing with pain, awkwardly rose to his knees. ¡°Are you saying your goal was to create a better world?¡±


    Of course. A world united through violence and terror. Who will remember me now? A mindless beast defeated by a great hero, that will be my legacy. Ha! And yet your name will become legend. Is that fair?


    ¡°Tell me something. Earlier you said you could negate the effects of irizen. Is that true?¡±


    A simple matter. Elven magic is two parts child¡¯s play for every three parts incompetence. But I have no intention of using the last of my strength for such a meaningless task.


    ¡°I¡¯ll offer you something in exchange.¡±


    What could you possibly have of interest to me now?


    ¡°My life. Restore her to full health and I¡¯ll die by my own hand right here. You may not get the recognition you wanted, but neither will I. They¡¯ll create some fictional version of me¡ªtall, blond, beautifully trimmed beard. His name will be different, his accomplishments exaggerated beyond belief. The real me will be forgotten. And, best of all, you will make sure the thing I desire most is still here while I am not.¡±


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    Well, yes, that would be a most exquisite irony. But does she really mean so much to you?


    ¡°You¡¯re the Demon God, can¡¯t you confirm it for yourself?¡±


    Davidor felt a strange sensation moving inside his mind.


    Oh, yes. My, she really annoys you, doesn¡¯t she? And yet¡­


    ¡°Is it agreed?¡±


    Very well. But don¡¯t think to cheat me. I wouldn¡¯t abide such rudeness.


    ¡°You can trust me. But give me a moment to sort this out. It won¡¯t be easy with my arms in their current condition.¡± Davidor clumsily gathered up Roona¡¯s sword and levered it upright with his broken limbs. He managed to get it standing, the point of the blade wedged under his chin. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Roona. Although immobile and unable to speak, her eyes expressed great anguish. She was fully aware of the idiot¡¯s intention, and it made her furious.


    ¡°So, looks like I achieved the impossible,¡± he said out of the side of his mouth. ¡°Sadly, though, I won¡¯t be able to collect my reward. Never lucky. Okay. Ready?¡±


    Tell me, human, what is your name?


    ¡°Davidor. You can call me Dav, if you want.¡±


    Very well, Dav. I am Carlotqueskelet, Demon Lord of the Second Hell. You may call me Carlo. Let us begin.


    A beautiful and haunting song filled both Roona and Davidor¡¯s minds. A soft glow, yellow like sunlight, fell on Roona. Davidor saw the strength returning to her. He smiled and then, holding the sword steady between his wrists, he lifted his head up and brought it down sharply.


    Roona watched her sword enter Davidor¡¯s throat, slicing into him easily. A cascade of blood followed. She rose to her feet, powered by the energy now filling her body, and stretched out her hand, even though she could not reach him.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Her scream reverberated around the cavern and for that one moment she only wished for the stupid idiot in front of her not to die. Not to leave her.


    Her arm faded into an outline. Like dandelion seeds, the flesh and bone separated and floated away. The tiny particles once part of her weaved through the air towards Davidor, still loosely connected as they wrapped around him until he was enveloped.


    Roona felt her existence unravelling, her arm already gone and the rest soon to follow. But at the same time, the dragon¡¯s song restored her. Her arm reformed before her eyes, from her shoulder down to the fingertip. She was whole again.


    In their minds, a voice spoke, distant and weak.


    Liar! I am betrayed. No, this will not stand. I will have my reveeee¡­


    And then it faded to silence.


    Roona crashed to the ground, rolling onto her back. Everything about her body felt strange. Then she remembered to breathe and gulped down air. A scruffy, bearded face hove into view from above.


    ¡°So, I believe we had an agreement.¡± Davidor smiled his most evil smile.


    Of course, there were a million ways for her to get out of the promise she had made. But at that particular moment, she couldn¡¯t think of a single one.


    ***


    Davidor finished telling the story of how the Demon God had been defeated. He left out a lot of the more personal details, and most of the bickering, but the main facts were all there.


    The Assembly had listened with rapt attention as the story unfolded, although Davidor had the distinct impression particular individuals had been rooting for the Demon God.


    ¡°Thank you for sharing the truth of what happened,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°We are certainly in your debt, both for preventing chaos from ruling, and for the life of my daughter. But it still doesn¡¯t change the fact humans and the Elven are not meant to be joined. Even if you are Undeniable, you won¡¯t live much past a hundred years. What do you expect Roona to do once you¡¯re gone. She will be alone in your world.


    Davidor shook his head. ¡°Of course she won¡¯t. I might not be there, but our children, our grandchildren, will be. She will always be surrounded by people who love her. But whether you agree or not no longer matters. We are leaving.¡±


    He rose from his seat, full of determination and ready to live up to his threat. The room spun before his eyes. Darkness filled his mind and he sensed himself falling.


    ***


    A breeze played across Davidor¡¯s face. When he opened his eyes, a perfectly clear, cloudless blue sky was all he could see. He sat up with a jerk. Tall grass surrounded him. The lake sparkled below, but the bridge no longer existed.


    He tilted his head back and howled. How had they done it? A drug? It wasn¡¯t possible, he hadn¡¯t touched any food. He¡¯d have to wait another year before he could return. Another year!


    ¡°You¡¯re awake, then?¡±


    Davidor spun around, rising to his feet as he did. Roona stood there, a stalk of meadow grass waving back and forth in her hand. Behind her, two horses and two ponies waited with heavy saddlebags, and two boys ran in circles, whooping with joy.


    ¡°W-what happened? How did we¡ª¡±


    ¡°You fainted.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°When was the last time you had something to eat?¡±


    ¡°Oh. I haven¡¯t had much of an appetite recently.¡±


    ¡°Being Undeniable will protect you from a lot of things, but standing up too quickly on an empty stomach turns out not be one of them.¡±


    ¡°And they let us leave?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. Once they realised you were out cold, they wanted to tie you up and stick you in a cell. They might not be able to kill you, but they could keep you in a hole for the rest of your life.¡±


    ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t they know I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I told them how you escaped from the prison in Gazmeer.¡±


    ¡°Naked. And with only a spoon.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I told them all about the spoon.¡±


    ¡°But did you tell them¡ª¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have to, everyone guessed exactly where you hid the spoon. It¡¯s nothing to be proud of. In any case, I told them we were leaving or I¡¯d murder them all. And to show them how serious I was, I cut off my own hand.¡±


    She lifted her left arm at the end of which... nothing.


    ¡°Wha¡ª?¡±


    Her hand popped out of the end of the sleeve. ¡°See? I have a sense of humour.¡±


    Davidor threw his arms up in horror. ¡°That wasn¡¯t funny.¡±


    ¡°It was, too. You should have seen your face. One day I¡¯m going to have your portrait painted and that expression is exactly what I want hanging over the fireplace. It¡¯ll make a great conversation piece.¡± She kissed him and instantly robbed him of his outrage.


    ¡°Ah, I never dared hope you¡¯d stand up to them,¡± he said between kisses.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been very selfish. I realise now. I wanted to wait until they changed their minds, but the only mind I have the power to change is my own. So I did.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t quite believe it. After all this time.¡±


    ¡°Dav, tell me one thing. How did you discover being Undeniable prevented you from drowning?¡±


    Davidor made an exaggerated gesture of shrugging his shoulders. ¡°The obvious way. I jumped into some water.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t swim. What would you have done if it hadn¡¯t protected you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really care. Those years alone were more painful than I can express. I began to think it might be better for you if I never returned.¡±


    ¡°Why would you think that? You said you¡¯d wait, however long it took.¡±


    ¡°Yes, such was my intention, but the reality was harsher than I expected. Some things are harder to fight than dragons.¡±


    She put her arms around his neck. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Next time I have a stupid idea, punch me.¡±


    ¡°Gladly. Right, you two. Let¡¯s get out of here before Granny changes her mind and sends the Elven Horde after us.¡±


    Gart strolled towards the lake, etching the view into his memory. ¡°Will we ever go back to The Vale?¡± His voice carried no affection.


    ¡°Maybe one da¡ª¡± Roona cut herself off as she received a sharp punch in the arm. ¡°At least, not a for a very long¡ª¡± Another punch landed. She rubbed her arm. ¡°No, probably not.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going, Daddy? To fight dragons?¡± Fen hopped from one foot to the other in his excitement at the prospect.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± said Gart. ¡°Daddy already defeated all the dragons.¡±


    Davidor picked up his youngest and plopped him down in a saddle. ¡°We¡¯re going to find adventure. And breakfast. Breakfast first.¡±


    They all climbed into their saddles and rode away. But they did return to The Vale, thirteen years later.


    End of Volume 1


    ~*~


    Hey,


    If you managed to read all four chapters of Volume 1 please leave a comment to let me know. Any comments (good or bad) would be appreciated. Cheers.


    Volume 2 will start soon.

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter One

    Igail turned the book over and back again. She plucked at the string wound around it, tied in a tight knot with no bow. She raised it to eye-level and came to the conclusion she¡¯d probably break a fingernail trying to unpick it.


    The shopkeeper, a gangly man with wispy hair poking out from under a cloth cap, watched from behind the counter. He fingered the whip hanging from his belt. As soon as the girl slipped something into pocket or bag, he meant to teach her the error of her ways.


    Igail squeezed through the piles of junk and bric-a-brac that filled the shop and placed the book on the countertop. As a girl of thirteen, she expected poor treatment from hardened merchants. They either didn¡¯t believe she had money and considered her a time-wasting nuisance, or tried to take her for every last penny.


    She adjusted the strap on her shoulder bag and put her hands on her hips, ready for some serious negotiating. ¡°How much?¡±


    The shopkeeper reassessed the girl. On closer inspection, she wore high quality riding gear. Which could mean she also stole from high-end merchants, or she really did have money. He looked down at the book and ran his tongue under his top lip. ¡°Three crowns.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Igail¡¯s face contorted like she¡¯d smelled something foul. ¡°Three crowns for a book? Are you joking?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t joke here, Miss. Strictly business. Three crowns.¡±


    Igail picked up the book and re-examined the cover. The brown leather binding threatened to fall apart without the string, and the title had faded to barely legible. Demon Almanac and Glossary. The title beguiled her.


    ¡°Can I at least have a look inside, first?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± The shopkeeper shook his head. ¡°If we let people read a book before paying, they¡¯d never buy it. You don¡¯t go to a cake shop and ask for a free bite, do you?¡±


    ¡°They give out samples someti¡ª¡±


    ¡°Clearly you ain¡¯t from around here, Miss. No free cakes in this town.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you half a crown.¡±


    The shopkeeper rolled his eyes. ¡°Please, don¡¯t insult me. I admit I¡¯m not an educated man. For all I know that¡¯s a collector¡¯s item and three crowns is a steal. Or not. Life¡¯s a gamble, innit?¡±


    Igail dropped the book back on the counter. ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it.¡± She turned and walked out. In the distance, a bell rang three times, marking the hour. A horse and cart loaded with sacks of coal hurried past, kicking up dust.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be late.¡±


    She turned to find Titch, her younger brother, standing behind her. ¡°Will you stop sneaking up on me like that? It¡¯s annoying.¡±


    ¡°Not my fault you can¡¯t handle my skills. I¡¯m like a ghost in the shadows.¡± Titch raised his hands in front of his dirt-smudged face, and waved them back and forth. ¡°Ghost in the shad¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut up. You got any string?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± He stuck his hands in his pockets, his sandy hair flopping around as he dug deep, and pulled out various lengths of string.


    Igail scanned the options and then took the longest one from his grasp. She took off her bag and pushed it into her brother¡¯s stomach. He instinctively grabbed hold of it. She flipped the bag open and forced the flap into his mouth.


    ¡°Hold this.¡±


    He bit down on the flap as she rummaged around inside the bag.


    ***


    The shopkeeper stood in the same place behind the counter, mouth hanging open, eyes glazed over.


    ¡°Hello?¡± said Igail. ¡°Shop?¡±


    His mouth snapped shut and he tilted his gaze towards her. ¡°Can I help you, Miss?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Igail. ¡°It¡¯s about the book.¡±


    ¡°Which book would that be?¡±


    ¡°You know, the book I was talking to you about five minutes ago?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a very hectic morning, Miss. You¡¯ll have to remind me.¡±


    Igail looked around the deserted store. She stepped closer and picked up the book from the counter. ¡°This book. Three crowns, right?¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, a quality item. No refunds.¡±


    ¡°Since you won¡¯t let me open it, I¡¯ve decided on another way to judge its value.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes?¡± The shopkeeper yawned. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Weight.¡± She held the book in her palm and lifted it up and down. ¡°When you move around as much as I do, you don¡¯t want to overload yourself.¡± She opened the flap on her bag, which once again hung over her shoulder, and put the book inside.


    ¡°Hey!¡± said the shopkeeper. ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡±


    Igail raised a finger. She bounced up and down on her toes, took two paces backwards, then two forward. ¡°As I thought, too heavy.¡±


    She took the book out and returned it to the shopkeeper.


    He held it in both hands and shook it. ¡°Don¡¯t seem all that heavy.¡±


    ¡°I guess I¡¯m a light reader. Thanks anyway.¡± She turned to leave.


    ¡°I could go down to two and a half crowns. Special offer.¡±


    ¡°Maybe next time,¡± she called out as she walked through the door. As her boots clunked across the wooden planks that formed a walkway along the storefronts, her hand slipped into the bag and came out with a string-wrapped book. She reached into her jerkin and took out a butterfly knife. She twirled it between her fingers, flicking out the mirrored blade, cut the string, twirled the knife back shut and returned it to her vest pocket.


    ¡°Where is the ghost in the shadows?¡± asked her brother¡¯s disembodied voice.


    ¡°Titch, if I don¡¯t see you in two seconds, the only thing you¡¯ll be in the shadows is slapped.¡±


    Her brother stuck his head out from behind a wooden post. ¡°How much was that?¡±


    Igail unwound the string. ¡°Nothing. I swapped it for 1000 Frogs and Toads.¡±


    ¡°Aw, I liked that book. Had some good recipes in it.¡±


    ¡°You want it, you can buy it back for three crowns. Here.¡± She held out the string.


    ¡°Three crowns? I didn¡¯t like it that much. Hey, this isn¡¯t my string.¡±


    ¡°String is string.¡± She opened the book and let out a moan. ¡°Damn. I think I did that guy a favour. What is this rubbish?¡±


    The pages of the book were covered in scrawled handwriting and childish drawings of monsters with horns and wings and too many legs. Under each picture there were notes saying things like Winged Valyrn: smells like unbathed monkeys and Tall Demon: a tall demon.


    She snapped the book shut and put it back in the bag. ¡°Where are we supposed to meet them?¡±


    ¡°By the fountain in the square. I¡¯m hungry. Got any food, Iggy?¡±


    ¡°No. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They walked under the shop awnings to avoid the afternoon sun. The fountain in the main square was devoid of water, just a figure of a goat-boy in a large, empty basin. Igail sat on the rim, pulled up the hood of her cloak for a little protection, and took out the book. She alternately sighed and tutted as she turned the pages, each more preposterous than the last.


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    A shadow fell over her.


    ¡°Hey, you all alone out here? Sun¡¯s not good for your skin, you know? You should come with us, we know a nice shady spot.¡±


    She glanced up and then continued reading. ¡°Thanks for the advice.¡±


    In front of her stood four boys, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. The tallest held a wooden bat, one end resting on his shoulder. Another tossed a fist-sized ball up and down.


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll show you a good time.¡± The other boys sniggered. ¡°Nobody¡¯s around this time of day, no point waiting around here. Don¡¯t you want to have some fun?¡±


    Igail pushed her hood back. ¡°Titch! These boys are up for fun. Play with them.¡±


    ¡°Hey guys!¡±


    The boys turned around to find Titch standing behind them.


    ¡°Where did he come from?¡± said the one with the bat.


    ¡°What we playing?¡±


    ¡°Catch,¡± said the one with the ball. He hurled it at Titch¡¯s head.


    Considering the force of the throw and the short distance between them, it would take amazing reflexes to avoid getting beamed. Titch casually snatched the ball out of the air millimeters from impact. He rolled it around in his hand.


    ¡°Nice. Spongy. What¡¯s it made of, some kind of animal skin?¡± He bit into it. ¡°Is it lizard? Good weight to it. Here, catch.¡±


    His eyes were on the boy who had thrown it, but the ball flew at the boy furthest on the right. His hands never left his sides as the ball hit him in the face and bounced straight back into Titch¡¯s hand.


    There was a second¡¯s delay, and then the struck boy howled in pain and fell on his backside, both hands cupping his flattened nose.


    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to catch it with your face,¡± said Titch, grinning. He looked over to the other boys. ¡°This guy, what a joker, right?¡±


    ¡°Titch,¡± said Igail without looking up from the book, ¡°keep it one damage off lethal.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± said Titch. ¡°We¡¯re just having a laugh, aren¡¯t we, guys?¡±


    The boy with the bat didn¡¯t look very amused. He stepped forward holding the bat out in front of him. ¡°You did that on purpose.¡± He prodded the bat at Titch¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Obviously. That¡¯s the game, isn¡¯t it?¡± Titch plucked the bat from the boy¡¯s grasp and flipped it so the handle landed in his hand. He turned it vertical and balanced it on the end of his index finger. The bat wavered from side to side. ¡°Ooh, feels a bit off-balance. Might want to shave a little off this side.¡±


    He tossed the ball up, dropped the bat back into his palm and then struck the ball high into the air. Everyone tilted their heads back to watch the ball disappear, and then come hurtling back down. Titch stuck the bat out and caught the ball on the end, dipping it to kill the bounce.


    ¡°What are you doing, Titch?¡±


    They all turned as two older boys approached carrying large sacks over their shoulders. Gart had black hair that marked him out from his sandy-haired siblings, but other than that he looked the spit of his slightly shorter, younger brother walking alongside.


    Fen, who had spoken, dropped his sack. ¡°Are you playing bat and ball? What are you? Ten?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Titch. ¡°I¡¯m ten.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± said Fen. ¡°Still, ten¡¯s too old for kids¡¯ games. You want to play, play with this.¡± He drew a sword from its scabbard and tossed it over.


    Gart walked over to where Igail sat reading. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be watching him.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± said Igail, without looking up.


    Titch dropped the bat and caught the sword, swinging it with an easy grace. Fen pulled out two large daggers and clinked the blades together.


    The four boys who had been on the verge of starting a fight had somehow been reduced to spectators, with no idea what was going on. The cocky runt they had planned on teaching a lesson was facing off against a boy twice his size, with real weapons!


    Titch leaned back towards them. ¡°Hey guys, watch me take him down. It¡¯s going to be epic.¡± He charged forward, the sword raining down blows from all directions.


    With the advantage of height and reach, Fen parried easily, then launched his own attack, sparks flying as he beat the sword away and stabbed at his little brother.


    Titch danced and ducked, narrowly avoiding cuts and slices.


    Fen flicked the sword out of the way to land a kick. The sole of his boot struck Titch in the chest with a thud, sending him flying.


    The four boys winced in unison. Igail glanced up, rolled her eyes, then returned her attention to the book.


    As he hit the ground, Titch pushed his free hand into the dirt. Momentum levered him into a handstand, all the way over onto his feet. He sprang forward, leaping high, sword pointed at Fen¡¯s head.


    Fen dropped to his knees, raising his blades to slice through Titch¡¯s leather jerkin as he passed overhead. A small hand reached out and grabbed the bottom of one dagger hilt, wrenching it from Fen¡¯s grip.


    Titch landed in a somersault, rolling up onto his feet. He turned, the front of his jerkin ripped to shreds, one hand raised high holding Fen¡¯s dagger. ¡°Winner!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± said Fen, laughing. ¡°If that had been a real fight, I¡¯d have cut you from throat to belly button.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± said Titch. ¡°I¡¯d be dead, but I¡¯d have your dagger. I¡¯ve never got a weapon off you before. It¡¯s only a matter of time, now. You scared? You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Fen got to his feet and brushed himself off. ¡°I hate to think what kind of monster you¡¯re going to be when you¡¯re fully grown.¡± He took back the sword and dagger, resheathing both. He turned to the four boys. ¡°Any of you want a go?¡±


    The boys all shook their heads.


    ¡°Enough messing about,¡± said Gart. His voice carried none of the playfulness of his brothers. ¡°You know what Dad¡¯s like if we make him wait. Iggy, get up.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Fen picked up his dropped sack. ¡°Those two love being left alone. We¡¯ll probably walk in on them right in the middle of doing it.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± said Titch. ¡°Stop talking about them doing it. You¡¯re ruining my childhood.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s old,¡± said Gart, ignoring Titch¡¯s request. ¡°How many times a day do you think he can get it up? Iggy! Let¡¯s go.¡± He set off with Fen following suit.


    ¡°He¡¯s Davidor, Saviour of the World,¡± said Fen. ¡°Every hour, on the hour.¡±


    Titch had fingers in both ears. ¡°La, la, la, not listening.¡±


    Igail rose from her seat, walking forward with the book open. It was full of childish nonsense, but the last page had her transfixed. It was exactly what she had been searching for. She followed her brothers, nose in book.


    Titch turned and took his fingers out of his ears. ¡°Sorry, guys, we¡¯ve got to go. We¡¯ll play again next time. Bye!¡± He turned and jogged to catch up, fingers reinserted.


    The four boys watched them walk away.


    ¡°He said Davidor, right?¡± said the one with the bat. ¡°You heard him, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± said the one with the ball. ¡°Those were Davidor¡¯s kids.¡±


    The boy with the broken nose lowered his hands to reveal a blood encrusted mess. ¡°I god my dose broken by Davidorsh kid. Dat is so cool.¡±

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Two

    Davidor¡¯s four children left town through the East Gate and walked along the dusty road. Titch ran ahead. He disappeared into shrubs and thickets, leaping out with a small rodent or bird in his hand, which he released before disappearing again.


    Fen shifted the sack from one shoulder to the other. ¡°I don¡¯t know why we have to resupply now. They¡¯ll have plenty to eat in The Vale, won¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Dad won¡¯t eat their food,¡± said Gart.


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s not like they can poison him.¡±


    Their father had saved the world from the Demon God¡ªan immense black dragon¡ªand in the process had become Undeniable, a rare magical condition that made him impervious to harm. Not only poison, but stabbing, burning, drowning, had no effect on him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. He doesn¡¯t like the taste. That¡¯s why he never lets Mother cook.¡± Gart looked over his shoulder. Behind them, Igail followed while reading a book, oblivious to the world around her but still somehow managing to keep track of where she was going. He frowned and shook his head.


    ¡°Do you remember much about The Vale?¡± asked Fen.


    ¡°I remember everything,¡± said Gart.


    ¡°Do you? I can hardly remember any of it. I do recall a lot of pretty elf girls, though.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re imagining it. You never met any girls.¡±


    ¡°I must have. When we played with the other kids.¡±


    Gart glanced over at his brother. ¡°We never played with other kids. We weren¡¯t allowed.¡±


    ¡°Why would Mother not want¡ª¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t. Wasn¡¯t her decision.¡±


    Up ahead, a small fire indicated the site of their camp. Titch arrived first and immediately launched into recounting his recent exploits, most of which had only occurred in his imagination.


    Davidor sat near the fire with his back against a saddle. His shirt was open to the navel and his long, brown hair hung loose. Roona lay with her head on his lap, asleep.


    Fen let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Do you think they did it right by the side of the road?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± said Gart.


    ¡°Ah, there you are,¡± said Davidor as the two boys approached. ¡°I was just about to send out a search party.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d have been quicker if you¡¯d let us take the horses.¡± Gart dropped the sack at his father¡¯s feet.


    ¡°They need their rest. Long journey ahead of us.¡±


    Fen placed his sack next to the first. ¡°Some people might think you care more about horses than your own kids.¡±


    ¡°Depends on the horse,¡± said Davidor. He sat up, rousing Roona in the process.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back!¡± She hurried to her feet and hugged each son in turn.


    Igail wandered into camp, ignoring her mother¡¯s outstretched arms. She closed the book and put it in her bag. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get ready?¡±


    Roona took her daughter by the shoulders and forcefully pulled her into an embrace. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. It¡¯s not that big a deal.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± said Gart. ¡°Even if no one else wants to go back there.¡±


    ¡°When Dad said I could have whatever I wanted for my birthday, I don¡¯t remember him saying you had to want it, too.¡± She ended with a sneer, the way only a thirteen year old girl could.


    Gart stepped up to her. ¡°Been a while since we sparred. Want to go a couple of rounds?¡±


    She retreated a step but kept the scowl in place.


    Roona grabbed the back of Gart¡¯s collar and yanked him away. ¡°Stop bullying your sister.¡±


    Gart turned away to check the pot hanging over the fire, mumbling, ¡°Somebody has to.¡±


    As night set in, the two moons rose from opposite ends of the sky. They climbed to a zenith, one sitting on top of the other.


    The party of six, led by Gart on his grey mare, rode through an empty field down to the lake. The Moonlight Bridge waited for them, stretching out into the middle of the water. The hooves made muted clip-clops against the chalky, white stone as they crossed the bridge towards the shimmering archway.


    Gart stopped a few metres from the arch and dismounted. The others came to a halt behind him, waiting to see why. He took a package tied to the back of his saddle and unwrapped it, revealing his bow. He strung it, tested the string with a few twangs, and then pulled it over his head. He took a quiver of arrows hanging from his saddle and attached it to his belt. Then he  drew his sword, grabbed an oily rag from his boot, and wiped the blade a couple of times before resheathing it.


    ¡°Are you expecting a fight, son?¡± asked Davidor.


    ¡°Always,¡± replied Gart, before remounting.


    ¡°They¡¯re your people, too,¡± said Roona.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t my people,¡± said Gart. ¡°They¡¯re just my relatives.¡± He clucked for his horse to start moving and passed through the archway into The Vale.


    ***


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected you back so soon,¡± said Queen Lyr, thirteen years not being a very long time in Elven terms. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been busy.¡±


    ¡°Granny! Granny! Look at me!¡±


    Queen Lyr turned, her red gown swirling about her, and looked up the wall. She stood in the middle of the Assembly, the large meeting chamber of the Elven people. Behind her were the three Seats of Power, thrones carved from the rock, their backs rising to the high ceiling and merging with the wall. Halfway up the back of the middle seat, Titch clung to tiny fissures in the wall by his fingertips.


    ¡°Very good, dear.¡± She returned her attention to Roona, who stood with Davidor on one side and the children on the other. ¡°Does he have to do that on the Seat of Power? It¡¯s somewhat disrespectful.¡±


    ¡°There are no climbers in my family.¡± Davidor spread his arms wide. ¡°He must get it from your side.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Roona. ¡°Because the Elven are well known for their ability to scale walls like spiders, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Possibly,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Your bunch are so secretive, it wouldn¡¯t surprise me.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°Did you come here just to squabble?¡±


    Igail stepped forward. ¡°Grandmother, we are here because of me. My mother has told me about the Great Library and the wonders it contains. I wanted to see it for myself, if only once. Will you grant me permission to enter the library?¡±


    The Queen looked Igail over and smiled. ¡°At least one of your offspring is a little cultured. If anyone takes after our side, it¡¯s her. Come, child.¡±


    She led them through a tunnel lit by glowing veins in the walls. Davidor and family followed¡ªTitch having been prised off the wall¡ªand six fully armoured Elven soldiers brought up the rear.


    ¡°This place you¡¯re taking us to, dangerous, is it?¡± asked Davidor.


    ¡°No,¡± said the Queen. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°The armed escort. Seems a bit extreme for a trip to the library.¡±


    ¡°They are my personal guard. For all I know, you may have come to fulfill your promise and take my life.¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡± said Roona. ¡°Don¡¯t be so ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Davidor, ¡°she¡¯s right. It¡¯s possible. Although, I have no idea what her suicide squad would do about it.¡±


    The soldiers stamped the ground a little harder as they marched in perfect unison.


    They entered a vestibule, the end of which opened into a large cavern lined with rows after row of shelves, each stuffed to overflowing with books. More books lay in piles on the floor, stacked to waist height or higher.


    It was an awe-inspiring sight, shelves that receded into the distance, disappearing into shadow where they might extend into eternity.


    Igail stepped forward, mouth open. ¡°How can there be so many?¡±


    A small, plump Elven woman appeared from a side room. She bowed before the Queen.


    ¡°Sylvie, this is my¡­ grandaughter. She wishes to see the Great Library. Will you give her a tour?¡±


    The woman glanced over at Igail and reacted with shock. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s a¡ªI mean, yes, of course. Follow me.¡± She turned and headed off towards the shelves, picking up a lantern on the way.


    Igail hurried after her. The others remained where they stood.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°You don¡¯t wish to see one of the great marvels of this world?¡± the Queen asked them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass,¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen it,¡± said Roona.


    ¡°Boring,¡± said Titch.


    Fen smiled and shrugged, while Gart glowered at the soldiers.


    ¡°Very well,¡± said the Queen. ¡°You can wait in here.¡±


    She led them to the room the librarian had come from. Inside was a large wooden table with chairs on all sides.


    ¡°I can have some food brought to you.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I came prepared.¡± He upturned the sack in his hand and emptied the foodstuffs it contained onto the pristine tabletop. ¡°Who fancies a sandwich?¡±


    ***


    Two hours later, Igail returned, her face downcast, tears welling in her eyes.


    Fen and Titch both slept with their heads on the table. Gart sharpened his sword with a small stone. Davidor dozed in a chair.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± said Roona as soon as she saw Igail.


    Igail turned to the librarian standing beside her. ¡°Could you send a message to the Queen, asking her to come here?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said the librarian, quickly exiting.


    Roona rushed over and put her arms around Igail. ¡°Sweetheart, what is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so big,¡± said Igail with a sob. ¡°It¡¯s just so big.¡±


    The Queen arrived shortly, flanked by her personal guard. The others had woken, more or less, and gathered around the embracing mother and daughter, unsure what was going on.


    ¡°I¡¯m not used to being summoned, but I assume you are ready to leave.¡± The Queen had changed into an even more elaborate outfit of white and gold.


    Igail let go of her mother. ¡°No. I¡¯ve decided to stay.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The Queen looked from Roona to Davidor, but both had been rendered speechless. ¡°For how long?¡±


    ¡°Until the next full moons. I never thought the library would be so huge, I need more time to explore it. The law states you need a blessing from an Elder to leave, but anyone who crosses the bridge can stay as long as they want. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    The Queen wrung her hands together. ¡°But I¡¯m sure your parents¡­¡± She looked to Roona who snapped out of her daze.


    ¡°Igail, what are you saying? You can¡¯t stay here.¡±


    ¡°Why not? When Gart was my age, you left him alone in the mountains for a month.¡±


    ¡°Yes, for a month. And we were only a few hours away. If you stay, you¡¯ll be out of reach for a year!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Elven, Mother. What¡¯s a year? I want to do this. There¡¯s so much I can learn here.¡±


    Roona¡¯s face turned from concerned to resolute. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll all stay.¡±


    ¡°No, we won¡¯t!¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay,¡± said Roona.


    Davidor took Roona by the arm and pulled her towards him. ¡°I know how you feel, but she isn¡¯t a child and she won¡¯t come to any harm here. She wants to spend a year reading books.¡±


    ¡°No. I won¡¯t leave her.¡±


    ¡°Roona, listen to me. Keeping them safe under your wing means they¡¯ll never learn to fly. She wants to do this for some reason. I can¡¯t say I fully understand it, but I have faith in her judgement. If she says it¡¯s what she wants, then let her.¡±


    There was a time when Roona knew no fear. She risked death on a daily basis without the slightest concern for herself or those around her. But having children changed all that. She looked from Davidor to Igail and back again. ¡°Why did you have to make me a mother. It¡¯s nothing but agony.¡±


    The Queen smiled. ¡°Oh, Roona, finally I think you understand what it is to have a daughter. Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll be fine, I give you my word.¡±


    ***


    Igail stood in the chambers that had once belonged to her mother. Her possessions lay on the large bed that took up most of the room. Some clothes, a few bags, her weapons. This would be her home for the next year. The others were preparing to leave. Once she saw them off, she would be on her own for the first time in her life.


    She turned around to find Gart standing in the doorway, holding a bunch of books. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re playing at?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not playing.¡± Igail knew her brother didn¡¯t approve of what she was doing. He had spent the first six years of his life in The Vale. He rarely spoke about it, and when he did, it wasn¡¯t fondly. But that was his problem, not hers. ¡°I need to do this, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Gart tossed the books on the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what fanciful ideas you¡¯ve got from reading your books, but the Elven aren¡¯t what you think. They¡¯re cruel and selfish and they only look out for their own. And they don¡¯t see you as one of them.¡±


    The books were all children¡¯s stories and fairy tales. Igail hadn¡¯t read them since she was little. She had forgotten she even owned them. ¡°I don¡¯t care about the Elven. They don¡¯t interest me. But they have knowledge, a lot of it, and I intend to take it from them. How they feel about me is irrelevant.¡±


    ¡°You think it will be that easy, living among them? Me and Fen grew up here. Trust me, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ahem. Excuse me.¡± An elf stood in the doorway. ¡°The Queen awaits you at the entrance to the bridge. I was sent to fetch you.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± said Gart. ¡°Wait outside, we¡¯ll be a moment.¡±


    ¡°But the Queen is wai¡ª¡±


    Gart turned to him and spoke in Elven. Igail could understand what he said as she had been taught by her mother, but this was a dialect she had never heard before, harsher and more direct. Yet, from the elf¡¯s reaction, she had little doubt what it was.


    The elf stared at Gart, his face blanched to an even paler white. ¡°Yes, my Lord. I will wait outside.¡± He bowed and backed out of the room.


    ¡°How do you know the royal tongue?¡± Igail asked Gart.


    ¡°I am Elven first born of the royal blood, of course I know the royal tongue. That¡¯s how this world operates, those who are deemed worthy and those who aren¡¯t. Nobody earns their position, and nobody gets what they deserve, good or bad. Iggy, don¡¯t be seduced by their pretty dresses and thousands of years of tradition. It¡¯s all bullshit.¡±


    ¡°I know that. I¡¯m here for my own reasons.¡±


    ¡°Good. Because when we come back in a year¡¯s time, I¡¯m taking you out of here if I have to drag you out by the hair.¡±


    Igail had no intention of staying any longer than she had to, but her brother¡¯s overbearing attitude annoyed her no end.


    ¡°And what if I find myself a nice Elven prince and get married in the meantime?¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯ll be leaving a widow.¡± Gart turned and walked out of the room.


    They followed the still shaken elf back to the main hall where Queen Lyr waited with the rest of the family. Gart ignored everyone and mounted his horse, more than ready to leave. Igail embraced Fen and then Titch, who resisted, but not too much.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let them bully you,¡± she said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± said Fen. ¡°We¡¯ll go easy on him.¡±


    Titch scowled at his brother. ¡°I think she was talking to you.¡±


    Igail hugged her mother, who seemed like she wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t get the words out. Then she hugged her father and whispered something in his ear that made him laugh.


    ¡°You can count on me,¡± he said after releasing her.


    They all climbed into their saddles and set off down the tunnel. With a final look back over her shoulder, Roona Set Neer, First Warrior of the Elven Horde, the legendary Elf Without Mercy, stifled a sob and passed through the archway.


    Outside, the moons had begun their descent and the bridge appeared a great deal less substantial than it had. Fortunately, it still bore their weight as they crossed back to the world of humans. Roona rode alongside Davidor, who whistled merrily.


    ¡°What did she whisper in your ear?¡± she asked him.


    Davidor smiled. ¡°She said, ¡®Don¡¯t forget to come back for me.¡¯¡±


    They stepped off the bridge and turned to see it fade away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you one thing,¡± said Davidor. ¡°If anything happens to that girl, I¡¯ll kill every last one of them.¡±


    Roona said nothing, but in her heart she knew what he said wasn¡¯t true. Because if anything happened to her daughter, she would kill them all herself.

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Three

    One year later


    Titch sat on the bank holding a fishing rod. He had decided a lake that spawned a magic bridge once a year must also have other magical properties, including monster fish. So far he¡¯d caught nothing.


    They had arrived two days earlier after spending the last year fighting the hill bandits for which the local area was infamous. Roona, in particular, punished these outlaws with a viciousness that made even Davidor wince. To the point the bandits would abandon their hideouts as soon as news of the Murder Elf¡¯s approach reached them.


    The family of five travelled from one end of the province to the other and back again, but never more than a few days ride from the lake. The missing sixth member was always in Roona¡¯s thoughts, and concern had become a permanent feature of her face. Instead of his usual relentless teasing, Davidor responded to her irritable snapping with gentle reassurance. Titch considered them both to be on the threshold of senility. Only old people worried so much about things they could do nothing about.


    Bubbles surfaced around the bobbing lump of cheese attached to Titch¡¯s string, but nothing happened. Worms, centipedes, chunks of bread¡ªhe had tried them all with little success. The double full moons would appear in a few hours and he was determined to catch something awesome before then.


    ¡°What if I used a rabbit as bait?¡± he asked the figure lying beside him.


    Fen lifted the handkerchief covering his face, his head murky from a daydream about a redhead he met in West Noreen. Or possibly North Weleen. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The bigger the bait, the bigger the fish, right?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± said Fen. ¡°Why not chuck in one of the horses? You¡¯ll probably catch a whale.¡±


    Titch turned to his other side. ¡°Hey, Gart. Gart. GART!¡±


    Gart, who was only an arm¡¯s length away, stopped sharpening his sword. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the best way to hook a big fish?¡±


    ¡°Send it a note saying you¡¯ll meet it under the clocktower at sunset, and don¡¯t turn up. Only works on really dumb fish, though.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Fen sat up. ¡°She didn¡¯t turn up because something must have happened. You don¡¯t always have to assume the worst about people, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± said Gart. ¡°Something came up right when you ran out of money.¡± He stuck a finger in his mouth and hooked his cheek to the side.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Fen fell backwards onto the grass. ¡°I¡¯m the only one in this family with any romance in his soul¡ªhow is it I¡¯m so unlucky in love?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re using the wrong bait,¡± said Titch.


    Fen looked at his little brother through narrowed eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t talk stupid. I am the bait, what could be better than me?¡± He slapped the handkerchief back on his face and tried to picture the clocktower girl, whose name escaped him for the moment.


    ¡°Titch,¡± said Gart, ¡°did you finish sharpening your throwing knives?¡±


    ¡°Of course. All done.¡±


    ¡°Where are they? In your saddlebag?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Why?¡±


    Gart got to his feet. ¡°Because if I don¡¯t cut my finger just looking at them, I¡¯m going to throw you in the lake and see if I can¡¯t catch myself a more reliable sibling.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait.¡± Titch dropped the fishing rod and scrambled to his feet. ¡°There was one that wasn¡¯t quite as sharp as I¡¯d like, I¡¯ll just give it a quick polish.¡± He sprinted past Gart.


    Gart followed him into the small camp they¡¯d set up around a fire pit. He raised his sword and ran his eye along the blade. Sharp enough to cut a floating blade of grass, but grass rarely attacked him. Steel armour was more likely to be his target, and the sharper the edge the better. He tried to recall where he¡¯d put his collection of whetstones as he slid the sword into its scabbard, and nearly walked into his mother.


    The top of Roona¡¯s head barely reached Gart¡¯s chin, but his advantage in stature made the look in her eyes no less terrifying.


    ¡°Your sword¡¯s sharp enough,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re going to collect Igail, and then we¡¯ll leave. No fighting will be required.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, you don¡¯t know your daughter. The sooner you marry her off to some unsuspecting dolt, the sooner she¡¯ll be someone else¡¯s problem and not ours.¡±


    Roona slapped her palms onto his chest. It took all his strength not to take a step back.


    ¡°Gart, you used to adore her when she was little¡ªwhat happened?¡±


    ¡°What happened was you and Dad did a terrible job raising her. You spoilt her rotten, let her think she could do no wrong and let her read too many books. Far too many.¡±


    Roona¡¯s stern glare turned quizzical. ¡°You think reading¡¯s the problem?¡±


    ¡°It is when it fills her head with crazy ideas.¡± Gart raised a finger on either side of his head and twirled them around. ¡°Heroic princesses, kingdoms needing to be saved, magical squirrels who do the laundry¡ªwhen princesses are brats, kingdoms are just a collection of idiots, and squirrels are terrible at housework.¡±


    He placed his hands on his mother¡¯s shoulders. ¡°There¡¯s zero chance she went into the The Vale without knowing the exact size of the Great Library, and a plan to stay there. She¡¯s had a whole year to come up with part two of whatever ridiculous scheme she¡¯s been working on. We¡¯re not going to be able to out-think her¡ªviolence is our only option. You go for her legs and I¡¯ll put her in an arm bar. If we can stop her getting to her daggers, I think we can take her.¡±


    Roona placed her hand on the side of Gart¡¯s face. ¡°Your father used to do that too, make light of a situation to make me feel better. I know you¡¯re worried about her¡ªI am too¡ªbut we have to let her make her own decisions, even if they have disastrous consequences.¡± She gave him a sharp pat on the cheek and lowered her hand. ¡°In any case, she¡¯s been able to slip out of your holds since she was seven. You¡¯ll have to come up with a better plan than that.¡± She turned and walked back to the fire.


    Gart sighed. His birth had changed his mother¡¯s life forever, separating her from the world she came from. He endeavoured to try and put a smile on her face whenever he could, but rarely succeeded.


    ¡°Secret mother-son meeting?¡± asked Davidor.


    Gart turned to find his father standing there, eating a large, juicy plum. ¡°How is it I can never catch you sneaking up on me?¡±


    ¡°We all have our blindspots,¡± said Davidor. ¡°The bigger question is why you haven¡¯t noticed the army about to descend on us?¡±


    ¡°Army? Where?¡± Gart looked around but other than his family, the meadow appeared empty.


    Davidor pointed at the horizon. ¡°Birds have been scattering in that direction for about an hour. Judging by the frequency, more than a hundred men. They should get here around nightfall.¡±


    Gart gazed intently at the birds wheeling freely in the distance. ¡°How can you tell how many there are from a few birds flying around?¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t,¡± called out Roona. ¡°He knows we aren¡¯t the only ones aiming to cross the Moonlight Bridge. The 1st Legion of the Horde will be returning after three years on patrol. He¡¯s teasing you.¡±


    Davidor shook his head sorrowfully. ¡°Elven. No sense of fun.¡±


    Titch ran towards them with three small daggers in his fist and a whetstone in his other hand, haphazardly sharpening everything at once. ¡°The 1st Legion? They must be pretty good, right? The best of the best. I could join them as a scout or something. Just for a year, like Iggy.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see,¡± said Davidor. ¡°You could try asking their commander. He¡¯s considered the greatest Elven warrior, after your mother, of course. Jimnar Set Neer, the Crusher of Hopes and Dreams.¡±


    Gart looked closely at his father¡¯s grinning face trying to determine what, if anything, to believe. ¡°Set Neer?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Your mother¡¯s little brother.¡±


    Gart turned towards his mother, confused. ¡°You never mentioned you had a brother.¡±


    Roona straightened from tending the fire and rolled her shoulders. ¡°We aren¡¯t very close. He¡¯s always resented me for being born first. And he isn¡¯t the crusher of hopes and dreams, his title is garel fel tesu. There isn¡¯t a direct translation, but literally it means the one who destroys the enemy¡¯s hope.¡±


    ¡°My version¡¯s catchier.¡± Davidor turned his head and spat out a plum stone. It sailed through the air, over the lake. A large fish, pig-snouted with glossy red scales glinting in the afternoon sun, leapt out of the water and snapped the stone in its tusked jaws. It disappeared with a splash.


    ¡°My fish!¡± yelled Titch, running towards the water.


    ***


    The 1st Legion arrived well after dark, heralded by the clank of armour and the occasional waft of horse dung on the breeze. Two hundred men, marching behind six riders on fierce warhorses, filed into the meadow.


    Both moons had risen but hadn¡¯t reached their zenith. The lake glittered under their light. The bridge had yet to appear. Davidor and his family had broken camp and were readying their horses when the Legion¡¯s lead group stopped a few metres away and a voice called out a greeting in Elven.


    Roona climbed into her saddle and returned the greeting.


    A horse left the group and walked forward. The rider was a large elf, wrapped in a voluminous cloak allowing occasional glimpses of the metallic strips woven into the clothing beneath. His horse snorted as it came to a stop almost nose to nose with Roona¡¯s mare.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    The cloaked rider had a long face and sharp features. His hair was bunched into a top knot, spouting like a small fountain from the centre of his head. ¡°I heard you¡¯d be here tonight. It¡¯s been a while, Sister.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s good to hear your voice after all this time. The Legion looks as impressive as I remember.¡± Roona turned her horse a little and called out, ¡°1st Legion! Zee-KAH!¡±


    A resounding ¡°Zee-KAH!¡± was returned in unison by the Legion.


    ¡°It seems they remember you, too,¡± said Jimnar.


    ¡°Greetings, Crusher,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I like your hair. It makes your head look like a pineapple.¡±


    Jimnar closed his eyes for a moment and then turned to look at Davidor. ¡°Is that supposed to be an insult, Saviour?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I like pineapples. They¡¯re delicious.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Jimi!¡± Titch bounded in front of Davidor.


    ¡°I am Jimnar Set Neer, and Elven address their elder relatives par ni, as a mark of respect.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Uncle Jimi,¡± said Titch. ¡°I¡¯m your nephew, call me erratu jem tar.¡±


    The Elven words drew a confused look from the supreme commander of the 1st Legion. ¡°You want me to call you ¡®The Midget Under the Table¡¯?¡±


    ¡°What? No. That¡¯s not¡­¡± Titch turned and pointed at Fen, who was sniggering into his hand. ¡°You told me it meant ¡®Ghost in the Shadows¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Whoops,¡± said Fen. ¡°My Elven¡¯s a bit rusty.¡±


    Titch stomped towards his brother, pulling out a dagger in each hand. Davidor grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back to his side.


    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been fighting the last of the Undead in the northern mountains,¡± said Davidor. ¡°All done?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Jimnar. ¡°Did it even occur to you when you killed the Demon God what would happen to his minions without anyone to control them?¡±


    ¡°Was a little bit busy at the time, saving the world and whatnot.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, luckily we pushed them back to the snowline, where they broke rank and scattered.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Davidor¡¯s usual mocking tone had become one of true annoyance. ¡°Undead don¡¯t run away. If they fell back it means someone ordered them to.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± said Roona. ¡°If someone¡¯s able to control them, the next attack might not be the unorganized mobs you¡¯ve had to deal with so far.¡±


    Jimnar, irritated by the implication he had missed the obvious, retorted venomously. ¡°Thank you for your advice, Sister, but since you abandoned your duties as First Warrior, I think it best you stick with what you do best¡ªraising your mongrel offspring and being this halfwit¡¯s personal slu¡ªarghhhh!¡±


    Jimnar¡¯s cry of pain as the arrow hit him in the leg was followed by the sound of two hundred swords being drawn.


    Davidor turned to see Gart holding his bow. It was no easy task to draw and fire a bow silently, but Gart had developed the ability to catch the bow string after releasing it, reducing the sound to no more than a soft exhalation of breath.


    ¡°Did that boy just shoot me?¡± Jimnar had one hand held up, stopping his men from attacking. ¡°Is this how you raised an heir to the Seat of Power?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Roona. ¡°I taught him one shot, one kill. Apparently he chose to disregard my training. Now stop whining. It¡¯s just an arrow to the knee. I¡¯ve suffered worse trimming my nails.¡±


    Jimnar pulled the arrow out with a grunt and tossed it away. ¡°True. But you¡¯ve always been¡ª¡±


    ¡°Insult my mother again,¡± said Gart, ¡°and I¡¯ll take both your eyes. Feel free to insult my father as much as you like. And you don¡¯t have to worry, Uncle. I have no intention of claiming my place as Elven Elder.¡±


    ¡°Whether you intend it or not,¡± said Jimnar, ¡°your entitlement is already assured. You will one day lead the Elven nation, and on that day, I am sure, an eternal darkness will fall on our people.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± said Davidor, ¡°you should probably tell your legion to stand down. It would be an awful shame for them to all die this close to home.¡±


    Roona stood in her stirrups and barked out a stream of harsh-sounding, guttural words. The soldiers all immediately sheathed their swords and stepped back into formation.


    ¡°Neat trick,¡± said Davidor. ¡°What language was that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the royal tongue,¡± said Gart. ¡°All Elven are bound to obey. It¡¯s only spoken by the first born of the royal blood.¡±


    ¡°Handy.¡± Davidor turned to Jimnar. ¡°I guess that means you¡¯re not allowed to use it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Jimnar, as a stiff breeze came in across the lake and blew his cloak out behind him. ¡°Not unless my sister dies.¡±


    Gart drew and nocked another arrow.


    A white flash filled the lake as the bridge materialised, one moment a reflection on the surface, the next, solid stone. All heads turned to watch, apart from Gart and Jimnar.


    ¡°If you wish to shoot me, child, do so. Or do you only attack when people aren¡¯t looking.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Gart, ¡°I want to ask you a question. You¡¯re coming from the northern mountains. Did the journey take you through the Kanas Desert?¡±


    Jimnar raised an eyebrow at the unexpected query. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the shortest route. Why?¡±


    ¡°Fen, lock down the horse. Titch, take his cloak.¡±


    The two brothers leapt into action before Gart had finished giving out the order. Fen grabbed the horse¡¯s bridle. It tried to pull its head away, but he yanked it down hard and held it low.


    Titch jumped up, catching the end of the billowing cloak, and pulled hard. Riders¡¯ cloaks were designed to come away easily so they couldn¡¯t be used to force a dismount in battle. The cloak snapped free and wound itself around Titch¡¯s spinning body until he was all cloak and feet.


    Gart loosed the arrow, not bothering to smother its twang. The arrow struck the rear of Jimnar¡¯s saddle. He didn¡¯t flinch, although whether because he didn¡¯t have time or his pride wouldn¡¯t allow it, it would be hard to say. He turned and looked at the arrow and then back at Gart.


    Gart lowered his bow and walked forward, bending down to pick up the dropped arrow on the way. When he reached Jimnar¡¯s horse, he grabbed the shaft sticking out from the saddle and pulled it out. He turned the tip towards Jimnar. Skewered on the point was a scorpion, the length of a finger, its legs still flailing.


    ¡°Even a child knows you don¡¯t pass through the Kanas Desert without checking for lurker scorpions.¡± Gart spun the arrow, showing off the scorpions swollen underside. ¡°Egg sac looks about ready to burst.¡±


    Jimnar¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Not that an infestation would have killed everyone in The Vale. Just the children. Then, Uncle, you would truly be the destroyer of all hope.¡±


    Gart pointed the arrow at the ground and used the toe of his boot to slide the scorpion off, before stamping it with his heel.


    Jimnar turned to look at the rider behind and nodded. The rider rose in his stirrups and yelled, ¡°1st Legion! STRIP!¡±


    The men began tearing off their armour and rummaging through their packs in search of concealed danger. Elven curses rang out as hidden vermin were discovered and smashed underfoot.


    Roona walked her horse past Jimnar. ¡°We¡¯ll go on ahead. Make sure you¡¯ve found them all before entering.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I can¡¯t believe I could have¡­¡± Even in the moonlight it was possible to see the shock of what he¡¯d almost done had robbed his face of all colour.


    ¡°Leave him alone,¡± shouted Titch, now wearing the cloak although it ran behind him more like a bridal train. ¡°It isn¡¯t his fault. None of you know what it¡¯s like to have a sister who treats you like a kid and steals the string you¡¯ve been saving for important experiments. Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Jimi, you can count on me. I¡¯ll make sure nothing like this happens again. I¡¯ve got my own horse, I just need one of those fancy outfits. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a bit big, I¡¯ll grow into ieeeee¡ª¡±


    Fen grabbed Titch under the armpits and yanked him off his feet, pulling off the cloak and dropping it to the ground. He carried the squirming boy over to his horse.


    ¡°Commander! Your man is being kidnapped. Save me!¡±


    Gart mounted his horse and followed his parents towards the bridge. He stopped by Jimnar. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never wanted an Elven title like you and mother. Elf without mercy, destroyer of hope, always thought they were kind of silly. But I¡¯ve changed my mind. Sufu sar kam. Thank you for naming me, Uncle.¡± He rode on, leaving Jimnar open-mouthed.


    ¡°Sufu sar kam,¡± repeated Titch. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Fen pulled Titch¡¯s horse closer to his to ensure no last minute dash for freedom. He frowned. ¡°It means ¡®The Eternal Darkness¡¯.¡±

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Four

    There had been a time when the full moons brought pilgrims from far and wide to visit The Vale. Traders and tourists, statesmen and kings, would gather to wait for the appearance of the bridge, before crossing over to spend a festive night with the Elven. But those days were long gone.


    Davidor and his family¡¯s entry into The Vale a year ago had attracted little attention. The Elven had gone about their business without so much as a nod hello. So it was something of a surprise, this time, when Davidor emerged from the gloom of the tunnel to be met by rapturous applause and cheering from an immense crowd.


    Of course, the warm welcome fizzled to a disappointed murmur once they realised it wasn¡¯t their beloved 1st Legion.


    A soldier ran past Davidor and stopped in front of Roona¡¯s horse as she slid off her saddle and set foot on the ground she had once called home.


    ¡°Welcome back, First Warrior.¡± The soldier was wearing the fancy armour of the Royal Guard, all red epaulets and gold fringe. ¡°The Queen will greet you in the Great Library.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but that title no longer belongs to me.¡± She handed him the reins.  ¡°Take care of the horses, will you?¡±


    The soldier nodded and signalled to the soldiers behind him. ¡°Your escort, First... I mean, Lady Roona.¡±


    The others dismounted, apart from Titch who hopped up onto his saddle and stood with hands raised. ¡°People of The Vale! As the newest member of the 1st Legion, I thank¡ª¡±


    Fen yanked him off the saddle and carried him away over his shoulder. The crowd parted to allow them through, escorted by soldiers on all sides.


    Gart walked quickly, forcing the soldiers to match his pace. Fen walked beside him with Titch in between them, jogging to keep up.


    ¡°Why are you walking so fast?¡± Titch complained. ¡°We don¡¯t all have stupidly long legs.¡±


    ¡°The faster we get her, the sooner we leave.¡± Gart looked over his shoulder at his parents following at a more leisurely pace with the rearguard. ¡°Why do we have to go all the way to the library? She should have been waiting for us at the entrance, bags packed.¡±


    ¡°You know why,¡± said Fen. ¡°She¡¯s up to something. Personally, I¡¯m looking forward to finding out what it is. Your problem is, you don¡¯t understand how girls think.¡±


    ¡°And you do?¡± said Gart, incredulous. ¡°You can¡¯t even remember their names.¡±


    ¡°She has to be devious because otherwise no one listens to her, even when it¡¯s something worth hearing.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± said Gart. ¡°I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    ¡°See?" said Fen. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what it is and you¡¯re already dismissing her. It¡¯s not nice being ignored, you know?¡±


    Gart glanced over at Fen. ¡°Yes, I know. I¡¯m still not doing it.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± said Titch. ¡°I¡¯m going to help her.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± said Gart. ¡°I thought big sisters were a pain.¡±


    ¡°They are,¡± said Titch. ¡°But it¡¯s got to be better than sitting around watching bandits beg for mercy.¡±


    The soldiers left them at the entrance to the Great Library. The librarian beckoned them towards a door. ¡°The Queen is on her way. Your daughter is in here.¡±


    Inside the room, Igail sat at a large table piled high with books of varying sizes.  A well-dressed elf stood behind her chair, his posture stiff, eyes alert. As soon as she saw her family, Igail jumped up, smiling. She was wearing a green gown, embroidered with gold silk, and her hair had grown out, hanging in ringlets.


    ¡°You¡¯re back! I¡¯m so glad to see you all.¡± She ran to hug Davidor and Roona in a wide embrace. She ignored her brothers and returned to her chair, where she linked arms with the young elf. ¡°Everyone, I want you to meet my husband.¡±


    Igail¡¯s eyes, brimming with excitement, went from face to face. Each was a picture of utter disbelief, none more so than the elf whose arm she had grabbed.


    ¡°Not really!¡± She released the arm. ¡°I¡¯m joking.¡± She pointed at Gart¡¯s face, which had turned an odd shade of green. ¡°Got you!¡±


    There was a moment of confusion as everyone looked at each other, and then Davidor roared with laughter. ¡°That¡¯s my girl! You should have seen your faces.¡±


    Roona scowled at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t exactly look overjoyed, yourself.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Davidor. ¡°That¡¯s what makes it a good gag. Well done, Iggy.¡±


    ¡°So who is he?¡± said Gart, once he¡¯d taken a few deep breaths.


    ¡°No idea,¡± said Igail. ¡°I think he works in the kitchen.¡±


    The elf, who had remained open-mouthed since being announced as Igail¡¯s new groom, pulled himself together. He stepped forward and bowed his head. His garments were beautifully tailored, accessorised with a short brocade cloak and jewelled bracelets on each wrist¡ªhardly the outfit of a kitchen skivvy.


    ¡°Lady Roona, I am Retyl den Fak. The Queen asked me to ensure Lady Igail was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy while she visited with us.¡±


    ¡°Kind of young for a bodyguard, aren¡¯t you?¡± said Davidor. The elf looked to be in his twenties. In Elven terms he would be considered a teenager.


    Retyl turned to face Davidor and bowed his head again. ¡°Saviour, it is an honour to meet you. The Queen felt someone around the same age would be¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Igail. ¡°So that¡¯s why you were always hanging around the library? You¡¯re not one of the kitchen staff?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Retyl.


    ¡°But why were you always offering to get me something to eat or drink?¡±


    Retyl shrugged. ¡°Manners?¡±


    There was a commotion at the doorway and Queen Lyr came in, followed by a retinue of guards who fanned out behind her and took up positions along the walls.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here. Good. As you can see, my granddaughter is perfectly fine, as promis¡ª¡± The Queen did a double-take. ¡°Wearing a dress, for a change. Most of the time she¡¯s been wandering the stacks in hunting gear. You look quite lovely, dear.¡±


    ¡°I am grateful to you for watching over her, Mother,¡± said Roona. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re all very grateful,¡± said Gart. ¡°But now that Lady Igail has seen the Great Library, can we go?¡±


    Gart¡¯s tetchy outburst drew everyone¡¯s attention, but he wasn¡¯t cowed by the disapproving looks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, am I being rude to the people who treated me like I didn¡¯t exist for the first six years of my life?¡±


    The Queen clasped her hands together and winced. ¡°Gart, I¡¯m sorry if¡ª¡±


    Gart stepped past her. ¡°Iggy, where¡¯s your stuff?¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± said Igail, ¡°there is something else I need to tell all of you.¡±


    Gart growled. ¡°I knew it.¡±


    ¡°Come on, now.¡± Fen placed a hand on Gart¡¯s shoulder and pushed him down into a chair. ¡°Let¡¯s hear her out. I could do with some entertainment.¡± He took the seat next to him and put his feet up on the table, leaving a deep scratch in the flawless surface.


    Igail sent a grateful nod in Fen¡¯s direction. She flattened down the front of her dress and cleared her throat. ¡°While I was going through the books in the library I came across some interesting information. We¡¯re about to be attacked by an enemy. There¡¯s no need to worry, though. This time, we can stop him before he gets to full strength.¡±


    ¡°This time?¡± said Davidor. ¡°Who is this enemy?¡±


    ¡°The Demon God. Wait¡ª¡± She quickly tried to cut off the protests before they began. ¡°I know you already killed him, but it turns out gods don¡¯t really die, they just wait to be reborn.¡±


    ¡°And you read about this in a book?¡± asked Roona.


    ¡°Yes. This one.¡± Igail rested a hand on the largest book on the table. If she picked it up, it would shield her from neck to waist.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°This is a book that predicts the future?¡± asked the Queen. She stepped forward and opened the giant tome. Columns of small, neatly written numbers covered the pages. The Queen turned to the next page, and the next, but they all looked the same.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t make sense to me at first, either,¡± admitted Igail. ¡°But, it¡¯s actually a detailed history of the Demon God¡¯s appearances, cross-referenced against dates and astronomical positions.¡±


    Titch, who had taken a seat next to Fen, raised his hand as though wanting to ask a question in class. ¡°Can I go watch the 1st Legion¡¯s arrival? I¡¯ll come back when Iggy¡¯s finished being boring.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were going to help her,¡± said Fen, elbowing him in the side of the head.


    ¡°I will,¡± said Titch, rubbing his temple, ¡°with fun stuff¡ªnot homework.¡±


    Davidor placed a hand on Titch¡¯s head and ruffled his hair. ¡°Now, son, this could be important.¡±


    Igail clenched her fists and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this right. Let me just tell you what I found out. The Demon God has a thing for dragons. He comes back as one nearly every time. Dragon eggs take a long time to make, that¡¯s why he only reappears after such a long time, but there are ways of speeding up the process.¡±


    Titch raised his hand again. ¡°Don¡¯t you need a dragon to lay a dragon egg?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Igail. ¡°Dragons are creatures of magic and their eggs have to be constructed. The Church of the Demon God was established for this purpose. The priests are trained to use their life-force, their mana, to form the egg. The closer they get to death, the more pure and powerful their mana becomes. If they¡¯re willing to die for their god, they can create an egg in a few years.¡±


    Davidor picked up a book from the table. ¡°And you worked all this out by yourself?¡±


    ¡°No, I had help,¡± said Igail. ¡°He was supposed to be here, but he¡¯s very forgetful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯ve never missed an important meeting in my life,¡± said a voice from behind her. A tall and thin elf with long white hair plaited down to his waist and a beard of matching length, entered the room. His face was lined and wrinkled, an unusual thing to see on an Elven, but then he was over a thousand years old.


    Igail threw her arms around him. ¡°You came.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I just don¡¯t see the point in arriving early to these things. There¡¯s always a lot of explanations no one really cares about.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who the old guy is,¡± said Titch, ¡°but I like the way he thinks.¡±


    ¡°He is Tas Tel Muir Ley,¡± said Roona. ¡°He is the the most revered and cherished Elder of the Elven. And, he is your great, great¡ª¡± she paused to think ¡°¡ªgreat grandfather.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± said Titch. ¡°Hello, Gramps!¡±


    ¡°Hello, young man. I have heard much about you from your sister. I certainly hope none of it¡¯s true.¡±


    Titch grinned. ¡°Prepare to be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°So this where you¡¯ve been hiding yourself, ¡° said the Queen. ¡°You¡¯ve been absent for three symposia and five gatherings of the clans.¡±


    ¡°As I said, I never miss an important meeting. Now hush, little one, and sit down. We have things to discuss.¡±


    The Queen flushed from being referred to as ¡®little one¡¯, but she sat down.


    Tas sat down next to her. ¡°Gart and Fen. No mistaking you two. I wonder if I should send out a Vale-wide edict for everyone to lock up their daughters?¡±


    Fen laughed but Gart folded his arms and remained stoney-faced.


    ¡°I could declare a national emergency.¡±


    Gart leaned back in his chair, resolutely unamused.


    ¡°Is he always this serious?¡± Tas asked Fen.


    Fen nodded. ¡°He has Mother¡¯s sense of humour.¡±


    ¡°Tas,¡± said Davidor. ¡°What nonsense have you been filling my girl¡¯s head with?¡±


    ¡°Nice to see you, too, Saviour of the World. Quite the grand epithet you¡¯ve given yourself. Not that I¡¯m one to talk. I have more fancy names than I can remember. That¡¯s the trouble with being Undeniable, people keep wanting to bestow honorary titles on you.


    Gart sat up. ¡°You¡¯re Undeniable, too?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Tas. ¡°My first wife was a hopeless romantic. Gave her life so I wouldn¡¯t die of an apple-spider¡¯s bite. Sweet girl. I wish I could remember her name¡­¡±


    Titch nudged Fen. ¡°He¡¯s like you.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Fen. ¡°I can¡¯t remember names because there¡¯s so many girls, he¡¯s just senile.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± said Tas, ¡°just because I¡¯m Undeniable doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t hurt my feelings.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± said Fen, embarrassed to be overheard. Unlike Gart, he wasn¡¯t one to offend people so easily. ¡°I was joking. I don¡¯t really think you¡¯re senile.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mind that. It¡¯s the suggestion you¡¯ve had more girlfriends than me that I object to. Do you have any idea how old I am?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Fen.


    ¡°Oh. I was hoping you might know. Well, it¡¯s a lot of years, and I¡¯ve been popular with girls in all of them, I¡¯ll have you know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one thousand and seventy six years old,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°Which you would know if you bothered to come to the birthday celebration we hold for you every year.¡±


    ¡°Every year? Sounds like fun. When¡¯s the next one?¡±


    The Queen stared at him, unable to ascertain if he was teasing her or if he¡¯d forgotten his own birthday.


    ¡°If you¡¯re Undeniable,¡± said Gart, ¡°why did you send all those people to fight the Demon God? Why didn¡¯t you kill him yourself?¡±


    Tas nodded. ¡°I could have done that. But you see, when you become incredibly powerful and almost impossible to kill, winning battles turns out to have a rather unwelcome side-effect. I discovered that those I strove to defend slowly became weak and lazy. The more I did for them, the less they were able or willing to do for themselves.¡±


    He turned to look at Davidor. ¡°Haven¡¯t you found that to be the case? That it¡¯s easy to stifle the growth of those you wish to protect?¡±


    Davidor¡¯s brow furrowed but he said nothing.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± said Tas, ¡°I decided to let others face the Demon God to help them become stronger. There were many complaints, of course. Accusations that I was failing to do my duty. But it¡¯s very hard to threaten someone immune to injury. I left it to those who would benefit most from the experience, and I intend to do the same this time.¡±


    ¡°So, what my daughter says is true?¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°Yes. The Demon God will return, and he will most likely be in a foul mood.¡±


    ¡°Even if that¡¯s true,¡± said Roona, ¡°why would the Demon God be in such a rush to come back?¡±


    Igail pointed a finger at Davidor. ¡°Because of you.¡±

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Five

    ¡°Why would the Demon God be angry with me?¡± said Davidor. ¡°We got on like old friends. Even said I could call him Carlo, for short. It was your mother he wanted to eat.¡±


    ¡°You made a deal with him,¡± said Igail, ¡°your life for Mother¡¯s. But you didn¡¯t keep your end of it. I know that wasn¡¯t your fault, but the Demon God isn¡¯t one to forgive someone on a technicality. Here...¡±


    Igail grabbed her bag from the floor and emptied it onto the table. Half a dozen books of all sizes poured out. She sorted through them until she found a small volume bound in brown leather.


    ¡°The Demon Almanac and Glossary. It¡¯s not a good book, really. I think it was probably written by some kind of amateur demon enthusiast. But in the back there¡¯s a list of books he considers essential reading, including this one.¡± She patted the big book on the table. ¡°And look here.¡± She opened the book and handed it to Davidor.


    He took it from her. The page had a crudely drawn dragon on it, titled Carlotqueskelet, Demon Lord of the Second Hell. Underneath it read: Awakens on the double lunar eclipse. Knows how to hold a grudge.


    ¡°When is the double eclipse?¡± asked Davidor.


    ¡°One year from today,¡± said Igail.


    Davidor snapped the book shut. ¡°So we destroy the egg before the eclipse, no Demon God. Simple.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Igail. ¡°And no. We know when he will awaken, but we don¡¯t know where.¡±


    ¡°Your father and I already know the location of the Demon God¡¯s temple,¡± said Roona.


    ¡°That¡¯s just his lair,¡± said Igail. ¡°The awakening chamber that houses the egg is somewhere else. It¡¯s hidden behind a magic barrier. But there¡¯s a book that has clues to its whereabouts.¡± She took the brown volume from her father and opened it to the list on the back page and pointed to the last entry. ¡°This one. It¡¯s called The Demon¡¯s Egg. The problem is it¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°Where is it?¡± asked Roona.


    ¡°One of two places. Either the library of a wizard in the Southern Fields on the Island of Terit. Or the Palace Library in K¡¯Jarta. You and Dad should go to the capital and get the King to let you search the library there, and me and the boys can go take care of the wizard.¡±


    ¡°Why would we split up?¡± said Roona. ¡°And why are you dealing with the wizard when we¡¯re off to the capital?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯ve never allowed us to go to the capital,¡± said Igail. ¡°You always come up with some excuse or other, so I assumed you wouldn¡¯t want us to go there. It¡¯s just a wizard. You know what they¡¯re like, cast one fireball and have to rest for a week. Probably won¡¯t take more than a punch in the face to get him to hand over the book, if he¡¯s got it.¡±


    ¡°The reason we don¡¯t let you go to K¡¯Jarta is, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± Roona looked over at Davidor. ¡°Your father¡¯s something of a celebrity there, and it¡¯s a bit embarrassing for him.¡±


    All four children eyed their parents suspiciously. Their father was many things, but embarrassed by attention wasn¡¯t one of them.


    ¡°We can do it this way,¡± said Davidor. ¡°I¡¯ll take Fen and Igail. Roo can take Gart and Titch.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Igail. ¡°I want you to see that we can do this on our own. It¡¯s like Gramps said, you always do everything and we just get to watch.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because we only want what¡¯s best for you,¡± said Roona.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true,¡± said Igail.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± said Roona, somewhat taken aback.


    ¡°I think you never let us do anything dangerous because you¡¯re scared. You¡¯re frightened something might happen to us, and you¡¯re not used to being afraid. Of anything.¡± Igail threw up her hands in exasperation. ¡°You have to let us do this so you can learn to trust us to take care of ourselves. I want you to overcome your fear.¡±


    ¡°And what about the rest of you? Do you feel the same?¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± said Fen.


    ¡°I agree with Iggy,¡± said Titch, ¡°so she must be right.¡±


    Davidor turned to his eldest. ¡°Gart?¡±


    Gart¡¯s eyes remained locked on his little sister. He smiled, but nothing about it suggested happiness. It was the bitter smile of knowing you had horribly underestimated your opponent.


    ¡°Yes, I feel the same. But there¡¯s more to it than that, isn¡¯t there, Iggy? What happens after we prove we can handle ourselves?¡±


    Iggy looked down at the books on the table, avoiding Gart¡¯s penetrating stare. She took a breath, then raised her head to look at her parents. ¡°After we find the location of the awakening chamber, you can¡¯t come with us. The barrier that protects it can only be crossed by a child. The priests are selected when young. Once they cross over, they never return. You¡¯re too old.¡±


    ¡°What about Gart and Fen?¡± said Davidor. ¡°They aren¡¯t exactly kids.¡±


    Igail shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not measured in human terms, it¡¯s children in Elven years. That means you have to be less than thirty.¡±


    There was silence as each person considered what they had been told.


    ¡°I want to ask you something,¡± said Gart, standing up.


    ¡°Yes?¡± said Igail.


    ¡°Not here.¡± He grabbed her elbow and walked her out of the room on her tiptoes.


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Only take a minute.¡±


    They were out of the room before anyone could object. He guided her between the shelves, into the heart of the library. Once they were far enough for the others not to be able to hear them he stopped and spun Igail around to face him, but didn¡¯t let go.


    ¡°What are you really up to?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Enough with the lies, Iggy. You think you¡¯re fooling me with the magic barrier that only lets in kids? You think I don¡¯t recognise the plot from one of your stupid storybooks?¡±


    Igail blanched. ¡°You¡¯ve read my books?¡±


    ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve spent most of our lives in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. I¡¯ve read everything in that stupid bag of yours, including Shannara Stone, Elf Detective. One of the worst things ever committed to paper, I might add.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one of my favourites,¡± said Igail quietly.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Yes, well, it does have a particularly memorable twist at the end where the magic barrier that could only be crossed by children turns out to be an Elven construct, so humans are able to bypass it, just like the nonsense you told them. Why are you lying to everyone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± She pulled her arm free of his grip and rubbed the joint. ¡°The Demon God really is going to return and we have to find the book. But you know what¡¯s going to happen if we let them take the lead. We¡¯ve been trained by the two greatest warriors in the world, and all we ever do is stand back and watch them sweep away everything in their path. Don¡¯t you want a chance to save the world yourself?¡±


    Gart took a moment to look his sister in the eyes, searching for some indication of what she was really after.


    ¡°You¡¯re being a spoiled brat who doesn¡¯t care who gets hurt as long as you get your way. If the Demon God is really coming back, now isn¡¯t the time to go on a field trip.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just an egg! We aren¡¯t going to fight a dragon. There aren¡¯t armies of undead behind the barrier.  A few priests who can¡¯t fight, and maybe some traps that will only be a problem if we don¡¯t pay attention.¡±


    ¡°And what about this wizard. How are we supposed to defeat him?¡±


    ¡°There is no wizard. There¡¯s a guy who uses magic to create new types of seeds and crops. I overheard some farmers talking about him once. The book¡¯s definitely in the Palace Library in K¡¯Jarta.¡±


    ¡°Then why are we the ones going to see the wizard?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t,¡± said Igail.


    ***


    When they returned to the others, Titch and Fen sat at the table, looking bored, while Davidor and Roona were in deep discussion with the Queen and Tas Tel Muir Ley.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± said Tas. ¡°Have you sorted things out?¡± The question was aimed at Gart, but a look of concern flashed in his eyes as he glanced at Igail. She returned an almost imperceptible nod.


    But Gart caught the exchange between the two and couldn¡¯t shift the feeling something was amiss. It was not beyond the realms of possibility for Igail to have been bewitched by the leader of the Elven and was now acting per his instructions. Possible, but unlikely. What Gart suspected was far worse¡ªthat the leader of the Elven had been recruited by his little sister, for what purpose he had yet to figure out.


    ¡°We can do it,¡± said Gart. ¡°We¡¯re only going to go fetch a book. You can decide what to do after that, but we¡¯re more than capable of a small task like this.¡±


    Roona glared at her son. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Now, Roo, let¡¯s be calm about this.¡± Davidor placed a hand on her shoulder.


    She pulled away from him. ¡°You really think this is safe?¡±


    ¡°If I may?¡± Retyl stepped forward. ¡°I am not yet twenty-seven. I could escort them on this journey, and the one after. I am considered a more than competent swordsman. I¡¯m sure the Queen will vouch for me.¡±


    ¡°He is an excellent swordsman,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°They consider him something of a prodigy among the young Elven.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Gart. ¡°I don¡¯t care how good you are. You aren¡¯t good enough.¡±


    ¡°My father is Kemyl den Fak, the Chief Swordmaster of the Horde.¡± Retyl swept his cloak aside to rest his hand on the golden hilt of the sword at his waist. ¡°Even Lady Roona was trained by him. He considers me the best student he¡¯s ever had.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± said Gart. ¡°If you can stop my brother from disarming you, you can come.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± said Retyl, showing no hesitation in accepting the challenge. His father was not only in charge of training the Elven, he was also deeply involved in gathering intelligence from the outside world.


    Retyl had used those contacts to find out about the two sons of Davidor. He knew of their great skills and strengths. They had been trained since birth by masters. But so had he.


    He turned to face Fen. The younger brother was the weaker of the two, but Retyl knew overconfidence would not serve him well. He didn¡¯t need to win a duel, even though he felt certain he could have, he just had to avoid being disarmed. As long as he stayed focussed and alert, his rigorously honed instincts and fleet footwork would do the rest.


    ¡°Titch,¡± said Gart, ¡°take his sword off him.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Retyl. The child was to be his opponent? Rage swelled up inside him. He was being mocked. ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    Titch swept books out of the way and jumped onto the table.  ¡°What¡¯s the matter fancy-pants? Scared?¡±


    Retyl felt like skewering the obnoxious little brat. But he calmed himself. If this was to be his opponent then it only made passing the test easier. He smiled and spread his arms wide.


    ¡°All right. Go ahead. Take my sword.¡±


    Titch remained standing on the table. He raised his hands and waved them about. Then he reached out, opening his fist as though throwing an invisible ball, before jerking his hand back.


    Retyl¡¯s sword leapt out of its scabbard and flew through the air into Titch¡¯s waiting hand.


    ¡°Ta da!¡± said Titch.


    ¡°What?¡± Retyl¡¯s surprise turned to outrage in a flash. ¡°That¡¯s not fair. He used magic.¡±


    Titch dropped the sword. It fell, then stopped, hanging mid-air, swinging back and forth.


    ¡°See? It¡¯s devil¡¯s silk. Took me ages to learn how to do that. I can teach you, if you like.¡± He unhooked the sword from the thread tied to his hand and tossed it back to its owner.


    Retyl was so flustered he nearly dropped it. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you would use a trick.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the point, isn¡¯t it?¡± said Gart. ¡°You have to deal with what¡¯s in front of you, not complain about it not being fair. You can¡¯t call foul play after you¡¯re dead, can you?¡±


    Retyl, grimaced, showing his teeth, before turning on his heels and storming out of the room.


    ¡°That was kind of harsh,¡± said Fen. ¡°Funny, but harsh.¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s out of the way,¡± said Igail, ¡°can we get back to the Demon God? At least let us find the book.¡±


    All eyes turned to Roona  who had been quietly ruminating all this time. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. If this wizard is in league with the Demon God¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± said Davidor. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ll take care of the wizard, and those three can take a nice trip to the capital. Other than some sight-seeing, there¡¯s not much to worry about, is there?¡±


    Gart glanced at his sister, who had predicted their father¡¯s decision exactly. He shook his head, impressed and concerned at the same time.


    ¡°Hold it!¡± wailed Titch. ¡°What do you mean, those three?¡±


    ¡°Obviously, you¡¯ll be coming with us,¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°What? Why? There¡¯s no danger, we¡¯re just going to find a book. Nothing¡¯s going to happen. Nothing ever happ¡ª¡±


    A soldier ran into the room. ¡°We are under attack! The Undead are swarming the bridge. Thousands of them!¡±

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Six

    The Queen slid her hand down the chain around her neck and clutched the pendant hanging from the end. She rested the jade-green gem in her palm and closed her eyes. A ball of light appeared in the middle of the room. The glow faded to reveal a view of the bridge outside The Vale and the battle in the meadow beyond.


    The enemy had caught the Elven with their pants down, literally. Out of nowhere, the Undead had appeared at the far end of the meadow while the Legion was still checking for lurker scorpions in their gear.


    The onslaught of half-decomposed, semi-skeletal warriors pushed the Elven warriors back to the edge of the lake. The Elven remained disciplined and formed a barrier around the entry to the bridge. Ancient weapons, rusted and blunted by age, struck with deadly ferocity. With no time to put their armour back on, the Elven casualties quickly mounted.


    Lack of space forced the Undead to pile behind each other, allowing only the front ranks to engage the Elven defenders while those in the rear shrieked impatiently and tried to clamber over each other for a chance to strike at Elven flesh. It was only a matter of time before sheer force of numbers pushed the Elven into the lake.


    In the Great Library, the Queen analysed the battlefield with an icy glare.


    ¡°They dare attack our home? They will regret it.¡± She clasped the pendant tighter.


    The bridge glowed a soft white colour, then shifted to a watery blue. As soon as this happened, the 1st Legion funnelled onto the bridge until one man remained fighting with a sword in each hand, slicing off limbs and appendages with each strike.


    ¡°Look at Uncle Jimi,¡± said Titch, his face practically pressed up against the hovering image of the battlefield. ¡°He¡¯s amazing!¡±


    Single-handedly, or rather, double-handedly, Jimnar held the Undead at bay in the bottleneck. He stabbed his weapons in short, controlled strokes, sometimes high, sometimes low, corralling the Undead together. Left and right sweeps with his swords cleared the frontlines. More Undead warriors swarmed forward, stepping over the fallen without hesitation.


    Jimnar set Neer may not have been born to lead¡ªcertainly he was no great tactician, and his inspirational speeches had a soporific effect on most listeners¡ªbut in one area he excelled. No one enjoyed hitting things more than the man whose battle cry was, ¡°Get out of my way!¡± An order his men readily obeyed for fear of being caught by his flashing dual blades.


    Parrying on one side, thrusting on the other, and a boot in the exposed ribs of the howling skeleton in front, he repelled them for a moment, but then a huge figure shoved its way through the ranks. It wore a long horsehair coat and a fur turban with a spike on top. In its hands it carried a staff with an axe-head attached. It towered over the Undead in its way, simply picking them up and throwing them aside.


    The top half of its face was brown and weathered, with unblinking crazed eyes. The bottom half was bare jawbone, bleached white. It opened its lipless mouth as though roaring, but the only thing that came out was a blast of fetid air. Even the Undead needed vocal chords to make sounds.


    Jimnar lunged with the broad-bladed sword in his left hand, but the giant swatted it away with his poleaxe, the steel bouncing off the iron-sheathed staff. Then it planted the poleaxe in the ground and leaned forward to emit another silent roar.


    Jimnar kicked away the bottom of the poleaxe and the giant staggered forward to regain its balance, lowering its head. Jimnar grunted as he swung the sword in his right hand, crushing the iron helmet under the fur turban as though it were made of wax. The helmet burst open in a spray of lime-green mucus and dessicated brains.


    The loss of their oversized comrade had little effect on the Undead. Their ever-deepening ranks pushed forward, a mass of disfigured corpses converging on the entrance to The Vale.


    Even Jimnar couldn¡¯t hold them off indefinitely. He backed onto the bridge, pursued by the stumbling, groaning throng. But as soon as they stepped onto the bridge, they sank through the stone and fell into the lake.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± said Davidor as he watched the mindless Undead follow each other onto the bridge and plop into the water below.


    ¡°I have altered the bridge to only support those of Elven blood,¡± said the Queen.


    ¡°You can do that?¡± said Davidor. ¡°Very fancy. Still, I doubt a little water will hurt them. Not like they need to breathe.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Tas. ¡°But the lake is thick with magic. They will find it difficult to climb out and over time their life force will be dissolved into its waters. The real problem is their apparent endless supply of reinforcements. Even if they can¡¯t get into The Vale, they can stop us getting out.¡±


    And then the Undead stopped their relentless surge forward. They stood on the grassy bank, while the 1st Legion stood on the bridge, both sides waiting.


    As the adults considered their next move, the children held their own discussion.


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± said Fen. ¡°They¡¯re too dumb to stop on their own, aren¡¯t they? Someone must be controlling them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we should call the Legion back,¡± said Igail. ¡°Before the Undead switch to firing arrows.¡±


    ¡°I doubt they¡¯ll do that,¡± said Gart. ¡°They don¡¯t usually bother with missiles. They have terrible eyesight.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± said Igail, perturbed by information she had never seen in any book.


    ¡°Dad used to tell us bedtime stories,¡± said Fen, indicating himself and Gart with his finger. ¡°Mother made him stop because of the nightmares.¡±


    ¡°I know what we have to do. See this?¡± Gart indicated a flickering light at the top of the meadow. ¡°Here, you see it? I think this is where they¡¯re coming from. Probably whoever¡¯s giving the orders is there, too. We need to stop them before they have enough troops to keep us pinned and start attacking the surrounding towns. Once the bridge disappears, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡±


    ¡°How is anyone going to get through that?¡± Fen pointed to the middle of the meadow packed with the Undead. ¡°There must be thousands of them.¡±


    Gart turned to the Queen. ¡°Granny, during the Ceremony of Ide you use¡ª¡± He stopped when he realised the Queen had her hands around the pendant again and her eyes closed.


    There was a change in the image of the battle as two ramps appeared, one on either side of the bridge. They rose high into the air, ending in wide platforms. Archers ran up the incline and started peppering the crowd of Undead with flaming arrows. Those that were hit flapped at the flames out of some ancient instinct, but the damage was minimal. Even when leathers reduced to parchment-thinness caught alight, the burning Undead just stood there encased in fiery armour.


    Only headshots had an effect, and the occasional lucky shot that hit a pocket of bilious gas inside a decomposing body, causing the Undead to explode.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to work,¡± said Gart. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them, and more coming. We have to stop them at the source.¡±


    ¡°And how will we do that?¡± asked Davidor.


    ¡°The Ceremony of Ide, they use pantrite powder to light the effigy.¡±


    Pantrite was the luminescent mineral that permeated the walls of The Vale, providing light. The powdered form was hard to manufacture and very volatile.


    The Queen looked shocked. ¡°It is a sacred and secret ceremony. How do you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Really not the time, Granny,¡± said Gart. ¡°We need some of the powder. As much as you have. Now.¡± His tone was less than respectful.


    ¡°Young man, you haven¡¯t quite ascended to the Seat of Power yet. I don¡¯t appreciate¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lyr,¡± said Davidor sternly, ¡°do you have the powder?¡±


    The Queen bit her lip, and then nodded.


    Davidor turned to Gart. ¡°What else do you need, son?¡±


    ¡°Elven horses for me, Fen and Titch.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Titch perked up. ¡°Really?¡±


    Roona grabbed the back of Titch¡¯s collar, keeping him in place. ¡°You don¡¯t need him.¡±


    ¡°We do need him,¡± said Gart. ¡°And he¡¯ll be fine. I won¡¯t let him off the bridge.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Go.¡±


    Gart raced out of the room, followed by Fen. Twitch gleefully scampered after them with both arms raised. ¡°Woohoo. Davidor Boys to the rescue.¡± He pointed at Igail as he ran past her. ¡°Ha ha. No girls allowed.¡±


    Igail watched them leave and then snatched the dagger from Davidor¡¯s belt. She slashed her gown a little above the knee and ripped off the bottom half. Tossing the rent material aside, she ran after the boys.


    Roona looked distraught. ¡°How could you¡­?¡±


    ¡°The bridge only supports those of Elven blood,¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°Then use an Elven horse, they will not fall through,¡± said Roona. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ll carry you myself if I have to.¡±


    Davidor looked over at Tas, considering what he¡¯d said about the side-effects of being Undeniable. It was true, he only let them act under close supervision, always ready to step in if things turned sour. Had he coddled them too much?


    ¡°Roona, we have to let them do this.¡±


    ¡°Do what you want,¡± Roona said bitterly. ¡°I won¡¯t stay here and watch.¡± She sprinted through the door after her children.


    Despite considering it necessary to step back and give his children room to grow, he also felt relieved by Roona¡¯s refusal to allow it. The selfish desire in his heart to keep them away from danger, even when that danger would ultimately make them stronger and more capable, was hard to resist.


    Compared to that, fighting an endless army of Undead was child¡¯s play.


    ¡°Right,¡± said Davidor. ¡°Can we get a sharper picture on this thing? I¡¯d like to see what that boy of mine is planning.¡±


    ***


    Gart, Fen and Titch came charging out of The Vale on borrowed horses.


    The soldiers at the rear of the column, turned at the sound of pounding hooves and raised their hands to stop what they supposed had to be confused children.


    Gart stood in his stirrups and barked an order in the royal tongue. The soldiers immediately stepped aside, forming a channel through their ranks all the way to the man at the far end, Jimnar set Neer.


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    Seeing his nephews approach at speed, Jimnar cocked his head and frowned. Surely they weren¡¯t the reinforcements he had been waiting for. What could three boys do against the sea of death and decay threatening to flood The Vale?


    The horses came to a stop in front of Jimnar. He opened his mouth to demand an explanation, but Gart spun around so he faced the other way, reinserted his feet into the stirrups and stood up. He clasped his hands together and nodded to Titch, who was standing on his saddle.


    Titch leapt across, placing a foot in Gart¡¯s clasped hands, and was hurled into the air. Even with Titch¡¯s light frame, the distance Gart managed to boost him surprised those watching.


    Just before he started to fall back down, Titch tossed the small pouch in his hand, sending it even higher into the sky.


    Fen leaned back in his saddle, the bow in his hands drawn to its limit. He released.


    Gart shouted another order in the royal tongue and every Elven soldier covered their eyes, including Jimnar. Members of the royal family were exempt from compulsory observation of royal commands, but even he knew when to do as he was told.


    The rotting, festering corpses that comprised the Undead army lined up along the edge of the lake had all eyes on the band of soldiers. Their gaze tilted up when Titch took to the air. So their eyesight took the full brunt of the searing white light that filled the sky when the small pouch exploded.


    The Undead suffered from weak organs, their eyes in particular were very sensitive. The highly combustible pantrite burned only for an instant, but the flash left the Undead completely blind.


    Titch opened his eyes and looked down at the fast approaching saddle beneath him. He landed with a vicious slam. ¡°Oof! My balls!¡± he squeaked.


    Gart dropped back into a sitting position. ¡°Titch, get back to The Vale.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± said Titch, wincing in pain. ¡°I can help finish them off.¡±


    Fen stowed his bow and drew his sword. ¡°I think you have bigger things to worry about.¡± He pointed towards the other end of the bridge.


    Titch, still bent over, looked over his shoulder at a sight far more frightening than any number of the Demon God¡¯s minions¡ªhis mother running towards them, dragging a large sword behind her. The tip skimmed the surface of the bridge, sending up sparks.


    ¡°Titch!¡± shouted Roona, her meaning requiring no further words.


    Reluctantly, Titch turned his horse to head back.


    Gart spun around to face front again. ¡°Uncle. If you would.¡±


    Jimnar broke out a broad smile. ¡°Aye, lad.¡± He raised his two swords. ¡°1st Legion! With me!¡± He charged forward, followed by his men.


    The Undead stumbled around, knocking into each other and falling into the lake. Defenceless and blind, they posed little threat to the Elven warriors who ploughed through their ranks.


    Gart waited until Titch had reached Roona, who stopped to barrage him with instructions as she pulled him down from the horse and sent him limping back to the archway. No doubt she would have words for him and Fen, too. Gart had no intention of hearing them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Fen nodded and they both set off into the heart of the Undead swarm.


    The Legion hacked down those closest to the bridge, creating enough room for Gart and Fen to gallop through the gaps.


    The Undead either stood in place, jerking their heads trying to find their lost vision, or thrashed around wildly, striking their own.


    The horses slowed to a walk as Gart and Fen hacked a path through the thick of the mob, and then the numbers thinned and they were on the other side. Unaffected Undead staggered towards the bridge, vision still intact, but they were easily dealt with as the boys raced past, lopping off heads.


    At the top of the meadow, a green light flickered. As Gart and Fen approached, they could make out a large portal. The air crackled and hummed. The light emitted from the circular gateway pulsed every time it spat out another new arrival. They came through in twos and threes. Men who had died fighting against the Demon God, to be resurrected as his warrior slaves.


    Silhouetted in front of the green glow was a rider on a massive mount, far too large to be a horse.


    It reared up at the sight of the fast approaching horsemen, and unfolded its angular wings. The head had long, triangular ears which the rider held on to as the giant bat flapped its wings and sent out a powerful gust of wind, buffeting the boys to a standstill. They watched as the beast rose into the air then fell back down before another downward thrust of its leathery wings sent it up again. It clawed its way skyward and then opened its heavily fanged mouth to release a shriek.


    The sound hit Gart and Fen like a punch in the sternum. The horses stumbled, barely managing to stay upright.


    All across the battlefield, the fighting stopped as the Elven reeled from the shockwave. They called out to each other, becoming confused when they heard nothing.


    The bat¡¯s piercing cry rendered all those within earshot deaf. This made little difference to the Undead who didn¡¯t follow orders or need to converse with their fellows, but it left the Elven dazed and unable to communicate. Still, deaf was better than blind and they resumed their fight.


    Gart and Fen, also deafened, exchanged words through hand signals. A lifetime of hunting silently had led to them developing their own simple language.


    Gart jumped down from his horse and ran to the portal as two more Undead stepped through; a knight in full plate armour and a surprisingly fat warrior carrying a double-bladed two-handed axe. Gart lunged forward making short brutal strokes. The first smashed the metal cup protecting the knight¡¯s knee, the second, a rising slash, sliced open the axe-man¡¯s gut, releasing a noxious gas with such force it knocked the considerably thinner warrior on his back, and the third cracked open the helmet of the knight whose knee had been broken.


    With both his opponents on their backs, Gart thrust his sword into their skulls without meeting any resistance.


    Fen, meanwhile, had unstrapped his bow and fired arrows at the swooping bat. The rider was low against the bat¡¯s back, guarded by the wings. He hit the enormous body a number of times but to little effect and it managed to grab an Elven warrior in its claws, taking him up into the air and letting him fall, screaming, to his death.


    It came gliding down again, but this time a horse charged to meet it. Roona, riding the horse she took from Titch, chased away the flying rodent, whirling her huge sword overhead, leaving nothing to grab onto except the scything blade.


    Fen aimed carefully so as not to hit his mother, and continued to fire arrows at the bat in the hope of hitting some vital organ.


    ***


    Titch stood by the entrance to The Vale with Igail. The appearance of the giant bat had him transfixed and he refused to go inside despite his sister¡¯s attempts at dragging him across the threshold.


    He looked up at the platform where archers were now targeting the bat. ¡°We could get an even better view from up there.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Igail clenched her fist even tighter around her brother¡¯s arm. She had taken a firm hold as soon as he¡¯d returned, knowing his propensity for running off and the trouble she¡¯d be in if she let him, but even she wanted to see how the battle would turn out. And it wasn¡¯t like they were in any danger. The archway was right behind them, after all.


    The archers had made the bat their target and it was a veritable pin cushion of arrows. It changed tack and gained height until it was level with the archers¡¯ balcony. With a flap of its huge wings, it sent a strong gust into the archers, blowing them off the platform. They fell into the water, but the lake was full of Undead who pulled them under and set on them in a frenzy.


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Titch, ¡°maybe up there isn¡¯t a good idea.¡±


    The bat switched its attention to the other balcony, diving across the bridge. Igail pulled Titch back and released her dagger from an underarm swing. The blade struck the passing bat in the eye, causing it to turn hard. Its wing caught the bridge inverting its body.


    The rider, upside down, fell off, twisted in the air, and landed in a crouch. She rose to her feet, pushing back her hood to reveal flowing white hair and crimson eyes. She was tall, dressed in tight, black leather, and, judging by the fact she didn¡¯t sink through the bridge, she was Elven.


    ¡°My, aren¡¯t you two cute. I could eat you up.¡± She raised her hands over her head and drew two rapiers from her back. ¡°Kebabed, I think.¡± She sprang forward.


    Titch and Igail found themselves suddenly yanked backwards as Tas Tel Muir Ley moved himself in front of them. The two rapiers struck him cleanly in the chest, but bent nearly in half before bouncing off without inflicting damage.


    The attacker jumped back, one sword high, the other low. Then she relaxed and put the swords away. ¡°It¡¯s no fun if you¡¯re going to get in the way, Father. Just because you¡¯re Undeniable, you shouldn¡¯t spoil it for the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here, Erald? Do you really believe you can breach The Vale?¡±


    Erald smiled. She held up her hand, showing off the ring on her middle finger. It pulsed with a green light. ¡°But I brought friends. What happened to our famous Elven hospitality?¡±


    Tas stepped forward but the bat swooped back down and grabbed Erald by the shoulders, lifting her into the air. She waved her fingers in farewell.


    Titch ran out from behind Tas.


    ¡°Titch, no!¡± cried Igail.


    He didn¡¯t listen. He jumped up, reaching out as though to grab Erald¡¯s hand, even though she was well out of reach. Then he snatched his hand back and Erald screamed as her middle finger was sliced off, the glowing ring flying through the air.


    Titch ran to the edge of the bridge, casting aside the devil¡¯s silk, and leapt for the ring, catching it just before he fell into the lake.


    The cold water swallowed him up, but Titch calmly waited for his downward trajectory to slow, before kicking for the surface. But he didn¡¯t move upwards.


    He looked down to see a skeletal hand holding him by the ankle. A putrid face, swollen with lakewater, loomed towards him out of the murky depths, reaching out another hand to grab at Titch¡¯s waist.


    He kicked and thrashed but couldn¡¯t get free. More grasping hands appeared as the Undead confined to the lake bottom attempted to make him one of their own.

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Seven

    Titch pressed his lips together to hold on to the last of his air. He stuck his hand in the front pocket of his jerkin. The cold water numbed his fingers and he struggled to pull out the contents. The bony hands clawing at him didn¡¯t help, either.


    He took out a fist of fruit pits and seeds and threw them, the water slowing his movements so they spread out in front of him and floated away.


    He had spent the afternoon trying to emulate Davidor¡¯s success at baiting one of those monster fish.  Cherries, plums, apricots¡ªhe had eaten more fruit in one afternoon than he normally would in a week, but nothing had worked. He hoped this time he¡¯d fare better. More bony hands closed around his feet and ankles.


    The pig-snouted fish came barrelling in to claim their prize, smashing the Undead out of the way. The fish fought amongst themselves, churning up the water and preventing the Undead from keeping their grip on Titch.


    ***


    Igail leaned over the side of the bridge, desperately searching for signs of her brother. He was a good swimmer, why hadn¡¯t he come up? She was on the verge of jumping in after him when she saw a figure rapidly surfacing. She turned around and grabbed Tas¡¯s cloak.


    ¡°Sorry, Gramps,¡± she said as she pulled it off him. ¡°Need to borrow this.¡±


    She dropped the cloak over the side, keeping hold of one end. It just about reached the water. Titch broke the surface, splashing about and gasping for air. His flailing hand caught hold of the cloak.


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Igail called down. She pulled on the cloak with all her might, slowly lifting her brother, but the cloak began to slip from her fingers. Tas¡¯ hand grabbed the cloak and with one sharp yank, Titch was hauled up. He landed on the bridge in a coughing, spluttering heap.


    She knelt down and grabbed him by the shoulders, turning him one way then the other. Once she had confirmed he wasn¡¯t injured, she started hitting him. ¡°You idiot! What did you do that for?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± said Tas. ¡°Maybe now¡¯s not the best time to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, cut it out.¡± Titch rolled away from her and sat up. ¡°Look what I got.¡± He held up the ring. The green gem at its centre flickered with malevolent energy.


    Tas plucked the ring from Titch¡¯s hand and examined it, his face lit up by both the green glow and his own fascination. He looked to the far end of the meadow where another green glow flickered in perfect synchronicity. ¡°Hm, I see. This controls the gate, allowing the Undead to travel here.¡±


    ¡°How do we destroy it?¡± asked Igail. ¡°A powerful ring like that must require a great¡ª¡±


    Tas dropped the ring and stamped on it. The green gem cracked and the glow disappeared with a pop.


    ¡°Or not,¡± said Igail.


    The matching glow from across the meadow disappeared at the same time, accompanied by a sound more like thunder.


    Titch got to his feet and walked along the bridge.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Igail called after him.


    Titch stopped and bent down to pick up the long, slender finger lying on the ground.


    ***


    Gart and Fen fought alongside their mother, chopping down the Undead as they appeared through the portal. The boom when the portal closed would have been deafening, if they hadn¡¯t already been deafened by the giant bat.


    The last Undead was caught half in half out as the portal vanished, slicing it down the middle. One leg, one arm and the front of his torso flopped around on the ground.


    Roona turned to survey the battlefield. The bat had flown off leaving the blinded Undead as easy marks for the 1st Legion. It was only a matter of time until the last of the enemy were hacked to pieces. She turned her attention to the bridge and her highly tuned mother¡¯s intuition told her something had happened. She leapt on her horse and rode away at full tilt.


    ¡°WHERE¡¯S SHE GOING?¡± yelled Gart.


    ¡°I THINK MY HEARING¡¯S COMING BACK,¡± shouted Fen. ¡°DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?¡±


    ¡°WHAT?¡± said Gart.


    Roona raced through the last of the Undead, past the Elven soldiers and onto the bridge. Ahead she could see Tas Tel Muir Ley and Igail, and Titch sat on the ground, soaked to the skin. She leapt off the horse before it had even come to a stop and ran to her son.


    ¡°He¡¯s fi¡ª¡± was as far as Igail got before Roona threw a glance so fierce Igail recoiled from its intensity, stumbling backwards.


    ¡°Hey, guess what¡ª¡± was as far as Titch got before Roona swept him up, half-carrying, half-dragging him through the archway.


    Even inside The Vale, Roona didn¡¯t slow down. She hurried past crowds of gathered Elven who had become aware of the danger on their doorstep. She barked orders at the soldiers trying to maintain order, sending them off to deliver messages and summon help.


    Her destination was the Banquet Hall, a giant room filled with long tables where feasts were held. More importantly, it contained a large fire that was permanently ablaze.


    Roona finally released her grip on Titch and put him down uncomfortably close to the dancing flames. She started to strip off his clothes.


    ¡°I can do that! No, don¡¯t! Mother, please!¡±


    Titch¡¯s protests were ignored. Clothes were peeled off and handed to the waiting Elven attendants who had come as instructed bearing blankets and salves. She turned him around and lifted his arms and legs to better inspect them, and applied ointments to scratches left by skeletal hands.


    His underwear was whipped off, much to his obvious embarrassment, and his private areas were also thoroughly examined. Red-faced and on the verge of tears he gave up resisting and allowed his mother to do as she wished in front of these strangers.


    Having made certain there were no serious injuries or signs of infection, Roona wrapped a blanket around Titch, finally returning a little of his dignity. Then she put her arms around him, pulled his face into her bosom, and held him in an unbreakable embrace.


    She stayed like that, holding her youngest in front of the enormous fireplace, until her heart decided to stop trying to smash its way through her ribcage. She leaned back and looked down at her son and realised he had fallen asleep. The sensation of his soft breathing on her chest brought a rush of nostalgia and tears fell from her eyes as she placed her cheek on top of his head.


    ***


    After Gart and Fen helped with clearing the last of the Undead, the Legion finally returned to The Vale, their reception even more jubilant than the one planned.


    Gart and Fen were informed of their mother¡¯s location. Exhausted, covered in mud and much more unpleasant substances, the two boys made their way to the Banquet Hall. Even though they had both spent the first few years of their lives in The Vale, neither had eaten in that place nor partaken in any of the feasts regularly held there. They had never been invited.


    They found their mother sitting at one end of a long table with Titch beside her, wearing a blanket like a skirt pulled up to his armpits. A wide range of dishes were spread out in front of them. Roona attempted to feed various items to Titch while he ducked and weaved, doing his best to let them nowhere near his mouth.


    Gart and Fen stood looking at the food, both their stomachs rumbling with hunger, neither making a move to eat anything.


    ¡°Sit down and eat,¡± said Roona.


    They sat on the opposite side of the table to Roona and Titch, and poked the food like it might rise from the dead and attack them. Not entirely impossible considering their night so far. It all looked very appetising. Neither Gart or Fen were fooled. They expected it to taste horrible, and they weren¡¯t disappointed.


    ¡°Yeech,¡± said Gart through a mouthful of chicken. ¡°How can you make chicken taste this bad? It¡¯s chicken!¡±


    Fen winced as he bit into a potato. ¡°They still haven¡¯t figured out salt is meant to be a seasoning, not a main dish.¡±


    Elven cooking had a propensity to be very salty and burnt to a crisp. The boys were too hungry to turn it down, but each swallow was followed by a shudder. Their hearing had more or less returned, other than an annoying high-pitched ringing. Their tastebuds, unfortunately, had been unaffected.


    Davidor came rushing in and headed for Roona. The furious look she gave him sent him scurrying over to the boys¡¯ side of the table.


    ¡°That was brilliant,¡± he said, sliding onto the bench next to Fen. ¡°Brilliant. The plan, the execution, the pantrite¡­ I don¡¯t know where you got the idea, Gart, but well done, my boy, well done.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t my idea,¡± said Gart. ¡°Fen came up with it.¡±


    ¡°Did I?¡± said Fen. ¡°When?¡±


    Gart shrugged. ¡°You must have been five or six. Dad used to tell us those bedtime stories.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes?¡± said Davidor. ¡°Got the idea from one of my stories, did you?¡±


    ¡°Dad¡¯s approach usually involved running at them, shouting, ¡®Have some of this, ya buggers!¡¯ or something equally dumb. We¡¯d stay up all night coming up with better ways to kill the Undead. That¡¯s when you came up with the pantrite idea.¡± Gart put down a chicken leg and picked up an apple. He took a bite and spat it out. ¡°An apple? How do you screw up an apple?¡±


    ¡°But how would I even know pantrite could be used like that?¡± said Fen.


    ¡°That happened when we still lived here with Mother.¡± Gart looked across at Roona trying to force feed Titch a burnt banana.


    Gart slid further along the bench, toward the far end of the table, pushing the other two ahead of him. He lowered his voice. ¡°You had a habit of going off exploring on your own. You¡¯d be gone for hours sometimes.¡±


    ¡°And nobody stopped me?¡± asked Fen.


    ¡°Of course not. Nobody talked to us, nobody even looked at us. We were like ghosts. We could go anywhere. Even the guards ignored us. So, one day you disappeared for even longer than usual, and when you came back you had this weird look on your face. Mother tried to get you to tell her where you¡¯d been, but you said nothing. But later, after she¡¯d fallen asleep, you told me.¡±


    ¡°Not ringing any bells.¡±


    ¡°Well, you were only four. Maybe this will jog your memory. You said you walked in on some big meeting of all the senior Elven. They were standing around while the Queen did a dance.¡±


    ¡°Granny?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Granny did a big, fancy dance, naked.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± said Fen.


    ¡°What?¡± said Davidor.


    ¡°What?¡± said the Queen, who had just arrived and was standing behind Fen.


    ¡°Hey this is what you told me. Granny did a naked dance, but first they lit some pantrite which temporarily blinded everyone so no one could see. Apart from you. Somehow you avoided getting blinded. That¡¯s how you got the idea for using pantrite. It¡¯s also when your obsession with girls started.¡±


    Red-faced, Fen looked up at the Queen. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t remember any of this.¡±


    ¡°The Ceremony of Ide is a sacred Elven tradition,¡± said the equally red-faced Queen. ¡°Seeing the dance of Ide is punishable by death.¡±


    ¡°You better eat up, then,¡± said Gart, pushing a plate of seemingly delicious cheeses towards Fen. ¡°This could be your last meal.¡±


    ¡°We shall overlook the punishment this time,¡± said the Queen, ¡°seeing as how you were a child.¡±


    ¡°I should be the one demanding punishment,¡± said Davidor. ¡°You scarred my boy for life.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t we have to get going?¡± said Fen, avoiding looking in the Queen¡¯s direction. ¡°The moons won¡¯t be out for much longer.¡±


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    ¡°Plenty of time yet,¡± said Tas as he sat down opposite Fen. He picked up a chicken leg and took a bite. ¡°Ach. This is terrible. You there¡ª¡± he called over one of the attendants, ¡°¡ªbring me some salt.¡±


    Davidor leaned to the side to inspect the sandy-haired growth protruding from Tas¡¯s armpit. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Tas lifted his arm to reveal Igail clinging to him. ¡°I think she¡¯s hiding. She appears to have drawn her mother¡¯s ire.¡±


    Igail sneaked a look down the table towards her mother and jerked her head back before she was spotted. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault,¡± she whispered. ¡°I tried to stop him jumping in the lake, but he¡¯s impossible when he gets like that.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much,¡± Davidor whispered back. ¡°The boy¡¯s fine. She¡¯ll let it go. One day. Probably. He is hard to control though. Force of nature, that one, although I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, I remember the night he was conceived. We were¡ª¡±


    Both Gart and Fen started coughing.


    ¡°Went down the wrong way,¡± said Gart.


    ¡°Allergies,¡± said Fen. ¡°Anyway, as I was saying, shouldn¡¯t we be making a move?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve summoned the heads of the clans,¡± said the Queen. ¡°So we can decide how best to handle this problem.¡± She sat down at the head of the table.


    ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± said Gart, standing up, ¡°but nothing to do with us.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± said Queen Lyr. ¡°I know I have treated you and your brother poorly in the past. I don¡¯t have any excuse other than foolish pride, which is no excuse at all. But give me a chance to make you feel this is your home.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Gart, ¡°it isn¡¯t. And I already know what kind of people you are. You don¡¯t need another chance to show me that.¡±


    ¡°Sit down, Gart,¡± said Roona. ¡°We should at least be aware of what they plan to do.¡±


    Titch yawned. ¡°Just remember who saved the day. And where are my underpants?¡±


    Gart reluctantly sat down.


    The doors to the Banquet Hall which had been left ajar¡ªallowing more than enough room to enter¡ªwere thrown wide open. The 1st Legion entered led by Jimnar who jumped onto a table and proclaimed, ¡°Eat and drink until you can¡¯t move, men. You¡¯ve earned it. Double the salt on everything!¡±


    The Elven soldiers roared their approval and filled up the tables as giant platters of food were brought in. Jimnar left them to gorge themselves and approached the Queen. He was accompanied by a dapper-looking elf with a coiffured head of red-brown hair and matching beard, giving him a vulpine look.


    ¡°What¡¯s this I hear about the return of the Demon God, Mother?¡± Jimnar asked at full volume, though the general hubbub in the room was at such a level that his indiscretion went unnoticed.


    ¡°Where did you hear of that?¡± asked the Queen. ¡°I take it has something to do with you, Kemyl den Fak.¡±


    The dapper elf bowed. ¡°It was my son who passed the information to me. If what he says is true, I may have a solution for this barrier that only allows children to pass. In a year, I can train a hundred of my best students into a more than respectable fighting force. We can storm their secret hideaway with irresistible force.¡± His eyes glittered with confidence.


    ¡°I approve this,¡± said Jimnar. He put a foot on the bench and leaned an elbow on his knee. ¡°So what if there¡¯s a necromancer flapping about on a giant bat, controlling the Undead? We can leave the humans to deal with that. I think it would benefit them to suffer a few casualties at the hands of an Undead army. Might make them stop bickering among themselves for a moment and realise there are real enemies out there.¡±


    Gart noted the look exchanged between Tas and Igail at the mention of the bat-riding necromancer. He had the distinct impression something was being withheld.


    ¡°While the humans fight the Undead,¡± continued Jimnar, ¡°we prepare our army of bold, young Elven princes.¡± He raised his fist and shook it.


    ¡°Our only concern,¡± said Kemyl den Fak, ¡°might be getting them to the site of the dragon egg on the same night as the double eclipse. This necromancer has the advantage when it comes to moving troops. We can¡¯t move so many so fast, the way he did.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± said Titch, ¡°the necromancer was a girl. And, she¡ª¡±


    ¡°Could provide us with the perfect solution,¡± Tas cut in. He held up the broken ring he¡¯d taken from Titch. ¡°If I can replicate the method she used to transport the Undead here, we should be able to use the same magic to send our troops wherever they need to go.¡±


    Jimnar slapped his hands together. ¡°Perfect. We shall crush their little egg and lay waste to their plans.¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± said Gart. He rested his head on the table.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked the Queen. ¡°Do you not think it a good idea?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Gart sat up. ¡°But do as you please.¡±


    ¡°What if you were to lead them?¡± said the Queen.


    ¡°Then I would order them to jump off the nearest cliff, just to teach them a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Both you and your brother proved yourselves fine Elven warriors tonight,¡± said Tas.


    ¡°We¡¯re not Elven,¡± said Gart and Fen in unison.


    ¡°Technically,¡± said Tas, ¡°you aren¡¯t human either. But that¡¯s beside the point. You led us to victory against superior numbers. I¡¯m sure if you ordered men under your command to jump off a cliff, they would do it. If it¡¯s a lesson worth learning, then maybe it¡¯s a cliff worth jumping off.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± spluttered Jimnar. ¡°What possible lesson could that teach anyone?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Tas. ¡°Perhaps the dangers of blind obedience?¡±


    ¡°Let me be very clear,¡± said Gart. ¡°For some reason people seem convinced I will one day lead the Elven. I will not. I have no interest in ascending to the Seat of Power. For one thing, I¡¯m only half-Elven. There¡¯s no reason to believe I¡¯ll live any longer than the normal human lifespan. All of the current Elders will still be alive after I¡¯m long dead.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± said Tas. ¡°You aren¡¯t the first children to be born of mixed heritage.¡±


    This caught the attention of all four children.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t?¡± said Fen.


    ¡°No, no,¡± said Tas. ¡°Back when the Elven roamed freely and fought side by side with the humans, romance often blossomed. It was frowned upon of course, but then frowning is hardly a deterrent when two people are overcome with desire.¡±


    ¡°How true,¡± said the Queen, looking at Davidor and frowning.


    ¡°The children of those unions were never allowed in The Vale, I¡¯m ashamed to say, but many went on to be great men and women.¡±


    ¡°And did they live long lives?¡± asked Gart.


    ¡°Many lived for two or three hundred years. But they were not peaceful times, and the life expectancy of the Elven is about the same as a human¡¯s when it comes to being hacked to pieces by a demon. There were rumours that the Elders at that time secretly arranged for those of mixed parentage to be placed in the most precarious battles in order to get rid of them, but I don¡¯t think that was true. Certainly, I don¡¯t think you will face such treatment, Gart.¡±


    Gart¡¯s face had darkened as he listened to Tas.


    ¡°Did you have to tell him all that?¡± said the Queen. ¡°It¡¯s ancient history after all.¡±


    ¡°He has the right to know. He more than anyone.¡±


    ¡°Queen Lyr,¡± said Kemyl. ¡°I don¡¯t think¡ª¡±


    The Queen raised a hand to silence Kemyl. ¡°I saw how you controlled the men out there tonight, Gart. With a hundred well-trained Elven under you, don¡¯t you think you could more decisively defeat the enemy?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Gart. ¡°The best way to sneak in and out of the Demon God¡¯s territory is with a small group that attracts as little attention as possible.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re all forgetting one thing,¡± said Titch. He stood up and leaned on the table with both hands. ¡°The reason we were able to beat the Undead was because of that ring. And the person who captured the ring was me. So whatever you decide, the one thing that¡¯s for sure is that I have to be involved if there¡¯s going to be any chance of winning.¡±


    He looked down the table at the assembled figures of authority. Everyone else looked at Roona.


    She sighed. ¡°You can go with your brothers and sister to the capital. After that, we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± said Titch, unable to believe his luck.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± said Davidor, also surprised.


    ¡°He can¡¯t remain a baby forever, as much as I would wish it. And he won¡¯t grow stronger in my arms, more¡¯s the pity. What I do know is that he will be watched over by three very diligent guardians. Yes?¡±


    Gart and Fen nodded.


    Roona leaned over the table and looked into the folds of Tas¡¯s robes. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Igail¡¯s head popped out and she nodded meekly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yes!¡± Titch threw up his arms. The blanket fell to his ankles, exposing him to everyone in the room, but he didn¡¯t care.


    ***


    Preparations for their departure were made quickly. Davidor would head south with Roona. The four children would head for the capital, where their parents would later join them.


    Igail waited until she was alone with Tas to make final arrangements for those parts of the plan no one but the two of them knew about.


    ¡°Why is your daughter in league with the Demon God?¡± said Igail.


    ¡°I do not know,¡± said Tas. ¡°But I think it best we keep her identity secret for now. Can you convince the little one?¡±


    Igail nodded. ¡°I think so. But what about Gart? Shouldn¡¯t I tell him?¡±


    ¡°If you think it necessary.¡± He smiled sadly. ¡°She is from my second marriage. Not quite as harmonious as my first. She left The Vale a long time ago with a desire to explore, but I never thought she would return like this. Although I never really spent much time with her. Maybe if I had¡­¡±


    ¡°She may have helped us. There won¡¯t be any dissenting voices against our plans, now.¡±


    ¡°No, probably not. But you still need to be careful. If you fail, it is your brother who will pay the price. Have you reconsidered telling him the truth?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t understand. And he¡¯d never go to the awakening chamber if he knew what really waited for us there.¡±


    Tas sighed and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s a difficult path you¡¯ve chosen to travel. I will do my best to provide you with what you need.¡±


    ***


    The six of them left The Vale with only a few minutes to spare. They rode hard across the bridge and through the meadow. When they reached the main road, they split into two groups and headed in separate directions.


    Back at The Vale, at the very last possible moment, another rider emerged from the archway, charging across the bridge. Retyl den Fak urged his horse on. If the bridge faded while he was still crossing, they would fall into the Undead infested water.


    The bridge grew less substantial and Retyl was only halfway across. He dug his heels in and the horse jumped, but there was no way they could make it. The bridge flickered out of existence. Retyl stuck out his hand and the ring on his middle finger glowed green. A gateway opened in front of him and horse and rider disappeared into it. A moment later the gateway vanished, and the lake was quiet save for the occasional ripple.

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Eight

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± said Fen. ¡°I mean, I knew there was a statue of him here, but I wasn¡¯t expecting¡­ this.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s cool,¡± said Titch, eyes opened wide to take in the full glory of the bronze statue that dominated the central plaza of the capital city. The words ¡®Davidor, Saviour of the World¡¯ were carved into the plinth.


    ¡°I bet Mother wasn¡¯t happy about the woman,¡± said Igail.


    Statues, by their nature, are not meant to be modest creations. But this one took ostentation to new heights. Davidor was naked apart from a loincloth. He stood with a green sword held aloft, his mouth yelling some obscene warcry. A scantily dressed female clung to his left leg, looking up adoringly.


    ¡°You need to see it from this side,¡± said Gart.


    The others shuffled over to where Gart stood and one by one their mouths fell open. The figure kneeling at Davidor¡¯s feet, holding on tightly to his thigh, had the unmistakable face of their mother.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way she would allow this,¡± said Igail. ¡°No way. She¡¯d tear it down herself.¡±


    ¡°The ears aren¡¯t Elven,¡± said Fen. ¡°Technically, it¡¯s not her.¡±


    ¡°Why is she in her bra and knickers?¡± said Titch.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t bra and knickers,¡± said Fen. ¡°It¡¯s the traditional outfit of K¡¯Jartan slave girls.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯d tear it down and then kill everyone who ever saw it,¡± said Igail. ¡°And how do you know what K¡¯Jartan slave girls wear?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who reads books,¡± said Fen. ¡°Mine just have a lot more pictures.¡±


    It had taken them four days to reach the capital. They watched the skies for giant bats and took it in turns to sleep at night so nothing would catch them unawares, but the journey turned out to be trouble-free. The road to K¡¯Jarta was a long, straight highway with plenty of traffic and regular guardposts to protect the merchants, tourists and sundry other travellers headed for the city.


    The sight of the city walls had given them all goosebumps. They had visited many great cities but K¡¯Jarta was considered the greatest. The most imposing, the richest and with by far the largest population. Despite asking to come here many times, their mother had always refused, and now they knew why.


    ¡°There must be a reason,¡± said Igail. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t just leave it for everyone to see.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask when you see her,¡± said Fen. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Dad had something to do with it, though.¡±


    Garth wrenched his gaze away from the statue. ¡°We can¡¯t waste all day here. Let¡¯s find this book and get out of here.¡±


    Crowds of tourists wandered about. The smells of spicy street food filled the air, as did the constant chatter of people as they oohed and aahed over the magnificent architecture surrounding them on three sides, or haggled over memorabilia. Tiny statues of Davidor, hats with ¡®Saviour of the World¡¯ written on them, candy in the shape of Davidor¡¯s face.


    Gart led the way as they weaved through the throng towards the far side of the square where tall, black railings stretched out in either direction. People lined up with their faces pressed between the cold iron bars to get a better view of the Royal Palace beyond.


    Two soldiers in bright red uniforms and unnecessarily tall hats stood to attention outside the gates. They held long spears polished to a high sheen, but even then they weren¡¯t particularly impressive in terms of a defensive unit¡ªif the gathered masses decided to bum rush the entrance, the two guards would have a hard time stopping them.


    Gart walked up to one. ¡°We¡¯re here to see the King.¡±


    The guard ignored him and continued to stare into the distance.


    Gart took out a small box and opened it. Inside was a golden medal attached to a blue and white ribbon. He held it up in front of the guard¡¯s face.


    ¡°This is the Medal of the Order of the Blue Sun. Its holder has the right to an audience with the King.¡±


    The guard¡¯s face twitched. He glanced at the contents of the box under his nose, then returned to looking straight ahead. ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    Gart snapped the box shut.  The guard flinched but otherwise remained immobile.


    ¡°Fine. Then, we¡¯ll find someone who has.¡± He stepped towards the gate.


    A look of panic crossed the guard¡¯s face. He had been assigned this duty for the last two years but no one had ever tried to force their way in before. He struggled to remember the correct protocol for such a situation and was about to use his spear to prevent the intruder going any further, when the guard on the other side blew a whistle sharply three times.


    The guard took out his own whistle and repeated the call for assistance. Gart and the others stopped and waited for something to happen.


    A lone soldier came out of a small hut just inside the entrance. He ran towards the gate, buttoning up his red jacket on the move. As he realised the emergency didn¡¯t involve a riot or storming of the barricades, he slowed to a walk. He tugged on the bottom of his jacket, buttoned up the collar and then opened the smaller gate set inside the big one.


    He pointed at the guard on the other side. ¡°Jasper, eyes front.¡±  Then he turned to the guard next to him. ¡°What¡¯s this about then, Tarin?¡± He pursed his lips in a manner that suggested he wasn¡¯t best pleased at having been called away from important business. The business in question had been a mid-morning nap.


    ¡°Ah, sorry Sarge, er....¡± The guard leaned over and whispered in the sergeant''s ear, causing his eyebrows to raise.


    ¡°I see.¡± He turned to Gart. ¡°May I see this medal?¡±


    Gart handed him the box. After a close inspection of the contents, the sergeant closed the box and put it in the breast pocket of his jacket.


    ¡°Hey!¡± said Titch. ¡°Give that back!¡± He made to leap forward, but Igail wrenched him back, her grip impossibly tight.


    ¡°Let them handle this,¡± she snarled in his ear, no intention of giving him the slightest leeway.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± said the sergeant, patting the pocket, ¡°I¡¯ll see this gets back to its rightful owner.¡±


    ¡°We are the rightful owners,¡± said Gart through gritted teeth.


    The sergeant smiled. ¡°As it happens, I was there the day this medal was awarded. I doubt you were even born then. I don¡¯t know how you got hold of it, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯d be in a lot of trouble if people knew you had it. Don¡¯t push your luck, kid.¡±


    Gart growled and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Fen stepped in front of him and shoved him back.


    ¡°Look, if you know who that medal belongs to, do you really think any of us could have taken it from him?¡±


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    The sergeant looked Fen up and down, then at the others. ¡°Of course not. You probably found it.¡±


    ¡°And recognised what it was, and knew it would get us in the Palace? Kind of unlikely, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    The sergeant gave an almost imperceptible shrug of agreement.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it more likely he gave it to us?¡±


    ¡°And why would he do that?¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re his children,¡± said Fen.


    The sergeant burst into laughter. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good one. You four? The Saviour of the World and the Elf Without Mercy are your parents?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± said Fen, ¡°we prefer to think of her as the Mother Without Mercy.¡±


    More laughter followed. ¡°Nice try, kid. Really, top notch. But I wasn¡¯t born on Fester Street. What about this one¡¯s hair?¡± He pointed at Gart¡¯s black locks. ¡°As I recall, Davidor has brown hair and Lady Roona¡¯s is the same colour as¡­ yours.¡±


    ¡°Exactly the same. We don¡¯t know about him though, we think he might have been adopted.¡± Fen grinned at the old joke he¡¯d teased Gart with since they were kids. It had never really worked because, other than their hair colour and a slight height difference, the two brothers looked almost identical.


    ¡°But if you¡¯re half-Elven,¡± said the sergeant, sounding a little more unsure of himself, ¡°you¡¯d have pointed ears, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a recessive trait, doesn¡¯t carry over. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯d be worth sending someone to head office or wherever and let them know we¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t work like that. They tell us when someone¡¯s coming, not the other way around. These things are arranged well in advance.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± said Fen. ¡°But in special circumstances, maybe they¡¯d send someone down to verify our identities? Just in case? I mean, imagine if we are who we say we are, and you¡¯re the one who sends us away. The King won¡¯t be happy to have offended the Saviour. Once you offend Davidor, things tend to get messy. Blood everywhere, people screaming in agony. And if my mother ever found out, well, you know her other name, right? The Murder Elf?¡±


    The sergeant hesitated for a moment, and then an even bigger wave of laughter erupted from him. ¡°Oh, you, you really are good. You should be performing on stage for the public, you¡¯d make a mint. No, I¡¯m sorry, if you want an audience with the King, you¡¯ll have to use the regular channels.¡±


    ¡°This is a waste of time,¡± said Gart.


    Fen held him off. ¡°Wait. If you kill him, they¡¯ll just send out the whole army, and the King won¡¯t want to listen to us if we kill all his men.¡±


    The sergeant exchanged a look with the guard standing beside him, both wondering if these children had escaped from the local loony bin. You had to be careful when handling nutters, they had a tendency to bite and pull hair.


    ¡°What are these regular channels?¡± Fen asked.


    The sergeant pointed to the side, at a wooden box attached to the railings. A little girl holding a piece of paper stood below it, jumping up and down. Her father lifted her from behind so she could put the paper through the slot in the box. Her father helped her shove it in past all the other letters and cards filling the box to overflowing.


    ¡°And that works, does it?¡± asked Fen.


    ¡°I assure you, every letter gets read by the King¡¯s staff. Why, there was a terribly ill boy who¡¯s dying wish was to meet the King. Posted his request in that very box. As soon as the King heard about it, he immediately visited the boy¡¯s grave. It was in all the papers.¡±


    ¡°Enough of this,¡± said Gart.


    Fen stepped aside with a regretful sigh. ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to give back the medal?¡± asked Gart.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t¡ª¡± was all he got out before Gart punched him.


    The sergeant was no stranger to fighting or to being hit, but Gart had grown up sparring with the greatest brawler in the world. You hit hard, you aimed for pressure points, you couldn¡¯t telegraph your punches, and you better have your follow up ready for when your first attack was blocked. But Gart didn¡¯t need more than the initial punch, his opponent was already flat on his back, out cold.


    Gart took out his sword and pointed it at the other guard¡¯s throat. ¡°Get the medal, Titch. And don¡¯t take anything else.¡±


    Titch sprang forward and searched the supine body, needlessly checking all of the pockets before reclaiming the box.


    Gart turned and called out to the guard on the opposite side. ¡°Hey you! Put down that spear and come over here.¡±


    The guard dropped the spear and hurried over. He was considerably older than the other two soldiers, fine grey hairs poking out from the sides of his headgear.


    ¡°I want you to go find someone important and tell them I¡¯m holding this man hostage. If they don¡¯t send someone down, I¡¯m going to slice his throat open.¡±


    The guard at the end of Gart¡¯s sword gulped.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± said Fen. ¡°He won¡¯t really do anything, it¡¯s just to get their attention. Right, Gart?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± said Gart. ¡°Not unless they really start to piss me off.¡± He turned to the guard he had called over who was standing there, staring with his mouth hanging open. ¡°Go on then.¡±


    The guard didn¡¯t move. His arm came up and he pointed at Gart¡¯s sword. ¡°That¡¯s.... that¡¯s Pickle Tickler.¡±


    The sword was plain and unadorned, but the blade shone with a glittering lustre, like the reflection of sunlight on water. Davidor had named it Pickle Tickler because he felt it would be more embarrassing to be defeated by such a silly-named weapon rather than Doomslayer or Thunderstorm. And because it amused him.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same as the one on the statue,¡± said the older guard.


    ¡°No it isn¡¯t,¡± said Titch. ¡°The one on the statue¡¯s green.¡±


    ¡°It is now,¡± said the guard. ¡°It¡¯s made of copper. It was the same colour as yours when they first put it up. If you have that sword, you must be¡­¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯d known all I had to do was take out Dad¡¯s old sword¡­¡± Gart shook his head. ¡°Can you go get someone now?¡±


    The guard nodded. ¡°Just put that thing away before you attract any attention.¡±


    They looked behind them, but a troupe of acrobats had started a performance around the base of the statue and all eyes were fixed on the somersaulting clowns.


    Gart sheathed the sword and they helped carry the unconscious sergeant through the gates before anyone noticed.

 Volume 2 - The Demons Egg - Chapter Nine

    Titch teetered along the balcony rail, balancing precariously over the shrubbery below. Igail kept a close eye on him but wasn¡¯t too concerned about him falling off. They were only one storey up and, as far as she was concerned, the fall might knock some sense into him.


    Gart leaned back in the chair and let out a long sigh. ¡°How many rooms are they going to move us to?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even call this a room,¡± said Fen. ¡°It¡¯s more like a corridor.¡±


    They were in a long gallery at the back of the Palace. Plush, velvet-covered chairs faced an open balcony overlooking the Royal Gardens. Guards stood at both ends. So far, they had met with four different officials to get papers signed and permits stamped.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Palace bureaucracy,¡± said Igail. ¡°They¡¯re famous for it.¡±


    ¡°Read that in a book, did you?¡± said Gart, shifting uncomfortably in the comfortable chair.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Igail, ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give them ten more minutes,¡± said Gart, ¡°and then I¡¯m going to beat the location of the library out of one of these guards. We can go get the book ourselves.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not beating anyone,¡± said Igail. ¡°We have a whole year before the double eclipse. Waiting a few days won¡¯t kill you.¡±


    All three brothers turned to look at Igail.


    ¡°A few days?¡± Titch hopped down from the balcony rail. ¡°I¡¯ll beat the information out of them myself.¡±


    Igail grabbed him as he tried to walk past her and spun him until he landed in the seat next to Gart.


    The door at one end opened and a man entered. He was tall and thin, in his thirties but with a youthful face and carrying some authority, judging by the way the guards all stiffened in his presence.


    He walked toward the four children, his steps firm and purposeful. His clothes, on the other hand, were somewhat frivolous. Buckled shoes, white stockings, short britches and a lilac jacket that stopped at the waist in front and continued down to his knees at the rear.


    ¡°Hello.¡± His voice was high and tuneful, and he spoke very fast. ¡°I do apologise for keeping you all waiting. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve caught us at a rather bad time. The sewage workers are up in arms about working conditions, creating a bit of a stink, as it were¡ªha ha¡ªhowever, that¡¯s of no interest to you, of course. Oh dear, I seem to be rambling, haven¡¯t even introduced myself. I¡¯m Oblon Reese, the Under Secretary to the King¡¯s Personal Secretary. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all. Perhaps I can be of some assistance?¡± He clasped his hands together and looked expectantly at the children.


    The children stared back at him, somewhat dazed by the endless introduction.


    Titch managed to speak first. ¡°Why does your jacket have a tail?¡± HIs eyes lit up. ¡°Do you have a tail?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you mean this.¡± The Under Secretary turned slightly and flapped the coattails about. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s what we call fashion. A method to get people to buy things they don¡¯t need on a seasonal basis. I¡¯m told it helps with the economy.¡± He raised his hand and twirled a finger. ¡°Keeps the money circulating.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer the question,¡± said Titch. ¡°Do you have a tail, yes or no?¡±


    ¡°Er, no.¡±


    Titch¡¯s shoulders drooped. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t get a person¡¯s hopes up like that.¡±


    ¡°Can we meet the King now?¡± Gart asked in a tired monotone. ¡°That was the whole point of giving our father the medal, right? An immediate audience with the King?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. And he¡¯s very keen to meet you all. But the sewage workers¡­ things really can¡¯t be left to fester, ha ha. So he sent me on ahead to see if maybe there was something I could do. I assume you have a request or a reason to drop in on us like this. I mean, if it isn¡¯t a private matter. Or I can give you a tour of the Palace while you wait. Hopefully you¡¯ve already been entertained by our lovely gardens.¡± He waved a hand towards the open balcony.


    Igail stood up. ¡°We want to visit the library. There¡¯s a book we¡¯re looking for. We won¡¯t take it, just read it and make a few notes. That¡¯s all we want. We don¡¯t even have to see the King. In fact, we¡¯d rather not.¡±


    The Under Secretary raised his eyebrows. ¡°The Palace Library? That¡¯s all you want? Well then, that¡¯s no problem at all. Follow me!¡±


    The Palace Library didn¡¯t match the one in The Vale in either size or atmosphere. It was bright and airy with high ceilings and walls covered with shelves filled with colourfully bound books. The colours had been arranged in blocks, forming elegant sweeping patterns across the walls. The person responsible for arranging the books in such an eye-pleasing manner sat at a desk by the door.


    Titch ran into the room ahead of the others. He spun around, taking in everything. His face dropped. ¡°Is this it? Just one room?¡±


    The Under Secretary stopped by the desk. ¡°This is our young Miss Zeline, the assistant librarian. She knows every book here by heart. Isn¡¯t that right, Miss Zeline?¡±


    The girl was sixteen, with a plain face that soured easily. Her voluminous corkscrew hair was bunched into a loose ponytail and her clothes were simple and unfussy. Compared to the Under Secretary¡¯s, they were positively mundane.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°that isn¡¯t right, Mr Under Secretary. It would be insane to suggest it was.¡± She gave him a withering look he completely ignored.


    ¡°These are guests of the King. Very special guests, so I know you¡¯ll treat them accordingly.¡± He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at her.


    ¡°Of course. How can I help.¡± She smiled, technically.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± said the Under Secretary. ¡°Then I shall leave you in her capable hands. I have to go see a man about a sewage pump. Don¡¯t ask. Once you¡¯ve finished, or if you need further assistance, please inform one of the guards and they¡¯ll summon me post-haste. Until then, happy hunting.¡± He took a step back, bowed his head, then spun on his heels and walked out, leaving guards either side of the door.


    The girl picked up the book in front of her, opened it and began reading as though she were alone in the room.


    Gart and Fen exchanged glances. Igail lifted a finger to try and attract the girl¡¯s attention, but Titch pushed her aside and banged sharply on the desk.


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for a book, it¡¯s called The Demon¡¯s Egg. Where is it?¡± The girl peered over her book at him, emanating waves of go-away-you¡¯re-bothering-me. Titch leaned across the desk. ¡°And I don¡¯t know how you can call this a library¡ªwhere are the bats and the cobwebs? And it¡¯s so small. You should call it the book closet.¡±


    The girl pulled a face. ¡°Bats and cobwebs would be bad for the books, and very unhygienic. No decent library would allow something like that.¡±


    ¡°The one in The Vale does, and it¡¯s a lot better than this one.¡±


    She put the book down. ¡°You¡¯ve been to the Great Library in The Vale? I¡¯ve always wanted¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± coughed Fen. ¡°Titch, see that ladder?¡± He pointed at the tall ladder resting against one of the walls.¡±


    Titch followed the direction of Fen¡¯s finger. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on wheels.¡±


    Titch¡¯s mouth dropped open, this time in amazement. He abandoned all thoughts of speeding up the book finding process and ran to the ladder, leaping onto it and whizzing along the wall at inadvisable speed.


    ¡°The book,¡± said Igail, ¡°The Demon¡¯s Egg, do you know where it is?¡±


    ¡°No. We don¡¯t have that book here.¡±


    Igail screwed up her face. ¡°Miss Zeline, I was told it would definitely be¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just Zeline. The Under Secretary likes to call all the young women ¡®Miss¡¯ because he thinks it¡¯s charming. Which I guess it must be seeing as how he¡¯s sleeping with half the maids in the Palace.¡± She gave the strong impression she did not find the achievement impressive.


    ¡°Just by calling them ¡®Miss¡¯?¡± asked Fen, giving the strong impression he found the achievement incredibly impressive.


    Zeline narrowed her eyes. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re one of those boys.¡±


    ¡°Those boys?¡± Fen inquired, certain he was being insulted somehow.


    ¡°Zeline, please, this is important,¡± said Igail, keen to keep things on track. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a storeroom or secure place for more valuable or important books?¡±


    A flash of something, a memory perhaps, passed over Zeline¡¯s face. ¡°You would have to ask the librarian himself about that.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Igail. ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s indisposed.¡±


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    ¡°Can you tell him we¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°No. He doesn¡¯t like to be interrupted when he¡¯s indisposed.¡±


    Fen scratched his chin. ¡°Is she saying he¡¯s in the toilet?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Zeline, ¡°I¡¯m not. The librarian is the Chief Magi¡ªthe court  magician. He¡¯s with the King dealing with the workers¡¯ dispute, you know, grown up problems.¡±


    ¡°Finally,¡± said Gart. He turned to one of the guards. ¡°You, go tell the Under Secretary we need to see the Chief Magi immediately.¡±


    The guard turned to leave.


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Gart. ¡°I know you¡¯re going to go through all the correct channels and chain of command and all that, but frankly I don¡¯t have the time or the patience, so I want you to bypass all of it and go straight to the Under Secretary yourself.¡±


    The guard looked confused.


    ¡°Think of it as an emergency, like the Palace is on fire, which it will be if the Magi isn¡¯t here in ten minutes, starting with this room which I will turn into the world¡¯s biggest indoor bonfire. And just so you have an idea of just how annoyed I already am, I want you to take this image with you.¡±


    Gart turned and took a step towards the large desk and kicked it. The desk was no flimsy piece of furniture. Just by looking at it you could tell it was well-built and solid. It skidded across the room and slammed into the far wall, knocking books out of their shelves.


    ¡°Got it?¡±


    The guard nodded, turned and fled while the other one stared straight ahead like he hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    Zeline sat there, holding her book over an empty space. She slowly turned her head to look at Gart. ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± said Igail. ¡°There was no need for that.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± said Gart. ¡°Do you really think we¡¯re going to save the world by filling out forms and getting them countersigned in triplicate? Kicking a few desks is the least of it. Fighting dragons is nothing compared to dealing with pointless bureaucrats and useless bints like this one.¡± He pointed at Zeline.


    Zeline stood up and slapped Gart across the face.


    Gart stood there for a moment, not moving. Then he tilted his head to look at her, no animosity or anger in his expression or voice. ¡°Was there something you wanted to say?¡±


    ¡°I am not useless.¡± Her eyes blazed with fury.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Gart, ¡°you are. I¡¯m not entirely sure what your duties are here, but I know you aren¡¯t good at them. If you weren¡¯t here, would anything change? See? Useless.¡±


    Zeline¡¯s hand twitched, preparing to strike again. Gart held out his face invitingly.


    ¡°Gart! That¡¯s enough.¡± The snap in Igail¡¯s voice drew his attention to her. ¡°She hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. Leave her alone.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Sis? Wondering how I can possibly be so arrogant and boorish?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m wondering what kind of man you¡¯re turning into, and if I¡¯ll end up being ashamed to call you brother.¡±


    Gart bobbed his head from side to side, thinking it over. ¡°But we¡¯re trying to save the world. Isn¡¯t that more important than a few hurt feelings and a couple of broken desks? Don¡¯t I have the right to lie, bully and beat my way to get what I want in the name of the greater good? That¡¯s why we¡¯re here aren¡¯t we? Because you¡¯ve decided it¡¯s for the best?¡±


    Igail chewed on her bottom lip. She understood the point her brother was making. He considered his approach to getting what he wanted no different than hers. But that didn¡¯t mean he should be allowed to behave in such a horrible way.


    ¡°Yes¡± she said, quietly but firmly, ¡°it is important our mission succeeds, but even the Demon God understood the value of good manners.¡± She pointed at Zeline. ¡°Apologise to her.¡±


    Gart smiled, not quite able to believe the audacity of the little girl he towered over, who commanded him without hesitation and expected to be obeyed.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have to apologise,¡± said Zeline. ¡°An insincere apology means nothing. I¡¯m sure the your mission to ''save the world'' is very important and justifies your awful behaviour. But I am curious why you¡¯re so determined to save the world when you clearly care so little for the people who live in it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± said Gart. He pointed at Igail. ¡°This is all her idea.¡±


    ¡°Ha, ha. You sound just like your father.¡± A man walked into the room accompanied by the guard Gart had sent off. He was short with a potbelly, a tiny beard but large moustache, and eyes that sparkled. He wore a coat, with a suit under it, a waistcoat under that, and a frilly shirt under that.


    ¡°Are you the Chief Magi?¡± asked Fen.


    ¡°Indeed. Lenovo, Court magician to the King. Gart, Fen, Igail and there should be one more. Ph yes, there.¡± He pointed to the blur sliding along the back wall.


    ¡°About time,¡± said Gart.


    ¡°Please forgive my brother,¡± said Igail. ¡°He¡¯s been in a foul mood all day.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s perfectly fine. Compared to your father, he¡¯s a paragon of tolerance and diplomacy. We had to have the whole library remodelled after Davidor''s last visit.¡±


    ¡°Wheeee,¡± said Titch as he whizzed past, leaning back so everything appeared upside down. ¡°Are you a wizard?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, I suppose I am.¡±


    Titch jumped off the ladder, letting it clatter into the end wall. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dressed like one then? Where''s your robe with stars all over it and your pointy hat?¡±


    Lenovo looked down at himself. ¡°You don''t like this? I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s fashion. Helps the economy somehow. I think it¡¯s all the pockets, makes it easier to carry around more money. Now, you¡¯ve come all this way, the least I can do is offer you a nice cup of tea. Let¡¯s retire to my parlour.¡±


    He walked to the back wall and pushed down on a book. There was the sound of a catch releasing and a door opened.


    ¡°Secret door!¡± said Titch, eyes gleaming.


    ¡°Lizzie, be a dear and bring us some tea, would you?¡±


    Zeline nodded, but gave Gart a caustic glare.


    Gart smiled. ¡°Yes, Lizzie, and see if you can do it without curdling the milk.¡±


    Zeline, affectionately called Lizzie by Lenovo, and unaffectionately by Gart, turned in a huff and walked out. Gart, still smirking, followed Lenovo.


    Fen laughed. Igail thumped him in the arm. ¡°Don¡¯t encourage him.¡±


    ¡°I disagree,¡± said Fen. ¡°We should definitely encourage him. That¡¯s the most attention I¡¯ve ever seen him pay a girl.¡±


    Igail pursed her lips. ¡°What are you talking about? They obviously hate each other.¡±


    Fen patted his sister¡¯s head. ¡°You read so many books, yet understand the human heart so very little.¡±


    Igail swatted his hand away. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to understand why you can never keep a girlfriend for more than a day.¡±


    ¡°Ouch,¡± said Fen. ¡°Cutting.¡±


    Behind the secret door was a small room with old but comfortable chairs around a fireplace. Lenovo set to getting it started.


    ¡°I take it you are after this book because you believe the Demon God will be returning ahead of schedule. The next double eclipse is less than a year away, do you really think he will reemerge then?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Igail. ¡°Tas Tel Muir Ley agrees. That¡¯s why we need to find the awakening chamber and destroy the egg.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well, if Tas Tel Muir Ley has verified it, I¡¯m not one to doubt it is the case, even if it is a little worrying.¡± He straightened up, having arranged logs in the fireplace. He snapped his fingers and they burst into flame. ¡°Still, a united human and Elven initiative will be a wonderful thing to see. It¡¯s been too long since we fought side by side.¡±


    ¡°The Elven won¡¯t be going,¡± said Igail. ¡°There¡¯s a magical barrier around the awakening chamber. No one over 21 can enter.¡±


    A smile cracked Lenovo¡¯s face. Then he burst into laughter. He paused to look at Igail, then resumed laughing.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± said Igail, perplexed by the reaction.


    ¡°Nothing really. It¡¯s just that if you¡¯re going to try to fool me you need to borrow from a better source than Shannara Stone, Elf Detective.¡±


    Igail placed her face in her palm. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve read it too.¡±


    Lenovo smiled even more. ¡°Read it? My dear girl, I wrote it.¡±