The last age

[Andor]

The Last Age of the Kran Tyna

Written by Brenden Dodd
Ф
Coauthored by Steven Sinclair

Chapter I

Firelight flickered in the distance, and the sound of merry voices drifted through the woodland. Bugs chirped and called to each other, filling the fresh night air with hundreds of sounds. The constant drip of water falling from a recent rain storm added to the sounds of the nighttime, and the recent rainfall gave the advantage to anyone who might have been stalking around the perimeter of the Elven camp.
The rain had stopped a while ago, and the Elves had started a toasty, warm fire with dry wood that they had gathered the day before. Now the Elves were laughing and joking among themselves, and they were enjoying ale, bread, and meat. The sound of two or more instruments flowed through the camp and enlightened the men’s spirits. It was too bad that their spirits would soon be doused, as well as their lives.
Dark eyes watched intently as the Elves moved around the camp. The eyes swept across the tents, looking for one in particular. Ah, there it was. Near the far side of the camp, where there was a large rock that blocked any view of what lay beyond that.
A dark cloak blended in nicely with the shadows, and as the figure moved, the cloak was silent and therefore concealed him more. The figure moved with great care and stealth, avoiding leaves and dead twigs, stepping where it was the dampest. Dodging past trees, the shadowy figure broke into a silent run through the forest surrounding the camp of Elves. He had to be tricky if he wanted to get into the right position to be able to defend himself from every one of the forty Elves in the encampment.
He was now at the base of the large boulder, and he began to scale the side of the rock quietly. He found many cracks and indents in the rock, and this made it easier to climb the big boulder. Reaching the top, the figure stood up straight and peered over the edge of the rock. Directly below him was the tent he wanted, but the only way down was down the face of the rock, more than forty feet high. But there was no other way but to go back down, and that would be folly. So the figure jumped.
He flew straight down, angling his body at a slant to catch more air and slow his decent. Nearing the ground, the figure twisted and flipped in mid-air. And then he landed with a light thud. No one heard him.
He then laughed, long and evil, and made it loud enough so that the whole camp could hear him. He waited, and smiled when he heard shouting and footsteps coming in his direction. As the Elves neared, the figure drew forth an object made of crystal from his tunic pocket and grinned. The crystal object suddenly changed from the shape of a skull to the long, slender form of a sword. Brandishing it in front of him, the figure held the thin sword at the ready.
Three Elves made their way cautiously around the corner of the tent, which now put them between the rock wall and the tent beside them. They stared as they saw a mere boy standing before them, and one of them stepped forward.
“Boy, what are you doing here?” The Elf asked. Without answering, the boy took a step closer to the Elves. With an unchanging face, stone solid, the boy spoke.
“What does it matter?” He asked in a voice a cold and firm. The Elf turned to look at his two companions and shrugged. Then, turning around, the Elf thingyed an eyebrow at the boy. “You need to tell us why you’re here, because, as you see, this is an Elven camp. And humans aren’t allowed here.” The Elf’s face hardened. “So, why are you here and where did you come from?”
The boy’s eyes flashed, and his face creased into a grin. “In the past, anyone who had been bold enough to ask me who I am and where I come from has been slain by my sword.” The crystal sword in the boy’s hands glinted in the dim light of the fires as he twitched it to emphasize his point.
The Elves looked at each other. “Hey, boy,” Said the first Elf who had spoken. “We don’t want to hurt you. And, see, we can escort you out of this camp without any harm to you.” The Elf flinched, and his eyebrow raised.
The boy’s face went impassive again. “That won’t be necessary, then.” He said, moving his lips in an amused manor.
The Elves began to advance, and the boy did the same. Sword swinging, the boy sliced through the first Elf’s neck, then the next, and lastly he stabbed deep into the last Elf’s chest. He fell away with a grunt, and the boy rounded the side of the tent. In a loud voice, he yelled in a terrifying voice, “Come and fight, so I may end your lives quickly and without mercy!”
Almost instantly, Elves from all over the camp began to run toward the source of the yell. As they found the boy, he massacred the whole crowd of Elves that ran at him. Screams of rage sounded through the crowd, and lives ended constantly, one after another. A mere boy, no more than fifteen years of age, killed Elf after Elf, ended one life after another….

Ф

The bodyguards at her side snapped their heads in the direction of the rear part of the large tent, and they immediately placed Aivia behind them protectively. Aivia glanced around nervously as the sound of swords clashing and yells came from the right corner of her tent. Her two Elven bodyguards drew their weapons and stood protectively in front of her, blocking the entrance while looking at the rear of the tent.
An Elf screamed and fell against the tent pole, and then fell down. His silhouette showed that he had been killed, by the size of the gash in his chest. Aivia watched her bodyguards exchange worried glances, and she swallowed. Don’t be scared. It’s okay. It’s only a wild animal sneaking around the camp. I hope.
The yelling and screaming went on for a long time, what seemed like a half an hour. Aivia’s bodyguards still stood in front of her, waiting for the attacker to come closer.
Suddenly, a single scream came from right outside the front flap of the tent, and Aivia saw the shadow of a young Elven soldier fall to the ground. A sword stuck out from his back. Aivia watched another figure stroll up to the dead soldier, grab a hold of the sword and yanked it out of the soldier’s back. A horrid sound reached Aivia’s ears, and she shook her head.
The shadow outside the tent stood still for a second, and then a voice called, “Come out and fight, cowards.” The voice was hostile, as cold as the freezing depths of the Blue Ice. One of Aivia’s bodyguards turned to her, taking her hand and clasping it in hers. “You must stay here, my lady. If anything goes wrong, you must flee.” He smiled. “I’ve known you for a year now, my lady. Will you remember me by?”
A lump grew in Aivia’s throat, and she nodded. “I-I will.” She stammered. Her bodyguard widened his smile, but it diminished as the harsh voice cut through the silence. “Come now! I am impatient.”
Both bodyguards, who were well trained and two of the best fighters in the Kran Tyna, turned and walked from the tent to face the attacker. The figure outside laughed. “Now, to end your lives.” The sword in the figure’s hands waved back and forth, and he charged. One bodyguard, the one that had just spoken to Aivia, lunged at the figure and dodged a blow deftly and retreated a few steps. The other bodyguard swung his sword up and made contact with the other’s sword. Then the figure spun around and sliced the bodyguard’s hand off, and a scream erupted form his throat. And then the figure sliced deep into his neck.
A thick, red substance splattered across the tent flaps, and Aivia felt her stomach flop, and she gagged. The shadowed character moved at Aivia’s favorite bodyguard and swung his sword at the Elf. With lightning swiftness, the Elven bodyguard parried the blow, and then aimed a hit of his own. But the stranger’s sword came up and caught the Elf’s swing, and Aivia heard the stranger laugh. Then, thrusting the Elf’s sword and hands up, the figure spun around and stabbed straight through the bodyguard’s stomach.
“No!” Aivia screamed. Tears welled up in her eyes, and they immediately started streaming down her cheeks. She fell to her knees and sobbed, but she didn’t notice the shadowed figure moving towards the tent flap. Aivia squeezed her eyes shut to hold back to tears. And then a soothing voice spoke.
“Why do you cry so?”
Aivia snapped her head up, her eyes red. As she saw who it was standing in front of her, she felt a mix of multiple emotions fill her. The lanky boy, dressed in a black cloak and a brown tunic, was not smiling, but had grim, pursed lips. His head was thingyed slightly to one side, and his dark brown hair fell limply to one side. A crystal object was gripped firmly in his right hand, and it resembled a skull.
Again he inquired, “Why do you cry?” For a moment, Aivia couldn’t speak, and she stood awkwardly on trembling legs. “Y-you’ve…come back.” Aivia stammered. The boy nodded, and a small smile broke his stern face. “Aivia, forgive me. I have done wrong.” The boy spread out his arms to take Aivia in a hug.
Aivia opened her mouth to say something, but she could not, so she instead rushed forward and clutched the boy and held him close. “Steven, you’re back!” Aivia sobbed. “I missed you, so much! Oh, I love you!” She hugged tighter, and Steven returned the hug.
Steven rubbed her back and whispered quietly to her. “It’s all going to be all right, Aivia. I’m here now.” Aivia thought, for a second, that she heard Steven mutter something else under his breath, but she didn’t care. She felt Steven move his right hand over to his left arm, but she only thought of holding Steven for a long time. She didn’t want to let go.
“Aivia,” Steven started. “I want you to know something.” Aivia, without raising her head from his shoulder, said, “And what’s that?” Steven paused for a moment, and then, in a voice as cold as ice and as vicious as a demon’s hiss, the boy answered.
“Die.”
Aivia suddenly felt a hand grab her and yank her hard by the chin, causing her to whirl around to the left. And then, for a horrible hundredth of a second, Aivia saw the gleaming blade of a poisoned dagger flying straight for her neck. Then the blade met flesh, and Aivia spun from Steven’s arms in a spray of blood and hit the ground.
Aivia looked up, her throat burning. She gasped for air and clutched her throat tightly. As she looked up at Steven, the edges of her vision flared black, and Aivia saw Steven with a wolfish grin on his face. Tears blurred Aivia’s eyes now, and her strength left her. Her head sank down until it touched the ground, and Aivia slowly, painfully, and with a broken heart, died.
Steven turned and left the ravaged camp, grinning triumphantly all the way.

Ф

The rain beat down mercilessly on the dragon and its rider. Hunched over, and with his hood up, Brenden guided the dragon around the camp and in for a landing. The ground below was dark, and Brenden assumed that everyone was asleep.
His dragon, Uyyv, landed lightly with a snort, and Brenden dismounted quickly and started walking with his dragon through the dark camp. No noise reached his ears, and Brenden decided that everyone must have had a bit too much to drink tonight while he was gone.
Glancing around, Brenden saw no lights in any of the tents. Well, this is peculiar, all the soldiers being asleep. Brenden thought to himself. They’re usually out drinking and joking around. Rounding a tent corner, Brenden came in sight of the main tent that housed the Elven commander, his bodyguards, and Aivia. Quickening his pace, Brenden made his way over to it.
Suddenly, to his right, Brenden heard an anguished moan. He turned sharply and looked over to where a dark form lay in a heap by the right side of the tent. The boy ran over to where the figure lay, and as he bent down to view him, he saw that it was an Elf. With another moan, the Elf looked up and saw Brenden leaning over him. He blinked as the raindrops fell into his eyes, and Brenden shielded the Elf with his body. Then the Elf, in a feeble whisper, breathed out these words.
“He killed us all. Without mercy. Without question.” The Elf’s lips were chapped, and he licked them. As he opened his mouth to speak again, blood spurted out. Brenden immediately began wiping away the blood and shushing the Elf, but with a final gasp, the Elf screamed, “The boy demon killed us! Steven was here! He killed the little miss! Save your-“
The Elf choked on his own blood, and he died painfully. Brenden stood and looked upon the Elf with horror. Steven did this? But why? Looking up from the Elf’s body, the boy gazed upon what lay beyond the tent’s corner. Revulsion and nausea suddenly swept over him, and Brenden felt his stomach wrench.
There in front of him lay dozens of Elven bodies, dead and scattered across the ground. Dried blood was all over the ground, and the corpses of Elves littered the earth. Sword marks covered each and every Elf, each deep and deathly.
Brenden covered his mouth to stifle a scream of dismay. Steven did this? No! It can’t be! All of a sudden, while thinking, a memory pounded in Brenden's mind. Eyes widening, Brenden turned and ran around the tent to the front. Reaching the front, Brenden flung the flap open and rushed inside. And then he stopped short, a lump growing in his throat.
Aivia lay lifelessly on the ground, her arms flung out beside her and her eyes glazed and dead. Brenden knelt next to her, placing his hands on her forehead and arm, and he started to cry. This poor, innocent girl, who only wanted love and someone to hold her, had been killed by the boy she had loved and wanted for long years. Brenden only hoped that she would be happy once she was alive again, in the new world.
The boy placed his arms under Aivia’s stiff back and legs and hoisted her up. As he held her close to him, Brenden noticed the deep gash in Aivia’s throat that was fringed with greenish stuff. Brenden grimaced. His tears fell and soaked Aivia’s clothes, but he didn’t care, and he was sure Aivia wouldn’t care either.
Turning from the tent, Brenden walked with Aivia from the camp and into the darkened woods. The rain still fell, wetting their clothing quickly, but Brenden still pushed on. When he reached a clearing in the woods, Brenden laid Aivia under the branches of a tree, and then began digging a grave for the girl.
An hour later, Brenden had finished digging, and with a grim face, placed Aivia gently in her tomb. He then filled in the dirt and took out a large stone that he had recently found. Taking out a few engraving tools, Brenden started chipping at the stone. Soon, the stone read Aivia, daughter of Bythor, the Dragon Master. May she rest in peace and know that the one that has taken her life will someday revive it.
Brenden solemnly placed the grave stone at the head of Aivia’s grave. Goodbye, my friend. I’ll love you and miss you forever, and you should know that Steven does the same. Remember, you are only asleep. You will someday be awakened and taken to the new world, and again you will be happy, and you will have someone to love you.
Walking back to the deserted camp, Brenden called for his dragon and mounted. With tears still flowing freely, Brenden didn’t need to tell his dragon companion to fly. The dragon jumped into the air and flew through the pouring rain.
Sorrow still resided in his heart, and Brenden mourned for Aivia. But he knew that someday, at the end of time, there would come a time when the dead would rise forth from their graves to meet the Savior in the sky before anyone else, and Brenden could tell that Aivia would be one of the first to meet the Lord in the air.
Joy slowly spread through him, and Brenden smiled. There would be happiness at the end of time. He only had to wait…

[Andor]

Chapter II

“So you just killed her?” Inquired the Gnome. Nodding, Steven said nothing. He felt neither happy nor sad, and he didn’t really know what to feel. As he was about to kill Aivia, he couldn’t decide whether to kill her and live in regret, or to let her live and lover her for the rest of his life. But now that Aivia was dead, there was only the option of living in regret. Steven could feel the evil in him, and that evil made him happy for Aivia’s death.
“But why did you do that?” Wace asked. The gray skin around his eyes scrunched up as he scowled at Steven from across their small camp fire. Steven scowled back at Wace. “What does it matter? She’s dead now, so let’s just drop the subject, okay?”
Wace shook his head. “She was innocent! I mean, what did she ever do to you, anyway? Did she-“
Steven looked up sharply. “Would you just shut up?!” He snapped. The Gnome, looking mad, retorted, “Well, at least I don’t have the heart to kill some innocent little human girl, even though she is human.”
The Aluukad, who had been sitting silently throughout the whole argument, suddenly jumped up and yelled, “Both of you, be quiet! I can’t think with all this arguing going on! So just shut up yourselves!” With that, the Changeling shape-changed into a wolf creature, a crawv, and bounded off into the darkness of the surrounding forest.
Steven glared at the Gnome again, but then looked into the fire before the Gnome could glare back. What was happening to him? He was evil, a being who now loved to think about death and dieing. He was a monster. How could he be helped? What was there to do?
The distant haunting howl of a pack of crawv drifted through the woods, making Steven shiver. The howl of a crawv was so bone-chilling, and yet it was mournful and soothing at the same time. Crawv howls were stronger, louder, and more haunting than the wolves of the real world, where Steven and Brenden were from. Ever since the Dim inhabitants had been forced into the good territory, the good people had to get used to the howls of the Dim wolves.
The howls lasted for a long time, until finally they died away into echoes that hung in the air for a moment. And then there was near silence, the only sound was the steady sound of the rain.
Unexpectedly, another wolf’s cry rang out from nearby. Both Steven and Wace were on their feet at once, weapons drawn. After a moment, the two remembered the Aluukad, and they sank down to sit again. Not long after the howl faded into the rain, the chorus of crawv started up again, startling the boy and the Gnome. Catching their breath, the two friends fell asleep after a moment, and they slept for a long time.
In the morning, when the sun lit the sky behind the clouds, Steven woke to the sound of raindrops. More rain? Steven groaned inwardly. Rolling over, Steven rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and then looked out into the small clearing of their campsite. Under his tarp, Steven was dry and warm, but as a cold wind blew into his face, he grimaced and shivered. Autumn is getting closer, I can feel it. Steven thought.
Steven turned over and got to his feet quickly and nimbly. Glancing around the clearing, Steven saw Wace and the Aluukad still sleeping. He let them be, and quietly started to chew on a cold piece of venison from his pack, and then he drank a little water. Afterward, Steven took out a stick of sap and began sucking on it.
Finishing his breakfast, Steven got up and walked over to the edge of the clearing where there was a large oak tree. Jumping up to the lowest branch, Steven swung himself up and alighted on the limb with both feet. Then, gabbing on to the next branch nearest to him, Steven climbed higher. As Steven neared the top, it got windy, and the tree started shaking. Steven didn’t care. He had been in situations far more dangerous than this.
The branches at the top began to thin, and the branches turned to twigs. Feeling as though he was high enough, Steven looked out over the top of the forest and gazed south at the horizon. From the forest canopy, Steven could see the Emerald Flow as it wound southward. The greenish waters of the river did not shine as they normally would if it had been a sun-filled day, but it was not, so the waters did not shine beautifully.
Steven shifted his gaze to look at the land that stretched east and saw the huge mountain range of the Great Divide, which loomed in the distance like huge shadows, drifting slowly across the land. Steven also noticed a huge group of men and women, Dragon Riders, walking with their dragons across the grassland between Aonthea and the Great Divide. The ranks of the Riders were headed straight toward them, and so Steven acted quickly.
Dropping from the tree through a clear section in the branches, Steven landed softly on the ground, bending his knees to cushion his fall. And then he started to shake the Aluukad awake. The Changeling woke with a groan. “Five more minutes, please. I’m not done counting sheep.” He said in a sleepy voice.
Steven shook the Aluukad harder and said, “Get up! We have to go!” Still the Aluukad did not move from where he lay, and Steven booted his rump. With a howl of pain, the Aluukad shape-changed into the frightening wolf creature that he had been the night before, a crawv, and leaped up.
“Who did that, cowardly fool? Why, I’ll rip you limb…” The Changeling started, but then stopped when he saw that it was Steven. “”Oh, so you did that. That hurt, you know.” Steven shook his head hurriedly. “I’m sorry, but you wouldn’t wake up. We have to go, now. There’s a group of Dragon Riders headed this way.” The Aluukad smirked, and changed back into his favored form, the crimson warrior.
“Why don’t we just stay here and kill them all, boy?” Questioned the Changeling. Steven sighed impatiently and turned to wake the Gnome. “We want to ambush them, Aluukad, not blunder right into them. And besides, there might be too many to handle.” With a nod, the Aluukad trailed after Steven to awake the Gnome.
Nudging Wace with a toe, Steven stepped back and waited. Wace woke quickly, but he was still sleepy, and he didn’t say anything for a second. Then he blurted, “Bless me! You woke me from the best and most wonderful dream I’ve ever had.” With an annoyed breath, he looked at both Steven and the Aluukad. “So,” He said slowly. “What do ya’ want?”
Walking briskly, the three companions made their way through the trees and underbrush. The Aluukad flew up in the shape of a bird and returned with news of where the Riders were, and the other two were guided by the Changeling.
Soon, the Changeling glided down and became a man again, hood drawn over his head and sword recently drawn. “I’ll be back.” He said, and with that, he was gone.
Steven and Wace sat down and waited for a long while for the Changeling to return. To pass the time, the two talked, asked questions, gazed at the trees, and drew in the dirt. At one point, Wace heaved a sigh and began climbing a tree, and leaving Steven alone on the ground. So Steven began toying with his crystal skull. He made it change into a long sword, a short sword, a whip, a glaive, a dagger, a spear, a staff, and lastly, a pike.
So amused by his weapon was he, that Steven passed the time very quickly until the Aluukad came back about thirty minutes later. His sword was sheathed, and his hood was thrown back. But what Steven noticed first of all, was that the Changeling had a grim look on his face. As he approached Steven and Wace, who had come down from the tree, he motioned for them to come close. After sinking down onto the ground, he looked up at Steven, who crouched on the ground before him.
“I think we won’t attack them tonight.” Began the Aluukad. “There are way too many, over five hundred men and women put together, and that doesn’t include the dragons. They have sentries and patrols stationed everywhere, and they are in an open place where they can see anyone for miles around.” Looking back and forth between Wace and Steven, the Changeling furrowed his brow.
“And another thing,” He looked at Steven again, this time with a concerned look on his face. “There is a boy there, too.” He said, and Wace shrugged his shoulders. “What’s so bad about a boy?” The Aluukad looked at him sharply, but then turned and looked at Steven, who had fallen strangely silent.
With a voice of malice and ice, Steven muttered one word that froze the air by his mouth, and the Gnome shut up.
“Brenden,” Steven said.

Ф

Sitting in the commander’s tent, Brenden watched as the officers conversed in the general’s quarters with serious faces. Maps had been laid out on a folding table, and the six men hunched over it with intense eyes. The general, Orenn Raqui, spoke to the men about routes that they could take to get back home, to Winged Glass.
After a while of soft talk, the general stood. “Well, gentlemen, this meeting in adjourned. Let’s go out to the fire and have a bit to drink. I’m parched.”
As the men filed out of the tent, the general waited until the last of them had gone. He then turned to Brenden. “How’s about joining us in a round of ale, my good boy?” Brenden stood, measuring up to the general’s height of six feet and two inches.
“I will join you, general, but no ale for me.” The general, who was an old fellow in his fifties, nodded gruffly. “That’ll be fine, just fine. I say, you really should try a cup of ale sometime or another. It really gets you going.” The boy again said, “No thanks. Water for me.” The general nodded again and placed an arm around Brenden's shoulders.
Walking through the row of tents, the general and Brenden watched the men hustle to and fro, doing their duties. Occasionally, one of the men would stop and salute if the general passed nearby and say, “Greetings, general.” Raqui would nod at him or her and say something like, “Good evening, soldier.” or “Having a good time tonight?” The soldier liked their general, for he was as jolly as a Dwarf who has had too much to drink, and as great a fighter as any man alive.
As they neared the campfire, Brenden started to walk away from the general, and the man let him. The boy skirted the circle of men around the fire and seated himself a ways from the fire and the men, by the east side of the camp.
The Riders suddenly quieted as a man from the far side of the circle stood up to sing. His voice was a bit gruff, but no one seemed to care.

As the sun fades away, and the night has come to stay
We don’t despair, only think of the fair
And we bring out the ale!
Oh, dances are common
And faces never solemn
All night long
‘Till the drink is gone!

Everyone clapped as he finished his song, and he sat down in his seat. The men and women started talking again, but Brenden suddenly heard a sound. It grew into a voice, and it was loud enough to cause the men and women to fall silent. This is what they heard.

By me glaive and me six arms here
By all means you should know
The night shines bright
With the moon in sight
I stalk you humans so.

Brenden looked around hurriedly in the darkness of the night beyond, but saw nothing. The men and women sat still for a very long time, saying nothing. And then, the voice started again.
“Behind your tents do I sulk, behind the one that conceals my bulk,” The voice said, rather close. A few men jumped up and drew their swords, and soon the entire camp circle was standing at the ready.
The general stood up and yelled, “Show yourself, infidel, or we will be forced to come after you.” Silence engulfed the circle, and then one sound broke it. It sounded like a coughing sound, but Brenden soon found that it sounded more like a chortle. And then the rhyming voice replied with a sneer.
“Human man, drop that leer, for you will soon be filled with fear.” The general backed up in shock, and a handful of men surrounded the general protectively. Brenden stared hard into the darkness, looking for any signs of movement. There were none. Suddenly, Brenden had a thought. He looked around the camp for the biggest tent around, which was the general’s tent. Standing, Brenden broke into a sprint and headed for the general’s quarters.
Coming into sight of the large tent, Brenden stopped twenty feet short of the cloth and wooden tent. The boy surveyed it thoroughly on the outside, looking for anyone hiding along the sides. The sides of the tent were clear of anything, let alone a human spy.
But was it a human?
Brenden jerked his head around to look along the side of the tent, and he began walking slowly along the edge. He heard nothing, and yet anxiety still made him cautious. Approaching the corner of the five cornered tent, Brenden took a deep breath and peered around the edge. He gasped at what he saw.
A form, hunched over double, loomed in front of Brenden. It seemed oblivious of the boy, and Brenden now noted that it had its back to him. The creature did not turn, and Brenden decided to try his luck. He stepped out from the tent’s corner so that the creature, if turned around, could see him. And then he spoke quietly.
“Excuse me, but may I ask why you’re back here?” Brenden requested. In an instant, the creature had turned, and a short, wicked blade of a glaive rested against Brenden's throat. The thing made a rumble from deep in its chest, and its dual-pupil eyes flashed.
“What is it you want, human?” It said in a smooth voice. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Brenden widened his eyes. Putting both hands in the air, he surrendered. “I just wanted to know what was stalking the camp a moment ago. That’s all. Oh, and I won’t tell anyone that you were here if you let me go.”
The creature gradually pulled the huge glaive back, and it set the weapon’s end on the ground beside him. Brenden looked him over. The creature had dense, loosely hanging, feather-like scales all over its body, and they were a mottled brown and gray color. Its eyes were a shade of deep blue and purple. Six long arms produced from the creature’s body, each one three-fingered and muscular. A thick tail waved slowly back and forth. Brenden noticed that halfway down the creature’s tail, it changed from feathery scales to smooth scales.
The creature’s head, which resembled an eagle’s, tilted to one side. Still hunched over, the creature face was now Brenden's height. Its beak split a small ways, and the creature spoke again.
“Human creature,” Its flowing voice relaxed Brenden lots, but he was still uneasy. “This is the only thing I’ll tell you. I’m here because the Dead Marshes have been overrun by Grimpede, if you know what that is.” Squinting his large eyes, the creature added, “And who might you be, little human boy?”
Brenden backed up a cautious step, keeping his eyes trained on the beast. “I’m a…” The boy trailed off, and looked off into the darkness of night. “I’m an officer of these men.” Brenden glanced back at the creature, which had its eyes open wide. The creature chuckled presently, and then turned and looked squarely at Brenden. The boy couldn’t tell if the creature had a grin on his face, but he guessed that he did.
“You, an officer?” The creature said in amusement. “Pshaw, little human. Don’t lie to me now. Who are you, really?” The creature’s bird head tilted again. Brenden shrugged his shoulders and replied simply. “I’m an officer, like I said.”
The beast laughed again, and he leaned slightly on his glaive. “An officer, huh? Well I’ll say someone as young as you must be very well trained to be an officer at your age.” The creature backed up a bit itself and looked at Brenden for a moment. Seconds later, the beast rolled its neck around in a circle and popped the tendons in its neck. Then it turned its gaze toward Brenden again.
“Now, which officer are you? I mean your name.” Brenden furrowed his brow slightly, but then decided that it would be best to tell the creature what it wanted to know. “It’s Brenden,” He said to the creature, which opened its beak in a silent “Oh”. Brenden inclined his head a little, and he rested his palm on the hilt of his sword.
“And what’s yours?” Asked Brenden. The creature, which’s eyes grew sullen, motioned for the boy to come closer. Brenden warily stepped forward a few steps and stopped in front of the creature. Glancing around, the creature spoke quickly to Brenden, as if it didn’t want anyone to hear.
“Skain, and please don’t repeat that name to a soul. I’m trusting you with it, lad.” The creature, Skain, extended his hand and held his palm out flat. “Can I trust you, boy?”
Skain inquired. Brenden paused for a second, and then placed his hand into the creature’s. It was like a baby’s hand in its father’s, since Skain was so huge.
The two shook hands, and Skain made something along the lines of a grin. His small, needle-like teeth lined the inside of his beak, so close that it looked like it would hurt if he was to bit you.
Skain squeezed Brenden's hand a bit tighter, and Brenden smiled, too. “How about friends, boy?” The creature said. Brenden nodded. “That’ll be fine with me, Skain.”
With a wave of his hand, Brenden motioned for Skain to come a bit closer. The big creature did, and Brenden whispered to him quickly. “Do you want to go out into camp, or not? I can get the soldiers to put their weapons down, if you like.”
Skain was silent for a moment. “Well,” He said after a moment’s silence. “I guess I could have you go and ask them to place their weapons where I could see them. But you must promise not to let them attack me. Is that clear, boy?” Skain looked at Brenden with serious eyes. The boy nodded, and smiled reassuringly. “That won’t happen, Skain.”
The big creature’s eyes lit up, and he straightened a bit. As they started walking around the tent corner, Brenden looked up at Skain, who was at a height of seven feet tall, Brenden guessed.
“Tell me, Skain,” Brenden began. “What type of creature are you?” The huge beast made a rumbling sound from his throat; a laugh. “Boy, I’m a Haabidoshinn, a marsh creature from the Dead Marshes. We live mostly on land, but we hunt in the swamps.” The creature’s eyes lost focus, his face turning impassive. “And then we were driven out, by the Grimpede, and we had to come over here. Many of my kind died, and now…”
Skain’s eyes refocused and his head snapped over to look at Brenden. “Now we have to live in unfamiliar territory, where our food is not plentiful. I am constantly on the move, looking for food.”
Brenden pushed his bottom lip out, and he suddenly asked, “What is it you eat?” Skain hunched over again. “Byydaa cactus. It’s the only plant I eat, and the only one I prefer. If not plants, then any kind of meat. But when on that diet, Haabidoshinns have to keep eating constantly. And that’s not fun, as you may imagine.”
Brenden shook his head. “I believe that is right.” He looked very thoughtful for a minute, and then he looked at the Haabidoshinn. “There is a whole mountain of Byydaa cactus on one of the mountain of the Mountain Pass, near Winged Glass. Maybe-”
Skain cut him off sharply. “I’ve already tried going there, but the place is guarded by more that fifty sentries with pikes, swords, bows and arrows, and glaives. I’d never get to eat a single cactus leaf.”
Brenden shook his head. “I can arrange for safe passage for you, since this camp is of Dragon Riders.” Skain’s eyes brightened. “That would be very good, if you can.” Brenden nodded again. “I’m sure I can.”
As they walked down the isle of tents, it seemed as though everyone was at the huge campfire in the center of camp. They passed no one, and this was a relief to Skain. At last they reached the campfire circle, and Brenden told Skain to remain where he was until he got all the soldiers prepared to see the Haabidoshinn. So Skain agreed, and Brenden went around the corner.
All the soldiers, men and women, must have forgotten about the strange voice that they had heard minutes before, for they were dancing around and laughing cheerfully. Well, Brenden thought hopelessly. Here goes nothing.
The boy walked around the men and women and toward the general. The burly man was drinking a bottle of Dragon’s rum, and he looked as happy as could be. Brenden tapped him hard on the shoulder, and he turned and laughed.
“Brenden, my boy! You’re just in time!” His crimson cheeks glowed in the firelight, and as he smiled, his cheeks puffed outward. “Have a bit of rum, my boy! Enlighten yourself. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.”
Brenden smiled politely and declined the offer for rum, or any drink. “Sir,” The boy said. “I’d like to make an announcement, if you don’t mind.” The general smiled bigger and slapped Brenden on the back. “Fine, fine, go ahead. There’s nothing else going on around here but dancing and singing, and you know how awfully these men sing. The ladies, well, they sing a bit better…”
The general’s sentence trailed off as Brenden moved away, and the boy moved quickly through the crowd. Once at the other side, he put two fingers in his mouth and blew a sharp whistle. The soldiers immediately stopped their dancing and singing, and all turned to watched Brenden.
“Dragon Riders, listen to me.” Said Brenden in a very loud voice, so that all could hear. “I have a query for you.” He paused. “Have you heard of the Dim creatures called Haabidoshinns?”
Instantly, at that word, uproar broke out among the soldiers. One man yelled in an enraged voice, “Those creatures are nothing but trouble! If I could find one of those things, I’d slice its neck open and let it die of blood loss. And then I would laugh at it for being an accursed demon.” The man puffed out his chest and started boasting to the surrounding men and women.
From behind Brenden, around the side of a tent, Skain started forward. As he stepped into the light, he stopped and waited to see if anyone would spot him. No one did, and so he crept along until he was standing directly behind Brenden, and still no one saw him. Then, the Haabidoshinn rose to his full height of ten feet, and all the Riders instantly froze in their tracks.
The man who had been boasting looked as though he was about to wet his pants. His face was white, and his eyes bulged out of their sockets farther that usual. Nobody moved.
Brenden smiled a fake, crooked, and uneasy smile. “What’s wrong?” He asked. Still none of the people said anything, and only then was Brenden's clue that Skain was behind him. Quickly turning, Brenden made eye contact with the Haabidoshinn.

[Andor]

“It’s all right, Riders,” Brenden called to them. Not a movement. “Don’t worry about him. He won’t hurt you. He would have killed me already if he was going to kill you.” The Riders began to move now, but away from the Haabidoshinn.
“It’s alright,” Brenden said again. “Watch,” The boy turned and walked up to the Haabidoshinn and placed a hand on the creature’s thigh, and then looked at the soldiers. They were still transfixed with horror.
Brenden heaved a sigh. “Fine, I’ll prove to you that he can be trusted.” Glancing at the Haabidoshinn’s face, Brenden nodded at Skain’s glaive. The giant creature let it fall from his iron grasp to the ground, where it made a muffled thud as it hit the earth. Finally, someone spoke. It was a woman Rider whom even Brenden did not know the name of, since he was only friends with a few Riders.
“Fools, all of you!” She said rather rudely, but Brenden thought they deserved it. “Can you not see that if the creature was evil, like the rest of its kind, it would have already eaten the boy officer and gone after the rest of us?” She now sounded irritable. Her face scrunched up in a scowl, and she pushed her way through the crowd until she stood at the front, facing Brenden and the Haabidoshinn.
The woman strode over and stood in front of Skain fearlessly. She glanced over at Brenden, who smiled at her. “Kid,” She said in a sort of gruff voice. “What’s this big guy’s name?” Brenden looked up at Skain, who looked down at him and nodded shortly.
“His name is Skain, Miss,” Brenden replied. The woman took a look at Skain and grinned. “Well then, Skain, I’m with you and your friend here.” She indicated Brenden him with a jerk of her thumb, and she received a regarding look from Skain.
The woman turned to the crowd again and yelled out, “Who will believe this boy? Who will step forward?” There was an uncomfortable pause, but then another woman stepped up to them and said quietly, “I will join you, if it pleases you.” Brenden gave her a smile, too. Then she sided up with the first woman.
Presently, a man with a long scar across his face came up and joined them. He didn’t smile, but his eyes did that work. “Happier to be with you,” He spoke in a deep, royal voice. “Than them.” He too took his place beside the Haabidoshinn and the others.
After a long while, many other Riders came up and sided with Brenden and Skain until only one man was left. It was the man who had boasted about killing any Haabidoshinns that came within five miles of him. He now looked as though he might flee any second.
Skain took one look at the lone Rider standing in the middle of the fire circle, and the man’s knees started to shake. The Haabidoshinn bent down, picked up his glaive, and started toward the trembling man. The poor fellow was white with fear, and his skin got even whiter as the creature came at him. Now towering over the man, Skain spoke.
“Are you so brave now, human, and would you kill me if you had the chance?” Skain’s even and smooth voice caused the man to shake even harder. The Haabidoshinn, straightening himself to appear bigger, hissed at the man, and the man shrunk down and cowered.
“If you ever kill a Haabidoshinn, I will hunt you down until I find you. And I will torture you until you stop your screaming and until your strength dies away with your life. Understood?” A look of terror on his face, the man nodded numbly.
“Good,” Spat Skain. “Now, be gone!” And the man turned and practically fled from the camp and never returned to it until a morning time.
The next day, the camp had been packed up, and everyone was ready to move out and go back to Winged Glass. The women and men were busy running around checking their dragons to make sure they were ready for flight.
Brenden was walking with Skain through the camp, when a man ran up to Brenden, panting. “Sir,” He said, still out of breath. “The general…requests you…in his…tent…immediately.” Brenden nodded and motioned for Skain to follow him.
Reaching the general’s tent, Brenden pushed aside the tent flap and set eyes upon the general as he rose from his seat. The man smiled, showing white teeth. “Brenden! Just in time. I want to tell you about our plans for your friend there.”
The general pointed out the tent door at Skain. Then he turned back to Brenden. “We will take him with us to Winged Glass and give him all the byydaa cactus he wants.” The general glanced at Skain from inside the tent and grinned. “Is that good or what?”
Skain was speechless for a few minutes, but he finally managed, “Thank you.” The general seemed pleased with himself, so he dismissed Brenden and the Haabidoshinn. The two friends walked back to where the soldiers were assembling to leave for their city. Brenden mounted his dragon, but then looked back at Skain.
“How are you going to travel back with us?” The boy asked. Skain looked thoughtful for a few minutes, until finally he shrugged his shoulders and snapped his beak. “I could…run,” He said, as though he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. “Yeah, I guess I’ll run.”
Brenden raised his eyebrows. “You’re going to run? That’ll take days! It’s crazy.” Skain rolled his eyes and made a short hiss. “Well, don’t expect me to ride one of those things,” He jerked one of six thumbs at Brenden's dragon, and the reptile snorted and stamped his feet on the ground.
Tapping his finger on the saddle’s reins, Brenden lowered his eyebrows into a concerned face. “Okay, then. That’s fine with me. Just don’t complain about the long run.” Brenden guided his dragon away from Skain and waved at the Haabidoshinn.
“I’ll see you in a few days!” Skain called as the party of three hundred dragon and soldiers lifted into the air and turned southeast. The Haabidoshinn sighed. Better to get going now, because it was going to take a long time to reach Winged Glass.
With a grim stare southward, Skain took of sprinting across the open landscape.

Φ

“He left? How—I mean, why did he? And why didn’t you tell me?” Steven glared at the Gnome with malice. The Gnome shrugged his shoulders and retorted fiercely. “Because you’d come back and blab to us about the whole blasted thing, and I’d get so sick and tired of listening to you that I’d tackle you and tell you to shut up!”
Steven was so worked up that his capillaries began popping. Clenching his hand around the poisoned dagger in his sleeve, with which he had slain Aivia, he drew it forth and lunged at Wace.
The Gnome yelled out and tried to fight back, but Steven had the advantage of being bigger and stronger that the Gnome. The boy took Wace down easily, and thrust the dagger at the Gnome.
Suddenly a shout stopped Steven. “Wait! I want to tell the Gnome something,” The Aluukad said. “Before he dies.” At this, Wace began squirming and wrenching violently, but he ceased when the Changeling crouched by his head.
“You know,” The Aluukad began in a quiet voice. “I’ve always wanted to see a Gnome die by someone who hates him.” He indicated Steven, and the Gnome scowled at this. “But, in any case,” Continued the Aluukad. “Let us see him die. Steven?”
The boy glared at the Gnome, and with a lightning swift blow, he stabbed deeply into the Gnome. Wace gasped, went stiff, and then fell still.
Steven kept his eyes trained on the Gnome for a moment longer, and then stood up and wiped his blade on a tree’s leaves. The Changeling strode over to Steven and chuckled. “I never really liked that Gnome, anyway.” Steven nodded, and then walked with the Aluukad from the trees and out into the open.
About an hour later, Steven rode on the Aluukad’s back, since the Changeling was now in the form of a dragon. They were flying low over the landscape, and their destination was a village not far from where they were now. It was Stayg, or the new Stayg, that they were headed to. Stayg was where the fanghuls dwelled, and Steven had a master plan to conquer Brenden. He was going to lure Brenden out of Winged Glass, and then chase him up to the mountains of the Great Divide, where he would kill Brenden and be rid of him.
Steven saw Stayg coming into view, and he motioned to it for the Aluukad to see. The Changeling nodded his head and descended from the dark sky. The Aluukad came down and landed not far from the gates, which were bent slightly and had rock pillars on either side of the gate.
The two friends walked up to the gate, and Steven stepped forward and knocked loudly on the forged metal. From the other side, both Steven and the Aluukad heard a gruff snort, a growl, and a screeching noise. A small window slapped open in the gate, and the blank, white eye of a fanghul looked out.
“Whada eh, fooh shada!” the creature shouted. Steven replied with a smooth remark. “You let me in, or I unleash this creature unto you.” He waved at the Aluukad, and the Changeling shape-shifted into an image of a wrail.
Steven heard the fanghul guffaw, and the creature said, “Bulldah sheadah! Heh!” and with that, he slammed the window shut. Steven and the Changeling heard a bolt being drawn.
Steven glared at the Aluukad. “You could have chosen something more intimidating! Fanghuls eat wrails, idiot!” The Aluukad shrugged. “Well, sorry. I forgot about that. I’ve been away from the Dim with you to long.”
Steven shook his head. “A crawv might have stirred them up enough to let us in!” With a huff, the Aluukad turned. “We can still knock and try again, you know.” The Aluukad’s face changed into a fanghul’s, and he sneered with his crooked teeth.
Suddenly, Steven had an idea. “Hey! I know,” He motioned for the Changeling to come closer. “Here’s my plan; you will become a fanghul and knock on the door. That fanghul will open the window, and you’ll say ‘I have a visitor’ and they’ll let you in. Once inside, we will tell them that I want to make an alliance with them, and once we have that-“
The Aluukad swiftly interrupted. “What if they don’t want to make an alliance?” Steven glared. “We’ll just hope they will. Once we have the alliance, we will go up to Winged Glass and lure my “friend” to the mountains, where he will die.”
The Aluukad nodded in understanding. “Alright, I’ll do it. If you think it works, I’m in.” The Changeling transformed totally into a fanghul, and knocked at the door. Again, the little window flew open, and the fanghul’s eye glared out.
“Baddaa muuull tega, puuh?” the creature hissed. The Aluukad gestured at Steven. “I have an important visitor, friend. Let me in.” The fanghul on the other side of the gated made a snuffling sound, and then replied, “Rih roodah.” The Aluukad turned to Steven. “Wish me luck trying to remember how to speak their language.” Then he turned back around. The Changeling said something in the fanghul’s language, and the reptilian on the inside nodded vigorously and shut the window hurriedly.
“What did you tell it?” Steven asked with an astonished face as the gates swung open. The Aluukad grinned his toothy sneer. “I told him that you were the ultimate ruler of the Dim, and that you killed both Shyyyki and the Vainian Wraith.”
Steven stared at him. “I’m not the ultimate ruler of the Dim, or the one who killed Shyyyki!” He exclaimed. Shushing him with a finger, the Changeling started in to the city. “They don’t know that,” he chuckled.
As they entered the city of Stayg, a murmur went up above them. Steven looked back and saw that on the walls around the city were gray fanghuls with large rocks in their hands. They thingyed their heads and hissed quietly as they passed through the gate.
The two walked down a long street, passing no one on their way. The houses and buildings were made of stone, grass, and mud. They looked like huts, only sturdier. As they came to the end of the street, Steven and the Aluukad glanced around and saw few fanghuls around, and those few stopped and stared. Soon, there were many fanghuls surrounding the two, and Steven asked the Aluukad to make a speech to them about his plan to fight westerners from across the Great Divide.
The Aluukad began to speak, drawing attention to him. Fanghuls stopped to listen, and they looked convinced when the Changeling finished. Some stepped forward and grunted their approval to fight with Steven, while others stayed back. Presently, Steven had a crowd around him hissing with delight and willing to fight. So the Aluukad told them to get their weapons, if they had any, and to meet outside the walls of their city at daybreak tomorrow. The crowd quickly dispersed, and the Changeling turned to Steven.
“Well, there you go. We have a squad to fight your pathetic little friend with. It shall be fun to battle dragons.”

Chapter III

Ripping a large bydaa cactus root up with one tug, Skain ripped a chunk off with his beak and chewed thoughtfully.
“You know,” he said to Brenden, who stood not to far off. “These are some of the best bydaa cactus plants I’ve ever tasted.” He swallowed. “It’s probably because of the mountain air.”
Brenden nodded and glanced down to the west. From here he could see the whole southern side of the Kran Tyna.