Dec. 29, 2008 Episode VIII - Tranchula Hunt
There are many thrills that one can endure in life. However, not many people consider hunting giant seven foot tarantulas “fun”. Theynore does. About four months after he had joined Kantare and Justyne at Poverty Flatts, he and Joshuel, one of Justyne’s rebellious characters, were hiking out to the Crags of the Spiders when there was a strange occurance.
“Why do I have to go with you?” Joshuel complained.
He had been quite upset about the whole Hunting Giant Spiders trip and really didn’t want to go.
“Because,” Theynore said as he re-slung the rifle over his shoulder, “Jordään was busy helping Justyne with the dinner tonight, and Thoene is gone with Kantare fishing. Besides, you got in trouble last week for failing to help re-shingle the roof. Remember?”
Joshuel only grumbled and kept walking in silence. They reached the Crags around noon and began climbing one of the biggest rocks as to get a good view for killing the beasts. It took diligence and a near scare, but they climbed it in no time and began setting up. Theynore began going about, clucking like a mother hen while setting up camouflage and the rifle position he was to be in. Joshuel just sat and moped on one of the rocks that sat on top. Now, it was not a normal formation at the top of this giant rock, for it had a small alcove, and a few small boulders - perfect for a day of sniping.
It was almost an hour past when they got on top when Theynore was finished. He sighed in satisfaction and lay down. Joshuel got off of his rock and came over.
“What do you need me for?” Joshuel asked with a sigh.
“Here,” Theynore said as he handed Joshuel a pair of field glasses, “I need you to spot for me. No sense in us not knowing if these beasts are dead if we can’t see for ourselves.” He sunk back to the rifle and brought it to his shoulder. There was one of the furry vermin out at almost three hundred yards, but because it wasn’t quite moving he couldn’t tell for sure if it was alive.
Joshuel gasped and said, “It’s…it’s moving!”
Theynore could see clearly that it was indeed moving. He centered his crosshairs on the beast’s biggest eye and squeezed the trigger oh so diligently. BOOM!!!! The shot echoed across the valley, and the report came back crisp and clear.
“YOU HIT IT! YOU HIT IT!” Joshuel said jumping up and down in excitement. He was finally seeing the good side of this.
Theynore only smiled and re-chambered a round; waiting for some of the other beasts to swarm their fallen comrade to eat what was left of him. They did not have to wait long, as some of the beasts began to swarm in groups of two.
“Second on the left,” Theynore said, “tell me when you have him.”
“Got hi…” Joshuel said, not getting out the second word.
BOOM!!!!
The shot resounded again, as the monster dropped hard. The rattle of the bolt working was the only sound they heard for a second. A dull roar was heard, and Joshuel thought it to be the monsters screaming in their early lunch, but then it didn’t sound like it was coming from that direction. Joshuel turned around and put the glasses to his eyes and looked out. He then saw it. About six hundred yards out there was one of the spiders, but it was chasing something. He then could make it out. It was a girl, no, two of them, both looking to be just about Justyne’s age, running away from the great beast.
“Theynore!” Joshuel said, “A spider is chasing two girls!”
“How far?” Theynore asked as he turned around.
“I don’t know, farther than those other spiders.” Joshuel said.
Theynore leaned into the scope and looked at the giant beast, then to the maidens it was chasing. They did look strikingly about his age, but he knew he couldn’t shoot at the spider without possibly missing. He slung the rifle over his shoulder and began to climb down.
“Where are you going?” Joshuel questioned, “Can’t you shoot the beast from here?”
“No,” Theynore said, “if I do that I might hit them. We go in, now!”
Joshuel only groaned and climbed down behind Theynore. They reached the bottom of the Crag they were on and peered around cautiously; one can never tell when one of the giant monsters would strike.
Though she had never been the girly sort who cringed at battles and adventure, or dangers at every turn, there was one thing Isilwen had never been able to bear, and that was spiders. And so when she had seen the spider chasing the young girl she was nearly tempted to turn and flee, but she knew he could not do that.
So she had done the only thing she could think of at the moment, she had thrown her dagger at it and drawn her sword, though when the spider had come at her she knew she could not stand and fight it.
One look from its hideous eyes, and her legs and turned to jelly. She started to tremble and probably would have been a gonner had not the girl thrown a rock at the beast and yelled loudly.
The spider, in a moment of confusion, stared from one girl to the other, and then had done something Isilwen would never forget. Shooting out a leg he had knocked her from the rock she was on and sent her tumbling down beside the girl who had helped her to her feet just as the spider came at them again.
Knowing her long sword would only slow them down, Isilwen had sheathed it, and grabbing the girl's hand, they had turned and fled though everyone knows you cannot outrun a seven foot spider, especially one with a bad temper who has been wounded.
"You should not have done that!" the girl at Isilwen's side panted as they ran.
Isilwen shuddered when she heard the pounding of eight feet behind them and said, "Nor should you!" Meaning she should not have thrown the rock. Both girls smiled then and continued running, bearing each other up.
They felt ready to collapse when they heard the rifle shots. Hope filled them and they began to yell in the hopes that whoever was shooting would hear and come to their aid. However, they soon found one could not yell and run at the same time and so they gave up on that and only concentrated on running.
Suddenly Isilwen tripped over a rock and fell. The girl stopped to help her up though they knew there was no point in it; the spider was nearly upon them.
"Run!" Isilwen told the girl. The girl ignored her and pulled her to her feet as the spider rushed up to them and knocked them both flat and then stood over them.
Isilwen lost all her nerve them and screamed as the beast looked down at her. The girl screamed as well, obviously not caring for spiders any more then Isilwen. It was now bending over them; they could see its hideous fangs.
Isilwen drew her sword as did the girl, though by then Isilwen was shaking too badly to even hold her sword. And she closed her eyes, unable to bear the thought of having to see the spider any longer. Let it eat her, just as long as she did not have to look upon it!
But the thought of it was no better, and so it was that just as a rifle shot rang through the air Isilwen, for the first time in her life, fainted.
Joshuel began falling behind Theynore; it seemed like they were never going to make it in time. He saw Theynore stop, and nearly yelled at him, knowing the peril both those young ladies were in, but he saw him lift the rifle to his shoulder, and then he heard the shot. The spider looked dazed and turned towards them.
“NOW YOU’VE DONE IT!” Joshuel shouted in impertinence.
But as the beast looked like it would charge Joshuel wished he could take back his words. Slowly the monster sank onto its feet and collapsed. Joshuel looked over at the two, and the second one he had seen was already up. But the other maiden was not! He rushed past Theynore to see if he could revive the young woman who, it seems, had fainted. Theynore came walking up slower than Joshuel, and he wondered why he would take his time.
“Hurry up Theynore! Can’t you see she’s unconscious!?” Joshuel yelled.
“Would you hold your horses Joshuel! I will get there in due time!” Theynore hollered back.
Theynore walked up calmly and slid his rifle off of his shoulder. He leaned it against a tree that was near by and walked over to the lady that was still unconscious on the ground. He checked her pulse to make sure that she was not dead and walked then over to the spider. Joshuel continued to grow impatient, but this was the last straw.
“THIS IS NO TIME TO BE LOOKING OVER YOUR TROPHY THEYNORE!” Joshuel bellowed in anxious wait.
“I am not looking over my trophy Joshuel!” Theynore shouted back, “It just so happens that one of the best smelling salts in the world comes from the blood of these tarantulas.”
Theynore drew a knife that quite resembled an elfin blade from Lord of the Rings. He slashed the beast's side and the blood, or goop, whichever you prefer, slowly poured out. He took one of the cups from the pack he had been carrying and filled it with some of this goop. Calmly he placed it under the maiden’s nose and said, “Breathe.” She gasped and shot upwards, nearly knocking the blood cup from his hand.
“Whoa there!” Theynore said as he urged her backwards, “Take it easy! I’m not going to hurt you.”
Isilwen blinked and stared wide-eyed at the young man before her, and then her eyes drifted over to the spider and she shuddered as she said, "I hate spiders!"
The young man smiled and the other who was standing beside her laughed with relief. The girl came up beside her as well and smiled and Isilwen asked, "But who are all of you?"
"My name is Theynore, and this is Joshuel."
Isilwen bowed her head to both of them and then looked at the girl. "And you are?" she asked.
The girl smiled shyly and said, "My name is Ninwaii."
Isilwen stood up as did Theynore. She smiled at Ninwaii and said, "I am pleased to meet you, and I thank you, Joshuel and Theynore, for saving our lives."
Both smiled as Ninwaii added her thanks. "I shall be forever grateful."
Both young men smiled and Joshuel turned to Isilwen and said, "You have yet to tell us your name."
Isilwen grinned. "I suppose I have, not that it matters much, for I am not even sure it is mine."
"What do you mean?" Ninwaii asked.
"I can remember nothing as to who I am," Isilwen said. "All I can really remember is the past two years of my life. I do not even know my real name, but I gave myself the name of Isilwen, and that is the name I go by."
Theynore grinned. "Then we are pleased to meet you Isilwen."
Isilwen grinned again, and then her smile faded when she heard a roar that she knew could be nothing other then more spiders. They had smelled their dead companion and where coming.
Theynore removed his rifle from his shoulder as Ninwaii reached for her bow and arrows and Isilwen wished she had her dagger though she was not up for a fight with spiders. Joshuel just shook his head and drew his sword as they came closer.
The spiders came, though not in large numbers as Theynore had come to expect. The first one to round the bend met with an untimely demise as one of Ninwaii’s arrows struck its eye squarely.
“That should give us some time!” Joshuel remarked quite sarcastically.
Another came to feast on its brethren and met the same fate, only this time at the hand of Theynore’s rifle. The didn’t seem to be coming in the flood that Joshuel and Theynore expected they would, so they had a small amount of time to plan what to do next.
“We should start moving off,” Theynore said.
Joshuel began to object, but one look from Theynore silenced him. The girls were a bit hesitant, but there was no other plan in their futures, so they agreed. Joshuel started off through the boulders behind them, and slowly they each fell back. As they were a hundred yards through the boulders they heard the familiar scurrying and blood curdling scream of the spiders as they came to the dead, and began feasting on their flesh. It took them a little under an hour to make their way through the boulders back around to the rock that Joshuel and Theynore had stationed themselves on top of.
“What do we do now?” asked Ninwaii.
“We get the stuff we left on top,” Joshuel said, “then we make sure the coast is clear and make it back to the Flatt.”
He continued up the cliff and the others followed. The sight from the top was spectacular, and Theynore had wondered a little why it seemed this way. He shook his head out of the daze he was in and went about packing up the things they took out when they got there that morning. The Flatt looked quite peaceful in the morning light, and there was some light smoke curling from the chimney.
Isilwen stared openly at the place. It had a homely look about it and she wondered who lived there. Theynore and his family perhaps.
"Shall, shall your mother or father mind us just coming in?" Isilwen asked almost frighteningly.
"My parents won't care," Theynore said as he shifted his rife to his other shoulder. "See, I live here with my brother and sister, and our characters."
Isilwen looked sideways at Ninwaii who looked as nervous as she felt. "They shan't mind us coming in, shall they?" Ninwaii asked.
Theynore shook his head and grinned. "Not at all!"
And so they went toward the house, Theynore leading the way with Joshuel and Ninwaii coming behind him and Isilwen at the rear.
On entering the house Theynore loudly announced he was back and a girl called back that she was in the kitchen. "Did you get anything?" she yelled as a boy came walking up to Theynore and looking at the girls yelled, "Yeah he did, just not what you were thinking!"
Isilwen scowled at the boy and demanded, "What is that supposed to mean?" while Ninwaii smiled shyly.
The boy grinned at Isilwen as Theynore said, "This is Kantare, Justyne is in the kitchen. Kantare, this is Ninwaii and Isilwen; the spiders were after them."
Kantare laughed. "We seem to just find siblings that way!"
"Siblings?" Isilwen asked. "And who would be siblings with you?"
Kantare just shook his head as Justyne came out of the kitchen.
“Oh,” Justyne said, “and who might these lovely young ladies be, Joshuel?”
Isilwen and Ninwaii both blushed and curtseyed. There was a bit of awkward silence until Jonathan and Jordään walked in. They looked from one group to the other, hoping to get an idea of what on earth was going on.
“Um,” Jonathan started, “what exactly is going on?”
“Theynore can explain it. Can’t you?” Joshuel piped up.
Theynore cast him a look that silenced him and made him bow his head in shame at the remark. Theynore adjusted his rifle strap and set down some of the equipment and began.
“Well, first off, we should begin with introductions.” He said as he walked between Isilwen and Ninwaii. “For starters, this is Ninwaii,” he laid his left hand on her shoulder and placed his right on Isilwen, “and this is Isilwen. They were in a bit of trouble when we saw them, and we helped them out.”
They all shook hands and then stood in awkward silence. Theynore was the first to come back to his senses and stepped forward into the middle of the crowd.
“I would like to suggest something to everyone’s thinking,” he said, “Since Ninwaii and Isilwen are both new to these parts, and it seems they know not where they have come from or how to return, I would suggest that we should adopt them, as you two - here he nodded to Kantare and Justyne - adopted each other and then took me in. What say ye?”
The Characters and Authors convened themselves while Isilwen and Ninwaii stood there, looking at each other in confusion. The small convention lasted only a couple of minutes and when they all stood up they were smiling.
“If you will accept it,” Justyne said, “You may join our little band of ‘brothers’ into the clan of Inkfire. If not, we will give you food and shelter until you decide to go on.”
With confused smiles Ninwaii and Isilwen looked at each other, and then back at the group. They decided to have their own little meeting to decide their fate. Both looked back and proudly announced they would take up Justyne and the rest on their offer. It would be a very interesting adventure on the roads ahead for these new Authors in the Poverty Flatts.
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Dec. 23, 2008 Happy Birthday, our dear twin/brother!!!!!!!
Episode VII - Kantare turns SIXTEEN!!!! YAY!!!
Joshuel peered out the window, hidden by curtains. It was nearly impossible to surprise a Trinitian Master, but they were going to try anyway. After all, it was the gesture that counted. Jordaan was in the kitchen, grumbling. Justyne had put him to work scrubbing the counters and tables. Justyne herself was up to her elbows in dishwater, and Isilwen was drying the dishes as fast as Justyne could wash them.
"He's coming," Josh hissed.
"How long do we have?" Theynore demanded.
"Half-an-hour or less," Josh replied. "Probably less; he's moving at a swift pace."
Justyne and Isilwen finished the dishes and drained the water. Grabbing the dishtowel, Justyne dried out the sink. "Where should we put it?" she asked, holding up the sopping piece of cloth. They all whirled about frantically and at last Justyne just sighed and wrapped it around her head. Then everyone scattered to their hiding places: Josh and Maddock in the apple barrel, Theynore in the rafters, and Jordaan in an unused cabinet. Isilwen nervouly hid under the couch cushions, hoping fervently that she wouldn't be sat upon. Justyne made certain that everything was tidy, then hid in the TV cabinet. Josh was the last to vanish. He made certain that there was no trace of anyone, sniffed the air to make sure that the scented candles had driven away the smell of the cake, wrapped himself in his weatherstained cloak, and faded into the corner where the Christmas tree and other evergreen decorations sat, drawing his hood deeply over his face. Few would have seen him if they were looking for him, and only a handful of those would notice him without looking.
At last the door creaked open. The door was the only thing in the house that creaked; surprisingly, Justyne allowed no one to oil the hinges. No one could sneak through that door while it creaked like it did.
Isilwen held her breath as she listened for the door to close. Once it had she counted to three, quietly, to herself, and then sprang out from her hiding place, yelling with the others, "Surprise!
Kantare did looked rather surprised, but the look was quickly replaced with his normal calm look. He smiled at his siblings and said, "Thank you guys!"
They then lead him into the kitchen where the cake was sitting on the table. Ninwaii and Justyne had made it, Isilwen helping when she thought it was safe, the last thing she wanted to do was ruin her brother's cake.
They all sat down at the long table and Theynore lit the candles. Justyne turned out the lights as it gave the candles more of an effect, and Kantare blew them out. Then Justyne served up the cake.
They ate it slowly, enjoying it. They talked about their past adventures as they ate and Justyne, Theynore, Ninwaii, and Isilwen kept smiling at each other as they talked.
Once they had finished the cake and the others cleaned up, insisting Kantare sat and relaxed. Once the plates were washed everyone sat back down and Kantare said with a contented sigh, "Thanks, that was a great birthday!"
"But it isn't over yet!" Ninwaii said with a smile.
Kantare looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"We have another surprise for you!" Isilwen said with a grin.
Kantare looked warily at her and said, "Remember, it is my birthday!"
"I wouldn't do anything mean to you on your birthday!" she said as she shook her head.
"No," Justyne said with a laugh. "We are taking you to Middle Earth for a vacation of sorts!"
Kantare returned their smiles and they all stood up and got ready to leave.
It was a good thing that they were authors, or else the entire transition would have given them shock attacks. One minute they were in the living room, the next they were high in the air with Middle Earth several thousand feet below them. The ground rushed upwards towards them at a terrifying rate, but they landed quite gently on their feet. They were on the bank of the River Loudwater, standing as if they had just crossed the bridge.
They proceeded down the road into Rivendell. They had all visited Middle Earth before and were known to the folk there. Exchanging greetings with those they passed they came in sight of the Elf haven. The sound of falling water and the clear voice of lighthearted singing came towards them.
Rivendell had been built as a millitary base against Saron, but it was amazingly beautiful: more beautiful than many great cities of Men, and now that Saron had been defeated the the King Elessar had established his rule it was a peaceful place, though the Elves were fading. The siblings felt more safe and peaceful than they had in a long time as they walked towards the Elf city.
They were met by several elves who greeted them cheerfully and led them inside the house where the king was awaiting them. He smiled widely at them and asked them how their travels had gone.
"Well as always," Theynore said as they all returned the formal greeting.
The king smiled and then led them into the main hall where the celebration was to be held. There was food laid out on the tables and, once everyone had eaten their fill of the delicious things, they sat down and listened as the elves wove stories and sang songs.
They felt that they were no longer in the house but witnessing battles of long ago, seeing heros long since dead, and even watching love stories being replayed.
The time passed all too quickly for them and they were sorry when they had to leave. However, they bade the elves good bye knowing they had to get to their next destination: Lothlorien.
It was snowy, but they traveled swiftly through Eregion toward the pass of Caradhras. In their planning for the trip, they had built some light, sturdy sleds which they dragged behind them on when the country was flat or uphill and rode when there was a slope. The climb up Caradhras was not easy, but they made it without injury. Then they recklessly sledded down the opposite side, whooping and barely controlling their speed.
They landed in one big heap at the bottom of the pass, laughing hysterically and shaking snow off their hair and clothing. Packing the sleds into Justyne's seemingly bottomless magic bag, they entered Lothlorien.
The winter there was mild, and when they crossed Nimrodel a light, warm rain was falling. Their laughter alerted the guards, who swiftly recognized them and allowed them to pass.
The lodged in a high flet in Caras Galadon. Time faded as the blissful days slid by. They traveled about in Lorien, dancing in the elanor and climbing the mallorn trees as deftly as the Galadrim themselves.
Later they traveled about in Middle Earth for a long time, seeing too many wonders to record properly. As was appropriate to interworld travel, they returned to Poverty Flatts the second they had left and spent the rest of the day playing in the snow, watching Kantare's favorite movies, and remembering all the devious places that they had hid his various presents, causing the unwrapping of the presents to be spread out over several hours. The snow made the night very bright and so they stayed up very late having a glorious time.
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Dec. 21, 2008 Announcements, Announcements, An-ouuunce-ments! Dec. 16, 2008 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! From All your Siblings
Episode VI Justyne's Birthday
It was Justyne's birthday. Isilwen rushed into the living room and declared to her brothers, "We need to make a cake!" Kantare looked up from his writing. "What?" "Today is Justyne's birthday! We need to make a cake for her!" "What if I don't know how to bake?" Kantare grinned. "You can't be any worse then me!" Isilwen laughed and Theynore grinned and said, "I think it is a good idea!" They hurried into the kitchen and dug through Justyne's recipe books until they found a good one. "We need floor," Isilwen said as she read off the ingredients. "Sugar, eggs, butter, and milk..." her voice trailed off as her brothers rumaged through the kitchen. Once they had them all they set to work. Very soon Justyne's nice kitchen was the epitome of messiness. Kantare was using Justyne's cookbook, Joshuel, Maddock, and Theynore were getting the oven ready, and Jonathan was up on the roof: still. When no one was looking, Thoene added a dash of tabasmo sauce into the batter, and into the oven the mixture went.
***Thirty Minutes Later***
*Ding* "YAY! IT'S DONE!" Thoene yelled to the others. "What a strange smell," Kantare said as he sniffed the air, "I can't put my finger on it." They all filed into the kitchen and removed the cake from the oven. "Is it supposed to smell like that?" Isilwen asked. "Or look like that?" added Ninwaii. "I...I don't know. It isn't the way the cake looks in the book." Theynore said. "We could try it." Thoene suggested, fork at the ready. "Guess it wouldn't hurt," Joshuel said as he also grabbed a fork. Just then, the door opened. And Justyne entered. "Everybody hide!" Jordaan said in a whisper. They all ducked down behind the counter and heard her walk into the living room. "Hello?" she said, "Anybody home?" They waited until she was just in front of the counter, and then they all jumped up and yelled, "SURPRISE!!!!!" They all broke into that melodious chime of "Happy Birthday" and watched as Justyne blushed and smiled. "You guys! Aw, that was so sweet of you all!" she said, a small tear of joy trickling down her cheek, "But what is that smell?" "Um, well," Theynore started to say, "it's the cake we were making for you." She looked at the brown square in the pan behind all of them. She took the fork out of Joshuel's hand and took a bite. "Blech!" she said as she spat the piece of "food" she had taken into her hankerchief. "What did you guys put in this?" she asked as she wiped her mouth. "We followed the recipe." Joshuel said. "Almost." Thoene said, eyes downcast. "Let me guess," Justyne said, "You put tabasco sauce in." Thoene only nodded his head solemnly. Justyne laughed and said, "Well, it's a good thing you did ruin this one, because I baked one already before you guys got up!" They all looked at her and smiled. Justyne got the cake out and she had one of the best birthdays she ever experienced. |
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Nov. 18, 2008 Bio of Isilwen
Greetings one and all. My name is Isilwen and I dwell in the land of Hemlock. I am, what you would call, a recorder of the histories in Hemlock. It is my task to write down all the the histories that were nearly stamped out in the reign of the evil king Ulrich. The main tale I am working on is my own king Theobald's tale.
I have loved writing since I was about in my eleventh year. It is my dream to see my works one day in print, instead of simply stacked in the king's library. I am the eldest of three, having two younger brothers. I live in the Under Forest but visit the Castle often as I work there.
I want my writings to glorify the King of kings. And though I do a lot of writing about historical fiction (it all takes in this place you call Earth) and one main series, an adventure series, Hemlock is one of my most favorite tales I have even recorded and is the one I am working hard at in the hopes of someday publishing.
So, that is a quick look at the author. I do hope you enjoy my tale and let me know what you think! In haste, Isilwen of Hemlock
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Nov. 18, 2008 Bio of Justyne
Ego Aspazomai humeis! Or, as you would say, 'I greet you'. I am (or, at least, I was) a Sarconian Elf. My family was well respected, and I was of high standing. But I grew proud in my immortality and began to look on mortals as stupid and useless. Finally, because of my insolence, I was banished as a mortal to a mortal world.
This is my fifteenth year of banishment, but it is not all unpleasant. I am now allowed brief visits to my homeland, and my writings are their histories, my own contribution to the Sarconian's Annals. As a mortal, I have a very large family: a wonderful big brother, a sister-in-law, at least five sets of uncles and aunts, and I won't even bother trying to count the cousins. I have also 'married' one of my characters.
I am being educated at home as a sophmore in highschool. I spend as much of my time as possible writing or studying the Bible. In this world, my writings would be categorized as 'Fantasy', and they are, I suppose. Exiles are bound to be dreamers anyway.
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Nov. 18, 2008 Bio of Kantare
Awnay Rien, Greetings Friend,
I come from a long line of Trinitian Masters from the Land of Trinity, and have a passion for adventure, and writing. Indeed, I have a passion for the adventure of writing, for that is just what it is. If I told you much of my life, I would be wasting your time; you might as well read the pieces of the account of my life that I am writing right here on this mysterious thing you people call a "blog." You may know, however, that I am a humble servant to the only God Denaru, or as you say here "God", and to my King, Jorian. My companions you may read about above and below, and we have joined forces to make the world of fantasy writing our home, and bring joy to others as we share the word of our Savior. I study the word of the Most High often, and compare happenings in it to some of my own adventures. This has helped my walk with Denaru much closer, as I hope it will yours. Stay if you wish, and see how our odyssey unfolds.
May Denaru bless you and keep you until the stars fall from heaven.
Respectfully yours,
Kantare Bandoine
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Nov. 18, 2008 Bio of Theynore
Asyfph Vlodign!
I am Theynore, also known as ThrillAuthor. I have come to "the real world" as some call it through the strangest of ways that I cannot disclose. The reason is to protect myself and others from those in the realms we have come from. I have come from a country known previously as Prethamia. I say previously only because when I left on voluntary exile it had been violently overthrown by the Nation we were warring against. I traveled through what some might call a "portal" to the country call Silesia. They were in a deadlock battle for survival over territories in the southernmost realms bordering the Lapland. I aided then and in return, they gave me that land. The people living in the region said they were Galicians, and I named the new country Galicia. I became King and ruled many years until I was forced to abdicate by my eldest son. I found another "portal" and it lead me here. I now write to save the souls of others to try and let them know the truth. I write my own story, and the stories of others in these past worlds to teach others the values I myself have learned. As you can see I have taken too much of your time already.
Tanna Togaen and God Bless!
~ThrillAuthor (Theynore)
(Language Guide:
Asyfph Vlodign {AH-see-F ... VLO-Dine} - Welcome to all!
Tanna Togaen {Tah-nah ... TO-gan} - Safe Travels!)
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Oct. 28, 2008 Justyne Kayce Oct. 25, 2008 The Adventures (Mis or Otherwise) of the Inkfire of Poverty's Penmen Oct. 24, 2008 Episode V The Twins
(Episode IV is still in the making)
You can always tell when a girl is being chased by a spider by the high-pitched, nonstop screaming. The day that Kantare and Justyne met, they both had revelations about screaming. Justyne hadn't known that she could scream that loudly, and Kantare hadn't thought that any girl could scream for that long without taking a breath or passing out. Being chased by seven-foot tarantulas, however, increased a girl's skill in screaming. Justyne was so scared that she nearly ran Kantare over, but, luckily for him, she tripped. Kantare very wisely dragged her into a crack to wait while the over-grown spiders thundered past.
That was the summer that they were both eleven. Justyne was quite shy and nervous of people, even those her own age, but she was more afraid of the spiders than of people, so she stayed hidden in the crack with Kantare, peering out at the rocky canyon before them. It was about fifty yards wide, and the rock was mostly granite. Some of it had been ground to gravel, but there were large, smooth heaps that were wonderful for sliding on. There were trees in the rocky sides of the canyon. The terrain would proceed down at a gentle incline, and then there would be a sudden ten-foot drop that must either be climbed down or gone around. The ground was covered in smoothed off granite boulders, giving it a treacherous look, but Justyne had found it easy to run and leap from one rock to the next.
Once the last of the giant spiders had passed, Kantare gently pushed the younger girl off him, and back out into the canyon. He kept his hand on his rather long sword; these spiders were notorious for backtracking until they found their prey.
Kantare looked the girl up and down. He guess she was a little older than he, just a hunch he had. She glanced him up and down and brushed her hair behind one ear. Kantare noted she was an elf. If she turned out to be on Their side, he would have quite a struggle.
"My name is Kantare Bandoine," the lad said, slightly bowing his head. He saluted her by placing his right fist over his heart and then placed it flat on his right hip. Justyne inclined her head and did the same.
"You are familiar with the customs of my people," she said. "My name is Justyne Kayce. Thank you for helping me, my energy was low; I had already disinagreated five of those monsters before I stumbled onto you. Why are you here in..." She was cut off by a familiar half scream half growl that was common to the Giant Spiders whom lived in the land of Inkfire, in which they were now in.
Justyne glanced down at Kantare's sword, then back up at his face. "You are a Trinitian," she said, displaying much more calm than she had previously. "I see the write scar over your right eye. Do you mind if I use your sword for a moment? I didn't bring a weapon with me, but it seems They have counted on this. I usually just use my Gift, but I am a little weak right now."
Kantare nodded and tossed his magnificent sword to Justyne, and they turned to face the Spiders, who had now encircled them. Kantare estimated there to be at least thirty. This would be a good exercise.
The spiders knew their job too well. Three attacked Justyne at once, and two attempted to leap over Kantare's head to attack her from behind. Kantare grinned, and blasted them backwards with two large orbs of rather hard water. They slammed into the wall in a crumpled little heap.
Justyne easily faced the three spiders. Now that there was someone with her and she was armed, she felt much better. The blade was light and balanced as she shifted it to her left hand. Moving like lightning, she leaped about the rocks, sometimes swinging the sword with one hand, sometimes supporting her left hand with her right. The spiders screeched and jumped, but could not catch the slender figure before she had leaped upon one of them and stabbed the blade into its abdomen.
Kantare blasted three more and his legs buckled slightly. The effort was proving too much; he hadn't as much energy as he thought. "Justyne! Sword!" he cried, and the weapon flew through the air landing nicely in his left hand. She grinned as he caught it, and cried, "Let us dance, Elf friend." Kantare laughed and dispatched a few more with his sword, and glanced over to see Justyne disinagrate two. She held out her hand, and Kantare threw the it back to her as he jumped over her head and traded places with her.
Justyne herself was beginning to flag, but this terrain was quite familiar to her, and she used it to her advantage, ducking behind rocks and jumping out when the spiders least expected her. Then she slipped and twisted her ankle. She knew that she could recover quickly, but she couldn't handle the sword at the same time. Standing on one foot, she tossed the sword back to Kantare and, using her hands to help propel her jump, switched places with him, landing gracefully and swinging her legs in an arc. From a sitting position, she turned another spider to dust.
Kantare exhaled in exasperation, and sliced another spider in half. Now there were only two spiders left, and Justyne and Kantare stood back to back and fired two orbs at the same time. The spiders died on impact. The two breathed like they hadn't had oxygen in a long time. Kantare wiped the blood from his sword in a little of the coarse grass, then sheathed it. Justyne sank down onto a nearby rock, and Kantare joined her. Their first fight had been successful.
Now that the heat of combat was over, however, Justyne started feeling shy again. She wanted a companion, but didn't quite know if her decision that Kantare could be trusted was right. After all, she thought, I'm only an eleven-year-old Elf. I'm skilled, but I'm still so very young... She sighed, not certain whether or not to ask Kantare if he would stay with her and a little afraid to speak at all. She nursed her ankle, which still hurt a little.
Suddenly, her ankle stopped hurting. She glanced up just in time to see Kantare's scar sparkle brilliantly, then fade. "You're already weak," she scolded. "You shouldn't do that."
Kantare shrugged. "There shouldn't be any more need for my energy for a while. Do you know why They were after you?"
"They have started attempting to take away my book, and a few of my characters. I defied them, and they sent spiders after me. And why are you here, in this land of Inkfire? There hasn't been a Trinitian in this land for many years."
"Much the same reason," Kantare replied. "They came after me in Trinity, and I was forced to leave. I am looking for some place to stay in this land. It has plenty enemies for my taste, but They are not too close. Where are you going, and may I accompany you?"
Kantare's question was the only push that Justyne needed. "I would very much like it if you traveled with me, although I have no idea where I am going." And so it was decided.
They hiked steadily down the canyon. As Justyne leaped over the rocks a few yards ahead of Kantare, her foot struck a scabbard, and it clattered down the rocks. Justyne froze. Scabbards weren't supposed to clatter like that when they were empty, as this one was. She pounced on it like a cat as Kantare came up, and her fingers found a hilt that her eyes couldn't see. She and Kantare looked at each other in surprise. "An...invisible sword?" said Justyne, puzzled. They walked around the area and found an invisible short sword and a visible dagger. The owner was found as well, or, at least, what was left of the poor man: a few scattered bones, two somewhat tattered cloaks, and a blanket. They wrapped the bones in the blanket and buried them in a hole that they found. There was no sense buring the cloaks and weapons with the man, they decided. He could no longer use them, and swords were supposed to be handed down anyway. The cloaks were too big and very dusty, but they were warm.
They camped near a creek in a small cave made by two huge boulders leaning against each other. Both were hungry, and Kantare went to look for food while Justyne washed the cloaks in the creek by scrubbing them against a rock and rising them repeatedly. When they were as clean as they could get, she hung them in the cave to dry. Kantare returned with rabbit for them to eat and started a fire in front of the cave. After eating, they took stock of what they had: three swords, a dagger, the hunting knife Justyne carried in her boot, flint and steel, a sewing kit, two cloaks, and, naturally, what they were wearing. What ever else they'd had had been lost in their respective journeys.
Justyne, being an Elf, did not need to sleep and so stayed up late reheming the cloaks to fit them. When she was finished, she sat and sang to herself in Elvish. Following the creek with her eyes, she saw and abandoned two-story house in the distance and perked up. Shelter.
Justyne tip-toed over to where Kantare was gently breathing near the fire he had started in the cave. She jumped when she saw his eyes were open. Raising an eyebrow, she walked around him and squinted down. She looked at the bright white scar, and bent down to touch it. Her curiousity was too much for her. Just before Justyne's finger was an inch away from the scar, Kantare's hand flew up and grabbed her wrist. She heard him breath a sigh a relief.
"It is not wise to wake a Trinitian like that," Kantare said. "I didn't know who you were."
"You were asleep?" Justyne asked. "I have never heard of a Trinitian sleeping like that."
Kantare shrugged and sat up. "I never thought about it. I'm vaguely aware of everything around me, but I am also fully asleep. What did you want?"
"There is a house down near the end of the valley; I am sure it is abandoned. We should go there; I am sure it is better than this cave. I already have everthing packed; all we have to do is leave."
Kantare squinted his eyes at the girl looking down at him and cocked his head. "You certainly like long sentences don't you?"
Justyne smiled and helped her newfound friend up. "Yes, but I know you do too. Some of your writings have made their way into the land I lived in previously, and you, my friend, like long sentences."
More playful verbal bantering continued for a long time down the trail towards the house, and Kantare knew he would get along well with this Elf.
The house, as Justyne had thought, was abandoned. It was an old, two story log house with a wide porch that was climbed by ivy. Inside, the low ceilings were supported by massive pine beams. The living room floor was wood, and the kitchen, which was seperated from the living room by a huge bar counter, had blue gray stone for flooring. There was a huge circular study lined with bookshelves and another room that looked like it had been used for weapons storage. The upstairs was filled with several bedrooms that contained enormous four-poster beds. They picked their resepctive rooms and settled in.
Starting from the ground up wasn't easy, but Kantare and Justyne were very resourceful eleven-year-olds. Through the power of their writing, they began furnishing the house, which they called Poverty Flatts, and Justyne began to delve into the mysteries of cooking. Dinnertime conversation usually ran like this:
"What, exactly, are we eating?" Kantare asked.
Justyne shrugged. "I found it in a book. I can't pronounce the name..."
Kantare groaned inwardly.
"...but it looked interesting, and I had all the ingredients. It looks a little like the picture in the book, although I might have cooked it too long."
Kantare thought that 'interesting' was a very good word to discribe what was on his plate, but he decided not to comment until he had tasted it. It tasted...interesting. Of course, neither of them had died of food poisening. Yet.
Justyne looked helplessly at her adopted twin. "I try." She tasted her cooking. "I fail."
"You could just use the recipies that you can pronounce," Kantare suggested.
Justyne's sense of exotic drama flinched at the idea, but she could recognize the sense of the suggestion, especially since she was just developing her cooking skills. "Okay."
One day, during the winter when he and Justyne were fifteen, while Kantare was out hunting for the next meal, of which Justyne refused to tell what it consisted of, as usual; Kantare happened to go back to the cave where he and Justyne had stayed so long ago. He noticed some thin smoke coming out of the cave, and went to investigate. There on the floor was a lad somewhat older than he, stretched out near a small fire. Kantare could tell he hadn't eaten in a long time; he was thin, pale, and drawn. Kantare decided Justyne should take a look at him, and he commenced picking the lad up, gathering up sword and a cloak that belong to him, and carrying him back to the Flatts. Throughout the entire journey, the boy did not stir. Kantare hoped he would be okay.
Justyne threw up her hands as soon as she saw the boy. After observing all the proper female affectations of distress and sympathy, she set about tending to him.
"What he really needs is some food," said Kantare. "Something normal." So far the only recognizable things that Justyne had fixed were Elvish Waybread, rabbit stew, and cookies.
"Now, Kantare," said Justyne, "I've been cooking for us for four years now, and we aren't dead. What do you think I've been serving us? Frog legs with a garnish of powdered hen's teeth and celery juice?"
"Well...there were times when I wondered."
"Oh, very well. I shall cook something normal for once." Justyne grinned to show that she wasn't offended and started cooking something normal: venison stew with a version of Elvish Waybread that was less filling and didn't last as long. When the food was ready, the boy still hadn't woken up, so the siblings ended up spoon-feeding him. Justyne retired to to the kitchen to make medicines.
The care of the lad continued for several days, until he finally woke up flailing. He grabbed for the nearest sword, and it was only until Justyne forced him down did he set still. After much reassuring that Kantare and Justyne were not Them, the elf finally gathered the lad's name was Theynore. He too had been on a quest, but he could not remember what it was. He did remember that he had no parents, however, and so Justyne immediatly made him accept her offer to be their adopted brother. Theynore and Kantare always seemed to get along, though Justyne thought that was only because they rarely saw each other. They were always going in and out of the Flatts, and even then usually at different times. So it was that the Poverty Flatts came to be; indeed, this was only the beginning of the numerous adventures that were sure to follow these three who had taken the title of "author."
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Oct. 24, 2008 Episode IV - Dream or Not?
Joshuel followed his authoress around faithfully, never letting her far from his sight. He had been doing this since she had over exerted herself by turning most of an army to dust, fought what was left of the army, and then nearly went into a coma. She appeared to be doing fine now, but one never knew...
Justyne sat down at the computer and opened up her homeschoolblogger account, drumming her fingers on the mouse while the page loaded. Watching over her shoulder, Joshuel saw that she was getting ready to start a new episode for Poverty Flatts. He grinned and grabbed a chair. It was fun to watch the authors become characters as they passed the episodes around, taking turns writing. Justyne's imagination was going well today, and Joshuel suspected that wild things were in store. He felt a rippling, fading sensation as the story started...
Justyne hopped through the cluttered house known as Poverty Flatts where she lived with her four siblings and their characters. Maddock and Joshuel were stretched out on the floor playing chess, Jordaan was cleaning his weapons, Isilwen was lying on the couch, typing, and Ninwaii was reading. Theynore and Kantare were involved in a deep discussion on tactics and had turned the rug into a map: knick-knacs and odd bits of clutter making up divisions, forts and bits of geography - that necklace that Justyne had been missing for a few weeks was the cavalry line. There were other characters about the house as well, attending to various matters that, apparently, only concerned characters.
After successfully navigating the livingroom without messing up the boy's map, Justyne entered the kitchen, her queendom, and began cleaning it up and planning the next few meals. This domestic occupation was abruptly interrupted when an arrow hissed through the open window and struck the table, impaling the recipe book she had been consulting.
Justyne stopped typing and nodded with satisfaction. The episode was now ready to be sent off. She went to the 'select friend' section and found Theynore's username, then hit the 'send message' button. Soon, Joshuel knew, he would feel that fading sensation as he came under the control of another author....
Jordaan saw that Theynore had just received a message from his sister Justyne. Now of course as he well knew Justyne was not a relative, bloodline relative that is, but then blog adoptions were quite strange to him anyways. Theynore was quite concerned at first, knowing the stress she had been under only yesterday vanquishing half an army by herself and nearly going comatose in the process. He watched as his author's face lit up, and he went in closer for a look. He could see that a story was brewing and so he pulled up a chair and felt himself transitioning into the story, always a pleasant feeling as he recalled...
Normally things did not surprise Jordaan, though there was that one time with the hairy dustballs under the couch. Oh, and that little thingy Theynore called a rabbits foot that was lucky. Of course he'd seen them before, but he just hadn't been ready for that little gag. But of course Jordaan would be startled when he is cleaning his weapons. "I like to think when I clean," he once said to Isilwen, "it helps me keep my mind clear." The subtle "thock" in the book on the table, startled Jordaan in one of these rare occurrences. "What was that all about?" he half shouted, half asked, being how irritated he was because his thoughts were interrupted. Everyone looked up from what they were doing and stared at Jordaan, and then the arrow in the book. Justyne was quite cool and calm about the whole thing and walked over to the arrow and extracted it from the book. "There is a note attached!" she exclaimed in excitement. Everyone stood up and looked at her in excitement. "Read it!" Joshuel prodded.
Justyne needed no goading in this matter, "Ahem, it says it is from 'Your Neighborhood Enemies'. Do we know any of these people?"
She handed the scroll to Kantare and he looked at the handwriting. "I do not recognize this."
"Nor do I," added Theynore.
He handed the note back to Justyne and she opened it carefully...
A slow smile crossed Theynore's lips as he added the last words. Jordaan just rolled his eyes. He knew how devious Theynore could be, especially at leaving people hanging in thin air. He watched as Theynore selected the 'Select Friend' tab and went down to his dearest sister Isilwen. He would (hopefully) also be sending this to Justyne, but seeing as how fickle computers could be it could do anything, possibly even blow up. Jordaan decided to back away and go to another room to wait for another author to be dragging him back to the story...
Joshuel frowned crossly. Justyne had just turned off a very exciting piece of music on the excuse that it was hindering her muse. He perked up as she started another song, but she promptly turned it off. He nagged in her ear to turn the music back on. Justyne glared at him. "If I turn the music on, the 'Neighborhood Enemies' will start dancing arm-in-arm around a bonfire singing 'lai la lai lai...' and so on," she said.
Joshuel grinned. "So??"
Justyne turned away, put the music back on, and tried to start writing. The attempt failed as the music got in her blood, and she started dancing with Joshuel around the living room, singing. She sat down again later and gave the writing another try, wondering why Josh like Middle Eastern inspired music so much...
Justyne carefully spread out the scroll that had been wrapped around the arrow on a side-table, everyone leaning over her shoulders.
"You know very well who we are," the writing on the scroll said. "Meet us two hundred yards behind the gazebo, in the woods, at midnight tonight and give us the copyrights to your books. You must turn your characters over to us as well. If you do not comply, we will take what we want by force. Do not think that you will be able to resist us." The letter was signed with a red 'X'.
Justyne's eyes blazed. "Just let them try to take either Josh or my copyright! I'll turn the lot of them into dust!"
Joshuel started to say something about her over exerting herself again, then decided that the others would probably help her and keep her from fainting again and said nothing.
The other authors reacted much in the same way, although Maddock and Jordaan looked quite nervous at first. Renegades to the core, Maddock and Jordaan did not always get along with their authors, and Isilwen and Theynore often resorted to drastic methods to control them. Isilwen, however, announced that she would not let Them take 'her Maddock.' Maddock, who normally would have protested to the possesive case being used, was very relieved that he was not going to be traded off because of his behavior. Theynore's sentiments towards Jordaan were much the same.
Justyne shook her head at her brother, sister, and their characters. "It's a love-hate relationship between you four, isn't it? Now, what are we going to do about this?"
No one really had an answer to this, and there was a great deal of standing around and thumbnail-chewing until Kantare finally suggested that they hide in the woods that night and find out who They were.
Justyne rose from the computer and went into the kitchen to pace, thinking. Joshuel slipped into the computer chair and went to the 'select friend' tab, handling the mouse carefully. He selected Kantare from the list, knowing where his authoress had intended to send the episode and then clicked on 'Send Message'.
Justyne had heard him and returned to the computer to find the message sent. Joshuel saw her eyebrows start to go up.
Most people didn't think that Justyne had a temper. In fact, when she gave them her 'I-am-getting-very-angry-at-you' look, they normally laughed, not thinking that she was serious. Joshuel, however, knew that when he got that look, he'd better have either a good explanation or start out-doing himself begging for mercy.
"I didn't write anything!" he said desperatly.
Justyne calmed down imidiately. "Nothing?" Joshuel still looked like he'd been caught breaking the law and the unruly strands of hair hanging over one of his eyes only made him look guiltier.
"Weeell," Joshuel amended, "I did tell him that he should write the next part with the same layout that's been used so far and then send it to Ninwaii, but that doesn't count, does it?"
"You're sure you want to subject yourself to Kantare's pen and imagination?" Justyne asked Joshuel.
"I've already subjected myself to both Theynore and Isilwen's pens," said Joshuel dryly. "It can't get more terrifying than that. Now, can you turn that music back on?"
Thoene knew when Kantare was letting himself loose on the keyboard of that strange box just by the sound. He ran quickly to where his author was sitting, and saw that Joshuel was already watching. Thoene flicked his neck, slinging his dense, black hair away from his eyes. Joshuel grinned at him, and all three felt that familiar pulling into another dimension. Their dimension. The dimension in which all the authors and characters lived in a harmony that had a strange twist.
They entered their home: Poverty Flatts...
There was much bustling after Kantare made his suggestion. Ninwaii and Isilwen loudly voiced their doubts of the slung together plan, while Justyne and Theynore argued over which weapons to bring. Thoene and Maddock did not seem to care. Whatever happened they knew they would not be going on the skirmish. All the authors knew how much trouble they could cause, and besides that, they were both a little tipsy. "At least let Glynzora come along," Ninwaii complained when she found out her maid's lover, Hronthir, would not be coming. Some battle in a distant land was his excuse. "Fine," Theynore sighed as he snapped his curved dagger into it's sheath. "We may be able to use her longbow, but she is NOT to be stirring up any type of trouble. At least until we know who these "Enemies" are. Kantare drummed his fingers on the spotless countertop. Justyne was obsessed with order, and he was getting restless to begin. Isilwen bounced on her toes, restlessly fingering the blade of her short sword. "Are we going to leave or not?" she asked impatiently. "It is already getting dark, and the wood elves will be out tonight. Their magic will affect all of us; most of all those from Trinity, and we must find out who these people are before they resort to force. Kantare! Where is your weapon?" Kantare raised an eyebrow. "My weapon is water, and water is my weapon. I have power over that Element, do you not remember?" Isilwen rolled her eyes at her brother. "You will have to duel me one day you know." Finally, Justyne had found her weapons, and the six of them started out...
"Wait, you mustn't stop there!" Thoene and Joshuel exclaimed to a satisfied Kantare. The two boys had their feet propped up on Kantare's desk, and several bowls of popcorn had been consumed. Kantare clicked the Select Friend and chose his sister, Ninwaii, and he sent a copy to Justyne. Thoene sighed and sauntered out of the room to go find Jordaan. His sword hand was itching, and he knew his friend could help with that. Joshuel smiled to himself. He knew Kantare wouldn't do anything evil...yet. But change was in the air, and Joshuel felt himself slowly slipping to Ninwaii's ownership. Sounds of swordplay rang loudly from out of doors, and Joshuelshook his head at the boys antics. What would happen next, only Ninwaii and Glyn know.
“NinWAAAAII!!!” Glynzora bounced with excitement in front of the computer screen.
“I thought we already had the discussion about invasion of PRIVACY, Glyn,” Ninwaii grumbled when she came in and saw the monitor. “Get your own blog.”
“What’’d he say? What’’d he SAY?!” Glyn jumped out of the chair offering it to Ninwaii.
Ninwaii clicked on her message from Kantare and scrolled down the page, her eyes getting wider the further down she scanned.
“Oh, this is just brilliant! They want ME to tack onto this... this...”
“Anthology?”
“Thank you. And I don’t have near the capacity of imagination that they do. My dreams have a better imagination than me.”
“Ninwaii.”
“And besides, I’m not a fantasy writer. I’m just a character! A... a CHARACTER’S character!!”
“Ni-"
”Now look! I’m starting to bite my fingernails!”
“Ninwaii! Quit stressing. Just put yourself in the story.”
“IN the story?” After a quizzical glance at Glyn, Ninwaii shut her eyes tight and sat stiff against the chair.
“No, no. You’’re trying too hard,” Glynzora chuckled. “Let me help you...”
The five siblings, with a few characters who had managed to come along, stood in a distortedcircle in the darkness. Silence reigned for nearly seven minutes as each pondered withinthemselves. Some formed battle plans, others wished to be back in the comfortable abode, andstill others wondered how long thisexcursion would last and when the next meal would be.
The band had been in the forest for nigh a half-hour previously. There had been a scramble of “preparation” for the unexpected until Justyne had ordered everyone to get in a circle, so they could “discuss the situation rationally.” And so had they stood, speechless, until a distant andhigh-pitched “Hehehehe...” broke the silence.
“What was... that?” Isilwen gulped. Then it was heard again, this time nearer and seemingly above their heads. With a gasp, the siblings stepped back as a small creature landed on the ground from a tree overhead . Theynore, standing nearest the being, drew his sword as a message of caution, only to have it engulfed in a long tongue and disappear.
“Too much nickel in your sword. Terrible aftertaste. I prefer solid silver,” the little fellow chattered to a bewildered Theynore.
“Please forgive my companion’s lack of good manners.” All eyes shifted, straining to see, as the small body of another voice entered the dim light from behind the newcomer.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wry-Terz, and this is my comrade Blocke...”
“Wait! That was fun. I wanna go back!” Ninwaii told Gynzora, as they sat in the office again. “I think I know someone who might be able to arrange our return,” Glyn assured. Ninwaii watched as her friend made a few clicks of the mouse, selected ‘Isilwen,’ and clicked ‘send message.’
Then Ninwaii looked up and added, “I thought I told you to get your own blog...”
Isilwen walked into the room munching an apple while listening to Army of the Lord and carrying her overly long sword. She saw Maddock on her laptop and was tempted to hit him with the hilt of her sword.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
Maddock looked up and muttered, "I was writing on my blog!"
Isilwen rolled her eyes and she took the computer from him, she had work to do and did not want to wait around for him to post. she opened her own blog and found a message from Ninwaii. A smile spread over her lips as she read.
"What?!" Maddock was worried, the last time Isilwen had smiled like that he had ended up dead.
"You aren't going to do anything evil are you?" he asked.
Maddock its me, what do you expect?" Isilwen asked as she began to type.
"Your siblings are brave, that is all I can say!"
Isilwen wondered if so small a man could be the one causing all the trouble.
“What do you want?" Kantare demanded as he looked to his right and then his left, Isilwen wondered if he was looking for a body of water, she grinned at him and swung her overly long sword about in slow circles.
“Why you should know what we want,’ Wry-Terz said with a smile. “For surely you got our note we sent?”
The authors all looked at each other and Jordaan glared at him and snapped, “Now listen here you short little man, now one threatens my author and gets away with it!”
“I did not threaten your author,”” the man said, he glared at Jordaan showing his annoyance. “I demanded they turn their stories and their characters over.”
“And if we refuse?” Justyne asked.
Wry-Terz lifted his hands over his head and without warning brought a tree branch down on her head. Joshuel saw it and pulled her out of the way in time. “You do not want to mess with me children,” he said as he laughed.
Maddock scowled and looked ready to attack, he might have had not Isilwen held him back. She waved her sword at the short man and said, “You do not know who you are messing with, we are
great fighters!”
“And you look like it too,” Wry-Terz laughed. “Three little girls and two boys all playing with swords and bows and arrows.”
“We have fought armies and destroyed them,” Theynore told the man.
“You are in trouble now,” Ninwaii said.
Wry-Terz just laughed, knowing that even now his plan was in motion and could not be stopped.
Isilwen giggled gleefully as she prepared to send the story to Justyne. Maddock as sitting in the chair watching her with a scowl. He could only imagine the kind of things she had put him through.
“They are going to disown you after this,” Maddock said as Isilwen sent it. “You will be living in a cardboard box!”
Isilwen rolled her eyes as she swung her legs off her bed and grabbed her sword. “Where are you off to?” Maddock demanded as she tossed on her coat.
“My Miraz board is calling!”
“You are going to fence? But it is snowing and freezing cold……” too late she was gone as quickly as she had come.
Joshuel bounced impatiently. Justyne was taking WAYYY to long deciding where to take the
story. At last she sat down and began to type.
Justyne was getting angry. This short fellow was threatening to take her characters, her sibling's characters, their copyrights and, to top it off, he had tried to kill Isilwen. "Hear me, Wry-Terz. Young though we may be, we are no children. When I was not yet 100 years old, I challenged the entire Sarconian army, and was fully capable of wiping them out. My power, I warn you, has not waned. My quests have been many and difficult, for I am a Trekker, and I have overthrown and destroyed many of your sort."
"I'm shaking in my boots," Wry-Terz taunted.
Justyne said nothing, only looked quite mysterious, smiling slightly, for she felt the Wood-Elves magic began to throb through the forest. She knew that she could channel it, and doubted that Wry-Terz could, for he was obviously wicked, and the wicked could not use this magic.
Suddenly, vines shot down from the trees, heading for the characters. Kantare, Theynore, and Justyne combined their power and flung up a water shield with little exertion on any of their parts.
Wry-Terz's eyes darkened, and he began to try something else.
Before he could, however, it began to rain violently. Everyone was taken by surprise, for the night had been clear. Wry-Terz suddenly vanished, and a figure came through the water shield.
Justyne stepped forward, recognizing one of her characters. "Cartagh! What...?"
The ageless Fire Nymph smiled grimly. "This Wry-Terz is causing serious problems in several worlds. He's trying to get control of them by forcing authors to give up their books and characters. My twin sister, Charissa, caused the storm so that you could get away. Wry does not yet dare to challenge the Nymph's power, and so our leaders have comanded me to bring you to the country of the Nymphs that we may plan to stop him."
"Nymph country?" said Isilwen, shocked. Justyne had told her much about the Nymphs, and she knew that the usually only allowed their own people past their borders.
"The Elves are our friends, and Kantare is the wielder of an element as we are," said Cartagh.
"For their sake, you all have passage. Come quickly." And with that, he teleported them to the guard-post on the border where Charissa waited.
Joshuel wasn't certain about the inclusion of the twin Nymphs: Theynore had argued with both of them. Still, the Nymphs would be a valuble asset to overthrowing Wry, and Josh didn't like him. At all. He went off to eat ice cream and imagine treeing Wry during a bad windstorm while Justyne sent the episode to Theynore.
Jordaan began to bounce up and down as he saw the incoming message. "Now what have I said about you eating sugar this late?" Theynore said as he entered the room.
"I have not been eating sugar!" Jordaan retorted, "You got another message from Justyne! That's all." Theynore crossed his arms and said, "I talked to you about that too. Out of the chair." Reluctantly Jordaan moved. Theynore sat down and began to write, and Jordaan felt himself fading into that distant reality...
Theynore was not quite sure he was ready to trust the Nymphs since they were quite quarrelsome. But anywhere away from that pig Wry was good enough for him, even in the land of the Nymphs.
"Welcome," Charissa said to the group, "We have rooms prepared for you in the city. We are safe from Wry here. He tried to enter one week ago and was quite handsomely thwarted at the gate."
Everyone was glad to hear this and they entered with glee. Kantare wondered aloud, "I wonder how we shall get word to some of the others that we won't be back for dessert?" Cartagh gave a laugh and said, "We can get a message to them quite easily, and we can also bring them here if you like." The group thought about this for a moment and decided they would make a more worthy decision once they had a hot meal and were in their rooms. The city was quite the spectacle, for since no one had ever truely seen the Nymphin culture it would have been hard to describe. The buildings were great and majestic, with the granduer of some of the cities in their own worlds. It took only minutes to reach the Inn at which they would stay, and the setting was what some would call in resemblance to a French Chateaux of the 16th Century. A warm fire blazed in the hearth and there were many Nimphs lazing about the lounge. Cartagh approached the man, or Nymph as they can be mistaken easily for each other, and said, "Good sir, we have some guests for you. They are the authors and characters sent for by the council. Do you have rooms?"
"AW! Why'd you stop there?" Jordaan whined. Theynore only rolled his eyes and said, "Because, if I go on any longer it will become only my story, besides, Kantare is the next one to work on it." He selected the 'friends' tab and clicked on 'Kantare'. His brother was going to have a good time with this part! If only he could see how it was to be written. Jordaan, however, knew what would happen and so he braced himself for Kantare to assume control over him.
Jordaan shook his head to clear the fog. He was standing next to Kantare at his desk, along with Joshuel and Thoene. Kantare was listening to some sort of music, jazz he found it was called; he rather liked it. "Well, shall we enter our world again?" Kantare asked as he started typing. Thoene grinned at Jordaan, and the journey continued.
Several hours later, after several more hours of rest, the authors were summoned to appear before the council by Charissa. She led them through halls decorated with great crystal chandeliers, and high arches. Finally, they stopped before two massive oaken doors that could be opened only by two large golden rings. Charissa lifted her hand slightly, and they opened quietly. Inside the spacious room there was a long glass table. Seated there were seven Nymphin lords. Regal the looked, each was as majestic as a king. A silver-haired Nymph at the end of the table stood.
"Welcome, Penmen of the clan of Inkfire. Never have we allowed any in our halls save Nymphs, but for the sake of Kantare and Justyne you are the first. Please be seated; we have a problem that seems like it cannot be solved."
From the shadows of the room, a rich voiced reached Kantare's ears. One that was very familiar. Ninwaii too looked up in surprise. "If you are looking for a way to defeat Wry-Terz, there is only one way, and I may be able to help you." From the darkness stepped the person Kantare least expected to see: Master Andropholus.
"No WAY!!!" Thoene shouted jumping up from his seat. "Master ANDROPHOLUS is friends with the Nymphs!? That is a GREAT twist." Joshuel grinned at Thoene. It was a good twist, but his younger friend was a bit too energetic. "Oh...we're going to the beach!" Jordaan shouted as he saw Kantare select Ninwaii from the friends list. Kantare waved goodbye to the three as the winds of words misted them away to his friend. He couldn't wait to see them again.
“Glyn!” Ninwaii’’s voice called from the office. Glynzora ran in to see her friend, eyes closed, back rigid against the chair. “How does this work again?” Ninwaii whispered, eyes still tightly shut.
“Huh? Oh,” Glyn replied after looking at the computer screen. “Okay, here we go...”
“But, Master Andropholus... I don’’t quite-“
“Birds?!””Theynore interrupted Kantare with exasperation as he walked in behind his youngerbrother and Andropholus. The five authors had been led through a series of corridors by Kantare’sancient friend and mentor, proceeding the greetings and conversation of pleasantries with the seven lords. Now they stood awed in the entrance of a great hall.
“Precisely,” Andropholus answered as he held his extended palm in the direction of the myriad of fowls flocking, flapping, and squawking all around. The massive room housing the birds, though bright and chaotic in the cluster of wings, seemed to have a rather peaceful air in the eyes of the siblings, despite their present confusion.
Then Theynore spoke again, “Do you mean to tell us that THIS is the army you have prepared for us? A bunch of petty birds?! Are they to peck the eyes of the enemy while we hide behind a bush and watch?”
“Apparently, you have not read up on the class of famegreeds, a relative of the leprechaun, and the creature with which you are dealing,” Andropholus stated with utmost sage. He continued, “They have a terrific fear of birds of all kinds, or anything with wings for that matter. It has been a lasting result from the historic tragedy of distant ancestors.”
“But we are well prepared to fight the framegropers, or whatever you called them, ourselves and with our own weapons,” Isilwen chimed in.
“Ah, but that is an example of a common issue with young writers of fantasy. They constantly compete with their own broad imaginations and soon find themselves excessively distant from simplicity and reality. Every term of excitement and battle is uncovered. I do, however, commend your zeal and bravery in the desire to protect your stories and characters.” Andropholus paused, and looking each author in the eye, concluded, “Now, you must consult one another and come to an agreement on what action is to be taken.”
“Oh, Glyn, why couldn’t we have continued a bit longer?”
“Don’t fret. We’ll go back before long. Be joyous.”
“Joyous. Now I have to go empty the dishwasher...”
Maddock could not believe she was messing at a time like this! He had about given up finding her when he found her on the porch, lost in a book.
"Isilwen! Come on!"
"Not now Maddock, I wrote three chapters today! I am done!"
"No!"Maddock maoned. "Not that book! Ninwaii sent you the story!"
The next moment Isilwen was up and running to her room started her part.
Birds, they were to fight with birds. For some reason the thought had nevr crossed Isilwen's mind. She looked over at the others who where debating the matter and then over at the birds. Maybe Theynore was on to the eye plucking thing, but other then that she did not see how birds could help them much.
"We have to do it," Justyne was saying. "We do not have a choice!"
Kantare sighed, Isilwen was sure he would rather just blast the little man then send birds after him. But he too agreed, and Isilwen knew she would have to agree as well.
They went and told the master who smiled as though he had known all along they would agree. "Then we shall send you back with your army. But even then do not think this will be an easy task, Wry has followers and he will not give up without a fight. You have a hard task before you, but I know you will all do well."
Maddock shook his head as Isilwen stopped and tied to get her pointer on the scelet friend, button. Sending it off to her sister Justyne she sat back with a contented sigh and reached for her book only to find Maddock waving her sword at her and said, "I bet you could get another chapter done before bed!"
"Come, come, authoress! Think of something!" cried Joshuel, as he leaned over the back of Justyne's chair.
"Right now?" she moaned. "But my muse..."
"I don't care if your muse wants to sleep! Isilwen's given a great cliff-hanger to work with, and everyone else is dying to know what happens next!"
Justyne stepped forwards and held out her right arm, which, because she handled her bow with her left hand, had a bracer on it. One of the birds flew down and perched on her arm, which dipped momentarily under the sudden weight. She spoke softly to it in Elvish, then turned to Andropholus. "These birds are more than they seem," she said.
"Indeed," he said as it flew away.
Justyne turned to her siblings. "Now what?"
"Out swords and...um...birds, and TAKE THEM APART!" said Jordaan, waving his sword for emphasis.
"Not so quickly," said Ninwaii. "The Flatts aren't very defendable, and we can't meet them in the open."
"We must choose the ground ourselves and make them meet us on our terms, not their's," said Theynore.
Justyne and Kantare looked at each other and grinned, knowing that they were thinking the same thing. "The canyon," they said together.
"They'll never catch us in there," said Justyne.
"When this become a defensive war, again?" said Glyn.
"Yeah," said Jordaan. "Why don't we attack them?"
Justyne sputtered for a moment. "I...I..we can't. I just, know that, somehow."
"Coward," hissed Jordaan.
Justyne's pent up anger blazed. "I am not!" she yelled, "But we can't just rush into things like you do all the time!" She was very close to Jordaan's face by now. "Do you want to get your head chopped off, GENERAL?"
"You're a girl," Jordaan blazed. "You don't know about stuff like this! I'm a warrior!"
Justyne's hand fell to her sword hilt. "Want to bet?"
Jordaan drew his sword. "Bring it on."
"Oohh," said Josh, with delight. "Conflict between allies."
"Yep," said Justyne as she sent the message to Kantare, feeling rather satisfied with her improptu twist. "The action is going to heat up."
"Kantarer, WHAT are you doing?!?" Thoene shouted as he raced into the little room in which Kantare was currently staying. He was at his grandparents house; already he had done some drastic things to him in his novel, and NOW the crazy author was going insane at his grandparent's keyboard. "Look at what Justyne just ddid," Kantare said, shaking his head in amazement. Thoene put his head in his hands and walked out of the room. "Tell me if I die," Thoene said, and that familiar pulling sensation swept them back into the story.
Justyne whipped out her invisible sword, or so we think, we can't really see it, and faced Jordaan. Kantare grabbed Theynore. "We must do something," he hissed in his brother's ear. Theynore nodded, wide eyed. No one ever dared to step in front of Justyne, especially when she was mad, and now they both had to do it. The two brothers joined forces and blasted the two combatants weapons from their hands. Ninwaii and Isilwen restrained Justyne, and Kantare, Thoene, and Theynore tackled Jordaan. "Look at you two!" Ninwii shouted when everything was relatively under control. "Fighting when we have an enemy on our heels. You," but she was cut off as Justyne blasted her restaints from her with a surge of energy. "She's all yours brother," Thenore said to Kantare. Kantare stepped forward...
"I don't want to hear a word," Kantare said. His muse had calmed for the time, and his grandmother's chocolate cake was calling. "Your turn Ninwaii."
Ninwaii cupped her chin in her hands as she stared blankly at the monitor. Sighing, she thought,“Goof-head. Why couldn’’t he have taken up engineering or something? WHY writing? FANTASY writing! Invisible swords?! What’s wrong with realistic and rationally comprehendible stuff? Wonderful. That WAS a nice looking fingernail...” Glynzora interrupted her thoughts as she walked in. “Oh, yay! More fun. Quit
chewing that fingernail, Silly...”
Kantare stepped forward, but infelicitously so, for at that same moment, Justyne thrust her sword in Jordaan’s direction only to catch with it Kantare’s upper right arm, which was extended directly into the path. Kantare instinctively grabbed his arm as a low moan escaped his lips. Isilwen and Ninwaii each contributed a disturbingly loud gasp and Theynore clinched his teeth as his hands balled into fists by his sides in sympathetic pain for his brother. Justyne only gaped on in stunned silence. “Kantare,” she finally whispered. “I - I’m so sorry.” Then she collapsed on the floor, burying her face in her knees. Isilwen, Ninwaii, and Theynore rushed over to Kantare, Jordaan standing limply, almost forgotten, in the corner. Instantly it seemed, Andropholus was in the midst of them, examining the injured sibling.
“Come, Kantare,” Andropholus said, then turned to help Justyne up with a steady hand. Andropholus led Kantare down another hallway, with the rest of the group following quietly behind. After a few moments, Andropholus stated, “There isn’t room for selfish pride, when a
battle is at hand...”
“Ninwaii, I told you to stop that! You’re not going to have any fingernails left!”
“Sorry. Just antsy I guess. Hey, where’s Theynore been?”
Jordaan paced quite nervously in the hall waiting quite anxiously for Theynore to wake up. "I wish that author of mine would wake up! Four in the afternoon is quite too long for sleep!" Jordaan muttered. "It is not Jordaan!" Theynore said as he yawned, "It is the perfect amount if you tend to get to bed a little too late. Now, I take it that there is a new post my character?" Jordaan just rolled his eyes and followed Theynore to the computer. He felt his world fog up as hey transfered to the realm of the Nymphs.
"Your ego is too much Justyne. You must control yourself." Master Andropholus was saying. He slowly pulled out the sword in Kantare's arm. Theynore watched as his brother's face contorted in pain, and he placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Master Andropholus pulled a small satchel from under his cloak and applied it to Kantare's arm. There was a great sizzling and crackling, but the wound seemed to heal Kantare quite painlessly. "You as a character, Jordaan," Master Andropholus said, "must also control your temper. This is not going to be a one sided battle! You must all plan a decisive victory, or it will all fail!" Jordaan and Justyne looked at the ground dejectedly, for they knew what Master Andropholus was saying was right. Jordaan was the first to step forward, "Justyne," he began, "I'm sorry that I lashed out at you. I didn't mean to call you the things I did. I'm used to having my orders obeyed, not questioned." Justyne looked up shyly and gave a little smile, and she said, "I'm sorry too Jordaan. And Kantare, I didn't mean to throw the sword at either of you, or hurt you Kantare. I was just trying to prove myself. I see that I don't now." Master Andropholus was quite pleased and was beaming wide. "Now!" he
boomed, "You have put aside your differences. Now is the time for you to plan how to defeat
Wry and his allies!"
"AWW!!!!" Jordaan whined, "You're stopping NOW??!!!" Theynore smiled and patted his character's back, "Now, Now Jordaan! Don't make such a fuss! It will come around sooner or later. But now it is Isilwen's turn." He selected the 'friends' tab and went down to Isilwen. Boy was she going to like the turnaround! Jordaan couldn't wait to see Maddock again and walked back to Theynore's room to take a light dose before the next event...
Maddock blinked several times and looked about, he was in Isilwen's room again, which could only mean..."Out of the frying pan and into the fire," he muttered as Isilwen grinned. "Come now, at least in our story you do not have a woman holding a dagger to your heart." He muttered under his breath as he felt himself drug off on another adventure.
Isilwen stood looking at the birds and thinking over the plan she had just heard. It sounded a little rash, but weren't all battle plans in a way? She shook her head and sighed and turned as the others joined her, they were all ready to head back. After another warning Master Andropholus bad them farewell and sent them back to their home. They moment they returned they, and the birds, set off for the canyon, making enough noise and leaving enough tracks so that they could easily be found.
On reaching the canyon they quickly ran to their posts that had already been asigned and waited. The sun beat down without mercy and Maddock began to wish he was back at the Flatts, though the upcoming battle did hold excitement. He looked over at Jordaan who was cutting sticks on
his sword.
How long had they been waiting? Hours? Had to be going on two hours at least, maybe three when they finally heard the sound of tramping feet. Everyone sat up straighter and waited, knowing that Wry was on his way.
Maddock sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Now that you are done, can I rest for a while?"
"Are you kidding?" Isilwen clasped her hands together. "You are in a stand off with Joel, we have to get this over with! I am so close to being done!"
Maddock moaned and muttered, "This is what I get for holding her at sword point."
Joshuel snuck up to his authoresses room, slipped up behind her, and clamped a hand over her mouth. Justyne uttered a surprised shriek as he marched her down the stairs, dumped her in the computer chair, and stood over her, trying to look intimidating.
"What, Josh?" said Justyne in a somewhat tired voice.
"You've had enough time to think about what you're going to add! Just do it!"
Justyne sighed, decided that she didn't have anything better to do, and began to write...
Joshuel looked over at his authoress. Keeping with her dramatic side, she had changed into her own reproduction of Queen Susan's battle garb. Josh had not been overly disturbed by his Justyne's loss of temper. Justyne, although an Elf, had been part human because of an earlier banishment. Lately, she had been shaking off that human part, and it was known that such a change brought on dramatic mood swings. They could be controlled, however, although Justyne had failed to do so. Now her eyes had turned purple and were glowing slightly as she eyed the dust from the approaching army, trying to gauge their numbers, and Joshuel knew that there was no longer any trace of human blood in her.
She exchanged glances with Kantare and Theynore. They were the only three of the Penmen who had powers, and therefore the only ones who could combat Wry and any magicians he might have with him.
Justyne probed forward with her Gift and slammed into an invisible wall. She hissed. It would take no less than five skilled magicians to build such a wall. They had suspected this, however. She signaled to her brothers, then to Isilwen, Ninwaii and the other characters, telling them that she, Kantare, and Theynore would have to fall back and use their strength to take out the magicians while the others went into battle. She glanced up at the ledges where the birds sat, signaling them with her arm. When the time came, three of them would fly to Justyne, Kantare and Theynore to protect them, while the others flew down the canyon with the initial charge. They hoped that this would break the magicians concentration enough that they could break the sheild that was around the attacking army. Once the magicians were mostly disabled, and the two siblings had regained energy, and Theynore had finished his attack, they would act as a small reinforcement group and back up the others. If this wasn't enough, they could always summon other characters and the Nymphs.
"Much more of this build-up to the battle and I will go crazy!" said Josh impatiently.
"Well," said Justyne, "I'm sending it to Theynore, and he'll probably start some action, him being a boy and all. Now, Josh, I was getting ready to go to bed when you nabbed me."
"Sorry."
"Hm. Go get my rice bag, nuke it for two minutes and bring it to me. I'll be in my room."
Josh went to look for the rice bag, feeling rather like a page.
Jordaan burst into the garage where Theynore was feeding the family cat B.C. "What NOW Jordaan? Have you been eating sugar again?" Theynore groaned. Jordaan only gave an impatient scowl and said, "The next part is here!" Theynore put the serving cup back in the food tin as B.C. ate hungrily of what he was given. Theynore rushed up the stairs and got onto the computer. Jordaan felt himself fading into the world of their imaginations as the story took off...
The army continued to draw nearer to the head of the canyon. The birds were getting restless in the rim behind the cavern to their left. Jordaan wasn't sure how much more suspense he could stand. The very large birds were armed with steel balls that had spikes on them. They had a special coating on them that made them able to pierce through anything a magician could throw up to protect the army. The birds were also armored with breastplates and small helmets. They had put down a mark so that when this army crossed it they would signal the birds on the attack. After that it's pretty self explanitory. If they got lucky they might knock out a few of the magicians before the characters, their authors and the small army they had mustered went on the attack. Theynore had a weird look in his eyes, and he reached his hand up. The next thing everyone knew the lead horseman was flying in the air. He was writhing in agony, and Theynore was smiling.
"How are you doing that?" Justyne asked.
"Takir," Theynore said.
"Tai what?" Ninwaii asked.
"Takir, the ancient power I possess. I can move things using it, and I can use electrical currents to torture the victim. It's not really tied to anything natural, so it can pierce the magician's shield."
Theynore said.
"I see," Kantare said, "But what else can it do?"
"This," Theynore said.
He said a couple of words in Altak, the "Old Sacred Language" of the ancient Prethamians, and the body began to shake violently, they could see blood shoot out of the body, and it began to break apart. Theynore set his hand down, and the body dropped onto the magician's shield, disintagrating into several thousand pieces.
"Don't stop now!" Jordaan cried, "It was just getting good!"
"Don't be such a whiner!" Theynore scolded, "I can't continue, it's already too long. I'm sending it to Kantare now." Jordaan folded his arms and pouted as Theynore seleced the "friends" tab and picked out Kantare's name. He clicked sent and then went back to his writing. Jordaan skulked downstairs and waited for the all too familiar change to come again...
Kantare was lying on his bed, halfway asleep when he felt the edge of a sword prick his throat. He opened one eye, not in the least disturbed, until he saw whom the figure was threatening him. Or at least, didn't see. Maud, his muse, was standing over him, and all he could see was her shadowy shape. Kantare groaned and turned over. "Not again," he complained. "Leave me alone! You just made me defeat THREE fallen angels, and an entire mob! What next?"
"Your siblings require me," she hissed, and then disappeared. Kantare knew what that meant, and Maud forced him to his feet. Kantare cast a glance and Thoene and Joshuel, and motioned for them to follow. It was time to fight.
"I assume the shield is down now?" Kantare asked, watching the spectacle with interest.
"It is," Theynore replied. "And Wry is approaching."
"You don't have to tell me," Kantare replied. "I already knew."
Just then, the sky turned black, and a flash of lightening revealed Wry and his entire army at the other end of the canyon. Everything looked very familiar, some old battle Kantare remembered, save this time, Wry was ten feet tall, had massive black wings, and two foot fangs to top it all of. The latter was also dripping with poison.
"Typical," Kantare thought. He built up his energy, and sent his mind soaring into Wry's. Theynore and Justyne were ready for this, and they began assaulting the entire army with their Gifts while Kantare grappled with Wry. Ninwaii raised her magnificent trident, and led the charge into battle, with Isilwen at her side. Kantare heard Wry's demonic voice rumble in his mind as he continued to wrestle with him for control over each other.
"That's IT!" Kantare cried as Maud appeared once again. "You're not playing as nicely as you were last night you know!"
Maud laughed lightly, and Kantare could now see she had taken the form of a lovely lady. "God commanded me to be your muse, Kantare, and he gave me a personality of my own. I can do what I wish, as long as God allows it. I should very much like to meet the other authors muses. Glyn, I already know. She is Ninwaii's muse obviously. I don't know about the rest though." Kantare grumbled and laid on his bed again, waiting for Maud's next whim. It could come any moment.
“Hmm,” Ninwaii pondered intensely for awhile. Then, as a sneaky smile spread over her face, she started typing...
Birds chirped peacefully as they flew through the clear sky above. Ninwaii dropped back into the soft grass where she had been sitting. The long blades tickled her face. A caterpillar began crawling up her hand. Ninwaii reached for the closest daisy, and after taking in some of its fresh scent placed the caterpillar –
“Ninwaii! What on earth are you doing?!” Gynzora walked in, a look of exasperation on her face.
“I was, uh -“
“That’s the WRONG story!”
“I was just relaxing before I had to go into that miserable turmoil that’s erupted,” Ninwaii argued.
“Well, enough. I’m ready for the turmoil part.”
“Yes’am...”
As the two forces rushed forward to meet, weapons towering and aimed at the opposition, the din of orders and shouts became almost silent in the ears of the five authors. The seemingly unbridled motion became as an eerie dream-like swirl. A bird flew past Isilwen’s face. As the creature flew towards one of the armed enemy, Isilwen noted the expression on his face. Though a forced menace of intimidation was present, she could see in his eyes the pitiful abundance of utter fear. Ninwaii observed the happenings of the tumult, not intentionally becoming somewhat of a spectator, but wondering at the professed “powers” of her siblings and if such were really worth possessing in a state of truth. The darkness of the morbid scene seemed to wrap around Justyne like a thick, tangled blanket, and she had more trouble concentrating than she could remember ever having. She glanced over her left shoulder to see Kantare and Theynore side by side preparing to rush at three sinister looking men, if they could be considered so. As she was about to shake herself to regain composure, Justyne saw a large form, carrying a long, jagged, and horrifying weapon she guessed to be a sword, leap for Theynore’s back. Justyne attempted to call out for her brother, but, as nightmares usually conclude, only a whisper came form her lips...
Glynzora sighed and shook her head at her friend. “You’re worse than an alarm clock ringing right in the middle of a good dream.”
“Well... at least you didn’t die or something. Wouldn’t you rather I stop before you or me one gets pierced through by a short little dude?”
Gynzora mumbled her reply as she walked away, “It might be interesting...”
"She did WHAT?" Kantare nearly screamed at his muse. He ran to the computer at his church and looked at the PM. "Huh-uh," he whispered in disbelief. "If she EVER tells me she can't write," he said, and then he too got a sinister thought. Maud grinned; this was the moment she had been waiting for for a long time.
All at once, it happened just when no one thought it would. Kantare sat up with a start, cold sweat soaking him. Justyne fell off the couch screaming her brother's names and nearly impaled the coffee table before snapping out of the dream. The world of Inkfire began to cross with the world of reality and Kantare grinned at the other authors who were gaping at him. Yes, he had finally done it. "THAT is how you're ending it?" Isilwen screamed and drew her sword. "Yes," Kantare replied. "It has has been going on for a long time. What better way to end a dream than like that? Ninwaii just unwittingly ended one of our longest episodes: congratulations." Justyne sat back and rolled with laughter; she hadn't seen it coming, but her twin had certainly done it. She was glad it was over, as was everyone else.
"A worthy ending," Maud said after scanning the end. "Thank you," Kantare said grinning. I can't wait for our next adventure. I'm sure it will come soon."
The End
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Oct. 24, 2008 Episode III Find me a long handled frying pan....
Justyne: *Sitting on the couch* We need to do something today
Isilwen: *Slumped in a cahir* Like cook?
Justyne: No, we already ate. Would you like to go shopping?
Theynore: *Sitting in another chair* For what?
Justyne: Nothing really, we could just go to the mall and look around
Isilwen: Sounds fun
Justyne: Yes! And we can go into Clair's
Isilwen: Where?
Justyne: It is a nice store there, they sell jewlery and such
Joshuel: Have fun, I will wait outside.
Maddock: You can hang out with me Josh
Justyne: But I need you to tell me which hat looks the best.
Joshuel: You are joking aren't you?
Isilwen *Giggles from chair*
Maddock: Of course she is, Jonathan can do that for her!
Justyne: I need advice from my brother-in-law too!
Maddock & Joshuel: *try to run away*
Justyne: *jams doors and windows*
Joshuel: NO! *throws himself at Justyne's feet* PLEASE, my authoress. Don't do this to me, I beg you!
Justyne: *attempts to be firm* But I need your help.
Maddock: Why are you begging, Josh? We can always overpower them and force them not to take us through this Clair's.
Joshuel: *whispers to Maddock* Begging is the best way to manipulate my authoress. *turns back to Justyne* Please, my authoress. I don't know ANYTHING about hats! There's no sense in asking me for advice, how can I give any to you? I don't know what people consider fashionable in your world.
Maddock: She's soft-hearted? In that case... *falls to one knee before Justyne* I beg you, my lady, have mercy and do not force us to do this!
Justyne: *shuffles feet and sighes* Only if you find me a good long-handled frying pan and a package of rolling ball-point pins.
Joshuel & Maddock: Of course, my lady.
***Later at the store***
Joshuel: What store do you think they would be in?
Maddock: I don't see anything that looks remotely close!
Jordaan: Look! There's a food court!
Joshuel: Like that will help Jordaan!
Jordaan: It will, they might have something we're looking for!
Jordaan, Joshuel and Maddock: *runs up to the nearest food stand which happens to be the Julius Caesar*
Maddock: Sir we request one of your finest iron cast pans.
Jordaan: One with a long handle.
Joshuel: Serial number RRF1123575
Kid Behind the Counter: Uhhh...are you guys out of Lord of the Rings or something?
Jordaan: Nooooo.
Kid Behind the Counter: Then why are you dressed like that?
Maddock: *looks down at clothes* Like what?
Kid: Like Aragorn
Joshuel: Who is he?
Jordaan: Who cares, we need a pan, can you help us?
Kid: This is where we sell food, not pans...I suggest you ask Sam for one *Starts to laugh*
Joshuel: Where can we find him?
Kid: *Falls over laughing*
Maddock: Well that was helpful, come on guys, we can find this Sam on our own!
All three: *walk away, and toward another store*
Jordaan: *Reads sign* Household goods, I beat we can find one here
Maddock: *Looks in the wondow* Me too, let's go in!
Joshuel: *finds sales-person* We seek Sam.
Sales-person: Sam? Sam who? Why?
Maddock: We need a frying pan.
Jordaan: A long handled frying pan for Josh's sister-in-law.
Joshuel: Serial number RRF1123575. An informant said that Sam could help us.
Sales-person: *blinks* Um, Sam isn't here today, it's not his shift. But I can help you just as well as he can. *scans the three medievally-dressed boys sceptically* Are you runaways from a movie set or something?
Maddock: No. We are three characters on a quest for a frying pan.
Sales-person: I see. *heads toward frying pan section with boys following* Why do you want a frying pan, if I may ask?
Joshuel: My sister in law needs it for cooking and fighting the Aranara when they come around.
Sales-person: Fight Ara-whata? What are they, some kinda gang?
Joshuel: No, they are a vicious race of people from the world I come from.
Sales-person: *is beginning to think that these boys are cracked* I see. Here are the frying pans.
Jordaan: *examines pans* Hmm...these look quite nice. What was the serial number we seek again, Josh?
Joshuel: RRF1123575.
Jordaan: I have found it!
Joshuel: Oh, good! *pulls out silver piece* Will this pay for it, good salesman?
Sales-person: Umm...I can't help you with that. You'll have to go to the front counter.
Maddock, Jordaan and Joshuel: *leaves sales-person with a thanks and heads towards the counter*
Clerk: May I...Help you?
Joshuel: Yes you may my good woman. We come here to purchase this frying pan.
Clerk: *shakes herself out of a daze and says* Here, let me ring it up for you.
Cash register: *makes many noises and comes up with a total.
Clerk: $55.25. Cash, Check, or Credit?
Jordaan: Excuse me, what?
Clerk: Cash, Check or Credit?
Joshuel: *hands the clerk the silver coin that is still in his hand* Will that be enough?
Clerk: I'm sorry but we can't take that. You'll have to get someone to change it for you.
Maddock: Like who?
Clerk: There is a guy who takes things like that and exchanges them for money. Do you know how to get there?
All three: Noooo.
Clerk: Alright, you go straight until you get to the end of the food court, turn right. Walk straight until you get to the giant panda bear, turn left until you get to the jewelry store, turn left again until you reach the store that says Sears, from there you take the right hall until you pass the main office, then you take a right past the big bar that says HOOTERS and your there. It'll say "Bob's money".
Joshuel: Can you keep this here for us.
Clerk: Suuuuuure.
All three: Thank you! We shall return! *all walk off*
Clerk: *after they are out of earshot* Yeah, return of the kings!
***Several Hours Later***
Maddock: Where are we???!!!
Jordaan: I don't even know. You said you knew how to get there Joshuel!
Joshuel: I did! I just didn't do it in the right order.
Maddock: Way to fo Josh, get us lost!
Joshuel: Well I didn't see YOU two helping!
Jordaan: You said you knew the way so we followed.
Maddock: Look, there is a man who seems to know what he is doing, let's ask him. *Walks up to man* Excuse me, but can you help us...
Man: *looks closely at them* I don't think I can offer you the kind of help you three need
Joshuel: What?
Man: You are kind of early for Halloween, and way late for April Fools
Jordaan: Why do I have the feeling you are mocking us?
Maddock: This is why no one comes to the mall anymore!
Man: You three trying out for a movie?
Maddock: *Rests hand on sword hilt* You want to take this outside?
Jordaan: Let me Maddock *Draws sword*
Man: Wow!! Put those up or I am going to call security!
Justyne: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Joshuel: Trying to find a place called 'Bob's Money'.
Maddock: And instead of giving us directions, this fellow is taunting us. *looks angry*
Justyne: Good gravy. *grabs Jordaan's sword arm and turns to shopper* I'm sorry sir, my brothers tend to be a little melodramatic.
Man: I'll be about my business. *hurries off*
Justyne: *slams Jordaan's sword back into its sheath* What are you trying to do? Get yourselves a night in the jail?! I'll take you over to Bob's Money and then guide you back to the store you came from.
Jordaan: How do you know what store we came out of??
Justyne: My Elvish power. Come on. *leads them to Bob's Money, gets coins exchanged and escorts boys (with many stares from shoppers) back to the store from whence they set out* Try to act normally, boys. *leaves*
Maddock: But we were acting normally.
Justyne: Not normally enough for me! *stomps off very upset*
Joshuel: Not good for us guys. Let's get it right and we might get out of *gulp* picking out clothes!
Jordaan and Maddock: *rub their necks and gulps* Good idea.
Joshuel: *walks to the man behind the counter with a puzzled look* Excuse me sir, where did the lady who was behind the counter go?
Clerk: You mean Justine? She went home.
Joshuel: Not Justyne, the lady behind the counter.
Clerk: I told you, she went home.
Joshuel: No, she didn't, we just left her.
Clerk: And I'm telling you, she left to go home about an hour ago!
Joshuel: Then who did we talk to?
Clerk: When you were here? Justine, the sales assistant.
Joshuel: Justyne isn't a sales assistant! She's an authoress!
Clerk: Are we talking about the same Justine? J-u-s-t-i-n-e?
Joshuel: Oh. Different Justine. Alright. Um, did this Justine leave a frying pan behind the counter?
Clerk: Yes. Why?
Maddock: She was keeping it fo
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