The Kingdom of Cuole

Archive One







The elves carried Reise around the large boundary wall until finally they reached the gate that would lead the way inside. Raina's guard paused in front of it then finally placed a hand against it and whispered a few words of elvish. A moment of silence passed then suddenly the gate swung open to reveal a path leading on into the wood, line with armed guards.

"Not many are allowed in here. You're the first in a long time.." Raina whispered to Reise with a smile as they began to move on through the gates. The path led on through the woods until it finally broke into a clearing that could be described as nothing more than the most beautiful garden ever seen, with elves wandering here and there. And above them built into the trees were buildings, not simple makeshift buildings but colorful, intricate buildings that looked like they had grown with the trees rather than be built.

"This way to the healing rooms.." The guard announced then led the way up a ramp to one of the buildings making sure the others were following. The room they entered was bright and inviting, filled with several beds and more elves waiting to attend to the sick. Reise was placed on one of the beds then Raina's guard turned to her and motioned for her to leave but she quickly shook her head.

"I want to make sure he's alright." She replied stubbornly causing him to sigh in exasperation before moving to stand guard outside the door. Raina smiled as she watched him leave then moved to Reise's side. "You'll be fixed up in no time."

He smiled up at Raina. Inside, he was seething. Such a stupid girl. She's welcomed me right into her kingdom, exactly where I want to be. This is too perfect! It took everything in him not to laugh out loud. He gave her a soft smile and settled into the soft bed, breathing deeply. "Thank you, child, for your kindness." He reached into his pocket, and produced a small, round piece of glass haloed in black metal. "This is an eyeglass. It holds magical properties, I have been told, but it does not work for me. Perhaps it will work for you? Please, take it as my gratitude." he said and Eon watched her closely from the other side of the bed.

"Well thank you, that is very kind of you." Raina said as she took the eyeglass and turned it over in her hand before holding it up to the light. "So I just look through it, like this?" She asked as she moved it towards her eye. "What exactly is it meant to do?"

"It will show you the truth of things to come." Reise said, his smile turning a little dark as her gaze was elsewhere. What she would see through the glass could only be described as horrifying. She would see skeletons, dead bodies of her Elven guards, tattered and wrecked buildings and beds... everything was dead or destroyed. Fires raged outside the windows.

"How intriguing.." Raina giggled before finally pressing the glass to her eye. At first the picture seemed hazy and she couldn't make it out but as things became clear her eyes widened and she let out a loud gasp. She stood frozen to the spot as she watched the scenes of destruction unfold until finally she could take it no longer and the eye glass slipped from her hand, hitting the ground with a small thud. "T-those things..can't be true." She whispered weakly as she gripped the edge of the bed for support. "You're right it must be broken."

Reise chuckled softly. "Oh no, if it were broken, you wouldn't have seen anything at all." he said as he sat up on the bed, revealing that his back was perfectly fine. His appearance slowly began to melt away from that of the old man to his normal self with his grey skin, dirty with sweat and grime, his matted hair that hung in tangles, and his wide eyes, dark with anger and revenge. His hand snatched out, grabbing her arm tightly, claw-like nails digging into her skin. "They were true, because I will bring them about." he hissed, then another hand snapped out, fingers pointed, stabbing itself deep into the chest of an Elven guard, blood spurting everywhere before darkness started to seep into his body. He choked, gasping for breath through his pain as the dark ooze spread through his body from Reise's hand, until his eyes blackened and his skin was pale. He went limp for a moment, then seemed to come back to life, taking up his weapon as Reise jerked his hand free from his chest. The Guard then turned on the spot and began to attack his own comrades, blindly swinging his sword at them as Reise stood and pulled Raina close to him.

Raina's eyes had widened as Reise had suddenly straightened up and began to transform before her. She made to step back but he grabbed her arm before she could. A high scream escaped her lips as she watched Reise attack the guard and she struggled against his grip as he in turn began to attack those around her. Her own personal guard spun round quickly from where he stood outside the room when he heard her scream and couldn't believe the scene before his eyes. Drawing his blade he stepped into the room, trying to dodge the fighting going on around him. "Release her immediately!" He commanded pointing the sword at Reise an angry look in his eyes.

Reise let out an insane laugh, then reached up, simply grabbing the blade of his knife with two fingertips, and watched the Elf's face as it began to melt away into black sand. He laughed again and hugged Raina to his chest, watching her. "Oh, you'll be a wonderful addition to my army, little girl. Then we can take over the entire realm together. What a wonderfully dark place it will be!"

"No!" Raina cried as she watched her guard turn to sand. He had been in charge of protecting her for years and now it seemed he was gone. "What are you talking about? I don't want to be in your army, I can't even fight." She pushed against Reise trying to free herself from his grip. "I would never help you, look what you've done to my friends!" As she spoke the small dragon suddenly swooped through the door, alerted by her cries. He screeched and growled diving at Reise, trying to claw and bite at him to free Raina.

Before Cyan could get to Reise, Eon jumped up, snatching at his back legs with his teeth. He brought him down to the ground and wrestled with him until he had him pinned by his wings, and nipping at his arms and legs angrily with threatening growls. Reise simply laughed again. "You have so much to learn!" he beamed at Raina. "But I guarantee you'll be a force to be wreckoned with! Let's go meet the folks, shall we?" he asked, then dragged her from the healers hut and down the ramp, heading deeper into the Elven city in search of the old king and queen.

The pathways and gardens seemed deserted now as if everyone within Cuole had suddenly disappeared. "Stop!" Came a commanding voice and from the top of a set of stairs the old King stepped forwards followed closely by the Queen who looked down at Raina with a weak but reassuring smile. "Do you not think I cannot sense when true evil enters my home?" The King continued as he slowly made his way down the steps until he stood at the bottom, watching Reise with a look of distaste. "Now release my daughter and tell me what is it that you seek? Why have you disrupted the peace of this forest?"

Reise's grin seemed to split his face in two. His eyes were wide on the old king and queen and he almost clapped for joy if it hadn't meant releasing Raina from his grip. He gave an exaggerated bow at the waist with a mocking, "Highness! What an honor!" before standing up straight again and grinning at him and his wife. "I simply want to utilize your wonderfully trained army for my own purposes! Please do say yes. After all, I'm not giving you a choice."

The old King sighed then shook his head. "If you leave now I will let you go in peace. Nothing in my Kingdom belongs to you and never will. Now go." He pointed towards the path back towards the gate as elven guards suddenly stepped from the shadows of the trees, aiming bows and swords at Reise as Raina continued to whimper at his side.

Reise looked around slowly, giving another small grin of insanity, his eyes wide. "My, my, my... you've brought them straight to me! How kind of you." he chuckled, tightening his grip on Raina's arm. "What you do not realize, King of the Elves, is that everything you think you own is already mine." he said darkly, his eyes focusing on him once again. "Like I said before... I'm not giving you a choice."

The King looked sadly down at Raina then glanced at one of the guards next to him who gave a small nod of his head. "Fine. You may have my army in exchange for the safe return of my daughter." The King replied, ignoring Raina's gasp and protests. He held his hand out towards Reise and Raina as if ready to take her hand and pull her away from him. He just had to hope Reise did not know what she was. "Agreed?"

Reise gave a wide, snarling grin. "Agreed!" he laughed, but instead of pushing Raina into her father's arms, he reached out and took his hand, shaking it firmly in a tight grip. He then stopped, still clutching his hand and gasped, "Oops! I had my fingers crossed." He then started to shriek with laughter as more darkness oozed out of him and into the Elven king, but unlike turning the guard into a brainless slave, it seemed to suck the life straight from him until he was nothing but a dry corpse.

Raina let out a scream as she watched her fathers body drop to the ground and suddenly the guards were rushing forward to strike whilst several grabbed the Queen and pulled her back from the scene before she could fully comprehend what had just happened. "You killed him!" Raina screamed beating her fist against Reise's arm. "How could you!"

"It's easier than you think, princess, and I will teach you how!" Reise laughed, grabbing both of her arms and hugging her to his chest. "Now I suggest you hold your breath." Within seconds, a thick cloud of smoke began to waft up from his skin, filling the air around them. Every guard who got too close and managed to get a single breath of it instantly fell to the ground in an unconscious heap, their weapons clattering to the ground with them.

Raina wanted to argue but decided to do as he said, too frightened to find out what would happened if she didn't. She took a deep breath then clamped her eyes shut, not wanting to witness anything else. She whimpered at each sound of a guard falling to the ground but continued to keep her eyes shut hoping it would all be over soon.

Soon, the sounds of collapsing guards ceased altogether, and the Elven city went eerily quiet. The smoke dissipated and Reise released the princess, grinning at the still bodies at their feet. He laughed again, obviously amused. "Scabbar... You may join us now. I will need your services." he said, his voice traveling over the winds to find his servant.

Raina collapsed to the ground on her knees when Reise finally released his grip on her. She opened her eyes but quickly covered them again with her hands when she saw all the guards around her. Weeping lightly into her hands she couldn't believe how stupid she had been. This is all my fault.

There was the sound of soft, crunching footsteps as Scabbar walked out of the evaporating fog. He coughed, putting one hand over his hooded mouth as he walked forward towards Raina and Reise. The occasional dink of his axe on stone and his footsteps were the only sounds, apart from Raina's weeping. "I see you've been having fun." he muttered, shaking his head and looking around at the bodies and unconscious guards, before looking down at Raina "Her?"

"Yes, her." Reise nodded at Scabbar with a small smile, dusting off his hands as if he'd just cleaned up a mess. "Please contain her while I finish my work here... These soldiers need a good brain washing before the prince and his friends get here. They'll have one hell of a welcoming party when they do!" he laughed.

"You don't need to touch me. I'm not going anywhere." Raina snapped, finally looking up to glare at Reise and the new comer. "So just stay away from me." She listened to Reise talk on then she shook her head in disagreement. "There are no princes scheduled for visiting Cuole today, or anyone for that matter. Like I said earlier, no one comes here." She sat up straighter, wrapping her arms round her knees as she thought of Cyan, hoping he was alright.

"You said you needed my services." Scabbar said gruffly, standing in front of Raina but glaring at Reise through his head "I'm a killer, not a watch dog. You want her killed? I can do that in a heart beat. But are you REALLY just going to make me... STAND here... and stare at her?"

Reise stopped what he was doing, giving a heavily annoyed sigh and turning to look at Scabbar with a roll of his eyes. "Are you really just going to stand there and complain? Really, Scabbar, sometimes you're worse than a woman." he scowled. "If it's really too much trouble for you, then perhaps you'd prefer to go find some unsuspecting family somewhere in the city and have some murderous fun? Hm? Or find a tavern and enjoy some fine Elven wine?"

"Look, all I'm saying is, why do we need her, huh?" Scabbar said, jabbing a dirty little nail down at Raina, ignoring her, as if she was dead already "You can do all this hocus pocus mind control stuff right? Well... why do we need HER to do it?" Scabbar was hating the common factor of people living lately.

"Are you really so stupid?" Reise asked, seeming honestly surprised at Scabbar's questions. He tilted his head, then grabbed Raina up sharply and pointed at her with his own claw-like nail. "She's the last living descendant of the infamous Dragon Tribe. She has a dragon following her around like a puppy." he snarled. "She will have incomparable powers once we have her unlock them and trained how to use them. She will be unstoppable."

"You've got it wrong.." Raina whispered in disbelief after she had listened to what Reise had to say. "I don't have any special powers and I can't fight..i'm sorry but you've made a mistake, i'm not the one you seek. And even if I did have all those things you speak of..who says I would fight on your side."

"See?" Scabbar said, hefting his axe up as he still gazed at Reise "Let me kill her. We don't need any kind of dragon thing anyway." His blade almost seemed to be sweating blood in anticipation of a kill, a princess as well, though he had no idea about that.

Reise snarled at Raina, his eyes sharp on her. "Oh, you'll fight for me. Because if you don't, you, your mother and every other living person in your kingdom will die horribly. The fire you saw in that looking glass I gave you? I can very easily make that happen. Or I can let Scabbar have his fun. See, he's very good at killing things, and he very much enjoys it. Do you really want to be the cause of their torturous, merciless deaths? I will turn this magnificent city into a kingdom of death and dismay, and it will be all your fault." he hissed, gripping her arms hard enough to bruise.

Raina shuddered at the memory from the looking glass then looked up at Reise with tear filled eyes, giving a small defeated nod of her head as she did. "Fine..i'll do whatever it is you want, just please don't kill anyone else here. Please." She begged him hoping he would listen. "Cyan and I will be yours if you just leave this place alone and stop him from killing anyone here." She glanced towards Scabbar with a small frown before looking back at Reise.

"Just... dammit..." Scabbar muttered, shaking his head and kicking the floor with his hard boot. Why couldn't they just got out and do some normal killing for once? It was always 'capture this person' or 'brainwash the princess'. It was never just straight up killing, specially when Reise was involved.

Reise's snarl instantly melted into a wicked grin, and he chuckled. "Good girl. Now then, prepare yourself, Scabbar. We'll have guests arriving very soon with some debts to settle. A few faces I'm sure you'll recognize." he smiled, rubbing his hands together. He then held them out towards the piles of unconscious Elven gaurds, and slivers of squirming, black ooze leaked from his fingertips. They slithered like slugs to the bodies, wriggling themselves into their ears and infecting them quite easily. Soon, the Elves were pulling themselves to their feet, their eyes blackened and skin grey as they took up their weapons again, this time for Reise. "Let's unroll the red carpet for our visitors, shall we?" he asked, then shrieked with laughter, clapping and dancing around as the Elven gaurds numbly moved to the main gates.

Raina kept her eyes cast downwards as the guards filed past, unable to face watching them go to fight for something so evil. Finally she looked up frowning at Reise. "Will you get your dog to release Cyan please, he'll not attack anyone. I just want to make sure he's alright."

It was always disgusting when Reise did that mind control thing, the slugs of black ooze were disturbing, and that was from Scabbar, who had seen himself burn alive on multiple occasions. He just stood there, thinking that 'dog' obviously meant the little pet wolf Reise kept with him at all times.

Reise raised an eyebrow at Raina. "Do you take me for a fool? I know you can control him. If you so much as THINK the command for him to attack, he will, no matter his size." he scoffed. Nevertheless, he raised his head and whistled between his teeth, calling Eon back to him. Eon came running, but Cyan was locked in a fine Elven cage that Eon held between his strong jaws.

"You've put him in a cage! He shouldn't be in a cage!" Raina cried when she saw the large cage that Cyan was being held in. He let out a loud screech when he saw Raina and began clawing and biting at the bars, trying to free himself. "Give him to me!" Raina stepped towards Eon intent on retrieving the cage from him.

Oh great, a violent creature that Reise was expecting to beat into his control by keeping this girl on a leash. This wouldn't wind up going wrong at all. Scabbar kept quiet, rolling his eyes... or whose-ever eyes he had at the moment... at the fact Reise was going down with this. He just had to concentrate on the idea of killing everyone involved in this. That would calm him down.

Eon's hackles raised when Raina drew closer to grab for Cyan, his fangs baring threateningly and his tail going stiff behind him. If she tried to grab for Cyan, he would drop the cage and bite her hand off. His red eyes told at least that much. Reise chuckled and shook his head. "I wouldn't do that, princess..."

Raina glared at Eon but made no further movements towards him. She folded her arms and turned back to Reise, shooting an angry glance at Scabbar as she did. If he speaks the truth about my powers..i'll make sure they all pay. She thought with a frown. "You spoke of unlocking powers in me..why don't you just do it already." She said trying to keep the shakiness from her voice.

Scabbar didn't even look at Raina, he was staring at Cyan, distrustful about the idea of taming this beast through the girl. He preferred just stabbing everything. It was usually more reliable.

Reise turned to look at her and sighed heavily. "Are you completely incapable of shutting your mouth for five minutes?" he asked, raising his brows almost comically. "I cannot unlock the power inside of you, princess, because forcing out power of that magnitude could kill you, firstly. Or, even if you did live, you wouldnt know how to control it, and you would kill literally everyone and everything for miles." He then paused and grinned wickedly. "Actually, that would be a fun experiment to try!"

Raina's mouth dropped open in shock when Reise commented on her inability to keep her mouth shut then she continued to listen to him speak. At his last comment she quickly shook get head, looking appalled. "I won't be killing anyone..ever. Now if your have some time to spare then I wish to go to my room and collect some things. And if you're worried I'll run then send your little dog or axeman with me." She said trying to sound unafraid and commanding. "you all may be happy to live and travel in dirty clothes but I am not."

There was a small silence. "Should I punch her in the face?" Scabbar asked, looking over at Reise.

Raina turned to look at Scabbar in shock then averted her gaze to the ground. "Okay, I'll be quiet." She whispered not waiting to see how Reise would respond. Wrapping her arms around herself she moved to sit on a stone bench close to Eon. Maybe this is all just a really bad dream.. She thought sadly as she continued to stare at the ground.

Reise couldn't help but let out a laugh at Scabbar's question. "As much as she deserves it, no. We don't want to bruise that pretty little face." he scoffed, turning back to his zombie army of Elves. He made sure they were all in their proper places, then grinned at Raina and Scabbar. "Show time!" he said excitedly, feeling the prince drawing nearer. He paused, however, when he saw the shadow of something far larger than just his nephew on the ground.

His dark eyes roamed upwards, a look of awe on his face as he noticed the magnificent flying ship above them. "Well.... I certainly didn't expect that." he admitted, blinking at the ship above. "Very impressive, Aarin."

"What the hell is that?" Scabbar asked Reise, leaning over as he looked towards the approaching flying ship. All he could think about was setting it on fire however. He wasn't amazed, he was angry at it. He wanted the damn thing gone and never returning.

As the others looked up Raina finally tore her eyes from the ground and allowed herself to look skyward aswell. Her eyes widened and a small gasp escaped her lips. "What is that?" She whispered as she looked up at the ship. She had never seen anything like that before. Are there people up there? Are they dangerous? She thought nervously. Maybe they'll be able to help. She wished she could call to them but she knew it was too dangerous with Reise only steps away.

"That, my dear Scabbar, is a nuisance. And I trust you will take care of it?" Reise asked, turning his head to look at the axeman. "You finally get to have a little fun. Bring it down--I dont care how." he growled, turning to Raina. "You are coming with me. Eon, take that rat somewhere else and hide it, then go with Scabbar when that ship lands. Bring Aarin to me." he instructed as he grabbed Raina by the arm and yanked her to stand.

Raina yelped in surprise as she was pulled to her feet, having still had her attention on the ship above. "Where are we going? I don't want Cyan to be hidden! Let him come with me." She pleaded, scared what would happen to the little dragon. "Please!"

Bring it down. Right. Cause that was easy. Scabbar looked around, frowning as he gazed up at the rooftops, searching for any sign of defence. What would be perfect is a ballast, something to shoot or throw at the ship... If they did have that... Well he wasn't sure what he was going to do. He glanced towards Raina and Reise for a second before gripping his axe and making his way towards the highest point in the city. Surely they would have a watch station up there, or a way of attacking others from up high. These people weren't entirely peaceful after all, they had guards.

"Shut up, princess, or I'll take your voice like I took a pretty little fire sprite's." Reise snapped, showing her the coal from his pocket and clutching it tightly in front of her. He shoved it back into his pocket and turned, yanking her away from Eon and Cyan, heading up towards the main castle to find a place to hide her.

Eon watched them go, then searched for a place to hide Cyan as well. He bounded into a small, abandoned hut, tucking the cage into the corner beneath a bed, and then putting a blanket down over it. With another huff through his nose at Cyan, he turned and ran back outside, his hackles raised as he mentally prepared himself for a fight. He followed closely behind Scabbar so he could work with him to bring the ship down.

Scabbar had broken down the door to an armory with his axe by the time Eon had found him, he was carefully trying to string a large bow with his bare hands, grunting as he fought to get the string on. He sighed as he managed to string it, looking up at Eon and grunting "What do you want?" He needed some rags as well... and oil, but he wasn't sure where to get that.

Eon growled at Scabbar a little bit, then turned on his heel and started up a set of stairs, heading to what would be the tallest point of the building. He changed into his human form as he moved, staying silent and stealthy the whole time. He found a pair of trousers and an Elven chest plate as he went, throwing them on, but staying barefooted. He finally came up on a balcony and grabbed the railing, seeing the ladder of the ship swinging not too far in front of him as people climbed down its rungs--including Aarin, Iswe and Idre.

Aveda quickly followed Hook down the ladder towards the forest below. She peered over her shoulder just as Odi soared past towards the ground and jumped slightly in surprise. "Another show off!" She exclaimed with a grin as she watched the sprite move. "You two are made for each other!" She called to Hook as she chuckled. "Can anyone see anything yet? It seems quiet..Maybe everything is okay."

"Don't trust silence." Odi called to her as she floated past on the wind, coming up on Hook before she dropped past him with a small wave and a twisting tumble in the air. She slowed and landed on her feet just inside the gates of the city, and it was right before she landed that she had seen the dozens and dozens of Elven guards. It didn't take long for her to feel the darkness radiating off of them, and when she landed on her feet, it caused an explosion of strong gusts to blow them back and into one another. She looked around slowly as they recovered and started to come for her, and she looked up towards the ladder where Hook and his guests were still descending. "Captain! Black Magic!" she called up in warning. "They're possessed!"

"Damn it!" Hook called, stopping in climbing, looking up, "Everyone stop!" he called, looking down to Odi, "Get back up here!" he shouted down, trying to think. He didnt want to kill them all if they were possessed and not attacking them of their own will. He didnt mind killing people, but only if they knew what they were getting themselves into, "How many?!"

Aveda just managed to stop before she stepped right on top of Hook then glanced over her shoulder at him. "We don't have time to start counting how many of them is down there. We'll just have to try and sneak past them. We'll use the trees brother, if we're quiet enough they shouldn't be able to track us. You know yourself the longer we take to move the more chance there is of us losing the target."

"They have already spotted her, I can see that from here, Aveda, I am not stupid. I want to know if there are more under those trees that I cant see from here" Hook frowned up at her, shaking his head and siding down the rest of the way until he jumped to the ground, drawing his sword the instant he landed, standing beside Odi.

Odi had to keep a small tornado of strong winds constantly blowing around her in order to keep the guards from attacking her, just repeatedly knocking them over and into one another. "She's right, captain! You two keep going! I'm sure my sisters and I can keep these guards busy." she called up.

Aveda let go of the ladder and landed beside Hook. "Did you hear that? She said I was right.." She teased with a grin. "So what do you say? Feel like having a race?" She raised an eyebrow before glancing back up at the ladder remembering Aarin. "Shall we take the prince?"

Scabbar had followed Eon, only to find himself pretty near a ladder that lead... straight up to the flying ship. He wasn't wearing armour, that made him light. That made him able to move around... He glanced down, people were on the ground now, some he didn't recognise... But he could only guess, judging by the wind that was blowing around, what kind of people they were. "Here." he said, handing his bow over to Eon "Shoot at them if they try to kill me." Meanwhile, he was trying to kill himself. Or at least, it seemed that way, as he took a running leap off the side of the tower, one arm still holding onto his axe, the other reaching for the rungs of the ship's ladder.

Aarin had looked up just in time to see Scabbar running for the ladder. He gasped and tried to shift his weight to swing the ladder away from him, but it hardly budged. He turned, seeing the tower from which Scabbar had leaped, and he clenched his teeth, keeping a tight grip with one hand on his grandmother's sword at his belt. He looked down and shouted, "Odi! Gimme a push!" as he pointed at the balcony where Eon was seeking out arrows and loading one against the string.

Odi looked up. "Seems the prince has his own plans." she said to Aveda and the captain, but obliged the young prince and sent a strong wind his way with a throw of her hand. The ladder swayed, rocked, then was pushed towards the tower Scabbar had come from, and Odi watched as Aarin waited for the right moment before jumping from the ladder's rungs, reaching for the balcony... and missing. She sighed and pushed another couple of gusts at him, catching him and giving him an extra boost.

Aarin yelped, gripping to the balcony for only a moment to regain himself and the fear that he almost just plummeted to his death, before swinging his legs over the railing and managing to connect them with Eon's chest. Eon stumbled backwards, dropping the bow and glaring at Aarin a little, before turning and breaking into a run back into the tower. "H-hey!" Aarin called, both startled and confused by Eon's retreat, but nevertheless following him inside.

Once his hands connected with the railing, she ceased her winds at him and looked at the captain and Aveda. "Captain, I believe your enchanted axe is boarding our ship. Would you like to go after it while I stay here and busy these poor fools?"

"Knock knock!" Scabbar yelled from below. He'd gotten upwards quite quickly, what with the gusts of winds basically helping him ascend at some points, not that he knew who was controlling them. Scabbar knew that climbing to the top of the ladder was not a smart idea however, and as he called out to those aboard the ship he swung his axe forward hard. He was trying to carve his way through the ship's hull and into the decks below.

"ODI FLY ME UP ABOVE THAT BASTARD!" Hook shouted angrily, sword in one hand, "If I can get above him I can cut the ladder" he frowned, looking up at him, "STOP WRECKING MY SHIP! I am going to kill him" he growelled, steadying himself and watching the man with murder in his eyes.

"AARIN!" Aveda yelled as she watched him disappear over the balcony rail with wide eyes, her heart racing in fear. "I told him to stay with me!" She jumped at Hooks sudden shouts and she looked upwards to see what he was looking at and saw Scabbar climb towards the ship. "Go get your axe..but please be careful! I have to get the prince." She told her brother then turned and sprinted off to the tower before anyone could stop her. She burst through the door and headed for the stairs, hoping to catch up with the prince. "Aarin!" She called loudly as she moved. "Where are you?!"

Aarin was close on Eon's heels, heading further into the tower, through several hallways and rooms. He skidded to a stop when Eon had vanished from sight, and realized he was all alone. He growled, looking around slowly, his hand on the hilt of his grandmother's sword. "Where are you, Eon?! I know you're in here!" he snapped, unsheathing his sword. He turned in a slow circle, watching his surroundings carefully.

How could he be so foolish!Aveda thought as she continued to race up the stairs. She skidded to a halt at the top and glanced out towards the balcony before turning and racing down the corridor opposite. Running through several rooms, she couldn't help but start to fear the worse. What if Reise has already got him? She shook her head to rid herself of the thought then carried on. "Aarin!" She called when finally she spotted him and gave a small sigh of relief. "What were you thinking?!" She scolded as she ran towards him. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if I couldn't find you and your uncle did?" She stopped in front of him still gripping her sword. "We need to get out of here.."

"No, Eon is in here somewhere!" Aarin said stubbornly to Aveda, watching her. "I have to find him!" He turned and looked around again, hearing a few scuffling footsteps off in the corner of the room. He growled and stepped up to where there was a tall stack of crates, but as he neared it, Eon suddenly burst forth from behind them, knocking them to the ground and on top of Aarin, already back in his wolf form. He snarled at Aveda, snapping his jaws at her before sprinting out of the room, disappearing back down the hall while Aarin was left cursing and struggling to get out from under the crates.

"And hello to you too, Mr. Wolf!" Aveda shouted angrily at Eon before moving quickly to help Aarin. She quickly pushed the crates to the side then grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. "I'm guessing you're going to want to go after him?" She asked with a frown, knowing that the answer was most likely going to be yes. She sighed lightly then motioned with her arm towards the door that Eon had left through. "After you."

Aarin dusted himself off of the wood and splinters from the crates, then replaced his hand on his grandmother's sword and nodded at Aveda. "We have to catch him. He's my closest friend, Aveda..." he explained seriously, then turned and ran after Eon, chasing him the way he'd gone down the hall. What confused him was why Eon hadn't attacked him when he'd been alone? He could have very easily killed Aarin with a simple snap of his jaws. Was Reise telling him to hold back? Was Eon holding himself back on his own? He was so confused. "EON!" he called in a growl as he ran through the tower, looking in every room and corridor he came across. He couldn't find any sign of him. They'd lost him. He sighed with a slump in his shoulders, then looked at Aveda. "C'mon... we have to find the others."

"We will find him..this will all go back to how it was. I promise." Aveda whispered to Aarin once he had stopped and given in, trying to give him a small bit of reassurance. "The others should all still be outside..the axeman was making his way to the ship the last I saw so I think my brother was trying to stop him whilst Odi was keeping the elven guard back. Things seem to be unfolding quickly."

Aarin nodded at Aveda and gripped the handle of his sword tightly. "Then let's go join in the festivities." he said and gave her a small, crooked smile before leading him down the tower steps and back outside. Odi was still there, seeming to enjoy her task of disabling the guards. Her fighting style was unlike anything Aarin had ever seen. She wasnt using any of her weapons on her belt, but instead looked like she was dancing, with leaps, twirls and flips as if she was completely weightless. Men flew back from her left and right, but her fists never connected with them. She was relying on her wind strengths to knock them back. It was almost hypnotizing to watch. "Wow... she's magnificent." Aarin whispered in awe, but was abruptly pulled from his revere when a gaurd brought his sword down in front of him. He growled and was instantly locked in the fight. They had to find Reise, he didnt have time for this!

Aveda had seen the attack coming and had quickly swung her sword round, blocking the guards weapon from striking Aarin. She looked up at Odi fighting the guards who seemed to endlessly be coming at her. "This is not going to end unless we destroy the root of the problem.." She called to Aarin as she moved quickly to push back another guard that had broke free. She didn't like the thought of leading Aarin to Reise but everyone else was preoccupied and she knew she couldn't take him alone. "If I agree to bring you with me to find Reise you have to promise to do whatever I say, is that understood?" She asked Aarin.

Aarin panted a little from the shock of being attacked, and nodded at Aveda as he shoved his opponent away, looking at her. "I will try!" he said and then nodded towards a set of open double doors. "I think he ran in there! I can almost feel it... He's there." he said firmly, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the throne hall.

Aveda followed him quickly but before he could burst through the door she pulled him to a halt. "We need to plan this..because we may only get one shot to finish him." She whispered before edging round the door and glancing inside. "Okay.." She said turning back to Aarin, not liking what she was about to say but she knew it might be the only plan they had. "You go in..distract him, but don't get too close! Make sure his attention is always on you. I'm going to go round and climb through the window directly behind him and strike him from behind. Do you think you can distract him while I do that?"

(post below)

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Odi nodded once at her captain, taking in a huge breath until her lungs were fit to burst before she pushed it all out under Hook's feet, sending him flying towards the ship at an astonishing speed, aiming to land him either on the ladder above Scabbar, or on the ship's deck altogether. With him off the ground and Aveda seeking out the prince, Odi turned her attention to the hundred or so Elven guards that surrounded her, clearly possessed. She let her tornado die, allowing them closer, a small smirk crossing her face. "Shall we?" she asked them, raising two fists and lowering herself to the ground in a fighting stance.

The hacking was slow and difficult, but Scabbar was already carving a good sized hole in the base of the ship, grunting as he cut away. As a man suddenly took off at high speeds upwards, and landed above him somehow, he let out a curse and smacked the ship another time with his axe. "I HATE magic!" he bellowed as he tried to widen his entrance to the ship.

Hook growled as he landed just above him, sliding his hook into the rope and hanging there, beginning to kick at the man as hard as he could, "You are going down you bastard!" he called, leaning to slice one side of the rope with his sword, watching the ladder under him collapse to the one bit of rope left, swiping his sword down to it.

The axe head crunched into the wood, digging in, stuck in the side of the ship as Scabbar moves to put his entire weight on the handle. He scrambles up, grabbing for purchase as he watched the ladder where he had been fall away, flapping in the strange winds. And as he grabs on tight to the splintered wood of the ship hull, he let out a triumphant laugh. "Oh, that's precious that is." he cackled before turning his gaze up to Hook "Your little team down there has no escape it seems! And the people on board... Well..." He began to haul himself up, trying to crawl into the hole he'd made "There's no way off."

Down below, Odi was still fighting the Elven guards, disarming them and knocking them unconscious mostly. Her movements were fluid and practiced, as she did twirls, tumbles, kicks and punches, all the while her fists and feet never connected with her targets; instead, her throws were accentuated by sharp gusts of focused wind, that knocked her opponents back. It wouldn't hurt them, but would incapacitate them a bit.

Iswe, meanwhile, had managed to get down off of the ladder before Hook had disassembled it. She was sneaking her way around the area where Odi was fighting the guards and they were distracted by her, and she hugged Ihara to her chest as she skirted the walls of a building. "Where's the throne room, Ihara? Surely your parents are okay?" she asked softly.

Its in the main part of the castle..through those large doors. Ihara told her motioning towards a set of grand doors further up and away from all the commotion. Straight through those doors and along the corridor. We must go and look..I need to know my family are safe. All these guards they're the main defence in Cuole..so if they have fallen to Reise then I fear my family are in danger. He hated seeing the elven guards like this, many of which he counted as friends. I will make sure Reise pays for this.

Iswe nodded once and shuffled further against the wall until she got to the main doors, yanking on them and growling when she found they were locked. She looked around quickly, then grabbed for something she hadn't used in about eighteen years--her endless canteen that her mother had gifted her before the quest to find Dyllin. She uncorked the top and manipulated some water free from it as if it were a piece of thread, and sent it into the locks of the doors. She closed her eyes, concentrating as she moved her fingers, directing the water by feel before the doors gave a loud and satisfying click. She smiled proudly and pushed the doors in, but gasped and stumbled back when a cloud of darkness and bats came screeching out at her. She clutched Ihara to herself protectively, wincing and guarding her face until it ended, then looked up.

Inside, Reise was standing with the old Elven queen at his side, the guards who had stolen her away for safety dead at his feet. On his other side was Raina, both women trapped to their thrones by dark tentacles around their wrists, ankles, waists and necks. "Well, well, well, I finally have a guest!" he boomed, his voice echoing through the great hall.

It had once been a beautiful place, with green marbled floors, and a long floor runner made of the brightest golden silk. There were dozens of high-arched windows on either walls to the left and right, usually shining through with warm sun, but right now this passageway looked dark and foreboding, grey and smelled of death.

"Come in, little sprite! Are you all alone? No, I see you have the frog prince with you!" Reise laughed, clapping. "Oh, how delightful! It's like a family reunion! Oh, but your father couldn't make it. He was feeling a little... dried out!" he shrieked.

The elven Queen sat straight and proud, refusing to show any fear even with everything that had happened and the fact that now she was bound to her chair. Raina on the other hand looked terrified. She struggled against the tentacles but they only seemed to hold on tighter. When the doors suddenly opened she looked up with wide hopeful eyes, but her heart sank quickly when she saw a young woman all alone.

Mother! Raina! Ihara gasped when the darkness and bats cleared and he could see into the room. What does he mean. dried out? Where is my father? What has he done? He questioned quickly not sure he would want to hear the answer.

Calm yourself, Ihara... We'll get them out of here. Iswe told him mentally, whilst keeping her blue eyes sharply locked on Reise. "Where is the king? What have you done with him?!" she demanded as strongly as she could.

Reise gave a mocking flinch at her strong voice and shuddered with twitching fingers. "So hostile! The king is right outside! He tried to make a deal with death... and lost! So let's not dwell on the past!" He skipped away from Raina and the queen to a small table, set up rather messily with cracked cups and plates, and a kettle of tea. "Won't you have tea with me? Let's be civilized. After all, I'm awaiting the arrival of my dear Nephew!"

W-what? deal with death..does he mean..my father..Did he kill my father?Ihara spoke quickly looking at Iswe before squirming in her hands, trying to get loose. How could he! My father was peaceful! He stopped his squirming and narrowed his eyes on Reise. Stay away from him Iswe. And tell him to let my family go..they have done no wrong and do not deserve this. I will go in there place freely. He glanced over at Raina and felt relieved that she seemed normal. Reise mustn't know of her powers..or he does not wish to unleash them. He looked back up at Iswe as a thought suddenly struck him. Iswe..it seems Reise has not broken the seal on Raina's powers..so what if we did? Not completely, but enough to cause trouble? He said quickly. He knew it could be dangerous and it had been something he had hoped would never have to be done but it might be their only chance to beat Reise back.

Iswe clenched her teeth, growling as her hand hovered over her endless canteen."Reise, you're a monster." she grumbled. "We're going to beat you, and this time you'll be killed for your crimes against Layfette and the rest of the world. And it'll start with us leaving here with the queen and princess." she said lowly, inching her way towards Raina. How are we supposed to unlock her powers, Ihara?

There is a spell that must be recited. Not many know it..but luckily I do. If I tell you the words, you must speak them aloud.. but you must be quick. Reise will surely know what you are doing and try to stop you.Ihara replied as he kept his eyes on Reise.

Tell me. Let's do it quickly. Iswe nodded in agreement, watching Reise as he laughed and clicked his tongue at her, holding up a finger. "Ah, ah, ah!" he scolded and she stopped in her tracks, now only a few feet away from Raina. She glared at him, her free hand in a fist, ready to control the water in her canteen. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you." he warned, tilting his head at her with wide eyes.

Repeat these words exactly as I say them...and then I suggest you get back, i'm not sure what part of this it will unlock from within Raina so you shouldn't stand so close to her.Ihara replied before quickly saying the necessary words. Tincya sgiathatch edro i' val yassene, kuile! This was only the beginning of the unbinding spell but it would hopefully be enough to make Raina be ableto help.

The words spilled out of Iswe as soon as Ihara had recited them to her. She saw Reise's face change from a crazy grin to one of both confusion and realization, then shock before he tried to break for Raina. Somewhere in the distance, Eon was heard howling, then it stopped abruptly.

Just outside the doors, Aarin almost gaped at Aveda. "You make it sound so easy. It won't work that way; Reise is evil, and cunning. You can't just sneak up on him, he'll know you're coming. Chances are, we won't beat him as we are! We need to fight magic with magic and right now, we don't have any." he said firmly. "Our best option is to save Ihara's sister, and get back on that ship!" With that, he turned and burst into the room. He had run in just as Iswe had finished reciting the spell Ihara had told her, and he stumbled a little as he saw Reise running at Iswe, with murder in his eyes and his claws outstretched at her. "NO!" Aarin yelped, running as fast as he could. He swung his sword between them, just barely missing Reise and making him spin away in a dodge, but with a telltale slice in the back of his hand. It healed instantly before Aarin's eyes, making him gasp.

"Nice of you to join us, nephew." Reise snarled, stretching the newly healed skin of his hand and glaring at him. He noticed the sword that Aarin clutched in both hands, and he hissed through his teeth. "My mother's sword... the very sword that imprisoned me. How convenient for you to possess it. However, it will do you no good if you do not know how to use it!" he growled, coming at Aarin as a swirl of black magic filled his hand with a sword of his own, seeming to be made entirely of onyx from hilt to tip. He swung it down against Aarin, who lifted his own blade above his head, blocking the attack. They were locked in a battle of their own as Iswe moved to try and free the queen and Raina from their chairs.

Raina listened to Iswe speak the strange words then suddenly she felt a strange rush of energy surge through her whole body. She gasped and clamped her eyes shut but moments later they flew open wide as an intense heat radiated from her body. The vines holding her in place seemed to melt and burn away until she was free but she made no move to run.

Cut my mother free Iswe, then lets get out of here! Ihara said quickly as she watched Raina free herself. And do not touch Raina.. He continued before jumping suddenly in her hands when a fearsome roar echoed from far off. Cyan!

Aveda's eyes widened as Aarin rushed forward to take on Reise. She hurried after him, raising her own sword to fight. As Reise moved to strike at Aarin again, she quickly lunged forward, blocking the attack. "Mind if I cut in?" she said with a grin before pushing him back and straightening up. "Remember we stick together, so stop running off!" She told Aarin before chuckling, "I don't want to miss any of the fun, you know. Now where were we?" She turned back to look at Reise, swinging her sword in her hand as she did, a mischievous grin still on her face. "Let's teach your uncle a lesson."

Reise had stumbled back only slightly, but the movement had also seemed intentional. He scoffed at Aveda's intrusion into their fight, ignoring the loud roar outside the halls, which had made Iswe tremble a little. He could see out of the corner of his eye as Iswe worked at untying the queen and escorting her away from the fight, and as this happened, a second sword of black magic molded itself into his hand. He swung both swords in his palms with practiced ease, then grinned at Aarin and Aveda. "So naive," he cooed, "To think you could beat me. It's almost sad enough to break my heart--if only I had one!" he laughed crazily, then swung at them both, making Aarin yelp and throw his blade out, connecting with one of Reise's to deflect it from his body.

Iswe Raina needs to follow you. Tell her she must follow you..tell her name, she knows you can be trusted. Ihara spoke quickly as he watched his mother help pull the vines from round herself as Raina continued to sit in shock.

"Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?" Aveda said with an eye roll before quickly moving to deflect Reise's second sword. "Now do you really think you can keep up with the two of us? I mean.. I'm a pretty good fighter and have taken on much bigger foes than you." She said as she began to circle round before suddenly lunging forward aiming her sword for Reise's back.

"HA!" Reise sneered at her as he blocked her blow and Aarin's at the same time, then they were suddenly surrounded by black sand that whipped around them in a flurry of strong winds. Aarin yelped and fell back, throwing up an arm to shield his eyes, trying to squint through the sand.

Iswe cried out too, protecting the queen as best she could before shouting back, looking for Raina. "Raina! C'mon, we gotta get out of here!" she called, ushering the queen behind a tapestry to protect her from the sands. She put the frog Ihara on his mother's shoulder and told her, "He won't hurt you!" before turning to seek out Raina again as there was another earth-shattering roar from outside, followed by angry snarls and growls.

"You coward!" Aveda shouted as the black sand whipped around her. "stop using this black magic and fight like a man!" Covering her eyes she made her way slowly towards Aarin. "how are we meant to fight him if he won't let us see him? He must be scared!" She yelled the last part angrily, hoping she could force Reise to show himself. Suddenly the earth gave a loud tremble and Aveda couldn't help but gasp. "what was that?" She whispered and was answered almost instantly by another fearsome roar that was much closer than before.

Raina blinked as the sound of the roar washed over her and suddenly she stood up. "Cyan!" She cried and the whole room seemed to shake. It seemed something was trying to get in.

Aarin gritted his teeth as he gripped to Aveda's hand tightly, glaring through the sand as he heard Reise laugh tauntingly. "You forget, Aveda, my uncle isn't a man anymore..." he called over the sand, hearing Iswe calling for Raina again and again. "But he's right, Aveda, we cannot beat him right now! We have to get out! We got Raina, that's all we came for!"

Finally after a moment Raina turned in the direction of Iswe's voice and began to move towards it, swatting the black sand away from her as she moved. "Where is my mother?" She asked when she finally reached the sprite. "Is she safe? We must all get out of here." She spoke quickly, not wanting to be around when Reise returned.

"Well then what are we waiting for, lets get out of here!" Aveda exclaimed before moving through the sand, pulling Aarin with her as she continued to grip his hand tightly. She paused when she saw Iswe and Raina still standing. "Come on! Lets get out of here." She called to the them as she motioned towards the door with her free hand but just as she did there was a loud rumbling sound and the room seemed to shake violently before the wall that the door was on suddenly crumbled and crashed inwards, spilling daylight in through it and revealing what had been causing so much noise. Cyan stood, but he was no longer small and contained within a cage. He was huge, crouching down to peer inside the room. Whatever small part of Raina's true being had been unlocked had obviously allowed the dragon to become the true beast he was meant to be. He roared loudly making Aveda take a small step backwards, glancing at the others nervously before she suddenly grinned and looked at Aarin. "We need to escape right? Well..how about we use him? Wanna try flying a dragon?"

Aarin gaped at the dragon, his eyes and mouth wide open, ignoring even the sand as he gripped his grandmother's sword. He gulped, then looked at Aveda. "Like we have a choice?" he asked, then gripped her hand and looked at Iswe. "Get the queen! Let's go!"

Iswe nodded, gripping Ihara against her chest and grabbing the queen's hand, leading her out from behind the tapestry and towards the crumbling entrance of the grand hall. I'm so sorry, Ihara... but this isn't over. We'll be back and we'll set your kingdom right again! she thought firmly to him, carrying him and leading the queen to Raina, and then onwards to the dragon.

Cyan snapped threateningly as the group approached until Raina pushed past them and raised a hand up to calm him. "Cyan.." She said soothingly and he cooed lightly lowering his head until she could place her hand on his nose. "They're here to protect us, they're taking us away from that horrible man." The dragon nudged her affectionately but almost knocked her over, causing her to giggle before looking at the others. "I won't let him hurt you." She told them then squealed and laughed when Cyan suddenly picked her up in his mouth and turned placing her on his back before looking back at Aarin and the others with narrowed eyes, huffing hot air through his nose but making no move of attack. "Come on then." Raina called as she held her hand out to help them up.

"Let's do this!" Aveda grinned and rushed forward, waiting for the Queen to gracefully climb up behind Raina before hoisting herself up behind her, trying to be as careful as she could so as not to hurt Cyan. "Your turn prince." She held her hand out to him as Ihara sat quietly in Iswe's hand. Reise will pay for all of this destruction. He told the sprite unhappily.

Aarin grabbed Aveda's hand without hesitation, pulling himself up onto the dragon's back with her help, then settling himself before helping Iswe up onto the dragon as well. He nodded at Raina. "Alright, that's everyone! Let's go!" he said. He hoped Odi had gotten away... he couldn't see her at the moment. The possessed guards were just wandering around the kingdom, not really attacking anything. Reise was nowhere to be seen either.

Raina sat for a moment after everyone had climbed up behind her, not sure what she should do. "Cyan.." She said a little uncertainly. "..take us up please." The large dragon gave a loud roar of understanding then unfurled his large wings. He turned and took off running then with a couple of beats of his wings shot up into the air. Raina squealed excitedly as the Queen bowed her head and Aveda couldn't help but scream in surprise. "Where should I tell him to take us?" Raina finally called and Aveda motioned to the flying ship ahead. "To the ship Cyan!" The dragon roared again then shot off in the direction of the ship until finally he was beside it and causing some panic amongst the ship's crew.



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