JUST TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR - NO ONE MAY COPY ANY PART OF THIS ORIGINAL WORK WITHOUT MY EXPRESS PERMISSION. IT IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY PART OF ANY PUBLIC DOMAIN.

THIS NOVEL IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAWS

SIGNED, Richard Lafayette Cox, V; this 26th day of March, 2010

And without further ado, please enjoy the novel.

Part 1

Chapter 1: Intrem

It was strange to the townsfolk that the weather did not reflect the nature of the day. As the black clouds swelled above the lands surrounding the village of Intrem, the villagers began to taste the first drops of rain. On the outskirts of the village, from the Eastern hills to the West Road Bridge, travelers snapped the reigns of carriages to encourage their horses to move faster. In the market, merchants and artisans began to pack up their wares, or, in the case of the blacksmith, offered to others a share under the sturdy roof. Surrounding the market were several small houses, mostly made of make-shift pieces of wood, that offered some degree of comfort and protection to the less wealthy. The rain began to fall faster, and the village of Intrem readied for a day spent inside. As the children ran from their games in the fields, the citizens would decide to spend their day either at home with family, or at the tavern where Joe the barkeeper would charge one piece of silver for two drinks and another piece for admission into the pool room (the place where most fights broke out, and where the Intrem marshall waited to arrest any brawlers.) Such was the nature of the weather, dark and cloudy, although it did not reflect what was about to happen in the mansion at the top of Juliano's Hill.

Juliano's Hill was a very large and lush, green hill that rose in height as you traveled its paved road north. Along the road, one could find only seven houses of increasing stature and wealth, facing across from one another to the left and right of the road, with the exception of the stone mansion at the very top, facing down and across the town to the south. It was this very dwelling in which the Lord and Lady of Intrem lived, and where Lady Intrem was now in labor with her first child.

Outside the mansion one could not have heard the shrieks of the lady, but inside the pains of labor were very real to Richard Intrem, who held his wife's hand as the midwife delivered the baby. "That's it deary, that's it," said the midwife to Isabella. "One more deep breath -- now push, push, push." Tears streamed down Isabella's face and her cheeks puffed out, but between the gown the midwife carefully guided the baby out. With a short huff, Isabella passed out and the midwife retrieved the baby, covered in blood and screaming, but to Richard it was the most delightful thing in the world. Richard passed out, as his wife did, and a few minutes later the midwife awoke the lord to introduce the cleaned baby boy to his father and mother. Isabella and Richard smiled at each other as the baby began to suckle on his mother's swollen breasts. For a while, the room was silent and the bedroom was left to the new family when the midwife collected her pay and left, but the silence was broken when Richard looked at his wife and spoke on word to name the baby boy. "Inferno."

As the sun set on the hills and forests and plains of Intrem, the rain continued in a torrential downpour. The clouds were completely black, and the superstitious would be content in assessing the situation as a bad omen. A belief that would turn out to become true.

Alrid sat in a wooden chair under the concrete pass on the side of the bridge leading to the village. Alrid, a young, strong, and able bodied man; served as the town's Captain of the Watch. As the Watch Captain, Alrid had the privilege of being exempt from the duties of raising and lowering the bridge, but did so several times a week to encourage good work ethic among his men. And besides, Alrid was content to let his mind wander in the dark of the night.

The bell was rung from the other side of the bridge, and Captain Alrid stood to his feet and grabbed hold of the lowering mechanisms, which consisted of a metal switch that connected to several gears, a simple machine created by Alrid himself. He pushed down on the switch, and waited as the bridge slowly lowered itself. The wooden ends of the bridge groaned as the two halves connected in the middle. Alrid raised his hood to protect himself from the weather, and began to walk under the bridge to greet the newcomer. Alrid looked across the bridge, and could make out a single rider atop a horse. As the rider came nearer, Alrid could make out a gender. The rider was male, hooded. The watch Captain was a superstitious fellow, and he kept one hand on the sword buckled to his side as the horse and it's rider came nearer. The rider came to a stop, just in front of Alrid.

"It's a bit late, isn't it?" spoke the Captain.

"It most certainly is, but I am not granted the liberty of rest at night. I have an important message that must be delivered to your lord."

Alrid inspected the man with a squinted eye. "What kind've message do you bear?"

The rider lowered his hood and returned the Captain's wary look with a somber look upon his face. "A message that bears great consequences. A message that speaks of death, loss, and tragedy. A message that offers no comfort, only a promise of hardship, and trials. A message... about a very special boy. Does that change things?"

Alrid shook his head, still a bit suspicious about the newcomer. "Aye, it changes things. If you bear only cryptic words, I must let you pass, but I ask that you dismount and allow me to search you."

"Of course." The man swung one leg over the horse to reach the ground, and spread his arms and legs slowly to ensure the watchman of his good intent. Alrid patted him down, and shook hands with the man when he was finished. "Enjoy your stay in Intrem. My name is Alrid, Captain of the drawbridge. If you run into trouble in the city, talk to one of the men on Watch. Other than that, be respectful to the lord."

"Don't worry," the rider assured. "I will be most courteous to my brother."

The sound of a loud knock brought Richard, the Intrem Lord, to slowly wake. As the pounding on the mansion's doors continued, Richard groggily rose to his feet and began to trudge out of his bedroom, leaving his sleeping wife and child to continue down the ornate hallway to the entrance. Richard yawned loudly as he opened the door.

In the frame of the door stood a man with a hood, a few inches taller than Richard himself. It took Richard a few seconds before the realization his hit, and he said, "Brother! I wasn't expecting you! Please, come in."

Richards brother complied. "I apologize."

"What for, Jeff?"

Jeff pointed at the puddle of mud that had formed from his wet boots. "I must also apologize for the timing of my visit. I wouldn't have come to you in the middle of the night... but I have an important message to convey. From beyond," Jeff tapped his skull, and Richard understood what his brother meant, instantly. Jeff had a strange gift, something awful and honest. Jeff heard voices from another plane of existence.

"No worries," said the Intrem Lord. "Please, close the door, and we'll sit down."

Jeff obliged, glad to be out of the elements and in the comfy mansion. "It really has been a while," said Jeff as he examined the ceiling.

Richard led the way into a tiled room with a large counter and plenty of alcohol. Basically, the family equivalent of a bar. "Sit," Richard offered as he walked behind the counter to get two glasses and a bottle of yellow alcohol. Richard poured the alcohol into tall glasses, filling them to the brim. "You know we're going to need it," said Richard to his brother in response to the quizzical look he received.

Richard sat across from his brother on a plush stool, and took a deep swig of the drink, which burned in a good way. Jeff did the same.

Richard cleared his throat. "So... how have you been?"

"Good, I suppose. It's not quite like living in Intrem, which is void of any crime and especially evil wizards."

Richard laughed out loud. "I'll have you know that Intrem is not entirely crime free. We have a real problem bar fights, we usually get about twenty big ones a year."

Jeff shared in the laughter. "Yeah, but still. Traveling can be a tad complicated; not all cities have a benevolent ruler like my brother. War is a common occurrence outside of the middle lands; bloodthirsty warlords, mage clans, and political dissent. You hear of it all, I'm sure, but luck would have Intrem stay as the nice town on the river."

"You have me there, brother. Have you adapted well enough to... you know?"

Jeff shrugged. "It's not as bad as you think. It has allowed me to do things I could never have done before. I can serve the world much better... and perhaps you now, as well."

Richard raised an eyebrow in response. "Do explain."

Jeff's features darkened a bit, and he drank the rest of the alcohol before leaning forward to speak. "Two prophecies have been spoken. Involving both you, and me. Neither of them are good, and both intertwine. Do you know what I speak of?"

Richard shook his head. "I was never good at riddles, nor as bright as you were. Give it to me, plain and simple."

"As you wish," Jeff replied. "Both involve... your son."

"Inferno?" Richard stood up, and peered over his shoulder and into the hallway in his house. He remained like that for a minute, but eventually sat down, slowly. His brother spoke next.

"Yes, Inferno. What I can tell you is that I will not see Inferno for thirteen years, and I will never speak to you after this night. An evil wizard has come to power again, and I am the one who must stop him. If I can believe my own two ears," he paused, "then I can firmly say that your son is both very powerful, and very dangerous."

Richard nodded slowly. Magic was not foreign to the Intrem family, Richards grandparents could see the future and hear voices. Jeff was a powerful wizard himself, but Inferno? A part of Richard wanted Inferno to be a normal boy. To grow up, to become the Lord of the town, to have children and grandchildren. Richard was a bit disappointed, but he would love his son all the same. He allowed his brother to continue.

"There is one more thing I must divulge to you." Jeff shuffled his feet and looked to the floor. He leaned into his brothers ear to whisper the final part of his message. Richard stared straight ahead, his face transformed into a mask of grief. Richard spoke clearly, although his mouth turned as dry as cotton. "I trust you will return on time, then?"

"Yes, brother. Thirteen years, and not a day more or less. I swear it."

"Very well." Richard stood up, and led his brother through the hallway and to the front door. He opened the door, and embraced Jeff for a minute. Jeff walked outside, and turned around to face his brother.

"Thirteen years."

Thirteen years.