Ten Universes: The Night of the Wolf

Prologue: Dawn of Bloodshed

Prologue

Dawn of Bloodshed

The night was still, not a single breath of wind flowed through the sky. It was eerily still. The grass stayed straight and the trees didn't creak with any wind. The moon was the only light that shone but everything was visible to even a human's eye. The stars were dim to the brightness of the full moon that night. There was no sound over the valley. The river was still, the water settled and deep. Rocks surrounded the bank. They were smooth and reflected silver in the moonlight.

The silence was broken as a figure rushed to the top of the valley and slid down the hill. It was a female. Her hair was flaming red and was stuck together with a dark substance. Her eyes were bright green and wild as she ran through the few trees that lined the valley wall. Her breathing was heavy and her hands kept running over her belt, touching the sword hilt and the bag attached to it. The belt was over her dress that was torn and covered in the same substance that stuck her hair together. It was blood.

She slipped and rolled down the hill until she caught herself on the rocks at the river's edge. She pushed herself up and onto her feet causing her hair to fall and reveal her pointed ears. She was an elf.

She glanced quickly up at the top of the valley. Her fears were confirmed as a group of figures came to the edge, spotted her and started down. The woman waded into the river and turned to face the group.

The group were men. They had very pale skin and were wearing dark cloaks. They're ears were pointed like an elf's but they were not of the same race. Nobody knew what they actually were or where they came from. It was suspected that they were resurrected elves. They called themselves 'The Kartars'. They served only the Queen and answered to no-one. Their magic was unrivalled by even the mysterious feiries.

The elf raised her hands, water rose around her, forming a shield.

"Just try it," she hissed. "You'll never take it from me." She glanced down at the bag hanging from her belt.

"Hand the book over and we'll let you go," the leader of the group said, his voice was dark and had venom radiating from every syllable. The elf's emerald eyes held a fiery look and she didn't change her stance.

"I would never trust the word of anyone who serves Blue Aries," the elf hissed. She took a step back as the lead kartar nodded to one of his companions. The kartar took a step into the water and raised his hand, pulling the water away from the elf and with his other hand he pointed a finger and hissed. His hiss was rhythmic, as though he was chanting. The elf's hands jumped to her throat as she spluttered.

The kartar was choking her with magic.

"Now, hand over that book," the leader said again. The elf simply glared in his direction as her face drained of blood and she crumpled into the river. Her body floated on the still water and the leader tutted.

"Shame, she was very beautiful even compared to the others of her race. Get the book."

The kartar that had killed the elf went to her body and pulled the bag off her belt; he opened it and reached in, pulling out a gold book. It was sealed with a strap of gold and black material. The kartar attempted to pull off the material but it wouldn't budge.

"Sir, it's cursed with wolf magic!" he snarled. The leader cursed darkly.

"Maybe we shouldn't have killed her," another kartar mumbled. The leader whipped out a sword and swung around, the next second the kartar's head had rolled off and his body had fallen into the water.

"Is there anything else?" he asked, sheathing his sword and turning his eyes back to his second-hand man. The other two kartars had taken a few steps away from their furious leader. The kartar was wading around the elf's body. All that he found on her person was a necklace with a blue star and small gold diamonds on it and her sword. Her sword was elegant and light, a fine weapon so the kartar took it. He made his way back to the group and handed the objects to his leader.

"So, she was the keeper of a Shrine or Temple," he muttered, examining the necklace. "Not just any temple, she was the head Keeper at the Temple of the Killis in the Valley of the Wolves." The kartar sneered and looked at his soldiers.

"So, what do we do about the book?" one of them asked.

"We take it to her majesty. She'll find someone to take the curse off. I hear her son speaks Wolfish, she must be ashamed." The leader shook his head.

"Why would she be ashamed?" The leader stared at his soldier and thumped him.

"Because, only those who have been blessed with kindness by the Goddess Killis can speak it you idiot!" The kartar bowed his head shamefully. "The sun's coming up. We'll travel to Athreida in the morning."

The group of four walked out of the valley, leaving the elf to drift slowly down the river. A huge mistake on their part as the river had begun to flow gently to the East. Unbeknownst to the kartar or the Queen of the land, the river flowed past the Valley of the Wolves. The elf's body would be discovered and the rebel group known as the Mercenary Guild would be alerted immediately and they would draw up plans to steal the book back.