The Stones of Talarana I - The Shadow of the Tyrant

by Alessandro H. Den

  He had been clear, very clear: he had made an appointment Dalaethitia Island, where it was a tradition that all the lovers declare. "I can not have misunderstood the time and the place," Mark said to himself impatiently, his eyes went from one side of the terrace overlooking the bay of Selthon while the water clock which was also the center of the ornament the square clearly announcing the delay of the girl.

  By an indeterminable time waiting for that moment, he had dreamed of for months, years, but without a word to anyone, then finally found the courage to address the issue from the beginning. You would be told Lisa and the bunch of flowers in his hand he was the demonstration. He had prepared properly for the occasion, wearing the clothes that his grandmother had sewn by hand but had not dared to ask what they were, even though he was sure, had smiled at him several times while he was measuring.

  He kicked a pebble isolated in the square, pushing it towards the abyss, below which there were only the waves crashing against the rocks.

  He looked back to the ocean, to the sun, he also participates in pointing out the delay of the girl, who was setting slow but steady.

  He let out a long breath with one hand while trying to rearrange the deck of flowers, rebellious, seemed to wilt at any moment. Then, the sound of footsteps alerted him frantic arrival of someone. He looked around and saw no one, then he saw a blonde hair and heart leaped in his chest and throat blood drummed in his ears. Lisa was, no doubt. Went to meet her with a big smile, waiting, and hoping, that she in turn reciprocate the feelings of him.

  Lisa's expression was far from what you would never have expected: she was incredibly worried and alarmed, shortness of breath was not like her, as a child was the fastest of all, must have been going for a long time.

  What had happened was something serious, but it was thanked Leviathan, it was not anything happened to Lisa, or at least he hoped it was.

  Expectations that catch his breath then, quite obvious, he asked, "What happened? Why were you running? "

  "Greg," he began, still out of breath, "he was blocked by Laukros Wessler and his men. Alone he'll never make it "on the face of Mark dropped immediately a dark shadow. Could not lose, not this time, he told himself as he grabbed the girl's hand to lead her to the place where you would wish to declare. Luckily it had not yet noticed the bouquet of flowers that was still hidden with his free arm behind his back. She grabbed his hand, but instead of following it turned in the opposite direction from which it came. Mark was puzzled and planted his feet. "Where are we going?" He asked, annoyed, hoping not to have correctly interpreted the idea of ​​the girl.

  "Helping Greg, they could hurt him!" She said looking him straight in the eye.

  Mark looked away while behind him he felt the hand that held the flowers fall into a fist, closing in a vise stems. In a moment the girl crossed her eyes pleading, narrowed its, Cornflower Eye Lisa had printed in his mind, overlapping thoughts. He nodded when he opened his eyes was already running behind Lisa.

  A bouquet of flowers fell Ocean noiselessly and without any of the few present on the terrace you paying attention, he was sucked into eddies that broke against the rocks.

  He had not noticed to be followed, at least until he found himself surrounded and blocked the road.

  And, once again, he realized how little it was nice to meet alone especially Laukros Wessler and his friends. He breathed deeply while approaching him defiantly, trying to hold back, waiting for it to be the other to make the first move.

  "Oltan, what are you doing here? Do not you know it's dangerous to go around on your own? "The others had laughed, exchanging knowing looks.

  "Rather, what I'm wondering is what do the selthonian young aristocrat around neighborhoods so humble. I did not think that your noble parents were allowing to you, "said after assessing the situation.

  The smiles on the faces of the three who had locked him buckled and the laughter subsided. Greg, with his eyes fixed on a point above the heads of his assailants went on his way, breathing slowly and trying not nervous, hoping that those words had been able to intimidate and curb the plans of the three boys.

  What was behind him did not move, but when it was passed through the second and came up to Laukros it was expected that the next sferrargli for a punch in the stomach.

  "You fool, you thought that maybe we would have let him go? Did you think that your words could ask the brake of our actions? The scum and the rot that pervades Selthon are an evil that must be eradicated. People like your father should not be chosen to take on important tasks, you can be sure that we will not allow that one day you will take the place, " Laukros said as while stared at Greg unexpectedly hit, holding is stomach.

  "You do not know how I want you to take me from my father's place one day, I would be most grateful. Feel how heavy the teachings are! "Said Greg, grabbed the bag in which were stored the books and notebooks of his lectures, he directed against the attacker's face it, amazed, failed to block the shot and fell to the ground.

  The other two were right next to help him to his feet but Laukros, discovered face up to that time had covered with his hands, walked away with anger his friends, revealing a bloody lip.

  "No, Oltan, you should not have hit me so. It was a mistake, a big mistake on your part. You can not even begin to imagine what I might be able to make you, the gap between us is too great. Oltan prepared, you will have an unforgettable lesson tonight, "he said, after which he raised his hand above his head in a solemn gesture while his eyes narrowed and his forehead wrinkled.

  Greg stepped back while in the hands of rival condensed that he had not had serious doubts as to recognize a ball of fire, was to be a mej if not mistaken.

  He stepped back while the strength of the spell was taken down on the pavement.

  "I do not think that he was agile to avoid it, this was just the first warning. I do not feel like it heats the temperature? Perhaps you prefer something more cool? "Laughed sarcastically while the other, holding his hand this time concentrated in a fist, railed against Greg thin needles of ice. A leap was not enough to avoid them all and someone slipped in the arm and shoulder, making him scream in pain and fall to the ground, fainting.

  Laughter and songs in honor of Laukros stood in the deserted street while Greg, helpless and still on the ground, struggled to get up on the uninjured arm, he had not realized that some of the crystals were also painfully stuck in the side and in the right thigh .

  "I believe that the demonstration of your strength and your cunning is enough for tonight," said a voice which, up to that time had been silent but Greg, although confused, he was sure it did not belong to his attackers.

  "There are matters concerning a stranger," said Laukros, clenching his fists and approaching the unknown that Greg was struggling to recognize the position in which he found himself.

  "It's not that I blame people much lower," said the stranger with a mocking tone, then placed in a firm voice but added: "But if you force me to teach you a lesson that you will have to regret, I assure you. I know tricks that not even imagine. "

  Laukros back for a moment, then returned with the torso forward, a sign of a new challenge, not allowing themselves to be intimidated by the not so veiled threats of a stranger, "I am a student of Chancellor Samarlec in person and you can not turn well, I ..." not had time to finish his sentence, the other two behind him already retreated while something strange was happening just a few steps from Greg which, however, could not see anything in the scene.

  Something must have happened because a few moments later he heard murmuring Laukros quickly and with a tone of supplication words of apology and then maybe, a little decent escape.

  Greg tried to get up again, just as distinctly felt the presence of his unexpected savior, at least she could look at him and thank him, but the other spoke to him and placed his hands on the affected parts. A sense of warmth spread instantly seized by Greg, warmth and peace invaded, touching her body like a wave beneficial. It was a feeling ne
ver felt before, strange, but heard it again to be able to move the shoulder, arm and leg without experiencing severe pain. Greg murmured a 'thank you', but unknown if he was gone. When shortly after he got to his feet and felt the noise of people running breathless, he saw Lisa and Mark and greeted them with a quick wave of his hand.

  "They're gone," asked Lisa breathless from running, gettandoglisi neck.

  Greg replied with a nod. "How many were there?" Mark asked that a few steps, he studied his friend in his arms crossed. Lisa loosened his grip on the neck of Greg and the latter spoke: "They were Laukros and his friends. Three young scions bored. This time we went down hard, "he said bitterly.

  "Well, I think you're safe and sound, I do not see traces of bruises on your body," said Mark sarcastic while inside though almost hoped to see his friend at least with a black eye. Would be the minimum for what he had to give up.

  "Mine was just luck. This time Laukros used his magic to strike "He paused, inadvertently touching the shoulder and arm, but Mark realized what was about to say. "And he succeeded. Then appeared a stranger, I have no idea who he was and driven them away and then he healed my wounds. he has moved away recently, perhaps you cross. "

  Mark and Lisa looked at each other undecided, then they both shook their heads, saying that it did not cross anyone in their way.

  Greg shrugged, confused, muttering to himself as he was lucky that day, then picked up the pack, this time not alone, took the road that would take him home.

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