Chapter One
“So you are awake.”
I gasped softly; the voice had come from behind me. I stood slowly and turned just as slowly towards the speaker. It was the boy. He set down the firewood he held and took the deer over to a tree. As he set the deer down two other men and a woman walked out of the trees.
The boy looked up, “Immortilis, John the Black, Kari.”
The woman picked up the firewood and moved to the center of the clearing. She kept her back to us as she started a fire. Suddenly she turned around and walked over to the boy, and smacked him across the face.
He did not move for a moment then he started laughing. “Guess I deserved that didn’t I Kari?”
“Aye. Ye did. An’ I ain’t sorry fer givin it te ye. Even if’n ye be a nightmare”, came the reply.
One of the men came forward and threw a pack to the boy. He caught it, pulled out a rope and tied the deer to a branch. He then pulled out a knife. I could not help it I immediately recoiled.
“She thinks you are going to kill her doesn’t she?”
I looked at the man who said that, his hair was silver and he wore gray armor. My hands curled into fists.
His black haired, dark armored companion elbowed him, “Looks like she wants to fight you Immortilis.”
The boy had ignored them and, while they were speaking, skinned the deer; suddenly he threw the hide at the black haired one. “Shut up John.”
“Yes sir”, John replied.
I turned to the woman, Kari. She had black hair and black armor with a red black widow like hour glass on the back.
“Kari is one of our best warriors.”
I whirled around and pulled out a dagger, the boy did not move as the blade found his neck. Instead he smiled.
“Looks like we have ourselves a fighter”, he offered his hand, “I’am KJ.”
I withdrew my dagger slowly, leaving it drawn I turned my back to him, ignoring his proffered hand. He walked around me and, shaking his head, crossed the clearing to where he had hung the deer. He knelt down and after rummaged through his pack, pulled out some spices, and herbs. As he started to prepare the deer I looked around the clearing.
I turned to the north and hesitated. Shaking my head I turned back into the clearing and walked over to the fire.
******
I watched her as I rubbed spices and herbs into the deer. As she looked around the clearing; for a second time her eyes flickered slightly in recognition.
“Thin’ she know ths plac?” Kari whispered in my ear.
“Not sure. But it does seem that way. I wonder what connection she has to the Night Elves.” I muttered loud enough for Kari and Immortilis to hear.
Immortilis whispered back as he watched John circle the perimeter, “What do you mean?”
I told them all that had happened since I had been imprisoned, how I had been questioned multiple times, beaten and starved when I refused to give answers. When I got to how we had escaped Kari smacked me again.
“Ye deservd tha one too”
We fell silent as she turned to leave the clearing, shook her head and walked over to the fire.
Immortilis muttered, “We should keep an eye on her; especially if she knows the lay of the land.”
I nodded slightly then raised my voice so she could hear me clearly, “Please tell me your name.”
She looked over at me, “And why should I tell you that?”
John came out of the woods closely followed by Mutt saying, “Because he saved your life and it would be polite for you to tell your savior who you are.”
Her eyes flickered slightly as she looked over towards John, “So you are saying that I should give you information because I owe you a debt. Or rather, I owe your friend a debt.”
“You owe me nothing. I just want to know who you are and why the Night Elves imprisoned you. Besides I don’t think you want me to keep calling you girl.”
She looked into the fire and sighed softly, “I will answer only one of your questions. …My name is Allacia. Your other question will have to wait for a while.”
Kari opened her mouth and took a deep breath. I shook my head slightly and her mouth closed again.
Mutt stepped forwards and crouched beside her. “You seem nervous Allacia. Why? You have nothing to fear from us.”
Kari muttered softly, “’Specialy no from Mutt.”
“If you had been imprisoned then suddenly you woke up and you were in the middle of the forest surrounded by people you did not know you would be nervous too.” The flames cast flickering shadows across her face, making it look demonic one second and harmless the next.
“Ye know thi plac don ye?”
She reached out and, before any of us could stop her, Allacia stuck her hand in the fire. Immortilis stepped forward quickly.
“Do not touch me,” she warned.
“But your hand; it’ll burn.”
She looked at Kari, “I know this place. You are in the Fringe. A place where no Night Elf will willingly go.”
“An’ why no?”
She shrugged, “Because Night Elf legends say that the Fringe is haunted. And if you have an impure heart then the ghosts will find you, possess you, and kill you.”
“An’ ye kno thi how?”
She shrugged again and looked back at the fire.
I tied the deer carcass to a pole as John and Immortilis hammered two other poles into the ground, one on either side of the fire. I stepped forward and lay the pole with the deer on it across the other two. I then knelt down and grabbed her arm.
“Last chance Allacia, either you pull hand out of the flames or I will”
“You would not dare.”
My hand tightened around her arm and I gave one sharp pull. Her hand slid out of the flames. Suddenly she ripped her arm out of my grasp, tackled me, pinned my arms above my head with one hand and pressed her dagger against my throat. Anger flickered through me. I rolled slightly away from the fire pinning her beneath me, ripped the dagger out of her hand and pinned her arms to the ground.
“Get off.”
Her voice was cold but mine was colder, “If you are going to pick a fight then finish it or yield.”
Her eyes went from blue to black and the next thing I knew I was lying in my back about twenty feet away.
******
I was enjoying the feeling of the flames dancing over my hand as KJ, Immortilis, and John the Black set up a rotisserie for the deer. When they had finished KJ knelt down beside of me and grabbed my forearm. I flinched slightly, not enough to really notice.
“Last chance Allacia, either you pull your hand out of the flames or I will.” His voice was clam but the threat was clear.
“You would not dare,” I said softly.
He did not reply but his hand tightened around my forearm and he gave one sharp pull. He was stronger than I had anticipated and my hand slid from the flames. Annoyance flickered inside of me and I ripped my arm from his grasp. Moving quickly, I tackled him, pinned his arms above his head, and once again pressed my blade against his throat. A flash of red slid across his brown eyes as he twisted beneath me. KJ rolled away from the fire and pinned me beneath him. Before I could react he had ripped the dagger out of my hand, threw it to the side, and pinned my arms to the ground.
My voice went cold, “Get off.”
His voice was even colder, “If you’re going to pick a fight then finish it or yield.”
I felt anger at my helplessness flame up inside of me. Energy boiled as adrenalin rushed through my veins. I focused on getting him off of me and the energy pushed out of me. He flew up into the air and landed on his back about twenty feet away from me.
I stood and my dagger flew into my hand. Suddenly Immortilis and John the Black grabbed my arms and held me back as a blade pressed against my throat.
“OI don thin so,” Kari whispered into my ear from behind.
Mutt helped KJ to his feet as I thought; I should not have lost control.
His eyes flickered from brown to red and back to brown as he walked over to me, Mutt trailing a few feet behind. He stopped in front of me and raised his hand as though to strike. I looked at him without fear. We stood that way for several minutes, staring at each other without moving.
I looked away first. As I looked down I pulled the energy back behind its barrier, relaxing enough that I would not be considered a threat.
He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. I looked away again after a few moments. But I still saw the calculating smile on his face.
“Release her”
I looked up at him as his people released me. Kari walked over to him and they held quick whispered conference. She shot a calculating look in my direction as she turned to throw more wood on the fire.
Mutt walked over to me as KJ started to turn the deer over the fire.
Mutt was smiling widely, suddenly he pointed behind me. “What’s that?!”
I turned quickly brandishing my dagger. I saw nothing but looked closer in case I had missed something. Something burst on my shoulder and trickled down my back. I whirled back around to find Mutt smiling mischievously.
“Gotcha!”
KJ chuckled softly, “Forgot to warn you about him.”
I rolled my eyes at them both and went out into the woods to gather more firewood.
******
She rolled her eyes at Mutt and me before going into the woods.
“I don’t think she likes being messed with Mutt.”
“I was just kidding.”
“I know that, but I don’t think Allacia did,” I looked at Immortilis, “Follow her.”
Immortilis stood and followed her into the woods. Suddenly a werewolf burst into the clearing.
“Nice of you to join us Paul,” I intoned softly.
He grunted once then smelled out the clearing before looking to where Allacia and Immortilis had walked out of the clearing. She walked back into the clearing carrying a bunch of firewood with Immortilis trailing a few steps behind. Paul looked at me, tense, ready to attack. I shook my head as she set the wood down next to Kari.
“Than ye ‘Lacia,” Kari said, “If ye don mind me askin’, what ar ye?”
“I could ask the same question of all of you,” She glanced at me for a moment then looked into the fire, “Especially of you KJ.”
I looked at her, “I’am human.”
She didn’t look up, “I, as well, am human.”
Paul shifted back to his human form, “How long are we going to stay in enemy territory?”
“Not much longer,” I sighed heavily, “I’d just hoped to find a weakness to use against these Night Elves…” My voice trailed off and I stared into the flames.
“Where are they from?”
“I don’t know Immortilis, I don’t know. If I did I might be able to find a weakness.”
Allacia pulled her blade out again and started to draw in the ashes. “Sonta.”
“What?”
“The Night Elves are from the world called Sonta. Them and the Death Warriors.”
“An’ how do ye kno so much ‘bout ‘em?”
She once again shrugged and continued to draw in the ashes. Something about her blade caught my attention.
“Your blade. May I?”
She looked up and hesitated, then held the dagger out to me hilt first. I took it from her and held it up, turning it this way and that.
“Wat ye lookin’ fer?”
“I’m not sure. Something caught my eye.”
I felt Allacia’s eyes on me. “Can I help you?”
“What is a Nightmare?”
I looked up, “How would I know?”
Her eyes darkened slightly then became carefully guarded, “Just asking.”
I looked down then spoke softly in Nightmare, “(Reveal your secrets)”
My eyes widened slightly as the dagger started to glow slightly, then several strange symbols appeared on and around the blade.
“Ye doin’ tha?”
“No…” I turned to Allacia to see her go rigid. “What is this? Who did this?”
She spoke through clenched teeth, “You answer my question, and I answer your questions.”
“Fine.” I snapped crossing my fingers behind my back, “You first.”
“Release the spell.”
“Or what? You’ll kill me? Don’t make me laugh.”
She didn’t answer and suddenly all of the tension that had entered her from the time I uttered the spell left her. The dagger flew out of my hand and tried to bury itself in my chest. I released the spell just before it pierced my flesh.
“Told you to release the spell,” She held out her hand and the dagger slowly went to her, “It is spelled to be a mystery.” She pulled her hand against herself with the dagger hidden.
“Who did that?”
“A friend.”
“’A fren’? Tha don’ anser the questin.”
“I know. But I made a promise.”
I stood and pulled the deer off of the fire, then started to cut chunks off of it. “Kari, get the plates and silverware out of me pack.”
She did as I told her then set them down by me. I put a chunk of meat on each plate, and Kari handed the plates and silverware around to the rest of the Council members present.
“’Ere ‘Lacia. Ye look lik ye ain’t et in a wile.”
She hesitated tehn took the plate. “Thank you Kari. But I would not dare to impose upon you any longer.”
“Why not? I didn’t poison it if that’s what you are worried about.”
“No, I…” She stood quickly and dropped the plate in her haste. “Depression.”
Paul tensed, shifted to his werewolf form and growled towards the trees.
“Easy Paul.” I cautioned as the Council rose, weapons drawn.
(As I asked before: Please tell me how this is. I have all of the factual information that needs to be in th
“So you are awake.”
I gasped softly; the voice had come from behind me. I stood slowly and turned just as slowly towards the speaker. It was the boy. He set down the firewood he held and took the deer over to a tree. As he set the deer down two other men and a woman walked out of the trees.
The boy looked up, “Immortilis, John the Black, Kari.”
The woman picked up the firewood and moved to the center of the clearing. She kept her back to us as she started a fire. Suddenly she turned around and walked over to the boy, and smacked him across the face.
He did not move for a moment then he started laughing. “Guess I deserved that didn’t I Kari?”
“Aye. Ye did. An’ I ain’t sorry fer givin it te ye. Even if’n ye be a nightmare”, came the reply.
One of the men came forward and threw a pack to the boy. He caught it, pulled out a rope and tied the deer to a branch. He then pulled out a knife. I could not help it I immediately recoiled.
“She thinks you are going to kill her doesn’t she?”
I looked at the man who said that, his hair was silver and he wore gray armor. My hands curled into fists.
His black haired, dark armored companion elbowed him, “Looks like she wants to fight you Immortilis.”
The boy had ignored them and, while they were speaking, skinned the deer; suddenly he threw the hide at the black haired one. “Shut up John.”
“Yes sir”, John replied.
I turned to the woman, Kari. She had black hair and black armor with a red black widow like hour glass on the back.
“Kari is one of our best warriors.”
I whirled around and pulled out a dagger, the boy did not move as the blade found his neck. Instead he smiled.
“Looks like we have ourselves a fighter”, he offered his hand, “I’am KJ.”
I withdrew my dagger slowly, leaving it drawn I turned my back to him, ignoring his proffered hand. He walked around me and, shaking his head, crossed the clearing to where he had hung the deer. He knelt down and after rummaged through his pack, pulled out some spices, and herbs. As he started to prepare the deer I looked around the clearing.
I turned to the north and hesitated. Shaking my head I turned back into the clearing and walked over to the fire.
******
I watched her as I rubbed spices and herbs into the deer. As she looked around the clearing; for a second time her eyes flickered slightly in recognition.
“Thin’ she know ths plac?” Kari whispered in my ear.
“Not sure. But it does seem that way. I wonder what connection she has to the Night Elves.” I muttered loud enough for Kari and Immortilis to hear.
Immortilis whispered back as he watched John circle the perimeter, “What do you mean?”
I told them all that had happened since I had been imprisoned, how I had been questioned multiple times, beaten and starved when I refused to give answers. When I got to how we had escaped Kari smacked me again.
“Ye deservd tha one too”
We fell silent as she turned to leave the clearing, shook her head and walked over to the fire.
Immortilis muttered, “We should keep an eye on her; especially if she knows the lay of the land.”
I nodded slightly then raised my voice so she could hear me clearly, “Please tell me your name.”
She looked over at me, “And why should I tell you that?”
John came out of the woods closely followed by Mutt saying, “Because he saved your life and it would be polite for you to tell your savior who you are.”
Her eyes flickered slightly as she looked over towards John, “So you are saying that I should give you information because I owe you a debt. Or rather, I owe your friend a debt.”
“You owe me nothing. I just want to know who you are and why the Night Elves imprisoned you. Besides I don’t think you want me to keep calling you girl.”
She looked into the fire and sighed softly, “I will answer only one of your questions. …My name is Allacia. Your other question will have to wait for a while.”
Kari opened her mouth and took a deep breath. I shook my head slightly and her mouth closed again.
Mutt stepped forwards and crouched beside her. “You seem nervous Allacia. Why? You have nothing to fear from us.”
Kari muttered softly, “’Specialy no from Mutt.”
“If you had been imprisoned then suddenly you woke up and you were in the middle of the forest surrounded by people you did not know you would be nervous too.” The flames cast flickering shadows across her face, making it look demonic one second and harmless the next.
“Ye know thi plac don ye?”
She reached out and, before any of us could stop her, Allacia stuck her hand in the fire. Immortilis stepped forward quickly.
“Do not touch me,” she warned.
“But your hand; it’ll burn.”
She looked at Kari, “I know this place. You are in the Fringe. A place where no Night Elf will willingly go.”
“An’ why no?”
She shrugged, “Because Night Elf legends say that the Fringe is haunted. And if you have an impure heart then the ghosts will find you, possess you, and kill you.”
“An’ ye kno thi how?”
She shrugged again and looked back at the fire.
I tied the deer carcass to a pole as John and Immortilis hammered two other poles into the ground, one on either side of the fire. I stepped forward and lay the pole with the deer on it across the other two. I then knelt down and grabbed her arm.
“Last chance Allacia, either you pull hand out of the flames or I will”
“You would not dare.”
My hand tightened around her arm and I gave one sharp pull. Her hand slid out of the flames. Suddenly she ripped her arm out of my grasp, tackled me, pinned my arms above my head with one hand and pressed her dagger against my throat. Anger flickered through me. I rolled slightly away from the fire pinning her beneath me, ripped the dagger out of her hand and pinned her arms to the ground.
“Get off.”
Her voice was cold but mine was colder, “If you are going to pick a fight then finish it or yield.”
Her eyes went from blue to black and the next thing I knew I was lying in my back about twenty feet away.
******
I was enjoying the feeling of the flames dancing over my hand as KJ, Immortilis, and John the Black set up a rotisserie for the deer. When they had finished KJ knelt down beside of me and grabbed my forearm. I flinched slightly, not enough to really notice.
“Last chance Allacia, either you pull your hand out of the flames or I will.” His voice was clam but the threat was clear.
“You would not dare,” I said softly.
He did not reply but his hand tightened around my forearm and he gave one sharp pull. He was stronger than I had anticipated and my hand slid from the flames. Annoyance flickered inside of me and I ripped my arm from his grasp. Moving quickly, I tackled him, pinned his arms above his head, and once again pressed my blade against his throat. A flash of red slid across his brown eyes as he twisted beneath me. KJ rolled away from the fire and pinned me beneath him. Before I could react he had ripped the dagger out of my hand, threw it to the side, and pinned my arms to the ground.
My voice went cold, “Get off.”
His voice was even colder, “If you’re going to pick a fight then finish it or yield.”
I felt anger at my helplessness flame up inside of me. Energy boiled as adrenalin rushed through my veins. I focused on getting him off of me and the energy pushed out of me. He flew up into the air and landed on his back about twenty feet away from me.
I stood and my dagger flew into my hand. Suddenly Immortilis and John the Black grabbed my arms and held me back as a blade pressed against my throat.
“OI don thin so,” Kari whispered into my ear from behind.
Mutt helped KJ to his feet as I thought; I should not have lost control.
His eyes flickered from brown to red and back to brown as he walked over to me, Mutt trailing a few feet behind. He stopped in front of me and raised his hand as though to strike. I looked at him without fear. We stood that way for several minutes, staring at each other without moving.
I looked away first. As I looked down I pulled the energy back behind its barrier, relaxing enough that I would not be considered a threat.
He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. I looked away again after a few moments. But I still saw the calculating smile on his face.
“Release her”
I looked up at him as his people released me. Kari walked over to him and they held quick whispered conference. She shot a calculating look in my direction as she turned to throw more wood on the fire.
Mutt walked over to me as KJ started to turn the deer over the fire.
Mutt was smiling widely, suddenly he pointed behind me. “What’s that?!”
I turned quickly brandishing my dagger. I saw nothing but looked closer in case I had missed something. Something burst on my shoulder and trickled down my back. I whirled back around to find Mutt smiling mischievously.
“Gotcha!”
KJ chuckled softly, “Forgot to warn you about him.”
I rolled my eyes at them both and went out into the woods to gather more firewood.
******
She rolled her eyes at Mutt and me before going into the woods.
“I don’t think she likes being messed with Mutt.”
“I was just kidding.”
“I know that, but I don’t think Allacia did,” I looked at Immortilis, “Follow her.”
Immortilis stood and followed her into the woods. Suddenly a werewolf burst into the clearing.
“Nice of you to join us Paul,” I intoned softly.
He grunted once then smelled out the clearing before looking to where Allacia and Immortilis had walked out of the clearing. She walked back into the clearing carrying a bunch of firewood with Immortilis trailing a few steps behind. Paul looked at me, tense, ready to attack. I shook my head as she set the wood down next to Kari.
“Than ye ‘Lacia,” Kari said, “If ye don mind me askin’, what ar ye?”
“I could ask the same question of all of you,” She glanced at me for a moment then looked into the fire, “Especially of you KJ.”
I looked at her, “I’am human.”
She didn’t look up, “I, as well, am human.”
Paul shifted back to his human form, “How long are we going to stay in enemy territory?”
“Not much longer,” I sighed heavily, “I’d just hoped to find a weakness to use against these Night Elves…” My voice trailed off and I stared into the flames.
“Where are they from?”
“I don’t know Immortilis, I don’t know. If I did I might be able to find a weakness.”
Allacia pulled her blade out again and started to draw in the ashes. “Sonta.”
“What?”
“The Night Elves are from the world called Sonta. Them and the Death Warriors.”
“An’ how do ye kno so much ‘bout ‘em?”
She once again shrugged and continued to draw in the ashes. Something about her blade caught my attention.
“Your blade. May I?”
She looked up and hesitated, then held the dagger out to me hilt first. I took it from her and held it up, turning it this way and that.
“Wat ye lookin’ fer?”
“I’m not sure. Something caught my eye.”
I felt Allacia’s eyes on me. “Can I help you?”
“What is a Nightmare?”
I looked up, “How would I know?”
Her eyes darkened slightly then became carefully guarded, “Just asking.”
I looked down then spoke softly in Nightmare, “(Reveal your secrets)”
My eyes widened slightly as the dagger started to glow slightly, then several strange symbols appeared on and around the blade.
“Ye doin’ tha?”
“No…” I turned to Allacia to see her go rigid. “What is this? Who did this?”
She spoke through clenched teeth, “You answer my question, and I answer your questions.”
“Fine.” I snapped crossing my fingers behind my back, “You first.”
“Release the spell.”
“Or what? You’ll kill me? Don’t make me laugh.”
She didn’t answer and suddenly all of the tension that had entered her from the time I uttered the spell left her. The dagger flew out of my hand and tried to bury itself in my chest. I released the spell just before it pierced my flesh.
“Told you to release the spell,” She held out her hand and the dagger slowly went to her, “It is spelled to be a mystery.” She pulled her hand against herself with the dagger hidden.
“Who did that?”
“A friend.”
“’A fren’? Tha don’ anser the questin.”
“I know. But I made a promise.”
I stood and pulled the deer off of the fire, then started to cut chunks off of it. “Kari, get the plates and silverware out of me pack.”
She did as I told her then set them down by me. I put a chunk of meat on each plate, and Kari handed the plates and silverware around to the rest of the Council members present.
“’Ere ‘Lacia. Ye look lik ye ain’t et in a wile.”
She hesitated tehn took the plate. “Thank you Kari. But I would not dare to impose upon you any longer.”
“Why not? I didn’t poison it if that’s what you are worried about.”
“No, I…” She stood quickly and dropped the plate in her haste. “Depression.”
Paul tensed, shifted to his werewolf form and growled towards the trees.
“Easy Paul.” I cautioned as the Council rose, weapons drawn.
(As I asked before: Please tell me how this is. I have all of the factual information that needs to be in th