CHAPTER 8 Tia spent the better part of the morning alone, walking through the upper market near the estates. Her mission was simple: purchase items from several locations and listen to the talk on the street. Tia was an expert at this. She could gain information at the least cost and lowest risk. Making a point of walking closer to the city guard than necessary, Tia thwarted suspicion. She walked confidently with her head high. Not surprisingly, no one questioned her. To her, the entire ordeal was a Sojourn game, albeit, a dangerous one. After two hours of listening in nearby taverns to overly zealous young nobles eager to please a pretty girl, Tia had all the information she needed. Her biggest problem involved leaving the young men with whom she had flirted. She found that telling them about her father’s ill temper tended to dissuade the more aggressive ones. As she headed back to Lord Buranigan's estate, Tia stopped at a courier service shop. Surik had several of these small but profitable establishments that dealt solely in the delivery of messages. Some were strictly pigeon services that sent pigeons to almost every major city in the Kingdom, while others offered slow delivery via caravan or secured delivery by horseback messenger. Every type had its advantages, with horseback being the most stable, but also the most expensive. Tia opted for speed and had the shop owner write out a small note that would fly to Gahlen and carried on to Rorshauk and the Kempter family. She had him write: Pahl and Derek are fine, will be home soon. She had the owner send two pigeons to ensure delivery, paid him the required two gold sovereigns each, and started back to the estate. Lord Buranigan, Yeourg, and Lorina were eating lunch when Tia returned. She sat down and began helping herself to the chicken and vegetables lying out on the table. The three others stopped eating as she began, waiting for a report. When none was forthcoming, Yeourg said, "Tia, what news?" Between bites Tia answered, "I sent the message to Pahl and Derek's family. It was obscure so I doubt any of the Viceroy's agents will think it worth investigating." She paused to tear a drumstick from the chicken and after taking a large bite continued, "The city folk are filled with much gossip. It seems the rich kids think the governor will lift martial law and the gates will open. One young man boasted of knowledge privy only to supremely high officials. I pressed him about it, but he would only say between laughs that a pact had been made with someone and the Viceroy would soon be asking for military authority." Yeourg leaped to his feet, "What pact? Who?" Tia smiled at the bold, young man and said in her most tender voice, "I know not, my prince, he would not say." Lorina looked at her questioningly, but Tia didn't notice. Yeourg sat back down and said, "Then my plans remain the same, only more urgent. If the Viceroy gains singular military authority, he can openly declare war on anyone with impunity. I must find my father. Tonight!" "But Yeourg, can you trust the people involved in the secret passage?" Asked Lorina. "And more importantly, how will you get our family out and to a loyal noble, before you are captured by Bernit's men?" "The way has been secured and I have Duke Odem's solemn word that he will convene an emergency council when I have produced father. I will covertly get three of my guardsmen and myself through at the back passage. This passage contains two other guards that have infiltrated the Viceroy's men. Should I meet Lord Bernit's men, they will be sorry. Kartwert, send one of your staff to Duke Odem and inform him we proceed tonight." "Um...your Highness?" Tia asked timidly. "You may call me Yeourg, Tia. What is it?" "Well, I have been a thief for most of my life," Tia spoke without apology or embarrassment, "and the plan you have proposed is most dangerous." Yeourg looked at her with slight amusement. "Your point?" He asked. "My point is," Tia continued without humor, "that a dangerous plan must contain at least one variation or back up plan to guarantee success." She paused for a moment, then added, "Or at least to minimize total failure." "What do you propose?" Yeourg asked. Tia's face broadened into a wide smile. ********** A drunken man and two bar wenches strode down a main street near the back of the palace just after midnight. Few remained on the street at this hour for fear of arrest, but little attention was given to the threesome. When the group rounded a corner into a dark alley the drunkard pulled back his hood revealing long blond hair. Yeourg looked at his two companions smiling, "Okay, now wait here and if any guards come or there is a commotion go straight for the docks, as we planned." The two girls nodded in understanding of their secondary plan to escape Surik via a merchant ship. Under their cloaks the girls pulled out two satchels and handed them to Yeourg. Taking the bags, Yeourg said, "This had better work." With a wink, he left down the alley and the two girls leaned back against the wall to settle in for the wait. As he reached the other end of the alley three men stepped out from a darkened alcove. All were dressed like drunkards and wreaked of ale. Without word they followed Yeourg around the corner and through an outer gate to the rear Palace courtyard that had been conveniently left open and unguarded. After waiting several minutes just inside the gate, the four ran across the courtyard to the rear wall of the palace. Yeourg's heart pounded in anticipation. He knew that any minute an alarm could sound bringing down the house guard on him. He relaxed for a moment willing himself to calmness. The dungeon lay at the south end of the palace and under heavy guard. Yeourg knew this, but he also knew that a back entrance used for special access should be unguarded. It was through this door he would enter. Moving quietly, the four men crawled in the darkness toward the rear of the cell house. There they waited for their contact. ********** "It's been almost an hour, what's taking them?" Lorina shifted nervously on the steps to the dark alcove. "Be patient, Lorina, the more dangerous the job, the longer it takes," Tia sat next to Lorina pulling a shawl tighter over her head. "Just be happy no alarms have sounded." "It's freezing here." "I know. It should not take much longer." The girls waited in the cold anxious for any sign of Yeourg or his companions. As the minutes dragged by, Lorina could not shake the feeling that something had gone wrong and her brother was in terrible trouble. When she thought she could no longer wait, two silhouettes appeared, walking quickly and quietly toward the girls. They were dressed as call girls with heavy cloaks covering their dresses. One looked about the stature of Lorina's brother making her appear almost comical, but the other was shorter and thinner, much more the part. When Lorina felt certain it was Yeourg she stood and came out of the alcove. With an expression of fear she asked, "Yeourg, what happened? Where is Father?" "He wasn't there," came the reply. Yeourg was breathing heavy and appeared drained from the ordeal. "I searched everywhere I could without risking capture, but our family must have been moved. Or maybe they were never there to begin with. Come on, we've got to get back to the estate." "I hope we are not caught in these outfits," Yeourg said to Tia. "That's the purpose of the dresses," Tia replied, "so you won't get caught." The four sauntered out onto the main road, just like four hookers coming home from a late night job in the wealthy part of the city. Yeourg stood much taller than the other three and tried to swagger and stoop to offset his height. His companion had high cheekbones and eyebrows that gave him a pretty look, perfectly disguised. At first Lorina and Tia thought he was a woman until he walked with difficulty in the heeled shoes. After walking for two blocks a horse and buggy rode up next to the fugitives and stopped. "Care for a lift," said the driver, an older man dressed in brown silk. "Thanks, Dibson," Lorina said and the four climbed in. Inside the estate the men changed into silk clothing representative of merchant sons and met Lord Buranigan, the girls, and Dibson in the study. As they entered, everyone's attention focused on the new comer. He wore a cloak and hood that covered his head and features. Lorina looked at the him suspiciously and said to Yeourg, "Who is this?" Yeourg held out an arm and said, "Meet his Excellency, Jahradan, Prince of Elvendan." Jahradan, Prince of the Elves, pulled back his hood revealing upswept eyebrows and pointed ears common to his kind. With the grace of a dancer, he bowed low in front of Lorina and in a musical voice said, "Greetings, wonderful princess, I take pleasure in our meeting." Lorina stared at the elf and then at her brother, wondering what could happen next. ********** "Let's go," shouted Pahl, digging his heals into the sides of his horse. Pahl had gotten up early and after rehearsing the mahte' Hawk had taught him the previous day, he prepped his horse and waited for his companions. When they had come outside after breakfast, Pahl was waiting. "Hold up," yelled Derek, laughing. "You're a bit anxious today." "Just ready for adventure," Pahl yelled back and pulling on the reins, made his horse kick up on its hind legs in an impressive stand. "Not bad," said Derek to Hawk, who simply shook his head. Hawk gave the stable boy a coin for saddling his and Derek's horses. The two mounted, meeting an anxious Pahl on the road. When the three had ridden several miles, Hawk stopped and dismounted. "Get down," Hawk said to the two boys and they knew immediately what was next. "Show me the mahte' you have learned." After tying the horses to a nearby tree, Pahl and Derek immediately went through the now familiar movements that made up what Hawk called a mahte'. After they finished, Hawk said, "Good, that was very good. The first mahte' represents simple movements. Though foreign to your body, it helps to develop a natural flow that other mahte' will build upon. "The second mahte' is a series of defensive movements called dohkas. I will teach you the first dohka, which involves blocking an oncoming punch, like this." Hawk demonstrated the move by swinging his left arm up from his side and across his chest. The two boys eagerly mimicked the move and Hawk walked around them, repositioning their arms as necessary and giving them encouragement. After several minutes, Hawk stood in front of each boy, throwing a series of punches and telling him to block them. He started relatively slowly and increased his speed to just under real time. Derek and Pahl could hardly believe the effectiveness of this dohka. They had never had any formal fighter's training other than that of normal boys. Their father and even the enigmatic Bojax Freed had frowned on violence leaving the boys virtually untrained in defense. Hawk taught the boys several other dohkas. Some that involved blocks using the legs and others that involved hand and foot combinations. Hawk taught them seven dohkas. Practiced in a combination series, these seven dohkas created the second mahte'. Two hours passed while Hawk let them practice these new techniques. Hawk felt pleased with their ability to learn so quickly and allowed them to go unheeded while he watched. He knew immediately that these young men would become dangerous opponents if allowed to master the seven mahte'. He attributed this to their eagerness to learn and lack of other formal training. To some extent this worried him. He had never trained someone before. Even though all instructors at the Keep were not Retter, they did have Retter Masters to guide them. Hawk did not have other instructors or the Keep's archives full of history and mastery of the Path a Retter follows. Still, Hawk knew these two young men needed some training if they were to survive the confrontations they would likely have. Also, he hoped the Keep would provide some assistance, especially if he could find his old master. Another concern Hawk had was that most Retter trainees would spend several months on each mahte' learning the intricacies of every move. Hawk was unsure if he was teaching the boys too quickly, not allowing them the time to learn and gain insight on the body movements. Still, he thought their need to defend themselves was paramount. He turned his attention to Pahl who was now blocking every one of Derek's somewhat flimsy attacks. When they finished, Pahl shouted excitedly, "I am invincible!" At this, Hawk stepped over to where the Pahl stood sweating in triumph. Without preamble, Hawk executed a reversed spinning sweep kick that brushed Pahl's legs out from under him and landed him on his backside with a hard thump. "No one is invincible, Pahl. In time you may become quite capable, but for now remember that confidence is good, overconfidence is quick death. Repeat that." Pahl and Derek repeated the proverb. Reaching out his hand, Hawk helped Pahl to his feet and said, "It's time to go, but after lunch we will begin again." Both boys nodded and went to get the horses. Not long after they mounted Hawk spotted the break off trail running north-east that represented Old Keep Road. As the three companions rode toward the break, Hawk wondered at the outcropping and lack of attention given this once active road. Where a nicely adorned sign used to hang giving direction, now a broken stump of a once elegant post stood bent with age and abuse. The road was grown over with weeds, grass, and small shrubbery, that spoke of disuse for years. Even the several farms that Hawk recalled surrounding the mouth of this road stood abandoned and appeared to have been burned down several times. The entire turn off trail looked eerie and forbidding. "Hawk," said Pahl feebly, "How can you be certain this is the way? I mean, do we really want to go down this trail? It looks rather dangerous." Coming out of his reverie, Hawk said, "This is the way to the Keep. It is also the only practical road in. The Keep lies at the base of the two mountains you see to the north and east and is surrounded by thick forest. It is probably for this reason it has been forgotten." While the geographical location Hawk described was true, he was well aware the Retter and the Keep were not forgotten, but brushed under some political carpet. "How far is it from here?" Derek asked. "Can we make it by nightfall?" "I intend to," said Hawk. "We are about four hours from the outer grounds and another hour from the actual Keep proper. Because of the road conditions, I think it best we eat now and run through your exercises. We will arrive before sundown." After eating and practicing for an hour, Pahl and Derek were eager to be under way, despite the conditions of the trail. Hawk led, keeping a quick pace that made Pahl and Derek push their horses to stay with him. He alternated between a canter and a quick gait that assured them of speed in spite of the course trail. As he had when Hawk first traveled with the young men several weeks ago, Hawk senses were strained to the maximum. He wanted to be sure the group would not encounter any surprises on their trek toward the Keep. Reaching the outer grounds, Hawk was surprised that he had not felt any disturbances during the ride. They had only taken one break and reached the grounds in just over three hours, saving almost an hour travel time. Even though their pace made the trip shorter than planned, Hawk had anticipated some encounter. Hawk expected to meet brigands, hunters, or simple forest dwellers somewhere along the road, but all remained quite. Perhaps, the closing of the Keep left the forest uninhabited. How could this be, thought Hawk. To his remembrance, the forests around the Keep always boasted of wild life and at least a moderate community of earth preservationists. Hawk looked around. The grounds as he remembered were farming lands and botany gardens that stretched the last few miles before the actual structure that made up the academy. It began with a ceremonial archway made from six interwoven trees that crossed over the road. It was at this point that Hawk stopped and gazed out at the once familiar terrain that marked the training and studying grounds. The once beautiful gardens were non-existent and only sparsely populated crops spotted the numerous hashed up farmlands. Hawk could tell that the crops were just ancestral seeds of well-tended farms that grew more from natural instinct than a skilled hand. Hawk shook the stallion's reins and rode solemnly through the weather beaten archway. Derek and Pahl followed close behind, both wondering at Hawk's mannerisms, but wisely remaining silent. The remaining miles Hawk traveled purposefully, almost majestically, riding high in the saddle and looking straight forward, never gazing left or right. Derek and Pahl tried to mimic his disposition, but failed greatly, not being able to keep from looking around at the devastated landscape. The area seemed not only deserted but thrashed and in a state of upheaval. Small homes and fences looked demolished or burned to the ground leaving only blackened stone foundations. But most alarming was the absence of natural sounds; birds, insects, and forest animals were either non-existent or uncommonly quite and more than once Pahl looked at Derek with genuine concern about the solemnity. As the three reached the border of the actual Keep itself, the silence screamed in Pahl's and Derek's ears. Not only were the sounds of animals not there, but also the sound of the wind and air. If it were not for the heavy breathing and clopping of his horse Pahl would have thought he had gone deaf. This uncharacteristic atmosphere disoriented both young men to the point of instability. If it had not been for Hawk, both would have turned their horses and ran. Hawk noticed the dilemma assaulting his companion's senses and held both his fists in front of them. Closing his eyes, he opened both his hands and then spread his arms wide as if in a dying pose. A popping sound like that of an uncorked bottle discharged in their ears and shortly thereafter the normal sounds of the forest returned. "What was that?" Asked Pahl. Turning around to face the Keep, Hawk spread his arm out gesturing the entire area. "There is a spell over this place. Not a very grand one, but effective nonetheless. I hadn't noticed it until I saw your faces." "Did you remove the spell," asked Pahl excitedly. "No," said Hawk shaking his head. "I just terminated its affect on you." "Why was there a spell here?" Derek asked. "I'm not sure," said Hawk pondering. "I imagine to detour visitors, but I do not see any evidence of that recently. Also, the vaults in the Keep that contain archaic libraries and artifacts are under powerful magic that make this spell obsolete." Hawk goaded the stallion into the main courtyard where several defunct fountains and chipped statues decorated the front of the ancient buildings that made up the Keep. Old hand cut sandstone filled the entire courtyard. Throughout the courtyard set several marble planters of varying colors that apparently housed small trees. The planters were exquisite in design, but lacked luster from years of neglect. The cloudy day gave the entire complex a forlorn appearance. Several large corridors connected the four main buildings of the keep, but the pained glass in most of the corridors had been broken out. Hawk looked over to the two southern wings, where he had once stayed and noted that they remained intact though the wooden window shudders were either missing or dangling from rusted hinges. Hawk shook his head in dismay. This once awesome learning center and guardian of his country's beliefs was shattered and deserted. Hawk dismounted and the brothers followed suit, tying their horses to a nearby pole. The three companions walked up the steps to the main building and stood before its massive double doors. In irony, a marble sign above doors read: Holders of the Light, Keepers of the Path. The gold inlaid lettering was chipped and worn and a pictorial of a hand holding a torch was severely faded. "Wait here and watch the horses," said Hawk as he opened one of the doors. He was not surprised to feel the door give way easily, knowing that the entire complex was built around sophistication and technology that grossly dwarfed the standard in the Kingdom. Hawk moved into the carpeted ante chamber and let the door close behind him. He stood for a moment recalling the memories that had haunted him since he left this place. Entering the Keep was difficult for Hawk. He had left in shame some ten years ago. Years before it was very uncommon for a trainee to leave the academy, because of the great honor of becoming a Retter. Tradition and practice dictated that only the natural son or daughter of a previous Retter could be submitted for admittance into the Keep. Hawk was the first to break this ancient code and he thought it only because of the respect and high rank of his master, Jeshur Baerd. In truth, it was Hawk's inner strength, power, and commitment that persuaded the Elders to accept him as one capable of becoming a Retter. Unfortunately, several students as well as instructors made Hawk's training difficult. They would provoke him and challenge his right to be among them. As Hawk walked through the main chamber into several ante chambers he noticed a plaque with distinct symbols representing the Protectorates--those ancient white cylinders depicting a Retter's inner wisdom and strength. He remembered that every student's final task involved hiking to a certain area of the mountain directly behind the keep, and in seven days return with their own Protectorates. He had left prior to accomplishing this task after an extensive argument and fight with one of the more vocal instructors. He had beaten the instructor and after much soul searching, decided that he was unworthy to continue his training. He left, never to return. Walking through the corridors and rooms Hawk felt confident in his decision to confront his past, find his master, and fulfill his destiny. He looked out a shattered window at Pahl and Derek. Meeting them had become much more to him than he imagined, changing him from a distant loner to a companion of ones he cared for deeply and making him a better person in the process. He continued his search through most of the old studies and rooms he had access to, not wanting to challenge the magic of those sealed or warded. Finding the complex deserted he went back outside. "There is no one here," Hawk informed Derek and Pahl as he exited the main chamber. "And apparently no clue if my old master is alive or where anyone may have gone." If Hawk was disappointed no one could tell. "What happened here, Hawk?" Derek asked. He and Pahl sat on a partially demolished stone wall. Both were picking at the loose rock that crumbled at pressure from their fingers. "I don't know." "I do, if yer intristed?" Derek and Pahl stood quickly and Hawk spun around to see an old man holding a rake come around the east side of the building. The man walked in a bent over fashion and wore a gray-white beard that nearly reached his knees. Dirty sandals protected his feet and an old dirt caked robe covered his aging body. He looked ready to fall into the nearest grave and Pahl wondered if he hadn't just crawled out of one. "Who are you?" Hawk asked, surprised he never saw the man previously and had not felt his presence. "I'm known as the caretaker of this here place," the old man replied, vainly attempting to stand straighter, more proudly. When this failed, he looked sternly at the three travelers. "And who are you?" "I am called Hawk and my companions are Pahl and Derek. Can you tell us what happened here, and where the masters have gone?" Hawk waited while the old man sat on a nearby concrete wall. "I can tell you, I can," the caretaker said, then paused. "But first tell me why you came here..." before he could finish he went into a fit of coughing that threatened to dislodge him from his seat. When he caught his breath he finished, "and who you seek?" "I think you may need to seek a healer," said Hawk with some amusement. "Don't smart me, young whippersnapper!" The caretaker said. "I could still whoop the likes of you." Again he began coughing which made Derek and Pahl smile. "Now answer my questions!" "I come seeking Jeshur Baerd, my old master." "Well no one’s been here for years, maybe you should try Surik, I heard there's a number of losers there." "Don't get funny with me, old man, just tell me what happened here?" "Who's gittin' funny? You can see what happened. Everything was destroyed. If you had eyes to see you could find what you seek." Derek and Pahl exchanged glances, but didn't interrupt Hawk. The old man began coughing and they could see Hawk was loosing patience. "Who destroyed this area?" Hawk asked, when the caretaker regained composure. "Evil men, with evil intentions," the old man said and then after several coughs added, "I suppose." "Were you here when it happened?" "Humph, I've been here a long time. Yes, a very long time." "That's not what I asked. I said..." "I know what you said, young man," The caretaker looked at him as if he were an idiot. "I am old and tired. Rest is what I need. You come back when you are seeing well again." Hawk looked at the caretaker, unmasked confusion sketched on his face. The caretaker rose and using his rake as a walking cane, climbed the steps to the great double doors. In a fit of coughing he shuffled through the doors and disappeared. "Let us leave this place," Hawk said with some contempt. The three gathered their horses and rode out of the courtyard feeling tired and dejected. No one spoke, for all knew the disappointment each other felt. Riding down the trail Pahl asked, "What now, Hawk? Do we continue to look for your master or are we going to Surik?" Derek interjected, "Don't you think we should find out what happened here? Maybe the old man has more answers than we think." In the lead, Hawk jerked the reins, stopping the stallion. The two brothers rode up on either side of him. Backing the stallion and turning around Hawk called over his shoulder, "Follow me!" Immediately he broke into a gallop, heading back to the courtyard and the front of the Keep. Kicking into the sides of their own horses the two brothers followed at a gallop. The great black stallion skidded to a halt sending loose rock, gravel, and dirt flying. Hawk leaped from his mount's back and strode the steps leading to the large double doors. "Jeshur!" Hawk yelled. "Jeshur Baerd! I know you're here. Come out." "Quit your ranting and raving," the old caretaker said as he appeared from around the same corner as before. "I'm old, but not deaf. And I told you Master Baerd is gone." Derek interjected, "Don't you think we should find out what happened here? Maybe the old man has more answers than we think." In the lead, Hawk jerked the reins, stopping the stallion. The two brothers rode up on either side of him. Backing the stallion and turning around Hawk called over his shoulder, "Follow me!" Immediately he broke into a gallop, heading back to the courtyard and the front of the Keep. Kicking into the sides of their own horses the two brothers followed at a gallop. The great black stallion skidded to a halt sending loose rock, gravel, and dirt flying. Hawk leaped from his mount's back and strode the steps leading to the large double doors. "Jeshur!" Hawk yelled. "Jeshur Baerd! I know you're here. Come out." "Quit your ranting and raving," the old caretaker said as he appeared from around the same corner as before. "I'm old, but not deaf. And I told you Master Baerd is gone." Hawk smiled at the old man and said, "You can remove the disguise, Jeshur, I can see now." "Yes, I can tell." The old caretaker, dressed in ragged clothing, faded before Hawk and the two brothers who had just ridden up. In his place stood an aged man, but not as old as he had previously looked. He strode forward with a long flowing white hair and a white beard that reached his chest. He wore an elegant white robe, clasped in the middle by a silver chain, and clean, leather boots rimmed with white fur. In place of the old rusted rake, he held a five foot tall staff that was white in color. "Amazing!" Said a wide eyed Pahl. "Not really," said Hawk. "He used a familiar Retter illusion that I should have seen through from the start." "Yes, I am quite surprised at you, Hawk," Jeshur Baerd chastised. "You are slipping." Hawk embraced his old master saying, "It has been a long time." "Too long, my son, too long." Tears welled up in both Hawk's and Jeshur's eyes, and Hawk realized with some trepidation that he had not cried since his parents had died. After composing himself Hawk asked, "Jeshur, what happened to the Keep and the Council of Masters?" "Come inside and I will prepare a meal," said Jeshur and in serious tones added, "There is much we need to discuss. Times are most grievous." Jeshur showed the three a modified stable area where their horses could roam and eat and then led them to a dining area inside a building to the rear of the main complex. While Jeshur prepared the meal, Hawk made introductions and explained briefly his life after leaving the keep, some ten years ago. He went into more detail about the recent struggles with the Southern warriors and his plight with the Kempter boys, Tia, and Lorina, ending with his teaching of the two mahte' to Pahl and Derek. When he finished, Jeshur said, "So, the young men show talent?" He was genuinely excited about this. "Yes," said Hawk. "And Pahl seems particularly gifted. "We will have to investigate that further, but for now you must know what has happened." Jeshur served everyone plates of fresh, steamed vegetables, bread and stew. Then he began a long and sullen story. "Five years ago a messenger from the King arrived with an order to close the Keep. The Council of Masters thought it expedient to visit the Magistrate at the capitol and voice our concern about this outrageous order. A young Master, Conray Jarles, went with two apprentices. He never returned. A month later a envoy of soldiers arrived under royal seal ordering us to disperse and begin closure. Most, myself included, not willing to break oath to the kingdom, vacated the compound. But a few of the younger Retter including several apprentices and instructors refused, claiming perpetual right and religious freedom. A pitched battle ensued with the soldiers losing and retreating. "The masters and other Retter who had not fought attempted to soothe the rebel ones, warning them of their treasonous act and the impending response from the king that would surely come. But those who had fought were sick with anger and sought to track down the fleeing soldiers. Before they could organize and leave, we witnessed a host of southern warriors, several hundred strong, riding in through the grounds destroying everything in their path and amazingly baring royal banners of the Von Allman family. They had trampled the fleeing soldiers and killed them without struggle. Their ranks were intermixed with powerful creatures none had seen before and only the old scrolls speak of. We were vastly unprepared for the horrible battle that took place that day or the losses that would follow. Few survived the conflict to witness its ferocity and those that did were tracked down by the leader of this group, a huge warrior possessing dark powers and commanding those evil creatures of darkness. "I believe this leader or one of his servants is the one seeking to destroy you. But know this, Hawk, the capitol is already compromised and soon our entire kingdom and nation that we love will be subjected to southern rule at the mercy of one most evil." Hawk's face had gone white with surprise and fear. Though suspected, he never thought the situation had become so grim. With mixed anger and frustration he said, "Jeshur, what do we do?" Jeshur Baerd looked at each person sitting at the table in turn. Then solemnly he stated, "Simply, we must destroy this threat. And it must be done at the root." He paused letting the magnitude of his words sink in, then explained, "For the last few years I have hidden myself from those seeking to destroy me and searched the ancient archives for the origin of this evil and possible ways to challenge its power. Remember, a group of warriors and foul creatures destroyed the Masters and Retters of a powerful belief that stems back thousands of years. Also, remember, this same group was but a shadow of the actual power behind this threat. "I have found that an evil has been loosed upon the land that stems from the halls of the Keep itself. A master of our faith has turned dark and sought powers not meant for those who look toward good. This could be the only explanation for the havoc wrought here." "But how could we stop such a one that defeated the Council of Masters?" Asked Hawk incredulously. Jeshur shook his head in pitied remembrance, "After decades of calm living, the masters had become lax and soft. Retter did not travel the land as in ancient times and because of this, the evil of the dark Path was able to take root. It must be faced and defeated." "Will you face it, Jeshur?" Hawk said, almost knowing his reply. Jeshur smiled briefly then looking directly into Hawk's eyes said, "You, Hawk, must retrieve the Protectorates waiting you in the mountain. You must take upon yourself the mantle of Retter and with companions worthy of the Light of the Path, you will be victorious. I have sought this answer and envisioned it as the only way. Being old, I cannot accompany you, but will remain here defending our lore and faith. Early tomorrow you must leave on your seven day trial. Have faith and courage and you will return stronger than you have ever known. During your test, I will continue to give Pahl and Derek the mahte' training you started. They will stand by your side, for without them you will fail, I have seen this. "Follow me now to the old apprentice quarters and rest. Tomorrow will begin our challenge against the most powerful being ever to roam the lands." Awestruck by the connotations the great master, Jeshur Baerd, had placed upon the shoulders of the three companions, they followed him quietly and thoughtfully to the east wing. After they had lain down on soft beds, Jeshur raised his staff and waved it in a circling motion. It glowed a soft white light and his guests fell asleep dreaming dreams of heroism and courage. Jeshur walked solemnly back to the main library, hoping his study and visions would prove correct. As he gazed out a dirty window into the destruction of the grounds as he had for five years, he feared the spread of this disease from the South had gained too much ground and his old apprentice had waited too long to return.