Rescue of Araklia. Игорь Владимирович Княгницкий
They found a loophole through the thin magical channels which connecting our world with six others, and sent a squad of their minions endowed with dark magic. They began to bribe people, because they were the weakest and most easily succumb to the temptation. Naabs gave them great magical powers and promised them eternal power in all seven worlds. So the race of people was divided into "two camps". Those who accepted the dark power and went against their creator, and those who rejected their offer and opposed them. Eraqel`s Throne is in heaven. That's where his power is concentrated. Eraqel never came down to us, avoid to put himself and us in danger. Because if he descends from the Throne, he will become vulnerable. The Naabs had to find a way how to get him down. They sent a plague on our world. A terrible disease that only children were exposed to. They became seriously ill and then died. Parents are greatly grieved and begged Eraqel to help. At first, there were a few cases. But later, when the disease got all the children, our world began to pray Eraqel about help. Millions of fathers and mothers prayed to him day and night to come down to them and save their innocent kids.
– So, he came down?
– Of course. Children are innocent, they can't suffer like this. Many saw him high in the heaven that day. He made a few flaps of his snow-white wings, and myriads of shining particles, like small stars, began to fall from the sky. All the children were cured in the same hour. But he could not return back to the Throne. With the most powerful spell of the Naabs, the people captured him and imprisoned him in a dungeon. It was a small matter, to hand over the key of the dungeon to the Naabs and our world would be plunged into darkness forever. But still it didn't happen… Shortly before this event, the elves found out about the plans of the people. The Seer of our nation, Ikru, had a vision. Of course, the elves could not resist the human magicians, who were endowed with incredible power, but at the very last moment, when the magicians wanted to give the key to the Naabs, they stole it. It was clear that the dark magicians would find the key sooner or later. And doesn`t matter how many lives they had to take. All the races of Araclia fought for their lives, because they knew if the key fell into the hands of evil from the outworld, Eraqel will be destroyed, and we will cease to exist forever. The key was given to Lisa, a girl who grew up in Afleeakwein. Her appearance was slightly changed to make her look more like a human and with powerful spell she has been sent to ANOTHER world. The place where no one can find her. Into your world. Of course, we all survived, but the dark magicians turned the life of entire world into a nightmare. For about ten years there were bloody wars. In search of the key, the dark mages and their armies swept away everything in their path. A human, elves, dwarfs, orks, trolls. They destroyed everyone who opposed them. The ground was flooded with the blood of the innocent. After a while, when they realized the key is not in our world, they calmed down and began to look for it in other worlds. And we began to live relatively calmly. Everyone by itself, in our own kingdoms, behind huge walls with high towers. Every day in expectation of a new war.
Alice listened to the elf like she was in a trance, not looking away for a second and even didn`t notice how it began to sunrise. All the fairy tales that her grandmother had told her in the childhood weren`t fairy tales at all. Her heart has cramp because of resentment. She got a huge responsibility, and she almost at the first moment lost the most precious thing which was entrusted to her. Enilice certainly noticed that.
– I was only seven years old when my grandmother died. Apart from her fairy tales and the box which my mother gave me only for my eighteenth birthday, I had nothing else. Only some of my thoughts, guesses. I was thinking…
– Don't be sad, and don't blame yourself. You didn't know. And no one could have prepared you for this – Enilice tried to console her, and climbed into the saddle. – We will return the key. We have to! As soon as possible! So hold on tight, we need to hurry up before the Doppelganger thief goes too far.
Enilice put spurs to his horse and they quickly ride to the edge of the forest.
– How do we find him, if he can transform into anyone and create illusions?
– Doppelgangers have their own “magical smell”. So, we will follow this “magical traces”. I was taught by search skill when I was in the Academy of Afleeakwein. But I don't feel it here. The ancient magic of Izemburn mutes Elven telepathy, as well as magical sense of smell.
– So you're also a mage?
– No, I'm not a mage. I'm a tracker. But I know the basic spells which are known for almost all the elves, who do service in Elven army. We are all taught those spells in Academy. You saw one of them.
– Oh, yeah! That was awesome! Teach me! Please.
– Well, I think in Afleeakwein you will have a much better teacher than me. More experienced, true elven mage who knows a lot of different spells. Maybe you will be taught by Ikru, the Seer of our people.
– A seer? How is that? – Alice asked.
– Well, for example, she can see you and me. Where we are and what we are doing, no matter how far away we are from her. She's also a very powerful mage.
– I see – Alice answered indistinctly and realized that her eyes were starting to close. The long walks in the woods, the chase and the horse racing had worn her out. She wanted to go to her own bed with a duvet and soft pillows, but all she could do now was doze off as she sat on a galloping horse. After some time, Alice and Enilice left Izemburn.
Chapter 6
– Tonnord! – Ikru tried to reach elven leader mind.
– Yes Ikru, tell me.
– I have some news about the key.
– Okay. I'm on the balcony. Come. We`ll talk in private.
The wide balcony was located at the very top of the Great Elven Oak. Everyone who wanted to relax, reflect and enjoy the beautiful view of the Elven valley came here.
– Suilannad le condir! – Ikru greeted him in Elvish as she entered the balcony. I'd forgotten how beautiful it is here – She gasped, threw her view down at the valley.
The sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon, hugging the Elven valley by it`s warm rays, which is stretched for several miles from the Great Oak. Big and small forest edges were alternated with bright green meadows. The mother-of-pearl water of the great Elma River channel played with the rays of the morning sun, generously giving the valley “sunlight spots”. The signing of the birds was sweet to the ear, and the soft south wind brought the sweet smell of the meadows blooming here.
– What's the news, sister?
– My Lord, I'm afraid that`s not what you wanted to hear. I saw the box and the key in the hands of a man. I don't know who he is. He came out from Izemburn, somewhere close to our southern Outpost, and moved to the West. Enilice and Alice still in Izemburn. Unfortunately, I can't contact him yet.
– Yes, yes. He can't either, because of the ancient magic of Izemburn. Otherwise we would already know what happened there.
– But I can say they are moving, so soon they will leave Izemburn.
Tonnord thought. His view under long gray eyebrows was fixed on the single point. For a few seconds he freezes like a stone Gargoyle, motionless and silent. But soon he got up from the bench and began to walk back and forward along the balustrade of the balcony.
– Was that person alone?
– Yes, my lord.
– This is very strange. What motivates a man who decided to go to the west alone with such a valuable thing?! If that person is one of the dark magicians henchmen – he paused – Well, let's say. But we do not yet know who it is, so in order to deliver the key to the Yeagrefgort, you need to go directly to the north. Around the Canyon of Death, or through it – Tonnord chuckled – straight through the Middle Pathway, then through the Preeosted, across the Elma River, a few days across the Wastelands and that's it! But there is nothing in the West. Only the Pleepmorr, Scorched Earth and Trolls Swamps. Conclusion – this person does not belong to the dark magicians. And he seems completely reckless to go west ALONE. Around the Pleepmorr as well as inside of the city only the bastards. Robbers, assassins, thieves, mercenaries-rejected