Black and White The Great War of Oblivion

[spellfire]

Chapter 2
A War Within

Moll spent all night coughing and throwing up.
*
Morning came and there was a knock at Kellan’s window. Kellan turned her head towards the window and saw Von standing there. She lazily rubbed her eyes and opened the window.
“I heard Kind Fallon talking to one of the town guards.” Von hurried to say, “He poisoned your sister,” he said in a worried voice.
Kellan rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, “What are you talking about?”
“I was working down at the Grey Tavern when King Fallon came in and he told one of the guards that he had Drakord Poison Molly.”
“What? No, no, no, impossible,” She ran to her sisters’ room. Molly was sleeping in a pool of her own blood. “Molly!” Kellan shook her.
She coughed blood all over Kellan’s face. “Kell…an, I don’t feel so good,” Molly forced out.
Kellan hugged Molly close. “Daddy!” she screamed.
Jonas came running, “What’s the matter?” he asked trying to catch his breath.
“Molly… she’s…” Kellan forced out, “dying.”
“Nonsense, Molly’s fine,” Jonas said walking out.
Molly threw up blood all over the floor, “Kellan,” Molly cried. Kellan hugged her tight.
“Daddy, we have to do something,” Kellan said.
“Leave her, she’s just sick, she’ll be fine,” Jonas said from down the hall.
Kellan gently laid Molly down and ran outside. “How is she?” Von asked.
Kellan began to cry, “She’s very ill, I have to find some way to help her.”
“My boss knows about a wizard,” Von said. Kellan quickly got dressed and headed out the door to the Grey Tavern.
The tavern was painted grey on the outside. Inside it was polished lumber. Across from the entrance were stairs covered with a grey carpet leading to a wooden door. To the right of the stairs was the dining area with fifteen tables. Only a few tables were full. To the right was the bar, mostly full of drunken dwarfs, Orks, Halflings, male Drow and humans.
“Von, me boy,” said a dwarf from behind the counter cleaning his musket.
“Kellan needs to speak to the wizard,” Von said in a rush.
“Ah, well no one has seen ‘em in over a century,” The dwarf said stroking his long grey beard.
“But you were talking about him the other day,” Von exclaimed.
“Ah, yes I see, but I haven’t seen ‘em in such a long time me boy. What seems to be the hurry to see thee old man anyway?”
Kellan motioned to the dwarf to lean over the counter. “King Fallon poisoned my sister,” she whispered in the dwarfs’ hairy ear.
The dwarf’s grey eyes widened. He leaped on to the bar and aimed his musket into the dining area. He showed his brown teeth in anger, unleashing the smell of ale from his encrusted mouth. “I will get you King Fallon and your little minion too!” The dwarf roared. Two men wearing chain mail got up from the table in the dining area and walked to the bar. They carefully pried the musket from the dwarf; they pick him up by his arms and gently put him on the floor in front of the bar.
“Well do you at least know anyone that can help Molly?” Kellan asked the dwarf.
The dwarf shook his head. “However, I do know something. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it might help to ease her pain,” he walked in the back room behind the bar. He came back with a bag of herbs and a mortar and pedestal made of marble. “Now grind up one ounce of herbs and mix it into her drink. Do this every day.”
Kellan hugged the dwarf. “Thank you so much, how much do I owe you?”
“Notta thing.” The dwarf smiled, “just pleased to help.”
A week quickly passed. King Fallon barged into Kellan’s home, “Where is my lovely bride to be?”
“She’s in her room getting ready,” Jonas said.
King Fallon walked down the hallway to Kellan’s room. He walked passed Molly’s room, where she was coughing and throwing up. King Fallon smiled with pleasure. He opened the door. Kellan and Von were sitting on the bed talking. “What is he doing here?” he said with an unsatisfied tone.
Kellan looked up, “Oh, by the Gods, what are you doing here?” She muttered.
King Fallon crossed his arms and cleared his throat, “Well, are you going to respond?” King Fallon said furiously.
Vons’ blue eyes grew red with fury. He firmly clutched his fists, blood dripped from his hands onto the floor, as he eyed King Fallon hatefully, “What do you want?” Von said threw his teeth.
“My love today is the day you move into your new home,” King Fallon smiling as he ignored Von. “And the day you get fitted for your wedding dress.”
“But Molly is not well. Her body wouldn’t be able to handle a drastic change,” Kellan informed.
“Nonsense, we’re moving your things out as we speak,” King Fallon said with an evil smile.
Von stepped forward; King Fallon clapped his full plate gauntlet covered hands. Two guards came rushing in, “ take this farm boy out of my site,” he commanded.
The two guards rushed passed King Fallon and grabbed Von by his arms, Kellan ran after, but King Fallon caught her before she came close to the guards.
The guards threw Von outside. He skidded in the dirt and dust filled the air, the guards stood on either side of the door making sure Von does not sneak in while the movers are walking out.
“Now, since we got rid of that pest, we can finally be alone,” King Fallon said as he sat Kellan on the bed.
“Why,” Kellan said, she put her feet on her bed and hugged her knees, “Why are you doing this?”
King Fallon looked at Kellan and grinned. He placed his helmet on the side of the bed, put his hands behind his head and laid down, “It’s because you are the most beautiful girl in the entire kingdom.”
Kellan rolled her eyes. “If you love me so much, then why are you trying to kill my sister?”
“Trying to… Kellan, I would never do such a thing,” King Fallon said acting confused as he lifted his head, “Kellan, why would you think that?”
Kellan shook her head, “Yeah, as if you’re going to going to tell me the truth,” she said under her breath.
King Fallon got up, kissed Kellan on the cheek and walked out of the room. He walked passed Molly’s room and saw her lying on the floor where her bed used to be. He chuckled softly and walked outside.
“You can’t do this,” Von said furiously as the King walked passed.
King Fallon stopped near Von, “Ah, now that’s where you’re wrong. I am the king of this land, the Nacres Kingdom, and I can do whatever I please,” he smiled evilly.
“Kellan would never merry you, and she will never fall for one of your tricks, she is too strong of mind.”
King Fallon ignored Von and walked to the wizards who were moving the furniture out of the house, “Just teleport all this junk into the mansion.”
“I will not let you lay a hand on my best friend!” Von exclaimed.
King Fallon turned around and laughed, “Kellan, your best friend?”
Von clenched his fists. He was just about to swing at King Fallon. Suddenly a helmet came flying at King Fallon, slamming into his head before falling to the ground with a clang. Von looked to where it came from. He saw Kellan standing at the doorway, glaring at King Fallon “You left this in my room,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Oh, you little b--, “King Fallon was about to finish but was interrupted.
“Mi’lord,” one of the wizards said, “We have a dilemma.”
King Fallon angrily turned towards the wizard who was walking up behind him, “Well, fix it.”
“Umm, o… Kay,” the wizard said walking away scratching his head.
Drakord ran up to King Fallon and whispered into his ear. King Fallon sighed angrily, picked up his helmet and walked off towards the tavern with Drakord closely behind.
Von rolled his eyes, “Just when I have to go to work, Well I guess I’ll see you in a few hours, Kellan,” Von sighed as he walked to the tavern.
“By the time you get off, we’ll be in the mansion,” Kellan hollered.
Von waved as he headed down the road.
“Kellan Loc! You better get your lazy a** in this house right now,” Jonas yelled from the living room.
Kellan threw her head back and sighed. “Coming, father,” She slowly walked into the house.
“Kellan, you know that I don’t like you hanging around that kid.” Jonas said angrily.
Kellan sighed ignoring what he had said and walked into Molly’s room, “Sis, are you okay?” she said, peeking her head around the corner of the door.
Molly lifted her head, “Kellan?” Her face was pale and her eyes were blood shot.
Kellan smiled and sat on the floor. She stroked her hair and kisses Molly on the forehead. “Molly, we have to leave soon,” Kellan sighed, “The people are already moving our stuff out of the house.”
Molly coughed and held her stomach, “Kellan, I don’t feel well. I think I am going to die.”
Kellan’s eyes widened. “Molly, don’t say that!” she exclaimed, then held her sister close. A tear gently slid down her.
King Fallon knocked on the wooden doorframe and stepped through the thresh hold, “The carriage is here, my love,” he said in a soft tone.
Kellan looked up and sighed, “Let’s go, Molly.”
Molly coughed and groaned, “Okay.”
King Fallon offered to help Kellan up, but she refused. She helped Molly to her feet and they then walked past the king. The carriage was waiting outside. The carriage was white with purple and gold trimming.
Just before Kellan climbed into the carriage, a man walked up with a German Sheppard, “Delivery for Kellan,”
Kellan looked over, “I am Kellan,” she said with a confused look.
The man handed her the leash and a note, and walked away.
Kellan opened the note:
‘Kellan,
I thought you would need a friend. He is only 9 months old. Take good care of him.’
Kellan smiled and patted the dog on his head. He licked her hand and wagged his tail playfully.
The carriage driver helped Molly and Kellan into the carriage, the dog jumped in after, “Where in the Gods names did you get that awful creature?” Jonas asked referring to the dog.
Kellan shrugged, “I don’t know, but dad, I don’t care what you say, I am keeping him,” she said stubbornly.
“Whatever,” Jonas sighed.
Kellan smiled and looked out the window. The carriage went off, heading down the dirt road towards the Northwest side of town.
Within fifteen minutes, the carriage was on cobblestone, making its way up the road towards the mansion.
Kellan sighed as she looked over at her sister who was sitting with her head down leaning against the side of the carriage holding her stomach.
Kellan pulled out of her bag the herbs the dwarf gave her and a flask of water that. She crushed up some of the herbs, mixed it into the flask, and handed it to Molly.
Molly took a sip and coughed, “Yuck, what is this stuff?” she said with a disgusted look on her face.
“Its stuff to make you recover,” Kellan replied. She sighed and looked at her dog who was sitting on the other side of her on the seat. “You need a name, don’t you boy,” she said scratching the dogs’ head.
Molly looked at the dog, “How about Max,” she said. Then after making sure no one was looking, she poured the rest of the drink out the window. A mansion appeared in the distance, bigger than all the other houses, all the people who were on the streets looked at the carriage and bowed as it passed through.
Jonas looked out the window and saw the citizens bowing in respect at the Kings carriage. He smiled, “Kellan, my dear, look at how the people respect you, look at how they worship the ground you walk on,” he said in a self-absorbed manner. “Just think, when you’re Queen, you can get anything and everything you desire,” he said really referring to himself.
Kellan glared at him, ‘I am not marring that son of a b***h,’ she thought as she looked out the window of the carriage.
The carriage pulled up to a mansion. Ground workers stopped what they were doing and looked to the approaching carriage.
The outside of the mansion was painted light brown. The part of the structure that housed the entry way was large and stuck out from the rest of the building. Vines crept up the side of the house, wrapping around windows, all the way up to the third story attic. Two white marble pillars held up the balcony over front door. A stone gargoyle on either side of the front door seeming like they were going to come alive and attack any intruder who dares to enter.
Kellan, Molly, her new companion and Jonas climbed out of the carriage and went into their new home. As they walked up the front steps, the gargoyles eyes seemed to follow their every move. This made Kellan feel uneasy. The oak doors opened with a squeak. They walked into the grand entrance room. Two large oak staircases connecting to each other at the top floor over a hallway lined with decorative suits of armor, greeted them as they entered.
A seamstress took Kellan by the arm as she walked in, “Time for your dress fitting,” she said. Kellan stumbled as she was pulled up the stairs and into the sewing room with a large mirror folded into three sections and a round stool in front of it. The seamstress went to the closet and pulled out a white dress with gold trimming around the collar, the angel wing sleeves, and the skirt bottom. Kellan stared wide-eyed at the gown the woman was holding, “Miss,” the woman snapped to get her attention.
Kellan shook all the thoughts out of her head, “Sorry,” she rubbed her eyes.
“Arms up,” the seamstress said, she slipped the dress over Kellan’s head, “Now turn, face the mirror,” she said.
Kellan turned around and saw the reflection of her in the dress. The seamstress pulled some pins out of her hair and pinned the back of the dress in a little bit to fit more to Kellan’s body. She went back to the closet and pulled out two white boxes. She opened the top of one of the boxes, pulled out a tiara, and placed it on Kellan’s head. She then opened the other box, pulled out a veil, and put it on Kellan as well.
“You look beautiful, big sister,” Molly said. She was standing in the doorway looking at Kellan and the seamstress. Molly coughed and she lost her balance. Kellan ran over and caught Molly just before she hit the ground.
“Guards,” Kellan yelled. Two guards came running up the stairs and into the room, “take her to her room,” she told them. They picked Molly up and took her to her room. Kellan sat down on the stool and buried her head in her hands.
”Oh, miss,” the seamstress said, “everything is going to be alright,” she patted Kellan on the back, “Don’t you fret.”
Kellan looked up at her, “It’s not that,” she said, “I just don’t want to get married,” a tear slid down her cheek.
“We all have to do things we don’t want to do, every once in a while,”
Kellan sighed and took off the dress, “I am not marrying that son of a --,” she stopped what she was saying and walked out the room and into her bedchamber that was down the hall. She opened a wooden trunk that was in front of her bed, she took out a package wrapped in brown paper and a short sword wrapped in a red silk cloth. She went to her closet and took out a messenger bag, she then walked down to the kitchen, after making sure no one was around, and she began filling the bag with meat, bread, cheese and fruits.
When Kellan walked back in her room, she saw Max laying on her bed with his head on the package. He looked up at her with sad eyes and whined, she pat is head, “It’s ok, boy,” she said calmly, “you should stay here and keep Molly company.”
He wined and licked her hand. He jumped off the bed and pushed the back of Kellan’s leg with his head, pushing her into Molly’s room.
Molly was lying on her bed, her skin pale, her breathing slow, and shallow. Kellan knelt down on the side of Molly’s bed. “Kell, is that you?” Molly asked as she gasped for breath.
“Shh, Molly, it’s okay, I’m here now,” Kellan brushed Molly’s hair out of her eyes.
Molly looked up and smiled at her sister as she took one last breath of the sweet spring air and faded off into Death’s loving embrace.
Jonas was standing in the doorway, “Kellan,” he snapped.
Kellan quickly stood up and wiped her eyes, “Yes daddy?”
Jonas walked over to her and grabbed her by the arm, “Come with me,” he said fiercely. He dragged her down the hall, threw her into her room and locked the door. He grabbed Max of the scruff of his neck, dragged him down the sitars, threw him in the cellar, and locked the door, “No one let Kellan out of her room,” he yelled to the servants on the house. He turned on his heels and walked out.
Kellan banged on her door as tears streamed down her face. Her fists got sore after a while; she sat in the corner of her room and hugged knees as she tried to calm herself down. She grabbed her music box from the dresser next to her and set it down in front of her. She wound up the key and listened to the gentle tune of the wooden box. There was a sound coming from the box that she hasn’t heard before, it sounded as if something was clanking against the gears. She opened it and found a lock pick resting against the gears. She smiled as she placed the pick in the lock on the door, excitement flow through her body when she heard the tumblers fall into place. As she snuck down stairs, she heard pawing at the cellar door. She unlocked it and Max came running out. He licked her face. She heard her dad outside in the courtyard, she closed the door and relocked it and ran back up the stair and darted back into her room with Max. She waited until nightfall before she decided to sneak out of her room. She put on the leather armor that she had laid out on her bed. It was a little big on her, but she didn’t care, as long as it padded the impact of a punch, or worse. She gathered her things in her bag, tied a leach around Max’s neck and snuck out of her room, down the stairs and out the front door.
She made her way to the town gates. She noticed Von wearing a full plate armor suit standing on one of the guard posts, “Kellan?” he asked, squinting in the darkness trying to see if that was in fact her.
“The one and only,” she said trying to crack a joke.
“What are you doing?” he asked stepping forward.
“Getting out of this town,” she said with a sorrowful look, “Molly… died so I don’t have a reason to stay anymore. What are you doing here?”
Von sighed, “I have a second job as a guard,” he looked down, “I want to go with you.”
A smile swept across her face, “Would you really do that?”
“Anything for my best friend,” he looked around, “We have to go quick before the guards come back,” he grabbed her by the wrist and ran out through the opened gates.
“There they go! Someone, after them!” yelled a guard.  

[spellfire]

CHAPTER 4
What’s With It

“Mekko Major,” Von read the sign above the gatehouse aloud. “Have you heard of it?”
“No, but it’s a town and that’s all I care about right now,” Kellan said.
“Let’s go to the tavern first, I’m starving.” He said rubbing his stomach.
As they walked into the town, they came across the tavern right away, it was near the entrance, a rather new wooden building that is three stories high and what looks like a lookout tower at the top with a canopy over it. There was a sign that hung over the door with a picture of a musket crossing over a mug of ale. With fancy letters that spelled out “The Grey Tavern/Inn.”
“That sounds kinda weird,” Von, said reading the sign.
“That’s the same name as the one in our town.” She said nudging him. “Von, wait, before we go in, we should see how much gold we have,” Kellan put her hand on his shoulder. She reached into her boot and pulled out three gold.
Von sighed, “I only have two gold,” he said reaching in his pocket.
They walked into the tavern. The pungent smell of cedar, sweat and ale assaulted their noses. There was beautiful archway that separated the dining area that was directly across from the bar. Tables were set up in lines in the dining area. Next to the bar were stares that led to the upper floors of the Inn.
“Welcome to ye grey tavern,” a dwarven man said from behind the bar, “What can I do for ye?”
“We need a room,” Von said.
“Alright, that’ll be two gold pieces.”The dwarf said scratching his long grey beard.
“And what about food, we only have three gold pieces left.” Kellan added.
“I’d say three square meals each,” the dwarf said. “Why do ye folks have so little, if ye don’t mind me askin’.”
“I’d rather not talk about it,” Kellan said, she then walked away.
“We’ll be back,” Von said putting the gold on the table and went after Kellan. “Kellan, wait,”
“I want to find out about this amulet,” She said. She walked up to a random towns person, “Excuse me, where is the nearest magic shop.”
“Magic is very rare, but you have come across a town that has one of the best, besides Voltia.” The man claimed. “It’s right over there.” He said pointing to what looked like a rundown shack.
“Thanks a lot,” she said, she walked towards the magic shop. She tried to open the door, but it was locked.
“It’s locked,” the amulet said
“Oh, thank you captain obvious,” she said sarcastically. “I would have never guessed.”
Von knocked on the door.
“Just a minute, I am coming,” Said a man through the door. There was a sound of several locks unlocking from behind the door. It then opened, “Welcome to my magic shop,” said an older looking man wearing a white robe with a brown belt around his waist.
“Can you tell me anything about this amulet?” Kellan asked pointing at it.
The man walked over to her and lifted it high enough so he can see it, but could not get it off her. “It seems to have magical properties,” he said.
“We know that, it talks to us and it heals,” Kellan said frustrated with the man.
“It seems to have other abilities too,”
“Really, like what?” Von said excitedly.
“I am not quite sure,” he said putting it down gently.
“Can you offer us a job?” Von asked jumping in on the conversation.
“Well, I guess I can give you something to do, there’s a scroll I need, a magic scroll, it’s rather rare, and very powerful,” he said scratching his beard.
“And what is that?” Von asked.
“Time Stop,” he replied. “Get it to me and you will have your reword,” he reached for the pouch on his belt. “Here are four Voltian Coins,” he handed it to Von. He opened it up and there were three platinum pieces with a crown engraved and adamantine black and on the other side of the coin was a black adamantine and white gold castle. “Now, so you don’t betray me,” he put his hand on the back of Von’s neck. He felt a quick, sharp pain, and jerked back, a tattoo of a snake appeared on his neck.
“What did you do to him?” Kellan asked ferociously.
The man looked at her and smiled. “Just an agreement, if any of you betray me, you both die,” he then disappeared.
“Well, let’s start looking,” Von said impatiently, he walked out the door and into the empty dirt covered street of the town. He scratched his head, “Is there even a scroll shop in this area?”
Kellan shrugged as she followed him. “Why don’t we go back to the tavern, I am so hungry.”
“Me too,” Von said in agreement. Max barked and wagged his tail, seeming to agree with what Von said. The three of them walked back to the tavern, with Max following closely behind.
“What can I do for ye,” the dwarven bartender asked excited that they came back.
“Whatever they have, I’ll cover,” a clocked man said walking over to the bar from the dining area. He sat down a bag of that sounded like many gold pieces on the counter. The dwarf took the bag and set it under the counter.
“Thank you,” Von said bowing his head. The man nodded and walked back into the dining area.
“What was in the bag?” Kellan asked.
“Voltian Coin, Milady,” the dwarf replied happily. “Now, how can I help you?”
“Can you take care of my dog?” Kellan asked.
“Sure thing,” he replied.
“Can we even get room service?” Von asked.
“Yep, here is you key, please enjoy your stay,” he said handing Von the room key.
“Miss Loc, your dog will be safe with me,” the dwarf added.
Kellan smiled and followed Von up to their room. As Von opened the door, Kellan ran in, brushing passed Von. She leaped in the air and landed face first on a bed. “Ah, nice comfy bed,” she said with her face in the pillow. She then fell asleep.
Von put their stuff in the room, he took off his armor and placed it on the bed, “Hey, Kell, I am going to go looking around the town, do you want to come?” Von asked, but there was no reply, “Huh, she must be asleep already,” he shrugged and walked out.
As he walked by the bar, the dwarf stopped him, “Where ye headdin’ to?” he asked.
“Just into the town,” Von replied.
The dwarf put his musket on the counter top and leaned over it. “Then ye’d need money,”
“Well, maybe, but –“Von started to say.
“Then ye’d be needin’ this,” he interjected, pulling out the bag of coins the clocked man gave him.
“Thanks,” Von said with a rather large grin on his face. He took the bag and walked out into the town.
The town was bigger than he thought, there were outdoor markets set up along the main roads with people gathered around them. The venders were selling cloths, fabric, food, fresh meat, fish, and jewelry of all sorts. There were more, but the streets were too crowded to see them all. To Von’s surprise, he passed by a vender selling magic items.
The man looked at Von with intent, “Well, well, I see I have a costumer who knows what he’s after.”
“What’s it to ya?” Von asked crossing his arms and looking at the man.
“I just want another satisfied costumer,” he said with a smile, he waved his arms over his inventory. “Take a look at my scrolls, there is nothing I do not have.”
“All right,” Von said with skepticism, “I need Time Stop.”
The man smile widened. He reached for a scroll in a glass display case, he took out a key from his sleeve and turned the placed it in the lock of the case. “This scroll will run you 4,000 gold pieces,”
Von sighed and pulled out the bag the man from the magic shop had given him and dumped it on the table, “This is all I have,” Von, said looking at the coins with disappointment.
“Hey, there, that’s just enough for the scroll,” the man took the coins and placed them in his pocket and handed Von the scroll. “These here coins are worth far more than your gold,” he said informing Von of their value. “Their worth 1,000 of this here gold piece,” he said holding up a gold piece.“
“Seriously?” Von asked amazed of its value.
“It’s the truth,” the man said raising his right hand.
Von attached the scroll case to his belt, he thanked the man for doing business with him and he continued his way thought the market and ended up in a dark part where hardly any people were. There were rough looking people running the stands here, ‘This must be the Black Market,’ he thought to himself. ‘Hey, I wonder if Kellan would like a new thieves’ kit.’ He sighed ‘I wonder if I even have enough gold,’ he untied the pouch that the bartender had given him and opened it, inside he found the bag was full of Voltian coins. “By the Gods!” he said aloud. He tied the pouch to his belt and continued his search. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a burly man tending a beat-up stand. He cautiously approached.
The man behind the stand grinned, showing his yellow, misshapen teeth. “What can I help you with my good sir?” he asked in a rough voice.
“I need a thieves kit,” he paused for a brief moment, “And a climbers kit if you got it,”
The scruffy looking man reached under the counter and pulled out two cases, “That’ll be 500 gold,”
Von handed the man a Voltian coin.
“In that case,” the man went into a door behind his stand and came out with a wrapped box, “Have a nice day,” the man said handing the stuff to Von.
Von nodded and walked back to the magic shop.
“Ah, I see you have returned,” the magic shop owner said poking his head up from behind a pile of books, “Where is your friend?”
“Here,” Von said untying the scroll case from his belt and throwing it to the man.
The old mage cough the case, “Very good,” he said inspecting the scroll, “Now for your reword.”
“No need,” Von said
“Alright, if you insist,” he said in amazement. “Get back to your friend, she is not safe alone.”
Von nodded, “I’m on my way to her now,” he then walked to the tavern. He walked up to his room in the Inn; he unlocked the door and walked in, locking it behind him. He saw Kellan still asleep in her bed. He smiled and walked into the bathroom. He pulled a rope that was hanging from above the iron tub and water came out of the nozzle and poured into the tub. As he took off his shirt a clocked man came up behind Von and grabbed him, holding a dagger up to his throat.
“Where is the amulet,” he said in a deep voice.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Von said Pratley chocking.
“Von, is everything alright in there?” Kellan asked, awoke from the commotion is the bathroom.
“If I find that you are lying, I shall kill you and your friend,” he said then disappeared.
Von finished his bath, he got dressed and walked into the room and flopped down on the bed.
“What happened in there?” Kellan asked.
“Nothing, I was just talking to myself,” Von replied.
“Okay, well I ‘am going to take a bath,” she said as she walked into the bathroom, she didn’t close the door all the way when she went in. She got into the tub and sighed, the amulet turned pink. “Are you some kind of mood amulet, or something?” she asked the amulet sarcastically.
“Don’t ruin my mood,” it replied in a harsh tone. Kellan giggled and continued her bath.
“Kellan, I almost forgot,” Von said to her from behind the door, “I got something for you when I was out.” He said putting the two cases and the thing wrapped up on her bed.
Kellan got out of the tub and got dressed. “What did you get me?” she asked.
When Kellan walked in the room, Von lead her to her bed, covering her eyes, “For getting us away from those guards,” he uncovered her eyes.
“Oh, Von,” she said in amazement looking at the three things on her bed. She opened up the two cases. Her smile grew wider when she saw the thieves’ kit. She placed the two items in her bag. She then unwrapped the last item. It was beautiful dark brown studded leather armor. As she unfolded it, a small item wrapped in silk and a vial labeled “acid” fell to the floor. She then began to unwrap the other item, it was a dagger trimmed in gold, and the hilt was covered with diamonds and rubies she put the acid in a safe place in her bag. She jumped up and hugged Von, making him lose his balance, “Thank you so very much.”
Von hugged her back, “I am going to go to bed, it’s getting late,” he said walking to his bed and laying down.
“That’s a good idea,” she said lying down on her bed too. She put her hands under the pillow and felt something there, she pulled it out, it was parchment rolled up into a scroll, she unrolled it, “Its blank,” she exclaimed.
“Hold it up to the candle on the dresser,” the amulet said
She walked over to the dresser and held it up to the candle, symbol appeared on the parchment, “Dragon script?” she whispered.
“What you can’t read it?” the amulet said surprised.
“I learned about it in school, but I was never taught,” she replied.
“Kellan, you should get some sleep,” the amulet said.
“Yeah,” she replied. She crawled into bed and went to sleep.
*
Later that night, Kellan had been awaken by a strange noise in their room. She sat up and looked around, but saw nothing. She reached over to get her dagger out of her bag. When she looked up, she was a man dressed in a black outfit. She tried to scream, but the man covered her mouth and pinned her down. The man lifted up his knife and stabbed down into the mattress next to her. Kellan used all her might and flipped the man over and pinned him down, she tried to stab him with her dagger, but he blocked it with his, leaving him venerable. She then hit him with her left hand; she then stood up and kicked him. She yelled to Von, but he was fast asleep. The man charged at her, she kicked him as hard as she could, he skidded back landing on the bed. He lunged at her again, she dodged, but barley, he nicked her in the arm with the tip of his blade. Kellan stepped back and pounced on him, knocking him down.
A man came running down the hall and knocked on the door, “is everything alright in there?” he yelled.
The attacker jumped out the window.
Kellan stood up and answered the door.
“Is everything alright, I heard lots of noised,” the man said.
“No,” Kellan exclaimed, “I just got attacked!”
“I’ll send help,” the man said, he ran off down the hall.
As Kellan closed the door, Von walked up behind her after he saw the stab marks in Kellan’s bed, “Are you ok?” Von asked looking her over, he noticed the gash in her arm and reached over to stop the bleeding.
“I am okay,” she said pulling away from him.
“Kel, you look really tired, you should go back to sleep,” Von said. He looked back to her bed, “Sleep in my bed,” Von said smiling at her.
Kellan nodded and sighed. She lied down in Von’s bed and soon fell asleep.
*
“Kellan, wake up,” Von said shaking her to wake her up.
“Do you ever sleep?” Kellan asked still half asleep. She squinted to shade her eyes from the sun glairing into the window.
“When protecting you, never,” he said pulling her out of bed.
“It’s not safe here,” the amulet said.
Von nodded “Stay here while I get the horses,” he ran off to the stables.
“Umm, mister amulet, thingy, do you think its safe enough to get something to eat?” Kellan asked holding her stomach as it growled loudly.
“Just be quick about it.”
She walked down to the tavern and sat at one of the back tables. There were only four others in the tavern at the time, the same four who were sitting there the day before, two men in black cloaks and two in white. The bar wench took her order and brought her the food she had ordered. She then noticed that the man who had given her and Von the bag of coins was sitting at the table. She finished eating and walked over to his table. “I just wanted to thank you for the coins,” she said pulling up a chair and sitting at the head of the table.
“I see you have my amulet,” he said avoiding what she had said.
“Your amulet!?” she said surprised. “How do I get it off?” she asked.
“It do I get it off?” she asked.
“It will come off when it wants to,” he said picking up his goblet and taking a sip of the red liquid.
“There was a person who attacked me last night, do you think he was after the amulet?” she asked him.
“You’re not safe here,” the man said evading her question. “Leave immediately.”
“Yes, I know,” she said standing up out of her seat. She walked back up to her room. Guards were standing on either side of the door when she arrived. She smiled at them as she walked in. She packed their stuff and sat on the bed waiting for Von to come back.
A war cry came from outside the door.
“Who—what are you?” said one of the guards from outside the room. A scream of pain came from the man as he fell to the ground with a thud.
“You got to get out of here,” the amulet said.
Kellan slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and put Von’s backpack on. The door handle started to jiggle. She ran up to it and relocked it. She then ran to the bathroom and locked the door.
“Look beside the tub, there is a hatch,” the amulet informed. “It leads to the sewers.”
She moved the tile on the ground next to the tub, jumped down, and slid into the sewers. She walked through the greenish water until she saw a light shining down through the sewer cover from above. She climbed the latter, pushed the cap aside, and climbed through. She found herself at the edge of town, by the city gate.
“Wait here,” the amulet, said,” Von will be here soon.”
*
In town, Von walked to the stables, “I need two horses,” he said as he walked in.
“That’ll be 1,000 gold,” the stable owner said lifting his head from a book. Von handed him a Voltian coin, the man took it and motioned for Von to follow him out back to where the horses were. He went in the stable, came out with two paint horses already settled, and ready to ride. Von smiled at the man, took the horses by their reigns, led them to the tavern, and tied them up to the hitching post outside.
“The girl already left,” the innkeeper said, still cleaning his musket.
Von ignored him and went up anyway. As he walked up the stairs to the room, he noticed two guards lying dead on the ground by his door. He kicked the bodies out of the way and walked in. all their stuff was gone; he then noticed that the bathroom door was broken down. He walked in and saw a tile that had been removed from its pace, ‘I hope she had escaped,’ he thought. He walked back down to the tavern.
“She is waiting for you at the west end of town,” the dwarf said when he spotted Von. He walked to the back room and came out with Max, “He’s such a good dog,” he said giving him a bone. He handed the leach to Von as he lifted up a segment of the bar counter to let the dog through.
Von walked out of the tavern, he untied the horses and walked to the west end of town. When Max saw Kellan, he ran to her, he jumped up in her arms and licked her face.
“Come on, Kellan, get on the horse and let’s get out of here,” Von eagerly said.
She climbed up on one of the horses and they rode off, with Max following behind.  

[spellfire]

Chapter 7
A Miracle not Destined to be

Kellan was awoken by a warm gentle breeze. Her eyes fluttered open. She quickly sat up and looked around at the new unfamiliar surroundings.
She found herself in a clean white painted room. The sheets that covered her were white. The bed had four posts that were also white. The smell of salty sea air filled the room. The wind blew up white drapes from the window. There was a sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Kellan hung her feet off the side of the bed and rubbed her eyes. She stood up and realized she was wearing a long white silk nightgown. She noticed a wooden dresser in the far corner of the room with her cloths neatly folded on top and her weapons lying next to them.
She walked to the window, below was something she had never seen before, the ocean, it was almost as blue as the sky, the reflection of the clouds about gave the water almost a crystal like look. Waves crashed against the shore of white sand, leaving behind white foam and taking with it small shells. Kellan closed her eyes as took a deep soothing breath and smiled. “Eden,” she said realizing that he wasn’t there.
She put on her leather suit and walked out the door. She was taken by surprise by the site of a garden across from her room. There were flowers of all kinds and all colors, some rare and some that are not. A gazebo sat in the middle of the garden. Sunlight shone on the beautiful scene, butterflies fluttered about from flower to flower, tasting the sweet nectar that each blossom had to offer. Pillars separated the two crescent shaped buildings brought together by doors on either side, from the garden in the center.
Kellan heard footsteps behind her and felt arms wrap around her waist. She then felt someone kissing the top of her head. She turned her head and noticed it was Eden. She smiled and stood on her tippy toes to reach his lips. She only came up to his shoulders. He looked down at her and smiled. His ice blue eyes shimmered in the golden light from the gardens’ sun.
*
Metal clanking against metal interrupted von’s sleep. As he opened his eyes, he found himself in a white painted room. He sat up, ‘This has to be a dream,’ he thought to himself as he rubbed his eyes. He blinked and looked around again. He found that nothing has changed except for the sound he heard before. It was louder and sounded more like a duel. He walked to the window. He saw two men who looked like warriors training. They were outside in a grassy area, all around them were training equipment, targets, dummies were scattered all over the place. They were both wearing white robes, one had a yellow belt and the other had a red belt.
He noticed his armor was laying on a wooden dressed in a corner of the room. He put on his armor and walked out the door. He then saw the garden. The site of it made him forget about his troubles. He walked closer he felt a calming sensation. He took a deep breath and stepped into the garden. The sun felt warm on his exposed skin. He lay down in the flowers. The sky was golden, the clouds were had a highlight of pink.
*
Kellan took Eden’s hand and lead him into the garden, they were not aware of Von. Kellan tripped over him, taking Eden down with her.
Eden busted out laughing. He stood up and helped Kellan to her feet. He then walked over to Von and held out his hand to help him up as well, “Are you alright?” Eden asked.
“Yeah, I am fine,” Von said angrily, he say up and crossed his arms.
Eden sighed and walked back to Kellan. He hugged her tight and kissed her gently.
Von grunted at the site of them kissing. Von looked away and saw a grim reaper walk thought the door that separated the two sides of the building. He did not come out the other side.
Kellan sighed, “I want to get out of here,” she said looking around, wondering how they could get out.
“Maybe we can get out through one of those doors”, Von said pointing to the grey door the grim reaper walked through.
Kellan walked to the grey door where Von had pointed. She put her hand on the knob.
“Knock first,” Eden said jokingly.
She turned the knob and pulled open the door. Blinding white light shined through the door, she fell to the ground in shock. The door shut on its own.
When she opened her eyes, she noticed a grim reaper in a white robe on the other side. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head. When she stood up, the door opened and the grim reaper that Von had seen stepped through.
“Is this the way out,” Kellan asked.
“Through this door and the one in the other side,” the reaper said in a ghostly voice.
Kellan bowed her head, “Thank you,”
Eden opened the door and waited for Kellan and Von to walk through. Kellan smiled at Eden and walked through the door, followed by Von who ignored Eden’s existence as he stepped through.