| The Temalian Legacy By Richard LeBlanc Alone... Of whispered truths, that seem like lies, Of broken heart, the spirit dies... A shattered dream, a scythe scarred soul, My endless travels, Doth take their toll... Of empty eyes, and vacant stare, Where will you go? And will I care? Sect one: Prophecy Fear raced through her heart as she ran. Over her shoulder she could hear the screams of hundreds being cut down. The sky above was black with smoke and winged demons. In her arms - partially shielded from the madness that seemed to envelop all that was real was a small child. Surprisingly still sleeping in spite of the chaos. Beside her - helping to keep her and her child from harm was her husband. A strong and powerful warrior that had fought for the murdered king. But for all of his vaunted skill and prowess - even he knew that with the walls down - the gate in shattered ruins - the cause was lost. A loud explosion rocked the land. The two stopped and looked over their shoulder at the castle that both had called home for so many years. They watched as a large unholy dragon soared up from the flaming ruins and let out a shrill scream. As if to say that the war was finally over. "I must rally the forces," he said grimly. "There is nothing we can do! If we stay we will die!" the mother retorted. The husband sighed and looked at his serrated bloodstained war-sword. He looked ahead and saw a small pack of demonic beasts baring down on them. "Go - save our daughter - do as you must. I will cover your escape," he said as his blade began to glow. The mother wanted to argue the issue but she knew that it wouldn't sway him. "It wasn't supposed to be this way," she said. "I know," he replied - not taking his eyes off the charging monsters. "Now go - I will buy you as much time as I can," he stated sternly - trying not to let his emotions show. His wife sighed and quickly hurried away. As she ran he cast a quick glance in her direction and whispered a Temalian prayer. The demon horde leaped at him and was met with flashing steel! The mother and her child escaped through one of the massive holes in what was once a mighty wall. Around her peasants and terrified soldiers attempted to flee. Many were cut down by undead horrors that rose up from the ground. "I will not be stopped by your likes fiends!" the mother hissed. An aura of power pulsed around her and struck at the undead monsters and creatures that attempted to bar her path. Madly she ran - not looking at the smoking ruins that surrounded the outer wall. Trying to force back the rising sense of illness that was within her at the site of ghoul like man beasts feasting on the dead. It was then that she heard a familiar voice scream out. It was not one of terror - it was the scream of a Temalian warrior shouting his defiance to that which felled him. She stopped running for a moment and looked back. She knew that her husband - had perished. "It will not end like this. I will not let it," she muttered - tears escaping down her face. She turned her back once more and continued to run. "Just have to make it to the forest - we will be safe there," she reassured her sleeping baby. She ran faster up the hill. On the other side - the forest was a short run away. She rounded the top and came to a complete stop. Before her was a small army. All color drained from her face. They were clad in black armor that bore golden glyphs - wards against her most powerful magic. "You - I should have known. Who else save you would forge an alliance with demon host?" the mother asked calmly. One powerful looking man slowly rode out to the front and looked over at her. Slowly he removed his helmet and smiled at her. "I do what must be done - no less than you," he replied coolly. "I doubt that. How many souls did you promise them? How many sacrifices did it take to seal this unholy pact?" she asked in disgust. The man quietly laughed and looked over at his men. "I know - you - are not talking to me - of sacrifices," he retorted. "You have no idea at what you have done. You have set them free," she commented - from the corner of her eyes she saw several archers attempting to sneak up on her while she and her nemesis spoke. "I - am ensuring the survival of my people - much as yours did so long ago," he remarked. His eyes blinked. She heard the sounds of several bows releasing a deadly volley. But with a wave of her hand - the arrows soared towards their leader. Many were stunned as ten bolts impaled into his chest - but were even more stunned - when he laughed. "You didn't just deal with them," she muttered. "I became one of them. Your pathetic tricks are no match for me! You and all of your wretched line will die! Seize her!" he ordered. She glared at him. The army began to charge at her. She raced at them with a speed clearly not human. Everyone attempted to strike her down - but all attacks could not seem to connect. "Stop her! Do not let her reach the forest!" he screamed out. But he was too late - she had already passed the rear ranks and had vanished into the shadows of the night-shrouded forest. "Orders sire?" a soldier asked. "She seeks to use her powers over the wood to keep us at bay - ravage that forest tree by tree. One way or another we will force her out," he stated coldly. Deep in the forest - the mother stopped running to catch her breath. It was then that a twinge of pain got her attention. Carefully she sat down and moved a hand to her side. She then looked at it and saw a smear of blood. "Losing my touch. They actually hurt me," she commented. It was then that something sparked in her eyes. She looked over in the direction the army was in. she could feel them tearing into the forest. "They won't stop until they get me I fear," she muttered. The sleeping baby began to stir. "And I fear that if I keep you with me they will hunt you too," she added sadly. Silently she moved through the forest until she reached a stream. The shadows around her stirred. It was then that several large wolves stepped out and approached the two. She looked up at the large - surprisingly calm wolves and smiled. "They have come. I have tried my best to stop them - keep them away - but I failed. They have escaped from their dark dimension and have come for me," she began. The largest - oldest looking wolf walked over and laid down beside her. "I can not run from them - if I do - they will follow. Please - take my daughter to the village across the great mountains - the elders will be able to keep her safe - spirits willing," she began. The wolf grunted to one of the smaller - horse-sized wolves. It hurried over and laid down beside her. The mother looked at her baby for what she knew would be the last time. She kissed her on the cheek. With a wave of her hand - a magical saddle appeared on the wolf. She placed her baby on the saddle - and stepped back. The wolf got up and looked to the largest of the wolves - then to the sad - tired looking mother and then ran away. "I think it is time - we teach these demons exactly who it is that they face," she said crossly as she and the wolves slowly made their way towards where the army was. Mere moments later - the wolf and child were far from the forest. The wolf stopped and looked back at the magical forest. The wolf could hear the fight. Could hear his brothers and sisters attacking the unholy defilers. But the wolf knew that it had to go on. Just then a powerful red dragon landed before the wolf and let out a deafening roar! To be continued... |