Curse

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:22 PM // 15:22

Every time I finish a chapter I'll post it. Not sure how long it's going to be, but you'll know because it'll obviously say THE END at the end. lol Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Roston Wolfsong caught his breath after the battle was over. “Very great turnout today!” Adelbern said. Roston nodded his head in agreement.

“That guild didn’t stand a chance!” Adelbern continued. “Its members were too corrupted by influence. We of Ascalon’s Chosen don’t fall for that.”

“Well said, Adelbern,” Roston replied. “And like you’ve always said, that’s the important thing – don’t be overcome by the influence of others.”

“You’ve learned well, Roston. You’re truly one of my most trusting and reliable allies. I believe this guild will go far.”

“I agree.”

The two warriors walked back to their secret location of Kyhlo together.

Roston looked down at Adelbern’s fiery sword, known as the Magdaer. He’d always admired it, and wished to own one similar to it someday. He’d even heard of a rare icy sword that had a blue flame. There was also a rumor of Adelbern’s sword having a twin known as the Sohothin, but no one had ever seen it.

“Adelbern,” Roston said, “tell me, are you looking forward to becoming the king?”

It took Adelbern a moment to respond. “Yes, but I am also slightly concerned about how well I’ll fare to my people. I know that my days of being a prince are almost over, but I will take my responsibility with pride.”

Roston was tempted to ask Adelbern if he planned to marry soon and produce an heir, but he held his tongue. Those were his own dreams. He wished to find a lovely woman to marry and have a family. But he feared that as long as he was in the guild wars, he wouldn’t be given that opportunity. Not many women participated in such a thing, as they stayed home to tend to their own families.

Still, Roston wondered what it would be like to fall in love, truly fall in love, for the first time. He had never known his parents, and had spent his entire life in an orphanage until he turned 14. Then, he had joined Ascalon’s Chosen. But he still longed for love and wondered what it truly felt like. He hoped to someday find out.

************************************************** *************************************

Connivia brought eggs into her house in a wicker basket. She set them on a pot above a fire and began boiling them.

“That smells delicious, Connivia,” her father, Gerald, said. “Absolutely,” agreed her mother, Sharla.

Connivia smiled. She was only 17 years of age, but at times she felt like the parent. Her parents were older than most, so much so that many mistook them for Connivia’s grandparents.

Connivia loved her home in Wizard’s Folly, but in her heart, she longed for adventures in other places. She particularly wanted to meet someone special to show her a new way of life. It’s not that she didn’t appreciate what she had so much as she grew tired of it.

But she did truly love her parents. And she hoped to someday find a love like theirs. But until then, she would tend to her parents and live in a dream world.

At times, Connivia would even consider running away to join the popular guild known as Ascalon’s Chosen, or perhaps some other guild. But she truly didn’t believe in violence and fighting. She saw no point in the guild wars. What was the purpose of fighting other people who were in a different guild? Money? Recognition? Or just pure pleasure? So she had discarded the idea of joining the guild wars.

Besides, she couldn’t just run away from her parents. They’d supported her for her entire life, and she wasn’t about to be selfish and just leave.
But at night before she drifted off to sleep, Connivia would gaze at the stars out her window and think to herself, “What is true love? How did my parents know what it was when they married? I hope to find out someday.”

And then she’d drift off to sleep, dreaming of a wonderful man who would emerge from the hands of the gods themselves and show her what it was like to truly be in love.

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:24 PM // 15:24

Chapter 2

A few months dragged on before Adelbern became king and was married. She was expecting the heir shortly after she and Adelbern were united in wedded bliss.

Roston attended the wedding, and though he was cheering and ecstatic on the outside, he was concerned on the inside. Now that Adelbern was king, would he still be participating in the guild wars? What would happen to Ascalon’s Chosen?

But then he realized that it truly didn’t matter, because, if Ascalon’s Chosen disbanded, he could focus on starting a family like he always wanted to do.

One day, after yet another battle, Roston finally worked up the courage to ask Adelbern a question that was weighing heavily on his mind.
“King Adelbern,” he said, “I was wondering, when you met your wife, how did you know it was true love?”

“It’s hard to explain,” the king replied, “but I just knew. It just hit me like Balthazar’s fist. Why do you ask?”

“To be honest, I’ve wanted a love like that my entire life. But I know of no woman who would be interested. And why, you may ask? Because I’m in Ascalon’s Chosen, always away from what would be my family if I had one.”
“Are you considering resigning?”

“No, but I was only thinking, I want my life to be more than just fighting other guilds daily and wanting something more.”

The king pondered this situation. He touched his hand to his chin and shifted from foot to foot before he spoke at last.

“I see. Perhaps, my friend, you are trying too hard.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t looking for love when I met my wife, and then I met and married her. You see, if you try too hard to find love, it won’t be there. But if you aren’t looking, it’s plain as day.”

“I never thought of it that way. I guess it’s just hard to fight daily and think about what I’m missing out on without coming across as actually searching for something more.”

Adelbern placed his hand on Roston’s shoulder. “You’ll find a lovely woman for yourself someday. But until then, let’s focus on staying strong in Ascalon’s Chosen!”

Roston nodded and smiled outside, but inside he was screaming, “Gods show me down the right path.”

“Actually,” Adelbern added, “I have a job for you. I need you to go to Wizard’s Folly and see if you can recruit more members. We’ve lost a few, but not that many. But there is still strength in numbers.”

“All right,” Roston said. “I shall return shortly.”

“No, take your time. Don’t return until you are sure you have no more possible recruits.”

“Yes, your highness.” With that, Roston bowed to the king and set off for Wizard’s Folly.

************************************************** ******

“Here you are, little fellow!” Connivia said as she fed a black bear cub. She smiled as the bear tenderly took the berries out of her hand.

“Connivia! Get away from there!” her father yelled from behind her.

Connivia whirled around in shock, spilling the basket of berries.

“Father, what’s wrong? Why did you startle me?”

“Never feed a bear cub! Its parents can’t be far away, and if you feed that thing, it will come here every day looking for food. And the adults will smell you on their young, and are bound to come here and hunt for you!”

“Oh Father, please. I’m almost 18 years of age. I think I can handle myself against some bears should they turn on us.”

“Connivia, don’t backtalk to me. You’re not yet 18, and you don’t know all there is to know about being a mesmer. There is a dangerous world out there that you know nothing about.”

Connivia sighed inwardly. “Just another day in my life,” she thought. Out loud, she said, “Yes, Father, I’m sorry” and picked up the basket, turned to the nearby bush, and picked some more berries. Her father returned inside.

“Gods, please tell me there is a better life than this,” she said out loud.

Suddenly, Connivia heard a noise behind her. She turned and saw a river skale running toward her.

“Oh, not again,” she moaned. Skales were constantly attacking her village, almost as much as the bandit raiders. They were irritating, troublesome creatures. Connivia was glad that she’d studied to become a mesmer.

She braced herself to attack, but just then, a flash of light came before her and the next thing she knew, the skale was dead. Standing over it was a warrior holding his sword high in the air.

“Are you all right, miss?” the warrior asked.

Connivia smiled and felt her cheeks flushing. The warrior was not only handsome and strong, but actually polite too.

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” she replied.

The warrior returned the smile and came forward.

“Those skale are certainly a nuisance.”

“Indeed they are. They seem to enjoy attacking like the mindless beasts they are.”

Connivia almost slapped herself. How could she have said such a lame pickup line?

But the warrior didn’t think it was lame, as he started to laugh. “I know the feeling. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Roston Wolfsong.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Connivia Nightingale.”

“My pleasure.”

The two bowed to each other and Roston kissed Connivia’s hand. As he did so, Connivia felt a surge go through her body. She felt different than she had before.

“Anyway, Ms. Nightingale, I am actually here on official business of the guild Ascalon’s Chosen.”

Connivia’s smile faded. He was a member of a guild. She knew it was too good to be true. No man could have such good qualities and still be flawless.

“I see.”

“Yes, the king asked me to find potential new members. Would be interested by any chance?”

Connivia wanted to say several things, all rude and unladylike. But instead, she held her tongue and replied with a shake of her head saying, “No, thank you. I have my family to take care of and they keep me quite occupied here.”

She never thought she’d be happy to say that.

Now it was Roston’s turn to decrease his smile. “Your family? You have children?”

“No, actually they are my parents. I’m taking care of them because…well, because they are pretty much unable to take care of themselves.”

“Well that’s very considerate of you.”

“Thank you.”

Roston’s smiled returned. “So she’s not married,” he said to himself. “How fortunate it is for me!”

An awkward silence followed before Connivia shuffled her basket and said, “Well, it was nice to meet you Mr. Wolfsong, but if you’ll excuse me, I must get dinner ready.”

“Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you Ms. Nightingale. And you may call me Roston.”

“All right, Roston. And I suppose you can call me Connivia.”

“I must say, Connivia, that you have a beautiful name.”

Connivia blushed and she was sure that Roston could see her face turning multiple shades of crimson. “Why, thank you. Yours is…”

“Don’t feel like you must reply with a similar remark to be polite. I know my name isn’t the most beautiful either.”

The two laughed out loud. “It’s like he can read my mind,” Connivia thought to herself.

There was another awkward silence before Roston said, “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. I know you have dinner to tend to. Thanks for your time.”

“You’re welcome. And good luck with your…recruiting.”

Connivia hoped her voice didn’t crack when she said the last word. But if it had, Roston said nothing. Instead, he nodded and waved before walking off.

Connivia went back inside, her head spinning the whole time. “If only he weren’t a member of a guild,” she thought. But still, perhaps being in a guild was Roston’s only flaw. Just because someone was in a guild did not make that someone a bad person.

“There might be other reasons he joined the guild other than the joy of fighting,” she told herself. But she sighed inwardly once more. Why was she even thinking such things? It was doubtful that she’d see Roston again. Especially since she’d told him that she took care of her parents. She loved her parents, but she wondered if they were what were holding her back from getting what she really wanted out of life.

She finished making dinner, and when she went to bed that night, she gazed up at the stars as she did each night and prayed to the gods. She prayed that they would show her the right way to go and the right thing to do. And then she drifted off to sleep filled with dreams of a handsome warrior in silver armor.

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:27 PM // 15:27

Chapter 3

Roston had a difficult time getting Connivia off his mind. He’d managed to get two more recruits the day before, which had pleased Adelbern. But as he drifted off to sleep that night, his mind was filled with several things.

He thought about his future, the guild wars, but mostly he thought about Connivia Nightingale. She was a beautiful young mesmer, and so kind. Who else would stay at home with their parents and take care of them as they’d done for them their entire life? Certainly no one that Roston knew. And she was funny as well.

Roston had been afraid of telling a bad joke or something, but if he had, Connivia hadn’t let on. He was sure she’d seen his face fall when she first mentioned taking care of her “family”. He thought she was married and had her own children already. Why wouldn’t she be, as lovely as she was?

But instead, the family she was referring to was the one that gave her life and took care of her. And she was now repaying the favor. Truly a lovely quality.

Roston felt different than he ever had before. He tossed and turned and had a difficult time falling asleep. When he awoke the next morning, he could hardly contain himself and his happiness. He wanted to tell someone what had transpired. And he also wanted to go back and see Connivia again.

But before, he’d had a purpose. He’d been recruiting potential members for Ascalon’s Chosen. If he went back, what would his reasoning be? Would Connivia think he was being persistent? Or did she want to see him again as well? He not only wanted to see her again, but needed advice.

Finally, Adelbern noticed the different behavior of Roston and pulled him aside. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“Oh my dear friend, yesterday while I was recruiting, I met the most amazing woman. You were right; yesterday, I was looking for recruits, not love, and I found what could be the woman of my dreams.”

“Well, that’s very good to hear. But why the long face? You look more confused than thrilled.”

“Because I’d like to see her again, but I don’t know what to do or how to approach her. Yesterday, I went there looking for recruits. I can’t use that line again. And I’m sure she’ll remain adamant to staying at home with her family she’s taking care of, and I don’t want to force her. What should I do?”

“I think the best thing for you to do is go back and see her if you so desire to. Just tell her you were in the area and thought you’d say hello.”

“But why would I have been in the area? I won’t lie to her and say that I was recruiting more people.”

“Of course you shouldn’t lie to her. You mentioned that you saved her from a skale yesterday. Go see that no more show up, and tell her you were doing as such.”

“I suppose that could work. But she was outside yesterday, right there. What if she’s inside?”

“It’s called a door, my friend. All you’d have to do is knock on it to see if there have been any more skale problems. Find the courage to be a man.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the talk!”

Roston waved and hurried toward Wizard’s Folly, with Adelbern chuckling behind him.

************************************************** ********

Connivia grabbed her basket and approached the door to go outside to gather more berries. As soon as she opened the door, she was surprised to see Roston there. She was so surprised that she let out a little gasp and dropped her basket.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Roston said, bending over to pick up the basket. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Oh, it’s all right. I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all.”

“Ah, well I was just patrolling to make sure that no more skale were around and thought I’d check up on you.”

“That’s very considerate of you.”

Connivia blushed and tried to hide it, but she was sure that Roston could see her crimson face. But Roston was smiling back at her, and it made her heart race.

Roston bit his lip before finally saying, “I don’t know how you’ll feel about this, but I didn’t only come here to be sure that you were safe from the skale.”

“Oh?” Connivia’s heart sped up more.

“Yes, I actually came by to just see you.”

He said it all in a rush, as though he was afraid that if he didn’t say it now he never would.

Connivia felt as though she’d faint. It was as if her dream from the previous night had come true.

“I really don’t know what to say,” she said at last, “except thank you.”

“I’ll be honest, I had a difficult time falling asleep last night. My mind just couldn’t get off of you.”

“Do you speak the truth? I actually had the same problem.”

“Truly? I am not lying. I would never lie to someone as lovely as yourself.”

A part of Connivia was worried that Roston was moving too fast, but a larger part of her was so flattered that it was all she could do to refrain from jumping for joy.

Instead, she replied shyly with, “Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?”

“I’d love to, thank you. But only if you allow me to help you gather those berries.”

Connivia chuckled and agreed. Roston carried the basket and she led him to where she picked her berries.

All the while, the two chatted as though they’d known each other all their lives. Connivia felt happier than she had in a long time, and Roston felt the same.

When they finished gathering the berries, Roston walked Connivia back to her house. “Please, come in,” Connivia said. “I’d like you to meet my parents.”

Though slightly nervous about how her parents would feel about her new friend, Connivia mostly felt confident.

“Mother, Father?” she called. Her parents walked out of their bedroom to see their daughter. “May I introduce Roston Wolfsong,” she said as she pointed to Roston. Roston bowed and said, “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Nightingale.”

Gerald and Sharla nodded at Roston. Connivia thought she saw a smile pass across each of their faces. She was secretly praying to the gods that this was true.

“Roston was the warrior I told you about that killed the skale that was running toward me yesterday,” she told her parents.

“Ah, you’re the warrior who saved my daughter,” Gerald said. “I can’t thank you enough.”

In normal circumstances, Connivia would have argued that her life wasn’t even in danger, but this time she held her tongue.

“It was my pleasure, sir,” Roston said.

Connivia’s parents visibly smiled now, and her mother offered Roston a seat at the dinner table. Connivia and her mother served the skale soup while her father and Roston engaged in conversation. She was cheering inwardly that things were going so well.

The foursome had a civil and casual talk during the meal, but alas, the meal ended too soon for Roston and Connivia. Connivia walked her guest to the door while her parents cleaned up the kitchen. She was surprised they excused her to escort her guest to the door, but she assumed that was the more polite thing to do.

“Thanks for the soup,” Roston said when they were both alone outside. “It was delicious.”

“Those skale are good for something at least,” Connivia said with a grin. Roston laughed and agreed.

Connivia looked up into the sky. “So many stars,” she said. “They’re so beautiful.”
Before thinking, Roston blurted out, “You are too.”

Connivia turned to look at Roston and she felt her face heating up.

“Thank you.”

After a few more moments of looking at the stars, Roston said, “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not coming on too strong. It’s just that I’ve never met anyone like you, and I’ve never felt this way before.”

“It’s all right. But how are you feeling, exactly?”

“Happy, calm, relaxed…things I haven’t felt since I joined Ascalon’s Chosen.”

“I see. I must say that I feel the same way. Though I’ve never been in a guild, I still sometimes feel trapped.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But I understand how you feel. I can’t relate, but I still understand. But I must say that I like your parents.”

“I was so nervous tonight. They’re very overprotective of me. They were married when they were…older than most people are when they get married. But I still love them. Sometimes I just wish that I could have had what some may call a ‘normal’ life.”

“Perhaps someday you will.”

“Perhaps. I just need to be patient. I’ve been taught that good things come to those that wait.”

The two looked up at the stars for a while longer before Roston said, “I was wondering, would you like to have dinner with me sometime? As in, with me alone?”

“Yes, I would like that very much.”

“Great!”

The two smiled at each other and agreed to have dinner the following evening at Foible’s Fair. Then, Roston kissed Connivia’s hand before going off into the night.

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:29 PM // 15:29

Chapter 4

Over the course of a few more months, Roston and Connivia continued to have dinner together, and grew closer each time. The last several times they’d even held hands when walking back to Connivia’s house. And the last three times, their evenings had ended in a kiss. Their first kiss was a kiss that everyone dreams about, with fireworks and time coming to a halt. Their feelings toward each other were growing rapidly. But neither knew when or how to bring up their feelings.

But alas, one day in February, Roston worked up the courage. As he was walking Connivia home from Foible’s fair, he suddenly stopped. Connivia stopped as well and turned to Roston looking concerned.

“What is it?”

“Connivia, there is something I need to tell you. These past several months have been the most amazing of my life. I’ve never felt this way before, nor have I ever had a feeling so strong.”

Roston paused, as though he were catching his breath. Connivia’s heart rate sped up and her grip on Roston’s hand tightened.

At last, Roston spoke.

“Connivia Nightingale, I love you.”

It was as though the gods were gazing down on Connivia and shed light on a day cast into darkness. Those three words made her weak in the knees. How she’d longed to hear them one day, and from a man just like Roston.

Though it seemed like an eternity before she replied, she finally said, “Roston, I love you too. And I have for so long, I was just nervous about saying so.”

With that, the two smiled and embraced each other before sealing their love with a kiss.

When Connivia returned home, she realized that she was much later than usual. She hoped her parents were asleep, but unfortunately, they were not. They were both waiting for her sitting at the dinner table.

“Connivia, you’re late,” Gerald said by way of greeting.

“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be.”

“Connivia, we were worried,” Sharla scolded. “You were out with some boy you’ve been seeing for quite some time now, and your outings have gotten longer and longer each time. What could you possibly be doing?”

“Let’s not forget that Roston is a member of Ascalon’s Chosen,” Gerald cut in. “He’s a fighter, and he’s not meant to be a man that could take care of you.”

Connivia had taken lectures her whole life from her overprotective parents, and she’d always just held her tongue and agreed. But tonight, her temper flared and boiled. Her fists clenched and she screamed back at them for the first time in her life.

“Stop it! I am going to be 18 next month, and I am plenty old enough to make my own decisions! Stop telling me what to do as though I were still a child!”

Her parents looked very taken aback and shocked. They looked at each other and for a moment, Connivia thought that she had done the right thing. But this thought vanished when her mother’s face fell and her father’s eyes narrowed.

“Go to your room,” he said at last. “I don’t care how old you are, you’re still living under our roof and you will abide by our rules. And you are still our daughter. If this is the kind of impact that boy is going to have on you, you are no longer allowed to see him.”

“Father, you like him! I remember the day you first met!”

“That matters not. That was then and this is now. I forbid you to see Roston Wolfsong again.”

“You can’t do that! And I don’t care what you do, I won’t stop seeing him! I love him!”

Her parents looked even more shocked than before. Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but Connivia didn’t wait around to hear what happened. She ran into her room, slammed the door, and locked it.

She jumped onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow as she burst into tears. She thought at least one of her parents would come to see if she was all right, but alas, this did not happen. So Connivia fell asleep with tears stinging her eyes.

************************************************** ********

Light beamed in through Connivia’s window. She opened her eyes and they felt swollen. Then she remembered the terrible evening the night before – the fight with her parents, their forbidding her to see Roston again…but then she remembered that she and Roston had confessed their love to each other.

Connivia felt very alone. It was like Roston was all she had left. But instead of feeling sad, she felt happy and relieved.

She got out of her bed and changed her clothes. She would later bathe in the lake, but first, she had to get out of her house without her parents knowing. She wasn’t going to stop seeing Roston. She was old enough to make her own choices, and she was going to do so. She loved Roston, and no one could stand in the way of that.

Connivia reached for the lock on her door, but she stopped when she heard strange noises coming from the other side. She put her ear to the door and listened. She discovered that the noise was someone crying.

Her mother was on the other side of the door crying to her father, who was, from the sound of it, pacing back and forth across the floor.

“I don’t want to do this any more than you do,” her father was saying. “But if she’s going to treat us with such disrespect and take advantage of us allowing her to go to dinner with this boy by showing up later every time she goes out, then she doesn’t need to see Roston.”

Through her sniffles, Sharla said, “But think of how you’d feel if you were deprived of the one you love. Face it, Connivia’s taken care of us more than we’ve taken care of her for the past several years. We’re not getting any younger, and neither is she. She needs to start a life of her own.”

Now it sounded like her father was crying. Through his sobs, he said, “She’s my little girl. She always will be. I don’t want to let her go.”

Now the two cried in unison. Connivia began to tear up as well. So that’s why her father didn’t want her to see Roston – he was afraid of losing her forever. But Connivia wouldn’t let that happen.

She unlocked her door, opened it, and went out into the family room. Her parents looked up and tried to hide their tears.

“Don’t hide your feelings,” she said to them. “I heard everything that was just said.”

“Oh, dear,” her mother said, “it wasn’t meant for you to hear.”

“I know, but I’m glad that I did hear it. Now I know why you don’t want me to be with Roston.”

Her father stood up and walked toward her. “Daughter,” he said, “I am quite fond of Roston. You’re right, I do like him. And I think he’s good for you. I just fear that…”

“Don’t worry, Father. You’ll never lose me. I don’t care what happens in my life, you’re my parents and I love you both dearly. There is nothing that can take me away from you.”

“Oh I’m so relieved to hear that. Your mother and I both only wish for you to be happy.”

Connivia’s tears finally came as she jumped into her father’s arms and said, “Thank you.”

Her mother joined in the group hug, and the three were crying a chorus. At last, the group hug dissolved and Connivia’s mother said, “Go find Roston. You two are meant for each other, I can feel it.”

Connivia’s face lit up and she gave her parents one last hug before dashing out her front door and sprinting to Ascalon City.

************************************************** ********

Roston wiped the sweat off his brow. “That was some rigid training!” he said to Adelbern who was next to him.

Adelbern chuckled and said, “Yes, but it’s always good to be fully trained. You never know when these skills may come in handy.”

“And I thought Warmaster Grast was difficult!”

“Oh, Devona takes after her father, so she could probably teach you a few things herself.”

“Ah, I know her father. I know what you mean.”

The two warriors chuckled.

“Roston!” a voice suddenly shouted from behind them. The two men turned around, and there was Connivia running toward them.

“Connivia!” Roston shouted back and ran down the steps to meet his love. He swept Connivia up into his arms in a warm embrace. Then he set her down and asked with genuine concern, “Are you all right?”

Connivia was out of breath, but through her panting she said, “Yes, I’m fine. I need to talk to you. I have so much to tell you!”

“I certainly hope this is good.”

“Oh, it is!”

“All right. Excuse me, Your Highness,” he said to Adelbern, who nodded.

Roston and Connivia walked to the waterfalls in Lakeside County’s town of Ashford before Connivia finally explained what had transpired the night before. When she finished, Roston could only stare.

“If I’m causing a problem between you and your parents,” he said, “I don’t want that to happen.”

“No, that’s not it. There is no problem. My father is just afraid of losing me, an he wishes I could be his little girl forever. But everyone knows that can’t be.”

Roston pondered this before taking Connivia’s hand in his. “I love you so much,” he said.

“I know, and I love you too.”

“Will you do something for me, Connivia?”

“Anything.”

Roston took a deep breath and exhaled before getting down on one knee and asking the question he’d wanted to ask for so long.

“Will you marry me?”

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:31 PM // 15:31

Chapter 5

The wedding was scheduled to be in October. Roston and Connivia were so ecstatic. As soon as Roston had popped the question, Connivia had burst into tears of joy and gladly accepted.

The two then walked to Connivia’s house and told her parents the happy news. Connivia was partly afraid that her parents would object, but to her surprise and happiness, they did not. They congratulated them both and gave them each hugs. The next person to tell was King Adelbern.

The king congratulated the couple as well, but he couldn’t refrain from asking, “Roston, does this mean that you are resigning from Ascalon’s Chosen?”

Roston looked at Connivia. They’d had this discussion before, and Connivia had said that it was Roston’s choice to make. But Roston had already considered this. He hadn’t truly been happy while in the guild. What he’d always wanted was to find a woman like Connivia, and now she was to be his future wife. The decision was a no-brainer.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “If I’m to be married, I want to be able to stay at home with my wife and take care of her. But it’s been an honor to be in your guild.”

Adelbern nodded. “I thought as much. It has been an honor to have you in my guild. Congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you sir,” Roston and Connivia said in unison. Then, they went for a romantic stroll through Lakeside County.

************************************************** ********

It was now July, and Roston and Connivia were counting down the days until they were to be joined in matrimony.

But Connivia was faced with a large burden – her parents had both fallen ill. They seemed to become susceptible to the same disease, but no one was sure what it was. Monks were at a loss as to how to cure it, but they said it was something they’d never seen before.

Gerald and Sharla were having difficulty sleeping at night, coughing up blood, and couldn’t keep food down. Roston helped his future wife take care of her parents, but they seemed to be getting worse every day.

Finally, one devastatingly sad day in August, Gerald and Sharla Nightingale passed away. Monks believed the cause was old age, as was their symptoms. Connivia’s heart was filled deeply with sadness, and though Roston was there to comfort her, all she could think about was how her father was afraid of losing his little girl, and how he’d have to walk her down the aisle and give her away on that big day in October.

Her parents wanted so badly to attend her wedding, and now they would be unable to. Several guests had already been invited, but the people Connivia really cared about attending were gone.

She got down on her knees and begged the gods, asking why they took her parents, and if they could only be allowed to live until after her wedding. But in her heart, she knew that this would do no good. The gods made their decision, and there was nothing more she could do about it.

But Connivia still couldn’t understand why her parents both lost their lives in the same manner on the same day. Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps it was planned that way from the beginning. But Connivia knew that if she were to suffer the same fate some day, she’d want to die with her husband by her side. She didn’t want to leave him alone in the world, nor did she want to be left alone without Roston.

************************************************** ********

The big day of October 17 had finally arrived. Roston stood proud below the statue of Dwayna in Ashford Abbey as Connivia walked alone toward him. She was offered a replacement for her father to escort her, but she’d declined. She would rather make the walk alone than with a stand-in father. No one could take the place of her parents.

When Connivia arrived at Roston’s side, the two smiled at each other. It had been three months since Connivia’s parents’ passing, but she still missed them greatly. She especially missed them today. Roston felt his love’s pain and he was there for her whenever she needed him. And he would continue to be for the remainder of their lives.

“Roston Wolfsong,” said the monk, “do you promise to take Connivia Nightingale as your lawfully wedded wife, to halve and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Connivia Nightingale, do you promise to take Roston Wolfsong as your lawfully wedded husband, to halve and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“You may kiss the bride.”

The couple touched their lips together and once again saw fireworks just as they had the first time they’d kissed.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mr. and Mrs. Wolfsong!”

The crowd roared and cheered as Roston and Connivia embraced each other and walked out of the abbey. They ran to Wizard’s Folly and Connivia’s house, where they would now reside, and lay down on the bed together.

“I love you so much, Roston,” Connivia said in tears.

“And I love you. I will always be there for you.”

The two embraced each other and kissed again. Then, they got started on forming their own family.

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Chapter 6

Three years passed and Roston and Connivia had not yet been blessed with a child. They’d begun to pray after the first six month when Connivia had not yet confirmed that she was carrying a child.

King Adelbern had a son of his own the day before. The new prince’s name was Rurik. The entire kingdom journeyed to pay their respects. Rurik was now one year old. Though Roston and Connivia were happy to have an heir to the Ascalon throne, they were saddened that they still had no child of their own.

At times, the couple worried that they would be unable to have a child, but they kept hoping for one someday.

************************************************** ********

One morning in January, Connivia awoke feeling strange and different. She also felt somewhat ill. She stumbled out of bed and felt her dinner from the previous night come up.

Roston sat up in bed, fully alert and deeply concerned.

“Connivia, are you all right?” he asked with alarm.

Connivia wiped her mouth and said, “Yes dear, I’m not sure what came over me. Perhaps dinner from last night just didn’t agree with me.”

“We’ve had bear steak a million times before. Certainly it’s something different.”

“Perhaps. But I’m not too concerned about it. I’ll be fine.”

Roston climbed out of bed and held his wife in his arms. “There, there,” he said. “Whatever it is, I shall take care of you.”

“Thank you, darling.”

The couple kissed and Connivia sat back down on the bed. Roston took the initiative to cook breakfast for his wife for once. He would do this on certain or special occasions, or when she was ill. But he truly didn’t mind. It made him feel better about himself and more like a husband.

For the next few days, Roston would occasionally go out hunting for food while Connivia stayed at home. But the same incidents continued to occur. She began pondering what could be causing this when the answer suddenly struck her. It was obvious that this wasn’t some new or rare disease that she had become susceptible to. Instead, it was what she and Roston had been praying for for the past ten years; Connivia was pregnant.

Tears of joy filled her eyes as she sat down on the bed with a large smile on her face. Roston then came back inside carrying the corpses of several skale.

“I still love my skale soup,” he said as he set them on the floor. “It reminds me of the first meal we had together.”

Then he saw Connivia sitting on the bed smiling up at him. He rushed over to her.

“Are you all right, Connivia?”

“Yes, dear. I’m more all right now than I’ve ever been. I know now why I have been so ill lately.”

“Do you? How do you know?”

“It’s a feeling I have and the only explanation. And it’s actually not an illness but a blessing.”

“Oh? Please, tell me what it is.”

“Roston darling, the gods have answered our prayers after ten years.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes. I’m pregnant.”

Roston smiled as big as his wife before he swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “This makes me so happy and proud!” he said.

Connivia hugged her husband tightly, but then a thought struck her mind. Her smiled faded slightly, and Roston noticed.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s just that, we’ve been praying for ten years for a child and now we’re finally expecting one. But ten years has been a long time. We’re not young anymore. Do you think we can raise a child?”

“Darling, we may not be as young as we used to be, or as young as we were when we hoped we’d be blessed with a child, but we’re not too elderly to care for one. I don’t think we can raise a child; I know we can.”

“You’re right. You always know just what to say to ease my mind.”

“Of course. It’s my job as a husband.”

The couple laughed before embracing each other again.

“Come,” Roston said. “I believe a celebration is in order. And we can start by telling the king himself.”

“What a splendid idea! I’m ready.”

And with that, the couple walked hand in hand to Ascalon City to share their exciting news.

Tender Wolf · May 23, 2008, 03:33 PM // 15:33

Chapter 7

Everyone was thrilled to hear the news of Connivia’s pregnancy. A baby shower was held and several gifts were given. Several people asked the couple if they hoped for a boy or a girl, but neither of them had a preference. All they wanted was for their child to be healthy.

King Adelbern attended the baby shower as well. His wife had died earlier in the year, so he brought young Prince Rurik with him. The king suggested to his old friend that he give his child something meaningful like he did with his son.

“What do you mean?”

“I know that you admire my sword, Roston. And you know that there is a similar sword to it but no one knows of it. That will change when Rurik here is old enough to wield a sword.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“My sword has a twin, if you will. My sword is called the Magdaer, but there is a second sword that shares its appearance and powers. It is known as the Sohothin, and it will be Rurik’s someday. Perhaps you should do the same with your future child.”

Roston pondered this idea, but in his heart he didn’t like it. He felt that Adelbern was forcing his young child to fight when he may not want to. Even though Rurik was to be the king someday, he shouldn’t be forced into combat if he didn’t desire to.

But Roston didn’t say this aloud. Instead, he nodded and thanked Adelbern for his suggestion. He glanced at Connivia and could tell that she was thinking the same thing.

But inside, both Roston and Connivia knew that all they wanted for their future child was to be happy and safe. Other than that, it mattered not.

************************************************** ********

On September 11, Connivia felt both pain and relief. “Roston,” she said gasping, “it’s time.”

Roston knew nothing about delivering an infant, but his wife had assured him that when the time came, she’d know what to do.

So Roston grabbed some extra blankets and placed them on the bed beside Connivia. After a few more hours, the sound of a newborn crying could be heard throughout Wizard’s Folly.

“Roston,” Connivia said happily, “come look at our daughter.”

Roston smiled and felt himself tearing up. “She’s so beautiful,” he said. “What should we call her?”

“I’ve always been partial to the name Teia.”

“Well, that is an interesting name, but I’ve always liked Ceyra.”

“Perhaps we could give her a name that combines the two?”

“I like that idea. Hmm…”

The two pondered for a while, but they couldn’t seem to find the perfect name that combined their two ideas. But at last, Roston came up with the perfect name.

“I have it! What about Keiondra?”

“Oh, that’s a beautiful name! It fits her very well.”

“Keiondra it is. Keiondra Wolfsong.”

Upon hearing this name, the infant awoke and made goo-goo noises as if to say “thank you.”

Roston and Connivia laughed and they each placed a kiss on top of their child’s head. They each took turns holding their daughter before placing her into the cradle that Roston had carved. Then, the Wolfsong family drifted off to sleep together.

Tender Wolf · May 30, 2008, 02:31 AM // 02:31

Chapter 8

Taking care of an infant was no simple task. Roston and Connivia found that out right away. But even in the most frustrating situations, they were very grateful to have had their prayers to the gods answered after ten years.

Keiondra grew quickly. Roston was glad that he’d made the cradle larger than most. That way, as Keiondra grew, she could remain in the same cradle without being uncomfortable or outgrowing it.

But Roston knew that as his daughter grew older, he would eventually have to let her have a bed of her own. He’d already begun carving it.

************************************************** ********

Eight years later, Keiondra was playing outside when she saw a bow protruding from the ground. Curious, she went over and picked it up. There was an arrow next to it. She placed the arrow on the bow string and took aim. She was aiming for a nearby tree trunk. She managed to graze the side of it and chip off some bark, but she didn’t actually hit the tree trunk in the center.

“Keiondra, what are you doing?” her father asked from behind her.

Keiondra turned and smiled as she pointed to the tree. “I just found this bow with an arrow and I shot at the tree. I hit it, too!”

“That’s great! But be careful, I don’t want you to get hurt. How did you know how to use a bow?”

“I’ve seen people using them. Daddy, I want to be a ranger when I grow up.”

“I think that would be great for you! But you can’t begin your training until you’re 13.”

Keiondra’s face fell. “Could you teach me, Daddy? Or could Mommy?”

“Well we’d both love to, but we don’t know anything about being a ranger. You’d have to talk to a professional for that.”

“Can I still practice every day?”

“As long as you’re careful and one of us is watching you, I don’t see why not.”

“Thank you Daddy!”

Keiondra threw her arms around her father’s legs happily. Roston picked up his daughter and swung her around. “Wee!” she cried.

Then, Roston put Keiondra on his shoulders and carried her back inside. All the while, Keiondra clutched the bow.

When they got back inside, Connivia was preparing a lunch consisting of worm husks. She did a doubletake when she saw her daughter holding a bow in her hand.

“Keiondra, what are you doing with that?”

“Daddy said I could practice to be a ranger as long as one of you watches me. I found this and an arrow and I hit a tree! I want to be a ranger when I grow up!”

“I see. Your daddy said you could practice now, did he? Darling, it’s going to be a while before you grow up. Perhaps you should just wait until you’re 13, when you can officially begin proper training.”

“But Mommy! That’s not fair! Daddy said…”

“I know what your daddy said, but he should have talked to me first.”

Roston set Keiondra down and put his hands up. “Now, now Connivia, don’t worry. Many children are starting to know what they want to study as they get older. I see no problem with this. Besides, the sooner she starts, the more knowledgeable she’ll be.”

“I just wish you would have talked it over with me first.”

“Why? Would you have refused the idea?”

“Of course I would have! Keiondra is only eight years old!”

And so began another quarrel between Keiondra’s parents. Keiondra went into her bedroom, carrying the bow with her. She sat on the bed that her father had carved for her and that she’d begun using at three years old and gazed down at the bow in her hand.

There was a reason other than the bow that Keiondra wanted to become a ranger when she was old enough to do so. She loved animals very deeply, and she knew that the only profession that allowed her to have an animal by her side was the ranger. But Keiondra also felt that being a ranger would be perfect for her. It would combine the melee fighting of her father with the distant fighting of her mother.

Still, she didn’t understand why her mother worried so. Her parents were both very overprotective of her, but her mother was even more concerned for her safety than her father. Keiondra didn’t understand this, but she was afraid to ask her mother about it.

She glanced down at the bow again before setting placing it under her bed and just lounging, gazing up at the ceiling. A few moments later, she heard her door creak open.

“Keiondra,” her father said as he poked his head in, “it’s time for dinner.”

“I’m not very hungry Daddy.”

Roston came in and closed the door behind him before sitting down next to his daughter.

“Want to talk about it?”

“I’m just afraid.”

“Afraid? Of what?”

“Of disappointing you and Mommy.”

Roston took his daughter in his arms and cradled her as though she were an infant again. “No, Keiondra, you would never disappoint us. We both love you very much. We only want what’s best for you.”

“But why does Mommy get mad at things and you don’t?”

“Well honey, I don’t know, but I suspect it’s because of the way she was raised. Sometimes, parents raise their children based on how they were raised themselves.”

“I want to be a ranger but Mommy doesn’t want me to be. I don’t want to hurt her, but that would make me very sad.”

“Well, I promise we’ll talk with her about it. But right now, let’s go eat dinner.”

“Okay.”

Then, father and daughter got up and walked to the kitchen. Connivia was just placing the skale fin soup on the table.

“Here you are, Keiondra,” Connivia said with a smile. “I know how much you love skale fin soup!”

“Thank you Mommy,” Keiondra said as she took a seat.

Connivia smiled at her daughter before sitting down at her place. Roston sat down too and made a gesture to his wife. She nodded and turned to their daughter.

“Keiondra,” she began, “I’m sorry for being angry with you earlier. It’s just, you’re our only daughter. Our only child. We love you dearly, and if anything were to ever happen to you…”

Connivia trailed off, but Keiondra knew what her mother was trying to say. She’d been told many times how her parents had prayed to the gods for 10 years before they were able to be blessed with their only child. She understood why she was overprotected, but she still wanted to live her own life. Perhaps not today, but someday.

“It’s okay Mommy. I don’t want to disappoint you, but I really want to be a ranger when I grow up.”

“Oh, you’d never disappoint me. I promise you that. I only wish for your happiness and safety. But you can’t begin training until you’re 13, and that’s five years away. Perhaps we should just focus on today.”

“All right.”

The family finished eating and engaged in casual conversation. Keiondra found her mind wandering often, imagining herself five years down the road, holding a bow in her hand and having a trusty animal fighting by her side.

She’d given much thought already to the kind of animal she’d like to have. Melandru’s stalkers were particularly special, being that they were a part of Melandru, the goddess of nature and earth, herself. Black bears could be quite cute and playful. But Keiondra had quickly discarded these ideas when she had laid eyes on a wolf near Ashford Abbey.

She knew the moment she saw it that she wanted a wolf as a pet. It was such a perfect creature for her. Many people believed that wolves were deadly and blood-thirsty monsters. But Keiondra knew better. She knew that wolves were tender and gentle creatures who only wanted to be loved like anyone else. Not only that, but her last name held the name of ‘wolf’ in it. Having a wolf by her side would only be right.

That night, Keiondra lay in bed thinking and fantasizing about her future. She looked forward to the day she became 13, when she could join the Ascalon Academy and learn to become a ranger. And, of course, to have a wolf by her side. She fell asleep and dreamed of becoming a heroic ranger with statues and stories dedicated to her.

Tender Wolf · May 30, 2008, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Chapter 9

There was a knock at the door. Roston opened it and greeted Adelbern and Rurik.

“Please, come in,” he said.

“Thank you, old friend,” Adelbern replied as he and the prince stepped inside.

“Hello your majesties,” Connivia said.

The king and prince nodded at Connivia.

Then, there was a second knock at the door. Roston opened it and there stood Sarah, the town’s herbalist, and her daughter Gwen.

“Welcome ladies! Come right in!”

“Thank you Mr. Wolfsong,” Sarah said.

“Sarah, please, you can call me Roston.”

“And you can call me Connivia,” his wife said.

Sarah smiled. “All right then. Roston. Connivia.”

“Where’s Keiondra?” Gwen asked.

Her mother put her finger to her lips. “Ssshhh. It’s a surprise.”

Gwen nodded and smiled eagerly. She was only ten, but she was always so bubbly and excited. She’d met Keiondra a few months ago when she’d been running an errand in Ascalon City for her parents. She followed Keiondra around and the two had become good friends.

“There we have it,” Connivia said as she presented a pan full of large birthday cupcakes. “Keiondra loves these so much. I do hope she isn’t getting too old for them.”

“Nonsense!” Roston said. “She looks forward to these every year.”

“I’m sure she’ll love this party,” Rurik agreed.

Connivia and Roston had discussed the previous night whether or not it was wise to invite the king and prince to the party. They didn’t want others to think favoritism was at work, but then realized that if Adelbern and Rurik thought that way, they would not show up at all. After all, Adelbern and Roston were good friends.

“She should be awake soon,” Connivia said as she placed a second pan of cupcakes on the table.

************************************************** ********

The sun shone threw Keiondra’s window. She rolled over and put her pillow over her eyes and tried to get a few more minutes of sleep. But then she realized that the sun was shining through her window at last.

“Yes!” she said to herself as she jumped out of bed and rummaged through clothes.

Keiondra had had a hard time falling asleep the night before. She was so excited for this day. It was the day of her thirteenth birthday. She tossed and turned the night before and kept getting up to see if the sun was shining, but she kept seeing the moon instead.

She’d finally managed to fall asleep, but now it was morning. But no matter how tired she was, Keiondra was determined that now that it was morning, she would wait no longer. She hoped her parents got her the present she’d been wanting since she was eight years old – a paper saying that she could now begin her training to become a ranger.

Keiondra had practiced using the bow for the past five years, but she still wanted to get all the training she could. She could barely contain herself as she put her hair into a braid and added a leaf for an effect of nature.

Finally, she was ready. She turned the knob of her door and stepped out.

“Surprise!” shouted several overlapping voices in unison.

Keiondra did a doubletake and saw that her mother, father, Sarah, Gwen, and even the king and prince were standing in the kitchen cheering and clapping.

“Oh my gods!” she screamed happily.

“Happy birthday Keiondra!” her parents said as they went over to give her a hug.

“Happy birthday!” Gwen shouted as she wrapped her arms around Keiondra’s legs.

“I don’t know what to say!” Keiondra said in awe. “Thanks so much! I must say, I never expected this!”

“Well you certainly deserve it,” said Sarah.

“Your highnesses,” Keiondra said as she bowed to Adelbern and Rurik. They nodded back and smiled.

“Let’s get started, shall we?” said Connivia. “Here you are. As always, the birthday girl gets the first bite!”

“Birthday cupcakes! Oh Mother, thank you!”

“How could I forget? These are your favorite and you’ve had them for your birthday ever since you were three years old.”

Keiondra took a bite of her cupcake. It was sweet and tasty, just the way she liked it. As soon as she took a bite, the rest of the cupcakes were served and everyone else ate theirs.

When everyone was through eating, Roston approached his daughter with his hands behind his back.

“Keiondra,” he said. “This is your thirteenth birthday, and I know you’ve been very eager for it to arrive. And of course, what good is a birthday without a present? So my mother and I are honored to present this to you.”
With that, Roston pulled his hands out from behind his back and placed a piece of paper in Keiondra’s hand. She opened it and read it. Then, she beamed and jumped for joy.

“Oh, thank you so much!” she said as she hugged her parents tight. Her hoping had paid off. Her parents had gotten her enrolled in the Ascalon Academy and she would begin her training to become a ranger in a week.

“Now Keiondra, this is going to take much time and effort,” her mother said. “But I know that this is what you truly want. Your father does as well. Just be safe and careful. We’re already all proud of you.”

“Thank you Mother,” Keiondra said as she hugged her mother again.
The other party guests clapped and cheered. Then everyone helped themselves to some more cupcakes.

************************************************** ********

Six months later, Keiondra walked to Lakeside County. Her first ranger teacher was named Artemis, and for the past several months, she’d been learning all about aiming and the art of marksmanship. Today, Artemis told her she had one final test to do.

“Good morning, Keiondra,” said Artemis as she saw her student approaching.

“Good morning,” Keiondra replied.

“All right, let’s get to it. As I said at our last lesson, after you pass this final test, you will be ready to begin more advanced training. This is just basic.”

“I am ready, teacher. What is this final task?”

“I’m sure you’ve seen all the skale around here. Rumors are that the skale have a queen by the river bank. If you slay it, you’ll have passed this part of your training. Can you do it?”

“I can and I will!”

Keiondra grabbed her bow and ran to the river bank. She snuck around bushes and avoided the skale. Then, she saw the skale queen herself. So, the rumors were true.

Keiondra stood up, raised her bow, aimed, and fired the arrow. The skale queen dropped dead in a single hit. Clearly it wasn’t very powerful or threatening.

Keiondra picked up the corpse of the skale queen and took it to Artemis.

“Well, look at that! You did great!”

Artemis pulled out a scroll and filled something out on it.

“All right,” she said, “your next trainer will teach you how to charm an animal to fight by your side. His name is Nente, and he can be found in Regent Valley. Journey there to begin your training.”

“Thank you, Artemis. I shall never forget you.”

The two rangers waved to each other before Keiondra departed for Regent Valley.

************************************************** ********

The walk to Regent Valley was not very far. Keiondra spotted Nente right away. He was surrounded by several devourers and was slaying them rapidly. Keiondra watched in awe. She hoped to one day be that good of a ranger.

“Who goes there?” Nente asked as he turned and saw Keiondra approaching. Keiondra pulled out the paper Artemis had given her and presented it to Nente.

“I’m Keiondra Wolfsong,” she said,” and I was instructed by Artemis to see you about learning to charm an animal.”

Nente glanced over the paper, nodded, and handed it back to his eager student.

“All right, then let’s get started. I suppose you already have an idea of what kind of animal you want. Most rangers do when they see me.”

“Yes, more than anything I want a wolf.”

“Ah, well I promise one day you will get a wolf. But first, you must learn how to charm an animal, and the tamest animal around here is a Melandru’s stalker. You must charm a stalker first, but before that you must gaze at Melandru’s statue just down the road.”

“Gaze at Melandru’s statue? But why?”

“You’ll know when you get there. She’ll help you to receive the knowledge you need to charm an animal.”

“All right.”

Keiondra hesitantly walked down the road. She saw the statue of Melandru up ahead. It was beautiful, depicting a lovely woman with wings made of leaves and legs of a tree trunk pouring cascading water down into a fountain.

Keiondra saw a plaque under the statue. She read it and found that Nente was right; the statue filled her with the knowledge she needed to charm an animal.

Keiondra turned and saw a nearby stalker. She took a deep breath, braced herself, and began the process. The stalker turned aggressive and began to attack her, but Keiondra didn’t let up. At last, the stalker was hers and under her control.

She smiled and ran back up the path to tell Nente, with her new pet tagging along behind her.

“I see you managed to get yourself a pet,” Nente said as Keiondra approached. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. But what do I do now? Am I allowed to have more than one pet?”

“Oh no, a true ranger only has one companion who is very loyal and trustworthy. You must talk to a pet trainer to get rid of a pet before you can charm a new one. Jarrel here is one such person. But before you do this, consider something. Animals are a ranger’s most loyal companion. But having a pet takes much work. You must feed it and keep it satisfied and never abandon it. It’s wise to leave it behind if you’re venturing somewhere that it may not make it out alive.”

“I understand all this. And while I am fond of all animals, I am very strongly attached to wolves. I can’t explain it.”

“Ah, now that is something many good rangers have – a strong attachment to one particular creature. All right then, talk to Jarrel here and he will make sure your stalker gets a good home.”

“Thank you.”

Keiondra talked to Jarrel and he agreed to care for the stalker.

The training continued for a few more hours, but at last the sun began to set and Keiondra returned home for dinner. But on her way, she passed Ashford Abbey and saw a wolf. It looked lonely yet loving. She decided to test out her new knowledge.

Approaching quickly but quietly, Keiondra kept her eyes on the wolf. When she got close enough, she began to charm the animal. The wolf’s eyes seemed to change color as it knew it was about to be controlled. But alas, Keiondra finally got the creature under her control.

“You’re such a gorgeous creature,” she said to the wolf. The wolf howled in response. Keiondra laughed and wrapped her arms around her new pet. “That’s the perfect name for you,” she said. “Howl. I’ll call you Howl.”

The wolf made a growling noise, but it sounded like it was a happy noise, as if to say “thank you”. Keiondra smiled and continued on her way home. Howl followed her. Keiondra smiled the whole way home. She loved Howl deeply already and couldn’t wait to show him to her parents. She was loving being a ranger already. She couldn’t wait to continue her training the next day, only this time she’d have Howl by her side.

Tender Wolf · May 30, 2008, 10:22 PM // 22:22

Chapter 10

For the next two years, Keiondra attended her training. She learned from many different rangers and felt herself becoming stronger every day. Her parents had loved Howl and were proud that she’d chosen such a “fitting” companion.

But Keiondra was worried. Lately she’d been helping some new friends (namely Devona and the prince) with things, and they’d seen Charr south of the Great Wall. She hoped there was nothing to worry about, but every time she closed her eyes at night, she was reminded of a dream she’d recently had.

In the dream, Ascalon was no longer beautiful. Instead, it was scorched and ruined, as if something terrible had happened to it. And she always saw something resembling a Charr in the background. But she hoped that this was nothing to be concerned about.

Besides, she had enough on her mind as it was. She was now 15, and her mother was always telling her that she was rapidly becoming old enough to be “courting”. She even went so far as to say that Prince Rurik would be a great suitor.

Keiondra tried to brush this off. She wasn’t ready for a relationship. She wanted to focus on her training. She’d managed to tell her father of this and, being the level-headed man he was, he’d talked to Connivia and she’d finally settled down. But she hadn’t stopped altogether.

Still, Keiondra had become accustomed to it. She had stated that she was not ready for a relationship and wouldn’t be until after she’d finished her training. Only then would she consider becoming romantically involved and leaving home.

************************************************** ********

Roston gazed down at the battlefield below him. The Ascalon and Charr armies were at a constant war with each other and had been for as long as he could remember.

Adelbern approached his side and gazed down at the same sight. “Horrid creatures, those Charr,” he said. “I hope they never reach our beloved Ascalon City.”

Roston turned to the prince and replied, “I hope the same. The guild wars are bad enough.”

“What do you mean by that? You were a member of Ascalon’s Chosen, remember?”

“I know, my king. It seems so long ago, too. But I was only saying that I fear if the guild wars drag on, the Charr could use this to their advantage.”

“Nonsense. The Charr could never overcome us. We are stronger than they are.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Both warriors watched below as several Charr fell to the ground at the mercy of Ascalon soldiers.

“See that?” Adelbern said. “Nothing to worry about. They don’t stand a chance.”

“But what of the Charr we’ve seen south of the Great Wall as of late?”

“Only a few. We will always be superior to the Charr, Roston.”

“You’re right. We will always be superior to the Charr.”

Roston walked away with those words in his mind. “We will always be superior to the Charr.” Was that really true? Roston felt a deep weight on his heart. As if he knew something was wrong, something terrible. But what could he do about it?

************************************************** ********

Sun beamed in through Keiondra’s window. She sat up abruptly and felt her heart pound with excitement. Today was the day. Today, she would graduate from Ascalon Academy. The past two years of training would finally pay off today.

There were even rumors of today’s graduates being allowed to accompany Prince Rurik and drive a Charr leader out of Ascalon. Keiondra hoped that the Charr wouldn’t actually be in Ascalon, but if it was, she was determined to help bring it down.

************************************************** ********

“There’s the cause of all this trouble!” Prince Rurik said as he pointed ahead of him. He and the students graduating from Ascalon Academy had just killed several grawl, and they now saw Charr ahead of them.

Vaatlaw Doomtooth grunted at the humans before raising his bow. He and his furry followers engaged in attacks. But they were no match for the prince and students.

With one final thrust, Rurik’s sword dropped Vaatlaw to the ground. He and the students cheered. Keiondra was very proud of herself. She finally graduated from Ascalon Academy. She and her fellow students walked back to Ascalon City with Prince Rurik.

Once there, families cheered and embraced each other as a celebration struck out. Keiondra spotted her parents waving to her in the crowed and ran over to them.

“Congratulations, Keiondra!” her mother said. “We’re so proud of you!”
“Indeed we are!” her father agreed.

Keiondra beamed and she couldn’t stop smiling. Then, her mother presented her with something.

“On your thirteenth birthday, you received our permission to study to become a ranger,” she said. “Your father presented the papers to you. But today, you have graduated from the Ascalon Academy. And so it’s my time to present you with a gift that will hold great meaning for you. Keiondra, my dear, your father and I proudly present you with this longbow.”

Keiondra gasped and took the bow. It was carved out of beautiful wood from the Lakeside trees and even had a few leaves still on it. It was truly a beautiful bow, and she would treasure it forever. She would use this bow, and only this bow, for when she fought.

Suddenly, in the midst of the happy celebration, the sky suddenly fell dark. Then, the ground seemed to shake and a rumbling sound could be heard in the distance. Everyone looked up and they saw the sky fall.

Giant meteors crashed into Ascalon City, nearby homes and buildings were set aflame, and citizens ran, screaming for their lives.

“Fall back!” Prince Rurik called. “Run and save yourselves!”

No one hesitated to comply with what the prince said. They grabbed their loved ones and took off running. Keiondra ran with her parents and Howl. They knew not where they were going, but they only cared about being safe and staying alive.

There seemed to be no end to the bombs. The sky seemed to keep falling and not let up. But alas, after what seemed like centuries, the bombs stopped. But the damage was not yet gone. Fires roared through country sides and several people were burnt to a crisp instantly.

The survivors jumped up rapidly and ran to the river to get water to put the fires out. The work was great, but finally the fires were put out. Only then did everyone look around and see what had transpired.

The grass was no longer green, but brown, black, or gone completely. The trees had lost their leaves and were nothing more than black sticks stretching toward the yellow and orange sky. And the water was beginning to turn black with tar.

But the worst happened when the citizens saw that the Great Wall was lying in wreckage. And then, to everyone’s horror, several Charr burst through the gate of Ascalon City.

Everyone’s worst nightmare had come true. Ascalon had fallen to the Charr.

Rothan Celt · Jul 30, 2008, 10:20 AM // 10:20

dude sweet =) i luv how you use the chars in the story and more so the 'Searing' its quite possibly the most...... blazay part of GW

Tender Wolf · Jul 30, 2008, 06:57 PM // 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothan Celt

dude sweet =) i luv how you use the chars in the story and more so the 'Searing' its quite possibly the most...... blazay part of GW

Thanks very much.

I'm not at home and that's where all my notes are, which is why this hasn't been updated in a while. hehe But when I do get back home I'll have some more to add, obviously starting with Post-Searing. Not sure how long this novel is going to be, I keep getting more and more ideas to add to it. But I'll get it posted ASAP.

Monkey Slayer · Jul 31, 2008, 12:45 AM // 00:45

Great story. It would seem very odd, but I don't see why you couldn't publish a book out of this. It would make a great story, and people that played Proph would be able to understand it completely.

BladeWind · Jul 31, 2008, 01:24 AM // 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothan Celt

dude sweet =) i luv how you use the chars in the story and more so the 'Searing' its quite possibly the most...... blazay part of GW

Im afraid to say i chuckled at that.

Im writing a story at the moment to, ill have a good read of your one when i get time, keep it up!

Regards

~ Frozenwind

Edit: Ok, so i thought "hey ill just read the first chapter", 10 chapters later..... Very well done!

Tender Wolf · Jul 31, 2008, 04:45 AM // 04:45

Thanks for the kind responses everyone!

I'll be back to work on this book as soon as I get home (in Canada now visiting my fiance). Thanks for the publishing comment, that would be nice but I'm afraid it could cause copyright issues. lol But thanks regardless, and Daniel I'll be sure to read yours when it's posted.

Rothan Celt · Jul 31, 2008, 06:04 AM // 06:04

Well Enjoy Canada

But really must say again without the word Blazay it was a fun read =)