Stone of Fire

[Aewionen]

Alrighty then, this is my first time writing an actual story with an actual plot and the characters are actually mine! ^^ Anywho, this idea just popped into my mind after being inspired by a great book called: Sword of Bedwyr. Okay, so maybe I got a bit of the whole slavery plot and evil King taking over idea from it...Sorry Mr. Salvatore! I tried my best...^^ Right then, here it goes!

[Aewionen]

Chapter 1: The Escape

Marek was about to notch another arrow in his bow when a sound in the nearby bushed disturbed his concentration. He quickly turned his head to see what it was, for you could never be too careful these days with the Zorlaxders roaming freely across the once fair country side of Atonael.
Atonael was once an island of peace and quiet, nothing much really happening there. There had been perhaps two wars in the history of Atonael, and even they were considerably small. But ever since King Tyvern had taken control of the mainland, Eradorin, his armies had begun taking equal control of the smaller islands. Atonael’s neighboring island, Berdwyn, had been the first to fall to the cruel hands of these beasts known as Zorlaxders.
Zorlaxders had few unique character traits, all of them being malevolent and sinister. They all shared forest green eyes and gray hair, though a few have been seen with dark brown, nearly black, hair as a result of mixed from humans or elves. Their skin was pure white, and their ears had a small point that curved at the tip unlike the elves. The normal height for them was around six to seven feet, which sometimes gave them an advantage.
As beastly and threatening these beings were, they were nothing compared to their only allies, the Polioen. Polioen were six feet tall one-eyed beasts, which would look for any reason to kill. But then again, they would kill without reason. Their favored victims were elves who, unlike humans, were immortal. The Polioen smiled upon the thought that they could end the long lives of the elves, as though it somehow brought them god-like powers. Their skin was as thick as leather, and seemingly hard to pierce with a sword or spear. Though, as tough and powerful they might be, they were not the smartest things to ever walk the earth. And, with their one eye, they were no good at crossbows or other long range weapons.
This may seem as though it should give some hope to humankind, but it did not, for wherever there was a Polioen, a Zorlaxder lurked nearby. And so, the humans and elves had been enslaved, though there was rumor that a band of rebels still lasted in the deserts of the mainland, called Sundown.
Quite a strange name for a desert you may think, but in this desert the sun rarely shone. It was a wasteland of sand and rare water still, so one may think that they could survive without the heat of the sun. But it was not the environment that could harm you, but more-so the inhabitants. Goblins had chosen to reside in the caverns near the desert and attack at any movement, Human or Polioen, Elven or Zorlaxder; the race did not matter to them.

[Aewionen]

The rebels had managed to steer clear of the goblins, though attacks were still frequent. Lucky for them, goblins were not the most organized nor smart things. They would run at anything to attack without second thought, as long as it was of reasonable size of course. They would not charge at some dragon that was for sure. And as this to their advantage, the rebels were able to defeat the goblins for the time being. This was of course a rumor.

A rabbit most likely. The youth thought, returning his gaze to the target across the clearing of the forest. Twang! The arrow sang as it flew through the air, hitting the target very near to the center. Marek gave a satisfied smile and got another arrow ready when a voice came from behind him,
“Nice shot!” said the smiling voice while clapping his hands. Marek soon saw it to be his friend, Aden, who had been making the rustling sound in the bushes.
“What are you doing?” Marek asked, raising an eyebrow. He expected Aden to be up to foolishness, not minding the reality of the state of his homeland.
“Nothing of what I am sure you are thinking.” Was the reply given by the sandy-haired boy. “Why?”
“No reason, just expecting you to be eavesdropping. Again.” Marek stated, aiming another arrow at the target. “That is going to get you in trouble one day.” He added, letting the wooden weapon fly.
“Oh, you do so wound me!” Aden said, putting a hand to his heart as though he had been struck, “I have come to retrieve you, for Lord Renyar wishes for you to come at once.”
Marek scowled at the name of the Zorlaxder who had been placed in charge of the town of Kalden. Lord Renyar was not as cruel as the other Lords placed over the neighboring towns, as he was constantly reminding them.
“I could have you sent to Godric, and then you would show more respect I’m sure!” he would say to those who he believed lacked respect. Marek himself had heard those exact words many times.
“What is it he needs me to do, his laundry perhaps?” Marek grumbled, not bothering to turn to face Aden.
“Actually it is his son that requires your assistance.” Aden replied with a smile, knowing how much Marek despised the young prince, Jarle.
Jarle had always called upon the servants of the household to help, or more so do, with the smallest duties, such as taking one thing and carrying it across the room. Hearing this, most though him to be a weakling, but he was the opposite. Yes, it was true he rarely did anything on his own, but he was a skilled fighter. Not as skilled as most of course, for he did not see the need to put in much effort. Jarle had been born strong and had a certain knack for close combat. But it was the archery that frustrated him so, and whenever he missed it was usually blamed on the weather or some unseen force moving the target.

[Aewionen]

“Oh, well in that case you can tell the young prince to tend to the need himself, or better yet to learn to live without.” Marek said with another scowl.
Aden smiled at Marek’s words, “You are his servant-“
“Slave.” He corrected.
“Slave, sorry. And you might as well learn to live accordingly.”
Marek turned to face his friend, his blue eyes looking straight into Aden’s hazel eyes. “You want me to live accordingly? Aden, I may not have been around at the time before King Tyvern’s enslavement, but my brother had. He told me of what it was like, and how he would rather die than live in such a world.”
“And you saw what had become of him!”
“He died for Atonael, Aden! No cause could be greater for , and I will gladly do the same.”
Aden sighed, seeing he could not win this fight. “Very well then, you can do so after you fight this duel Jarle wishes to have with you. I won’t stop you if it is your wish to be beheaded.” He added sarcastically.
“I appreciate your concern.” Marek said under his breath as he walked over to the target to place the arrows in their holder. “You can tell him I will arrive shortly.” He said, turning back to Aden. He gave a sly wink as he placed the last bow in its place.
Aden, seeing what he had meant, for he had been plotting this moment for quite some time now, shook his head, “Not now, you should at least wait until nightfall.”
“No, if we wait until nightfall then we will be easier to catch. Don’t you think they will suspect something? We should go while we are a ways away from the castle, and besides, none of the guards know of my little practice area.” He added motioning to the clearing they were in.
Aden sighed and was about to say something when his eyes grew, “W-we? Uh, who might be going with you?” he asked nervously.
Marek smiled a tricksters grin, “You. I wanted you to come with me, for I cannot handle one of those ships on my own.”
“Sh-ships?”
“Yes, ships. Are you planning to swim to the mainland?”
“I wasn’t even planning on going.”
Marek laughed and patted Aden on the back reassuringly. “You are always telling me the world would me nothing without surprises!”
“No, I said the world would be nothing without secrets.”
“Same thing,” Marek said with a wave of his hand, “Now, I’m sure we can make it to the docks in less than a day’s time if we ride hard.”
“You mean walk right?”

[Aewionen]

“No, ride. I do bring a horse out here you know. Today I decided to bring two.” Marek said matter-of-factly.
“Oh great, not only are we running from Lord Renyar, we are stealing two of his horses. Anything else?”
“Supplies,”
“Supplies?”
“Yes, what exactly did you expect to eat and drink on the journey? Dirt perhaps? And besides, we need to be prepared if we are attacked by those one-eyed brutes.”
Aden nodded slowly as he listened to Marek’s proposition. “You are crazy, you know that?”
“But of course! Now come, I have everything prepared. Your sword is behind that tree.”
“You stole my sword?!” Aden asked in disbelief.
Marek replied by flashing him a sly grin before he entered the forest and returned the horses, which were already saddled and held bags of supplies.
“You knew I’d give in, didn’t you.” Aden said with a smile as he mounted the brown horse.
Marek did the same and returned the smile, “You never were one to not give in to my ideas.” He said, urging the black horse forest path.
“And see how I’ve turned out.” Aden said quietly before he followed his friend.

[Aewionen]

Chapter 2: Aeryn

“Nearly there my friend,” said the voice of a young maiden, patting her cream colored horse. “Less then a days ahead of us lies a soft bed and for you, lovely hay.”
Aeryn rode easily along the narrow forest trail, glancing behind her every now and then. This fiery haired woman was on the run from her former lord, Lord Frear. Lord Frear had been her lord-master for five years, as she was a gift from another lord. She had been passed on from lord to lord many times, so many in fact that she had lost count. Aeryn was about to be given away yet again, but this time to King Tyvern himself as a gift of allegiance. But not so! This time, Aeryn had run from the group escorting her to Lord Tyvern, losing them to a group of Polioen in the process. A smile came to her face as she thought about what would become of Lord Frear when he found out that she had never made it to Tyvern’s palace. He would no doubt be punished for allowing such a mishap.
Emerald green eyes again glanced behind her, but this time for good reason. Voices, quiet yet still hearable, came from the path behind her. What if one or two of the guards had survived against the Polioen and had returned to tell Lord Frear of her escape? All of Atonael would be searching for her, as well as the mainland most likely. Panic came over her as she quickly looked for a place to hide. Seeing nothing but trees, she decided to take her horse into the forest and watch as the voices passed by.

[Aewionen]

“Are you sure? The mainland is usually south from where we are.”
“South-east,”
“Whatever, didn’t you think to bring a compass?”
“No, didn’t think we’d need one. Besides, you always talk about how you could find the docks blindfolded.”
Aden sighed heavily, remembering that incident, “Yeah, I said that. Didn’t mean I could. Lord Renyar would’ve had my head if I didn’t say something!”
Marek chuckled at his prideful friend, “Very true, but you could have told him of that great soup you make!”
Aden rolled his eyes, “With my luck he would place me in the kitchen. Besides, an arena fighter is not supposed to be good at cooking. How fearsome I would sound then eh?”
“All the cooks in the land would be in awe of your mighty power,” Marek replied, looking at his friend. “No matter, I’m sure we will find…“
“Stop!”
“What?”
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” he asked, looking around cautiously.
“Something in the bushes,” Aden answered, dismounting and heading for the shadowed forest. Marek did the same, placing his hand near the hilt of his blade. Aden separated the plants and was about to look inside when Marek placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder and drawing his sword. Aden nodded, realizing what Marek was doing, and then followed his example. The two crept into the bushes and prepared themselves for anything. Or so they hoped. . .
“Planning to get rid of me like I am some deer?” came the unexpected voice of the still hiding Aeryn.
Marek nearly fell over when he heard her, for she was indeed the last thing he expected. Aden, on the other hand who had barely moved at the sound, relaxed and sheathed his sword.
“So sorry my dear lady,” he said apologetically. A small smile came to Marek’s lips, remembering that Aden was quite the romantic person. “My friend and I were just taking precautions.” He continued, stepping back onto the path.

[Aewionen]

“Ah, I see. Why does your friend not speak for himself?” she asked, and Marek noted the edge in her voice.
Aden turned to Marek and shrugged as he nodded. “She has a point.” He said quietly.
Marek sighed, wanting to continue on his way and not stop for such nonsense, but he could see there was no way out of this. “Like he said, we were just taking precautions.” He said cooly, “Happy?” he added, raising an eyebrow.
“Much.” The maiden replied with a smile, coming out from her hiding place, her horse not far behind. “I am Aeryn,” she said, offering her hand.
“I am Aden and this…”
“Aden, you are forgetting one minor detail.” Marek said, cutting him short. “Do you even remember what we are doing out here?” he asked his friend quietly.
Aden smiled and nodded, “Yes, I do.” He said, not bothering to lower his voice. “And having that in mind, I will continue Marek,”
Aeryn, obviously pleased with Marek’s discomfort, turned to him and smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Marek.”
“Pleasure is mine…” the irritated youth replied, not bothering to shake her hand.
Aden instead took her hand, brushing his lips against it respectfully. “Might I ask what you are doing out here in this dark forest milady?”
“You can ask,” Aeryn replied shortly.
An awkward moment of silence brought a grin to Marek’s face, seeing what exactly she meant.
“Ah… then what are you doing out here?” Aden asked again, still not catching on.
“That is my business kind sir, as I am sure what you are doing is your own.”
Aden chuckled, “Very well, I can deal with that. After all, the world would be nothing without secrets.”
Marek saw that a conversation might begin soon and so he interrupted the two, “Well, now that we are all acquainted, we had best be on our way and you most likely on yours.”
Aeryn nodded and mounted her horse, “Farewell gentlemen, I do not think we shall see each other again.”
“And why is that?” Aden had to ask, receiving a glare from Marek.
“I am heading for the mainland if you must know.”
Aden smiled widely, “Are you know? We happen to be doing the same!”
“Yes, for our lord who is sending us of course.” Marek put in quickly before he could continue, not wanting to give them away.
“As am I,” Aeryn said soon after for the same reason.
“Then I don’t see why we shouldn’t just go together!” Aden said with another smile, to which Aeryn nodded in agreement and Marek sighed.
“If she must,” He said as he mounted his horse and rode in front while Aden and Aeryn talking amongst themselves about Kalden and Gairne’, which Marek assumed was her home town.