Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 21:21:31 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: Sword of Kings   chapter 4

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.  
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
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I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance, and to
Ian for his suggestions to improve the flow and readability of this
chapter.

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http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
  
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		*    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Sword of Kings - by BW  (Fantasy/Sci. Fi.)
Copyright 2000 by bwstories44
Chapter 4 - Into the Murky Marshes                              June 2000

It was an unceremonious departure from Leander that began the adventure.
There was no pomp or protocol to launch this expedition, as would befit a
person of Kieren's rank.  Instead, everything proceeded very quietly, so
that they would not arouse curiosity concerning their travels or bring
undue attention upon the members of the party.  It was a well known fact
that the Dark Lord had eyes and ears located throughout the entire kingdom
and it was best that they not see or hear anything that they might report
back to their master.

It had been determined that those who had arrived at the capital under the
guise of being merchants or tradesmen should leave in the same manner.
This would prevent suspicion as to their whereabouts later, should someone
try and keep track of them.  So preparations for their journey were
finalized and the stage was set for them to begin this daring mission.
Although it was not a common practice for the men of the three northern
cities to travel in the same group, it was not altogether unheard of,
either.  Even though they had arrived separately, observers would not
question their banding together for protection as they headed for a common
destination, especially in these troubled times.  Therefore, the men,
wearing the attire of common merchants, readied their supply wagons and
drivers and prepared to leave the city.

The dwarfs were also making their arrangements to exit Leander, but they
would leave alone and not in the company of the men of the north, a
necessary deception.  These hearty soldiers from the Amber Mountains
planned a later departure from the castle and would initially head north,
as if traveling to the dwarf stronghold of Thorold.  As soon as the dwarfs
deemed it prudent, they would veer their course to the west to rendezvous
with the others, who had been plodding westward during this same time,
toward the coastal city of Reza.  The two groups were planning to reunite
at the southern tip of the mountain chain that formed the dwarfs' homeland.
From there, they would continue their journey together along the western
edge of that great mountain range.

                                                   * * * *

Kieren was awakened one hour before sunrise on the morning of their
departure.  After dressing quickly in some sturdy climbing clothes, Beraut
led him to the castle's kitchen.  There, his two childhood friends joined
him.  After some initial chatter, the four of them sat down and proceeded
to consume a very large, hot breakfast.  The boys, in particular, stuffed
themselves to capacity because they were uncertain when the next meal might
be offered.

>From there, they were led to the rear of a large storeroom and they
assembled in an area just in front of an enormous pair of double doors.
Normally, it was through this massive opening that supplies entered and
exited the building.  Therefore, it was not unusual to find several large,
open crates lying on the floor in front of them.  As the group continued to
look about, Beraut informed the companions that these containers would
serve as the means of departure.  After a few mild protests about their
less than inviting travel accommodations, the youths settled down and
accepted the inevitable.  Beraut then went on to explain why they must use
this deception to leave.

Since Kieren and the two small elves had arrived in a fairly large group,
it would be unlikely that anyone would notice that they were not leaving
with the same company.  This was especially true since to most onlookers
the missing members would be very young men.  Those keen enough to detect
this minor incongruity would probably attribute it to an extended visit
with family or friends, or the beginning of an apprenticeship with one of
the local craftsmen in one of the many trades headquartered here.  On the
other hand, if these young men were seen accompanying a caravan on such a
lengthy journey, they would certainly raise more than a few eyebrows.  If
they were to leave with the men or the dwarfs, it would raise questions
about why elves were traveling with either of the other racial groups or a
myriad of other questions that they would rather not deal with.

The River Elf was a slightly different situation, but one that could be as
easily accounted for.  Alaric had arrived with Balaster Rombaire, on board
one of the elfin merchant ships.  Rombaire had disguised himself as the
ship's captain, while Alaric had posed as a common seaman.  One deckhand
probably wouldn't be missed from among the entire ship's company, but,
being an elf, he could not be seen traveling with the men or, even more so,
with the dwarfs without sending up a red flag.  In this case, it was
decided that he would have to endure the same conditions as his young
companions on this leg of the journey.  Alaric had already been apprised of
his stowaway method of passage, but now it was time for Kieren, Garreth,
and Romaric to be advised as to the details of their departure.  Each one
them was instructed to step into one of the well-padded crates on the floor
in front of them, and they were to make themselves as comfortable as
possible.  The boys did this, with few questions and only slight
trepidation, until the lids were nailed tightly over them.  It was then
that they renewed their protests and questioned whether this precaution was
necessary.

Once more their efforts proved fruitless, as it was explained to them that
this safeguard was imperative.  This action was taken to ensure that the
tops would not accidentally fall off during loading and transport, thus
disclosing their concealment.  It was necessary to prevent such accidents
as would seriously jeopardize their mission.  Stoically, the trio accepted
this and settled in as best they could.  Now they began to privately mull
over how long they would have to remain imprisoned like this before they
were once again set free.  As their apprehension subsided, the youths
settled into their temporary homes and tried to learn everything possible
about their surroundings.  Kieren preoccupied himself by making emergency
plans for various situations that he thought might possibly happen along
the way.  Garreth settled back and began to daydream about his life in
Wildoness, while Romaric thought about what types of things awaited them on
the trail ahead.

Even though they were provided inconspicuous openings through which air
could pass, Kieren in particular, felt hot, uncomfortable, and barely able
to breathe.  He grew uneasy as he waited in the temporary sarcophagus, but
he uttered a sigh of relief as he felt some cool air enter his prison.  The
breeze whispered through the small ventilation slits as his crate was moved
and loaded onto the supply wagons, along with those containing his
comrades.  The boxes were handled gently and placed nonchalantly within the
various wagons, to give the impression of loading common, but fragile,
goods.  Kieren's wooden box just happened to be loaded with one of the air
vents looking out a gap in the side of the wagon's covering.  This would
allow him to witness the progress of the journey, even though he must
travel in this less than dignified position.  Beraut had warned them,
before he sealed their containers, that this would be one of the most
vulnerable situations that the company would put themselves in.  By having
to split into two separate units and with Kieren and the elves being
virtually helpless in this constrained state, one swift blow from Madumda
and his followers could effectively destroy the plan before it even really
began.

A sudden jerk forward alerted Kieren to the fact that the procession was
now underway.  It was already light outside and the prince could see many
people milling about within the confines of the castle's walls.  He was
absorbing the sights, sounds, and smells of the early morning city life
when he became aware that they were approaching the main gate to the
castle.  The crowd grew thinner here, but Kieren noticed several soldiers
standing casually about, conversing with one another as the caravan
departed.  Just as they cleared the archway, the youth spied several hard
featured, suspicious looking men eyeing their progress.  Their presence
caused the prince to pull himself quickly away from the air vent, so he
wouldn't be accidentally noticed.  This maneuver also allowed him to shield
himself from looking upon their ugly visages.  He did see a couple of
faces, however, before he ducked back.  He was sure that he had recognized
one of the men as being part of the group of mercenaries he had seen at the
armorer's shop the day before.  The prince decided that they must be in
collaboration with the Dark Lord, trying to seek out any information that
might be of importance to him.  This way, they could sell the bits of
information they gleaned through their travels around the capital city and
make a tidy profit for their work.

The party was now clear of the ancient fortress and it wasn't long before
they reached the banks of the Silver River.  Here, in the same manner they
had traversed its sister, the Shadow River, the contingent ferried toward
the opposite shore.  Kieren couldn't see the movements of the men who
helped guide this craft from one shore to the other, but he could imagine
how they toiled as they struggled with the ropes to get their passengers
safely across this mighty river.  Eagerly, he continued to look through the
cracks in his traveling quarters, content to see as much as he could.  He
couldn't help but notice how much clearer and fresher the waters of the
Silver River looked, compared to the water of the Shadow River.  He was
convinced that these waters were as pure and refreshing as the water that
flowed down his own Sparkling River in the Woods of Wildoness.

Thinking of the woodlands, homesickness rose in a wave that threatened to
swamp him with longing for the people and places that he had left behind.
Although he had been gone for only a short time, it seemed almost beyond
memory.  He thought back to his home and his friends and he wondered when
he would see them again.  How much would they and everything else have
changed by the time he returned?  He had often heard the young men of
Aurelia make comments about that.  They said that once you left, you could
never go back home.  This didn't mean that you wouldn't be welcomed or
appreciated when you returned, it meant that things would be different,
changed, and life would never be the same as it was before you left.  There
would always be the memories of what was and how you wished it could be,
but times change and people do too, as they mature, so things would never
be the same as you hoped.  This thought saddened him, yet he realized the
importance of the errand he was embarking on.

Kieren knew that he had to come to grips with the fact that there was no
way to avoid what lay ahead.  There was no doubt that he had plenty of
regrets about what he was giving up, but he was also aware that the success
of this mission would determine whether the things he loved and held dear
would survive in this kingdom.  If Madumda was successful in overthrowing
the combined races, many of the people he loved would die and the things he
held dear would be forever gone.  It seemed as though fate was playing a
cruel joke on him.  No matter how things turned out, he would lose one way
or another.  The only difference would be in what he lost and the degree of
severity of that loss.

The rocking of the ferry ceased with a jolt, as they hit the far shore, and
Kieren felt the wagons begin to roll forward onto the firm banks of the
western shore.  From here, the wagons rolled over rough dirt roads, shaking
their human cargo to the bone, as they plodded steadily forward to their
predetermined meeting place.  There was very little for Kieren to see as he
peered from his hiding place, so he settled down in his temporary quarters
and let his thoughts drift to some of his youthful memories of his life in
the elfin kingdom.  Eventually, these thoughts brought on a bout of despair
and he stopped to consider what his life might be like after this mission
was finally over.  After hours of tooth jarring travel and a multitude of
unpleasant thoughts, the wagons slowed and came to rest in the shadow of
the Amber Mountains.  There they would wait for the arrival of the
remaining members of their retinue.

                                                   * * * *

The dwarfs had given their companions a couple of hours head start before
they launched out on their expedition.  Being very sturdy individuals, they
could cover great distances on foot without becoming tired.  They could
also move faster because they were not encumbered by the bulky wagons that
their comrades used as cover.  Knowing all of these facts, the dwarfs could
plan their rendezvous quite precisely.

Using the deception of being goldsmiths and gem dealers, the likes of which
often traveled from Thorold and throughout all Tarolia, the dwarf party
moved basically unnoticed within the castle's walls.  Eventually, this
guise allowed them to pass through the enormous main gate and they made
their way to the Silver River.  They hired the same ferry that the wagons
had used to cross it earlier, and they soon reached the far shore.  From
there they headed north, in the direction of their homeland.  After
traveling several leagues, the band veered sharply westward, toward the
southern base of the mountain range in which their ancestral home was
located.

The dwarfs' journey was uneventful and they encountered no other travelers
along the way.  This particular route had always been a desolate,
barely-frequented path to their mountain stronghold, and that fact was the
main reason why they decided to use it on this mission.  The normal route
taken to Thorold was up the eastern bank of the Silver River until the road
reached Udele, where the wayfarer would ferry over the River Sterling,
which flow into the Silver River.  From there they would make their way
along the Silver River, past and around the far shore of Crystal Lake.
This path was much more scenic and less cumbersome.  Although their trip
today was considerably longer than that of their fellow questers, the
dwarfs could cover vast distances in a much quicker time than most.  It was
because they didn't need to stop and rest along the way, like most of the
other races.  It was because of this that they came upon their fellow
conspirators just as the men prepared to uncrate the shaken prince and his
elfin companions.

After the northerners had pried the lids off the crates and released the
captives from their temporary cells, each of the incarcerated number stood
to stretch his limbs.  This was necessary to work out the cramps and
soreness that had built up in their bodies since the beginning of their
brief entombment.  As they slowly unknotted all of their kinks, the party
gathered for a quick meal before retiring for the evening.  Once again, it
was a hasty, fireless meal of dried meats and fruits.  It was filling, but
not quite satisfying.  Kieren wasn't about to complain, however, for he was
rejoicing at being free and in the open air, instead of being confined in a
box fit only for supplies.  Upon consuming the unexciting fare, he joined
Garreth and Romaric to share his story of the day's adventure.

Kieren soon discovered that the elves had not been as fortunate as he.
They had seen only the inside of the wagon and the other baggage from the
openings in their crates.  The pair had been so bored in this dreary
confinement that they had both considered trying to pry their boxes open
and then ride inside the canvas covered wagon.  Romaric had even gone as
far as to actually attempt this daring escape, only to find his coffin-like
shroud too tightly sealed to permit his departure.  The boys rambled on and
on with stories about their day when Rhys interrupted the trio.

"I beg your pardon, Prince Kieren, but I wish to speak with you.  As the
rest of us were conversing over there, we realized that we knew hardly
anything about you.  All that we know is what little information Beraut
shared with us at the council meeting.  We were wondering.well.if you would
please tell us more.about yourself?"

Kieren hesitated briefly.  "There isn't much to tell.  Besides, I'm not
sure what you want to know."

"Anything.  Everything," Rhys responded.  "I guess what I mean is,
literally overnight we've gone from not knowing of your existence to
realizing that our lives and our future may depend entirely upon your
courage and luck."

"Aye, my Lord," interjected Turquinine.  "I entreat thee to share thy tales
of thy youth."

There was a brief pause, as Kieren searched for something to say.  "Well, I
guess that I've been raised in much the same way as every elf who has ever
grown up in Wildoness.  The three of us," he said pointing at his friends,
"have been tutored by Altonides, the most exalted scholar of the wood
elves.  We have taken nearly every subject required for a proper education.
We have studied botany, zoology, architecture, mathematics, logic &
reasoning, history, reading, and writing," he added proudly.

"After our lessons, we were given instruction in combat skills by one of
the soldiers, as is normal for the males of the race.  When our schooling
was over, we would sneak away to run, swim, compete in games, or anything
else we could dream up.  That's basically all there is to know about me."
 
"Tell us about your parents," Quintain inquired.  "What are they like?"

"They are very good, simple people.  They work hard, but they do try to
find time to spend with me.  My mother is a housewife and a fabulous cook.
My father is a farmer and he has a plot of land near the banks of the
Sparkling River.  He is very good at what he does and his skills help him
produce more food than that small piece of land should be able to yield.
 
"What had your parents told you of your ancestry before all of this came to
light?" Alaric wanted to know.  "Had you any idea of your position in
life?"

"Absolutely none!  Of course I had known my grandparents and I had been
told about my great- grandparents, but I didn't know about their lineage.
I don't think my parents did, either.  I had only known that I was from a
proud line, who worked hard and always tried to do what they thought was
right.  I had no idea that I, in any way, shared royal blood."

"Then this must have been a fabulous surprise for you," Doenilio added.
"It must be wonderful to discover that you have such a wondrous future
before you."

"It certainly doesn't seem so wondrous now, especially considering the
prospects that lie ahead.  I would trade anything to go back to the
uncomplicated life I enjoyed just a few days ago."  The others noticed the
change of expression on Kieren's face and they became conscious of the fact
that he seemed to be lost in his thoughts of another time.  Courteously,
they wandered away from the daydreaming prince, leaving him to enjoy the
solitude of his memories.  Eventually, he fell asleep next to his already
slumbering friends on their makeshift bed under the stars.

While he slept, his overactive imagination took control and changed his
serene dreams into horrifying nightmares.  There were terrifying visions of
hideous forms that crept up on the unwary guards that protected him.  These
villains dispensed with the prince's defenders and then they slunk their
grotesque forms closer to him, their primary target.  The spectacle was so
real that Kieren was startled awake, too terrified to even summon help.  He
remained like that until he finally realized that this was only the product
of his hyperactive imagination, and before long he slipped off into another
discomforting stupor.

Upon waking the next morning, the party took a quick bite to eat and
readied themselves for the trek on foot.  The prince realized that they had
only finished a minute segment of the journey and he knew that they must
make haste.  They didn't want to give Madumda the upper hand with their
lack of speed.  He urged the others into action and soon each member was
searching for his gear from among the crates.  As they located their own
belongings, they readied themselves, each individual donning his armor and
weapons in preparation for the possible dangers that might await them along
the trail.

The two young elves discovered their gear first and removed it from the
containers.  Hurriedly, they girded themselves in the extremely light, but
sturdy, coats of elfin chain mail that had been provided for them at
Leander.  This would serve as their primary source of protection.  These
magnificent pieces of armor weighed less than half as much as normal chain
mail, yet they were twice as strong.  It could only be procured from
elfin-kind, who would seldom relinquish it at any price.  Next, the youths
girded themselves with fine short swords and slung their elfin bows and
quivers on their backs, ready to begin the next leg of the journey.

Garreth and Romaric had nearly finished equipping themselves when Kieren
found his gear.  He was ready to begin his preparations when Alaric strode
over to him.  The River Elf presented Kieren with a hauberk of the finest
quality chain mail that Kieren had ever seen.  He could only stop and gawk
at this protective garment, one that was so finely wrought that he could
not even guess its worth.  After coaxing the young man to accept this fine
gift, the elf also handed him a splendid short sword, one with perfect
balance and razor-sharp cutting edges.  It was encased in a sturdy leather
scabbard, which would protect the blade from nicks and the elements.  These
were very special gifts to the future King of Tarolia from his loyal
allies, the River Elves.  This was a sign of their everlasting friendship
and devotion.  Enthusiastically, Kieren slipped on his new mail and
strapped the sword to his side.  Then, very carefully, he pulled his
magical cloak over the entire outfit, concealing his warlike attire.

The dwarfs had already armed themselves.  They also wore chain mail,
although it was a heavier and more cumbersome type than the elfin variety,
and it restricted their movements slightly.  They wore the typical dwarven
half-helmet and they carried a short handled battle-ax.  The two cutting
blades of that favored dwarf weapon could sever a limb or as easily cleave
a foe in half.  A mace was hooked to each belt, the ugly spiked head
swinging near the ground.  On their backs were slung crossbows and quivers
of quarrels with razor-edged heads.  Each looked a squat bundle of ferocity
as they stood waiting for the others to complete their preparations.

The men were each outfitted according to the mode particular to his city of
residence.  Selvaggio and Turquinine had attired themselves in the plate
mail of Mitiku, a light chain with pieces of plate covering it.  As well as
the usual padding underneath, this type of chain mail had protective plates
at the shoulder, elbow, and knee.  They carried mammoth broad swords, with
blades longer than the dwarfs were tall, and they carried a dirk with a 12"
blade in their belt.  Over their should were slung powerful long bows.
Their final weapon was a poleax, which they carried with their free hand.
This last weapon differed from the dwarfs' battle-ax in that it had only a
single cutting edge, while the opposite side jutted out like a spearhead,
and its handle was five times longer than the dwarf's handle.  Rhys, the
Akiktite, also carried a broad sword and a short bow, but he carried a
lance in lieu of the Mitikuans' poleax.  The lance could be thrown like a
javelin or it could be used to thrust and jab like a pike.  In his belt was
sheathed a nine inch dagger that could serve many purposes on this journey.
He was clad in a coat of banded mail, a form of chain mail with overlapping
bands of armor in the more vulnerable areas.  Crowning himself with a
sturdy open-faced helmet, he was ready to do battle if need be.

Finally, there stood Hadwin with his metal skullcap topped with a spike, as
is typical of Nardinian warriors.  He was clad in his finest tunic of scale
mail.  This is a quilted form of leather armor with scales of metal sewn in
an overlapping fashion, from his shoulders to the lower thigh and fastened
firmly about the waist by a heavy leather belt.  In his scabbard he carried
a falchion, a broad-bladed, curved sword that was unique to his people.  He
also carried a pike, which was used for lunging and thrusting at opponents
from a distance, and it was far sturdier than the lance or poleax.  Over
his shoulder was slung a bow, smaller than the ones carried by the other
men, and in his belt was tucked a dwarfish-like mace and a slender-bladed
stiletto.

There they stood, in their fine accoutrements, so varied yet their mission
was the same.  Here they were, ready to begin this undertaking without
knowing what dangers lay ahead.  They could not even venture a guess about
what they expected to find, their fate, or the outcome of this venture.  As
an additional precaution, they each hid their armor and arms by covering
them with their traveling cloaks, much the same way as their sovereign had
previously done.  Now that they were armed and ready to travel, they loaded
the crates back into the wagons and then bade their drivers farewell.  The
group stood and watched the caravan for a minute or two longer, as the
wagons continued the journey on to Reza.  Slowly, the small band fell into
a semblance of order and the disguised troop took its first steps toward
whatever unknown adventures that lay ahead.

At first, the traveling was fairly easy, as the land was flat and open and
there was no hampering vegetation to slow them down.  They journeyed like
this until shortly after midday, when they began to encounter long, thin
grasses, signifying that they were approaching the wetter areas where the
vegetation would become thicker.  Here, they paused and took refreshments
before resuming their travels.  Despite seeing nothing that might signal
danger, they continued to be vigilant.  When they decided to resume their
march, they continued their cautious advance as they plodded on.  Soon they
began to notice that the grass was becoming more and more tangled, making
it more difficult to traverse.  Still, they continued to proceed northward,
under the shadow of the mountain range.

The dwarfs knew they were approaching the outer boundaries of the Murky
Marshes.  This was a foreboding looking place, even in the best light and
at the best times, neither of which were currently the case.  Now, they
were approaching it as the sunlight faded from the sky and evening began to
mask their path.  They paused briefly to discuss the best route to take and
the most appropriate time for them to set out and cross this obstacle.
They were somewhat divided on both issues and much discussion ensued.  At
first they considered traveling west, around the edge of the Murky Marshes,
but they decided that this would be too time consuming for their purpose.
The dwarfs wanted to go up into the Amber Mountains, until they reached the
High Pass, but the others argued that this would be too difficult a path
for those not used to mountain travel.  It was agreed that a compromise
route would be best, one that would stay close to the slopes of the
mountain range and yet skirt the edge of the troubled marsh.

Now, they had to decide on the best time to begin this journey.  The men
argued that it would be best to camp here for the night and wait until
morning to continue their trip.  The dwarfs and Alaric argued that it would
be to their advantage if they didn't waste any time and cover as much
ground as possible while there was still light.  There was a good chance
that they could get at least halfway across this area before it would be
necessary for them to make camp.  The men of the north finally gave in to
those most familiar with the area, bowing to their expertise on this
matter.  Using the remaining light to help guide them on their way, they
once again moved forward.  Selvaggio, who was still not convinced that this
was their best course of action, was muttering something about haste making
waste, as the band plodded forward.

The traveling here was much slower because of the uneven, boggy terrain
they had been passing through.  The ground was becoming increasingly muddy
with each passing step.  They had journeyed a little more than a league
into the marsh, when the waning light of day made it more difficult to
select the patches of ground that would provide the best footing.  The
entire party was now beginning to realize that it would soon be impossible
to venture farther.  Conceding this fact, squads were organized and sent
out in various directions to look for a suitable area to set up camp.  The
dwarfs went up into the mountain's foothills, while Alaric, Hadwin, and
Rhys searched the path ahead.  Selvaggio and Turquinine remained with
Kieren and the elfin youths, not taking any chances that one of them might
wander off or encounter some unforeseen danger.

As the boys stood around waiting for the scouts to return, Kieren was
beginning to become uneasy.  He began to remember the eerie tales he had
been told during his childhood about the strange creatures that lurked
beneath the muddied waters of these marshes.  He had always attributed
these stories to the wild imaginations of adults, tales that the grown-ups
used to entertain, and at the same time frighten, their children into
obedience.  But now, having seen the marshes and having encountered the
eeriness this place, he began to question his own confidence in that
conclusion.

The handful of men and boys waited for their brethren to finish their
search of the surrounding area.  The two Mitikuans decided to do some
investigating of their own.  Cautiously, they poked around the edge of the
swamp, searching for any possible hazards while, at the same time, keeping
their eyes upon their three young charges.  In addition to their exploring,
those two titans were scrounging the area for bits of wood that were dry
enough to make a small evening fire.  These two enormous warriors had made
several trips back and forth from where the boys were located to the areas
beyond.  Each time they returned, they carried a small armload of wood
found along the edge of the path, or broken off above the water level of
the swamp.  As Turquinine returned yet another time to deposit his findings
near the lads, Selvaggio ventured farther and farther away, toward the
heart of the swamp.  The knight was stooping to collect more firewood when,
without warning, a gigantic serpent lunged out of the murky waters and
entwined itself around the unsuspecting warrior.  Witnessing the attack,
Turquinine responded instantly, moving as quickly as a cat, and sprang to
his companion's side.  Now, he was wielding his mighty broad sword, hacking
away at the aggressor that was coiled around Selvaggio's massive body.

The boys, who had been talking quietly between themselves when the attack
occurred, were startled by the sudden assault and screamed out a belated
warning to their protector.  Now they stood frozen in disbelief and fear as
this unknown creature battled the two Mitikuans, seemingly unbothered by
Turquinine's maddened attack.

Selvaggio had initially let out a mighty roar and he fought tenaciously to
defend himself from the onslaught when the attack first began, but now he
remained rather quiet as his fellow knight chopped at the seemingly
never-ending form of his opponent.  One of Turquinine's furious blows must
have stung the monster as it continued to coil around the now still
warrior, and it bolted upright, still clutching the knight in its powerful
grip.  At that moment, Kieren realized that this incredible foe must be the
Serpent Colossus, one of the beasts he had heard about from the tales of
his childhood.  This was one of the many stories that had plagued his
thoughts only minutes before.

                                                   * * * *

At the instant Selvaggio had released his mighty roar and the yells and
shouts of the boys echoed off the mountain's sides, the scouts hurriedly
returned to the spot where they had left their comrades.  The dwarfs
arrived first, battle-axes held high, ready to meet any danger that might
await them.  When they broke into the open, able to view their foe, they
froze for a split second in horror at the sight of the creature that reared
before them.  Even in the dim light, they could make out Turquinine
delivering a flurry of blows, worthy of felling any aggressor, all aimed at
the head of the gigantic reptile before him.  At this point, they did not
realize that the large bulge, about ten feet from the head, was actually
the nearly still form of Selvaggio, encircled by the muscular length of his
opponent.

The dwarfs attempted to flank the serpent, hacking away at the writhing
form that slithered before them.  An occasional attack from the monster's
head, which would divert its attention from Turquinine's tenacious
onslaught, would briefly drive them backward.  When they had regained their
balance, they would attack anew, chopping at the animal's tough scales the
second it moved its head toward another of their companions.

At this point, Alaric, Hadwin, and Rhys came charging back down the path
down which they had previously disappeared.  Seeing the monster for the
first time, they drew up, unslung their bows, and each notched an arrow.
With care, they took aim at the head of the enormous beast and loosed their
missiles.  The arrows ricocheted off the tough hide, falling harmlessly to
the ground, not even seeming to faze their attacker.  Rhys commanded the
others to take aim at the saucer-like eyes, hoping to blind the hulking
mass and impede its assault.

It appeared as though the company was making no progress in defeating this
new enemy when Turquinine employed a more aggressive attack.  Bellowing a
war cry at the serpentine figure before him, he advanced steadily forward,
within easy reach of the Serpent's terrifying grasp.  Sensing this new
boldness in its quarry, the monster focused its attention on the single
warrior directly before it.  The reptile lunged forward, its huge maw
gaping wide, and its jaws snapping to catch this annoying prey.  Upon each
forward surge of his adversary, Turquinine would slash at the soft, pink
interior of the giant snake's mouth.  This technique seemed to hurt, or at
least annoy, the predator, but the powerful soldier did not seem to possess
the strength necessary to deliver a fatal blow.

The various defenders continued their attack, intensely searching for the
Achilles' heel of this imposing adversary.  Nothing they did seemed to
daunt the speed or ferocity of the attack, nor could they diminish the
behemoth's desire to continue this fight.  Alaric and Rhys released arrow
after arrow from their humming bowstrings, as Hadwin took up his pike and
ran forward to assist Turquinine in his close range assault.  Continually,
he would lunge and thrust at the gigantic reptile as it swooped forward at
his knightly comrade.  Time and time again, he would hit the scaly body of
his relentless foe, only to find the point of his weapon deflected off the
steel-like scales or just barely piercing the rough hide.  As this flurry
of thrusting and slashing continued from these two courageous warriors, the
dwarfs continued chopping at the mid-section and posterior of this writhing
giant.  While the others continued their assault, Kieren dug through his
pack to find the arrow he had made at Leander.  Without thinking about his
own safety, the lad raced over to where Alaric stood, releasing multiple
shafts, and he handed his masterpiece to the elf.

"Alaric, please use this," the young prince pleaded.  "Maybe it will help."

The elf nodded his assent, concluding that he had nothing to lose by trying
it.  Taking the generous gift from the young man, the marksman notched the
arrow and took aim.  He drew his bowstring back, ever so slowly, not
wishing to jerk it off of his target.  With the utmost concentration, the
sharpshooter focused upon the serpent's large eye.  The cord hummed, as he
let this new shaft fly.  The arrow flew true and straight as it headed
toward its goal.  Just as Alaric had envisioned, the projectile struck the
exact center of the creature's right eyeball, releasing a gush of vile
fluids from the orb.  Partially blinded and now in real pain, the serpent's
body lashed out in all directions, tumbling the dwarfs backward.  The
leviathan, believing that it was Turquinine who had delivered the painful
blow, renewed its attack on this mighty knight.  The Mitikuan looked like a
child's toy soldier next to this truly giant being, but he fought bravely
on.

The dwarfs rallied back to their feet and they redoubled their attack.
Now, they moved closer to the vertical shaft that contained the head, as
the monster continued to snap at the two northern soldiers.  One of the
dwarven fighting men drew a trickle of blood from the beast, as he found a
small soft spot in the reptile's protective covering.  This new wound
increased the loathsome animal's anger and pain, so it lashed out again,
pummeling everything within reach.  The various combatants immediately
pulled back in a strategic retreat, until the creature's wrath had abated
slightly.  Having lost all hope of saving their stricken comrade, they
fought now to save themselves and protect their future king, who stood
numbly witnessing this monstrous spectacle.

As the serpent began to settle down and regain a fraction of its former
composure, Turquinine, unlike the others, moved forward once more.  This
relentless fighter was intent on destroying this unbelievable behemoth and
claiming the body of his fallen compatriot for proper burial.  As the
knight moved toward his opponent, the reptile caught his maneuver out of
the corner of its good eye and struck at the impudent man- at-arms, bowling
him over and knocking him senseless.  Hadwin barely had time to react, as
the brute propelled its head forward, seeking to snag the dazed trooper
between its gaping jaws.  Just as soon as he realized what was about to
happen, Hadwin hurled himself forward to a point between the beast and his
comrade.  Holding his pike perpendicular to the ground and slightly forward
of his stunned companion, the Nardinian found himself directly in line with
the wounded serpent's lunge.  The serpent caught the pike, instead of
Turquinine, in its enormous mouth and it snapped its jaws together over the
shaft.  The pressure from its muscular muzzle drove the pike's spearhead
through the roof of its mouth and into its own brain.

		*    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at 
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
  
E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.