The Forgotten Pilgrimage to Soliath

	The Forgotten Pilgrimage to Soliath

Entrance

Hall of Writings

Hall of Images

Hall of Science

Amphitheater

Exit to Lakelands

Hail, and well met !!! I am Onaeus, Patriarch of the Druidic Order. I have journeyed from my homeland, the Draconian Empire, to present the Forgotten Order with an offer. It is no offer in any material sense... Your coffers will not fill with gold, nor will your cities swell with new people. What I offer is the knowledge of the world, the knowledge of the ages.

We of the druids are caretakers of this knowledge. We preserve it from the elements, feed it, watch it grow, spread it across the world. Once it is found by us, it is never forgotten. We are of the knowledge, one with it. We scribe the wisdom into the ether, and once it is there... once we are there... the wisdom becomes eternal, and so the creators become immortal.

I would have all the honourable nations of the world have this immortality. Those without honour are doomed anyhow, so they are not even considered, as they will turn in on themselves, and so be destroyed by their own hands, as is the nature of all evil things.

However, the Forgotten Order is known to be honourable. The heroic courage and fierce loyalty of her knights are talked about in awe, within the city taverns of the Empire. I had sent people, druids and Kala-sworn warriors, to verify these rumours and my emissaries have all returned to the Temple in Soliath, telling me what I truly wanted to hear.

And so I have made the journey myself, venturing out of the Temple to see with my own eyes that which must be preserved. But this work cannot be done by outsiders. It can only be done by those intimately familiar with the Forgotten Order.

Thus, I extend an offer of druidship to those of the Forgotten Order. Those who wish to take the Oaths, and become druids, can go back with me, on a pilgrimage to the Temple of Kala. There, you can learn about how to immortalize your Order in song and legend.

But I must be returning to my lands soon. I hope that some of you will come back with me, to return enlightened and full of purpose! I will be staying at this inn for a short time, until my weary old bones have had the chance to strengthen again for the long journey... Until then, ask what you may, for I shall be staying awake for some time, staring into the hearth flames, sipping from my glass of good Taurian wine. I may spin a few tales, but I'd rather hear tales of this land, from her native bards ...

******

The old man smiled grimly as he listened to the bard sing... It was a song that touched his heart. He remained carefully back in a corner booth of the tavern, absently puffing on his pipe as he waited.

Onaeus was watchful, rarely venturing forth from this tavern for the last day. He expected the Lords of the Order to enter at any moment. Perhaps he would be met with welcome, he thought... Or perhaps he would have to make a hasty retreat to his own lands, before the flashing blades of the guardians of the Order.

Either way, he was prepared. His faithful horse, though a little old, was trustworthy, and always seemed to find her way around the bumps in the road, ensuring a nice, smooth ride. She was not very fast, but Onaeus had faith that if needed, his goddess would provide for him. She always had, and he had no reason to believe she wouldn't.

Onaeus had also kept his ears open for rumours, as he had in every tavern he had been to since his journey had begun. He had heard nothing in this room since he had arrived, had heard nothing of the darkness that had been spreading in the West like the plague. He momentarily touched his holy medallion, safely hidden beneath his dusty travelling cloak. Already he felt the call to return to Draconia... she was calling him.

He brought his trembling hand back to his pipe. He put such thoughts down, convincing himself that the West would be safe without him for a fortnight... but the dream kept plaguing him. Would it be safe to return home? Perhaps a short wait would be more fruitful...

Chapter One THE PARTING

Written by: Aular, of the Light, Druid of the KFO; Kuros, The Red, ArchDruid of the KFO & Patriarch Onaeus of the Druidic Order

Four cloaked figures were seen walking out of the Forgotten Inn one morning, walking proudly, not furtively. They took the side roads, walking very quietly, although the Fortress of the Forgotten loomed above them like a silent mother guarding her children. But even the mother knew that all children must eventually grow up. Soon the four made it to the edge of the town, where a fifth man in a white cloak stood among a grove of trees, tending their horses. Without a word, the five mounted up, and rode off towards the West. As the sun began to rise, it warmed the backs of the silent travelers, blessing their journey in the eyes of their guide, Onaeus. "It is a good sign", he thought to himself.

It was barely a half-day's ride, at standard pace, before they came upon an old wooden bridge over a deep and ominous gorge. One of the riders, the only with cloak's hood of different color than the bodice, paused to consider his steed's next steps. Their Guide, one of two clad in a snow-white robe, turned his horse just before alighting the bridge. He listened in earnest to what Kuros had to say, and bade his comrades halt their horses as well.

"The journey before us", Kuros said so that all could hear, "could be one of great gain, or one of great loss, my dreams have told me. I must trust my intuition at this place in the road, and return to gain the blessing of my Lords, before I can feel secure on this journey so far from our homes. But I do not wish to distract the rest of you from your task ahead, as I know the Patriarch Onaeus must return home from his travels here in the East."

"I will return only to the edge of the woods outside the Forgotten Fortress and wait there on the ridge overlooking the town. I am committed, to this noble quest for knowledge, but my Lords must give me their leave, in order for the Fates to guide me safely. I will camp at the wood's edge until the time my Lords grant me an audience. And once I have made them to understand our purpose, I will rejoin your troop, on the road West toward Soliath. Until that time, I wish all of you a safe and meaningful journey", Kuros said as he turned his horse.

"Go back to your Lords, Kuros the Red. Doing so, and gaining their blessing, is very important. But do so quickly, my friend. The darkness is growing in the Great Forest, and we must cross that dreadful place before we reach Soliath. Either that, or cross into Westmarch, and that would be as equally perilous. Time is of the essence, my friend", warned Onaeus. Kuros bowed his hooded head, and galloped down the dusty path, back toward the fortress of the Forgotten.

"Although it is not nearly dark, we should set up camp here abouts, so that we do not widen the gap between Kuros and the rest of us. With any luck, he will be re-joining us shortly, then we can return to the task ahead. In the meanwhile, let us sup together and share stories of our travels", said the Guide, with an authoritative, yet peaceful, voice.

As Onaeus got down from his mount, the other man in white closely followed. They were dressed much the same, though the second was larger, more muscular, and a large shining sword hung from his belt. Darkar, as he was called, was clean-shaven, with short-cropped black hair, indicative of a military upbringing. Our Guide had long dark hair, streaked through with white, and bore a small, carefully trimmed beard upon his chin. He was weaponless, yet seemed full of power of his own. They both wore the white robes of their Order, and they both had a golden medallion depicting a sunburst on a thin chain around their necks. They also had thin silver circlets around their heads, though locks of hair mostly hid the circlet worn by Onaeus.

The other two travelers, like Kuros, were also natives of these parts, and were called Isaiah and Aular. It was they that had noticed these details about their new friends as they set up camp that afternoon, away from the main path, yet near enough to see someone traveling upon it. Darkar unsheathed his sword and climbed to the top of a rock overlooking the local terrain. There, he sat with blade cross his lap, keeping watch, as was his duty as Onaeus' protector. The others made a small fire, and cooked the meats they had just hunted. It was then that Onaeus began share with the two natives, stories about the Druids, and about the lands from which the Druids had originally hailed.

Suddenly their meal was interrupted by a figure appearing from out of the wood. The figure approached the hill cautiously, but with a stride that told he knew the terrain well. Even from a distance, they could see that he was clad in a dull-sheened armour. But it seemed to glow with an eerie aura, never quite the same shade of red when you glanced at it from one second to the next. He was regal looking and handsome, with a battle-roughened look about him. "May I share your Fire?" bellowed the stranger from across the glen, as he paused for permission to approach them.

It was Onaeus who stood in response to the greeting, and gestured toward their fire with his open hand. As the stranger approached the fire, his armour increased its color shifting. From deep blue, to red, to yellow, to brilliant orange, then returning to its original to black, before starting the cycle over again. Isaiah thought that the stranger's mail actually seemed to absorb the Fire.

As he came closer, a dull black crown became visible on his head. It had a three stoned crest in the shades of Fire -- vibrant yellow, brilliant orange, and a deep shining red. He wore a large ring bearing a red stone that seemed to catch the light in much the same manner as his armour, cut into the shape of a dancing flame. It was Aular that broke the silence as he realized who had just joined them.

"Hail, King FireProphet ! What brings you so near the Forgotten Fortress this fine afternoon?", he asked as he stood to embrace his long-missed friend. After a short session of backslapping and feigned fisticuffs, they seated themselves, and laughed aloud at the joy of their reunion. FireProphet finally answered Aular's query with his deep voice, saying, "I search for the Light that was lost many moons ago. How are you my friend, and how goes the Forgotten Order?"

The Patriarch Onaeus had been watching and listening with more than a casual interest. Not only to the banter of those close at hand, but to the surrounding countryside as well. He felt as if someone else had been present for a brief moment. "Strange, I could swear there had been a female presence among us just now", he thought to himself. Onaeus then signaled Darkar that all was well at the fire, and Darkar stepped out from behind one of the closer trees, and returned to his post upon the tall rock.

Onaeus finally spoke up as he bowed his head in respect, "Please excuse my rudeness, my liege, but my mind is weary, and I was distracted. I would say that any friend of Aular's is welcome at our fire. Please share a plate and cup with us this evening, and tell us of your journeys. And if you care to share our camp this night, Darkar will see to your horse."

Upon delivering a plate of meat and cup of wine to the perch where Darkar had been keeping watch, Onaeus paused to reflect on the events of that day. As he walked back toward the voices around the fire, he could not help but wonder what might lie ahead, on the morrow. The presence of an unattended King would add yet another twist to their already challenging quest.

(Edited by: Druid-Derwen & Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Two THE BLESSING

Written by: Lohengrin, Warrior Lord of the KFO, and Kuros, ArchDruid of the KFO

Walking slowly into the light, the warrior paused to let his eyes adjust. He had been in the depths under Tristram all day, and was growing weary. But his eyes glowed as he walked, and there was a spring in his step. Today new ground had been cleared in the fight for Tristram. He had accomplished a personal goal that had taken quite an effort, and he was feeling confident and quite satisfied with himself at that moment.

As he scanned the horizon for friendly faces, perhaps to join him for a drink at the Tavern, he saw something. A single rider, sitting on a horse on the ridge. His hood was a different color than his cloak. After a moment of confusion, the warrior remembered, "Kuros the Red". He must be waiting for his answer. Quickly, the warrior-lord walked to the tavern. Aelric, Karlisle, and Stephanie were nowhere to be seen, and he knew that he had been alone in the dungeons. So, he went to the stable, gave the boy a gold piece, and said, "Please, boy, I need a horse for a few minutes." Soon he was saddled and riding for the ridge.

He was halfway there before he remembered that he was still covered in the remains of countless daemons he had slain. "Well", he thought, "If Kuros doesn't ride away in fear seeing this bloody visage coming towards him, he shall have his answer." But Kuros stayed where he was. His horse did shy at the sight and smell of the oncoming warrior, but Kuros sat him well. At last he reached the top of the ridge. Kuros, after arriving at the ridge overlooking the Fortress, had not even dismounted, before his eminence Lord Lohengrin seemed to be before him.

"Good day to you Kuros", he said, "I am sorry that it has taken so long to get you an answer. The Lords Aelric, Karlisle, and Lady Stephanie have not returned my pigeon-sent letters. Either they are too busy to reply, or the have no advice on this matter. But I promised Elder Aular, I would decide without them, if I must. And thus, I wish you a safe journey. May the sun be at your backs, and the wind in your hair. May you find shade and sweet water when you camp, and may you return to us soon." He extended a gore-encrusted gauntlet to Kuros, and then, thinking better of it, saluted instead.

Lord Lohengrin's salute was certainly the blessing of The Fates that Kuros had sought. There was no formal aire about his Lordship, as he was a lord OF the people. He slept not in glittered palace, but in but a simple castle of his family's birthplace. He sat not upon a throne, nor wore armour of gold into battle. He fights along side his soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, leading by example, not by authority. His salute had not been directed solely at Kuros, mind you, but toward the noble cause of the troop's impending journey for knowledge.

Kuros had almost expected the need to resort to a formal audience to gain the leave of his beloved Lords, but he should have known that this logical, yet mystical, journey was predestined from the day the Patriarch Onaeus entered the Forgotten Fortress. His trepidation now alleved, he turned and rode westward again, feeling whole and full of purpose. He wondered how long he might have to travel in solitude, before he could catch up with the troop of four that he left behind at the Bridge of the Ages. But then, he realized he had never truly been alone.

Kuros' steed, now weary from retracing their steps yet again, faltered, recovered, and then snorted as if in need of food and rest. Although the knight's blood was full of excitement and anticipation, Kuros knew full well that a good horse was a thing of great value, and so he stopped to camp for the night. He removed Bacas' saddle and brushed his sweaty coat, until he heard the beast's stomach grumble with hunger.

As Bacas ate his fermented grains and drank from the shallow stream nearby, his master watched him closely. Bacas had been a gift from a dear friend and was quite striking with his silver mane and tail, contrasted against his roan coloured body. His being a gelding from an early age, precluded his interests in others of his kind. Instead, he was a fiercely loyal companion of his master, and Kuros felt comforted to know that they were on this journey together.

As the fire waned, Kuros lay his head on Bacas' saddle to rest. He could smell the horse's odour, mixed with his own, and he felt that they would return this way again together, sometime in the future. Their homes were among those of the Forgotten Order, and there was no doubt that they would both return.

(Edited by: Druid-Derwen & Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Three THE FIRELIGHT

Written by: Kuros, ArchDruid of the KFO

The forest was still dark and cool when I became aware of Bacas' subtle snortings and hoof-thuds. But when I turned my groggy gaze in his direction, he became as still and quiet as the Great Stone of Kii'du. If he hadn't perked his ears toward my direction, I might have fallen back into my comfortable slumber. But there to the southwest, it seemed, was the soft glow of another camp. Ridding my eyes of sleep's lingering power, I tried to focus on the fire in the distance, wondering who might be awake, along side us in this dark forest. I was standing before I could tell that the light was moving slightly, and it appeared to be getting larger. Confused, and doubtful if I was really awake, I covered my pallet with pack, saddlebags, and blanket to resemble that of a sleeping rider. I took position next to an oak near the edge of the stream where my steed stood so stoically. I was yet again amazed by the almost human-like qualities of my dear companion Bacas, for it was certainly he that had been keeping watch over us that night.

The firelight I had seen from afar did actually appear to be getting closer, even after I was sure I was fully awake. But Bacas did not appear to be disturbed by this apparition. I recalled that his previous master, Derwen of Soliath, had commented about how alert a beast he was, and that that was the very reason he choose this particular steed for a gift to me, as a companion on my fateful journey. The glow kept moving closer and closer to our camp, as I tried to make out its form. It crossed the thick underbrush as if it floated right over its top. Suddenly, a warm wind swirled around our camp, and the firelight appeared directly over the pallet on which I had been sleeping. It lingered briefly, about four hand-spans above the saddle, and then slowly dispersed in all directions.

"I am known as FireCloud", spoke a soft, yet ancient, voice. But I could see no one present in any direction. My initial instinct was to draw an arrow from my quiver, but there was a certain calmness in those warm winds that alleviated my nervous tension. But, off to my right, there suddenly was standing a cloaked figure, somewhat small in stature. "I am friend, to you of the Forgotten Order, so put yourself at ease, Sir Kuros with crimson hood. Stand down your defense, I say, and know that I was sent to attend to your safety", the voice said softly, but assuredly.

I approached the figure slowly, and gestured toward what was left of my fire. "Please join me, my lady. I have but fruit and hazelnuts to break our fast, but you are welcome to share my plate. Come sit and tell me of your journey in this dark forest, and how you come to know my name and my guild", I offered. Once I had cleared my pallet, and seated myself upon it, she pulled back her hood, removed her cloak, and seated herself on the stone nearest the smouldering coals of my fire. Once she was seated, the natural damp coolness of the dark forest returned, as the strange warm winds were suddenly gone. It was then that I realized that she commanded much more than my attention.

"Tell me of your travels, and of your concern for my safety in this dark and lonely wood, m'lady. Surely, you travel not alone, without steed or companion. If this be so, the concern for safety should not be for me, m'lady, but for thee", I said, trying to loosen her tongue. She smiled slightly and slowly reached for the inside pocket of her tunic. She drew out a small twisted branch of rosewood, which had obviously been sanded and polished by a shaman. It was less than 2 hands in length, but it was obviously a personal treasure nonetheless. She placed the wooden stick on her flatly extended hand, and covered it with the other, and turned it to where it was pointing toward the sky, and the earth. Slowly she rubbed her hands together, as if trying to warm the twig. "Do not be alarmed my new companion, but I see that a demonstration will save us a thousand words", she said.

Suddenly the darkness of the forest was had vanished, and the brilliant light of day shone so strongly that I had to shade my eyes to focus. There was absolutely no sound whatsoever, and when I turned to see if the stream had stopped flowing, a river of flame was in its place. When I turned my blinded gaze back toward the old woman, the forest became naturally dark again, and the flowing waters of the stream were heard once more. "I am FireCloud, companion and sorceress of King FireProphet. It was He that sent me to guide thee safely back to your to companions on this journey to the Temple of Kala. I am His protector, yet He has sent me to protect and guide you, back into the fold of your companions", she finally explained.

She spoke of how she and the King had been traveling alone together on a sacred quest that had not been told to her, nor even explained fully to the King. The two of them had been watching our party from a distance when they saw that I left the group and headed back down the path toward the Forgotten Fortress. Then the King told her that he would be joining the silent troop from the Forgotten Order, because among them was a dear friend, known to the FO as Elder Aular. At that point FireProphet had bade them separate, each with the task of making sure our troop was soon made whole again, for the sake of the journey ahead.

"Enough of food and story, Sir Kuros, with beard of fire. The light of day will soon be upon us, and we must be on our way. Today has its purpose, and we have yet to find it", she said with her wise and ancient voice. I gathered saddle, pack, and bow, and made ready my steed. I wondered to myself if this powerful old woman might wave her wand of rosewood and conjure a great lion on which to ride beside Bacas and me. Upon mounting his back, and I turned and she was standing beside me in her cloak. So, I offered my hand, in order to share my steed with her. But she shook her head and pointed ahead to the west. "I will be with thee until we re-join my King, but you will not likely know I am here. I have learned to travel upon the Light, without weight or form. You need not be concerned, my new friend, for I am as safe as you are", she whispered softly.

"Once we reach the far side of the old wooden bridge, beware not to disturb the ground signs. For we must determine which fork our companions have taken. It is far safer if we travel a common path with the others, whether through the badlands of WestMarch or the Great Forest of Darkness" said the glimmer of firelight that was slowly rising to just above, and behind, my left shoulder. I remember thinking to myself, how fortunate I was to have such a powerful mage at my side, and such a loyal steed to carry me. The Fates were truly with me on this journey … into the unknown.

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Four THE REUNION

Written by: Aular, Druid of the KFO

Sitting by the camp fire, the group spoke late into the night relaying tales of old battles with demons, and such, and even recalling times before Baal, Mephisto, and the Lord of The Darkness, Diablo, came to curse the lands of Arnok. It was a pleasant evening of story shared by all.

As the night deepened, the Patriarch Onaeus spoke, "Rest now, friends. For we have a long journey through the Enchanted Forest tomorrow. The Forest is cursed, as cursed as the church of Tristram, and foul beasts lurk in the shadows there. The hand of the Lord of the Darkness stretches ever farther than you could imagine. So, be alert tonight." He lay down upon his bedding, and muttered a prayer to the Goddess of Kala, just before he fell asleep. The warrior, Isaiah, quickly followed in like manner.

"So, my friend, how long has it been?" asked the royal guest. "Nearly one complete year, since I gave up the crown. The Crown of the Light was not enough, FireProphet. It was but a crown, and anyone can wear a crown", Aular said distinctly. "It will always remain for you, if you choose to come back", FireProphet spoke encouragingly. "After you stepped down as the King of Light, the Alliance was fell apart. The factions split wide, and the castle became barren. When I returned from my pilgrimage, the Regents you appointed were quibbling and had not even a glimmer of the power you had held", the Fire King quickly noted.

"And what of the Kingdom of Fire?" asked Aular, as he explained how he had heard rumors of its re-birth. "We have been reborn, that is true. It will be a slow rising, but rise we shall. You are always welcomed back. Know that - if you know nothing else", FireProphet shared. Aular nodded as he spoke, "Perhaps, my friend, perhaps. There is much for me to do at the Fortress of the Forgotten, for my place is there, now. I will continue my quest for the Light, until the Last Battle - and the Lord of the Darkness is destroyed. When all of human-kind is aligned under the Dragon, with the force of the Light behind us, we WILL defeat the Dark One."

FireProphet winked and chided, "You always were an idealist, Aular of the Light." Aular smiled in return, and asked, "And what of your visit here, Milord? Are you here to accompany us to the Temple of Kala at Soliath?" FireProphet then shook his head, and answered, "This was more of a social call, my friend. I may yet journey to Soliath. We shall have to wait to see if the Path of Fire takes me in your direction." Then Aular nodded, and suggested, "Then we should rest. It will be a long day for us tomorrow, and a longer one for you, if you return to your Kingdom. G'night, my friend. Light shield your dreams".

Both men lay upon their separate places in the camp. As Aular set himself into his own bedding, he focused his power and cast a spell upon himself and his party to shield their dreams from unwanted visitors. As he lay his head upon the ground, and closed his eyes, he soon fell into slumber.

*****

An internal signal told Aular when dawn had almost arrived. He roused from his sleep and stood. His party remained entwined in their sleep, so he let them continue to dream of happier things. He then looked around, and headed south on foot toward the stream.

As Aular reached the creek-bed, he kneeled to scoop up some water to wash the sleep from his face. But as his hand began to move towards the streambed, he knew something was not quite right. He jumped upright and quickly flung a fireball at the heavy-breathing Hidden that sprung up beside him. The Hidden burst into flames and perished a moment later.

Not allowing the Sorcerer to gain an advantage, they attacked. Swarms of Hiddens, Illusion Weavers, and Stalkers suddenly appeared and began attacking Aular. Scores of the creatures lined up behind scores of others as they rushed in for the attack. Aular began flinging chain lightning and fireballs into the masses. But as soon as one died, there were three more to take their place. This ambush was NOT coincidence, Aular thought to himself. And then, bats began emerging from the trees, which swooped down on him. He flung out his viscous spells, praying that the Light might grant him the strength to endure their numbers.

Not far back down the trail to the East, a hooded rogue on a distinguished steed had been traveling in the early dawn. As Kuros breached a slight rise, he could see a crowd of demons that seemed to be circling brilliant flashes of light and fire. Instinctively, he drew his best bow and grabbed his quivers. "FireCloud, I must assist!" he yelled out. And with that, Kuros slapped the reins on his horse and went charging towards the battle.

Aular, tiring under the weight of the continual use of spells, was barely keeping the demonic swarm at bay, when he noticed an archer on horseback quickly heading his way out of the East. It was then that Kuros leaped off the back of his steed and began firing arrows and spheres of fire into the edge of the crowd. When Aular recognized his friend from the Forgotten Order, he erected a Ring of Fire around himself. "KUROS!" he screamed, "WE MUST LINK!"

Kuros did not falter a moment with his arrows, but stopped firing magic and simply nodded. Aular hastily flung his sword into the air, and then pointed it at Kuros. He spoke a few words in some odd tongue, then pointed his sword into the air once again. But the Hidden army began to squeeze through, as the dead mounded to allow others to go over the Wall of Flame. "I SUMMON THE POWER OF THE LIGHT!" Aular bellowed toward the heavens.

Kuros began to feel an odd sensation. Aular smiled then uttered a fierce word into the air. Kuros then noticed that he could FEEL Aular. He could feel his wounds, and he got a sense of fatigue from the wearisome Mage. He also noticed that he could feel a female presence as well - FireCloud, he thought to himself. As Aular spoke his incantation, Kuros sensed a massive magical force beginning to emanate from all three of them. Linked, the three were far stronger than would have normally been, standing abreast.

It was then that Aular pointed his sword into the crowd of the Hidden army, and eruptions of the earth began to take out entire sections of the crowd of demons. Hiddens suddenly burst into flames and at the area of the explosion; they simply ceased to exist. As their numbers dwindled swiftly, those remaining made a hasty retreat back toward the Dark Forest. And as Kuros stopped firing his arrows, FireCloud re-emerged into her earthly form, just long enough to tell him, "I will pursue them. You have found your companions once again, so my mission is actually complete. But, I will pursue them, destroy those I can, and then later, return to my Liege's side. May Fire protect you, Kuros, the Red." And with a slight nod of respect, she vanished once again.

As Kuros heard screams from the Dark Forest as demons were falling from the mighty power of FireCloud, he could feel Aular beginning to waver, and turned toward his friend. He could see that Aular was down on one knee, holding his head. So he rushed over, and gave him a yellow potion. "Thank you, my friend. I had run out just when you arrived. I don't know that I could have taken them much longer." Aular said. "Tis what friends are for", said Kuros.

"This was no coincidence," Aular said gravely. "I am afraid I think you are right", said Kuros, "Take me to your camp. Perhaps they are in need, as well." Aular drank the potion and rose. Immediately Kuros had a sense of rejuvenation from the Link with Aular. It was then that Aular pointed in the direction of their camp. The two of them set off for the camp. But a slight worry began to edge at the back of Aular's mind.

"If Aular is worried about the others," thought Kuros, "Then I pray my timing is just as good, this time around."

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Five THE UPRISING

Written by: Isaiah, Druid of the KFO

Isaiah, awakened from his dream by Aular's footsteps in the early dawn, peered around slowly into the faint light to see his other companions still sleeping. Sometimes he regretted having such a keen sense of hearing. As he rolled over in hope of returning to his dream about the Rogues of Altara (who are renowned for their beauty and tight, revealing clothing) a chilled breeze blew through the camp which reminded Isaiah that he had kicked his blanket off earlier. So he reached for the now tangled blanket from round his feet, and in doing so, caught a glimpse of a DevilKin at the edge of the Dark Forest. Disgruntled at yet another interruption to his sleep, Isaiah rose slowly and quietly to reach for his equipment. Donning his armour and helm, he picked up his sword and shield to hunt the stray demon.

The closer he came to the Forest, the more he could hear of his target, but it was clear that there was more than one. It was times like this that he wished he had been gifted with better sight, as well as his keen ears. In preparation for battle, Isaiah knelt on one knee and set his four favoured spells ready for use. Rising from the dew-moistened soil, he considered waking his friends in warning of the battle, but he was sure that he alone, could handle whatever uprising there was in the Forest. And on that note, Isaiah fastened his shield in place, put some potions in his belt and strode warily into the denseness of the Dark Forest.

As soon as he entered under the branches of the first row of ominous trees, Isaiah understood why it had been named the Great Forest of Darkness. The clearing just in front of the wood where they had spent the night in rest, did not fully display the darkness of it and Isaiah hoped that the rising sun would soon shine through the treetops and show him more than what was directly in front of him. He could hear the shrieking calls of DevilKin and Fallen in the distance. And several times he could swear that he saw a slight glow moving in the distance and begged the Light, that it wasn't a unique Fallen.

Isaiah noticed his heart was beating faster than usual. Although he had no doubt that he could defeat these few demons, even with a Unique, he began to realize that he was unfamiliar with the surroundings and was not used to fighting in such dense forest. So cautiously he stepped backward toward the clearing so that, if a battle was to be fought, it would be in the open, and closer to his companions if he needed assistance. But just as he turned, he became aware that his travels into the Forest had not gone completely unnoticed by all of his fellow travelers.

"This is a dangerous place my son. Not even the mightiest of mighty warriors enter here alone. Why have you strayed so far from camp without alerting one of us?" FireProphet spoke with a fatherly voice, commanding and friendly at the same time. "Where did you…how…um…" Isaiah muttered. After a moment he replied with an answer to the King of Fire, "I spotted a single DevilKin at the edge of the forest and followed it. I did not want to disturb you all since it was proabably only be a small pack of the beasts." "Even so, there is more evil in this forest than the creatures of the Shadow that dwell in it. It would be best if we return to camp now, as they will not follow us into the Light of day", instructed FireProphet.

Isaiah nodded in agreement and followed the King toward the clearing where they had camped. But before they reached the edge of the blackness, Isaiah felt the bite of a Scavenger behind his left leg. Hiding his emotions in the void, so as not to feel the pain of the wound, Isaiah swung around quickly to kill his attacker. But instead he was quickly surrounded by swarms of Scavengers and Fallen and he could see a number of Zombies making their way over. Although he had regained his footing, he was still no match for his opponents. But his Kings Sword of Speed did make easy work of the first few rows of enemies, and his occasional FireBall would take out three or four at a time.

The battle raged on for what seemed like an age, Isaiah slashing frantically with his sword and FireProphet also doing his fair share in assistance. In fact, it seemed that about three-quarters of the dead came from the blows of FireProphet or from his array of spells. Isaiah struggled on with his mighty bastard sword, flowing through the positions just like a true Blademaster, without a faltering step. Though in time, he grew weary and even with the fast attack and fastest hit recovery of his equipment, he was taking many hits. He started to go through the potions on his belt, even having to reach and get some from his backpack.

"Isaiah," yelled out FireProphet who was also surrounded by demons, "Take this, I have plenty." "Thank you friend," yelled Isaiah as he caught a potion of full rejuvenation. Even with FireProphet's power, the forces of evil controlled the battle scene. Isaiah could not believe how many demons could be hidden in this dark forest. He had never seen so many demons in one place, even in the far depths of the Catacombs back in Tristram. While he was thinking these things he turned, and as he did so, a glowing with no magic resistances took a swing at Isaiah and struck a nasty blow to his side, somehow getting around his armour. Isaiah then crumpled to the ground and everything to him went dark. Meanwhile, FireProphet continued to battle the evil foes in the forest, alone.

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Six THE NAKED POWER

Written by: Onaeus, Patriarch of the Druidic Order

Onaeus woke to the smell of pine, the sickly sweet smell of rot. He also woke to the clash of battle. He quickly shed his trance, painfully breaking his connection to his goddess, and rolled out from his pallet.

His companion had had the same reaction, it seemed. The tall, strong man had slept in his mail, as was his custom, and his white surcoat looked wrinkled and worn from their travels. He groggily rubbed his eyes, and grasped his mace from its place close to his side. "Everyone's gone, m'lord," Darkar observed dryly, stating the obvious. The fire had burned down to ashes, and the shadows under the trees of Enchantica were deeper than ever.

"These knights we've found seem to be very cunning warriors," replied Onaeus, "They responded to the forest, even before we did. They could be very useful, on this journey." "Perhaps we should help them, m'lord, before they are killed," said Darkar while strapping his shield to his arm, as always trying to keep his lord from keeping his head too far in the future. To his mind, if ones' head is not with the present, one is likely to loose that head. Onaeus nodded his head, and raised his white hood over his head. He walked unarmed toward the sound of the fighting, carefully guarded by his companion.

"Fools," Onaeus cursed, "They were warned not to enter the forest!" He muttered under his breath as Darkar carefully watched the trees. They took a path that led farther into the forest, one that had heavy bootprints upon it. The trees were very close to them. Their leaves obscured the sun, and their branches intertwined so tightly that it seemed that all the many trees were as one. Their trunks, that were once smooth and white as a maidin's skin, were now black and gnarly, corrupted like the rest of this forsaken forest.

Against one of these trees lay the crumpled form of Isaiah... the young knight was unconscious, though he was breathing. He had a nasty wound on his forhead, but Onaeus deemed that it was not life-threatening after a brief examination. "Leave him, or take him with us?" queried Darkar, as he looked dubiously at Isaiah's prone form. "We must leave him, my friend," stated Onaeus, "If we take him with us, he'll hinder our abilities... Worry not, he'll be taken care of."

Onaeus placed Isaiah a little farther off the path, and rested him against a tree trunk. Then Onaeus and Darkar piled huge amounts of dead leaves over him, leaving just his face exposed so he could breathe. Placing a final branch against Isaiah, they left him on the forest floor, and kept going down the path, guided by the constant sounds of clashing swords. They smelled the sweet stench of fresh blood before the came upon the clearing. There were bodies everywhere, the twisted natives of Enchantica. They were mostly smaller beings, none of the dreaded hounds that had been encroaching the empire so much lately.

In the centre of the clearing, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen, were three figures... One, the armored figure of the King of Fire, his blade flashing brightly as it slashed down, and rose up again methodically. The other two, the robed knights of the forgotten ones, attacked as one, like wolves. One would distract the beast, while the other would nip its heels, eventually bringing it down. They were fighting bravely, yet they were gravely outnumbered, and wounded. The king was bleeding from a number of wounds, and the two knights were obviously starting to tire out.

There were many things laying dead on the ground, and Onaeus recognized many of them, but the things circling the three were something he had not seen before, something the forest had created recently. They looked like apes, the size of a man, with wicked claws growing out of their arms that were the length of their hunched bodies. Their black fur was matted with dirt and blood, and their powerful legs let them lope back and forth, just out of reach of the three warriors. Their forheads were sloped lowly, but the blood-red eyes on either side of their heads glimmered with a cunning animal intelligence, and the shredded meat hanging in rotten strips from their long, sharp fangs spoke that their intelligence had served them well. And there was a huge pack of these powerful beasts here, jeering and hooting at the humans as if they were pre-dinner entertainment. Perhaps they were...

Onaeus took all this in, within a second, at the same time that one of the beasts struck the King flat on his chest with a mighty blow. He heard a hoarse shout as the king fell, as well as the mental scream of a female. The two knights hastened to protect their friend from the apes, to guard him from their ravenous jaws.

Onaeus glanced at Darkar, and the big man nodded. Darkar hefted his wicked, bladed mace, and ran down the slope to the floor of the clearing. "Kaaaaaallllaaaa!!!!" he shouted with all his power, and he leapt into the fray, bashing skulls and breaking arms, the apes too surprised to counter-attack for a moment. Darkar knew that he was doomed to tire before much longer, but he gave the two knights, Kuros and Aular, time to move the king away from the pack of apes before they regained their wits. They moved him back to the edge of the forest, his unconscious form leaving a trail of bright scarlet blood.

The sun rose higher into the sky, and as the light of that orb grew, the orb of Darkars' mace began to glow, burning a fiery golden hue. Whenever he struck an ape, the beast recoiled from the holy weapon, shying away from the naked power of Kala. Darkar raised the mace one more time to pound in the skull of another ape, when a clawed hand closed around his arm from behind him. Then another hand grabbed his arm, and the hands twisted. With a scream of deathly pain, his arm snapped, and the mace came tumbling to the ground, its light extinguishing. Darkar, his white surcoat now stained black and red with gore, fell to the ground clutching his shattered arm.

Darkar looked up and saw his master before him, and that Onaeus had now joined the fray. The priest had his medallion clutched in one hand, while his other hand was waving around in intricate patterns. Three apes closed in around him, and Onaeus furiously punched at the air before him, not coming close to the apes, but the violence and absurdity of the attack brought them to a halt.

Suddenly a green mist rose out of the ground all about Onaeus, swirling and coalescing around him, extending out to his arm. Onaeus punched the air again, and the mist poured out in the form of a giant, clenched fist easily the size of the apes. The naked hatred in Onaeus, with the infinite power of his goddess, combined and the fist became solid at the last moment, striking the first ape, who was knocked back ten strides, striking a tree full force and breaking every bone in its body. The fist struck twice more, destroying the lives of two more apes, before disappearing with the mist that had given it birth.

However, the priest was not finished. He raised his hands high into the air, shouting a prayer to Kala at the top of his lungs. The plants around the nearest ape grew higher as his hands rose, the flowers growing to be as large as a horse. Teeth appeared in their petals, and the flowers quickly dove down to snap up the tasty apes that had before been trampling them to the ground.

The plants simply created a diversion for Onaeus. His eyes glowing a bright white from his joining with Kala, he stepped around in an odd dance, his voice lilting up and down, chanting in a language strange even to the sorcerous knights accompanying them. His song came to a climax, and the apes stopped what they were doing, and looked in horror at the priest. Some of the plants took this opportunity to snatch up a few apes, but the rest, a good thirty or more, simply stood with their jaws agape.

He stopped his song, and thrust his hand into the air, clutching his golden medallion. The peaking sun seemed to grow even brighter for a second, and a beam of light blazed down to hit the proferred hand. Onaeus screamed in pain and nearly collapsed, but he somehow kept to his feet. The white light seemed like liquid as it snaked its way down from the medallion to Onaeus' arm, to his chest, and to find its way all around his body. Soon the priest looked to be a statue of molten light, and then the light spread from Onaeus, to spread out in all directions. A mist rose from the liquid light, obscuring even as it lit, blinding all who saw it.

The mist spread out, beyond the moaning Darkar, almost to the edge of the clearing. Bending over the fallen king, Kuros and Aular had not even considered fleeing the dangerous cloud of light. But they were relieved that it had stopped when it did. There was absolute silence for a moment. There were no groans from Darkar, no screams from Onaeus, and no grunts from the apes. And then the unnatural light was gone.

The apes were gone too, replaced by little tree monkeys... native to this part of the forest, as the knights learned later. The plants were once again what they once were, only more vibrant and colourful than before, and Darkar lay gasping on the ground, clutching his arm; his whole arm. He looked up at Kuros and Aular in wonder, flexing his fingers, tracing his unbroken muscles. Then his head whipped around to see his master.

Onaeus lay on his back in the centre of the field. Darkar slowly walked to him, followed quickly by Kuros and Aular. Onaeus' white robes were covered with the mud into which he had fallen, were charred, steaming in places, and his hood had fallen over covering his face. "M'lord... are you alive?" Darkar asked in a wavering voice. He couldn't look directly at him, for fear of seeing what he feared most. The priest stirred, moved his hand, and finally spoke, "Aye, that I am, Darkar... a little worse for wear, perhaps... But I live."

Kuros helped him sit up, and then they saw Onaeus' hand... The symbol of the sunburst that was engraved on his medallion was now branded onto his palm, and his holy symbol was nowhere to be seen. Onaeus pulled his hood back, revealing his grey-streaked black hair, shorter now that the ends had burned in places. He looked straight ahead, into the forest.

"Can you hear that, my friends? Monkeys... not those lumbering demon apes. Just monkeys. They were not true demons... very few beings you see in this world are true demons. But there is one here. Very close, though not so close that we need worry... If that Beast is destroyed, our forest will be back to the place of beauty it once was, and the animals will be able to live normal lives once again. I can see it... can't you?"

Darkar shook his head, and looked at his liege more closely. He gasped when he looked at his friend's craggy face; where there were once clear blue eyes, full of wisdom, there were now none. Clear white eyes had replaced his blue eyes.

"Don't study me like a bug, Lord Darkar!" snapped the priest, "We need to be gone from here, before more beasts arrive... and they will. South. That is where we must go; the ways through the forest are now impassible. You... Kuros, Aular... See to your friends, Isaiah and the King over there. I don't know if the King can travel, but we'll try to get him to the next healer... I'm afraid I am too weak to do much of anything now," Onaeus said with regret.

The others nodded sullenly, and made their brief preparations. They travelled back to their campsite, where they packed up their gear. They then began the long, circuitous route south, around the great forest, and into the Valley of the Light.

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Seven ONWARD

Written by: Kuros, ArchDruid of the KFO

The sun was high in the midday sky before our bedraggled troupe of seven paused for more than a 5 minute resting. Most of the morning's journey had been in open sun, and although the warmth had been pleasant, the open spanse of landscape was not the safest place to be traveling. We had been following a stream for the last few hours, and finally came upon a small grove of wide-branched trees under which we could pause to evaluate our options.

Upon assessment, I confirmed that only three of us were remotely battleworthy: Darkar, Aular, and myself. Onaeus was still quite weakened by his having drawn down the naked power of Kala that had saved all of our lives. His left hand was badly burned, and heavily bandaged. But at least he had been able to ride upright. Isaiah and King FireProphet had not been so lucky, as both of them were litter-bound. Neither had regained consciousness since they had fallen in battle, just prior to Onaeus' great squelching of the uprising in the Enchanted Forest.

Isaiah suffered from multiple wounds to the forehead, left leg, and right side - the latter of which should have been the most serious. However, it became obvious over the next few hours, that Isaiah's leg wound from the scavenger had been poisonous, and his true condition was still a mystery to all. FireProphet had been dealt a lethal blow to the chest that would normally have crushed his ribcage and pierced his lungs, had it not been for the protection of his unseen companion, FireCloud. Her having taken the brunt of the deadly blow, had saved her King's life, or at least it had, thus far. But she, herself, was not well for having done it. My lack of experience in matters of strong magic inhibited my assessment of FireCloud's actual condition, although I could tell from her total lack of communication, that she was not at all well.

After having had re-bandaged the wounds, and cleaned the faces of those who could not do for themselves, the three of us drew aside for an intended short, but serious, conference. We decided that we should sup while discussing our options, since time was of the essence. It was obvious that the two on litters were not able to travel any farther, because any more jostling would most likely lead to a quicker death. It was also quite evident that we had to fetch a Healer from the nearest village, to attend to our fallen comrades, lest they both die before the next sunrise.

It was easy to understand that both Onaeus and FireCloud would benefit greatly from a respite, as they were in no shape to protect the others, nor to seek help. So that left the three of us: Aular, Darkar, and myself. After a hasty debate, it was decided that two were needed to stay behind to guard the weak and injured, while one would have to make the fateful journey into the next town to hire a Healer.

But then came the greater task of selecting who would stay to protect the others, and who would have the critically important task of locating this competent Healer, for they would have to convince them to travel into the wilderness to help a suspicious group of strangers. The pros and cons of each handling both tasks were discussed. Each of us felt that we had particular loyalties and were personally responsible for the safety of one of the injured: Darkar's duty to Onaeus, Aular's to FireProphet, and mine to Isaiah, as my apprentice scribe. We were getting no closer to the resolution of this critical decision, when the ancient voice of FireCloud was heard among us, as if she was sitting close by.

Although her body appeared to be deep in much needed slumber, her voice was heard nonetheless, "Time is critical, my fellow travelers. Neither your young warrior, nor my King, will live to see tomorrow's sun, unless you act quickly. I offer you three an objective opinion. But be not offended by my advice, for my goal is the same as yours." After a brief pause she continued, "Darkar is the most powerful fighter among you three. Thus, it is best that Darkar stay close to our fire. And although Kuros' steed is superior to the rest, Kuros is too blunt with his tongue, to take on this particular quest successfully. He is not likely to be able to cajole a defenseless Healer to leave his home for the sake of strangers. Therefore, Aular of the Light, it is you that should accept this dangerous …" The three of us remained completely silent, expecting her to continue.

Suddenly, amidst the silence, the King's breathing became noticeably laboured and, upon further inspection, his pallor indicated a continued loss of blood. "That must have been the reason why FireCloud had abruptly ceased her counsel", I said. After a short, yet fearful, scream of pain from the direction of FireCloud's body, it suddenly vanished altogether. In its place was the FireLight I had seen previously. The glow quickly moved to just above her King, and hovered over his bloody chest. At that exact moment his breathing returned to normal, and we three knew that she would not likely be offering any further advice.

"It is decided then", Aular said abruptly, as he started toward the horses. "May the Light guide your noble quest, Aular of the Forgotten, and assure your safe return before the coming dawn", exclaimed Darkar with his deep and solemn voice. But Aular's mind was already engaged in the planning of his great quest, such that it was not likely that he even heard the blessing of his fellow journeyman. It was then that I reached out and grasped his arm, to slow him, if just for a moment. "Take Bacas, if you will. He is strong and will serve you well. He is of no use to our cause, tethered here at our fire. Take him, I bid thee … his saddle is there, just left of yours", I told him. Aular bowed his head to me formally, as if his mind was elsewhere. He spoke not as he saddled my steed, quickly mounted, and rode off to the southwest, leaving a cloud of dust rising in the air.

It was I that took first watch, while Darkar caught up on the sleep he had missed in recent days. I spent the hours cleaning the robes of my fallen companions in the nearby stream. Then, I hung the damp textiles over the branches of the trees under which we were encamped. I waxed their armour as if they were headed into glorious battle, just to give myself something to do. I fed the horses, and brushed their coats until they were weary of my attention. I gave fresh dressings to all of the wounds of the three who lay dormant before me, and then I redressed them all, as much as I dared, in their own robes I had cleaned. If a stranger had passed through our camp that evening, he would not have known how close death sat to our fire.

It had been just over six hours since Aular's departure, and Darkar was awake and ready to relieve me. I was to have six hours sleep, and then he and I were to wait out the last six hours before dawn, awake together. I fell into slumber, rather comfortably, knowing that Darkar was on watch. But as I did, the faint, yet ancient, voice of FireCloud came to me one last time. "I must tell you of Bacas. He is not just a beast of burden, my friend, but a wise and powerful companion. His mother was a great and powerful Centaur of the western forest, and his father a strong and intelligent stallion of Soliath. I have awakened these memories in him, and upon his return, you will be able to communicate with him as if he were your brother. Beware to keep this secret, for many would kill for such a beast as he", she spoke softly. "I do have one request of thee, Kuros the Red, of the Forgotten Order. Please tell my King, once he is healed, that I love him dearly, and that I will be waiting for him at the edge of the clearing where we first met. Live a long a happy life, my friend, Kuros. May Fire protect thee and Light guide thee, throughout your days. Sleep well."

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Eight WITH THE DAWN

Written by: Aular, of the Light, Druid of the KFO

Aular rode for nearly an hour's time following the stream, setting a rigorous pace for them both. The steed Bacas, a loan from Kuros, held up surprisingly well under the conditions of the ride. "A remarkable steed, indeed ... ", thought Aular. In the distance, a small cluster of shacks stood in the middle of the grassland field. Aular made a minor adjustment and pointed them in the direction of the small town. "Perhaps I can hire a healer here...," he pondered.

As Aular approached the town, he slowed the horse to a walk. He scanned the small village for signs of an inn. Then he noticed a stable on the far end of the town and rode towards it. He dismounted just as a young boy emerged from the tattered stables. "What town is this, boy?" asked Aular. The boy blinked. "This is Donovah", the young boy said slowly. Aular nodded and tossed the boy a gold piece. The boy's eyes bulged and lit up. "Treat this horse well, and you will be rewarded", said Aular. Then he walked out of the stable and towards what looked like the town's inn.

As Aular entered, he nearly recoiled. It looked as ill kempt as the rest of the tattered village. There were only two or three patrons here, sitting at patched up tables sipping from rusted looking cups. Aular approached the InnKeeper. "Hail, kind sir. An ale, please", as he laid a silver piece on the table. The InnKeeper grunted as he pulled a cup from beneath the parlor. He filled it from a keg behind him and set the foaming glass on the table. Aular muttered to himself, and cast a purification spell on the liquid before him. He hoped it would be enough to squelch any foulness in the drink.

He took a sip and commented on the splendour of the beverage. "Is this a local brew?" he inquired. The bartender looked at him, grunted yet again, then said "I make it in my cellar." When he walked away to tend to the other patrons, Aular nodded. But he continued to sip and take in his sordid surroundings. After several minutes, the bartender returned to Aular's table and cleared his throat.

Aular looked up from his drink and spoke, "Yes, sir?" The InnKeeper stared and said, "What brings you to our cursed town, outsider? It may be best for you to get your horse, and move out now." Aular smiled and explained "I am in search of a Healer. When I have found one, I will leave your town, kind sir. Would you tell me where your healer lives?"

The InnKeeper glanced to his right and the two men at the table sprung up bearing maces. The closest lunged at Aular and swung. But the mace bounced off of an invisible wall about 4 inches away from Aular. Aular motioned and the man went flinging across the room. The second man drew a sword, then let out a sharp scream and dropped it. His hand, and his sword, were both glowing red. Aular looked back at his bartender and spoke, more forcefully this time, "Your healer, sir?" The InnKeeper looked at his two thugs, and sighed before he answered, "The healer is three doors down."

"Thank you for your assistance", said Aular as he motioned toward the man with the injured hand. Suddenly his burned flesh began to heal. Then Aular stood, gave the InnKeeper another silver piece, and walked out the door. Looking down the street, he made his way to the Healer's home.

The healer's house was in slightly better condition than the Inn had been, but not by much. Its outer walls were painted a dull grey, and a part of a sign swung in the breeze. The sign gave no indication of the current use of the building, however. The paint looked as if it had faded almost a decade ago.

Aular knocked on the door, and a young woman opened it. She was a stunning ray of light in the bleakness of this foreboding town, and Aular caught himself staring. He closed his mouth, smiled, and then bowed as he spoke, "Milady, I am in need of a Healer." She simply nodded and opened the door to allow the stately mage to enter. He followed her in, and shut the door.

"I am the healer, Milord. I am known as Cheyane. What services do you require?" she spoke softly. Aular told an edited version of the recent battle to the Healer. She listened intently, nodded at the appropriate places, and by the time Aular had finished, she was frowning. "I cannot heal those wounds, kind sir. I know of no herbs or spells than can heal wounds inflicted by the demons of that Forest. I am sorry", she said assertively. Aular nodded and said, "Tis fine, milady. I will think of something. Thank you for your time." When Aular rose to leave, the woman suddenly startled, and turned slightly pale.

"You are Him, you are the One ...," she stammered. "I ... received … a message for you. When you stood just now, that was the image I received ... in my dreams ...". Her speech was becoming more and more jumbled. "The angel said ... to tell you ... to 'Look within'. The Light lies within … and ... she just vanishes. I ... dream ... her ... every night ... she's there … can't escape ... will you help me??" pleaded Cheyane as she cried into her hands. "I saw ... battle ... death … save us ... save me ...," she sobbed.

Aular walked over to her and placed his hand on her head. She slumped into her chair asleep. Aular whispered softly, "Forget ... forget the dreams ... remember the Light. The Light will protect you ... the Light will protect you ... ". He removed his hand and then left the Healer's house. He walked towards the stable, tossed the boy another gold piece, and said, "My horse, please...". The boy ran into the stable and came out with Bacas. Aular mounted, and took off back towards the Great Forest at a harsh gallop. Dusk had settled as Aular approached the Great Forest. Ten more hours until dawn. Only ten more hours to find a cure for my fallen comrades ...

Aular stared at the Forest. He could feel its Evil, as almost a palpable sensation. It tasted thick on the tongue, and threatened to overwhelm all in its clutches. Aular took a steadying breath, and softly whispered to himself, "May the Light be with me ...," as he led Bacas into the edge of the Great Forest. His plan was simple -- destroy the demon that cursed this Forest. He needed to meet the Great Evil in the Forest; the one Onaeus spoke of after his brush with Kala's power. He knew what had to be done, and he prayed for the Light to take his soul to meet the Creator when the time came.

Aular walked for nearly an hour deeper and deeper into the Great Forest, searching. But for what signs, he did not know. He let the Light guide him. He heard a soft rustling in the brush, and saw the club strike his head a moment too late, as he crumpled to the ground.

When Aular awoke, he was sitting on a chair in a large tent. His eyes immediately gravitated to a dark-cloaked figure across the table from him. "You trespass into realms you know nothing of. An unwise course, yes?" hissed the voice. It was neither masculine nor feminine; it seemed more snake like than anything.

"You will soon learn the error of your ways, think we", it said aloud. The creature stood, and walked around the table. It removed the gag from Aular's mouth and touched his forehead lightly. "You hold power within you, we sense. You tell us why you are here, yes? You seek to destroy us?" the voice continued. And then it laughed a hideous sounding chuckle to itself, before it spoke again, "Have you not the power to dispose of us? What are you called?" It stopped and looked at Aular, though its face was concealed by the hooded cloak it wore. Yet Aular stared at it defiantly.

"Answer us," it demanded, as it raised its cloaked arm. And as a long half-claw, half-hand came out from underneath its robe of darkness, it slithered closer to Aular's side. When the sharp claws had fully extended, it stuck Aular in his ribs, as punishment for his impudence. Aular breathed in a sharp gasp of pain, and closed his eyes to concentrate on his wounds. "Answer us," it said even more sharply this time. "I am called Aular," he replied with difficulty. Then the creature plucked out its claw from Aular's side and the gruesome hand shrunk back under its cloak.

"Clouded is your spirit, but strong is your power, we sense," thought the creature out loud. "Turn you to the Darkness we can ...," it said to its prisoner. Aular tensed a muscle to move, and discovered a magical bond holding him to the chair. The creature laughed as Aular struggled under the bonds. "Move, move, if you can! We will turn you to the Darkness ... we will use your spirit, we will. Kill you we must not, link you to us we can. Link you, and submit you to our will. You will serve us, and my Creator, the Great Dark Lord of this Forest. Part of us you will become ..." it contended, as it slowly drew back its hood.

The creature was foul. It looked like the head of two snakes welded to a mound of human flesh composed of 2 or 3 human's parts. Random eyeballs were placed all among the human parts; it looked like a creature made from other creatures. Aular flinched as the creature opened its mind to him and attempted to force a link. Aular focused his mind and thought of a solid stone wall. "No holes, no way in. No holes, no way in", he thought over and over to himself. But the creature lashed out at Aular's mental blockade, and slowly a crack began to form in Aular's defenses. A small seam from the ground appeared. Then the seam became a rip, the rip a tear, then the tear a hole.

Aular was fighting to patch his defenses, when the creature struck its final blow. As Aular's mental wall tumbled; the creature forced its link deep into Aular's mind. Mental sludge fed back over the link and Aular slumped over, being held upright by his bonds. The creature then hissed a command. "Yes, my master ... ", replied Aular's voice. "To your friends you will take us ... to your friends ... feast tonight we will," the creature laughed aloud.

* * *

A semi-calm state had finally re-settled over the campsite as Kuros took his turn at the western guardpost. "Only two hours till dawn ..., " he thought grimly. The link with Aular had been severed nearly four hours ago, and Bacas had shown up, alone, at this fire, two hours later. But it was not long before the pervading gloom had returned, as the Fire King's condition continued to worsen. And to compound matters, Isaiah continued his downward spiral as the poison worked its evil on his body. It was frustrating that Onaeus could render no assistance in his weakened state. "And what of Aular ... is he alive?" as Kuros' mind flipped through the possibilities. "Could he have passed to the beyond?" he asked himself. Kuros sighed as he paced at his post. "Two more hours till the sunrise", he thought.

* * *

"Advance", hissed the Creature in its dark hooded cloak, "We break our fast on sweet human flesh this morning … ehehehHEHEhehehe ... ". Trailing a few steps behind the cloaked leader, was a Mage in tattered robes. His eyes were glazed over, and he was intent on serving the Cloaked One. And behind him, marched any army of hiddens, devil kin, and grotesque ape-like creatures. They numbered nearly 1000 in all. And they were headed for the camp of the traveling Druids.

* * *

Darkar came suddenly running from the direction of the Forest where he had been scouting. Kuros rose and watched the white-clad warrior coming closer. "What news have you? Has Aular returned?" he inquired. Darkar looked grim. "There is an army of demons advancing on our position", he whispered. Kuros nodded grimly and said, "Today is a good day to die, if that is our fate. But we shall defend our friends as best as we can." Darkar nodded, and took position between the army of demons and his Praetor Onaeus. He kissed the amulet dangling from his neck, and muttered prayers to Kala. Kuros cleared his mind, and prepared his spells, as he suspected his bows would be of little use.

They saw the army advancing through the grassland. Kuros saw what appeared to be many hundreds of various demons. As the wretched army neared their position, Kuros summoned a wall of fire. The wall was extinguished quickly, and the monstrous beasts poured forth. Kuros flung spells at the hoard, and Darkar raised his blade. "FOR KALA!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed as he swung fiercely into the melee. Kuros cast his spells desperately, but many were countered before they left his bowman's fingers. Kuros saw Darkar go down amidst the mass of demons, and then felt a club hit his knee. He stumbled, and fell to the trembling earth.

The light of morning had just begun to peak over the eastern horizon, in the faces of the oncoming enemy. "Dawn is here, and no hope in site", mumbled Kuros. But as he looked up, he saw in the breaking light, a robed figure that he recognized. Aular was a little worse for wear, but he was Alive!!! But he was fighting on the side of the dark-cloaked Creature. Then he realized that Aular had been the one countering his amateur spells. "Aular ... of the Dark?" he puzzled. Kuros gasped with fear, but quickly remembered the power of the Light that was waxing behind him. "AULAR OF THE LIGHT!!!" he screamed aloud. "AULAR OF THE HOLY LIGHT!!!!" Aular, hearing the desperate voice of his old friend, turned around and looked among the fallen for him, in the direction of the rising Sun. Shaking his head he muttered, "I ... had, to save you. Healer ... need ... a healer ... "

The Creature hissed, "Follow US you will! Aular of the Dark … " Aular then turned to the Demon and smiled as he said, "I will kill them myself, my master." Kuros looked mortified, as Aular took a blackened blade from the demonic leader. Kuros recalled hearing stories of men killed by such blades. They writhed in agony for days as their flesh was consumed by a sickening disease. He shuddered, as the demons holding him tightened their grip. Aular approached Kuros and raised the blackened sword straight into the air, and spoke:

"Gates of hell, Arnok's blight, Darkened blade, curséd night Hero's death, and noble's flight, I summon the Power to thwart you ... ...I SUMMON THE POWER, Of the LIGHT!!!"

The Demon hissed and drew back his hood, and hissed, "Ssstop ..." A rumbling sound came from the air. And in an instant, the enormous sound swelled and filled the air. A solid beam of white-fire Light sprang forth from the heavens. The sky, still somewhat dark from the night's near passing, lit up like the noon-hour of day. Aular emanated a glowing radiance. The sword -- once a blackened weapon of death, now shown with a clear crystal radiance that caught the Light and broke it into all colors of the rainbow. The Creature screamed a command to his troops and pointed to Aular, and its demon army advanced.

Then Aular turned the sword, pointing it straight down, and drove it into the Earth. Waves of energy circled out as the Light drove upwards from the Earth. As the Wall of Light came into contact with the demons, they simply ceased to exist. As the Light approached Kuros, he flinched. But when it passed by him, he felt an intense fire-feeling wind. As the Light moved on past him, Kuros noticed his wounds had been healed and an energetic aura surrounded him. The cloaked demon tried to run away from the oncoming circle of Light. Kuros watched as the wave gained on the Creature ... and caught it. The demonic leader screamed a blood-curdling cry as the Light contacted its 'skin'. A dark pool oozed from its pores as the Light destroyed the creature, leaving the ground charred and black beneath where it had last stood. The Light then spread out across the open field, healing the land and slaying the remnants of Darkness. In the span of a single breath, the army was destroyed. Kuros looked up in awe at the sky. The once bleak terrain shone with the new growth of spring. Just as Kuros was healed by the mysterious power of the Light, thus the land was healed as well.

Darkar and Kuros stood and gazed upon their mage friend in wonder. "Aular?" queried Kuros hesitantly. But Aular had not finished. It was then that he pointed the Light's Sword of Crystal towards their encampment. And when they turned to see his purpose, Onaeus was standing next to the litters of Isaiah and FireProphet. Onaeus nodded to Aular, and Kuros felt a link forming. One by one, all the members of the party were linked, and with their combined energies focused by Aular and Onaeus, the two dying men were healed miraculously.

As Isaiah and FireProphet sat upright on their litters, and looked around understandably dazed, Kuros punched Darkar lightly with his elbow and said, "I thought only two men at a time could link ... unless a female were ...". But Darkar interrupted to quiet his friend, and whispered, "Tis the power of Aular's god. I cannot explain it, Kuros. It was then that Kuros began to realize why all had remained so quiet and still. The ground had started to tremble, but there was no sound to be heard. It was Darkar that finally whispered, "These two miracles of Victory and Healing, we have just witnessed, must yet have a third sister. Hold fast, my friend, for the combined power of Aular's God Of Light, and the Druids' Goddess Of The Sun, is likely to shake the very fabric of Earth, and Spirit."

A growing light surrounded the entire party of six, encompassing the entire camp, including their horses. The landscape became bright, as if they were standing in the middle of a summer's noon-day sun. As Kuros shaded his eyes from the white glare with one hand, he grasped Darkar's arm with the other. As he did, the ground slowed its trembling, and the brightness began to recede. The only thing that could be heard was the mumbled chantings of Onaeus and Aular.

It seemed but a moment later that Kuros and Darkar were picking themselves up off of the ground and gazing about. There was no stream or grove of trees to be seen, yet their entire party, and belongings, were positioned at a similar distance from each other. Confused and weary, Kuros turned abruptly and focused on a great wall that loomed behind them. "Soliath …" Darkar whispered in disbelief. But it all seemed to be quite real. Then Darkar spoke, "I have heard of spells of great teleport. It is a magical art lost long ago…." Kuros listened and then said, "Could it be that the power of Aular's and Onaeus' deities has brought us safely to our journey's end? Could the Light have brought us here, without the need of walking or riding?"

Suddenly, Kuros felt that the link that had united their party, was failing and he looked around to assess the condition of all. It was then that he saw Aular collapse and fall to the ground in front of the Great Gate of Soliath. At that point he, too, felt weak and very weary. Then he saw Onaeus rushing toward them hurriedly. But Darkar's disorientation caused him to stumble out in front of Onaeus as he passed.

Onaeus, concerned only about Aular at that time, pushed Darkar out of his way and swiftly approached the figure lying prone at the Gates. He knelt down at Aular's side and placed his hand on Aular's wrist. As Kuros approached and began to speak, Onaeus interrupted. "He appears to be sleeping. Come. Let us get him to a pallet inside the Temple. He may need to sleep for several days. I suggest rest for us all."

And with that, the quiet troop of five that left the Forgotten Fortress, along with their traveling companion, King FireProphet, approached the entrance to the Great City of Soliath, the home of the Druids, and the legendary Temple of Kala.

(Edited by: Aular and Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

Chapter Nine THE GATES

Written by: Isaiah, Druid of the KFO

Isaiah stood and gazed at the tall, white walls of Soliath. His attention was unsettled and shifted between the awesome walls of the city, Aular's recent collapse, and the odd sensation that something was missing inside of him. Apparently while in the Forest, another battle had been fought and amazingly won, against all odds, with an incredible spell cast by Aular. Isaiah had heard of such spells but had never actually seen them happen, and he still hadn't, but his apparent good health was one of its outcomes.

Isaiah traced his memories for some recollection of the past day but found nothing at all. In fact he realized that he found memories of very little before the Healing. Kuros, being concerned with the status of his friend, had set about the task of filling in the past few days of events, since they had left the Forgotten Fortress - right up until the battle which had nearly killed Isaiah and FireProphet. Kuros observed that Isaiah still had a slight limp although there was no sign of external injury. It seemed the Healing had been too late to completely restore his health from the effects of the scavenger's poison that had invaded his young body.

Thoughts flashed through Isaiah's mind at an extreme rate and his head ached with the stress of utter confusion. The name Isaiah had been provided to him by Kuros, and some basic history of his rank and role in the Forgotten Order was also included in the summary, but none of these stories jogged any memories at all. Pictures, voices, and thoughts streamed through Isaiah's mind from a time before the trip to Soliath, and even before the Forgotten Order. A time of great struggle and oppression, of farms, of family, of hate, of love, and of more hate. The images confused Isaiah greatly and made him sick inside, and almost dizzy, but he would not sit or move at all.

Isaiah stood motionless, staring at the magnificent walls of Soliath. A place he knew nothing about - a city in the middle of nothing - an "oasis of Light in the wilderness of evil which surrounds", as he had heard someone say while they attended to Aular. His eyes never moved off the walls - the tall, white, secure walls of a well-fortified city. Another vision flashed into his head, a vision of a crumbled wall, a burning building, women's voices, and children's screams. The mental pain grew inside of him but he had no idea of how to let it out.

Darkar, FireProphet, and Onaeus carried the exhausted Aular in through the city gates where more were gathered to help. Kuros stood to the side of Isaiah waving his hand in front of his apprentice's unblinking eyes. Consciously Isaiah was aware of the movement but did not fully comprehend its meaning. He saw Kuros' mouth open and close but heard nothing but the screams of his memories.

Onaeus then turned and joined Kuros at Isaiah's side, and asked, "What is the matter with the boy? Is he still not well? We had best get him inside where he is safe." And so Onaeus and Kuros lead the way toward the Gates but did not realize for a few steps that Isaiah had not joined them. "Come Isaiah, we will feast tonight," cried out Onaeus from the gate, but noticing no change from Isaiah, went to his side yet again. "This is worse than we thought," whispered Kuros, "Is there anything we can do?"

Onaeus answered softly, "I have noticed much change in him since the Healing, that I had not considered to be a permanent problem, but I may have been mistaken. Take a look at the boy's eyes. Were they not brown when I first walked into the Forgotten Fortress? Now note that they are grey and misty as storm clouds, and just as unpredictable, too. And take note of his stance - when we started our journey he slouched and always lent on things as if he needed extra support. He slumped in his saddle and looked uncomfortable when fighting. Now note that he stands as upright as the trunk of a Sha'elok tree. Much has changed of our friend since we left the forest, and I am not sure for good or bad. We may have to carry him inside if he will not respond to our voices, or walk of his own accord."

Kuros nodded and reached out to touch Isaiah. "Where is my sword?" came a voice from Isaiah's mouth. Even his voice had changed, Kuros thought, as he now spoke with a deeper tone and with certain authority. Kuros answered after a moment of hesitation, "It is in the Forest. The blood of the beasts you killed had eaten away much of the metal after you dropped it. I would say there would be nothing left of it now. Isaiah, are you feeling any better now?"

"Who is this Isaiah you speak of? My name is… my name...," as his voice trailed off into the distance as if he knew not what to say next. But then he continued, "The time has come for the deliverance of my people. The Awakening has begun. Where is my sword?" And as he spoke, Isaiah's eyes never moved from the wall, but remained focused on one point on the vast surface of spotless white stone. Onaeus indicated to Kuros to look at Isaiah's eyes. The colour of his eyes changed, moved, and swirled like the clouds of an evening storm. "This worries me," muttered Onaeus as he turned toward the gate.

"Are we just going to leave him here?" yelled Kuros at Onaeus' back, "He is helpless out here alone in the state that he is in. We must get help. Where are you going?" Onaeus paused, turned, and answered, "I fear that nothing can be done until Aular returns to health. His appearance may have changed since the Healing, but this behaviour did not occur until the link was broken, when Aular collapsed. There is nothing else we can do until then."

Kuros made a final tug on Isaiah's arm, who still refused to follow. Kuros then made his way reluctantly toward the gates of the great city, leaving his friend standing outside the gates, like a stone statue. There was obviously no way to convince him to follow, so Kuros decided to find a place inside the gates from which watch over his confused friend. He would find a window from where he could see Isaiah, but where he could be near Aular as well.

* * *

Darkar and two other hefty soldiers placed Aular on a warm bed within the Temple of Kala. He had not stirred at all in the journey to the room, nor did he now that he lay upon the bed. The day's events had obviously taken their toll on Aular's vitality and he now needed to rest, possibly for several days, to regain his energy.

A hooded Druid, dressed not surprisingly in white, approached Aular's outstretched body and put his hand on Aular's forehead, chest, then wrist. Then the strange man rose and stepped backward out of the onlookers before turning to leave the crowded room. "Will he be alright?" inquired Darkar of the hooded man before he reached the door. The man turned and spoke in a soft but manly voice, "I feel the Light is strong in him. It is a good thing, too, otherwise he may not have survived what he did for you and your friends. He is not injured in any way, but you owe him a great deal for what he has done." With that, the man turned again toward the door and exited quietly.

In time, the room had emptied apart from Darkar, FireProphet, and Aular. Darkar took a seat beside Aular's bed, while FireProphet paced back and forth on the stone floor. FireProphet's thoughts were of his kingdom and his loyal subjects, and in particular, FireCloud. "What is keeping Onaeus, Isaiah, and Kuros?" asked FireProphet impatiently. "I must return to my kingdom, I have been absent too long. I must return. Where are they?" And on that note, Kuros entered the room. "Onaeus will join us shortly," he announced, "He has some activity to attend. In the meantime, I suggest we take Aular's example and have a bit of rest. None of us have slept well in the past few days and we want to be awake when we sup with the other Druids."

Both Darkar and FireProphet looked toward the door in expectance of Isaiah's entrance, but he did not come. Silence engulfed the room for a good two minutes before anyone moved or spoke, and surprisingly it came from Aular as he tossed in his bed. Kuros had moved to the large window that overlooked the gates and the greener side of the city. The view was just high enough to see the upper half of Isaiah's stone-like body over the tops of the Gates.

"Where is Isaiah?" asked Darkar finally. "He remains outside the gates, refusing to enter. I am not sure what ails him, but all is not well I fear," replied Kuros from his window seat. Darkar eventually took a space on the floor and curled up to sleep, but never closed his eyes. FireProphet finally stopped pacing and took his place at Aular's side, while Kuros continued to stare out of the window.

* * *

Isaiah looked at the wall, studying it carefully - why, he did not know. His mind filled with thoughts and emotions, was not able to cope with the stress. Faces appeared in his mind, which became clearer every time they popped up. Also faces and voices, screams from the distance, and the smell of burning wood.

Nothing changed outwardly on Isaiah. The early evening breeze had picked up but did not appear to bother him, as neither did the glare that came from the bright white wall at which he stared constantly. This great wall, Isaiah thought to himself, nearly obscured part of another forest. Above the tips of the visible trees stood the great Mount Morikai, the highest point of the Vallanor Ridge. As some of his memories began to fade in and out, he suddenly knew that the Forgotten Fortress lay in a direction south west of that point.

Memories flooded his mind but he could not make any sense of them. Tears rolled down his cheeks and dried quickly in the breeze, chafing his skin where they had dripped. "I must return," he muttered to himself, "The time has come. It has begun. The time has come. The Awakening has begun. I must return. I must return to Vallanor."

(Edited by: Kuros, for continuity throughout the whole story)

EPILOGUE

It was Patriarch Onaeus that decided that the formal celebration of our troupe's arrival in Soliath would be postponed until Aular and Isaiah had awakened, recovered, and were able to join. However, he had no control over the excitement of his followers that were celebrating His safe return from the far East. There was a great feast and dancing in the streets of Soliath that night which got under way just after Daily Vows at sunset.

It was I, sitting at my window seat, which first noticed the preparations underway below. And knowing that we were all in need of a good meal, I suggested that FireProphet and Darkar attend the festivities, offering to remain behind with Aular. However, Onaeus had already made other arrangements. The thick wooden door at the far end of the room squeaked with age as it opened just wide enough to allow three figures passage into our simple, yet royal, haven: one clad in white, one in brown, and one in decorated armour. It was Darkar that approached them and exchanged greetings and received the plans Onaeus had sent. With my attention on the window, the gates, and Isaiah, I was somewhat startled when Darkar turned and abruptly announced our proposed agenda.

The Patriarch Onaeus had sent word that he requested the three of us to sit at his table that evening of the Celebration of His safe return to the Temple. He had sent three attendants, each with specific duties, which would allow FireProphet, Darkar, and me the freedom to accept his invitation.

The white-robed Healer was to spend her evening at the side of Aular, so that we three could sit together at the head table with Onaeus. The other female among the three sent by Onaeus was clad in distinctive armour, which as Darkar explained, indicated her duty as the city's Security Master for that day. As Captain of the Guard she, herself, was to take watch over Isaiah personally, per Onaeus' request. Her presence in the room was to assure me that my companion, and apprentice, would be under careful watch until my return. She then donned her helmet, bowed her head in my direction, and exited as quietly as she had entered. Her professional demeanor, and my trust in Onaeus' judgement, made me confident that Isaiah would be in the best of care, whether he was able to recognize it or not.

The third figure was a young boy in a darker robe. He was there to lead us to a sauna where we could bathe before joining the Patriarch's table. Although Darkar was fully knowledgeable of the entire city's geography, and could have led us there himself blindfolded, he was to be treated as a guest of honor, along with FireProphet and me. His having brought their Patriarch home safely from a long and dangerous quest had earned him great status among the city dwellers. So, as Soliath's newest hero de jour, he was to share the table with Onaeus and his guests, whether he liked it or not. Being fully aware of the stubbornness of his Master, Onaeus, Darkar eventually resigned himself to his position, and actually relaxed in the sauna as he bathed.

Being the first time I'd had the opportunity to speak with FireProphet without too many around, while bathing I explained what had happened that night by the stream, while Darkar and I were waiting for Aular to return with a healer. I recounted the condition of FireCloud, due to her having taken the brunt of the blow from the demonic apes that would surely have crushed his own chest the day before. I also spoke of the advice FireCloud had given us that night, and how close he had come to death once again from his loss of blood. The great King, having yet to meet my eye, appeared to be deep in other thoughts, so I paused my story to wash the last bits of our long journey from my hair and beard. But FireProphet had actually been listening intently, and bade me continue my tale.

I was not sure how strong FireProphet really was when it came to sentiment, as I had never really seen much of that side of him. And his solitude and lack of conversation since his healing had concerned me somewhat. I found myself wishing for Aular's knowledge of this man, so I would know how to proceed with my story of the death of FireCloud. But inwardly I knew this task was mine, and mine alone.

My next words were carefully chosen as I told him of the "dream" I'd had by the stream that night, when FireCloud came to me, to bid farewell. Once I had explained his serious condition on that night, I finally passed along her message, "Please tell my King, once he is healed, that I love him dearly, and that I will be waiting for him at the edge of the clearing where we first met." I told him of how she had given up her life, in order to strengthen his own body, in hopes that it would be enough to help him survive until the healer arrived.

At first, his expression barely changed, and I thought that I might have been out of place to have spoken so bluntly, as I am known to do, on occasion. But after a few seconds, a look of peace and understanding came over him as sat upright in the pool in which we three had been bathing. He said nothing at all as we all moved to the second bath for our final rinse, and then to the antechamber where clean clothing was awaiting us.

It was Darkar that finally broke the silence to suggest that since our own clothes were not yet cleaned, we should choose anything we wished from the rack in front of us. The only specific suggestion he had was that of a tradition among his people, that guests were asked to wear a single symbol of their home territory whenever attending a celebration at Soliath. Since FireProphet seemed to be handling himself rather well at the time, I moved my weary, but clean, bones to the pile of my belongings I had carefully placed a far corner because of their odour.

I then set to task to choose which of my Order's icons I would don for the evening festivities. Eliminating several due to a lack of cleanliness, I decided to wear my favorite quiver that bore the shield of the Forgotten Order, which had been a gift from a noble and skilled archer of the Forgotten Order, named MikAngelo. And I remember thinking that it was truly ironic, that I had only a single arrow left to my name - a harsh reminder of how close we had all come to death on this fateful pilgrimage to Soliath.

Upon return to the center of the room, I found Darkar dressed not in warrior's armour, but in a plain white robe, with his shining amulet of Kala round his thick weathered neck. He also wore the thin silver circlet of his Order around his head. But, he was standing quite still and staring beyond me at something that obviously surprised him. When I turned to see what his gaze was about, my eyes found King FireProphet standing alone with his back to the nearest window. In his outstretched hands, he held his blackened Crown of Fire. For a moment I thought the crown had simply been his choice of symbols to wear to the festivities that evening, but the King's eyes were intently focused upon it, as Darkar's had been. My position in the room did not allow me to understand their fascination, because of the glare in the window from the festivities outside. But as I moved over a bit, I could see that this crown of changing colours was surrounded by an aura of light very similar to the FireLight I had seen in the forest several nights back.

"It is FireCloud," said the King with his calm and confident voice. Although the music from the streets was hard to block out, I did hear him say that he had felt that FireCloud was not really gone. Then there was something more he said about her spirit being with him forever. And with that comment the FireLight aura which had surrounded the crown, slowly shrank inward and downward, and became One with the Crown itself. As the intensity of the rotating colours of this unique crown became more and more vibrant, there was little doubt that FireCloud would ever be very far away from her King, her beloved companion.

As the festive noise from the streets became even louder, and harder to ignore, FireProphet regained his composure and donned his great Crown with pride. The three of us, cleaner than we had been since our departure from the Forgotten Fortress, then headed down the hallway being guided toward the table where Onaeus would be sitting. It was then that FireProphet smiled for the first time since his healing. However, I caught myself smiling, as well - for I knew that FireCloud had come to the rescue, once again.

*****

The table, at which Patriarch Onaeus was seated, was no more formal than any of the others I could see. As we approached and stood behind one of the empty chairs, the cheerful music ebbed into silence as Onaeus stood and toasted Darkar for his dedicated service to the Druidic Order. And after a brief prayer for the quick recovery of Aular and Isaiah, Onaeus nodded to the musicians, and the celebration began anew.

The meats were still steaming, just from the pits. The cheeses were spicy, and the breads would melt on your tongue. There were tasty fruits that I had never seen before, and the roasted nuts were salted with precision. It was quite obvious that the quality of the food and of the company was far more important to the people of Soliath, than glittering candlesticks and fine linen tablecloths. I knew at that point, that I was going to truly enjoy spending time among the people of this legendary village.

As the dancing and feasting continued into the night, I began to recognize my need for a good night's sleep. Since FireProphet had already excused himself to retire for the evening, I was about to take my leave of Onaeus and Darkar, when a young girl came running toward our table with a message for Darkar. Due to the proximity of the musicians and the child's labored breathing, I was not able hear her exact words as she spoke with him.

Upon her hasty departure, Darkar stood and said, "Kuros, there is some commotion in the stables tonight. It seems that your horse is causing quite an uproar, and your attention to this matter is respectfully requested. It is said that he is out of control, and has injured somone. Come, let us go there at once." "Aye, Darkar, I will go with haste. But you need not attend me, as I can deal with this matter myself," I told him. But I could see from Darkar's expression that he welcomed the chance to remove himself from center of the attention, so I begged our leave of Onaeus, and we headed off to the stables at a quickened pace.

As we neared the stable-yard, I could hear a great ruckus of people yelling and horses snorting. There were sounds of hooves kicking walls and stable hands shouting frantically. When we entered the large bay door at the closest end of the wide stall-way, I could see Bacas rearing up on his hind legs and kicking furiously at the air in front of him. There were 3 young stablehands with ropes around his neck, trying to force him into a stall, with very little success. "Release him! Bacas, be still!" I yelled to the group. But when Bacas complied with my direction, the stablehands took advantage of the situation and tightened their ropes, looking thankfully in my direction. "I said … Release Him. RELEASE HIM, NOW," I screamed rather loudly.

Confused by my questionable instructions, and shocked at my demeanor, the three took their eyes off of Bacas but for a second to glance in my direction. But it was long enough for Bacas to react accordingly. This time when he reared up, he caused all three of them loose their footing, and thus loose their rein on him. "Bacas, be still!" I shouted, and now that the ropes were no longer tight around his neck, and he was able to breathe, he obeyed. As the stablehands scrambled to get up, it was obvious that they were still intent on their original goal.

In the blink of eye, the heretofore stationary Darkar collared the young boy closest to him by picking him up by the back of his shirt, such that his feet were dangling in the air, still running. I quickly grabbed a short rope from the nearby wall and tossed it onto the feet of the one nearest me, which caused him to trip and fall face-first into a rather fresh pile of manure. The third, not noticing the fate of his two comrades probably because he had been on the far side of the now quieted Bacas, came round the front of him to grab his reins. Having had my fill of this obvious abuse, out of habit I reached back over my right shoulder into my quiver and pulled out my last arrow. But not having my bow with me caused me to pause long enough to consider my next action.

Not having the aim I would normally have had with a bow, I carefully flung the arrow like a dagger into wall behind the third boy, getting his attention rather abruptly. Seeing that his friends were no longer able to assist, caused him to slow down enough to notice that the horse was now completely calm. He stood there frozen, in the shadow of an unhappy Darkar, who ushered the three of them off toward the stable-master's office. But before Darkar left, I asked that he find out if there was any truth to the rumour of Bacas' hurting someone.

"Bacas, Come!" I said as I turned to leave the stallway thru the large bay door where I had entered. Obediently, Bacas followed me out into the stableyard, where I removed the remaining ropes from his neck and the reins from his head and mouth. Upon further inspection, I noticed that there was a section of hair missing from his mane, and minor gash in his neck near the missing hair. As the onlookers were finally dispersing, I noticed the young girl who had come to our table earlier. I asked her to fetch some ointment for Bacas' wound and a grooming brush for his coat.

While stroking his neck, I noticed that his breathing had finally returned to its normal rhythm. At the same time, I could actually sense that he was far more comfortable out under the open sky, than closed up in a stall. Maybe there was something to what FireCloud had told me about Bacas that night in my dreams, I thought briefly to myself. Upon hearing footfalls behind us, I turned to see Darkar and the girl coming in our direction.

Darkar introduced the young girl as Shayna, and bade her tell me the story of what had happened in the stable that evening. When she handed me the brush and the ointment, I could see that her hands were shaking, but when she took in a deep breath, she was better able to speak. It seemed that several of the younger boys working for the stable-master had covertly decided to cut off a lock of Bacas' silver mane as a good-luck charm. However, in doing so, the knife slipped and pierced Bacas' neck.

Being startled by the wound, Bacas threw the boy off his back rather briskly and kicked open the door to his stall by splitting the wood near its hinges. When the stunned child caught his breath, the three boys decided that they had better get the horse back into a stall before they were found out. But when they attempted to do so, Bacas obviously decided that he was not returning. And that was when Shayna had run to Darkar for help, knowing that this horse had been in his party.

"Shayna, you have served Darkar and me well, by your attention in this matter. Since you are employed at these stables, I wish you to be the sole keeper of Bacas, while I am here in Soliath. No others are to attend him, only yourself. And, I wish him to have free run of the stable yard at all times. He is not to be tethered, nor confined to a stall," I instructed her carefully. Quite happy with her assignment, she nodded to me and bowed toward Darkar, as she took her leave of us. Quickly she returned with a stool and proceeded to tend to Bacas' wound and then brushed his coat. It was obvious that Bacas liked her as well as I had, and he cooperated with her completely.

Darkar suggested we take a walk past the main gates of the city to check on Isaiah before turning in for the night, but I bade him wait for a moment. I returned to the stallway to fetch my last arrow from the wall where I had flung it. Upon retrieving it, I replaced it my quiver. And as we passed Shayna and Bacas, for the last time that night, I decided to hang my favorite quiver around the neck of my companion Bacas. He had carried it so many times for me in the past, that it just seemed natural for him to wear it now. Although I had never seen other steeds serve as weapons bearer, it did not really matter. He was no ordinary steed, and his distinctive coloring and his quiver, was simply a reminder to others of this very fact: he was no ordinary horse.

The slow leisurely walk toward the gates was refreshing, although we had to politely pause periodically, for Darkar was the hero of celebration that night. Upon arrival at the main gates of the City, we could see a great many warriors exchanging places for the final watch. It was then that I noticed that Guard Capt. Zonia had somehow managed to coax Isaiah inside the walls of the city. Although he would not venture far from the gates, he was at least on the inside, and was seated with his back against the walls, dozing off and on.

As we turned to head back in the direction of the table of Onaeus, Darkar stopped and turned abruptly. He appeared to have seen a high-ranking official, and suddenly came to attention with his arms slapping down along his sides. This action triggered a reaction from all warriors present, as they too, suddenly stood erect at their position. There was no sound to be heard from those nearby, and all eyes were upon Darkar.

At that point, Darkar made a series of strange gestures, which with I was not familiar. He closed the fist of his right hand and pounded it once against his chest and then extended his arm, with a flat hand palm down, pointing in the direction of Isaiah. It was obvious that the command, whatever it meant, was well understood by all present.

Having grown to know this great warrior in battle and friendship, I did not bother to question the meaning of his strange non-verbal command. I knew that Isaiah was in the Hands of Kala, and that I had nothing to keep me from sleeping that night. And as Darkar and I walked back toward our beds, I could feel that we were in a place of safety. The Forgotten Travelers had survived their journey, and would be around to share the morrow.

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