5:* A Mountaintop Battle

Kariana had known the wizard was going to try something like that, so as she looked to be holding gazes with the wizard of the red dragons, she was actually watching his hands. As he had removed the wand from his belt, she had shielded her eyes, to
avoid what she knew was coming, and leapt towards the wizard, her sword drawn.

Tazir was also prepared for the bright flash of light, as he had already cast a shield spell in front of himself and closed his eyes,
protection himself from the lightning bolt that sliced into the air from the wand that Ta’kar was holding. Out of the corner of his
eye, Tazir saw movement, as Kariana dove towards the evil wizard. Momentarily ignoring the others’ cries of pain as the light
hit their eyes, he drew back his hands to release a swarm of ice missiles at his adversary, trying to buy Kariana a moment to
attack.

*****

Ragnor and Chrysal had been thrown by the shockwave of the lightning bolt directly into the path of the dragon as it flew back
to it’s treasure hoard. Chrysal, recovering first from the attack, bellowed a mighty war cry and jumped up to the attack.

Completely ignoring Chrysal, the dragon flew past, knocking him backwards with it’s massive tail. Ragnor, the slower to arise
saw the wisdom in waiting to attack the dragon and looked back to where the two wizards were dueling. Each released volley
after volley of powerful magics at the other one, neither seemed to have yet gained the advantage. Seeing also Drakar and
Kerry lying off to one side, he decided to see if they were all right. He had never liked fanatic dragon-slayers anyway.

*****

Crimson took no heed to the fanatic fighter trying to slay him as he dove into his lair. It was empty. Completely empty. The
traitorous wizard had lied. The great red dragon roared and turned around to fly back and devastate the one who had betrayed
him and ran directly into Chrysal. The annoyed Myndaran-Ranger glared at the dragon and raised his sword to his forehead,
saluting his foe.

“We fight at last, sir dragon.” Sir Chrysal Terrakine of the Order of Dragos’ Myndaran said, charging forward to meet the
dragon in battle.

*****

Ta’kar laughed as he calmly deflected the ice missiles and sent back a fireball in response. He had just heard Crimson roar
which meant that the fanatical Dragos’Myndaran warrior was fighting him now and distracting him from the wizard. Grinning, he
moved his hands in the motions of another spell, one which would blast the very surface of the mountain from beneath his fores’
feet, when he felt a sharp pain in his side. Startled, he looked to see the Elf standing next to him, her sword buried in his side.

“Well, met, wizard.” Kariana said, swinging her sword in a great arc meant to decapitate the wizard. Ta’kar leapt backwards
and threw a spell of sleep at her. She blinked and stormed on towards the wizard, immune to his charms.

*****

“Ah, what happened?” Kerry asked as Ragnor shook her, bringing her around the consciousness. “There was a flash and I was
flying again. Did Tazir cast another spell?” she said to the warrior who stood over her. Ragnor motioned for her to look over at
the dueling wizards.

“The other wizard appeared and Tazir challenged him to duel.” Ragnor explained, shaking his head. “And it looks to me like
our Elven friend had joined in the fray. I don’t think we can help them.” He told Kerry as she eagerly stood up.

“Sure we can!” Kerry said. “All I have to do is lure our dragon friend over to help us.” She said with a sparkle in her eyes. She
held up a dagger. Ragnor gasped. It was Kariana’s.

“Are you sure it will work?” Ragnor asked, worried for the safety of his little friend.

“Of course.” Kerry said in the typical halfling smugness, dashing off to the cave where the battle between Dragos’Myndaran
and dragon was going on.

*****

Kariana was not faring well. Going up against a powerful wizard with nothing but village training and the few times she had used
her sword on the road to the peak was working against her with every swing. Finally, the wizard had knocked the sword out of
her hand. Gritting her teeth against the pain in her arm from the magic missile attack, she reached for her dagger, and found it
missing.

“I see that you have no weapon left.” Ta’kar said, grinning evilly as he prepared the spell that would finish her off. “Don’t
worry, this won’t take long.” He told her. The Elf lifted her head to glare at the wizard, proudly facing her own demise.
Suddenly, there was a great roar as Crimson came charging out of the cave. Ta’kar, startled, looked over to what had
happened.

*****

Kerry ran into the cave, waving Karianas’ dagger and taunting the dragon as best as a halfling could.

“Here dragon, dragon!!” she taunted brandishing the dagger so that the jewels sparkled. “Bet you can’t catch me!” She yelled,
standing near the entrance, waving the weapon.

Crimson had just dealt the dragon slayer a near fatal blow, his claws ripping through Chrysal’s armor on the side. Chrysal was
staggering, but still managed to keep his sword up and press the attack. He was attempting to get close enough to decapitate
the great dragon. Hearing the halflings’ taunting voice, though Crimson turned to see the small form in the front of the cave,
waving something with jewels on it that sparkled like a star. Thinking of it’s lost treasure hoard, the dragon ignored Chrysal and
decided to retrieved the dagger.

Ta’kar saw the halfling, waving a jeweled dagger, running out of the cave ahead of the dragon. The dragon he had just released
from his control. The same dragon whose treasure hoard he had disintegrated. The wizard realized his mistake. Kariana used
this momentary distraction to pick up her sword again, but her wounded arm trembled when she tried to lift it. Hoping Kerry
had a good plan, she held the sword ready to throw and half hid behind a rock, waiting.

Tazir was astonished at the halfling’s versatility and bravery as she came running out of the cave. Gaining an idea from the
halflings’ charge with the dagger, he cast a small cantrip to make the weapon sparkle more. That would catch the dragon’s
attention better, he gathered.

The wizard was correct. As Crimson neared the halfling, watching the sparkle of the dagger, it suddenly got brighter, capturing
the entire gaze of the already enraptured beast. Stopping as this happened, Kerry brought her arm back and threw the dagger
as hard as she could at Ta’kar.

Ta’kar had just readied a spell to destroy the dragon when the dagger flashed toward him and struck his arm. Distracted from
casting, his spell lost, he angrily pulled it out and looked up into the eyes of the charging dragon. Crimson saw the dagger fly
and hit a human. As he got closer, he saw that this was Ta’kar, the same wizard who had controlled him for so long. With a
roar of rage that curdled Ta’kar’s blood, he flew, talons reaching out for the kill, the dragon bore down on the evil wizard.

*****

Drakar slowly awoke to find himself laying on hard rock, alone by the dragon’s cave. Suddenly frightened, he scrunched
himself back so he was behind some brush and peeked out onto the battle scene. He saw the dragon charging the evil wizard,
and promptly decided to let the two battle and he would wait behind the brush until the entire thing was over.

*****

Bleeding from a serious wound under his ribs and aching from many bruises, Chrysal did not stop even for a moment to try and
assess his wounds. All he saw was the death of the dragon, and since it had flown out of the cave, Chrysal must follow. With
the single-minded determination rarely seen except in the mad, Chrysal staggered out of the cave after the dragon.

*****

Tazir watched the battle scene unfold. He was powerless to do anything, for fear that he might unintentionally harm Kariana in
the process. Just as he was debating possible actions, he heard a battle cry coming from behind him and he turned to see
Chrysal staggering out of the cave. Realizing that he was going for the dragon, Tazir thought a moment and then cast a spell that
would allow Chrysal to jump up onto the dragons’ back. As Chrysal ran past, he wondered how many of his companions
would be left alive after this battle was done with.

*****

Chrysal leapt up and landed on the back of Crimson just as the red dragon was sinking his talons into the wizards’ flesh. With
an angry roar, grinding the hapless wizard beneath his talons, the dragon turned around to blast the annoying warrior with a
gout of fire. Chrysal took the full force of the breath weapon and fell to the ground, his armor charred. This momentary
distraction proved good for the wizard, however, as Ta’kar cast his final spell. Suddenly, with a roar, the very rock under the
wizard and the dragon erupted and both beast and magic-user were unceremoniously tossed over the side of the mountain.

*****

Kariana had seen the Myndaran-Ranger fall off from the dragon. Immediately, she reached out and pulled him back to her
hiding spot just before the mountain heaved up and tossed the wizard and dragon over the edge. Chrysals’ once silver armor
was charred and black, his sword was even melted by the intense heat. She was wondering to herself if even Drakar’s god
could heal him, when he suddenly opened his eyes to look at her.

“I tried, daughter of Liliana, I tried.” He gasped despairingly. Chrysal sighed once and did not breathe again. Kariana looked
upon the fallen warrior with sadness and passed a hand over his face, closing his eyes in a gesture of her village meant to honor
the fallen in battle.

“Have peace, warrior.” She said quietly. “May you find the light.”

Finishing her short prayer, she sensed a calm had fallen over the battle field and cautiously looked up. Tazir was standing near
Kerry and Ragnor, the tree seemed to be conversing about the Ring of True Seeing. After searching for awhile, she finally
spotted Drakar, peeking over a bush, obviously determining whether the battle was really over. Standing up, Kariana went to
tell her companions about Chrysal, so they could give him a proper burial when a flash of gold in the rocks near her caught her
attention. Curious, she walked over and picked it up. It was a golden rod, about three feet long, with a ring affixed to the top.
The ring held a dazzlingly bright blue sapphire. The entire ensemble looked to be as a kings’ scepter would.

“Kariana!” Kerry exclaimed running to her. “We were wondering if you were ok. . .that is beautiful, where did you find it?” she
suddenly said in awe as she saw the scepter. Tazir and Ragnor were slower to arrive. Tazir gasped as he saw the golden rod.

“Kariana, you have found it.” he said, awed. “The Ring of True Seeing.” Tazir said, reaching out a tentative hand to touch the
scepter.

“That is what we came to retrieve?” Drakar asked, coming up from behind the group. “Why, it’s just a pretty scepter!” he said,
annoyed. Tazir shook his head.

“See the ring on top? When this is on the finger, it is said that you would be able to tell what someone is thinking or feeling.”
Tazir explained. “Kariana, you were the first to find it, why don’t you put it on and look at our friend Drakar here. You should
be able to tell us what he’s thinking.” he explained. Kariana nodded and placed the ring on her finger.

“Drakar, right now, you would very much like to be back in Shonika, and you still think us all mad for bringing you up here.”
Kariana said in awe, being able to read Drakar’s thoughts. The cleric gulped visibly.

“Ok, ok, I believe you. Just don’t read my mind anymore, all right?” Drakar said hastily, watching avidly until Kariana took the
ring off and handed the scepter over to Tazir. Kariana, suddenly recalling the beginning of the battle, gasped.

“That other wizard had the ring right before the battle.” She said, a look of understanding flooding the perceptive Elf’s face.
“He knew what we all wanted to do right before the battle.” she said. Ragnor looked confused, but Kerry picked up on what
Kariana was trying to say.

“So that’s how he knew that Chrysal would go after the dragon?” she asked. Tazir nodded his agreement. “Where is that
fanatic anyway?” She said, looking around for the Myndaran-Ranger.

“He is dead.” Kariana said, suddenly downcast. “Slain by the very dragon that he wanted to kill.” She said somberly. A flashed
glance from Tazir said that he had thought that it was her goal to kill the dragon also. The Elf visibly shifted under the questing
gaze.

“Ah, then that does explain why he thought that the dragon would not cause him any problems after he removed the
enchantment. He knew that Chrysal would distract the dragon.” He offered in explanation.

“I suppose that we should dig the fanatic a hole before the scavengers come and eat him.” Ragnors’ voice suddenly rumbled,
breaking the silence. “Come on, Kerry, you too Drakar, you can even say a prayer over his grave. He did drag you up here,
after all.” he said, walking off with the cleric and the halfling. Kariana and Tazir stared at each other for a long moment before
Tazir finally spoke.

“I don’t know if my rival was correct in his vision of you holding some kind of power in the future, but you are very strong, and
I believe that anything that you wish to have your future hold for you will find a way to be.” he said philosophically, turning then
and walking back towards the others.

Kariana stood alone for several long moments, trying to think back through her family history, wondering if the other wizard
had been right in saying that she would one day have a “great power”. This led her to inadvertently thinking of her lost city and
her parents. She looked off into the distance, tallying her losses and then grinned wryly.

“I cannot change what fate had served me, and lamenting about my past for my whole life does not help me.” She spoke
quietly, almost prayer-like. “I can though, work to make my life better and continually strive to better the lives of my
companions and the forest that I have been sworn to protect.” she finished, looking over to where the others were finishing
Chrysals’ burial cairn. Her sensitive eyes suddenly caught a flash of light and she looked down to find her dagger, glinting in the
moonlight. Picking it up, she walked over and threw it into the dragon’s lair.

“Somehow, I do not think we can get rid of the dragon that easily.” She mused, looking off towards where the battle had
ended with the dragon falling off of the mountain. “This shall be a small payment for his assistance.” She decided, heading
towards the companions.

*****

Kariana was right. The dragon had not died in the fall. As the two combatants had fallen down the rocky face of the mountain,
taking most of the side of the mountain with them as they fell, Crimson had lost his grip on the wizard and Ta’kar had hit the
ground first, rolling out of the way as the dragon crashed into the ground. Knowing that he was in a sore spot to challenge a
dragon, the injured wizard crept away quickly before the dragon could notice him.

Crimson, dazed and battered from his fall off of the mountain, looked around for that pesky wizard. Growling low in his throat,
he flexed his great wings to see if they were still functionable. Seeing that his wings were intact, and wishing nothing more than
to curl up in his cave for awhile and sleep, he began the slow ascent up the mountain.

*****
6:*An Ending. . .and A Beginning

The next day, the party descended the mountain with out a lot of complaining from Draka, and started off back towards
Shonika. With a few minor skirmishes with Orcs and Goblins to slow them down an bit, and of course stops to make sure
Drakar wouldn’t collapse from fatigue, as the round cleric was often huffing and puffing around where the rest of them stepped
easily. In a month, the travelers were back in Shonika with the artifact.

Drakar had happily led them to the temple of Torin, where they handed over the artifact, to Tazirs’ displeasure, and recieved a
reward of gold and the blessings of the temple priests. Afterwards, Kariana had just finished discussing the demise of
Kith’tarka with an interested scribe of the name Capistrano and had joined Kerry and Ragnor for a drink in the tavern. The
thief and fighter were discussing a rebellion in a city far from Shonika.

“Rebellion? Between whom?” was the question Kariana posed, intersted in what had been going on outside of her secluded
forest. Ragnor looked grave as he replied.

“The City of Peace, thoush not so peacful these days, Torin, has come under some unrest by the supporters of the old ruler of
the city once called Azaron.” He explained. “They need volunteers to calm the unrest in the city.”

“Yeah, and I was just suggesting to Ragnor that we volunteer.” Kerry said, grinning at the scarred warrior. “Wanna come with
us? It’ll be an adventure.” she said hapily, draining her mug.

“I do need to see more of this world.” Kariana said musingly. Ragnor grinned, taking this for agreement and clapped her on the
shoulder. This time, she didn’t wince.

“I can’t think of a better way than traveling to Torin to fight for the cause of peace.” He said, motioning ot her untouched much.
“Drink up, we’re leaving tomorrow morning with a caravan.” he said, flagging one of the serving girls down to order more ale.

Wincing at the sharp taste of the brew, Kariana thought about what Ragnor had said. She didn’t have any ties in the Ath’Karan
forest anyjmore, with her entire village gone. Being that secluded for years and suddenly being thrust into adventure had also
awakened her wanderlust, and going to Torin to fight for peace sounded just about right.

“A toast then.” Kerry said, seemingly reading Kariana’s thoughts. “To peace in Torin and adventure besides!” she exclaimed,
the three of them raising their mugs in salute.

*****

The trio had joined the caravan as volunteer guards as it made the long trip to Torin. One night, when Kariana had taken the
watch, there was a great gust of wind. As she looked up to the sky to see a cloudless sky, she felt a magical aura surrounding
her that quickly dissapated. A great crash in the woods nearby, the sound of dozens of trees being felled all at once, announced
the presence of something very large. Although there had been enough noise to wake up an entire army, her companions did
not awake. Just as she was about to try and wake someone, she heard a voice.

“Fear not for your friends or yourself, Kariana of Kith’tarka.” A great voice sounded from the woods. “I have used only a mild
enchantment on them, which would fail against yourself.” Startled, Kariana looked around warily, drawing her sword.

“Who are you? What do you want?” she called out into the woods, wondering if she could fight whatever this was and live.

“You and your companions freed me from the wizards’ grasp.” Crimson said. Kariana now realized that she was conversing
with the same dragon that they had met many days ago on the mountain. “In addition, you attempted at replacing my lost
treasure. I wish to apologize for the destruction of your village, as you now must realize that I was forced into it by that evil
magic-user.”

“I accept your apology and offer you one of my own for attacking you.” she said, watching as the great dragon suddenly
seemed to materialize out of nothing before her.

“Farewell, Kariana of Kith’tarka. May your path run smoothly.” the great red wyrm said in farewell, flapping his great wings
and rising out of the area. Kariana would not see him again.

However evil Crimson was, he was noble and had a desire to continue his treaty with G’Dyra. He flew to the north that day, to
the secret entrance of Unmyr. There he went, beneath the surface, to live with his kindred in the land with no sun. There he
would not be forced to break his treaty again.

*****

Scherza DelCapo, loremaster and minstrel of Akura will take any critique or praise of this work of fiction.... Return to the Beginning...