Pt II Ch 9 Sunlight

Crimthann allowed himself a sigh of relief as sunlight hit his face.  He'd been underground his fair share in his life, but he'd never really be comfortable, just something about the warmth of sunlight on his face, especially after this last venture.

Kazimir hadn't slowed running since they left the caverns, Aedan was clearly exhausted but keeping pace, still helping Gabreilla, though it helped that a run for Crimthann and Kazimir was more a light jog for the two humans.

As they exited the caves, Kazimir suddenly stopped, signalling for the others to do the same, moving from a run to a cautious walk. "Easier for ambush from trees than caverns, more hide in shadows" he whispered, eyeing the trees as they walked

Crimmthann knew the gnome was right, yet the return to a cautious stealthy gnome from the crazed death tornado in the cavern was surprising to him.  Most of his previous travel companions were predictable, even if it was predictably crazy.  He wasn't sure what to do with a companion who switched between stealth and insanity like a switch, but he made a note to pay attention to the gnomes eyes, they seemed to signal when something insane was coming.

He was torn from his thoughts as Kazimir stopped in front of a hill in the woods.  To the untrained eye, it seemed a normal tree covered hill, but looking closer he guessed why his new friend had stopped.  Kazimir motioned to Aedan and Gabreilla to enter a previously unseen entrance to a small hidden cave.

"In, in, rest" he motioned.  Inside the cave along the sides were raised sections covered in moss serving as beds.

"Kazimir keep many hidden spots in forest for hiding, is safe, rest!"

As Aedan and Gabreilla collapsed onto the beds in relief, asleep nearly before they were down, Kazimir stepped outside, motioning for Crimthann

"Best they stay, they sleep, I watch, go, get help, time now, not get them to city alone, need help, dark mad, dark hunt, be safe here for now, I watch, you go"

Crimthann nodded. "Ok my friend, be safe, I'll make haste and go get the cavalry!"

"Horses not good in forest"

Crimthann didn't wait to see if his gnome friend was joking or not, he nodded, and headed off towards help.

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Detric awoke with a start to someone shaking him awake.  Alsandiar, Caolite, and himself had been rotating so that one of them was watching at the gate ever since Aedan and Crimthann had left.  Alsandiar and Caolite had wanted to charge after them, but Detric knew Crimthann could handle himself, and wouldn't enter into more than he could handle, a good stealthy rougue would do far better than a battalion of troops crashing through the woods.

He looked up to see one of the city guardians, urgency in his eyes.

"Alsandiar sends for you, come quickly!"

Detric jumped up, his friend wouldn't wake him without cause, he ran out the door to the gate.  Alsandiar and a squad of city troops were already mounted at the gate as Detric approached, Caolite close behind.  Two mounts were saddled and ready for them, and Detric saw that Jaci must have been sent for as well, as two panthers came sprinting towards the gate.

"Crimthann approaches,  sprinting as if his very life depends on it!"

"Is he pursued? Is he alone?!" Detric yelled as he got on his horse

"He comes alone"

The group departed, Detric, Alsadiar and Caolite at the lead, the squad in formation behind them, prepared for whatever may appear on the horizion behind the apparently panicked halfling, with Jaci and Jasmine on either of Detric's flanks.

The group rode out to meet Crimthann, as they got close, the group slowed, Jaci transformed and Crimthann nearly collapsed into her arms.

"Aedan, Gabriella, gnome, cave...woods...hiding...dark"

"Catch your breath my dear friend!"

Detric dismounted and handed his old friend a flask of water, which Crimthann unceremoniously chugged

"I found Aedan and Gabriella, a gnome helped me rescue them, they are hiding in the woods, the gnome is keeping watch, we cannot get them here safely alone, I came back for help!"

"Artegal?" Jaci asked

Crimthann caught Detric's gaze and shook his head.

"Artegal....Artegal is....I could not get him...we choose to get Aedan and the princess...Artegal...is....he has gone....I...we must get Aedan and Gabriella"

Crimthann's face looked pained, Detric nodded
"One thing at a time, let us make haste, my friend, are you ok?"

Crimthann nodded as he climbed onto Detric's horse

"We ride to the tree line, the horses will be little use in the forest"

with that, the group was off, back the way the halfling had come

Pt II ch 8 Decisions

Crimthann awoke from a restless sleep. Kazimir was seated near the entrance, and stood when he saw Crimthann awake

"Short human ok? Much troubled, Kazimir worry"
Crimthann managed a chuckle "yes, or at least better. What you showed me shocked me a bit"
"The dark shock?"
"Well, more who I saw, they are brothers, sons of a man I swore my service to...."
"Kazimir see but one man, broken man, other not brother, other dark, other die or kill, dark not brother"
Crimthann hesitated, choosing his words carefully
"My friend, I understand your sentiments...but I have known him from birth, he is not evil, he is family...he is deceived...as broken as his brother he holds"
"NO!"
Crimthann stepped back, surprised at the outburst from the gnome
"He lost! He make dark choice, he betray brother, he betray father, he betray Crimthann. No save, must die. No save both brothers. Kill dark"
"And who will tell his mother he is gone?! His father?! His sister? Will you tell a youngling her beloved brother is gone? Will you look them in the eyes and tell them you saved one brother and let the other perish?"
The answer was cold, blunt
"Yes. I tell. He choose dark. To save is to help dark. Kazimir hate dark. Crimthann hate dark. Brother hate dark or brother not be tied, not be captive. Brother not keep brother captive, dark keep. Do you wish dark take both brothers? You tell mother, father, sister you no save good brother because dark brother?"

Crimthann knew his friend was right, they must do what they could to save Aedan, even if it was Artegal who stood in thier way.

"Very well, we must at least save Aedan, the captive one"
"Both captive, one by choice"
"True words my friend. Do you have a plan? Should we get more help?"
"Time important. Aedan little time, girl little time. If act, we act, now"

Kazimir dismantled the lantern and began to leave.
"We must plan my friend"
"No plan, do. Kazimir make trouble for dark, Crimthann help, Kazimir and Crimthann save Aedan and girl"
"Great Source, spirit of my brother Conall, be with us" Crimthann whispered as he followed the gnome into the tunnels

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Crimthann saw the flickering of faery fire ahead, they were approaching the main cavern he had seen before, but not from above as before, they were heading directly for it!
Kazimir turned, motioned for silence, and Crimthann saw a small pouch in each hand, different from the glowing ones.
A grin was on the gnomes face, this worried Crimthann
Before he could even think, Kazimir ran into the cavern, screaming wildly
"Trooouuuubbbbbllllleeee for you dark!"
Explosions rocked the cavern as the gnome threw pouch after pouch wildly, exploding as they hit ground.
Crimthann ran out behind him, seeing no choice but to support the reckless charge.

Two dark robes guards reacted in shock, not expecting such an attack. Kazimir lunged at one, and the figure fell, a dagger in his skull.
Crimthann dropped the other with a crossbow bolt between the eyes. The battle was over before it even started, and Crimthann ran to a crouched, bound and blindfolded Aedan, asking Kazimir as he passed him
"What of sneak and stealth?"
"Trouble no sneak. Trouble rage, trouble hunt, trouble kill, Kazimir trouble."
Crimthann shook his head, they would need to move quickly, that attack had not been quiet, reinforcements would be coming, and Kazimir had gone from a stealthy, sneaky gnome to one consumed by bloodlust.

"Crimthann my dear friend! This was not wise!"
Aedan embraced his old friend
"My brother has turned, you should not have come....and I'd have expected more stealth from you....who's the crazy gnome?"
"I'll explain later we must go"
Crimthann turned to leave the way they had come, as shouting and running footsteps could be heard coming down another tunnel.
Two things stopped him.

Aedan did not follow, but was facing the other tunnel
"They still have her, we must rescue Gabreilla"

Kazimir was running, screaming as one possesed, towards the tunnel the noise was coming from
"Kazimir kill dark! Ttttrrrrroooouuuubbbblllleeee! Save Gabreillllaaaa!"

Aedan pulled a sword off one of the fallen guards and, tired and battered as he was, followed, joining the battle cry of a gnome he'd not even formally met "Gabreillaaaa!"

Crimthann shook his head in dismay, if they survived, Detric was going to kill him for allowing this reckless insanity.

He ran after his friends, crossbow at the ready "Conall guide my hand" he muttered as the three joined battle in the tunnel with a group of dark robes guards.

Kazimir was in a frenzy, Crimthann had never seen such ferocity from a gnome, a whirlwind of flashing daggers, rage, and blood.

Aedan stayed well clear of the gnome, not wishing to be mistaken in the rage as an enemy, fighting those who tried to also avoid the screaming death that came at them.

Crimthann picked off what he could with his crossbow, but Kazimir did most of the fighting

The tunnel was a bloody mess, 10 robed figures strewn along the floor, most slashed to bits by dagger wounds, not standing a chance against the rage that had consumed the once quiet sneaky gnome.

They continued along the tunnel, Aedan running towards another cavern, Kazimir and Crimthann close behind.

This cavern was lit by faerie fire as well, and, tied to a post in the middle, Gabriella, beaten and battered, and looking very frightened.

Aedan ran to her, cutting her loose, and she collapsed in his arms
"I dreamed of you, I knew you would come" she cried

"We must go, we can only be so fortunate for so long"
Crimthann declared.
Aedan nodded, and, half carrying Gabriella, headed back as they had come.
"Kazimir!"
The gnome turned, his eyes calmer, the rage subsiding
"Kazimir, you must guide us from here, you know the best way out, I will watch the rear!"
"Yes, yes, come, quick, must go!"

Pt II Chapter 7 The dark reality

Crimthann followed his new friend off into the tunnels. Before leaving, Kazimer shut off the lantern, dismantled it, and put it in his pack.  Crimthann was interested to see that there was no flame, faerie or natural, but having some familiarity with the tinkering of gnomes, chose to wait for a different time to satisfy his curiosity.

As they left, Kazimir paused "you see in black? I from deep, see clear, see ok?"

"Not clearly, but I've been underground before, if you stay close, I'll get by"

"No fumble? Dark see light, dark find, no sneaky...but Dark hear fumble stumble, dark find, no sneaky, need light?"

Crimthann stifled a chuckle "I defer to your judgement, master of the deep. I've been underground before, had to deal with little light, but I am from the surface, I'm not as comfortable with it as yourself"

"We use little light then, but when close to dark, little light go, dark see"

The gnome pulled what appeared to be a small vial from his pack, shook it, and handed it to Crimthann

It gave off a dim, blueish glow, just enough to see his immediate surroundings.

The issue of light settled, the two headed off, Kazimir leading the way through a maze of tunnels and caves.

They travelled along in silence, using only hand signals to communicate, avoiding unneeded sound lest it carry underground and alert unwanted ears.

After some time, Kazimir stopped, motioned for the vial, which he poured out, the glow dissapating as the liquid flowed into cracks in the rock. They sat in silence, Crimthann guessed Kazimir was allowing him to adjust to the change. After a few minutes, he felt a nudge on his shoulder, the darkness was overwhelming, and even with being familiar, more familiar than most surface folk anyways, with being underground and in low light, he had no idea how his gnome friend could see much at all.

They proceeded, slowly down the tunnel, until Crimthann noticed a change in the lighting, the walls flickered with a faint glow, and voices could be heard carrying along the tunnel, muffled and echoing, but voices.

Crimthann noticed in the faint light that this tunnel was not natural, but hewn from the rock, and it narrowed as they continued on.

Kazimir stopped as they approached the end of the tunnel, motioning Crimthann, his finger to his lips, urging him to be silent, as if the motion wasn't enough, he mouthed "sneaky" as he motioned to a gap in the rock, barely the size of a small head, this was where the light flickered from, Crimthann recognized the odd glow of faerie fire torches, and the voices were clearer.

He cautiously approached, just enough to see and hear.

"......you followed your dreams brother, I followed mine, you see? We are together. Our dreams are linked, you cannot fight it, you have lost, you are wrong, accept it brother, join us! Don't be like father, arrogant that only one path is right, red is just as powerful as silver, this is not good and evil, the very arrogance, to declare 'the Source' as if all other power is counterfeit. My source of power is just as real. The red eyes have spoken to me since youth, taught me to embrace my fear, to seek my own strength, to hide from fathers arrogance, yes, even from yours, your blind faith in some noble greater good! This world is only us, what we seek, our power, our success, what we do. There is no great 'Source', no greater powers, only other beings that manipulate us as we allow. The one with red eyes taught me this, helped me be strong in myself, not in some misguided service to a being who uses us, demands innocent sacrifice...."

Crimthann stumbled back from the gap, barely stifling a gasp as realization dawned. The gap was near the top of a deep cavern, cleverly positioned so that it blended with the shadows, he guessed placed by Kazimir. He could not see clearly, but he had seen two figures, one bound and seated, head bowed in tired defeat, the other a robed figure, his back to them, but Crimthann recognized the voice, he had heard it for many seasons, he helped raise the boy!

Kazimir, sensing his distress, led him back the way they had come, after a time producing another vial and handing it to him, they travelled in silence, Crimthanns mind going wild, how could this be? How had they all missed it, how could one of thier own, a son of Detric, turn like this.

By the time they reached the cavern they started from, tears ran down Crimthann's face. How had he not seen?? What was he to do?? He knew the Source had brought him and Kazimir together for a purpose, but he knew not what to do now, were they two to try and free Aedan alone? His gnome friend seemed terrified to directly engage whoever these "dark ones" were, yet had done so to help him....and...how was he to tell Detric that one of his sons seemed to be serving thier ancient foe? Great Source, how would he tell Jaci!

Crimthann collapsed onto the moss pile the gnome had originally placed him on, exhausted and confused.

Pt II Chapter 6: Unexpected

Crimthann awoke with a jolt. He found himself in a cave of sorts, lit by a strange, bright lantern. His gear lay beside him, from what he could tell, all was there, including his pack and everything he had stashed away inside it. In fact, near as he could tell, what was removed had only been removed for his comfort. He scratched his head, wondering what kind of fix he had found himself in now, and how he would get out alone.

That was when he noticed he had a bandage on his head....So someone had struck him, knocked him out, bandaged the wound they caused, and made him comfortable?

"Thirsty?" Crimthann jumped, startled, normally he did the surprising.  He turned to see a smaller figure standing in what served as the entrance to this cavern.

"Pardon the frighten, thirsty?" The figure held out a flask, Crimthann decided that, given his current position, an offer of any help was welcome, and accepted it, happy to find it full of fresh water.

"I Kazimir, you?" Crimthann looked closer, his eyesight adjusting to the strange lighting. A gnome stood before him, perhaps a deep gnome, he spoke like a deep gnome, but his dress was...odd for a deep gnome, and he was alone, Crimthann could never remember finding a deep gnome willingly alone, they preferred groups, as a defence against the darkness found in deep places

"I am Crimthann"
"Nice to meet Crimthann, head ok?"
"Uh...yes, I think so, how did I get here, did you hit me? Where am I?"
"Kazimir no hit, no no, Kazimir find, Kazimir help, dark robe hit, Kazimir help, chase off dark robe, help Crimthann, enemy of dark robes"

Crimthann began to look over his new friend. This character was armed to the teeth, dressed for war. Multiple daggers everywhere, a crossbow, and not an ordinary crossbow, this was modified somehow. A belt of small round pouches was slung around the gnomes shoulders, he had no idea the purpose they served...

"Where is Kazimir from? What brings you here friend?"
"From deep, leave village, village say Kazimir trouble poke nose beyond Kazimir concern, pick fight with bad, village say surface bad not deep bad, ignore dark, dark ignore, Kazimir leave, Kazimir hunt dark"

"Kazimir, I too hunt the dark, I fear the dark robes as you call them may have a friend of mine, a half elf, have you seen anything of the sort?"

"Dark robes have three not dark robes, two not willing, one seek dark robe, not hunt, but seek"

The news stopped Crimthann thoughts cold...hunt, not seek? Who were the two unwilling, and who was...seeking?

The gnome sensed his confusion "One human lady, bound, fight much, but bound. One is elfkind, angry, much fight, fearful harm human lady. Other elfkind, hurt first elfkind deeply when see, very strange, Kazimir not sure, Crimthann see? Kazimir take, sneaky, must be sneaky, Kazimir and Crimthann not get take, Crimthann be sneaky?"

Crimthann chuckled a bit "Yes Crimth- yes, I can be sneaky, I will follow your lead my friend"

Part II Ch 5 Determination

“Aedan” Everything seemed dark, murky his mind couldn't make sense of what was happening. He struggled to focus on the voice, fading in and out, “Aedan!”
“mmm”
“Aedan, you must wake up! The time for resting is over.”
The clouds in his mind seemed to clear, and he realized he was in that all familiar clearing, laying on the ground, the familiar silver knight of his visions kneeling over him
“You must wake up Aedan, you are needed”
“How? Where am I, what has happened?”
“You are in a monastery, in Calay, you must awaken! Gabriella has been taken, you must go to her, she needs your help”
It all came flooding back, seeing the princess, watching the attack unfold, rushing to her aid, and then...blackness.
“How long have I been here?”
“To long Aedan, you must rise now, the Source has healed you, Awake!”

At that, his eyes opened, he was in a small room, dimly lit, he saw his father slumped in a chair in the corner, his head hanging in a fitful sleep
“Father” His voice cracked, and he suddenly realized he was thirsty
“My son!” Detric jumped from his chair, all tiredness gone
“I'm thirsty”
“Of course” Detric rushed to his son's side, calling for water as he did so
Crimthann rushed in with a pitcher of water, closely followed by Jaci and Isibeal, and soon behind them, Alsandiar and Caoilte.
Word spread quickly throughout the monastery, and the hall outside the room became packed with monks wanting to see this hero, son of a source touched. Rarely was there such a commotion in the monasteries, not much rattled or pulled these men from their duties and studies, but truly this was an exception, a true hero of the Source, dwelling among them?
The head monk soon appeared “Enough, cease these schoolboy antics, if you have no purpose here, leave us, you may see him soon enough!”
Without waiting to see his orders followed, he entered the room.
“I see our boy is awake, Source be praised, how are you feeling lad?”
“Where is my sword, my gear?”
Jaci placed her hand on his arm “Son, you must rest, you have been through much”
Aedan looked into his mothers eyes, and then looked around the room at his family and friends “Mother, I am sorry to put you through this, know that I love you, but I must speak with father, alone”
Jaci withdrew her hand, she recognized that stubborn look and tone, she knew that an entire brigade of elite warriors would be hard pressed to keep her son in that bed. She hugged her son, somehow managing to hold back tears “Source guide you my son, be wise”
She left, shepherding the others out with her, hoping that perhaps Detric could convince their son to remain, to rest, but knowing it wasn't to be, he was after all his fathers son, her son for that matter, determination was in his blood.
Not long after Detric and Aedan emerged, Aedan dressed for travel, with his gear and weapons. Alsandiar, Caoilte, and Crimthann stood “We travel with you lad”
“No, you must not” Aedan spoke, his voice heavy, almost sad “You must not follow me”
Jaci began to speak, but stopped as Detric embraced her “He must go his own way, the Source will guide him”
She collapsed into his arms, she wasn't sure if it was her son's tone, or the tiredness in her Detric's voice that finally broke her composure, but she knew they weren't telling her something, she could sense it, they were trying to protect her.
She felt Aedan's hand on her shoulder, then he was gone. She prayed to the Source to bring her son back to her, she already worried for one who had disappeared, would the Source take both of her sons from her? What had been spoken between father and son? Why had Detric allowed him to go off with barely any resistance?

Aedan left the city with a heavy heart, it saddened him to leave his mother, family and friends so, but the Source willed it, he must do this alone, he could endanger no one else, this was a personal quest. He headed east, towards a range of low mountains, about a days travel from the city. As he traveled, he heard rumors along the road, from a merchant here and a traveler there, of a new darkness in the hills, of folk entering them and never returning, of something unheard of in the Nortlinds in generations, fear. This only confirmed to him that this was where he must go, and as he traveled further, the road became sparser, till he was soon the only one traveling on it.
He approached the hills around dusk, and silently made camp. No fire, he mustn't attract any undue attention, if he was right about what he was headed into, his only faint hope would be surprise.
He silently prayed to the Source for protection and guidance, quickly ate a cold dinner, and fell into a light sleep
He awoke an hour or so before dawn, and quickly cleared all sign he could that anyone had camped here. After checking over his gear and weapons, ensuring all was well, he set off into the hills.

From higher into the hills a dark hooded figure watched his approach, made a quick motion, and a second figure ducked into a cave nearby

Aedan approached what appeared to be an entry into a cavern, and debated whether he should enter or go on, he saw no sign of any tracks, but that simply meant those he was hunting had skill in more than battle. Suddenly he heard a rustling behind him, and spinning about, his sword flicking into his hand, he realized he had made a foolish mistake, he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. Seven dark cloaked figures surrounded him, six with drawn bows aimed at him, the seventh with sword in hand, apparently in command “You will come with us, you are expected, do not resist” with that two more dark figures appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and disarmed him, they even knew of his hidden blade in the soul of his boot, none knew of that blade, except Artegal! Had he been captured here as well? Perhaps together they could escape and rescue Gabriella!
His captors bound his hands, shackled his feet, and placed a hood on his head, and led him off, he guessed into the cave. Source help him, why hadn't he payed more attention? To be captured so easily, like an amateur, who would now rescue the rescuer? Little did he know that wouldn't long be an issue.

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Crimthann paced the monastery courtyard. Aedan had been gone nearly 2 weeks now, no word, no message, he couldn't stand it much longer. What if he had failed, what if the boy was in trouble? He shouldn't have gone alone, Crimthann was surprised that Detric hadn't done more to convince the boy to at least allow some friends to follow. Now Detric seemed to spend all his time with the monks and clerics, constantly at prayer, and when he wasn't praying or consulting with clerics, he was either with Jaci, or consulting with the commander of the city garrison. Crimthann was uneasy. Events were building up, he could sense something was coming, all was not well in Caley, and the kidnapping of the princess, the disappearance of Artegal and now Aedan, he couldn't shake the feeling that all was tied together.
He quietly gathered his gear and departed the monastery compound, the others would simply try to make him stay, to wait, and this he couldn't stand. He was a rogue, he did not wait for events to unfold, he must go now, before he went insane with impatience.
He headed for the hills to the east, it seemed most likely to him that would be the direction of Aedan's travel, and if the rumors growing ever louder about the city were even partially true, there lay the answers to what was going on of late.

Crimthann had circled around, approaching the hill region from south of the main road, if something did lurk in these hills, surely the roads would be watched, and better to spend a few extra days than to wander into an unknown enemy unawares. No, the south was a better approach, a harder one for sure, but more likely for him to remain hidden as long as he chose.
He moved carefully through the wooded hills, slowly circling about, keeping his eyes peeled for anything untoward. He had noticed since entering the hills that it was much too quiet, the very animals seemed uneasy, something surely was in this region, why had the forces of Nortlind allowed anything to become so comfortable in their domain?
He turned as he heard movement behind him, but he was to late, and his world went black.

Part II ch 4 Jewel of the North

As they entered the city, all could not help but be in awe, yet, on edge somehow. The city walls were amazing, Aedan and Isibeal had never seen anything like it before, and even for the others, who had seen such wonders before, this city amazed them. Crimthann marveled at what before had only been stories from his old friend Conall of his birthplace and home. He had not at all exaggerated about the “Jewel of the North”. The walls were essentially a highway unto themselves, higher and thicker than anything he had ever seen before. Detric was perhaps the least impressed, having grown up as a boy in the militaristic south, fortresses were commonplace to him, in fact, he seemed more on edge than in awe, he had an innate distrust of military power from his old homelands obsession with it. Upon entering the main gate however, the true jewel of the north revealed itself to them. The entire city was clean, almost sparkling. Markets the size of cities, farther in lay large palatial districts, everything about this place seemed majestic, like a true capital city should be, more than just a military stronghold, so much more, the beauty of every single building they saw impressed even Detric.
The city was built in planned districts, cities within cities, nearest the gate was primarily marketplace, with housing here and there, most likely the abodes of merchants and such. They would explore the rest of the city later, but first, to find an inn, it wouldn't be very hard, there were inns and taverns scattered about everywhere.
They decided on one called “The Blue Stallion”, it had a nice location within the market region, and looked reputable, although everything in this place looked reputable.
They entered and arranged for a few rooms, none noticed the elderly man at the bar, though he certainly noticed them.
“The blessed child!” he exclaimed loudly “not since the days of old has prophecy moved so! Source be praised! The Blessed child!”
“Oh stop your prophecy ballyhoo old man ye''ll frighten the patrons!” the barkeep answered, then turned to Detric, “he's been in here constantly the past few weeks, claiming he's a pilgrim, drawn here to see a 'Blessed Child' of the Source or something or other about some great prophecies, pay him no mind my friend”
But Detric couldn't ignore this, perhaps the man was crazy, but Detric had seen prophets and pilgrims in many forms, what could it hurt to speak with the man?
He approached him, sending the rest of his group on their way
“Grandfather, what prophecies do you speak of?”
“Why, the ones of old, of the rising of the evil one once more, and the Blessed of the Source”
“Yes, I've heard them Grandfather, what do you know?”
“Evil will arise from an unseen direction, and bring the loyal of the Source to distraught, life shall follow death, and peace shall follow war, the fury of the innocent shall frighten the wicked, darkness shall face light, one shall flee, and one shall rule, one shall bow and one shall die, and the war to bring peace or conquest shall be upon us, the darkness before the dawn draws near”
Detric took this all in, he'd heard it before, and yet, as often as he heard it, he never could understand all of it, what was the Source intending?
He sat and talked with the old man for hours, Jaci attempted to pull him away to explore the city, but he would have none of it, he was focused, and Jaci knew that look, so she left him be.
The rest of them wandered off on their own, Jaci and Isibeal went to explore the clothing shops, such amazing garments they had! Aedan and Crimthann went to the temple district, Crimthann repeating story after story he had learned from Conall about the wonders of Caley, while Alsandiar and Caoilte went to the weapons shop to see what new things they could find.
Aedan stood in awe, occasionally listening to Crimthann rattle on about this or that, as he took in an entire city within a city dedicated entirely to worship of the Source, monastic complexes, prayer shrines of saints and clerics at every street crossing. Never before had he seen such a thing, oh shrine and temple complexes sure, but never an entire city complex devoted entirely to the Source!
Then he felt as if his very heart stopped, he saw her, the girl in his dreams!
A royal caravan, or he guessed as much, was leaving one of the temple buildings, heading for the palace district, and she was in their midst.
He began to follow, not even noticing if Crimthann came along or not.
Crimthann saw his friend seem to go into another world, and begin to trail after a group of nobles and guards headed for the palaces. What had gotten into the boy now? Crimthann ran off after him, wondering what all this meant.
As they entered the palace district, Aedan stopped, he saw movement on the rooftops, something was wrong. Suddenly from seemingly everywhere, armed, hooded men appeared. They overwhelmed the royal guards easily, and seized the girl. He didn't even stop to think, he drew his sword and ran into the fray, taken by a blind rage, driven to defend this girl he had never seen before outside his dreams.
Crimthann could not believe his eyes, first that such a group would have such audacity, in broad daylight, and then at Aedan's reaction, what had gotten into that boy? He watched in awe as first one, then two, then three, no, five hooded men fell before his blade. He had just about broken through, reached the girl, when arrow after arrow struck him! Crimthann ran to help, but it was to late, the hooded men were off over the rooftops, carrying the girl with them, leaving Aedan and the guards to die in the street, taking their fallen with them. Only Aedan had felled any of them, the guards had been entirely overtaken by surprise, this sort of thing was apparently not commonplace, and they barely unsheathed their weapons before they had all fallen. Crimthann ran to Aedan, amazed to see that he still breathed, six arrows protruding from his chest, a pool of blood forming around him.
“Aedan! Aedan, stay with me boy, your father is going to kill me for letting you get into this mess, stay with me! Don't go to the fathers!” Crimthann cradled the boys head, applying what healing skills he had learned over the years, but he had no idea what to do about six arrows, it was amazing the boy was still conscious, let alone living.
Palace and temple guards flooded the street, to late to stop what had just happened, but reacting just the same. Some began to go off in the direction Crimthann and other onlookers pointed out, while others began to seal off the street and remove their fallen. 5 royal guards had been killed in the battle, only Aedan remained clinging to life. He began to fight Crimthann and the two monks who had arrived to help him,
“let me go! I must save her! I must go!”
“Boy, you're not going anywheres for a bit, not with six holes the Source didn't create ya with!”
“amazing he lives, let alone still fights”
“Let me go! Gabriella needs me! Let me-” He passed into unconsciousness, though fight still remained in him, as Crimthann caught a swift blow when he tried to remove Aedan's sword from his grip
“By the Source, this ones tough, and how does he know the princess' name?” one of the monks asked. Crimthann shrugged, and they carried Aedan back into the temple complex and into one of the monasteries.
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Detric and the rest had been staying at the monastery now, days had passed since the incident, and temple guards were posted at the monastery gates. None knew where the men had come from, or where or why they had taken the princess. Legend had already begun to grow and spread of Aedan's action, and the five kidnappers he had felled grew in tale to dozens, the six arrows to 15, 20. The street brawl in the marketplace gossip turned into a pitched battle, the unknown half elf standing brave before hundreds of masked soldiers, and a theory of a hidden love affair explaining his bravery and knowledge of the princess.
Even among the monks and priests of the temple complex, rumors abounded, silenced none by the knowledge that the boys father was Source touched, and amongst the junior priests and monks, rumor of a new messiah were whispered here and there.
The senior clerics and monks, along with Detric and Caoilte gathered daily to discuss what was going on, and what actions the Source willed.
Detric's heart was heavy, he sensed a growing darkness gathering over this city of light, darkness before the dawn, or mere darkness, he couldn't know, the Source had grown quiet, his questions remained unanswered, only the worry for his boy remained vibrant in his mind.

Part II Ch 3 Northlands

Detric awoke with a start. His sleep of late was often troubled, but last night perhaps most troubling of all, not because of any dream or vision. No, he was troubled because he had the most restful, relaxing sleep in years. He hadn't slept like that since..... Detric shook it off, of all the things to become nervous over, a restful sleep?
He arose and walked outside, Jaci was still sleeping, that was odd, she usually was awake well before him. Oh well, let her sleep, she only slept when she needed it, no need to disturb her.
Walking outside, he glanced over at the hut belonging to his sons, then looked again. Crimthann was standing near the door, Alsandair and Anshelm on either side of him. That was odd... Crimthann never beat him up, that old halfling relished his sleep, and... Anshelm appeared deep in prayer, what was going on?
“Crimthann you old lout, wh-” He stopped short as Anshelm looked up seemed to stare into his very soul
“Your sons have gone north” The elder priest spoke, his voice quite solemn. “You and I both know what must come to pass, the prophecies of old have been set in motion”
Detric, without another word, turned and walked into the forest. Crimthann moved to follow him, but Anshelm stopped him “He must be alone with the Source for a time, do not worry, he will not leave without you”

Detric returned to the village after hours alone in the forest, he didn't know what lay ahead, but he knew what he must do. As he strode back into the center of the village, his heart was both warmed and saddened by what he saw.
Jaci, Crimthann, Alsandair, Isibeal, and Caoilte, a Warrior-Cleric, disciple of Anshelm and close friend of his sons, stood waiting for him. All but Isabeal were packed to travel, and he saw his gear packed at Jaci's feet. He walked up to the group, smiled warmly and spoke, “I see Anshelm has spoken to each of you, we travel for the Will of the Source once more”
“And Isabeal, who shall watch her?” Jaci asked him, her eyes showing that she both knew and feared his answer.
“She comes with us, the Source wills it”
“But she is a youngling, surely she would be safer with our friends here!?”
“My love, noone is safe outside the will of the Source, she travels with us, the Source will guard her” Detric feared a brewing argument, but his Jaci accepted it, she was clearly unhappy, but she knew the wisdom of his statement, and who could blame her, placing her youngling in the hands of faith?
The village clerics gathered and blessed them, and the group was off, a days journey or so behind his sons
“Perhaps if we took horses, we could catch up to them?” Alsandair spoke
“No my friend, we are not to catch them simply to follow, until the proper time”
Alsandair thought to ask what the Source had spoken to Detric, what he knew, what they were walking into, but decided, considering past events, he'd rather not know
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Aedan awoke with the dawn, as had become his habit. Two seasons had passed since he and his brother had left home to venture north, and he somehow sensed that the city he would arrive in today was his destination. He didn't need the Source to tell him his brother was gone, but he didn't understand why, Artegal had been his faithful companion, what would cause him to leave. He looked around, he saw no signs of a struggle, simply that his brother had packed up in the night, and was gone.
He felt the sudden overpowering urge to press on, he had learned from his father, and even more these last two seasons, to recognize and follow the Will of the Source, whatever the reason for his brothers disappearance, it must not slow him, The Source willed it, he must continue on.
As he packed up camp, he heard someone approaching on the road behind him, and turned to see..his father, mother, sister, and his friends Crimthann, Alsandair, and Caoilte!
Jaci ran to him and hugged him “My son, where is your brother?”
“He left during the night, I know not where or why”
All but Crimthann missed the look between Detric and Caoilte, he knew that look, and he did not like it.
“We must go on, into the city, Artegal must follow his own path now” Detric spoke, his words heavy
Aedan was glad to see his family and friends, and excited to know that this leg of his journey was nearly done, but he felt a new feeling, a heaviness he had never felt. Why was his brother gone, and where to, what had his father and Caoilte so on edge, and Crimthann, why was he suddenly so silent? Normally the jovial clown of this tight group, he had gone from overjoyed to see Aedan, to silent, suddenly on guard. Even Jasmine, his mothers normally fun loving panther, was suddenly on edge, perhaps reacting to Jaci's sudden change of demeanor. And why had Isabeal come along, his parents never brought her on long journeys, if they both went, they left her with a friend in the village, she was still a youngling! Aedan was deep in thought as they approached the city, trying to figure out what exactly he was walking into, but the Source only told him where, not why or what. He turned to ask his father, but Detric and Caoilte had dropped back and were walking a bit behind the rest of them, his father looked weary, not a travel weariness, but a sort of weary he had never seen in his father before, his steps were heavy and...
His mother wrapped her arm around him and gently pushed him onward, she knew the confusion her son was feeling, she had been in his shoes many years ago, wondering what the two clerics were discussing, and had seen enough to know that, until the proper time, it was better not knowing
In her heart, she knew that the Source had brought them here, and that evil waited to resist whatever plans the Source had for them, and for her son
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They entered the city around midday. It was a large city, Crimthann knew it immediately from Conall's old stories. “Caley, more amazing than Conall described!” he exclaimed. He had expected it, but wasn't certain until seeing the great walls, they were in the great city of the north, capital of the Nortlind empire, and birthplace of Conall.