Chronicles

Quest Part Two

"Belar, are you sure we're on course." Ren asked pushing a large branch out of his way. The branch whipped back heading straight for the Dark Paladin's face. He phase through it, coming out the other end.

"Watch it." He grumbled, glaring at the warrior's armored back. The Ranger, far ahead of the group, didn't turn as he called to Ren, "Careful of your step." At that moment Ren's leg fell knee deep into a hole. With an unmanly yelp he pitched forward to one knee. He started tugging at his leg. The dark Paladin walked around Ren, making no move to help him. In response to Ren's protest, the dark paladin called over his shoulder, "Serves you right." The mage holding up the rear of the party flicked his wrist mumbling an incantation under his breath. In the next moment Ren was standing unhindered; the hole beneath him disappeared. Ren blew out a breath, nodding his head to Alphius in thanks, as he took up the rear.

That night they set camp in a small clearing. The fire crackled in the center of the group, the light flickering across their faces. Ren leaned against a large boulder sharpening his sword. The slow rhythmic sounds of the whetstone slide along the swords edge filled the warrior with calm. The wet stone stopped as the warrior's head jerked up staring into the forest's depths. He turned to stand between his companions and the dark forest. Seeing the warrior rise, the Paladin and mage tensed, looking in his direction. The Ranger poked at the crackling fire, chewing a green herb. A black shape rose from the shadows taking the form of a large black dire wolf. A pheasant hung limply from its jaws. The dire wolf growled as it past Ren. Then padded over to the Ranger, dropping a pheasant into his lap. The Ranger offered the dire wolf a slice of meat from the fire, which it snapped up. It pushed its muzzle under Belar's arm to nuzzle it's large head against the Ranger's chest.

"You brought Fenrir?" Ren asked in disbelief, relaxing his stance and returning to a seat. The Ranger grinned as a Wolf lay beside him panting slightly.

"He's useful." the Ranger replied a bit defensively. Ren looked at the others for support, but the Dark Paladin ignored him, tossing a slice of jerky in the Fenrir's direction. The mage pulled out an old piece of Parchment, studying it in the fires light. The treasured item the dark paladin had acquired a week ago was said to hold the path to the oldest source of magic.

"He did bring us a pheasant." Alphuis said pleasantly, not removing his gaze from the parchments surface. The warrior went back to sharpening his blade, keeping a wary eye on the large beast. He had lost more articles of clothing by the mischievous beast than he could count.

Alphuis cleared his throat, pointing to a spot upon the parchment.

"Belar, are you positive the Twin Peaks in this poem refer to the Borean Mountains and not the Silkas Sisters." Alphius asked. The Ranger was halfway through plucking the pheasant paused, saying, "Yes. While, both mountain ranges have Twin Peaks, the Borean mountains Are the only ones bathed in the light of the full moon. The Silkas mountains are dwarf in the shadows of the Roran Plateau.It can only be the Boreans that the old ones speak of."

The mage nodded through the Ranger's reasoning his fingers tracing the lines across the parchment.

"I believe then that we must reach the peaks before the full moon light has cast."He said . The members of the group froze the statement. The Dark paladin looked askance at The mage.

"Alphuis, The full moon is but a weeks away. The peaks are nine days journey from here by foot." The dark paladin said. The mage level him with a grim stare.

"Then we will need horses" he said.

The Ranger set the pheasant over the fire , saying, " We'll still be cutting it close." Belar said.

"Why the need of the maiden's light?" Ren asked. Alphius studied the manuscript once more before responding, " It specifically mentions the maiden's light, if it was not necessary..."

The Ranger interrupted with a tired sigh, "We've discussed this, it's to differentiate the two Mountain ranges."

The mage nodded in ascent.

" We have. However next verse has been bugging me." Alphuis said as he continued reading from the piece of parchment in a slow, measured, voice. "The shadow's truth will be revealed by the cycle of Time."

After a moment of silence the Paladin spoke up, "I'll handle the horses." The mage turned to Belar, "Can Fenrir keep up?"
The Ranger scoffed, "Fenrir can run longer than any mere horse. Have you no mind?" He said. The dark paladin rose, dusting off dirt from his cloak. "Well as there's no time to waste..." he said disappearing in a plume of black smoke. The warrior shivered, grumbling, "I really hate when he does that."