Of

Bitheia

By: A. D. Theriault

I would like to take the time to thank the people that has made this book possible. Brad Hatch for the artwork, Vincent S. Brock for teaching me to use me imagination and all the people whom contributed to the creation of the people, places, and creatures held within the pages of this book.

Also any resemblance to creatures held by T. S. R. is only coincidental, the creatures are of the author’s own imagination.

And in closing I would like too personally thank Mrs. Mary Ann Collins for all the support and guidance that a close friend can give. Also I would like to thank Garshoasa for his input.

Dated: Thursday, May 10, 2001.

Copy write no. # 004-58-2339

Thank You All:

A. D. Theriault

PRELUDE

We go back to a time when the earth was young. These were the times of mystical creatures, and of magik, and mystical beings. I’m Moon Dragon a wizard, and ex-advisor to the King, having been asked by Goloth Bitheia to keep record of the next few weeks events in Castle Gray Stone.

So now the story begins...

CHAPTER # 1 THE TRIAL

The year is Three hundred and two; the current king is Gregor Bitheia. Tssherra and I sit in our shared chambers behind a wizard ward of protection discussing between our selves the situation at hand, the trial of about one-hundred and fifty people that we our selves are among that number. Outside the light of the full moon shines upon the out side courtyard.

Moon Dragon what can we do to stop what is about to happen? Will we be put to death or what ever else Elorax has in mind? I fear for us all. Tssherra please don’t doubt king Gregor he has a kind heart he will not allow a death sentence to be given, he’ll probably exile the whole lot of us to the uncharted regions just west of the mane island.

But as we both know Elorax is a very ruthless person, and will stop at nothing to try to kill you and me. But he has influence over the king only by the shier power of his will. For he is a power hungry person, and his control over the king grows stronger each day that passes.

The people that are being put on trial by king Gregor is because of Elorax’s control over the king. You see we all know the truth about his power sores, it is the medallion that he wares. For if he lost it he would be powerless a mortal.

He fears all of us, but especially me for I’m the only one that can defeat him.

He will try to put the whole thing on my head. Tssherra please do not fear for me, for I have faced death before, and tomorrow is not the day for me.

" Moons I do not fear for you, I fear for all those other people that are involved in all of this. Now sit down and let me tell you what is really going on in this castle. Before Elorax showed up King Gregor relied upon you for moral support, you also are still his closest friend, you and I know what the truth is but we will not use our influence as an evil instrument. But instead we use it as an instrument as good a gentle guide. For even Murr and Silver Foxx over power the king with there own wills, but they are not that mean. Goloth the kings’ own brother is the spearhead of this movement that we are involved in. Elorax knows that Gregor will not put us all to death, but will exile us all, and our families so your number of one-hundred and fifty is not correct, the exact amount is two-hundred and sixty-five people. Silver Foxx and Murr are included also. For if Elorax has you put to death you will become a martyr. So is why I think instead of death we all will be put to exile, off this island by ship, and that will be the end of the revolt. Goloth as you know has been building a ship, and has finished it. He calls her Bitheia, and she will hold us all vary easily. Along with enough rations to last for forty days at sea, and also enough horse, wagons and cattle so that we will not die but survive.

"Tssherra how do you all of this?"

"As you know Moon I can foresee the future and I also have my own ways of kneeing certain things. I have seen the maps that Goloth has and it is only a thirty-day trip by sea not forty as Elorax thinks. I also know, he knows more than he is telling. But I will leave that to him, now if you do not mind it is late and I need my sleep, good night Moon Dragon. "

We are woken by a knock on the door. " Moon Dragon, Tssherra the others are weighting for you in the anti-chamber, please rise and meet them as soon as possible." A half of a candle mark we enter the anti-chamber, seated are Murr and Silver Foxx, and also three of the King’s royal guards. We sit next to them, and silently weight. Not a word has been spoken for three hours judging by the hour candle on the small table across from us. We await a summons from the king. The door at the thrown room entrance opens, the Sergeant of the guards Benn walks towards us. " The king awaits your presents." We all stand and walk towards the thrown room a good forty paces, as we near the door the three guards standing by the door take posts one in front of us with Been, and the other two behind us. The thrown room doors are opened by two other guards, we are escorted to a row of four seats all facing the thrown of the king, behind us are the two-hundred and sixty-seven people accused of high treason, causing a rebellion among the people of Voldain. The court crier enters the thrown room from an eastern door. " Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The royal court of Voldain is now in session His Royal Majesty King Gregor Bitheia, and Her Royal Highness Queen Marrlina! All rise, and bow to your King and his Queen!"

As the king and queen enter the whole room is standing. As they take there proper places at the front of the thrown room the whole audience bows to the king and queen

" Be ye seated! "

" Moon Dragon you and the others have been accused of high treason, and causing a rebellion among the people of Voldain. How do you plead?" Gregor asked me. I remain silent as do the others seated beside me. After a few moments Elorax speaks.

" Your majesty they remain silent because they are guilty, and know if they do speak it can be brought agents them as further charges, so I suggest death for them all."

" No Elorax I will not make martyrs of them all instead I will exile them all from Voldain by ship to whatever destiny they chose. They will also have twenty good shires with saddle and tack, and cart and enough feed for the horses also. Twenty heads of cattle, nineteen cows and one bull, as we all know me brother has been working on a ship they can use it to leave Voldain. According to the maps it is forty days of sailing, they will also have forty days of rations, if they die it is not by my hand."

" Your majesty you have made it easer for them to survive were ever they land."

" Elorax be silent or I will have you removed from this courtroom!" " My Queen what is your opinion of this problem, what do you think I should do?"

"Well my King you know that I do not medal in the affairs of the court. You asked me for my opinion you shall have it. Of all the people here in this room you should exile is only one person that is Elorax.

He is the one that is accusing all of the ones here on trial. He is the one that you should exile from Voldain, not loyal subjects that would give up their lives for you on any battle field ageist any foe that may try to harm you or this island of Voldain. That is all I have to say on this matter my King."

"My King wills you listen to the words of a female?"

"Elorax show some respect for your Queen. She could very easily have you thrown in to irons, and put into the darkest dungeons of this castle, or wiped to death, and I will not stop her. The next time you disrespect the Queen I will do just that. Now my judgment stands and will be carried out to the letter in two weeks, you all should have all of your belongings on board the ship along with the supplies. In three weeks you all will leave Voldain, this time I give you should be enough time for you, to be ready to leave Voldain forever." Now leave this castle and return to your homes, to prepare your selves.

As we all leave the courtroom the others and I stay behind.

" Moon Dragon please stay and listen to what I have to say. Please seat your selves."

As we sat down the wine steward fills the five goblets sitting on the table in the midst of us.

I know that it will take more than one ship to transport all of those people, and supplies along with the cattle, horse, and cart, and tack. So I will give you five of the largest ships from the royal fleet. They are the same size as the Bitheia. This way you can store all the personal items of all of the exiled."

" Your Majesty that is very generous of you. Please accept my humble thanks."

" Moon there is no need to thank me for repaying you four, for the friendship that we have. Your safety is the first thing on my mind. Now please go and prepare for what is to come."

As we left the king we were both silenced by what we have heard. We walked in stunned silence. To the main hall leading west towards the wing that our room is in. As we pass the archway to the north west hallway, we approach two castle guards talking between each other. As we pass them they stop talking. As if we needed to hear the words, their minds screamed loud enough to wake the dead. "TRADERS, SPIES, NO GOOD THIEVES. "

As we came close to our room I lifted the wizards ward that locked the door form prying magiks of Elorax. We enter the room and replaced the ward so that we can talk freely between each other.

" So Moon we all have three weeks to prepare for sea travel. Do you think it will be enough time for all of the people involved?"

" Yes Tssherra I do think it will be. But I never expected the gift of five more ships about the same size or larger than the Bitheia. Those five shell hold more than just supplies, and provisions. They will hold all of the personal belongings of all exiled along with all the people. The Bitheia is two hundred and eighty feet long, and seventy feet tall, and sixty wide. Also she is five massed. Goloth knows what he is doing with any ship. If anybody can lode the five ships he can, and get it all stowed away in the correct order."

" Moon what is the real secret behind Elorax’s power? "

"Tssherra the real secret is that he has no real power of his own. You have seen the pendant that is on the chain around his neck. That is the real source of his power. Now if you do not mind we both need our sleep, for tomorrow starts the two weeks that we have to pack, and move all of our belongings on board the Bitheia."

" Moon what are the other five ships called?"

" Tssherra that we will find out in the morning, now good night."

We are awakened early from our nights sleep by a pounding on the door "Moon Dragon, Tssherra please wake up the Queen needs you! Hurry!"

We dressed quickly and lifted the ward to exit the room, as we exited we meet good Lady Hildebrand weighting for us with a candle. " This way please hurry along. " She leads us to secret passageway, after opening the door she steps inside." Follow me; be quite for we shall pass mere inches from Elorax’s rooms." We walk in silence for what seamed like hours, but we finely came out in the Queens chamber.

"My good friends please take a seat."

As we seat ourselves I ask, " What is thy wish my Queen?"

" Well Moon I’ll not mince words with you, for you and Tssherra and myself are closer than Elorax thinks." " Now we all know that I could have silenced Elorax forever, by putting him to death. But I also know that he, and Moon are brothers, and I also know that he gets his power from the amulet that he wears, not from a life time of research and study like you Moon. Tssherra you are my twin sister and you have also done the same as Moon. But I see a future that is not quite as clear as it should be."

" My Queen how do you know these things, only few people know what you know."

" Moon you and Tssherra are not the only people that have the second sight. I also have the gift of second sight. And that is how I know what I know Moon." " Now please take this small gift I know that you will need it." Handing Moon a medium cloth sack

" My Lady I thank you, but you know that you have gifted us with a treasure that can not ever be returned to you."

" Moon just take it and be at peace knowing that you and the others will survive with it, now please go back to your room and sleep till morning."

We go back to our room using the mirror that she has at her dressing table, and as soon as we arrive in our room I re-ward the door.

"Moon how could she know that sort of information? She also gave you a medium sack of holding witch I know that it is full of platinum and electrum coins worth more than a king’s ransom."

" Now Tssherra we have a limited time to get packed and board the main ship, Goloth with be expecting us to be on board quickly as possible"

" Moon why cannot we just use magik to move our stuff to the main ship and be done with the moving of all of our stuff."

" Tssherra that is some thing that I never thought of, but we would have to combine our skills to do that sort of spell."

" Moon lets just do it. The day is young and we have had enough rest."

So now we prepare for spell working. Tssherra and my self gathered all of our belongings into the center of our room. Now for the spell. Both of us pointing at the belongings and uttered together the words " Etaru-Tranportus-Quarta-Bitha-Sataru!" At an instant all of our belongings were transported to our quarters on board the Bitheia.

" Now that is done Moon we can now help others who need help."

" We can do what you suggest but it will drain our powers, but if we use the wizards’ stones we might be able to do it."

Both of us gathered the stones, and place them between us on the floor, we sit across from each other. Concentrating on the task at hand. Both of us are chanting " Etaru-Mas-Tranportus-Holdus-Bitha-Gretcha-Elza-Elvera-Esta-Pagasa-Sataru!"

" Now that is done Tssherra we can rest now."

In the morning we rise and leave the castle to go to the docks. As we walk toward the Bitheia Goloth greets us.

" Welcome aboard my friends, your quarters are ready for you."

As we walk up the gangplank we stop briefly and look back at Castle Gray Stone. Turning back toward the ship we continue up the gangplank to the main deck of the Bitheia, turning right we walk toward our quarters, we are greeted by Goloth Benjamin Samuiel Bitheia.

By the morning of the third day all were on board the six ships.