By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Five
"So - where were we? Oh yes - we were going to talk about your precious master. What was his name again?" Lord Arachnid began. The man didn't want to speak - but the memories of seeing his friend being eaten alive - remembering the screams changed his mind.
"Miseorn." he muttered.
"Miseorn - Miseorn. I've never heard of him. Tell me - is there by any chance a plainswalker in the area? That would be a wizard to you normal folk." he explained.
"Just one that i know of." he replied.
"Oh - I hope you aren't going to say me. I would be very disappointed if you did." Lord Arachnid retorted sarcastically.
"Besides you." he reaffirmed.
"Perfect. Does he by any chance float around - wear light blues and white - real arrogant type?" he asked curiously. The soldier remained silent for a moment. Lord Arachnid was going to comment when he saw the sense of recognition in the man's eyes.
"That sounds familiar - interesting. You do know him." Lord Arachnid began.
"Your master - he works for this wizard?" he asked. The soldier was silent. the look in his eye was different. It was then that Lord Arachnid began to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
"Oh - don't tell me - your master is Miseorn?" he asked expectantly. The soldier didn't want to reply - but once again - the look of recognition in his eyes betrayed him. Lord Arachnid laughed a hearty laugh and almost fell over.
"That is just too perfect. And here i thought i was going to have to hunt down your pathetic master and then go after my friend the wizard. How absolutely convienent - for me that is. You have been most helpful. As promised - you will not share the fate of your friend." Lord Arachnid began. The soldier was going to speak when he saw a dark spiraling portal forming above him.
"Into the swirling mists of the abyss you go." Lord Arachnid commented with an evil smile. the paralyzed soldier screamed out as the swirling portal pulled him up. Lord Arachnid watched as the soldier vanished into the darkness. Once he was sure he was gone, he ended the enchantment.
"So - i am in the good wizard's territory." he commented. He slowly looked around the almost untouched tundra that was all around him. he then looked over at the small town.
"So much to do - so much to do. Any comments Nibbles?" he asked curiously. the spider chirped from its cozy perch in his hood. Lord Arachnid quietly laughed - his eyes churned from human to jet-black orbs. He then sighed and looked at the small town again.
"I agree my precious. Let us hurt him - as he has us." he muttered.
At that moment - back where Miseorn was within his fortress. He was looking atan enchanted map that showed where the Mist Dragon had fallen, where all of his lands were and where all of his creatures were. He was about to say something when one of his lands started to turn black.
"What madness is this?" he asked himself. he quickly hurried from the room and stood on his balcony. In the far distance he could see the smoke rising from where one of his towns was. Although it wasn't his most powerful resource - it was still a costly loss.
"So - the little spider wants to play it like that. Guard!" he called out. the door in the room behind him opened up and a single guard hurried out onto the balcony.
"The guest i was expecting has arrived. One town has already fallen and been razed. I want double the nuber of scouts patrolling the tundra. I want to know that spider wizard's every move - and every thought before he makes either. Go!" he ordered. The guard nodded and hurried away to relay the order.
"I wasn't expecting you here so fast my friend - that will be the last time - you surprise me in that fashion." he stated confidently. he turned away from the balcony to resume his intricate plans.
Back where Lord Arachnid was, the spider wizard was resting on the smoking remains of a shattered building. He could feel the power that was locked within the land slowly seeping away. Although he didn't desire destroying the land - the land he was destroying - was undesirable for his kind anyway.
"That was overly thereputic. Now - " he began as he looked around. In the distance - he saw a structure - he hadn't noticed it before as he thought it to be a mountain - but there it was - a huge towering fortress.
"If he is anywhere - he will be there. No time like the..." he began. It was then that he noticed an odd looking hill that was off in the other direction. He looked at the fortress and then the hill.
"Descions descions - what am i to do? I know that my prey is in that huge tower - but there is something - old - powerful - over there. What do you think Nibbles?" he asked curiously. The spder crawled out and then looked in the two directions. it then began to rapidly chirp.
"Whoa - slow down. You sense something familiar over there? Good enough for me. Let's check it out." he replied coolly. The two slowly made thier way towards the odd looking hills. His quest to kill the arogant mage that had attacked his innocent friends was put on hold - at least for now.
To be continued...
