Rescue of Lady Moon, AGAIN!

[DamedEscrime]

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Willow]

Willow watched Zelda and Arcon snuggling by the fire. Her heart ached, as it made her wish that Nicholas was beside her, holding her in his arms. She would give almost anything to have him near. Her senses were tingling, the closer they came to Zarcon. Something was going to happen. It felt as if her destiny was coming to a head, instead of Arcon's. What did this mean? Why was she so nervous and jumpy?


Meanwhile, at Zarcon's camp, Zoran sat staring into his fire. Her lips curled into an evil smile as he contemplated meeting up with Willow. He knew she would be very powerful. She should be powerful, after all. "The leaf doesn't fall far from the tree," he thought, "Willow's life will never be the same again, once she finds out the truth."

[arcon]

It was maybe an hour before dawn. Arcon had purposely taken the last watch. He quietly saddled his horse trying his best to keep the beast calm. He was nearly finished and ready to mount when a voice behind him said,
"my king, are you sure you should do this alone?"
without even turning arcon new the voice..
......Captain Zorn......a fly could sneeze and wake him up...
"Well, my fine Captain youve caught
me."replied Arcon. As he threw his leg right leg over his horse.
"There will be an attempted ambush, I can sneak through and be close to the clearing at the cliff before dawn. Just maybe I can force Zarcon out early before the fighting starts and this can all end with very little bloodshed." arcon kept eye contact with Zorn as if he needed approval.
"My king, may i speak freely?" zorn replied, never breaking eye contact with Arcon.
"You may", answered arcon.

"Sir, you can order me to not follow you
and because ive vowed to forever protect you i will not obey. And if you leave before my horse is saddled, I will catch up with you within the hour. So sir, will you wait? ...for i am going with you."

"Arcon bowed his head, shook it slowly and when he answered could only laugh at his Captains words." Damn Zorn, no wonder your wife is so mean."
"saddle your horse,but make it quick."as arcon thought to himself....'it could have been worse ,for it could have been zelda.

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[DamedEscrime]

In the meanwhile, Zarcon had returnd to his tent. Jo sat very still studying the man. She almost thought it would be impossible for him to harm anyone. He looked so much like Arcon. But there was a hardness in his eyes that she had never seen in her king.
"Stand up,"he said brusquely. He pulled at her bonds and released her hands. She gingerly rubbed wrists where the cords had cut in. "Now take off those clothes."

Jo's eyes grew wide. She was frozen to the spot where she stood. "Don't flatter yourself, woman," he laughed at her uneasiness. "I have no time for fun at present. But if you're a good girl we can play after I kill my brother. We may even let the Lady Moon in on the fun." She still did not comprehend what he was saying so he grabbed the front of her blouson and pulled, tearing the seam. Jo shook herself and crossed her arms before her. "You do it now or I shall," he snarled.

Slowly she pulled the shirt over her head and allowed it to drop to the floor. "Zarcon eyed her. "Humph, too bad...Now take that," he said, pointing to the blouson that she had noticed earlier. "Put that one on. MOVE!"

Jo cautiously walked to the pile of fabrics in the corner and knelt down. As she reached for the shirt she realized that it was occupied.
Under the wrap curled into a tight ball lay the Lady Moon. She was very still, too still. Was she taking the clothes of a corpse? The thought raised the gooseflesh on JO's arms. "Well, what are you waiting for? Take it off of her and put it on yourself."

Jo could hear the impatience in his voice and feared waisting anymore time. Carefully she pulled the lady's arms free and slipped the shirt over her head. Lady Moon never moved which indicated to Jo that she was indeed dead, though she hoped to Craig she was wrong. When she had the shirt she gently covered Moon with the wrap and tucked it in around her to keep her warm.

"Yes, that will do," he said after she has donned the garment. "Now we lay the trap."
After resecuring Jo's bonds he bade her raise her head so that he could fasten a collar about her neck. To this he fastened a length of cord so that hecould lead her about like an animal. Finally he placed a cloak over her head and pulled her out of the lodge. She stumbled along as he yanked the leash and dragged her down some foresaken path.
"Now this all depends on your cooperation, missy. You be quiet and still or I will simply slit your throat and kill your friends. Do you understand?" Jo nodded her head as he forced her down onto the cold ground. Zarcon gave a few tugs on the her tether just to make his point. Then all was quiet. She did not know how long she lay there, but she dare not move.

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Zelda]

Arcon may have thought that he had got away with only Zorn with him. He was wrong. Zelda had been on her way to keep her King company during the last few hours of his watch. She had heard and seen everything, and made her mind up to follow her husband at a distance.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Lady Rosaline was always a fit full sleeper. She finally woke up just as the sun was peeking up over the cliff side. She smiled to herself. She ahd always loved the sunrise. Just to watch something so peacefull so. .beatiful made her feel good. This feeling lasted until she went to saddle ehr horse and wake everyone. Three horses were gone. In three quick steps she was to where the horses had been. She knelt and felt the ground. One was Arcons, another captain Zorns. The left about an hour ago. The other was queen zelda's, she most likely followed them. Her trackes were only half an hour old. "If you two werent the king and queen. . ." She smiled alittle, then the smile quickly left her face. The had gone to fight Zarcon. Rosaline muttered under her breath shaking her head. She rose and stepped to the middle of the camp site.
"Get Up! All of you Let's Move!" Rosaline walked around shaking people awake. "Come on you Lazy Butts Get A Move On!"
Latenight stepped over to her rubbing his eyes. "You know we still have a few more hours. ." "No we dont!" Rosaline interupted. Rosaline quickly explained everything to him while she saddled her horse. "Look get everyone up and out of here. I'm going on ahead you all can follow me." Latenight shook his head. "You shouldn't go alone." Rosaline was about to get angry but she knew he was right. She joged over to where willow was quickly rolling up her sleeping pad. "Willow, I need you to come with me." Willow looked at her confused. "The, king, queen, and captain Zorn are gone. It will take everyone here another 15 minutes at least to take down camp. Battles are faught and won in less than that. Will you come?" Rosaline waited for a second as Willow ran everything through her head. "Look watever your choice is make it fast. Arcon and Zorn are at least an hour out, and the queen is a half an hour out. It's your choice, but I'm leaving the second I finish saddling my horse." Rolsaine tried to smile at Willow. To make it seem like she wasnt mad or anything. Then went to finish with her horse.

[Lord Tellurine]

Meekal the Daft and Kliff Fauldergraft were lost.

Very lost.

It was as if Captain Zorn’s horse had a mind of it’s own. Of course, it did. It had a horse mind.

Meekal, on the other hand, had Meekal’s mind, putting him at a great disadvantage. “Whoa,” he ordered in a soft, over-used voice, but it was useless. Zorn’s horse would not listen to the daft prince. Kliff, who was perched on the unresponsive beast just behind Meekal, slept.

For days they traveled, not knowing where they were going. At first, they headed north in the direction that Zarcon had gone, but now they were lost. They were now somewhere north of Arconia, in a valley, and it was quiet. Too quiet.

Kliff snored. He had given up on the horse; he had given up on finding Zarcon and maybe clearing his name, and most of all he had given up on Meekal. While the horse was going in whatever direction it wanted to, Meekal was arguing with Derek, one of his favorite stones, on which direction he should be pointing the horse. At first, Kliff found the argument between the daft prince and the stone amusing, but 10 hours later it was too much, and he forced himself to fall asleep.

Now the sun was rising in the strange valley, somewhere north of Arconia, and Kliff Fauldergraft dreamt one last peaceful dream.

[Zelda]

The Queen after waiting a suitable length of time, mounted her horse. She hadnt bothered with a saddle, just a saddle cloth and reins. It gave her more freedom. Arcon didnt know it, but many years ago her father (George Cooper) had taught her the ways of street fighting. She knew that if Arcon got into trouble, they may be the only way to save him. Not that the King would admit that he needed her help. He never had really managed to tame her temper or overcome her stubborness both of which she had inherited from her mother. As she rode she thought about all that had happened to her. It was alot really, a simple life she hadnt had that was for sure

[Zelda]

As the Queen rode, she reflected. Arcon, Lochinvar and her had always run together, ever since they were youngesters. Then she had moved away, to learn how to become a knight in the big city. Though it was only because of her mother that she was allowed. King Jonothan was reluctant to allow it, as was Gareth, the head of the training school. It was only becuase they knew how stubborn her mother could be, and the fact they knew that she would not have suggested it if she did not think that her daughter could do it that they relented. There was provisos of course. That she also take training with her grandmother and adopted grandfather in how to be a "lady". It was something she had never really wanted to be, a lady that was.

Now days she could pass as one easily, but Zelda was always more comfortable in breechs and shirt, with a weapon on her hip and her hair caught in a crude bun. Unfortunately as Queen she had to put on the correct "face" to the people of Arconia. It was what was expected of her. Fortunately the people of Arconia looked at her eccentricitys with amusement more then resentment. They knew that despite appearences Zelda was a strong leader, someone who they could trust as much as Arcon.

As she mused Zelda was moving further away from camp. Her horse "Zebabel" a solid gray mare knew her owners moods and was plodding along a well worn path, slow enough to allow Zelda her reverive but fast enough to allow them to gain time on Arcon.

Zelda stopped Zebabel and dismounted to check where the trail was leading. The Queen frowned and knelt on the ground. This wasnt right. Only Arcon and Zorn had left the camp this morning and headed this way. Why were there 2 other sets of prints? The horses were from the Royal stables in arconia. Zelda could tell by the markings on the shoe, as only the blacksmith in the Royal stables put that little tick in the shoe. Suddenly out of the blue Zelda heard voices. Or a voice. It sounded like Meekal. But he was in the tower with Kliff, or atleast they were last time Zelda looked, which was 3 days ago.
Meekal was having an arguement with someone whose voice Zelda couldnt hear....
"But I tell you Derek this horse doesnt know where it is going...."
"No I didnt ask permission to use it. I'm supposed to be in the tower remember?"
"Yes and you can do better could you?"
"We are supposed to be tracking Zarcon, to stop him killing Arcon. Now stop arguing and lets wake Kliff up."

The Queen looked around, but could see no sign of either Meekal, Kliff or the mysterious Derek. She was in a quandry. Did she try and find Meekal and then follow Arcon, or did she just keep trying to follow her husband, to help him?

She made up her mind, and kept following Arcon's tracks.

[arcon]

Slowly they made their way toward the river.
The old stone house by the cliffs edge was their destination. Acrons father had built it many years ago before his birth. Where would Zorn choose to face him? Arcon was not sure. The old home was at an angle to the forest and the cliff. On one flank was the thick forest woods and on the other the clearing before the cliffs edge.
How many times as a child had arcon sat in fear overlooking the 100 foot drop off. His father never knew of the incident many years ago when he'd thrown a pig over the side of the cliff just to see how long it would take to strike the waters sufface. His father would not have approved. The memory was very clear to him to the day and he still was not proud of that first encounter with death. It was the first time he'd killed anything and he couldnt sleep for two days.

Arcon turned to his right to speak to Zorn just as the first arrow flew pastfrom the rear. The arrow stuck a tree,causing a loose branch to fall across their path. Zorns horse reared up at the instant he was reaching for his bow. He rolled in a ball as he hit the ground but held fast to his bow. Stunned at first he quickly regained his footing.
Arcons horse was bucking and moving side to side arcon was frantically trieing to control the spooked beast. A man came from the bush approaching Arcons horse, then another from the opposite side.
Zorn put an arrow in his bow, took bead on the first man, released his arrow, striking the man square in the chest. Arcon turned toward the other man drawing his sword as his horse stepped to the side. The first blow of the sword caught arcons horse in the left rear flank. There would be no second.
Arcons first swing sunk deep into the mans neck, nearly removing his head. The man slumped to the ground.
Arcon look back , Zorn was fighting two men.
Three more were running toward him.
He yelled, "Zorn"! hold fast. "Im ....
and before he could say it. Zorn screamed.
"Run sire, go now. they're to many".
Arcon didnt hesitate, he drew his bow and took out one of the two men. The arrow pierced his left eye . "Now sire , you must leave Zorn screamed.......
"Arcon took one last look at his brave captain turned and rode".

[ 10-20-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[DamedEscrime]

Zarcon was getting impatient. The trap had been laid, but Arcon had not come. Finally he could stand the wait no longer. "ARGH! Why did I not think of it before. There is only one other place he could have headed. Quick, grab the woman and two horses. We ride alone. The rest of you will stay here. Watch for Arconians. If any cross your path, kill them."

Jo was roughly drawn from the ground. Zarcon permitted her hands be tied in front to allow her to hold fast to her mount. She was encouraged when Morgan was brought forth for her to ride.

Once seated she leaned forward placing her head as close to Morgan's ear as she could and whispered, "Morgan, my friend,I am happy to see you. I do not know what is to become of us, but we shall face it together. If we get out of this alive I shall bring you sugar everyday." The horse seemed to understand her words and turned his head to nuzzle her leg.

Then with a sudden "HAH" they were off. Zarcon was in a hurry. He drove the horses mercilessly. Foam soon formed around their mouths as they rode faster and faster. Only their heavy breaths could be heard above the thunder of their hooves. "Zarcon, we must slow. This will surely kill these beasts," Jo hollared above the din.

"Quiet, woman! You will not speak unless spoken too. And we will ride until these animals drop if need be. I must reach the cliffs before the sun sets this day."

"But.."
Be still or die NOW!" he commanded.

Jo said nothing more. Morgan was tiring. His gait was becoming choppy. His breath came in fast uneven snorts. Jo could see sweat droplets glistening on his coat. She had "borrowed" this horse and that was bad enough. She would not be able to look Sir Lochinvar in the face ever again if something dreadful happened to this magnificent animal. So she took a chance. Slowly she pulled back on the reins and whispered, "Whoa." Morgan slowed his gait to a trot and tried to catch his breath. He needed water desperately, but there was none.

Zarcon turned instantly and was furious. He raced back and was upon Jo in a flash. "What do you think you are doing?"

"He cannot go on like that," Jo said indicating Morgan.

"Then we leave him." Zarcon grabbed Jo, pulled her behind him and was off. Jo looked back to see poor Morgan drop to his knees and roll to his side. For the first time she buried her head in Zarcon's back and cried.

Before long they had passed through the thickest part of the forest. Zarcon slowed his horse as they approached the edge which opened into a wide meadow and seemed to suddenly drop off on the far side. They had reached the cliffs.

Zarcon kept them hidden in the tree line waiting and watching.

[Zelda]

Zelda's mount was tiring, but she urged the gray mare on. Uphead she heard sounds then suddenly Zorns voice in pain "Now sire you must leave...". There was silence. Zelda rode her horse even harder towards the noise. As she rode into a clearing she saw Zorn, his eyes glazed in death, an arrow spouting from his chest.

Zelda dismounted and closed the eyes of the brave solider, who had died serving his master. "May the Goddess guide your journey Zorn." she crossed herself and remounted. There was no time to waste. She suddenly realised she knew were she was, and she knew exactly where Arcon was heading....the old house...the one his father has built before he was born. The stone cottage where he had spent most of his childhood, where she had come to escape the Chaos which was her home at Pirates Swoop.

The area was dangerous, ideal for an ambush. On one side of the house there was a thick forest, on the other a 100 foot drop to a river. If you rode into the clearing from the direction ARcon was heading there was no way out if someone was waiting. It reminded her of the times she visited her Grandfather Myles at Olau. The rivers and deep forests, which as a child she had spent years exploring.
Zelda KNEW thats where Zarcon would be.

Suddenly she caught a glimpse of her husband through the trees. His horses tail was streaming out behind him, he was laid down against its neck. Together they were one being, a thing of speed and beauty.

As Zelda slowed her horse down to keep her distance her eye caught a movement to the side of the path. Smiling at the error, which many years ago would have earned her weeks of duty she dismounted and crept up behind the person. With a flick of her wrist they were dead. Quickly she searched his pockets and belongings, finding nothing of importance. Shouldering the dead mans weapons she sent her horse back down the path towards camp and starting tracking Arcon on foot. Similar errors by another 2 men caused them to be dispatched in a similar way.

Then all of a sudden the trail went Cold. It was like if ARcon had disappeared into thin air.

[Lord Tellurine]

Captain Zorn’s horse continued to trot along without paying a shred of interest in anything that Meekal was trying to say to him. “Whoa?” Meekal croaked weakly for the umpteenth time.

The horse snorted defiantly, continued along for a few more seconds, then stopped.

“It worked!” Meekal exclaimed silently and then he looked up the path in front of him. Standing in the shadows of the forest’s black tree trunks was a man, a large man with a bow and arrow pointed directly at him. Meekal gulped and concluded the horse had stopped on its own when it had become aware of the man’s presence.

Except for the autumn wind blowing through the trees, all was quiet.

The man, who name was Nefus and was a loyal follower of Zarcon, was studying them. He took special interest in the horse, noting that it was a soldier’s horse and it was from Arconia. He had no idea what to make of Meekal and his sleeping partner, though. They were not soldiers, they were not armed, and at least half of them were not even awake. Killing innocent people had never been a problem for Nefus. His twenty years with Zarcon had taught him that anyone who wasn’t with Zarcon was against him, even if the person hadn’t even heard of Zarcon. What Nefus was pondering was whether or not he should waste a couple of arrows on people he didn’t know, when the upcoming battle would require every arrow he carried.

Nefus decided to speak and asked, “Who are you?”

Meekal gulped and the horse shifted its footing nervously. He finally answered, “I am Prince Meekal of Muu. Behind me is Kliff Fauldergraft of Muu.”

Nefus thought about that for a moment and followed up with, “Why are you riding an Arconian horse?”

Meekal answered honestly, “We stole it. After escaping our cell in the castle tower.”

Nefus asked, “What are you doing here?”

Meekal explained, “From the tower we saw which way Zarcon went. We followed him so we could help.”

Nefus thought for another moment. He said, “You escaped from the castle in Arconia, stole a horse, and followed Zarcon here so you could help?”

“That’s right,” confirmed Meekal. Behind him, Kliff snored.

For the first time, Nefus lowered his bow and was no longer pointing a deadly arrow at Meekal. “I am Nefus,” he greeted, not moving from his spot. “Zarcon is my king and it is my duty to protect him from the Arconian dogs that have come to kill him. They’re in these very woods, preparing to battle us, not knowing they will all die.”

Suddenly, Meekal realized he shouldn’t be talking to this man. He wondered to himself how he had escaped being shot thus far, but all he could remember was that he answered the man’s questions truthfully. Meekal could sense for the first time that the horse was nervous and wanted to bolt and so did Meekal before he let it slip he was trying to stop Zarcon, not help him. He decided he would talk as little as possible so that the chances of saying something wrong would be reduced.

Nefus said, “If you want to help us against the Arconians we’ll need to get you a weapon.”

“Yep,” Meekal said simply.

“You a bow fighter, or a sword fighter?”

“Either,” Meekal squeaked out.

“How ‘bout your friend?”

“The same.” Meekal breathed an inner sigh of relief. So far, so good.

“Well, Zarcon has a lodge near here. We can find you a weapon there.” Nefus smiled. “There’s also a delicious little tart there. She’s unconscious, but that’s how I like them. I hate women that talk too much, and if I overheard correctly, this one is the royal scribe from Arconia, so you KNOW she wouldn’t shut up!” He turned around to lead Meekal towards the lodge.

Meekal, who up to now had been saying to himself, “Don’t say anything stupid. Don’t say anything stupid,” over and over again, suddenly DID something very stupid. He grabbed the reins of the horse, gathered his courage, and charged Nefus.

[Moonitic]

{ed. note: I resemble that remark!}

[Willow]

As Willow and the others tracked Arcon, Zelda and Captain Zorn, icy cold tugged at her heart. The closer that they got to where Arcon was headed, the more feeling of dread came over Willow. Something felt dark and black and cold. She suspected that this feeling came from Zarcon and any wizard that he had enlisted to help him in his evil plan. Did this mean she wasn't powerful enough to do battle with them? Did this mean she would be injured? Die? Lose the child that moved within her? Whatever was going to happen, it had come full circle. She felt it in her soul. The time had come for the final battle.

[arcon]

Arcons horse limped into the clearing some 50 yards from the old stone house. The animal had lost a great deal of blood from the wound in its left flank. When its rider dismounted the horse seemed to buckle try again to stand then slowly fell over as if in slow motion. Arcon leaned down, gently rubbing the animal between its forehead.
Talons eyes were somewhat glazed. So cyrstal clear were those eyes for so many years.
Arcon looked over at the arrow embeded in talons left leg. How had he come this far?
Again he rubbed the animal for the last time upon his head.."goodbye ole friend you served me well" ....standing slowly Arcon reached for an arrow, placed it in his bow,took aim between Talons eyes,drawing it back to within an inch of the arrows tip, he released the bow string. The animal jolted and lay still.

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[arcon]

Arcon slowly made his way toward the old stone house. It seemed way to quiet. His mad dash down the ancient path to the clearing also seemed to easy. Then again Zarcon may have allowed him to get this far alone knowing fully that this would come down to just the two of them. He felt certain the others were in for trouble.Zarcons men would not let them live.

This place held many memories for him. Even at this time of peril it was hard to keep the memories from filtering through......

"Arcon, im a princess." will you be my Knight? replied the little girl with golden curls. She scampered along the edge of the cliff as if flirting with death. Teasing it taunting it to reach up and grab her.

"Of course my-lady." replied the young lad.
As he galloped along after her on his make believe horse. " And ill slay anyone who lays a hand upon you my princess."

Arcon smiled to himself, as he made his way toward to back of the old stone house.

[Zelda]

Zelda had taken the back way through the trees, aiming to come out near the cliff side of the clearing. She hadnt seen anymore of Zarcons men, which made her edgy. Even after all these years, this area bought back memories. HAppy ones of a carefree time.

[DamedEscrime]

Zarcon watched Arcon's arrival from the safety of the trees. Jo watched too. They both witnessed the king's sad farewell to the loyal beast, but whereas Jo shed a tear, Zarcon laughed low in his belly. "You see now how stupid my brother is? Even now, he wastes time and ammunition on a dumb animal," Zarcon gloated.

Jo wanted to say something in Arcon's defense
and to scream out a warning to him, but was unable for Zarcon had now replaced the filthy gag upon her mouth. All she could do was watch. And watch she did. She studied Zarcon, looking for a weakness, an opening, just some small chance where she might attack, distract, or run.

Had all this come of a jealous heart? Jo pondered why this even had come. She was unaware of the full story, but knew it had much to do with the Lady Moon. But why had Zarcon left the lady at camp and made her dress in this feeble disguise?

"Come! It is time!" Zarcon smiled an evil smile and jerked Jo's leash yanking her through the cover. As he did he pulled the cloak over her face so that only a small potion of her chin was visible. He left the rest open to expose the Lady Moon's blouson thus allowing Arcon to think that she were wrapped inside.

As bold as brass he stood at the edge of the battlefield and called out his brother.
"ARCON! Come out, you fool. See what I have brouht you,"Zarcon challenged. Jo stoof only a few feet from Zarcon and he cruely yanked ond the leash to unsteady her. As he did so she wimpered at the pain. She tried to shake her head to warm her king not to step out and Zarcon pulled even hard nearly causing her to topple. "BE STILL OR DIE NOW!"

Arcon peered through a small window in the old door now hanging on rusty hinges. His heart missed a beat when he saw what appeared to be the Lady Moon being roughly jerked and pulled across the field.

About half way to the cottage Zarcon stopped and postioned the woman in front of him. Drawing his sword he placed it at the troat of her lowered head. "Is this what you want, brother? Then try and take her. Alive if you can." It was a threat, a tease, an invitation.

Arcon did not hurry. He took his time trying to find a good point in line. If he rushed the lady would be dead in an instant. Slowly he opened the cottage door and stepped out, hand on his hilt. Never taking his eyes from his brother's he walked forward. This would not end well. Someone would not return on their feet.

A few feet from Zarcon, Arcon drew his weapon. "Let her go," he commanded. "My pleasure," responded Zarcon as yanked her cord on more time then threw her aside like a small toy which had stopped amusing it's child.

Now the two men faced each other with steely gazes, each a reflection of the other. Slowly they began to circle round, crouching lower, ready to strike at the first opportunity. It had begun.

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Lord Tellurine]

Meekal let out a yell as he charged. This accomplished two things. First, it made Nefus spin around to view his attacker. Second, it awoke Kliff. He opened his eyes, blinked, saw the trees zipping past him, and heard Meekal yelling. An instant later he saw the man on the path, raising a bow and arrow. Before Kliff could react in any way, Meekal’s right hand went up, in his fist he clutched a stone named Derek, and as they sped past the man, who was unable to raise his bow in time to attack, Meekal slammed the stone down upon the man’s forehead. The man collapsed onto the forest floor and Meekal shook his hand in pain.

Kliff couldn’t believe what he had just seen. He had just witnessed a transformation. The timid daft prince of Muu had become a warrior. He had become a man. As they continued down the path Kliff asked, “What’s going on?”

Meekal answered as a tree branch brushed his face, “That was a Zarcon follower! He was insulting Lady Moon!”

Kliff replied, “Meekal, I’m very proud of y-“

A sharp pain in his back made Meekal wince. Immediately he thought that Nefus had hit him with an arrow, and he could feel the warm blood trickle down his back from his wound. Meekal turned to see Nefus drop his bow and arrow and fall to the ground again, as if the blow to the head had finally taken its deadly toll.

Meekal pulled back violently on the reins to stop his horse, but doing so made the horse rear up and when it did Kliff Fauldergraft fell from the horse onto the leaf-covered ground. Meekal glanced down at him and saw the arrow sticking out through his chest, the arrow that had hit him in the back. Emotions swept over him and he hopped down from the horse, shooting a sharp pain through his back as he landed roughly on the ground. He knelt by hi