Light's End: The Young Phoenix

Chapter One

A chilling breeze blew from the north and whipped across Ellen'Gran's exposed flesh. Goose pimples rose on the nape of his neck and, instinctively he raised his cloak's cowl over his face. Without thinking, he reached down and checked his crossbow.

It was still loaded.

Ellen pressed his fingers against the bolt's shaft and traced its outline until he was to its fletching. From there he followed along to the crossbow's trigger before releasing a heavy sigh.

They are only animals. The internal voice of the commander reminded him.

The distressed whinny of a horse snapped Ellen'Gran back from his musings. Turning towards the sound, he found that three of his fellow squires had drawn their swords.

"Calm down squire. Horse lost her footing and spooked is all." A knight called as the three boy's faces went red from embarrassment.

"Least they're eager." Called out another to the amused chuckles of everyone present.

The three squires could not hide their shame and turned their faces away. The laughter eventually subsided and the vanguard continued its way up the rocky hillside to the summit.

Ellen'Gran could not help but to notice how quiet it was there. The forest rose up all around him and the hills rolled like waves in the sea. He could not help but to appreciate the serenity as nary a sound reverberated over the fresh snow other than the plodding of their mounts.

As they rode, he tried to focus on his happier memories of traveling these same hills in search of wild game. This land was not unfamiliar to him and he tried to recall if he and the other squires had ever been there before. He realized that, had it not been for their grim purpose, this would have seemed little more than a hunting trip.

They are only animals. The Commander's voice seemed to repeat. The line had never meant much before when spoken in the practice yard but now it was different. Ellen'Gran could still remember the commander repeating them days before.

"Your father wishes to see you knighted." The commander had told him that day. "You will be going with us to drive the demons off."

He recoiled at the very memory.

There was nothing in the world that he dreaded more than the day that he was to say his knightly vows. He feared for the day that he was to take on the legacy of the Heshimite family name as his father and brother before him.

Ellen'Gran was the youngest son of Ellen'Star Heshimite, the most powerful despot in the Empire. That title cast a very deep shadow. One that caused Ellen's hand to shake and heart to race just to think about.

He had became so distracted by his own thoughts that he didn't notice the rider pull up beside him. How long the figure was there, he did not know, but when he finally did notice, the blood drained from his face.

"Relax." Said the elf in a low gravelly tone.

It was only then that Ellen realized that the figure was none other the Commander, Tres'Va'Nar the Crow.

Tres'Va'Nar's chin was wide, his nose resembled a beak, and a massive scar crossed his right cheek. His weathered face and cold looking eyes did little to improve his image nor did his shaved head. When people imagined the Empire's legendary knights, they would seldom think of Tres'Va'Nar.

Yet he was not without his redeeming qualities. Tres'Va'Nar stood well over six and a half feet in height. The commander was old but still seemed as energetic and capable as a man half his age. Finally, the stories of his brilliance in battle were without equal.