Chapter One: A Pig's Ear

Scanning the room, she looked at each customer in turn, eager to find out if he would be the Eldar she was to meet. The place was large, and each type of person had gathered with his own, the hunters, scouts and rangers by the fire, the Beserkers and warriors by the bar. The farmers and countrymen near the door and the townsmen stood by the bar and around the stairs. On one table near the stairs there was a group of youths, all about the age of twenty she judged, all of them were roaring drunk, and not a few of them were preparing to marry the serving maid they had met a few hours ago. However, one young man, arguably the handsomest of the lot, bore the marks of what humans called, the Aristocracy. He was clean-shaven; his hair was cut in a frivolous style, which she assumed was what humans called fasion ,and his clothes being cut from much more expensive cloth. Among the Beserkers, there was one particularly large and handsome indeed. She smiled, amused that she thought such things.

As she walked to the only spare table in an otherwise packed room, she realised that the

Warriors and Beserkers were taking particular notice of her. Glad that she had taken the precaution of a long cloak she sat, stretching her long legs out under the table. At that motion the more sober watchers grinned, savouring the beautiful legs, which would have been hidden by a skirt if she had been a normal woman. In a rich melodious voice, which rang out against the harsh cries of the drunks, she ordered a drink.

A hand suddenly held her shoulder and a mouth came close to her ear. "Tirri?" the person said in a husky, strong voice. She looked around...and then up into a young face, with strangely aged eyes

"Yes, what of it?" she replied nervously, still being careful to keep her eyes hidden.

"I am Dafin, the one sent to meet you" he said impatiently, "I have room upstairs, we must talk, before you retire". He turned and walked to the stairs at the far end of the room, evidently ignoring the intoxicated conversation of the other customers.

Quickly swallowing the remainder of her drink and gathering her cloak around her, she followed Dafin, also trying to ignore the musty and greasy air, which tickled her receptive nose and the inebriated leers of the men she passed.

As she passed the table of youths however, one of the less aware drinkers grabbed her cloak as she passed, pulling the hood down. The reasonably sober men gasped, as they were bombard with the sight of long gold black hair, divine facial characteristics and, most of all, her golden eyes, which glowed softly in the relative darkness of the room. Most of the commoners started wolf whistling, but the young Nobleman suddenly seemed less inebriated. His eyes widened as she pulled her hood back up and hurried on. Then a look of flinty determination crossed his face, and rose and followed her.

Drekni, the large Kadarian Berserker, whom Tirriana had spied on her arrival at the Tavern, also noticed this occurrence. His eyes narrowed down to mere slits as he thought upon the amount of money that he was going to make that evening. His instructions had been simple,

He allowed himself a small smile. That prince was undoubtedly carrying much wealth, that other young man would sell well in the Slave fair in Kandiria this year. And the girl, well, first he would get his pleasure and then, anybody, even the King of Tanaria, where slavery was deemed a hanging offence, would pay millions for her. He rose silently to his feet and walked quietly in the direction of the other three.

Meanwhile Tirri had reached Dafin’s door and entered, nervously shifting from foot to foot in anticipation. Dafin, how ever did not share her feelings, he shrugged off his heavy Tanarian cloak and sat at a writing desk.

"You are the Eldar sent to meet me?" ask Tirriana, as a million possibilities of what Dafin might really be ran through her mind.

"Of course" he said, with an expression of surprised laughter on his face" Do you think Wulf would send any one else? I am, after all, one of his disciples"

"Yes, but" she stammered " But the Shekari aren’t the only People who know the names of the Disciples of Wulf"

"Ah! Nevertheless, the Shekari are, were…sorry, all Wolves were they not? The disciples of Wulf are all

Human, not Wolf."

Tirri sat silently, contemplating this and decide to believe Dafin, for now. "Why was I, the last of my Pack, summoned?" She asked " Whilst the Shekari have no presence in the mountains the Lower Packs will simply move in and all of Shelano will fall into the hands of humans. I must return, I am the last, and not even a pure bred, I must go back!"

Dafin looked at her curiously, a youngster, who had never known her Pack, who had kept the Lower Packs at bay single handedly, and who had lost every thing to keep a country free from humans. He sighed, knowing that he was condemning the country of Shelano to the dominion of humans. "It is your destiny child, you are The She'Lysha, you must take your True place in the order of things, and gain that place before the son of Shadow and Death, notices you are missing"

"The Son of Shadow and Death? Are you making up things now or something?"

"Yes, the Son, what humans call evil and Wolves call unbalanced, when He notices, He will send forth His own She'lysha, one who will take your place, but use it to serve, Himself, Evil"

She looked at him, not sure whether to laugh at the imbecility of his story or believe it. Not trusting herself to speak she walked to the small window at the opposite end of the bedroom.

"I had a strange dream last night, and its seems the strangness will continue into the waking hours too." she whispered to herself

"What did you say?" Dafin said, turning round to look at her with an intent expression on his bony face.

"I said I had a strange Dream last night, I saw four Elementals merging into one, and then shifting wolf. And Wulf appeared, saying that it was the sign of my being and that I must follow that sign.

Then I was falling and before me was you, you were wearing those clothes you have on now, and a young female Wolf, who seemed older than she appeared, was sitting next to you. And then you and this wolf disappeared and a handsome young man appeared, bearing the mark of Ain’ual. And then you all disappeared and a shadow appeared and seemed to, well" she trailed off, afraid to repeat what she saw. Dafin smiled, "It was Wulf telling you to get a move on"

There was a scuffle at the door, then a small crash. She drew her Knife immediately, and Dafin walked calmly towards the door. He opened it and looked down at the human at his feet. The youth looked up guilty. "How long were you listening young man?" Dafin enquired. The boy got to his feet, but did not answer, instead looking over Dafin’s shoulder at Tirriana. His face was pale, as if he had foreseen his own death. He swallowed hard, confused, and strangely, to Tirriana’s eyes, exultant.

The young man seemed to make up his mind on something and then said in a gruff voice, "I am Laekari of Tanaria, of the house of…"

"Shadana" finished Dafin, "Yes I know all about you Prince Laekari, you shouldn’t have run to follow a dream, but it saved your life"

"What!" came the surprised answer

"Your Half-brothers decided that only a pure human should sit on the throne of Tanaria, and only one of both their mothers and your fathers blood should be deemed worthy of the house of Shadana"

Tirriana looked on, wondering what all these words meant, Prince? What a silly word. Perhaps it was what humans called a title. She thought back to that dream, and then gasped, Laekari had been the man in her dream! It was then her turn to look like she had seen her own death. Her knees began to shake a little, and she struggled to a nearby chair.

"Is there something wrong with her? And how do you know who I am, and about my dream?" Laekari enquired

"She is fine" replied Dafin "She has just received some, lets say, some rather upsetting news"

Tirriana lifted her head and looked at the two men through narrowed eyes. Then she shook her head defiantly "I won't do it, I must go back to" she stopped and looked at Laekari nervously. "Tanaria borders Shelano, doesn't it?" "Shelano? Yes it does, if you could call it a country, my father plans to invade it soon, the only people living there are nomads and peasants. It is such a rich land as well, although we will have to repopulate it and send hunting parties there, it seems to be overrun with dogs for some reason"

At this remark, Tirriana’s eyes flared and she rose to her feet "Dogs! You call the WolfKings Dogs, not even a criminal would dare to call even one of the Valley Packs Dogs!" She leaped at Laekari, ready to tear his throat out. Laekari however was a trained warrior, and Elven at that, so he merely grabbed her out stretched arms and flung her towards Dafin.

Dafin grabbed her and held her. Unable to move she simply cursed the Prince. Laekari stared at her in amazement, perhaps she was a native of that area, and was a patriot to legends and tales that she believed were true? "What is wrong with her?" he asked, chewing his lip absently. "She is Tirriana of Shelano, and what she says is true, they are not dogs, they are wolves. And very powerful ones at that."

"Powerful Wolves?" The Prince began to laugh. "What stupidity, and how funny! I run away to follow a dream and am confronted by two country bumpkins who believe every folk story they hear! I can almost hear the laughter of the blessed Ain'ual himself at my predicament!" His amusement only furthered Tirriana's rage and awakened hatred in the heart of Dafin, who was not some one to be moved to anger often.

Dafin looked at him coldly, then rolled his eyes, and looked up at the heavens and said, "What have I done to deserve this my lord and Father?” Then he turned to Laekari and said "I am older than the Country of Tanaria, and have seen more kings and queens than you ever will and you call me a country bumpkin? Tirriana is the last of her line, the line of The Shekari. The Shekari are the WolfKings" Dafin was almost yelling now, rage clearly outlined on his face. She is last of the

WolfKings, Guardian of the Packs, and ruler of the humans that still remain in Shelano"

Tirriana had stopped her rage by now, she turned to Dafin, and asked imperiously "What is he doing here? Why have you just told him, the future ruler of a hostile country, who I am?" Dafin’s jaw clenched and he looked at the two youths. Both of by now were showing open hatred in their eyes. Tirriana had her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her knife and Laekari was ready to draw his own Blade. As Dafin peered at their faces, a smirk slowly found its way onto his face. Shaking his head to rid himself of the grin he said "Wulf has given you both tasks to complete, and seeing as they co-exist, and I must work with you both I thought that we could all work together". He smiled again, unable to help himself and continued in a voice designed to annoy both of them "Now won't that be fun?"

"It will for me" answered a deep, gruff voice brusquely form the now open door. They all turned to see the large Kadarian Berserker standing in the doorway, Broad sword drawn and shield raised. A self-satisfied smirk marred his admirable features as he looked at the three. "Now, it will be easier on the lady if you men were to step outside for a moment so that I may kill you out of her sight" He grinned and added mockingly "Wouldn't want to damage or distress the merchandise"

Laekari stared bleakly at the man who was almost a foot taller than he was, and then grimly drew his own sword. Tirriana drew her own small blade, and then, quite suddenly, closed her eyes, as if praying. Carefully she began to draw power from the air and earth; taking the raw Elemental energy and moulding it into a single orb, raising the pressure grew and she opened her eyes. Her eyes were now like to golden orbs, shining brightly in the shadow of the room. The Kadarian looked at her warily, but soon made a decision. He raised his sword and charged at Dafin, feeling the madness swell up inside him. Just as he was about to strike, a blast of fire caught his attention. Tirriana stood there, trembling and pale, but holding an Orb of Flame high above her head.

"Touch any of us and you will burn" she growled at the Kadarian, "You will burn to death". The shadows cast by the orb made her seem like a Wolf and to Prince Laekari’ eyes, her shape seemed to twist and change. It was almost as if two shapes were struggling to gain control. The orb in her hand burned with a strange fire, the colour changing from Red, to a deep Blue, then to a mixture of green and brown and finally seeming to go Invisible. The flame flickered ominously between each colour and its dazzling magical dance held the Berserker entranced.

"Laekari" Came a hoarse whisper "Hit the Berserker...now!" Laekari hefted his sword and swung the flat of his blade at the Kadarian’s Helm. It connected with a final sounding thud, and the Kadarian started to spin. Then the spin turned into a fall, and the giant like figure fell to the floor with a resounding thump. Tirriana looked in amazement at the still flaming orb in her hand, then at Laekari, said in a perfectly calm and controlled voice "Well, what now? " and began sliding slowly to the floor. "Well" remarked Dafin, as he surveyed the scene "I made a right pig's ear out of that one didn't I?"

Chapter Two: The Dragon Necklace
 

  As Laekari helped to drag the Berserker from the room, and deposit him in the hallway, he pondered the strangeness of what he had just seen. He looked across at Dafin, curious as to what part the Elven looking man played in this miniature faerie tale. Then he looked at Tirriana. She was still ‘resting’, as Dafin had put it, and looked almost peaceful, if you discounted the scars and the careworn look to her face. She looked so young, and yet... so old, as if she had done the work of some one many times her age. Unconsciously her reached out and touched a hand to her cheek. Then he looked up, and into the grim eyes of Dafin. "No time for that now!" roared the wild-eyed Dafin. "We must get her, and you, out of here before we are discovered, already the land of the WolfKings falls into anarchy as the lower Packs realise that the Shekari are no longer present. Soon your father will move on this land to restore order. We must be gone by that time!"

Laekari picked up Tirriana obediently, whilst Dafin gathered his things. They nodded to each other and ran to the window, which was swiftly opened by Dafin. They then leapt down to the back alley below. Dafin walked quietly towards the stable yard and went in side. When he came out a while later, he said "There is an old cart in there, put Tirri, and the gear in there and wait. A palomino horse will walk into the yard with no harness on. Attach this to it and hook the horse to the cart. Try to look as if you are driving, but let the horse do what it wants, he knows where to go. I will meet you where the horse stops. Now hurry!" With that, he held out part of an old cracked rawhide horse harness. Laekari took it, not quite sure what else to do and stared curiously at Dafin, who seemed to have aged in a matter of seconds. Dafin turned and ran, scurrying around a corner and out of sight, is dirty grey cloak billowing out behind him.
  Laekari carried Tirri and the baggage into the stable yard, looking around cautiously until he saw the cart. Grunting slightly with the effort he laid Tirriana in the back, and covered her with sacking, he then carefully arranged the equipment around the rest of the cart. Suddenly he heard the sharp ringing sound of a shod hoof. Drawing his sword he stood ready, his eyes darting all over the place in search of hidden dangers. A golden horse’s head appeared around the corner and a single horse with no rider aboard paced stately into the courtyard. When it arrived at Laekari’s side it came to a halt, and seemed to wait. When he did not do anything, it nudged his arm impatiently until he put the small amount of harness on it. He clambered up into the driver’s seat and went through the motions of getting the horse going. The cart pulled away quickly and they were soon deep within the city, heading towards the southern gate.
  Laekari sat up straight with a start as he realised that the gates should be shut. Wondering what to do about the problem of getting past the Guards, he did not notice the increasing speed of the cart until the gate was in sight. The wheels span faster and faster, and the horse’s legs became a blur. Laekari’s eyes widened in terror, as the thought of the cart and its occupants crashing into those solid oaken and steel gates rose unbidden to his mind. He froze, and silently began to pray to whichever god was listening. He tensed, waiting for the impact, but nothing happened. He opened his eyes and looked around, his mouth hanging open at the sheer impossibility of what had just happened. "Ain'ual be damned!" He gasped, unable to figure out what was going on. Had the gates opened? Or had they gone right through them?

The horse carried on it’s speedy pace, soon leaving the light and smell of the town far behind. He took out his blade and began to clean the accumulated dirt off the double-edged weapon. He polished the hilt, bring out the shine in the age-old ruby and the other assorted jewels. It was an heirloom of the house of Shadana, and given to the firstborn son on his coming of age. Laekari smiled, thinking about how much his half brothers would love to get their scheming hands on the ancient blade. There was a story that Ain’ual himself had once wielded the weapon. Rubbing his eyes sleepily he realised the horse had stopped so he got down and unharnessed the beautiful animal. The horse reared, then turned, and ran off into the forest. Laekari looked around, trying to learn something of where they were. He unloaded the cart, thinking upon the unbelievable things that had just occurred. As he carried Tirriana to the bed, he had prepared for her, he looked at her face, studying the goddess like features and the strange black gold hair. As he laid her down, he noticed a steak of golden hair that seemed oddly out of place, because, instead of being purely gold, it was turning blue. " Ain’ual be a son of a bitch! She ain’t human!"
"I don’t think Ainual would be pleased to hear the son of his High Cleric cursing him," Said a familiar voice. Laekari turned to retort, but the insult died on his lips. Dafin was standing there, amusement written all over his face.
"How would you know anything about Ain'ual" he replied instead.
"I have met him any number of times, and I don’t think he is happy with your father"
"No one is happy with my Father, I think it is part of his character"
"Yes but Ain'ual is the God of Tanaria, He created Tanaria’s people, and expects his creations to do better than go invading his father’s country".
"But Ain'ual is the father of the Gods! He doesn’t have a father!" Dafin laughed heartily at this point, unable to keep back the flood of laughter, which had been building up since he had met Laekari. Laekari stared at him, his face a mixture of dismay at having found this strange man again, and obvious chagrin at being laughed at. Dafin's mirth eventually settled itself, and when he had managed to look Laekari straight in the eye with out any obvious amusement he began talking. "Ain'ual is not even the second generation of gods, although he is consort to Shalishima, the daughter of Wulf and Olaeran"

"Heresy!" cried the prince "That is a crime against Ain'ual and a crime against humanity" At this, rather ironic comment Dafin raised an eyebrow as he continued to look Laekari in the eye. Laekari blushed, aware of how foolish that comment would sound coming from a Half-Elven such as himself. "I really wish Ain'ual would take a more active role in his worshippers lives, otherwise they get into such bad habits. 'Tis a pity that Wulf did not take a country for his own, but then, he does have the devotion of a wholes species"

Laekari looked at Dafin's face suspiciously, searching his feature for any sign that this might be a prank, but could find none. Dafin looked back at Laekari and sighed. He began searching through his pouches, looking in particular for an old piece of rubbish that Ain'ual had given him about 200 years ago. Laekari's jaw dropped, as he watched Dafin throwing intricately fashioned emeralds and finely wrought golden trinkets on to the floor as if they were mere pebbles or stones. Then, finally, Dafin found a small object. It was a necklace made of 'Gods Gold'. Its was curiously carved as the royal, or holy symbol of the royal house of Tanaria, the Shadana. It was a Golden Dragon with tiny ruby eyes. The carver was unknown, and many held it to have been carved by Ain'ual himself. It had in fact been carved jointly by Clendf, the Goddess of Art and Music, and Fyder, The God of Craftsmen, as a gift for Ain'ual. Ain'ual had kept it in his temple, in the City of Tajinar. Tajinar was the capital, and the High Clerics of his holy order were the forebears of the house of Shadana. During the Silent wars, the Necklace had been lost, and only a copy had remained. Although that copy had been of the highest quality, it was beginning to look less like an expensive replica and more like a cheap imitation.
Laekari looked at the real necklace and his jaw sagged. Then, in an even and seemingly calm and detached voice he said, "How did you come by that may I ask?"
"oh, I picked it up some where" replied Dafin in an equally calm and detached voice.
"There is a legend, among the temple folk in Tajinar, about the Loss of Ain'ual's necklace during the Silent wars. They say that a young man was among the wounded that were tended in the temple, a man with curiously old eyes. He was proclaimed made by the High Cleric, and spent the worst years of the war wandering around the inner sanctum of the Temple. He always disappeared during really bad times, but immediately after the fight had died down he would be back in the inner sanctum, and he seemed to talk to himself or an unseen being, and called this made up thing Ain'ual. On the day that my ancestor, the High Cleric was crowned king, the necklace, which was to have been one of his signs of office, was found to have been stolen. And, amazingly, that same lunatic had also disappeared, along with a great  Sorcerer who had aided us in our struggles. SentarKari, we called him, King's Servant, until we realised that he must have stolen Ain'ual's necklace."

Dafin did not even flinch at the unspoken accusation. He merely began to polish the necklace, bringing out the shine in the exquisite ruby eyes, making the small dragon seem alive. When he had finished, he looked down at Tirriana. "She is waking, you had better prepare the fire. She will not have enough  energy to light it for you so find some flint"
"You stole it didn't you! You were the Madman, and SentarKari!" Laekari's Grey Blue eyes seemed to burn in the dimming light of the evening. "Why? It was one of our greatest treasures and you stole it as if it were a common trinket!"
"And exactly what do you plan to do about it Laekari? Were you going to rip out the throat of some one who has seen the Silent Wars, been a part of them? And has lived?" Dafin laughed, and got to his feet. He held out his hand and in a flash of golden light a sword slowly materialised in his hand. It glinted, almost maliciously to Laekari's eyes and Dafin brought the tip round and laid it on Laekari's chest with astonishing speed.
"You will start that fire won't you?" Dafin ordered "Tirri is waking and we wouldn't want to startle her would we?"

Laekari swallowed carefully, not trusting himself to reply. Instead, he stared  back at Dafin's face studying the high cheekbones, and the weary look to his face. Then he turned and began the chore he had been given, muttering to himself about wolves, faerie tales, and wizards. Dafin’s mirth returned, and he closed his hand, the great blade slowly faded and it was as if there had been no sword. He gathered his grey cloak around himself and took to studying the curious words on the base of the Dragon necklace. Then he looked at Tirriana and Laekari, and a gentle and knowing smile crept across his face.

"Wha? Where" a sleepy voice said from Tirriana’s direction "What happened? Dafin?"

"It is alright Tirri, I am here. The fire will soon be ready" replied Dafin "You used twice as much Lyka as you needed to there my dear"

"Lyka? What do you mean? I used too much energy"

"Lyka is the word your fathers people use to call that energy. It describes it better really. Now go to sleep, you need the rest"

"Yes Dafin" she yawned "I think I do" with that she slipped away into sleep, not even acknowledging the presence of Laekari. Dafin looked at her until she entered deep sleep, and then turned his head to Laekari. "You had best sleep too" he held out the Dragon necklace "Here, I surrender the Necklace of Ain’ual to you, Laekari, but I will teach you in it’s ways tomorrow.

"It’s what?" replied the prince "its ways? What are you babbling about now, you sound like an old man!"

Dafin smirked and only said "Maybe I am an old man, there are many things which are not as they seem. Especially when you see me on the road!" Laekari, being himself the son of Elves, decided not to argue, instead wondering what this strange man really was.

"How come it took you so long to figure out that Tirriana is not human?" Dafin said quietly. Laekari jumped and scowled at Dafin, wishing he had the courage to destroy the annoying man.

"She looks human, and she was in a human environment, and wearing human clothes. What else was I supposed to think she was?"

"You, a Half-Elven of all creatures, should understand that better than anyone. You have spent years disguising your Elven blood, you should be able to see through such disguises. Nevertheless, I think that perhaps you have forgotten your mother’s people, you need to see how your mother lived before she married your father." As he finished talking Dafin began to open his hand, and from it radiated a soft white light.

"My mother’s people? What are they to me? They rejected me, called me base born and unworthy of my mother. Tell me, why should I see the Elven ways? The ways which treat mortals as though they are none existent? Show me an Elf who cares and then I will believe just about anything you say!". Dafin’s face creased in a smile of triumph

"Then you will meet an Elf who cares greatly about mortal affairs, and you will listen!"

With that triumphant speech he opened his hand and filled the glade with light. The noises of the nighttime forest ceased and Dafin got to his feet, his hands held out before him in a gesture of welcome. A cold mist crept around Laekari and voices whispered in his ear

"Is he one of ours? Can we keep him?" said a soft and creaking female voice.

"No, my dear sister, this one still has life in him, his soul is still tethered to a mortal body. He will be ours soon enough and then we will have beautiful plaything" said a second, harsher voice. Then a third voice spoke up, stronger, and most definitely male. It rang in Laekari’s ears and seemed to fill the whole glade, but it was not speaking to him. This ageless presence had turned his attention to another, far more powerful being within the glade.

"Dafin, it is not your time to meet me yet, why do you open the gate? You have let my servants too close to mortal lands, I should punish you for this." The voice was cold, and chilled the very air with it’s eternal sound

"I am sorry, Oh Necessary One, but this is part of the necessary." Came Dafin’s voice, yet it did not seem the same, and Laekari turned towards Dafin. There in front of him Dafin stood glimmering in a chill light and revealing his power.

"With me are the two divided ones"

"The divided ones? My Son said they were not yet born into the mortal realm?"

"Your Son has mastered the art of Lying to his own parents I see. The Half-Elven standing there is Laekari, the...

"ElvenKing, yes I know the prophecy, but this does not explain his presence! Why have you opened the Gate?"

"The ElvenKing has forgotten his Elven heritage, he claims that not a single Elf cares for mortals anymore"

The presence laughed, and it sounded as though a million rocks were tumbling down a mountainside in an Avalanche of titanic proportions. "The ElvenKing has forgotten half of what he is! Now this is news, the future ruler of Mortal kingdoms has forgotten his past and his future. You will have your work cut out for you Dafin, your greatest task I believe, since the taming of the WildKings. Now, what do you want me to do?"

"I need you to bring his mother here."

"His mother? The Lady Talindala, wasn’t it? Well, ask your God, for she is not in my keeping"

"Excuse me?" Laekari spoke, as not knowing who this presence was unnerved him. They either did not hear him, or did not listen, for they kept on talking about strange things, which he tried but failed to understand.

"Excuse me!" He said a little more forcefully, but still no response.

"Excuse me!" He yelled with all his might, and drew his sword.

Dafin turned his head, his Grey eyes burning with a feral flame "This is not for you Laekari, sleep a while"

"No," said that looming presence "Let the boy talk, I wish to learn more of the ElvenKing, since his coming will inevitably send many human souls to my halls. Speak Laekari of the Shadana, ally of the Shekari, ask."

"Who are you? What is going on?"

"You have told him nothing of his destiny Dafin? Tut tut, you are slipping already?"

"Humour from you my Lord? That is something I had never hoped for!"

"Very good Dafin, you are learning. Introduce us Dafin, do it the traditional way, you are too familiar with us as it is"

"Very well my Lord. My Divine Lord, and cousin of my father and Master, my I present to you Laekari ElvenKing of the Shadana. Laekari, your Royal Highness, my I present you to Shretrah, The Necessary One, The God of Death and husband to the Goddess of Shadow, Czeda."

"The God of Death! You have killed us Dafin!"

"Nonsense, you are still in the mortal realm, I may not touch you. Dafin! Pay attention Dafin!"

"Yes Shretrah?"

"The Lady Talindala, former Queen of Tanaria, was removed from my realm."

"Who by? I must see her!"

"By my Nephew, Mæglin, he has taken the Lady into his keeping"

"Why did you let him take her? He had no right!"

"He had every right, her son was his creation after all, he killed her, he has taken her soul to care for it and spare it the terrors of my realm"

"Thank-you Shretrah, I will close the Gate now my Lord. You have been helpful"

"Maybe one day you shall come to live with me Dafin, you may enjoy the better parts of my Realm" Shretrah laughed "Or perhaps you would free all the souls condemned to torture, so I had best give you straight to my brother"

"Good bye my Lord"

"Farewell Dafin, Mæglin is roaming the Mortal realm at this moment, searching for the She’Lysha. But I see his father has already beaten him"

Dafin closed his hands and let his arms fall to his sides. The cold light slowly faded and the mist and voices went with it. "Laekari, I intended for you to meet your mother, one of the elves who gave their lives so that humans may succeed in the world. He has your mother, and he searches for Tirriana. He will try to bargain, your mother for the She’Lysha"

"The She’Lysha? What are you talkin’ about now Dafin. You are impossible! Why did I follow you? " He paced around the glade, and then looked down at the Dragon Necklace. "How am I supposed to use this thing anyway?" He brandished it at Dafin, not noticing the eyes flash brightly. Dafin, however, did notice, and leapt out of the way as a small orb of Red mage energy speed at him and burned a hole in the tree behind where he had just stood. <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He looked at Laekari, sighed, and said in a long suffering voice "Like that"</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <h1 STYLE="line-height: 150%"> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Chapter Three: The Shadow in the Tower</font></font></h1> <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <p> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Now, instead of simply pointing that thing you must think of what you want it to do. For instance, when you nearly annihilated me earlier, you were thinking that you wished to destroy me. The necklace responded by trying to kill me, and it would have succeeded with almost anyone else. You must think, otherwise you could end up hurting those you love.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Laekari sighed, he had run away, but he felt like he was in his old school room, being lectured by Professor Gahnjar on the finer points of Shadana history. He idly pondered on whether to knock Dafin out and run off, or simply tell him to shut up. He decided upon the latter, as annoying as this man was, he was the only one who knew where they were. Besides, Tirriana had not yet woken, and he was unsure as whether to leave her with Dafin.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Pay attention Laekari! This could save your life someday!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Dafin’s rough voice broke though to his consciousness. He looked up at Dafin and into his eyes. Then he carefully and slowly crossed his own eyes and said, “Oh just shut up Dafin! I am tired, and you will probably wake Tirri if you keep on rambling”. At this Dafin growled out an unintelligible reply and turned away, rubbing his temples with his index fingers as if he had a headache. He crouched by the fire and spoke harsh command to it. “Dheirak!” When the fire did not respond he began to grouch “Oh you stupid flame, why don’t you understand?” He then simply placed his hand directly over the flames and closed his fingers swiftly. The flames disappeared and Dafin stood up straight.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“You went to the Magi University in Tajinar, did you not?” he enquired of Laekari.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Yes, I did” replied Laekari</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Did you learn the Way? Or did you simply study the Sciences and Histories?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“I learned the Way, and I studied the Sciences and Histories. I had the fullest education possible so that I might understand all of the power available to the King of Tanaria.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="text-indent: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“A better education than your half brothers? You learn the Way, warfare, politics, science, history, you learned how to manipulate those around you, and how to get what you cannot have. However, they learned how to envy, hate and desire you and your power. “ Dafin chuckled “’Tis a tragedy really, they could have been talented allies, great generals. Only their elder, and better, brother had their father’s heart. They tried so hard to live up to you, when you won a competition for swordsman ship, they would try to better that achievement by entering for a class beyond their means. Oh Laekari, if only your mother had not died, today you would have been celebrating your 19th birthday at the Palace in Tajinar and your brothers would not even exist”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="text-indent: 1.27cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>As Dafin spoke, Laekari could smell the great boar which would have been carried to the Feasting hall, and he could see the great tournament which would have been held in his honour. He could hear the music, taste the wine, and, most of all, he could hear his mother’s voice, laughing and singing along side his fathers. How happy that scene seemed, how peaceful, no hints of Tragedy or slaughter, no sign of treachery or fear. He began to weep for those days, forever lost to him, fresh grief for his mother poured from his heart, the love of a mother he had barely known welled up inside him, trying to break lose. Laekari sank to his knees, as the terrible repercussions of what had really happened all those years ago took hold of him, and showed him how the death of one woman had affected, and would affect, the whole of Tanaria and the neighbouring kingdoms. He sobbed, unable to bear the thought of his mother’s death any longer any longer.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“What is wrong with him Dafin?” rang out a beautiful, rich female voice against the noises of the forest, “Why is he crying?” Laekari looked up from his reverie, hearing Tirriana’s voice for the first time. For the first time, he had a clear view of her, and it stunned him.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>In the dimness of the Inn, she had seemed angelic, now, in the bright sun, she seemed.... His thought trail carried on along those lines, as he drank in the sight of those golden eyes, which were alight with a fire of curiosity, and seemed to shine with a light of their own. The long black hair shot through with gold and flowing down her neck and shoulders like a river. His eyes were drawn to her face, taking in small nose, gentle and soft looking lips and the high cheekbones.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Laekari’s eyes then travelled down and took in the lean body, with several long scars marring the smooth lines of her bare neck and shoulders. She moved her head slightly, and the sunlight glinted off something near her ear. He looked closer, noticing two small silver rings piercing the top of her left ear.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Then a voice broke through his reverie and woke him up</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Laekari! Lovesick fool! Stop mooning over her like a village simpleton and come and have a look at the Map!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Laekari shook his head slightly and got to his feet. He looked around for the Dafin, silently cursing the crabby old, Old? Laekari smirked, almost certain that he must be going mad. What a fool, thinking of Dafin as a crabby old man, Dafin was no older than himself! He laughed to himself as he scanned the crinkled piece of parchment held out to him.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Still grinning he noticed the hand, which was holding the map. The smile fell from his face, and was replaced by horror, for the hand of Dafin was no longer young and smooth as it had been a while ago. It was now scarred, weathered and callused, like an old man’s hand. Laekari stepped back in terror as Dafin spoke</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“By Czeda’s skin Laekari! What is the matter now!” But his voice was no longer as youthful as it had been, now it was deep, and rich, and the words ‘old’, and ‘venerable’ definitely applied. As he look into the now old Dafin’s face his eyes widened.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“What’s the matter Boy? Never seen an Old man before?” Dafin’s dark eyes twinkled merrily “Has Tanaria discovered the fountain of Youth, and had it for so long that ‘Old’ doesn’t exist anymore? Ha! You foolish Cub, do you really think that I could be the SentarKari and still look the same age as you? Ridiculous, no, bloody stupid idea!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Dafin glared at the map and then shook it in Laekari’s face, causing him to jump again</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“And you didn’t take notice of where we were headed yesterday I expect, Princes never do.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He stuffed the map in among his robes and waddled off, mumbling about the inefficiencies of the youth and of the monarchies of the present day until he disappeared into the Forest. Laekari hid a smile and set about gathering his things for the day’s journey.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Tirriana got to her feet and began to wander round the encampment, much to the embarrassment of Laekari for she was not fully dressed. He prudently turned away, his face and neck almost scarlet whilst she found her belongings. She was very quiet, he noticed, almost too quiet.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>At that thought he turned around immediately, but he was too late, as she was no where too be seen. “Dammit!” he muttered to himself, and then began to call out her name. The only answer he received for his troubles was the echoes of his own voice. Grabbing his sword from where it lay he rushed out into the trees.</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <center> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>~~~~~~</font></font></center> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Meanwhile, unaware of the confusion she had given to Laekari, Tirriana walked slowly towards the sound of running water. She shivered, feeling the need to hunt upon her as well as the need to wash. That cart had not been at all clean or comfortable and she had bruises in some very strange places. When she reached the bank of the stream she sat down and began untie her boats. What stupid things they were? She could not figure out why humans and elves even bothered to where them, but the Alpha of the Shenari pack had told her that to look human she must where these things, so she had, along with assuming a form she had never taken before.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She slipped her now bare feet into the steam and giggled at the sudden cold. Wolf form, now that was the shape to be in! No need for all these silly clothes and stupid customs, being a wolf was much simpler. She sighed to herself and her smile faded, thinking that except when you are the last of the Shekari, then it is even more complicated than being human.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She picked up a handful of pebbles and began throwing them one by one into the stream, feeling warm and calm. Searching through one of the pouches hanging off her knife belt, she came across her panpipes. She smiled in satisfaction, a least no one could take music from her! She played a quick trill and then laid back, her feet in the stream and her head turned towards the morning sun. Glad to be resting without the chatter of Laekari and Dafin she closed her eyes, listening to the bird song.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Then her thought turned to food, and how to get it. Sighing regretfully she closed her eyes and began to gather her power, spreading over her body. When she had finished, she imagined her wolf shape. This process came naturally to her now, but once she had struggled to even turn part of herself human.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Then she simply opened her eyes and released her hold on the power, or ‘Lyka’, as she seemed to recall Dafin calling it. She felt momentarily dizzy and saw stars for a second, until her vision cleared. She took a deep sniff, trying to get a scent picture of the surrounding area. How she loved this form, the sense of smell, the acute hearing, and the sharp eyes.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She was now in the form of a small, lean wolf with blackish goldish fur and those same golden eyes. She was not yet an adult wolf, so she had that gangling disproportionate look of all immature wolves. She was not much more than a Cub really.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Her eyes darted from place to place, searching for any sign of movement that might signal a tasty meal. Seeing nothing she set about following her trail back to the camp, checking for signs of any decent quarry which may have crossed her path. She must have been a strange sight, her fur was changing, and the metallic gold streaks and hint in her fur were changing to a midnight blue. She looked very peculiar, an immature wolf with black, gold and blue fur and golden eyes.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She had not found anything by the time she had reached the encampment, and she was about to change back to her human form when she heard the panicked voice of Laekari. He seemed distressed so she changed direction and loped towards the sound of his voice.He was about 700 metres away from the camp by the time she caught up with him, and distraught with worry. She sat behind him quietly, trying to figure out what he was shouting about. She was just wondering whether to shift human when he turned around.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <center> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>~~~~~~</font></font></center> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Laekari had been frantically trying find her, and was terrified at thought of what Dafin would do to him when he found out that Tirriana had gone missing. Then he thought “Why have a ...girl like Tirri and a Crabby old man like Dafin met up?” His initial conclusion was terrifyingly disgusting, he almost hated himself for thinking it.</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>His thought track followed along various routes, trying to find a logical explanation for the past twenty-four hours, when he felt himself being watched. The forest had gone quiet, and the prince felt the tension building up in his sword arm. He turned swiftly drawing his sword as he did so, ready to attack the inevitable monster he would see. However, at first he saw nothing, only the trees and bushes, until he looked down.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He jumped, and swung his blade, for before him was a wolf and not just any wolf, but the strangest looking one he had ever seen in his short life! The fur was mainly black, and the wolf was obviously a young one but that was its only similarity to normal wolves. Its eyes were golden, but they glowed softly and the fur was patched with blue and gold. The wolf leapt out of the, a confused expression on its face. It barked at him, sudden hatred leaping to its eyes. Then it jumped, its jaws open wide. He brought his sword round, suddenly realising he had let his guard down. The forepaws hit his chest and knock him down. Startled that such a small wolf could be that strong he tried to push it away. Staring into the beast’s golden eyes, he was terrified by the flame that burned in them. Finally pushing the wolf off he grasped his sword and was about to strike it when</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Garamond"><font size=+1>“<b>STOP THIS INSANITY</b>!”</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Dafin’s voice left his ears ringing as he got to his feet. He noticed that the wolf had stopped fighting too. Confused he looked at the wrinkled old man. Dafin’s face full of fury, and his eyes seemed to have gone red, his bushy eyebrows had bunched together and he was mumbling all sorts of curses under his breath.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“What kind of a fool are you Laekari?” Said Dafin in a voice of thunder “Why are you attacking Tirriana? Just why are you trying to kill her?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Tirri? But, but, that’s a wolf! Not a gi....”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He trailed off as he turned to look at the wolf. The wolf with golden eyes, the wolf with black, gold and bluish fur. He blushed, realising how he should have seen the obvious and sheathed his sword, not quite certain what to do next. The wolf snarled at him, then closed its eyes and it’s outline blurred, until Tirriana was standing there before him. Her eyes still betrayed the hatred she now felt for Laekari, and she walked off in the direction of the camp without another word.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“You have made an enemy of her now, that you would attack a wolf which was not going to attack you..” Dafin shook his head. “Perhaps we had better make for Kandiria, I have a feeling that that Kadarian Berserker is not far behind. Laekari, you may have a long, long, long journey ahead of you so I would start trying to get back into Tirriana’s good books as soon as possible.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>The old man then walked off, following Tirriana back to camp, leaving Laekari alone with his thoughts.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Those two get weirder by the hour! ”He thought to himself “a wolf turning into Tirriana, Dafin growing old in a matter of seconds? Either I am going crazy or this is the stuff of legends. What race is Tirri anyway? And why are we going to Kandiria, the slave market? They have a big festival at this time of year, but what would Dafin want from there?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He shook his head and started to follow Dafin and Tirriana back to the camp. By the time had he reached the camp Tirriana and Dafin had readied all the equipment and were ready to leave. He picked up the nearest bag and hefted it onto the cart</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“No Laekari, we will not be taking the cart, we will be travelling on horse back.” Said Dafin</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“But, err, well, we have no horses, in case you hadn’t noticed Dafin”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Oh, stop being such a nitpicker, you of all people should know that calling horses magically is pretty easy. But we won’t have to worry, as there are some waiting further down the trail for us. Now get your kit, both of you, and follow me, we still have a bit of walking to do.</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <center> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>~~~~~~~~</font></font></center> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>King Jhildar watched the court, his eyes bleak and unseeing of the festivities around him. His twin sons, Sincar and Jhiren, watched him concern on their ugly faces, until he got to his feet and walked quietly out of the throne room, clenching and unclenching his fists. They smirked at each other, creasing their faces in even uglier masks. Then they parted and asked some Ladies of the court to dance.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Jhildar had noticed the looks on his son’s faces as he departed the throne room. They were obviously going to take advantage of his absence to gain support for Sincar being named heir to the throne of Tanaria. He scowled, one of those two scoundrels on the throne of Tanaria? He had already back down and let them bear the name Shadana, was he going to let them soil the name of his kingdom too?</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>As he walked through the Hall of Battles, he did not even glance at the trophies of war and depictions of Ancient battles on the wall. Normally he would have walked slowly, admiring the work of countless generations of Artists who had work upon those murals. Instead, he stared at the floor, his eyes emotionless. He made his way up to the only place he could think without some petty baron waving a petition in his face, the North tower. He smiled weakly as he thought of how carefully the monarchs of Tanaria had cultivated the tower’s reputation as a place of torture and terror. The only use it actually had was for the Master Astrologists to study the planets more closely, and they didn’t like being disturbed anymore than the kings of Tanaria did, so they went along with the ploy. Every now and then they would practice ‘chilling’ screams and used chemicals to make ‘unearthly’ lights shine out of the windows of the tower. The king had his own private room above the main room where the charts and records were kept, and spent many an hour in that room reading a novel or gazing out of the window. To be sure the next monarch could use the room each king would make it a provision in his will that the new king must make a ceremonial journey to the tower, alone.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>He smiled to himself, remembering the fear he had felt when he had first climbed those cranky steps, and had screamed in terror when a rat had bitten his finger. He reached the tower and began climbing those steps, passing one of the astrologists as he did. When he reached his own door, he took out a plain old-fashioned iron key. There was a Legend that it had been ‘Magicked’ by the SentarKari before the betrayal so that only the rightful king of Tanaria could open the door. He slid the key into the lock and opened the door, he looked up, and his already pale face went grey with shock. There was some one already in the room!</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>The woman was a slim graceful figure, she seemed to be dressed in black, but it seemed more like shadows clothed her elegant figure than woven garments. Her skin was white, not pale but snowy white, and her eyes were black and seemed ageless. Her hair was braided and woven with black jewels with seemed to cast shadows on the wall and similar jewels adorned the index fingers of her slender hands. Upon seeing Jhildar she smiled and said in a hoarse, feminine voice which filled the air, the stones of the tower and rang through his body</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“At last, my lord Jhildar, you have arrived! I wish to speak with you on urgent matters which concern both of us.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“My lady” he replied courteously “I don’t believe I have had the pleasure”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She smirked “You do not know who I am Jhildar? Hasn’t Ain’ual told you? The High Cleric of Ain’ual does not know of the existence of the ruling gods? He must be punished for this!” she finished severely.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Tell me who you are or I will call the guards!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“So discourteous Jhildar? Dear, dear” She shook her head “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Czeda, Goddess of Shadow, Consort of Shretrah, God of Death. I have come to talk about our sons?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Our sons? Goddess? I have fathered no sons of madwomen!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Ha! I did not say our Son, I am talking about your son, Laekari, and my son, Evil.” She sighed “And don’t make that joke about me being the mother of all evil, contrary to popular belief it is not funny.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“I wouldn’t dream of it my Lady Czeda, but what has Evil got to do with me? And what do you know about Laekari? He had been missing for months now!” Jhildar was by now getting quite upset. “And another thing! How did you get in here? The SentarKari has bespelled this place so that only one of royal blood may enter!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Czeda merely laughed at this bold statement, a chilling voice that did not sit with her elegant appearance.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Since when has the power of an Eldar been greater than that of a God or Goddess? My realm is every where there are shadows and none can keep me from my right! And as for Laekari, he is safe, for now. My brother-in-laws servant, Dafin, has found him”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“When will he be bringing him back?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“ Soon enough, before you die anyway. He must undertake a task given to him first before we allow him to rule. Moreover, as a Half-Elven he must take part in the choosing of mortality or immortality before he can rule in a mortal world. You must do all in your power to prevent the twins from gaining power until he returns.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“I have been doing that anyway, but where is my son!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Your son is at this moment travelling to Kandiria.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Kandiria, but he has been condemned to death there! He’ll be torn to pieces by the</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Berserkers!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“It appears that a Berserker called Drekni is following them, they had a fight in the town before Laekari left.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Drekni is the crown prince of Kadaria isn’t he?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Yes, but what is that to you? You are a King, and ruler of one of the most powerful countries on the Sendirian continent, why should the future ruler of Kadaria bother you?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Czeda laughed, and its sound echoed in Jhildar’s already confused brain.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“But what have I or Laekari got to do with your son?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“My son has lied to his parents, and if he continues to do what he is doing now he may have the power to cast out the ruling gods and the human gods in favour a world ruled by himself!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Why should you care? You are his mother!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Yes but, what he is doing will destroy this world and, unlike some people think, I am quite found of this earth. My son is still my son though, and I may not act against him! So I must recruit mortals to do my work for me”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Me serve you? I am the high cleric of Ain’ual! Not just any godless freak!”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She frowned at that remark.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“That is precisely the reason I choose you Jhildar! A godless freak would go mad from hearing the voice of a God, and as High Cleric, you have some powers that will be particularly useful to me. Your son is also in the company of a young lady”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“A princess?” Jhildar asked hopefully “Or at least some one of High birth?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“She is neither a princess, nor high born in the sense that mortals would mean. But she is destined to become something much greater than a Queen. She is...”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Czeda stopped and walk to the wash basin near the window. She cupped some water in her hand and threw it at the open window. Instead of going through the opening, as Jhildar would have expected it to, it formed a flat plain, much like glass except the surface rippled. Czeda passed her hand over this water mirror and an image appeared in the centre of it. Jhildar gasped as three faces appeared, one was easily recognisable as his eldest son. He seemed well, and then Jhildar turned his attention to the other two faces. The male one seemed to be neither young nor old, as it wavered back and forth between youth and old age. The female face, however, was astonishing. At first, it was merely the face of a divinely beautiful 15-year-old with golden eyes, and then it was the face of a sleek, black wolf, again with golden eyes. Then the face blurred and a face with sky blue skin, midnight blue hair and petit features appeared with golden eyes.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“What is that!” cried Jhildar in amazement. Czeda said nothing, instead she waves her hand, and the water mirror vanished. Then she walked to the portrait of Jhildar’s first wife, the Lady Talindala and whispered quietly</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“So, Wulf has found her, Shretrah must know that our sin has lied to us yet again!” Then she turned back to Jhildar and said in a stern and strong voice “I understand that you have plan to expand your territory, by invading Shelano.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>"Shelano? Oh, that land to the north, do you have an objection to that, my Lady Czeda?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Yes, I do. The land belongs to my brother-in-law and I do not wish to see you flattened when he discovers that his country has been invaded by humans.”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She held out her hand. In the centre of her palm, there was a small black orb. “If you ever need my help use this to get my attention.” Then she closed her eyes and began to fade, her body turning translucent until there were only a pair of graceful hands which, Jhildar would swear later, were laughing at him. Then these too melted away. Jhildar was now in a state of shock, he had participated in something which had not taken place for thousands of years. A ruling Goddess had visited the mortal realm with out being called, and had asked for the help of a mere human. Legends were certainly in the making</font></font> <br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font>  <div STYLE="margin-left: 7.62cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <h1 STYLE="line-height: 150%"> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Chapter Four: An Uneasy Beginning</font></font></h1> <div STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font></div>  <p> <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Tirriana scowled as she stomped along in front of the two men, her feet were hurting already, if she had been in wolf form she could have covered twice the distance by now and still have been fresh! “Humans, you can take ‘em!” she thought, as she slashed at an offending branch with her knife. Finally she had enough, closed her eyes, sheathed the knife, and began the process of changing into a wolf.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>“Tirri!”, Came Dafin’s voice from the path behind her,“ Human form! If hunters were to meet us!?”</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Tirriana could only bark in reply and slipped into the long striding lope, which would take her some where without killing her feet first. What did Dafin know anyhow? She could act the ghost with the best of them, and even he wouldn’t know she was there, unless he used certain ‘talents’ of course. She sighed, the displeasure showing clearly on her canine face, human form was tiresome, all those chemicals and those ‘emotions’ as she had heard them referred to by the elder wolves of the Shenari, the Lorekeepers of Shelanian wolves. They confused her, tired her out, especially when she was near Laekari. Now there was a confusing subject! A human, who smelt of the earth and plants, yet automatically tried to kill a non-aggressive creature. Dafin referred to him as a prince, only to her mind that meant that he held only a secondary status among his kind. She thought that she should hate him for his reaction to her wolven form, and yet she felt something else, something she had never felt before. Her mother had described the feeling to her once, calling it affection, when she had introduced Tirriana to the Pack. But Tirriana had could not remember that feeling, and it was as if she had lost all her emotions since.....She grimaced, not wishing to think back to the terror of that night, when Wulf had shown his displeasure with the WolfKings of Shelano. With determination to rid her mind of those images, she instead began to think about her family’s special ‘abilities’.</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>All of the Shekari were proficient in one of any number of special abilities. Her mother, for instance, had been the most powerful of the Mages, and the Alpha male of the Pack had been a Mind mage. Others had been seers and mystics, or had been able to shapeshift to many shapes, instead of just the average five easier shapes. One of her siblings, Ambel , had been a spectacular huntress in human form, being able to track, kill, and fight with uncanny ease and superiority. They had been great friends, and it was from Ambel that she had learned her skill with the bow and arrow and the slingshot. Takan, her eldest brother had been a superb fighter, and had often visited the human lands to challenge fighters to unarmed combat, and won against the best they could produce. Her thought flitted to the Triplets Kae, Dae, and Lae. The three were an oddity among the wolves of Shelano, as they were able to block the minds of their Pack members, yet had a constant mind link with each other. Yhani said that they had been so enmeshed in each other that they were really a single entity, with three aspects to them. That thought brought a toothy smile to her head, creasing the skin around her jaws into a grisly grin. Soon that smile of remembrance turned to a sigh of yearning, as the images of Wulf’s wrath poured out from behind the mind block. Her tail between her legs and her head held low, she loped along lost in her waking nightmare. Out of the newborn chaos in her brain, a random thought flew out at her, bringing her up short. Why had those Mages left her? Why had she, out of all her family and Pack, been left to protect Shelano? A lone cub, who was not even of Shekarian blood, and was merely an adopted stray?</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1></font></font> <p STYLE="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>She stopped, staring intently at the ground, as if it would reveal the answers to her. Studying the cracks and bumps in the little patch of soil before her, she felt a concentration of power rise within her. Startled at her power’s new manifestation, she only stood there, still as a carved sculpture, her glittering eyes fixated upon that tiny crack in the earth. She could feel the power welling up, from deep within her, a dark ocean of energy, that sloshed around in the channels of her veins. A frown touched her face, scrunching the black fur into a bush of spiky shadows. What was this power? Her mother had never been able to figure it out, It was not Magick, it was not mystic, it was not Life energy, and it had traces of Elemental energy, or Lyka. Shaking her head slightly at the preposterous thought that anyone but the Elementals themselves could touch the Power. There were Half-Elementals in the world, one of the Mages who had...been there that night had been half elemental, a bright beacon of power, with sky blue skin and a short crop of electric blue hair. The female had stood out from the other Mages like a Wolf among domesticated Dogs.</font></font>