Maron's Hollow. 2

It was dark by the time they reached Maron's Hollow. Quynn set down to land outside the village close by on a hill. After Ranjer scouted the area for Hobgoblins, they told Nym to stay hidden and they started on the way down into the village.
The village of Maron's Hollow had been built in a square shape with a high wall around it. As Ranjer, Quynn and Mera approached, they noticed the village gates were open and there was no one on the wall or anywhere around on watch.
"Where are the guards?" Mera asked. "Shouldn't there be someone here on watch?"
"Yeah." Quynn said. "There should be. Should we go in?"
"We can't do anything from out here." Ranjer said. "Mera, you have the best magic. Send in a probe."
Mera nodded and closed her eye and whispered a short spell. A small light sparked to life as she held out her hand and she sent it in to the village.
From the front gate, the probe went in and made a right. What once was a pretty little village with shops, a market place and homes had been torn up. Windows were smashed, doors had been ripped open and the market place was in ruin. Almost every stall had been ripped apart and its wares were scattered everywhere.
"It looks like an Orc invasion." Mera said. "All the shops and stalls have been ruined."
"What about the houses?" Ranjer asked. "Do you see anybody?"
"No." She said. "Not yet. I'm heading into the housing area now."
From the blacksmith and stables, the probe headed straight out and pass the town hall. It was a small two story building with a sign that read Maron hall. All the windows were broken and curtains and linen hung out blowing in the wind. Straight on, Mera saw the first of a row of houses. The street was littered with trash and it looked like the door of the house had been broken down. Then suddenly something jumped out and grabbed her probe and everything went dark. Mera screamed.
"Something grabbed my probe!" She staggered back a few steps. "I saw them. Nasty little buggers. They're everywhere."
"What do we do?" Quynn asked.
"We have to get them out of town before midnight." Ranjer explained. "Or the village will be theirs permanently."
"What do you mean?" Mera asked.
"Hobgoblins are like ants." Ranjer said. "Once they burrow in, its almost impossible to get them out."
"What do we do?" Quynn asked.
"We let Mera handle this." Ranjer smiled. "How are you with illusions?"

Like insects, they where everywhere. All through the village tearing into everything. It started at night, a portal opened and they came scampering in. First they hit the market and ripped through the stalls like a vulture tearing through a day old carcass. Then they spread out into the homes and shops.
In the bakery, baker Colun was busy preparing the mornings bread and sweet buns when a strange noise behind him caught his attention. He wiped his hands and turned to see what it was. He thought maybe a mouse had gotten and and was trying to get into his flour again. At first he didn't see anything, then out of the corner of his eyes he saw something move. He ducked down to check the bags under the counter against the wall and something leaped out at him and cracked him in the head with a small club. High pitched giggling rang out as four small Hobgoblins dragged him out to the village square.
In the Atol's Retreat, Mila Popova was cleaning the table as her last guest had just finished eating when the door of her Inn suddenly flew open and a horde of Hobgoblins rushed in. She screamed and ran for the safety of the backrooms to try and hide. On the stairs, Agnar Elisson turned when he heard her scream. Unarmed he jumped from the stairs and grabbed a chair and started swinging. One after another he beat them back until he was over come by their sheer numbers and he went down and was dragged out of the Inn. Mila tried to hide but the Hobgoblins had a nose for the Human scent and found her in no time at all.
All over the village, in almost every house Hobgoblins attacked with their little clubs. They bashed their victims in the head and dragging them out to the village square where their queen sat waiting. Once all the Humans were gathered, the queen would use all her power to cast a spell that would turn them all into Hobgoblins to strengthen their numbers and make the village hers. All this had to be done by the thirteenth hour or she would turn to dust and the Hobgoblins would have to hatch another queen and start again. But that wouldn't end it. They would still have the village and the people. All they would need would be time for the new queen to mature enough to cast her spell and make Maron's Hollow forever theirs. That is unless Ranjer, Quynn and Mera could figure someway to get them out of the village.
In the village square, the crystal at the top of the time tower flared and glowed white to signal the midnight hour. Quynn stood watch over Mera as she sat and took a deep breath, then closed her eyes.
Ranjer quietly slipped into the village and hid himself in a place where he could watch the captives in the village square. From his hiding place, Ranjer watched as the Hobgoblin queen started her spell. She danced and leaped calling out something in some strange language that he didn't understand. Ranjer looked at the time tower and knew they had to act now before she was done and the village was lost.
[Now!]
As the queen danced, Ranjer concentrated and with his abilities, he called forth a vampire mist to spread out and cover the village square. It started as a gentle mist and as the seconds slipped by, it grew thicker and thicker until the square was thick with fog.
The Hobgoblins looked around confused, then they started hopping around the gathered villagers and the queen. Though the fog was frightening, the queen kept dancing. Her time was growing short. The thirteenth hour was getting closer and closer.
As Ranjer watched, a rumbling started coming out of the forest. The Hobgoblins stopped and turned to the gate chattering at each other in confusion. More Humans were coming, they got ready to attack. Then riding on their great avian trackers, a horde of reptilian Savonti warriors charged into the village blasting away with their staff weapons.
When the Hobgoblins saw the Savonti charging, they panicked and dropped their clubs and ran for it. Fighting their way through the streets they trampled the queen as they tried to get away. A Hobgoblin in the lead quickly conjured a portal and dived through leaving it open for the rest to follow just as the hour struck one, the thirteenth hour. Her time was up. The queen screamed as she burst into flames and burned down to a pile of ashes.
[That's it!] Ranjer sent to Mera and Quynn. [The ashes of a little queen, that's one of the ingredients.]
Quickly he ran over and brushed the ashes into the inside pocket of his coat, they buttoned it tightly closed.
With the Hobgoblins gone, Ranjer dissipated the fog as Mera opened her eyes and let her Savonti illusions fade away. Quynn helped her up as Ranjer went to the frightened villagers and held up his hands to show them he was unarmed and there to help them. Mera and Quynn came running in with Nym and they started to untie the villagers.
"Good idea using the Savonti." Ranjer said to Mera. "Scared them right out of the village. I didn't know your illusions were so good."
"You should see my brother's." She said as she helped one of the villagers up. "They're almost as strong as Cutter."
"You did it!!" Nym ran to his father and brother and hugged them. "Thank you so much!!"
"You're welcome." Ranjer shook hands with Nym's father. "Your village is clear of Hobgoblins. They're so scared they won't come back."
"Thank you for your help." He smiled. "How can we ever repay your bravery?"
"It's not necessary." Quynn said. "We're glad we could help. But we have to get going. One of our friends needs our help. Aiya."
They all waved as they left town. Once in the forest, Ranjer patted his pocket and smiled.
"I got the first ingredient." He said. "The ashes of a little queen."
Mera opened her bag and took put a small vial and gave it to Ranjer. "Put it in here and I'll keep it in my bag to keep it safe."
"That's one." Ranjer scooped the ashes from his pocket then corked the vial and passed it back to Mera. "We should get going. It's a long ride to Eventide."

By early the next morning, Ryel Eventide sat on horse back on the edge of Eventide waiting for Quynn to arrive. As he saw him fly in, Ryel sent out a greeting and a welcome to the children of his old friends. A few minutes later Quynn, Ranjer and Mera were on horses enjoying the ride back to the great elven tree city.
"So how's the holiday going so far?" Ryel asked as they rode up through the tree airway to the first level of the tree city. "I have a lot planned for the next two weeks. Its going to be fun."
"Sorry Ryel." Quynn said. "Our holiday is off. We're here on a mission."
"You sound serious." Ryel led them into a tree that was set up with lavishly carved furniture. There was a table set up with a breakfast for them. "What's the problem?"
"Somethings happened to Master Jeikor." Ranjer told him as they sat down. "We believe someone is trying to steal his soul."
"This is serious. How can I help you?"
"We were sent to find the ingredients for a potion that might help bring his soul back." Mera explained. "But we don't understand the clues. We thought you or one of your brothers or sisters might understand it."
"Of course." Ryel said. "If there's anything we can do, we want to help. What are the clues?"
Mera took out the parchment and gave it to him. Ryel took it and started to read. As he read, Aron Ryel's twin brother and his mate Elan Darkshade came in.
"Aron, Elan." Ryel waved them in. "I'm glad your here. Maybe you can help."
"What is it?" Aron asked after greeting everybody.
"Quynn and Ranjer need our help with a mission." He waved the parchment. "Have a look, maybe you can decipher some of the clues."
The two Elves came over and read from over Ryel's shoulder.
"Number three is easy." Aron said. "It's Aquilona. That shouldn't be a problem. Caldar is expecting us for a visit. One and two, I have no idea."
"I do." said Elan.
"You know where we can find a web from a cursed spider?" Mera asked.
"Yes." Elan nodded. "Silvermoon. When I was on my way back to Darkshade, I stopped to help the Satyrs my mother had attacked. Horrible things were done there by her warriors and Tyree cursed them by turning them into spider things. You should find their webs still there."
"And the spider?" Quynn asked.
"I'm not sure." He shrugged. "My mother's Imp kidnapped me so I don't know what happened. When I left, Braddoc and Pacius were fighting them. But I doubt Braddoc would have left Pacius alone with those things running around."
"The last two." Ryel sat back. "I have no idea. I'm sorry."
"That's ok." Ranjer smiled as he stood up to leave. "You've answered three, we can get the rest on our own."
"We're sorry we can't stay." Quynn said. "But we should hurry. Master Jeikor is counting on us."
"We understand." Elan said as they all hugged and shook hands. "Your mission is important. Its someone's soul after all. Be careful and if you need help, you can send to us. We'll do whatever we can."
"And let me know how it goes." Ryel waved as they left. "Good Hunting!"

From Eventide, Quynn flew east over the Elven forest to the gleaming city of Dreesport on the shore of the Shyr. There they set down and made their way into Dreesport to meet Prince Haymar, youngest son of King Oyrm Dree. Dressed in sealskin trunks and a golden scale tunic, Haymar was a very handsome Coral elf with a bluish tan around the gill slits in his neck. He had black hair with a slight green tint, green eyes and pointed ears. He stood at the gate and waved as Ranjer, Quynn entered Dreesports. It had been months since the last time he had visited New Keanna and he was eager to show them as good a time as he had on his visit.
He was just about to call out to them, when he saw Mera and his mouth went completely dry. All he could do for a few seconds was stare at her.
"Haymar?" Quynn waved his hand in front of his face. "Aiya, Haymar, wake up."
"Oh!" He blinked and blushed then hugged Ranjer and Quynn. "I'm sorry, Aiya! Welcome to Dreesport."
"Thanks." Ranjer said as he eyed Haymar who was still stared at Mera. "Haymar, this is Mera. Mera, I'd like you to meet Prince Haymar of Dree."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Haymar bowed with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you too." Mera smiled back at the prince. "Dree is very lovely."
"It is." Haymar held out his arm for her to take, which she did. Haymar led her in through the gate and on toward the palace forgetting about Ranjer and Quynn.
"Now how about I get you all some swimwear and I show you the lagoon." Haymar suggested. "The waters warm and I can have lunch served. I hope you like seafood."
"That sounds like fun." Mera giggled blushing.
"We can't" Ranjer stepped in between them. "I'm sorry Haymar but we're here on a mission and we need your help."
"A mission?" He looked at Quynn and Ranjer then at Mera. "Dark Elves, Goblins, Orcs? What is it this time?"
"No." Quynn said. "Nothing like that. One of our Masters was attacked and we're trying to save him. Will you help?"
"That depends. How can I help?"
"We need to get something from Aquilona." Ranjer said. "Something very special."
"What do you need?" Haymar asked. "Maybe I can get it."
"We need the tooth of a royal." Mera explained. "A Mer royal."
"For that, your going to have to go ask the Dylani royal family."
"Wait a minute." Ranjer held up his hands. "Underwater? I thought maybe they would come to us."
"You want something from them." Haymer reminded him. "I could call Prince Bhari and ask, but that would be rude. If you want something from them, you have to go ask properly and show them some respect."
"I guess that would be fair." Quynn said. "But how do we get there?"
"I can take you in my ship." Haymar smiled. "Follow me."
Instead of the palace, Haymar led them down to the docks and to the last slip. Once there, he turned went down to a ladder and started down. Ranjer looked over the rim of the dock just as Haymar disappeared from sight.
"Where'd he go?" Quynn asked.
"No idea." Ranjer shrugged looking back. Then he heard a strange sound, almost like a deep growl. Ranjer stepped back as the dock started to vibrate and shake. Suddenly what looked like huge metal fish came sliding out from under the docks in the  water, then turned back toward where they stood and stopped. Quynn was just about to shift and attack when something on top opened and Haymar's head popped up.
"Lady and gentlemen, this is my ship." Haymar called up to them. "This is Azrael's Dream. She can get you to Aquilona safely."
Mera stepped over to the edge of the dock and looked down on the ship. She had never seen anything like it before. She had seen ships before but nothing like this. It had no sails and it was metal instead of wood. She had no idea how it could possibly float. Metal isn't suppose to float unless its some kind of magic that she hadn't heard about, which was possible. But Haymar seemed to know what he was doing, and since it was his ship, he should know how the magic works. She hoped so, he was very handsome and she liked him, She hoped the others did too.
"This ship is amazing!" Quynn couldn't wait to get in and go. He had heard about Dree's ships from Haymar and his father Jandar when Haymar had visited New Keanna. Now was his chance to get to ride in one. He ran to the ladder and started climbing down.
"Wait!" Ranjer said. "That's not a ship. I don't know what that thing is!"
"Relax Ranjer." Quynn said eagerly. "Father told me about Dree's science. Its a different kind of natural magic. He said it was perfectly safe."
"You're sure about this?"
"Yes." Quynn said as he started down the ladder. "Unless you want to swim there yourself."
Reluctant, Ranjer helped Mera down the ladder then climbed down himself and followed Mera and Quynn onto the strange ship.
The inside of Haymar's ship was very small and kinda cold. There was four seats with straps to fasten one down in place and many levers and knobs with little lights by the main pilots seat. Haymar told them to have a seat and to strap in while he went and closed the strange round door they had entered though. Then he took his place in the pilots seat and pulled a lever at his side and the ship started to hum and move forward
In front of Haymar there was a big window, Quynn watched excited as they sped out into the bay at a speed almost as fast as Nautica, then dived down beneath the waves. Quynn smiled then looked back at Ranjer who looked absolutely petrified. He was as white as a sheet clutching the sides of his seat. Mera, who sat beside Haymar, seemed to be having the time of her life chatting and flirting with him.
Ranjer had better watch out or he would lose his favorite girl.
As the cabin warmed up, Quynn looked out at what Haymar called the main port and watched scenes of the amazing sea life deep in the ocean. He saw all types of beautiful colored fish flashing as they swam through the dark waters. Coral of amazing heights and color that housed  many different things. As he watched, a small group of Mer children, two male and two females swam by playing with two blue dolphins. The two males were about seven or eight feet long with human parts from the waist up and scaly legs with fins and flippers on the lower half . One had shining iridescent blue legs and the other was more green but just as shiny. The two females had much brighter colors like a rainbow but instead of legs, they had fish tails. Quynn was exactly sure what their color was, but it was beautiful. As the ship passed, the four Mers chased after it and waved to Haymer.
Diving deeper, Quynn spotted the domed city of Aquilona far off in the distance. Its dome glowed with a golden hue, it looked like a golden half pearl on the sea floor. Quynn and Ranjer unbuckled themselves from their seat and came closer to the port to look at at.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Haymar said. "It almost fell during the war with Tayor Larin and the Darkshades. If your father hadn't brought the crown of Kearn to power the dome, Aquilona would have fallen."
"Yes." Quynn smiled. "I heard the story from Cutter. My fathers don't really like to talk about things like that, but Cutter teaches us about their old missions and the wars. I always wanted to visit Aquilona and Dree to see it for myself."
"Well." Haymar said as he worked to bring them down and around to an entry port. "Here's your chance."
Outside of the dome, the Aquilonians had all their undersea farming. They saw rows and rows of different sea vegetation being tended to. There was also a great deal of mining going on. They saw caves with a strange type on tracks running in with mining carts. Quynn was impressed.
As Haymar slowed the ship, he steered in to a round port and gently let the two ports kiss to connect.
He pushed two more buttons and there was a click and a subtle hiss as the air in the ship and the dome equalized.
"We're here." Haymar stood up and held out his hand to help Mera up. "Lets go see what we can do about that mission of yours."
Stepping to the back of the ship, Haymar reached up and turned the hatch wheel and opened the hatch. He grabbed the ladder and started up with Mera right behind him. Once inside the city, they waited while Ranjer and Quynn climbed up. They found themselves in a chamber that was round with one metal door. As Haymar turned and started toward the door, it slide open and a young man about the same age as Haymar came in to greet them. He was tall with short green hair and soft eyes. On his chest he wore a harness with straps shaped like a sun with beams that wrapped around his body. On his lower parts, he wore a gold and green kilt with a small triton emblem on it.
With a worried look, he hurried in to greet the visitors.
"Aiya Haymar." He shook his hand. "What brings you here, and with strangers."
"Bhari, these aren't strangers." Haymar said. "These are the children of our saviors. This is Quynn Tyr, the son of Jandar and Rage, and Ranjer here is Jandar's brother."
Bhari smiled and shook hands with Quynn to welcome him to Aquilona then reached out to Ranjer and stopped.
"Ranjer? I know you!" He said as he reached out and grabbed him in a hug. "We use to swim and catch fish in a lake in Tir Na the summer of the war. You use to call me Berry."
"I do remember you." Ranjer said. "You came with your mother and your brother and sister. Tof had me show you around all summer. We had a lot of fun, I wondered what had happened and where you had gone, but no one ever told me. It's good to see you again. Bhari, this is Mera."
"Pleased to meet you." He said with a smile and a nod. "Tell me, what brings you all down beneath the Shyr to our city?"
"One of our teachers is very sick." Mera explained. "We can help him but need your help to do."
"I'm not sure how I can help." Bhari said as the left the ships docking bay and entered Aquilona's ship yard. "But I'll try and do what I can."
Aquilona's shipping bay was crowded with many different ships, all underwater ships of different sizes. Quynn and Ranjer stared amazed at the splendor all around them. The shipping bay was built mostly from some strange transparent substances that was as clear as glass but hard as steel. Bhari called it shelium, he said it was made from a liquid milked from giant clams and strengthened by their chemist.
"They must have some really strange clams here." Quynn whispered to Ranjer. "The stuff is everywhere."
And he was right. The entire shipping yard had been made of shelium from the walkways to the nearly invisible docks that housed each ship big and small. Bhari explained the many uses they had found for the compound and how they were experimenting with in on small ships.
"As a matter of fact." He said. "My older brother Durlan is out right now on a test run with our first little craft. I wonder what's taking so long. He was only supposed to be gone an hour."
"How long has it been?" Haymar asked.
"Two and a half hours?" Bhari looked at the time piece. "I think it's time I check on him."
Bhari reached into his pocket and pulled out a message stone. He closed it in his hand and concentrated on his brother, then opened his hand. An image flashed to life. It was Durlan and he was fighting someone.
[Bhari! Help!]
Then he was gone and the stone was quiet.

The Great Skype Hunt. 1

Ranjer sat in his seat in potions class tapping his fingers as he watched the hands on the time scale swing back and forth. It was three minutes to the bell and he couldn’t wait to get out of there. Master Jeikor was up front going on and on about the ingredients to a potion he knew he would never have any use for. I mean what was the chance that sometime in the future he was going to need a potion to make something invisible? Very small he thought. Being a vampire, he thought strength would get him through anything he ran into. But he knew he had to pass this class or his brother Tof would have him in class over the coming vacation holiday. 
As he looked up, he noticed Master Jeikor was staring at him with a frown on his face.
“Mr. Tyr.” Master Jeikor folded his arms. “How much arrowroot does the potion call for?”
Ranjer looked at the Master then over at Mera who smiled at him smugly.
[You’d know if you had been paying attention instead of looking at the time scale.] She sent.
[How much?] He asked her. [And I wasn't looking at the scale.]
[None.] She said. [All you have to do is chew it.]
"None sir." He smiled at Master Jeikor. "You just chew the root."
“Thank you Miss Serban.” Master Jeikor said without turning. [When are you going to learn I can hear you. I will be seeing you both after school.]
Ranjer sighed as Mera gave him an angry look. He had gotten her in trouble again. Just then, the bell rang and everyone jumped up and grabbed their things to leave.
“Before you leave.” Master Jeikor told the class. “No homework over the holiday but I want you to read chapter 5 and be ready for an oral quiz when you get back. Class dismissed. Mr. Tyr and Miss Serban I will see you before you leave school today.”
Mera scowled at Ranjer and took her books and walked out of the class room. In the hall she met Ranjer as he left the classroom. With one look, he knew she was mad.
“You did it again.” She said as she followed him down the hall. “How is it you always get us in trouble?”
“Just a gift I guess.” He smiled.
“I have a gift for you.” She threw her books at him and walked off down the hall.
Quickly he picked them up while he called out after her. With his arms full of both their books he chased after her down the hall.
“I’m sorry.” He said. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Or paying attention in class.” She said. “Your brothers going to kill you if you fail and then you’re going to have to explain it to Valkar. You know how he feels about your grades. They expects us to pass.”
“I’m no good at potions, he knows that.”
“Yes he does.” She said. “But he expects you to try, and if you did and paid attention, you can do this. I know you can.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“OK.” Mera said with a smile. “Come on. We have to meet Quynn then get to Master Jeikor’s office. I hope we don’t get detention for the holiday. I was supposed to go to the Academy for the vacation to see my brothers.”
From the third floor they walked down the hall and to the transport stones to transport down to the class where Quynn was doing a course with Graym on his flying abilities. As they approached, Ono came walking down the hall from the classroom drying his hair with a towel.
“Hi Ono.” Ranjer smiled. “Is Quynn ready?”
“He’s doing flying drills.” Ono said. “I’m sure Graym won’t be keeping him too much longer. How are your classes going?”
Both Ranjer and Mera looked at each other without saying anything. Ono moaned and shook his head.
“What did you do this time?”
“It wasn’t my fault.” Ranjer said. “I didn’t hear the question.”
“You weren’t paying attention again?” Ono gave him a disappointed look. “Valkar is going to scream bloody murder! When are you going to learn to get your head out of the clouds and into your lessons?”
Ranjer started to object and say something when he saw the look in his step brothers eyes and knew he was serious.
“And how are you in this?” He asked Mera. “I know you’re in here somewhere.”
“I tried to give him the answer.”
“And Jeikor caught you.” Ono wrapped the towel around his neck and started to walk off. “Good, you deserve whatever punishment you get. Forget about your Hallow’s eve plans, your both going to be busy.”
Mera looked at Ranjer as if she wanted to kill him right then.
“And one more thing.” Ono turned back to them. “You also just ruined Quynn’s plans, so it’ll be the three of you. Have fun!”
Angry, Mera stalked off to the classroom and went in and slammed the door behind her.

As Ranjer stepped into the great flying chamber, Quynn in dragon form was doing dips and dives chasing one of Graym’s sunbirds. High up in the air they had placed many bars and hoops of all sizes for dragons and other winged students to practice flying through and around. This was one of Quynn’s favorite classes taught by Graym and Jayce. As they watched, Quynn chased the sunbird all through the course like an eagle chasing his prey. It sped through hoops Ranjer’s size and even smaller as he tried to catch it. Finally Graym clapped his hands making the sunbird vanish and called an end to today’s class.
“OK Quynn.” He called. “That’s enough for today. Your friends are here.”
Flying down, Ranjer dropped down to land next to Graym and shifted his form.
Sweat ran off his happy face as Graym handed him a towel.
“I almost had it.” He laughed. “Another ten seconds and I would have had!”
“Sure you would have.” Graym smiled. “You’ll get it. I know you will. Until then, keep practicing and I’ll see you after the vacation.”
Graym ruffled his hair then turned and said hi to Ranjer and Mera as he left the chamber.
“Did you see me?” Quynn ran over to join them. “I almost had it. Jayce says when I can catch the sunbird, he’ll talk my father into letting me fly a patrol with him. I can’t wait for that. Flying with the Shadows would be great!”
Quynn smiled up at his cousin then noticed the look of anger on Mera’s face. He looked back at Ranjer.
“What’s wrong?” He threw his towel at Ranjer. “What did you do this time?
“We have to go to Master Macon’s office.”
“Why?” Quynn asked Mera. “What did he do now?”
“Day dreaming again.” She said. “Let’s just go see what our punishment is. Come on Quynn.”
“Me?” Quynn looked at them. “How did I get in this?”
“It’s your holiday too?” Ranjer smiled. “Come on cousin. We were supposed to go to Eventide together. Are you going to go without me?”
“I should.” Quynn frowned. “But I won’t. I’m going to get you back for this. Ryel was going to take us to Dree and Aquilona. I so wanted to swim with Mortimer and sail with Prince Haymar. I guess that’s out.”
“It all depends on what we have to do.” Ranjer said as the left the chamber and headed back into the school. “We might still have enough time.”
“You mean what YOU have to do.” Quynn said. “I’ll come along but the punishment is all yours. Maybe that will teach you to pay attention in class.”
“OK already! I’ll do my best to listen from now on. Let’s just get this over with so we can save as much of Hallow’s eve as we can.”
From the flying chamber they walked on to the transport stone which left them on the first floor where all the administration and the master’s offices were. New Keanna kids were moving all through the halls chatting and gathering their things as they left school for the weekend. As they passed the office, Ranjer stopped and looked in. Standing at the head masters office door, he saw his uncle Ono. It looked like he was arguing with Head master Shayn. Ono looked upset about something. Ranjer brushed the hair away from his ears and heard Ono say their names. Then he heard Shayn said there was nothing he could do and that the kids would have to deal with their punishment.
“But Mythioes?” Ono argued. “Why that place? It’s dangerous there.”
Shayn started to tell him, then glanced up and saw him at the door.
With a spin of his wrist and a pointed finger, the shades on the door slammed shut. Ranjer stepped back away from the door. He couldn’t have heard what he thought he had heard. It was impossible. He wouldn’t. Would he?
“Well come on.” Mera said from ahead of him. “Let’s not keep Master Jeikor waiting.”
Running to catch up, he met them at the door just as three strange hooded men came creeping out from his office. They stepped back and let them pass as a cold feeling ran up Ranjer’s back.
“Who or what was that?” Mera asked. Both Quynn and Ranjer shrugged as the three dark figures floated down the hall and away.
“They gave me the creeps.” Ranjer shivered. “I wonder what they wanted with Master Jeikor?”
“I guess a potion.” Quynn said. “We better go in and get this over with.”
Opening the door, the three stepped into the potion and spell masters office. It was dark in there with only a torch and a few candles for light. To the right of them there was an old couch. To the left was Jeikor’s desk. Straight in front of them was his work table covered with all kinds of laboratory and magical equipment. There was a huge cauldron bubbling with some weird concoction giving the room a strange spicy smell. Perched on a coat rack next to the desk, a crow squawked and fluttered as they came into the room. Books lined shelves on the walls with bottles and vials of all kinds of strange ingredients set in clear boxes.
As they looked around the office, they noticed that on the work table, vials and beakers had been broken and smashed. It looked like there had been a struggle here. Then Mera heard a soft moan. Curious, she walked around the work bench and saw someone in the red and black robes of a master lying on the floor Gasping in shock, Mera knelt and found Master Jeikor lying there  unconscious.
“Master Jeikor!!”
When Ranjer heard Mera call the masters name, he dropped their books and hurried around the table. Master Jeikor lay there with a gray ashen look shaking and covered in spilled colored liquids and broken glass. Ranjer dropped down to the floor and lifted him up into a sitting position.
“Master, master!” Ranjer touched that spot between his eyes again and again trying to wake him. Jeikor’s eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Ranjer, Quynn and Mera. His mouth opened and he tried to talk but nothing came out.
“Quynn.” Mera said. “Go get Master Shayn, he’ll know what to do.”
Quynn nodded his head and hurried out of the office. Mera looked back down at Master Jeikor who was struggling to speak.
 something.
“What is it Master?” Ranjer asked. “Who did this to you?”
“Cha, Cha, Chedri…” Master Jeikor reached out his hand to Ranjer. “Poison, need cure.”
Ranjer took his hand as Jeikor fell back unconscious.
[Shayn come fast!]
[Quynn told us what happened.] Shayn sent. [We’re on our way.]
“Did you hear what he said?” Mera asked. “Chedri? What is that?”
“Those hooded men I guess.” Ranjer sat there rocking back and forth with the master. “They did this.”
“Why?” Mera asked. “What could he have done to them?”
“I don’t know.” Then he realized there was something in Master Jeikor’s hand. “Wait, what’s this?”
Opening Master Jeikor’s hand, Ranjer found a piece of parchment paper. He unfolded it and found it was a list of something he couldn’t identify.
“What is it?” Mera asked.
[Cure.] Jeikor mumbled in Ranjer’s mind. [Find. Save me.]
Just then, Quynn came rushing back in with Master Shayn and his mate Ono. Shayn hurried and knelt down to examine Master Jeikor, He reached out and touched him, then closed his eyes while his magic probed him.
“What’s wrong with him?” Ono asked.
“This is very serious magic.” Shayn told them. “Someone’s tried to steal his soul.”
“Can you help him?” Quynn asked.
“No.” Shayn said. “I can keep him comfortable but there isn’t much I can do. He’s not sick, I can’t cure him.”
“Maybe we can.” Ranjer stood up and handed Ono the pierce of parchment. “Look at this.”
Ono took the parchment and started to read it. His eyes opened wide as he read.
“Do you know what this is?” He asked them.
“No.” Ranjer answered.
“Let me see it.” Mera reached over and took the parchment and started to read it out loud.

Six to heal, six to save.
To save a soul you all must brave.
Six tasks for you to help a friend.
To keep him from his deadly end.
One web from a cursed Spider.
The ashes of a little queen.
That which melts but does not freeze.
A tooth from a royal on the bottom
of the sea.
A scale of a snake that talks.
Find a Skype.

“This is a mission.” Ono looked at Ranjer, Quynn and Mera. “You’re all too young to be going on a mission. I can’t allow you to do this.”
“Uncle Ono.” Ranjer stepped up. “Mera and I are sixteen, we’re on our last year of school. We’re not kids anymore. We can do this.”
“So can I.” Quynn said.
“And what’s your fathers going to say?” He asked. “They still worry about Shayn and I when we go out, I can just imagine what they would say if I let you three do this.”
“Wait Love.” Shayn laid Jeikor down and stood up. “You were fifteen when you left Tir Na with Jandar and I was sixteen when I got my dragon. I think maybe they should do this. They saw the people that cursed Jeikor, they should help cure him.”
“Then you can be the one to explain to Jandar and Rage.” Ono stared at Shayn obviously angry. Shayn came over and whispered something in his ear.
“Ok.” He said handing Ranjer the parchment. “We’ll go find the people that did this to him, you go figure out what that is. But please, be careful. I don’t want to have to explain you getting hurt to your parents. You have until Hallow’s Eve midnight, that’s all.”
“Can I ask a question?” Mera raised her hand. “What’s a Skype?”

The next morning, Ranjer dressed quickly in black leather pants and a coat of granite gray with a white tunic and slipped from his room in the manor and hurried to Quynn’s room. He got there just as Quynn was pulling on his flying jacket.
“You like it?” Quynn spun around showing off the bronze and tan jacket. “Father got it from Fay Shrea for my birthday last year.”
“It’s nice,” Ranjer said trying to hurry him on. “Can we go now before Rage catches us?”
“Right.”
Quynn grabbed his bag and they hurried out to meet Mera in the schoolyard. The morning was bright and the streets of New Keanna were quiet. Only a few merchants were up opening and setting up their shops and stalls for morning business. Ranjer stopped at a baker he knew and grabbed a few breakfast buns made with baked meat and vegetables, then they hurried on to meet Mera at the schools playground.
“You’re late.” She said as they entered the school yard. “Are you ready to go?”
Mera was dressed in blue elven tights with a dark blue hooded tunic belted around her waist. Her pretty blond hair was tied back from her face with an ornate band that matched the belt she had brought with her from Pentanthin. Ranjer smiled when he saw her. He always thought she was pretty.
“Yeah. “Quynn said. “We have to get out of town before I can shift and fly us off.”
“Why?” Ranjer asked.
“Because if I shift near the gate, they will see me and report that we left. Then they will start calling us to find out where we’re going. Do you feel like explaining?”
“Good Idea.” Mera said. “But how do we get out of town?”
“I can shift to a raven and fly out.” Ranger said. “I guess Quynn can too, but you can’t, right?”
“No.” She said. “I don’t start morphing classes until next year. We have to find another way.”
“I know a spell that would transform you.” Quynn said. “But to reverse it and change you back, won’t be easy.”
“Then I don’t think that would be a very good idea.” Mera sighed as they started out of the schoolyard and headed back into the city. “Isn’t there any secret entrances or hidden tunnels into the city? Doesn’t your fathers or one of the dragons have a hidden escape route we could use?”
“There aren’t any secret entrances I know of.” Quynn said. Then he stopped a thought for a second. There was something he was forgetting.
“Tunnels!!” Quynn jumped up with a smile. “I forgot about Dreik’s mines!!”
“What?” Ranjer scratched his head. “What mines?”
“Dreik’s iron mines!!”
“What iron mines?” Ranjer asked. “What are you talking about?
“Listen.” Quynn pulled them over to the side behind the blacksmith shop. “A long time ago, Winterhaven made a deal with my father to mine iron in the hills outside of New Keanna. They had found a rich vein of iron and Winterhaven and Vasagi needed it to rebuild after some war. Anyway, something went wrong and they had to abandon the whole project and close the mine. A few years later, Dreik opened the mine and used the ore for repairs after that business with the death goddess. He made an opening right here in New Keanna. We could use that to get out.”
“Do you know where it is?” Mera asked.
“Sure I do.” He smiled. “Dreik use to take me there all the time.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go?”
From the market place, Quynn led them through the city pass shops and stalls and into the lanes of small houses. They took a left at the Dragon statue and went through the park Aramis had set up. The smell of all his flowers sailed the winds spreading all through the city. Rows of roses of all colors and wild flowers of violet, blue and red decorated the park.
From the park they headed straight back to the area where most of the elves and fairies live. Ranjer wave to Rose and Tara as they passed the school they  had set up for all the little ones left orphaned by pass wars.
After another ten minutes they came to the cliff wall on the south west edge on the city.
“This is it.” Quynn said pointing to the cliff. Ranjer stepped in closer for a look.
“I don’t see anything.”
“That’s because you’re not a dragon.” Quynn walked over a shadowed spot on the wall and just stepped right through and disappeared. It looked like he had walked right through a solid rock wall. As he reappeared Mera smiled.
“And you know your way around in there right?” She asked.
“I know how to get to the exit on the other side.” He said. “Will that do?”
“We’ll follow you.” Ranjer said. Quynn nodded and went back to the entrance and with Mera abs Ranjer following, he stepped in.
Thought it was still morning outside, it was black as night in the mine. Since both Ranjer and Quynn were beings of the night, the darkness didn’t bother either of them but it was a hindrance to Mera. As he looked around, Ranjer saw an assortment of mining equipment in the corner. Laying on in a pile, Ranjer spotted a few old torches. He grabbed one and handed it to Quynn.
“Use this for light.”
“Thanks.” Quynn took the torch and blew on the end. As Quynn’s breath touched it, it burst into flames lighting up the small tunnel.
With Quynn in the lead, they started on their way through the mine. As they walked, the torch lit the walls showing veins of silver and gold. Light reflected back from all the different gems that studded the walls. Mera tripped when she stepped on a diamond the size of her fist and almost fell. Ranjer reached out and grabbed her to stop her fall.
“Thank you.” She smiled looking him in his brown eyes.
Ranjer blushed as he held her hand.
“Ahem!” Quynn coughed. “Can we move on now?”
Ranjer quickly dropped her hand as they started moving again. It wasn’t long before they saw the light coming from the end of the mine and they were out at the entrance of the mine.
“Ok.” Quynn said. “What’s the first clue?”
Mera took out the parchment and opened it up and read the first clue.
“It says, one web from a cursed spider.” She looked at each of them. “Any ideas?”
“Not really. There are all kinds of spiders all over Keanna.” Ranjer said. “How are we to find a cursed spider?”
“You know there are people out there that worship spiders.” Quynn sent. “They might know.”
“Who could that be?” Mera asked looking disgusted.
“Dark elves.” Quynn told them. “We should go see Elan Darkshade. He might have an idea.”
“So we’re going to Eventide.” Ranjer smiled. “See, I told you we would get there.”
“This isn’t a vacation,” Mera scolded him and punched his shoulder. “We’re not going for fun. We’re trying to save Master Jeikor’s soul.”
“Oww!! Take it easy!!”
Quynn looked at Ranjer and shook his head and frowned. Then he walked out into the clearing and shifted to his bronze dragon and roared.
[Come on.] He sent. [We should get moving.]




It was about noon when they took off towards the south and Eventide. The sky was clear and the winds were warm. Ranjer thought back to the summer days back in Tir Na when all he had to do was play all day with his friends. Rabbit hunts in the woods and pigeon chases with Azeal and Tanis and the lesson Tof would give him in hunting and stalking prey. Now everything had changed. He loved hanging out with Quynn and Mera but school was so hard for him. It wasn’t the magic, he was pretty good at that, it was more his concentration. Sometimes a simple thing like a bird flying pass the window would distract him and he would end up lost in his own day dream. He had tried many things to keep him attentive in class. He moved to the front, he sat next to Mera, he even thought of wearing blinders to keep him looking ahead, but dismissed that stupid idea. Still his mind would wander. Maybe school wasn’t for him. Maybe he just wasn’t meant to be very book smart. Maybe he was meant to be a warrior like Ono, Azeal and Tanis. Maybe he should give up and quit school. It wasn’t doing him much good anyway.
[Look!]
Snapping back out of his thoughts, Ranjer looked down. Below them in a field of daisies and violet, Ranjer saw a young elven boy being chased by a pack of Hobgoblins.
“What are they?” Mera asked from behind Ranjer.
“Hobgoblins.” Ranjer said. “Nasty little buggers that will eat him alive if we don’t stop it.”
“What do we do?” She asked scared.
“This!” Ranjer stood up and dived off Quynn’s back. As he dropped, he shifted to a hawk and dived down at the Hobgoblins. When he was close enough, Ranjer shifted again and dropped on the lead Hobgoblin and grabbed it and rolled forward. Jumping to his feet, he threw the little creature at the pack as they charged. Like pins they were bowled over and scattered in the field. As they got back on their feet, Ranjer flexed his claws and hissed at them, scaring them back into the forest. Behind him, Quynn came down to land. Mera looked around for more Hobgoblins, but didn’t see any.
“You can come out now.” She called to the forest. “They’re gone and we won’t hurt you.”
From behind a tree, a head stuck out. He looked young, very young, about 10 or 12. He had blond hair, pointed ears and he was dressed in plain green and brown. He looked out and looked around for Hobgoblins then saw Ranjer, Mera and a dragon. Quynn swung his head around to look at the young elf and a puff of smoked escaped his nose. The elf jumped back to hide.
“Quynn!” Mera scolded him. “You’re scaring him! Shift!”
In a blink Quynn shifted from his dragon form to his human form and went to stand with Ranjer.
“It’s ok.” She called out. “Please come out.”
Peeking out, the young elf saw there were no dragons or Hobgoblins. He stepped out still looking quite scared and nervous.
“Aiya.” Mera smiled. “My name is Mera and this is Quynn and Ranjer. It’s safe. The Hobgoblins are gone. They can’t hurt you anymore.
“No.” The elf said. “But they can still hurt my father and my brother. They’re stuck in the Hollow and it’s been overrun by Hobgoblins. I barely made it out.”
“What’s your name?” Mera asked as he came over to join them. As Mera looked at him, she noticed how dirty and tired he looked. He must have been lost in the woods for hours. She wonder if he was hungry.
“My name is Nym Rever.” He said. “I’m from Maron’s Hollow, it’s not that far from here.”
“How long have they been there?” Ranjer asked.
“They just arrived last night.” He said. “We found them when we woke up this morning right outside of the Hollow. We had just enough time to get everyone indoors before they attacked. It started in the homes on the lower part of the Hollow then they worked their way up. I’m afraid pretty soon they will crash into everyone's house including mine where my father and brother are hiding.”
"Then we should do something about that." Ranjer looked to his two friends.
"What about Master Jeikor?" Mera asked.
"Isn't this what they've been teaching us?" He asked. "Quynn, what would your fathers do? Would he leave them and abandon them to the Hobgoblins?"
"No." Quynn smiled. "They would help."
"Then I think we have to." Ranjer told them. "If we hurry, we can be back on the road before nightfall and on to Eventide."
"Ok." Quynn turned to Nym. "Which way to Maron's Hollow?"