First day back at uni today and it feels like I've never been away.
My first lesson was Communication and Persuasion. Not as dull as it might first sound. We had an engaging tutor and I think these lessons will be most interesting. What she showed us today was a speech by Gordon Brown, when he first took office. He is quite possibly the person least capable of giving a speech I've seen in a while. In keeping with the theme of the subject he looked like he was trying to convince himself he was capable of running the country, while watching a very slow tennis match. His head kept moving from side to side.
So work most of the day, writing and reading mostly.
Then I had Writing for Children. The teacher messed up on what room it was, I eventually found it however. I think this subject will be very interesting. I'm looking forward to the weird stuff you can do when writing for children.
There will be posts now probably on Wednesday, as I have lessons all day tomorrow.
I look forward to comments.
"We are not accorded the luxury of choosing the women we fall in love with. Do you think Sirella is anything like the woman I thought that I'd marry? She is a prideful, arrogant, mercurial woman who shares my bed far too infrequently for my taste. And yet... I love her deeply. We Klingons often tout our prowess in battle, our desire for glory and honor above all else... but how hollow is the sound of victory without someone to share it with? Honor gives little comfort to a man alone in his home... and in his heart."
- Martok, to Worf discussing marriage (Taken from http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/You_Are_Cordially_Invited_(episode))
Monday 28 September 2009
Sunday 27 September 2009
Writer's Blog 2009-09-27
Sorry about the lack of post this weekend. I've had a headache most of the weekend and haven't gotten to them. Don't worry, haven't forgotten, hopefully I'll be able to upload something tomorrow.
University starts up tomorrow, should be good. If only because I get to see friends that I haven't see in a while. More writing will be done and maybe I'll be uploading more frequently - don't hold your breath.
University is always warning us about plagiarism. Thinking about it now it would be quite funny to upload a story here and be accused of plagiarizing myself. I wouldn't be surprised if it could happen.
"I'm in the middle of fifteen things, all of them annoying." Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
University starts up tomorrow, should be good. If only because I get to see friends that I haven't see in a while. More writing will be done and maybe I'll be uploading more frequently - don't hold your breath.
University is always warning us about plagiarism. Thinking about it now it would be quite funny to upload a story here and be accused of plagiarizing myself. I wouldn't be surprised if it could happen.
"I'm in the middle of fifteen things, all of them annoying." Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
Thursday 24 September 2009
Next week university begins again. This is good and bad. I will get to see my uni friends again, but I will also have to do work. The strange thing about doing a course in writing is that sometimes you are unable to do the work you want because you have to do the work for the course. However we can submit novel chapters so as much as possible I'm going to stick to my guns. That is I'll write what I want to write. Hopefully my tutors this year will be more open to science fiction.
This blog entry will be rather long and rambling. The truth is I'm doing this to avoid doing over stuff. Mainly finding out details about one of my course and staring at my inbox, as if that will make an email I'm expecting arrive faster.
When I first moved into university halls of residence I had no DVDs, then I have dvds that my computer couldn't play. So I spent more time than I care to admit on You Tube. Here I found, You Tube is like sifting for gold, some great reviews.
These review are mainly of Star Trek and I presented by sfdebris. He makes a lot of good points about these Star Trek episodes. It is partly nitpicking but for some it is more like hippopotamus picking as they have plot holes that go well beyond nitpicking. I thing the following is one of the best examples:
With any review there is always the question of the angle you approach the subject matter. I rather like the idea of Janeway as something of a homicidal maniac, as described in some of the above reviews. I suppose I should segue, sorry I just like that word, into the subject of the best captain in Star Trek.
People often have the Kirk, Picard debate. However I'm going to trump that by saying my favorite Captain is Sisko. Picard would be a close second followed by Kirk. Janeway and Archer have their own special type of ridiculousness, I'm not even going to comment.
Anyway now that I've rambled your time away let me get onto what I planed to say. I want to try my hand at reviewing as well. I however will be reviewing Babylon 5.
In my opinion Babylon 5 is the best science fiction ever. These reviews will be simple opinion. Where Sfdebirs has annoying character, I'm going to do best line. As the dialogue for the series is usually spot on.
The fist of these reviews I shall probably write tomorrow, making this the Friday contribution to my site. Before I do that however I want to explain Babylon 5. Well its a sci-fi series that ran from 1994-1998. It was created by J. Michael Straczynski, a master of his trade. It tells the story of space station Babylon 5.
This series is not trying to be Star Trek. It may share some actors, the main one of note being the late Andreas Katsulas, but it is its own show. It is in fact quite different from Star Trek in that it has a story arc that spans across the five seasons. Meaning there is stuff in the first episode that may not pay off until much later. In light of this still I shall be coming at the episodes in order. Starting with the fist episode Midnight on the Firing Line" The pilot episode wasn't so good and can be summed up by one important line which will be the quote at the end of this rambling post.
I do have one grip about the series. That is the use of imperial measurements. I'm not trying to be an uptight European telling America to change there ways but allow me to explain.
My brother is studying engineering and knows a lot about science. In case your wondering what he's like he's, like Major Carter, as was, with some of the arrogance of Rodney McKay. There we are I've set up camp in nerdvil. Anyway he tells me that imperial system is not suited to complexed science, for reasons that are long and rambling. - So they'd fit right in here.
This one and only grip may turn into the Spanish Inquisition.
"There is a hole in your mind," Minbari Warrior, The Gathering, B5 pilot
This blog entry will be rather long and rambling. The truth is I'm doing this to avoid doing over stuff. Mainly finding out details about one of my course and staring at my inbox, as if that will make an email I'm expecting arrive faster.
When I first moved into university halls of residence I had no DVDs, then I have dvds that my computer couldn't play. So I spent more time than I care to admit on You Tube. Here I found, You Tube is like sifting for gold, some great reviews.
These review are mainly of Star Trek and I presented by sfdebris. He makes a lot of good points about these Star Trek episodes. It is partly nitpicking but for some it is more like hippopotamus picking as they have plot holes that go well beyond nitpicking. I thing the following is one of the best examples:
With any review there is always the question of the angle you approach the subject matter. I rather like the idea of Janeway as something of a homicidal maniac, as described in some of the above reviews. I suppose I should segue, sorry I just like that word, into the subject of the best captain in Star Trek.
People often have the Kirk, Picard debate. However I'm going to trump that by saying my favorite Captain is Sisko. Picard would be a close second followed by Kirk. Janeway and Archer have their own special type of ridiculousness, I'm not even going to comment.
Anyway now that I've rambled your time away let me get onto what I planed to say. I want to try my hand at reviewing as well. I however will be reviewing Babylon 5.
In my opinion Babylon 5 is the best science fiction ever. These reviews will be simple opinion. Where Sfdebirs has annoying character, I'm going to do best line. As the dialogue for the series is usually spot on.
The fist of these reviews I shall probably write tomorrow, making this the Friday contribution to my site. Before I do that however I want to explain Babylon 5. Well its a sci-fi series that ran from 1994-1998. It was created by J. Michael Straczynski, a master of his trade. It tells the story of space station Babylon 5.
This series is not trying to be Star Trek. It may share some actors, the main one of note being the late Andreas Katsulas, but it is its own show. It is in fact quite different from Star Trek in that it has a story arc that spans across the five seasons. Meaning there is stuff in the first episode that may not pay off until much later. In light of this still I shall be coming at the episodes in order. Starting with the fist episode Midnight on the Firing Line" The pilot episode wasn't so good and can be summed up by one important line which will be the quote at the end of this rambling post.
I do have one grip about the series. That is the use of imperial measurements. I'm not trying to be an uptight European telling America to change there ways but allow me to explain.
My brother is studying engineering and knows a lot about science. In case your wondering what he's like he's, like Major Carter, as was, with some of the arrogance of Rodney McKay. There we are I've set up camp in nerdvil. Anyway he tells me that imperial system is not suited to complexed science, for reasons that are long and rambling. - So they'd fit right in here.
This one and only grip may turn into the Spanish Inquisition.
"There is a hole in your mind," Minbari Warrior, The Gathering, B5 pilot
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Rolling Shadows - Chapter 10
The severed tail landed with a thump as a safe distance from Tha'lif as Cassy declared her defiance to her perusers. Tha'lif looked at the tail for a moment deciding how best to pick up the deadly appendage. It didn't take her long to see that it had been sliced with a sufficient stump. She carried it by the stump, held out in front of her like someone else's dirty handkerchief.
As Tha'lif placed it on the ground the herbologist, who wore thick gloves, picked it up by the deadly end. With her other hand she used a dagger and sliced the tail through and with great care she removed a poison sack. She then placed the poison sack into a wooden bowl, along with some herbs and sliced the poison through, it dripped into the bowl.
“That'll kill him!” exclaimed Th'liff.
“It'll save him,” the herbologist said softly, “he is dead if we do nothing. It is different if ingested we can teach his body to fight the poison.”
“So he'll be immune?”
“No,” the herbologist said, “but it'll save him in the here and now.”
Cassy arrived back, she lay panting on the ground. Next to her, her staff pushed itself up on a pair of vines and wriggled itself into the ground. It soon became a restful tree once more, gathering energy from the diminishing light. Cassy rolled onto her front and looked ahead at the spell being performed by the pixies. Having flown so far she was glad of something to watch, something she didn't need to be involved with. Sitting up she watched. The pixies were reciting an incantation, seated around a small bowl.
“It is ready,” the herbologist said.
Tha'lif held La'ingif's hand in both of hers. The herboligist dabbed his wound with water, then poured some of the antidote onto his lips. Rubbing them gently with a large leaf his lips slowly opened. The herbologist then poured the rest of the liquid into La'ingif's mouth.
“Now what?” Cassy asked.
“Now we wait.”
As night came Tha'lif wasn't sure that the medicine had helped. La'ingif's body had begun to quiver again, and it seemed to be getting more intense. Tha'lif felt she couldn't watch any longer. Time was all that was required now and Tha'lif sat with Cassy, with the glowing jewel of a staff for light.
“We should have heard from Nayrath and Shaydon by now.”
“They will contact us when they can,” Tha'lif said, “we should continue on tomorrow.”
“I know,” Cassy said, “its just I've never had a command before.”
“You'll do fine,” Tha'lif said, she hoped her tone was reassuring, “in any case we don't know what happened to them. As you contacted The Twelve – they may well have been rescued.”
Cassy was unconvinced by Tha'lif's words, “I've known Nayrath for a long time - if that were the case he'd have reported in by now.”
At that moment there was a thud of a message orb just ahead of them. Tha'lif reached for it with her staff and it rolled towards her. Holding it in her hand Nayrath's voice emanated from it, “we're alive. The Twelve responded to our request. Get where you're going, we do not have much time. Tha'lif knows where the spirits lie. Go with her and we will do our best to keep the manticores away. Good luck.”
It was only just light as Tha'lif awoke the next morning. She walked over to La'ingif. A pixie had been seated next to him all night. Tha'lif knelt next to the observer as she looked at La'ingif wondering what to say, the pixie spoke.
“The cure worked. He sleeps now.”
“Can I wake him?” Tha'lif asked.
The pixie frowned at that question, she shrugged as if to say, its nothing to do with me.
“La'ingif,” Tha'lif said softly. She kissed him on the cheek, then on the lips. His eyes fluttered and he looked at her.
“Tha'lif!” He grabbed her arm and quickly hugged her to him. “Thank you. So good to be able to move. Thank you for all your efforts. I could sense everything. I could see and hear, but couldn't move – well not controllably anyway. Can you imagine that?” He paused. “I could have been left, eaten alive, no pain, but...”
As the sun rose the pixies awoke – as if spirited into life by its rays. They began to prepare food for the travelers. La'ingif was ravenous, he had never been so pleased to see food. Each fruit tasted so much better than normal. It might have simply been the sudden sensations after having been paralyzed or that the symbiosis between the pixies and the trees meant that the food was much improved.
Once he had eaten La'ingif felt suddenly energized. He got to his feet and said, “I'm going for a walk. I've done nothing for the past few days.”
“You were paralyzed,” Cassy said, “we do have, what could be, quite a long trip ahead of us.”
“I know,” La'ingif said, “but a short walk isn't going to make much difference.”
“All right,” Cassy said, “I'll use the time to gather some supplies together.”
“We would be happy to help,” one of the pixies said.
La'ingif headed off into the wood and Tha'lif joined him. At their command the staffs came leisurely through the air to their hands. The elf couple held hands as they walked in silence.
“Far enough,” Tha'lif said.
“Sorry?”
She smiled at the look of utter confusion on his face as she kissed him and stroked his long black hair. Her hands moved to his arms caressing them. She kissed him again and whispered, staff in hand. With a white light her clothes fell to the ground and folded themselves neatly. La'ingif looked at her naked body, pulled her to him and kissed her, more passionately that he had ever done before. He ran his hands over her breasts as he whispered the same spell. His clothes joined hers in a neatly folded pile. They touched their staffs whispering a couple more spells and the staffs moved away. They kissed again running their hands over each other's bodies, then they touched foreheads. Tha'lif placed her hand on La'ingif's chest and he fell lightly backwards onto a conjured rug. Tha'lif lent over him and kissed his lips, neck and chest.
While Tha'lif and La'ingif caressed and kissed their staffs became intertwined. They rapped branches and vines around one another. Jewels glowed and the staffs became one. They moved like a slow dance as their masters made love.
“This should do nicely,” Cassy said. The Pixies had filled three bags with supplies for their trek, “thank you?”
“You are most welcome,” the pixie who had been assisting her said, “while you wait for the others, tell us a tale.”
Tha'lif breathed deeply as she lent forward to kiss La'ingif on the forehead. She swung her leg over him and lay down beside him. She took a moment to neaten her hair, and smiled stroking his cheek with the back of her hand. Meanwhile their staffs had separated, connected by vines clutching one another.
“I hope you don't think I took advantage.”
La'ingif sat up before he responded to the question, “no.”
“I wanted to show you life,” Tha'lif said, “after pain.”
He flashed a smile as he kissed her, “Cassy will know.”
“How?”
“The trees!” he said with a slight delay, “they do prattle you know.”
“No different from home trees,” she giggled, “well maybe a little – didn't even bother me.”
Hand in hand the couple returned. Cassy was engaged in the telling of a story to the pixies. They were gathered around her, hanging on her every word. It was somewhat odd to Tha'lif and La'ingif the interest with which the pixies sat. The story was very familiar two them, often repeated by grandparents and parents alike. - Sort of the elf version of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', in terms of how well known it was.
“Thank you,” one of the pixies said.
“Your welcome,” Cassy said, “when our mission is over I'm sure my people would be interested in setting up a trade relationship with you.”
“We would be interested too.” The pixies stood and moved away into their dwellings. They exchanged no words of parting and one could almost imagine that they drifted rather than walked around. Cassy stood and coming over to the couple asked, “have a good walk?”
“Yes,” Tha'lif said, chocking back a double entendre remark that came to mind.
“Good,” Cassy said, “as it is we've lost no time. I've been 'paying' for our supplies. We've got packs and are ready to go. Where do we go from here?”
“I'm afraid,” said Tha'lif, “They are said to live atop Elgrin mountain. Waking them might be difficult, they have been known to sleep for thousands of years. They are neither nocturnal nor do they live in the day. It is always tomorrow with them – they can always put something off.”
“Then we'll fly to meet them.”
“Not possible,” Tha'lif said, “the mountain is protected. They only way is to climb. The spirits are the epitome of magic, they can grant wishes. You'd be surprised how much a climb can put people off, make them forget the wish.”
“Is it safe?”
“Yes,” Tha'lif said, trying to keep her answer succinct, “to the centaurs the mountain is holy. Believed to be the place where one of their prophet died.”
“I see,” said Cassy, “anything more I need to know?”
“Well.”
“Go on.”
“Its not relevant,” Tha'lif said, “I wouldn't want to ramble on like a warlock.”
“I always rather enjoyed the warlock's ramblings,” Cassy said, “even to the point where I was disappointed when the Warden cut them off.”
“All right,” Tha'lif said, “the mountain is protected by a small group of centaur guardians. I am unsure whether they will help us. However, since we are not causing damage to the mountain side, I doubt that they will hinder us. The centaur legends do say that the prophet was unsuccessful in contacting the spirits. So the centaurs may find it laughable that we think we can achieve what he could not.”
“We should go.” They swung their sacks onto their backs, mounted their staffs and headed away.
As Tha'lif placed it on the ground the herbologist, who wore thick gloves, picked it up by the deadly end. With her other hand she used a dagger and sliced the tail through and with great care she removed a poison sack. She then placed the poison sack into a wooden bowl, along with some herbs and sliced the poison through, it dripped into the bowl.
“That'll kill him!” exclaimed Th'liff.
“It'll save him,” the herbologist said softly, “he is dead if we do nothing. It is different if ingested we can teach his body to fight the poison.”
“So he'll be immune?”
“No,” the herbologist said, “but it'll save him in the here and now.”
Cassy arrived back, she lay panting on the ground. Next to her, her staff pushed itself up on a pair of vines and wriggled itself into the ground. It soon became a restful tree once more, gathering energy from the diminishing light. Cassy rolled onto her front and looked ahead at the spell being performed by the pixies. Having flown so far she was glad of something to watch, something she didn't need to be involved with. Sitting up she watched. The pixies were reciting an incantation, seated around a small bowl.
“It is ready,” the herbologist said.
Tha'lif held La'ingif's hand in both of hers. The herboligist dabbed his wound with water, then poured some of the antidote onto his lips. Rubbing them gently with a large leaf his lips slowly opened. The herbologist then poured the rest of the liquid into La'ingif's mouth.
“Now what?” Cassy asked.
“Now we wait.”
As night came Tha'lif wasn't sure that the medicine had helped. La'ingif's body had begun to quiver again, and it seemed to be getting more intense. Tha'lif felt she couldn't watch any longer. Time was all that was required now and Tha'lif sat with Cassy, with the glowing jewel of a staff for light.
“We should have heard from Nayrath and Shaydon by now.”
“They will contact us when they can,” Tha'lif said, “we should continue on tomorrow.”
“I know,” Cassy said, “its just I've never had a command before.”
“You'll do fine,” Tha'lif said, she hoped her tone was reassuring, “in any case we don't know what happened to them. As you contacted The Twelve – they may well have been rescued.”
Cassy was unconvinced by Tha'lif's words, “I've known Nayrath for a long time - if that were the case he'd have reported in by now.”
At that moment there was a thud of a message orb just ahead of them. Tha'lif reached for it with her staff and it rolled towards her. Holding it in her hand Nayrath's voice emanated from it, “we're alive. The Twelve responded to our request. Get where you're going, we do not have much time. Tha'lif knows where the spirits lie. Go with her and we will do our best to keep the manticores away. Good luck.”
It was only just light as Tha'lif awoke the next morning. She walked over to La'ingif. A pixie had been seated next to him all night. Tha'lif knelt next to the observer as she looked at La'ingif wondering what to say, the pixie spoke.
“The cure worked. He sleeps now.”
“Can I wake him?” Tha'lif asked.
The pixie frowned at that question, she shrugged as if to say, its nothing to do with me.
“La'ingif,” Tha'lif said softly. She kissed him on the cheek, then on the lips. His eyes fluttered and he looked at her.
“Tha'lif!” He grabbed her arm and quickly hugged her to him. “Thank you. So good to be able to move. Thank you for all your efforts. I could sense everything. I could see and hear, but couldn't move – well not controllably anyway. Can you imagine that?” He paused. “I could have been left, eaten alive, no pain, but...”
As the sun rose the pixies awoke – as if spirited into life by its rays. They began to prepare food for the travelers. La'ingif was ravenous, he had never been so pleased to see food. Each fruit tasted so much better than normal. It might have simply been the sudden sensations after having been paralyzed or that the symbiosis between the pixies and the trees meant that the food was much improved.
Once he had eaten La'ingif felt suddenly energized. He got to his feet and said, “I'm going for a walk. I've done nothing for the past few days.”
“You were paralyzed,” Cassy said, “we do have, what could be, quite a long trip ahead of us.”
“I know,” La'ingif said, “but a short walk isn't going to make much difference.”
“All right,” Cassy said, “I'll use the time to gather some supplies together.”
“We would be happy to help,” one of the pixies said.
La'ingif headed off into the wood and Tha'lif joined him. At their command the staffs came leisurely through the air to their hands. The elf couple held hands as they walked in silence.
“Far enough,” Tha'lif said.
“Sorry?”
She smiled at the look of utter confusion on his face as she kissed him and stroked his long black hair. Her hands moved to his arms caressing them. She kissed him again and whispered, staff in hand. With a white light her clothes fell to the ground and folded themselves neatly. La'ingif looked at her naked body, pulled her to him and kissed her, more passionately that he had ever done before. He ran his hands over her breasts as he whispered the same spell. His clothes joined hers in a neatly folded pile. They touched their staffs whispering a couple more spells and the staffs moved away. They kissed again running their hands over each other's bodies, then they touched foreheads. Tha'lif placed her hand on La'ingif's chest and he fell lightly backwards onto a conjured rug. Tha'lif lent over him and kissed his lips, neck and chest.
While Tha'lif and La'ingif caressed and kissed their staffs became intertwined. They rapped branches and vines around one another. Jewels glowed and the staffs became one. They moved like a slow dance as their masters made love.
“This should do nicely,” Cassy said. The Pixies had filled three bags with supplies for their trek, “thank you?”
“You are most welcome,” the pixie who had been assisting her said, “while you wait for the others, tell us a tale.”
Tha'lif breathed deeply as she lent forward to kiss La'ingif on the forehead. She swung her leg over him and lay down beside him. She took a moment to neaten her hair, and smiled stroking his cheek with the back of her hand. Meanwhile their staffs had separated, connected by vines clutching one another.
“I hope you don't think I took advantage.”
La'ingif sat up before he responded to the question, “no.”
“I wanted to show you life,” Tha'lif said, “after pain.”
He flashed a smile as he kissed her, “Cassy will know.”
“How?”
“The trees!” he said with a slight delay, “they do prattle you know.”
“No different from home trees,” she giggled, “well maybe a little – didn't even bother me.”
Hand in hand the couple returned. Cassy was engaged in the telling of a story to the pixies. They were gathered around her, hanging on her every word. It was somewhat odd to Tha'lif and La'ingif the interest with which the pixies sat. The story was very familiar two them, often repeated by grandparents and parents alike. - Sort of the elf version of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', in terms of how well known it was.
“Thank you,” one of the pixies said.
“Your welcome,” Cassy said, “when our mission is over I'm sure my people would be interested in setting up a trade relationship with you.”
“We would be interested too.” The pixies stood and moved away into their dwellings. They exchanged no words of parting and one could almost imagine that they drifted rather than walked around. Cassy stood and coming over to the couple asked, “have a good walk?”
“Yes,” Tha'lif said, chocking back a double entendre remark that came to mind.
“Good,” Cassy said, “as it is we've lost no time. I've been 'paying' for our supplies. We've got packs and are ready to go. Where do we go from here?”
“I'm afraid,” said Tha'lif, “They are said to live atop Elgrin mountain. Waking them might be difficult, they have been known to sleep for thousands of years. They are neither nocturnal nor do they live in the day. It is always tomorrow with them – they can always put something off.”
“Then we'll fly to meet them.”
“Not possible,” Tha'lif said, “the mountain is protected. They only way is to climb. The spirits are the epitome of magic, they can grant wishes. You'd be surprised how much a climb can put people off, make them forget the wish.”
“Is it safe?”
“Yes,” Tha'lif said, trying to keep her answer succinct, “to the centaurs the mountain is holy. Believed to be the place where one of their prophet died.”
“I see,” said Cassy, “anything more I need to know?”
“Well.”
“Go on.”
“Its not relevant,” Tha'lif said, “I wouldn't want to ramble on like a warlock.”
“I always rather enjoyed the warlock's ramblings,” Cassy said, “even to the point where I was disappointed when the Warden cut them off.”
“All right,” Tha'lif said, “the mountain is protected by a small group of centaur guardians. I am unsure whether they will help us. However, since we are not causing damage to the mountain side, I doubt that they will hinder us. The centaur legends do say that the prophet was unsuccessful in contacting the spirits. So the centaurs may find it laughable that we think we can achieve what he could not.”
“We should go.” They swung their sacks onto their backs, mounted their staffs and headed away.
Sunday 20 September 2009
Rolling Shadows - Chapter 9
The Grand Council, commonly know as The Twelve, were the rulers of Eleslthinor. Of course the elven leadership was not simply these twelve, there were others that dealt with the more day-to-day decisions. It was however The Grand Council that decided upon the most important aspects of the society, the rest being delegated to the smaller councils.
The Grand Council had been founded shortly after arrival in what became Eleselthinor. The elves had traveled long from their first home in El'eleciln. The first group were elected and conducted their affairs as the The High Council had in El'eleciln had.
For their council dwelling they gathered together the staffs from those of their number who had died on their journey. These staffs, instead of becoming the usual thin branched tree, unified into one large tree, This became known as the Jewel Tree. Called so because it shimmered like a glistening jewel when the sun court it. Up in the high branches was where the council assembled. Their were thirteen platforms, one in the center and twelve around it. The council didn't have an official leader. The de-facto leader was the one who had served the longest. Today that leader was Gwothin. She stood in the center platform and spoke to the council.
“The manticores have been seen flying above our skies,” she said softly, “we must decide what to do. They have not attack us directly yet but the day will come.” She bowed her head and returned back to her platform on the outer edge. Another of their number stepped forward. This elf was far younger. Even for an elf she spoke quietly as she explained herself.
“We would be fools to ignore that which does seemingly not yet effect us, for if we wait till that day we may find ourselves very much alone.” She paused for a moment to nods of agreement, “then we shall send emissaries to the fauns to assist them in their war.” The elf returned to her platform and another approached the center. This was Cha'clin, before serving on the council he had served in the Wardens. Cha'clin was effectively in charge of all military matters.
“I agree with Councilor Soth,” he said referring to the previous speaker, “I will send a message to the Wardens and we will send help to the fauns.”
Gwothin took her place once more in the center. “It is decided then. We have been quiet for far too long. Allowed too much evil to continue unchallenged. The mission to the spirits continues and with their help we will prevail,” she held up her hand, “I know that they have not come to our rescue before but contact has hardly been attempted since our arrival here.”
It was at that moment that the red orbs flew through the canopy and landed at Gwothin's feat. She bent down to pick them up and with her magic the information the orbs contained was sent to the assembled.
“Cha'clin,” Gwothin said, “send them the help they require.”
Dwarf warriors came rushing out of the cave. They carried with them crossbows, their armour was think and bulky. They had barely been outside a moment before the fired to the sky. The flurry of bolts headed upwards. Unguided by any magic they simply traveled in a straight line, so either they met their mark or they did not.
As he looked on Nayrath was gladdened to see some of the bolts bringing manticores from the sky. Those manticores that hit the ground were approached by dwarfs – who smashed their skulls with their large hammers.
“We can help them.” Nayrath said,
“Perhaps we can take a tail from one of the dead,” Cassy said.
“We won't be that lucky, they'll see us coming,” Nayrath said, “though its worth a try. Let's go.” He thrust his hand across the magnification screen, disappearing it.
They moved off putting their staffs into a nose dive. The air rushed passed them as they plummeted, the ground rushing up towards them. They were tight together as they fell and broke away each heading for a different manticore corps. The manticores noticed them, they rose away from the dwarfs towards the elves, preventing them from reaching the ground.
“We'll do this the hard way,” Nayrath said, “form up towards me.” The two followed him, close by. Shaydon whispered a spell as she dodged a disemboweling shot from a manticore. Her whispered spell produced a blue orb which she threw down to the dwarfs.
“Elves,” Detek declared. He finally thought his people might have a chance. He aimed his crossbow and fired. The bolt shot passed its target. He swore and prepared another shot, as he was about to fire he saw his previous bolt still airborne, evidently under a spell. It did hit, with a little assistance. He was ready to fire again when a blue orb landed at his feat. Its shimmering and changing surface made it clear this was magical. He was however unsure if it had come from the elves or the manticores. His question was soon answered as a voice bellowed from it, “get your people inside, this will protect you.
“Sir, sir,” he called, “we have protection from the elves.”
“Fall back,” his superior said, apparently recognising the orb. The dwarfs ran back towards their caves, they entered them. Detek dropped the orb in the entrance way. He was unable to disguise his fear as the manticores approached the entrance. They didn't reach him, they seemed to hit nothing and fall back in a daze. He ran into the cave. However in the main chamber there was still a battle to be fought. The manticores had entered earlier and now the dwarfs fought them inside. Here their was a slight advantage that the manticores couldn't simply fly out the way. Nevertheless they still had their magic, Detek watched, frozen with fear for a moment, as a manticore shot shattered a Dwarf hammer. He was about to head to them to join the fray when suddenly he could sense the blue light behind him. Whatever that thing had been that the elves gave him was glowing now. It reached forward with many tentacles and grabbed the manticores inside and threw them out of the cave. He stood against the wall as manticores passed him flying passed higgledy-piggledy, not under their own control. They hit the manticores still trying to enter the cave then, the orb glowed once more, disappeared and became a dome around the manticores.
Five manticores approached the elves. Nayrath gave orders for the others to move away from him, as they split away he said one last order, “uniforms.” He was sure by this point that help was certainly on the way, being inconspicuous had been a short lived requirement. As they headed off in their respective directions a wash of colour came over them and they were once again dressed in their dark blue Warden uniforms.
Nayrath lead the manticore section away, he turned leading the manticores high up, keeping in mind the ceiling of their abilities. He drew his sword, gripping with his legs.
Meanwhile Shadon and Cassy tried once more to head to the ground, only to be met by more manticores coming from the tavern. They headed up giving themselves some distance.
Nayrath spiraled upwards. The Manticors slashed, but found only air, they used their magic, but Nayrath was too quick. Nayrath fired a spell which hit the nearest manticore, he hurtled to the ground with a hard smack.
The mantiocores from the tavern favored Cassy and followed her.
Shaydon followed the line of manticores that perused Nayrath. They headed upwards, Nayrath sent spells behind him, Shaydon sent spells ahead. Soon they had eliminated the group.
Cassy sped away from her perusers, leveling off she turned round whispering to her staff. On command it produced spiked projectiles, like house-chestnuts, which it shot at the manticores. Two hit a couple of manticores right in the forehead sending them to the ground. The other projectiles swung round back towards their enemies. One manticore fired and destroyed the house-chestnut that might have killed him. Cassy told her staff to keep the manticores at bay while she looked down for another opportunity to snag a tail.
Manticores perused Nayrath, only a few seconds after he had shaken off the others. This time they came in from several directions. Holding his sword out he came to a stop, spun around, and swung his sword over his head and around him. Some manticores flew away from the whirling elf others were cut by the end of his sword.
Shaydon was still with him and in the confusion she cut the tail end off of one of the beasts. It yelped in pain and fell unceremoniously to the ground, not able to fly with its equilibrium lost.
The tail end was cough by Shaydon's staff, in one of is spontaneously sprung vines. Then at that moment manticores closed in on her, she swerved to avoid them. She was successful in evading, but in the process the staff lost its grip on the tail.
“Get it back their!” Nayrath yelled, a mind the slashing and biting.
Cassy watched as it fall, she gripped her staff with her legs and drew her sword, having sheaved it for a particularly tricky manoeuvre. The end of the tail was falling poison spines first, the heaver end. She nipped it with her sword causing it to turn, just for an instant. She grabbed it by the safe fleshy end. Whispering in their sweet language she said; “Find where you are needed!” With the spell the tail sprouted wings and flew off at high speeds. Cassy watched it for a moment.
One of the manticores turned his attention to her, the jewel in its paw glowed, she dived leaving her staff.
Nayrath sheaved his sword as the manticores closed in. His whispered to his staff. From inside his robe he pulled two daggers. They looked more ornamental than functional. They had a shining blade, in line with the handle and orbs on the end of the hilt. Nevertheless these blades were not ornamental. He handed them to his staff's outstretched vines. He was soon beset by three foes. Between the fighting of he and his staff he dimly caught sight of Shaydon's clean cut of the tail. Then later he saw it drop. He yelled something out of instinct, but couldn't have told you what it was a moment later.
Cassy was only off her staff for a second at the most. She had dropped her sword. However the staff had saved her by rapping its vines around her middle and lifting her back on to it. She called her sward to her, which arrived with a little more force than she had intended, then headed to help Shaydon and Nayrath.
“Face that way!” Nayrath ordered Shaydon. Their staffs prepared themselves. They grew the horse chestnut like projectiles they had previously and began to launch them at high speeds. They would all meet their mark eventually, but the elves remained outnumbered. As a manticore was hit, Nayrath caught sight of Cassy coming up to assist.
“Complete the mission,” Nayrath yelled.
It was with some regret that Cassy turned herself around to head back through the forest to La'ingif and Tha'lif. Looking behind her she soon noticed she was being pursued, by five manticores, She and her staff were both tired.
They thrust on for a short way, over tree stumps and through branches but soon she felt herself beginning to loose speed. Her enemy were getting closer, they had recently left their new barracks and would not become tired for a long while. It was in that moment that Cassy decided that it was time to stop running. She had to face them now, rather than draw them into the pixie lands and endanger others. She turned off her course for deceleration and came to a stop in front of her perusers. Then as if it was the most natural thing to do in this circumstance, she got off her staff and sat, cross-legged on the ground. She tried to meditate, however briefly. Then the manticores arrived. They landed just ahead of her, and began to prowl around her.
“Today is your death, Elf,” one of them snarled.
Progress indeed, thought Cassy, the manticores had moved from killing to taunting – then killing. “No.” she said defiantly, “well see what Ella has to say about that,” she tapped her staff.
“There is one of you and...”
“Two, of us,” she interrupted the manticore calmly.
She stood, her staff in her right hand looking over the five manticores that prowled around her. The enemy looked unconcerned. She span her staff around like a baton and it sprouted vines grabbing two of the enemies and bashing their heads together. One of the remaining manticores lept at her claws out. She moved out the way firing off a spell with her staff. The vines of the staff retracted and she handed each one a dagger. She span the staff around with twists of her wrist. The knifes flailing wildly. The manticore tried to get to her but got slashes across his face. The manticore failed to notice her muttering and suddenly the jewel in the staff glowed and they were hit hard into trees. She smiled in a brief flash of emotion, mounted her staff and continued on at a leisurely pace.
The ground around the Miner's Bounty was littered with dead. Shaydon, Nayrath and their staffs were becoming exhausted. It was true that the manticores had been unable to touch them, and only five could comfortably attack at any given time. There were many more of their enemy. Then their were still the manticores bottled up in the glowing dome prison.
“They will soon escape,” Shaydon said.
“I know,” Nayrath said, he considered his last words, but all that came to his minds were clichés. Then before he joined with other soldiers in saying those words he notices blue specks on the horizon. The reinforcements they had requested.
Suddenly the manticores were hit by a barrage of spells, they tore through their wings and they fell from the sky. The elf reinforcements were lead by Unthrin Balshall. She brought her staff alongside Nayrath.
“Good to see you, ma'am.”
“Glad we could help.”
“Those manticors are going to free themselves soon,” he indicated the dome on the ground.
The elves headed down to the ground a safe distance from the dome. They didn't have to wait long. The manticores broke through their cage and growled as the flew from it. This time it was the elves turn to be the pursuers. They followed the manticores as they attempted to flee, firing at them with all the weapons they could. The manticores tuned and fought. The elves, now with the advantage of numbers quickly defeated them.
They touched down.
The Grand Council had been founded shortly after arrival in what became Eleselthinor. The elves had traveled long from their first home in El'eleciln. The first group were elected and conducted their affairs as the The High Council had in El'eleciln had.
For their council dwelling they gathered together the staffs from those of their number who had died on their journey. These staffs, instead of becoming the usual thin branched tree, unified into one large tree, This became known as the Jewel Tree. Called so because it shimmered like a glistening jewel when the sun court it. Up in the high branches was where the council assembled. Their were thirteen platforms, one in the center and twelve around it. The council didn't have an official leader. The de-facto leader was the one who had served the longest. Today that leader was Gwothin. She stood in the center platform and spoke to the council.
“The manticores have been seen flying above our skies,” she said softly, “we must decide what to do. They have not attack us directly yet but the day will come.” She bowed her head and returned back to her platform on the outer edge. Another of their number stepped forward. This elf was far younger. Even for an elf she spoke quietly as she explained herself.
“We would be fools to ignore that which does seemingly not yet effect us, for if we wait till that day we may find ourselves very much alone.” She paused for a moment to nods of agreement, “then we shall send emissaries to the fauns to assist them in their war.” The elf returned to her platform and another approached the center. This was Cha'clin, before serving on the council he had served in the Wardens. Cha'clin was effectively in charge of all military matters.
“I agree with Councilor Soth,” he said referring to the previous speaker, “I will send a message to the Wardens and we will send help to the fauns.”
Gwothin took her place once more in the center. “It is decided then. We have been quiet for far too long. Allowed too much evil to continue unchallenged. The mission to the spirits continues and with their help we will prevail,” she held up her hand, “I know that they have not come to our rescue before but contact has hardly been attempted since our arrival here.”
It was at that moment that the red orbs flew through the canopy and landed at Gwothin's feat. She bent down to pick them up and with her magic the information the orbs contained was sent to the assembled.
“Cha'clin,” Gwothin said, “send them the help they require.”
Dwarf warriors came rushing out of the cave. They carried with them crossbows, their armour was think and bulky. They had barely been outside a moment before the fired to the sky. The flurry of bolts headed upwards. Unguided by any magic they simply traveled in a straight line, so either they met their mark or they did not.
As he looked on Nayrath was gladdened to see some of the bolts bringing manticores from the sky. Those manticores that hit the ground were approached by dwarfs – who smashed their skulls with their large hammers.
“We can help them.” Nayrath said,
“Perhaps we can take a tail from one of the dead,” Cassy said.
“We won't be that lucky, they'll see us coming,” Nayrath said, “though its worth a try. Let's go.” He thrust his hand across the magnification screen, disappearing it.
They moved off putting their staffs into a nose dive. The air rushed passed them as they plummeted, the ground rushing up towards them. They were tight together as they fell and broke away each heading for a different manticore corps. The manticores noticed them, they rose away from the dwarfs towards the elves, preventing them from reaching the ground.
“We'll do this the hard way,” Nayrath said, “form up towards me.” The two followed him, close by. Shaydon whispered a spell as she dodged a disemboweling shot from a manticore. Her whispered spell produced a blue orb which she threw down to the dwarfs.
“Elves,” Detek declared. He finally thought his people might have a chance. He aimed his crossbow and fired. The bolt shot passed its target. He swore and prepared another shot, as he was about to fire he saw his previous bolt still airborne, evidently under a spell. It did hit, with a little assistance. He was ready to fire again when a blue orb landed at his feat. Its shimmering and changing surface made it clear this was magical. He was however unsure if it had come from the elves or the manticores. His question was soon answered as a voice bellowed from it, “get your people inside, this will protect you.
“Sir, sir,” he called, “we have protection from the elves.”
“Fall back,” his superior said, apparently recognising the orb. The dwarfs ran back towards their caves, they entered them. Detek dropped the orb in the entrance way. He was unable to disguise his fear as the manticores approached the entrance. They didn't reach him, they seemed to hit nothing and fall back in a daze. He ran into the cave. However in the main chamber there was still a battle to be fought. The manticores had entered earlier and now the dwarfs fought them inside. Here their was a slight advantage that the manticores couldn't simply fly out the way. Nevertheless they still had their magic, Detek watched, frozen with fear for a moment, as a manticore shot shattered a Dwarf hammer. He was about to head to them to join the fray when suddenly he could sense the blue light behind him. Whatever that thing had been that the elves gave him was glowing now. It reached forward with many tentacles and grabbed the manticores inside and threw them out of the cave. He stood against the wall as manticores passed him flying passed higgledy-piggledy, not under their own control. They hit the manticores still trying to enter the cave then, the orb glowed once more, disappeared and became a dome around the manticores.
Five manticores approached the elves. Nayrath gave orders for the others to move away from him, as they split away he said one last order, “uniforms.” He was sure by this point that help was certainly on the way, being inconspicuous had been a short lived requirement. As they headed off in their respective directions a wash of colour came over them and they were once again dressed in their dark blue Warden uniforms.
Nayrath lead the manticore section away, he turned leading the manticores high up, keeping in mind the ceiling of their abilities. He drew his sword, gripping with his legs.
Meanwhile Shadon and Cassy tried once more to head to the ground, only to be met by more manticores coming from the tavern. They headed up giving themselves some distance.
Nayrath spiraled upwards. The Manticors slashed, but found only air, they used their magic, but Nayrath was too quick. Nayrath fired a spell which hit the nearest manticore, he hurtled to the ground with a hard smack.
The mantiocores from the tavern favored Cassy and followed her.
Shaydon followed the line of manticores that perused Nayrath. They headed upwards, Nayrath sent spells behind him, Shaydon sent spells ahead. Soon they had eliminated the group.
Cassy sped away from her perusers, leveling off she turned round whispering to her staff. On command it produced spiked projectiles, like house-chestnuts, which it shot at the manticores. Two hit a couple of manticores right in the forehead sending them to the ground. The other projectiles swung round back towards their enemies. One manticore fired and destroyed the house-chestnut that might have killed him. Cassy told her staff to keep the manticores at bay while she looked down for another opportunity to snag a tail.
Manticores perused Nayrath, only a few seconds after he had shaken off the others. This time they came in from several directions. Holding his sword out he came to a stop, spun around, and swung his sword over his head and around him. Some manticores flew away from the whirling elf others were cut by the end of his sword.
Shaydon was still with him and in the confusion she cut the tail end off of one of the beasts. It yelped in pain and fell unceremoniously to the ground, not able to fly with its equilibrium lost.
The tail end was cough by Shaydon's staff, in one of is spontaneously sprung vines. Then at that moment manticores closed in on her, she swerved to avoid them. She was successful in evading, but in the process the staff lost its grip on the tail.
“Get it back their!” Nayrath yelled, a mind the slashing and biting.
Cassy watched as it fall, she gripped her staff with her legs and drew her sword, having sheaved it for a particularly tricky manoeuvre. The end of the tail was falling poison spines first, the heaver end. She nipped it with her sword causing it to turn, just for an instant. She grabbed it by the safe fleshy end. Whispering in their sweet language she said; “Find where you are needed!” With the spell the tail sprouted wings and flew off at high speeds. Cassy watched it for a moment.
One of the manticores turned his attention to her, the jewel in its paw glowed, she dived leaving her staff.
Nayrath sheaved his sword as the manticores closed in. His whispered to his staff. From inside his robe he pulled two daggers. They looked more ornamental than functional. They had a shining blade, in line with the handle and orbs on the end of the hilt. Nevertheless these blades were not ornamental. He handed them to his staff's outstretched vines. He was soon beset by three foes. Between the fighting of he and his staff he dimly caught sight of Shaydon's clean cut of the tail. Then later he saw it drop. He yelled something out of instinct, but couldn't have told you what it was a moment later.
Cassy was only off her staff for a second at the most. She had dropped her sword. However the staff had saved her by rapping its vines around her middle and lifting her back on to it. She called her sward to her, which arrived with a little more force than she had intended, then headed to help Shaydon and Nayrath.
“Face that way!” Nayrath ordered Shaydon. Their staffs prepared themselves. They grew the horse chestnut like projectiles they had previously and began to launch them at high speeds. They would all meet their mark eventually, but the elves remained outnumbered. As a manticore was hit, Nayrath caught sight of Cassy coming up to assist.
“Complete the mission,” Nayrath yelled.
It was with some regret that Cassy turned herself around to head back through the forest to La'ingif and Tha'lif. Looking behind her she soon noticed she was being pursued, by five manticores, She and her staff were both tired.
They thrust on for a short way, over tree stumps and through branches but soon she felt herself beginning to loose speed. Her enemy were getting closer, they had recently left their new barracks and would not become tired for a long while. It was in that moment that Cassy decided that it was time to stop running. She had to face them now, rather than draw them into the pixie lands and endanger others. She turned off her course for deceleration and came to a stop in front of her perusers. Then as if it was the most natural thing to do in this circumstance, she got off her staff and sat, cross-legged on the ground. She tried to meditate, however briefly. Then the manticores arrived. They landed just ahead of her, and began to prowl around her.
“Today is your death, Elf,” one of them snarled.
Progress indeed, thought Cassy, the manticores had moved from killing to taunting – then killing. “No.” she said defiantly, “well see what Ella has to say about that,” she tapped her staff.
“There is one of you and...”
“Two, of us,” she interrupted the manticore calmly.
She stood, her staff in her right hand looking over the five manticores that prowled around her. The enemy looked unconcerned. She span her staff around like a baton and it sprouted vines grabbing two of the enemies and bashing their heads together. One of the remaining manticores lept at her claws out. She moved out the way firing off a spell with her staff. The vines of the staff retracted and she handed each one a dagger. She span the staff around with twists of her wrist. The knifes flailing wildly. The manticore tried to get to her but got slashes across his face. The manticore failed to notice her muttering and suddenly the jewel in the staff glowed and they were hit hard into trees. She smiled in a brief flash of emotion, mounted her staff and continued on at a leisurely pace.
The ground around the Miner's Bounty was littered with dead. Shaydon, Nayrath and their staffs were becoming exhausted. It was true that the manticores had been unable to touch them, and only five could comfortably attack at any given time. There were many more of their enemy. Then their were still the manticores bottled up in the glowing dome prison.
“They will soon escape,” Shaydon said.
“I know,” Nayrath said, he considered his last words, but all that came to his minds were clichés. Then before he joined with other soldiers in saying those words he notices blue specks on the horizon. The reinforcements they had requested.
Suddenly the manticores were hit by a barrage of spells, they tore through their wings and they fell from the sky. The elf reinforcements were lead by Unthrin Balshall. She brought her staff alongside Nayrath.
“Good to see you, ma'am.”
“Glad we could help.”
“Those manticors are going to free themselves soon,” he indicated the dome on the ground.
The elves headed down to the ground a safe distance from the dome. They didn't have to wait long. The manticores broke through their cage and growled as the flew from it. This time it was the elves turn to be the pursuers. They followed the manticores as they attempted to flee, firing at them with all the weapons they could. The manticores tuned and fought. The elves, now with the advantage of numbers quickly defeated them.
They touched down.
Friday 11 September 2009
Writer's Blog 2009-09-11
Hi there.
I'm afraid there will be no chapter this week. I'm on holiday in Tenby. I'll try and upload two the following week.
Recently I've also been writing another novel, science fiction. This is something of an experiment I'm trying to write a chapter for each character. Telling the story in many short sections. Building the world by the ordinary lives of the people - even if they happen to live in space.
"Bleak September's mist and mud.
Is enough to chill the blood." Song of the weather - Flanders and Swann.
I'm afraid there will be no chapter this week. I'm on holiday in Tenby. I'll try and upload two the following week.
Recently I've also been writing another novel, science fiction. This is something of an experiment I'm trying to write a chapter for each character. Telling the story in many short sections. Building the world by the ordinary lives of the people - even if they happen to live in space.
"Bleak September's mist and mud.
Is enough to chill the blood." Song of the weather - Flanders and Swann.
Sunday 6 September 2009
Rolling Shadows - Chapter 8
As soon as Nayrath joined them the party took to the sky. La'ingif's staff cradled him in vines, slung underneath like a stretcher. If the staff could have wept it would have, it cared for its master and would be with him till the day he died.
A staff did not join to another when the master died it usually returned home and rested in a forest of other former staffs, or else it chose to grow into its tree form at the place where its master fell. However La'ingif was not dead, though his trembling was becoming gradually worse.
Tha'lif cast a glance every so often at her boyfriend's quivering body. She was of course concerned but didn't know enough of manticore thorns to have any concept of the seriousness of the situation, did it kill – albeit slowly, was it paralysis. As much had been said by one of her companions, she wasn't sure she could hear anything any more. It was still dark but few hours of night remained, they still needed sleep. Knowing they were high enough to avoid most obstacles Nayrath kept his eyes on the ground. He was looking for a place they could rest, if only for a few hours. They talked in brief sentences, to the point, not that elves were known for beating about the bush. Cassy had suggested that for now the best thing they could do was to leave the thorn where it was, Shaydon disagree and suggested they should pull the thorn out.
Nayrath agreed with Cassy he said, “pulling an arrow out is not always the best thing to do. In any case there is a risk that the thorn could snap and then we might never get it out.”
“Here looks good,” Cassy said looking down.
“Indeed,” Nayrath said, looking where she pointed, “we're a good way from the tavern, it should do for the evening. Cassy head down with La'ingif and Tha'liff, Shaydon: lets try and find some wood for the fire.”
La'ingif's staff followed Cassy and Tha'lif. As it neared the ground it lay him down and a blanket spread from it covering him. Tha'lif and Cassy's staffs became illuminated at the ends to light their way. They sat alongside La'ingif under the long over hanging branches that just scraped the ground. Tha'lif placed La'ingif's hand in hers, “it'll be all right,” she told him.
“I'm going to see if I can help the others,” Cassy said, “will you be all right here for a while?”
“Yes.”
As Cassy walked away Tha'lif heard a voice, “greetings,” it said. She looked up and around trying to discern from where the voice had come. She saw no-one. She spoke quietly to the wood in the hopes of getting a response but, nothing. So she went back to lightly stroking La'ingif's hand. She wondered if he could feel that. In due course the other's returned. Cassy asked if their had been any change. Tha'lif shook her head. The others had brought wood with them and laid it down starting a fire. Tha'lif's hand moved to stroke his staff, the living tool showed no reaction other than creating a second pillow for its master's head. Tha'lif laid down next to her own staff and performed the same spell.
She watched the hypnotic flames rising like ornate blades in the darkness. She asked Cassy whether she had heard the voice. Cassy replied that she had not and they each closed their eyes.
Sleep do not come immediately to Tha'lif. She pondered whether the others could sleep because of their experience, their training. It could have been simply exhaustion. Her worried eyes remained fixed on La'ingif. The fire had died down almost burnt out. Cinders glowed in the charcoal. She watched them, like fireflies in the night, slowly they faded into blackness or it might have been her heavy eyelids.
“Greetings,” she said to the night in her last breath of consciousness. There was only the calls of the night birds. In the last few seconds of consciousness a jumble of thoughts came to her; of La'ingif, of the manticors, her friends, her parents. La'ingif lay motionless now, his eyes were open, they moved uncertainly.
Sleep finally took Tha'liff.
The next morning they awoke with the rise of the sun shinning through the branches of the trees around them. The wind blew coursing the shadows to dance across their faces. La'ingif seemed to be worse, he wasn't even quivering now. His eyes apparently remained the only thing he could move.
Shaydon had walked away from the group early that morning and returned now. Her lips showed evidence of a smile having been their. Her cheeks were a little white showing they had been flushed. She wished them a good morning as she arrived back with them.
“Morning,” Nayrath said, “where have you been?”
“Down to the stream,” she paused, “I sent I message to my brother.”
A less adept commander might have chastised Shaydon right there, Nayrath knew her better than that and was sure she would not have endangered them of their mission. Shaydon explained that she had been careful not to reveal an information about what they were doing. She told them that her brother had some experience with manticore attacks, this had been the reason why she had sent the message.
“What did you find out?” Nayrath asked.
“The manticore thorns are natural,” Shaydon was sure this was known to Nayrath but she was always a thorough person, “they were used for hunting. It enabled the manticores to get pray with little risk to themselves. They could ambush a group of catoblepas, the thorns fly off like darts. Those that are hit are downed and the group leaves without them.”
“Believing them to be dead?”
“Yes. Then the manticores simply return when it is believed safe and eat their pray. Now of course they are simply a weapon of war.”
“So they do not kill?” Tha'lif asked with a glimmer of hope in her voice.
“I can't say,” Shaydon said with regret, “when my brother encountered them he had full medical resources with him.”
“Then it is treatable.”
“Yes. Some creatures near the mountains of manticore origin have even reported to be immune to the poison. All I can say for sure in this instance is that La'ingif will eventually fall into a compete comatose state, making him completely unresponsive, but...”
“But what?”
“The senses still work, to an extent.”
“It would be horrible,” Tha'lif said, fighting back tiers, “eaten alive, you could...”
“Don't,” Nayrath said placing a hand on her shoulder, “no need to think about it. That's not going to happen. He's not dead yet. We shall do whatever we can to help him. I think that...”
“Greetings,” a voice interrupted.
“We won't hurt you,” Tha'lif said, “show yourself.”
“You bring weapons,” the voice said, “staffs of magic. Are you here for us?”
“No,” Tha'lif said.
“These weapons are to defend ourselves,” Nayrath said, “we have enemies and must defend ourselves. I assure you we will cause you know harm. I apologise for being in this forest of yours – we simply needed a place to rest. We shall be moving on as soon as we can.”
“Your worlds are sincere,” the voice said, “I believe I can trust you.”
“You can,” Tha'lif said reassuringly, “who are you?”
When their was no reply Tha'lif said, “I will prove it to you. See that tree stump up ahead. I will go their without weapons or staff so you and I can talk.”
“All right,” the voice agreed.
As Tha'lif walked towards the tree line Nayrath exclaimed from behind her, “No. Stay here. That's an order.”
Tha'lif stoped, turned and said, “I am not under your command.”
“No,” Nayrath admitted, “but you are under my protection and I say 'don't go'”
“I'm only over their,” Tha'lif said, “I'll be fine.” As she walked off unconcerned Shaydon whispered to Nayrath that she could go and bring her back. Nayrath simply shook his head and said, “let her try it.”
Tha'lif came to the tree stump she had pointed out to the mysterious speaker, she sat. Then above her the leaves rustled. A small creature came falling from the canopy landing at her feat. Even though Tha'lif sat the small being came up to he knee. She wore clothes of woven leafs, that nevertheless seem to give her freedom of movement. Tha'lif looked into the creatures eyes, as near as she could with the height difference. In those blue pools she saw the wisdom of adulthood, then hight did not equate to age, for this species this could be an adult. Far the most predominate feature of the creature where here ears. They were size of the side of her head, broad in the middle and thin at each end.
“I'm sorry for being so mysterious,” she said, “I was scared. You seem serene, but those you travel with are not. They are here through orders. You all care about what you are doing but those you travel with have to be here. Why do you travel with them?”
“Your very astute,” Tha'liff said. “in answer to your question, I have skills that they required.”
“I am not astute so much as I listen,” she said, “it is the trees that deserve the credit. The see all and listen. My name is Belss. What's your name?”
“Tha'lif”
“Your friend is hurt.”
“Yes.”
“Bring him we can help you.”
“You know of manticore poison?”
“We do.”
Tha'liff followed Birch as she headed deeper into the forest, like a wide-eyed child promised sweets by a grandfather. Nayrath had been watching closely. When he saw Tha'lif about to leave with the creature he mounted his staff, tapped the ground and headed straight for them. Suddenly, just before he got to them vines reached out from one of the trees and grabbed him. They brought him forward and backward, swinging him to slow him down, so as not to cause injury. Though no sound had been made the small creature seem to know what had happened. She turned to face him, putting her hands together. The tree returned Nayrath to a standing position and on of the vines handed him his staff.
“Your fast,” she observed, “I'm Belss, and you are?”
“Nayrath.”
“Most proficient, I must say,” Belss smiled, “you have wounded allow us to help you.”
“Thank you, but,” Nayrath realised his sentence didn't have an end, but what, he thought.
“You do not know how to help him?”
“No.”
“Then allow us. Bring him.”
“Thank you,” Nayrath said and indicated for Cassy and Shaydon to follow, “what would you ask in exchange?”
“Let us try,” she repeated and she walked with such fluid motion one might think she could float.
Belss identified her people as pixies. They were a race that were said to share a common ancestor with the elves and thus had some magical ability. Nayrath's doubts ebbed away as they followed behind her. The more rational part of his mind hoped that was not some magic. In truth he doubted it, if these beings did have magic it was most probably far subtler that that of the elves. Behind him La'ingif's body floated, for his brother he felt he had to take the chance. In that moment he didn't care about orders.
They came into a wide clearing where the pixies moved about between the trees, long branches hung over the area, the same as they tree that the group had rested under. It was now confirmed that Belss size was not atypical of her kin. The pixies live in squat wigwams of curved wood in the center of the clearing. They moved with purpose, attending to the trees but still stopping occasionally to converse with one another. It was a most idyllic way of life Nayrath thought as he looked on. They were symbiotic with the trees, even more so than his own people. Belss then spoke, seemingly to no-one. Almost as if she where saying to the world 'I exist' at a party where she was being ignored. However unusual this might have seemed to the elves it was apparently normal behavior. At that moment, from one of the wigwams, their emerged a pixie. He was just a little taller than Belss, with grey hair that covered most of the top of his head. His ears too where hairy inside and out. The man looked at Belss for a moment before saying, “hello, Belss,” his simple greeting had a definite air of 'what have you got yourself into this time' about it. The man looked up at Nayrath and the others and was glad to see that this small man showed no sign of being intimidated nor frightened, so as to act irrationally, of the visitors.
“These are elves from far away,” Belss said, “they need our help.”
It occurred to Nayrath that he should probably say something. He stepped forward, considered how to address this man, decided on kneeling, knelt and said, “I am Nayrath, we would appreciate any assistance you could offer.”
“A manticore thorn,” the man said, “we can help you. The herbologist will be summoned,” like Belss had previously he spoke like he was thinking to himself. This time however his messages was relayed by other pixies down away from them.
“Thank you,” Nayrath said, standing, “I am sorry to bring this trouble to your wood. However I fear this may only be the first of many such incidents you may have to bear. As you are aware of the manticores you know...”
“That they will come,” the man said, “she will be here soon.”
“Who?
“The herbologist of course.”
The man smiled, feeling the need to say more, “if you are thinking you are to blame for the manticores do not. Because you are not.”
“Not me personally,” Nayrath said, “but my forefathers could be blamed.”
“For no actions but their own. It may have been in inaction that the Dark Elves came to power, that they endowed the manticores with these abilities – that lead us to this situation. The Dark Elves are to blame.”
The herbologist arrived. She was plump and a good deal shorter than the other pixies. Her hair was matted with leaves and she smelt faintly of lavender. She looked up at the elves, smiled and moved directly over to La'ingif.
“Can you help him?” Tha'lif asked.
“I will have to look,” the herbologist said calmingly, “but I believe it can be done.” Her eyes turned to her patient, his quivering had stopped, only the eyes could move. The herbologist lifted up his arm which dropped straight away to his side, she declared that she had seen worse. Tha'lif thought this a rather odd time for a joke, but then she thought with a smile, perhaps it was also the best time. The herbologist now looked closely at the wound without a moments hesitation she yanked out the thorn.
“Be careful,” Tha'lif said.
“It can do no damage now,” she placed the thorn on the ground.
“We were concerned that it could snap,” Tha'lif explained.
“A swift straight pull and they come out easily.”
“How do you know about these things?”
“I worked with the Dwarfs in The Interregnum,” she said, “we encountered some manticores. Several dwarfs where speared by these things.”
“Did they...” Tha'lif couldn't complete her sentence.
“Live? Yes. We did get to them sooner, this may not make a difference,” she looked up from her patient, “we'll need fresh poison.”
“That might be difficult,” Nayrath said.
“He's your brother!” said Tha'lif in a rare occurrence of venom in an elf their voice, “Nayrath please. I know our mission is important but...please.”
“Of course we'll go,” Nayrath said, “Cassy, Shaydon.” They headed a short way away and mounted their staffs, “Tha'lif,” Nayrath said, “if we are not back by sundown, we probably won't be, should that happen I want you to continue in the morning.”
“I will.”
Nayrath nodded, looked to the woman that flanked him and with their nods confirming they were ready the three tapped the ground and took to the sky. Tha'lif watched them go for a moment before turning back to the herbologist.
“Thank you for your help,” she said, “what may we give you in return?”
“Stories.”
“I'm sorry?”
“We have all we need,” the herbologist said, “food shelter warmth. So we excel in culture we want to hear of your people and in so doing help to enrich us.”
“Would history count?”
“Of course.”
“Then I have a story for you,” she paused to sink into a narrative voice, “The temple was situated on an island in a river that flowed through Eleselthinor. It was a quiet place where people could explore their spirituality...”
Nayrath, Cassy and Shaydon pulled their staffs upwards, they slowly climbed. Soon they were far higher than was usual for a staff-rider would usually ride, high enough to pass over large mountains, their staffs had sprouted deep blue oxygen berries to assist their breathing in the reverified air. They know that manticores couldn't reach this height and so it was a strategically sound position.
They were now high above the Miner's Bounty. It looked little more than a toy from their height. Nayrath performed a spell and from the jewel at the end of his staff their came a shimmering light, like a star, it expanded in front of them to form a rectangle. The rectangle angled itself downwards to show them the landscape beneath but magnified.
They could now see that the ground was carpeted in dead, some manticores but mostly dwarfs. They had been warriors and even in death they seem to grip their hammers and axes tightly. The bodies lay from the cave entrance all the way to the tavern.
“We abandoned them,”Cassy said.
“We caused this,” Nayrath said, “I think they were here for us.”
“Another prophecy perhaps,” Shaydon suggested.
“Perhaps,” Nayrath said with a nod.
“We should inform The Twelve,” Shaydon said.
“They probably know,” Nayrath paused, “but it would do know harm.”
The elves interlaced their fingers and placed their thumbs on their temple, closing their eyes they thought of all the pertinent information about what had happened to them since their departure. While they did this their staffs sprouted small cradles into which red orbs appeared. Each of the orbs glowed. The elves took theirs in their hand and bowled it underarm through the air. They speed away, knowing their destination instinctively – The seat of The Twelve.
A staff did not join to another when the master died it usually returned home and rested in a forest of other former staffs, or else it chose to grow into its tree form at the place where its master fell. However La'ingif was not dead, though his trembling was becoming gradually worse.
Tha'lif cast a glance every so often at her boyfriend's quivering body. She was of course concerned but didn't know enough of manticore thorns to have any concept of the seriousness of the situation, did it kill – albeit slowly, was it paralysis. As much had been said by one of her companions, she wasn't sure she could hear anything any more. It was still dark but few hours of night remained, they still needed sleep. Knowing they were high enough to avoid most obstacles Nayrath kept his eyes on the ground. He was looking for a place they could rest, if only for a few hours. They talked in brief sentences, to the point, not that elves were known for beating about the bush. Cassy had suggested that for now the best thing they could do was to leave the thorn where it was, Shaydon disagree and suggested they should pull the thorn out.
Nayrath agreed with Cassy he said, “pulling an arrow out is not always the best thing to do. In any case there is a risk that the thorn could snap and then we might never get it out.”
“Here looks good,” Cassy said looking down.
“Indeed,” Nayrath said, looking where she pointed, “we're a good way from the tavern, it should do for the evening. Cassy head down with La'ingif and Tha'liff, Shaydon: lets try and find some wood for the fire.”
La'ingif's staff followed Cassy and Tha'lif. As it neared the ground it lay him down and a blanket spread from it covering him. Tha'lif and Cassy's staffs became illuminated at the ends to light their way. They sat alongside La'ingif under the long over hanging branches that just scraped the ground. Tha'lif placed La'ingif's hand in hers, “it'll be all right,” she told him.
“I'm going to see if I can help the others,” Cassy said, “will you be all right here for a while?”
“Yes.”
As Cassy walked away Tha'lif heard a voice, “greetings,” it said. She looked up and around trying to discern from where the voice had come. She saw no-one. She spoke quietly to the wood in the hopes of getting a response but, nothing. So she went back to lightly stroking La'ingif's hand. She wondered if he could feel that. In due course the other's returned. Cassy asked if their had been any change. Tha'lif shook her head. The others had brought wood with them and laid it down starting a fire. Tha'lif's hand moved to stroke his staff, the living tool showed no reaction other than creating a second pillow for its master's head. Tha'lif laid down next to her own staff and performed the same spell.
She watched the hypnotic flames rising like ornate blades in the darkness. She asked Cassy whether she had heard the voice. Cassy replied that she had not and they each closed their eyes.
Sleep do not come immediately to Tha'lif. She pondered whether the others could sleep because of their experience, their training. It could have been simply exhaustion. Her worried eyes remained fixed on La'ingif. The fire had died down almost burnt out. Cinders glowed in the charcoal. She watched them, like fireflies in the night, slowly they faded into blackness or it might have been her heavy eyelids.
“Greetings,” she said to the night in her last breath of consciousness. There was only the calls of the night birds. In the last few seconds of consciousness a jumble of thoughts came to her; of La'ingif, of the manticors, her friends, her parents. La'ingif lay motionless now, his eyes were open, they moved uncertainly.
Sleep finally took Tha'liff.
The next morning they awoke with the rise of the sun shinning through the branches of the trees around them. The wind blew coursing the shadows to dance across their faces. La'ingif seemed to be worse, he wasn't even quivering now. His eyes apparently remained the only thing he could move.
Shaydon had walked away from the group early that morning and returned now. Her lips showed evidence of a smile having been their. Her cheeks were a little white showing they had been flushed. She wished them a good morning as she arrived back with them.
“Morning,” Nayrath said, “where have you been?”
“Down to the stream,” she paused, “I sent I message to my brother.”
A less adept commander might have chastised Shaydon right there, Nayrath knew her better than that and was sure she would not have endangered them of their mission. Shaydon explained that she had been careful not to reveal an information about what they were doing. She told them that her brother had some experience with manticore attacks, this had been the reason why she had sent the message.
“What did you find out?” Nayrath asked.
“The manticore thorns are natural,” Shaydon was sure this was known to Nayrath but she was always a thorough person, “they were used for hunting. It enabled the manticores to get pray with little risk to themselves. They could ambush a group of catoblepas, the thorns fly off like darts. Those that are hit are downed and the group leaves without them.”
“Believing them to be dead?”
“Yes. Then the manticores simply return when it is believed safe and eat their pray. Now of course they are simply a weapon of war.”
“So they do not kill?” Tha'lif asked with a glimmer of hope in her voice.
“I can't say,” Shaydon said with regret, “when my brother encountered them he had full medical resources with him.”
“Then it is treatable.”
“Yes. Some creatures near the mountains of manticore origin have even reported to be immune to the poison. All I can say for sure in this instance is that La'ingif will eventually fall into a compete comatose state, making him completely unresponsive, but...”
“But what?”
“The senses still work, to an extent.”
“It would be horrible,” Tha'lif said, fighting back tiers, “eaten alive, you could...”
“Don't,” Nayrath said placing a hand on her shoulder, “no need to think about it. That's not going to happen. He's not dead yet. We shall do whatever we can to help him. I think that...”
“Greetings,” a voice interrupted.
“We won't hurt you,” Tha'lif said, “show yourself.”
“You bring weapons,” the voice said, “staffs of magic. Are you here for us?”
“No,” Tha'lif said.
“These weapons are to defend ourselves,” Nayrath said, “we have enemies and must defend ourselves. I assure you we will cause you know harm. I apologise for being in this forest of yours – we simply needed a place to rest. We shall be moving on as soon as we can.”
“Your worlds are sincere,” the voice said, “I believe I can trust you.”
“You can,” Tha'lif said reassuringly, “who are you?”
When their was no reply Tha'lif said, “I will prove it to you. See that tree stump up ahead. I will go their without weapons or staff so you and I can talk.”
“All right,” the voice agreed.
As Tha'lif walked towards the tree line Nayrath exclaimed from behind her, “No. Stay here. That's an order.”
Tha'lif stoped, turned and said, “I am not under your command.”
“No,” Nayrath admitted, “but you are under my protection and I say 'don't go'”
“I'm only over their,” Tha'lif said, “I'll be fine.” As she walked off unconcerned Shaydon whispered to Nayrath that she could go and bring her back. Nayrath simply shook his head and said, “let her try it.”
Tha'lif came to the tree stump she had pointed out to the mysterious speaker, she sat. Then above her the leaves rustled. A small creature came falling from the canopy landing at her feat. Even though Tha'lif sat the small being came up to he knee. She wore clothes of woven leafs, that nevertheless seem to give her freedom of movement. Tha'lif looked into the creatures eyes, as near as she could with the height difference. In those blue pools she saw the wisdom of adulthood, then hight did not equate to age, for this species this could be an adult. Far the most predominate feature of the creature where here ears. They were size of the side of her head, broad in the middle and thin at each end.
“I'm sorry for being so mysterious,” she said, “I was scared. You seem serene, but those you travel with are not. They are here through orders. You all care about what you are doing but those you travel with have to be here. Why do you travel with them?”
“Your very astute,” Tha'liff said. “in answer to your question, I have skills that they required.”
“I am not astute so much as I listen,” she said, “it is the trees that deserve the credit. The see all and listen. My name is Belss. What's your name?”
“Tha'lif”
“Your friend is hurt.”
“Yes.”
“Bring him we can help you.”
“You know of manticore poison?”
“We do.”
Tha'liff followed Birch as she headed deeper into the forest, like a wide-eyed child promised sweets by a grandfather. Nayrath had been watching closely. When he saw Tha'lif about to leave with the creature he mounted his staff, tapped the ground and headed straight for them. Suddenly, just before he got to them vines reached out from one of the trees and grabbed him. They brought him forward and backward, swinging him to slow him down, so as not to cause injury. Though no sound had been made the small creature seem to know what had happened. She turned to face him, putting her hands together. The tree returned Nayrath to a standing position and on of the vines handed him his staff.
“Your fast,” she observed, “I'm Belss, and you are?”
“Nayrath.”
“Most proficient, I must say,” Belss smiled, “you have wounded allow us to help you.”
“Thank you, but,” Nayrath realised his sentence didn't have an end, but what, he thought.
“You do not know how to help him?”
“No.”
“Then allow us. Bring him.”
“Thank you,” Nayrath said and indicated for Cassy and Shaydon to follow, “what would you ask in exchange?”
“Let us try,” she repeated and she walked with such fluid motion one might think she could float.
Belss identified her people as pixies. They were a race that were said to share a common ancestor with the elves and thus had some magical ability. Nayrath's doubts ebbed away as they followed behind her. The more rational part of his mind hoped that was not some magic. In truth he doubted it, if these beings did have magic it was most probably far subtler that that of the elves. Behind him La'ingif's body floated, for his brother he felt he had to take the chance. In that moment he didn't care about orders.
They came into a wide clearing where the pixies moved about between the trees, long branches hung over the area, the same as they tree that the group had rested under. It was now confirmed that Belss size was not atypical of her kin. The pixies live in squat wigwams of curved wood in the center of the clearing. They moved with purpose, attending to the trees but still stopping occasionally to converse with one another. It was a most idyllic way of life Nayrath thought as he looked on. They were symbiotic with the trees, even more so than his own people. Belss then spoke, seemingly to no-one. Almost as if she where saying to the world 'I exist' at a party where she was being ignored. However unusual this might have seemed to the elves it was apparently normal behavior. At that moment, from one of the wigwams, their emerged a pixie. He was just a little taller than Belss, with grey hair that covered most of the top of his head. His ears too where hairy inside and out. The man looked at Belss for a moment before saying, “hello, Belss,” his simple greeting had a definite air of 'what have you got yourself into this time' about it. The man looked up at Nayrath and the others and was glad to see that this small man showed no sign of being intimidated nor frightened, so as to act irrationally, of the visitors.
“These are elves from far away,” Belss said, “they need our help.”
It occurred to Nayrath that he should probably say something. He stepped forward, considered how to address this man, decided on kneeling, knelt and said, “I am Nayrath, we would appreciate any assistance you could offer.”
“A manticore thorn,” the man said, “we can help you. The herbologist will be summoned,” like Belss had previously he spoke like he was thinking to himself. This time however his messages was relayed by other pixies down away from them.
“Thank you,” Nayrath said, standing, “I am sorry to bring this trouble to your wood. However I fear this may only be the first of many such incidents you may have to bear. As you are aware of the manticores you know...”
“That they will come,” the man said, “she will be here soon.”
“Who?
“The herbologist of course.”
The man smiled, feeling the need to say more, “if you are thinking you are to blame for the manticores do not. Because you are not.”
“Not me personally,” Nayrath said, “but my forefathers could be blamed.”
“For no actions but their own. It may have been in inaction that the Dark Elves came to power, that they endowed the manticores with these abilities – that lead us to this situation. The Dark Elves are to blame.”
The herbologist arrived. She was plump and a good deal shorter than the other pixies. Her hair was matted with leaves and she smelt faintly of lavender. She looked up at the elves, smiled and moved directly over to La'ingif.
“Can you help him?” Tha'lif asked.
“I will have to look,” the herbologist said calmingly, “but I believe it can be done.” Her eyes turned to her patient, his quivering had stopped, only the eyes could move. The herbologist lifted up his arm which dropped straight away to his side, she declared that she had seen worse. Tha'lif thought this a rather odd time for a joke, but then she thought with a smile, perhaps it was also the best time. The herbologist now looked closely at the wound without a moments hesitation she yanked out the thorn.
“Be careful,” Tha'lif said.
“It can do no damage now,” she placed the thorn on the ground.
“We were concerned that it could snap,” Tha'lif explained.
“A swift straight pull and they come out easily.”
“How do you know about these things?”
“I worked with the Dwarfs in The Interregnum,” she said, “we encountered some manticores. Several dwarfs where speared by these things.”
“Did they...” Tha'lif couldn't complete her sentence.
“Live? Yes. We did get to them sooner, this may not make a difference,” she looked up from her patient, “we'll need fresh poison.”
“That might be difficult,” Nayrath said.
“He's your brother!” said Tha'lif in a rare occurrence of venom in an elf their voice, “Nayrath please. I know our mission is important but...please.”
“Of course we'll go,” Nayrath said, “Cassy, Shaydon.” They headed a short way away and mounted their staffs, “Tha'lif,” Nayrath said, “if we are not back by sundown, we probably won't be, should that happen I want you to continue in the morning.”
“I will.”
Nayrath nodded, looked to the woman that flanked him and with their nods confirming they were ready the three tapped the ground and took to the sky. Tha'lif watched them go for a moment before turning back to the herbologist.
“Thank you for your help,” she said, “what may we give you in return?”
“Stories.”
“I'm sorry?”
“We have all we need,” the herbologist said, “food shelter warmth. So we excel in culture we want to hear of your people and in so doing help to enrich us.”
“Would history count?”
“Of course.”
“Then I have a story for you,” she paused to sink into a narrative voice, “The temple was situated on an island in a river that flowed through Eleselthinor. It was a quiet place where people could explore their spirituality...”
Nayrath, Cassy and Shaydon pulled their staffs upwards, they slowly climbed. Soon they were far higher than was usual for a staff-rider would usually ride, high enough to pass over large mountains, their staffs had sprouted deep blue oxygen berries to assist their breathing in the reverified air. They know that manticores couldn't reach this height and so it was a strategically sound position.
They were now high above the Miner's Bounty. It looked little more than a toy from their height. Nayrath performed a spell and from the jewel at the end of his staff their came a shimmering light, like a star, it expanded in front of them to form a rectangle. The rectangle angled itself downwards to show them the landscape beneath but magnified.
They could now see that the ground was carpeted in dead, some manticores but mostly dwarfs. They had been warriors and even in death they seem to grip their hammers and axes tightly. The bodies lay from the cave entrance all the way to the tavern.
“We abandoned them,”Cassy said.
“We caused this,” Nayrath said, “I think they were here for us.”
“Another prophecy perhaps,” Shaydon suggested.
“Perhaps,” Nayrath said with a nod.
“We should inform The Twelve,” Shaydon said.
“They probably know,” Nayrath paused, “but it would do know harm.”
The elves interlaced their fingers and placed their thumbs on their temple, closing their eyes they thought of all the pertinent information about what had happened to them since their departure. While they did this their staffs sprouted small cradles into which red orbs appeared. Each of the orbs glowed. The elves took theirs in their hand and bowled it underarm through the air. They speed away, knowing their destination instinctively – The seat of The Twelve.
Thursday 3 September 2009
Writer's Blog 2009-09-03
My front room bookshelves are now nicely organised. Though it is a bit like the library in The Two Ronnies. In case you're unfamiliar with that you can see it here.
Yes, nicely organised by size. May not the most intelligent of arrangements but it looks nice and neat.
I am about to reach phase two of Rolling Shadows, where things take a slightly different turn. Watch this space. A new chapter will be uploaded at the weekend.
Your sweet, me lady.
Your nuts, me lord. Ronnie Barker, Lord Corbett sketch
Yes, nicely organised by size. May not the most intelligent of arrangements but it looks nice and neat.
I am about to reach phase two of Rolling Shadows, where things take a slightly different turn. Watch this space. A new chapter will be uploaded at the weekend.
Your sweet, me lady.
Your nuts, me lord. Ronnie Barker, Lord Corbett sketch
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