The Three Kingdoms [under edit]

trapped

Galvin stood wide eyed barely able to process what had just happened.  Caper was gone, held hostage somewhere...and probably in loads of trouble for his annoying humor.

"Darwin."

"Yes sir,"

"That city....don't you think it was a bit too easy to secure?"

"Why should I think that?"

"Its the largest center for trade, that one city supports the entire kingdom, soon to be empire, financially.  No king, sane or not, would let something like that go."

"Do you think it was a trap?"

"yes...Darwin....it was a trap."  Galvin turned around and scanned the horizon.  "We need to seek out Darien fast.  We will not attack any more cities unless it's to rescue Caper.  Set a course for the North."

"Yes sir."

"We conquered a city only to have it corrupt again.  Now it's behind us, we are boxed in...Caper might be bait."

"I'd advise you not to take the bait."

"He's my friend...I don't have a choice, and you have no say...Oh, and go check in with Connor."

    Galvin trekked through the woods.  He wanted to do it alone.  He wanted to find Caper by himself, he worried about others slowing his conquest.  Galvin assured himself that Caper could not have gone far, the art of teleportation is inaccurate and weak.   The king let his mind wander as he trekked over the underbrush.  The Wolves, believing, a religion...what could it possibly be?  Why is caper the prime target of a murderous race of pure evil? Who is Caper? What is he hiding...and why is he hiding it?  Then he stopped, well, he had to stop.  The massive wall loomed overhead.  Perched on top was the blind eagle.

"Hello there king." It whispered hoarsely.

"You are.....intriguing."

"Yes he is..."

Galvin whirled around and came face to face with the one who spoke.  Caper.

"WHAT THE HELL CAPER!? WHERE WERE YOU?"

"Nice to see you too."

"You had the whole encampment worried sick, me included.  you were taken away with a knife held to your throat after giving me a speech on how you were about to die."

"I survived...for now."

"How?"

"I know things.  Now, the bird...How does he know so much without the ability to see?"

"What can you do? Can you fly without hitting things?" Galvin addressed the bird.

"Stop making fun of his disabilities." Caper whispered.

"I'm not making fun of his disabilities, I'm exploring his practicalities." he hissed back.

The bird stood motionless, his hollow eye-sockets twitching with anticipation.   Then it began to speak.

"One king will fall,

One king will die,

One king will remain.

The Light in the dark will die by the bowman.

The light has three weeks.

The world will descend into darkness.

The king will fail in time of need."

"That was unexpected..." Caper whispered.

"What does he mean?"

"I have my ideas...how about you ask him."

"You ask..."

"You're the one who wants to know."

Galvin looked up at the bird, "Do you mind explaining?" He asked.  The Eagle looked down on him, crimson dripping from his beak.  He fell from his perch landing in front of Galvin and Caper.  The eagle was dead.  Clutched in his talon was a clear red sphere no larger than a grape.  It was pulsing with a dim light, Galvin stepped forward and grasped it with his claw, delicately, and held it up to the light.  He and Caper gazed at it, then the light went out.  The leaves on the forest floor began to shimmer.  The landscape flashed into a frozen tundra then back again.  Back and forth the world went like someone was flickering the lights, then it stopped.  Galvin and Caper stood knee-deep in snow, in the midst of a howling gale.  In front of them was the castle of the Ice King.

Author's Note.
I don't normally leave these little tidbits of information, I think it kind of mars the look of the page.  However I do have a few things to say.
1. COMENT! I like hearing from my readers.  How do you like it? what don't you like? How can I make the characters any better? Who do you like most? What did you eat for breakfast? anything people! TALK TO ME!!
2.  I do sincerely apologize for my horrendous spelling.  I try.  However, try to think of this book as my personal notebook.  An uncorrected draft of a story I probably will scrap.
Enjoy!
Sparkles