Five Dragons: TLoP: Chapter 7: Magic for Beginners
Five Dragons: TLoP:
Chapter 7: Magic for Beginners Gloomy clouds pushed in front of the bright
moon back and forth, and brought
an eerie shadow over
a dark fortress. Adoptable
armors moved behind
the battlements and let the menacing look of
their yellow eye-lights glide
over the terrain. Through long corridors echoed the faint sound
of fast consecutive
steps. The person was wearing a serious
expression, holding an open letter
in his right hand. With a heavy
jolt the door was
pushed open in the
throne room and he joined the high halls.
Two voices echoed through the room. He quickly walked over to the stone chair, but he
found his master not only as expected before.
A strange figure hovering
beside him. This was
wrapped in a gray robe, which was decorated with some strange emblems. Five of them were known
to him before, but it was yet
another present. One that he had not seen before.
The man's face he could not see
in the shadow of the hood. Kargesh and the stranger talked tense. "How difficult can that be Kargesh?" said the appearance energetic.
"It takes the right people, those with
a strong soul." he replied with a deep faint
giggle and kept
doing his bony
hands together, his
eyes on the stranger. "My
soul vessels have huge claims." he added in amusement. "What the
selection of victims,
unfortunately, increasingly limits."The stranger saw the silver mask in silence. Kargesh held an open
hand forward. "Do not worry."
he began. About
his palm a small purple
shimmering cloud pulled
together and took
the form of a gemstone, embedded
in a metal ring, which had the appearance of a
self-devouring snake. The head large stone
shone with two
colors. A dark flame
red, which moved seamlessly into a flowing midnight blue. A shadow
moved in the vessel like a beating heart."Arkas was so
friendly." he began slowly with a
sinister chuckle. "And
it also works as advertised?"
asked the phenomenon
seriously. "Yes. And yet a little more,
hehehe." Kargesh replied with a purple sheen in the eyes. "In what way?" persisted the stranger. "With the help of Arkas
power I could get free Mustaine, Broderick, Ellefson
and Drover from their
eternal imprisonment." "The
undead generals of the Northern
Kingdom?!" interrupted the stranger surprised in the word.
Kargesh approached curved his interlocutor and looked at him with his
violet gaze. "Not
THE generals of
the Northern Kingdom. Now MY
generals of the Northern Kingdom.""Their shadow will fall upon the land
as a putrid
disease. Eagerly he will suck the life and
strengthen its ranks with it." he said, and turned to his
throne. "They will be my
Megadeath!" he shouted at the ceiling while he
held his arms apart. His diabolical laughter
echoed through the room. "And the power of
Kyleth?" asked the apparition skeptical. "You cant rob
forces from a dead guardian." Kargesh raised his arm and opened
his hand. About the palm is another spongy
image of dark smoke
began to form. An identical jewel was to be seen. But
with the difference that the stone had no color. The dark
lord closed his hand and the image of the
empty soul vessel vanished
at the same time. "The
ritual will work." A weak laugh accompanied his last
words. "And what about the preparations for this?"
hooked the stranger determining after. Kargesh threw his dark look briefly
into the void, before turning to the unknown. "Are almost
complete." he replied
with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Last only
missing the dragon and his companion. I
hope he will be ready for it?" he added darkly. "Because if Roland not survived the process our agreement is
lapsed!" "Why is that Roland so important to you?" asked the
curious phenomenon. Kargesh approached him and
raised his eyes, which was accompanied
by a very quick flashes out of
his silver mask. "That's
not part of our deal."
came as a serious
answer. "So, I hope he is ready for it?" he repeated
his words again. The stranger lifted his head. "Oh he will,
and after the ritual you can have him
as promised, the dragon and everything else I'll..." He broke off his
sentence and turned frantically
to the messenger
to come to.
A quick hand movement,
and the stranger had disappeared shortly thereafter in a
ring of flames. Kargesh looked at the messenger with a curved posture. "What?!"
he threw him
slightly angry at
the feet. The man winced scared and stopped for
a brief moment are intimidated. After he swallowed
once empty he
made the final steps toward
his master. "A message from Sorlacom,
sir." he said, slightly shakily holding out the letter. Greedy, the man under the silver mask grabbed
the document and read it hastily. The menacing glint in his eyes
grew brighter, accompanied by a sinister chuckle. He
turned his gaze to the messenger.
"More vessels will be needed." The messenger nodded to his master once and walked away silently out of the hall. The diabolical
laughter of his lord accompanied him. ...... In a conference room in Drakensang there was
a tense atmosphere. Harkin
leaned thoughtfully over a map spread out
on the round table. More men held up in space.
All uniformed and
with a very serious look on the face. The ornaments
on the chests after they were
captains and generals.
Mardon was also
among them. "The reports are at best vague." said one
of the men. "However, let
not out of consideration." He continued. Harkin grabbed
his chin thoughtfully. The white dragon claw
around his neck tightly clasped. "At best, vague?" he muttered to himself
skeptical. Wearily, he fell into his chair and
took a deep breath. "Such reports are not appeared
for ages. This was long before the Hunter War.
The Sorati had
eradicated the disease at that time. "Thoughtfully, he let his gaze wander over the map area of Kaladros. "Is there news of the Dragoner from
Tura'an?" asked the king tired. "None. My Lord." replied a captain. "I did not expect
anything else." Harkin said
worried, glancing at the map area was
labeled with Tura'an.
"The most powerful army in Daracoss, and
they sit quietly
in their strongholds." "They kept always covered." began another
general. His armor bore the standard of
Parem. "During my time, this army only
once have appeared. Since when the troops of the hunters
were uprising at their gates." he pointed to the map on the location of the Tura'an
city. "The soldiers of the insurgents not held the
defenders stood a day. And after the massacre, again lay resting
on the fortress. Just as they were waiting
for something." he threw a serious look in
the round. "And when that dark shadow does not
move them to action, I wonder what
they will wait.""I only know that we can not wait any longer." Mardon walked to the edge
approach, pointing to a point on the map,
which was in the north of Stormwind. The capital
of Sullfar. "A small village, approximately
in this region is also fallen victim to this
shadow." he began hesitantly.
"The dragon riders of the storm cliffs
confirm this report." "Also!?" interrupted one of the men in the word.
"How long are we going to do nothing?" he threw
plaintively in the
round. "If this threat is
achieved to Parem it will be too
late to prevent a nationwide
panic. The rumors bubbling already at the
stop. A flood of refugees from this scale we
can not get at without
further notice." With a loud bang,
one of the generals placed his fist on the table. The coat
of arms on his shoulder belonged
to the guard from Sullfar. "If the enemy reaches Parem!?" He waved his angry gaze between the other men back
and forth. "Sullfar is
already on the front now! How are we
supposed to defend ourselves against
an enemy that has not even been shown?!" he asked aloud. "What do you mean by an enemy who has not
yet been found?" Mardon asked
skeptically. "You were not there.
I have seen the ruined settlement myself." began the sullfarish general with resistance. His face tell, that it was a very disturbing image. "There were no warnings. Only a
black shadow fell over the
territories. We only saw that we were too late." His hand circled over a small area, south of
the split mountain. "Stonefall
was the first village." "This overwhelming
aura was almost
unbearable. Even the air you breathed seemed
to freeze the lungs. The purest battlefield, bloody weapons and
severed limbs, but
no bodies. Neither of any attackers nor
the defenders. The doors of all the houses were entered and their content
was also demolished.
Depth grinding marks coined the slush on the
roads. All of
the dwellings led
to the church. ""At the site of the chapel floated a dark
veil. A low
mist of death dash
over the numerous open graves. All buried
coffins were desecrated. The traces after
was not dug
with a shovel. The stone steps to the entrance of the church towering also
showed grinding marks. The brown color of
slush gave way to the deep red tone of
blood, which drew
up before the
desecrated socket in the hall. The stone
pedestal was drenched
with the coagulated juice of life
of the victims. The blade responsible for
this massacre put in impaled skull
of the priest. The metallic snake sticking out of the
forehead of the man whose hazy eyes looked
lifeless from the ceiling. Still burning cages
testified as last
of the grisly
deed, which had
taken place here. Around the base were dried symbols written.
These characters resembled none that I know rites
or incantations. Something
I've never seen before. Just like Wyverex had even turned himself
away from this place." Shaking his head, he finished his report. "In the north of Sullfar
only exist lifeless
ruins now." "What we intend
to do in this regard?" asked another General.
His banner showed the colors of Moredhel.
"Now." Harkin began quietly. He rose
from his chair and threw a challenging look
around. "It is time
for...". ...... A warm sun climbed resistant up
the horizon. Only occasionally
crossed some clouds their bright sheen. Roland just had a nice, though not necessarily restful night, and wanted
to spend the following morning cozy
with his female dragon. Someone, however, had planned a different
sequence for him.
This one knocked right now at his door impatiently. With some resistance, he turned the key and unlocked
the door. In a
frantic movement he pulled
on it and looked in a slightly skeptical looking
face. Timmy stood before the
doorway and looked
at Roland with obliquely down the head.
He looked at his disheveled
hair and glanced into
the room. Kyndle was dozing peacefully on
the bed. His quizzical expression slowly turned into a tired grin. "Have
I been wondering what that yesterday could have
been like." He muttered
softly to himself. "What?!" hooked Roland
by surprise. "Long
night? Huh?" Timmy asked,
amused. Roland let his gaze wander to the
side and slightly embarrassed
scratched his head. "Something like that." he argued
tired. Tim looked at him
for a brief moment motionless. Then he
jerked his head quickly.
"Um, yes." he began. "Breakfast
is ready. And this since uh, a long time." he added awkwardly. Roland drew skeptical
his eyebrows together. "Ok."
he answered slowly. "I'll make me ready." he added and pushed the
door shut again. Taken a step backwards into the room, he turned his back to the entrance. Roland exhaled facilitates and let sink his forehead forward.
"Oh, man!" he thought out loud to himself. Timmy stood in front of the closed entrance and
stared in surprise at the ceiling
while he exhaled. "Oh, man!" came softly over his lips. Five silent minutes
later Roland came
attracted out of his room. He quietly closed the door and looked after skeptical
to the still waiting Timmy. This stared
awkwardly into the void. Roland stood beside him
and looked like he, in the upper corner of the corridor.
"What's there?" he asked
Tim whispered. This
twitched a bit shocked with his head between
his shoulders. Once
shaken the face he
began to walk ahead. "Um, nothing." was still fast his
response. Skeptical after looking, Roland
followed him. ...... In a clearing in
the widow forest, two men were
sitting in the grass. One held his arms clasped together
and looked at his colleague. "You think he finds the way to this place here?" Torben asked wearily. Aaros smiled
in his meditation easily. "Without a doubt." he replied softly. "He
might be here sooner, if you had not advised me to give the letter to Timmy."
he added amusement. "Yeah, now it's my
fault again. What?" bleated Torben. Aaros
smiled quietly to himself and returned to his meditation.
His colleague looked at him tense. He walked closer to him and looked into his
collar. Aaros grumpy twisted
his face. "What's wrong?"
he asked. Torben
expanded astonished eyes. "What happened
to your tattoo?" he asked curiously. "What about it?" hooked his
comrade skeptically. "Well.
It is gone."
he answered, pointing with his finger on it. A broad smile was
reflected in Aaros face. "Just like yours."
he said calmly. "Why that?" Torben asked again with a slightly overmatched face. "It's
simple." began his colleague.
"When we made our decision to stand on
the side of the companion,
we let our past behind. All oaths and signs of it
are now history." "Hmm."
came from Torben thoughtful, as if he not knew what to
do with these words. "On the
power of the companions is more to it than
you like to admit. And it's a miracle that
you have noticed it at all."
added Aaros with
a grin. Torben closed weakly smiling his eyes,
shaking his head. ...... Tim opened the
door in the
dining room with a lot of
momentum, which immediately earned
him the attention of all in the
room. Daniel looked at him
seriously and shook
his head. Timmy stopped for a quick moment in the doorway and looked
casual in the
many faces. Then he cocked his head to the side and stalked into the room, but he threw Daniel a * I must tell you something
important * look. Roland also stepped
into the room and nodded to the audience once
tired. He looked briefly
skeptical about Tim before he sat down at
the table. This tugged Daniel a little
nervous in the kitchen. "Can that not wait?" Daniel snapped
a bit annoyed. Tim looked at him with big eyes and took a deep breath as
he lifted a finger. "Um, no." he added silently. "You know, that I heard this noises yesterday
night." Daniel looked at him
seriously. "Of course!"
he began, annoyed. "And because of your interference to these
little imagination I have half the night not
sleep a wink!" he added sullenly.
Tim looked at him with big eyes. "No imagination."
he argued excited. "You will not believe me, but ....." ...... A large man leaned over the bar counter and looked thoughtfully down in a half-full
glass. Sullen he
looked at the gentle sloshing
content. In a quiet
clearing of the throat, briefly shone a purple spark
in his red eyes on. Slowly exhaling, he reached
for the glass and raised it slowly to his
mouth. "Well if that is
not my big tempered
friend." sounded a seductive voice in
his back. A long-haired woman moved into
her blood red dress
elegant past him. Her also red glove slipped gently
over the shoulders of the man."I'm here Liz.
What did you have for me?" he asked the lady seriously and looked at her skeptically. Lizbeth leaned
to his right at
the bar counter and
made it her backless dress ostentatiously, which earned her some excited
looks from the other guests. "Not so rough my
big guy." she said softly. The
woman put the man a hand on his shoulder and leaned close to him. With
her other hand she stroked his bald head. The man shrugged
again with the
shoulder in order to get rid of her touch. He ignored the deep insight
into Lizbeths neckline and
gave her a challenging look. "To the point, girl!" he said aloud. She
looked at him slightly disappointed.
"Ohh, we are in a hurry today my
beauty." she whispered into
his ear as she ran her finger across the cheek. "So hurriedly I
have you not in remember."
she said with a dubious
smile. He grabbed her hand and pulled her
abruptly downwards, while he looked at her determining.
"Again. To the point, girl!" He spoke with a purple glint in his eyes. The
fine lady sat slightly
disappointed on the stool and threw her big
guest a weak
smile. "Ohh Larzarus,
no time for small Lizbeth." she said slowly. "But if you absolutely will so." she added slightly plaintively.
Her just so playful
glance turned now abruptly into a business
serious face. "The hiding of your refugee is Ironwing."
she said determinative and looked at the man sober.
"It most certainly." he
said seriously. Lizbeth got up and walked over behind
him. Halfway, she stopped and
looked at him questioningly. "What have you got to do with him?" he looked straight ahead and drained
his glass. After he got up he gave her a
quick look. "You do not need
to know." he said with a faint violet glint
in his eyes and walked outside. Liz stood
at the counter, arms crossed, looking skeptical
and suspicious to the door. Behind her, a
strong woman was folding her arms as well. "How
did you find him?" she asked Lizbeth. She gave
her a quick look. "Oh
Patricia, you'd be surprised which
things men discuss." A
furtive smile appeared
on her lips. "When they are in company with
a beautiful woman.""And now go." she added with a serious
tone. "I think it is still
a bad idea." Patricia said sullenly with a
faint shake of the head. "But
I owe it to him." she added before she
followed Larzarus out of the
tavern. ...... Timmy was bustling little
clumsy in the kitchen back and forth, waving slightly nervous
with the poor. "Is that
possible at all? I mean, uhm, dragon and that?" he
threw Daniel a
harried look. His
colleague breathed once with
closed eyes and
looked aghast up
towards the ceiling. "He can not really be serious?" he thought to himself as
he rubbed his hand on the forehead. He raised both hands
and looked at
Tim seriously. "Now
breathe deeply and sit down for a while. You make me just nervous with your hectic
fuss." Daniel pulled a chair from under the table and placed it in front of Timmy. This looked at
him a bit puzzled. "I
mean only. Um, I
can not really imagine how..." "You do not." interrupted Daniel in the word. "That alone is Roland's thing." He
raised determining the index finger in his
direction. "And you would do well to leave
it at that." Tim raised both
arms up and put a
slightly bewildered look on. "But
I can not...." "Yes, you can!"
drove him Daniel
again in the word. "And you will." he added determinative. His nervous
colleague looked at him with big eyes. He stood upright,
closed his eyes and breathed out calmly. "Good.
I will." he said with a raised
index finger. He reached
into his pocket and pulled out a
folded piece of paper and held it
against Daniel. "But
you give Roland
then this note." argued Tim and handed him the letter before
he left the kitchen. "I need something to
calm now." he muttered softly to himself. Daniel also went
out of the kitchen, the letter in his hand. Roland sat somewhat thoughtfully
in his chair. His thoughts were buzzing at the moment just to Kyndle. But this
little daydream broke off as Daniel placed his hand on Roland's
shoulder. He also
held out the letter. "I do not know how
long he should give you that, but here." he
said with a small smile. "Who, Tim?" Roland asked wearily. "Right."
Daniel replied as
he sat down on the chair next
door. Roland looked at him slightly curious. "What
he had to say
to you so urgently?" he asked. With closed
eyes Daniel lowered his forehead slightly forward.
"You could possibly help me with
that." he began. "I know that Kyndle spent every night in your room." He looked
a little embarrassed at Roland. "Yes that's
right." he argued slowly.
"Now." continued Daniel,
but he waved his hands around something. It
caused him to find the right words slight difficulties.
"He now seems
to be convinced that she has now spent a night with you."
he looked at the young man briefly seriously. "And
since Im not equal all what Tim think take
for real coin,
I would like to
hear your version of it." He looked at
him for another silent moment.
"Assuming you even want to talk about it." Roland retired jumpy back in his thoughts. "Oh man!" he thought out loud to himself. Exactly such a conversation
he wanted to go out of their way
purposefully. He was
torn. What should
he do now? "Lies, it was all
the same, until the next embarrassing moment? Or make a clean sweep and
take the many shocked
looks in buying?
Will they respond really shocked? What
all will probably think of it. That the
companion was with the dragon, to
which he is imprinted in bed?
The laughing stock of Ironwing? Degraded
to a geek?" Ideally, he
would have screamed loudly, but in the mental confusion he
heard a distinctive "Meep"
out. Roland came back from the
inner battlefield of his head and looked into the skeptical-looking face of
Daniel. This looked surprised
to the entrance of the dining room,
where just an
orange-red female dragon had pushed
open the door and walked to her companion. She pushed her head under Roland's arm through
and looked at him with her
deep blue eyes. Their
turquoise glitter was not to be overlooked. He returned the warm eye
contact and placed his hand on her forehead, which the females elicited
a soft cooing. In his mind he could
feel it clearly, as she would offered him a
hand and help him to get on his
feet. In reality, now stood an orange-red
dragon lady at his
side. "Had she noticed
my slight panic?"
he wondered. Kyndles little nudge with her
nose quickly confirmed his suspicions. In Roland's
face appeared a faint
smile. He reached both hands to
her head and pulled
him gently towards him. Kyndle closed cooing her
eyes as she felt his forehead on
hers. "Shall I tell him?" he whispered to her. The
dragoness let out a small "Churr" of herself, leaning something more towards
him and then began to purr softly. He
loosened his touch and stroked her slowly with
one hand on the cheek. The bright turquoise shimmer
of her eyes shone
literally. Deep inside
he could feel it. Roland raised his eyes to Daniel, who looked
at him confidently. After a long
breath, he looked at him seriously.
"Well. Its." he began hesitantly.
"Yes, I've now a partner." he
said and left, at the last words his view
fall in two beautiful blue dragon eyes.
Kyndle cooed softly,
put her front legs on his legs and lifted her head to his high.
Roland put a hand to her cheek. Cheerfully she closed her eyes and purred softly. The face
slightly to one side, met the lips of a young man and
an orange red
dragoness. Daniel widened astonished the eyes, but he had to smile slightly embarrassed. After the loving lip contact,
he stood up and nodded to the two. "Nice for you both." he said and walked past them out
of the room. The two looked fell
deep into her eyes, nose to nose. The quiet
purr of the dragoness
was in the air. The other people in the
room, which turned
their somewhat curious and at the same time astonished
looks on the
couple, seemed not disturbing both in any way. ...... In a tantalizing place
called War Sister, a grumpy-looking but
well-armored dwarf sat at the counter and pushed his glass again and again from one hand to the other. "What causes such a superb item like
you to such a beautiful place?" asked
a lady from behind. She sat down next to the
elegant guest and
put her free sexy legs crossed. She
wore a tight green dress with a large nick
in the matching skirt.
The top part seemed the magnificent bust of
lady hardly withstand.
"I'm Sandra." she whispered playfully
and leaned far
forward. What turned her cleavage a beautifully showcase. "Good for you." grunted the
dwarf. "And now piss off!" he added sullenly and took
another sip from his glass. The
lady waved once condescending to the
unfriendly guest and
stalked to the next opportunity."Kumash Gor. Good." came a monotone
voice in his back. With a skeptical expression, he turned to the source.
Surprised, he looked in two thick round
glasses of another dwarf. "Is that a
joke!?" he accused him of
the feet and swung
his gaze around the room. "I said just the first,
not interested." he added with
an angry look. "Let's go. Leaving!" he said with his head to the side pointing.
The second dwarf raised
his hands in the negative.
"You misunderstand. Message. From me. Name.
Barnabas." he said dryly. Kumash lifted surprised
his eyebrows and
scratched his beard under the chin. "The
great dragon expert, huh?" he said and
looked down the
shape of his bar
stool. "Well, I would not
call it great after all." he added in amusement and
reached for his glass. Abutting he picked it
up. "What do you want from
me?" he asked
curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"As I recall you wanted to visit me
already on the
Split Mountain." he added
with a grin. Barnabas pushed his
glasses and stood up straight.
"Wanted. Yes. Unfortunately missed meeting." "So, what is so important now that justifies
my long way here?" Kumash Gor asked
again, but this time with a
serious facial expression. The
dragon expert made
a step toward Kumash. "No time. Statement too long. Fact. You
a companion." Barnabas said soberly. Kumashs eyes widened
in surprise. Slightly nervous he
looked the dwarf by
the thick glasses. "What do you mean with that?"
he threw him
tense at the feet. "Sings. Clearly."
Barnabas began monotonically. "Weapon.
Guard of the
temple. Split Mountain.
Emblem on the neck. Arkas. No doubt about that." easily shocked by the details of
the dragon expert he had his head thoughtfully
sink and put a
hand on the mark
on his neck. "Sit. Now!"
demanded Kumash on the other dwarf.
Barnabas did as
he was told and placed himself
on the stool next to him. With a sour look he
watched the spectacle wearers. "I have no idea why
you're so interested
in it." Seriously he stared at him. "From
this so-called prophecy I want to hear nothing." determinative he raised
a finger. "I only want to
find the asshole that
killed my father. And Arkas offered me a
chance." Barnabas looked confused. "So." Kumash began again. "Since
you're here now." Prompting he
looked at the dwarf. "The dragon told me that a so called
Roland can help me to find this scumbag. Do
you know someone like that?"
he asked with a slightly crazy look. Barnabas took
a breath heavily. The disturbing stories that
are circulating around this
Kumash Gor presence him not really fair. "Well.
Actually........... "...... In the widow forest, two souls
roamed through the thicket. A young man who thoughtfully
carries a letter before
him. Behind him stalked an orange-red female dragon around. "That's...Hmm."
Skeptical Roland turned
the paper in front of him around. Lowered the
letter he looked between the trunks and bushes
back and forth. However, he put the note fall unexpectedly
as he was pushed by something in
the back. An amused "Chirp"
filled the air as he laboriously bent down to
pick up the document again. "You find that funny?" He asked his
partner with a broad grin on his
face. The amused cooing of the dragoness was the answer. A
turquoise spark alternated
between their eyes. Behind her he saw the form of a larger stone.
Checking he raised the directions in his
field of vision. "There!" he spoke aloud and pointed to the trail next to the stone.
Kyndle gave a
cheerful "Chirp" of
herself and made a few steps
ahead. She stopped and gave him a
playful look as
he passed her. Smiling, he
looked her in the beautiful blue eyes, where he discovered her turquoise sparks.
"We.." PENG!"With a dull crash, his sentence trailed off. Startled the orange-red
female took an aggressive posture and growled
at the joined man. Roland came quickly to
himself. As a reflex, he laid his hand on his sword and held the
blade tip against the stranger. The man
was thrown by his
crash to the ground and remained
in his sitting
position. Submissive he raised his hands. "Roland not!"
he cried anxiously. Kyndle immediately took back
a peaceful attitude, as she recognized the
voice. "Conrad?" asked Roland
surprised. The man pulled back the hood of his cloak and came Conrad's
face to the fore. "What by the Five are you doing out here?" asked
the companion as he pocketed his weapon and
handed him a hand to help up. Conrad grabbed
the offered help and stood up again. "I break a promise." he said
soberly as he patted the dust
out of his pants. "What promise?" asked Roland. "One that I
gave to my mother." Conrad began, pointing a finger at him. "I had promised her, after a long discussion not to want to attend with
your magic training."
Roland noted in
his tone that he felt very uncomfortable,
to act again the
words of Catherine. But the
lure of the magic was stronger at the moment. His eyes betrayed that
undeniable. Conrad laid his hand on Rolands shoulder.
"Allow you me, to attend your
training?" he asked hopefully. "I will not disturb you, honest." he added eagerly. Roland
saw it in his eyes. He wanted, no demanded
to be really
there. "I'm not so sure." he cast
skeptical. "What about your mother?" he asked.
"She must not
know it, right?" argued Conrad quickly.
Thoughtful Roland threw a glance at Kyndle,
which immediately nodded at him approvingly and with a gentle cooing.
"Fine." he began confidently and
held up a finger in front of Conrad's face. "But you explain everything if she gets wind of it."
"What she always
do!" he thought to himself. Conrads
relief brought a big
grin in his face. "Good." Roland said, and stroked his female
dragon on the head. What drew her a gentle purr.
With obliquely down
the face he looked at the directions again. Conrad
stood beside him and held his head also tilted
to one side as he looked at
the paper. Kyndle sat on the ground and
looked at the two as they stared at a piece of paper in their comical
attitude. The eyes half closed escaped
her body an amused cooing. Conrad quickly pulled
the directions out of Rolands
hand, turned it 90 degrees and
put it again between the fingers. "So it should be better." He said
dryly. Then he gestured with one hand in
the direction on
which Roland had came from.
"This way, by the edge." he
added with a grin. "Fine."
he murmured softly,
squeezing Conrad the paper in his hand and waved
to Kyndle to
go ahead. On the move, Conrad began to speak at length about his fascination for magic.
He knew many spells
and could even
recite incantations full heart. With
disappointing facial expression he also talked about his
non-existent access to it. Roland listened carefully to his words. It was a
new experience to see him so talkative,
because he never progress
beyond his everyday hawking.
He thought about, what a magician could accomplish
with his knowledge. But fate seemed to have intended for him another way. It took another hour
to the small
group reached the destination. Roland stepped around
the tree trunk to a clearing.
In the middle, Aaros
sat meditating on
the floor. Next off, Torben leaned against a
rock and raised his eyes against the new
arrivals. "Took long enough." said Aaros
as he stood up and walked towards Roland. He
raised his eyebrows in surprise when
he saw his companion. "Ah,
Conrad. Then your
mother had turned her decision?" he asked with his gloomy view. "Yes she
has." he replied
easily shaky. "Certainly
not." added Aaros, shaking his head and with a smile on his
lips. "But good.
She dont have to know that, right?" With a sigh of relief Conrad heard
his words. Aaros sat back down on the ground in the
middle of the clearing. With a little
distance from him, Roland took place.
Kyndle lay down beside
her companion, looking tense
to the magician. Between
them lay something on the ground, which was covered by a cloth blanket.
"Let's start with the foundation." Began
Aaros confident. "Magic
works substantially much easier than
you may might imagine." "The stories about the old magic
words which release enormous powers are all
wrong. The only known magic
with words is the incantation, but this
requires immediate knowledge of the necessary languages and formulas.
It ranges usually, if you get the effect of what you want to
achieve imagine."
Aaros raised a hand to his face,
with the palm up. He exhaled and shrugged
lightly with his fingers. With a soft crackling a
small flame was born on his hand,
and burned floating
like a torch. "If you hold yourself to
that thought does your access do the
rest." Chuckling he swung the small fire
around. "Some magicians
say it but
softly out to
concentrate better reference."
Again he exhaled quietly.
He quietly began to
mutter some unintelligible words.
The small flame grew
in intensity and began to run like a liquid over his fingers. Be
covered his whole hand, as if he had pulled over a fire glove. Gazing at the flames he
blew weak against
it. With the Wind the flame was gone and the light went
out. "Whether it's really
simple is up to the caster." He paused for a moment, in which his happy
face come serious.
"Let yourself but do not be fooled by such
shenanigans. Each application saps the willpower
of the caster. And
this is limited at
each." Demanding he looked at Roland. "You
know that you have am access to magic." the
teacher began quietly. "When did you last use it?" he demanded of his pupils. Roland did not have to think long. "Five years
ago. As...." he began
hesitantly and glanced
to his dragoness.
"Kyndle was snatched by such bandits. I used
it at the time but not done consciously.
I was afraid."
Again he crossed his eyes with his partner. "Fear?" hooked his teacher after
thoughtful. "Afraid for
her." argued Roland. "I was just angry at these men. The rest happened
by itself." "Anger. Aha." said
Aaros softly and
pulled the blanket from the object
down. Before him lay on the floor
a long rod with
a crystal tip.
In Roland's thoughts
formed a spongy memory
image. Kyndle glanced
to her partner and closed softly cooing her eyes.This rod he
did not see for the first time. One of his followers from
that night got one such case. With his back to the cliff he
was standing on the edge. He
saw the menacing glow
of violet crystal clear on. Before
he was stopped by his leader. Coming back from memory, he
looked at his teacher stumped. "That was you in that night? Or?" he threw
at him plaintively. "These flashes were your work!" Aaros exhaled
with closed eyes and looked at his disciple with
his dull eyes. "I
will not lie to you." he
began seriously. "Yes,
it was my spell. And
yes, I was that in that night with you at this cliff. Torben
was the second man under his coat." Without taking
his eyes from Roland avert he continued. "We
together with Larzarus
had the order to bring you back.""Larzarus!" he repeated the name several times in his thoughts. Finally
his mother's murderer had a name. His anger against
this man now
burned strong. He
felt a powerful force in himself. It went
through every fiber of his body. His clenched hands were
shaking slightly. "Bring back? Why?" hooked Roland easily
angry. Kyndle felt
frightened his memories
of that night, but she were overshadowed by his anger, which not allow her access to him. Much more grabbed his anger over
on her. With raised
lip she showed with
a quiet growl her sharp teeth. The pupils
contracted to slits, her deep blue eyes also
directed to Aaros. The magician sat without
a reaction since
it left and
continued. "We did not know.
And we did not have to know. It was a simple delivery
job that we had
procured by Larzarus. We knew the
name of the target person and the place of
delivery." "Just a
simple delivery job!?" Roland
repeated the words. The air around him began
to pulsate, and a
strong gust of wind shooed the
trees around the clearing on. Torben looked up to
heaven and sat up, he loosened his folded
arms and grabbed Conrads collar. Without
a word he pulled him behind the rocks. Conrads nervous around waving
could not change the fact. "Claire's death was not intended." said Aaros further
left, his dull
gaze always directed
to Roland. "Do not
mention her name!" he said with
anger. In his voice echoed something dark, as
were talking something bad by. "If
that was not provided, why she then died in
that night?!" hooked Roland after dark.
A strong gust of wind pulled from the
treetops down and circled around the tense conversation. Kyndle stood
on all fours and snarled menacingly at the
mage. A faint glow in her throat warned of the lurking flame
shock. Roland saw
the picture of his injured mother in front of him. He felt the fleeting warmth
of her hand on his cheek. Her desperate tears in
her eyes as she continued sending
her child in the dark. Aaros took a short
breath. "Larzarus asked her for your whereabouts."
he began again.
To hear that name again fueled his anger
further. The force
of the wind gusts also increased. Was just
like the fiery lights in the throat of the dragoness
brighter. Her menacing
growl joined the
dull hum in the
air. "And when Claire gave no answer to him, he
took her life." "STOP IT!!!" With a contorted position he unleashed the pent-up
force. Kyndle demonstrated
at the same time, her scorching breath of fire. In a fleeting moment Roland
thought, to see the figure of a man in front of him. But the shaded outlines
turned away from him and finally disappeared
into the void. A huge, burning shock wave swept across the clearing. The trees in the
immediate vicinity held not
stand the heat.
The fire shrank the
thick trunks to
black coal pillars,
which coincided with
the subsequent pressure in itself. The thick cloud of dust hung over the smoldering
clearing, which sank
slowly to the ground. Conrad pulled his head between his shoulders
startled, as the
hot blast swept over his guard. After a brief moment of silence, he ventured a curious
glance into the clearing. He
burned his hand on the hot stone
as he walked around it. Frightened and amazed
at the same time he looked at the picture, which was created under the dusty curtain. Aaros pushed
the shimmering purple rod right into the
ground. Of the crystal in the direction of the magician, a wedge-shaped area, which was spared by the
flames as the only path stretched. Leaning
on his hands and knees Roland
coughed heavily, gasping cramped for breath. Kyndle gave a worried "Meep"
by and put one of
her wings protectively over her
companion. Her head nestled against
his she cooed softly.
The teacher fell exhausted to the rear and let go of his staff, which has put away the purple sheen.
Breathing heavily, he looked astonished around."My face!" echoed Torben's voice
loudly through the air, as he also stood out behind the protective
stone. "In contrast, a volcanic eruption is indeed
the purest children's
birthday party!" he added with
dilated view. "That was close." said Aaros
exhausted. "Too close for my comfort!" added Torben....... In the garden of
Ironwing a man
lying comfortably in a deck
chair and read his
dreamy views over the countryside
glide. A faint crackle
came from the flashing
glow and moved on
through the dry tobacco. Relish the
dense smoke exhaling a gust of wind recorded his shoulder-length hair
and ripped the smoke in the direction of the forest. Relaxes the watched the
wind play and noticed how the
treetops inside tended
greatly. Eyes closed, he took another deep train of his sedative.
At the same moment a strong gust of wind blew from
the forest. The legs of the chair
a folded and the
man fell backwards. Roughly lying on the
ground, he opened his eyes in
astonishment. A high pitch-black
cloud shot in the woods in the sky. Held up
his hand: but his gaze searchingly between the rolled tobacco in his fingers and the dark shadow
back and forth. With a dilated look he blew strong.
A slow "Ok." felt out of his mouth. ...... Roland put his hand on the cheek of his draconic partner and
squeezed her gently in. Breathing heavily, he
listened to her quiet purr. Kyndle leaned
close to her companion.
In her mind she tried
to fathom how it could happen that she was be ousted by his anger.
She got with everything,
but had no more
control. A fact, which prepared
her an enormous fear.
For a fleeting moment she was afraid to have
lost the contact to him. With tears between her
closed eyelids she clung more closer to Roland.Aaros straightened cumbersome and looked
tense around. The
smokers remains looking
more his gaze to
his pupil. This lifted his head wearily
and looked at his
teacher confused. "You
had a powerful magic inside of you." he said soberly,
and went up to him. "Now we know how to open your
access." he added with a
faint smile and handed him
a helping hand. ...... "It will probably slow a habit that he amaze me." she said as she looked at the man
slightly smiling. However, this view was
reversed in a skeptical expression. "But a
dragon?" Daniel gave her a
sympathetic look. "Do you fear for the reputation of your name?" he
ventured cautiously to ask.
"Hector's reputation was severely injured when
his partnership with Katara came to light." Away the face of her interlocutors
she sighed tense. "I do not know." In one fleeting moment,
Daniel saw a
glimmer of fear in her eyes. However,
he was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "It's probably nothing." he added calmly. "Is
everything all right mistress?" hooked
Daniel by seriously. With closed eyes she waved
with a smile on her face negative back and forth. Catherine threw her thoughtful
look out the window and walked slowly approached the glass. "It is just this feeling, that something is observed us in distance. Something evil."...... Roland saw on him silent. "All
that just to activate my access?!"
he thought out loud to himself. "These aching memories to
relive one more time served
only an experiment?" he ignored the offered help
and was directed supportively
at his dragoness
on. With a mixed look
of anger and confusion he looked at Aaros.
Kyndle still leaned
against Roland, but did the same and saw
the teacher also with mixed emotions. He
raised his hands apologetically. "I'm sorry that it
had to be this way." he
began quietly. He turned and strode to
the spared patch
of earth. Lifted the rod, he sat down on the ground and put it before him on the grass. "The way to the magic is difficult." he explained, addressed the murky views of Roland.
"And for some painful."
he added determinative. The student listened
attentively to his words. But for that there was no appropriate excuse at the moment. Reluctantly he sat down
beside him. His dragoness lay on his side,
constantly keeping up the body contact. With
a warm smile for her, he put his arm around her shoulders, what her drew a soft
purr. Conrad still could not believe what Roland's
tantrum had produced. Questions flooded his
mind, but he was not actually
able to even
one of these places. Torben slapped him
lightly on the back of the head.
"Close your mouth." he spoke softly and stood with
arms crossed back to the now cooled stone.
A confused head shaking
later, Conrad joined
quietly to him. Aaros took with closed
eyes a deep breath. "To
have an access does
not necessarily mean being able to use it without further
notice." he began seriously. "Every magician
has his own way to
awaken this. Mine is between composure and concentration.
In meditation I gather the strength to be able to use it usable. For
others is pain the trigger,
or as in your case, anger."
Still the explanations listening expanded Roland
surprises his eyes. "Pain and anger are
powerful ways, but also the most difficult
to be controlled." continued Aaros
and gestured with
one hand on the scorched earth.
"With increasing intensity also drops the debilitating aspect stronger." In Roland's thoughts
at once shaped the image of the street
five years ago. He
threw the attacker with a shock wave to the wall and
then fell to the
ground unconscious. "Any application, even if only to make
fire, eating away at your strength. Will you take up, as just now,
you will suffer a fatal attack of weakness, which leaves you defenseless." "How do I know the line?" interrupted
Roland the words of
his teacher. "That's the tricky
part of the whole thing. This
limit can be seen only by itself. Yet, in a fit
of rage as the previous one
disappear any thought."
He gave his student a more serious look. "This type of
magic is able to kill his caster." Roland threw a startled
look at Kyndle, which lowered the face
and gave a frightened whimper. The thought of Roland's death she did
not like at all. With the curved finger under
her chin, he lifted her head up and looked into her moist blue eyes. The
otherwise bright turquoise ring
around their iris withdrew. He felt her feelings
as clearly as if it were his own. With
tears in his eyes, he pressed his forehead to hers. "I will never leave you." came softly from his lips. Roland stepped back a light piece and
put his hand on her
cheek. With one finger, he brushed the tears
from her face. Kyndle laid her head slightly to the side and approached him slowly.
He gently pulled his
partner to him and placed his
lips on hers. With
eyes closed, they kept their
bodies together. Aaros let them
this moment, and said not a word. Conrad looked a little stunned at
the two. Until Torben's hand again hit the back of his head. "I
said close your mouth." he grunted softly.After the deep kiss he gently stroked
Kyndles forehead. In her strong look briefly
shone on a
familiar twinkle, followed by the
bright turquoise hue in her blue eyes. "I love
you." he whispered to her.
With a happy murmur she pressed her head against his chest and purred
softly. "But there is one way to counteract this effect."
began Aaros again.
With the dragoness in his arms Roland
turned his gaze to his teacher. "What?" he asked
curiously. Aaros eyes fell
pointing to the bar in front of him. "Have you ever wondered why all
mages go with such a thing trough the
world?" he replied
with a negating shake of the head. "This is undoubtedly no walker." said the magician. "It's called a medium!"
Conrad was surprisingly the word. "This
must not act mandatory
around a rod itself. For the older generation, the rod having a practical enforced
as a walking aid." he said with a slight grimace. Aaros
looked at him in surprise. Roland was also surprised that he knew
this. "And now. Do
I have to buy such a walker?"
Roland threw at
skeptical. Conrad shook his head. "No, no. A medium can be
anything. A weapon, shield,
ring, necklace, even a piece of clothing." The fingers of one hand count down he listed the possibilities.
"The tricky thing is to customize one." Throwing a controlling view to Torben
he pulled his head between his shoulders. But this just looked at him skeptically and shrugged
with crossed arms his shoulders. "And how do I do that?"
Roland hooked after
encouragingly. "Aaros began to smile. "This
will be your next task."
he said determining. "But more about that later." Thoughtful he looked up
to heaven. "We should leave
this place now." ...... Two dwarfs below,
are entertaining on
the sidewalk. Together they went to the big market square. One wore a heavy plate armor. A mighty war hammer was tied
him on the back together with an old sword. The
hilt of the sword was worn and covered with
crusted blood. His
interlocutor was walking with hands held behind the back upright
beside him. A pair of glasses with thick round glasses
lay on his nose. "Five companions. One for each guardian dragon."
said Kumash Gor. "Hmph!" he grunted,
and then scratched the emblem on his neck. "What nonsense!" he added aloud. Barnabas shook
his head indignantly about the lack of
the companion. "This Roland thus also
belongs to this club? And where live these guy again?" he asked seriously. His colleague raised an open hand. "Disguise.
Too important. Will not reveal. Moment wrong. Too early." he replied monotonously.
Disgruntled over the
denied information he frowned. "For such
an acclaimed expert you have a shitty way
of expressing yourself." bleated
Kumash on. Barnabas
beard lifted slightly
with his slight
smile. He then moved
even his glasses. Continue talking appeared
the two dwarves in
the bustling crowd of the city. ...... Two men stood in
front of a large mirror. In the
floating surface was clearly recognized, a group of buildings. In addition to the greatest of the houses stretched
a magnificent garden. One of the two was curved
front of the image. A menacing twinkle stood
out the empty eyes of his silver mask. "Well done, Larzarus." he gasped softly.
"I hope you're satisfied?"
ventured the servant careful to ask. Thereupon
Kargesh turned around quickly. "Satisfied?" said he
inclined his face to the side. A slight anger
was in his words. "When Roland and
his dragon are in custody. Then I'll think about whether I'll be satisfied." He clenched his right
fist and raised it in Larzarus direction. The
man sank cramped to his knees.
A purple lights stood
out from his eyes. Kargesh moved his hand to him. To his servant,
a black cloud built on, which drew him to his master. The
fingers slightly apart and
Larzarus was lifted on. The dark lord raised his subordinates
before his face. The
lights threatening his violet eyes grew
brighter lights. "It is time
for the next step." Kargesh spoke
demanding. He lowered his hand and let his
servant from the sinister grip free. Coughing, he fell
to his knees. Cramped gasping for
air, he straightened up and looked at his master angrily. The purple gleam
in his usual red eyes faded slowly.
Breathing heavily, he stood up and turned to his Master. "Does that mean...?" "No, not yet!" Kargesh dropped him
according into the word. "You will observe
him further." he added
seriously, turning his bony hand on him. Larzarus once breathed
out heavily. In
his eyes briefly flashed on a violet tinge.
"For how long?" he asked skeptically. His
master looked at him with a
menacing light in his eyes.
"It depends on his progress."
he turned the bent
mirror. "He must be ready for it." he said sound. Stretched out his arm to the side, he pointed his servant to remove itself. "Go
now!" he ordered determinative.
Larzarus nodded silently to his master and then
walked out of the room. "Also Ironwing? How delightful!" echoed the sinister voice through the room followed
by a devilish laugh. ...... On the training ground
next to the barracks in Ironwing arrived a
small group with
an orange red dragon. "And
what is now going on with my medium?"
Roland asked curiously. Aaros looked at him calmly.
"There are in Parem only two people
who are in a position to make such a thing." He made an unexpected break
when he saw a girl who approached them. "Rebecca?" was surprised by Conrad
and ran to meet
her. Rebecca stopped and looked at him soberly. "Mother
wants to talk to you." she said encouragingly. Her brother left
his downcast head
fall forward. "How did she
belong?" he thought to himself. With a scowl
he invaded a faint "Hmph."
Out of his throat before he made his way to the house. Roland looked behind
the taciturn man.
But his eyes remained stuck at Rebecca, who
looked at him skeptically. "Anything else?" he asked suspiciously. The girl put her hands on her hips and tilted her head
slightly to the side. "Is it
true what Timmy tells?" she asked
curiously. Roland extended his surprised
eyes. "I uh,
so." he stammered awkwardly in front of him and looked frantically
to Kyndle. "By the Five!" he thought out loud to himself. How could he explain it
Rebecca, without she understood it wrong. She
is not yet of an age to think about such things, let alone talk about it. Roland scratched his head
and thought hard about the
right choice of words after. "Did you make this huge cloud over the forest?"
asked him Rebecca. He held open his mouth for a moment. This question he would
not expected now. Totally speechless he
stammered to himself. "I thought, I did,
ohh." "Yes it was him." replied Aaros left and broke the awkward silence. "There was a big reaction
when he woke his access."
"Can you show me that again?" the girl asked curiously. "I will
not tell it mom."
she argued hopeful with held hands on the back. Aaros slowly
shook his head. "That
would not be a good idea." he said and smiled
while Roland on. Roland bent down to the disappointed girl.
"I can show you something,
when I have it better under control." Rebecca frowned sullenly her
face and held it from its head
tilted to the side. "Promise?"
she said gravely and held out her hand. Roland
grabbed it and smiled
at her. "I promise." he
replied. From the serious face of the girl suddenly stabbed a
happy smile. She even went to the conclusion Kyndle,
stroking the female
over the edge
and went back on
the road to the house. Roland looked after
the girl until she disappeared behind the hedge. "Which two men you spoke?"
he asked Aaros and
turned back to his teacher. "In this regard, I come back to it later." he began. "First, you
need two things, which are indispensable
for the preparation of a medium." He saw his students to determine.
"A gem that
serves as a catalyst, and a gargoyle." "What for a gargoyle?" he prompted skeptical. Chuckling Aaros
raised a hand. "You
dont need a gargoyle directly, just a
bit of the ashes from such a
guy." "How should I approach the ashes of a
gargoyle? These creatures are
transformed always in stone when they are
killed." Torben surprised
lifted his eyebrows.
"There was a
well-read book on this subject?" he interjected into the
conversation. Roland nodded
and smiled a
little embarrassed. "You're right." agreed Aaros with him. "But it's enough if you catch one turned to stone gargoyles."
"And the gem? Are there differences which
variety or size do
I choose?" hooked Roland by.
"Not really." replied Aaros. "Variety and
size are up to
you. Your medium must look like you want it.
Right?""And where can I find a gargoyle?" asked the student. Torben placed on
next to Aaros and
crossed his arms as he looked at Roland demanding.
"Stood nothing about that in your book?" Roland took a quick glance to
the side and embarrassed scratched
his head. "I did not read it to the end." he replied. "Ok." cleared
Torben his throat. "These beasts
are also called as Tormentors of Travelers." he began
to explain. "Mainly because
of their fondness for stupid sayings to rail
against travelers. These are usually more
annoying than amusing,
what they failed comedian
but is not supporting.
Their name they have received because they like
a spitting. In
most cases, if you had discovered
them, or did not
respond to their stupid comments." "But that does not tell me
where I can find one." Roland threw in
the narrative. Torben
exhaled a little grumpy
and lifted him against
an outstretched finger.
"For this I wanted to come right away." He threw
him determinative to the head. "So. These
critters keep usually
on in rocky
environments. In Ordenary they were found sometimes in larger forests. But here
in Parem I
would try my luck in the vicinity of the
Grey Pass, on the border to
Dark Winter."Aaros looked to
the sun. "There is still time. If you had luck, you find
get one before nightfall." Roland pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Should I
tell it to Catherine?" "I will
tell her everything she needs to know about it."
interrupted his teacher. "Come
on, grab your bow and hunt you a gargoyle." he
said with a confident nod.
Roland saw with a
smile to his dragoness. "Well, how about?" he asked her with a warm look. The
female gave an affirmative
"Churr" of herself as she looked at her partner with big eyes. A bright sparkle stepped
out of the turquoise hint of her pupils and reflected
in Rolands eyes. ...... Koris and Catherine
remained in the study room. The woman stood before the closed window and threw
a tense look outside. "How long has this been going on?"
she asked the man. Koris looked at her with a thoughtful look. "On
the indication of the guards,
for several days now." "And we know who these
strangers are?" she asked anxiously.
James was briefly his gaze to the side soft.
"No." he replied. "It made every
time the impression that they
would explore the area. And whenever they were discovered they disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared." Catherine remained thoughtful her hand under her chin and
turned to the uniformed
man. "The guard
at the gate will be doubled and
led patrols around
the estate." Koris looked
strained at her with a serious expression. But he did not say a word. With the lifted hand he
saluted to his mistress and strode out of the room.
...... After a few hours, Roland reached the limit of the Dark-Winter forest. He stood with his horse at the junction road over the pass horror. Kyndle landed elegant next to him and gave a welcoming treatment "Chirp" of herself. A strange aura was above the canopy. He had heard some stories about the Dark-Winter. And now, so to be alone in this enchanted wood, just called them back awake. He shook his head. "Who could become dangerous to a companion and his dragon already?" he thought sarcastically to himself. But his weak confidence could not hide to be observed about this overwhelming feeling in him. Roland dismounted from his horse and tied it to the sign on the roadside. He grabbed his bow and threw the quiver over his shoulder. Turned to the thicket he laid his hand on the shoulder of his dragoness. Cooing she looked Kyndle at him with her blue dragon eyes. The bright turquoise spark in them took him out the uneasy feeling in the stomach. He put his hand under her jaw and pulled her head softly to himself. With eyes closed, he gave her a long kiss. Kyndle purred softly in the loving lip contact. "Thank you." said Roland then to her. He looked at his partner with a wink. "Let's get us a gargoyle." The dragoness gave a bright "Meep" by and walked a few steps ahead. Before the trees she stopped and gave her partner a challenging look. Roland closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He focused on Kyndle. Her body, her perceptions, her soul. The quiet sounds of the forest grew in volume. The shadow in the thicket of trees seemed easier to focus. With the help of her heightened senses, he moved through the undergrowth. And so the hours passed. But any movement in the forest, the source was unfortunately never hoped by a gargoyle. A deer fled terrified in the bushes as Roland came out from behind the tree. "Oh man!" he thought wearily to himself. He sat down on a stump and broke away from his connection to Kyndle. The female nudged him with his nose in the chest and cooed at him softly. With a questioning look she squatted down in front of him. "Do not worry." Roland reassured her and smiled warmly at the dragoness. "Is just a little tiring to maintain it for so long." The female nodded once cooing and added a faint "Chirp" to. After a short pause Roland stood up again. He wanted to pull his foot forward, but could not get at a root of the stump. Since there was nothing to keep himself firmly in his presence, he was somewhat unceremoniously in a moist mud puddle. His dragoness turned in surprise to him. The eyes half closed she cooed to herself amused. Roland sat up and wiped the dirt from his face. "You'll find that funny, huh?" he threw the female slightly plaintive contrary. Kyndle nodded at him with a playful "Churr". Roland met with his foot once with full force in the puddle and achieved some big brown splashes on Kyndle, which now looked at him soberly. He held his head slightly inclined as he met her gaze. "Not as funny as you thought, huh?" he said. The female approached him with slow steps and gave him a playful look. Roland quickly raised a hand. "Shhh!" he hissed. "Do you hear that?" he asked her and closed his eyes, the head turned slightly to the side. Kyndle saw him briefly in surprise, but did like him and listened out into the forest. Indeed. A low chuckle was not far to hear. Roland drew an arrow from his quiver and laid it on the bowstring. With cautious steps he approached bent the faint echo. Against a tall tree he stopped and took a searching look between the branches. A small shadow moved with a rapid speed under the leaves. "Mud in your face and mud in the brain, hehehe!" With a child's laughter, the voice from above came down. The creature let himself hanging down from a low branch and was briefly in the light of the setting sun. It was a gargoyle without doubt. "What has six legs and looks really stupid from the laundry?" asked the creature and pulled himself up on his tail to the branch. It sat down and gestured with his little claws on Roland and Kyndle. "That are you two! Hahahaha!" Roland took a sober look to Kyndle. "Torben was right as far as their sense of humor." he thought to himself. Tense the bow he took aim at the gargoyle. The shoot left the tendon and stopped in the wood of the great tribe. He did not hit the target. The creature pranced over the branches and kept waving his hands to his ears while stretching the tongue out of the mouth. "Not hit! Mud-Head! Nana nana nana!" It quipped amused from above. The gargoyle let himself down again on his tail from a tree branch and syringe Roland a targeted water jet in the face. "That`s a hit, you bonehead! Hihi!" It went as quickly as it came up again to the top. Roland wiped furiously dry the face. "This little wretch is going to tramp on my nerves." he muttered angrily to himself. Another arrow excited he aimed again at the leaping shadows. The arrow soared to meet by the tree crown without hitting his target. "If you shoot too many air holes you have no more to breathe. Hahaha!" Kyndle gave a low growl and took a deep breath. The slit eyes directed on the gargoyle she unleashed a flame shock from her throat. The heat burned brightly through the leaves wall and bared the little troublemaker. "Oh you're probably quite hot to catch me, what?" he said amused and took flight from the burnt hide.Roland and his dragoness took immediately to the persecution. Kyndle brought herself with a strong jump in the air and carried herself with a few wing beats over the treetops. Roland followed the quick shadow on the ground, which hastily moved from tree to tree. The numerous branches did not give him a clear shot and also Kyndle up the air had some difficulties to keep out so the small refugee in mind. The female gave a fire burst forward in the canopy, which the refugee to forced off to the side. Roland watched the creature as it stood still for a moment in panic and stared into the flames before it jumped further. "This is it!" echoed through his head. "With the right timing, it should work." The gargoyle lagging, he focused on his partner in the air. Kyndle felt the presence of Roland, as if he would speak directly to her. She recognized his intention in her mind and knew what she had to do. Kyndle approached the canopy and dropped her wings a bit to speed. She overtook the refugee and pulled the airline circular outward. The female saw Roland between the trees. This raised his arm and she could clearly hear his voice in her head. "Now!" It echoed through her mind. Inhaled deeply, a threatening lighting came out of her open mouth. Shortly thereafter, she ignited a searing blast of fire, which she joined in her circular flight around the fleeing gargoyle. Trapped by the flames, the creatures stood still, turned and looked around frantically.That gave Roland enough time to aim his target. Hissing, the arrow left the bowstring. The gargoyle more with his eyes frantically back and forth. But he noticed the zoom rocketing arrow too late. The pointed metal penetrated the chest of the creature, which hardened immediately. Grimaced painfully it turned into stone, and remained with the arrow in the chest on the tree branch. "OH JEAH!" cried Roland facilitated in the air. Kyndle swept with rapid wing beats over the flames and brought them to silence, before she landed elegantly beside her partner. With a cheery "Chirp" she fell around Roland's neck, which threw him swinging on the back. Landed in soft mud he held his dragoness who looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes. The turquoise shimmer in them shone brightly at him. A brief spark wandered between their amorous glances back and forth, before they closed their eyes and their lips met in a loving kiss. He held her head with both hands and smiled upon the beautiful warm contact. "You understood everything?" he asked softly. Kyndle gave a gentle "Churr" of herself while she lay purring on him. One moment they lay snuggled together. A deep sense of satisfaction spread through him. It seemed to be easier with every additional time, to make contact with her. Although he knew that they are always connected to a certain level, it was a nice experience to use this also specifically for him now. ...... In Ironwing an angry fierce debate between Catherine and her son Conrad was occurring, because he broke their arrangement and without her consent attended to Roland's magic introduction. Her anger intensified even further when she heard of the incident in the clearing. "What did you think you were doing? By the Five?!" she threw him plaintively at the feet. Conrad stood without saying a word there, the view turned sullenly to the side. "I had you expressly forbidden to participate in this action!" She looked at him with a worried look. "You would thereby be violated!" In that moment, his expression cleared as he looked into his mother's face. He saw it in her eyes. She made their way to him, because he had quite unconsciously gone with blind enthusiasm in danger. What would happen if Torben had not been brought him into coverage, if he were a little earlier come forth from behind the rock? Dejected, he let his forehead fall forward. "I'm sorry mother." With tears in his eyes he looked at her. Catherine walked up to him and took him lovingly in her arms. "All I want is just, that nothing terrible is happen to you." With eyes closed, she held her son. Somewhat reluctantly, he returned her gesture. She looked at him then encouragingly. "You may indeed be there. Promise me at least, that you think you get off when such experiments are pending." With tears in his eyes he looked at her smiling and nodding her once quietly. ...... Roland stood up and stared up to the branch on which lay the fossilized gargoyle. His boots sank down to the calf in the damp earth. "Alright." he thought aloud. "How do we get this down there?" He asked Kyndle. In his words sound she could hear clearly that he just had no desire to climb the tree. The female snorted strongly in his direction and jumped powerful to the trunk. The black claws beaten in the wood she climbed up to the gargoyle. She got onto the branch, which already strongly bowed under the additional weight to give a little nudge to the small statue. With the nose down, she joined at the spouts. Roland stood ready with uplifted arms and caught the hunting trophy. He looked at the stoned face of the gargoyle and smiled at it. "That's a hit, you bonehead." he said amused at the small statue.He heard a loud crack, followed by a surprised "Meep" about him. But he did not look up, his gaze straight ahead. Surprised, he turned around as nothing followed. But just at that moment landed a wider branch with an orange red dragon on the top in the wet mud. A brown mud wave engulfed him and the female dragon. In a quiet break, both looked at each other in silence. Kyndle shook her head and Roland was wiping the dirt from his face. Both looked for another moment still. In Roland's face a big smile grew as Kyndle could not suppress her playful glance. He walked up to her and stroked her gently on the head. "Come. Time to go home." he said amused and looked again at the gargoyle. The female turned back on all fours and walked satisfied cooing behind her partner. The moon already brought its white rays across the night sky as Roland with Kyndle arrived at the gates of Ironwing. He looked at the guards a little surprised, because not as usual two were staying at the gate. This time they were four. But he thought nothing of it because he wanted to get out quickly from the dirty clothes and into bed. Returned the horse in the stables he walked toward the entrance of the main house with hasty steps. Overcome the lower level he reached for the door. As of alone opened the entrance. Behind an upright man came with a tired look on his face revealed. Sasha looked Roland's appearance exactly, as well Kyndle. The dirty young man grinned at him a bit embarrassed. Sasha made a gesture saluting stooped and invited him with an outstretched arm to enter. "The water is already running." he said calmly while Roland and his dragoness passed him. Roland held the butler against the petrified gargoyle. "Can you please bring this to my room?" he asked with a faint smile on his face. The Butler held off the statue like a dirty rag from him. "As you wish." he replied. "Thank you, Sasha." Roland said, and went on his way to the bathroom, followed by a brown orange red female dragon. The butler nodded silently before he went off with the gargoyle. ...... The sun cast its first rays over the horizon, announcing the beginning of a new day. The long shadow of five towers pulled over the houses of the city Sorlacom. The bright sound of silver bells echoed down from the peaks of the Cathedral. Inside, a person kneeled in a gray robe before five stone pedestals. The eyes closed in prayer he muttered softly to himself. Four emblems floated with their bright blue light in front of the stone images of Sorathis, Arkas, Galvatros, and before the crumbling remains of the statue of Kyleth. Only the companion of Wyverex did not seem to want to show himself, what made the priests increasingly anxious. Especially since they also heard about the strange occurrences in Kaladros. Another man came into the room. "Master Atlas!" echoed his voice through the open space. The kneeling man lifted his head and gave his colleague a tired look. "What is it, brother?" he asked calmly. "The generals of the northern kingdom walk again among the living! A dark power had freed them from their dungeons!" The panic in the words of the priest was unmistakable. "Master. Could this be the dark shadow from the prophecy?" He looked at Atlas with a skeptical expression. "How will it come to truth? The companions are not complete."Atlas got up and walked over to his brother. "Do not lose your faith my friend. The guardians will stand at our side." He turned, to look at the five bases. "If we lose faith, as well as any hope for Daracoss is lost." ****** "Wait a minute, slow down!" fell a listener into the story. "I think I've lost the thread." Roland looked at the man skeptically. "In what way?" he asked. "If I have understood you correctly now, you come with 14 years to Parem?" The narrator nodded once in agreement. "And then you were now in the current state 19?" Roland waved with a slightly twisted face, a hand on the tabletop. "Around 20." he replied. "The time has not stood still during my training." "Aha!" was facilitated by the listener. "I just wanted to be sure that I took in the timing right." Roland put both hands on the table and looked at the man with a raised eyebrow skeptically. "Then I can now go on?" he asked. This nodded confidently. "Good." Roland began again. "So, I got myself a gargoyle, but I could not imagine what to do with it the next day. First, I needed a nice warm bath." "I opened the door........"******