by KJ Siirila
Ademus stood and walked over to the window. “Mitral, Princess Fimella can understand any situation put forth to her. Queen Armad would not bestow these difficult tasks upon the child if she didn’t believe she could handle it. We will hear from the Queen soon Mitral. We must remain calm now. We have much to do.”
Mitral walked over to Ademus and put his hand on his shoulder. “I know, I know. For the first time in many moons my friend I have some doubts but I shall overcome them so that we can keep working towards our ultimate goal.”
Aerifus stood and spoke up. “Mitral and Ademus. We have no room for any doubts now. We must be strong. We will soon be battling some very evil creatures. Do you remember many many years ago when we battled the ghouls the first time? We defeated them, but they almost defeated us. They may not know this today but my dear friends trust me when I tell you the ghouls will not be the only creatures we shall battle for the books.” Aerifus turned and pointed to a myrmidon who was sitting in the hallway. “Come myrmidon.” The myrmidon walked over and bowed.
“Yes sir.” The myrmidon looked up.
“What is your name?” Aerifus asked.
“My name is Micael sir.”
“Micael? That’s an interesting name. I find the names of myrmidons so strange.” Aerifus laughed. “I need you to do something for us Micael.”
Micael spoke quietly. “I’d do anything for you sir.”
“We need you to go and find the Shaman for us. We need him to come here to the castle we need to speak to him. Can you do this Micael?”
Micael nodded his head. “I will do my best to find him sir and bring him back to you.”
“Thank you Micael you may go.” Micael bowed and walked away. Mitral and Ademus walked over to Aerifus.
“We will see what this Shaman is capable of my dear friends.” Aerifus rested his hands on both of their shoulders. “I have heard he is strong and possesses many powers, powers that the witches cannot even sense.”
Mitral spoke up. “The witches will be a huge problem if they get their haggard hands upon those books. Grimelda is the most evil witch on the planet. She knows many curses and many spells and will use them to her advantage.”
“What of this Shaman?” Ademus questioned. “Do you think he will be able to stop the witches? Is he strong enough to defeat them or will he be defeated in the process?”
Aerifus answered. “I only know of what I’ve heard of this great Shaman. He has inherited his powers through the ages from his descendants. The great Indians which once ruled the continent known as North America believed these medicine men to have the powers of some of the greatest sorcerers and also the gift to heal. I only have faith in one thing my dear friends, that faith is in the Gods above but I feel that we can ask the Shaman to help us to defeat the evil doers that now inhabit this planet.”
Mitral and Ademus tipped their heads to acknowledge agreement.
“We shall wait for the myrmidon Micael to bring him to us and once he does we shall sit and question his abilities as a leader. We will also ask him to show us some of his great powers and if he cannot help us in finding the books then we shall not speak of this Shaman again, but for now we must try to gain as much control as possible with as many possible strengths as we can find.” Aerifus sat down at the table. “Join me my friends in meditation. “
Mitral and Ademus sat and all three joined hands and bowed their heads. They would now sit in silence until Micaels return.
In the Midnight Mountains Grimelda sat in her room plotting her next move. She decided that her first move would be to take the sisters to the Forest of Shadows to find the goblins and gremlins. As she sat she thought back to the day when she was banished to the depths of hell by the hunters. Grimelda you see was not always the haggard woman that was before the world today. Grimelda was born a lovely creature many suns and moons before. Her mother and father were from a long line of witches and warlocks. They originally were known as the wiccans. Good witches. They only cast spells that were helpful. They lived a very quiet life in the countryside where they gathered their own food and survived off the land. Her sisters would follow her in birth, Magella, Nevula then Povina. The two brothers would come much later, too late to even realize what was going to happen to them.
One day while hunting their father came across a young family who was living in the back of a covered wagon. He decided that he would make them an offer to come home with him and help his family work the land. The father of the family thanked him and followed him back to the families’ home, everything appeared to be going quite fine in the house until one night the mother of the invited family discovered the family secret. She had crept through the house in the middle of the night and found a book, in this book she discovered spells and curses which she had never seen before. She read one of the spells and was turned into a rodent.
The next day the husband of the invited family realized that his wife was missing. He went to Grimelda’s father and asked if he had seen his wife. Grimelda’s father said no. The husband then went searching for his wife and found the room with the books of spells and curses. He shuddered to think that he was living in a house of witches and ran from the home taking his children and finding a town which was close where he told his story of witches and wizardry. The townspeople were angered and went to the families’ house where they captured the daughters and the parents and hung them one by one but not before the mother cast a spell upon the townspeople cursing them all with horrible things. It was because of this curse that her daughters would return many years later but not the same. They would come back as haggard old women. Their beauty would be no more. What of the brothers Crovis and Trovis? They were found in the woods many days later by a farm couple who thought the boys were left. They were raised by the family and died many years later never knowing their family heritage. They would discover it though when the sisters were brought back from the dead many moons later. The sisters raised the brothers from the dead and they would finally know their family tree. Grimelda would never forget the horrible night but she would rise above and become one of the most powerful witches in the world.
There was a knock at the door. Grimelda sat up and summoned them in. It was her sisters.
Magella spoke. “Grimelda we are ready to travel to the Forest of Shadows in search of the trolls, goblins and gremlins.”
Grimelda stood. “Sisters, many years ago we were banished to the depths of hell only to return stronger. We shall not be defeated this time. We shall stand up to whoever and whatever stands in our way. We shall fly to the Forest of Shadows now. Prepare yourselves sisters for we have much convincing to do with those mutated creatures in the gray area.”
She headed towards the door with her sisters following closely. They found Crovis and Trovis in the sitting room. Grimelda walked over to them.
“Crovis and Trovis doing what they do best which is nothing.”
Crovis looked at Grimelda and smirked. “My hideous older sisters off on another adventure I see. Hoping to find the books and take over the world are we?” He laughed along with Trovis.
Grimelda reached her hideous hand out and wrapped it around Crovis’s neck and lifted him out of the chair.
“My dear brother, do not mess with me. You should be happy I ever brought you ungrateful wretches back from the dead. Don’t forget brothers, I have the power to put you back where I found you.” She dropped him. He looked at her while breathing heavily. “Watch the castle until we return and my dear brothers don’t betray me or doubt me again or you shall suffer the consequences.”
The sisters turned from the brothers and left the room.
Trovis put his hand out to Crovis as they left. “Come brother, we have much planning to do. I’m hoping a large mutant creature will eat all four of the haggard sisters in the Forest of Shadows.” They both began to laugh.
In the Valley of Illumination Princess Fimella finally arrived at Queen Armad’s castle to tell her of the troll’s plans. Queen Arma
d thanked her daughterand once she learned everything Queen Armad and Princess Fimella flew to the castle of the Angelic Spirits. They entered the castle through the bell tower and flew down into the Angelic Spirit’s sitting room.
Mitral stood up and welcomed the Queen and her daughter. “Queen Armad, Princess Fimella welcome. What news have you brought us today?”
“Angelic friends, I bring you news of Toumani from deep in the Forest of Shadows. Princess Fimella overheard Toumani leader of the trolls speaking of his plans to find the books and take over the planet. He is not a kind creature and very sneaky by nature. He should not be trusted.” The Queen flew close to the table but did not rest while the Princess flew nearby.
Ademus spoke. “Thank you Queen Armad for bringing us this news and thank you Princess Fimella for discovering the impending plans of the trolls. We must find out what the intentions of the goblins and gremlins are. We cannot discover what the ghouls have in store for us yet until we are able to travel to the Midnight Mountains. I would not suggest Princess Fimella going anywhere near the Midnight Mountains until we have all gone to the Forest of Shadows in search of the Book of Elandor.”
The Queen nodded. “I agree Ademus. I agree that we should not go any further for now until we have devised a plan that will not end in the harm of anyone fighting for the side of good.”
Mitral spoke. “Then it is settled we shall sit for now and plan our next move. We are awaiting the arrival of the Shaman. The myrmidon has been sent to find him.”
The Queen looked up. “The Shaman? Why that’s an interesting choice my Angelic friends. He is strong in power and thought. He sees things that most cannot. I will say this to have him on our side would be most helpful to all of us.”
Aerifus stood. “I agree we shall all work together hand in hand to find the Book of Elandor. Good will always diminish evil dear friends. It is the way it has and always will be. Unfortunately, we must fight now. Fight for good and defeat the evil once again. They may think they can defeat us but they won’t. It is just the way it is my dear friends.”
Micael walked along a path which would eventually lead him to the Shaman. Micael one day dreamed of a better world, a world where it was light in the daytime and dark at night once more, where a sense of lunacy was never found. The way things were back then. Micael noticed a small fire burning at the top of the hill and with his back to him, the Shaman. He approached slowly.
The Shaman raised his right hand and waved him forth. Micael moved carefully until he was face to face with him. Micael wasn’t scared once he looked into the Shaman’s eyes. He found something quite serene about the older man.
The Shaman spoke quietly. “I know why you’ve come here young myrmidon. You don’t need to tell me the details.”
Micael looked surprised. “How….how did you know?”
The Shaman smiled slyly. “I know much more than most myrmidons or creatures will ever know my child.”
Micael sat down on the ground. “May I ask you something kindred spirit?”
The Shaman nodded.
Micael grinned. Something about this older man was so calming to him. “I want to know if the world will ever be the same again.”
The Shaman looked at him curiously. “My child, nothing will ever be the same as it was. The world has changed, I won’t say for the better, but it has changed nonetheless. The Gods have chosen this path for all of us here on the planet to teach us a harsh lesson, and before this is all over we will have learned it for better or worse.”
Micael stood up. “Thank you.”
The Shaman chuckled. “There’s no need to thank me my child, I just told you what you were already thinking.” The Shaman stood up. “I guess it’s time for us to get going then Micael.”
Micael looked stunned. “How did you know my name?”
The Shaman turned and began to walk down the hill as Micael followed still asking him the same question but it would not be answered this day.
The witches flew quickly into the trees of the Forest of Shadows this day. Grimelda landed first in the midst of the fog of the wilderness and the three sisters soon followed.
Grimelda set her broom aside and began sniffing like a dog in search of food. She tapped on her wart ridden chin with her long hideous finger.
She spoke loudly. “Sisters, I smell those little monsters. They’re close. They know we are here. I sense it.” The three sisters laughed. Grimelda moved closer to a large tree and saw a hole. “What do we have here sisters?” She reached her hand inside of the hole and yanked it back out holding a gremlin around its neck. The gremlin was shaking violently. Grimelda threw the gremlin to the ground.
“Hello there little friend,” She smiled a big smile showing her rotted teeth. The gremlin stood shaking. “Do not be afraid little gremlin. We have come to the Forest of Shadows as friends.”
The gremlin stopped shaking and spoke. “Witches have never been our friends. What have you come for?”
Grimelda stepped towards the gremlin and kneeled down. “We wish to speak to Izasa and Olagh.”
The gremlin laughed. “I should have known witch, chasing the Book of Elandor are we?”
Grimelda stood. Look here you grimy little beast I’ll make you a deal, you tell me where to find those two heathens and I won’t squash you like an ant under my foot.”
The gremlin stepped back. “You don’t scare me witch. You need me and you know this, so I suggest you start showing a little more respect.”
Grimelda walked forward. “You are a smug little monster aren’t you? You are correct though we do need you to find Izasa and Olagh. But, my fiendish little friend if you try to trick me be warned I will turn you into something this planet has never seen before, something so hideous you would be forced to live a life of lonliness away from everything and everyone.” She grimaced.
The gremlin looked at Grimelda and said quietly, “Agreed. Follow me I’ll lead you to them.”
Grimelda turned to her sisters. “Let’s go sisters, time is of the essence.” The sisters moved steadily.
The gremlin moved swiftly down a darkened path and the witches followed.
In the Valley of Illumination the Angelic Spirits sat waiting for Micael to return with the Shaman. They sat quietly in a circle with their hands folded until a knock came at the door. Mitral looked up.
“Enter.” He stood as the door opened to reveal Micael and the Shaman. Ademus and Aerifus stood also. “Come friend join us at the table. Thank you Micael you are excused.” Micael looked a bit disappointed that he couldn’t stay but knew that they needed to speak privately. He shut the door behind him.
The Shaman walked slowly to the table. Mitral summoned them all to sit. The Shaman smiled at the three angels.
Mitral looked at him. “The great Shaman, we have heard much about you our dear friend.”
“You do not need to tell me why you summoned me here good angels, I know what is happening. I have much to tell you.” The Shaman sat forward as the Angelic Spirits listened. “My friends the planet is in danger of extinction. The battle for the three books has just begun. The Book of Elandor will be found eventually but this will be only the beginning. The witches have already entered the Forest of Shadows in search of the goblins and the gremlins. I do not believe that they will come to any form of agreement. The witches are pure evil as are the ghouls, as you well know. We must enter the Forest of Shadows in search of the Book of Elandor. I do not believe it is hidden here in the Valley of Illumination. I believe the Gods have hidden it in the gray area for now, but I cannot say whether they will move it somewhere else. We must move forward in any plans you have made. We must be the first to find the Book of Elandor.”
The Angelic Spirits all nodded as Ademus spoke. “Great Shaman we believe every word you say but how will we search the Forest of Shadows knowing that the witches are already there soon to be followed by the ghouls.”
“We will not all go into the Forest of Shadows my friends. I will go along
with your myrmidon Micael. I trust him. He has a good soul, I can feel it.”
Mitral stood. “It is agreed then. You shall take Micael and go to the Forest of Shadows. We will also ask Queen Armad to send Princess Fimella in case you should run into any serious danger while in the wilderness.”
The Shaman stood and walked over to the window. “My friends, like I said this is only the beginning. the battle hasn’t even begun.
In the Forest of Shadows the witches continued to follow the little gremlin towards Izasa and Olagh’s fortress nestled deep in the woods. Grimelda was getting very impatient while walking the long path.
“You there.” The gremlin stopped and turned to face her. “Why is this taking so long? We’ve been walking for hours.”
“Be patient you haggard old witch we are just a few moments from reaching the fortress but be aware that once we reach the fortress it doesn’t mean Izasa or Olagh will agree to see you and your, how should I say this as not offend anyone, your utterly unattractive sisters.” The gremlin chuckled. Grimelda sneered at the gremlin as did her three sisters.
“Just hurry it up you crusty little beast.” Grimelda nudged him with her foot and they travelled onward. It seemed like at least another hour had passed before they reached the main gate of the fortress. The gremlin went to the door and knocked. A small window opened on the door and a goblin peered through not noticing the witches at first he almost opened the door and let the gremlin in, but stopped suddenly.
“What’s the meaning of this my friend? Why have you brought these horrible witches to our fortress?”
The gremlin moved close to the window and whispered to him.
“I had no choice they threatened me. They are searching for Izasa and Olagh. I told them I wouldn’t guarantee a meeting but I would bring them this far.” He stepped back.
The goblin steadied himself, “I will go the the leaders and ask them if they will see the witches.” He shut the window.