By Draconic Spirit

Chapter One

It was the deep of night, in a forested glade. The glade boasted a deep, clear pool in the middle. Several beasts were drinking the pure water. It looked to be a serene scene, yet there was a sense of unease. Each creature was tense, waiting, expecting something. They had been hunted for years by humans and this sudden peace was unsettling. Birds chirped sounds of caution from their perches in the surrounding trees.

Suddenly all noise ceased and the creatures around the pond looked around with ears sharp. A sound came from the northeast, followed by a noise from the south. The beasts bolted for shelter in the forest. The sounds came closer and closer. From the northeast two men in leather armor entered the clearing. The younger of the two hesitated briefly at the edge of the glade, then continued on in to the clearing. The sounds to the south ceased. The men went to the pool.

Just as they were about to kneel for a drink a voice spoke, "Stop right where you are." The voice seemed to come from all around. "I have a crossbow leveled on you. If you so much as twitch you'll be a dead man." There was a movement on the south side of the glade and a woman stepped out holding a small crossbow. She was of average height and rather thin. There was a sword strapped across her back. She walked over to the men with silent yet graceful strides. "What are you doing in my forest?" Her face was an indifferent mask. Her eyes, though, were ablaze with rage. The eyes of the two men filled with terror.

"W-we were s-sent to find the outlaw R-Rya to give her a m-message," stuttered the older man. Watching the other man, she turned toward the one that spoke. Her eyes filled with curiosity, but her face remained expressionless.

"I'm the one they call Rya. Who sent the message and what is it?"

"The message is from my Lady Kestra," Rya's eyes flared with fury at the mention of that name. "She says it is useless for you to continue to oppose her. You will gain nothing if you continue fighting."

"Tell her this: I'll never surrender and I never listen to whores."

The younger man stared adamantly at Rya. "Please, woman, Lady Kestra rules the land. There is nothing you or that doting old man can do. My lady has more power and magic at her command than anyone."

"I said," she responded in a harsh tone, "I will never give up. God has always protected my people. Now leave before I turn you into pin cushions." She motioned the crossbow in the direction they came from. The two men ran hurriedly out of the forest glade without a backward glance. She removed the bolt from the bow, returning it to a pouch at her hip. She slung the crossbow from a loop on her belt.

Rya knelt beside the pond and scooped up a handful of water and sipped the water slowly. She turned her eyes toward the heavens and sighed with relief. God had yet to answer her prayers. While she was looking at the sky, she saw something streak by leaving behind a trail of smoke.

Rya stared at the smoke, curious and surprised. She followed the smoke in the direction the object had gone. The thing had traveled about one and a half miles before crashing to the ground with a horrendous noise. The sound of the crash startled Rya into a frantic run.

She raced in the direction of the crash, the crossbow banging against her thigh. She reached the edge of the forest and stared in fascination. Before her stood an object of monstrous proportions. It was a hundred feet high and fifty feet wide, and smoking from one end. It was diamond shaped with three fin-like protrusions, one side had creases at the bottom in the shape of a doorway.

Suddenly, light glowed around the creases and spread inward covering the entire rectangle. The light slowly faded to reveal an opening. Within the opening stood a tall, thin, shadowy being. It stepped out of the opening and tumbled to the ground. It gave a spasmodic convulsion and then lay still. The opening sealed itself closed with a metallic clang.

Rya walked cautiously toward the stranger, keeping an eye on the huge, smoking monster. She knelt by the being and studied its appearance. It was a young human man clad in the most unusual clothing. Rya brushed aside the long dark hair to reveal the face of the man. She gazed in wonder at the a face that appeared familiar, yet she couldn't place where she had seen it before.

Rya, so absorbed in scrutinizing the stranger, failed to hear a faint rustling until it was at her ear. She spun around swiftly and glared at the source of the noise. There before her was a tiny being drifting on fluttering wings. Rya gave the creature a welcoming smile.

"Hello, Natalie," she said politely. "What are you doing so far from the vale?"

The fairy creature replied, "Rya, your grandfather sent me to get you."

"Why would he send for me at this time of night."

"I'm not there is a great disturbance in the magical balance."

"Natalie, I can't go to him just yet." Rya turned and gestured toward the man lying on the ground. "I got to figure out what to do with him."

Natalie landed on the ground and looked to the body. "Those are the most outlandish outfit I've ever seen. Where did he come from?"

"He came out of that smoking monster a few moments ago. He passed out when he touched the ground."

"Bring him along," said Natalie in a decisive tone. "You can decide later when you know more about him.:" Rya nodded and made a short, eerie whistling sound.

"Natalie, go on ahead of me. I'll see you at camp." The fairy drifted up and then streaked away, leaving behind a faint trail of light. Rya watched her go in silence. She waited a few moments, then repeated the eerie whistle.

A small sturdy horse came out from among the trees and went straight towards Rya. She put out a hand to the small beast. The horse nuzzled her hand and stepped closer. Rya drew her hand away slowly and bent to heave the man to the horse's back. It accepted the weight and Rya led it into the woods with her hand on its shoulder. The man remained silent and still.

They walked into the deepest, darkest parts of the forest. When they reached what looked to be the thickest parts, the trees suddenly parted to reveal a large clearing with floating spheres of light everywhere. All around the meadow were sleeping people and a scattering of those awake keeping watch. Rya led the horse over to a wakeful old man. She halted near him and unloaded the horse's burden carefully. The horse, having done its deed, drifted off to a clump of grass.

After the strange young man was made as comfortable as possible, Rya faced the elderly man, "Evening, Grandfather. Natalie said you wished to speak with me."

The old man looked up at Rya. "Child," he began in a weary voice, "there is a great disturbance in the magical balance. It would seem a new and seemingly powerful magic worker has entered our world. We must find this person and guard him or her from Kestra. Kestra will surely want to get her hands on such a strong person."

"I'll do what I can, Grandfather," said Rya. She gestured towards the inert form nearby. "I would like for you to tell me what you think about this stranger. I saw him step out of some sort of smoking monster. When he touched the ground he collapsed. He hasn't twitched since." Rya's grandfather stood up and walked over to the man. He knelt beside the body and placed a hand on his chest and one on the forehead. He closed his eyes and creased his brow with intense concentration.

He kept that poise for several minutes. When he opened his eyes, they held a hint of curiosity and confusion. He looked over at Rya and motioned for her to join him. She came and knelt beside her grandfather. "Rya," his voice was tired but also curious, "this is most unusual. My magic has no effect on him. I can't perceive a thing about him. If you wish to learn anything about him, he will have to awaken on his own." He stood up and walked away, leaving Rya alone with the still figure.