The Pursuit of Amarashans

don’t know, I just run and felt so sure that it’s you Drinn.” Princess Meyah said in Drinn’s embrace, her eyes were sparkling with tears forming slowly.
   “Thank Quinlan you’re alive.” Drinn whispered at the princess.
   And then one by one they all approached Drinn, Bribble embraced him like he never did before crying, and the three kitchen dwarves came and surrounded him, hugging him at his waist, while the remaining gladly watched them in good spirits. It was an unspeakable joy and a reunion of the broken companionship. But the delight they had was cut short at once, for Princess Meyah fainted.
   “Princess Meyah!” Drinn shouted, “What’s wrong?” he said and looked at Reginleif.
   “She was hit by an arrow, a few days ago.” replied Reginleif. “The arrow was poisoned, and it is where we are going. To Lone-Needle cave, we are going to get the cure. The Terihna leaves.”
   “Then we must have it at once.” said Drinn carrying the princess in his arms.
   “Why now! This is not good!” shouted Halvene who was looking intently on the western sky watching groups of birds flying towards north.
   “What is it Halvene?” Brokk the dwarf asked.
   “Amarashans.” the elf said.
   “There are Amarashans that camp in Firolwen Drinn. A dryad told us.” said Reginleif. “And some dryads are in the side of Amarash. They might have news that we’re here.”
   “Good heavens! What are we to do?!” said Tuulikki.
   Drinn put the princess on his horse and asked Reginleif “How many are they?” Drinn inquired.
   “We don’t know.” Reginleif answered.
   “Vibac is in rage.” Drinn whispered, as if he knew very well what was happening.
   “Eanna, will you take the Princess back in Hywel?” Drinn said. “Hywel is now safe. It’s been free from Celandine’s spell and has an Amulen Stone; these soldiers are soldiers of Hywel. It’s a long story that I guess you want to know. But I guess this not the time. I will soon tell you what happened. I have a strong feeling that Vibac is hunting me.”
   “Will you come with me Reginleif?”
   “Drinn allow us get the cure. Eanna, Sereelien, Brinsop and I.” replied Reginleif. “It’s much better if you are with the princess. She needs you right now. We will come back in Hywel as soon as we have the cure with us.”
   “We will fly with Brinsop.”
   “But it is dangerous.” said Sindri. “It is more probably that the Amarashans might spot you. It is still safer to travel by horse.”
   “Everything is in danger right now Sindri.” answered Reginleif. “The princess is in danger if we get not the cure at once. We must take the risk to get to Lone-Needle as fast as we could.”
   “Even the rest of you are in danger too.”
   “We must decide at once.” interrupted Halvene who was lying on stomach with his right ear on the ground. “The Amarashans are heading this way. There are vague sounds of horses running. We must leave at once.”
   “He is Halvene Drinn, an elf-warrior from Vennashan. He’s been a lot of help with us. He will be with you to help.”
   “Very well then, take care the four of you and may Quinlan be with you!” Drinn said.
   “Bribble, the Kitchen Dwarves, Halvene, and the rest! We will go back to Hywel!”
   They all started to mount on their horses. Princess Meyah was with Drinn. Bribble and Sindri were on the same horse, then Tuulikki and Brokk, Halvene has his own, while Reginleif, Eanna and Sereelien were already at the back of Brinsop who was back in his true form, a silver dragon.

   Drinn and the rest hurriedly took the eastern road as soon as Brinsop was in the air, for the peril behind them will soon to draw near.
   “We will have no rest until we’re in Hywel!” Drinn shouted to his company.
   He knew very well that the Amarashans will do the same, and will get closer if they stop even for an hour or a minute.
   The princess leaned on Drinn still unconscious as they galloped on the eastern road. The fear of the danger behind them worried him, but what troubled him the most was the life of the princess. For he knew not if the princess will still soon awake or will it be the last moment that she will be with him.

   Time went fast as the suns grew dim and went sinking behind the Mountains of Assiran. Soon the breeze became cold and the sky became dark, the moon and stars started to appear and they were still dashing towards Hywel. The road was long and rising and when they were on a high ground Drinn stopped a moment to looked behind and saw lights on the road where they’ve been. Halvene was right, the Amarashans were chasing them, the lights were torches and he knew that the enemies can see their torches too.
   They were all determined to reach Hywel as quickly as possible, none rested the whole night and until the suns rose again from the eastern horizon. They dashed without even stopping for a single meal; all they had was just water and drinking it as they galloped.
   The second night, the moon was nowhere to be found on the thick grey clouds. Some of them grew weary especially Bribble who kept on nodding his head, and if not for Sindri, Bribble might have fell on their horse. It was that night that Drinn noticed another light coming from the north-eastern road. But the light was not torches it appeared as small lights lavender and dark blue in color. The lights seemed to travel, it appeared for an hour and it vanished. The lights appeared on and off until the crack of dawn, and it appeared no more.
   They galloped faster when the sun was about to rise for they’ve seen the Great Bridge of Hywel a few kilometers away. Their weariness suddenly fades and was changed into joy of knowing that they will be in Hywel in no time. But not for Drinn, his heart beats faster as if something troubled him. Drinn became so apprehensive, watching every detail of the road ahead, which was a narrower path and on each side was with thick pine trees and bushes.
   As they dashed ahead memories flashed in him. It was the day they were rescued, when they were flying with Gleep and Brinsop, the dragons. He remembered of what Cuauhtémoc said, “They did not came from Amarash! I guess they were from Plamaehan! It was now the dominion of dark elves!” It was as if it just happened yesterday, and the voice of Cuauhtémoc was so true, and it suddenly makes sense to Drinn.
   “Shields!” Drinn shouted like he never did before as arrows rapidly came whistling on each side of the pine trees. But the shields were not good enough for arrows came on each side from their unseen enemies. One by one Drinn saw the soldiers nearest to sides of the road came falling from their horses, as he drew the Blade of Quinlan.
   He pulled the blade to see if a spell was written and found new marks. “Viršelis jų akys!” he read aloud the new marks on the sword and the suns slowly dimmed and turned into darkness.
   “Straight ahead and fast! You know this road very well!” shouted Drinn to his comrades. The arrows were still whistling in the dark, but the darkness hid them from their enemies, who were excellent archers, for they were in fact the dark elves from Plamaehan. For the light Drinn saw the night before were their lamps which are lavender and dark blue in color, in-contrast with the gold, silver, and green lamps of the elves.
   The suns lit up again slowly, and they found that the great bridge of Hywel was just a few dashes ahead, and the dark elves were chasing them behind still shooting arrows.
   “Drinn you go and bring the princess in safe we’ll stop the dark elves.” said Halvene who came beside Drinn.
   “We should fight them after we cross the bridge,” replied Drinn, “It would lessen their number, before they cross ahead.”
   “You’re right!” said Halvene. “Five horses would only fit the bridge side by side.”
   They came rushing on the bridge and when all of them had crossed, Drinn came down from his horse on seeing Bribble.
   “Brib you and the kitchen dwarves should go to the city of Hywel and ask for help. You will take Princess Meyah with you!”
   And without question Bribble rode the princess to the castle, while the dark elves stopped from chasing them as if they determined what their plan was.

   The suns were exactly where they were at one in the midday when they arrived in the city of Hywel. Bribble was keyed up as the huge drawbridge of Hywel opened, and on their way inside he kept on comparing the city on the city in the dream world.
   “The gate is doubled the size, and there are just two towers in the dream world.” Bribble whispered at Sindri. “And that used to be Mr. Duanke’s inn and I wonder if it is his in the real world?”
   “Oh look! That fountain is not in the dream world too!” Bribble kept his unending remarks on and on until they went inside the castle.
   As soon as they met King Mathias and Queen Reyah, Princess Meyah’s father and mother, they quickly called the finest physician of Hywel. To their relieved, the princess was still alive, but the physician told them that he could only delay the poison before it will reach her heart. But the exact time was uncertain, and that would rely on how much the princess’ body would fight the poison.

   Night came and it was a fine night, for the sky was cloudless and shining with stars and the moon was at its full. Drinn brought his friends Bribble, Sindri, Brokk, Tuulikki, and Halvene at the back of the castle. It was the exact place he and Princess Meyah went the night they escaped in the dream world. He brought them on that peaceful place to heard of their stories and to tell them his too, for he knew very well that they have so much stories to tell.
   They have a bonfire in the center where they were sitting circled eating grilled fish as they converse.
   “What happened to Cuauhtémoc, Isaiuhloc, Brandeoulf, Hanguel and Tallac?” Drinn asked.
   “Isaiuhloc, Tallac, and Master Cuauhtémoc pass away at the battle Drinn.” it was Tuulikki the dwarf who answered, and was followed by a minute of silence.
   “But Hanguel and Brandeoulf,” Tuulikki continued, “They decided to travel to Fortress Hill to report the sad news to Master Cuauhtémoc’s brother, Master Zuriel.”
   “Reginleif was the only survivor of the battle.” Bribble added.
   “If you remember Drinn,” again the dwarf continued, “We traveled with the villagers, heading to Vennashan. We succeed, and we’re grateful for the kindness of Ecklaer the elven leader in Vennashan. He is Halvene’s father.” Tuulikki ended glancing at the elf.
   “And why did I and the Hywel soldiers found you near Firolwen?” Drinn said.
   “Oh, it’s because we have a magic map!” Sindri answered. His eyeglass mirrored a reflection of the fire and his white beard seemed brown at the light of the bonfire.
   “In Vennashan we met Klahei the brother of Prophet Glahei. He’s the one who gave us the magic map where we see how the Chosen One traveled. And it was then that we knew that you are the White Warrior Drinn. We all decided to follow you and Halvene decided to join us. But we then choose the road north and asked for a counsel from the dryads. It was then that when we were nearly at the temple of the prophet, Princess Meyah was shot by an orchish arrow. We choose to save the life of the princess so we head to Lone-Needle cave to get the cure, the Terihna leaves. And by a mere accident or if it is Quinlan’s plan we’ve cross our ways Drinn.”
   “And how about you Drinn, why are you heading to Firolwen with the soldiers of Hywel?” Bribble interrupted. “And who set Hywel free from Celandine’s spell? How did you find out that you are the Chosen One?”
   “One at a time Bribble, one at a time!” said Brokk who seemed irritated.
   “Let Drinn tell his story Bribble.” said Sindri.
   “On the battle, I was rescued by a villager named Quillac.” Drinn answered. “Does one of you by chance know him?” he asked the Kitchen Dwarves.
   “I think I know him?” said Sindri, “He was living beside the Great River if my memory serves me right.”
   “Yes I know him too!” Tuulikki said. “He was a good friend of mine.”
   “Yes he lives beside the Great River and was living alone.”
   “So he really lives in Shandy-Wheen.” Drinn replied as if thinking not facing the dwarf.  
   “Yes he did, good thing he saved you! And where is he right now? Tuulikki said. “You said he rescued you, so he survived too. Am I right?”
   “You have no idea who Quillac is.” Drinn said with a slight smile.
   “Quillac is Quinlan.”
   “What?!” exclaimed Tuulikki who suddenly stood up from sitting. “Are you certain of it Drinn?”
   “Yes I am.” Drinn answered at once at the surprised dwarf.
   “Whoa, all this time I didn’t know that the one we very longs to see was living in Shandy-Wheen.” said Tuulikki who started sitting slowly.
   “I wish I had spent more time with him…”
   “So what happened after you met him Drinn?!” eagerly Bribble asked.
   “I guess I could not tell the details of the story, there are other times for that. And I know we’re all exhausted from a tiring journey. It will take the whole night for me to tell the whole story in details.”
   “Is it alright?”
   “It’s alright, go on Drinn.” Brokk said.
   “Quinlan told me to go north, to find prophet Glahei.” Drinn started. “He said that the prophet will tell me of the things I should do next. I stride for a few days and found the prophet’s temple.”
   “There I met Sereelien, and the prophet. Sereelien and I headed to Thuddin-Imal Mountains as the prophet has told me, to find the castle on the clouds, the portal to Fantezze Quon’zt. For there he said I will find Amulen Stones. And by chance, or should I say by Quinlan’s help I found it.”
   “Fantezze Quon’zt is a very magical place. There I met some fairy friends and a funny talking oil lamp.” Drinn said grinning at the thought of Greenyoilylampee.
   “I’ve been sent to rescue their Queen, who was guarded by a fierce creature. They call it the dark wolf. And in that cave I found the Amulen Stones. I did defeat the dark wolf as well, and by the help of Quinlan.”
   “I assume it’s the time that Drinn was nowhere to be found,” added the quiet elf, “as told by Heelina. Isn’t it Drinn?”
   “I guess so, Fantezze Quon’zt can only be found by magic.” Drinn replied, and he did remember the gift Queen Esther gave him, the magic ring.
   “I was sent back to Neriwonda through a portal, and I appeared below the ocean where I met a princess.”
   “She did rescue me, for I was drowning to death. She’s a Quariumoran princess, and they can breathe both in water and land. She brought me to the hidden city of Quariumora. I was challenge by the king to fight their champion for him to believe that I am the Chosen One.”
   “The night before the fight I met Quinlan, and he brought me to Kayel, the land of the dragons where I get the Blade of Quinlan. I was sent back to Quariumora and defeat their champion. The king finally believed me and helped me to go back to Neriwonda through a whale. With me he sent his own protector Ganhywn, whom you met and was with me when we cross ways at the cornfields.”
   “The whale brought us exactly near Hywel where we intended to go, Ganhywn and I slay werewolves and wyverns and put an Amulen Stone on its proper place. It is then that Hywel was set free from Celandine’s spell.”
   “After that, Quinlan spoke to me; he said that I should head to Firolwen Forest.”
   “I asked of him, why, but he answered not. I brought the soldiers with me for I thought we are to battle the Amarashans that camp in Firolwen. And it is then that we cross our ways.”
   “You told the story as if it was an easy task Drinn.” said Sindri with a small laugh. “But I’m sure you’ve got into many tough fights.”
   “Bloody fights to my guess.” said Halvene.
   “I wish we could hear the details of the story some other day Drinn.” Bribble said.
   “I would be glad to tell it in details, Bribble knew how much I love story telling, but for now I guess we should rest,” said Drinn, “We have no sleep for about three days if I count the days right.”
   “You’ve change a great deal Drinn.” Bribble said, “Changed for a better you.”

   Drinn quickly fell asleep that night from exhaustion, that when it was dawning, about four in the morning, he hardly woke up from hearing the sound of the bells and a loud bang from his door. He got up to open the door and it was Eliour, the soldiers’ commander.
   “What is it Eliour?” Drinn inquired.
   “Amarashans— lot’s of them.” replied Eliour gasping for an air, and seemed that he just came from a long run.
   “Where are they?” Drinn said.
   “Their nearly in Hywel.” the commander said. “It seems that they are to meet the group of Amarashans from Firolwen and the dark elves of Plamaehan.”
   “There are torches and dark elves’ lamps near the bridge. I’m sure they are waiting for their new allies.”
   “Did anyone check the Stone already?” Drinn asked.
   “Yes, I just came from the tower.” Eliour responded. “It is there safe and sound. Someone is guarding it as well, but we should still be on guard for anything that the Amarashans are planning.”
   “The soldiers are already in their places. Did Quinlan tell you anything so far?”
   “No he didn’t” Drinn said.
   “I will follow you shortly Eliour.” as Drinn picked his sword and quickly set himself ready.

   There was a vague light forming in the eastern oceans and the archers were positioned at the crenellations, while foot soldiers in the inner ward and outer ward.
   King Mathias and Eliour were watching the nearing Amarashans when Drinn, Halvene and Ganhywn approached them.
   “This seems very familiar to me.” Drinn said in a grave tone when he saw the numbers of the black armies marching at the sound of the drumbeat, remembering the battle in Firolwen.
   “How can it be? Thousands of them were slain at the battle in Firolwen.”
   “Orcs are like vermin, they reproduce so quickly.” said King Mathias.
   “To my knowledge,” Halvene butt in, “Celandine has a black pool in Amarash, and they say that when an orc was sacrificed on that pool, five orcs will come out of it.”
   “It is why there are still myriads of them, while trolls and dark elves have their own lands in Amarash.”

   When Coltranthum’s ray was peering out in the western horizon, their fear lessened for the Amarashans joining at the ones from Firolwen and the dark elves of Plamaehan all crossed the Great Bridge of Hywel. And fear turned into questions.
   “Where are they going?” said Eliour.
   “It must be a trap?” said King Mathias.
   “I don’t think so your highness.” said Drinn.
   “Then what would it be?” inquired the King.
   “Their just passing by,” replied Drinn, “They know that they can’t pass Hywel from the protection of Amulen. They’re into something and not Hywel.”
   “The question is what it is?” the king whispered.
   “We can silently pursue them if we want to know.” Halvene advised. “And for us to be prepared whatever it is that Vibac is into.”
   “I agree with Halvene.” Ganhywn concurred.
   “It must be few, for us not to chase them unnoticed.” said Drinn.
   “Then let’s pursue them, the five of us.” suggested Ganhywn.
   “I don’t think that it’s good that the king should join us.” Eliour said. “Hywel might need him if circumstance change.”
   “Very well then, if your highness agrees, we will prepare and start the pursuit.” Drinn asked the king.

   The king agreed and when everything they might need was ready, they cautiously followed the black army of Amarash. And to make sure that none of the beastly creatures would notice them, they rode their horses inside the thick trees and bushes, although it slowed them down and had many delays. For there were few times that they need to walk with their horses when the bushes were so thick. But still it was a safer route.
   Slow their pursuit might be, still they catch up for the Amarashans were too many to be in rush. The pursuit took the whole day and when it was about five in the afternoon the road separated, one road straight and the other one bends right. They guessed that the enemies will turn right for at the end of that road was Plamaehan, but to their surprise they did not. They waited, and watched their enemies for an hour or so until another group of dark elves came from the road turning right.
   As soon as the sky turned dark again, the Amarashans started to put their camps up, while Drinn and the rest stay hiding in the bushes.
   Far north a distinct sound of a waterfall was heard; it was late at night and most of the Amarashans fell asleep, and they agreed to scout more. Halvene and Drinn went at the nearest camp where there were some orcs guarding their parameters, but safe it was for they were all either nodding to sleep or snoring at their post.    
   They silently went inside the enemy’s terrain careful not to wake up the sleeping orcs. Drinn was belly-crawling and was a few feet ahead of the elf, while as quiet as a mouse was Halvene’s step vigilantly surveying place. Drinn looked back at his companion when they both sat back from a tree a few feet from one another, as if silently conversing with their eyes. Drinn pointed at the orc approaching and then pointed his chest with his thumb, and lastly he motioned his hand for the elf to go ahead as he kills the orc. Halvene answered back with a slight nod and they prepare to orchestrate their plan.
   Drinn pulled a small dagger from his side, and when the approaching orc passed him by, he grab the orc’s neck in a flash and drew a red line at its exposed neck as his elf companion swiftly ran ahead of him pulling a very small pipe. Halvene blew a needle out of it and the needle hit exactly at neck of an orc who just came out of a camp, and the orc quickly fell to the ground unconscious. “This orc will do.” whispered Halvene to Drinn. And then Drinn helped the elf to carry the insensible orc.
   It was exactly their plan, to carry a single orc to where they hid. And successfully they brought the orc inside the bushes where Eliour and Ganhywn were waiting. They put the orc lying on the ground, as Halvene pulled the needle out of the orc’s neck.
   “I’ll still need this for times like this.” the elf said.
   “Are you sure it will work?” said Eliour. For the needle was a special needle, that when it stroked someone, a substance will be carried in the blood and the person stroked will tell no lie.
   “We will see.” answered Halvene as he snapped his finger at the right ear of the unconscious orc.
   “Where are the Amarashans heading?” Halvene started asking. The orc who was unconscious didn’t reply for a few seconds and then it answered back on its coarse voice “To Wintertroph.”
   “Wintertroph is the mountains of the giants Drinn.” said Halvene.
   “And what are you going to do in Wintertroph?” Halvene continued asking the orc.
   “The giants are our new ally.” the orc replied.
   “Curse that king Paradan…” whispered Ganhywn.
   “And then where are you Amarashans going after?” Halvene asked another.
   “To Thorriat-Elleg.”
   The four of them looked at each other at the reply of the enchanted orc.
   “They will make war with Duin Hall.” said Ganhywn.
   “It’s the great hall of the dwarves am I right?” Eliour inquired.
   “Yes it is.” replied Ganhywn.
   “What do you suggest Drinn?”
   “We must warn them at once. We will talk to their king.” Drinn said.

   Reginleif, Eanna, Sereelien, and Brinsop found the Lone-Needle cave. Mist enfolded the place and was as silent as the grave. Its mouth was huge and might up to ten feet or so.
   With a single torch they entered the cave as the disturbed bats came out of it. Soon when they were deeper inside the cave, the stone walls was filled with different kinds of herbs as Sereelien carefully checked if any Terihna grew on it. It took her about two hours for the herb was very rare, and before long, she found a herb, blue in color in the midst of different herbs. It was a very small herb with long curved leaves. The elven lady took it and placed it inside a cloth, and then they waste no time to get out of the cave.
   However as they went out, horror came in sight, for there were trolls more than a hundred if to be estimated and five wyverns behind them. But what made the scene more terrifying was that Celandine was in front of the trolls.
   “This is not good…” Sereelien whispered.
   Reginleif pulled his sword as his eyes started to monitor the place for any chance of escape.
   “Are you surprise?” Celandine said with an evil smirk. “These are all planned but sadly the Chosen One is not with you.”
   “I want to play a game before the four of you die.”
   “Play your games yourself sorcerer!” exclaimed Brinsop as he made a loud roar that the trolls in front step backwards a few times.
   “Oh, the brave silver dragon.” said Celandine calmly as if not fearing the dragon.
   “You should listen first.”
   “If you won’t play the game you will all die and that’s for sure. You might kill lots of trolls though,” as the sorcerer glanced at Brinsop, “But you will still soon be captured, or I will use a spell on you.”
   “And if you think of escaping, flying out of here to be precisely?” the sorcerer then glanced at the wyverns for them to see what awaits them if they try to escape. “You’ll all be slaughtered in the air by wyverns.”
   “So are you going to play it or what?”
   “What game is it?” Reginleif asked.
   Eanna looked at Reginleif and was surprised at his answer. But she knew him very well; they were with on so many battles, different kinds of battles and have owned respect on him.
   She weighed the situation and found wisdom at Reginleif’s decision. For if they play not, death will surely come unto them, while on the other side, if they play whatever game is it that was in the mind of the sorcerer, they might have a chance to escape. So she remained speechless and let Reginleif handled the sorcerer.
   “Good decision aderyn!” said Celandine who was glad at Reginleif’s reply.
   “If you killed fifty of these trolls I will surely let you go and live.”
   “Then be it!” said Brinsop.
   “But,” the sorcerer butted in, “The silver dragon must polymorph into human.”
   The trolls laughed for they knew that the dragon can kill lots of them in an instant and that they were creatures afraid of fire.
   Reginleif answered not for awhile, confused to choose. For he knew the sorcerer, she is a deceitful rival and that she might not play her own game fair.
   “How can we be sure that you are true to your world?” said Brinsop.
   “You didn’t trust me dragon?” she replied.
   “Of course not!” Brinsop answered.
   “We will play your game!” Reginleif interrupted.
   “Go polymorph to a man now Brinsop.”
   “But master Reginleif…” Brinsop asked surprised at his master.
   “Do as he told you Brinsop.” said Eanna, seeing Reginleif too serious was very rare to her so she knew how determined Reginleif was to let them out of the peril they had.
   “Good, very good!” said Celandine. “So then let’s start the game!”