Fables Vol.4

I came to with a pounding headache. Unsure how long I had been unconsciuos, I struggled to adjust my eyes to the dimly lit cave. Illumination spilled up from the floor flashing sporadicly across the walls and ceiling. Glancing down to determine the source, I noticed Lightbringer, flame of the elven nation, lying on the ground near other personal items I carried. After gathering my items and dressing with what remained, I took inventory of my possessions.

Almost completely without protection, my mind raced to remember something important. As the tenacious roar of thunder chases the brief flashes of lightning across the skies, so too did instinct over rule reason in my mind. In the shadows of the cave, something changed. It may have been as subtle as an alteration in temperature, but I knew something moved.

Without considering my next action I flew through the exit of the cave, welcoming the protection of Gaia's gifts. I never turned to look, yet, every fiber of my being told me he gave chase. In my youth, I surely would have taken cover and awaited a safe departure time. While I abhore violence, and consider acts of it beneath any reasonable person, reason vanished. Well laid plans were all forgotten, one thought, one driving instinct, survive.

As my feet touched down on the fresh grass, my mind never considered hiding. With reflexes to rival any cat I spun upon my pursuer and drew down my crossbow. The beastial grunt as he bored down on me hinted that he thought I a fool to stop. The vorpal bolt from my crossbow struck him in the chest. At point blank range the bolt had literally passed through, as he cried out in anguish.

He dove back into the cave to take cover, apparently unaware that the faerie dust from my bolt covered his back. He crouched in the rear of the cave, and then foolishly decided to sleep. Loading my quiver with poisoned arrows, I opened fire on the wretched thief. I scored several shots on the fellow before he once again made the mouth of the cave. I expected his charge and was prepared to parry his light spear. Unfortunately, while I readied to parry the spear in his right hand, he blackjacked me with the left.

When I came to this time, the thiief appeared to have retreated. Without bothering to pry things he could not obtain, I found he left everything I wore. Checking my inventory, I realized he had stolen everything he could. Material possessions never mattered much to me. However, the rare items I needed for my ritual suddenly seemed of great importance. I would have to aquire the items again, a thought that brought a wry smile to my lips.

The hood of longevity and the beautiful silver chalice I used during my ritual were both found among the sinistar mages. The same wizards I intended to consult in regard to sacred hours of the day. My smile faded when I looked about and found the the corpse of one of the ravens just inside the cave.

The tundra always seemed colder than I remembered, I took comfort in having the wisdom to gather equipment and a new cloak before I visited. A thick blanket of clouds blotted out the sun, combined with the blowing blizzard, navigating the alpine peaks proved difficult. A minor miscalculation in the driving snow, unfortunately led me to the Altar of Nexus.

The guardian flew at me enraged by my intrusion. It obliterated my raven with a fiendish attack so viscious that it inspired fear within me. I froze in horror, my life passing before my eyes...

(more to follow in Vol. 5)