THE ASRAI - CULLEN PART 7

CHAPTER FIVE
THE ASRAI

Cullen was feeling disappointed when they left Boulder behind and started walking through the woods again. The good people of Boulder had seen the soldiers and the Dreamweaver. They were angry because the soldiers took away their Shaman and they feared reprisals from the Goblins.
Cullen was alarmed that they seemed so sure about Goblins attacking and people could remember stories about attacks in the past. The he the Dreamweaver would be very interested in such things but none of the villagers could tell him why the soldiers left and tromped off into the forest with their Shaman.
Cullen made grand statements about finding the lost man and bringing him back but he knew it was quite unlikely that he could perform as well as he hoped. He had been training every morning with Tik and Arthur, since Dragos would have nothing to do with it, and he was getting better every day, but good enough to fight soldier? He didn’t think so.
The others followed him despite their lack of success, and Cullen was glad for their company. He learned more about each of them everyday, well again, except for Dragos. Arthur had been the cast off son of a soldier, and his mother had dropped him off at the Orphanage when he was just a little boy.
He had risen fast in the ranks and became Captain at a young age. He didn’t like the Orphanage but he stayed as long as he could because he didn’t want to be a soldier and go off to die in some battle between nobles or Kings.
He wanted to explore the world, go see the Mines of Vess or the grasslands of Rath. He was tall and thin, with ropy muscles. He was quick where Dragos was strong, but they made a good team and when Cullen watched them practice he was always impressed by Arthur’s smooth movement.
His hair was bright red and hung long down his back, sometimes timed with a thing, or sometimes loose. He was a handsome boy, still not growing facial hair on his smooth defined cheeks. He carried his sword comfortably.
Cullen asked him about Dragos and learned that he was the child of a rape victim and that he carried that anger around like armor. He did want to be a soldier, in the worst way, but his ties with Arthur were stronger and so when Arthur wanted to leave, Dragos came with him.
He had his head shaved like a soldier and he was beefy, mostly muscle under some extra padding, but he was the tallest of all of them and he was easily the biggest. Cullen wanted to practice with him to learn against a stronger opponent, but Dragos would do nothing to make friends with the others.
Cullen and Sonia talked everyday and they became closer with each conversation. She told him all about her childhood, growing up on the shore of the ocean, mending nets and fishing lines and preparing different fish for meals.
She talked about her life in the Orphanage and how much she had hated it, until Tik came there. He was a great friend to her and he always kept her laughing. And he taught her how to fight, which no one else had been willing to do. She was an excellent shot with the bow and could hit her target nine times out of ten.
They were walking ahead of the group, with Tik twenty feet behind and the other boys another twenty behind him. Cullen had eyes only for Sonia, so it was here that caught the flash of white up ahead.
“Cullen! Did you see that? Up ahead, something white just ran past,” she said, interested but a little wary.
“No, what did you see?” Cullen asked, suddenly alert.
They both peered through the trees, looking as far ahead as they could when Cullen saw it too, another burst of white between the trees.
“I saw it now! Did you?” Cullen said, drawing his sword.
“Yes, it’s low to the ground! It might be your wolves,” Sonia added excitedly.
“Wolves?” Tik asked coming up behind them.
“Yes! Be quiet, all of you!” Cullen commanded in a harsh whisper.
Arthur and Dragos arrived and also remained quite while everyone stared into the forest, looking again for the tell tale sign of white against the dark trees.
Cullen saw it again and Sonia gasped. There, off in the distance was a huge white wolf. It paused, standing about a hundred feet away, half in the tree and half out. It was clearly looking right at them as they all crowded around each other for a better view.
Then the wolf started walking towards them with an easy pace. It would vanish behind some trees, then reappear again.
“Its coming here Cullen,” Sonia said in a whisper.
Cullen watched it walk closer and closer, then when it was near it went behind a group of bushes and what came out the other side astounded everyone.
Standing just a dozen feet away was a man in a loincloth. He was tall and lean, built like Arthur but even more muscular. Sonia sucked in her breath and Cullen felt his disappear. The man was white, like driven snow, with white hair that flowed down past his shoulders.
His skin was covered in light gray and blue tattoos that swirled all around his body in mesmerizing patterns. He wore no weapons and he was smiling in a friendly way.
“Cullen?” he asked.
Cullen nodded without speaking and stepped forward, in front of his friends.
“My name is Tris’tan,” he said, with a strange clicking sound in the middle. “I have come to guide you to where you must go.”
Cullen looked back at his friends, totally lost for a moment. Sonia touched his arm and he snapped back into place.
“It is a pleasure to meet you Tris’tan. This is Sonia,” he said while he put his arm around her, “And Tik, Arthur and Dragos.”
“Yes, I know,” the man said, “I’ve been following you for days. I know quite a lot about all of you.”
“You’ve been following us? Why?” Tik asked, a little miffed.
“It was you that helped us in Holdfast wasn’t it? You and more of your kind.” Cullen spoke with confidence, totally sure that this man could somehow be a wolf too.
“Yes, that was I. I have come to escort you to a meeting Cullen. It is very important that you come. You will find the Dreamweaver is there too.”
Cullen glanced at the others, but they were still in shock at seeing a wolf somehow become a man. Cullen understood that this was magic and he was some kind of Faery but he had never heard legends about wolf-elves. The Dreamweaver never told him stories like that.
“What are you?” Sonia blurted out just as Cullen was thinking the same thing.
“I am one of the Asrai, a clan of Faeries within the Daoine Sidhe, or as we call ourselves, the People, for we are the oldest race on earth.”
Cullen was thrilled to meet him, and he said he would take them to the Dreamweaver! This was great, he thought. He never would have guessed that the wolf was a Faery, but he supposed it made sense after all.
“We will go with you Tris’tan. Please, show us the way.
Tris’tan grinned a wolfish smile and turned to walk back into the forest. Cullen grabbed Sonia’s hand and pulled her along, followed quickly by the others. Soon they were walking quickly through the trees on a route towards the Dreamweaver.

***

Connon was in an absolute rage. His face was red, his hands were shaking and he was stomping back and forth while shouting as loud as he could.
“That old man let that demon worshipper go and the two of them ran off!” he shouted.
The man he was shouting at just stood there glaring back at him waiting for him to tire himself out. Grimm didn’t enter shouting contests. He just stood, solid as a tree, waiting.
“I don’t know how they made everyone sleep through this, but clearly they were in on it together!”
“I don’t know that,” Grimm said in a even voice. “They could have been taken.”
“Taken where? By whom?” Connon yelled again.
“By whoever left all these flowers here!” Grimm said gruffly. “This was an attack, not betrayal. That creature back in Boulder told us the Faeries wouldn’t just let us walk in to their lands!”
Connon looked at the ground, covered in purple flowers. He picked one up and smelled it but it made him dizzy so he dropped it again.
“There may be some truth to what you say,” Connon said in a more normal tone. “But they are both gone and we need to decide what to do. I have to speak to the Bishop, so I vote we go home.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because I too think we should go back to Holdfast. We either need to come back here with an army and just cut down the whole forest or we need to take an army and invade the mountains looking for the Goblin King.”
“Good, then its settled. We head back to Holdfast.” Connon walked away feeling good about himself. He had stood up to Grimm and shouted at him and the man did nothing. Part of him must know that I am more powerful than he, he thought.
He commanded his men to ready his horse and then he noticed Anton looking at him. Anton always looked like he was judging Connon and he hated it. He was the same rank as Connon but he deferred to Connon since Connon had been a High Priest longer. But he was a different man and Connon didn’t like him.
He thought about the angel again, like he found himself doing most of the day. He had come to Connon and told him about treasures. He had to tell the Bishop something, but then he had to go in search of these treasures.
He thought about taking a hundred men with him or just a few. Or none at all. The glory would be better that way, but it could be more dangerous. The treasures would surely be guarded by something. But what? What guarded treasure like that? Faeries? Dragons?
If goblins and other demons like that short man creature he saw in the cave existed, then what else was out there, was out here, in the forest? He’s lucky all they did was sleep, something could have stole in and killed them all while they slept. Connon shuddered with the thought.
He mounted his horse still lost in thought as they began the long ride home. They would follow the river until the got closer to the edges of the forest and then they could find the King’s Road and take it home.

***

The village of Boulder held about fifty people. Most of them were families with a husband and a wife and one or more children. For two generations they had trade with the underground races that lived near them. The Shaman, and the man before him that trained him, were both essential to that trade.
The Shaman Hrothgar had not chosen his replacement yet, and sometimes the villagers worried since he was getting up in years. Most of them had seen a Goblin at least once in their lives, and most of them had gone to the cave to do the trading, since each family was expected to contribute something throughout the year, so they had seen the short Duergars as well.
Now that Hrothgar had been taken, they feared that an attack might come while he was away. So each night, people boarded up their houses and stationed guards outside the watch the mountain, making sure that no Goblins came sneaking into the village.
Most of them men were hard working, mountain farmers. They could fight and would die for their families. They felt that with enough warning, they could probably defend their small settlement against an attack in necessary.
The village had fallen into the routine and had been quiet and peaceful for over a week now. The women were less afraid and the men were sleeping more soundly at night. The posted guards were playing cards while at their posts and weren’t watching the mountain much anymore.
They assumed the Goblins would come in a rage, in a rushing attack, screaming and hollering their anger as they ran down the mountainside, bent on destroying the town.
The two guards didn’t notice the black shadows and smoke until the town was already covered. When they could barely see their cards anymore, they looked up and realized they could barely make out their torches that were right next to them.
The older man, not taking any chances started winding the horn, spinning the handle until it made the awful sound of the village alarm. Soon in the dark, the two men could hear the cries of other men, coming out of their houses with weapons ready.
The two men looked off into the woods from their tall post, where they should be able to see all the way to the mountain, but tonight they could barely see the ground from their position.
Then they saw blinking lights in the distance. Lights of yellow, blue and red, a lot of red, blinking furiously back and forth. Then they heard the clicking sounds, like a hoard of insects coming at them.
They both looked down when the platform they were on began to shake. Scuttling up the side was a creature, all shiny black with a hundred legs and pinchers, a giant centipede that scurried up the post and attacked.
As the two men tried to fight off the monster, they heard the screams of people all around the being attacked by things in the smoke and shadows. The blinking lights were flashing everywhere, all red now and the clicking was persistent.
The two guards managed to kill the centipede and were starting to climb down when two more figures leaped on the platform. Both of the men who appeared were also black and shiny, with ripples of color shooting across their scaled skin.
They had pointed ears and slanted eyes that glowed red in the dark. They revealed curved slender swords and they laughed musically as they cut down the two guards. Within seconds both men were dead and the Dark Fae leaped down to find more victims.
Within just minutes the whole town was overrun and destroyed. Buildings were knocked down, fires were set, bodies were mutilated, and babies were slain. It was a massacre. The good people of Boulder Village never had a chance.

***

Vlad entered Hillside at dawn just as he thought he would. The small town was still sleepy, with just a few farmers up and attending to their animals and crops. Vlad rode his horse through the village, along the dirt road that ran through the center of town.
When he saw the tavern, he knew that’s where he should start his search in this town. Taverns were good for gossip. The front door was open and after tying his horse to the outside rail, he stepped in boldly, looking around for the innkeeper.
He saw, on the other side of the bar, framed in a kitchen doorway, a portly woman, who smiled as they made eye contact.
“Good morning ser, it’s early yet but I’ll have breakfast if you’re hungry,” she said sweetly.
“I would be delighted to have some warm food dear,” Vlad said back in his smoothest voice.
“Then have a seat and I’ll bring it out shortly,” she advised.
Vlad chose a small table by itself in the corner, near a window that faced outside so he could watch the road. There was always a possibility that the children were still here and sleeping nearby. He was never sure he had missed them until after he had asked after them.
He spent a quiet fifteen minutes thinking of how to approach them if they were in the tavern when the older woman came out with a plate of food. She served him scrambled eggs, sausage, apple slices, porridge and a glass of fresh squeezed juice.
“This looks wonderful dear,” he complimented. “May I ask you a question?”
“of course ser!,” she answered. “What is it?”
“I’m looking for a group of children that may have passed through here. Have you seen them?” Vlad started to eat some of the food and was happy to find it tasted quite good.
“My husband, Alin said he spoke to some strange children that had some kind of talk with our blacksmith. Let me find him and you can ask.”
Vlad nodded and thanked her and went back to eating his food. He was tired from riding all night, but perhaps he was getting closer to their trail.
Alin came in from the back just as Vlad was finishing his meal. He pushed the plate and bowl away and leaned back in his ladder back chair, looking out the window.
“Ser? My wife says you’re looking for some youngsters?” Alin asked as he approached.
“I am good innkeeper! Your wife says you may know the ones I’m talking about?”
Alin rubbed his balding head nervously. “Aye, I saw a group. Four boys and a girl. They came here looking for an old man they say was taken by Kingsguard soldiers. They bought weapons from Costin, the blacksmith.”
Vlad smiled and nodded. “Did they say where they were going next?”
“They didn’t come back to talk to me, but you could ask Costin, he might know. Rumor has it, it was them that convinced Costin to stop building the church and take in with his mistress. He was beaten for it already, guess he figures they can’t punish him twice!”
“Alin, I think I’ll go talk to Costin right away but then I’ll need a room for a few hours. I need to get some rest before I go back out. Would this cover the breakfast, the room and the information?” Vlad placed a gold coin on the table in front of the innkeeper.
Alin’s eyes went wide when he saw it. “Why, yes, yes of course good ser! Please come take our best room when you’re ready!” The innkeeper scooped up the coin quick as he could and turned to go get his wife to make sure the room was spotless.
Vlad moved the chair back and stood, adjusting his jeweled sword a bit and he turned to walk out the door. He stepped out into the rising sun and walked slowly over to the blacksmiths shop.
He found the big double doors to the shop closed and he decided to go to the smaller side door to knock. He lifted his mailed fist and pounded on the wooden door five times.
It opened quickly and a woman poked her head out. She was pretty, or had been, but she appeared as though life had been cruel to her and she was a little worn out. Vlad smiled his best smile and spoke softly to make her less nervous.
“Well met my dear. My name is Vlad and I am looking for ser Costin the blacksmith. Is he home?” Vlad asked in his sweetest voice.
“He is. Let me get him,” she said, speaking just as softly. She darted back into the building and soon Costin, a big man filled the doorway and his shadow fell over Vlad.
“You’re looking for me? You need work done?” Costin asked, a little suspicious.
“I just need information and I’ll be on my way,” Vlad informed him, still acting quite casual and civil.
“Information? On what exactly?” Costin asked, still not convinced.
Vlad stepped a pace away and looked over the big man. He could do this one of two ways. Stay nice and get some info, or get mean and get more info but have a fight on his hands. Costin was a large man and could probably fight well enough.
“I’m looking for some runaways, children really. Four boys and a girl. Have you seen them?” Vlad chose the simple route, hoping Costin would give up the kids willingly.
“Runaway’s you say? They seemed alright to me. They were good kids,” Costin revealed.
“So you have seen them. I’m looking especially for Cullen. Was that one of the names?” Vlad smiled as though he wasn’t pressing the man for more.
“Yes, it was. They helped me with, ah; a problem and I sold them some arms. I had no idea they were runners. They headed off for Boulder. That’s the last town before you hit the mountain. They’re after an old man that was with the soldiers.”
“I heard that. Thank you for your time. Have the soldiers come back through at all?” Vlad asked one final time.
“No. They’re either still in Boulder or took another route home, but they would have to go through the forest if the took another way. This is the only road that goes to the mountain village.”
“Thank you again for your time Costin,” Vlad said politely. He waved goodbye and stepped away from the porch, heading quickly back for the inn. He would get a few hours of sleep and then back on the road. He must be getting close, he thought. The soldiers have probably caught him and I can just take custody from them. Grimm would hand them over in an instant.

***

Cullen noticed as they walked that the forest around them seemed to blur as though they were moving must faster than he felt they were. The trees nearest him seemed normal but the ones in the background looked different, otherworldly.
“Tris’tan, what’s happening to the forest?” he asked, slightly concerned.
“We are walking a special path. It would take days to cross the whole forest in we walked normally. But this path cuts many hours off our time.”
Cullen looked again at the surrounding woods. This was some kind of magic. He looked back at the others who clearly noticed it too but he nodded his head to show them it was alright.
“You said that you were sent to find me, and bring me somewhere? Where are we going?” Cullen asked again, more interested than before.
“I was sent by someone I respect deeply. You will know him as Lord Cernunnous, Lord of the Forest.” The elf’s voice had a musical quality to it, every note pure and strong.
“The God? You’re taking me to the Forest God?” Cullen asked in utter amazement.
“He is very old and very powerful, but he is no God. He says there are no such things as Gods. He says that humans just attribute that to things they don’t understand.” Tris’tan tuned back and smiled at Cullen warmly, but as though he was teaching a child.
“The Dreamweaver taught me that he was a God and that we could make offering to him,” Cullen said stubbornly.
“And he has received those offerings, and was worshipped as a God for many years by humans. He is revered by our kind, but we do not worship him.”
Cullen shook his head trying to make sense of the information.
“And you are an Asrai? What is that?”
Tris’tan slowed his pace so that Cullen could walk beside him. He kept his eyes on the trail, but glanced often at the human beside him.
“The Asrai are a group of elves that learned transformation magic from the Dwarves. Most elves prefer peace to fighting, but some of us wanted to become warriors in order to protect our kind.”
“The Dwarves are great warriors and can transform into massive bears. We wanted to learn that magic and so were became the Asrai, werewolves and warriors. One of our leaders is Cernunnous. The other is my mother, Gwyddneu.”
Cullen tried to picture Tris’tan transforming but he just couldn’t imagine how such a thing would work. It must be powerful magic. He wondered if the swirling tattoos had any significance to the transformative magic.
“Why does Cernunnous want to see me?” Cullen asked, as he thought about where they were headed and why he was being led there.
“I only know that he said you were special, and that you are needed. A great war is about to erupt and you will play a part in that. I do not know more than that, I’m sorry.” Cullen could sense the confusion from the elf, and he believed that he truly didn’t know more.
“A war with whom? Humans?”
“It may come to that. The human settlement of Boulder was recently attacked by the Host, but humans may not want to know that there is a difference between the Host and the Daoine Sidhe.”
“Who?” Cullen asked. “The Host? The Daoine Sidhe? Who are they?”
“The Daoine Sidhe, or Seelie Court is the collaboration of all good races of Faery. It is elves and Dwarves, Pixies, Sprites, Gnomes, and more! The Host is our cousins, the Unseelie Court, and is made up of the Dark Fae, creatures like us, but involved in dark magic and evil practices.”
“You say they attacked the town we were just in? How do you know this?” Cullen was alarmed at the idea that the settlement of nice people was attacked.
“My brothers have sent me information while we were walking. Did you hear the howls before? That was them calling to me,” Tris’tan explained.
“Did anyone survive?” Cullen asked, somewhat overwhelmed.
“No Cullen, I’m sorry,” Tris’tan said softly.
Cullen fell back a couple paces and the elf walked ahead again, searching for the correct path. Sonia, having overheard most of the conversation, walked beside Cullen and rubbed his back.
Tik came up on the other side and walked near to Cullen to tray and comfort him. Arthur and Dragos stayed back, falling into the habit of rear guard as they had been trained.
“What are we doing with them Arthur?” Dragos said in a whisper.
“What do you mean? We’re following the elf to wherever he brings us,” Arthur whispered back. “What are you worried about?”
Dragos scowled and kicked his foot at a stone in the path. “I don’t like this. Magic, and elves that were wolves! It’s all too strange. I just wanted to be a soldier!”
“Then you should have stayed behind Dragos!” Arthur said in a hush, but with anger. “I didn’t ask you to come!”
“We’ve been together since we were little Arthur,” Dragos said, the pain clear in his strained voice. “I couldn’t let you run off alone!”
“Then you have to accept that this is what we’re doing! I want to follow Cullen, and see where he takes us. I don’t know why but I trust him. Isn’t wonderful and strange to meet an elf and walk through the woods with magic all around us?”
Dragos continued scowling. “I don’t like it Arthur. But I won’t leave you alone with them either.”
Arthur sighed and kept walking, wondering how he would deal with his friend’s desire to be a soldier still. Being free was so much better. Look at all the things they had seen so far, and Cullen helped people! Arthur wanted to help people too.

***

Grimm was glad to dismount from his huge war charger when they reached the castle. His twenty Kingsguard men had all gone into the barracks to find some food and some rest. Grimm was tired as well but he knew he had to see the High King first.
He walked slowly from the stables into the castle, finding a young page quickly and asking where the King could be found. He was in the Hall eating lunch. Grimm was glad to be headed towards food.
He found the King sitting in his high backed chair made of wood but gilded in gold. He was wearing a white silk shirt and thin amber colored linen pants with tight black boots that went up to his calves. As always, his hair was trimmed perfectly and he was grinning at the young woman sitting next to him.
There was always a new woman, just about every time Grimm thought he had figured out the girl’s name, there would be a new one. This one was quite young, pretty, all blond haired and blue eyed and smiles.
When the King spotted Grimm however, his grin vanished. He made polite but insistent motions to the young lady so she would leave. The High King would hear this report alone. The guards in the room stepped out into the doorways instead, allowing the two men some privacy.
“Grimm! You are returned! Tell me something good,” the King said cheerfully.
Grimm shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t have good news Sire,” he said, looking the King right in the eye.
The King sighed and frowned. “Well then tell me what you will. What have you learned?” he asked, still making a sour face.
“We went to a small village called Boulder. There, an old man who says he’s a Shaman has contact with the local Faeries, both Goblins and little men called Duergar. He has traded with them for years.”
“Traded with them?” the King asked incredulous. “What form of trade?”
“The Shaman gives them crops, meat and fur for tools and metals. They use a different form of metal than we do for their tools. They call it steel and it is stronger than our own iron tools and weapons.”
“And there is peace between them?” the King asked, interested intensely now.
“There is, or there was. Connon took the Shaman with us when the Duergar said we should talk to the Sidhe, the elves in the Danann Forest. Connon wanted a guide, although I disagreed with his methods.”
Grimm reached across the table and grabbed a plate, and got himself some meat and vegetables to eat. He poured himself some ale to wash it all down, and proceeded to eat while talking.
“So you think Connon caused trouble with his actions?” the King asked pointedly.
“I do. I think there will be consequences to taking the Shaman and attacking the Faeries. I don’t know what those will be exactly, but there will be a response.”
“I just received word that Boulder is no more. It was completely destroyed. Do you think the Goblins would do that?” The King also drank some ale, as though he had to wash away the statement.
“The whole village?” Grimm asked, this time caught off guard. “I don’t know Sire! I thought there would be a stop in trade, but not an attack! Are there any witnesses?”
“None. People from another village went there to trade and found there was nothing left. It was utterly destroyed; buildings knocked down and burned, bodies torn apart. Terrible.”
“My God! What is your response? What do you want to do?” Grimm asked, completely alarmed now.
“We have to send men there to investigate. Can we fight the Goblins?” the King asked again, putting his head in his hand for a moment.
“I don’t think we can start a campaign by entering their tunnels, no. I think we would be at a disadvantage then. Many of our men would die. But perhaps if we can reach the elves, then they can make the Goblins stop.”
“Did you find any sign of elves in the Forest?”
Grimm shook his head again. “Yes and no. We were, not attacked, but stopped by some enchantment that put us all to sleep, except it seems the Shaman and your Dreamweaver. Both of them are missing.”
“What? Explain!” the King commanded.
“We woke up surrounded by flowers that had a scent that could make you sleep. But the Dreamweaver and the Shaman were gone. Connon was acting anxious, half crazed, to get back here, so I agreed that we should repot what we knew first before doing anything else.”
The King lifted his head out of his hand and looked out the far window to the Ward outside. Kingsguard soldiers could be seen, marching from one task to another.
“We need to make contact Grimm. If the Sidhe rule their kind, then we need to make contact with them. But I also need to send men to Boulder to make it clear they can’t attack my villages with impunity!”
“I understand Sire. How many men shall I take back?” Grimm asked, assuming he would command.
“I want you to find the elves. Go back to the Forest and find them. Maybe as one man along they will speak to you. We’ll send another Captain to go with the men to Boulder. I think fifty veterans would be fine.”
“And Connon? We should keep an eye on him; I think he’s up to something.” Grimm finished his meal, grateful to have had time to eat.
“Are you still on good teams with Anton? Maybe he can keep an eye on Connon for us?” the King suggested.
Grimm nodded, “I think he will be agreeable.”
Grimm pushed his chair back, gave a short bow and walked out of the room. He gestured to the soldiers that they could go back in, and he heard the giggling of the girl as she reentered the Hall. He shook his head, wondering when the King would get over his heartbreak.

***

“I saw an angel Bishop! In front of me, glowing like a torch, with white wings! An angel! And he gave me a task!” Connon was red faced again, his hand wildly gesturing as he tried to convince the Bishop he wasn’t mad.
“You had a vision, is that right?” the Bishop asked. He was seated in his big chair, that he overflowed out of and he patted himself with a handkerchief as sweat poured down his forehead.
“Yes, call it a vision! God has spoken to me, and told me to find four Creations, four Treasures! We will use these Treasures to defeat the demons!” Connon wasn’t shouted, but he wasn’t just talking either.
The Bishop Constantinus patted his hands down in front of him, as though trying to get the High Priest to calm down. “Please, Connon, bear with me! You come in here, tired from the road, and obviously very excited about something that happened to you. I’m trying to understand!”
Connon stopped pacing and looked at the Bishop. He turned and grabbed a chair and pulled it in front of the Bishop’s desk. He sat down heavily and took a deep breath.
“I know this is a lot to hear Bishop,” he said, calmly. “But it is the truth. An angel from Heaven came to me and told me I had a task, to find and posses four treasures that would help us in the coming battle with the demons.”
“Have you heard, Connon, that a village was attacked and destroyed?” the Bishop asked the Priest now that he had calmed down.
“No! What village?” Connon asked quickly.
“Boulder, the village you went to! Destroyed by Faeries!” The Bishop wiped his forehead again in distress.
“Then you have to let me go! The attacked have already started! Bishop please, understand this! The Demons have power and better weapons. We need some kind of power ourselves. And this angel told me where to go. Power is there waiting for us, I just have to reach out and take it!”
“And you want to go alone? Won’t there be guards at such treasures? I’m sure they will have some defense!” the Bishop worried, frowning at the whole idea.
“Then send me with men, but just a few. This isn’t the job for an army; it has to be more precise than that.” Connon insisted, starting to get excited again.
“You will take Anton with you again as well,” the Bishop advised. “And don’t shake your head; he’s a good man and a High Priest, just as you are! He goes!”
“Fine! But I am in charge! I won’t have him questioning every order I make!” Connon demanded.
“As you say,” the Bishop agreed. “Take twenty men with you, and try to find these treasures. Tell no one of your vision yet, and I won’t tell the King either. If you find some weapon to fight the demons then we’ll tell him. Agreed?”
Connon nodded his head, made the sign on prayer across his chest and bowed his head. The Bishop made the same sign and then called for a quick prayer. The two men bowed their heads in silent thought for a few minutes and then they looked up at each other and both smiled.
Connon knew this was his moment, his time to really shine. An Angel had given him a quest! This is what legends were made of, this is how heroes begun! So what if Anton came with him? The men would be under his command and he would find the treasures, making him the High Priest or real worth. They would have to create a new title for him! A new title to show his worth!

***

Cullen could hear the waterfall before he saw it. The forest was rather thick around the waterfall but there was a clearing immediately surrounding the pool where the water dropped. Cullen was unprepared to find the Dreamweaver sitting on a stone nearby.
“Dreamweaver!” he shouted when he saw the old man.
“Cullen!” he shouted back. “Come here my boy!”
Cullen ran over to see him and gave him a genuine hug hello. Then he stepped back and started bombarding him with questions.
“How are you here? Where are the soldiers that took you? Are you well? Did they hurt you? Do you know Tris’tan? Have you seen the Faeries?”
The Dreamweaver patted the air with his hands while laughing. “Cullen! Slow down so I can answer you!” he gestured to another stone and Cullen sat down, but he was clearly excited. His friends gathered around behind him, all eyes focused on the old man.
“First, I am unharmed and well enough for an old man,” he began. “The soldiers have gone back to Holdfast and I am unsure of their plans. Cernunnous rescued me from the soldiers and asked me to wait here for you, so here I am.”
“You’ve seen the Lord of the Hunt?” Cullen asked breathlessly.
“I have,” the Dreamweaver answered. “He wants to speak with you too. And yes I met Tris’tan briefly earlier before he went to get you.” He nodded a greeting to the Asrai.
“But I don’t know your friends Cullen, except Tik of course. What has happened to you since I saw you in the city?”
Cullen introduced his friends and told the Dreamweaver all about their escape, including the wolves’ intervention and he told him about Costin the blacksmith.
“I was there for his whipping. Connon was wrong to do that. I’m glad you helped Costin recover,” the Dreamweaver congratulated.
“So when do I meet Cernunnous?” Cullen asked. Now that they had left the magical path, it was near dusk and everyone was a bit tired from their journey.
“We should eat first and then I will tell him you’re ready Cullen. Please eat and rest a while,” Tris’tan urged.
Cullen helped Sonia dig around in their packs and produce some food. It was the usual traveling fare, dried meat, cheese, stale bread and water. They had a couple of fruits they divided up and shared.
Even beyond the massive trees, the sun filtered through the leaves until it finally fell beyond the horizon. The forest grew darker and Tik made a large fire in the clearing while Cullen found broken logs and stones to use a seats.
Everyone was full and comfortable when Tris’tan arrived in the camp again. His pale skin glowed in the firelight and his eye were a bright red reflecting in the flickering light.
“Cernunnous has come Cullen,” he said as he found a seat.
Cullen heard the rustling of trees behind him and he turned to see a lumbering body of wood emerge from the forest. It was quite quiet for such a large creature and Cullen looked up into its glowing blue eyes that were embedded in its wooden face.
“CULLEN, IT IS AN HONOR TO FINALLY SEE YOU AGAIN,” the Forest God said in his deep rumbling voice that seemed to echo in everyone’s head.
“Again?” Cullen asked.
“I WAS THE ONE WHO PUT YOU BY THAT SMALLER WATERFALL FOR THE HUMANS TO FIND. I HAVE WATCHED YOU ALL YOUR LIFE.”
Cullen looked at the Dreamweaver, who nodded and smiled. Then he looked at Sonia, who glanced at him but was staring at the massive figure crouched behind them. Tik also motioned for Cullen to go ahead.
“Why would you watch me? I’m nobody special,” Cullen asked, unsure of how to proceed.
“YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL CULLEN. YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE, THE ONE THAT ALL MANKIND AND FAERY WILL DEPEND ON.”
Cullen looked around at everyone again. Sonia was smiling with Tik and they both kept nodding for Cullen to continue his questioning. Cullen felt overwhelmed by the idea.
“Me? What do I have to do? I don’t understand.” He noticed Dragos was scowling more than usual. That stuck him as odd at the moment but he couldn’t pursue it in his mind at that time.
“WE NEED YOU TO FIND THE FOUR CREATIONS. THE HOST, ONCE THOUGHT LOST FOREVER, HAS RETURNED. WE NEED A CHAMPION, A HERO THAT CAN GATHER THE FOUR CREATIONS AND FIGHT THEM. WE HAVE CHOSEN YOU TO DO THIS.”
Cullen swallowed and tried to catch his breath. This was all too much. Why would he be chosen? Why would this creature, this God, choose him? He was just a boy, a young man.
“Who is the Host?” he finally asked, trying to make sense of it all.
“THE HOST, THE DARK FAE, IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE DAOINE SIDHE, AND THE ENEMIES OF THE ASRAI. ALMOST ALL FAERY OPPOSES THEM. THEY BELIEVE IN DARKNESS AND SHADOW, IN RULING ALL OTHER RACES AND TURNING EVERYONE INTO THEIR SLAVES. BUT YOU CAN STOP THEM.”
Cullen thought about it some more. Perhaps it didn’t matter why he was chosen. If something bad was happening, or would happen to everyone, both humans and Faeries, and he could do something about it, then shouldn’t he?
“What are the Four Creations?” he asked, starting to believe in what he was hearing.
“THE FOUR CREATIONS WERE ONCE A CAULDRON THAT COULD FEED EVEYONE, A SPEAR THAT CARRIED THE FIRE OF THE SUN IN ITS HEAD, A SWORD THAT NO ONE COULD RESIST AND ASTONE THAT WOULD CALL OUT WHEN A KING TOUCHED IT.”
The Dreamweaver nodded, remembering telling Cullen of the Four Treasures of Faery. A cauldron that never emptied, weapons that were powerful and a stone that King’s used to prove their rulership.
“THE FOUR CREATIONS HAVE BEEN ALTERED HOWEVER. NOW THEY ARE THE SWORD PROTECTOR, THE SHIELD CALLED THE WALL, THE BOW CALLED SEEKER AND THE FOURTH THAT NO ONE KNOWS. YOU MUST HAVE THE FIRST THREE FOR THE FOURTH TO APPEAR.”
Cullen saw the Dreamweaver and he was reminded of the stories himself. The Dreamweaver had told him about the Host and the battle with the Seelie Court. He remembered all the legends about eleven heroes and their enemies the Dark Fae. The stories of his childhood came back in a rush.
“Where are the Creations now Cernunnous?” Cullen asked, swept up in the idea and wanting to find these legendary weapons.
“PROTECTOR IS WITH THE DWARVES, HIGH IN THE EVERWINTER MOUNTAINS. YOU MUST GO THERE FIRST. THE WALL IS IN THE GOBLIN TUNNELS UNDER THE MOUNTAINS. SEEKER IS ON AN ISLAND IN THE SEA OFF THE WESTERN COAST. THE SELKIES KEEP WATCH OF IT. YOU MUST FIND THESE TOOLS AND RETUNR WITH THEM.”
Cullen looked at his friends. He looked at Tik and saw his eagerness to be involved. He could tell right away that Tik wanted to find the Creations too. He looked at Sonia, and while she looked nervous, she seemed swept up in the idea as well.
Arthur was sitting forward in his seat, nodded furiously and Cullen could see he wanted to go. Even Dragos looked eager, his scowl half gone. Cullen looked again at the Dreamweaver and he gave one short nod, as if to say he would also go with them if they left.
“If you say I must go, and that I can help, then I will go Lord. It seemed as though we shall all go. I am honored that you chose me, and I will try to be worthy of that choice.”
“I EXPECTED NO LESS FROM YOU. I WILL SEND TRIS’TAN WITH YOU AS WELL AS HIS BROTHERS. GET SOME REST NOW AND YOU CAN START IN THE MORNING. I FEAR YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR THE CREATIONS. SO YOU MUST BE QUICK, BUT YOU HAVE TIME TO REST NOW.”
Cullen was about to argue when he noticed little flying figures in the air around him. Different colored creatures with bright wings were flying through the camp, dropping orchids. Cullen had a brief second that he recognized the purple flower from the Dreamweaver’s house before he was overwhelmed by a need to sleep.
He lay down on the ground near the fire and closed his eyes. The others all found places to lay down and followed him into sleep. Tris’tan made sure the fire was low enough to be safe and then he transformed into a wolf and ran off into the woods. The humans would be safe enough for the night. Cernunnous would watch over them.

***

Vlad could tell something was wrong before he entered the village. Smoke was rising above the trees for a while before he reached the edges of the settlement. When he rode into the destruction, he was surprised and alarmed.
The buildings were knocked down, stones everywhere as though they exploded. Everything flammable had been burned and bodies were everywhere. Women huddled over the corpses of children, trying to protect them with their bodies. And the bodies of men in small groups trying to defend the village.
Vlad had been a part of many of the battle that took place as Remus took over the other Kingdoms and united them into one large Kingdom that he was High King of. Vlad had been in battle of war and had seen men grow cruel.
Vlad wasn’t opposed to cruelty himself, but this, this was beyond even him. No one escaped this battle and the rage that the attackers must have felt was clear in the way the mutilated the bodies of their foes and destroyed the buildings and animals.
There were no signs of any dead attackers; the ground was just littered with human body parts. Vlad walked through the village, checking each building’s rubble for survivors. He found nothing. No sign of life at all. Even the surrounding forest was silent as though in mourning for the people of Boulder.
After two hours of searching, and determining that no Kingsguard soldiers or Godsmen were there, he assumed that his prey had left before the attack too. He searched carefully for young bodies but he didn’t find a group of youths without adults near them. He guessed that his prey had escaped the attack.
He remounted his nervous horse and patted her neck while whispering soothing words in her ear and he turned her away from the destruction and back towards Holdfast. This kind of thing had to be reported to the High King right away.
Vlad set off at a gallop, quickly eating up the miles between him and home.

***

When Cullen woke he felt incredibly refreshed. He sat up and stretched and saw that Sonia had lay next to him while she slept. A small thrill went through him when he thought about her. He smiled and touched her gently to wake her up. She stirred and smiled at him. The feelings for her continued to grow.
He looked up at the others, as they were all starting to sit up and then he saw the elves, Tris’tan and two others, perched on tall rocks just outside the circle of sleepers.
“Tris’tan? Are these your brothers?” Cullen asked. The two other Asrai looked exactly alike, both with short white hair and gleaming red eyes. They wore leather clothes with plates of steel woven in like armor. It looked flexible but strong.
“These are my brothers. They are twins, named Gwydion and Gwaelod. They are both Asrai warriors like me.” Cullen noticed that Tris’tan was clothed in the same armor. He stood slowly, letting the blood run down to his legs and he looked at his own clothes, wishing he had some kind of protection too.
“You like our armor Cullen?” Gwydion asked, his voice deep and rich like his brother’s. It had the same musical quality as well.
“They are very fine,” Cullen admitted.
“We’re glad you like them,” Gwaelod said. “These are for you!” And he tossed a set of clothes towards Cullen. Cullen caught them and heard the tinkling of steel plates banging together.
He unfolded the clothes and saw that he now held the same kind of leather and steel plate armor that the elves were wearing. The twins tossed armor towards Sonia and Tik and the two young Captains as well. All of them were now outfitted like soldiers with real armor.
“This is amazing! Thank you so much!” Cullen exclaimed. Tik was laughing, Arthur was mumbling his thanks and Sonia looked at Cullen with amazement before running off behind some ferns to get dressed.
Even Dragos seemed interested in the armor and soon all the boys were dressed in the deep brown leather and steel plate. They each kept their own boots and weapons.
Cullen immediately wanted to practice with the armor and he invited Tik to spar with him but Tris’tan stepped of the stone and advanced. He pulled loose his own weapon and Cullen was enthralled with it.
Tris’tan, and the other Asrai carried a unique sword Cullen had never seen before. “This is called a katana,” Tris’tan said, wielding it expertly. “Practice with me.”
Cullen drew his short sword and made a few passes. It was clear quickly that Tris’tan was better and his sword had longer reach, but he said he was impressed with Cullen’s ability.
“We will teach you more as we go Cullen. You must be worthy of the Protector when you get it.”
“So we have to go to the Dwarves now?” Cullen asked.
“Yes. They have a castle on top of the Everwinter Mountains. We should start as soon as you’ve eaten. We will take the same path back and it will take less time. We’re be there quickly and then we can climb that mountain.”
Cullen grinned, excited that they were going to find the Creation and meet Dwarves. He was excited about his new armor and being on a quest. He quickly broke out the food and passed it around for everyone, including the Dreamweaver, who was slower to wake up than the young people.
The Dreamweaver also had to check on his old horse that had been with his all this time. She was grazing on grass and leaves, pretty content to be tied to a tree and relaxing. The Dreamweaver would ride her when they left, and that way he could keep pace with the younger fighters.
After eating, everyone packed their bags to go. The twins ran off ahead to watch the path and Tris’tan led the way for the other. Arthur and Dragos took up the rear guard, walking behind the Dreamweaver’s horse. Cullen, Tik and Sonia walked together.
About an hour into the journey, Sonia finally revealed what was on her mind. “Cullen, Cernunnous said he had known you since you were a child,” she started.
“Yes, that’s right,” Cullen responded.
“Wouldn’t he know who your parents are then?” she asked hesitantly, unsure what Cullen’s reaction would be.
He was silent at first, and she began to worry she had upset him. “I suppose that’s right Sonia, he would know. I didn’t think to ask. I was so caught up in just talking to him and him telling me that I had to help everyone, that I just didn’t think about it.”
Sonia rubbed his arm as they walked. “I’m sure we’ll see him again and then you can ask,” she said trying to comfort him.
“Hey Tris’tan!” Cullen called ahead.
The Asrai warrior turned back expectantly.
“Do you know who my parents are?” Cullen asked directly.
“I do not Cullen,” the elf responded. “I’m sorry, but I was never told. I just know that Cernunnous considers you to be very important to our people. I would guess that you have some ties to Faery then.”
Cullen eyes grew wide and he glanced at Sonia, and then Tik on the other side of her.
“Do you think?” he asked. “Could that be true? Could I be a Faery, or part Faery?”
“I guess anything’s possible Cullen,” Tik said diplomatically. “But you don’t have pointed ears like they do, or slanted eyes. You look human to me.”
“And to me,” Sonia added. “But Tik is right, anything is possible, now that we know they are real.”
Cullen closed his mouth and tried to think on it. He wondered at the possibilities. Did he have magic in him? Could he have powers or do something special? Could one of his parents have been a Faery?
It was almost too much to consider. Better to focus on the task at hand. Whoever he was, he had been given a quest and he meant to fulfill it to the best of his abilities. He would find the Four Creations and wield them in the name of good and right. He would meet the Host and send them back to wherever they came from.
“Tris’tan?” Cullen called again. “Could you tell me more about the Daoine Sidhe and the Host? I only know legends the Dreamweaver used to tell me when I was young, but you would probably remember it better.”
The Asrai warrior slowed his pace until he was walking just in front of the three humans. He looked back once to make eye contact with Cullen, almost as if to say how serious the subject was, before he spoke.
“Once, we were one people. We called ourselves the People. This was before Humans came to this land. We were here alone, all the races of Faery. When the humans came, they were primitive people, and they worshiped some of us, like Cernunnous and his brother Manawyddan, Lord of the Sea.”
“That’s who my parents followed!” Sonia interrupted.
“Yes, humans were impressed by their power and knowledge, so they worshipped them. Some of us wished to take advantage of that, and enslave the Humans. Some of us opposed that. Where we were once one people, we became two.”
Tris’tan’s head seemed to lower at that point as though he were ashamed of the conflict.
“Then we became the Daoine Sidhe, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court or Host. The Host became darker and malicious. They started to work with the more savage of our people, like the Goblins and Duergars, and other more horrible creatures.”
“And there was a battle right?” Cullen asked softly, understanding that Tris’tan was in pain telling the story.
“There was a great battle, and Faery attacked Faery and there was much bloodshed. We beat the Host back, we killed their leaders, all but one. The Queen survived. And she took her people and fled, over the mountains, into the land where the Humans came from.”
“We came from over the mountains originally?” Cullen asked again.
“Yes, a few tribes crossed over and made this land their own. And over hundreds of years, the human tribes have grown in numbers, while the Faeries dwindle. There are not many births among our kind, even though we live for a very long time.”
“I see,” Cullen said solemnly.
“And worse, many of our people lost the ambition to be fighters, to remain warriors, so now, we cannot fight the Host and they have returned. The elves can’t remember how to fight. They still have their armor and weapons but they have lost the will to fight.”
“Will they try to help us if we fight the Host?” Sonia asked, worried they would be on their own.
“It is our belief, the Asrai and Cernunnous, that the Fourth Creation will recall them back to battle, whatever it is. We won’t know until it is found. That’s why we must find the other three, and you must take possession of them. It is vital to our efforts.”
“No pressure of course,” Cullen said, a little bitter. “Sorry,” he grunted when Tris’tan glanced back.
“It is a lot to understand Cullen, I agree,” the elf said. “But if Cernunnous thinks you can do it, then we believe you can do it.”
Cullen nodded, assured that he would try. He understood that a lot was riding on this and he needed to get these Creations and find the mysterious Fourth, whatever it may be, and bring the Faeries and Humans together to fight back against the Host. He hoped that he was worthy of such a goal.
Gwydion appeared on the trail ahead of them and had a quick conversation with Tris’tan. Tris’tan turned and walked back to where Cullen stood and spoke.
“There is a man in the forest, near the river. We don’t know who he is but he’s alone. Maybe you’d like to see?”
Cullen looked at the others, who shrugged and he said yes. He gathered Tik and Arthur and they left the trail, walking back into the normal forest. A hundred feet away walked a massive man, standing over six feet tall, bald and carrying a battle axe.
“That’s the Captain of Captains!” Arthur whispered. “That the High King’s man, Grimm! What is he doing way out here in the woods?”
“Shall we ask him?” Tris’tan asked.
Cullen thought for a moment. Having the King’s man might be good if they had to combine forces with the humans. This might be exactly the man they would need.
“Yes, approach him, but peacefully.”
Tris’tan turned back to the twins and Cullen saw him make motions with his hands, some complicated gestures that seem to be communicating without words, because the two Asrai warriors disappeared into the surrounding bush.
Tris’tan turned to Cullen and motioned with his head, as if to say, come with me. And he walked onto the trail that Grimm was using and stood in the way, still about forty feet from the tall man.
“Well met Grimm,” Tris’tan said, just as Cullen, Tik and Arthur stepped up behind him.
Grimm fell into a crouch and spun his axe before him, ready for an attack. Then sounds behind him caught his attention and Cullen saw the twin pop up behind him, off to either side another thirty feet behind him. Grimm scanned everyone with the edges of his vision and remained tense.
“Well met,” he said. “How do you know my name?”
“Who doesn’t know Grimm, the Captain of Captains of the mighty Kingsguard? It’s hard to mistake you for anyone else ser,” Tris’tan said easily.
“Right,” Grimm replied, still crouched. “May I have your name?”
Tris’tan bowed with great flourish, sweeping one arm under his chest and the other far out to the side.
“I am Tris’tan, and Asrai warrior of the Daoine Sidhe. My brothers, Gwydion and Gwaelod are behind you. Behind me are Cullen, Tik and Arthur, two of them formally of the Orphanage in Holdfast.”
“I am glad to know your names. Do we have business between us?” Grimm asked politely.
Tris’tan turned to look at Cullen. After a second, Cullen realized he was waiting for him to speak.
“That depends ser,” Cullen started. “Why are you alone in the Forest?”
“I was sent by the High King to learn what I could about the Faeries in the Forest,” Grimm said honestly.
“We have been sent by the Faeries on a quest. They say enemies of both man and Faery have come and to have any hope we must combine our forces.”
Grimm stood a little taller and let the axe lower. “Is it the same enemy that has attacked the village of Boulder?” he asked, suddenly serious.
Cullen looked to Tris’tan. He didn’t know about an attack. Tris’tan nodded and said, “Yes Grimm, it is the same.”
“We thought it was Goblins and the Duergar,” Grimm said, questioning.
“They may have been there as well, but your true enemy is the Host,” Tris’tan said sternly.
“The Host?” Grimm said, confused.
“Why don’t you come with us Grimm?” Cullen asked suddenly. “You would learn more by being with us and you could share it with the King then. And we would welcome another fighter!”
Grimm stood a little taller. “Where are you bound?”
“We are going to receive a great treasure from the Dwarves of the Everwinter Mountains. Come with us!”
“Alright boy. I’ll come. Lead the way.”
The twins vanished back into the forest and Tris’tan led them back onto the enchanted path. It was clear that Grimm was a little shaken by the effect of the blurred forest, but he trudged ahead.
Cullen explained as best he could about the Sidhe and the Host, telling him about Cernunnous and the Four Creations. Grimm listened carefully and intently. Afterwards he thought for a while then asked, “And this Forest God, sent you, a young boy, to receive this powerful tool? Why you?”
“I don’t know ser. He asked me if I could, would I help. And my answer was yes. I didn’t ask why, or even find out who my parents are, even though I’m sure Cernunnous knows.”
“Your parents? Are you an orphan too, like these others?”
“I am,” Cullen admitted. “I was found by the Dreamweaver, whom I think you know already.”
It was then that Grimm realized who the old man on the nag was.
“You!” he cried out in surprise. “How did you come to be here, with these children? And what happened to the Shaman?”
The Dreamweaver chuckled. “I set him free Grimm. I know that you didn’t approve of taking him prisoner, so don’t make a face now! The elves found me and wanted me to wait for Cullen. I helped raise him you know?”
Grimm looked back at Cullen and kept walking. Tris’tan was out ahead, and the twins were scouting the trail again. Arthur and Dragos were near to Grimm, obviously impressed by the warrior’s reputation and status.
Tik and Sonia walked a little ahead, while Cullen walked beside the giant man and talked. Grimm was a good listener and soon he knew as much as he needed to about Cullen’s origins and their current goals.
Cullen didn’t tell him about the escape from the Orphanage and Grimm didn’t ask what former orphans were doing together on a quest. It seemed easier to find answers if he didn’t become concerned with how they came to be together. His King had sent him alone to find answers and this seemed to be the best way.
This boy was obviously connected to the Faeries in some way. Grimm would watch him closely.

***

Vlad shook the light rain off his cloak as he walked through the stone halls of the castle. It was dark out and he knew the King would be in bed, but he would also want him to report right away, so he walked towards the King’s Apartments.
Outside he found two Kingsguard stationed on either side of the door. He stopped in front of them and they both nodded, knowing exactly who he was. One guard slipped through the doorway and woke the young page who slept in the same room with the King.
A few minutes later that guard returned and opened the door for Vlad to walk in. He entered that large room and made his way to the table, where he grabbed a chair and pulled it close to the bed.
The King had pulled the curtains away from the side of his bed and was sitting up, dressed in his nightclothes of dark silk. His hair was slightly mussed and he looked a little blurry. When Vlad put the chair down with a thunk, the High King looked up to watch him.
“I’m sorry to wake you my Liege,” Vlad said only slightly louder than a whisper.
“Its fine if you have good news Vlad,” the King threatened.
Vlad swallowed and tried a disarming smile. “I have news, but none of it is good,” he said honestly.
“You haven’t found the runaways yet? You? The great tracker and hunter?” the King asked, disbelieving.
“The trail went cold when I found the village of Boulder destroyed Sire,” Vlad said quietly.
“Yes, I already know about that! The villagers are in an uproar about the attack. I’ve sent soldiers there to secure the region. What have you learned about the children?”
Vlad adjusted on his chair, moving his jeweled sword to the side again. “They are led by a boy named Cullen. He’s friendly with the Rom in his area. I met and questioned his father, but learned very little.”
“And then you lost his trail?” the King asked.
“First I found traces of him in Hillside, the small town before Boulder. He apparently convinced a man there to stop doing what High Priest Connon had commanded him to do. I think when Connon learns that, he’ll have made another enemy,” Vlad said smiling.
“What was Connon’s command?” the King asked, a little angry that the Priest was commanding his citizens.
“The man had been caught with a married woman. Connon had them both beaten for it and commanded the man, a blacksmith by trade, to build a church.”
The King frowned. “What gives him the right to command such a thing? There’s no law that says he has to build another church! The Church is powerful enough in this area!”
“Yes, well you know how ambitious Connon is,” Vlad said, agreeing that the Church had plenty of influence in Holdfast.
“The man started to build the church, had most of it framed up, when he met Cullen. Cullen convinced him to stop and to take care of the abandoned woman. Now they are together in his home,” Vlad informed the King, still grinning at Connon’s displeasure.
“Well, this boy is bold, I’ll give you that! But I still want him captured! So you will go back to Boulder and pick up the trail.” The King lay back down in his bed.
“And snuff the light when you go,” he said with an air of sure command.
Vlad moved the chair back towards the table, walked to the candle and snuffed it with pinched fingers. He stepped carefully to the door, opened it and stepped out. He nodded to the two men guarding and walked down the hall.
He would get some rest and then leave in the morning. But where to go? Back to Boulder he supposed, and try and pick up the trail from there. This boy was interesting to the King, Vlad could tell, but his goal was to capture him and the longer it took, the more likely Vlad would hurt him.
Vlad snarled to himself, thinking of ways to disable the boy once he caught him. Surrounded by other children should make him an easy mark. Even if he is armed now, Vlad had been sword fighting for years longer than the boy.
Some rest and then back out. It was then that Vlad realized he didn’t ask the King who had attacked Boulder. Not that it mattered much, but if there was a new enemy, then perhaps Vlad’s special services would be called on again. Assassinations and dark deaths. Vlad licked his lips in anticipation.

***

Connon looked splendid on his grand white charger, armored as much as he was, in golden, decorated iron plate. Scenes on his chest depicted battles of angels against demons, fighting for men’s souls. His helmet showed lightening bolts ripping through clouds, and the face plate depicted his own smooth, square jawed face, smiling in satisfaction.
Behind him marched twenty men, all Godsmen, all armored like he was, but with slightly less decorated arms. They all carried maces, their chosen weapon; supposedly to not shed blood on battle, although crushing a man’s head did cause them to bleed.
Behind the twenty marching men rode Anton on another horse, a gray mare that had long thin legs and high shoulders. Her hair was braided, both along her neck and in her tail.
Anton’s armor was simpler than even the soldiers. It was iron plate, designed for use, not for decoration. It was dented and scarred in places, from battle he had fought in, and his face plate had a cut in it that ran through the youthful face.
Anton was worried about riding into Hillside again. He wondered if the blacksmith had started work on the church and recovered from his whipping. He hoped the man was working hard on the building, because Connon’s wrath would be great if he wasn’t.
Connon was riding slowly into town, and waving magnanimously at the citizens of Hillside as they emerged from their farm houses to see him ride past. Anton saw them all begin hushed conversations as they passed and he got a chill up his back as though something dire was ahead.
They reached the center of town, and right next to the blacksmiths shop there was a frame for a church, complete with a steeple, and Anton breathed a sigh of relief. No one appeared to be working on it now, but it had been begun. Surely that would be enough for even Connon’s great ego.
Connon stopped his horse in front of the structure and dismounted. He looked at the different townsfolk that were emerging from the surrounding buildings. When he saw the Innkeeper, he called out.
“Good Innkeeper! Tell me, where is the Blacksmith who should be working on this fine church I see taking shape?” he called, his voice golden and clear.
Anton saw the Innkeeper visibly shake as he answered. “Costin is probably at home High Priest. You should find him there.” He lowered his head after the statement and Anton got the chill again.
Connon, still smiling, his face plate turned up so he could see, turned to his men and told them to stand down from their march. He handed the reins of to one of them and walked towards the blacksmith’s shop.
Anton dismounted quickly and handed his reins off as well and hurried to catch up with Connon. Connon reached the shop and the double doors opened and Costin, an imposing man stepped out. Behind him quivered a thin, once pretty woman. She was shaking too.
“Good Blacksmith! I see you have begun work on the church I commanded you to build! Why are you inside when you should be working on this beautiful day?” Connon’s voice betrayed nothing. Anton prayed that the blacksmith was just taking a midday break.
“I have stopped working on building the church High Priest,” Costin said, steady and clearly. His voice was deep enough that everyone in the surrounding area could hear. The woman behind him cowered.
“Excuse me?” Connon said, his smiled vanishing.
“I said, I’m no longer working on building a church here.” Costin wasn’t shaking, and stood tall and sure, his hand holding a hammer in his meaty fist.
“I commanded you to build a church because you were found committing adultery with another man’s wife!” Connon said loudly, almost at a shout. Anton reached him at that point and stood to the side, ready.
“I admit that. But there is no law, in the King’s Kingdom that says I have to build a church. It took a boy to let me see that, but I have stopped building.”
“A boy?” Connon asked, suddenly a little confused.
“Yes,” Costin replied. “A boy named Cullen reminded me that there was no law saying I had to build a church. You had me whipped and her beaten. We paid the price and it’s over now. Let us go on with our lives.”
Anton shook his head. This would end badly.
“So, some boy named Cullen told you to stop, and even though a High Priest of God told you to build a church, you refuse? Is that right?” Connon asked, his face turning red again.
“That’s right. Leave us be Priest.” Costin said it with some venom and the tone was clear to everyone there.
Anton tried to grab Connon as he moved but his hand slipped off and he grabbed nothing but air. Connon rushed forward, pulling his mace free and swinging it at the blacksmith heavily.
Costin raised his hammer and caught the blow, but the movement launched him backward and he landed in the dirt road on his back.
“You would ridicule me? I am the High Priest of the Church of God, and you would deny me?” Connon was screaming as he advanced. Anton managed to grab him, but he shoved him away. Anton fell trying to hold on. All the soldiers were staring at their leader in disbelief and no one saw the new figure until it was too late.
Rushing in from the side, another figure, dressed in rags ran in front of Costin and attacked Connon. He carried a long dagger and he jammed it into the chest of the Priest.
Connon reacted with a warrior’s reflexes and he brought his arm up to stop the blade, crying out when the knife slipped into his flesh. He pushed the body away from him and swung his mace after.
The heavy metal club hit the man right in the face, crushing his nose and forehead brutally. The man’s face exploded with blood and matter and his body fell back into the dirt.
Costin was already on his feet, with his hammer ready, slightly crouched. Connon was looking at the crushed man in confusion as Anton finally got between him and Costin.
“Stop! Stop this!” Anton yelled, trying to stay between the two men. “Do you see what you’ve done?”
Connon lowered his mace and stared at the falling man. “Who is this?” he said. “Who would attack me here?”
“Don’t you recognize him Connon?” Anton shouted, still upset by the entire scene.
Connon stared another moment, looking past the crushed features and looking at his clothes. Then he realized who it was. It was Hrothgar the Shaman. He had come out of nowhere and attacked him!
Anton, seeing that the threat was past, motioned for Costin to return home. He approached Connon slowly and took a look at his arm. He was cut badly and needed help.
“We need to take care of your arm Connon,” he said, calmly again. He led the Priest over towards his men and some of them brought out their patch kits, to help sew him up. Connon just kept staring at the body of the man he had killed.
Anton arraigned for the man to be collected and he would be given a proper burial by the villagers of Hillside. Anton was very upset that someone had died today and he wondered what Connon would feel when he was no longer shocked. Would he be responsible for the death?
And then he wondered, and who is this boy Cullen? How did he influence the blacksmith?