“It has been suggested that the only reason the Orcreich is forbidden to the Deep Elves of Virenheim is because of the many dangers within that land, but it is possibly much deeper than that. Although every community cannot refute the power and trouble brought from entering a region known to hold Goblins, Orcs, Demons, Archdemons and First Ones there is also the fear that the defeated gods, such as Dubshlaine, have been living there. For the people of Virenheim their mythology clearly states that they were born from the same mix of Nabuto’s blood and sacred mud as the First Ones so there is always the fear that anyone entering that place may suddenly change into such a monster.” 

- “The Kingdom of Virenheim” by Ronvaldo Hilosa

It was the very first time that Damara and Karani had been permitted on the curiously strange elevator that led up to the surface and they had been trembling in fear. The soldiers had closed in around them to keep them safe from danger and also to stop anyone staring at them too closely as the group of eight individuals reached the second dam and went past the dozing guards without trouble. Considering neither of them had even seen the sun before, the moment the door was opened to the village and farmland of the foreign sector, and the moment their eyes spotted the brilliant light and were stroked by the brightness of the sun… the pair flinched.

Their eyes ached and they shut them immediately, blinking hard and fast to try and cope with the sudden explosion of natural light that spilled upon them. Neither could ever have anticipated such brightness and wonder, how blue the sky was or how pallid the sun. They knew never to look towards Nabuto’s eye but as they blinked and tried to shield themselves, the soldiers grasped them and hustled them onward with grunts that they would be alright eventually. Neither wanted to complain or say anything against it, suddenly overcome with the smell of grass for the first time, the smell of the flowers in the air as well as the sights of birds flying in the sky. It was noisy on the surface and there was a rainbow of different races and colours floundering about on the surface to get work done. As they were marched along the path of pallid brown stone bleached by feet and sunlight, their eyes noticed how much brighter colours were, how many more animals were dancing around the neighbourhood and there were children playing with parents and lots of laughing, loud people. It was not reserved and silent like it was underground and there was no one pressing the two girls to be quiet, or even to have their hair in hoods.

The wonder was enough to keep them following on after the group of six men in quiet, grasping hands together and smiling with delight. Their hearts were thumping with an overwhelming sense of nuance as they passed the busy local taverns and spotted drinking figures, dancing figures and people just laughing. Great massive animals with a strange almost sweet smell and long heads like strange deer pulled carts past them and the girls were informed these were horses. Damara and Karani had seen drawings of all these things in books and yet the books did not speak of the size, the smells, the vibration or the sound of great smooth hooves clopping against gravel. They did not mention the flies either and as insects suddenly buzzed about the girls they flinched and ducked their heads about with concern. Just how did you deal with mosquitoes out on the swamp anyway?

“The pair of you need to keep quiet now… we’re coming up to the First Dam and we have to be very careful. If they suspect you’re not members of our team because of how you react to the sun, they will stop you leaving and we’ll loose a stone.” The general stepped backward, whispering to them both as he made sure to pull the hoods of their jackets straight down so they could only see if they kept their eyes to the ground. He also passed them a sword each, warning them to act bored rather then excited. The pair nodded their heads in agreement as their feet moved off the cobbles of the main road and onto the wooden ramp that led up and over the market square towards the patrol opening of the First Dam, rather then continuing up the road to the Gatehouse.

“What happens when we get through the tunnels?” Damara questioned nervously, going quiet and cautious as the gentlemen stopped beside the turret of the First Dam and then passed the paper across to the guard. The two girls kept their heads down under the hoods of their grey-brown jackets as the paper was discussed between the general and the guardsmen. There were a few growls and swear words of irritation that made them both tremble but the other soldiers just seemed content about it all and waited for the paper to be passed into the building. There were a few more grumbles as the guard on duty, a broad-shouldered but very lean figure, chatted with the general over their plans before there was a hand stretching out of the opening again. The guard took the paper, checked the piece was stamped and then passed it on to the general with a sudden shout for the tunnel to be open. When the secret gate was unlocked with a click, the general grabbed the door and ushered everyone through, counting them as he went before stepping after them and closing the door. He patted Damara’s shoulder roughly as he passed her by and encouraged them to relax and follow the dark passage.

For the fact they were back in the darkness, Karani and Damara’s eyes felt better and their heads did not hurt so much from so much light. In the tunnel it was a little calmer and the pair were able to talk towards one another about the brilliance of the sun and how much they wanted to have another chance to meet all of the people out there. The soldiers chortled at them and informed them that women of their position were not suitable on the surface, making them both stare up to the men in surprise. They were confused as the figures continued to chuckle at them and the pair of them requested more information. The general gave a grunt as he rubbed the bridge of his nose where the scar sat. He stated very swiftly that by the laws of Virenheim, these girls would not be permitted on the surface without being engaged and escorted, because they’d be even more of a target to the mercenaries then to anyone else. Damara could barely believe such a thought, to think that other elves and beings from beyond Virenheim would dare to attack them purely for the sake they were high ranked. But then Damara thought about the mercenaries that existed on the surface, she thought about Ling and Alard and then she looked at each of the soldiers very carefully and shook her head with disdain. None of these were used to being around non-Deep Elves... of course they would be racist!

“At the end of the corridor we’re going to be put onto a large punt that we’ll need to paddle out to the swamp. I assume you girls have never used an oar in your life so you’ll have to try and figure it out quickly. The faster and better we row against the Viren, the quicker we’ll get to the swamp. So focus your eyes on the actions of the others and you won’t be bothered by the light much.” The General snorted gently as he rubbed the back of his shaved down head and grumbled to himself about going against the river. With the Viren being a very fast river to work against they would be working hard to get northward on the barge but coming back would be a snap. All the same he was startled when one of the more hunched up and shadowed men within his group who was gripping a longbow, muttered under his breath.

“Not that there’s much sun out there anyway to distract you.”

As the girls reached the dam Jarl had managed to get across the bridge from the Second Dam and was looking about for someone that could help him. He knew he would not be permitted through the First Dam without a permit of some kind unless he was with a mercenary or one of the patrol squads. With so few ever willing to talk to him and the fact that he was Jarl Kelvis and a lord, many people just shied away from his sight and tried to look more appropriate. The young lord was left bouncing about trying to figure out a particular group he could get to help him out... and sadly there was probably only one group he knew of and he did not really want to speak to them at all. For anyone seeking a way to protect Damara, getting Anouk’s squad to help out was the best course available but it meant that Anouk would learn that Jarl had not sought her out first!

“Excuse me… have any of you seen the Aeron named Alard or the Blood Elf called Ling?” Jarl questioned a few respectable looking elves that were wandering about the shops and stalls. The majority were busy ignoring him over the matter, growling and fussing that he was not worth the effort as it would not be rewarded. Some even mentioned his betrayal of Damara and this quite startled him, especially considering he had given up a Benaga for a foreigner like them and in his mind they should be grateful for it. Yet in that same thought he realised his own arrogant presumptions on who to ask and how he sounded, he needed to just think like one of Anouk’s soldiers and then he would find them. But who on earth could he try and picture mentally doing something that would be considered… normal? “Uh… excuse me… can you direct me to the nearest inn that can house an Aeron?”

To this question, aimed at a smiling trio of young Imperial women with their strange pale pink-peach skin and soft brown hair, the girls froze and stared at him in embarrassment. They giggled nervously to be spoken to so boldly by such a handsome elf before gently stretching their hands outwards to the largest looking pub in the neighbourhood and Jarl breathed a sight of relief. He then stuffed his hand into the soft leather pouch hanging from his neck under his robes and swiftly pulled out some money. With a thankful and humble expression upon his face, Jarl gave the money to the girls as a gift and their faces were bright with delight but also shock before he bowed to them and hurried on his way; perhaps it might make everyone think of him a little more… kindly.

Jarl could not hold his excitement as he hurried toward the great brick building titled the ‘Nobody Inn’, hardly noticing the playful joke within. Instead his eyes locked onto the great wide door of the classy looking establishment that spoke of Amber City style beyond the mountains rather then the calmer and minimised Virenheim décor. Jarl instead was a little startled about the fact that the brick had not been painted grey and the inside of the building was red and brown with a smoky atmosphere that made Jarl automatically smother his mouth. He was not used to this kind of thing and as he tried to avoid the myriad of mangled and aggressive faces within the building he heard a sudden bark from the stairs, which forced him to look upwards even when it was rude to get involved in another’s business.

“I never want to see you again…” A familiar looking Blood Elf, standing in a pair of shorts with a crossbow in her hands and what looked like a dress that had been cut in half to try and make it look fancy, was on the landing of the stairs swearing at a door. Jarl was not sure if he was even allowed to look at her with so much of her figure on display, but it was not easy to pull his eyes or ears away from the situation. However, with a second glance he recognised the slightly golden skin of Ling and he wanted to call her attention to him but from the sound of it she was in the middle of an argument with… someone. At least, that was how it had started. “… at least until I’ve been able to replace your favourite flagon! But I’m still angry that you told me not to scream about the spider in my underwear drawer!”

Although the other patrons had frozen to listen in, the moment they figured out that Ling was actually the person in trouble they returned to business as usual discussing their decisions on what was going to happen with regards to evacuation. Their rough mix of languages and basic grasp of the Northern Imperial used upon the surface made Jarl’s slender pointed ears twitch with excitement and recognition. His brain was already trying to decode them the way he’d done when he’d left to the North Kingdom, but the North Kingdom had not had as many thuggish brutes drinking in the taverns as there were in this particular building. Jarl maintained his eyes on Ling and as she scuttled down the stairs he gave a nervous squeak her way.

“Uh… Madam Ling… please can I talk to you?” The moment the shorter woman reached the bottom of the stairs in her curiously revealing get up, Jarl blushed heavily and covered his eyes. She stared toward him in confusion before checking herself up and down in case of something. When she figured out however that it was because of the show of her cleavage and how her hair was now starting to grow out and reveal her beautiful golden curls to the world she chuckled. She realised the importance of hair, body and well… everything because she was a female and swiftly gave a grunt with her knuckles pressing into her fists.

“Did you know that Ling is my nickname? It’s Amber City talk for ‘monkey’ so don’t ever add a prefix to it… anyway what can I do for you, Prince?” Ling chuckled only to see Jarl drop his jaw in shock at her choice of words and grimace fearfully because she had practically committed heresy by calling him such a thing. But Ling rolled her eyes in realisation and stretched out an arm to pull Jarl down to her level. “Would you have preferred I call you Handsome? Now… let’s walk and talk I’ve got go shopping with Sarag to find Alard a new tankard to chug water from! Huh… you’d think for a big guy like him he’d be drinking booze all the time but instead I out-drink everyone in this building every night!”

Jarl was not sure he’d chosen the right person to look for as Ling was clearly a little more high maintenance then he had imagined her to be. Still, he had found one of Anouk’s group and… stunned by the overall manner and mix of intelligence within the sentences, Jarl almost forgot completely why he was looking for her. But the mention of Sarag slapped the urgency back into the situation and with a swift shake of his head in surprise, Jarl managed to pull himself from Ling’s grip and grab her firmly by the shoulders. Her eyes became wide with fear as for the first time in her life this admittedly handsome but far too arrogant gentleman, who was only recently married, pinned her in place. She clenched her fists in preparation to punch his teeth out until she noticed the panic flickering in his eyes and the desperation too. Why else would a gentleman like him be up here, in this inn, looking for her unless there was some serious trouble going on?

“Listen, I need your help to get out into the swamp. Damara believes there’s a stone out there and she’s gone with a bunch of dangerous looking soldiers at the behest of Lord Lutas to find it. She’s in serious peril and I know it probably doesn’t mean anything to you, but I don’t trust the general one little bit.” By this time Sarag had pulled himself out of a room filled with some particularly uncomfortable leather clothes and looked a little startled by Jarl’s eyes snapping on his. But the young gentleman swiftly lifted up the leather jerkin he’d removed to show the massive burnt whole in the middle from where he’d been practicing his magic. But when Sarag’s ears twitched at the mention of Lutas’ men his face scowled and he pushed over to Ling’s side before she could lift a hand and make a point of being interrupted. Jarl was pleased by the expression of urgency upon Sarag’s face but when he was then grasped at the shoulders and given a firm shake Jarl almost punched the young man as well. However, the question of whether the general had been marked with a scar made Jarl’s face drop. “Yes... one across the nose... I don’t recall a soldier looking like that but the voice was very, very familiar.”

“That’s because it’s General Ynvirius; he’s Ijah’s father and a total bastard. He’s got the best bowman outside of the patrols and guard but he’s not really part of the army so much as styles himself as a mercenary. He and the Lutas household go back years and they’re not to be trusted... if the rumours were true then the scar on his nose was from Damara’s father in a fight over the execution of his brother for failing at his post.” Sarag stated and Jarl’s face only became more depressive and weak as he realised his mistake in not having pulled her away and rumbled the party immediately. Sarag then turned to Ling, looking at her for ideas and suggestions as she froze in attempting to remove the leather money pouch from within Jarl’s robes. The moment he realised he swatted her hands away and growled at her to take the situation more seriously. Ling just snorted gently before looking back up the stairs and grimacing before grasping both men at the shoulders.

“Here’s the plan... Sarag go below and find Anouk, she needs to know exactly what is going on up here. Meanwhile Jarl and I will track them and make sure that nothing happens to Damara.” Ling stated before patting Sarag into gear and then grasping Jarl firmly by the wrist with a grin. “Come with me, it would be better if you weren’t dressed so fancy but you’ll just have to cope with the swamp smell.”

* * * * *

Anouk sat inside the master bedroom of the household with an anxious expression upon her face. She did not like violating this sacred space within the house, no one did and she still recalled her mother’s fear for years that the ghost of Anouk’s grandfather remained within. After he’d died bleeding from his wounds in the city plaza, his body had been brought back to sit upon his side of the bed next to where his wife had died for three days to allow everyone to visit and honour him. Anouk remembered that time with tears, never wanting to leave him unless her father or Loteg urged her away... but she was not thinking about the death whenever she came into the room. Instead she looked to the desk, the open journal and the undisturbed quill and ink as if he were still sitting there ready to listen to her sorrows again. Although Anouk could not bring herself to claim this room and in that way, take over the Benaga Household completely, she did like to come here to voice her thoughts and her fears. Right now her conversation with Loteg rang around her head and she pondered over the way she had reacted to Damara’s story and just what her grandfather would have done. Barbanos would always have listened to Anouk’s stories; he knew that she was never one to lie and that when she put her faith to something it was always something profound. He had never told her off for wanting the foreigners to have better rights or the orphans, he’d been the one to champion such things after-all... and he would have done everything to make sure Damara’s thoughts were checked. He would have done so doubly, not purely for the sake of the King but for the fact Damara had never lied or joked about anything in her life. But Anouk breathed a sigh of disbelief at her own faith in the matter and remained sitting in cross-legged contemplation trying to think of what to do when she noticed something unusual within the room she had previously never noticed.

It was a curious thing to get excited about but the interest was purely because it had not existed within the full spectrum of her memories as sitting there. Gently Anouk unfolded her legs and pulled herself up onto her long legs before pacing across the stone floor towards the massive bed, trembling as she stretched out her hand to touch something tied to the rope about the canopy curtains. It should have stuck out like a sore thumb to her every time she’d come into the room, after-all the bed sheets were all dark blue and the curtains were silvery-grey and she was staring at a strand of some red and white fabric. But it was not really fabric, it appeared like bandage material that had been clumsily tangled up in the black rope around the curtains. She pondered if perhaps it had been from her grandfather, but as she looked to the red on the shred she realised it had been from fresh blood. No such memory of her grandfather ever bleeding in the bedroom leapt into her mind and without too much thought Anouk stretched out her hand and grasped the bandage. The moment she did she regretted it as she collapsed onto the floor, landing heavily on her side with her eyes open and saw some strange memory inside her head.

The memory was of her as a child, she must have been only about eight or nine years old, rushing out into a howling storm on the surface with a basket containing either food, water or a basic medical kit. She had been too young to really understand how to use it but she’d crossed the grasses above without fear to the shed where the cattle and horses were kept where she’d found that poor....

The memory cut out and Anouk gave a scream of anger and upset that alerted the Dreggs into galloping up the stairs. There were other sounds of feet heading towards her and Anouk grasped the fabric of the bed and yanked herself up as she recognised the sounds of her companions screaming for her help. Well, she could recognise that Talon was calling for her but she could not quite remember the voice of the woman calling! Still, with a groan as she tried to push out the strange flashback that had made her chest burn as if she’d eaten badly, Anouk stepped to the bedroom door and out of it as the three Yellow Dreggs began to lap at her arm frantically as if she’d burnt herself. As she patted their heads and reassured them it had just been some weird moment of weakness, Anouk padded down the hall towards her bedroom and spotted Jarl’s wife Kirlia clambering up the top of the stairs with a look of horror upon her face. She beckoned Anouk over, lifting her arm and speaking her name with gasps of exhaustion and behind her Talon scrambled up to waddle past the Dreggs and grasp Anouk’s feet.

“Anouk... Anouk... Anouk!” He whimpered in exasperation as she bent down and stroked his forehead. He was caked in sweat and his eyes seemed bloodied as if he’d barely dared to breathe on his way to her. As Anouk looked about she realised that Damara and Karani were not present and she grit her teeth in preparation to roar if Kirlia was here to say Jarl had upset her sister. But Talon grasped at her neat black trousers with a whimper and she stared down at his pathetic form in upset. “Damara’s gone to the surface... she went to Lutas and somehow he helped her go up there... Jarl’s gone after her to try and stop them... she’s convinced the Karayan saw the stone too!”

“What? Are you serious?” Anouk’s eyes widened with rage and her horrendous green fire exploded about her, making the Dreggs shrink back giving little squeaks of upset and Talon roll out of the way of her rage. It had been a while since the Lord of the Benaga Household had been this angry and for some reason the Karayan was involved with it again! She wanted to rip his head off and without thought began marching straight past the woman collapsed on her stairs with a clear thought in her mind that she was going to fight the monster. Talon called out after her and it did nothing but encourage Anouk to assume that he thought she would not be able to fight the maniac, but Anouk would! All she needed was to know exactly where Damara had gone and then she could track down her sister and get her back home where it was guaranteed to be safe. Already Anouk could hear herself grounding the young woman for the rest of her life and finding some sweet husband for the girl that was guaranteed never to let her leave the house! Anouk was so angry she could not even see in front of her beyond the green fire as she stepped down the last steps out to the pathway and bounced straight into the body of the aforementioned Karayan.

The moment their bodies made contact the pair of them jumped in surprise, but the Karayan shot out a hand and grasped Anouk gently by the shoulder to stop her falling over. When she shook the fire from her body and realised what had just happened, Anouk lifted her hand and swatted him away from her, swearing at him loudly for what had happened with her sister. The Karayan’s citron eyes narrowed with irritation and a dark aura seemed to form around him that made Anouk’s body quiver with fear as the being gave a growl beneath his mask of mangled teeth and black cloth. The figure turned on his heel and without even thinking about it he grasped Anouk by the wrist again and started to drag her away; she could hardly protest as he swiftly explained he was going to take her to find Damara and the stone! Anouk could only call out to Talon to find Yeruell and warn them of what was going on; she had not even considered the fact she was going to be dragged out through the square without a scarf over her hair!

* * * * *

“The swamp extends up to the tree line; if your thoughts are right then we’ve still got a good long march ahead before we reach it. So far we haven’t had any trouble but none of you are to think of anything unpleasant or to doubt Damara’s thoughts in case we lure in something wretched. Keep your mouths covered and your eyes on the ground for any Boodoo. It’s nearing midday so they aren’t usually too active in the brightest hours.” General Ynvirius snarled as he led the group onward through the thick water ways of mud and poisonous wretches. With the spare clothes they’d been dressed into the girls were completely sealed from leeches and Boodoo beasts, but there was always the risk of a general attack and they were very afraid. Their delight for being on the surface and then to ride on the Viren River, paddling hard against the mighty torrent, had been cooled the moment they’d come within smelling distance of the swamp. It had begun to rain as well, dark clouds smothering up Nabuto’s light so they had been more comfortable to look about them at the dank misery of the wretched marsh lands. The smell of the decaying flesh and the dark aura of the land had been enough to make Karani vomit straight into the water, but the moment she had some tentacle bearing creature had stretched probing feelers out in search of her, only to have them cut off by a sharp dagger. It had been their first encounter with something malevolent aside from the Tunnel Attack and neither wanted to repeat the encounter again. So they’d remained quiet and dutiful as they’d waded through the sticky black mixture, onward toward the trees and the terrifying peaks of the central Giroff Mountains.

These mountains were nothing either of the girls could ever have imagined to see before and they were humbled each time their eyes spotted the spiralling columns of mist forming halfway up the slopes to smother their true peaks from view. The rocks appeared black and grey, not natural soft shades of brown and grey like there was beneath the earth... the air they brought to the group was exciting, cooling, fresh but laced with a strange tinge of pine that made their tongues taste bitter and their faces screw up in displeasure. The scent of the world above was overwhelmingly unpleasant and the swamp water was the greatest source of this foul stench.

The general ushered the girls to the head of the group, much to the grimace and dismay of his five men as he encouraged them that it was time to be on guard. There were several sideways glances and uncomfortable expressions upon the faces of the figures, if only because they were expecting trouble, expecting death and perhaps up to something. Even Karani could sense that something was due as she trudged through the knee-high water, ignoring the sensation of catfish and barbarous swamp wretches shuffling about her legs. Damara seemed to be ignored by the creatures, they seemed intent on ignoring her and perhaps it was because she was looking for the stone or perhaps….

Karani spotted a proboscis lifting up out of the water ahead of Damara; it was a thin pale, reed-like form but with a little row of spikes above the edge of the tube. It was snuffing at the air visibly and though she did not really understand what it was at first, Karani knew it was aiming toward Damara. She trudged with added speed, ignoring the sensations of the creatures within the muck as she aimed to get beside her companion and defend her. When Damara froze, spotting the proboscis herself there was a sudden sound like a baby crying and Damara tilted her head to the side in confusion. The moment she dared to do such a thing the men screamed for them to bolt but the creature lunged out with a strange whistling sound – straight toward Damara!

She gave a shriek and fell backwards into the water with her legs up in the air, the way the Boodoo intended but Karani reacted. With a sudden slap of her hands she was able to pull a white ball out of the air and slap it into the beast. There was a screaming sound again as the ball slammed into the creature and seemed to burn it with a burst of heat and power. Then Karani was able to slump into the mud in front of Damara as the beast fell into it and stab her sword down. Once the water was given a blue stain and the soupy mix given a few chunks, Karani pulled her blade up and straightened herself before lifting Damara up. The two women burst into tears with sorrow and then, quite suddenly, they were hoisted up and held within the general and another strong man’s arms as if they were babies.

“Quiet… no more crying or fuss otherwise you’ll lure more of those monsters in.” The general snarled as he gripped Damara with a grimace upon his face. She trembled nervously in his arms, her eyes still wide and filled with tears from what could have been the most devastating attack in her life! Nervously she stretched out her hand toward a break in the swamp where a clear flat stone formed a natural platform and the general shuffled over towards it. His companion carrying Karani did the same although he made a point of how his charge was heavier and Karani called him a few unpleasant things. They seemed content on their way to the large bit of rock before the gentleman carrying the bow stumbled slightly. He swore allowed as he kicked some fish in the mud and then his bow clipped something that made him fall down into the water. As he did so something pulled itself up out of the water with a golden tuft of grass upon its head as it leant down towards him.

Damara and Karani had never seen a Mud Lurch before but there was no doubt in their minds what this creature was! Before the fellow could try and fight the beast, the lurch simply fell onto him and his body was smothered by the gelatinous mess. Most of the bowman’s companions scrabbled onto the rock, ignoring the screams of the figure and begging to move on. Only one of them decided to try and fight, although it only served to pull his arm into the quivering mass of the beast. His screams were more frantic and worrying, irking the general to start running towards the grasses. He knew the cries would lure out even worse and he was in no way capable of defending them all from any of the Loskad that might investigate.

“Can’t you help him?” Damara begged, tears streaming down her face, but they did not seem to want to listen to her sorrow. Their concerns were for their own safety so no one dared to answer her questions as they followed the path of flat stones across the swamp. The screams still rang out behind them but Damara tried instead to shut them out and focus on the task at hand. “Keep following the stepping stones until we reach what looks like an old signpost with bits of bone hanging from it.”

Damara’s words caused growls of irritation and she was surprised when the general informed her that such a marker was left by goblins as a warning. But Damara recalled Anouk’s old teachings on the Marsh Goblins and knew that if just one of them crossed the boundary line then they would not register it as an attack but as a scouting mission, encouraging the beasts to stay hidden! She stated it to the general as she was jogged about in his arms until the screaming was well out of earshot. He was not pleased by the idea of course, but he had lost two men in one foolish moment already and he was not really keen to loose anymore. Damara did not know it of course, but for the general the fact he had to take care of her was sickening after his relationship with her father. He had no care for the Benaga household and especially not for a spoilt brat like her – his only reasoning to be here was for a chance of glory for his bloodline!

“Let’s exercise more caution this time gentlemen. No one is to step into the water without sending in an energy ball to clear away whatever is lurking there. We’re all to be quiet and to keep our eyes peeled. When we hit the grassy walk between here and the woodland, speak only if you see a Loskad stallion becoming defensive.” Ynvirius growled roughly at them all, fearing the sudden arrival of the carnivorous horse-like beasts the more human of the demons liked to ride. Karani and Damara were put down onto their feet and nodded their heads in understanding as they stood behind the general and marched in a straight line across the variety of smooth and slippery greyed stones that had once been part of the original road to the ‘main gate’ of Virenheim in ancient times. They were careful to step with confidence and not to think of what had just happened but rather what could be about to happen. Damara knew they were not too far away from the stone as a thick bank of fog loomed over their sprite-like bodies with an almost moaning wind.

The fog blinded them for a few moments but instinctively the party grasped one another and followed their leader’s trepidations as they stepped along the great stone blocks. The rancid sensations of the place continued although it was made worse by the sound of the Marsh Deer braying in fear or the gibbering banter o the horrid black-faced monkeys in the occasional trees that looked out at them with an evil humour. Damara ignored them easily but Karani appeared intrigued by their almost human features and motions, Damara had to urge her not to laugh or point at them in case it aggravated the beasts into attack. The scent of the swamp itself was intensified as they carried on by the addition of rotting vegetation and as the fog cleared in a curiously warm and frightfully vulgar waft of wind, a veil of long grey-green grass shoots jutted out of the swamp before them, swallowing the water surface completely.

“As I said, eyes on alert for anything cutting through the grass. Make sure only to step on the grey stones as there could be Gravel boars and Gefafood crocodiles in here.” Karani mumbled in fear at the words of Ynvirius but he gave her a harsh look over his shoulder and she bit her tongue in silence. With a grimace the more exuberant elf kept close to Damara and together they pushed gently through the tall grass blades with scowls. The grass was not clean; bird droppings, insects, tiny frogs and several leeches all bounced or were flicked towards the pair. The curious little motions of the leech kept both girls turning green but thankfully they did not scream and only one of the small frogs dared to jump onto Damara’s chest with a croak of alarm. The long grass was unbearably dense and every so often the party froze to hear something squealing crash past the stones up ahead. They did not see any of the large animals but they could certainly hear the Marsh stags trumpeting, the boars and their piglets foraging and the occasional teeth chattering sounds of the Mimic Storks trying to lure out interested frogs.

The maze was cleared without any danger but no sooner had the swathes of green subsided then bubbling mud pools and diseased mangrove-like trees trotted up to boarder the next stage. Across the mud pool was a clearing of hard ground where a large totem of creature skulls held up a placard of old snapped wood that stared out at them with some imp’s skull sitting above it. Upon the wood was a series of illegible smears in what looked like animal faeces, though it could easily have been the bubbling mud. No one in Virenheim was quite sure what it actually said, only that if more then one person crossed it the goblins tended to spring into attack mode. There was of course talk of maybe some ancient truce after the First One’s death or even some kind of religious aspect, but the king had ensured such thought was not possible. To state that anything in this realm was not tainted and thereby not ignorant to Nabuto’s might was a blasphemy only to be brought out by demonic influence. But all the same, one person could pass and as they reached this unpleasant section of firm land, Damara knew it was her job.

“How far until you reach the stone?” Ynvirius grunted, before he informed his men to draw swords and remain on alert. Karani stepped forward, eager to follow after her friend but was firmly yanked back by the snarling general. She eyed him up suspiciously for a moment, unsure why he was willing to put Damara in such danger but he was quick to give his reasoning before she could question. “Remember… just one person can pass. I don’t give much faith to Benaga blood but you’d better not have cost two men their lives for nothing Princess.”

“I’ve just got to follow the trickle of the stream… it should lead me towards a lone broken willow tree. I don’t think I’ll be that long.” Damara stated, swallowing her sorrow at his comments and trying to push her confidence forward. She grasped her weapon anxiously with a grimace upon her face as she stepped forward across the thankfully firm ground and past the arrangement of bone. It smelt worse then the swamp and some skulls still had maggots writhing on their forms and sinew from what had once been attached to them. She had to ignore the cloud of fat black flies that erupted off the graves at her passing, though her stomach rolled in disgust at such a horrid image. She managed to find the thin trickle of water going past green mosses and then into a wide hollow of bent, black trees.

Damara lifted the mask of her jerkin upward to smother her mouth the moment she looked at the seemingly dead bark. The trees oozed with a thick black sap she recognised as a poisonous disease but worse she noted the infinite bounty of their terrible spores. Every part of the tree was coated in a cloud of glistening yellow blobs that looked like boils raring to burst, they even pulsated gently at the stroking motions of the wind and Damara wanted to retch. These were the Firagon, strange trees painted by the poisoned water to produce clouds of ash-like spores to blot out the sun entirely. They were burnt the moment they touched the ground beyond the marsh to prevent a forest growing and the demons having cover. This very grove proved the boarder where the kingdom had once reached until another dam was burnt by the demons in her grandfather’s time and the rich farm land here was swallowed up into the bog. The trees looked ready to exude their loads into the air and give some wretched army a chance to move, so Damara had to be very careful not to touch anything at all in case it triggered such a harrowing event.

It did not take her too long before Damara had stepped, though trembling violently from the sight of eyes suddenly watching her in the shadows, through the hollow to a strange spot in the dense woodland. Here she found a unique patch of pretty meadow filled with brilliant wild flowers that danced in the sunlight. She had never seen such a serene and lovely thing before and swiftly she lowered her mask and stepped into the grass, taking in the fresh and welcoming scent. She should have remained more cautious but Damara felt compelled to move forward and look at the curious bright yellow flowers, smell their buttery petals and smile. She gained a shock however as her motions caused a creature to leap upward from within the grass with a shriek. Damara gave her own cry of terror at the four-foot high rubbery skinned yellowed creature with its folded ears, frog head and long protruding nose. When she slipped backwards into the grass with a grunt, the creature stopped running and turned back to stare in her direction. From the slightly canine expression upon it’s face, Damara could tell it was concerned but she could see slightly sagging articles upon the creature’s chest and she blushed to think it was a female… something… running around stark naked for the world to see!

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to interrupt… I was just looking for a stone.” Damara blurted, only to slap her head in frustration. The creature in front of her was ugly but held an unusual kind of charm that compelled Damara to be courteous and friendly towards it. This creature had been naked, weapon-less and scared, so despite the fear it could be a disguise for something much worse, Damara couldn’t seem to accept such an assumption as malevolence simply because it lived in what was considered Orcreich. Indeed, with flexing nostrils the creature listened before slipping back into the grass and disappearing completely, Damara would have gone searching had the female not suddenly appeared behind her moments later, casually dropping a stone at her feet with a wry look upon its face. “Amazing… you could understand me! Well… uh… thank you… but I’m looking for a very special stone.”

“Spe… sped… shell?” The creature tried to mimic the word, obviously stone must have been similar to a word in its own tongue and Damara was pleased but concerned. Although she might find out later that she was probably blaspheming in talking to this creature, Damara nodded her head and made the outline of the stone and its size to the creature in the dirt. The curious specimen gave a strange sort of twitch before making a gesture of a stone that was exciting but seemed to be hot if touched. This was what Damara wanted and with a nod of her head she had intended to ask where it was, but the creature grasped her tightly by the wrist and began to drag her off. “Spedshell.”

“That’s right… special stone.” Damara grimaced but fearlessly the little creature led her across the meadow and other creatures lifted their heads to watch. They were all of a similar sort of jaundice shade with odd blue eyes and occasional lone hair strands upon their smooth bald heads, but they were all female too. They seemed to shuffle after Damara and grabbed at her clothing and sword in interest. They made noises in their strange language, which sounded familiar and yet totally incorrect. Eventually a willow tree came into view and Damara breathed a sigh of relief and thankfulness. “The willow… oh thank you my friend and thank you for guiding me Nabuto.”

“Fren?” The creature questioned and Damara felt as if she were being mixed up for someone else. Swiftly she bent down, bowed her head and placed her hand to her chest in a respectful greeting. Much to her surprise, the little creatures copied and some even tried to grasp at her hood to have a look at her hair. Damara couldn’t hold back a smile as she introduced herself, starting to realise that these were not dumb things at all but actually very intelligent with their own language and culture.

“My name is Damara of the house of Benaga… I’m a daughter of the Klangschwert.” There was a sudden shriek of upset and all of the creatures lunged straight back into the grasses, vanishing from sight. Damara’s eyes boggled in upset as she straightened herself and then began regretting the use of that name. She’d been told it meant ‘noisy sword’ in the Orc tongue and maybe the use of that language had startled them. Perhaps there were some curious allies out here in the wilderness and she had just made them fear her. Damara repeated her sorrow again, only to find the first female come out of the grass and tentatively grasp her hand.

“Spedshell Fren… Klangschwert. Ig narm Ike.” The creature beamed and for a while Damara stared at her in shock. The creature repeated the last word again and pointed to herself. Damara copied and then gestured with her own name receiving a nod of understanding and acceptance. The creature, Ike, smiled and then she tried to think of the word for her own species as Damara indicated herself as an elf. “Ike big a Goh-blih-n.”

“Goblin? You’re a goblin?” Damara stated in both shock and surprise as Ike nodded her head happily. If… if she were indeed a female goblin then that would certainly explain the warnings – the male goblins probably assumed the elves came here to kidnap or kill their women! Damara was astounded by the intelligence of Ike and her curiosity also as the little creature reminded her of the ‘hiss’ stone she had come for. Gently, Damara removed a small silver band that she always wore up her arm and presented it to Ike as a gift, knowing well that she should give something in return for the kindness shown. The creature’s eyes bulged visibly in shock and delight, causing Damara to giggle as Ike put the band on her forehead like a tiara and ran about encouraging her companions to come out and see the gift. “Thank you for helping me Ike, I’m glad you like it.”

With that said, Damara stepped toward the willow tree with her heart hammering away in delight. She knew the stone would appear dull and ugly, but she was hopeful that when she touched it something should happen to reveal its true power. Her hands began to tremble as she stepped to the bent and broken trunk, curious as to how the broken top of the tree still managed to produce fresh leaves when it was so badly injured. The plant had been bent down into the stream and mud that were black with poison, but the roots were healthy and silvery with soft brown soil wrapped lovingly about them. Wedged between two such intertwined lengths sat a dull, speckled stone that was so out of place it was odd to think it had been left alone for so long. With a deep breath and a sensation of excitement, Damara stretched out her hands to grasp the sacred object.

Nothing happened.

She touched it a few times more but no response or vibration seemed to exalt from the rock. For a moment Damara was panicked that she’d done something wrong, but Ike appeared beside her. The little creature noticed the way Damara looked to her hands and gestured to push them firmly into the soil, to seemingly cool them. The gesture reminded Damara of the reaction of the stone to enemies and she scowled at the thought Ike was a threat, though she swiftly copied the little creature with a reassuring smile. Damara thanked her new friend again and grasped the stone tightly to her body, still nothing happened but Damara pulled her mask upward and marched back toward the poisoned trees with an air of determination. She ignored how Ike followed and then froze at the edge of the meadow, waving the silver band after her. Damara even ignored the fact the watching eyes were replaced by the curious faces of what must be the warty, larger male goblins peering past the poisoned trees. Determined to take the stone to her companions Damara passed the spores without fear and only when she passed the Goblin sign and lifted the stone to them did it react.

The moment she offered it into the sunlight the object sent a sudden jolt into her body, forcing her to collapse as Karani screamed and leapt over. But that wasn’t all, Damara could not stop her hands from presenting the stone to the sky and the three letters… ish… revealed themselves on the surface of the object with a sudden expulsion of light.

Not far behind on the edge of the grasses, Jarl and Ling froze in their battle and spotted the sudden energy. Their foray into the swamp after the group had been fortuitous in that no creature had appeared and they had rushed through the waters, ignorant to the lurches and slimy things about them. Ling had bounced in her run as usual and had nearly reached the large stones when they had finally met trouble and vomited into the water at the horrendous sight of a Mud Lurch regurgitating two half-eaten elf soldiers in order to flee the nightmarish Loskad. Though the mares in this mob of dark blue and red horse-like reptiles were content to eat the juice ridden corpses, the stallion and the yearlings turned right on the two living specimens!

The pair had swiftly decapitated the first beast to run at them with its extending jaws of razor sharp teeth by swinging their daggers into its fat neck. The instant the vein was cut the neck exploded with a pop and the body fell to the floor, hungrily grasped at by a myriad of proboscis, tentacle and fish. The pair were soaked in the rich red blood and this urged a second attack by the younger animals. But together the swift pair had been fast enough to bolt as the foals charged at them, passed them and then paused at the sight of their dead brother, before choosing to devour him also. But though they had managed to avoid the snappier and possibly faster youngsters, the great black stallion with his weird swirling yellow and red eyes gave his banshee roar of hate and charged the pair as they bolted over to the rocks.

“What can we do Ling? Unless we can get to high ground we’re dead!” Jarl howled, managing to stay just ahead of Ling to keep out of her way. Her face was a mask of irritation as she fiddled with the crossbow on her wrist and flung her arm backwards. When she gave a grunt there was a crack in the air and a squealing roar from the monster as it was struck in the tender nostrils. The creature paused for a moment to rub its splayed clawed hoof-like feet to knock the arrow out before screeching with a whicker and rushing back after them. Jarl didn’t turn to check the damage as Ling proceeded to swear and the sound of heavy, hot, reeking breath pressed at their backs.

“Damn thing arched his neck… he knew I was trying to hit that vein!” Ling snorted before leaping into the mud beside the stones. The minute she did a massive boar head emerged to snap where the Blood elf had been a second ago. The boar then crashed through the grasses and into the path of the Loskad, holding it at bay for a moment as the creatures sized each other up for a fight. As the two creatures began to grunt and scream at each other to establish feeding rights, Ling slapped Jarl firmly in the back with a vivid smile upon her face. He froze for a moment, guessing she was actually up to something more dangerous. “You know what Jarl, if you really cared this much you shouldn’t have been stupid enough to get Kirlia pregnant in the first place – now get moving whilst I deal with my little pony friend here.”

“But Ling how did you?” Jarl had no time to ask the question though as a massive light shot out of the woodland ahead of them. For a moment everything was motionless as they watched the curious beam and it was not just those sitting within the swamps and marshes. A beam of brilliant blue light had burst from wherever Damara had located the stone and looped over the wetland toward Virenheim itself. Its great motion seemed to hold purpose as it darted through the air towards the great glass roof of the tower above the King’s palace. Behind it a rainbow was cast out over the land, purifying whatever it fell upon with moans and bubbling noises like the song of a whale as if it had been calling out for something. The demonic creatures within the region gave screeches of agony but Jarl could not stop and instead hurried on across the stones, screaming out into the grass despite his pride. “Damara! DAMARA!”

Ling watched him go before automatically re-aiming her bow and catching the horse beast in the eye. It gave a rattling mix of a nicker and a swear as it continued to charge at her, the spikes on its back suddenly producing their poisoned tips with the intent to smash her body into the earth. But Ling was acrobatic enough to dodge its charge again and as it pivoted back around, she realised the boar had finally awoken from its confusion to charge at her again. With an impious grin she waited before back flipping neatly down onto the edge of the boar’s snout and then once more to clear the beast’s bulky body. The creature’s eyes rolled in their small dark sockets to try and figure out what had just happened, but though the hog was only about the size of a cow, its bulky body was tricked into crashing hard into the side of the Loskad, its swishing tusks slashing the throat of the beast wide open. The animal of course exploded in blood onto the stunned boar, which then settled itself into devouring the corpse. Ling breathed a sigh of relief only to hear the murky water behind her explode and a massive brown crocodile came launching out at her.

There was no way for Ling to run or hide from the Gefafood; she knew instead it was time to prepare for death and to close her eyes. Just as the teeth seemed to be over her middle and its hot breath was moistening her shabby clothing, Ling realised she was not being chomped! Instead she heard a gurgling growl and choke of shock from the beast as she reopened her eyes and turned about to find the beast’s neck locked in a choke hold within Alard’s strong arms. The beast writhed and tried to hiss but it could not keep the energy to fight and once it sagged in his arm, the Aeron dropped it straight back down with a snort of surprise. He then turned towards Ling with a scowl and a wagging finger.

“What did I tell you about missions without me?”

“Alright mum… we’ve got no time to waste Damara’s in deep shit.”

Next Chapter: Ten