The Fazarath

The sun shown down on the horse and his rider as they rode across the hot desert sand of Yezkharthia. The sand stung the rider's face as it was driven accross the land. It was iperative that he arrive at the city gates before nightfall; before the great beast emerged from his greusome domain and began his nightly hunt. The beast was an anchient foe of Yezkharthia and all of the surrounding lands. Tales of this deamon that had been summoned from the east passed from generation to generation. The creature resembled the dragons of the West, but its temperment and habbits were far from similar. He was twice as large as the largest recorded dragon, his scales were dressed in scattered feathery array, and his eyes were but giant black orbs that held such hatred and hunger for flesh. His talons were three feet in length and sharper than any sword and his roar shook the ground like thunder. If any man were caught outside of the gates of his city after nightfall, may the gods have mercy on him. It was said that the great king who summond the monstrous beast cast a spell on him that forced him to leave the castle at peace. It was said that if the beast ever tried to attack the castle or any citizen thereof a deamon would be released from hell to consume the beast and burn the land. The rider drove his steed harder. After all, he had a growing family to care for.

Where Is Your Loyalty?

Seoden looked down at the deformed and mangled bodies that lay at his feet. He bent down and looked into the face of the former queen. Her eyes had stayed open even after her death. The eyes were a dazzling green. Even in death, those eyes seemed to dance with life. And then it started. Her hair turned ghostly white and began to fall from her head. The queen's skin also began to change. It dulled and wrinkled and took on a yellowed hue. The smell of putrid rotting flesh engulfed the room, making Seoden lurch with the desire to vomit. He quickly took out of his breast pocket a sack and scooped up the stone. Before leaving the room that now served as a secret tomb he turned and stared at the mural of the Fazarath. Emotions swelled inside him as he remembered training long hours into the night, flying on the back of his faithful beast.

"Soon, the time will come when you will rule the skies again." And with that, he grabbed a torch and lit the blood stained bodies and left.

Revelations

Salvania gazed at the gem with great curiosity. The gem was roughly the size of a grown man's fist, it looked as though it had been moulded into a perfect sphere, and it had grooves that ran throughout the gem and converged to make a symbols that the queen did not recognize.

"What is this?" She asked her husband.

"It is the Metsiash, the stone that transformed the great king- our ancestor. For centuries it slept here and has been kept safe by the first-born son of the royal crown." Trebor walked over to the gem and layer his hand on the stone. It glowed gently at the touch of the king. "This stone must never leave this land, for once the stone leaves the boundaries, all those who have its power within their blood will die."

"Then how does Lord Sharfteh know where the stone is?" Sylvania asked.

"He does not know yet." The king and queen turned toward Seoden, but he had already pulled out his sword and slit the throat of the king. The queen screamed, but there was no one to hear her and, like her husband, she perished.

The Past Becomes the Future

Salvania followed her husband down the dark passageway where the walls seemed to emit a coolness that could pierce a blazing fire. Rats scurried back and forth across the dirt covered floor. A shiver crawled down her spine and she griped her husband's hand tightly. "What is this place? Where are we going?"

"You will see, my darling." Trebor said. They walked on and on in the dark shadows of mystery. Seoden's face revealed nothing to the queen and neither did Trebor's. Finally, they reached a doorway made of a solid, sturdy wood and barred with a single iron lock. Trebor produced a key and after unlocking the door he turned to Salvania and said, "Whatever you see beyond these doors must remain a secret. We do not know how much the enemy knows of this, but it is imperative that they learn no more, at least from us." And with a gentle look he added, "These secrets must be kept even unto death. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my husband. Even though I do not know what you are speaking of, I will keep whatever secrets must be kept and I will follow whatever orders you have given." Trebor smiled slightly and opened the heavy door. Salvania gasped with wonder. The walls were covered in an ancient text. It seemed to swirl and flow like water or smoke. The text was unintelligible to her, but at some points she thought she could almost understand their meaning even though she didn't speak the tongue. The floor was littered with gold, silver, and precious gems of all colors and varieties. The treasures reflected the light of the torches onto the walls and the lights danced joyously among the text. The floor was as smooth as stone and in its center was a silver pedestal of which sat an enormous red gem.

The Secret Weapon

Salvania saw her world spinning faster and faster. The news of this ancient danger brought back dark memories of burning villages, bodies soiling the ground, the raping of innocent women and young girls. The queen took her husband's hand and leaned against his shoulder. Why did this demon from the north come back for? Did he run out of women? Did he run out of money? Did he just want to have some fun? What did Azarathia have that was of any value to the Dark Lord?

"My Lord, I have seen this force. Three hundred thousand strong in forces, machinery that dwarfs your own, and many fazaraths trained for battle." Seoden looked at Trebor and pulled out a parchment. "They are coming for the stone. Sharfteh has heard that the stone has powers. He wants it to make his men and his animals stronger, faster, more agile. He also wants the blessings of your people."

"He will never find it!" Trebor was breathing hard.

"He will once he has purged the kingdom of its people. He will turn over every rock, hut, and castle until he has found what he is looking for." The messenger turned back to the wall and stared at the image of the gem.

"My darling," Salvania turned to Trebor and looked into his eyes. She loved those eyes. Light blue orbs that reflected years of experience, wisdom, and a love for her. Now, she saw fear in those eyes. "What is hidden here? What is happening?"

Trebor ran his fingers over Salvania's cheek, brushing a stray hair from her face. "I should have told you about this gem a long time ago."

The Dark Lord: Sharfteh

"Sharfteh? The Lord of Norkvolar?" The queen could hardly speak the words.

"Yes, Your Majesty. He is gathering an army together that will destroy the Azarathian royalty at which afterwards he plans to take the kingdom and make himself sole ruler." Here Seoden sighed, "He has also bred an army of fazaraths."

At this the king struck the table with his fist. "How has this happened? Were not all of the Fazaraths killed and their nests destroyed?"

"My Lord, many Fazaraths were spared." Seoden walked over to a section of the wall that was painted with a horse and its rider and stood for a moment. "They were hidden in the deep mountains by dark men for just a time as this."

"Where have the spies been? Have they gone blind to all that has been going on? Have they not seen any war tents, weapon forging, the sounds of war? Have they not felt its thunderous rawr? Have they not smelt it in the air?"

"My Lord", Seoden turned and stared at a section of the wall. It was of a young man dressed for war. He was saying farewell to his bride. They were newly married for she still wore her ceremonial dress. "They have a secret force. A force that has helped him to locate all those who are. . .were. . . spies and even those who were neither for or against him, just fighters, war dogs, men who have no other life but in battle. If a man was not completely loyal to his cause, then they would be. . . disposed of."

A Secret Meeting

Many years ago, when fazaraths ruled the air and threatened those on the ground, a young blacksmith arose from the depths of society and gathered to himself an army. This army he led into many battles and finally engaged in one final battle to end the long war that was known as the war between Heaven and Earth. He and his men smote the fierce creatures, found their nests, and took their eggs. When the eggs hatched, the men trained the young fazaraths and rode them into battle as a secret force from the sky. For many centuries, these beasts served man. And then a man, a soldier, a protector of Azarathia turned his back on his country and changed the world. With a fazarath of his own, a large black beast with ferocious claws and a bloodthirsty eye, he gathered all sorts to him. With a newer and more evil threat in the world, the lords of the four kingdoms came together in a secret meeting within a secret chamber and vowed to slay their common enemy.

It was this very chamber where the king and queen of Azarathia met with Seoden, son of Ecalar. It was a large room with an equally large table placed in the center. The table was decorated with a carving of the finding of the great Gem of Gorthea Dunea. The walls were painted deep red and there was a great purple curtain that covered the only entrance. There were no windows but murals. Murals of great events in the history of Azarathia; wars, famines, births, deaths, marriages. Many things covered the walls of this ancient room.

Seoden followed the two rulers into this secret room and sat at the end of the great table. Silence enveloped the room. Finally the stranger spoke, "Sharfteh is on the move".

The Messenger Arrives

"It is almost twilight", Trebor said as he and Salvania finished their evening meal. "We should leave soon." Salvania nodded in agreement and took one last sip from her wineglass. They arose from the long table and headed for the balcony. Salvania looked to her husband and whispered, "I can not help but wonder if this is a trick. What if the dreams were made from sorcery and were intended to keep us off guard to an evil that approaches?" Trebor wrapped a loving arm around his queen. "No such thing has happened or will happen." They reached the balcony just as the sun touched the earth's horizon. "I pray not." said Salvania.

They stood there watching the sun paint bright colors of red, orange, purple, and pink across the sky. Never had a sunset been so beautiful. It was truly breath-taking. The two beings were so struck with the vibrant colors and the watery clouds that they failed to notice a shadow moving across the earth. It was Trebor who saw him first. "Look my love! A shadow moves toward us in the light. It must be the messenger." Indeed it was. He was a tall fellow, stern gazed, golden hair that resembled the sun that shown down onto it. His hands were rough with years of war and hardship, his grip was authoritative. His steed was whiter than snow and its mane long and like silk. The stallion's legs were strong, a war horse, a beast who had been in the heat of battle. His rider was no different. They rode as one toward the castle gate and when only a few yards off, the rider took out a horn and blew it. The sound resonated throughout the kingdom. It was a sound that jerked the attention of all, of young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong to the one who sounded this horn. The king motioned to the guardhouse and the gates began to open. The horseman slowed not, but rode on with purpose and urgency. He entered the gate and continued to the courtyard of the palace. The rulers of Azarathia had already begun their decent.

Her Dream

Salvania entered the forest with awe. She was surrounded with tall, wide, and burly trees that seemed as old as the earth itself. The blossoms that hung on their branches filled the air with sweet aromas that instantly put the mind at ease from every trouble. She found herself entering into a secret grove of wild oaks that had grown together to form a solid canopy. The ground was covered in grass so soft that it felt as goose down to the touch and all around, there were flowers of every color and shade. It was, in a word, spectacular.

Salvania closed her eyes and listened to the song of the birds singing their song of love and hope and of all things good. She felt the wind caress her face and smelled a hint of jasmine in the air. "Lovely, isn't it?" The voice caught her off guard and Salvania turned to see a woman of ageless youth standing at the entrance to the hidden grove. The woman wore a garment of white and a golden sash hung to her feet. She also wore a golden headdress woven with silver and a soft white fabric hung from it.

"Who are you?" Salvania questioned.

"I am Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira, messenger for my lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar. This man, I tell you, is a man of fire, of war, and of power. You will do well to watch yourself when in his presence."

Salvania became worried at this news. "What is his business here, Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira?"

The woman walked up to Salvania and stared into her eyes, into her very soul. "He is to inform you and your husband of the future safety of your kingdom and I strongly advise you to listen."

Salvania gasped, "How could this be? We are a peaceful kingdom and we have no enemies."

Haldinaar came closer and stared harder, "My Lady, I tell you nothing other than the truth."

"Then when shall I expect him?''

"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day. Your husband shall join you and you both shall wait facing the west until His Lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"

"I will do as you have instructed."

As these last words left the queen's mouth, a strong wind blew through the trees. It became stronger and stronger and the trees soon began to sway dangerously. The earth shook and the sky above grew dark and rain poured out of the clouds as water is poured over a waterfall. Salvania became terrified and searched for the strange woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then there was a crash and another after it. Light flashed across the sky in warning of something much worse that was to come. Trees then began to fall all around her and Salvania knew this was to be her end. But no, it was not to be, for just as all hope failed, she awoke.

75 years later.........

They stood out on the balcony and looked out over the vast expanse of Azarathia. The grass glistened with the morning dew as the birds sang their song. A song that sounded of a new day and new things. The young couple stood there and took in the beauty of the morning. They gazed with eyes of wisdom over the expanse of the valley, secretly knowing that it could all change in a single instant.


Trebor had awoken in a cold sweat, trembling from the dream that had disturbed his slumber. And unlike most dreams that faded from memory as the body settled, this dream lingered in his mind as a dark cloud lingers over the sea. The dream began on the shores of the sea. The gulls called to one another, informing their comrades where to find the best fish, the waves crashed upon the sand, making alcoves for tide pools. The sky was a myriad of colors dancing with the rays from the sun. Trebor walked down to the water and stood in it's cool foam. He closed his eyes, lifted his head, and listened to the ocean. "It is beautiful isn't it?" The voice caught the man off guard and he turned to find a man dressed for battle. His sword, a hilt of silver inlayed with gold and a glorious length of folded steel intricately designed with runic lettering surely of some far off language, was unsheathed and ready for anything.

"Who are you?" Trebor questioned.

The man sheathed his sword and responded, "One you should be very afraid of. I am Ilima, son of Echnovor, and messenger for his Lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar, a man with a temper of a tiger and a fighter's eye as of a fazarath. He is to give you important information as to the future safety of your kingdom and I advise you to listen."

"When am I to expect this Seoden, son of Ecalar?"

"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day." His voice became quieted and he leaned in closer, "You and your beloved are to wait facing the west until his lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"

Trebor turned and thought of all that the man had said. "I will do this."

Just then, a storm formed on the sea and the wind blew the waves to incredible heights. The sky became darker than the night and fear gripped even the earth below Trebor's feet. He turned to question Ilima, but he was nowhere to be seen. Trebor closed his eyes and wished for death, but death did not come. Help did not come. Only the darkness of fear surrounded him. Then, he awoke.