-last edited on Feb 1, 2019 19:07:31 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 1, 2019 19:06:51 GMT
Chapter 45
When Hayteleck opened his eyes, he saw Errica standing over him, a concerned look on her face. “Anything?”
He shook his head. “He must be warded against locator spells. A strong ward, too. Probably something he found here. Errica, we must find him. He’s in no condition to be running about on his own like this. Do you remember the last time he had a full night’s rest? Or ate a proper meal. And that’s not even including his mental state. We have to help him. We have to!
Errica leaned back with a sigh. “You need to take your own advice, Hayteleck. You’re not sleeping or eating properly, either. Don’t make the same mistakes as Skirj.”
Hayteleck nodded. “You’re right. There’s no point in finding him if I’m too exhausted to help him. But first, let’s at least figure out a starting point. Where could he have gotten in three days?”
“Anywhere,” Errica said with another sigh. “He’s good at portals, remember? He could have teleported anywhere by now. But where would he be likely to go?”
“Back to the Towers, maybe?” Hayteleck rubbed his forehead in frustration. “No, we both know he wouldn’t risk that. How about back home?”
Errica shook her head. “I don’t think so. From what he’s told me, he wouldn’t really be welcome there anymore. And besides, they couldn’t help him save his brother.”
Hayteleck leapt to his feet, an idea pressing at the walls of his skull. “That’s the key! His brother. Skirj wants to save his brother; that’s why he’s doing all this. Where else would he go but somewhere that could help him do that?”
Errica nodded excitedly. “But where could he go? I don’t know of anywhere else he could find help for magic of this kind.”
There was silence for a long time as they both tried to think of a place that made sense. It was the Mermian who finally spoke up. “What if he didn’t look for someone to help with the magic; I don’t think there’s anyone who could, and he’d realize that. What if he went to someone who knew his brother?"
Hayteleck stopped his pacing. “Who?”
“The only people I can think of are the Riders. I found Skrag with them after the attack on the Towers a few months ago.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Hayteleck. “Let’s go.”
-last edited on Feb 2, 2019 20:18:19 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 2, 2019 20:18:11 GMT
Chapter 46
Skirj was not sure how long he spent leaning against the cold stone wall of the basement room, surrounded by complete darkness, processing what had happened in the Towers and what he had done. Wisdom had been his friend, and he had hurt him, probably smashed him. Had it truly been worth it? Deep within his heart, he knew the answer: it was. To save his brother, almost anything was worth it. Briefly, Skirj wondered how he had come to be so dedicated to this mission to save Skrag, but he dismissed the thought. Skrag was his brother, the only person in the world who had truly known him. The desire, the need, to save him was only natural. And it was worth any price.
With a sigh, Skirj pushed himself to his feet. A snap of his fingers, and a ball of orange light floated before him, illuminating the room. It was just as he had left it, the pile of clothes and the mask on the floor, nothing else. First, he had to recast the wardings on himself. They wore out after a certain amount of time, and if he had not needed them before he certainly would now. If there was even the slightest chance that the Board would find out it had been he who stole from the Towers and attacked one of their number, they would be after him with everything they had.
Finally ready to find the answers he had been seeking, Skirj took the lens out of his pocket and held it up in front of his eye. He twisted it slightly and saw himself examining Septimus Merlinsson’s robes. More twisting, and the view sped through countless identical images of the room, until – stop! There it was. A man holding Septimus’s golden skull mask in one hand and the glittering red gemstone in the other. Skirj turned it back a little further and saw as a red portal opened and two men stepped out. One of them plucked the gemstone from the mask, and then they were gone. As they turned to leave, Skirj saw their faces, and a chill ran down his spine. One, the man who had made the portal, was the sorcerer Orrolc, who had brought together the group that fought against Hoid’s to find the well. The other was one Skirj had never met while he was alive – Zelfern, Isabel Crux had named him, the man who had smashed Skrag.
Progress Update: I had finished up through Chapter 104, but the last 4 got lost, so now I'm down to 100. And I'm too frustrated to re-write those lost chapters just yet, so it may be some time before I can get back to where I was.
I keep losing my writing USB too, so I'm feeling your frustration. At least I've always recovered my stuff, that's unfortunate.
Progress Update: I had finished up through Chapter 104, but the last 4 got lost, so now I'm down to 100. And I'm too frustrated to re-write those lost chapters just yet, so it may be some time before I can get back to where I was.
I keep losing my writing USB too, so I'm feeling your frustration. At least I've always recovered my stuff, that's unfortunate.
I definitely remember seeing you post about similar problems. It's only four chapters, but I'm struggling to muster the motivation to re-write them. I will eventually, but it'll definitely set me back farther than I'd like.
-last edited on Feb 3, 2019 22:57:56 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 3, 2019 22:57:33 GMT
Chapter 47
For more than a day, Isabel Crux had waited for Skrag and Go – she still thought of him as Go, even though that strange man and the not-dragon had revealed his true name to be Nexius – to return. She hadn’t eaten; she hadn’t slept. All she had done was bury Shadowwrath, her husband, in a shallow grave beneath a tree. And then she had waited.
Behind her, she heard shuffling footsteps and she spun around, ready to know what had happened, but it was not Skrag and it was not Nexius. It was a goblin she had never seen before. Before he could react, she had a knife at his throat. “What are you doing here?”
Calmly, the goblin said, “My name is Skirj. Skrag was my brother. Korin of the Riders told me he had come here. I’m trying to figure out what happened.”
Isabel lowered her knife, but kept a wary eye on Skirj, ready to attack if he made any moves. “You said Skrag was your brother. What did you mean?”
Skirj lowered his head. “Last night, he was found smashed on a mountain, along with four others.”
“Describe them to me.” Skirj did, and Isabel recognized them. “Zelfern, Garfell, Baj and Elisa. What of the Rider Skrag left with?”
“He and his drake were also smashed, along with a man we don’t recognize.”
Isabel did not say anything for a few minutes as she processed what she had been told. Skrag and all the others were smashed, but it sounded like he had managed to take down Zelfern in the process. Isabel could only assume that meant she was the last of the gladiators, as well as the last citizen of her city.
After a little while, Skirj cleared his throat. “I’ve told you what I know, now why don’t you do the same? Tell me everything that happened here.”
And Isabel did. She told him about how everyone had been smashed – he said something similar had happened at the Towers of Sorcery. She told him about Skrag’s arrival, Shadowwrath’s confession, her own resurrection, and the arrival of Go and their departure to stop Zelfern.
When she was finished, Skirj turned and began to walk away. “We’re having a funeral for Skrag. I will make sure you have the details. Then he stepped through an orange portal and was gone.
-last edited on Feb 4, 2019 21:38:48 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 4, 2019 21:38:38 GMT
Chapter 48
Hithrol shivered as a cold wind blew through the dining hall. With July nearly half gone, the weather should have been much more pleasant, but winter seemed stubborn this year. Of course, the huge open windows, perfect for letting the dragons eat with their riders, did not help anything. Short of walking back to his house to find a heavier coat, there was only one thing Hithrol could do to improve the situation. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and held his hand in front of his face, cupped slightly, palm facing up. He concentrated on what he wanted to happen, pictured it in his mind and forced it to be true. When he opened his eyes, there was a little flame dancing just above his outstretched palm. It flickered in the wind, and for a second Hithrol feared it would be extinguished, but it was not. Carefully, he moved the flame a safe distance away, leaving it floating a few feet above the table. He would have to check on it every few minutes, lest it get out of his control – he had learned that from experience – but its comforting warmth was just what he needed. Magic was something Hithrol had known he could do for a long time, since Olifin had barely been the size of a horse, and certainly before the Dragon Riders had begun, but he had never put much effort into learning what he could do. Being possessed by Morath, and then the quest for the Well and the Honorblades had changed things, though. He was not strong in magic, not by any means, but in the last few years, he had discovered his limits and his talents, mostly by trial-and-error. Perhaps someday those abilities would come in useful.
Finishing his meal, Hithrol looked around the room. He sat alone with Olifin, today, but Zariana, Akars, and Emma were at another table. Terra was with the Falkrions this morning and wouldn’t be back for hours yet. Alis and Korin hadn’t come in to eat yet, but Hithrol wasn’t worried. His sister liked to keep to herself much of the time, and the dwarven blacksmith was known for getting absorbed in projects and forgetting to eat, sleep, or do much anything else until he was done.
I keep losing my writing USB too, so I'm feeling your frustration. At least I've always recovered my stuff, that's unfortunate.
I definitely remember seeing you post about similar problems. It's only four chapters, but I'm struggling to muster the motivation to re-write them. I will eventually, but it'll definitely set me back farther than I'd like.
Ironically, it was right around the start of BASICS. Deja vu, anybody? Yeah, rewriting is the worst.
I definitely remember seeing you post about similar problems. It's only four chapters, but I'm struggling to muster the motivation to re-write them. I will eventually, but it'll definitely set me back farther than I'd like.
Ironically, it was right around the start of BASICS. Deja vu, anybody? Yeah, rewriting is the worst.
Yep. Plus, I'm super busy this week, so I don't think I'll get anything done until maybe the weekend.
-last edited on Feb 5, 2019 19:25:14 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 5, 2019 19:25:01 GMT
Chapter 49
But before Hithrol could stand, the door slammed open as Alis and Korin marched in. Hithrol’s sister’s face was twisted in anger, and the dwarf’s mouth was tight, as if he was trying to keep himself from looking the same. Hithrol exchanged glances with Olifin; trouble, certainly, but what kind? Alis leading the way, they stomped up to Hithrol. Before he could say anything, Alis slammed a fist down on the table. “We know what you did five nights ago.” Hithrol’s flame flickered out.
Calmly, barely concealing a sigh of relief – not the worst kind of trouble, then, though what that would be he did not know – Hithrol stood up and looked his sister in the eyes. “I’m sorry for keeping everything secret from you, but it wasn’t Rider business. I didn’t want any of you getting involved in case things went bad. Which they did, by the way. Look, if you want to be part of this, I won’t stop you, but you’ll need to be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
If Alis had looked angry before, her expression now would have sent Marrzak whimpering into a corner. “Be part of it? Hithrol, you’re insane! You sent those birds out against the explicit wishes of Queen Virida – a queen, Hithrol! – and you think I want to help you? I got a letter from Virida this morning, Hithrol, asking me to talk to you, to get you to stop this before things go too far.”
Now Hithrol was angry. Confused as well, and hurt, almost, but angry most of all. “Queen Virida has no right to keep those people away from the castle! No one’s using it; why shouldn’t they? Alis, even if I wanted to stop them – and make no mistake, I do not – it’s too late. There will be war! Unless your queen starts to see reason, there will be war.”
Alis leaned in toward him, and Hithrol realized his fists were clenched around the edge of the table. “Then it is decided, brother. I am going to Queen Virida, and I am going to help stop this. If you don’t back down, I don’t think the next time we see each other will be on such friendly terms.” She stomped out of the room without another word.
-last edited on Feb 6, 2019 20:44:13 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 6, 2019 20:43:55 GMT
Chapter 50
Trembling, Hithrol looked to Korin, still standing there. “Could you talk to her? She needs someone who can show her reason, and that’s not me right now. I don’t want to have to fight her, but if she keeps up like this . . .” He let the implication hang, unwilling to say what he might do, unwilling to think it.
Korin looked at him sadly, the anger still visible under the surface, but obscured and softened. “Lad, I’m going with her. I got a letter too, from King Dwiarnemfafn. We’ve done a lot of good work together, here, but me king comes first, Hithrol. And he’s right. The Falkrions are dangerous; they have no place in that castle. Don’t do anythin’ ye’ll regret.” And Korin, too, walked away.
Hithrol sank back into his seat, hardly believing what had just happened, certainly not wanting to believe it. He looked up at Olifin, the dragon’s huge head pointed squarely at the door, as if he expected Virida and Dwiarnemfafn themselves to come in next. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to do what we need to,” the dragon said, a sad note in his voice. “But first, you’re going to talk to them.” He nodded toward the other riders, all of whom were staring at Hithrol with an unreadable mixture of emotions.
Hithrol looked back at them, not sure if he should wait for them to speak first. He did not. “I suppose you’re all going to leave too.”
Slowly, Zariana shook her head. “You are our leader. We will follow you wherever you take us. But I think it would be best if you told us exactly what is going on.” Her tone told Hithrol he had best make it a good explanation. He supposed he should. Certainly, that was the least he owed them.
Nodding, Hithrol rose slowly from his chair, and shuffled over to them. Olifin ducked into a closer window, keeping his eyes on the three Riders. That might have made Hithrol smile, if he was sure they wouldn’t have reason to hurt him. If he was sure they wouldn’t be right to do so. Hithrol shivered. Absentmindedly, he produced another little flame. It was so cold.
But before Hithrol could stand, the door slammed open as Alis and Korin marched in. Hithrol’s sister’s face was twisted in anger, and the dwarf’s mouth was tight, as if he was trying to keep himself from looking the same. Hithrol exchanged glances with Olifin; trouble, certainly, but what kind? Alis leading the way, they stomped up to Hithrol. Before he could say anything, Alis slammed a fist down on the table. “We know what you did five nights ago.” Hithrol’s flame flickered out.
Calmly, barely concealing a sigh of relief – not the worst kind of trouble, then, though what that would be he did not know – Hithrol stood up and looked his sister in the eyes. “I’m sorry for keeping everything secret from you, but it wasn’t Rider business. I didn’t want any of you getting involved in case things went bad. Which they did, by the way. Look, if you want to be part of this, I won’t stop you, but you’ll need to be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
If Alis had looked angry before, her expression now would have sent Marrzak whimpering into a corner. “Be part of it? Hithrol, you’re insane! You sent those birds out against the explicit wishes of Queen Virida – a queen, Hithrol! – and you think I want to help you? I got a letter from Virida this morning, Hithrol, asking me to talk to you, to get you to stop this before things go too far.”
Now Hithrol was angry. Confused as well, and hurt, almost, but angry most of all. “Queen Virida has no right to keep those people away from the castle! No one’s using it; why shouldn’t they? Alis, even if I wanted to stop them – and make no mistake, I do not – it’s too late. There will be war! Unless your queen starts to see reason, there will be war.”
Alis leaned in toward him, and Hithrol realized his fists were clenched around the edge of the table. “Then it is decided, brother. I am going to Queen Virida, and I am going to help stop this. If you don’t back down, I don’t think the next time we see each other will be on such friendly terms.” She stomped out of the room without another word.
But before Hithrol could stand, the door slammed open as Alis and Korin marched in. Hithrol’s sister’s face was twisted in anger, and the dwarf’s mouth was tight, as if he was trying to keep himself from looking the same. Hithrol exchanged glances with Olifin; trouble, certainly, but what kind? Alis leading the way, they stomped up to Hithrol. Before he could say anything, Alis slammed a fist down on the table. “We know what you did five nights ago.” Hithrol’s flame flickered out.
Calmly, barely concealing a sigh of relief – not the worst kind of trouble, then, though what that would be he did not know – Hithrol stood up and looked his sister in the eyes. “I’m sorry for keeping everything secret from you, but it wasn’t Rider business. I didn’t want any of you getting involved in case things went bad. Which they did, by the way. Look, if you want to be part of this, I won’t stop you, but you’ll need to be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
If Alis had looked angry before, her expression now would have sent Marrzak whimpering into a corner. “Be part of it? Hithrol, you’re insane! You sent those birds out against the explicit wishes of Queen Virida – a queen, Hithrol! – and you think I want to help you? I got a letter from Virida this morning, Hithrol, asking me to talk to you, to get you to stop this before things go too far.”
Now Hithrol was angry. Confused as well, and hurt, almost, but angry most of all. “Queen Virida has no right to keep those people away from the castle! No one’s using it; why shouldn’t they? Alis, even if I wanted to stop them – and make no mistake, I do not – it’s too late. There will be war! Unless your queen starts to see reason, there will be war.”
Alis leaned in toward him, and Hithrol realized his fists were clenched around the edge of the table. “Then it is decided, brother. I am going to Queen Virida, and I am going to help stop this. If you don’t back down, I don’t think the next time we see each other will be on such friendly terms.” She stomped out of the room without another word.
-last edited on Feb 7, 2019 18:00:26 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Feb 7, 2019 18:00:04 GMT
Chapter 51
Terra’s stomach grumbled as she neared the outskirts of Paladeen. She should have stayed at the Falkrions’ base at least for lunch, but she wasn’t sure she could have brought herself to stay there another minute. As if sensing her thoughts, Raini said, “You needed to get away. There’s no need to second guess yourself.” Terra nodded. Raini was right. After the morning she’d had, running off back to the Riders was perfectly excusable. She just couldn’t think straight today. The dreams – nightmares, rather – had come again last night. The Falkrions, destroyed over and over again, by the Dragon Knights. Or by someone else as they desperately tried to escape into the shelter of the old Falcon castle. Hithrol had been having similar dreams, she knew, and that was the real reason she’d come back. She needed to talk to him, to figure out what was going on. Surely those dreams had to be important.
Lost in thought, Terra almost ran into Alis storming toward her house. She mumbled a hasty apology, but the younger woman shot her a withering glare and continued on her way. Confused, Terra called out to her, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
In an instant, Alis’s hands were on Terra’s collar and a furious expression was on her face. “Watch yourself with those Falkrions, Terra! What you’re doing is wrong!” She stomped away again, leaving Terra at a loss for words.
Terra was about to run after Alis when she saw Korin coming from the same direction Alis had. She waved at him and said, “What’s up with Alis? She said something about the Falkrions. . ..”
Korin let loose a long sigh. “We know what happened with yer sneak attack. We’re leavin’.”
Suddenly, Terra’s tongue felt dry and heavy. Her head was spinning. All she could manage to say was: “We?”
Korin nodded. “I’m goin’ home to support me king. Alis is goin’ to Virida. If I can stop it from comin’ to a fight, I will, but me chances don’ look too good. I will fight if I have to.” He walked away, leaving Terra only a hair less confused than she had been. She sprinted the rest of the way to the dining hall.
Yeah, rewriting is the worst. 
Yeah, rewriting is the worst.