《The Endless Ocean》


 Chapter 1: Feytouched

    It was a cold summer morning, even though it was the first day of High Summer, the longest day of the year. A harsh and cold northern wind blew through the pale birch trees and brushes, it filled Aldric¡¯s lungs with the fresh bitter feeling of dawn. He was crouching with his shortbow behind some bushes next to a clearing as he was stalking their prey, a young deer, it could not be more than a year old. It is so cute. Aldric thought to himself, while watching the small animal eat its breakfast, immediately feeling guilty for what they were about to do. But we have to! We don¡¯t have any other choice.


    The summer had been colder than usual, which would lead to a shortage of crops, when the harvest came in next season. The village of Palewood had come together and decided that everyone who would be able to help, should help with the hunting this year and they would have to start earlier.


    Aldric chanced a glance at his father sitting across the clearing from him, barely visible through the bushes and trees. He felt like his father was looking in his direction too, but it was difficult to tell. He readied his bow, nocked an arrow and took a deep breath. How can I do this? I¡¯m not a hunter, I am a farmer like my father. I don¡¯t even know how to aim this thing. He thought back to what the hunters had told them.


    He stretched out his arm and held it there, while he pulled back the nocked arrow. So far so good. Now aim. Look down the shaft of the arrow. Point it toward your target. And let go. Just before he could let the arrow fly, someone else¡¯s arrow shot across the clearing and missed the deer. The shock made Aldric let go of the string and his arrow flew past the deer as well.


    The deer spooked, ran in between the trees and disappeared.


    ¡°Damn the forgotten ones, that was so close.¡± Aldric¡¯s father swore as he stepped out from behind a tree. ¡°Yours was too, my son. But Tymora¡¯s luck was not on our side today.¡±


    ¡°Dad, do you think it is a good idea to speak out loud, while we are supposed to be hunting?¡± Aldric asked while he crawled through the bushes.


    ¡°Oh damned ones, you are right, my boy! Oh well, nothing for it now. There isn¡¯t much point in us wandering around the forest anymore.¡± He replied, sounding a bit too relieved, while repeatedly looking over his shoulder. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get back to the village, before some ettercap or some other foul creature hears us.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? The whole village is counting on us to provide some veal.¡± Aldric asked, surprised by his father''s lazy reply. He had never thought of his father as a lazy man.


    ¡°They won¡¯t miss what we couldn¡¯t get.¡± Aldric¡¯s father replied with a bit of venom in his voice. Like he wanted to get going as fast as possible. ¡°Besides, Claire is home alone, I¡¯m hungry and we have the Summer Solstice Festival to get ready for. Come on, let¡¯s get out of this damned forest.¡±


    Aldric shrugged and followed him, not really wanting to argue the point of responsibility with his father. Beside the forest is weirdly eerie. It¡¯s so quiet, it¡¯s creepy.


    They quickly found the trail and walked towards the village without a word spoken between them. On their way, Aldric noticed that they were not the only ones to give up early. They caught up to a group of their neighbors chatting at the edge of the forest. Apparently, none of them have heard or seen any wildlife. But not all groups were back yet, hopefully they would have more luck.


    Aldric was just about to tell them about the deer they almost got. But his father laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head and then told the group, they had not seen anything all morning. Again Aldric was surprised by his father¡¯s behavior, he had never seen him like this. He had always thought of his father as an honest man.


    As they came into the open fields between the Palewood forest and the village of Palewood, Aldric felt something terrible had happened, before the eerie scream reached him. It came from the forest, he had never heard anything like that before. Aldric instinctually started running back toward the forest, still feeling something terrible in the air. What could it have been? A wolf, Ettercap or something worse?


    He was close to the clearing his father and he had seen the young deer. In the middle of the clearing lay the most beautiful creature Aldric had ever seen. It was a unicorn, completely pearl white, only for its shiny golden horn, its neck open and blood pouring out, while a hulking midnight black dire wolf was bent over the beautiful stallion. It¡¯s still alive! The wolf reached its paw around the unicorn¡¯s golden horn and broke it off, which made the unicorn let out a gurgling scream. Aldric had the same terrible feeling again.


    The wolf stood up on its hind legs holding the golden horn. What is going on? A werewolf?


    ¡°I have to thank you, Gallion Goldenhorn, your horn is the last piece that we needed.¡± a deep growling voice sounded from the wolf. ¡°Other than the Feytouched Child, of course. But we will have them in due time for the ritual.¡±


    Is it talking to the unicorn? Aldric thought as he stepped closer. He felt something like a sorrowful rainfall before the storm came. It came first as a pledge, then a strong desire to get out of the rain. Like he should run for cover as fast as possible. Aldric noticed the unicorn¡¯s one eye was staring at him. It looked up at the werewolf and screamed again. Out of the ground shot several thick roots, wrapping around the giant wolf¡¯s legs at first and then its arms. The wolf was now entangled in roots binding it to the ground. The wolf let out a deep howl, it vibrated in Aldric¡¯s chest, his heart beating faster. Aldric immediately felt like a storm was pushing him to run, with a panic feeling for him to survive. As quickly as the feeling of panic reacted him, he started to run as fast as he could.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But soon after he started running, Aldric could hear a low growling behind him and heavy footsteps. The werewolf was after him, and was clearly faster than him. Aldric chanced a look at the wolf, while he made a turn after a thick birch tree. The wolf had dark green eyes, had completely black fur and very big teeth. Oh for everything that is holy, they are big!


    The wolf was quickly gaining on him, so Aldric started to find ways to shake it, by making as many difficult turns and running between the thinner and closer trees.


    ¡°Yes, good boy! The best part of murder has always been the hunt!¡± the wolf laughed behind him, too close according to Aldric. ¡°Run! Little one, Run!¡±


    Aldric realised he was close to the edge of the forest, but it was still a long way to the village. And then what do I do? Watch as it kills everyone in the village? No, I have to do something!


    The thoughts were racing through his mind, but everything seemed lost and the werewolf was right on his heels.


    A sharp whistle sounded, it was so high and painful that Aldric fell to the ground grabbing his ears. The same had happened to the werewolf, Aldric felt the giant creature fall to the ground right behind him. As quick as it happened, it was over. Aldric looked around him in a panic, trying to spot the werewolf. But it was gone. Not even a sound. The eerie silence of the forest again filling the area.


    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Aldric cried in disbelief, his breath and heart racing away. He was not far from the trail leading out of the forest. He went as fast as he could, constantly looking over his shoulders, checking for the giant beast. Still in disbelief, he found the trail and hurried out of the forest.


    When Aldric left the forest, he spotted his neighbors and his father, as he got closer, he noticed they were looking at him confused.


    His father stepped towards him and asked in a low voice, ¡°Aldric my son, what happened?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, dad?¡± Aldric asked, a bit confused by the situation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the scream?¡±


    The group of people were standing in the almost exact same spot as when Aldric ran into the forest.


    ¡°What scream? I didn¡¯t hear any scream. Are you feeling alright? You are sweating.¡± His father said, very worried. ¡°You stopped, turned to look at the forest, and then ran as fast as a stallion in heat into the forest, only to walk out a few moments later?¡± What! That can not be true.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear the scream? But it was so loud.¡± Aldric looked at all the people staring at him. ¡°Maybe it was nothing.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I thought I had forgotten something in that clearing.¡± Aldric lied, he was not sure what to tell his father or the other for that matter. Was it all some kind of dream? The Unicorn and the Werewolf? No, it was real. I know it.


    ¡°Boy, you can¡¯t run off like that, you scared your old man here.¡± his father laughed a bit falsely.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry dad, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Aldric tried to comfort his father.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Come on, let''s get home. So, we can have a bit of lunch with Claire before going out to the fields in the afternoon.¡± His father suggested.


    ¡°And we can go to the Summer Solstice Festival tonight?¡± Aldric asked in his sweetest voice. He was still shaking from the whole experience, not knowing what to think.


    ¡°Of course, it is the first day of High Summer after all.¡± His father replied, good humoured.


    A bit later, they arrived at the farmhouse. Aldric¡¯s younger sister came running out to them, her wavy blond hair flowing behind her. ¡°Daddy! Aldric! You¡¯re home early! Did you catch anything?¡±


    Aldric always seemed to see his mother, when he looked at his baby sister. They looked so alike, the only difference was that she had their father¡¯s brown eyes. Where Aldric had the deep blue almost purple eyes of their mother, but other than that he was the splitting image of their father. Dark brown almost black hair, slender and lower than average height.


    Their father used to say, one of their mother¡¯s ancestors was from the Feywild, so both Aldric and his sister were of fey blood. Not that Aldric felt any fey magic about himself, or his sister. The only magical thing about him was his eyes. Maybe the fey magic skipped us? Or it was so long ago that the magic is just not there anymore.


    ¡°Are you two hungry? I made lunch for all of us.¡± Claire¡¯s sweet voice chimed.


    ¡°Yes!¡± the two males echoed.


    After they have eaten and finished the afternoon work. Aldric sat in the fields and enjoyed the warmer afternoon sun, although it was barely warmer than an average high spring day. He was thinking about this morning and what he had seen. Feytouched child? What is a Feytouched? And who did the werewolf mean by we? And was it even real?


    Aldric had been thinking about it all day, but he hadn¡¯t told anybody yet. After what his father had said, when they were in the forest, it seemed too crazy to be true. A midnight black werewolf and a pearl white unicorn. A Unicorn, no one would believe that. Wait? Maybe I was in the Feywild? How would I even know? I should ask Lilian and Stefan, they both know more about this sort of thing than I do.


    Lilian and Stefan were Aldric¡¯s good friends, both of them lived in the village. Lilian was studying medicine and herbalism together with her grandmother, who was the whole area¡¯s healer, even knew a few spells. Stefan¡¯s father was a forester and huntsman, so Stefan often spent days in the forest together with his father.


    ¡°Aldric? Are you ready to go? We are leaving soon.¡± his father¡¯s voice broke his solitude.


    ¡°Yes, dad.¡± Aldric replied, getting up from the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s get going!¡±


    He dusted off his pants, ran his fingers through his hair, and went back to the farmhouse, with even more questions than he had had earlier.

 Prologue

    The northern hemisphere of Vastinia contains a large ocean, filled with archipelagoes. Some small, some big. Austpolia is an island in the south of the northern hemisphere and the first bigger island, so big it takes weeks to cross it. Up until two decades ago, this island was governed by the Nobles of the kingdom of Helio isles, the elf monarch seeking to expand their homeland. But two decades ago, an uprising happened and three warlords arose, Renard the Cleaver, Lucious the Reaper and Edward the Defender.


    All three warlords have been fighting for control over Austpolia over the last two decades. Mostly political, but every once in a while, one of the warlords would make a play for more control. Usually, Renard Hargrave and Lucious Cauterus. But there has not been any real progress over the decades, leaving Austpolia divided into four, the cleavers, the reapers, the defenders and the northern city states.


    The city states are the dwarven settlements Unsun and Sunless on the northern side of the giant volcano Gond that makes up a big part of the center of Austpolia, the seaports of Seacaptain Katis and the open plains of the roaming bandit king, Dorian Ashborn and his horde of misfits, Globins, Orcs, Ogres, Bugbears and a lot more. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    And it is in the area, a couple of days'' ride from the small port town of Bleakwater, there the small sleepy village of Palewood could be found, on the edge of the forest bearing the same name. A sizable forest containing mostly birch trees and bushes.


    But there was something wrong about this year; the wild life has turned skittish, like wolves, boars, deer and more. Magical beasts like Ettercaps, and owlbears have been more aggressive and the more nature beings like fairies, pixies and spirits have been hiding in the deep dark parts of the forest.


    Harsh northern winds have been constant in an almost unnatural manner, bringing overcast skies and colder weather. The High Spring and Low Summer had been cold and overcasted, so the crops had not grown as much as earlier years. Many are starting to believe in ill omens and foul magic.

 Chapter 2: Festival

    The Summer Solstice Festival was the highlight of Aldric¡¯s summer. Usually a traveling Carnival would set up half an hour¡¯s walk outside Palewood right between the three other villages in the area; Ashgrove, Briarhollow, and Oakstead, and this year was no different. The Carnival had outdone itself; they had games of all sorts, performers, and all kinds of vendors, unique items, magical as well as mundane, often useful things that were difficult to purchase in the near area, but often overpriced, Aldric¡¯s father usually said.


    But Aldric preferred the performers, comedies, tragedies, magic shows, all of it. But most of all the dances, where they showed ancient ritual dances. He had seen the same one every time it came by the area. The Four Elementals, it was called. But the performances weren¡¯t until later.


    ¡°Hi Victor, is that you? How is it going?¡± said a tall unfamiliar human male to Aldric''s father, the man was wearing a chainmail and carrying a mace and small shield. It all looked like it had seen action. A lot of action. He had an unsettling grim grin, almost like he was trying to smile while angry.


    Aldric¡¯s father frost in place, visibly uncomfortable. ¡°Aldric, please take Claire and go play some games over there. Here¡¯s 10 silver. I¡¯ll come in a second.¡± Then he turned and walked towards the tall man. ¡° Oh? Hi Clyde, what brings you to¡­¡±


    Aldric was again surprised by his father¡¯s unusual behavior,but did as his father had said, mostly because he recognized some people in the crowd, his two friends Stefan and Lilian. They were standing by a small pool, with a fishing rod each, trying to catch as many animated toy fish as possible. Stefan was doing well, he had caught 5 copper colored, 2 silver and just caught a golden as Aldric went up next to them with Claire next to him.


    ¡°Hi, good job there, Stef! But leave some for the rest of us.¡± Aldric laughed, trying to shake off the scary looking man and his father¡¯s odd behavior.


    ¡°Oh hi Aldric! And Claire! I was wondering if we would get to see the two of you today.¡± Lilian said, smiling, stepping out from behind Stefan, holding his catch of the day and her own fishing rod with a copper colored toy fish at the end of the line. Her curly brown hair framing her olive shaped face.


    ¡°Eh? Oh hold on, I¡­ almost¡­ have¡­ ahh! I missed it!¡± Stefan growled as he failed to catch the Platinum colored toy fish with his fishing rod. ¡°This game is rigged!¡± he said, pushing out his lower lip.


    ¡°Yes, the game is rigged from the guy who caught more than anyone else.¡± Lilian rounded her eyes to Claire, who could help, but giggle at the tall broad shoulder forester pouting over not catching the biggest price.


    Stefan was big for his age, but as big as he was, he was also a gentle guy, from Aldric''s experience. But he was a handsome boy, ash blonde hair and light blue eyes. Lilian on the other hand only went up to Aldric¡¯s shoulder, being a halfling she had done all of her growing. But she was a cute girl, her light grey eyes could look like silver in the right light. Aldric had always found these two amazing, Stefan was so strong and had a heart of gold, and Lilian was so smart and caring, she even learned a couple of spells. The three of them had been neighbors since they were older enough to run around and now they spend their free time together.


    ¡°Hi, it sounds like the performances are about to start. Let¡¯s go see them!¡± Claire squealed in excitement, starting to pull Aldric by the arm.


    ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m coming!¡± ALdric laughed. ¡°Are you two going to join us?¡±


    Both Stefan and Lilian nodded their heads, walking behind the siblings. They soon came to the stage that had been set up at the end of the carnival.


    It looked amazing, the stage was wide, and they had set up two sets of curtains, one at the back of the stage, leaving room for the performers to access the stage, and one at the front of the stage, currency hiding the stage from view while the stage hands worked on setting up the scene.


    ¡°Wow! This is fantastic!¡± exclaimed both Lilian and Claire, and Aldric had to agree. They have really outdone themself, way more impressive than last year!


    On the stage stood a gnome in a red and white striped suit with a matching top hat. The outfit looked good on him, but he also looked a bit like a hard candy. He stood on a small podium at the edge of the stage on the left side, making him a bit more visible to the now growing crowd.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome! Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight we will take you on a journey across Vastinia, throughout the many archipelagoes. Into the past! Into the future!¡± The Gnome¡¯s voice was far deeper than Aldric remembered from the year before, and a bit louder.


    ¡°Tonight we start in the past, with a tale so sad. So haunting. A maid lost in the woods during the winter solstice.¡± The Gnome started and the curtains were pulled to the side showing, the stage changing in colors, from the warm colors of the summer to the cold of the winter and a girl Aldric¡¯s age stepped on the stage. The first performance started.


    And so it went on, the gnome would appear on his podium, introduce the next play or performance and Aldric was taken on a journey. He loved it all. Finally, came the performance he had been waiting for. The four elementals.


    ¡°Long long ago, when Vastinia was a young world and all the inner planes were connected, before the time of Dwarf, Elf and man. The elementals would walk freely from one plane to another, as easy as taking a step.¡±


    On stage four dancers in different colors, red, green, blue and white appeared from the back. They performed a dance together until a fifth dancer wearing black entered the stage. The four dancers stopped and looked at the new dancer.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°But with this freedom came chaos, volcanoes erupted, the ground quake, the Oceans rose and the weather was stormy.¡±


    A more fast paced dance started, with a lot of jumps and confusion. I love this part. Aldric thought to himself, smiling.


    The four elementals form a circle ¡°All of the elementals called forth their four guardians to control the chaos. First came the guardian of Air, swift and agile.¡± First a dancer dressed in a white bird custom with four wings.


    ¡°Second the guardian of Fire, fiery and warmhearted.¡± Second, a dancer dressed as a red snake.


    ¡°Third the guardian of Water, calm and graceful,¡± Third, a dancer wears a blue octopus custom.


    ¡°And lastly the guardian of Earth, strong and steadfast.¡± and lastly a dancer in a green tortoise with six legs custom.


    ¡°The four guardians fought the chaos for many years. But slowly they managed to create order and slowly the chaos lost.¡±


    On the stage, the four guardians and their respective colors performed a fighting dance each in turn.


    The guardian of Air¡¯s dance was swift and agile, the guardian of Fire¡¯s dance was fiery and flashy, the guardian of Water¡¯s dance was calm and controlled and the guardian of Earth¡¯s dance was strong and resilient.


    There was something in the dance of the water guardian that spoke to Aldric. The flowing movement, the calm controlling way the dancers moved. Aldric had learned the movements long ago, but he never felt the same as when he saw the dancer perform the dance. What am I lacking?


    In the big finale, they did their dances side by side and drove the chaos away.


    ¡°But while the chaos is beaten for now, it might return and bring Vastinia to its brim.¡±


    ¡°Wow, it was so beautiful!¡± Lilian and Claire both called. Aldric was so taken back, that he forgot to clap. They had all seen this performance several times, but somehow this time it felt different to Aldric. It spoke to him.


    ¡°Hi guys, wait here for a second.¡± Aldric said distractedly, getting to his feet and jogged to the stage. His head was buzzing with excitement, as he went around the stage to see if he could find one of the dancers. He was met with chaos, pure chaos, as performers were running around, putting on makeup and getting dresses. He could hear the next performance starting.


    ¡°And next in the program, we have¡­¡± the gnome bellowed from the front of the stage.


    Aldric caught a glimmer of one of the elemental dancers on the other side of the stage, on the other side of the crowd. He had never been a big fan of crowds, growing up in a small village, they didn¡¯t happen too often, usually only on the big holidays. Aldric steeled himself and started forward.


    Aldric¡¯s excitement carried him from the crowd. He was never the type to just do things like this. But something in him just told him that he had to ask how to perform the dance correctly. He flowed through the crowd of performers in various stages of getting ready.


    The group of elemental dancers were underdressing their customs, Aldric noticed for the first time they all had the subtle elemental features of the genasis. Not full genasis, but their skin tone and their hair color showed they have an otherworldly glow to their character. Aldric stopped for a moment, admiring the subtle beauty of one particular dancer. She was holding the custom of the octopus, her skin was fair, but blended over in a blacker blue, her hair did the same going from pale blond into a black blue and had a humid glare to it, her eyes a deep purple. Like mine.


    ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± A elderly gentleman with red-ish shine to his hair and a smell of smoke around him. Not the one from tobacco, but more like a fire.


    ¡°Uhm. Yes, I was wondering if I could ask about your performance.¡± Aldric stammed, his cheeks turning the same color as the elderly gentleman''s hair.


    ¡°Yes, of course. It is always great when young people take an interest in the arts!¡± the man said with a smile. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Can you teach me the water dance?¡± Aldric blurted. Great, very tactful Aldric!


    ¡°I can not, unfortunately. We do not usually teach outside the troop, young man.¡± the man replied, still smiling. ¡°But if you want to try your luck, you can ask Lasia if you can join.¡± pointing to an elderly lady with light blue skin sitting on a folding chair chatting with the beautiful water dancer.


    ¡°No, no!¡± Aldric replied a bit too quickly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to join, the dance doesn¡¯t feel right to me, when I perform it on my own. I only wish to learn what I am doing wrong?¡±


    ¡°You learned the dance? That¡¯s quite impressive.¡± the man smiled again.


    ¡°I did, I have seen your performance many times.¡± Aldric nodded, ¡°but it still doesn¡¯t feel right. Like it is missing something.¡±


    ¡°Hm, we are not leaving until tomorrow, why not stop before and we can take a look at what you can do?¡± the man replied with a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Thank you again, sir!¡± Aldric smiled from ear to ear. ¡°I would like that!¡±


    ¡°Great, we will see you then.¡± the man nodded back. ¡°Uh, remember to bring a practice sword. It makes the dance come to life.¡± the man waved as he turned to the rest of the troop.


    Practice sword? How would that work? Never even hold one. Aldric wondered as he made his way back to his friends and his sister.


    He found his friends easily, Stefan was after all half a head taller than almost everyone around him. What does he eat? Maybe he¡¯s half giant or something like it.


    ¡°Hi you two, where is Claire? Please don¡¯t tell me she ran away.¡± Aldric asked when he realised she wasn¡¯t with the two.


    ¡°Hi Al, no don¡¯t worry.¡± Stefan replied in a calm tone. ¡°Your father came looking for you, took her with him home.¡±


    ¡°By the gods, that¡¯s good news.¡± Aldric signed. ¡°Did he say why? The carnival is far from over.¡±


    ¡°Nope, only that you should head home as soon as you hear this.¡± Stefan shrubbed.


    ¡°Oh Bane, he can be so frustrating.¡± Aldric complained. ¡°No, I am practically a grown man. I can stay out a bit without my father watching over me.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about this, Aldric?¡± a concerned voice sounded from Lilian. ¡°He sounded very concerned, maybe he has a good reason for wanting you to go home?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but today I have something I need your opinions on.¡± Aldric said a bit sheepish. ¡°Two things actually. But we can¡¯t talk about them here.¡±


    ¡°We can go to Palewood?¡± Stefan suggested ¡°And we can discuss on the way?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but let¡¯s go to that clearing we found a couple of weeks ago?¡± Aldric added. The two nodded their agreement.


    The three of them left the carnival and went towards their home village, with a slight detour to the Palewood forest.

 Chapter 3: Clearing

    While Aldric didn¡¯t particularly like the idea of going back into the forest. But he couldn¡¯t think of anywhere else, he could tell about what happened earlier in the day. How would I even tell anyone that I saw a unicorn being murdered by a werewolf? And then the werewolf chased me out of the forest. I barely believe it and I was there!


    ¡°Stef? Do you remember where the clearing is?¡± Aldric asked, hoping for a bit of small talk as they entered the forest to keep him from thinking too much about what happened.


    ¡°Sure, do.¡± Stefan replied cheerfully. ¡°Since you didn¡¯t mention what happened behind the stage, I figured you wanted to talk here?¡±  not exactly what I was hoping for, but I¡¯ll take it.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know, I kind of just wanted to ask the performers what was the difference between their version of the dance and mine. This old guy said come by tomorrow and bring a practice sword.¡± Aldric replied sheepishly.


    ¡°Good job there Al, didn¡¯t know you were that into dancing?¡± Stefan replied, ¡°did you know Lil¡¯?¡±


    ¡°How can your head be so big and still not contain anything?¡± Lilian laughed, Aldric joined a second later. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed Aldric practicing every day?¡±


    ¡°Something in this dance speaks to me.¡± Aldric said, face turning red, when he realized what he had said out loud. ¡°I mean I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s like it builds something in me, it lets me focus. I don¡¯t know how to describe it.¡±


    ¡°By the lady of the forest, Al. I didn¡¯t know you were so passionate. Good on you.¡± Stefan decided. ¡°Wait, you need a practice sword, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll carve one for you. Shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Stef. you really don¡¯t have to. I¡¯m happy with a stick or something like that.¡± Aldric replied, looking over his shoulder at the tall boy.


    ¡°No chance, I¡¯m carving a practice sword for you.¡± Stefan said with finality, already looking for a piece of wood in the right size. ¡°Was that what you wanted to tell us?¡±


    ¡°Yes and something else too. But let¡¯s get to the clearing first and tell you then.¡± Aldric apologized, trying to think of some way to tell them about the unicorn and werewolf, without sounding like a lunatic. ¡°When do we make the turn?¡±


    ¡°In a couple of minutes, we should have a large oak on the left, we should make the turn after that.¡± Stefan replied without taking a look around.


    ¡°You noticed something like that, but you can¡¯t tell what your friend is passionate about. Stefan you are a mystery to me.¡± Lilian said, baffled by what must seem like a giant to her. ¡°Aldric, can you at least tell us what this is about?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I experienced something today¡­ something I can¡¯t explain in my mind.¡± Aldric sighed, stopping for a moment. ¡°Can we please just get to the clearing and I¡¯ll tell the whole story.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it seems to weigh on you. I¡¯m worried about you.¡± Lilian replied with a deep concern in her voice. ¡°There is the Oak tree.¡±


    Finally, Aldric sighed with some relief. They turned and walked through the bushes and trees, Stefan found a good size branch that he immediately picked up, then pulled out his knife and started carving. Soon after, they arrived at a small clearing, completely surrounded by tall thick trees and broad thick bushes except for a couple of small openings. They had arranged a small circle of bigger rocks in the shade of a tree a bit out of place birch tree; the other trees were also birch, but this one was thicker and a slightly different pale white color.


    ¡°We had arrived Al. Spill the beans. What happened earlier today?¡± Stefan started as soon as they entered the clearing.


    ¡°Fair enough. After my father and I tried to shoot a deer and had left the clearing we were in.¡± Aldric started, ¡°we had just joined the others, and were on our way back to the farm, when I heard something scream.¡±


    ¡°You heard something scream? I was in the forest all day, I didn¡¯t hear anything. What was it?¡± Stefan interjected.


    ¡°Yeah, an eerie scream, apparently nobody else did either. Anyways.¡± Aldric continued. ¡°I ran into the forest and followed this feeling I had. It led me back to the same clearing, my father and I had just been. In the clearing I saw a white Unicorn with a golden horn covered in blood and a giant black werewolf bender over the unicorn.¡±


    ¡°An Unicorn and a werewolf? Aldric, are you sure that was what you saw?¡± Lilian said, with a bit more condescension then Aldric thought necessary. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been a white stag and a dire wolf?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you it was. Right after the werewolf stood up on its hindlegs and grabbed the golden horn and broke it off and said something like ¡°thanks for the horn, now all we need is a feytouched child.¡± and then I felt like I was caught outside in a terrible storm and needed to get to safety.¡± Aldric continued, blushing a bit on the last part. It sounds so silly, when you say it out loud.


    Both Stefan and Lilian stared at him, Lilian¡¯s mouth going down and up a couple of times before she said: ¡°this is quite the tale, Aldric. But¡­¡±


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    ¡°It is not a tale, it happened!¡± Aldric said, raising his voice. Caching himself in the act, he said more calmly ¡°it is not a tale, after this I ran. But the werewolf heard me and chased me through the forest. But all of a sudden there was this sharp sound ringing out, so loud and high pitched I fell to the ground holding my ears. But it was gone as fast as it came and I was all alone. The werewolf was gone. I ran out of the forest, found my father and the others in the same spot as I had left them.¡±


    ¡°All finished!¡± Stefan declared holding up a nice looking wooden short sword. ¡°It sounds like you were in the feywild, Al.¡±


    ¡°Stefan, don¡¯t be silly!¡± Lilian chastised, looking up at the tall boy. ¡°But it sounds like it, if you believe the story the elders told us. You clearly hit your head and don¡¯t remember what had happened.¡±


    The feywild, that was dumb. But still¡­ Aldric thought back to the stories the elders had told the children about the Feywild. ¡°Never venture too deep into the Pale wood alone, if you do, you might find yourself lost in the Feywild. Those who go there and come back are never the same.¡±


    It had always seemed like a convenient excuse to Aldric. But maybe there was something to it. While he had heard about unicorns and other creatures of the feywild coming into the forest. He had not seen any. Stefan, on the other hand, often told stories of seeing pixies or spirits in the deeper parts of the forest. But Aldric hadn¡¯t really believed them. Since the only things he had seen were an Ettercap, a couple of dire wolves and an owlbear, which had been scary enough.


    ¡°Stef, do you really believe I could have been to the feywild?¡± Aldric asked, reaching for his new practice sword.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure. But it seems to me, that would explain what happened.¡± Stefan replied, giving Aldric the wooden sword. ¡°Show us what you can do.¡±


    ¡°Now? What about what happened to me earlier?¡± Aldric asked grasping to understand Stefan¡¯s lack of empathy.


    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t do anything about it. It might have been a dream or you might have been in the feywild. Either way, it is in the past, nothing to do about it now.¡± Stefan remarked. This might be the smartest thing he has ever said. Aldric was dumbfounded, so was Lilian.


    ¡°Stefan is actually right, believe it or not?¡± Lilian said, also unsure if she believes it. ¡°While it sounds like a terrible experience, there is not much to do, other than learn from it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but how and what? I was chased from the forest by a giant wolf!¡± Aldric, raising his voice again. ¡°I saw a beautiful creature get murdered right in front of me!¡±


    ¡°We know, Aldric. But the best we can do is to help you cope with the experience.¡± Lilian said with as much empathy as possible. ¡°We would love to see you perform the water ritual dance for us. It can help you take your mind off it.¡±


    ¡°Al, we are here for you if you want to talk more about it and we are here if you want to do something different.¡± Stefan said in a rare moment of sincerity. Do I actually want to talk about it? No, it doesn¡¯t feel good. I want to forget it for a while.


    Aldric started to move his body with the dance¡¯s movements. The calm flowing, control of water. He had thought the sword would be in the way or feel awkward. But it didn¡¯t, it felt natural, like this was how it was supposed to be. He closed his eyes, imagining the flow of the water. The calm lake water, softly moving back and forth. He heard both Stefan and Lilian gasping in wonder.


    ¡°Aldric, this is amazing!¡± Lilian said with wonder in her voice. Aldric opened his eyes again, while going through the movements. He moved the sword in an arc over his head and saw a thin blue line follow the wooden blade. Lady of Movement, is this magic? Am I wielding magic? This is awesome! He closed his eyes again following the movements. Thinking about the calm sea at dawn. The waves moving in and out over the sand. Suddenly a stormy sky appeared over the ocean and the waves became bigger and bigger. Panicking, Aldric opened his eyes, at the same moment Stefan pulled him into the bushes.


    ¡°Stef, what the hells are¡­?¡± Aldric tried to ask before Stefan grabbed him by the mouth and whispered: ¡°Someone is coming this way.¡±


    Aldric first thought to struggle, but immediately shut his mouth and listened. When he heard a pair of males walking through the bushes. First he saw a broad shouldered man with black hair, wearing a black chain shirt, a long ragged sword just as black as the rest of him all but for one red rune at the hilt, and a wild look in his dark green eyes, bushy beard and a fur coat over his chain shirt, like he was planning to travel through a blizzard. After him came a less broad man, but the same height. That is the same man my father talked with, at the carnival. Clyde, I think he said.


    ¡°Chief, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m only a bit late. Please let me make it up to you.¡± the man named Clyde said.


    ¡°Clyde, for the hundredth time, I am your king not your chief. If it wasn¡¯t because you were so damned useful, I would have hanged you long ago.¡± a deep slightly irritated, yet familiar voice sounded from the apparent king. ¡°How quickly can you get me to the village? The rest of the bands and those pirates should be pillaging Palewood already. I need to get there before the feytouched child is killed. We need her alive.¡±


    ¡°I can move us there in a couple of minutes. But why did you tell me to meet you out here in the woods?¡± Clyde inquired, clearly afraid of this king. ¡°My king.¡±


    ¡°I had an errand to run somewhere else and you are the fastest way to get around.¡± the king seemed to believe that was enough explanation.


    ¡°If I can ask, what kind of errand can you run here in the woods?¡± Clyde continued, apparently more curious than afraid.


    ¡°One, that infuriating pirate White Strip, demanded as a part of the deal.¡± the king sighed in anger, pulling out a golden horn from his fur coat. Oh my gods, he is the werewolf! ¡°But at least I got to visit an old friend.¡± His face splitted into a giant hungry grin.


    ¡°Right, I am almost ready to move us there, my king.¡± Clyde replied clearly sorry he had asked.


    ¡°We need to get back to the village!¡± Stefan whispered a bit louder than needed. Aldric turned to him in a panic, certain the two men would have heard him. He looked towards the clearing again as a thunderous bang sounded and the clearing was empty. What was that!


    Stefan jumped up, ¡°we have to go!¡±


    ¡°I agree!¡± Lilian joined in. Aldric looked between the two.


    ¡°That was the werewolf, I¡¯m certain of it!¡± he then said in a shaky voice.


    ¡°All the more reason to get moving!¡± Stefan shouted, as he started sprinting for the road back home. Seconds later, Both Aldric and Lilian joined him.

 Chapter 4: Raid

    The three friends were standing at the edge of Palewood forest, weary from running. They were looking towards the village they called home. Several tall columns of black smoke were visible in the evening light. The sun''s last rays coloring the sky in a blood red mixed with the black smoke. Something terrible was clearly happening. Aldric could hear the faint sound of screams and shouts coming from the village as well. What should we do? Run for help? Hide? Search for our families?


    ¡°We have to go help!¡± Stefan proclaimed, while gasping for air. ¡°The village doesn''t stand a chance against a band of bandits!¡±


    ¡°Stop there for a second, Stefan! What actually do you think we can do to help?¡± Lilian protested. ¡°There are only three of us!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we don¡¯t have time to stand around thinking it through!¡± Stefan replied, raising his voice in disbelief, as if he couldn¡¯t understand they needed to discuss this. ¡°Our families need us! I¡¯m going!¡±


    ¡°Lilian, Stef is right. What else can we do?¡± Aldric interjected, looking concerned. ¡°Hide in the forest? Run to Ashgrove or Briarhollow for help?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± she shouted, sounding frustrated. ¡°I don¡¯t know! It will be dangerous. I¡¯ll run to Ashgrove for help. My uncle lives there, they can help!¡±


    Lilian started sprinting towards Ashgrove, ¡°please stay safe! Both of you!¡±


    ¡°Stef? Do you have a plan?¡± Aldric asked, looking at his friend feeling a growing sense of concern for what they¡¯re possibly about to do.


    ¡°No. No, Al I do not.¡± Stefan replied a bit too cooly for Aldric¡¯s taste. ¡°We could try to get to your father¡¯s farm first, since it¡¯s closer?¡±


    ¡°What about your father?¡± Aldric asked, not wanting to sound selfish and wanting to go and find his sister and father.


    ¡°My father will be fine, besides we live on the outskirts. No one will go there.¡± Stefan proudly stated. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get going.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s steer clear of any trouble. We get to my house as quickly as we can and grab my sister and father, and go to your hut. Deal?¡± Aldric threw out, as they started moving towards Palewood. Stefan nodded, while he was looking ahead towards the small village.


    Aldric found himself grabbing the wooden short sword Stefan had carved for him. It felt good in his hand, way better than he would have thought possible. Not that the hilt Stefan had carved was especially well made. It was fine. But there was something about holding a blade that felt right, even if it was wooden. I can feel it, this is what I am supposed to do. Can it be useful now?


    A short while later, the two young men passed the lumber mill on their way towards Aldric¡¯s father''s farm. A small pillar of smoke rose from behind the house, the mill was crushed on one side, like something big had stepped on it. Terrified of what this could be, Aldric looked around, certain he would be able to spot such a monster. Thank the gods, nothing that big!


    As they got closer to the black smith¡¯s house and workshop, Stefan stopped suddenly holding up his left hand.


    ¡°Hold on¡± he whispered. ¡°I heard some laughter and screams around the corner. Give me a second to check what it could be.¡±


    ¡°Be careful.¡± Aldric almost hissed.


    Stefan creeped closer to the corner, while looking around, being certain not to be spotted. Aldric started doing the same, but noticed the door to the black smith¡¯s shop was right next to them. Slowly, Aldric opened the door and peeked in. It was dark inside, everything was covered in an orange glow from the smoldering fire in the open furnace. Nobody is in here and Edrik¡¯s small collection of weapons is gone.


    Edrik had insisted on having a guard patrol, since he served as black smith in Edward Giledorn¡¯s Defenders¡¯ army, he was selected as sergeant of the volunteer guard patrol. He had moved here some 10 summers ago, after he finished his service and ever since he had been leading the patrol of 10 men and women. They might be around here somewhere.


    ¡°Al! What are you doing?¡± Stefan hissed.


    ¡°I was checking if Edrik had taken all the patrol gear.¡± Aldric hissed back.


    ¡°Uh, good thinking!¡± Stefan whispered, calming down a bit. ¡°Did he?¡±


    Aldric nodded with a grim look on his face. ¡°Yeah, everything is gone.¡±


    ¡°Damned ones!¡± Stefan spat. ¡°Nothing for it then, we need to find another way. There are a group of bandits around the corner.¡±


    ¡°Which way? This is the only road through the village.¡± Aldric asked, still keeping his voice low. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to take another route.¡±


    ¡°How do you suppose we go about this, then?¡± Stefan hissed. ¡°We are not soldiers, and we don¡¯t have any weapons.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Can we distract them somehow?¡± Aldric suggested sheepishly. ¡°You have a good throwing arm and good aim. If you go on the other side of Edrik¡¯s house, and throw a stone at something on the other side of the bandits. Maybe they will go check?¡±


    Stefan stared at Aldric for a long moment. ¡°Al, that¡¯s not how it works.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe it will?¡± Aldric replied, his face turning red. ¡°It was only an idea.¡±


    Stefan suddenly turned his head to the corner. ¡°Wait, listen.¡±


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    Aldric and Stefan creeped closer to the corner, there was most definitely something happening. First a thud sound and the sound of a body hitting the ground.


    ¡°Hi, hold!¡± an angry male voice shouted, then a lot of footsteps leading away from the corner. Sounds of metal on wood and metal on metal. They are fighting! This is our chance!


    ¡°Stef, this is our chance!¡± Aldric whispered excitedly, pulling Stefan¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on!¡±


    But Stefan was standing still, looking at the body on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s one of my father¡¯s arrows. I can recognize them anywhere!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Aldric confusingly replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Al. I have to go help him!¡± Stefan apologized, as he started towards the body on the ground, he picked up a small shield and a ragged looking hatchet. ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll find you as soon as I can.¡±


    Aldric stopped in disbelief. Of course, he would help his father. He was only helping me because he thought his father was safe.


    ¡°Nothing for it, I suppose.¡± Aldric whispered out loud through a sigh and started trotting towards his father¡¯s farm. At every turn, Aldric slowed down looking both ways, seeing bandits beating his neighbors, and a few times, some still bodies lying on roads. Oh my gods! It is too terrible! I can¡¯t help anyone!


    Shortly after, Aldric entered the front yard of his father¡¯s farm. There is smoke coming from the house! The house was still intact, but with the setting sun as background, he could see through the window that someone was inside, four figures. Wait, other people? Aldric¡¯s heart started racing again, throbbing against his throat. He sprinted inside, finding his father on the floor holding his stomach, looking completely terrified.


    ¡°Clyde, you promised!¡± His father spat in a trembling voice.


    Aldric¡¯s eyes turned to the other three people in the room. The man His father knew, Clyde, the tall broad man, the king. The werewolf! And a tall slender man wearing all black like the werewolf, all for one white strip running from the top of his head all the way down to the middle of his chest. No, four, the last man was holding his sister. She was not moving.


    ¡°Victor, I didn¡¯t know it was your daughter.¡± Clyde replied with a shrug of his broad shoulders. ¡°Besides, I only told you to get out of town. Had I known your daughter was who we were looking for? I would have forced you to take me to her.¡±


    ¡°Enough of this!¡± the tall stranger said with a mix of impatience and condescension. ¡°Burn down the house, and kill this coward.¡±


    His voice was a bit high pitched, and carried the harsh tone of someone who is used to being obeyed. Clyde looked over at the king, and back at Aldric¡¯s father. The king nodded.


    ¡°Get it over with quickly, we need to get going.¡± the king said in a cold and detached tone. Both the tall stranger and the king turned to leave, only to almost stumble over Aldric still standing in the door. He pulled up his wooden short sword. The two taller men looked at him and then at each other, and started laughing. The king grabbed Aldric by the neck and threw him against the wall.


    ¡°Kill him too!¡± the werewolf snouted in laughter. ¡°We¡¯ll see you outside.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my king.¡± Clyde replied, looking directly at Aldric¡¯s father, Aldric couldn¡¯t see Clyde¡¯s expression. But his father looked terrified.


    ¡°Clyde, don¡¯t do this!¡± Aldric¡¯s father said in an increasingly trembling voice. ¡°We were friends back in the king¡¯s army.¡±


    ¡°I have a new king now!¡± Clyde spat, chancing a look over his shoulder. When he noticed the king and the slender man had left the house, he visibly softened.


    ¡°Good, they are gone.¡± Clyde sighed with relief. ¡°Victor, take your boy and get out of here. You can call this repayment for saving my life back then.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re not going to kill us?¡± Aldric¡¯s father said in disbelief. Clyde shook his head.


    ¡°But I have to burn down the house.¡± Clyde apologized. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Aldric and his father stared at Clyde.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start the fire over here, and you two stay low and quiet for about five minutes. Then crawl out of here.¡± Clyde stated like it was the most normal thing. ¡°White strip, Ashborn and I should be gone by then. Deal?¡±


    Aldric¡¯s father slowly nodded his head, seeming to understand. Aldric looked at his father, then up at Clyde. No, they have Claire! Aldric slowly sat up, and got to his knees. I have to do something! He went into a dead sprint, ran for the door. Clyde didn¡¯t realize before it was too late. Aldric was already out the door. The two men. White Strip and Ashborn! Was across the front yard.


    ¡°GIVE ME MY SISTER BACK!¡± Aldric yelled from the top of his lungs, not thinking. He clogged the wooden short sword in both of his hands, trembling.


    ¡°Uh?¡± the two men echoed, as they turned around. The king, he must be Ashborn, went from a confused look to grinning hungrily at Aldric.


    ¡°Let me,¡± the slender man, white Strip, said in his high pitched voice. ¡°It will be over soon. Besides, we don¡¯t have time for you to clean the blood off your clothes.¡±


    In a flash, Aldric started running at White Strip. Getting ready to swing the wooden sword at the slender man. For a faction of a second, Aldric blinked. When he opened his eyes again, White Strip was gone.


    ¡°Over here!¡± an almost bored voice sounded behind him. A quarter of a second later as Aldric turned his head to see the taller man, he felt a hand hit the back of his head, so hard he fell over. From the ground, he looked up at the black cladded man staring down at him, as he pulled a black hilted rapier with an almost translucent blade, out from behind him. Did he always have that blade?


    ¡°Valid effort, boy. But you have met your match. I¡¯ll suggest you practice swordplay before trying it, next time.¡± White Strip said in the same mix of impatience and condescension. ¡°Well, in the next life. Farewell now!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± the werewolf shouted, as White Strip was about to stab Aldric. He stopped for a moment, looking over at Ashborn.


    ¡°What?¡± White Strip hissed dripping with impatience.


    ¡°I want the kid!¡± Ashborn replied with a hungry smile. ¡°He¡¯s interesting. He has some guts.¡±


    ¡°You are kidding, right?¡± White Strip said in disbelief.


    ¡°No, I want that kid!¡± Ashborn spat. ¡°And what I want, I take!¡±


    ¡°Fine, I don¡¯t care.¡± White Strip replied, returning his blade, it disappeared!


    Aldric didn¡¯t really understand what the werewolf meant by this. But it gave him an opening, so he ran towards the barn. He was around the corner before White Strip could turn.


    ¡°Gods be damned, after him!¡± Ashborn shouted.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this, I need to return to my ship before someone starts believing it''s theirs.¡± White Strip screamed in annoyance.


    ¡°Damned ones! Fine, let¡¯s get going.¡± Ashborn sighed. ¡°Clyde, get your ass out here!¡±


    Aldric barely heard the end of their conversation. The blood was pumping in his ears so loud, he could only hear his own racing heart beat.

 Chapter 5: Goodbyes

    Aldric was panting for air in a panic, leaning against the outer wall behind the barn. I got away! But Claire! What can I do? They are too strong. He tried to calm his breathing, so he would be able to hear if anybody was coming his way. It was difficult, with all the blood pumping in his ear and throughout his body. He couldn¡¯t hear anything other than the blood pumping.


    The faint smell of smoke made its way to Aldric¡¯s nose, reminding him that Clyde was about to burn down his home. The house! Dad! I have to be sure this Ashborn and White Strip are gone. But I have to calm down first.


    Aldric held his breath for a couple of seconds, trying to calm his heart again. His thoughts drifted to a stormy sky over the ocean, as the storm passed and the sea calmed from high destructive waves to low calming water, shining in the sun¡¯s first ray as the clouds disappeared. Aldric could feel the blood slowing down to its normal pace. The ocean.


    Aldric thought back to the first time he had seen the ocean, he had visited Bleakwater with father and Claire. The smell of seawater, the salt in the air, the calm water and the endless horizon. Aldric had forgotten how much he longed to see it again.


    He remembered seeing his father and sister standing in the evening sun with the harbor and ocean as the background. One of his favorite memories. They had eaten fish for the first time. Aldric loved it, Claire didn¡¯t. His father and him laughed at the face Claire had made. His father told funny stories about his buddies from when he had been in the king''s army, before he met mom. He so rarely did. Aldric started moving towards the house. All of sudden a thunderous clap sounded from the other side of the building.


    I have to do something! Aldric steeled himself for what he might face and ran around the corner to the front of the house. The yard was empty, it looked almost exactly like it had for years, all but for an almost perfect black ring on the ground. The house was on fire, but only on one side of the house. Just like Clyde said he would. Maybe Dad is still alive.


    Aldric rushed into the house, seeing his father dragging himself across the room towards the large chest that had been staying in the corner of the kitchen forever.


    ¡°Dad? What are you doing? We need to get out of the house!¡± Aldric called, almost angry, seeing his father crawling closer to the fire.


    ¡°Aldric? Thank the gods, you are alive!¡± he turned with a visible grimace of pain on his face. ¡°Quickly, grab the portrait of your mother from the wall, and come help me!¡±


    ¡°Dad, we need to get out!¡± Aldric¡¯s voice had turned from angry to panic. He has gone mad!


    ¡°Just do it Aldric!¡± His father shouted. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to argue!¡±


    Aldric looked at his father trying to open the chest while sitting on the floor. He went to pick the portrait off the wall and back to his father to help open the lid of the chest.


    ¡°Good good, my boy!¡± he said, a bit weary. ¡°Take the leather armor and short sword.¡±


    Aldric did as he had been told, picking up the dry leather armor and the rusted short sword. He was just about to ask why they need any of this, when his father pulled a small leaf buried in a crystal out as well.


    ¡°Come on, Aldric. Help me up.¡± His father requested in a sorrowful voice. Aldric did, slowly but steady, they moved out of the now ablaze house.


    They sat in the front yard, Aldric had dropped the armor and short sword on the ground in front of them.


    ¡°Dad, what do we do now?¡± Aldric asked, not entirely certain where he was going with this.


    ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out.¡± He replied after a couple of moments of silence. ¡°We can rebuild the house. My wound is not too bad. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°I meant what are we going to do to save Claire!¡± Aldric shouted, surprised by his own anger. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here and do nothing!¡±


    ¡°Aldric, I understand. But there is nothing we can do.¡± His father said with a shaky voice. ¡°Your sister is gone, as much as I wished it wasn¡¯t true. I can barely walk and by the time I''m able to. She¡¯ll be impossible to find.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll find her! I will do what is necessary!¡± Aldric felt a storm building in his chest, tall waves crashing against high rocky cliffs. ¡°I can not let them have her!¡±


    ¡°Aldric, stop this madness!¡± His father shouted, getting to his feet. ¡°I can¡¯t lose you too! I have already lost too much!¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t leave my sister somewhere in the world.¡± Aldric replied, a bit more tempered. ¡°She needs me! I¡¯m going.¡±


    Aldric picked up the rusted sword, looked at the armor. It would be useless. He went down the road towards the village square of Palewood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± Aldric heard as a whisper from his father. But his mind was made up, he needed to save his sister. Sorry, dad. But nothing will keep me from doing this.


    On the way, Aldric noticed the screaming and sounds of battle were gone. He increased his speed to a slow jog. As he came to the village square, he found half of the guard patrol sitting around the old birch tree, supposedly planted the day the village was founded. Edrik was standing holding a shield in one hand and a spear in the other.


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    ¡°Boys, you did well today!¡± Edrik approved in his deep voice. ¡°With the training and practice we have gone through over the years, has led to us surviving this attack. While we will mourn the ones that didn''t make it. I will still say I am proud of each and everyone of you.¡±


    The 12-15 men and women sitting around were wary and tired, not all of them were from Palewood, Aldric recognized Lilian¡¯s uncle leaning against a shield taller than him, broken in on one side. Next to him, was Lilian kneeling helping bandage up someone¡¯s arm, Aldric didn¡¯t know them. They must be from Ashgrove. He started in Lilian¡¯s direction, until he saw¡­ Stefan! Oh god what happened to him? Stefan was leaning on a spear, pressing his hand against a bandaged wound on his thigh. Aldric hastily changed direction towards the tall boy.


    ¡°Stefan! What happened to you?¡± Aldric asked in a bit more panicked tone than expected.


    ¡°Al! I knew you would survive!¡± Stefan replied, completely dodging the question. ¡°I found my father, and we fought together! With the rest of the guards, of course.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great, Stef. But what happened to your leg?¡± Aldric asked again, a bit less panicked.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I got stabbed! Can you believe it?¡± Stefan replied almost too excited.


    ¡°No! I can not believe that you decided to go and fight the bandits!¡± a familiar female voice sounded from behind Aldric. Lilian was walking up to the two boys. ¡°Stefan, what were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Oh hi Lil. No no, I went to help my father.¡± Stefan backtracked, turning a bit pale under the glance of Lilian.


    ¡°Aha? Let me see your leg.¡± Lilian demanded, when she had gotten up to the tall boy.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine Lil! There are others in more need of help than me.¡± Stefan replied defensively.


    ¡°Sit your butt down and let me see!¡± Lilian raised her voice, not to a shout, but there was no doubt about what would happen if Stefan didn¡¯t do as told. In a moment wiser than his years, Stefan sat down on a log.


    Lilian unraveled Stefan¡¯s bandages. Across Stefan¡¯s thigh a deep clean cut wound was bleeding heavily.


    ¡°Stefan! You need stitches!¡± Lilian chastised. ¡°You would have been in big trouble if you hadn¡¯t had someone look at this. I don¡¯t have anything to sew with here. But maybe I can heal it enough, so you don¡¯t bleed out.¡±


    Lilian put her hands over the wound, and focused. A small golden light started glowing around Stefan¡¯s wound. It slowly glowed until the whole wound was covered in the golden light. Suddenly, the light began to flicker and slowly it started to dim until it was gone. The wound was gone, only an angry red line across Stefan¡¯s thigh. Lilian was panting and visibly sweating, she looked up at Stefan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you move! If you do, the wound will open!¡± Lilian said in a sharp tone. ¡°And you will bleed out.¡±


    Stefan was completely silent, looking from his wound to Lilian. Aldric stared in amazement, temporarily forgotten about his father and the kidnapping of his sister. Lilian looked up at Aldric with a troubled expression.


    ¡°Aldric? Where are your father and Claire?¡± she asked after a second of silence.


    It hit Aldric like a ball of ice in the stomach. Where is Claire?


    ¡°My dad is at the house. It¡®s burning.¡± Aldric replied, in a cold almost numb tone. ¡°The werewolf took my sister.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Both Lilian and Stefan echoed a bit too loud.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go find her!¡± Aldric continued with more feeling. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. The bandits can¡¯t be too far from here now.¡±


    ¡°Al, are you insane?¡± Stefan asked in surprise. ¡°You can¡¯t go now, it is almost midnight.¡±


    ¡°Look, nothing you are going to say will stop me from finding Claire.¡± Aldric spat back, ¡°some dangerous people have her. I need to do something. So, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    ¡°Aldric, Let¡¯s say you find Claire, what then?¡± Lilian added with as much concern as she could muster. ¡°Will you fight them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll find out.¡± Aldric replied, feeling the storm building in him again.


    ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll come with you!¡± Stefan declared.


    ¡°You will do no such thing!¡± Lilian immediately spat back. ¡°Your leg is not going anywhere!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go alone.¡± Aldric replied in a distant voice, as he turned away from his two best friends. It¡¯s better if I go alone. No one else will get hurt.


    Aldric headed out of the village, his home, with a rusted short sword and a small pack on his back, following the trail the bandits had left. They were not too far ahead, Aldric could see them in the distance. It looked like they had set up camp, maybe an hour from Palewood.


    It was completely dark, when Aldric got close enough to the camp to hear what was going on. They seemed to be having a feast. Out of tune music, people laughing and singing. They are having a party, while my village is burning.


    After watching for a while, Aldric decided to get a closer look. He moved closer to the fires, and the people partying, eating, laughing and singing.


    ¡°Alright alright, I''ll say a few words!¡± a familiar growling voice started at the end of the makeshift table. ¡°You guys did a great job! The villagers did not have a lot, but we got what we went there for. But I also see a lot of new cookware and even some new weapons. And to that, I''d like to cheer for all of you. You did great work tonight and I¡¯m proud of all of you. Cheers!¡±


    Icewater went down Aldric¡¯s back hearing this voice. That''s the werewolf! Claire might be here somewhere! He sneaked around the makeshift table, and over to a long row of half set up tents. Steeling himself, he started to look in each of them, hoping to find Claire. He was half way through all of them, when he noticed a bigger tent, perfectly set up a bit off to the side by itself. Aldric stopped and looked over at it. He sighed to himself, of course and started that way. Two big orcs stood guard in front of the tent lit up by a small brazer. Aldric decided to sneak around and see if he could open the tent, somewhere behind it. He easily moved around a couple of big trees and one sleeping ogre that smelled of alcohol. Aldric was trying to think of an easy and quiet way to get into the tent, without alerting the guards. He remembered the short sword. He pulled it out, looked at it, hoping it would not be noisy. Stabbing through the fabric, barely any sound. As he started to cut through the material, a small squeaking could be heard. Thankfully, nobody seemed to notice.


    After a couple of strokes with the short sword, Aldric had created a small opening big enough for him to force his way inside. Once inside he saw a bed, a chest and a small cage. There was some creature inside the small cage.


    ¡°Claire?¡± Aldric whispered as low as he could, while moving closer. ¡°Is that you Claire? It¡¯s your brother Aldric.¡±


    All of sudden the thing in the cage started to move around and growl. It had colorful scales, in this light the scales looked to be silver. Its eyes were Ice blue. It had small clipped wings. Is this a dragon? Poor thing.


    ¡°Let me see if I can¡¯t open the cage for you.¡± Aldric whispered, as he tried to unlock the cage. When that failed, he started looking for a key.


    ¡°Oh? What do we have here?¡± a rusted voice sounded from the tent opening. ¡°Someone is sneaking around places they shouldn¡¯t.¡±