Chapter 1

Aldon the Brave walked through the camp. He had been sent to Ahraon's camp to find the prisoners. Puwen Bloodhelm walked up to him. "Shall we ride on?" Aldon nodded. "Send word to the soldiers. We ride to find them. In the name of the Seven, we will do this." Why did Ahraon want the prisoners so much? There must be a reason. He was sure that whatever the reason, it would not be something he or any of the Balor Army would like at all. Puwen bowed and murmured, "I will, my lord." and ran off to tell the others. Aldon heard the man next to him grunt. "You are doing a fine job as leader." He nodded at Kurt. "Sometimes it is a tough job." He patted Kurt on the back. "You will be a leader one day. I know it." Kurt looked in disbelief and walked off.

Jericho walked through the camp and sea of tents looking around. He was looking for Nishaven if he could find the blasted man. Dear the Seven, where was that man? Lance was sure he was somewhere around about the new recruits' tents. Many wide-eyed recruits stared at him, new faces that he had not seen before. He thanked the Gods for blessing him and his friends with such valuable recruits. He sensed potential in them all – those who had not enough potential were not taken on the journey. It was dark times and they could not afford to waste time training mere sheep herders how to cope on the battlefield. Where was the rescue team? They were dispatched to find Ahraon's camp. He hoped all went well.

Jericho was getting slightly frustrated. Where are Nishaven? He walked into a tent and a wide-eyed man almost leaped into the sky, maybe reach the sun. "Oh! Sir...G-G-General...sorry sir...what..I mean..." Jericho held up his hand to stop the tornado of words coming at him. "Do you know where Nishaven is? You know Nishaven?" The recruit spoke. "The sorcerer man? That guy who can do weird...things." Jericho nodded firmly. "A mage. Have you seen him?" The recruit shrugged. "Last I saw him he talked to Lance – is that his name?" Jericho sighed. Heaven above, where was the man? "I thank you for your help." As Jericho walked out of the tent a call came out. "Ah! There you bloody are!" Jericho turned to see Nishaven. Jericho replied bitterly. "Where in the name of the Seven have you been?" Nishaven shrugged. "Gone off to talk to some new recruits. Some of them are petrified out of their skins at me. Think I am dabbling in evil stuff...the life of a mage." He smirked. "So, here you are." Jericho nodded. "Reports are coming in. The rescue group should be arriving at Ahraon today. And that should be finding the prisoners sometime today too. But I guess that is obvious." Nishaven nodded. "Yes. Ah, I just hope we manage to catch them. Any news on the prisoners, themselves? The rescue team should be there today, you say. Are you sure?" Ah those prisoners. Aeon, Dirk and Lily. "No...not that I heard of anyway. And I am sure. Positive." Nishaven sighed. "Who is this Ahraon anyway? Sounds very...strange.." Jericho shrugged. "Only the Seven will know that." Was this man expecting Jericho to know everything? Nishaven nodded. "Well I better go off and talk to Lance or some more recruits. See how many will be petrified when they find out about him being a mage." He chuckled as he walked off, only to pause as Lance and Gwenneth walked towards them. "Aldon wants us to move on. We will meet halfway between where we are now and the camp, so it isn't as long a journey for the prisoners. They will ride to us at the same time so we should arrive at about same time." Nishaven smiled. "Those prisoners will be fine." Jericho murmured. "I wouldn't so sure..." Nishaven shrugged. "Shall I go and tell everybody to move." Lance nods. "Jericho does the new recruits, with Gwen. Me and you will do the rest." Nishaven whispered to Jericho. "I don't get to frighten new recruits...what a shame." Jericho smiled. At least he hoped the prisoners were safe...

Aeon Stormcaller growled at the Minotaur before him. "As I told you about what feels like a thousand times, here it is. I. Don't. Know. Now go and do something useful, you arsehole." The Minotaur growled. "Does Wormballer know why taken prisoner?" Aeon smirked. Wormballer. Was the Minotaur so stupid that it couldn't say Stormcaller? It was laughable. Aeon mused to himself. "First, I am Stormcaller, not Wormballer. Besides I prefer fucking being called Aeon, thank you very much. And second of bloody all, I know NOTHING. How many times will it take to get it in your skull, you stupid brute." The Minotaur lashed out with the whip. Aeon winced as a new cut spread. "Wormballer do not speak! Wormballer no speak! Harg speak! No Wormballer!" It was nearly impossible to understand this thing. "Well done Harg. That is the most sense you have spoken in about two hours." Lash. "Wormballer dare speak! Punishment given." Aeon glowered. Was this fucking arsehole going to spend another two hours wasting time just whipping and speaking a bunch of nonsense. Harg growled. "Now. Wormballer know of battle plans? Wormballer knows we thinks. We know he knows." Aeon rolled his eyes. "Once again, I do not fucking know. Now if I have to answer this question one more-" Crack. "Wormballer no speak!" Well that made no sense. He asked a question, and it was only polite to answer. The Minotaur growled. "Now. Wormballer punishment needed-" Then the tent flap opened and another Minotaur entered. "Harg required. Saber wakes." Harg glowered at Aeon. "Harg be back later. Harg punish those need punish." The two Minotaurs left and Aeon sighed. So Dirk had come back from unconsciousness? Well maybe he could help Aeon tell Harg that he had nothing to do with some bloody battle plans!

Dirk Saber groaned and saw black figures all around him, and a shining bright light... The contrast nearly made his eyes pop. He closed his eyes and opened. The light was dimmer. Whack. Dirk winced as he felt the slap and he looked. No light. He was surrounded by three Minotaurs and the light was the white tent. Not bright at all. "Saber awake! Where Harg?" Dirk groaned. What was that supposed to mean? Where Harg? Then the tent flap opened and another two Minotaurs entered. One of them growled. "Harg take care filth! We go!" All the Minotaurs left except for one left. Dirk assumed this was Harg. "Filth!" Dirk growled. "Where is Lily..." Harg smiled. "Lily very nice. Lily very nice to tongue. Good blood. Good..." Dirk did not believe Harg. "You didn't." Harg smiled. "Bring woman..."

Lily's body was thrown in. Her eyes stared at the tent roof, still bleeding blood and spilling insides. However...some of it was eaten... Dirk stared speechless. He felt overwhelming hatred... He roared and ran out of the bed and ran to her. He felt slightly dizzy. He pressed her head against his. Eyes glazed. No... He saw Harg come walking to him slowly. Dirk felt as though he would cry but he was too ashamed to admit that, even to himself. "You...bastard..." Harg drew a long sword. "Shall we do the same to you...?" Dirk roared and charged out of the tent to be grabbed by two Minotaurs, standing guard outside. Harg stepped out. "Filth cannot escape! NO ESCAPE! Escape do not!" Dirk called. "ENOUGH! I hate you, you fucking heartless bastard. Go and kill yourself, you fucking...bastard! Go and hang yourself, you..." The two Minotaurs let go of him and he collapsed weakly. As he tried crawling backwards, Harg followed smiling. "Blood! Very juicy!" Dirk stood up and one of the two guards took out a club, to try and knock him unconscious. He dodged it, but still it whacked him slightly and knocked him onto the floor. Then excruciating pain entered him. Harg smiled. "Dirk crack head when kill master...Saber destined death!" And he raised his sword – and froze. There was roaring outside. "What was that?"

Then there was shrieking and battle and sound of hooves – when suddenly men on horses came around the corner. The call of Aldon the Brave was heard throughout the camp. "FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEVEN!" Dirk widened his eyes and then Harg roared. "HARG ORDER ATTACK FILTH ON HORSES!" Sometimes the Minotaur's way of speech made him laugh. Then he stood up when the Minotaurs were gone and ran into the tent. Lily's body lay dead and the emotions whacked him. Suddenly an armoured soldier came in. "DIRK! Come..." He saw Lily's body and murmured. "Oh for fuck's sake..." Dirk hugged Lily to him. "Please...I will always...love you..." The soldier murmured. "You will have to leave her behind – I have only room for two on my horse." Another soldier came in. "Where is Lily..." He saw Lily and sighed. "It is as I thought..." He took Lily's body. Dirk eyed him. "I will keep her safe. I promise." Dirk was taken by the other soldier and saddled on the back of a horse. He looked and saw an unconscious Aeon on another horse and Aldon roared. "RIDE!" They were riding out, of the camp. And he went unconscious...

Harg saw the shapes go away into the distance. Sarh stood behind him. "Orders?" Harg growled. "Ride for great master. Leave filth, deal with own problems." Sarh nodded and walked off. Harg smiled. Fools...they forgot one thing. They still have Rothem's journal. He heard another Minotaur come. He didn't know this one, but it nodded. "Mistress Majiya come. She here with snake." Harg widened his eyes as he saw Mistress Majiya behind the Minotaur, with a four-eyed snake following her. "Hello Harg..." Harg nodded. She smiled. "You are useless. There is a new leader..." Harg widened his eyes as she smiled. "You know what will happen?" "Harg serve! Harg good servant!" "You killed the one we needed. Now this is what you get as punishment. Kill him...now..." She turned and walked away as the snake bit Harg, and the venom entered him.

Majiya smiled as his screams. "Come my friend..." She heard the snake follow her. She eyed the rest of the Minotaurs. Weaklings. "We have some...business..." And she laughed.