To Fear or to Fight
he still, silent, and deep night falls in Quariumora. The night was filled with thick fogs that enfolded the city of Quariumora, so thick that the city became so cold and it never happened in Quariumora before. It was late in the evening and Drinn was still awake in a room given by the Quariumoran Princess. He was sitting quietly at the side of his bed for his mind was disquieted with anxiety of tomorrow’s battle.
“You might be wrong in choosing me Quinlan.” he said to himself. “It must be a mistake. I’m not the White Warrior.”
“I’m going to turn back and live a new life that is really for me, I’m not formed for journeys and battles and wars. I gave up Quinlan!” And as soon as he finished the word he was saying he stood up from the bed and something fell on the floor. He looked down and it was the dove necklace given by Mrs. Kettlery, he kneeled down with his right knee to picked the necklace up and the moment his hand touched the necklace he heard a word saying “Did I called you knight.” It was a soft female voice and that word brought Drinn’s memory back on the first night they were in Firolwen when he and Princess Meyah were at the porch of Ilan’s tree. Drinn was sure it was Princess Meyah’s voice, and as he pick the necklace he wondered how the necklace fell from his neck for it is not broken. And before he wear the necklace back a strong wind blew from the terrace, the door opened wide that he almost fell on the floor and the necklace again fell from his hand as fogs quickly came inside his room and until Drinn couldn’t see anything at all. At the coldness of his room a voice said “Did you mean it Drinn?”
“Is it you Quinlan?” said Drinn.
“Did you mean what you just said?” the voice said, “Are you giving up?”
“I don’t know if I could win the battle tomorrow.” Drinn replied. “I know it is you Quinlan.”
“After you defeat the dark wolf?” said Quinlan
“Defeating the dark wolf is just a mere luck! Am I really the Chosen One?” Drinn asked.
“You are letting doubt to rule your heart again Drinn.” Quinlan said. “The decision is yours Drinn… You may choose what your true heart says.” It was then followed by a long pause as if the fate of Neriwonda was about to be decided.
The night grew darker in the whole land of Neriwonda and was roofed with dark clouds and fearful thunders and lightning violently striking the land. Rain started to fall and was followed with few shakings of the land that all the inhabitants of Neriwonda were awakened, the dwarves of Duin Hall quickly came out of their great hall, the elves in Vennashan with the villagers from Firolwen, Zuriel and his great aderyn army in Fortress Hill, Brandeoulf and Hanguel who were on the journey towards Fortress Hill, Vibac, Celandine and the Amarashans, even Queen Esther, Princess Estee and Ellyze, Deegee, Greenyoilylampee and the world of Fantezze Quon’zt, and the Warriors of the Chosen One who were at the long narrow valley towards the temple of Prophet Glahei.
“What is happening?!” Bribble exclaimed who just woke up from a deep sleep.
“The fate of Neriwonda is about to be decide.” said Reginleif who was gravely looking above the great black clouds.
“What do you mean?” Bribble asked again.
“And it shall come to pass that the Chosen One will decide whether to doubt or to faith, and to fear or to fight. The land will be covered with darkness, lightning will strike and earthquake will then follow.”
“Drinn is under an initiation with Quinlan.” Reginleif said and they all stood quietly waiting for the rain, the lightning, and the earthquake to pass. Princess Meyah held her necklace tight and she whispered “Be strong Drinn, don’t’ give up.”
Drinn on the other hand was still undecided if he is to give up or not, his hand then felt something on the floor and it was the dove necklace, and as soon as his hand touched it he heard a continuous voices saying “Don’t give up.” He knew those voices very well; the first one came from Princess Meyah, the second from Bribble, the third from Reginleif, the fourth from Eanna, the fifth from Brinsop, and the last one were from the Kitchen Dwarves.
He picked the necklace up and wore it once again and said “No I’m not giving up.” And the rain, the lightning, and the earthquake suddenly stopped.
“You are stronger than what you think Drinn. If you only knew who you really are.” said Quinlan. He was in front of Drinn for the fogs inside the room were slowly fading. Drinn look up at Quinlan for he was still on his knee, and as he looked at him Quinlan was not in the form of Quillac nor was he shining as bright as the sun the first time he met him, so he saw how Quinlan really looks like. His eyes as bright as the morning, blue as the clear crystal ocean, gentle and strong. His face was fair to look upon, majesty and authority was upon him. His hair was as white as wool, and was wearing a kingly garment.
“Stand and allow me to bring out the warrior inside of you.”
The next day came, and the new morning spoke of last night’s turmoil, for the sky was forlorn and was pale orange in color. Rocks were scattered at the long narrow valley where the warriors of the Chosen One were. They started their journey early that day for they repeatedly had to clear piled rocks on the road.
“What do you think happened to Drinn?” inquired Bribble who was alongside with the Kitchen Dwarves.
“He’s in Quariumora.” answered Tuulikki “We checked the magic map this morning and we’re glad we can tracked him again”
“That’s what you get for always waking up late.” said Brokk who was a bit annoyed with Bribble. “And then you come up with lots of questions!”
“Late? Is five in the morning late?” replied Bribble. “And I have to eat my breakfast quickly.”
“We got up four in the morning today, for Reginleif found out that Drinn was now in Quariumora.” said Tuulikki.
“What is he doing in Quariumora?” said Bribble.
Tuulikki shrugged his shoulder and said “I don’t know.”
“I guess he is fulfilling the prophecy” interrupted Sindri. “The Quariumoran army was mentioned in the prophecy.”
“What bewilder me is that he suddenly appeared in Quariumora which to my knowledge is far from Thuddin-Imal, where we last tracked him. And the fact that it is a Secret City.” Brokk added.
“I guess there are still lots of mysteries we do not know about Neriwonda.” Sindri replied.
“Faster! The four of you, hurry up!” shouted Reginleif who was a little bit far from them, for Bribble and the Kitchen Dwarves were at the rear and was nearly left behind. “This is no time for chat!”
It was nearly eleven in the morning when they exited the long narrow valley. They came out into the Northern Forest of Neriwonda, unfamiliar to most of them. It was then that Brinsop the dragon felt strange that he suggested that they go back and change their path. It was discussed by the group and decided to continue to their recent path.
“I really don’t feel right in this forest Master Reginleif.” said Brinsop who was still polymorphed into a human.
“You know deeply that I trust your instinct,” replied Reginleif “And I voted for you. But majority wins, it’s three against five. I’m so sorry Brinsop.”
“I can’t believe that the elf voted against a dragon.” whispered Brinsop. “And you and master Eanna can made a choice for us, even if the whole group disagreed.”
“I know but we are a team Brinsop.” said Reginleif. “The choice of the most is the choice of all. And though it is against my will, I accepted it. And even if something bad would happen, I won’t blame them who voted against us for a team acts as one. The team’s success is a success of all, and the team’s mistake is a mistake of all.”
“That’s what I learned from master Cuauhtémoc.” and Reginleif’s face saddened.
“Even Geironul’s fall, I don’t consider his fault alone. For I’m with him the night he was bitten by a werewolf. I shouldn’t have let him face the last werewolf alone in Hywel.”
“You miss them don’t you master Reginleif?” said Brinsop.
“I just wonder where Geironul is. He just vanished before the battle in Firolwen.” replied Reginleif, “I forgot to ask Heelina about him."
“And I have a strong feeling that he is still alive.”
And then Reginleif suddenly stopped as if something hindered him to continue that the group stopped too, for he and Brinsop were in front of the group. Reginleif’s eyes were surveying the place for any sign of danger and then he shouted aloud “Everyone duck!” as arrows unexpectedly shrilled around them. Halvene quickly threw a small dagger before he ducked and it thrust at the orc’s head and then the remaining orcs came out from the trees. Eanna’s arrow was swift as she shot all the orc’s with an arrow still not missing a target every time she released the bowstring. Brinsop quickly transformed back to a dragon and then breathed fire at the surprised orcs rushing at them and they were all burned wailing.
“Is everyone all right?” said Reginleif.
“Princess Meyah got hit!” shouted Bribble who was holding the Princess lying at his lap unconscious.
“This is not good!” Eanna said as she went near the princess and saw that the arrow was plunged right at the Princess’ belly.
“And it is an orchish arrow.” added Halvene. “Most of their arrows are poisoned. The Princess’ life is in danger.”
“We have to bring her to the temple at once!” said a female voice a few feet from them, and as they looked, it was an elven lady and she was in fact Sereelien the guardian of the prophet.
“Who are you?” asked Reginleif.
“I’m Sereelien daughter of Serlantes.” replied the elven lady.
“She’s the guardian of the prophet.” Halvene added.
“We must bring her to the prophet’s temple right away.” Sereelien said “We are safe there, it has an Amulen Stone. And there might be still some orcs around.”
“How bad is she?” Eanna asked Sereelien for her face was worried as she looked at Princess Meyah’s wound. They were inside the prophet’s temple and Sereelien already took the arrow’s point, but what worried her is the kind of poison used for whenever she touched the wound, she saw a black and evil vision.
“She is badly poisoned.” Sereelien gravely said. “This poison is not made by the orcs.”
“This poison was made by a sorcerer.”
“Celandine!” Eanna said.
“She already knew that we’re here.” Reginleif interrupted. “For some dryads had chosen the side of the Amarashans.”
“You are following the White Warrior don’t you?” Sereelien asked.
“Yes, he’s been in here a few days ago didn’t he?” replied Reginleif.
“Yes I took him to Thuddin-Imal Mountains.” Sereelien answered. “There he told me to wait for a couple of days, and if he doesn’t come back, I have to leave.”
“But I believe in the Chosen One, and I’m determined to wait for him as long as I could. But the second day, orcs went on hunting me so I have to come back to the temple to flee for my life. And right then I knew that some dryads are with the side of Vibac.”
“We have to get a blue Terihna leaves.” Sereelien continued for she identified the poison. “The poison Celandine used is a black Terihna and the blue one can be use to heal it.”
“Where can we find those?” Reginleif inquired.
“In the Lone-Needle Cave,” Sereelien said “Where the black Terihna leaves also grows.”
“We must be in haste, the Princess’ body may not take the poison very long, or she will…”
“We are leaving then! Eanna and I!” Reginleif said.
“I suggest that the Princess must leave with you or we all leave as well.” interrupted Halvene. “Lone-Needle is a very long journey from here, and we are about to pass Firolwen again. Yes it requires a lot of peril. But remember, if we leave the princess here, time will be doubled before we can give her the cure. Her body may not take the poison for that long.”
“I guess Halvene is right.” Sereelien said.
Reginleif then turned at the other who was listening at their conversations “It’s all up to you if you will choose to go with us or stay here. Remember it is safer here for the temple has an Amulen Stone. You choose for yourselves.”
“I have promise Drinn not to leave the princess!” said Bribble “I’m coming.”
“We too are coming!” the Kitchen Dwarves said in chorus.
“You can’t leave me here alone.” added Halvene.
“We beg you to come with us Sereelien,” Eanna said, “For you knew how to use the Terihna leaves.”
“Certainly I will, even if you ask me not.” the elf lady answered.
It was nearly three in the afternoon in Quariumora, and the arena was filled with the deafening noise of the crowd. Shokurr was already inside the battle ground boasting and waiting for his opponent. He was a giant Quariumoran warrior and was nearly nine feet tall, his grey scaly skin was rough, bald headed and his left eye was blind. King Dunates and his nobles were at their usual place and Princess Shayna was also there sitting beside her father.
“You are wasting your time father.” Princess Shayna said. “Drinn won’t come. He left the castle last night.”
“You scared him, and you let him go don’t you?” replied the King. “He won’t escape the guards if you didn’t help him.”
“No I didn’t help him at all,” replied Princess Shayna, “And I don’t know how he managed to escape the guards. I just found out this morning that he’s gone when I checked his room.”
The crowd then suddenly cheered louder and the King said “You need not to worry my daughter– he’s already here.” he smiled and glimpse for awhile at Princess Shayna and continued “He’s braver than what you expect, or shall I say more stupid.”
Princess Shayna slowly stood up from her chair as she saw Drinn entering the battle ground, and look intently at Drinn for Drinn’s clothes was filled with dried blood and mud. His hair was muddled with dirt and his eyes were fearless and fiery as Shayna gazed at it. A sword was hanging at Drinn’s back as he walked and stood silently at the center of the battle ground and then King Dunates stood up from his chair and cried “Let the battle begin!” and the crowd burst into a deafening shouts.
Drinn looked above the opening roof of the arena as if his mind was undisturbed with the rage and the peril of the fight. The blinding light of the Peiheesa stone hurt his eyes a bit and a memory suddenly went flashing in his mind. For this is what happened the night Quinlan reappeared:
A bright white light burst inside the room that everything was covered with its brilliant light. His eyes couldn’t take the enormous light that he closed his eyes. It went on for about a minute or so, and then the light slowly weakened. When Drinn opened his eyes, he found himself in the middle of a hot forest. Morning was about to emerge for a little red ray of Coltranthum was peering out from the unending trees of east. The trunks of the trees were bulky, dark green in color, and were filled with vines hanging from their enormous branch. Drinn’s voice echoed at the still forest as he called out Quinlan’s name for quite a few times but he was nowhere to be found or even a whisper of his wisdom. So Drinn decided to stride out in the unknown forest, and it was just an hour until Drinn found what he never expected, a fully grown brass dragon drinking beside a river. It was double the size of Gleep and Brinsop, about thirty feet long, has a large head plates and eyes that resembled a molten metal. Fortunately Drinn was far from the brass dragon and he was hiding behind the trees. After drinking, the brass dragon spread its enormous clawed-wings and swiftly flew away as the leaves of the trees went on shaking and falling to the ground at the strong wind produced by the flapping of the dragon’s wings. Drinn then slowly went out from hiding at the trees, he looked up at the sky and saw that the two suns of Neriwonda were already shining at the blue sky and the brass dragon was out of sight. “Then I’m not in Quariumora?” he whispered, then unexpectedly a strong impact shook the ground, Drinn knew very well that it came from a few feet behind him. And as he quickly turned, he saw the brass dragon.
“A human in the lands of Kayel?” said the dragon. Drinn was petrified for he knew not what the dragon might do to him. He was not moving even an inch from where he stood. “How come that the green and the red dragons let you pass their territories?” the dragon continued. “They won’t resist the meat of a human.”
“Hey, I’m talking to you young man! Say nothing and I will eat you!”
“I– I guess– I guess you’re a good dragon.” Drinn stuttered.
“A good dragon?” the dragon replied thinking.
“I might say so, yes I’m a good dragon, I think so. Well you might be a skillful warrior or a knight from somewhere south. It’s been a long, long time since I last saw a human, especially at this part of Kayel, and the fact that you have traveled very, very far just to reach our land.”
“Kayel?” Drinn inquired.
The dragon laughed and said “You’re a funny young man,” for he taught Drinn was just joking and then he quickly stopped on seeing the blank face of Drinn. “Are you serious? You knew not where you are?”
“Yes sir.” Drinn said “So this land is called Kayel?”
“So you are really serious.” the dragon said.
“Well, ehem, ehem…” said the Dragon clearing his throat. “This is the land of Kayel the land of the dragons. All sorts of Dragons you will find it here in Kayel. The red and green dragons, which I’m sure you had pass a lot of them on your journey in the long forest. The white dragons, the brainless ones! Oh how I love to fool them! The black evil dragons, but of course there are few of them here in Kayel for most of them live in Amarash, the blue dragons, gold dragons, the silver, copper, bronze, and of course the brass dragons like me. Wait did I forget anything? One, two, three, four… Ten, ten yes I do think I mentioned them all.” the talkative beast said, for the brass dragons are known of their fond of conversations and they know lots of languages too. And oftentimes they do take humans or elves, or other lesser creatures not to eat them but to converse with them. And if they do resist, the brass dragons will use force or magic like sleeping gas and then they will burry their victims up to its head in the ground so it has no other option but to talk to the dragon.
“And what made you to come all the way from a far, far place and risking your life?”
“How far is this from Hywel?” Drinn inquired and got at ease with the dragon.
“Hywel? Well, let me see,” the dragon replied, “Hywel, Hywel, oh I remember, Hywel! It’s in the eastern side of Neriwonda; I guess it would take a month of journey by ship.”
“A month?!” Drinn exclaimed. “This is too far!”
The dragon said “I’m starting to get confuse at you young man!”
“I guess I will enjoy this conversation.”
“Anyway, when did I lose my manners? What is your name young man?”
“I’m Drinn of Hywel sir.” Drinn answered and bow his head in respect.
“My name is Afalon the great brass dragon, ruler of the plains and the desserts of Kayel.” proudly the dragon said. “Now would you please tell your story for I’m getting a bit confuse with you young man.”
“I can’t waste any time I know I was sent here for a purpose.” Drinn answered and was on a deep taught.
“You really are confusing me Drinn.” Afalon said “If you like we can continue this conversation on my cave, and I would also like to tell you of my great stories.”
And Drinn then suddenly shouted “The blade of Quinlan! Maybe the blade of Quinlan can be found here in Kayel?”
Afalon was surprised and turned serious at Drinn “Are you who I think you are?” he asked.
“If you are referring to the Chosen One,” Drinn said now in confidence, “Yes it is I.”
“Pardon me master Drinn for taking some of your precious time.” Afalon became serious for he knew very well about the prophecies and discerned that Drinn was not lying for he is a wise dragon and can sense good and evil. “Do you know where to find it? For if not I will be more willing to help you.”
“That would be great Afalon and thank you!” Drinn said.
“It’s my honor to serve the Chosen One!” Afalon replied.
“Have you ridden a dragon before?”
“Yes, but not alone?” Drinn said “And I guess you don’t have a harness.”
“I have one in my cave,” Afalon said, “But for now a strong vine will do.”