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.

******************************************************************
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.
*********************************************************************

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
************************************************************************************************

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
******************************************************************************************

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.