Unending Battle: The Elf and the End

The sea wind sprayed in Demigod’s face as he maneuvered the sloop out of the small harbor. Demigod had payed a toothless fisherman several hundred Ord for it.

Demigod steered the ship to port in the direction of the tower. The sea was rough today. Demigod struggled against the current.

Arryd had estimated that it would take a full day to reach the mysterious tower. Demigod had bought enough food for two days.

Demigod handed the helm off to Kouken and walked down the ship to the bow.

“Demigod?” asked Katara.

“Yeah?” answered Demigod. He looked out to sea his eyes set on the tower.

“Was the Defter you fought female?” asked Katara. Demigod pondered this question.

“No, it was male.” said Demigod.

“Did you kill him?” asked Katara.

“Yes. He is dead.” said Demigod. Katara was mildly disturbed. She had been thinking about if her brother was a Defter as well. What if Demigod had killed her brother? The air warmed around her suddenly.

“Thats odd. It is not yet noon. It should not be this warm.” said Demigod. Katara nodded. As the day increased, the air became thick and almost unbearable because of the heat. By noon, they were near halfway to the tower and the temperature had risen dramatically. Sweat poured down Demigod’s brow, soaking his tunic. He stripped it off.

The team guzzled tremendous amounts of water. The closer they got to the tower, the more stiflingly hot it became.

The sun began to set, but heat did not shift. The tower was but a mile away. Demigod could make out balconies and what appeared to be landing pads. The tower looked like it was made out of black glass, for it held a form of transparency. Demigod pulled his tunic back over his head.

As Kouken steered the sloop closer to the glass tower, Demigod rallied his crew for what was to come. Weapons were strapped to bodies and disregarded boots were pulled on. Straps to swords and quivers were cinched.

“Men, elf, Child, furry and Defter. We are a mighty delegation and will not fail in our undertaking of the task set before us. Let us go, there is no guaranteed return.” said Demigod as the sloop thudded against the side of the tower.

Kayla, Demigod, and Arryd tossed grappling hooks up to a balcony about twenty feet above them. As soon as the anchors were deemed safe, by supporting Kouken’s weight, the group shimmied up them.

As the team gathered in the balcony, Demigod appointed Arryd and Kouken the job of the guarding the sloop. If anyone tried to make off with it, they would riddle the potential thief with arrows and stones.  

Demigod led the way up a flight of winding stairs. Kayla held the rear. They came to a closed doorway. Demigod ordered Kayla to the front, and he and her discussed what they would do. They decided that they would charge through door and surprise anyone who might be in the room.

Demigod made sure everyone was ready and had a weapon. He passed Rine and Malyn twin fighting knives. Denial looked like he could kill several men with his staff. Demigod unsheathed Fandril. Kayla knocked an arrow to her bowstring.

Demigod jiggled the doorknob. Kayla pulled her bow taught. Demigod flung open the door, letting out primeval warcry. Kayla burst into the room, arrow searching for a foe. Malyn, Rine, and Denial followed, but without as much skill or readiness for a fight.

Luckily, there was no foes. The room was empty. Demigod lowered Fandril. There loud entrance must have alerted whoever was in the tower of their presence.

“We must move quickly now.” said Demigod. Kayla nodded. Up several more flights of stairs the team went. Every time they met a closed door, they expected to find an enemy behind it. None were found. Demigod saw from out a window that they must be nearing the top of the tower.

Another closed door. Demigod pressed his ear against it. sounds came from behind it. There had to be someone behind this door.

Demigod signaled for everyone to be ready. He flung the door open.

A hideous orc met him, and without any thought, Demigod lobbed of its head. Five more came to replace it. Demigod dispatched two with swift fury. Kayla took out two more with speedy  arrows and Denial whacked the last over the head.

“Well done! Well done!” said a cold voice. Demigod whirled around. An elf descended a flight of stairs.

“Who are you?” growled Demigod.

“My full name is Fringolianedfarnithynea. You can call me “Your Highness” or just “Master.””

“How about “creepy elf”?” asked Demigod. The Elf’s face did not appear iratated.

“I will make you pay for your insults, Tenuviel.” said Demigod.

“Do not utter that name, last of the Cimmerians!” exclaimed Denial, “That name is pure, and should not roll around your fallen tongue.” said Denial.

“I will say what I want, Child, seeing as soon I will be your supreme overlord.” said the Elf. He had blond hair that was gathered in his back. He had the high forehead of most elves, and the purple eyes. A thin sword hung at his side. Heavy and well ornamented robes adorned his shoulders.

Demigod’s left hand went smoothly for a knife hidden in his boot. He pulled it out in a flash and sent it on a route between the elf’s eyes. The elf held up a hand. The knife stopped in midair.

“Bring in the others,” said the elf. He still held the knife in the air. Orcs dragged in Kouken and Arryd. Their hands were bound and their mouths gagged.

“Set them down.” said the Elf. “You will now find out what happens when I am threatened.” said the Elf. He directed the knife, which was still suspended in midair, at Kouken. He spoke a ugly sounding word and the knife sprung from its invisible bonds and pierced Kouken’s forehead.

Kayla screamed. She rushed to the large man’s side. He was dead before his head touched the floor.

“MURDERER!” yelled Demigod. He raised Fandril as if to attack the elf, but didn’t want to find out who would die next if he did. Kayla sobbed as she knelt next the the large man.

“ORCS!” yelled the elf. “Drag the gorilla away!” Three orcs hustled over to where Kouken had fallen. Kayla stood and sent an arrow into two of them. More orcs entered the room. The subdued Kayla, bound her, and dragged away the corpse that had once been Kouken.

“What a shame. Were you two married?” said the Elf. A disgusting smile danced on his face.

Kayla shook her head. “Cousins.” she spat.
“What a shame.” said the elf.

“What do you want with us?” asked Demigod aggressively.

“You are going to start the finale of my plan.” said the elf.

“And how are we going to do that?” said Demigod.

“Well, it starts by killing the baggage. We only need those required by my plan, and can’t have dead weight. Bring my bow.” said the elf. Orcs rushed to do his bidding. A large brawny orc brought in a huge horn-bow and a quiver of equally huge arrows. The arrows had fletching that ranged in color from yellow to orange to red. Some had hints of blue.

“Phoenix fletches!” gasped Denial.

“Indeed. The arrows will burn anything they touch. I do love fire.” said the Elf. He knocked an arrow and drew back the huge bow. He seemed to contemplate his target, then let the bow string go. The huge arrow flew towards Denial. Demigod tried to intercept it, but arrow flew faster than a regular arrow. The force of the shaft flung Denial back, onto a landing pad, and over the edge. Demigod rushed to the edge of the landing pad. He caught a glimpse of the Child, a inferno engulfing him, just before he fell into the sea.

Demigod heard the twang of a bowstring and a scream. He turned. Kayla was being burned to death. Demigod was frozen by the sight. He heard a whoosh of a shaft pass him and a second scream. He turned.

Malyn.

Demigod drew his sword. He charged the elf.

“Already forgetting my warning?” said the elf. He pulled a regular arrow from his quiver and shot it into Demigod’s shoulder. The impact knocked him from his feet. He pulled the arrow from his shoulder and struggled to his knees.

“And now that we have removed the baggage, I can share my master plan.” the Elf grinned.

“Three thousand years ago, my kind ruled this land ruthlessly. We were the supreme. Cimmerian Elves knew no rival. Until an uprising of Men and purer Elves destroyed my race. I am the last. I was but a child then, but I remember it clearly. My father was the lord of the Cimmerian. I remember your kind slaying him in his sleep. You left none behind. Women and Children were slaughtered by the chieftains of men.

“I fled with a single egg that was given to me buy my uncle. The egg held a dragon. I fled the Anormeda cliffs, were the dragon hatched. He carried me to the sea, and helped me begin the start of my glorious fortress.

“I started to plan my uprising as the last Cimmerian. I would unleash great terrors on the realms of Men and Elves. Starting in the north. As we speak, the dragon from that egg ravages the north kingdoms and gathers legions of orcs.” the elf chuckled.

“And now, my greatest threats have been neutralized.” said the elf.

“Guards, take them to their cells.” large orcs grabbed Demigod, Rine, Katara, and Arryd. The lead them at sword point out of the room and down some stairs.

Jump. Demigod heard in his mind.

Arryd!

When I give the signal, jump.

okay.

The orcs lead them past a landing pad. Arryd whistled. Demigod broke from his captor’s grip and dived into the ocean.

So ends part one of Fringolianedfarnithynea’s plan to rise as supreme lord of Theresia. With it ends the first part of the journey of the Cimmerian Defenders.

Questions have yet to be answered though. Who is Adaldrida, and why does she look exactly like the deceased Jae? Why does the presence of Demetry give Demigod a headache? Will Demigod and Katara find their lost siblings?