Sei'tarn Ai
"If I am right, the Swamps should be right....through....here." Irdan said while pushing past some evergreen branches loaded with pine needles.
For the past four days, the company had been riding through the forest and eating bread and berries. Wilein craved a bridie or any hot food. In addition, they were forced to take turns serving as guard while the others slept, for the reason that they never knew when Vydyrn would strike next. They had, in addition, been training whenever they had the time. Wilein had gotten much stronger and quicker, and was able to spar Irdan for several minutes at once. When they had all gotten through the crowding trees, they all looked upon the swamp. It was a dead-looking place, with bogs scattered all over the ground, and trees growing in what looked like inhospitable earth. They dismounted and carefully led their horses through the marsh.
"Tranfa, as in the Swamp of Tranfa which we are in, is named after a famous war against The Enemy."
"You mean Vydyrn?"
"No. The Enemy is the one commanding Vydyrn, making him his puppet. He does not have a true form, he is a spirit. He can nudge us into certain disaster, therefore it is vital to stay alert against him. The war that I mentioned earlier was created when he took over the bodies of five thousand of the dead in order to destroy. The High King at the time amassed a huge army to battle them. The battle took place where we are now, but at the time it was a beautiful plain. The Mark of the Dead causes death wherever it is sent."
"I always thought that Vydyrn was the Most Dark One."
"Nay, there have been many more like him in the past. The Enemy, or Sei'tarn Tëish as is his true name, is the one to be concerned of."
A chill had filled the air when the name was said. Thoom, thoom. A pounding filled the air, the ground, the trees.
"I had forgotten... His very name has become a curse...an incantation of death..."
It was too late. Out of the ground there rose several bodies, or what was left of them. For the most part, they were skeletons, but some had rotten flesh that hung off their bones. Irdan unsheathed both his swords while Wilein and Iana ran off a ways with the horses. Irdan struck at the closest Sei'tarn Ai (Death Follower). His sword merely slid off the slimy bones. Again he struck, but that came to the same end.
"They are already dead...cannot be killed by swords alone...."
The army of the dead slowly marched forward murmuring, over and over, "Mayarna Ai Sei'tarn Tëish." He took a step back and rose his arm, palm open and facing outwards. He yelled out, "Grada Sei'mar Ranar Sei'tarn Ai!". Instantly a flash flew from his hand into the bodies of the Sei'tarn Ai. They all instantly crumbled into bones and dust. Wilein and Iana came back closer to Irdan.
"I am sorry that I was such a dotard. I forgot - how could I forget?!?! - that his name is something not to be said.
"Let us hurry." he continued. "This place is cursed."
They went back and got the horses, then continued on. In the early afternoon they arrived at what looked like the ruins of a castle.
"Aha! We have gotten there finally."
"Gotten where?" Wilein questioned.
"To the resting place of the Sword Elandari, the sword you have been searching for. It should be somewhere near where the treasury was. They climbed around in the ruins for near a half hour.
"There! There it is!" Iana gasped out.
The rest of the company hurried over to where she was.
"Yes, that is Elandari. Its power cannot be easily determined. All I know is that it is the one thing that Vydyrn fears. Other than The Enemy's wrath, that is. Take the sword, Wilein. It is your duty, and yours alone."
Wilein reached out to take the sword, but something stopped him. There was an invisible something around the sword that was stopping Wilein.
"Should've know Vydyrn wouldn't leave the sword unguarded. I think it is a death seal. This should take care of it. Xaneri! Now try."
Wilein again tried to take the sword, and this time he was able to grasp it. He took it by the scabbard and drew out the sword. A powerful tingle rushed through his body. He re-sheathed the sword and latched it to his side.
"Protect it well, Wilein, for I believe that in addition to the death seal, Vydyrn made it so that he was notified when the sword was unsheathed for the first time. He will be attacking doubly more powerfully now."
"Irdan?" Iana said. "I think you know a bit more magic than just what you, with all the other Rangers, were taught."
"That is true." Irdan sheepishly admitted. "I took a bit of an interest in it. No official training, though."
"So, how did you learn, then? I mean, I thought the only way to learn was to become a Royal Magician, or be an apprentice of one." Wilein commented.
"That's true. I may have...snuck into the Royal Magician's library while on a holiday. So I am only book-taught."
"I see. You wouldn't know how to divine up some meat pies, would you?"
"Ah, no. I mostly skipped the cooking section."
They continued talking for a few minutes, then started to lead their horses away from the swamp. They went on for half an hour, then Irdan stopped.
"We didn't come through here earlier. Remember that boulder that had a tree trying to grow off it? We should have passed it already."
"Let us walk just a few more minutes, and if we haven't gone past it yet, we can stop and get our bearings a bit more."
So they did. But they still did not see the boulder. When they found a tree that looked somewhat alive, Iana climbed up it like a white flame flowing up the tree. She came down a few minutes later.
"We need to go more to the left. We must have simply started off slightly off to the right." They, after 45 minutes, found the forest. They then set up camp and slept an exasperated night.
Yven Cometh
Wilein and Iana awoke to the pleasant suprise of fresh venison that Irdan had caught. He had risen early, unable to fall back asleep, so went hunting. He started a fire (using Flamaren) and cooked it. While it was roasting, they talked about their plan. Irdan would lead them toward Vytril. They ate their fill (Wilein was ecstatic!) and left the rest for the creatures of the wood. Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated by the food, they rode on.
///
The time had gone much the same for the past week. Eat, ride, sleep. Eat, ride, sleep. They still kept the guard up during the nights. Irdan said that they were only a day's ride from Vytril now. Late in the afternoon on the 7th day of the week, as they were riding through a forest filled with red and gold leaves (for it had become Autumn), they were halted by an assemblage of four men, all wearing black cloaks.
"What do you want, men?"
"We have been sent by Lord Vydyrn himself to stop you in your quest." The three of them together raised their arms toward the party and yelled: "Haltanis!"
Before the light could reach them, Irdan lifted both his arms to the sky and said: "Laamanar!"
The light coming from the Wizards of Vydyrn dissipated where it was. They tried again and again, but as long as Irdan kept his hands uplifted it had no affect. Irdan told Wilein and Iana to get down, then lowered his hands to his swords, unsheathed them, and leapt of his horse. Wilein had followed Irdan's example, and unsheathed Elandari and plunged ahead. The wizards, having no weapons but their spells, blasted out one "Nara" after another, but with no success. Irdan and Wilein quickly took care of the evil wizards, then re-sheathed their swords. They mounted their respective horses and rode on. After a minute or two of riding, another stranger peeked out from behind a tree.
"Are they gone?" The stranger questioned.
"Yes, but who are you?" Wilein replied.
The stranger came out from behind the tree. He was wearing a similar robe like the other wizards, but this one was much more worn and ragged.
"I am called Yven. I was the apprentice of one of the magicians you fought out there."
"A....trained wizard? An apprentice of one who is loyal to Vydyrn?" Irdan said.
Wilein raised his sword.
"Wait! You said I was an "apprentice of one who is loyal to Vydyrn", but I am not loyal to the Dark Sorcerer! It was the only way to learn magic, though." cried out Yven.
Irdan made a motion and Wilein lowered and sheathed Elandari.
"You best tell the truth." Wilein said.
"I am! So, who are you?"
"This is Wilein, there is the lady Iana, and I am Irdan, the Ranger. We are heading to Vytril to destroy Vydyrn."
"Destroy Vydyrn? You are either insane, or brave."
"Or both. Will you join us? We need all the help we can get to fight Vydyrn." Irdan asked.
"Absolutely! I hate him just as much as everyone else."
"Do you have a steed?" Iana questioned.
"Myself, no. But I suppose that the wizards you just fought don't need theirs anymore."
"Where are they?"
"Around half a league from here."
"I suppose we can all lead our horses until then." Irdan said.
The group dismounted, then led their horses by holding the bridle.
Allies
Nights had been easier since Yven joined them, because there was one more person to share the guard with. They had found out quickly that, even though he was officially trained, Yven was not particularly good at casting spells. He knew the spells themselves, but had trouble at actually using them. The one thing he was good at was doing summoning food, something which Irdan wasn't able to do. They had rode towards Vytril for 10 days now, and Yven said that while with the wizards they had rode (and he had walked) for 12 days (or so he thought. It also seemed that Yven didn't always have the best memory.). So the best Irdan could figure was that they were just about a day from Vytril.
Later in the day, they noticed that the woods started to go somewhat downward, into a valley. Yven didn't think they had been through here, but Irdan decided they would proceed on anyway. The sun set while they were halfway down, and they saw some lights up ahead.
"A village?" asked Wilein.
"I think so. Probably the village of Lucar. Let us see if we can find some lodging." Irdan replied.
By the time they arrived at the village, it had grown quite dark. They went up to one of the houses and knocked. A woman opened the door and asked:
"Hello, who are you?"
"We are a group of travelers going to Vytril."
The woman heard "Vytril" and started to close the door when Wilein interjected:
"We are going to slay Vydyrn!"
The woman re-opened the door.
"Why didn't you say so! I thought you must have been on business for Vydyrn. Come in, come in! You all look tired and hungry! I have just finished making dinner, you are welcome to eat with us, then sleep here, if you wish! You can put your horses with ours out in the stable."
The group took her up on her offer. They went in to the house and revived themselves on some hearty stew. After talking with her family, they went upstairs and slept. When they woke in the morning, they felt better than they had in many days. To thank the family (the Raunat family, they were called), Irdan and Yven put a spell on their house, animals, and land that would keep them save and well.
"There is a market deeper into the village." Matr Raunat, the husband of Mrs. Raunat, said to them while they were getting ready to leave and saddling up the horses. "I just wish that we could do more. A revolt against Vydyrn is just what we have been waiting for. I Wilein go into town with you."
So Wilein, Iana, Irdan, and Yven, along with Matr, went into town. While they were in the market, Matr split off to talk to some of his friends about the possible revolt. Meanwhile Irdan took Wilein to a smithy, where he would get a dagger for him. Irdan seemed to know the blacksmith, for they talked casually to one another. Yven and Iana went to the food shoppes around the village. They bought to food necessary to take them to Vytril, plus a little extra. Even though they would need food for the trip back, any more and it would over-wear the horses. They would have to hope for additional food along the way. By the time that the five of them had re-grouped, Matr had gathered about 70 of people ready to do anything against Vydyrn. These townsmen had gathered food and necessary items for their travel. They left down a road leading to Vytril in the early afternoon. They went around 10 miles before it grew too dark to go further. They made their way to a clearing and made a camp for the night. Irdan made their shelter in his usual manner. While Irdan, Wilein, Iana, and Yven were gathered in the tent, Wilein told the group of something he had been debating all day.
"I am going to go on by myself."
The three others were in shock.
When he had gotten his breath back, Irdan spoke.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, I don't know if you are ready to take on Vydyrn and anything he throws at you."
"I only intend on going for Vydyrn. I wish you to lead all these people to Vytril as well. Have them fight on any Krag in sight and take the castle. Start them out in the morning. I am leaving tonight. I have gotten enough food and water to last me the trip."
Irdan was silent for a long while before speaking again.
"If you wish. My goodwill goes with you."
The others were similar in their farewells. Yven gave Wilein a amulet, saying as he hung it round Wilein's neck, "This will keep you safe. It has always done so for me."
Wilein thanked them, heaved his pack upon his back, and walked off into the woods.
Yven, staring after Wilein long after the dark of the woods had swallowed him, said, "A brave soul for his age."
Irdan had a hard look on his face as he spoke.
"Brave, or foolish?"
Into the Lion's Mouth
It was hard for the villagers when they heard that Wilein had left. Nevertheless, they packed their things, said goodbye to their loved ones, and left. Irdan, Iana, and Yven led the group, and around noon they signaled a stop. The group set down the bags that they had been carrying and ate a quick lunch before setting off yet again. Yven said that they should reach Vytril by late next morning.
Irdan nodded. "Good. However, I don't doubt that we will meet with resistance before we get there."
Yven agreed then turned to Iana. "You've been quiet recently. What's wrong?"
Iana took a deep breath, exhaling in a sigh. "I am worried for Wilein. I don't think he knows what he is getting into."
Irdan responded, a far-off look in his eyes. "I, too, had similar doubts. But he has power that even he doesn't know of. It will be what his life will depend on." He took a breath and looked at them. "Yet I don't know if even that will be enough.
***
Wilein had left that night with a heavy heart. He knew that it was what he had to do, but he regretted it. And even he wasn't sure if he would be able to carry out his plans. He hoped to confront Vydyrn in combat. Master dark wizard versus a young boy with a few weeks of training in swordplay. The chances weighed heavily against him. But he knew that if he didn't slay Vydyrn, there was little left for him in this world.
He walked far that night, and by the time the sun began to throw its rays across the forest he was walking through he was dead tired. He found a welcoming tree and lay down at its feet. Sleep came upon him instantly. He only had one dream, a hooded shadowed figure with its back turned to him. Wilein walked towards it, then walked around so he faced it. He called out to it, and it raised its head. There was only blackness inside. Then the entire cloak collapsed onto the ground. Wilein woke up in a cold sweat. He got up and noticed that he was unbelievably hungry. He remembered that he hadn't had dinner before he left the camp and had been too tired to eat anything before he fell asleep. He ate some of what he had, as well as a few apples and hedgerow berries. Judging by the placement of the sun, he figured that it was around eleven o'clock. The army would be around halfway through the distance he had walked so far. He set off again, but before he had gone an hour, he stumbled and fell. He decided that he hadn't tripped, because there was nothing in his path. He rubbed his legs, then cried out in pain when he found a spot where the muscle had been pulled. After laying on the ground dejectedly for a while, he limped around looking for a piece of wood that he could use for a splint. After finding one, he pulled some string out of his pack and strapped the wood to his leg. He hobbled for about an hour before collapsing on the ground again. He propped up his leg on a rock rested. When he woke again, his leg was stiff, but he was able to walk on it. Around 4 o'clock he saw the black stone towers of Vytril rising in the distance. Knowing he wouldn't be able to get there tonight comfortably, he ate a larger dinner than he usually did and rested again.
The next morning his leg felt much better and he was able to get to the castle by 10 o'clock. When he went to the door, it was locked, of course. Wilein set down his bag and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Irdan had pulled Wilein off to the side before he left, saying in close-mouthed tones, "If you need this, and you will need it, smear it onto the wood of the doors. It will eat through it. Keep it in the cloth, though. It will burn your hands if it gets on them."
Wilein opened the cloth partway, held it by the other side, and smeared it in a square. The acid burnt through the wood. Wilein then pushed the wooden square out of the way and climbed through. Instantly his countenance fell; yes, he had gotten past the wooden door, but there was a metal portcullis in the way still. The acid paste wouldn't work on metal, he knew. He must find another way into Vytril. He went back to the outside of the castle and looked up. It looked like he was below an open gorge tower. The top wasn't to high. He opened his bag and pulled out some rope and tied a rock to one end. After several tries, he threw the rope over the top, looped it around a merlon on the battlement. The rope, weighed down with the rock, came back down. Wilein took it inside to the portcullis and tied it around the weave of the metal. He tested it to make sure it would hold, then went back outside. He got a firm hold on the rope, braced his feet against the wall. It was rough-hewn enough that his feet gripped. He made his slow way up the wall. When he had been at the bottom, it looked like twenty feet. Now that he was going up, it seemed more like fifty. He slipped a few times, but recovered and continued up. He was glad that he had had training on a farm for most his life; it had made his hands and feet rugged and sturdy. At the top of the rope he climbed over the merlon and stood on the gorge tower. Looking around, he walked along the curtain wall meaning to find stairs. He couldn't find any. He went back to the gorge tower and pulled the rope up and over the other side of the curtain wall. He then started the descent down into the courtyard. When he felt that he could jump down the rest of the way, he did. He landed well, got up, and turned around. Standing looking at him was a black-cloaked figure, not unlike the one in his dream the previous night.
"If I am right, the Swamps should be right....through....here." Irdan said while pushing past some evergreen branches loaded with pine needles.
For the past four days, the company had been riding through the forest and eating bread and berries. Wilein craved a bridie or any hot food. In addition, they were forced to take turns serving as guard while the others slept, for the reason that they never knew when Vydyrn would strike next. They had, in addition, been training whenever they had the time. Wilein had gotten much stronger and quicker, and was able to spar Irdan for several minutes at once. When they had all gotten through the crowding trees, they all looked upon the swamp. It was a dead-looking place, with bogs scattered all over the ground, and trees growing in what looked like inhospitable earth. They dismounted and carefully led their horses through the marsh.
"Tranfa, as in the Swamp of Tranfa which we are in, is named after a famous war against The Enemy."
"You mean Vydyrn?"
"No. The Enemy is the one commanding Vydyrn, making him his puppet. He does not have a true form, he is a spirit. He can nudge us into certain disaster, therefore it is vital to stay alert against him. The war that I mentioned earlier was created when he took over the bodies of five thousand of the dead in order to destroy. The High King at the time amassed a huge army to battle them. The battle took place where we are now, but at the time it was a beautiful plain. The Mark of the Dead causes death wherever it is sent."
"I always thought that Vydyrn was the Most Dark One."
"Nay, there have been many more like him in the past. The Enemy, or Sei'tarn Tëish as is his true name, is the one to be concerned of."
A chill had filled the air when the name was said. Thoom, thoom. A pounding filled the air, the ground, the trees.
"I had forgotten... His very name has become a curse...an incantation of death..."
It was too late. Out of the ground there rose several bodies, or what was left of them. For the most part, they were skeletons, but some had rotten flesh that hung off their bones. Irdan unsheathed both his swords while Wilein and Iana ran off a ways with the horses. Irdan struck at the closest Sei'tarn Ai (Death Follower). His sword merely slid off the slimy bones. Again he struck, but that came to the same end.
"They are already dead...cannot be killed by swords alone...."
The army of the dead slowly marched forward murmuring, over and over, "Mayarna Ai Sei'tarn Tëish." He took a step back and rose his arm, palm open and facing outwards. He yelled out, "Grada Sei'mar Ranar Sei'tarn Ai!". Instantly a flash flew from his hand into the bodies of the Sei'tarn Ai. They all instantly crumbled into bones and dust. Wilein and Iana came back closer to Irdan.
"I am sorry that I was such a dotard. I forgot - how could I forget?!?! - that his name is something not to be said.
"Let us hurry." he continued. "This place is cursed."
They went back and got the horses, then continued on. In the early afternoon they arrived at what looked like the ruins of a castle.
"Aha! We have gotten there finally."
"Gotten where?" Wilein questioned.
"To the resting place of the Sword Elandari, the sword you have been searching for. It should be somewhere near where the treasury was. They climbed around in the ruins for near a half hour.
"There! There it is!" Iana gasped out.
The rest of the company hurried over to where she was.
"Yes, that is Elandari. Its power cannot be easily determined. All I know is that it is the one thing that Vydyrn fears. Other than The Enemy's wrath, that is. Take the sword, Wilein. It is your duty, and yours alone."
Wilein reached out to take the sword, but something stopped him. There was an invisible something around the sword that was stopping Wilein.
"Should've know Vydyrn wouldn't leave the sword unguarded. I think it is a death seal. This should take care of it. Xaneri! Now try."
Wilein again tried to take the sword, and this time he was able to grasp it. He took it by the scabbard and drew out the sword. A powerful tingle rushed through his body. He re-sheathed the sword and latched it to his side.
"Protect it well, Wilein, for I believe that in addition to the death seal, Vydyrn made it so that he was notified when the sword was unsheathed for the first time. He will be attacking doubly more powerfully now."
"Irdan?" Iana said. "I think you know a bit more magic than just what you, with all the other Rangers, were taught."
"That is true." Irdan sheepishly admitted. "I took a bit of an interest in it. No official training, though."
"So, how did you learn, then? I mean, I thought the only way to learn was to become a Royal Magician, or be an apprentice of one." Wilein commented.
"That's true. I may have...snuck into the Royal Magician's library while on a holiday. So I am only book-taught."
"I see. You wouldn't know how to divine up some meat pies, would you?"
"Ah, no. I mostly skipped the cooking section."
They continued talking for a few minutes, then started to lead their horses away from the swamp. They went on for half an hour, then Irdan stopped.
"We didn't come through here earlier. Remember that boulder that had a tree trying to grow off it? We should have passed it already."
"Let us walk just a few more minutes, and if we haven't gone past it yet, we can stop and get our bearings a bit more."
So they did. But they still did not see the boulder. When they found a tree that looked somewhat alive, Iana climbed up it like a white flame flowing up the tree. She came down a few minutes later.
"We need to go more to the left. We must have simply started off slightly off to the right." They, after 45 minutes, found the forest. They then set up camp and slept an exasperated night.
Yven Cometh
Wilein and Iana awoke to the pleasant suprise of fresh venison that Irdan had caught. He had risen early, unable to fall back asleep, so went hunting. He started a fire (using Flamaren) and cooked it. While it was roasting, they talked about their plan. Irdan would lead them toward Vytril. They ate their fill (Wilein was ecstatic!) and left the rest for the creatures of the wood. Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated by the food, they rode on.
///
The time had gone much the same for the past week. Eat, ride, sleep. Eat, ride, sleep. They still kept the guard up during the nights. Irdan said that they were only a day's ride from Vytril now. Late in the afternoon on the 7th day of the week, as they were riding through a forest filled with red and gold leaves (for it had become Autumn), they were halted by an assemblage of four men, all wearing black cloaks.
"What do you want, men?"
"We have been sent by Lord Vydyrn himself to stop you in your quest." The three of them together raised their arms toward the party and yelled: "Haltanis!"
Before the light could reach them, Irdan lifted both his arms to the sky and said: "Laamanar!"
The light coming from the Wizards of Vydyrn dissipated where it was. They tried again and again, but as long as Irdan kept his hands uplifted it had no affect. Irdan told Wilein and Iana to get down, then lowered his hands to his swords, unsheathed them, and leapt of his horse. Wilein had followed Irdan's example, and unsheathed Elandari and plunged ahead. The wizards, having no weapons but their spells, blasted out one "Nara" after another, but with no success. Irdan and Wilein quickly took care of the evil wizards, then re-sheathed their swords. They mounted their respective horses and rode on. After a minute or two of riding, another stranger peeked out from behind a tree.
"Are they gone?" The stranger questioned.
"Yes, but who are you?" Wilein replied.
The stranger came out from behind the tree. He was wearing a similar robe like the other wizards, but this one was much more worn and ragged.
"I am called Yven. I was the apprentice of one of the magicians you fought out there."
"A....trained wizard? An apprentice of one who is loyal to Vydyrn?" Irdan said.
Wilein raised his sword.
"Wait! You said I was an "apprentice of one who is loyal to Vydyrn", but I am not loyal to the Dark Sorcerer! It was the only way to learn magic, though." cried out Yven.
Irdan made a motion and Wilein lowered and sheathed Elandari.
"You best tell the truth." Wilein said.
"I am! So, who are you?"
"This is Wilein, there is the lady Iana, and I am Irdan, the Ranger. We are heading to Vytril to destroy Vydyrn."
"Destroy Vydyrn? You are either insane, or brave."
"Or both. Will you join us? We need all the help we can get to fight Vydyrn." Irdan asked.
"Absolutely! I hate him just as much as everyone else."
"Do you have a steed?" Iana questioned.
"Myself, no. But I suppose that the wizards you just fought don't need theirs anymore."
"Where are they?"
"Around half a league from here."
"I suppose we can all lead our horses until then." Irdan said.
The group dismounted, then led their horses by holding the bridle.
Allies
Nights had been easier since Yven joined them, because there was one more person to share the guard with. They had found out quickly that, even though he was officially trained, Yven was not particularly good at casting spells. He knew the spells themselves, but had trouble at actually using them. The one thing he was good at was doing summoning food, something which Irdan wasn't able to do. They had rode towards Vytril for 10 days now, and Yven said that while with the wizards they had rode (and he had walked) for 12 days (or so he thought. It also seemed that Yven didn't always have the best memory.). So the best Irdan could figure was that they were just about a day from Vytril.
Later in the day, they noticed that the woods started to go somewhat downward, into a valley. Yven didn't think they had been through here, but Irdan decided they would proceed on anyway. The sun set while they were halfway down, and they saw some lights up ahead.
"A village?" asked Wilein.
"I think so. Probably the village of Lucar. Let us see if we can find some lodging." Irdan replied.
By the time they arrived at the village, it had grown quite dark. They went up to one of the houses and knocked. A woman opened the door and asked:
"Hello, who are you?"
"We are a group of travelers going to Vytril."
The woman heard "Vytril" and started to close the door when Wilein interjected:
"We are going to slay Vydyrn!"
The woman re-opened the door.
"Why didn't you say so! I thought you must have been on business for Vydyrn. Come in, come in! You all look tired and hungry! I have just finished making dinner, you are welcome to eat with us, then sleep here, if you wish! You can put your horses with ours out in the stable."
The group took her up on her offer. They went in to the house and revived themselves on some hearty stew. After talking with her family, they went upstairs and slept. When they woke in the morning, they felt better than they had in many days. To thank the family (the Raunat family, they were called), Irdan and Yven put a spell on their house, animals, and land that would keep them save and well.
"There is a market deeper into the village." Matr Raunat, the husband of Mrs. Raunat, said to them while they were getting ready to leave and saddling up the horses. "I just wish that we could do more. A revolt against Vydyrn is just what we have been waiting for. I Wilein go into town with you."
So Wilein, Iana, Irdan, and Yven, along with Matr, went into town. While they were in the market, Matr split off to talk to some of his friends about the possible revolt. Meanwhile Irdan took Wilein to a smithy, where he would get a dagger for him. Irdan seemed to know the blacksmith, for they talked casually to one another. Yven and Iana went to the food shoppes around the village. They bought to food necessary to take them to Vytril, plus a little extra. Even though they would need food for the trip back, any more and it would over-wear the horses. They would have to hope for additional food along the way. By the time that the five of them had re-grouped, Matr had gathered about 70 of people ready to do anything against Vydyrn. These townsmen had gathered food and necessary items for their travel. They left down a road leading to Vytril in the early afternoon. They went around 10 miles before it grew too dark to go further. They made their way to a clearing and made a camp for the night. Irdan made their shelter in his usual manner. While Irdan, Wilein, Iana, and Yven were gathered in the tent, Wilein told the group of something he had been debating all day.
"I am going to go on by myself."
The three others were in shock.
When he had gotten his breath back, Irdan spoke.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, I don't know if you are ready to take on Vydyrn and anything he throws at you."
"I only intend on going for Vydyrn. I wish you to lead all these people to Vytril as well. Have them fight on any Krag in sight and take the castle. Start them out in the morning. I am leaving tonight. I have gotten enough food and water to last me the trip."
Irdan was silent for a long while before speaking again.
"If you wish. My goodwill goes with you."
The others were similar in their farewells. Yven gave Wilein a amulet, saying as he hung it round Wilein's neck, "This will keep you safe. It has always done so for me."
Wilein thanked them, heaved his pack upon his back, and walked off into the woods.
Yven, staring after Wilein long after the dark of the woods had swallowed him, said, "A brave soul for his age."
Irdan had a hard look on his face as he spoke.
"Brave, or foolish?"
Into the Lion's Mouth
It was hard for the villagers when they heard that Wilein had left. Nevertheless, they packed their things, said goodbye to their loved ones, and left. Irdan, Iana, and Yven led the group, and around noon they signaled a stop. The group set down the bags that they had been carrying and ate a quick lunch before setting off yet again. Yven said that they should reach Vytril by late next morning.
Irdan nodded. "Good. However, I don't doubt that we will meet with resistance before we get there."
Yven agreed then turned to Iana. "You've been quiet recently. What's wrong?"
Iana took a deep breath, exhaling in a sigh. "I am worried for Wilein. I don't think he knows what he is getting into."
Irdan responded, a far-off look in his eyes. "I, too, had similar doubts. But he has power that even he doesn't know of. It will be what his life will depend on." He took a breath and looked at them. "Yet I don't know if even that will be enough.
***
Wilein had left that night with a heavy heart. He knew that it was what he had to do, but he regretted it. And even he wasn't sure if he would be able to carry out his plans. He hoped to confront Vydyrn in combat. Master dark wizard versus a young boy with a few weeks of training in swordplay. The chances weighed heavily against him. But he knew that if he didn't slay Vydyrn, there was little left for him in this world.
He walked far that night, and by the time the sun began to throw its rays across the forest he was walking through he was dead tired. He found a welcoming tree and lay down at its feet. Sleep came upon him instantly. He only had one dream, a hooded shadowed figure with its back turned to him. Wilein walked towards it, then walked around so he faced it. He called out to it, and it raised its head. There was only blackness inside. Then the entire cloak collapsed onto the ground. Wilein woke up in a cold sweat. He got up and noticed that he was unbelievably hungry. He remembered that he hadn't had dinner before he left the camp and had been too tired to eat anything before he fell asleep. He ate some of what he had, as well as a few apples and hedgerow berries. Judging by the placement of the sun, he figured that it was around eleven o'clock. The army would be around halfway through the distance he had walked so far. He set off again, but before he had gone an hour, he stumbled and fell. He decided that he hadn't tripped, because there was nothing in his path. He rubbed his legs, then cried out in pain when he found a spot where the muscle had been pulled. After laying on the ground dejectedly for a while, he limped around looking for a piece of wood that he could use for a splint. After finding one, he pulled some string out of his pack and strapped the wood to his leg. He hobbled for about an hour before collapsing on the ground again. He propped up his leg on a rock rested. When he woke again, his leg was stiff, but he was able to walk on it. Around 4 o'clock he saw the black stone towers of Vytril rising in the distance. Knowing he wouldn't be able to get there tonight comfortably, he ate a larger dinner than he usually did and rested again.
The next morning his leg felt much better and he was able to get to the castle by 10 o'clock. When he went to the door, it was locked, of course. Wilein set down his bag and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Irdan had pulled Wilein off to the side before he left, saying in close-mouthed tones, "If you need this, and you will need it, smear it onto the wood of the doors. It will eat through it. Keep it in the cloth, though. It will burn your hands if it gets on them."
Wilein opened the cloth partway, held it by the other side, and smeared it in a square. The acid burnt through the wood. Wilein then pushed the wooden square out of the way and climbed through. Instantly his countenance fell; yes, he had gotten past the wooden door, but there was a metal portcullis in the way still. The acid paste wouldn't work on metal, he knew. He must find another way into Vytril. He went back to the outside of the castle and looked up. It looked like he was below an open gorge tower. The top wasn't to high. He opened his bag and pulled out some rope and tied a rock to one end. After several tries, he threw the rope over the top, looped it around a merlon on the battlement. The rope, weighed down with the rock, came back down. Wilein took it inside to the portcullis and tied it around the weave of the metal. He tested it to make sure it would hold, then went back outside. He got a firm hold on the rope, braced his feet against the wall. It was rough-hewn enough that his feet gripped. He made his slow way up the wall. When he had been at the bottom, it looked like twenty feet. Now that he was going up, it seemed more like fifty. He slipped a few times, but recovered and continued up. He was glad that he had had training on a farm for most his life; it had made his hands and feet rugged and sturdy. At the top of the rope he climbed over the merlon and stood on the gorge tower. Looking around, he walked along the curtain wall meaning to find stairs. He couldn't find any. He went back to the gorge tower and pulled the rope up and over the other side of the curtain wall. He then started the descent down into the courtyard. When he felt that he could jump down the rest of the way, he did. He landed well, got up, and turned around. Standing looking at him was a black-cloaked figure, not unlike the one in his dream the previous night.
