by Shawn Sodman
Chance abruptly pulls back. “Wait,” he gasps.
Kristieana sternly replies, “I'll give you two seconds to catch your breath. Now come here.”
She pulls at his hand trying to draw him closer, but Chance doesn't move. “That's not it,” Chance says regaining his composure.
“That is twice now that you have started something with me, Chance Na'Moon,” Kristieana says angrily. “You better finish this, or you may not get a third chance.”
“I am sorry,” Chance replies. “It's just that...”
“I don't believe this,” Kristieana says frustratedly. “Now who is difficult to understand?”
Chance looks back at the slain orcneas and says, “I feel like we are wasting time here.”
“What!” Kristieana yells. “So now I am a waste of time!”
She starts to walk away, but Chance grabs her arm and pulls her back. As he does Kristieana tries to slap him but this time Chance is ready and grabs her wrist. With his other hand he takes her by the chin and says, “Look at me!” She looks into his eyes and is taken by the intensity of his gaze. “Now listen to me very carefully when I tell you, that you are not a waste of my time.” He takes her hand and places it over his heart. “This,” he says as he stares at her, “this is what you do to me.”
“Really?” she questions as she feels his heart beating hard and fast. “Then why?”
“Because,” Chance answers. “Right now at this very moment there is a war going on. I don't know how far they have advanced. I don't know what kind of army Arioch has gathered together. I don't even know if my children are safe.”
“I am sure they are safe,” Kristieana replies as she brushes back Chance's hair. “The orcneas are a long way from Sheathelm, and even still, Sheathelm would not easily fall. Besides, you will be there soon enough to help them.” She pulls Chance closer and softly kisses him then asks, “Can't you just relax for even one moment?”
“And then what?” Chance asks, as he releases her hand and takes a step back. “I go back and fight in another war, never to see you again?”
“What are you talking about?” Kristieana asks.
Chance explains, “You are an Amazon of the Silver Moon. When this is all over I know how this will end.”
Kristieana places her hands on his cheeks. “Chance, you are spending too much time worrying about what may or may not happen. If all you ever think about is what might be, then you will miss out on what already is. Right here, right now, I am with you.”
Chance asks sadly, “What if I want more than just right now? What if I want more then you can give?”
“How do you know what I can or cannot give?” she asks, “How will you ever know if you are not willing to try?”
Chance sighs deeply knowing she has a point. “Are you always this difficult?”
Kristieana laughs and says, “Only most of the time.”
Chance smiles and says, “Good.” Looking down again he says, “Kristieana, while men leave their families behind to fight in this war, I simply cannot do this. I must go now and help the King. When it is done—”
“Chance,” Kristieana interrupts sadly, “The war could take years. I cannot make any promises that I will be here for you when it is over.”
“I understand,” Chance says, “but as someone recently told me, I will never know if I am not willing to try.” He smiles and steps up to her again and takes her hand. He places it again on his chest. “I don't care how long the war takes, as long as my heart beats like this for you, I will fight for you,” he lifts her hand and kisses it, “and then you will belong to me.”
Kristieana laughs and says, “I am an Amazon of the Silver Moon. I will not so easily be taken.”
“Not only do I know that,” Chance says with a smile, “I am counting on it.”
Chance puts his breast plate back on. Kristieana puts her arms around him and pulls him in for one last kiss. Then she smiles and whispers, “How do you know that I will not be the one who makes you belong to me?”
Chance laughs, as he steps back. He looks at Kristieana again and asks, “So are you saying that you are going to claim me in front of the others?”
“I might,” Kristieana replies. “Then again, I might not.” She grins and asks, “If I did, would you deny me?”
Chance smiles and says, “I guess you are just going to have to claim me in front of your sisters and find out.” Before Kristieana can say another word Chance changes into an eagle and takes to the sky.
As Chance flies over the mountain ridge, Kristieana takes out the letter once again. She smiles as she smells Chance's scent on it. Then, as she finds a small rock to sit on, she reads it again before returning to her sisters.
Chapter 20
The Intermission
Back in the luxury apartment, the power returns and the lights come back on. Laura, Josh and Haley cheer.
“Just in time,” Kyle says. “So, that is how the famous hero of Runefell, Chance Na'Moon, first met the Seven Sisters of the Silver Moon.”
“Some hero,” Laura laughs. “He got his butt kicked by Rehma.”
“Well,” Kyle replies. “I wouldn't say that.”
“I would,” Danielle says with a smile.
“You know,” Kyle says, “there is this thing called chivalry. A real man would never hit a woman.”
“Even if she was pounding the hell out of his face?” Laura asks with a laugh. “How tall was Rehma anyway?”
“She is about six foot,” Kyle answers as he holds his hand up at about his chin.
“So she was taller than Chance?” she asks.
“Actually, they were pretty much the same height,” he answers
“I thought Chance was short,” Josh says.
“For an elf,” Kyle explains, “being six feet tall is just a bit under average for a male. People who never met him, but heard his stories, always thought he would be taller.”
“That makes sense,” Laura says. “You build up an image of some grand hero and he turns out to just be average.”
“Exactly,” Kyle replies.
“I want to know what Rehma did when she found out Chance killed all the orcneas in their path, Laura says, “I'll bet she was pissed off.”
“Wait a minute!” Josh exclaims. “What ever happened to Fernando and Ariella? Did they find Red Beard's treasure?”
“We never finished that part did we,” Kyle asks. “What part of the story do you like, Haley?
“I like the princess!” Haley says with an excited smile.
“But she didn't do anything in the story,” Josh says.
“So?” Haley replies, “I just like princesses.”
“Can you stay and tell us more, Uncle Kyle?” Josh asks.
Kyle looks at his watch and then looks at Danielle and says, “Well, I don't really have any place to be right now. If you really want to hear more, maybe we should make sure it is alright with Danielle.”
“That's fine by me,” Danielle says, “The kids don't have school tomorrow. As long as you don't mind staying.”
“No,” Kyle says. “I don't mind at all.”
“Wait a minute,” Laura says. “First I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Me too,” Haley says. Laura and Haley run off down the hall.
Josh asks, “Danielle, can we have some popcorn?”
“Sure, I will go make some,” she replies. “Kyle, can you give me a hand in the kitchen?”
“Of course,” Kyle replies. Kyle and Danielle enter the kitchen as Josh walks over to the window to see the lights that have just come back on in the city below.
Danielle laughs to herself, as she gets out some microwave popcorn from a shelf in the kitchen.
Kyle asks her, “What is so funny?”
“Nothing,” Danielle says with a big grin. “I am just thinking about Rehma punching the “Hero of Runefell” to a bloody pulp.”
Kyle replies, “She totally caught him off guard.”
“If you sa
y so,” Danielle says with a smile. “Right up in the cupboard next to you is a big bowl. Can you grab it for me?”
“Sure,” Kyle says as he reaches up and starts to pull out a large plastic bowl. As he pulls it out a plastic cup falls onto the counter.
“Hey, Kyle,” Danielle says, “you dropped something.”
Kyle laughs as he brings the bowl to Danielle. He looks out in the living room at Josh who is still looking out the window. He says, “You know, Kel’ana, after five hundred years that is still funny.”
“Shh,” Kel'ana says quietly. “Don't call me that. Josh may hear you.”
“Relax,” Kyle replies, “he is far enough away.”
Kel'ana puts a pouch of the popcorn in the microwave and starts it. She says, “You know, Kelik, its strange hearing you talk about how we met your father for the first time.”
“Yeah, well it is kind of strange talking about him like that,” Kelik says.
“I had forgotten that he called himself Kyle at Copper Pass,” Kel'ana says as she looks around the corner of the door to check on Josh.
“That is one of the reasons I picked that name,” Kelik replies.
Kel'ana watches the popcorn in the microwave. “I miss him.”
“Me too,” Kelik says.
The microwave beeps and Kel'ana empties the bag of popcorn into the bowl.
“Hey! We are ready,” calls Josh from the living room.
Kel'ana takes the bowl of popcorn as they return to the living room to resume the story.
“Okay,” Kelik says, “where were we?”
Josh replies, “You were going to tell us about Ariella and her father's treasure.”
“No way,” Laura says, “I want to hear about Rehma and the other amazons killing some orcneas.”
“Uncle Kyle?” Haley asks.
“What is it?” Kelik asks.
“I want to hear a story about the princess,” Haley says.
“Alright,” Kelik says. “We have a lot of ground to cover. First you have Chance, who is now on his way to join King Arioch on the front lines of battle. Then you have Princess Kianna who is traveling with a small group of people including Chance's son and two daughters. Up in the mountains you have the Seven Sisters of the Silver Moon trying to cross over to the orcnea lands on the other side. Finally you have Captain Ariella and Fernando who are looking for her father's treasure, but before we get back to them there is one more part of the story I have to add...”
Chapter 21
Cold Sunrise
At the northern walls of Northwind, the orcneas march on the abandoned city. Thousands of orcneas wait outside as a few hundred storm the deserted interior. Leading the orcnea army are three generals. One of them is a huge ogre who goes by the name of Cron. Wearing a fur vest and a loin cloth, the mammoth general has little to protect him in battle with the exception of an iron helmet with three horns. He laughs and says, “The cowards ran.”
Another general, an orcnea shaman named Vork Carr, adds, “They didn't even burn the place down. They are either confident they will win it back or don't have stomach to do it.” He sticks the base of his staff in the ground and looks up at the third general, Lortec Ka, and asks, “Why do you look so displeased?”
Lortec Ka stands and watches as the orcnea troops run through the streets of Northwind unopposed. With a deep and commanding voice, the tall brutish orcnea general finally answers, “I was hoping for a challenge. This hardly feels like a real victory.”
Vork laughs and replies, “The orcneas have not held this piece of land since before the First Human War. Whether it feels like it or not, this is a victory.”
The three generals start to enter the city as Lortec says, “I know how important this day is. I have been looking forward to it my whole life. The humans were right to abandon this place. Even though it means they knew we were coming, it also means they couldn't do anything about it.”
Cron adds, “The humans have grown weak.”
“Perhaps,” Lortec replies, “or maybe we just caught them off guard and they are preparing for a counter attack.”
“It will make little difference,” Vork says with a laugh. “We are prepared for them. This city will not be returned to them.”
As they reach the town square they stop and look around. “I hope you're right,” Lortec says. “I still feel that the attack on the goblin ship was a mistake.”
“Yes,” Vork replies, “but if our reports are accurate, Chance Na'Moon is out at sea. At least we have that to our advantage.”
Lortec grits his teeth and says, “That's too bad. I would have rather faced the Orcnea Slayer myself.”
“I know you would,” Vork replies, “It is all you ever talk about. If I didn't know better, I would say that you are more interested in that one single elf then you are in the entire war.”
Lortec doesn't reply. He just continues to look around at the new orcnea stronghold. Just then an orcnea soldier runs up to the generals and says, “My lords, the bridge across the Northwind River has been destroyed.”
“So,” Vork says with sigh, “the humans weren't entirely foolish about their retreat.” Then he looks at the enormous Cron and says, “Gather some of your men and begin to gather wood from the forest. We will need to rebuild that bridge as soon as we can.”
“Of course,” Cron replies. As he walks off Lortec and Vork enter the gates to the keep.
“So far our plans have worked perfectly,” Vork says to Lortec.
“So it would seem,” Lortec replies.
“You are still worried though, why?” Vork asks at they reach the center of the main chamber.
“I have learned one thing about humans and elves,” Lortec answers, “Never underestimate them.”
“Don't worry,” Vork replies, “We will be ready to take our losses as well as the victories. Humans seem to take their losses harder than most. This city is the perfect example. They simply let us take it rather than burn it to the ground.”
“Yes,” Lortec says, “but what you see as a weakness, I see as their strength. It is the very same attachment to others that makes them both weak and strong when they are threatened. They will be back for this city. The only difference is...we will not run.”
Chapter 22
Treasure hunt.
Midday arrives on the Red Dawn. Ariella approaches Fernando as Drake and Leon follow behind her. “Well, Mr. Greythorn,” she says, “it seems we are about to dock at East Artos. You will forgive me for being cautious, but,” she motions Leon and Drake who step forward with iron cuffs and chains.
“Of course, Captain,” Fernando says. “I understand.”
Leon and Drake lock the cuffs on his ankles and wrists. Soon the Red Dawn docks and the men scramble to secure it. They throw down ropes and tie them to the moorings below. It doesn't take long and soon they are secured.
“John,” Ariella calls out.
“Yes, Captain?” John replies as he runs over to her.
Ariella orders, “I want you and Jacob to find out how much and how long it will take to make full repairs.”
“Aye, Captain,” John replies. He walks off to find Jacob.
“Torgus,” Ariella says, “You will join Drake, Leon, Mr. Greythorn and myself on a little walk.” She then turns to Fernando and asks, “You did tell me that we could find it from here, did you not?”
“Yes, Captain,” Fernando answers. “It is not far at all in fact.”
“Good,” Ariella says. Then she says to Leon, “Make sure you and Drake keep an eye on him.”
“My pleasure, Captain,” Leon says with a smile.
“Allen!” Ariella calls out.
Allen runs over and replies, “Yes, Captain?”
Ariella smiles and says, “Until we return, I want you to keep an eye on the ship.”
Allen looks shocked as he asks, “Me, Captain? Are you sure?”
“Yes, Allen,” Ariella says as she pats him on the shoulder. “Just make sure no one enters my cabin
or the lounge, except for Marie of course.”
“Yes, ma'am,” Allen says enthusiastically. “You can count on me.”
“As for everyone else!” Ariella announces to the crew. “Make sure you do not tarnish the name of this ship with foul behavior. Otherwise, have fun and make sure you are back on board by morning's light!”
The ship’s crew cheers loudly as they begin to disembark. Ariella asks Fernando, “So, Mr. Greythorn, if you would please lead the way?”
“Yes, Captain,” Fernando says, “just follow me.” As he starts down the plank to exit the ship, Leon and Drake follow him close behind. Torgus and Ariella also follow as they begin to head through town.
On the ship, Allen looks around with a smile. Marie walks over to him and says, “So you're in charge. How does it feel?”
Allen looks at her and replies, “I can't believe it. She actually left me in charge. Sure, we are not out at sea and no one is really left on board, but still.”
“The Captain has a lot of faith in you,” Marie says. Then as she put her arms around him she adds, “and so do I.”
On the edge of town Fernando leads Ariella along the river bank that divides East and West Artos. There are steep rock walls that have been carved away over many years by the river. Fernando looks around at the canyon walls and says, “If I remember correctly it should be around here somewhere.”
“What exactly are we looking for?” Ariella asks.
“That,” Fernando says, pointing to a rock formation. The very tall and narrow standing tower of rock splits the path in two. To the left the river continues on. To the right is a small narrow passage within the rock. As they enter one at a time they make their way through the tight divide. When they come out the other side they find themselves standing in what appears to be large pit carved into the earth. “This should be the place, Captain,” he says as he walks slowly around the edge feeling the cliff walls.