Lakrelm Chronicles: An Eternal Hope

Chapter 3: A Sudden Disaster

"Hurry," Hershesh shouted "My house is just over that ridge!"

As we climbed the ridge, Arnan and I were rather skeptical as to whom Hershesh was. After all it was odd that he had shown up just after Amin had vanished, almost as if Hershesh knew what would happen, although looking at him now, he seems just as surprised as us. When we finally climbed the ridge, the sight which we saw amazed and delighted us.

We looked out onto rolling hills, filled with blues and purples and reds, the color of many flowers. The occasional fruit tree dotted the road, marking the beginning of the path to Market Square, where all the Navonians east of The Great Kukui, the largest tree in all of Relmhayvin, and also the castle in Navon Village, went to get there food and other supplies they needed to carry on living for the king.

However, Hershesh veered off down a smaller, more sheltered path that we would have missed entirely, and told us to do the same. As we went further through the tree line, the setting sun set the trees ablaze with the usual reds and golds of autumn, we also noticed other things too, like lamps hidden in the trees and bushes, casting a soft, warm glow on our path. As we walked on and the trees cleared out, we could see in the distance, a small cottage with a tower attached to it, which looked as if it had been taken from a castle or manor of some sort and placed solely to make Hershesh more or less, look richer, because only the rich could afford towers. As I looked on, I noticed the trees formed a circle around this odd place, as if to protect it from trespassers, which based on where this place is located, probably wasn't too far from the truth.

Hershesh led us through rows of lilies, lilacs, and hydrangeas, to the front door, which appeared locked tight by some spell, which Hershesh undid with ease. As the door opened, we heard a low growl coming from inside, and before we knew it, a bright white fox appeared, lips drawn back, teeth bared at us. It was a rather curious thing to see, dear reader, this fox coming towards us, almost looking as if it was studying us, trying to see into our minds. As I thought these things, it perked up at us, lowered its head again, and charged, right between us to get to Elwyn. I swatted at it, and it recoiled in surprise.

"Leave Elwyn alone," I shouted "He has done nothing to you, you mangy fox!"

"Elana please, control yourself," Hershesh said, "nothing is going to happen to Elwyn."

He turned to the fox "My apologies dear Nightstorm," He said, "Elana is not used to seeing a kind fox, let alone one as beautiful as you."

"I completely understand," She replied, to my surprise "it's not natural for a Navonian or Colonian to see a fox like me, most of us died out when The Great Library was destroyed by those raiders from Egnorfia, many of my friends and comrades died that day," at this she shuddered, the pain showing on her foxy face, "But the past is past, and here I am now. Allow me to introduce myself properly," She dipped her head, and we bowed in turn "My name is Nightstorm, assistant and friend to Elwyn Mcmasters and Hershesh of Dragonia."

Arnan and I looked at each other in surprise, I mean sure Hershesh was arrayed like a Dragonian Magi, but wizards had the ability to change their appearance, like most in the other stories you have read as a child, so I figured this was no different, after all, he had come from the direction of Dragonia when he had appeared. Maybe he was there on business, and thought looking like an insider would work in his favor. I never considered that was his place of birth. We looked to Hershesh to confirm this but all he said was "Nightstorm, is the infirmary ready?"