PICTURES!!!!!

All current story pictures


Alvon Malthace

Deodar Lightfoot

Thara Yarlion

Harias

Dark hooded men

FATEIV The Start of the Adventure

A beautiful green hill was covered with birds of all kinds, pecking at the grass for worms and seeds. There were Blue Jays, Doves, Cardinals, Black Birds, and every now and then an exited gray squirrel. All the birds suddenly scattered and the squirrels scampered up the trees. A beautiful white horse charged over the hill. Its riders black cape was snapping out behind him and his shaggy black hair was blowing in the breeze of his horses speed. It was Harias! After two years of training with the League of Shadows, he had changed a great deal. He was stronger and stouter than ever. He could wield Silverlight better than even his grandfather, (or so Alvon had said) and could ride Cloud like a breeze. He wore an extremely light chain mail vest (the Shadows had a special material they used that was very light but very intricately linked so that it had extra strength) over which was his leather tunic. Now as he shot over the other side of the hill it was like horse and man were one. They came to a second hill where they slowed to a stop. Down far below lay the little town of Buckland. Even though he had never seen it from this place he could tell it had changed. He could sea a few columns of red and black. Lamords soldiers probably. There was less bustling of outdoor markets, there weren’t as many houses occupied (he could tell because of the smoke from the chimneys. Everyone would have their fire going) maybe they were able to move out before Lamord moved in. more likely than not they were just put in prison because they wouldn’t submit.

He looked at the vambraces on his arm and the shin guards he wore. He had changed too, he thought to himself. Mounting again, Harias kicked Cloud and off they sped. Before long he was in the West Woods. Dismounting again he whapped Cloud on the rear and the horse ran off into the woods. Now he proceeded on foot. He had heard some voices not far off and wanted to explore. As he walked forward the voices got louder and soon he saw them. A girl in a blue dress and a man about his age in a green hood. The latter had a bow and quiver on his back and seemed too be leading the way some where. Harias had approached them from the side and waited behind a huge oak as the man notched an arrow to his bow and pointed toward the foliage of a tree. At first Harias thought he was sighting a bird, but suddenly he turned the bow directly at him.

“You can come out now.”

Harias stepped out from behind the tree looking…..well… surprised. The bowman questioned, “Why were you following us?” Harias was still so surprised that he couldn’t find the answer.

“I wasn’t following – I mean I was following you but I wasn’t tracking you. I mean no harm. I come from the League of – the west. I’m traveling to Buckland. Do you live there? Could you show me around?”

The archer eyed Harias suspiciously.

“Sure.” Then he suddenly he changed from being on-guard to seeming very hospitable. He offered a hand to Harias who was now even more confused now that his “host” had changed moods so suddenly. “I am Deodar Lightfoot and this is Thara Yarlion. We were just taking a stroll and -” Deodar shoved Harias to the ground just as a spear thudded into the tree he was standing by. Five of Lamord’s mounted soldiers rode up and pointed their spears at Thara.

“You are under arrest Yarlion!” as the man who spoke swung his leg over the saddle to dismount, one of Deodars yellow fletched arrows hit him in the leg and he fell to the ground wounded. When one of the riders galloped at Harias, he jumped up and side ways and grabbed the soldier’s arm. At the same time the oncoming horse hit Harias’s legs while he was in mid air and sent him spinning to the side. But Harias had a firm grip on his enemy and pulled him of his mount. Harias was up in a flash and kicked the soldier’s sword from his hand as he drew it, then knocked him senseless with a double fist blow to the cheek. By this time deodar had brought down another one of Lamord’s soldiers. There were only two left. And those two had taken Thara! Deodar launched himself onto a horse and Harias let out a shrill, high pitched whistle. In about three seconds Cloud came thundering through the trees at full speed. At first it seemed that Cloud would run strait past Harias but he leaped right onto the back of the horse as it ran.

Deodar had not waited for Harias. He was driving his horse as fast as it could go and finally caught up. As he got closer he could see that Thara was giving the soldier she was riding with a hard time. And when Deodar got right behind them she gave her captor such a hard elbow that he was knocked from his saddle. But his sword hilt caught on her dress and pulled her off as well! Thara screamed and shut her eyes. Just before she hit the ground Deodars strong arm reached out and grabbed her upper arm. With a final exertion of strength he pulled her up behind him and slowed the horse to a stop. Deodar sent two quick arrows flying after the remaining horseman. The first mist but the other found its mark. Cloud skidded up beside them panting. Harias said jokingly,

“If you do something like this again I may never get that tour of Buckland!”

All three laughed. Then Deodar said seriously,

“That may end up being true. Going into that town would be too dangerous for Thara or any of us. Lamord’s troops are every where. All the people who live there are now either slaves or in the dungeon.” he finished with a look of disgust. Harias drew his sword and gripped it tightly.

“Then I’ve come to free them.”

Deodar looked at the reckless young hero as if he was some foolish, ambitious boy, and then said sadly.

“There’s no hope for Buckland now.”

Thara looked at Harias wistfully. She longed for her people to be free and one half knew Harias could do it but the other knew that Deodar was right. There was no hope for Buckland now.

She held back the tears.

Deodar led the way to his home. No one talked on the way. They each had their own thoughts as they walked.

Harias: Can I really defeat Lamord? Or am I just a foolish boy who would run at the slightest hint of danger. Will I come through for these people? Or will I back down when they need me most. No. No. That’s a coward. I was trained by Alvon Malthace, master of the League of Shadows. I am a Shadow. I will not run.

Thara: I’m not sure what to think. Harias seems so able. He’s strong and he thinks and acts quick. But is it enough? I know it’s impossible but I want it to happen so much.

Deodar: He’s impressive actually. He’s stealthy. I wouldn’t have known he was following us if it hadn’t been for the saddled white horse that he had seen about a minute before. He stays calm in tight situations and reacts quickly. But there’s no one who can defeat Lord Lamord single handed.

Or so he thought.

FATEIII A Maid and An Archer

2 years later

“No! I will never submit to that tyrant you call a king!” Kellick Yarlion slammed his fist down hard on the wooden table. Captain Rederic Foltindon lowered his eye brows menacingly.

“No one insults Lord Lamord in such a way! You will pay for your insults, mark my words.”

“You won’t lay a hand on me, captain. You have no right to do this.” Kellick growled back. Rederic pulled the man from his chair by his shirt collar and put his face right up into that of Kellick.

“Lord Lamord does as he pleases and it is my job to bring these rebellious peasants into submission! So what will it be old man?”

Kellick stared into his eyes for a moment then uttered a single word.

“Leave.”

“What did you just say?”

“Leave my house. Now!”

“Fine. If you won’t come on your own will, then you’ll come by force. Guard!”

Two men who had been standing by the door now advanced, swords drawn.

“Father!” Kellick’s eighteen year old daughter, Thara, who had been waiting by the fire, stood up, grabbed her father’s old sword from the mantle and tossed it to him. Kellick caught it and spun it in his old experienced fingers. He made as if to lunge at the soldier to his left then quickly hammered the other soldiers shield knocking him flat. The one still standing was so confused he was just standing there and Kellick brought him down with a quick thrust to the middle. As Kellick turned toward the soldier on the floor, he was unprotected and the soldier (whose name was Dannflour) lunged forward. A quiet scream emitted from Thara as her father fell to the floor. Dannflour, who had never killed anyone and had never wanted to, stood, all shaky. He looked at Thara, longing for her to understand. “I didn’t mean to…. It was in self defense. Please. Please understand. I’ve never done such a thing in my life and…… please understand…..please…..” but Thara was on the floor her face whiter than snow, her eyes wide in shock. All noises to her were like far of echoes. She barely heard Foltindon call for a stretcher. When the men bearing the stretcher tried to lift Kellick she came back to reality. She tried to stop them but two more soldiers held her back. When they had made their exit, she finally relaxed and her stone sorrow turned to stone anger. The soldiers’ grip on her had relaxed and she wrenched free and ran to the fire place. Griping the fire stoker in her hand she started to throw it at the pompous officer but her tears over came her and she fell to her knees. The stoker clattered on the floor. She began sobbing again. Dannflour wanted to try and comfort her but knew Foltindon’s eyes were on him. He dropped his sword and shield and faced the captain.

“You may enjoy doing these things but I don’t. I won’t stand here and do nothing of any help. Dannflour gave him a withering glare with his last remark. “Your heart is blacker than the tar it’s covered in.”

“I may have you arrested for treason young man.”

“You and your villains can do what you will with me. At least I won’t be part of them.”

Thara stood and ran out the back door sobbing. One of the guards made as if to go after her but Foltindon stopped them.

“Wait! We’ll come back with a warrant for that ones arrest. She can’t go far.”

Thara ran. She didn’t stop until she was deep into the West Wood where she finally fell to the leafy floor and cried her heart out. She didn’t realize until she woke, that she had cried her self to sleep.

“What a silly thing to do.” She said to herself. Then she remembered her father and a slow trickle of tears ran down her cheek. But just then she heard footsteps. About six soldiers were marching through the woods in her direction. She looked about for what direction she should run when all of a sudden something dropped out of a tree right behind her and a hand grabbed her arm gently but firmly. A soft voice said,

“Don’t run. Every thing will be ok.”

Thara whirled around to see who it was but he had gone. Some branches shook above and the voice whispered, “Ssshhh!”

Sergeant Kayggen, a tough stocky fellow, approached Thara with a swagger. His gruff voice bellowed out,

“We have a warrant for your arrest miss. And I advise you not to run away this time.” He grabbed Thara’s arm tight so that she couldn’t wriggle free. Just then, a yellow fletched arrow flew from out of no where into Kayggen’s arm and all the soldiers crouched down, shields over their heads. A reprimanding voice called from the trees,

“Bad form old chap! Not the way to treat a lady you know.”

“Where are you!?” one of the soldiers called out.

“Right behind you.” The soldier whirled around to face a smiling Deodar Lightfoot. Before the soldier could swing his sword, Deodar’s hand had grabbed his wrist and twisted it, relieving him of his weapon; then knocked him out cold with the hilt of the dagger he was holding. Two more soldiers came at him. As one of the soldiers swung for his head Deodar ducked and the momentum of the swing carried the blade in a full circle and right at his comrade. The unaware soldier brought his shield up, but too late. The soldiers swing left him unprotected and Deodar dealt him a swift kick to the gut, then another to the chin. Then the last two came. He dropped the first with his bow then parried the second’s sword and thrust the dagger into his middle. The soldier fell with the dagger in his gut as Deodar aimed a menacing arrow at Kayggen who was clutching arm.

“Git! And take them with you.” he said, nodding to the two soldiers sitting on the ground, rubbing their bruised wrists, cheeks, bellies, and chins.

Kayggen walked over to the nearest soldier, kicked his knee and growled.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Deodar waited until they were well on their way then turned to Thara.

“Come. We must leave before they arrive with more men.” He took her hand and they raced off into the woods.