"No!," He moaned over and over until Rage woke up and pulled him into a warm embrace. "No, get away from my son!"
"Wake up Love," Rage ran his hand across his hairless sweat covered chest then touched him between his eyes to wake him up. "It's only a dream."
With a jolt, Jandar opened his eyes and looked up into Rage's eyes. Rage smiled and hugged him close kissing his ear, sliding his tongue over the lobe.
"The boys will be OK," He said with a squeeze. "Don't worry so much."
"Don't be so sure of that," Jandar sat up in bed. "If my dreams are right, Aspana could be in a lot of trouble."
"Aspana?"
"That's where they are." Jandar pulled away from the covers and sat on the side of the bed and grabbed his robe.
"Where are you going?" Rage asked.
"I need to talk to Athene." He slid his feet into his slippers. "Her dreams are more accurate than mine.
"You really are worried?" Rage pushed away from the covers and hurried around to Jandar's side of the bed. "Wait for a second and I'll get dressed."
As Rage pulled on underwear, Jandar tossed him his robe and they left their suite. They ran down two floors and down the hallway and made a left to find Adam and Athene's apartment. As they approached, Adam opened the door. He was dressed in bed clothing. He was just about to get some rest. He had been on duty at the gate last night.
"Come in," He stepped to the side to let them in. As the kings of New Keanna entered the apartment, Athene was standing there dressed in green and blue silks looking lovely as the midnight stars.
"I know why your here," she said.
"Then you can answer my question?" Jandar looked at her with worried eyes. "Are they OK?"
"Right now there is a lot of danger." Athene offered them seats so she could explain. "There is a war going on in Aspana, and this Mulu Amin is very very dangerous. I......"
Suddenly the door burst open and Tara Rudd and Rose Avenda ran in with tears in her eyes. Athene went to her and took the crying woman in her arms.
"Tara," she said. "What's wrong?"
"Our children are gone!!" Rose cried.
"What?" Jandar said
"We can't find them," She cried."They weren't in bed when we went to wake them up this morning."
"Could they be spending the night with someone?" Rage asked. "Maybe Graym or Dancyia?"
"They would have told me before going," Tara said. "They're welcome to do overnights as long as I get an OK from the parent they are staying with. They know that."
"Calm down Tara, we'll find them." Athene led her to a couch and sat her down. "I'm sure of that. Can I get you something hot to drink?"
"How do you know?" Rose cried. "They could be hurt or in trouble out there somewhere. I wish Tomar was here, he'd know what to do."
"We'll find them, Rose." Rage said patting her on the shoulder. "Call the Shadoe's and Cheshire. We'll start searching in an hour. They can't have gone that far."
"Adam and I will help," Athene said. "Just let us get dressed and we'll meet you downstairs."
"OK." Rage said."I'll call the others and get Ariel to stay with Tara. We'll see you downstairs in ten minutes."
As Jandar and Rage left Athere's rooms, Rage still had Quynn and Sky on his mind,
"Aren't we forgetting something?"
"No," Jandar said. "I'm not forgetting our son. He's always on my mind."
"You mean like you forgot to tell me they were going to Aspana? We need to talk later" Rage said. " Then what are we going to do?
"We are responsible for all the people of New Keanna," Jandar said sadly. "That's what being kings mean. Our subjects come first. We'll have to hold off on looking for them until Tara's children are found."
I know you're right," Rage said as lite puffs of smoke rose from his breath. "But my mind will be on him while we search."
"I know Love," Jandar said patting Rage's bottom. "I'm worried too, but we are kings and they are our princes. They have to take care of themselves and we must trust them to take care of their own problems."
With smoke rising from his head and shoulders, Rage hurried down to there suite with Jandar right behind him. Dressing in their leathers, they called out for Graym, Jayce, and Pelic to meet them down in the courtyard. As they reached the first floor, they made their way to the main entrance. Once outside Jandar put two fingers to his lips and sent out a loud whistle. Moments later a loud pair of howls came back to answer his call.
From the front stairs of the manor, Jandar and Rage walk down and around to the side and into the rose garden. Red, pink, blue, green, and yellow roses bloomed along with many different cross species of the flower of all colors filled the garden thanks to Dreik. As they made their way to the center, Graym and Pelic came drifting over the flower wall to land beside them.
"Has there been any word?" Jandar asked.
"No," Graym answered. "I should have been watching them closely. Rose will never forgive me."
"It's not your fault," Pelic said, his voice was gentile coming from beneath his gray hood. "They are children and they will get themselves into things no matter what you do."
Just then there was a bright flash of light and Jayce dropped down to join them.
"Aiya your majesties." He bowed to Rage and Jandar. "What can I do for you today?"
Jandar gave him stern look then turned as the others joined them from town.
"I'm sorry to pull you all from your busy day, but we have a problem. Four of our children are missing and they must be found immediately. They disappeared last night between 9 M.A. and 6 S.A. Graym, and Jayce, fly out south. Search Winterhaven and the Darkforest. Call out to me if you find anything.
With a nod. Graym and Jayce took off.
"That leaves west and north. Rage, Dreik, and Blink will take west over the Kolvir. Search the trails, the forest, and the Durmista caves. I will take Cheshire and the Snowdogs and go north. Does anyone have any questions?
"What about the east?" Sara asked.
As he turned to Sara, the wind blew his dark hair over his face. Jandar wasn't sure where the kids had gone, but he was doubtful that they had gone out to sea. How could he tell that to Sara? She had been left out of so many missions, he knew she wanted to do her part. It wouldn't hurt to let her try.
"Your right Sara," Jandar gave her a smile with his twinkling eyes. "Message down and have Caldar Dylani send someone to join you as a guide, Anything else?"
No one spoke out.
"Then let's get going,"
From Deneg in the north to Torbid in the south, war raged all across Aspana. Lines of displaced refugees hid by day from Mulu's bands of Dog raiders who struck out at anything that moved. Mulu's slave pens grew larger every day as his warriors dragged wounded and scared refugees back to be put in chains. The sounds of their screams could be heard for miles all around. In Torbid, the Sealen city had a rich trade center and its seaport was second to none. Their fleet counted over forty and was usually spread all across the southern hemisphere of Keanna shipping exotic fruit and animals. The Sealen people were master tradesmen with customers from Aquilona under the western sea to Liamiport in the exotic east.
The Sealen had fought bravely against the Hyenens. The battle was going in their favor until the Demondogs arrived and joined the fray. As the battle raged, the first Demondog charged in blasting the line of Sealen scattering the warriors across the battlefield. Bravely the Sealen climbed back on their feet ran back at the Demondog. With his spear raised the first Sealen stabbed up into the Demons back and shoved the barbed head in. As the Demon screamed in pain, the Sealen pulled his sword and chopped down into it's back. Weakened by the attack the Demondog fell convulsing to the ground. As the Sealen took that chance to attack, the Demondog was up with an evil grin slashing at his enemies. Seeing their comrades fall, the Sealen rallied themselves for a new offensive. With some of Aspana's finest wizards on the city wall sending out their strongest spells, the Sealen attacked Mulu's ships. They hacked and tore out the bottoms of the invading ships sending them to the bottom of the bay. Hyenen warriors dived out of the ships thinking to swim for their lives. Unfortunately, Hyenen weren't too much for swimming. Most of them sank right to the bottom. Only the Demondogs were able to make it to land without drowning.
With their weapons drawn and their determination set, the Sealen charged into battle. Swords flashed in brave comradely as Demondogs fell under the assault. Jackals rushed in to take up the place of the fallen Demons. As the two enemies clashed, the Sealen's courage rose to a high point. They had finally overcome Mulu and his Demon's, now it was time to launch their final attack and drive the dogs away from their city.
Like their brothers the Dolphins, Sealen warriors leaped from the water armed and ready to decimate their enemy. The Hyenen pulled back with fear in their eyes until they had all made it to cover. As the Hyenen's cowered in fear the Sealen charged in to reap their glorious win. All of a sudden a cry came from beyond the battlefield and Nereus and his Griffin brothers dropped down out of the sky to attack the Sealen. Sealen warriors screamed as Griffin's hot claws ripped into their bodies. Soon, countless Sealen had fallen under the Griffin assault. The Sealen commanders screamed for their warriors to retreat. As the brave Sealen turned away from the battle, they cursed the laughing Griffin's as they limped away carrying their wounded comrades. Today they lost the battle because of Mulu's pact with his dark god, but there would be a day when the Sealen and the rest of Aspana would triumph and put Mulu and his god down.
As Nereus made his way to Mulu's tent, he watched as Mulu turned his dark magic on his own warriors. As they begged for mercy, Mulu cursed each one causing flames to break out all around them.
"Who are you stranger and why have you come to help me?"
"I am Nereus." Nereus bowed to Mulu never taking his eyes off the Warlock. "I am here to help you take control of Aspana and make it yours."
"I hope you can do a better job then they did." Mulu motioned to the burning piles to their side. "I don't take well to failure."
"I never fail," Nereus said insulted.
"That's what they said." Mulu laughed. "What makes you so sure you can help me?"
"I can bring you Dragons."
"Come." Mulu waved him over. "Let's talk."
Zakia Manzi was in a very dark mood. The Tigaren capital palace had been raided and their royal family was taken captive. Zakia had no idea where. But there was one clue. The palace reeked of dark magic. Zakia could feel it all around him. That was Mulu's mistake. With a smile, Zakia raised his hands and weaved a spell that would trace the spell used on the palace. As he sat down and spun his tracer spell, red and blue lights flashed, then the room settled with a green haze as the spell took effect. Zakia's eyes glazed over and a grim look settled on his face.
As Zakia got to his feet, two Hyenen warriors rushed into the room. With a quick turn, Zakia cast out a simple force spell that grabbed the warriors and slammed them into the palace wall. As the warriors fell, Zakia turned and calmly made his way to the room's exit. He went from the throne room to the hall and down two flights of stairs to an audience room where he stopped at a stone wall and placed his hand on the wall. Bright blue lights flashed as the wall accepted him as a member of the royals.
As Zakia stepped in a bright light flashed as he stepped through a force wall set up by the enemy Warlock. Through the force barrier, Zakia looked up to find a familiar enemy standing at the Tigaren wall near a vault where the family jewels and weapons could be found. Jaffa Uda, a sly and aggressive wharf Rat with one golden eye and a broken tail from a battle he had won against an Elf back in his early days.
Dressed in a gray hooded robe with stars that danced all over him, and his amulet of Ragamon glowing around his neck, Jaffa stopped his spells and looked toward Zakia.
"Myumbo Jaffa Uda," Zakia said as he entered the room. "It has been a long time since we last met."
"Yes, Zakia." Jaffa walled out from the wall where he had been tried to break a spell. "I see you are still faithful to Yonas and the Tigaren kingdom. Tis a shame I will have to kill you. There's so much we could learn from each other."
"Like loyalty and honor?" Zakia through back his head laughing. "Master Stevn always said that would be your downfall. Gold could never be a master to standby. an incentive to learn or be faithful."
"And you think the Tigaren's better?"
"Oh yes." Zakia smiled as his staff started to glow. "Tigar is where my heart will always belong. They are my friends and my family. I will die before I let anyone kill my king or my nephew.."
"Then today is the day you will die, old friend." As Jaffa stepped forward, a bolt of green power shot out from his hands. Spreading his hands, Zakia formed a pulse shield that sent the bolt back at Jaffa. Leaning out, Jaffa caught the bolt and took it in his hands and spun more power into it, then he sent it streaking at Zakia. As the bolt came at its target, Zakia lifted his staff and swung batting the bolt high over their heads into the jungle.
With his staff over his shoulder, Zakia stepped closer to Jaffa. The Warlocks amulet glowed brightly from their battle.
"You didn't think Mulu would send an apprentice, did you?" Smoke rose steadily from Jaffa's hooded robe.
"Your experience doesn't matter," Zakia said. "You fight for gold and that's just a thing with no honor or meaning. I could give you all the gold you want with a snap of my fingers."
Turning around, Zakia snapped his fingers and conjured a pile of gold that was stacked to the ceiling.
In a few steps, Zakia had a hand full and he tossed it to Jaffa.
"This doesn't mean anything to me." With another snap, The gold was gone, all Jaffa had was what Zakia had tossed to him. "You risk your life for that? That's nothing to lose your life over. You have no honor."
"Maybe I don't," Jaffa said as he stuffed his pockets. "But it will be your downfall."
"I doubt it." Zakia leaned forward with his arms at his side wrapped around his staff. "You may attack first.
Laughing at Zakia's confidence, Jaffa raised his hand and spoke a few soft words that sent a storm of gray static at Zakia. Bubbling and boiling the gray clouds of static came at Zakia, he took his staff and started to spin it around and around. In less than a second he stopped and pushed the static up into the air. Like dark specks of rain, it fell down on Jaffa burning its way into his robe. Jaffa screamed and fell to his knees shooting the specks away from him leaving his robe torn in spots.
Lifting his head, Jaffa stared back at Zakia with glowing menacing eyes. Getting to his feet, he shot a beam of concentrated power at Zakia. Holding his hands in a fist before him, the beam came in and struck. Zakia screamed holding his glowing fist over his head. The pain ran through him frying nerves and searing muscled all through his body. As his blood started to boil in his veins, he gasped some kind of healing spell that reached out to heal his body. Zakia fell limp to the ground. Staggering forward, Jaffa looked over his downed enemy. There were no life signs, Zakia looked as if he wasn't breathing but that could be a trick. As Jaffa moved forward, a spark of life slipped into Zakia and his eyes slowly opened, Confident of his success, Jaffa reached down and grabbed Jaffa by his throat. Blood ran from his mouth and his eyes had no life shine.
"It's over." Jaffa lifted Zakia in triumph. "I win and you can take your honor with you to the underworld!!"
"I think not!"
Suddenly Zakia opened his eyes and lifted his staff. A bolt of lightning erupted all around Zakia throwing Jaffa to the ground as Zakia rose high over him.
"This is far from over." Zakia settled to the ground.
Hurrying to his feet, Jaffa threw a wave of dust and dirt at Zakia then followed with a powerful blast. With his power shield still up, Zakia let the blast hit the shield then countered with a swift hammer blast pile driver blow that sent Jaffa flying off his feet. As he shook his head to focus his power, Jaffa threw his hands up casting a wide field of dark energy at Zakia. As he shook out his dreadlocks, Zakia raised his hands and watched the darkness descend upon him. As far as he knew, there was no way to counter the darkness that was coming toward him. Darkness was the ultimate of evil spells and Master Stevn had never taught the dark craft or how to counter it. The only thing Zakia could think of was to rely on his faith and his honor to drive the darkness back. As the darkness crept toward him, Zakia calmed his mind and set himself down folding his legs beneath him. This would be his last chance. He hoped they would all be with him tonight. With his staff held out, he called out for help.
"I CALL UPON ALL THE MASTERS OF
TIGAREN PEOPLE.
STEVN AND WHAYU.
LAMU AND FARAJI.
KHALFINI AND MBITI.
BAYANA AND MSHINDI.
THE DARKNESS THREATENS
OUR PEOPLE AND IT IS
ONLY WITH YOUR HELP
WILL WE PREVAIL? WE NEED
YOUR RIGHT TO FIGHT
THE DARKNESS."
As Jaffa's darkness spread through the room, Zakia was pulled up off the ground to hover four feet in the air surrounded by a savage light. Lightning flashed in colors unknown to the normal sight as the darkness fought the light for supremacy. To Zakia it looked as if the light and darkness had become vicious beings fighting for their own place in the world. Back and forth the battle raged as the war of light and darkness went on with each blow vibrating with blinding flashes of pain. As the war went on, Zakia could feel his strength grow with each blow. The light struck harder and harder making sparks explode in the air. Soon Zakia could see Jaffa convulse as each blow absorbed more and more of his strength. The light grew stronger and stronger until soon it was so bright that there was an explosion that threw the two combatants apart.
When Zakia got to his feet, he could feel the raw strength running through his body. The bone staff that he carried now was made of pure silver and light. There was something different about him. He could feel the change that ran through his body. As he looked out he saw Jaffa laying broken against the wall and Yonas and Kapor were sitting up staring at him with a bewildered look on their face.
"What's going on?" Yonas said. "We're in the treasure room. What are we doing here? The last thing I remember was we were under attack? What happened?"
"Many things happened," Zakia said. " "We're still being attacked. Follow me and I'll explain."
"Many things happened," Zakia said. " "We're still being attacked. Follow me and I'll explain."
A hint of the next story.
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