Chapter 1: Strange Light A young, white-haired boy, with blue eyes woke up in a small hut. This boy's name was Eagle, and he was a mischievous young man who was always getting into trouble. He was only 7 years old but he was very intelligent and imaginative. He was being trained to be a healer, but he found it very boring. His parents tried to keep him away from foreign books and scrolls but he always managed to get a hold of some. From what he read, he wanted to be an Auror in England. The stories of Voldemort scared quite a few people in his town, who were afraid someone else like him might rise, but they excited Eagle. Eagle decided to go on one of his usual adventures in the nearby forest, even though he got in big trouble last time. He considered the forest his home, not the small hut he slept in. As he left the hut, Eagle looked around to see if anyone else was awake. No one appeared to be, so he quickly dashed into the forest. "I don't understand why they don't want me in the forest... I haven't seen anything dangerous," Eagle said to himself. Eagle climbed a tree and started swinging from branch to branch, then Eagle spotted a flash of light. Is someone already looking for me?, Eagle thought, then starting heading towards the flash for a closer look, Wait a minute... the village is the other way... It would have passed me if someone was looking for me... but nothing did. As Eagle approached the flashing light, he noticed that it was coming from the ground, as he got closer to it, Eagle was grabbed from behind, and thought he was falling, but he was being carried by his father. "How many times do I have to tell you not to go into the forest by yourself?," Eagle's dad asked. Eagle didn't answer because he didn't want to get into any more trouble. He just let himself be carried back into the town. As soon as they got into the town, Eagle was put onto the ground. Since everyone was watching him now, Eagle couldn't leave without everyone knowing. "Now go play, I don't want to find that you are missing again," Eagle's dad told him, before entering a hut. Eagle reluctantly obeyed his father and went to look for his friend, Nightwind. She was usually near the flower gardens that were protected from the harsh weather by magic. As he looked for her, Eagle still worried about the light in the forest. He highly doubted his father cast a spell to get it there. It was still flashing while Eagle was being carried off. Eagle was very curious about what it was. After a while, Eagle just decided it must have been his imagination. As Eagle walked towards the flower gardens, he saw quite a few young boys playing with other boys. Many of the boys his age considered him strange because he tended to get along with girls a lot more then he does with other boys. Eagle just didn't understand any of the other boys his age. Before he knew it, Eagle was in the flower garden, and he saw Nightwind. Nightwind was a beautiful young girl about Eagle's age with very long black hair and green eyes. "Hi, Eagle, I thought you might come looking for me here, want to go to the lake, my dad made something that is really fun," Nightwind said very calmly. "Sure," Eagle replied, wondering what it could be. They slowly walked to the lake together. As they got to the field near the lake, Eagle saw that two rows of very large buckets lined the north end and south end of the field. Inside of them appeared to be balls made of water, but they couldn't have been, could they? As Eagle looked at the buckets, wondering, Nightwind picked up one of the balls. They looked like they were liquid, but how was Nightwind able to pick it up. "These explode on impact. They don't hurt at all and are very fun, and my dad is getting all of the other kids over here so we can have some real fun," Nightwind said smiling, then puts the 'ball' back. After a short amount of time, all the kids finally arrived, and everyone grabbed a few of the 'balls'. When someone near by blew a whistle, it became complete chaos. Everyone was just throwing at everyone else. Eagle thought he was the one getting hit the most, but there were probably other people thinking the same. After the game finally ended, everyone was completely soaked. They all had fun, and were very disappointed when it was all over, but they had to go home to dry off since it was getting late. Eagle slowly walked home, very exhausted. He couldn't wait to be dry again, since he was a little cold and still hadn't gotten used to the weather yet. As a matter of fact, it had only been a year since they moved to this very cold place. Eagle preferred the desert, but his mom wanted that to change. He would probably be forced to go swimming right when he got home. Fortunately, he was wrong. His mom paid no attention to him as he went to bed. ********** Eagle awoke in a cold sweat and the memory of the light fresh in his mind. What could have caused it?, Eagle thought to himself. After a lot of thinking Eagle finally decided to go and investigate. Everyone was asleep and it would be a while until it was dawn, so no one would have to know. Eagle quickly put on a pair of traveling clothes and quickly left the house and entered the forest. It can't be far, Eagle thought then he saw a flash. As Eagle moved closer to the light it got brighter and brighter. Then he saw something red on the ground that must have been the source of the light. As he got closer he saw all the details of the object. It appeared to be a thick wand with a dragon's head carved into it. Eagle's curiosity got the better of him and he picked the rod up, and then quickly dropped it. It had glowed crimson red when he picked it up and the glow disappeared when he dropped it. Cool, Eagle thought to himself. Eagle picked up the rod again. It glowed crimson red and the glow faded in a few seconds. Eagle waved it around a few times and a little flame lit from the mouth of the dragonhead. Eagle was completely awed by this and looked at the flame. It wasn't an ordinary flame, it was a lot redder then an ordinary flame. After a few seconds the flame went out. Eagle decided to keep the rod to himself and hid it in a hole of a tree, because it was closer to dawn then Eagle expected and he didn't want to attract too much attention. Eagle quickly ran back to the village. As Eagle arrived back at the village he noticed there was a large crowd near the tribe leader's tent. Everyone seemed a bit distressed, as if something very important was missing or someone was killed. Eagle slowly pushed through the crowd to see what was going on. Then he saw a pile of stuff on the ground and tons of stuff being thrown outside and heard a shout. "I CAN'T FIND IT!!!!!!" Eagle wondered what was very important that was missing. "SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THE DRAGON ROD!!!!!!!!!!!," the shout continued. Eagle instantly felt a chill and decided he should go get the rod he found in the forest. But what if I'm accused of stealing it... it would ruin my life, Eagle thought to himself and decided not to go back to the forest. There was a large risk involved in going back to the forest for the rod. It couldn't be too important, could it? It was probably just something the tribe leader used to make lighting a fire so much easier. Eagle relaxed, thinking it was something that everyone could live without. At this Eagle went back to his hut and relaxed for a while. ********** Major problems were occurring in the town. Many of the personal flower gardens began to die and nobody knew why. Everyone was confused about what this 'Dragon Rod' was, but they were more worried about what was causing the flowers to die. Nightwind was complaining that it was getting noticeably colder in the public flower garden, but Eagle had little time to worry about this because his mom had just told him to go to the lake with those who were going. It took 5 people to drag Eagle into the water. He tried running away at the last moment but the people around him expected this and stopped him. The water wasn't as bad as Eagle thought it would be, but it was still very cold in Eagle's opinion. Eagle was allowed to leave after about 5 minutes in the water, but as Eagle was heading home there were screams of surprise. As Eagle hurried he noticed that there was a group of people gathered around the herb garden and also didn't see the usual green of plants. As Eagle got close enough to see the garden clearly he noticed the herbs were black. That meant the herbs were dying. Eagle wondered what could have caused all the things that were going on. As Eagle went home he worried more about the rod he found. He decided he would find a better hiding spot for it tonight as soon as everyone went to bed. Eagle's conscience told him to bring it to the elder, but he didn't want to be accused of stealing it. People already knew Eagle as a thief, but he would be banished if enough people thought he stole from the elder. ********** Eagle woke up just as his parents went to bed. He quickly jumped out and checked outside to see if anyone was still awake... no one was. Eagle quickly got dressed and snuck outside and into the forest. After a few minutes he arrived in the basic area of where he hid the rod, and looked for the correct tree. When he did, he pulled the rod out of the hole. The rod felt a little colder but Eagle didn't really notice and ran deeper and deeper into the forest. After what seemed like hours of running Eagle arrived outside of the other side of the forest and near a mountain range. No one would think about looking in a cave, Eagle thought. Eagle quickly looked around for a cave and found one quite easily. After hiding the rod in the cave, Eagle ran back to the forest and back towards the village. ********** As Eagle walked back to the village he felt something wrong. He expected it to be sunrise by the time he was very close to town but the sun was nowhere in sight. Eagle became even more worried as he approached the town. Something just wasn't right. As Eagle entered the village he saw a few people awake. No one usually woke up before sunrise... but these were the people who usually woke up at first light. He noticed people slowly coming out of their tents. It definably should have been sunrise by now. A lot of people were asking each other 'what is going on?'. Nobody knew at the moment and the elder refused to speak. He knew something and everyone knew it, but what? What could be going on? The elder knows but won't say anything about it... but why?, Eagle thought. Many people were trying to convince the elder to explain what was going on, but many people knew it had something to do with the rod that the elder mentioned. Search parties began to be put together to find the rod, and the sun had still not risen. Eagle overheard what the search locations were and heard one group was going to search the caves. Eagle panicked because there were spells that could detect who had an object last. Eagle made sure no one was watching and ran strait back into the forest. Eagle was ahead of the search parties. He could move faster then them because he was alone which gave him an advantage. Nothing to slow him down, and no need to build a large camp. He knew where it was hidden anyways so that gave him more of an advantage. After Eagle was almost there he noticed a large river that wasn't there before and it was also daylight in the area. Eagle knew for sure now that the Dragon Rod caused the surroundings. The changes must have been more controlled when the elder had it. Eagle quickly made it to the cave, which was obviously warmer, grabbed the rod, and ran out of the cave. After he was a little distance out of the cave he heard a sound that sounded like the search party heading his way. Eagle quickly ran in the opposite direction but kept track of where he was running. ********** Eagle had made it to a rather large cave in an area forbidden to everyone. Eagle wondered why it was forbidden because there seemed to be nothing wrong about it. Eagle managed to figure out how to deactivate the rod's magic, which made the search parties unsure where to look now. He wondered what he was going to do. Everyone would be looking for Eagle now. ********** Eagle woke up in what was supposed to be morning but without the rod's power it wasn't. Eagle was very cold because he could not safely build a fire. He wondered where he was to go when he heard the beating of drums. It had a ritualistic sound to it that sounded like his own people's rituals but this particular one was unfamiliar to Eagle so Eagle went to see what it was. He went towards the area the sound was coming from and saw light that was obviously campfires. Eagle wondered if the people of this village could help him in some way. He heard of a group of people who left the main tribe, and wondered if this was them. As he approached the village he saw about seven figures. One sitting in a large throne-like thing, and all of the other six were beating on drums. As Eagle went closer to get a better look, someone knocked him unconscious. ********** Eagle regained consciousness, being held between two people in front of the man he saw earlier sitting on a throne. He had to be about 7 feet tall, and was shrouded in deep black robes with his hood up. What was seen of him was as white as polished bone, and had a dark smile. As soon as it was noticed that Eagle was conscious he was thrown to the ground, making Eagle feel a sharp pain in the side which held the Dragon Rod, which Eagle pulled out by a reflex action which made the tall figure look surprised. So that is why you are here, Eagle Son of Astrid... I suppose that rod was lost and you found it and feared with your reputation they would think you stole it?, a voice said in Eagle's head. Eagle nodded, and wondered why he was called Son of Astrid instead of Son of Kyle, but Eagle dismissed it as a mistake. Well I can help you... I can turn things back to normal for you without having to return the rod and also give you the power to do whatever you want when you want. How does this sound? All you have to do is give me the rod and all this will happen. Just imagine... nobody will boss you around, you'll always get what you want... and never again worry about the risk of losing your hands or worse, the voice said convincingly. Eagle hesitated for a little bit... the idea was tempting... and he could also make Nightwind happy. Eagle then gave the tall figure the rod without question, and it was quickly snatched out of his hands. Your youth makes you foolish, boy... you and your people will either swear their allegiance to me, or die a painful death. BRING THIS BOY BACK TO HIS TOWN AND GIVE THEM THE MESSAGE!!!, the figure said, this time too everyone around. Then Eagle was once again knocked unconscious. ********** When Eagle woke up the first thing he saw was his father's sorrowful face. Eagle hoped all that he saw before losing consciousness was a dream, but judging by his father's face, it wasn't. "Eagle, are you all right?," Kyle asked, his face a bit pale. "Not really... I feel sick physically and emotionally," Eagle said. "I hate to make it worse but... the town has been infected with a deadly sickness... and so has the other two nearby towns... there is only enough medicine to save 50 from each town..." Eagle gasped, knowing what this meant. He knew this was his fault because the rod kept the herbs alive... and if only 50 from each town survived... that would mean 150 people will die because of him. "Don't worry... I managed to convince the elders to keep you alive...," Eagle's father said. "What about Nightwind?," Eagle asked. "She will live too... I know you think this is your fault, but you are young and just didn't meet the correct people at first... just remember this lesson... I also hope this will break your habit of stealing..." "It will... has the elder said anything about the Dragon Rod?" "No more then he had to... he is holding something back, that much we can be certain of." "Any clue why?" "He may know how to destroy to rod, but wants it back intact." That must be why that man used deception... the way to destroy it must be simple if he wanted to trick me to make sure he got the rod... but how simple could it be to destroy a magical artifact, Eagle thought. "Enough questions... I need to help with the medicine before the sickness gets worse... keep resting... being too active may make the sickness worse," Kyle said, coughing a few times then leaving. Eagle sighed then for the first time heard the clanging of steal. Sounded like there was a mass production of something, then Eagle realized that they must be making weapons. Eagle thought for a while feeling guilty, then got an idea. It sounded so easy, but it had to be something obvious that could destroy the rod. Eagle was going to sneak out when two guards pushed him back onto the bed. Eagle sighed, laid down, then fell asleep. ********** Eagle woke up and heard funeral music then realized he no longer felt sick. He looked outside and saw 50 bodies lined up outside. Thirty-five of the living outside looked ready for battle. Eagle cried silently as he saw the bodies slowly being carried, one by one, to a large hole. As Eagle looked down he heard screams which quickly made him look up. What Eagle saw instantly made him fearful. The bodies of the dead were beginning to stand and the site was awful. They were green and had patches of flesh missing from their body. Eagle instantly knew what these creatures were from descriptions of them in books. They had become zombies; the origin of the disease must have been Necromancy. Everyone ran, even the warriors because they all knew normal weapons wouldn't work too well against undead. Eagle knew that it would have to be some of the experienced wizards that would destroy them. Eagle decided to try his hunch and quickly ran into the forest during the chaos, and as he made it there, already heard incantations being shouted. ********** After a few hours Eagle made it to the village where the Dragon Rod was carrying a bucket of water. Eagle knew it sounded too obvious, but it was his only chance. Eagle kept watching his back and made sure not to get caught and snuck around. He saw a faint glow from a building that matched the one caused by the Dragon Rod. As Eagle snuck into the building he noticed it was unguarded, which was a major surprise to Eagle. Eagle quickly ran in, hoping it wasn't a trap and dumped the water on the Rod. The water instantly evaporated and the glow dimmed for a few seconds, but it then glowed as bright as ever. This had attracted the dark figure from the night that Eagle was captured for a short time. You should not have returned, boy... Now you will die for your foolishness. I underestimated how long the herbs would last, but with this rod I can spread the sickness again. Did you really think the Dragon Rod would be so easy to destroy? It would take as much water as that on a mountaintop, and I won't let you get to one, the familiar dark voice said, waving his hand and pinning Eagle to the wall with a spell. Now you will die the slow and painful death I promised you, the dark figure said, slowly choking Eagle with the spell. I have failed... I failed to save my people from the damage I caused..., Eagle thought slowly losing consciousness. As Eagle thought he was just about to die, he realized he could breath again and saw the dark figure on the ground. He thought it would have been his dad that saved him but soon realized it was Nightwind's mom, Alexandra. "Run, Eagle!," Alexandra shouted. Eagle grabbed the rod and quickly ran out, then heard a scream and saw Alexandra's body thrown out of the tent and into a tree, but all the remained of her were bones. Eagles ran as quickly as possible, with tears in his eyes, and by now a lot of the guards were attracted and started chasing him. Eagle thought of where to go and decided to climb a nearby mountain. It was his only chance to destroy the Dragon Rod's power. ********** Eagle struggled to climb to the top of the mountain, and was being closely followed. Every once in a while a black fire ball would shoot at Eagle, and Eagle would try to throw some large rocks at them to knock them down. After a while, both Eagle and the group following him were too tired to go on so they had to rest for a while. One of the three following Eagle always kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't get out of their sight. After Eagle was ready to start climbing again, so was those following him. This went on for a couple days but when Eagle was finally at the edge of the snowline Eagle was hit in the shoulder by a fire ball. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," Eagle yelled in pain, falling to the ground and grabbing his shoulder. This gave Eagle's pursuers the chance they needed, and as they went to grab him, Eagle threw the Rod at the snowline. The snow was quickly melting and there was no time to recover the Rod, so those that were following Eagle grabbed him and teleported away. ********** Eagle woke up in a dark and damp chamber. He had to wait a while for his eyes to adjust and he looked around in horror... it was a torture chamber, and had almost any device of torture imaginable. Some of them looked exactly like they were supposed to... very painful. Eagle struggled to get up, but he was chained to a table of some kind, so he had no choice but to stay were he was. It seemed like hours before that same dark figure from the previous days entered the chamber. You have caused trouble for the last time Son of Astrid... I was planning on making your death quick, until you made me lose the power of the Dragon Rod.... now you will face the worst pain you have ever felt for defying me, the dark figure said into Eagle's mind, and went over to pick up a iron rod, and opened a small, unlit furnace near by, then he lit the furnace with a fire ball, and put the rod inside it. Eagle watched him fearfully, not able to see the exact shape of the end of the iron rod, but knew what was being planned. Eagle was expecting that to happen first when the dark figure approached him again and cast a spell on him. The figure then unchained Eagle, who quickly tried to move but couldn't. What to do, what to do... don't want to kill you right away so I think I'll start with something simple..., the figure said darkly, levitating Eagle towards a wall with shackles on it, chaining him, and getting a whip. This is one of the easiest tortures to preform... best yet, chances of someone being killed by it are low and the amount of pain is high, the figure said, sounding quite amused. Eagle had a fearful look on his face, already wishing he would just be killed. The figure unraveled the whip raised it, and hit Eagle in the leg with it, making him scream in pain. You really are weak... It takes everyone else I've tortured at least three hits for them to scream, the figure said laughing and hitting Eagle again with the whip, but in the back now. The figure continued to torture Eagle with words and hitting him with the whip for what seemed to be hours until Eagle no longer had the strength to cry out in pain. The figure left laughing, leaving Eagle hungry, thirsty, and in extreme pain. Eagle wondered if he would be rescued, or if he would go through more torture and eventually be killed. Personally he would prefer the latter so he wouldn't cause any more pain to others. Eagle silently vowed to himself that if he did survive this, he would do whatever he could to right the wrongs he has done. Almost immediatly after this vow, the figure returned, and while Eagle couldn't see his face, could tell he was enjoying himself. You know, I thought about it and figured you were probably hungry..., the figure said, a servent bringing food into the room, and setting it on a table. The figure picked up the food and water, and held the water out to Eagle, I bet you want some of this, don't you... well too bad, the figure said quickly throwing the cup of water aside, and throwing the food toward some rats. He then went to where he had placed that rod earlier, pulled it out, pinned Eagle's right arm to the ground with a spell, the palm of his hand completely vulnerable, and pressed down with the rod onto Eagle's palm, making him yell in pain very loudly. As the figure pulled the rod away, a perminant runic shape was on Eagle's palm. I bet that hurt... and I bet you don't want me to do that again... do you... well guess what... I'm going to, the figure said, raising the rod again, but it was knocked out of his hand by a dagger. Eagle's father stood in the doorway, sword in hand, who quickly charged at the figure, the figure managed to dodge, and Eagle's father accidently cut Eagle across the chest. This was the last amount of pain he could handle, therefore he fainted. ********** Eagle woke up, being carried home by his father, still remembering what was done. Eagle knew what his father did was an accident, but Eagle still felt he deserved it. Eagle thought about the last few days, deeply regretting what he did. He ended up being true to his word and even went to the village elders to learn so he could make the right choices in the future... |
| The Dragon Rod |