Black and White

[spellfire]

Preface

My name is Kellan Meknion, formerly known as Kellan Loc. I am here to tell you a story, a story about love, friendship, trust, honesty, war, and betrayal.
I am just one person in this world, but I am one person who made a difference. I helped a living God, Zushar, The Duke of Time, and aided in bringing an end to the war between the Goddess of Pain and the Goddess of Pleasure. I discovered Sanctuary. I learned what it was like to find true love. I battled the forces of evil. I chased my dreams. I conquered my nightmares. I leaned to trust. I learned to accept. I made peace. I made war, and I traveled between worlds.
As I adventured into the world, I met people, people that battled by my side and helped save what was left of humanity. All the wizards, warriors, rangers, paladins, and clerics fought for the safety and wellbeing of the physical realm and the realm of the Gods’.







My name is Kellan Meknion. I am a queen, I am a mother, I am a leader, and I am the savior of the world.

((this isnt finished yet))  

[spellfire]

Chapter 1

The fate of a Sister

A bee rested on a white rose, scurrying around in search of the flower's sweet nectar. Unexpectedly, a shovel ripped through the surrounding air crushing the flower. Fortunately, the bee escaped harm and flew off in search of another flower.
“Von Mono, you’re going to destroy all of my mothers’ flowers if you continue doing that,” a female voice yelled. The sound of beating hoofs came from behind her, getting louder as they approached.
“Ah, my dearest Kellan,” said a deep voice echoing through armored plating of a helmet. The woman turned around. She looked up to see a man in full plate towering over her on his white majestic stallion. He took off his helmet that was trimmed purple and stepped down off his horse. His midnight black hair fell into his eyes. He lightly pushed it way with the tips of his fingers.
The woman took off her gardening gloves and tied back her black hair with a purple ribbon she took out of the pocket of her apron, her ears here slightly pointed, not as pointed as an elf, and not as round as a humans, “King Fallon, What brings you to my home?”
Von stepped next to her, he was a foot taller than her, she want to tall herself, but tall enough to tell that she had elf blood in her as well as human, Von rolled the sleeves of his dirty white shirt up over his elbows, reveling his rather muscular arms, and pushed his white hair out of his face. He opened his mouth and was about to say something when he was interrupted.
“Hey, farm boy,” King Fallon crudely interrupted, “secures my horse,” he then opened the door to Kellan’s house and walked in, followed by another man in wearing similar armor. “Jonas, my good man,” King Fallon said as he stepped inside.
“Mi’lord,” Jonas bowed. “Molly, show some respect to your King,” Jonas was a scrawny human man, with light brown hair.
A young girl stood up from the chair and scurried towards Jonas, “Father, why don’t you ever treat me as well as Kellan?” She whispered as she bowed. She held her light brown hair at the side of her shoulder so it would not get in her way.
King Fallon chuckled, “Ah, my future sister. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you,” his blacken red eyes were half covered by his midnight black hair.
“Molly!” Jonas snapped abruptly.
“Yes daddy?” Molly looked up, her dark green eyes’ shimmered with anticipation.
“Go fetch us some drinks,” he barked.
Molly sighed and headed into the kitchen.
“Drakord is my new right hand man,” King Fallon said pointing to the armored man next to him. He was not very tall, and did not look so bright.
Drakord took off his helmet. His hair was cut short. He bowed while faking a smile.
Molly came back with four cups filled with water on a wooden tray. She placed them on the table and sat back down on the chair.
King Fallon nudged Drakord, who then picked up one of the cups and stealthily poured some sort of white powder in it and handed it to Molly.
“Molly, I have something for you,” King Fallon snapped his fingers signaling Drakord who then pulled out two journals and handed them to King Fallon. “Here is something to record your most secretive thoughts,” he then handed a blue journal to Molly.
Molly smiled, she ran her hand across the wooden cover. Her fingers traced the engraved letters that spelled out her name. “Thank you,” eyes sparkled. She took a sip of the water that Drakord handed her.
“Don’t waste your kindness on the one so undeserving.” Jonas said eyeing Molly.
King Fallon chuckled evilly, “Nonsense, I will treat Molly just as well as I treat my beautiful Kellan.”
Jonas huffed in frustration, “Kellan deserves best, not Molly.”
After an awkward pause, King Fallon smiled, “Well I should get going,” he stood up and walked out followed by Drakord.
“Here comes’ your doom,” Von grunted to Kellan. She looked up to see King Fallon walking out of her house.
Kellan shoved her shovel into the earth and leaned on it, “Didn’t enjoy your stay?” she smirked.
King Fallon walked over to Kellan. He grabbed her hands and looked deep into her bright green eyes, “I am having a mansion built for you by only the best wizards and sorcerers in all the realms and I have something for you,” he handed her the other journal.
Kellan faked a smile, “This is such an honor,” she said not really meaning it. She looked at the journal. “Thanks… I guess,” The cover was metal painted purple, and her name engraved painted black. She then took the journal.
“I also had the Empires banner changed to purple, yellow and black, just for you,” he rubbed the back of his gauntlet covered hand against Kellan’s face, and traced her features with his fingers.
“Great,” she said pulling away.
“Wonderful, then I shall see you in a few days to plan for the wedding,” he put his helmet on, got on his mount and road off with Darkord directly after.
Kellan threw her journal to the soil and kicked it, “Why me,” she sat in the dirt almost on her flowers and cried. “Mother sought to bring this to an end, to stop him from wanting to marry me. I know King Fallon sent assassins to kill her while she was on her way to the capital,” she buried her face in her hands.
“They didn’t find her body?” Von asked, putting his arm around her.
Kellan shook her head. “I think he hid the body.”
He sighed heavily, “I’m sorry.”
Jonas swung the front door open. “Von, it’s time for you to go home,” he commanded.
Von rolled his eyes and gave Kellan a hug, stood up and headed home.
“Kellan, you know that I don’t like it when you hang around that boy,” Jonas grunted. “Now, come inside.”
Kellan rolled her eyes and walked in. Faint music echoed throughout the house. “Molly.” Kellan grunted under her breath. She ran to her room. She saw Molly sitting on her bed with Kellan’s music box on her lap. A rather small wooden box played a song that could fill someone’s heat with happiness. Kellan stood at the doorway and crossed her arms; she cleared her throat.
Molly looked up. “I’m sorry, I just miss mommy so much,” she said as tears ran down her face.
Kellan sighed and sat next to Molly, wrapping her arms around her. “I miss mom too,” she said forcing back tears. She took the music box from her and gently placed it on the nightstand next to the bed. “Now, get out of my room,” Kellan said playfully. She lightly pushed Molly off her bed.
Molly looked back at her older sister. “Do you really want to marry King Fallon?”
Kellan cracked a smile, “By all the living Gods! Are you crazy? I would never lay a hand on that unattractive bas—“she paused realizing what she was about to say. “Thing,” She finished.
Molly smiled, “He is kind of cute, but I don’t like him one bit,” she said, and skipped out.
Kellan giggled softly and shook her head.  

[spellfire]

This chapter isnt finished yet...

Chapter 2

A War Within

Moll spent all night coughing and throwing up.
*
Morning came and there was a knock at Kellan’s window. Kellan turned her head towards the window and saw Von standing there. She lazily rubbed her eyes and opened the window.
“I heard Kind Fallon talking to one of the town guards.” Von hurried to say, “He poisoned your sister,” he said in a worried voice.
Kellan rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, “What are you talking about?”
“I was working down at the Grey Tavern when King Fallon came in and he told one of the guards that he had Drakord Poison Molly.”
“What? No, no, no, impossible.” She ran to her sisters’ room. Molly was sleeping in a pool of her own blood. “Molly!” Kellan shook her.
She coughed blood all over Kellan’s face. “Kell…an, I don’t feel so good,” Molly forced out.
Kellan hugged Molly close. “Daddy!” she screamed.
Jonas came running, “What’s the matter?” he asked trying to catch his breath.
“Molly… she’s…” Kellan forced out, “dying.”
“Nonsense, Molly’s fine,” Jonas said walking out.
Molly threw up blood all over the floor, “Kellan,” Molly cried. Kellan hugged her tight.
“Daddy, we have to do something.” Kellan said.
“Leave her, she’s just sick, she’ll be fine,” Jonas said from down the hall.
Kellan gently laid Molly down and ran outside. “How is she?” Von asked.
Kellan began to cry, “She’s very ill, I have to find some way to help her.”
“My boss knows about a wizard,” Von said. Kellan quickly got dressed and headed out the door to the Grey Tavern.
The tavern was painted grey on the outside. Inside it was polished lumber. Across from the entrance were stairs covered with a grey carpet leading to a wooden door. To the right of the stairs was the dining area with fifteen tables. Only a few tables were full. To the right was the bar, mostly full of drunken dwarfs, Orks, Halflings, male Drow and humans.
“Von, me boy,” said a dwarf from behind the counter cleaning his musket.
“Kellan needs to speak to the wizard,” Von said in a rush.
“Ah, well no one has seen ‘em in over a century,” The dwarf said stroking his long grey beard.
“But you were talking about him the other day,” Von exclaimed.
“Ah, yes I see, but I haven’t seen ‘em in such a long time me boy. What seems to be the hurry to see thee old man anyway?”
Kellan motioned to the dwarf to lean over the counter. “King Fallon poisoned my sister,” she whispered in the dwarfs’ hairy ear.
The dwarf’s grey eyes widened. He leaped on to the bar and aimed his musket into the dining area. He showed his brown teeth in anger, unleashing the smell of ale from his encrusted mouth. “I will get you King Fallon and your little minion too!” The dwarf roared. Two men wearing chain mail got up from the table in the dining area and walked to the bar. They carefully pried the musket from the dwarf; they pick him up by his arms and gently put him on the floor in front of the bar.
“Well do you at least know anyone that can help Molly?” Kellan asked the dwarf.
The dwarf shook his head. “However, I do know something. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it might help to ease her pain,” he walked in the back room behind the bar. He came back with a bag of herbs and a mortar and pedestal made of marble. “Now grind up one ounce of herbs and mix it into her drink. Do this every day.”
Kellan hugged the dwarf. “Thank you so much, how much do I owe you?”
“Notta thing.” The dwarf smiled, “just pleased to help.”
A week quickly passed. King Fallon barged into Kellan’s home, “Where is my lovely bride to be?”
“She’s in her room getting ready,” Jonas said.
King Fallon walked down the hallway to Kellan’s room. He walked passed Molly’s room, where she was coughing and throwing up. King Fallon smiled with pleasure. He opened the door. Kellan and Von were sitting on the bed talking. “What is he doing here?” he said with an unsatisfied tone.
Kellan looked up, “Oh, by the Gods, what are you doing here?” She muttered.
King Fallon crossed his arms and cleared his throat, “Well, are you going to respond?” King Fallon said furiously.
Vons’ blue eyes grew red with fury. He firmly clutched his fists, blood dripped from his hands onto the floor, as he eyed King Fallon hatefully, “What do you want?” Von said threw his teeth.
“My love today is the day you move into your new home,” King Fallon smiling as he ignored Von. “And the day you get fitted for your wedding dress.”
“But Molly is not well. Her body wouldn’t be able to handle a drastic change,” Kellan informed.
“Nonsense, we’re moving your things out as we speak,” King Fallon said with an evil smile.
Von stepped forward; King Fallon clapped his full plate gauntlet covered hands. Two guards came rushing in. “Take this farm boy out of my site,” he commanded.
The two guards rushed passed King Fallon and grabbed Von by his arms, Kellan ran after, but King Fallon caught her before she came close to the guards.
The guards threw Von outside. He skidded in the dirt and dust filled the air, the guards stood on either side of the door making sure Von does not sneak in while the movers are walking out.
“Now, since we got rid of that pest, we can finally be alone,” King Fallon said as he sat Kellan on the bed.
“Why,” Kellan said, she put her feet on her bed and hugged her knees, “Why are you doing this?”
King Fallon looked at Kellan and grinned. He placed his helmet on the side of the bed, put his hands behind his head and laid down, “It’s because you are the most beautiful girl in the entire kingdom.”
Kellan rolled her eyes. “If you love me so much, then why are you trying to kill my sister?”
“Trying to… Kellan, I would never do such a thing,” King Fallon said acting confused as he lifted his head, “Kellan, why would you think that?”
Kellan shook her head, “Yeah, as if you’re going to going to tell me the truth,” she said under her breath.
King Fallon got up, kissed Kellan on the cheek and walked out of the room. He walked passed Molly’s room and saw her lying on the floor where her bed used to be. He chuckled softly and walked outside.
“You can’t do this,” Von said furiously as the King walked passed.
King Fallon stopped near Von, “Ah, now that’s where you’re wrong. I am the king of this land, the Nacres Kingdom, and I can do whatever I please,” he smiled evilly.
“Kellan would never merry you, and she will never fall for one of your tricks, she is too strong of mind.”
King Fallon ignored Von and walked to the wizards who were moving the furniture out of the house, “Just teleport all this junk into the mansion.”
“I will not let you lay a hand on my best friend!” Von exclaimed.
King Fallon turned around and laughed, “Kellan, your best friend?”
Von clenched his fists. He was just about to swing at King Fallon. Suddenly a helmet came flying at King Fallon, slamming into his head before falling to the ground with a clang. Von looked to where it came from. He saw Kellan standing at the doorway, glaring at King Fallon “You left this in my room,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Oh, you little b--, “King Fallon was about to finish but was interrupted.
“Mi’lord,” one of the wizards said, “We have a dilemma.”
King Fallon angrily turned towards the wizard who was walking up behind him, “Well, fix it.”
“Umm, o… Kay,” the wizard said walking away scratching his head.
Drakord ran up to King Fallon and whispered into his ear. King Fallon sighed angrily, picked up his helmet and walked off towards the tavern with Drakord closely behind.
Von rolled his eyes, “Just when I have to go to work, Well I guess I’ll see you in a few hours, Kellan,” Von sighed as he walked to the tavern.
“By the time you get off, we’ll be in the mansion,” Kellan hollered.
Von waved as he headed down the road.
“Kellan Loc! You better get your lazy a** in this house right now,” Jonas yelled from the living room.
Kellan threw her head back and sighed. “Coming, father,” She slowly walked into the house.
“Kellan, you know that I don’t like you hanging around that kid.” Jonas said angrily.
Kellan sighed ignoring what he had said and walked into Molly’s room, “Sis, are you okay?” she said, peeking her head around the corner of the door.
Molly lifted her head, “Kellan?” Her face was pale and her eyes were blood shot.
Kellan smiled and sat on the floor. She stroked her hair and kisses Molly on the forehead. “Molly, we have to leave soon,” Kellan, sighed, “The people are already moving our stuff out of the house.”
Molly coughed and held her stomach, “Kellan, I don’t feel well. I think I am going to die.”
Kellan’s eyes widened. “Molly, don’t say that!” she exclaimed, then held her sister close. A tear gently slid down her.
King Fallon knocked on the wooden doorframe and stepped through the thresh hold, “The carriage is here, my love,” he said in a soft tone.
Kellan looked up and sighed, “Let’s go, Molly.”
Molly coughed and groaned, “Okay.”
King Fallon offered to help Kellan up, but she refused. She helped Molly to her feet and they then walked past the king. The carriage was waiting outside. The carriage was white with purple and gold trimming.
Just before Kellan climbed into the carriage, a man walked up with a German Sheppard, “Delivery for Kellan,”
Kellan looked over, “That’s me,” she said with a confused look.
The man handed her the leash and a note, and walked away.
Kellan opened the note:
‘Kellan,
I thought you would need a friend. He is only 9 months old. Take good care of him.’
Kellan smiled and patted the dog on his head. He licked her hand and wagged his tail playfully.
The carriage driver helped Molly and Kellan into the carriage, the dog jumped in after. “Where in the Gods names did you get that awful creature?” Jonas asked referring to the dog.
Kellan shrugged, “I don’t know, but dad, I don’t care what you say, I am keeping him.” She said stubbornly.
“Whatever,” Jonas sighed.
Kellan smiled and looked out the window. The carriage went off, heading down the dirt road towards the Northwest side of town.
Within fifteen minutes, the carriage was on cobblestone, making its way up the road towards the mansion.
Kellan sighed as she looked over at her sister who was sitting with her head down leaning against the side of the carriage holding her stomach.
Kellan pulled out of her bag the herbs the dwarf gave her and a flask of water that. She crushed up some of the herbs, mixed it into the flask, and handed it to Molly.
Molly took a sip and coughed, “Yuck, what is this stuff?” she said with a disgusted look on her face.
“It’s stuff to make you recover.” Kellan replied. She sighed and looked at her dog who was sitting on the other side of her on the seat. “You need a name, don’t you boy.” She said scratching the dogs’ head.
Molly looked at the dog, “How about Max.” She said. Then after making sure no one was looking, she poured the rest of the drink out the window. A mansion appeared in the distance, bigger than the other houses in the area they were in, all the people who were on the streets looked at the carriage and bowed as it passed through
Jonas looked out the window and saw the citizens bowing in respect at the Kings carriage. He smiled, “Kellan, my dear, look at how the people respect you, look at how they worship the ground you walk on.” He said in a self-absorbed manner. “Just think, when you’re Queen, you can get anything and everything you desire.” He said really referring to himself.
Kellan glared at him, ‘I am not marring that son of a b***h.’ She thought to herself.
The carriage pulled up to a mansion. Ground workers stopped what they were doing and looked to the approaching carriage.
They approached a large mansion. The outside was painted a peach color. The front of the house came out further than the rest. There were two pillars that held up the overhanging roof over front door were made of marble. Stone gargoyles were on either side of the front door seeming like they were going to come alive and attack any intruder who dares to enter. Vines crept up the side of the house, wrapping around windows, up to the third story attic. A balcony was on the top of the overhang. Two rounded windows were on either side of the top story balcony. A lantern was attached to the roof hung over the balcony.
Kellan, Molly, her new companion and Jonas climbed out of the carriage and went into their new home.  

[spellfire]

CHAPTER 3

The Amulet’s Luck

“Miles away from Loc Bread, do you think those guards are still after us?” Kellan said looking back as Max pulled hard on the leach, dragging her foreword.
Von looked back also “Yeah, but they’re at least a day behind,” he said looking at Kellan.
Kellan sighed, “I don’t want anything to do with kings or any form of royalty anymore.”
Max barked at a cloaked figure walking towards them. He pulled on the leach, trying to run to at it. Kellan stumbled foreword, still barely holding onto the leach. Von saw the struggle and ran to help Kellan, but he was too late, Kellan stumble foreword, the leach slipped out of her hand and went right by Von’s face. Max ran straight for the cloaked figure. Max jumped, tackling the man onto the ground.
“Get this mutt off me!” the man yelled, trying to push max off him.
Von helped Kellan to her feet, and they both rushed over to pull Max off the Man. Kellan reached down to help the man up. “I’m so sorry; he usually doesn’t act like that.”
The man brushed Kellan away with the wave of his hand. “You need to keep that dog on a tight leach, and train him properly,” he said glaring at Von. Max pulled hard at the leach, but Von held tight.
The man grunted and pushed past Von, and continued down the road.
Von shook his head angrily and leaned against a tree. He heard something cling against his armor from inside his backpack. He took it off, set it down in the dirt, and started to go through it. He came across an amulet. The center stone was black and the outer rim is trimmed in white on a silver chain. “Kell, did you put this in my bag?” Von asked examining the amulet.
“That’s not mine,” she said looking at it with a raised eyebrow.
Von shrugged “Ah well,” he was about to throw it.
“No, wait,” Kellan said. She walked over to Von and took the amulet from him. “It would look so adorable on Max.”
She hooked it the chain around Max’s neck. He sat up, seeming as if he was proud of his new look.
“Get me off this flea bag!” a voice yelled, coming from the direction of the dog.
Max whined and tried to take the amulet off, but could not. Kellan turned around and saw the amulet shimmer. She knelt down in front of Max and poked the amulet.
“You stubborn little wrench,” the voice said again.
Von pulled out his sword and looked around cautiously, “Show yourself, coward,” he said forcefully.
“I swear, animals are smarter than people,” the voice sighed heavily. “Come on boy, even the dog knows where I am.”
Kellan lifted the amulet over Max’s neck and stood up holding the amulet up, “Who are you anyway?” she asked with a really curious look on her face.
“My dear lady,” the amulet began, “I am a soul of a man, trapped in this reached amulet, by an evil sorceress.”
“Alright that’s it,” Von took the amulet out of Kellan’s hands and threw it as far as he could.
“Curse you,” it yelled as it flew over the horizon.
“Von, what was that for?” Kellan busted out in frustration.
“I don’t trust that thing,” Von said as he stepped forward. “It’s getting late, we should make camp,” he walked into the woods, Kellan followed with Max behind.
Von set his bag down once they got deep enough into the woods. He started setting up the tent. Kellan set he bag down as well; she collected wood to make a fire. Max followed her and helped collect wood. He wondered back in camp with a stick in his mouth. He set it in front of the tent where they would make a fire. Von smiled and patted Max on the head.
Kellan came back into the camp and began making the fire.
The sunset and the fire slowly dimmed as the night continued on.
“Kellan, it’s getting late, you should get some sleep. I’ll keep watch tonight,” Von said noticing Kellan getting tired. Kellan nodded and headed into the tent, “Max stay out here with me, buddy, I need someone to keep me company,” he said with a smile. Max yawned and walked over to Von.
The night slowly passed and nothing eventful seemed to happen. Von started getting sleepy and tried to force himself to stay awake. He sat down with his back against a tree not far from the tent. Max lay down and rested his head on Von’s lap then closed his eyes.
*
“Von, We’ve been robbed!” yelled Kellan as she stormed out of the tent with their empty bag in her hand.
“Huh? What?” Von said still half asleep. He opened his eyes and saw a blurry figure of Kellan standing over him holding her bag.
“Nice going watchmen,” she sarcastically said. She threw her bag at him and turned around and started calling for her dog.
Von rubbed his eyes and got up, “That’s not like him to not come.” He walked behind the tent calling for the lost dog. He heard something whining, he looked down and saw max covered in blood and gashes. “K-Kellan, I found him.” He said without taking his eyes off Max.
“Oh, thank the Gods,” She said walking behind the tent. She looked down and saw what happened to her dog. She covered her mouth and dropped to her knees. “Max,” she said softy. “We need to get help.” She said to Von with tears in her eyes.
Von took down the tent and folded it long ways, he then picked up Max and laid him down on the folded tent.
“Come on Kell, let’s go,” Von said lifting one side of the tent and walked towards the road, dragging the tent.
Kellan picked up her empty bag and followed him. They walked over another hill when they heard a familiar voice. “Hey you, on the ground, help me.”Von and Kellan stopped and looked around and did not see anything. “No you dumbass, up here!”
Kellan looked up into the trees and saw the amulet hanging in the top branch. “How did you get up there?” She asked the amulet.
“The dumbass down there threw me, remember?” the amulet said. “Now can you please get me down?”
“I can’t were kind of in a hurry, Max is injured, and I need to get him to town.” She said.
“Wait I can help, if you get me down, I can heal your dog.” It suggested.
Kellan looked down at Max, licking his wounds. “Alright, but if you don’t I will break you up into little tiny pieces and throw them into a fire.” She then climbed up the tree. She jumped to the top branch and grabbed the amulet. She put the amulet around her neck and climbed down. “Now heal him.” Kellan demanded.
“Alright, alright, you don’t need to get your leather get in a bundle. Just touch your dog and I’ll do the rest.”
Kellan knelt down and put her hand on Max. “Close your eyes and concentrate.” It said. Kellan closed her eyes and concentrated on healing Max. A bright white light exploded from the amulet, then faded back in.
The gashes disappeared, and Max stood up and licked Kellan’s face and barked happily. Kellan smiled and hugged Max. “Alright, Mr. Amulet, thing, I’ll put you in a safe place.” She opened her bag and went to take the amulet off, but it wouldn’t budge, it tightened around her neck. “Von, I can’t get it off.” She said pulling on the amulet.
“Quit fooling around, we still need to get off the road.” Von replied. He put the leach back around Max’s neck.
“Just your luck girly, I am stuck.” The amulet said almost laughing.
“Come on Kellan, let’s just go, and deal with this nuisance later.” Von said continuing to walk down the road.
Kellan rolled her eyes and followed Von as he walked down the road.
“You have such a big temper for a little girl.” The amulet said referring to Kellan.
“Little?” Kellan struck back, offended by the amulet.
“Well I meant your size, your kinda small for an elf.” It said trying to make peace.
“I am only half elf, my father is human and my mother was Elvin.” She said still upset with the black amulet around her neck.
“What do you mean by your mother was elf?” The amulet asked curiously.
“I don’t want to talk about it. “She said sadly. “By the way, do you have a name or something, or can I just call you the annoying thing that hangs from my neck?”
“I did have a name at one time, or so I think.” It said, “I was imprisoned by an evil sorceress long ago and have forgotten my past, but I remember pieces of it.” The amulet changed to a light blue.
“Sucks for you,” Von said sarcastically, eavesdropping in Kellan’s conversation with a seemingly inanimate object.  

[spellfire]

CHAPTER 4

What’s With It

“Mekko Major,” Von read the sign above the gatehouse aloud. “Have you heard of it?”
“No, but it’s a town and that’s all I care about right now,” Kellan said.
“Let’s go to the tavern first, I’m starving.” He said rubbing his stomach.
As they walked into the town, they came across the tavern right away, it was near the entrance, a rather new wooden building that’s three stories high and what looks like a lookout tower at the top with a canopy over it. There was a sign that hung over the door with a picture of a musket crossing over a mug of ale. With fancy letters that spelled out “The Grey Tavern/Inn.”
“That sounds kinda weird,” Von, said reading the sign.
“That’s the same name as the one in our town.” She said nudging him. “Von, wait, before we go in, we should see how much gold we have,” Kellan put her hand on his shoulder. She reached into her boot and pulled out three gold.
Von sighed, “I have two gold,” he said reaching in his pocket.
They walked into the tavern. The inside smelled like cedar. There was beautiful arch way that separated the dining area that was directly across from the bar. Tables were set up in lines in the dining area. Next to the bar were stares that led to the upper floors of the Inn.
“Welcome to ye grey tavern,” a dwarven man said from behind the bar, “What can I do for ye?”
“We need a room,” Von said.
“Alright, that’ll be two gold pieces.”The dwarf said scratching his long grey beard.
“And what about food, we only have three gold pieces left.” Kellan added.
“I’d say three square meals each,” the dwarf said. “Why do ye folks have so little, if ye don’t mind me askin’.”
“I’d rather not talk about it,” Kellan said, she then walked away.
“We’ll be back,” Von said putting the gold on the table and went after Kellan. “Kellan, wait,”
“I want to find out about this amulet,” She said. She walked up to a random towns person, “Excuse me, where is the nearest magic shop.”
“Magic is very rare, but you have come across a town that has one of the best, besides Voltia.” The man claimed. “It’s right over there.” He said pointing to what looked like a rundown shack.
“Thanks a lot,” she said, she walked towards the magic shop. She tried to open the door, but it was locked.
“It’s locked,” the amulet said
“Oh, thank you captain obvious,” she said sarcastically. “I would have never guessed.”
Von knocked on the door.
“Just a minute, I am coming,” Said a man through the door. There was a sound of several locks unlocking from behind the door. It then opened, “Welcome to my magic shop,” said an older looking man wearing a white robe with a brown belt around his waist.
“Can you tell me anything about this amulet?” Kellan asked pointing at it.
The man walked over to her and lifted it high enough so he can see it, but could not get it off her. “It seems to have magical properties,” he said.
“We know that, it talks to us and it heals,” Kellan said frustrated with the man.
“It seems to have other abilities too,”
“Really, like what?” Von said excitedly.
“I am not quite sure,” he said putting it down gently.
“Can you offer us a job?” Von asked jumping in on the conversation.
“Well, I guess I can give you something to do, there’s a scroll I need, a magic scroll, it’s rather rare, and very powerful,” he said scratching his beard.
“And what is that?” Von asked.
“Time Stop,” he replied. “Get it to me and you will have your reword,” he reached for the pouch on his belt. “Here are four Voltian Coins,” he handed it to Von. He opened it up and there were three platinum pieces with a crown engraved and adamantine black and on the other side of the coin was a black adamantine and white gold castle. “Now, so you don’t betray me,” he put his hand on the back of Von’s neck. He felt a quick, sharp pain, and jerked back, a tattoo of a snake appeared on his neck.
“What did you do to him?” Kellan asked ferociously.
The man looked at her and smiled. “Just an agreement, if any of you betray me, you both die,” he then disappeared.
“Well, let’s start looking,” Von said impatiently, he walked out the door and into the empty dirt covered street of the town. He scratched his head, “Is there even a scroll shop in this area?”
Kellan shrugged as she followed him. “Why don’t we go back to the tavern, I am so hungry.”
“Me too,” Von said in agreement. Max barked and wagged his tail, seeming to agree with what Von said. The three of them walked back to the tavern, with Max following closely behind.
“What can I do for ye,” the dwarven bartender asked excited that they came back.
“Whatever they have, I’ll cover,” a clocked man said walking over to the bar from the dining area. He sat down a bag of that sounded like many gold pieces on the counter. The dwarf took the bag and set it under the counter.
“Thank you,” Von said bowing his head. The man nodded and walked back into the dining area.
“What was in the bag?” Kellan asked.
“Voltian Coin, Milady,” the dwarf replied happily. “Now, how can I help you?”
“Can you take care of my dog?” Kellan asked.
“Sure thing,” he replied.
“Can we even get room service?” Von asked.
“Yep, here is you key, please enjoy your stay,” he said handing Von the room key.
“Miss Loc, your dog will be safe with me,” the dwarf added.
Kellan smiled and followed Von up to their room. As Von opened the door, Kellan ran in, brushing passed Von. She leaped in the air and landed face first on a bed. “Ah, nice comfy bed,” she said with her face in the pillow. She then fell asleep.
Von put their stuff in the room, he took off his armor and placed it on the bed, “Hey, Kell, I am going to go looking around the town, do you want to come?” Von asked, but there was no reply, “Huh, she must be asleep already,” he shrugged and walked out.
As he walked by the bar, the dwarf stopped him, “Where ye headdin’ to?” he asked.
“Just into the town,” Von replied.
The dwarf put his musket on the counter top and leaned over it. “Then ye’d need money,”
“Well, maybe, but –“Von started to say.
“Then ye’d be needin’ this,” he intermittent, pulling out the bag of coins the clocked man gave him.
“Thanks,” Von said with a rather large grin on his face. He took the bag and walked out into the town.
The town was bigger than he thought, there were outdoor markets set up along the main roads with people gathered around them. The venders were selling cloths, fabric, food, fresh meat, fish, and jewelry of all sorts. There were more, but the streets were too crowded to see them all. To Von’s surprise, he passed by a vender selling magic items.
The man looked at Von with intent, “Well, well, I see I have a costumer who knows what he’s after.”
“What’s it to ya?” Von asked crossing his arms and looking at the man.
“I just want another satisfied costumer,” he said with a smile, he waved his arms over his inventory. “Take a look at my scrolls, there is nothing I do not have.”
“All right,” Von said with skepticism, “I need Time Stop.”
The man smile widened. He reached for a scroll in a glass display case, he took out a key from his sleeve and turned the placed it in the lock of the case. “This scroll will run you 4,000 gold pieces,”
Von sighed and pulled out the bag the man from the magic shop had given him and dumped it on the table, “This is all I have,” Von said looking at the coins with disappointment.
“Hey, there, that’s just enough for the scroll,” the man took the coins and placed them in his pocket and handed Von the scroll. “These here coins are worth far more than your gold,” he said informing Von of their value. “Their worth 1,000 of this here gold piece,” he said holding up a gold piece.“
“Seriously?” Von asked amazed of its value.
“It’s the truth,” the man said raising his right hand.
Von attached the scroll case to his belt, he thanked the man for doing business with him and he continued his way thought the market and ended up in a dark part where hardly any people were. There were rough looking people running the stands here, ‘This must be the Black Market,’ he thought to himself. ‘Hey, I wonder if Kellan would like a new thieves’ kit.’ He sighed ‘I wonder if I even have enough gold,’ he untied the pouch that the bartender had given him and opened it, inside he found the bag was full of Voltian coins. “By the Gods!” he said aloud. He tied the pouch to his belt and continued his search. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a burly man tending a beat-up stand. He cautiously approached.
The man behind the stand grinned, showing his yellow, misshapen teeth. “What can I help you with my good sir?” he asked in a rough voice.
“I need a thieves kit,” he paused for a brief moment, “And a climbers kit if you got it,”
The scruffy looking man reached under the counter and pulled out two cases, “That’ll be 500 gold,”
Von handed the man a Voltian coin.
“In that case,” the man went into a door behind his stand and came out with a wrapped box, “Have a nice day,” the man said handing the stuff to Von.
Von nodded and walked back to the magic shop.
“Ah, I see you have returned,” the magic shop owner said poking his head up from behind a pile of books, “Where is your friend?”
“Here,” Von said untying the scroll case from his belt and throwing it to the man.
The old mage cough the case, “Very good,” he said inspecting the scroll, “Now for your reword.”
“No need,” Von said
“Alright, if you insist,” he said in amazement. “Get back to your friend, she is not safe alone.”
Von nodded, “I’m on my way to her now,” he then walked to the tavern. He walked up to his room in the Inn; he unlocked the door and walked in, locking it behind him. He saw Kellan still asleep in her bed. He smiled and walked into the bathroom. He pulled a rope that was hanging from above the iron tub and water came out of the nozzle and poured into the tub. As he took off his shirt a clocked man came up behind Von and grabbed him, holding a dagger up to his throat.
“Where is the amulet,” he said in a deep voice.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Von said Pratley chocking.
“Von, is everything alright in there?” Kellan asked, awoke from the commotion is the bathroom.
“If I find that you are lying, I shall kill you and your friend,” he said then disappeared.
Von finished his bath, he got dressed and walked into the room and flopped down on the bed.
“What happened in there?” Kellan asked.
“Nothing, I was just talking to myself,” Von replied.
“Okay, well I ‘am going to take a bath,” she said as she walked into the bathroom, she didn’t close the door all the way when she went in. She got into the tub and sighed, the amulet turned pink. “Are you some kind of mood amulet, or something?” she asked the amulet sarcastically.
“Don’t ruin my mood,” it replied in a harsh tone. Kellan giggled and continued her bath.
“Kellan, I almost forgot,” Von said to her from behind the door, “I got something for you when I was out.” He said putting the two cases and the thing wrapped up on her bed.
Kellan got out of the tub and got dressed. “What did you get me?” she asked.
When Kellan walked in the room, Von lead her to her bed, covering her eyes, “For getting us away from those guards,” he uncovered her eyes.
“Oh, Von,” she said in amazement looking at the three things on her bed. She opened up the two cases. Her smile grew wider when she saw the thieves kit. She placed the two items in her bag. She then unwrapped the last item; it was beautiful dark brown studded leather armor. As she unfolded it, a small item wrapped in silk and a vial labeled “acid” fell to the floor. She unwrapped the other item, it was a dagger trimmed in gold, and the hilt was covered with diamonds and rubies she put the acid in a safe place in her bag. She jumped up and hugged Von, making him lose his balance, “Thank you so very much.”
Von hugged her back, “I am going to go to bed, it’s getting late,” he said walking to his bed and laying down.
“That’s a good idea,” she said lying down on her bed too. She put her hands under the pillow and felt something there, she pulled it out, it was parchment rolled up into a scroll, she unrolled it, “Its blank,” she exclaimed.
“Hold it up to the candle on the dresser,” the amulet said
She walked over to the dresser and held it up to the candle, symbol appeared on the parchment, “Dragon script?” she whispered.
“What you can’t read it?” the amulet said surprised.
“I learned about it in school, but I was never taught,” she replied.
“Kellan, you should get some sleep,” the amulet said.
“Yeah,” she replied. She crawled into bed and went to sleep.
*
Later that night, Kellan had been awaken by a strange noise in their room. She sat up and looked around, but saw nothing. She reached over to get her dagger out of her bag. When she looked up, she was a man dressed in a black outfit. She tried to scream, but the man covered her mouth and pinned her down. The man lifted up his knife and stabbed down into the mattress next to her. Kellan used all her might and flipped the man over and pinned him down, she tried to stab him with her dagger, but he blocked it with his, leaving him venerable. She then hit him with her left hand; she then stood up and kicked him. She yelled to Von, but he was fast asleep. The man charged at her, she kicked him as hard as she could, he skidded back landing on the bed. He lunged at her again, she dodged, but barley, he nicked her in the arm with the tip of his blade. Kellan stepped back and pounced on him, knocking him down.
A man came running down the hall and knocked on the door, “is everything alright in there?” he yelled.
The attacker jumped out the window.
Kellan stood up and answered the door.
“Is everything alright, I heard lots of noised,” the man said.
“No,” Kellan exclaimed, “I just got attacked!”
“I’ll send help,” the man said, he ran off down the hall.
As Kellan closed the door, Von walked up behind her after he saw the stab marks in Kellan’s bed, “Are you ok?” Von asked looking her over, he noticed the gash in her arm and reached over to stop the bleeding.
“I am okay,” she said pulling away from him.
“Kel, you look really tired, you should go back to sleep,” Von said. He looked back to her bed, “Sleep in my bed,” Von said smiling at her.
Kellan nodded and sighed. She laid down in Von’s bed and soon fell asleep.
*
“Kellan, wake up,” Von said shaking her to wake her up.
“Do you ever sleep?” Kellan asked still half asleep. She squinted to shade her eyes from the sun glairing into the window.
“When protecting you, never,” he said pulling her out of bed.
“It’s not safe here,” the amulet said.
Von nodded “Stay here while I get the horses,” he ran off to the stables.
“Umm, mister amulet, thingy, do you think its safe enough to get something to eat?” Kellan asked holding her stomach as it growled loudly.
“Just be quick about it.”
She walked down to the tavern and sat at one of the back tables. There were only four others in the tavern at the time, the same four who were sitting there the day before, two men in black cloaks and two in white. The bar wench took her order and brought her the food she had ordered. She then noticed that the man who had given her and Von the bag of coins was sitting at the table. She finished eating and walked over to his table. “I just wanted to thank you for the coins,” she said pulling up a chair and sitting at the head of the table.
“I see you have my amulet,” he said avoiding what she had said.
“Your amulet!?” she said surprised. “How do I get it off?” she asked.
“It do I get it off?” she asked.
“It will come off when it wants to,” he said picking up his goblet and taking a sip of the red liquid.
“There was a person who attacked me last night, do you think he was after the amulet?” she asked him.
“You’re not safe here,” the man said evading her question. “Leave immediately.”
“Yes, I know,” she said standing up out of her seat. She walked back up to her room. Guards were standing on either side of the door when she arrived. She smiled at them as she walked in. She packed their stuff and sat on the bed waiting for Von to come back.
“Ahhhg!”
“Who—what are you?” said one of the guards from outside the room. “Augh,” then he fell to the ground with a thud.
“You got to get out of here,” the amulet said.
Kellan slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and put Von’s backpack on. The door handle started to jiggle. She ran up to it and relocked it. She then ran to the bathroom and locked the door.
“Look beside the tub, there is a hatch,” the amulet informed. “It leads to the sewers.”
She moved the tile on the ground next to the tub, jumped down, and slid into the sewers. She walked through the greenish water until she saw a light shining down through the sewer cover from above. She climbed the latter, pushed the cap aside, and climbed through. She found herself at the edge of town, by the city gate.
“Wait here,” the amulet, said,” Von will be here soon.”
*
In town, Von walked to the stables, “I need two horses,” he said as he walked in.
“That’ll be 1,000 gold,” the stable owner said lifting his head from a book. Von handed him a Voltian coin, the man took it and motioned for Von to follow him out back to where the horses were. He went in the stable, came out with two paint horses already settled, and ready to ride. Von smiled at the man, took the horses by their reigns, led them to the tavern, and tied them up to the hitching post outside.
“The girl already left,” the innkeeper said, still cleaning his musket.
Von ignored him and went up anyway. As he walked up the stairs to the room, he noticed two guards lying dead on the ground by his door. He kicked the bodies out of the way and walked in. all their stuff was gone; he then noticed that the bathroom door was broken down. He walked in and saw a tile that had been removed from its pace, ‘I hope she had escaped,’ he thought. He walked back down to the tavern.
“She is waiting for you at the west end of town,” the dwarf said when he spotted Von. He walked to the back room and came out with Max, “He’s such a good dog,” he said giving him a bone. He handed the leach to Von as he lifted up a segment of the bar counter to let the dog through.
Von walked out of the tavern, he untied the horses and walked to the west end of town. When Max saw Kellan, he ran to her, he jumped up in her arms and licked her face.
“Come on, Kellan, get on the horse and let’s get out of here,” Von eagerly said.
She climbed up on one of the horses and they rode off, with Max following behind.  

[spellfire]

CHAPTER 5

For the King, For the Empire

The sound of war echoed through the hills Kellan and Von were approaching. From the top of the hill they could see a battle raging below.
“We should do something.” Von said with a concerned look.
“Yeah, but who should we help?” Kellan questioned. “It’s not like we just know who the bad guy here is.”
He sighed, “It’s obviously the people being attacked, the men in the black and white uniform.”
“But they could have taken something from the army in the crimson armor.” She suggested.
“You nit wits!” the amulet exclaimed. “That’s the crimson army. You know, set by King Volaris, the man who wants to take over everything.”
“Is that a good enough reason for you, Mss, Right?” Von said pulling out his mace.
“If it will get you off my back,” She mumbled under her breath. She pulled out her dagger, jumped off her horse and charged at the remaining crimson army.
“Damn that girl,” Von said chasing after her, “Someday she’s going to get herself killed if she keeps doing that.”
Kellan put her dagger in her mouth and pulled out her collapsible bow from a pocked in the quiver attached to her leg and an arrow. She carefully aimed at a crimson knight on his horse. She let the arrow fly; it pierced through the armor around his neck. She smiled at her accuracy and looked over to Von. “Did you see that?” she asked excitedly.
“Yeah, yeah very nice, killer,” Von said a little preoccupied by two men charging at him on horses. One of the men tried to hit Von as he passed by him but missed. The other man was a bit luckier, as Von jumped out of the way of the first man; he jumped right in front of the second man as he swung his sword down hitting Von in the shoulder.
Kellan saw another man on a horse charging at him. She took an arrow and placed it on the bow, and aimed it at the man. She let lose the arrow. Her aim was off, the arrow hit the horse in the leg, and it stumbled over face first. The man emerged from harm’s way, rolling with his fall. Kellan slung her bow over her shoulder and spit her dagger into her hand. She charged at the man, she distracted him with her dagger, while she pulled out her short sword and stabbed the man in the abdomen.
Von held his concentration as the pain flowed through his body. He hit the horse in the leg; it fell to the ground, rolling on top of the man ridding it, breaking his leg. The horse got up and ran off. The other man charged at Von, his lance pointed at Von’s head. Von rolled out of the way just in time. The man jumped off his mount, dropped his lance and drew his sword. Von stood in a defensive position. The man ran at Von, his battle cry echoed through the battle field. The man attempted to hit Von, but Von blocked it with his shield. The man jumped backwards, knowing that Von was going to strike back. From out of nowhere, Max jumped on the man Von was fighting, toppling him over. From the castle walls, an archer shot the man lying prone in the neck, killing him.
From out of nowhere, a man shot an arrow at Von through the trees near the forest entrance, passing through the joints in his armor, hitting him in the leg. Von screamed in pain as he tried to pull it out.
Kellan ran up to him and yanked the arrow out of his leg, she fixed the arrow to her bow and shot the blood covered arrow back at its owner, hitting him between the slit of his helmet and out the back of his head. She then noticed a scroll case at her feet next to the dead bleeding man. Attached to it was an oddly shaped black key with red symbols that seemed to be the ancient Voltian language, she picked it up and opened it. Inside was a piece of parchment, on one side was writing in some sort of language used long ago, she remembered reading about the language in her schooling once. On the other side was a map.
From atop the hill, Max ran down the hill towards Kellan, followed by a marching army, with a black and white banner, the same banner as the castle in front of them. Leading the army was a man riding a white horse with black and white feathers coming in the top of his helmet and a white cloak over his shoulders with a dragon shaped broach that symbolized the Voltian Empire. “You there, Fighter, Archer,” he yelled, “Come here.”
Kellan looked around, thinking the knight was not talking to them. She then looked at Von who stood up with his flail in his hand. He looked at Kellan confused about what just happened. He stumbled, trying to walk towards the knight; Kellan caught him, and helped him walk.
“I saw the final moments of that battle,” the knight said looking down at them from his horse, “What is your names?” he asked.
“I am Kellan, and this is my brother, Von,” she said.
He smiled, “Please come with me so the King can meet you.”
Kellan and Von nodded, not really wanting to go with him, but did it anyway for the sake of respect. Von helped Kellan on her horse, got on his. The man rode his horse so that he was next to Von, he waved his hand and chanted a prayer, the wound on his leg diapered and there was partially no pain, Von thanked the man, and figured he was a paladin. They then followed the army to the town, guards’ eyes Von and Kellan evilly as they passed through the protected of the gates.
He led them to the castle stables where they dropped off their horses. After that, he took them to the keep. The three of them climbed the stone steps, and walked through heavy wooden doors enforced with steel. There was a golden “M” in the center of both doors. Their heels echoed with every step they took on the marble floors inside the keep. The long black carpet trimmed in white padded their steps.
“King Meknion,” the paladin said. His hair fell as he took off his helmet. He shook his head and sweated across his right eye. He knelt in front of the king who was sitting on the centered throne, “I have brought two adventurers who have helped defend your kingdom.”
Kellan and Von stepped forward with Max at Kellan’s side, and knelt next to the paladin.
“These two travelers helped defend my kingdom?” the king stood up and walked towards them, “that was very brave of both of you,” his deep voice echoed through the grand halls. He walked over to Kellan. She quickly looked down, frightened of his humongous stature darkened skin and eyes that resembled orbs of mercury. He lifted her head up with two of his figures. “Do you and your fighter friend have a place to stay?” he asked with a smile, showing his pointed teeth.
“N—no, your majesty,” Kellan replied, trying not to look into his eyes, but she knew it was rude not to do so.
“Then you shall stay here,” he looked over to the paladin, “Khorn, make it so,” he commanded. He turned and clapped his hands and a young servant boy came running, be bowed as he approached. “Take these two to their rooms,” he said staring at the painting of him and his son above the throne.
The servant boy bowed again, “Follow me, please,” he said to them, then led them down one of the grand hall way.
From behind them, Kellan heard a snapping sound, when she turned around to see what it was. She saw a white arrow fly towards the King. “King Meknion, look out!” she shouted, but it was too late, the arrow pierced thought his neck and he fell to the marble floor, blood stained the carpet where he laid.
“The king has been slain!” Khorn yelled.
Von turned around to see what was going on, he looked up to the catwalk and saw a black figure starting to run. “After him!” he yelled as he pulled out his mace and charged. Kellan and Max followed. They ran up the stairs, and they noticed him climbing spiral staircase, leading to a hall filled with rooms. Max pushed in front of them, he grabbed the man’s leg and tried to pull him down, but the man kicked him in the head, making Max slid down the stairs. Max stood up and chased after. The man ran through a corridor, into a room and shut the door.
Max scratched at the door and barked. Kellan and Von ran up behind him. “Open the door and I’ll charge him,” Von whispered. She nodded then opened the door, Max ran in and Von followed. Dead guards littered the ground in the tower.
Max ran to a ladder that lead to a hatch and barked at it. Von and Kellan ran up the ladder and opened the hatch. More dead guards lined the walls. When the breeze blew northeast, the stench of blood reached them. They walked the castle walls and came across a grappling hook hanging over the side of the wall. Kellan took out her bow and an arrow and readied it. She then looked over the side of the wall. The man was climbing down the rope. Thinking fast, she grabbed a sword from one of the fallen archers and cut the rope.
The man screamed as he fell 50 feet to the grassy field. Kellan lit her arrow on fire with the brazier of fire next to her, and shot the man.
Von looked over at the burning man, “Let’s go back,” he said sadly. Kellan nodded, and took one last look over the wall and headed back to the keep.
*
“Kellan, go tell Prince Eden the news of his father,” Khorn said, “Go straight down the hall, it’s the biggest door on the right.”
Kellan forced a smile and nodded, “Max, stay with Von,” she said sternly. Max sat down and hung his head sadly.
“Von,” Khorn said turning towards him, “I need you to help me take the body to the temple.” The both lifted up the king and took him to the castle temple.
*
Kellan walked up to the large door and knocked, but no one answered. She pushed opened the door and peeked in, “Mi’lord,” she said looking around. She opened the door wider and took a step in. a gentle wind blew in through the French doors and blew up white draped that covered the doorway, revealing the prince sitting on the edge of the baloney, his blond hair blowing in the breeze. “Mi’ lord,” she said softly.
“How did you get in here?” the prince demanded. He walked towards her defensively.
“I was bare the news about your father,” she said as he knelt in front of him.
Prince Eden walked closer, drawing his rapier. “Who are you?” he said aiming his sword at her.
“My name is Kellan Loc,” she said as she bowed her head, “your father has been slain,” she flinched.
He pushed his rapier to her throat, “How do I know this isn’t a trick,” he said, eying her.
“Khorn sent me,” she said looking up at him.
“I don’t believe you,” he said pressing his sword to her throat.
“Just follow me,” she slowly stood up and walked out the door. Price Eden followed with his sword aimed at Kellan.
“Mi’lord,” Khorn said bowing, “I see you god the news.”
“What happened to him?” Eden asked sheathing his sword.
“Assassination,” Khorn said looking at the spot where the King had died.
“Eden,” Khorn said looking up at the price, “you are the new king,” he said putting his hand on his shoulder.
Eden forced a smile and looked over at the pool of blood that still laid on floor next to the throne. “I have to find that assassin,” he said under his breath.
“Von and I took care of him” Kellan said.
A sergeant walked over to her, “We went to recover the body, but it was nowhere to be found. We saw drag and burn marks but they diapered at the stream in the woods.”
“I’ll help you,” Kellan said stepping forward.
“It’s too dangerous,” Eden shot back.
“My brother and I helped defend your kingdom, I would doubt if anything is too dangerous,” she said looking into his silvery-blue eyes.
Eden looked at Kellan, than at Khorn, who then nodded and he looked back at her, “I don’t want a beautiful girl like you get hurt.”
Kellan blushed and looked down. Khorn turned to Kellan, “Go get your friend,”
She nodded and walked out of the castle. Max was waiting for her by the door of the temple. He barked happily when he seen her.
“You know Eden likes you,” the amulet said.
Kellan smiled, “It seems like it,” she then opened the temple door.
Von was standing in front of the altar setting candles around the kings’ body.
A man wearing silver armor that shimmered like ice walked passed Kellan, be bowed his head and continued towards the Kings’ body.
“Von,” Kellan softly said, but her voice still echoed through the temple. Von turned, “We need to find that assassin, and somehow he got away.” Kellan and Von heard faintly, bag pipes playing. She looked down at the amulet. It turned to a light blue color. “Come on, Von, let’s go.” They made their way to the palace.
“You go inside, I’m going to stay out here,” Von said.
Kellan nodded and sighed as she walked in, “Mi’lord,” she said in a sad tone. Eden was sitting on the throne with his head in his hands. She walked around a corner and sat against a wall. The music started again, it got louder and louder until she couldn’t take it anymore. She started to cry. She lifted the amulet to her mouth and kissed it, at that point the music stopped and the amulet turned to black. She stood up and walked back to the throne room, “Mi’lord,” she said again, walking towards him.
Eden quickly stood up and Kellan immediately knelt. “I made my decision,” he said approaching her.
“What is it?” she asked looking at the ground.
“I can’t let you go alone,” he said in a soft romantic voice as he knelt down, he put his hand under her chin and lifted up her head.
Kellan smiled, “Then why don’t you some with me,” she said jokingly.
“Alight then,” he said with a smile, “we’ll leave at once,” he stood up, “Go find your friend and met me at the stables.”
Kellan stood up, bowed to the new King and walked out of the palace to look for Von.
The man with the silver armor walked out of the temple, he looked over at the keep and saw Kellan standing on the stone steps looking around. “If you’re looking for your fighter friend, he went to the town. Follow me,” he said walking in the direction of the town.
As they entered the town, most of the buildings were on fire or burnt down. “What happened?” Kellan asked looking around.
The man ignored her, he lifted his arms and chanted under his breath and a gust of wind blew from the north and blew out the fire. “Give me a hand,” he said to Kellan. He handed her a bucket filled with water.
She walked to another burning building and dumped the water on it. She then looked around for a well. She heard voices coming from outside of town, from where the battle was fought. She looked through the opened gate and saw Von and some towns’ people picking up weapons and piling the dead bodies, “Von!” she yelled over the voices and clanging of metal.
He walked over, “Can’t you see I’m working,” he said gesturing over to the people working in the field.
“We have to go,” Kellan told him as she swung her pale around in front of her. “The King wants to come with us.” A smile sweated across her face.
“I’ll be back,” Von shouted at the men working. They headed off to the castle stables.
On their way to the stables, Kellan sat the pale next to the cleric, as she thought he was now. “Where do you think you are going?” he asked
“Back to the castle, King Eden is waiting for us.”
At the stables everyone was saddling their horses. There were foot step coming from behind Von. He turned around and saw the villagers he had help. “What are you doing?” he asked abruptly.
“You helped us, now were going to help you,” one of them said.
Eden looked at the villagers then at Von, “Well, Von, looks like you made your self some new friends,” he said chuckling, “Saddle up men.”
“If they’re not ridding, then I am walking with them,” Von said suddenly.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and gave him a weird look and went back to what they were doing.
Kellan walked up to Eden, “Mi’lord,” she said. Eden then held out his hand to help her on the back of his horse. Von noticed and he didn’t seem to like that. She saw Von’s disapproval out of the corner of her eye, she shook his hand. Eden sighed as she walked over to her horse. He looked at Kellan and winked, then put his helmet on.
Kellan smiled when she noticed him winking at her and almost fell off her horse.
“Men, let’s head out” Eden said after he put on his crusader helmet on and waved his hand to signal it was time to move out.
As a squire passed Kellan, he gave her an evil side glance look, it seemed as though he was mad at her for not ridding with the King. She smiled and trotted next to the King.
Eden pretended not to notice her. The cleric with the silver armor sighed, “Oh, Sire,” he said with a laugh.
Eden looked at Kellan through the thin T shaped slit in his helmet, his eyes shines in the light of the sun. Kellan blushed. He chuckled and looked forward.
The cleric leaned over to Eden, “You know it’s obvious that you like her.”
He looked back at him, “Is it that noticeable, Cold Fire?”
“She likes you too, but she’s afraid of you,” Khorn interjected.
“Afraid of me, how can anyone be afraid of me?” he asked in an arrogant nature.
Khorn looked at him, surprised that he would ask something like that, “Well, for instance, you held your sword to her throat.”
He sighed and looked over to Kellan. As they approached a clearing, a servant boy ran up to Eden, “Shall we make camp here?”
Eden looked around and nodded to the servant boy. He got off his horse and helped Kellan off hers’.
Kellan noticed a nice shady tree to shade her from the hot summer sun. She started setting up her tent.
Eden walked over to her, “That won’t be necessary. I’ll have one of my servants set up a tent for your friend. You can sleep in my tent if you desire,” he said stroking her long black hair.
Kellan looked up at him and smiled, “Why are you being so sweet to me?”
He stepped closer and hugged her.
Kellan smiled and laid her head on his chest, “What’s this for?”
Eden looked down and kissed the top of her head, “Come with me,” he put his arm around her waist and led her to his tent.
Von was talking to one of the villagers. Over Von’s shoulder he saw Eden being sweet to Kellan, “Looks like the new King found himself a lover, and she’s fine too.”
Von looked over his shoulder to see what he was talking about. He saw Eden led Kellan to his tent, and decided to follow. As they walked into the tent, Von stood by the entrance, intent on listening into their conversation.
“Sleep here tonight,” Eden said sitting down at a desk and was going though some papers.
Kellan stood behind him, “What are we going to do now?”
“Rest here for the night,” Eden said looking behind him, putting the paper he was looking at down.
Kellan noticed the bed in the corner and laid down on it. Eden walked to the bed, laid down next to her and started kissing her.
Von was getting tired of not hearing anything, “King Eden, I need to talk to you.”
Eden got up, “I’ll be back sweetie,” he walked over to the cloth door of the tent and pushed it aside, “yes?”
Von looked inside and saw Kellan lying on the bed, “Never mind,” he stormed off. He saw where Kellan started setting up the tent, he knelt down and punched the ground and buried his face in his hands.
“Who was there?” Kellan asked sitting up.
“Don’t worry about it,” Eden said in a seductive voice as he sat on the bed and hugged Kellan tight.
“I have to get my mind off all of this,” Von said as he stood up and wondered into the forest. Not too far from the campsite, he spotted a pond. He took off his armor and under cloths and jumped in. after a while, he noticed a small figure moving about the trees near him, “What in the Gods’ names’?” he said aloud. All of a sudden shoddy arrow flew passed his head, then a goblin jumped out of the tree and ran deeper into the forest. Von quickly got out, got dressed and ran back to camp.
A citizen saw him run back to the camp, “Looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Von managed to catch his breath, “Goblin!” he yelled.
Everyone within ear shot of Von laughed.
“Okay, everyone,” Khorn said trying to break up the commotion, “It’s getting late, how about gathering firewood.”
*
“Kellan, come outside with me,” Eden said getting out of bed and holding out his hand. Kellan smiled, took his hand and went outsides.
The only light was from the stars above and the freshly built campfire. The men gathered around, sitting on logs they gathered from the forest, most of them were already eating and drinking. On the other side of the campfire was a bard, singing about some unworldly adventure.
Eden sat down between Cold Fire and Khorn, and invited Kellan to sit with him. Kellan smiled and accepted his offer, sitting between him and Khorn. She looked up at him as she sat down, the light from the fire dancing on his face made his blue eyes glisten like the first snowfall.
Khorn handed her a plate of food and a mug of strange smelling red ale. As she ate, her eyes started getting heave, she took a sip of the strange liquor to try to wash the feeling from her body, as the red liquid touched her tongue, a strange feeling overwhelmed her and she passed out, dropping her plate into the fire and spilled her ale on the ground around her.