by KJ Siirila
Grimelda looked down at Izasa. “If you lead us to the Mystagog unscathed gremlin we shall set you free, that will be your reward for helping us.”
Izasa rolled his eyes at her. “Reward, you will reward me after you capture me and drag me through the desert against my will? Please witch save your breath.”
“You should be grateful gremlin I could have killed you a long time ago.” Grimelda clenched her teeth mumbling as she walked away from Izasa.
He giggled quietly knowing how angry his words had made her.
North of the desert in the mountain range, the Shaman, Micael and Ovit were walking the path to the Mystagog’s home, it was a long journey but one made shorter by finding the path. As they walked along Micael felt as though someone or something was watching them, he walked closer to the Shaman and began whispering quietly to him.
“Shaman,” he got his name out just as the Shaman cut him short.
“I know young Micael, I feel it also, someone is watching us but I’m not sure who or what yet.” They continued to walk on pretending as if they didn’t know what was going on. As they moved a bit further, they began to hear voices. They weren’t sure what it was. Finally, they stopped.
The Shaman stepped away from Micael and Ovit and raised his voice.
“We know you’re there come out of hiding and show yourself.” He stood silently and waited.
Voices began talking on the right and left of them. All three stood there confused at what was happening.
The Shaman demanded once more. “Come out of hiding and show yourself. We are not here to cause you any harm, we are adventurers on a journey to find the great Mystagog.”
A voice came from the right of them.
“We would like to come out of hiding to meet you kind travelers but we were not meant to walk only sit still for eternity.”
The Shaman walked closer to the mountain wall and realized that it was the voice of the mountain itself talking to them. He looked closer and slowly faces began to appear on the side of the mountain wall, one after the other. The Shaman stepped back to Micael and Ovit.
“What is this Shaman?” Micael questioned.
“Young Micael I believe this mountain sees and hears everything we say and do.” The Shaman was just as surprised as Micael and Ovit.
The voice came again. “Don’t worry weary travelers we are not here to harm you either. We are just the voice of these mountains.” The face looked at Micael who was in awe. “I take it you’ve never seen a talking mountain before young myrmidon?” All of the faces laughed quietly.
Micael walked closer. “No I haven’t. I’m not afraid, just amazed really.”
The face smiled at Micael. “I am amazed that you and your friends have made it this far young myrmidon. Nobody has ever gone this far into the mountains. Don’t let this path fool you it was made by the Mystagog when he first made his home here in the mountains.”
“I don’t understand why you would choose to show yourselves to us.” The Shaman was questioning their intentions.
“We decided to welcome you to the mountains. We don’t see anyone travel through here and decided we’d make ourselves seen and heard for a change.” All the voices rumbled.
“We won’t be the first or the last you will see trust me.” Micael told them.
The face in the mountain wondered what the young myrmidon was talking about.
Micael offered the information to them willingly. “You see, we are all here to find the Mystagog because we believe he holds the answer to the location of the Book of Elandor, and if you’ve never heard of the Book of Elandor, believe me it’s one of the three most powerful books in the world.”
The face in the mountain looked at him and smiled. “We know of the book young myrmidon, it is one of the reasons you are talking to a mountain today.”
Micael walked back to the Shaman and Ovit.
Ovit was still amazed at was he was seeing. He knew strange things happened in the Forest of Shadows but he wasn’t quite prepared for this.
“Thank you kind faces, and voices. You’ve been most gracious and hospitable hosts in welcoming us to your beautiful land.” The Shaman smiled.
“We wish you much luck on your journey adventurers. The Mystagog is not far from here. You must keep your energy up. There are many streams of water running that you can drink from to refresh yourselves. Be careful kind travelers.”
With these words, the faces disappeared and the three continued forth.
CHAPTER FIVE
Crovis and Trovis moved northward out of the swamps and into the desert not knowing just how close they were to their sisters Grimelda and Magella. They knew that every move they made would have to be perfect any mistakes could cost them their lives.
“I say when we find the wretched sloths we run to them give them a big hug and ask them to pull the daggers out of our backs for us that they put there to begin with.” Crovis laughed.
“Better yet let’s ask them to pull them out then put them through their wicked little hearts, but wait dear brother, that wouldn’t work because I don’t think they have one.” Trovis guffawed.
The two brothers walked ahead in the desert. Crovis was a very arrogant warlock, Trovis was not as arrogant he looked up to his brother to learn his ways, even as a child Crovis was always the stronger of the two. They would have to combine their strengths now to destroy the sisters. Trovis may have masterminded the deaths of Povina and Nevula but destroying Grimelda and Magella would prove to be the hardest task of all.
“I’ve never been in a desert before Trovis. I find the heat quite enjoyable. Maybe after we find the Book of Elandor we should build a castle in the middle of the desert.” Crovis appeared serious.
“No brother, I find the heat unbearable myself. Finally, there’s a difference between us.” Trovis laughed as did Crovis.
They walked on laughing not knowing what dangers laid ahead for them in the Forest of Shadows.
In the desert two of the fiercest evil forces in the lands were about to come face to face for the first time. The witches and the ghouls were about to cross paths, the ghouls who were continuing to head south and the witches who were headed north with the gremlin in tow. As they got closer, the witches noticed the ghouls first.
“Prepare yourself Magella, the ghouls are upon us.” She grimaced. “It’s too bad I don’t have the potion with me to destroy these invisible idiots.”
Magella slowed herself as the ghouls neared them. The ghouls noticed the witches as they got closer not knowing who it was.
“Watch yourself the witches are directly in front of us.” Helmog warned them.
The ghouls and the witches were now standing face to face in the middle of the desert in the Forest of Shadows. There was complete silence until Helmog finally spoke.
“What are you doing in the desert witches and with a gremlin no less?” He asked.
“What business is it of yours ghoul?” Grimelda smirked.
“Did you lose something witch?” Helmog smiled slyly.
“No ghoul why would you ask?” Grimelda looked him directly in the eyes now. “Why are you in the desert ghoul?”
“That would be no business of yours either witch.” Helmog motioned Slothard and Wagrim to follow him. They passed the witches without saying another word and continued on.
The witches went a little farther north before stopping.
“Do you think they know what were up to Grimelda?” Magella was concerned.
“Of course they do sister. We must watch our backs on the rest of this adventure.” She spoke astutely.
The ghouls stopped further south but had a new plan in mind.
“We must follow the witches Slothard and Wagrim they know where the Mystagog is.” Helmog said to his fellow travelers.
“Yes, I agree Helmog but we must stay enough paces behind them where they won’t see us.” Slothard said quietly.
Wagrim spoke up. “I don’t trust those witches they could be up to s
omething, but I agree we have to follow them.”
Back in the Forest of Shadows moving south Toumani and his troops marched onward. Toumani was still angry with the warlock. As he moved swiftly with his troops behind him Toumani forged ahead unknowingly as he did this his troops were disappearing one by one behind him until he was walking alone. He couldn’t hear the footsteps of his troops behind him and stopped. He knew something was wrong and was almost scared to turn around to see what had happened, but knew what he had to do.
As Toumani turned he saw he was alone now. He looked around terrified about what had just happened.
“Who’s there? What have you done with my troops?” He demanded an answer from a stranger.
He began walking back the way he came and felt as if someone was watching him. As he walked he felt as if the ground was getting closer and before he had a chance to realize what was happening Toumani was sucked into the ground leaving no trace behind him. It seemed the leader of the trolls had just been defeated by an invisible force. Toumani was no more.
In the mountain range The Shaman, Micael, and Ovit moved closer to the mountain of the Mystagog.
The Queen Armad and the Princess Fimella had rested long enough and would fly further north into the Forest of Shadows. The great thing about being a fairy was that they could fly and cover ground very quickly. The Queen Armad told the Princess Fimella to take her to the area where she left the Shaman, Micael and Ovit. Once they arrived they settled down on a large tree high above looking down at the desert below.
“I do hope they’re in no danger mother.” The Princess Fimella spoke nervously.
“Don’t worry daughter, the Shaman is a powerful seer, they will be safe as long as he is around.” The Queen Armad assured her.
“Do you think we should go into the desert mother?” She asked.
“No. We must stay here and await their return.”
“It’s very frustrating mother. I feel like we should be doing more, but I realize we can’t.”
“Don’t worry daughter our journey is far from over.” The Queen Armad placed her hand atop her daughters and smiled.
Back in the mountain range of the Forest of Shadows the Shaman, Micael, and Ovit were at the end of the path and the mountain of the Mystagog laid directly in front of them. They would have to climb to the very top which would be a difficult but reachable task. The Shaman decided it would be best to begin the climb to the top of the mountain immediately because he knew the others would be behind them shortly.
The Shaman would lead them, but they would connect a rope to each of them just as before so in case any of them slipped on the way up they wouldn’t fall. Ovit being the lightest was placed at the end.
“Shaman, I’m very excited about finally finding the Mystagog.” Micael said anxiously.
“I know young Micael, whenever you come to the end of a hard task it’s very fulfilling indeed.” The Shaman grinned.
“Shaman, do you think the Mystagog will tell us the truth?” Ovit asked.
“I’m not sure friend, all I am sure of is that he will give us a riddle and we must try to decipher it.” The Shaman struggled a bit up the mountain but continued on.
They had no problems getting past the first half of the mountain although it took them many hours. They knew the snowcap would be the most difficult, and they would have to be very careful climbing it.
They rested once they reached the snow and looked above them. It would take a few more hours to reach the peak.
Olagh and his battalia had moved quickly and reached the edge of the swamp. He called his battalia to a standstill so that they could rest. The sounds of movement below grabbed the attention of the Queen Armad and the Princess Fimella who were resting directly above them.
The Queen and the Princess looked at each other, the Queen made sure they were very quiet as they listened.
“Battalia, the witches have taken Izasa into the desert in search of the Mystagog. Our main goal is find Izasa and defeat the witches who took him. We will rest her for a few moments then continue on into the desert.” He was firm yet positive.
The Queen Armad looked at her daughter and spoke quietly. “Daughter when they leave we will have no choice but to fly north into the desert, I’m fearful that the witches will find them.”
The Queen Armad and the Princess Fimella waited for hours until Olagh and his battalia left the swamps then they too, flew into the desert on their way to the great Mystagog.
The Shaman, Micael and Ovit finally reached the peak of the snow covered home of the Mystagog. There was a cave at the top of the mountain and they could see a fire burning inside, they walked slowly into the cave and noticed an old man sitting on the floor. The cave was quite empty except for a small stream of water and some pictures that had been drawn on the walls. They moved closer to the old man now.
“Stop.” The Mystagog looked up at them. “Why have you come here?”
The Shaman spoke. “Great Mystagog we have come very far to find you. We have come in hopes that you could help us find the Book of Elandor.”
The Mystagog stood and walked over to them. He was quite scary looking with rotten teeth, white matted hair, and eyes that seemed to stare right through you.
“I knew you were coming.” The Mystagog walked past them now and outside.
The Shaman, Micael and Ovit followed him. Once outside, the Mystagog stood before them.
“Listen closely. I will only say this once.” The Mystagog moved closer to them now. “Within a dark mountain there lies a brook, its water will make you look, look you will for the thing you need, and you will have completed your deed.” He smiled with his rotted teeth and walked back into his cave.
The Shaman called to him. “Thank you Mystagog.”
Micael and Ovit looked at the Shaman in confusion.
“Shaman, what does this mean? I believe the Mystagog is crazy.” Micael began to walk towards the ledge to journey back down the mountain.
The Shaman walked over to Micael and spoke softly. “Think about what he said young Micael. He said within a dark mountain there lies a brook, there’s only one place the Book of Elandor could be, the Midnight Mountains.
Micael looked at him with fear. “The Midnight Mountains? We would truly be killed venturing into the Midnight Mountains Shaman.”
“Don’t worry Micael if we are careful we should stay out of harms way.” The Shaman said assuringly.
The Shaman walked away slowly preparing himself for their journey to the Midnight Mountains.
Ovit looked at Micael, “The Midnight Mountains? I’m terrified of the Midnight Mountains. The witches, warlocks and ghouls live in the Midnight Mountains. They would truly kill us if they discovered us in their land.”
Micael looked down at Ovit. “We must trust the Shaman, he has lead us this far, he wouldn’t do anything to put either of our lives in danger.”
“The Midnight Mountains it is then Micael.” Ovit smiled.
The three of them gathered up their belongings and began their trip to the Midnight Mountains.
The witches were nearing the edge of the desert. Izasa was frustrated being pulled along by them. Grimelda stopped walking.
“This is taking forever gremlin. Are you sure this is the way to the Mystagog?
She scowled.
“Yes witch, this is the way to Mystagog. How many times do you need me to tell you this?” Izasa responded with irritation in his voice.
“Then where is he?” She began to look around. “All I see is an endless amount of sand and that’s it.”
While she was griping, Magella had wandered a bit further ahead. She saw the mountains.
“Grimelda,” she called to her. Grimelda was still complaining so Magella walked back to her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Grimelda?”
Grimelda swung around, “What is it Magella can’t you see I’m busy here.” She said angrily. As she was saying this Grimelda looked up and saw the mountains. She grinned widely.
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“It seems you have brought us to the right place gremlin.”
Izasa was surprised that this even existed. He never even knew there was a mountain range in the Forest of Shadows.
“Where do we go now gremlin?” Grimelda demanded.
“We keep going north. We’ll have to travel into the mountains to find the Mystagog.” Izasa didn’t know where they were going but hoped that when they got there, there’d be a Mystagog waiting at the end.
Grimelda, Magella, and Izasa began their climb into the mountains in search of the Mystagog.
The ghouls watched as the witches and gremlin began climbing the first mountain. They would wait until they were out of sight before they too would begin their climb. Helmog gave a victorious smile knowing that the witches were about to lead them to the Mystagog.
Crovis and Trovis were not far from their sisters or the ghouls but far enough where they wouldn’t meet one another in the desert. They continued their journey onward. Flying overhead the fairies Queen Armad and Princess Fimella looked down and pointed to the warlocks.
“Warlocks.” Queen Armad said softly to her daughter. “I wonder what they’re up to.”
“I don’t know mother but we should definitely not fly any lower we wouldn’t want to be discovered.”
“I think we should go a bit faster and try to get ahead of them.” Queen Armad fluttered her wings a bit harder now as did the Princess Fimella. Hopefully, they would find the Shaman, Micael, and Ovit before the others did.
The Shaman, Micael and Ovit moved quickly down the Mystagogs’ mountain and were almost at the bottom. The path was visible to them. They were nervous about trekking into the Midnight Mountains but knew they had to if they were going to be the first to find the Book of Elandor.
“Where will we go first Shaman?” Micael asked.
“We will start at the beginning Micael. We don’t know the Midnight Mountains as well as the witches, warlocks and ghouls but I’m sure that even though it’s their land they don’t know everything there is to know either. It will be a difficult task, but I’m sure you’re aware of this.” The Shaman continued downward until he planted his feet firmly on the flat ground.