CHRONICLES OF SILVERCREST “Quest for the heart of the mountain”

THE FIRST FOUR CHAPTERS for my fans!




Chapter One

The morning brought with it a whole new set of problems for Mary Ann. What was
she going to do with the children? She had decided to go for a walk in the woods to think things through. She did her best thinking when she was out amongst the critters and trees. She found early on in life that she could draw from the energy of nature, and that cleared her thoughts. She had a routine that she stuck to rigorously. Every tree that she passed, she would touch. By doing so, the trees would release her thoughts, and replace them with clarity.

Without realizing it, she had wondered into the outskirts of Heavensfist, a small tribal territory of Centaurs. She knew this place was here, but they don’t really deal with the human population. Before she knew what was going on, she heard hoof steps all around her, she looked up and saw that four Centaurs had her surrounded with bows aimed at her. “Why have you trespassed in our territory?” One of the Centaurs asked.
“It was accident, replied Mary Ann.”
“W,W, Well I was just out f, f, for a walk to think about m, m, my problems, and I g, g, guess I just w, w, wondered to far is a, a, all, said Mary Ann.”
“Sergeant, I think that she is a spy for that bastard Bracus, we should kill her now!” Said Tamor.
“S, s, sir, I do n, n not know who this B, B, Bracus is, Replied Mary Ann.”
“Sergeant, she’s lying, listen to the way she talks. She pretends to be scared, said Wilvis.”
“I am N, n, no spy, Lieutenant Dalys can tell you that, answered Mary Ann?
“Sergeant, drop your bows, or you will die right here, right now, ordered D’an!”
“D’an, is that you, asked Brodarr?”
“It is! Lower your bow my old friend, and do not harm this girl. You should know that she is a guest of Sirus Galanodel. If you harm her, he will not be very happy, and neither will Lieutenant Dalys,stated D’an.”
D’an and his band of rangers stepped out into the open so that Sergeant Brodarr could see them.
“What brings you here these days D’an, asked Brodarr?”
“We had to come warn you that there are four trolls headed your way. We are not sure if they are alone, or if they lead an assault force, said D’an.”
“They have not ventured into out territory for many years, why now, asked Tamor?”
The best I can figure is that Sarasem has sent them in. Apparently, he has been possessed by the spirit of dead King Dench, and is planning to destroy Silvercrest for the murder of Dench, replied D’an.”
“Exactly what direction are they coming from, asked Wilvis?”
Southeast, they are about six miles away, answered Jonus.”
“D’an, I will take Mary Ann back to Maple Glen, where she will be safe, said Rubin.”
That is fine. Tell Sirus what is happening, and to be prepared, replied D’an.
“The rest of us better take cover behind the trees, and wait, replied Sgt. Brodarr.”
Mary Ann climbed up on Rubin’s horse and they headed back towards Maple Glen. The four Centaurs and D’an’s men spread out and took up positions to wait. D’an and his men chose their steps carefully, as they knew this area was heavily trapped.


Meanwhile, the Federated Army was down on the Southeast road on their way to Jar Mountain, to assist the villagers still in the area.

Without warning, seven very large and portly giant looking creatures appeared. They were wearing shabby rags and fur. Each was carrying a Morningstar in one of their three hands, slobber dripping from their mouths, curved tusks growing from their lower jaws. They had tiny beady eyes, lopsided ears, one to large and the other way to small. The smell of these creatures was overwhelming to say the least. It was all the soldiers could do to keep from wrenching up their breakfast. The hideous charged the two by two columns and started swinging wildly, as in a heated frenzy.

The soldiers split up into groups of seven and surrounded each of the large beasts. Each one stood about 10 feet tall and weighed at least 1000 pounds. Three soldiers stood back and shot carefully placed arrows in the beasts. While the other four took turns running in and cutting the beasts with their long swords. The stick and run tactic seemed to be working fine, they had cut the beast about six times, and blood was running at a fast pace and pooling at their feet.

After a fourth arrow stuck in one of the beasts, he turned and concentrated on the soldier who had shot him. Out of nowhere, he charged the archer and seized him with both of his free hands, held he tightly and swung his Morningstar from left to right with his third hand, and took the soldiers hand clean off. The head flew about five feet, hit a tree, and stuck in the branches.
The beast held the body in his hands as blood squirted out of the stump between the shoulders. Instantly the beast felt three swords pierce its back. He fell to his knees, the three soldiers who stuck the beast were hit with a white streak that came from the woods. One was hit in the chest and went down; smoke billowed from where he had been hit. The second was hit in the midsection, and the third in the face. The soldier that was hit in the face fell to the ground with a hole about the size of a large rock in the center of his face. As he lay on the ground, his cooked brains started to ooze out of the hole.
The other two were knocked back some, and they bled from their wounds, but they were still on their feet. Another one of the beasts grabbed a swordsman and bit a big chunk of flesh from his chest. Instantly the man was weaken from the bite, and was losing blood quickly from the hole that exposed a portion of his ribs, and from the poison ions in the green slime that entered the wound. The beast dropped him to the ground, and as he let go caught two arrows in the face. One went into his eye and blood started to run down his face. The other went into his mouth and out the back of his head. The tip of the arrow had brain matter sticking to it. He first grabbed the arrow in his eye and started to pull it out, as he pulled, he stepped forward and put his foot down on the man’s head he had dropped. The shear weight of the beast crushed the man’s head flat, forcing brain tissue to squish up between the beast’s toes.
As the soldiers steadily attacked the creatures, they took notice that in time their wound would close up, and they just kept coming at them relentlessly. A third beast had one of his arms cut off, and meat was hanging from the stub as his blood sprayed everywhere. While his blood sprayed, he was stomping three soldiers to death that he had knocked out. Blood, brains, and guts flew everywhere from the savage stomping.
Blender got an idea and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small vial and threw it at one of the beasts; it hit him in the head and shattered. Fire erupted all over his head and upper body. The beast went crazy! He started beating himself in the head with his three arms. As he did, the soldiers swarmed him. As the skin melted and dripped of his face, the soldiers hacked and slashed at him like madmen. Chunks of flesh and blood flew everywhere, they severed one of his legs and he toppled over. When he went down, he landed on one of the soldiers.
Jadan left Weeping Pine very early in the morning before anyone had gotten up to do their chores. He felt an unseen force pulling at him, he was not sure what it was, he just knew that he needed to follow the call.
Rather than following the East road, he had decided to cut across the crop fields to save himself some time. He also figured that by doing so, he could avoid all of the people who may want to stop him and talk to him. He had a lot on his mind to consider, given everything that had happened last night.
He was still pretty high off the of the way he felt about declaring his love to Mary Ann, sweet Mary Ann! As he was thinking about Mary Ann, he made it through the field without a hitch. No one bother him as he just rode along daydreaming.
As he entered the woods that surrounded the swamp, his daydreams about Mary Ann turned into visions about the kings who had been plaguing him. About 100 feet into the woods, Jadan caught a low hanging branch in the head that knocked him off of his horse. He landed on a soft patch of sand. Shortly after, he came out of his vision, and realized that he had sunk up to his chest into the sand.
Having had been in it before, he knew right away that he was in fact sinking in quicksand. This was different from the last time he found himself in this situation. He knew that the harder you struggle, the faster you go down. This quicksand was pulling him down, and it felt as though someone or something was drawing him in deeper and quicker. He could feel the panic starting to set in as the pressure on his chest was making it very hard to breathe. He searched frantically for something to grad onto so that he could pull himself to safety. Suddenly everything went black.
He wasn’t sure exactly how long he had been out, but he started to come to. His vision was blurred, so he could not see clearly. He could not hear anything, except for his own breathing. He rubbed his eyes to try to get his vision to return.
When his vision did return, Jadan realized he didn’t have his weapons, armour, or gear. He was in a glass box suspended from the ceiling of a dimly lit room. The walls and floors were hewn, appearing as though someone or something had dug this room out of solid stone. The floor was cluttered with light rubble , his weapons and other gear laid on the floor among the rubble.
The box itself had no visible seams or door to get in or out. He banged against the walls of the box to try and shatter the glass. He had absolutely no luck in trying to break it. As he looked to his left he saw another box suspended, with a very beautiful Elvin girl in it. She appeared to have been beaten very badly. Her right eye was green and swelled shut, with a trace of blood trailing out of the corner of it. Her nose was twice the size it should have been, with blood trails running out of it. She had cuts all over her body, it looked as though they may have been caused by the lashes of a whip.
Jadan started beating the wall again, to try and get the girls attention.
“Hey, can you hear me? He yelled”
He waited for a moment, realizing that she could not answer right away. She did not appear to have much strength at all. Again, he started banging in an attempt to get her attention.
“Can you hear me, hello, over here! He yelled, once again.”
Panic started to set in once again and he did not like the feeling. His heart started to race, beads of sweat started to form on his forehead, the feeling of claustrophobia started to overwhelm him. He began to punch the wall over and over again, until blood started to blood started to cover the glass as the skin on his knuckles tore off. The blood and skin on the walls did not faze him, nor did the pain in his hand. Once his adrenaline started to flood his brain, he stopped operating like a normal human being.
Chapter Two
Back at the outskirts of the Centaur Territory, the Trolls were starting to come into view. D’an and Brodarr held their men in position while the Trolls came into range. While they were waiting for the Trolls to arrive, Sgt. Brodarr sent Wilvis into camp to retrieve special arrows that they use on Trolls. Knowing from past experience how dangerous these hulking creatures are, he did not want to waste to much time on them. He had lost way to many of his men that way.
When Wilvis returned, he distributed ten of those special arrows to everyone, and instructed them to use them wisely. Wilvis also brought with him the two swords that Sgt. Brodarr had crafted just for creatures like these Trolls.
D’an and Sgt. Brodarr, who carried the fire brand swords moved into position to flank the Trolls. Four of the archers shot two fireburst arrows into each Troll. As soon as the arrows hit, they burst into flames. The shots were skillfully placed to hit the Trolls in the midsection. The razor sharp tips allowed the arrows to sink in all the way to the fletching. Fire erupted deep inside the Trolls, bursting through the skin. Flame totally engulfed them.
When they erupted, D’an and Sgt. Brodarr ran in with one quick strike of their swords, and lopped the creature’s heads off. The bodies stood there as flames shot out of the creatures about four feet high, their burning flesh let off the most horrible smell.
When the fire died down, together the men put the bodies into a pit and buried them. Their head went into a separate pit.
“Usually, we have more trouble with these things, Sgt Brodarr said.”
“I just could not let them sneak up on you today. The Elves of Maple Glenn need all of you to protect them, said D’an.”
“Is Sirus having problems over there that I don not know about, asked Brodarr?”
“Well, last night a band of Grthyanki raiders entered the orphanage and stole the children. According to Mary Ann, several of the children were killed, replied D’an.”
“What about the rest of the children? What happened to them, asked Tamor?”
“Thankfully, we were able to save them, but Sirus wants to close the orphanage, replied D’an.”
“Why would he close the orphanage, Asked Wilvis?”
“Apparently, the boats will not come up river since the rumor has gotten out about Dench. There have been raids on several of the boats already. With them not coming up the river, the Elves can’t get their crafts out. As a result, they cannot afford to keep the children any longer. Then, with what happened last night, Sirus does not want the responsibility of more dead children on his hands, said D’an.”
“We can protect the children here, and we will figure out what to do about the boats as well, said Wilvis.”
“Yes, I agree, we can protect them! If they and the Elves are willing to help, we can build our own boats and ship the crafts out that way. Will you speak to Sirus on those things, asked Sgt Brodarr?”
“Raven, ride to Maple Glenn and speak to Mary Ann and Sirus on these things. Tell them I have sent you to them on this matter, D’an ordered.”
Back at Alexis’ house, the chosen had just finished their breakfast and were preparing to head to the swamps to find the entrance of the underground cities.
Just as Jac reached for the door, there was a knock. He opened the door and saw a little old man standing there with a frightened look on his face.
“Can I help you, asked Jac?”
“I hope so. My sons were playing in the marshes, and they found a horse wondering around out there, said the old man.”
“Is it so strange to see a horse all by itself, asked Jac?”
“No, it is not, however, this horse did have a rider on it who looked as though he may be in some kind of trouble, said the old man.”
“Sir, that does not make any sense, you said that the horse had no rider. Then you said that it did have a rider, which is it, asked Jac?”
“Well sir, my sons told me they saw a man riding into the marshes slumped over on his horse, he was in a daze. Then ten minutes later, the horse came back without a rider, said the old man.”
“Do they know who this man was, asked Falcor?”
“No, not exactly, replied the old man.”
“What does not exactly mean sir? Do you know who he is or not, grumbled Gward?”
“They said that it was a stranger that came into Weeping Pine a couple days ago, replied the old man.”
“Did they go see if they could find him, asked Laila?”
“Yes, but they could not find him, said the old man.”
“Thank you for coming to us sir. Now, I’m sure you have heard the rumors, so get your sons home and keep them out of the swamps, exclaimed Alesis!”
The man turned and walked off of the porch and headed for the woods.
“Why would Traveler go into the swamps alone, asked Laila?”
“I thought that he went to see Mary Ann, said Tor.”
“Whatever the case may be, we’ve got to go and find him, said Falcor.”
“I agree, and we can not stand here talking about it, so let’s go, said Jac.”
The group headed out for their horses. The horses were already saddled and packed and ready to go. They climbed on, and headed out quickly. Riding as fast and hard as they could, it took them about twenty minutes to enter the woods that surrounded the swamp. Before entering, they all pulled to a stop.
“We do not know what forces we are up against here. So keep your eyes open at all time, said Falcor.”
“The ground is pretty soft, we will run into bogs, quicksand, and sink holes. I think it is best if we leave our horses and proceed by foot from here, said Torgaurd.”
“I agree, we do not want to sacrifice one of these animals in here, said Laila.”
“I would rather ride. Everyone knows Dwarves hate wetlands, grumbled Gward!”
“You’ll be fine my old friend, we will not let you drown out here, replied Jac.”
“Drown! Dwarves don’t drown! We are smart enough to stay on dry land, said Gward!”
“If you want to stay behind and take care of the horses Gward, we will understand, said Laila.”
“Dwarves do not stay behind! There may be a fight and you’ll need me and my trusty battleaxe, grumbled Gward!”
“So, you’ll come with us then, asked Togaurd?”
“I never said that I wouldn’t go. Dwarves don’t run, said Gward.”
“You keep saying what Dwarves don’t do. So what do they do, asked Jac?”
“We Dwarves love to fight,god fight, bad fight,any fight. Just give me a fight and I’ll show you what we love more than anything, replied Gward.”
“Okay, now that we’ve settled that, let’s spread out and look for Traveler. Keep your eyes open, and choose your steps carefully, said Flacor.”
They all spread out about ten feet between each other, just in case someone found themselves in trouble, the others could get there quickly to help.
The woods were very dense and the ground was covered with a lot of underbrush and reeds. Jac was in the middle; to his right were Flacor and Torgaurd. To his left were Laila and Gward.
The terrain was very difficult to maneuver through. Especially for Gward, who only stood four and a half feet tall. Laila really had to keep an eye out for him, because most of the underbrush was taller than he was.
About thirty feet in front of the party, there was a splash. Jac stopped and held his arms up to motion to the others to stop. Everyone was looking in Jac’s direction, he waived them into him. As they started to come over to him, Laila heard a splash behind her and froze in her tracks and looked back.
“Blasted swamps, every time it has to be the Dwarf, yelled Gward!”
Laila went running in the direction of Gward’s voice. She moved as quickly as she could while trying to watch where she stepped. She could not see or hear Gward anymore.
“Gward, where are you, she called.”
Suddenly, up out of the water came a huge, beautiful creature that looks like a snake, with a human face and greenish gold scales. It has a golden frill runs from the top of it’s head to the tip of it’s tail. There is a stronge sweet scent of flowers filling the air as it comes up. It has on of Gward’s feet in it’s mouth. It comes out of the water and then dives back down in. It does this four times before it tosses Gward onto dry land.
Angry as can be, Gward scrambles to his feet and begins to search for his battleaxe yelling.
“You dirty rotten slimy filthy beast! I will kill you, if it’s the last thing that I do, yelled Gward!”
He spots his battleaxe and picks it up, and stomps towards the water.
“Come on out here! Try that when I’m ready for you, you coward, Gward yells!”
Falcor intercepted him before he could enter the water. It took all that Falcor had to contain Gward.
Chapter Three
Meanwhile, back down on the Southern East Road, white flashes were erupting everywhere as the Night Hag shot her magic at the soldiers. Three soldier’s heads exploded as they were hit. Brains, blood, bone, flesh, and hair flew in every direction.
One of the beasts was on the ground burning along with the soldier underneath of him. Three others were on fire, but still up fighting. One beast had a soldier and was biting his stomach open, the monster lifted his head and the soldiers intestines were in his mouth. Blood running down the front of his face and his mouth was covered in blood. He tossed the man up at the trees, he hit hard and stuck in the branches. Blood rained down on the ground below, and his internal organs were hanging from the branches below him.
The soldiers were in the fight of their lives, Swords were swinging, bodies were flying, and fire was erupting everywhere. The smell of burning flesh from the soldiers and beast permeated the air. The stench was nauseating to say the least.
The soldiers were losing the battle when all of a sudden, reinforcements in the form of a creature with a golden-brown body of a lion, the wings of a giant eagle, and the face of a human came to help. He swooped down and with razor sharp claws removed the head of one of the beasts. Blood squirts out of the stump soaking everything near it. The flying lion circles around and flies into and lands on another of the beasts, taking it to the ground. The flying lion dips it’s head and bites a huge chunk out of the beasts throat. The last beast takes off through the woods and the lion gives chase.
The soldiers not leaving anything to chance savagely hack the downed beasts to pieces. In the end, the soldiers, muscles on fire from the battle, covered in blood, guts, and gore, fall to the ground amidst all of the bodies, vomit, and other gore of complete exhaustion. Every ounce of energy they had was spent. No one spoke a single word, they just lay there gasping for air.
Shortly after, the Lammasu came walking out of the woods and surveyed the area. He then cast a mass spell to aide the soldiers in their recovery.
“Who is in charge here, asked the Lammasu?”
“That would be me, I am Captain Blender of The Federated Army. Many thanks my friend for your help, said Blender.”
“I am Armon, may I ask where you are headed, asked Armon?”
“We are headed to the Jar Mountain region to oppose the army of Sarasem, replied Blender.”
“Sir you will not find them there. They have been instructed to go to all of the villages to punish the people. Then after Sarasems final transformation, they will meet in the swamps for the final battle, said Armon.”
“Why would he choose the swamp, asked Blender?”
Because he has many allies there and the gate to the abyss has been opened. Many of Xilons’ minions will be coming through after the transformation, replied Armon.”
Are you suggesting that we change course and head for the swamp, asked Blender?”
Change course yes, but do not head directly to the swamp yet, replied Armon.”
If not the swamp, then where should we go, asked Blender?”
You must go to the villages and gather the people, take them to Weeping Pine and prepare for battle. Sorasem will not expect this. Leave a small regiment of fighters to to deal with the attacks on the villages, said Armon.”
“Why would we leave anyone behind? Would they not be better protected with us, asked Blender?”
“If the villages are empty, reports will get back to Sorasem. If this happens then Dench will also know. That will make it easier for him to destroy all of you, said Armon.”
“Right, surround Weeping Pine from every direction, cut off any escape, then hit us with everything that he has, replied Blender.”
“You must sacrifice some people for the greater good of all. Only leave behind those who volunteer their lives freely, said Armon.”
“If there are no volunteers, how do I order men to give up their lives, asked Blender?”
“Captain sir, we will stay behind in one of the villages. I know that there are only ten of us left, but we will lead by example for you, exclaimed Digby!”
“Do you all say so, asked Blender?”
“Sir our lives for theirs, the soldiers shouted!”
“Captain, there is your start, others will follow their lead. You must trust in Kaldarr, said Armon.”
“Should we have men stationed in the swamp as precaution, asked Magnis?”
“No I have allies in the swamp as well, they will know what to do when the time comes, said Armon.”
“Very well my friend, you can count on us. Again, thank you for your help, replied Blender.”
Armon turned and walked into the woods, Blender and his soldiers stood and watched him leave. After he disappeared, Blender led his men back in the direction that they had come from. They were all happy to leave that wretched smell and scene behind them.
Raven rode into Maple Glenn, the Elves were busy rebuilding their homes up in the trees. He had to look very hard to see where the new village was hidden. The trees here, for the most part were one hundred fifty feet tall. They were probably the oldest and by far the biggest trees in all of Silvercrest. This was the main reason the Elves had chosen this place to settle in, that and the river was so close.
“Can I help you sir, asked a very beautiful female elf?”
“Yes, I was sent here to talk to Mary Ann and Sirus, replied Raven.”
“May I ask who sent you sir, she asked?”
“Raven, Raven said.”
I’m sorry sir, but I don’t think I know who this Raven is, she said.”
“Oh no, I’m Raven, D’an sent me, replied Raven.”
Raven was in awe at the sight of this beautiful young lady. She was about five feet six inches tall, jet black hair to the center of her back, and had the most beautiful green eyes that he had ever seen. He was relatively young, just into his twenties, he had only seen one or two Elves in his lifetime, and both were males.
He had heard stories of how beautiful the women were from people like D’an, but never thought that they were truly this beautiful. He stood there stunned by her looks.
“Raven, are you okay, she asked?”
“No, uh yes, Sirus, he muttered.”
“Sir, you don’t look so well. I can take you to the clinic to get checked if you need, she replied.”
“No, I’m fine! I’ve just never seen anyone as lovely as you is all, replied Raven.”
“You are so kind, thank you. You said you were looking for Mary Ann and Sirus, she asked?”
“Yes, replied Raven.”
“That building over there, that’s the orphanage, you’ll find them there, she said.”
“Thank you miss. What is your name, asked Raven?”
“Silaqui Ilphukiir, she replied.”
“It’s been my pleasure Miss Silaqui, said Raven.”
Raven walked over to the building that Silaqui had pointed out. As he got close enough, he stopped and admired the craftsmanship of the building. The building was round, the boards that made up the walls were, he believed Blackcherry, they were laid diagonally. The roof was some fancy design that he had never seen before, and the whole building added to the scenery, rather than take away from it. He approached the door and knocked lightly. He could hear two voices inside talking, then light footsteps getting closer. The door came open and Mary Ann was standing in front of him.
“Can I help you, she asked?”
“Yes, I was sent by D’an to speak to you and Sirus on a very important matter, answered Raven.”
“Please by all means come in, said Mary Ann.”
She stepped to the side and Raven stepped into the building. The room had fifteen beds and trunks and a large wooden table and chairs in the center. Sirus was sitting at the table with papers spread out before him. Mary Ann lead Raven over to the table and offered him a seat.
“This is Sirus, and you are, asked Mary Ann?”
“My name is Raven, I am one of D’an’s men, replied Raven.”
“Were you with D’an when he saved the children last night, asked Sirus?”
“I was, replied Raven.”
“Thank you, those children were lucky that you were there, said Mary Ann.”
“What can we do for you today, asked Sirus?”
“D’an and Sgt. Brodarr were talking after we had a battle with some Trolls this morning. In the light of what happened last night and this morning. They think that you and the children should move over to the Centaur camp for safety and protection, answered Raven.”
“I’m not sure we can do that, answered Sirus.”
“But that sounds like a good idea Sirus. They can keep use safe from attacks, said Mary Ann.”
“I don’t know, we have very important work to do here. People depend on our services, plus we have to finish the building! Once we finish our work, we will be safe here, said Sirus.”
“Sir, you are right, when you finish the building you will be safer here! But are you safe right now, asked Raven?”
“No, we are not! We are subject to be attacked at anytime, replied Sirus.”
“Sir, in the Centaur camp, you will still be able to do your work of helping the sick. If need be, you can still send some of your men back each day to continue the work of building your homes in the trees. They will be able to direct the sick on where to go to get your help, Raven said.”
“I know Sgt. Brodarr, what are the conditions that come with this offer, asked Sirus?”
“The conditions are your people and the children who can, will have to do some work. They heard about the problems that you are having with the boats not coming down river any longer. They have decided that if the two of you work together, you can build your own boats and solve the problem, said Raven.”
“This of coarse is an idea that will take some serious discussion, before we can decide, said Sirus.”
“Would you like me to wait or lend some insight to those that you need to talk with, asked Raven?”
“No, that will not be necessary. You can go back and let D’an and Sgt. Brodarr know that if we do decide to accept this offer, they will see us before the sun goes down tonight, said Sirus.”
“I will tell them what you have said, you be careful sir, said Raven.”
Chapter Four
Back at the Jade Castle, Sarasem was going through some changes. His face was changing from his to Dench and back again. His body was contouring, it seemed as though his body was bubbling. His insides and bone structure were obviously changing into Dench.
Liedda stood there quietly watching what was happening to Sarasem. She really did not want to disturb right now and hoped that this would not last long. The full moon was still a couple of week away, so he would go through this many more times, as Dench was fighting to come back. After about an hour, Sarasem went very limp.
“Sir, are you alright, asked Liedda?”
“Why are you bothering me witch? I told you to leave me alone, shouted Sarasem!”
“Sir, the mountain road, they arecoming, said Liedda.”
“Who is coming up the road, asked Sarasem?”
“Sir, you must look out the window to see for yourself, said Liedda.”
Sorasem struggled to get to his feet. It took him a few moments to get his balance, as every bone in his body ached. He steadied himself and slowly looked out the window. When his eyes finally got focused fully, he saw coming up the road, several hundred men. Among them were, Half-ones, Trolls, Athachs, Earth Elementals, Rock Elementals, Gargoyles, Fire Giants, Lamias, Ogres, and Mohrgs.
“Go direct them to the north courtyard. I will be down to address them soon, ordered Sorasem.”
Liedda went down to meet the new members of the Jade Army and led them to the north courtyard as ordered. Sorasem took some time to gather his thoughts, then headed to the balcony that overlooked the courtyard. As Sorasem arrived at the balcony, shouts rose in the air.
“Dench, Dench, all hail Dench, they yelled!”

“Gentlemen, you have come here because you are not happy with the scum that controls Silvercrest, am I right, asked Sorasem?”
“Kill the scum! Kill the scum! Kill the scum, they chanted!”
“Me and my fathers before me had those scum right where they belonged, they were slaves! We tortured them at will! We beat them when we felt like it! They lived because we allowed them to do so, said Sorasem!”
“Now they control all of the land. What are you going to do about that, someone in the crowd yelled?”
“Who said that, step forward, ordered Sorasem!”
A dark elf stepped forward. “I said it! They have controlled the land for centuries! They have been doing what they want, and now, how are you going to stop them, asked the dark elf?”
“What is your name, asked Sorasem?”
“I am Pyro, from the great city of Thoktar, loyal follower of Thorakk, shouted Pyro!”
“If that elf has a head by the time I count to three, you will all suffer my wrath, said Sorasem!”
Before Sorasem could even start his count, one of the Trolls, brought his battleaxe down in the center of Pyro’s head, splitting it from head to breastplate. The crowd roared as they saw blood flow to the ground. The Troll reached into the dark elfs head and pulled out a handful of brain. He then kicked him off his battleaxe, turned to face the crowd, and held up the brain for everyone to see. Let out a loud yell, the began to feast on the brain. When he was finished, he turned back to face Sorasem, blood covered his face, and he smiled.
“Well done my friend! Now does anyone else have any doubts, asked Sorasem?”
After what they had just witnessed, nobody dared to utter a word in opposition of Sorasem.
The Mohrgs however, were slowly making their way to the front of the crowd. Their attention was focused on the dead dark elf. To them this was fresh food and they could not concentrate on anything else. As soon as they reached the body they looked up at Sorasem. Sorasem nodded and the feast began.
They tore of the flesh from the dark elf and ate it like it was their last meal. Flesh and blood were flying everywhere. By the time they were finished, there was nothing left but bones. The Trolls standing closest were covered with little bits of flesh and blood.
“Now I order you all, go to the villages in the Northeast region. Torcher, kill, and eat at your will! I want you to break the spirit of the villagers! Man, woman, or child, make them all suffer, ordered Sorasem!”
“The crowd filed out of the North courtyard two by two. Shouts of King Dench filled the air.
Back at the swamp, Laila was struggling to hold on to Gward. He was irate about being drug through the swamp water by Addar.
“I told you the last time that I will kill you if you ever did that to me again, you giant slither head, yelled Gward!”
“Ha, ha, ha, you needed another bath, you dirty little dwarf, said Addar.”
“You slimy, filthy, disgusting beast, come over here where I can get you, said Gward!”
“Enough! You two can play later. We are here for a reason, said Falcor.”
“S,s,s, so why have you come to my s, s, s, swamp, asked Addar?”
“We had a friend come through here a little while ago, and we think he may be in trouble, said Torgaurd.”
“S, s, s, So the s, s, s, stranger I,s,s,s,s,s, the one that you s, s, s, seek, asked Addar?”
“Yes have you seen him, asked Laila?”
“Riding through the woods, s, s, s, hit his, s, s, s, head and fell in the quick s, s, sand, replied Addar.”
“Is he okay, asked Jac?”
“Quicks, s, s, sand is,s,s, not real, is,s,s, trap, s,s,set by human Lis,s,s,sards,s,s,s to trap him, said Addar.”
Prophis,s,s,sies,s,s,s s, s,s,ay that he is,s,s,s, the chos,s,s,s,sen one, said Addar.”
Chosen one? Chosen for what, asked Torgaurd?”
“To us,s,s,e the Heart of the Mountain, said Addar!”
“Who is he that he is the chosen one, asked Laila?”
“Your Traveler has,s,s,s,s a connection to Dench. I’m not s,s,s,ure what it is,s,s,s, but he is’s’s’s, important, said Addar.”
“Do you know where he is, asked Jac?”
“No he is,s,s,s, s,s,s,somewhere in the underground tunnels,s,s,s,. you mus,s,st,find him before they kill him. S,s,s,so many looking for the Heart for Dench! You mus,s,s,t help him find it firs,s,s,st! If they find it firs,s,st, there will be very dark days,s,s,s ahead for S,s,s,s,ilvercres,s,s,st, said Addar.”
“Where can we locate Faddle Fimble, we were told that he knows these tunnels best and that he will be able to help us, said Falcor.”
“Ah, yes,s,s,s Faddle, brave little man! He kept his,s,s,s mouth s,s,s,shut all the way to the end, said Addar.”
“What do you mean to the end, asked Gward?”
“The dark elves,s,s,s captured him and torchred him him to find out where the Heart was,s,s,s. They knew only he and your friend can touch it. They figured that if they could make him tell them where it was,s,s,s that they would have favor above all others,s,s,s with Dench. He refus,s,s,sed to tell them what they wanted to know, and he gave his,s,s,s life to keep it s,s,s,secret, said Addar.”
“how can we find it without Faddle, asked Tor?”
“Find your friend before it’s,s,s,s to late, and it will find him, replied Addar.”
“How can we find the entrance to the tunnels? None of us have ever been there before, said Laila.”
“S,s,s,see that building to your right, that is,s,s,s the entranc,c,c,ce, replied Addar.”
They looked in the direction that Addarhad said, and right before their eyes an old stone building started to appear. It was shimmering as if it weren’t real. It was cloaked by an illusion spell placed by the Drequar Dwarfs of the city of Dreqnar. This was done to keep it hidden from all above ground races.
“Open the door and follow the s,s,s,steps,s,s,s . You will find your way from there. Be careful, you will be going to a very evil plac,c,c,ce, said Addar.”
They and walked to the door of the building. It was very old, but well constructed of heavy stones, cut to fit together perfectly. Gward recognized the workmanship as his people still use the old materials to build above ground. The door was also carved stone and heavy.
Gward stepped up and studied the door and frame that bit set in. After several minutes, he touched a certain spot on the frame and a stone moved away exposing a hole. He reached in and fumbled with a mechanism, and the door slowly opened.
It was very dark inside so they could not see how far down the steps went. He turned and looked at his fellow adventures.
“Are we ready to do this, Gward asked?”
“Not yet, there is something I must do first, replied Laila.”
She looked around on the ground and found five stones about the size of gold pieces. She first cast a continual spell on them and they glowed very brightly. Then she cast a permanency spell on them to make the light last.
She then reached into her belt pouch and pulled out five leather strings to tie around the stones. When she finish, she handed each of them one, and told them to tie them around their necks.
“Now I think we are ready, said Torgaurd.”