LHT:Chapter 1+

[blu phoenix]

And you tell me you don't put a lot of thought into your story! Absolutely awesome! Keeps getting better, very nice job and + rep!

[droded]

Very good. I almost forgot how good you were at this

[Rhadiel]

wow....LionHead....nice work...plus rep mate

[LionHeadTex]

Thanks guys

I just edited some of the gramatical and punctuation errors, sorry about that.

Haha, thanks blue pheonix. Actually, at one point I thought I didn't put that much into the story, glad to hear otherwise

[LionHeadTex]

Previously:

"The end of the 5th age is about to begin" The blind boy muttered, sitting in the corner of the cage.

------

But that was not the end of the terror. The statue opened its mouth. And said very slowly, the statue exclaimed

"Who enters...my domain!"

------




Chapter 6- Targoth, the Servant of Delroth


"The statue was not in the mood for consolation. It was crafted by demons themselves to serve as one purpose. He was the keeper of the passage to the distant lands."

The thief took a step back from the breathing monument. It was not everyday that a rogue such as he could witness a magnificent force like the Tomb of Delroth. But the fact that it was speaking to him was out of this world. He had not seen magic such as this.

"I have no name" The thief strictly said, keeping his balance from the constant quakes. But the statue did not accept this answer, "No name...then why would you be going through my tomb mortal?"

The statue stepped out of his large throne, causing crumbles and shake around the room. It seemed the statue was for many long years trapped on the throne, hidden from the public eye. But today, it was to reborn once again.

"To trek through the pass that you guard" The thief answered, and took another step back.

The statue laughed manically, hid beard slowly chipping off as he chuckled, "It would not be wise for a mortal to go through the pass" Delroth took an ancient arrow off of his leg, which did not need to be explained. It wouldn't take a prophet to figure out why the statue was breaking apart.

"I am getting very tired..." The statue yawned, causing the smoke and ash from is mouth to blow towards the thief, "My age is deceiving me, for my stonework is slowly breaking away..."

Delroth began to walk back to his throne, leaving the traveler out of hope. "Then why do you ignore my right of passage?" The rogue replied, almost falling from the large shake of the ground. His balance was not to be noticed, for the statue was too fixated on the reality.

"I do not doubt your skill, mortal" The statue stayed in place, and grabbed the large sword that was clutched on the ground. Delroth became depressed looking at the stone blade; it gave him a scarce memory of his past, "For I was once one like you..."

The thief could not understand what the statue was trying to tell him, but he continued to listen.

"Unknowing of what was to come; my opinion of this measly world led me to destruction. Destiny tricked me. I became the monster I was trying to tame"

The weary thief let go of his blade he was clutching, for now he trusted the ancient, "You were in love"

Delroth gripped his long sword, and grunted with anger. But realizing his true destiny he loosened himself, "I loved Aloren...she was as beautiful as the skies themselves...I loved her"

The ancient shook his head, "No. It was her fault I am here…it was love that led me here…to this stone prison!"

The assassin could only ensure, "It was not love that brought you here…you did that yourself"
The statue of Delroth continued to walk to his throne, only more depressed than he was. But the thief did not give upon this trapped soul, "Talonforth of The First Age" The tall figure of stonework stopped once again, but rose his knees from the molten ground, "Delroth…that was my name..."

The Tomb of Delroth continued to shake, and the statue began to move. The thief believed it was all over, and that he failed to pass through the ancient tomb.

Maybe he would fail, but not at this demonic site. For Delroth had other plans for this mortal, “You have earned my trust, man with no name. You may now enter the pass"

And with that, the titanic statue swung his sword on the gate behind him, using all his might and power to approve passage through the pathway. The large gate slowly opened from the critical hit, making the ground shake more than ever.

"I am no more of use to you, one who has no name" Delroth sat back on his throne, and yawned loudly, "I must now rest, until my time is needed once again. This age or the next"

The thief ran for the gate, not even thanking the ancient monument. But Delroth knew of his appreciation, he could see it in his eyes. Moreover, the gate began to close once again. And since the entrance was very far away, the thief believed he couldn't make the way in. But he kept going. And with his believability and hope, he desperately slid onto the ground, going through the small crack of the two doors of what was left of the gates opening.

After the iconic collapse, the burglar heard a pounding push in the room behind him. And that's when he realized, the tomb shifted back to its present disguise. Then and after, he began to understand the ancient realm of Delroth.

But this was no time for assurance, for when he laid eyes on the area around him he became more worried than he was ever before. The large landscape was pooled with lava, and was a ruin of weakened stone bridges and pillars. This was no place to rest. But more of a place not to travel through.

Its waves of molten rock and earth quakes shook the inner soul of the thief, and taking his viewpoint of what was impossible to a whole new level. This was the realm of the ancients, and seemed to be hell itself.

He strongly continued on, dodging massive amounts of ash and fire bursting around him.
And as he sprinted through the large bridge, he felt an iconic shift of the landmark. The bridge was collapsing.

Then, a giant geyser exploded from the pool of plasma, and the lava over it began to sink down the hole. Something ancient was coming from that nest, something old yet just as powerful. Poison sparked form the gaping tunnel, followed by crackling sounds of hissing and terrible screeching.

But what was coming down from the tunnel was beyond comprehension. The Servant of Delroth had awake from its eternal slumber.



Suddenly, a giant serpent rose from the lava, its fangs headed straight for the thief. It was a terrible creature, served by Delroth to do its finest bidding: destroy any who enter. Its digestive tract was waiting for its meal, and it was ready to pounce on its target. It deceives its opponent, by slithering through out the walls, casting illusions on its prey. It did the same towards the thief.

Quickly the assassin grabbed his knife, and threw it at the slithery serpents’ eye. But that did not stop the monster at all. The sheer heat from the monsters body melted the weapon. In the end, the desperate attempt was just a pinch on the creature. Maybe even less.

The snake was coming closer, creeping over the bridge. The traveler was not ready to partake in such an iconic duel, for he had somewhere else to go to. He was nohunter, but who could hunt such a monster.

He had no choice but to pull out his bow. Hastily, he shot several arrows at its head, looking as if he made a critical hit. But the monstrous animal was just paralyzed for a mere 3 seconds before he progressed over the bridge. This is when the thief realized, this creature was no normal animal.

It was reborn, and more powerful than natural assets of a serpent. For this creature was a servant of Delroth himself. An enemy to the gods themselves, able to swallow several giants with one opening of the jaw.

“Targoth, Serpent of the Tomb of Delroth.”

The thief quickly drew out his short sword, watching the serpent come closer. And when the serpent opened its mouth, poison sprayed out. The thief covered his front side with his cloak, noticing the poison eating the cloth. He was no match for this animal, even at long range. It was the creature born straight from hell itself.

One fatal stab hit the serpent, and the thief held onto the blade. He pushed the blade lower and lower into the skull of the snake, gritting his teeth. Then, the blade started to melt from the skull, and burn the thief’s hand.

The assassin shouted in pain, and was knocked to the ground by the tail of the snake pounding his ribs. Suddenly, the snake flew off of the bridge. But this was not unusual, because when the thief limped over to the edge, he saw that the bridge began to break in half. He began to run up the top, desperately gripping the edge.

Lava swallowed it whole, digesting the stone work into mere ash. The ancient ruin was about to be eaten by mere plasma.

It was too late for the traveler. The passage was now blocked by terror and grief, and now his only route was going into history itself. And with a loud roar of frustration, he climbed up the bridge. He knew he wouldn't make it, he thought he would die slowly by the terrible death below him. The luck he once had was lost.

The bridge continued to seep downwards into the pool, and the thief desperately held onto the top. His fingers started to bleed from the sheer grip of the stonework, and things started to blacken. His eyesight became vague, and his conscience began to melt inside of him.

Bursts of fire and molten lava were waiting for him at the bottom. Life began to slowly fade away. And the idea that you see your whole life before you die was not true for him. For he struggled to stay alive, he wanted to avoid the obscurity of death.

But something happened. Light, as clear as a morning day in Bowerstone cracked from the ceiling, blinding the thief. The head of a child rose from the top of the broken bridge, and its full form appeared.

The child was blind, and looked beaten. Though his appearance had a past of darkness, his intentions were of the work of Avo himself. The assassin grunted in pain, somewhat scared of the child. The lights dimmed down, and the child began to speak.

“Do not be afraid, for your journey does not end here”

He slowly took off his blindfold, and revealed his sockets without any eyes. The assassin couldn’t shriek from the surprise, for his voice was almost completely gone. But then, hope began to come back to the burglar. The child reached his hand towards the bloody knuckles of the assassin.

Thief desperately clutched the boy’s hand, grunting from the pain of the force. Light came back to the thief. And when the palms met, the boy’s once empty eye sockets shone with a bright blue lights.

The bridge continued to sink, ash and fire proceeded to fear. But at that moment, the heavenly boy told the young man something, without even moving his mouth.

”Avo will not let you descend into darkness”

The thief heard the sounds of the serpent coming from the volcanic grave, and drew out his other blade. The child knew this, and grabbed the arm of the thief that was holding the weapon.

The serpent slithered up the vertical bridge, opening his mouth at the thief. The mouth itself was so large…the thief could not see anything else behind the monster. The child looked at the assassin, and nodded, exclaiming, “Let my push of faith serve as your last blow”

It was a moment to be recorded in for the ages. The arm of the thief quickly stabbed the inner mouth of the serpent. And before the serpent went to its dark grave, the thief muttered, “Go back to your master!”

The serpent desperately tried to grasp the stonework, but failed. And slowly, the doomed creature fell into the molten lava, never to witness life again.

The thief panted, and noticed what was to come. He was about to descend into the pool of the passage, without any strength to resist. The child had disappeared, and could not assist him any more. He had to leave this hellish place by himself. Though not a test of strength, this seemed to be a test of hope.

The lone inhabitant could hardly move, but he decided what he needed to do
He began to push himself up the bridge. Though shouting with pain and agony, he stood on top of the bridge, balancing himself as it continued to sink. The other side was just a three feet away from him. The damaged man needed to decide: would he die instantly, or would he make one last stand? He chose the second one.

In a desperate leap over ash and fire, he gripped his two hands on the edge of the other side. Rocks began to crumble next to him, but he still pushed himself up. The bloody hands he used to do this seemed to be literally broken. He sweated severely from the heat, and could only inhale ash.

Limping out of the passage, he reached the outside. The snowy border was enough for him to pass out on. And lying down on the ground, he slowly closed his eyes. For the day was now over, and a new age was about to begin. Ash was now snow, stone was now ice. The hell of the Realm of the Ancients was now past…but he would be scarred from it for the rest of his life.



(If this had any errors with punctiation or spelling, i'm very sorry. This chapter just took alot of thought out of me )

[droded]

Great. +Rep

[blu phoenix]

...I'm just speechless! Can't wait to hear more of this! + Rep, big time!

[LionHeadTex]

Cool

[droded]

Oops sorry forgot to rep you...

[blu phoenix]

You are now a writing inspiration, especially for me. Just read it again! Here have some more rep.

[droded]

Well he is THE LionHeadTex!

[LionHeadTex]

Eh, i'm just me. Just another user on here going where the wind goes, I guess. Not even in college yet and i'm getting some good rep...never expected that.

Man...I would kill for some pasta...

Oh yea, Chapter 7 is on its way.

[LionHeadTex]

For those of you who are just tuning in on the fan fiction, I’ll give you a short summary of what is happening so farMind the spelling errors, I’m doing this pretty fast)

This is the hard life for the hard people. The gritty, urban ones. The assassins. Once a wealthy population, they slowly faded away from the power of the Vanguard, an elite force in Bowerstone. Spreading through the flourished world, the Vanguard were determines to destroy all who opposed the laws they established. But that did not stop the remainder of the Thieves, who were forced to split apart from each other, now breaking the bonds they once had. But there is one assassin whois willing to tie that bond together again.(This was not included in the story, but that's the back-story so far)

The assassin, also known as Thief, has traveled to many places. He settles in the homeless camp, to the great forests of Bowerstone. Encountered by ruthless bandits, Thief had to leave his true home, and disguise as one of the murderers. During the journey, at a camp ground, the group of bandits were ambushed by blood-thirsty Minotaurs. The thief had no choice but to flee from the monsters, and go towards the mountains.

Meanwhile, a conspiracy was forged in Bowerstone. Alsea Silverthorne and Jaroc Tharn imprisoned a youth spy, and interrogated him for dire information. What they received, was only riddles. Alsea banished the blind boy, but discovered something else. Her Great Stone she had once on her amulet was missing.

Before, the assassin noticed a book at the campsite. This was a great atlas, with much information about the world. Not only that, but had a large stone that seemed to be very important. Could this be connected with Alsea's amulet? Only time will tell.

Consulted by Talonforth Delroth, Thief had to trek through the terrible pass of the Realm of the Ancients. It took time, but the thief persuaded Delroth to open the gates to the pass. The ancient statue of Delroth had gone back to his throne, awaiting his next ideal.

Battling the Servant of Delroth, Thief encountered a blind boy, who helped him defeat the monster and escape the evil ruins of the realm. Haven't we seen this blind boy before? Who is he, and why did he help a mere assassin?

These questions will be answered, but you have to read the story (I suggest you ready the last 6 chapters...there fairly short, and there's always time to catch up. Also, I left ALOT out of the summary. )

Alright, now to
Chapter 7-Tempestrial, The Ice Settlement, and the Sea Maiden

The cold, shivering snow did not pierce his skin any longer. For now, he was in peace. Seemingly in heaven, he woke up on a feathered bed. The blankets were thick and furry, and the woodwork around him was carved in snowbound designs. This was no ordinary settlement. This was a sanctuary.

He could hear chiming outside, the voice that angels could applaud to. Shining blue lights sparked around him. His eyes opened. The chiming faded away. The thief saw only what Gods can explain.

Slipping out of the bed, the young traveler discovered what he was wearing. It was his white boxers. Embarrassed at first, several students walked pas the window giggling at the sight. The thief did not see them, so he looked to the opposite of him, “Who’s there...show yourself!" But his desperation was of no use. Nevertheless, he grabbed the surgeon knife on the side of his bed. Walking towards the door, he stationed himself for combat, "What forces lay beyond this door?"

Quickly pushing the door open, he weary assassin raised him arm up, prepared to swing the knife. The darkness in front of him was too much for him to witness, it was a hallway blind to a mortal like him. Then, he saw a light figure slowly walk towards the door. Thief was not fooled by illusions, for even the lightest people can have dark intentions, "What forces lay beyond this door!" He asked again, and strike the light figure.

His arm was quickly caught, and peacefully pushed downward. As the figure appeared, he proudly ensured, "Friends..."

It was a man, covered with fur clothing. He had tan skin, and possessed a white staff on his spine. His eye color was white as snow. His hair was dark cyan, flowing down to his knees. But most of all, he had an aura of heavenly prescience.

---------------

Alsea awoke from her sinister slumber, and touched her amulet. She ensured herself that the stone was still there, but the imagination soon worn off. She felt the socket of the stone, and a tear broke from her eye, "Where is the power that I once possessed..."

Jaric walked into the room, and gave her a cup of wine. Holding it next to her amulet, she stirred the grape mixture. Her eyes were as cold as ever, so she grinned, "Bring me the child"

The blind boy was kicked into the room, tasting the sheeted ground underneath him. Feeling the countess's bare feet, he silently gasped, "You are still of use to me, Small Boy" Her sharp fingernails rested on the child’s head. The young seer only stared at the ground, ignoring the countess. Though she strived for anger, the powerful woman only chuckled. Ceasing the laughter, the countess raised the boys chin up with her right hand, "You know of something that I want"

She placed the boys hand on her amulet, with gentle impatience. The boy nodded, and released his hand from the amulet. As polite as she was at the moment, the maniacal woman forced the boys chin up, and looked at him eye to eye, "You will bring it to me!"

The blind seer spat on the lady's slippers, "I would rather taste sewer rat"

The countess widened her eyes, and slapped the boy on the cheek. Fall down from the critical hit, the young spy stayed on the ground, clutching the rug.

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"You were found in the ice...one of our harvesters found your body in a dune" The wizard explained. The thief began to remember.

His lips were as cold as snow, and blue like the sky. Frozen ice covered his body, unable to peel or break. It was a cold, shivering prison. Thief, who seemed to be nealy dead, was blanketed with layers of snow. But as his eyes closed he saw a hole of light come from the top of the pile.

He was carried to the village by the old harvester, and peacefully placed on the bed back in the village.

The assassin was now sitting on a chair, weary the clothing similar to the mage, eating plentiful amounts of boar meat and wine. Hearing the end of the mage's story, he stopped eating, "Why did you save me...of all people?"

The wizard only smiled, "Ask our gardener"

The old woman was checking an ice bloom plant, but chuckled slightly, "He was most cold, the young one" The elder grinned, "He traveled through the pass, yes. He was most damaged"

The mage nodded, and placed his cup of wine down. "But to leave here...you must do one thing" Thief listened, eating his chicken. As ignorant as he was to the magician, his attention came back to him. The wizard exclaimed, "Consult the Sea Maiden"

Weary, the assassin dropped his chicken leg, "I'm sorry, what?"


---


Arriving at a waterfall, the mage patted the thief on the back, "This is as far as I go...she is waiting for you" He pulled up his hood, "Do not fear her, she can be very emotional" And with that, the old elder went back on his frost wolf, towards the city.

A spiral path went through the side of the waterfall, elevating fromt he ground. The thief had no choice but to follow it, and not to fall down. The cold sweat dropped down his light tan skin, for he heard a voice. It was a young woman, singing in the distance. Her chime was the same that he heard when he was asleep. The ancient elfish language sh sung with translated to,

Awake from your slumber
For life shall grow
Do not fear the mother
For she will bestow
Your eternal life, power beyond grace
But how could power
Save this dying race

Where is my king
Is he still smart
Though he had greed
I believe he had heart

Love is nothing
Without the great bond
For when the bond splits
I will be gone

(The lyrics translated did not make much sense to the locals, and no connecion existed between the maiden.)

The cave was filled with blue markings. One was a throne, the other was a mermaid. The thief followed the tale shown on the wall, and saw that it ended with a skull on the ground, and a man holding it in the air.

Something was hiding in the walls across the visitor, and the thief knew this. Voices traveled around him, terror crept beneath him.

"Who wishes to consult the Sea Maiden?"
Her voice was morphed with an evil tone, and a good tone. It was as if she had two split personalities.The voice shook the room, and echoed in the distance. The assassin ran towards the exit, but was soon interrupted by a sheet of ice covering the way. He looked back, and saw her. She was as light as the oceans themselves, but as secretive as the trees. It was her, the Sea Maiden.

"The Wizard sent me, Sea Maiden" he responded, gripping his sword.
Suddenly, the sword was magically thrown onto the wall, and stuck on the stonework by a terrible ice spell.

"I do not wish to harm you, fellow thief. Though I will not let you plague my resting place with that vile piece of steel"

The light came closer, and the thief stepped back. He was in no mood to be toyed by an ancient.

"Do not fear my abilities, mortal. I do not fear yours"

The thief desperately tried to pull the sword of the icy covering, but only slipped his hands off from the sleek ice, “Show me your face Sea Maiden!” He replied, standing his ground.

The light came right in front of him, and dimmed down. It was a light blue figure of a woman, with glowing blue eyes. Her mouth exhaled cold air, slowly removing the left over oxygen in the room, "Show me yours"

Thief pulled down his hood, and stared at the figure. She had a way to lure her visitors with her sheer beauty and allure.

"Your fate is scorned with fire and ash. Your skin is bare, your mind is lost. You are the one I seek"

The figure released the hand of the thief, and smiled.

"I have invited you to my resting grounds for one purpose"

Slowly, the stone that was in the thief’s pocket levitated towards the ice princess. The assassin tried to get it back, but the stone moved out of the way when he did.

"This is the Stone of Skyra, the ancient goddess of Air" She muttered, looking deep into the stone.
The rogue only hesitated, "What purpose is it to you?"

The Sea Maiden sighed, and walked towards her icy bed, "Long ago, a crystal was forged in these mountains" The blue figure put her right hand on the cold rest place, "The crystal was created by a man, only mortal like you, who was skilled with magic"

The thief could only listen to what she had said, leaning on the wall across from the dimmed figure.

"He was a farm boy, I was a little girl, imprisoned in the sea. One day, the boy decided to make a magical object that would free me from the icy realm. the stone, crafted with tears, is able to free any magical manifestation in the worlds apart from mortals. And so, I was free."

"And how would that make you depressed?" The thief asked. The Sea Maiden just sighed,
"I am here because of him, the farm boy. We had cross-communications with each other, him on land...I at sea. But soon, he became overpowered by the stone. He fell deep into the art of necromancy, and cased away his memory of me. And when he took the stone for himself, I simple died out. Days passed, weeks passed...months, years..."

The Sea Maiden stopped for one moment, and continued, "Thousands of years passed. I waited for him, I really did. But he never came."

The assassin scratched his head, "He used the stone for something else..." The Sea Maiden jus stood near her bed, and became to cry.

"Tell me Sea Maiden...what was his name?" He asked, and walked towards her.

"Delroth..."

The assassin muttered, "The stone...for the serpent..."

"It is too late for me to be released from this place...I must go back to my realm, where I belong"

The thief ran towards the Sea Maiden, "Wait! There's still hope!"

The blue figure just looked back at the traveler, and doubted his remark

"Why would there still be hope, if hope never existed"

The thief almost fell down to the ground from the constant shaking, but kept running.

The room suddenly demoralized, and shattered into small pieces of crystal. An icy tornado surrounded the thief. It's cold embrace slowly took the thief away from all knowledge. And in a few seconds, Thief was back in his quarters in Tempestrial.

The Arch-Mage was talking to the gardener, but slowly stopped from seeing the newcomer, "Master Thief...so I see the Sea Maiden has seen your future?"

The assassin only nodded, and took a long sip of the wine to the right of him. His hands were cold, his mind was confused.

The wizard sighed, "She can see many things...let me see your hand Master Thief"

The thief released his palm, and released the bits of snow from his fingers.

It was a marking. A blue symbol, in the shape of an eagle, "The falcon...I see" He murmured, and closed the palm of the thief, "You must leave at once towards bowerstone"

Without being able to ask, the thief grabbed his things, and went for the door.He then opened the cold, freezing door, and pulled his dark cloak over his body.
-----

The thief took a last glance at the city of Tempestrial. It was a beautiful place, but he could not stay there forever. It almost made him cry, for such a heavenly place seemed to be waiting for him. But by the time he realized this, he was gone.

-----

As he paddled across the river, he remembered what the Mage had said:

"I give you our finest sword, crafted by the Icekings themselves, Icealeon. With it, you can pierce even the most malevolent heart...and cut the thickest shadow"

Thief looked at the sword, peacefully placed on its wrapped sheath.

"Keep the stone intact, Master Thief. For of all the dark power it has, it holds something that only Avo can explain. Light."


he remembered what Aloren said,


"Why would there still be hope if hope never existed"



"There is still hope,"The thief clutched the stone, but then released it. He continued to paddle north. And as morning set, and the pine trees flourished, a new day had arise on the 5th age.



"May Avo guide you even in the darkest hours"

(I apologize for any spellingor punctiation errors, guys. Bare with me for the moment XD)

[LionHeadTex]

Jesus, triple post Well, gotta keep the chapters rolling

Chapter 8-Stranded

"You will bring it to me!"

The rolling woods endlessly flowed through out the plain, following the short path along the valley. Travelers, bandits, ale men and bards came through this pass to head east to Bowerstone, the trading center of the entire land. But there were others who decided to walk to stretching trail.

A small boy, limping along the road, leaned on an oak adjacent to him. He was frail, tired, weak, and most of all...confused. But confusion did not scare him; weakness did not change his mind. Giving up last breath he had for the night, he fell to the grass ground.

Morning came, and he was still asleep. Until the sound of crackling roars of whips and hooves. The sounds confused the boy even more. What was coming his way?

The message could have been no clearer. It was a caravan. And by the sounds of the movement, it was stolen. They came closer by the second, and by every second a tap was more like a rapid footstep.

The stolen cargo came to the point of the boy, and halted. Two of the bandits were dressed in steel armor, looking as if they were beaten and bruised. The sign to Bowerstone was in front of them, so they decided to read the landmark. It was thick wood and sloppy handwriting, but they could decipher the overall meaning: east.

"Well why didn't they just say east?" One of them asked, another slapped the questioner, "Eh, how am I supposed to know?"

"Ah, frogets it" The leader grunted, and jumped back on the caravan. The other bandits followed him back, dropping their empty mugs of ale.

The last bandit looked closely at the sign, noticing a small pale bump on the right side of the sign. It was strange, the band it noticed, but too small to look further into. The last bandit just ran towards the caravan, and took a last look at the sign. As sloppy as they were, they were experts at vanishing from the site. Only one last sentence was heard as they strode away, "Those damn Minotaurs...always messeyin’ up our camp sites! Well these horns of 'em will do just find for the countess"

Swiftly, the child revealed himself from the sign, moving away from the hard wood cover.

A whole day passed, and the ragged child fell asleep on an uncomfortable boulder. Undeniably, the choice of rest would not satisfy him in the morning.

In the pitch of night, a stranger came. He was young, twenty-two or less, but he seemed to know the world around him. The child could not recognize this traveler, for the small boy was fast asleep.

------

Thief could see a black blotch of a figure in the distance, and walked faster. It was strange, the figure was posted on a boulder, "By the gods.." He muttered, and began to run.

As he moved closer, he began to see the child. He looked familiar, the same face and structure. But too focused on saving the youngling, he forgot all about the surprise.
-------

The child awoke on the side of a tree, murmuring the last orders the count gave him, "You serve me..." He began to cover his eyes, "No…no I can't"

It was morning, and very bright outside.

Faintly, the dreaming infant heard a faint voice

"You do not serve anyone"

His mouth opened, and he saw something unusual. It was a thief, smoking a pipe on tope of a thick oak branch, throwing apples down from the roots. He was a thief. And he has the nerve to toss an apple on top of the child’s head. The little boy, looking as if he was trying to find something, felt the apple pound his skull, and shouted an "Ow".

"Who are you...why are you up there?' The child queried, feeling the oak tree.

The thief almost fell off the branch from his chuckle, "Can't you see? I’m smoking some 'Oakland Fume'" The assassin paused, noticing the child’s blindfold.

"Oakland fu---"The child stomped his feet, "Weed?"

"Ah so you do know what's best for you" He playfully mused, "I gave you some sweet ones...I have a perfect taste of what's a good apple…and what is not" the thief referred to the pile of apples on the ground, "Go ahead boy, eat up…you look like you haven't eaten in ages"

The boy sighed, "I haven't eaten in ages.." Thinking, and started to take a bite out of one of the pile of red fruits.

"Good, eh?" The thief replied, noticing the child started eating one of the apples.

But soon enough the child began to spit out the outside of the apple, rolling the bits off his tongue, "It's terrible!" The young man could only ignore the opinion, "Ah well, you can't always pick the sweetest!"

"What is your name, apple picker?" the child replied, and dropped the apple he started to eat.

Thief could only stutter, "Er..."The boy began to tap his feet, waiting for an answer, "Jacob!"

The little boy could only nod, "Jacob...?"

The traveling thief combed his mind for another name, "Jacob...The Farmer!" He slid his pipe off of his mouth, "And what is your name?"

"Hall..."The boy responded, thinking about something else, "Rider...Hall Rider" Though stuttering, the thief could tell he was telling the truth. The youthful spy as just a lone wolf, still discovering the world. Or maybe something else.

Day passed, and night came. The thief was struggling to make a fire, tossing wood and igniting small sparks. The boy noticed this, and felt the box of weed next to him, "It's too windy to ignite with just wood...you need fern"

"Well…can we use the oak?" The thief asked, desperately trying to enlarge the fire. The only thing assuring right now for him was the endless stars.

The child began to toss some of the weed in the fire. The sparks connected with the fern, and ignited a bursting flame. Thief noticed this, and reached his hands in the fire to get the burning weed out, "No! My Fume!"

"You were better without it" The child muttered. But he was too fixated on a blade he felt next to him. The sharp edge cut his finger, causing him to grit his teeth,"Why would a farmer need a blade as sharp as this?"

Thief was too busy getting his weed out of the fire, "Uh...crows…yes, crows"

The child just smiled, seeming to know the truth already, "Understandable, Mr. Farmer"

Morning shined back to their eyes, and the fine oaks surrounding them awoke once again. Thief awoke from his usual get-gold-quick dreams, and yawned proudly. He reached his arm for the stone on the string along his neck. He felt the thread, but not the crystal. Suddenly, he gained conscience.

The little boy began to take a walk along the plain, playfully whistling and touching the ground with a spare twig he found on the ground. He longed for a day to see, for he felt the plain he was walking on was quite beautiful.

Then, something tackled him to the ground, pinning him on the grass. It was the thief, clutching the thread without the stone, "The stone!" He shouted at the child. The boy could only shake his head, "I don't understand"

Thief did not trust him, "Oh I bet you do...where is it spy?"

"I would not steal from a Farmer..."The child replied, pretending he didn't know a clue. The thief drew out his magical blade, "Would you to a Thief?"

The child only looked at the thief, acting stern and brave.

In return, the thief could only trust him, for youth can deceive many people.

------

They progressed to the road, the Thief grabbing Hall by the collar, "You're coming with me, Rider"
The child strained to let go, but the clutch was too strong, "No citizen can seize another citizen without proper rights!"

Thief only smiled; "Ah, but I’m a Thief...and you're a spy"

Hall could only agree. But underneath his allegiance, lay a lie. For secretly, he was holding the stone in his pocket, "I have a feeling this is a start of a new fellowship, Master Thief" The child fell somewhat sad, for he did not intend to give the stone to the Countess. Or maybe not

Regardless of what was to come, the two continued down the cobblestone path, Bowerstone in the far, far distance. It was just another day in the Great Forest, another trio in the 5th age.

-------

The Bowerstone castle was darker than ever that morning day. The countess was waiting on her throne, weeping for her Stone, "How desperate am I to send a blind boy to find a sacred stone..."

Her eyes darkened, and her wine glass was tossed to the ground by her hand, "I wait no longer for this nuisance to deliver..."

"Jaric!"

The servant gently crept inside the room, picking up the wine glass, "Yes, countess?"

Having the wine refilled, the countess took a sip of the liquid. Some of the red wine drained down her neck, but she did not care. She had something else to focus on. And stirring the glass thoroughly, she mused, "Bring me the stone..."

The servant grinned, losing concentration.

The countess snapped her fingers, "And...the boy"

Jaric began to move towards the balcony, but the countess snapped her fingers again "Kill the rest"

The dark balcony pitched above the tower, overshadowed by a dark silhouette. Then, out of the midst, a dark, red dragon cringed its feet to the railing on the balcony, and let out a terrible roar. The guards nearby could only cover their eyes at the pitched horror. The large lizard then flew out of the tower, exhaling terrible fire and spark. Jaric was no ordinary servant, he was a druid.




-END OF CHAPTER 8-

[blu phoenix]

Love it and keep it coming! +rep!!