Silent Rose Library, PaxOku, Homare-jima, Tokuno, Chesapeake (PaxLair Times) – July 23, 2011– by Tatania Karthina –
*Savage Village – Several weeks earlier*
Chief Running Bear looks into his son’s eyes with worry, “The pirates grow bold Two Faces. We may have to move the village before long.”
The young Brave takes a deep breath before looking to his father and speaking, “There is no need Father. I can be captured by the pirates and kill two birds with one stone. If they have me they will leave the village alone and I will be in place to help Chyara’s family. They will never suspect a savage of having ties to the Steels and Broadricks.”
“That would work son, but what of the rest of the problem?” the old chief asks his son. “We have heard that the pirates now know who and where the young Prince is.”
“You speak in riddles father.” Two Faces says, “Who is this young Prince?”
“The young Prince is the one you call Kelin. The Spirit of his mother came to me and told me the way to keep the boy safe is to shield him in the village until the time for his quest arrives and so it will be done. Have the boy and the rest of his family come to the village for a visit while you do your work. In the mean time, make a way for us to unite with Chyara’s family if things go badly”
Dalton “Sunshine” Savage, known as Two Faces to his people does not understand but learned long ago to trust his father’s ways and so he gives the only answer possible, “It shall be done Father.”
*Steel Manor – Nidaros*
Kelin Broadrick Steel sits up suddenly from a sound sleep, heart racing and soaked with sweat. He consciously takes deep steadying breaths as he mutters softly, “it’s just a dream… it’s just a dream”
Gaius Steel rubs the sleep from his eyes, Same dream again Kelin?”, the lad asks his cousin.
“Same old woman but this one was different. She showed me what she called a part of my dream quest… whatever that is and told me to listen to an old man I’ll meet soon. He has important information for me.”, Kelin answered.
Gai yawned and said sleepily, “It’s just a dream Kelin… go back to sleep.” With those words, the younger Gaius rolled over and began snoring softly.
Kelin, however remained awake until just before dawn, replaying the image seared in his mind of him battling a daemon. It frankly scared him to death.
*Marble Island*
Captain Jack clarifies his orders to his men on their upcoming raids, “I want the children, all of them captured and brought to camp. If any of the adults gets in the way kill them all. Burn down the houses of Chase and Chad Steel as well as that of Caius Broadrick.”
The men nod and leave their Captain to make their plans.
*Port Baldmor – A couple of weeks earlier*
Dalton is led into Chad Steel’s office. Chad looks to the brave and smiles, Hail Sunshine. Have you finally come to ask for Chyara’s hand in marriage?”
Sunshine, normally a cheerful fella seems somber as he shakes his head, “No, I will in time, but first I have news and then we have plans to make.” Dalton says.
*Lost Lands*
Sunshine appears to be sleeping under the canopy of the trees, his cheek resting on the ground. He hears the approach of the pirates and braces himself for the trials to come. He was much too close to their camp for them to leave him alone. The Pirates had allowed him inside camp before, but he was never allowed to know the way in. Now, with Kelin’s map, he knew the way. He whispers softly, letting emotion fill his heart for the space of a heartbeat, “I love you Chyara Broadrick. I will have you for my wife when this business is done.”
The pirates come upon the Savage and subdue him with hardly any trouble at all. They bind his hands and return to their camp with him, never checking the small leather pouch the brave wears about his neck. Inside the pouch the communication crystal awaits activation.
Once back to the camp, the pirates throw Sunshine in the same cell as Gnieus, one laughing as the cell door was locked, “Now Broadrick, you can share a cell with a stinking Savage! Talk to him all you want cause he cannot communicate with you. Stupid barbaric savage!” The men all laugh at the taunts and leave the men alone.
Gnieus looks to the Save and speaks softly to him, “What did you do to make them angry?”
Sunshine looks to him and smiles, “Nothing. I’m here to help you escape. I’m Dalton Savage and I am engaged to be married to your sister Chyara. Rather I will be once I prove my worth to her.”
Gnieus blinks at Sunshine then breaks into a huge grin before speaking again, “And how exactly do you plan on helping me when you are in as bad of shape as I am?”
Sunshine reaches into his pouch and hands Gnieus the communication crystal. “I’d put that somewhere safe if I were you. We can communicate with your family and mine. They are waiting for us to activate it.”
An hour after the initial contact with the combined families, Gnieus speaks softly to the crystal, “Are you there Caius?”
The communication crystal glows and Gnieus hears the voice of his little brother, “Gnieus. Trust Sunshine. We know about where you are and will come to get you both out. Can you give us any specifics of their camp?”
“Give me an hour Caius while I think of what you need to know. I’m hiding this crystal for now. I’ll be back to you soon. and Caius.. how is Kelin?”, Gnieus asks.
“Sunshine will fill you in with those details. Just know he is safe.”, Caius replied before the crystal quit glowing.
Gnieus stuffed the crystal underneath his pillow and looks to Sunshine, “How is my son?”
“Kelin, the rest of the children and all the adults are at my village and safe”, Sunshine told him. “And Kelin is a remarkable lad. He figured out who you are, you know.”
Gnieus smiles to Sunshine, “Of course he is remarkable and thank you for your help.”
Gnieus settles back on his cot and begins thinking of what to tell the rescuers as Sunshine paces in the cell. At dusk, three guards come to the cell to drag Sunshine out. Sunshine bellows in rage in his native tongue at them, not letting him know he understands their language. He is dragged to the central fire and bound at a pole. Gnieus cannot see but can hear the man’s screams as the pirates torture him. Out of desperation, he blocks the screaming out long enough to talk to the rescuers, giving them specifics of the camp’s location and everything else they need to know to rescue them. He finally puts the crystal back under the pillow and paces while he listens for what seems like hours.
Near midnight, the guards dump the unconscious savage back in the cell. “Do what you can for him if you care. It doesn’t matter much though. We’ll kill him anyway.”, the pirate stated coldly. “As a matter of fact, both of you will be dead soon enough.” The pirates suddenly blow darts through the bars, hitting both men with the darts. “Poison. It works slow. It is painful. You have 72 hours to live gentlemen.” The pirates laugh and walk away.
the crystal glows as Gnieus reaches for it. “We heard and we’re almost there! hang on!” came the voice of Chase Steel.
Gnieus seems to see someone who is not really there. He smiles contentedly and speaks, “Take care of our son Amelia.” Gnieus then loses consciousness.
The battle was over almost as fast as it began. The pirates were taken by surprise and outnumbered five to one. The Steel, Broadrick and Savage men all fought valiently. A heavily armed group of the men made the journey to Britain to turn in the Pirates who still lived to the Crown for prosecution. The danger was a thing of the past. Almost… Gnieus and Sunshine were rushed to the Savage camp where they remained unconscious and fevered as the poison slowly drained their lives.
Kelin sits by his father’s bed holding his hand when the old chief stops and whispers to him, “It is time for your quest Kelin. Come with me, quickly.”, the old Chief tells him. Kelin looked to the old man, wanting nothing more than to sit with his father, but he remembered his dreams and the old woman’s words to him. He should speak with the Chief and trust him. Kelin quickly rises and hurried after Chief Spirit Walker.
The old chief gives Kelin a bow, quiver as well as a dagger before he speaks, “The old woman of your dreams said to tell you that she will guide you. Go first to the Hedge maze and you’ll find more instructions there. You must find the antidote to save your father and my son. Go with speed and honor young Warrior.”
Kelin mounted the horse that was ready for him, looked to the Chief and nodded, “Please do not tell my family where I am until I’ve had time to get away. I must do this and they will insist on protecting me.”
Kelin with a fiercely determined grimace on his face galloped off into the sunset, knowing he had to succeed but also more frightened than he had ever been in his life.
The Saga of Kelin and his adventures will continue in “The Adventures of Kelin 11 – “Dream Quest”, coming soon to the bookstore at The PaxOku Silent Rose Library!
Peace and Knowledge be with you!
Tatania Karthina
July 23, 2011