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He hurried through the forrest, following the tracks until he caught up with them, he shimmied through the trees, following them until the oppertune momment came. He was so busy keeping an eye on the girls that he hadnt noticed the forrest getting denser and denser . Suddenly the boars halted. “I hear something” said one brownie to another. Then an arrow came whistling through the trees hitting embedding it self in the brain of one of the boar. “Run” aid the brownies scampering toward the nearest tree, leaving the two girls on the ground. Joseph raced over to them. “I'm so sorry. Said Joseph” I promise I'll never leave you like that again” he said hugging the two baddly bruised girls.

“What have we here” came a lilting voice. “ I think we might of hit the jackpot here Huono”. Human meat is very rare in these parts, these days and the girls, what pretty girls they'll fetch a fair price too”. “Aye that they will” replied Huono, The two materialised from the bushes, tall and muscular with pointed ears and dressed in fine elven garb. “Get up shouted the first elf” brandishing an elven blade. “We don't want any trouble” said Joseph. The second elf Huono, Grabbed Illouise by the hair and held a jagged knife to her throat. “Come with us or we'll spill her blood all over the forest and let the Brownies eat her remains” said Huono. “Esther looked up at Joseph then at the elves. “I think were going to have to go with them” she said in a state of panic.

The Elves lead them down a steep forest path with a sheer drop at the side with only the trees that surrounded them to break the fall of the clumsy footed. They were herded down a gravelly hill, their feet sliding beneath them and at the bottom of the hill ,a cave in the hillside. They were lead in. “Wyau” called Huono to the second elf.” Take these women and lock them up with the elvish tarts, Don't mix them up with the troll women, they haven't eaten in a day or so”. “Iawn Huono” replied Wyau and lead them away. Huono then lead Joseph down through the cave toward what appeared to be a an old mining shaft and secured him to a mining prop. “I shouldn't tug to hard on that” said Huono. “Not unless you want to be burried alive, that is”. “It'd take you down with me” retorted Joseph. “aye but you'll still be dead” said the Elf. “Your sisters too”

Darkness had fallen in the forrest “Where are they” said Huono. “They better not be messing us about”. “Calm it “said Wyau. “They're here” The trolls emerged from a rock face opposing the cave. Three in total one of very tall muscular stature and one scrawny and untoward looking, the third a rather dumpy looking thing sharpening his teeth on a rock , as they slowly moved towards the cave, the sound of there rocky joints grinding against each other reverberated through the forrest. “ you have some humans” said the larger of the three trolls. “Aye” said Huono we also have the very finest asylium ready for your testing” he said guiding the trolls into the cave.

Chapter 6

The prophecy begins

In careighnia the hordes had returned. Satune called one of his generals into the marquee. "Bring the women” he said. Issabelle was dragged into the room her eyes blackened and swollen, her hair bedraggled and her clothes ripped. "Is she with child” said Satune. "She has had a sickness for the past week Khan. Aye she's with child” Then lets commence the Ceremony the Khan declared.

We cannot find the Shah-man” said the General. "Then you do it” said the Khan. "but” said the General. The Khans face grew grave. "I'll do my best Khan. " Dearly beloved. We gather here today. Issabelle began to sob. The Khan grabbed her by the chin and held it hard you dishonor me women! "No nu na no she spluttered. "Surely you don't want to join your friend do you? "I'm sure it's just a case of pre-wedding jitters Khan, quite common.” Said the General. "Shall we continue? The Khan grunted as if in approval. "We are gathered here today to join these two love birds in the wedded bliss of pagan matrimony. The General turned to the Khan. "That's all I know.” Then skip to the I do, I do, bit then said the Khan. "Do you take this man as your law full wedded husband?

She sobbed. "Sounded like a yes to me Khan. The Khan grunted merrily. "And do you take this women as your law full wedded wife. "I do. Said Satune. Then I pronounce you man and wife. "Very good. Now my wife we shall dine on the flesh of my failed General's, come let us make merry” he boomed, smiling inanely. "What” said the General? "You may be pardoned, wouldn't do to eat the man that married us, would it now” said Satune. "No Khan. Thank you Khan” said the General. Issabelle was now huddled up in a corner expelling her last meal all over the marquis floor. "How very un lady like my dear.” Said the Khan. "come let us feast”

The shah-man now dodging the bottles been thrown out of the window of the nearby tavern, worked his way through the crowded streets of Padoria. His wrist strapped to that of the burly man in the boat. They eventually reached a fork in the road, leading to a rocky path which scaled the overlooking mountain. "un tie him” said the captain. "We'll have to go single file. Don't you try anything funny” he said turning to look at the Shah-man. Within an hour they found themselves standing outside a large cavern high up in the mountain. "Time to do your stuff shah-man” said the captain. The shah man took a pouch from about his person poured some metallic powder into a vile followed by a drop of dragon's blood he put the lid on the hissing vessel and said "come on” signaling the pirates round him.

They gradually made their way through the cave entrance, their eyes searching behind the hordes of gold and the huge stalagmites. "He's not here boys, get stuck in” shouted the captain. "NO WAIT” said the shah-man. Suddenly the mounds of gold started to tremble to create a landslide revealing a ginormous green wing, covered in hand sized, shimmering scales. The pirates backed away.

"What now” said the Captain? "We wake him up” said the shah-man. "Instruct your men to make as much noise as they can”. "Are you suicidal” said the captain. "What's up” said the shah-man "scared of a little dragon. Wake him up”. "You heard the man” shouted the captain."I hope you know what you're doing” said the captain. The pirates started banging together anything big they could find

amongst the horde. The wing started to flicker, smoke started to rise from beneath the gold, The cabin began to reverberate with a piercing screech, they raised the weapons. The beast leapt up from its golden bed. A torrent of fire staunched the cavern. "What now” said the captain? The shah-man pulled the vile from his pocket. "He needs to breath his fire on us”. he said. "Oh right. That all” said the captain. "And how we going to do that” said the captain. The shah-man picked up a stone and launched it across the cavern it landed on the Dragons brow with a resounding thud. The beast bellowed and

turned toward them, its mouth began to open. "Be ready to duck” said the shah-man. And with that threw the vile into the fiery inferno created by the angered dragon. "Duck” shouted the shah-man. The vile exploded.

The shah-man began to make a weird screeching noise. The dragon returned with his reply. The Shah-man gently crept closer to the dragon and began to comfort it, stroking its wing soothingly as it drifted into a deep coma. When the dragon was settled he carefully lifted its jaw, took the amulet from his pocket and carefully strapped it round one of the dragons back teeth. "The treasures yours” he shouted. "We could use someone like you” said the captain. The shah-man was gone.

"Esther, Illouise, Joseph come here quickly” said the duchess. Joseph now about six came running over train in hand, the girls now in their early teens where less enthusiastic. "Girls something most terrible has happened” she said sadly. "Your governess has gone missing”. "Missing” echoed Illouise. "Yes I'm sorry girls but we've had no choice but to appoint you a new governess. Asrael, Asrael you may come in now” said the duchess.

"Yes duchess” said Asrael. "Hello children I'm Asrael you new governess I'll be keeping a close eye on all of you from now on” she laughed. "Oh I just know they'll be well looked after with you Asrael” said the duchess. "Of course” said Asrael. "I'll leave you all to get acquainted” said the duchess.

The three children looked at one another, pondering where there original governess had disappeared to. Esther stepped forward "Very pleased to meet you” she said still puzzling at the strange turn of events. "Joseph began to mumble something about his now broken train. Asrael simply ignored him and took a seat by the fire and began warming her hands.

"Are you from Tzrauel? Enquired Illouise. Asrael smirked "no” she said "Carthagaras”. "Esther” said Illouise, "that's where you are from, and joseph too. "Do you know my mother” enquired Esther. "Calm yourself child I didn't exactly mix with the locals, if you know what I mean” said Asrael. "No” said Illouise puzzled.

For the first time Asrael scanned the children, her eye fixated on Illouise's right hand. She clutched it suddenly. "What's up” said Illouise. That mark, where did it come from” said Asrael. "It's a birth mark” said Illouise. Asrael quickly stared up at her eyes black as

black with a tiny ring of brown around the circumference. Suddenly Asrael's nonchalant mood seemed to change. "Well children I think we're all going to get on very well” she said, then she whispered to Illouise "especially us”. Illouise smiled Innocently.

After tucking the children up in their bed, and triple checking, and then checking again that they were asleep. Asrael snuck out of the governes's room down the hall, through the castle entrance and keeping to the shadows made her way out of the gates into the night, holding a jar, once again filled with blood, but this time the blood of the missing governess. She waited by the full moon, outside the same cave they had made their first sacrifice. "Sisters we are three” she howled as the other two made their arrival. "How fare thee sister” said Gither. "Very well” said Asreal. "What about the brats” asked Octavia? "Their safe” said Asrael. "It is the other one that interests me most”. "Ah yes the dukes little sis” said Gither. "What of her”."She has the mark” said Asrael. "Which mark” said Gither, already knowing what she meant, but wanting to be sure. "The mark of the witch” said Asrael excitedly. "No” said Octavia. "That little goody two shoes”. "Aye. I saw it today with my own eyes” said Asrael. "Then let's bring the poor lost child in on it” said Gither. "They trust her. She may be of use to us”.

The next day the children arose early, awoken by the sound of a crow squawking, "Where on earth is that coming from” said Esther to Asrael. "I don't know but I'll find out” said Esther, Storming into Illouise's room. "What on earth” Shouted Asrael? "I found it this morning” said Illouise "in the courtyard”. "And why were you in the courtyard at that ridiculous time in the morning before Esther and Joseph were even out of bed I might add”. I.I. I don't know” said Illouise I just heard a Screeching in the courtyard it sounded in pain. I wanted to help. I think it's got a broken wing”.

"Uck” said Asrael. "fetch it here, Ill ring its neck”. "Why because it'll end its pain” said Illouise, "No because it's getting on my nerves” said Asrael. "No” jumped in Esther. But the deed was done. "You witch” said Illouise. Asrael held back the resounding urge to tell the young miss how hypercritical she was and instead just smirked and walked off. "Well the evil wrott bag” said Esther. "What's happening” yawned Joseph clumsily walking into the room half asleep. "Nothing” said Esther. "Don't worry yourself” said Illouise. "Go have your Breakfast”.

Just incase anyone wonders I don't know what a pagan wedding is like so I'm going to sought that out when I edit it all also iot still needs a lot of beefing out.

The shah-man collapsed in a pile with exhaustion stared out the bars of metal that surrounded him, starved of sunlight and food , the dank surroundings and incessant wavering of the seas made him keel other to be sick. Suddenly a voice came from the staircase that lead to the deck of the ship. "arre we be making port shortly fetch the prisoner" said the voice. Suddenly a scrawny man with a patchy scar across his left cheek and a even more blotchy tattoo down the vertices of his left arm which to all appearances looked like he had done it himself, sauntered across the room jangling a bunch of keys. "I hope your going to behave yourself this time" said the pirate. The shah-man overwhelmed by sickness said nothing before he  was bundled up the stairs his hands still tied together his  feet trembling,  He arrived on  deck where men began to board a series of small vessels that where then lowered into the sea with a hiss as they hit the water. Suddenly the shah-man felt a pushing on his back and before he knew it he was head first into one of the vessels. A mighty roar of laughter broke out among the men and as he looked up beside him grinned a giant of a man of nearly seven foot with huge muscular shoulders and a ginormous machete that reminded him of his first encounter with the pirates. "Where we going" said the young shah-man. "to see are friend the dragon" was the reply.

The three withes made their way toward the gates of Tzrauel. “why are we waisting our time “ said Azrael. “Tis fifteen years before we need to perform the wanderers task”. “Maybe so but we need something to do with those fifteen years and with all this dragons blood, where better to entertain ourselves  then the great city of Tzrauel. We will find a whole manor of mischief  in these city wall . Mark my words and besides best keep an eye on the little brats” Said Gither . On passing the city gates they noticed a dilapidated old Inn with a crooked door and a raucous breaking out in front of it between a bedraggled prostitute and a burly man of about six foot two who seemed insistent that he should not pay for her rendered services. “Seems as good a place as any” said Gither. The witches hurried down a darkened alley to the side of the inn and took the tinniest sip from a vile labeled dragons blood. Suddenly the women were transformed lush golden locks replaced Octavias grey beehive she pulled out a clip at the back of her head and her long hair fell down upon her enlarged bosoms, adorning her shapely figure, her eyes seemed no longer dull and lifeless but instead filled with the exuberant twinkle of youth. She gazed down at her well shaped buttocks and yelped with glee! Asrael too fascinated with her new silhouette swished her long hair with its perfectly formed curls from side to side. “My breasts” she exclaimed. Gither too looked rather astonishing she had beautiful auburn hair that hung just above her shoulders and brought emphasis to her rosy cheeks and lush red lips her eyes were blue and mysterious, she had a slim sought of hour glass figure and had a more kind of subtle beauty to the other two girls. Which in a way made her almost more beautiful not that Asrael and Octavia could see this.  The three witches strutted into the inn and were met by a burly, unshaven man with half of his earlobe missing and a patch over his right eye. “I like this place already” joked asrael to Octavia under her breath . “SHHH” said Gither. “Are you the owner of this establishment” she said turning to the burly man. “Aye that I be” was the reply. “We will require a room with three beds”. Said Asrael butting in. “ Thar be no rooms tonight it’s the festival of  the black stone this week every room in the city will be booked.” he smirked. “ Cause thar be room in myery  large bed for three such beauties as you. The witches giggled. “You heard him sisters. Haha he wants to share his bed” said Octavia in a sinister tone. “And what would you want in return for this great service dear sir” said Gither holding her hand out to kiss. “I leave that to your pretty little imaginations” he laughed . “oh then we shall certainly be very imaginative” said Octavia with a grave laugh .

Mean while the duke, the duchess and the three children headed toward the eastern border of Meriadig.” where are we going” demanded the duchess. “we have to get to Andurin the Tsar will give us refuge there”. “Refuge from what” said the duchess. The duke looked at his wife sorrowfully. “Oh what a mess I have made of this, all I sought to do was protect him from his treachery”. “Protect who” said the duchess confused. “your speaking of Kratice aren’t you, but why I don’t understand” Kratice  was plotting to dethrone the king, I had no choice . I had no choice! Pleaded the duke.  “You killed the Kings advisor?” “I thought he would understand” “Tis treason to kill one of the kings advisors and yet you still expect him to be lenient, he knows not of Kratice’s plotting, he has no reason to think anything over then his best friend has betrayed him you fool. Said the duchess “But if I explained” said the duke. “Tish its your word against who exactly ?”asked the duchess ''everyone in the courtyard who heard me" said the duke. THe Duchess shook her head in amazement at his stupidity. "but he hates Kratice” he said . Yes but how would it look a duke kills the kings Advisor and gets away with it. Soon people would be wondering what they could just get away with. Mark my words your head will be off before your feet touch his soil you go back their friend or no friend”. said the duchess

The seas were calm that night and the shah-man pottered about the deck aimlessly before v anishing behind the mast and emerging in the form of a rat. He scurried along the deck and through a narrow gap in the captains quarters and plonked himself behind the captain. “What make thee of this Shah-man then” said the captain. “Load of mumbo jumbo to me said the first mate, I say cut his throat” “ I thought the same myself , but I cant help but think he might be some use to us yet with or without magical powers he’s a sturdy young lad and quick thinking too” Said the captain winking at his first mate. “Aye too quick thinking  lets just spill his guts” said the first mate.  “What do you think shah-man he said turning to the mouse. “I know its you” he whispered to the mouse, picking him up and dangling him over a candle  “ and if you don’t face me like a man I’m gonna burn your little whiskers off .”suddenly a great explosion of  green flame the mouse was gone and their stood the shah-man. “I think the little fairy was spying said the captain” the first mate laughed.  “Why boy I have sailed these sees for twenty five years I have encountered sea monsters the size of ten great whales, I have met a whole manor of immortal beings in my time, witches, fairies, Trolls, Goblins and yet u think I can be fooled by a simple young shah-man like you guised as a bloody mouse of all things. My first mates right I ought to slit your throat here. Fortunately for you I really like treasure. Escort him to the brig he can stay there  until we make port.

In Tzrauel the sunrise that usually brought the morning chorus with it instead brought a shrill cry from the outer wall. “Murder” shouted an alarmed cart owner. The guards rushed out. “It’s Kratice” said the chief guardsmen “Disperse the crowds and call for the duke this is beyond my jurisdiction”

The duke arrived pale faced and bedraggled by his lack of sleep. “Call the king” said the duke. “ we have much to discuss. Kratice was a traitor you all heard him in the banqueting hall. He had to be stopped”. Great gasps went up among the crowds that backed away from the duke. “For god sakes man you killed the kings advisor. May Bolvodose be lenient where you were not” came the roar of one of the Barron that had feasted in the banqueting hall the night before. “what could I do he sought to embroil me in his plot against the king. Surely the king will understand I am his oldest friend”. “  I hope so for your sake lad ” said the Barron.  

The Duke ran into his chambers calling for his duchess.

“What on earth” was the reply. “Pack your things” said the duke. “Have the servants bring us supplies. Pack only what you can carry and fill a separate bag with finery, gold anything of worth and bring the two children. What of Illouise” she said. “My sister must remain with our mother. “What’s going on” said the duchess.  “There’s no time. You servant women how would you like a fine dress such as the duchess’s”. “Very much duke but” “Then you shall swap” said the duke. “My lord” gasped the servant. “Has Esther and Joseph still the garbs they came in” “Yes” said the duchess then have the governess redress them”  “Are we being attacked” asked the duchess confusedly. “Worse” came the reply.  He hung his head out of the door “Guard Give me your clothes” “what?”. “Now!” said the duke. “The children came rushing in. “Children I’m afraid your adventures are not yet over come quickly. He held a spear to his wife’s back. Forgive me for this” he whispered. “You are my prisoners keep up the pretense”. “But” said the duchess “Oh for once do as your told women” said the duke. The Four of them made haste down the many winding staircases till they came to the battlements and where stopped. “Nothing to see here” Shouted the duke his head covered by a rather ill fitting helmet caught these three poaching the kings deer” they are to be escorted to meriadig and put in the stocks.  Come peasants” he shouted. “Meriadigs thre hundred miles away theirs non of the kings deer here. “Err yes well they were captured in Meriadig escaped and fled here  and then I caught them again. They are dangerous fugitives and must be brought to justice” said the duke “open the gates!” “ Let this moron through Burt” the duke called to the gatehouse. The gates began to open.  “You’re going to struggle to get to meriadig without even so much as a horse” said the guard laughing. “I’ll get one in the next village: said the duke. “If you wait I’ll get the chief of the guard he’ll be able to grant you one”. NO! I mean tis rude to bother him with this trifle” said the duke. “But you said they were dangerous criminals” said the guard. Aye but I’m sure It’ll be fine” said the duke shuffling his family out of the gates. “ total moron” the guard muttered to himself.

Chapter 4

After much pondering the shah-man decided that the most obvious place for the pirates to loot would be the market place. So plonking himself down on an abandoned market stall he patiently waited for his ride to Pandoria. It had not yet crossed his mind how he intended to dissuade the cut throat villainous thugs from disemboweling him or indeed slitting his for-mentioned throat. However this did not seem to phase the shah-man remotely instead his thoughts drifted aimlessly in the manor of all that are young and in love and possibly a bit deranged to the blissfull nights he had spent whispering in the former queen of careighnia’s ear. “Oh genie of the lamp if you were but here I would spend three wishes on you  alright” he chuckled “Oh the things Id have you do you naughty little genie” he said looking at the amulet he’s retrieved from the former queens dead body . Suddenly he heard  a bang at the door to the market place  then another! A battering ram he thought to himself they are here. “Think” he shouted Think If I was a pirate I would like………Aha treasure and where can I find treasure in Pandoria?……..Why the very place I am going….Yes. I may need a weapon he thought. He quickly broke the head of an abandoned broomstick and just in time as right at that minute a small man with a long grey beard, elongated eyes and a machete so big that it seemed gravitationally wrong that he should be baring this weapon stormed through the door , “ Well a pretty little fairy” he said plucking the crows feathers from the bands around the shah-mans  arms  and brandishing his weapon. “Long way from the woods my dear”. said the pirate, Swinging his machete from arm to arm in the motion of a bow. “Im curious” said the shah-man. “you seek gold?” He said”.  “Aye that we do my pretty” the point of the pirates weapon now resting on the shah-mans stomach. “you are from Pandora” said the shah-man. “”that we are” said the pirate. Then you must know there is a Hoard of gold in the dragons layer more then you could spend in a life time”. Said the shah-man. “Are  but they be a problem with that plan my pretty little maiden . In the Dragons layer their be a dragon” He said sarcastically “Now Ill give you one more question and then I’m going to spill ya pretty little intestines” “I can make the dragon sleep” said the shah-man “For as long as you need”. “And how would you do that” said the pirate downing his knife to consider. The pirate and the shah-man where now surrounded by a crowd of intrigued buccaneers. “I Know the icaro of the dragon ” “Whats that then?” enquired the pirate .“I can summon the spirit of the dragon and reduce it to sleep. That’s all you need to know” replied the shah-man . “And why would you do this for us” said the pirate. “In return I ask for safe passage to Pandoria I have business with the dragon myself?” answered the shah-man  “What sought of business” asked the pirate. “never you mind” said the shah-man. Do we have an accord? “What say thee men” the pirate bellowed. “Eye” replied the other pirates.

The three witches wandered through the burning aftermath left behind by the careighnian army, grey smoke hung about the still flaming, town hall the high wind rained ash down upon their heads and the smell of burning flesh overwhelmed the senses, a small brook that run through the middle of the village ran read with blood and horse tracks lead to the muddy hill on which the army had encamped . They searched desperately for any sign of their wandering man. “Its no good” said the portly sister. “look at all these tracks. We'll never find him ”. “Search the bodies” ordered the elder of the sisters. If he is not here then we know he is in krill its the only town in fifty miles of here”

Esther arrived at the gates of Tzarauel still cradling the infant. The baby began to cry “shhh little joseph” she said in a soft and loving voice that she had mimicked from seeing Isabelle holding him. “we have reached are new home” she said holding back tears. “these people are going to look after us now so we must be very brave and do as were told” The guard stepped off the front of the carriage and knocked at the gates, The man opened a small window in the gate and shouted”who go their”. “It is lieutenant Fendig. I have orders to deliver these children to the duchess”. The guard looked at him oddly. But raised the gate regardless. As the carriage began to move once more Esther was fascinated by the sights and sounds she beheld, she had never seen a city before to each side of the carriage where bustling market stalls, giving of the sent of exotic herbs and spices,The bright co lours of finely woven fabrics stole her gaze as they were haggled over by proud looking women in extravagant dresses. The market place was a buzz with chit chat and excitement as the carriage grew closer to the keep that towered over the busy streets, And outside the keep surrounded by armed guards stood a tall and very hansom women with a kind face and long black hair cascading down her bosom. She smiled as the carriage arrived. “This must be her” whispered Esther to baby Joseph. She grabbed the letter from the satchel her mother had given her. The crowds of people seemed to gather round the carriage and start to follow it inquisitively. The carriage stopped and the lieutenant opened the door and helped little Esther out of the carriage. Esther gulped as she strode carefully towards the duchess. “So this is are young hero ” she said softly. “I have heard much about you, both of you”. Esther looked puzzled but handed her the letter non the less. “No need” said the duchess. The duke sent a messenger ahead of you. I am so pleased to meet you children , you are very welcome here in \Tzarauel. Just then a small child ran out of the keep “Are they here. are they here” said the girl “yes Illouise” said the duchess. The child looked very like Esther in fact the child’s resemblance so mimicked that of Esther that in other circumstances you would have probably perceived them as twins. The duchess looked at the crowd surrounding them and said “come child let us not overwhelm you, there is much to talk about, but first things first we must eat. I have had my servants to lay a feast for you, you must be famished. I will show you to your new rooms and on the end of the beds there are fresh clothes and shoes. The governess has run a bath for you and when you are ready we will eat . Pass young Joseph to the wet nurse she will see to him tonight and you may see him again in the morning”. Esther smiled for the first time in three days at the thought of food and clean clothes.

Esther was lead into the keep through vast rooms, up winding stair cases,and along long torch lit corridors, finally they reached a large wooden door the doors where flung back to reveal an enormous room filled with light, a whole manor of toys and books covered the floor and a radiant, yet more humbly dressed women with glowing cheeks and a friendly smile curtseyed as the duchess entered. To the left of the room were two doors, and to the right another two doors. The duchess lead Esther through the second door to the right.”This is your room now” said the duchess. Esther scanned the room in amazement the bed was made of hand carved oak with a beautiful oak wardrobe across from it with one door open revealing a vast array of fine garments that were just her size , to the left was a rocking horse, and on the right a large window with two beautifully carved shutters framed by heavy green velvet curtains embroiled with the family crest and tied back with gold tassels and their on the bed as promised was a beautiful blood red dress with a satin bows affixed to the neckline and sleeves to the side of it was a thick red hair ribbon and laid on the floor beneath it was a pair of scarlet red slippers . “The room we have just passed through is the governesses room their you will play, learn and sometimes eat. the two rooms on the left belong to Illouise and Joseph, the first one is Illouise's room and the second will be Joseph's. Have some time to settle and when you are ready to eat have the governess bring you down to the banqueting hall”. “Thank you” said Esther. Overwhelmed by the duchess's kindness. The duchess left the room and all was quiet. “Is the duchess your mother” asked Esther to Illouise. Illouise laughed “No she said I am the dukes youngest sister, you will meet my oldest sister later. Although I warn u she's very mean to me and probably to you too”. “Why”? said Esther. “She thinks my farther replaced hers” said Illouise. Esther looked puzzled, “her farther passed away three years before our mother was betrothed to mine”. Said Illouise sensing Esther’s confusion. “come get ready” said Illouise. “Im hungry. You can sit next to me and tell me about your brave adventures. Where their dragons? I 'm going to be a dragon slayer one day” she said, waving round a wooden sword. “Just like king bolvodose” she continued. Esther laughed and picked up a toy bow. “Then I shall be your loyal sidekick and knight she said firing miniature arrows in the general direction of Joseph’s bedroom .Which they both proclaim to be the dreaded layer of the hideous beast. “SHHH'” said the wet nurse emerging from Joseph's room “You'll wake the young master. Come now your bath will be getting cold”.

“Gither” croaked Asrael the younger of the three sisters. Why are we wasting our time here he's obviously not here. Why are we not in krill every minute we waste here he gets further away from us”. “Then he is alive” said the middle sister Octavia. “Come sisters we must make haste to Krill the longer we dither here the less chance we have of finding him. Come” The three sisters made their way toward the treacherous mountain path, leading to the lush green valleys to the west, stumbling over the remains of ancient landslides and fragmented rock faces they navigated boulders and marooned trees who's long arms unfurled themselves across the wavering path and on scaling such a boulder. Gither's gaze was stolen by something strange at the side of the path a rat hole. The rat hole was covered with a green rock . Their was something odd about this rock, almost as though it had been rammed into the hole by some passerby, something seemed to call out to her from behind it and her curiosity took hold of her. She started to reach out to it. “Gither stop dawdling” shouted Asrael becoming irritated. “I am not dawdling” shouted Gither and with that pulled herself together and continued somewhat more speedily on her way.

Soon they were in the western valleys and on the road to Krill. The road was a vast corridor through the towering mountain ranges on both sides of them. Little light broke through the clouds that day and a great blackness had descended upon them. The heavens opened and a torrential down pour fell upon their heads, thunder echoing through the darkened corridor like the booming voice of some unheavenly demon . “A cave” shouted Octavia! The three sisters ran into the cave with their shawls over their heads they entered the cave ducking under a large over hang before following a narrow passage through to a large chamber filled with stalagmite and from behind these stalagmite came a warm glow as though from a small fire “Shhhh” whispered Octavia it could be goblins”. “Nonsense” said Gither. “Goblins hate the light”. “Then trolls” said Octavia. “somewhat small space for a troll don’t you think Octavia?” Said Gither sarcastically. “Then who could it be” said Octavia still whispering. Gither began to sniff and a grin widened across her face. Asrael copied. “Dragons blood” she proclaimed excitedly. “I think it is he ” Gither exclaimed.

“Lets jump him said Octavia. “Lets trick him” said Asrael. “lets sneak in and take it” said gither. Suddenly a voice boomed from within the cave .“You seek me witches” said the voice. Gither Gulped. “Errrrrrrrm”.  “ You have followed me now for many moons” said the voice. “But how” said  gither before being interrupted once again by the voice. “hahahah the trees do whisper” said the voice. “The witches looked at one another . “You seek an amulet. Said the voice. “Yes yes yes” said the witches forgetting their original mission “you know where we may find it”. “I do” said the shahman . “But for every gift bestowed a price there must be” he said in a sinister tone . “I will tell you of this amulets where about. If you but do me a small favor  in return. My love is entrapped” said the shah-man . “And you want us to free her” said Octavia. “NO not quite, two great wrongs have been done  and now but two can right these wrongs. You are eternal creatures are you not” said the shah-man . “we are “ replied the witches. “then I will give you dragon blood enough that you  comfortable for 15 years .Then on the 1^st night of the first crescent moon on the 15 year you will ride to Tzarauel. In Tzarauel you will seek the adopted children of the Duke. You will give the boy word of his mother’s survival. You will lead them to the pass that leads to Carthagaras but go no further”. Said the shah-man . “What’s at Carthagaras” enquired Octavia wondering if this was something she might want in on herself. “My love is their” said the shah-man. The witches looked disappointed.”When do we hear of the amulet” said Asrael growing impatient. “Seek me on completion of your task” said the shah-man. “I will be in this very cave.”

At Hazzleme're the armies of the king where gathered and as he rode into the valley, shivering in the cold wind, He looked up and was pleased to see his childhood companion the duke of Tzarauel, A tall and clean shaven man with hazel brown hair and uncommonly blue eyes, He had broad shoulders adorned by a plated Armour vest, that reflected what little light protruded through the dark ominous clouds, and in his chain mail clad elbows he wedged a helmet, clutching the visor with his stout fingers he rolled it down his wrist and their it hung. “My King” he said with what would have been a smirk had he not resolved himself to hold back the laughter. “Speak not of Kingship but of friendship, your loyalty has not gone unrecognized old friend. Tell me of Tzarauel. How are your sisters”. The duke laughed “They are very well my younger sister illouise was very disturbed to hear of her favorite king as she calls you to be going to war, she has instructed me to give you this favor”.he jested and with that he took out a picture encumbered with stick figurines. “Ha he said her governess tells me the one on the left is you and the one on the right is me.” he laughed. “Hahaha ah yess” The king replied I can definitely see the likeness, shes got your shaggy hair and bulbous chest down to a tea. But what is this at the side of me.” “I think that may be a dragon he laughed, but I cant be sure. I thought it may amuse you Sire” said the youth, faced duke. “And your mother is happy in her new marriage” inquired the king. “Very much so” said the duke . “And what of YOUR lovely new wife I hear she is quite the beauty”. “She is very happy as am I my king”. “Then all is well in the world” said the king. “Come let us inspect the men”. “News came this morning the Careighnians were sighted in the lower valleys surrounding Cathagaras. They have made camp their.” The king laughed. “such brave men and yet little is their bravery when confronted with a little rain, I wonder how they will fare against the armies of meridig.” “It is not your armies I fear will let us down” said the duke. “Surely you suspect not the cudorian” said the king they are a ferocious race, The Khan of cudoria has given me his word that they will fight to their deaths for the glory of Meridig and for the right to take back their own lands from the careighnian scum, and yet you doubt them”. “Sire they have already suffered defeat at the hands of the enemy. I seriously doubt they would fight to our untimely deaths let alone to their own bloody end ,they are treacherous by nature. I don’t trust them. I don’t trust them at all”.

The Careighnain having taken a more scenic route round the back of the mountain had emerged, finally on the long awaited Meridighan border and had encamped on a rocky eastward facing hill just above cathagaras. “My Khan” said the General. “What are your orders” The Khan replied “ let one of your lieutenants take a small task force of about two hundred. These are simple people they wont put up much fight. Show no mercy, let this be a message to King Bolvodose of what we do to those who betray us, burn their houses to the ground with the peasants within them. All but the women. Save the women! They shall be lined up for my inspection”said the Khan remembering the Shah-mans instructions.

A women cradled a baby in her arms lovingly her long auburn hair fell to her shoulders and her pasty and flawless complexion highlighted her pale red lips, long eyelashes adorned her eyelids and cast shadows on her rose red cheeks and as she gazed down at her beloved baby boy her dark green eyes seemed to twinkle like unrefined gemstones. She gazed up to appreciate the beautiful home provided by her doting husband, a humble shack with two small rooms and a window with shutters that overlooked the grazing horses in the valleys to the west, where her husband worked as a horse dealer and a second window overlooking the hill opposing cathagaras, also with shutters. The smell of fresh wood filled her senses and gave her a warm glow in her heart. As she sat up she heard a knock on the door it was her friend Miriam a tall and frail women of about twenty five she had dark hair and olive skin with dark brown eyes to match, and behind her legs hid a small child of about seven, it was the woman’s daughter Esther, little need be explained about the young girl only that her appearance mimicked that of her mother except for the addition of a slightly more pointed nose and black hair rather then brown. “Isabelle. Isabelle. Why do you dither here” said Miriam. Isabelle looked confused and wondered why her friend disturbed her at this ungodly hour of the morning. “Have you not been out today.”said Miriam. “NO! Miriam I have not it is not long since sun up why?”. Miriam threw back the shutters of the second window to  reveal an encampment of about one hundred thousand soldiers. “We must get the children to the paddock and inform the men in the western valley that we will be under siege by nightfall!. “But how the road is blocked” said Isabelle. “A curiously dressed man arrived in the village last night not long before the soldiers arrival and told of a narrow pass down the mountain to the west he said he will advise us of this passage and in exchange I have given him some less conspicuous apparel” said Miriam. “But who is he” said Isabelle. “More then lightly an outlaw ” said Miriam. “But beggars cant be choosers .Its our only hope. Pack food and water. Your baby is he weened?” said Miriam “He is” said Isabelle knowing what was about to come. “The men in this town are few, after last years great sickness and they will need our help. “strap him to my daughter we will load her horse with food and supplies, she is already a good rider. We will send them to hazzleme're and instruct them to notify the kings army, While we hold of the Careighnian marauders, and when the kings army arrive we will go to hazzleme're and retrieve them.” Isabelle looked worried, but began throwing food and other supplies into a bag she used as a swaddling cloth to tightly secure her baby to the little girl whom she then put over her shoulders. Then a knock on the door! It was the Shah-man. “Come. Come quickly we must make hast”.

An hour had gone passed and the women and the shah-man where now in the western valley. “A horse. A horse” cried Isabelle to her husband. Miriam at this point threw herself in front of the nearest horse and grabbed it by the reigns the horse reared up and then stomped its front hooves on the floor while letting of a terrible “neigh”. Isabelle kissed her baby and stroked his head tearfully. Then he was ripped away by a panicking Miriam who hastily loaded her little girl and the baby onto the stout horse. “Ride! Ride! As hard as you can head southward and when you are in safety and the soldiers are but a dot in the distance make your way carefully to the north till you reach hazzleme're, Tell the soldiers, They'll tell the king, be as quick as you can but take care my flower. Go. Go now! And with that the children were gone! On hearing this the men raced back to the town with the two women guiding them up the perilous road, It was a quarter past nine in the morning by the time the two women and the men of the village returned from the valleys and the other town folk where just starting to wake up. Camp fires began to spring up on the hill and Isabelle Husband feared that the careighnians would be upon them soon. Shrill cries began to echo through the valley as the people in the neighboring shacks arose to find this vast army encamped on their doorstep. The village was in chaos and the people in uproar . One of the town elders seeing how little time they had,mounted a speakers box. The villagers gathered round. “ The women are to take up bows find a safe place in the battlements and pick off as many of the incoming soldiers as possible”shouted the Man. “Half the men are to defend the walls take up swords ,pitch folks anything you can find to hold them off. The other half are to defend the gates, They will come by battering ram, Be ready for them. We only have to keep them at bay. Our king will not forsake us. Go.” With that the villagers in a crazed state busied them selves with finding make shift weapon before hurrying to their designated posts: trembling in horror. “Come Isabelle” said Miriam taking up a bow and passing it to Isabelle. “Their is little time” the two women. Hurried to the gate house, and pointed their heavy bows which they could hardly carry , let alone hold up, out of the small slits in the stone fortification. LET THEM COME” shouted Miriam.

And thus the men started to gather in their formations and after much waiting the order came “fifty RIGHT! fifty LEFT !the other hundred advance on the gates , we shall flank them.!” Before the town folk new it the hordes were upon them arrows blackened the sky and, horrid screams echoed through the mountains as the careighnians, climbed siege ladders only to be thrown off to their deaths, and those that were courageous enough to get up and try again where greeted with the scalding oil that villagers threw off the walls. One brave careighnian soldier managed to fight his way onto the walls only to be stabbed through the stomach by a burly man wielding a pitch folk. In the gatehouse the women tried arduously to support their husbands, firing randomly into the air with their bows, in the hopes that by some stroke of luck they might hit a soldier but they tried in vein. Down at the bottom of the gatehouse a huge log was been rammed into the gates. “Again! Again! Again!” was the order until the gate was smashed. The men inside the gates now started charging at the soldiers but they where ill equipped and under prepared. The soldiers carved them down like trees and then began to run up the steps to the battlements, grabbing and disarming women and men alike. The remaining male villagers were finally herded into the town meeting place screaming and squawking , the door was locked from the outside and the hall was burned to the ground. The women were thrown over horse back and carried away back to the camp.

Hi my name is Ruth I'm 26 and live in Barnsley. I'm new to the o.u and doing Arts past and present leading to English literature and creative writing. MY dream is to be a writer one day and with this in mind I've  been working on a piece of writing, which started off as g.c.s.e work and then I just got a bit carried away and it went on and on as a sought of hobby. Get to the point Ruth! Ive decided to write an episode each week in the hopes that I can get some feedback  on my work and see where I'm going wrong although I warn you my spelling and grammer is not always good. So here goes

Episode 1

Twelve long years had gone by and Satune wondered if he would ever beget a child to continue his line. Satune was fast approaching forty, a wiz-end and battle scared man, he had seen many atrocities in his life most of his own making it could be argued, but yet as the years of his loneliness seeped down into the melting pot of life, the vivid image he once had of raising, loving and being loved by a son of which he could be proud seemed to sink to the bottom of this bottomless pot, replaced by the ripples of blood and terror he'd rained upon his enemy, and the further he reached for this dream the more the waters dispersed until nothing remained of the unrequited dreams of his youth.”Call the shah-man muttered satune miserably. The shah-man entered, crows feathers protruding from the red bands around his youthful arms and clad in a gray wolf skin tunic with a red band around the waist, his eyes were almost thoroughly black with just a tiny ring of dark brown around the circumference of his enlarged pupils, an unearthly figurine of a man, tatty and unshaven with an untoward smile that promised no good, but yet Satune in his desperation sought the comfort of this mans words and hoped somehow if he searched this man hard enough that this sinister guise would fall away and in its place would reveal a golden orb of light that would cast its rays on he and his wife.”Khan “ said the shah-man playfully his mouth contorting around the puss filled abscess on his gruesome chin. “the bones” uttered satune impatiently. The Shah-man's eyes flickered and his grin widened. “very well “ replied the Shah-man “ and what do I ask them”. “Ask them when my wife will bare me a child” said Satune. The Shah-man took a brown bag from about his person shook it in his two hands while making a childlike dancing motion , faster and faster he strode the marquis floor until he was a torrent of whirling gray, spinning so fast that the red band across his wolf skin tunic became an optical illusion , a spinning disk encircling him, suddenly the band dropped to the floor and upon it was a line of blood stained bones. The man was still. “What do they say” said Satune, bubbling with enthusiasm. The Shah-man looked at him unsympathetically and said “your wife shall never bare a child”.Satune hung his head and rubbed the fingers of both hands across his brow in a frustrated motion. “But WAIT” said the Shah-man.”Their may be another but we must invoke the spirit”he screamed. A servant handed the Shah-man a rat. The Shah-man sliced the rat open spilling its intestines onto the plate he stirred them with a spoon, spat in the middle and then added a metallic powder from the same bag in which he had stored his beloved bones the powder on contact with the blood hissed and bubbled furiously, he handed Satune a Knife “your blood” he said. Satune took the knife slit a small cut in his finger and squeezed out a few droplets of blood into the mixture with that the Shah-man threw the bowl into the red inferno. All at once screaming blue flames leaped up from their resting place, merging with a now fluorescent green heart of the fire, the heat could be felt from outside the marquis and inside this green heat stick men began to dance about and tell a tale to which the Shah-man started to narrate.”A peasant girl” he began “You must take her as your bride, From the womb of thine enemy you will beget a line of male entirety. But beware the shadows of the past ”. Shadows? Said Batu. “The spirit is vague said the Shah-man. “What of my wife” said Satune. The spirit requires a sacrifice” the shah-man proclaimed, raising his arms into the air. “She must be crushed to death in the manor of a traitor, until her body exhales her soul , the soul must be caught in this vessel and given to me as payment” continued the shah-man.

Tears began to well up in the eyes of the broken Khan. “And what if I refuse”. “Then your dreams and all you posses will be plucked away from you one by one, and your lands dispersed among your enemy”. “Leave me” said Satune his head in his hands, He began to pace the marquis confused and overwhelmed by the words of this outsider, he stepped out of the marquis to seek solace in the starlight, but non could be found, The cool air served as no refreshment to his reddened face and heated temperament and the breeze only irritated him more so, He gazed up at the moon and in that moment he could of sworn that the stars mocked him with their beauty, a beauty he had only had the time to admire once before when he was a young man and he had laid beneath them with his love some twelve years before and promised to honor her and make her his Queen.

Just as the Khan started to break down he heard a raucous break out among the men. He pulled himself together and walked around the marquis to find a young boy of about fourteen standing before him in peasants attire. “Khan” he said “The Cudorian are defeated”. VICTORRYYY” shouted the Khan. “And what of the survivors” said the Khan.”They are fled khan to Meridig we believe. It is thought King Bolvodose offers refuge to them, only two remain, they were captured as they retreated towards the border” . “Traitor” shouted the khan. “King Bolvodose is a fool and shall die as such. Our army’s are to be mobilized, come sunrise we ride to the meridighan border. Bring forth the captives” three soldiers gathered round the two men and pushed them to their knees. “Lieutenant” shouted Satune “Take these men and lay them beneath the planks on which the men feast this night and when they are crushed let them feast on their flesh, and lieutenant one more order” the Khan muttered in a tortured voice “My wife” Satune choked on the words he was about to say. “My wife is to be laid with them. Inform the Shah-man of this.” the lieutenant looked at Satune sorrowfully “Yes Khan. “But lieutenant the queen, she is to be left in tact her soul belongs to the Shah-man now”. “of course Khan and will you be dining with the men ”.The Khan shook his head.