The Ever War: Chapter 1.8

The temple was a large domed structure with a tower rising from it (au/note: for a more detailed description, read Temple of Light). The two entered a courtyard and took in the sights. They turned back around, only to find a strange city sprawling out before them. Everywhere they looked, the city spread out around them.

They turned back to the temple. A fountain flowed merrily in the courtyard, beautiful plants growing about it. Cautiously, they stepped forward. Sarah grabbed Josh's hand, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

As they approached the only visible entrance to the temple, Sarah examined the statues on either side of the doorway. They were large, as high as the arch of the massive door, and armored, with two great wings spreading from behind them. Sarah stared up at them in awe. "I wonder who they were? Are they angels?"

"They are warriors of the Vi'gero." a voice called from the doorway. A robed man stood there, arms to his sides. He stepped out to them and inspected Josh. "You have grown into a fine man, my son."

"Father." Josh said. James Evans looked as though he were in his thirties. His blond hair was cut short, and his face carried a few scars. He looked no older than when Josh had last seen him.

"The Vi'gero? Who were they?" Sarah asked.

James' face took on a downward turn, and a sad look came into his eyes. "They were a peaceful, yet powerful race of winged beings. They are the creators of the Ever Road, but for what purpose has never been discovered. Even in my two centuries of guarding their temple, I haven't managed to figure out what even happened to them."

Josh froze. "Two...centuries?"

James looked at his son. "I have much to explain, and I fear that I have a very short time to do so. Now that there is a new Wanderer, things will begin anew."

"Anew? What do you mean? And where are we even?" Sarah asked as they moved into the temple. For a moment, Josh and Sarah were awed by the appearance of the main chamber. Carvings covered every inch of the walls, and in the center of the room, resting in a large indention with seating all around the sides of it, was a large statue of what looked like a four winged angel. Her head was tilted skyward, her hands folded before her.

James cleared his throat, regaining their attention. "That statue is of Axelle, the Goddess of the Vi'gero. According to their archives, Axelle blessed the Vi'gero with great power and knowledge and gave them the task of guiding the other races into the ways of civilization. They visited all the worlds and helped put an end to wars, and they even started a few to rid the lands of evil. But then something happened and the archives go silent. They just stop."

Josh frowned. "But why? And where are we even? Is this the home of the Vi'gero?"

James looked at his son again. "Yes, this is Hayat, the home of the Vi'gero. Why do the archives end? I do not know, Josh. It wasn't even an abrupt end, but there is no mention why. And yes, I am over two centuries old. Your mother was almost as old as I am."

"But...how? And why didn't you ever tell me?" Josh asked. Sarah watched, not knowing what to do or say at this family confrontation.

James' eyes had that sad look again. "To keep you safe. You are the Wanderer, Josh. All the Marked are special and precious, but the Wanderer is different from the others. It is the Sentinel's job to ensure that the next Wanderer is well trained and educated in the ways of the Vi'gero, and the very Ever Road itself. It is your mission to first find the others who are Marked, then you must set of on your true goal."

"The others? The old ones are all dead." Josh concluded.

"Yes." James suddenly looked old. "I am now the last of my generation of the Children of Light. Now, come. You two are hungry." He began walking off. Josh and Sarah followed him. As they walked to an entryway, the smell of stew simmering filled the air. They entered into a dining area. Josh and Sarah took a seat at a table as James poured stew into three bowls, then he placed them on the table, giving Josh and Sarah each one, along with two loaves of bread. Next, he took a pitcher and poured drink into cups. Setting one before each of the newborn Children of Light, he sat down and began eating. The two needed no encouragement.

They sat in silence as they ate. Before long several others entered. Josh and Sarah stared in wonder as several entered who were clearly nonhuman. Three looked like human-like cats, who stood upright and had hands instead of front paws. There were a couple who looked like upright dogs. One looked like a bird; but there were several that weren't human-like at all. One in particular had six legs and four arms. She had an elongated body that was as red as a tomato.

They all paused and looked at the two, then began chatting excitedly. They gave respectful bows to the two shocked newborns. They turned to James to find him smiling and chuckling. He wiped his mouth. "Weren't expecting them, were you?" he laughed. "They're all either priests or guards that serve under me. The city may appear empty, but it is much less empty than you think. Why do you think all the buildings are in such good condition?"

Josh shook his head and chuckled. "After fighting that Dark Dragon, I'm not really that surprised by all the different races."

The room went silent. James held his son in new respect, but before he could speak, a Katar (one of the cats) leaned across the table. "You fought a Dark Dragon?!" she purred. The others gathered around.

Josh smiled. "Yeah, it attacked us as we were on our way here. One minute, we were driving along, and the next, the car went rolling over and over. I climbed out and pulled Sarah out, just as the thing came back around..." He went into the telling with gusto. He made hand gestures, and every now and then Sarah would jump in with the observations she had made as she had watched and worried. The priests and guards listened, enraptured by the tale. "Then the wings and sword returned to my palm. I picked up Sarah and left before the authorities arrived." He finished.

"Are you aware that you happen to be the youngest Wanderer to face a Dark Dragon without even a scratch?!" One of the Jilds (the dog anthros) exclaimed. He ducked his head at the praise.

"I wouldn't say without a scratch. It got a couple hits on me." Josh mumbled. Praises went around as they all ate. James cleared his throat, and they all fell silent for the Sentinel. "As your father, Josh, I am so proud to hear of your first achievement. But you had best be on your guard. The enemy will be much harder and fiercer than they ever have before. I feel it in my bones; your generation will be the one that will finally see the end of this dreadful war."

"War? What war?" Sarah asked.

James took a drink before answering. "The War of the Ever Road."

Temple of Light

It appears as a large, domed structure with a tower rising from its center. At the top, you can just make out a domed aerie, with pillars supporting the dome.

You are currently standing in a courtyard, filled with a fountain and a lot of garden-like plants. You turn to the entrance to the temple and take in the sight of the doorway. It is wide and arched, flanked by two angelic statues wielding swords. They are armored, so you cannot make out what their faces would look like.

As you walk in the entrance, you enter a large chamber. Across from you are a set of stairs spiraling up out of sight, presumably to another level. Directly before you, in the very center of the chamber, is a large statue of a four winged angel, the upper wings angled up, with the lower angled down. Her hands are folded, and her head is faced upwards. Surrounding her is a large indention, with steps leading down to her. There are what appear to be seats carved into the sides of the indention. This is a depiction of Axelle, the goddess of the Vi’gero.

As you gaze about the chamber, you realize that there are other chambers branching off, and you spy another staircase to your left. Unlike the main staircase, this one spirals down to a lower level. You descend the stairs, and you step out into another chamber, much larger than the main one above you. Lining the walls are shelf after shelf after shelf of books, scrolls, tablets, and many display areas. There are tables, reclining, cushioned seats, large floor cushions, and even a fountain in the midst, surrounded by a small garden. Light seems to come from somewhere, but you are unable to locate the source.

You ascend the staircase back up to the main chamber. You head over to the other entryways and enter to find a dining hall. It is much smaller than the main chamber, and you realize that this is where the priests, the priestesses, and their families eat. On this floor, you find several apartments. You head up another set of stairs to an upper level above the apartments to find two separate dormitories. The apartments you saw below were for the priest, and priestesses with families, while the dormitories were for the singles, as well as any priests and priestesses in training.

You make your way back to the main chamber and ascend the main staircase. Up on this level are raised seats in a half circle. The wide open space easily carries sound, the stones reflecting the sound, and you could easily hear someone talking from across the chamber. This is where the Council of Elders holds its meetings. There are many rows of benches between the stairs and the daises. There is a circle before the Councils daises where non Council member could speak freely once they were recognized. Off to your right, there is another entrance. Curious, you enter and find a strange pillar of light spiraling slowly up. You step into it, and you are startled as you begin to rise. You pass by many more chambers that could either have be the Elder’s apartments, or meeting rooms, or even classrooms.

You come to a stop at the very top of the tower. You exit the light tunnel and gaze in amazement about you. You are standing in the open aerie you had seen from the ground. A balcony runs on the outside of the pillars. You step out and take in the breathtaking view of Hayat, a lush, fertile world that knows no war. You breathe in the delightful smell of vegetation and roasting meat rising from the city below. The city surrounds the temple for about ten miles in each direction, and beyond, you can see the beautiful forests. In the great distance, you can just make out several mountains.

You tear your eyes away from the sight, and wonder at what is in the center of the aerie. A massive orb of pure light shines before you, but your eyes aren’t harmed by it. In fact, it is quite clear, and you see many colors swirling inside it. Above the orb is an opening, in the dome.

You reach out to touch it, but it suddenly condenses and explodes upward through the opening, creating a pillar of pure light. Unafraid, you step into it, and you smile as the light swirls about you. Your feet leave the ground.

Welcome to the Ever Road.

The Ever War: Chapter 1.7

"Josh, it's getting dark." Sarah said softly. She was exhausted, her magic spent after healing herself. Josh nodded, weariness showing in his eyes. He was tired. She reached up and caressed his cheek. "You need some rest as well."

"We need to keep moving. Wherever it is we're supposed to be, it's close." he said, his voice stoic. A smile played at her lips.

"You need to rest, my Wanderer. You aren't used to so much power. You're spent. I need you to be at your best." she said.

"She is right, Josh. You are tired. Listen to her. As the Sage, she knows what she is talking about." the whisper came. Sarah smiled and laid her head on his chest. "Even the whisper says you need to rest."

He frowned. "How'd you know I heard it?"

She chuckled. "You had that distant look in your eye, just like your mother used to have. That's probably what she was listening to."

"You know, it's not really so much of a real voice." Josh said after a while.

"In a way, it is, but it...it isn't in your head, you know?" Sarah tried to explain.

"More like the wind." Josh answered. "As though the wind were speaking to you."

"Maybe it is?" she yawned. Josh looked down at her; she was almost asleep in his arms. He found shelter beneath a group of trees that created a natural cave of sorts. It had plenty of room, but was comfortable. Sarah curled up in the leaves. She looked up at him sleepily. "Aren't you going to lie down?"

Josh shook his head. "We need to be cautious." She frowned at him.

"You are exhausted. You might as well sleep. I know you, Josh. We're new at this, and we're both completely wiped. We need sleep." She beckoned him over With a sigh, he went over to her and laid down next to her. She curled up against him, and he put an arm around her. Within seconds, her breathing deepened, and he knew she was asleep.

As tired as he was, sleep still evaded him. It remained elusive, like some creature he was trying to hunt. His thoughts went back over everything that happened. He brushed a strand of hair out of the sleeping girl's face. She stirred slightly and put her arm about him in her sleep. Making her comfortable against him, he let himself drift back into his memories.

His mind went back over everything in shocking detail. The forming of his Mark. Sarah's revelation of her own Mark. The attack at the mall. The burning of his childhood home. The death of his mother. His flight from town. Holding a weeping Sarah as she cried for all her worth. Waking up with her in his arms. The car ride. The Dark Dragon. His own flight. The cleansing.

And he frowned. Back at the mall, he had seen something. Just before the Waiths had appeared. It was a girl. She had looked familiar; he thought she went to his school. But the way she had looked at him; that's what hit him now. Her look had been so...strange. She had looked at him as if she knew what was about to happen. What had already happened. She had looked at so...sorrowful. And her eyes had said that she had seen countless sorrow.

He felt himself fading and let it go. Whoever she was, he didn't know, and he probably would never know. He held Sarah closer to him as he slipped into the sleep he so badly needed.

Sarah stirred as light struck her eyelids. She squinted and blinked. And blushed when she realized where she was. His face was mere inches away. They had been dating for some time; heck, they had had feelings for years. But they had never kissed. Blood flooded her cheeks, staining them a new crimson. She felt herself leaning closer, her eyes closing. Her lips softly grazed his, and she felt a jolt shoot through her. Like her heart had just beat for the first time. Then he kissed back and everything else vanished. It was just them, just this moment.

After an eternity, they finally parted. They sat on opposite sides of their leafy cave, facing each other. They smiled. The smile turned to a chuckle. The chuckle turned to a laugh. The laugh turned into an embrace. They just held each other tightly before letting go.

"I love you, Josh." Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He kissed her again. "And I love you." He held her close and kissed her deeply before releasing her. "You ready to head out?"

She laughed. "Yeah. I...I haven't felt this...alive since...since ever!"

"Me neither." He smiled. Together, they climbed out of their little den, into the bright sun. "You are close, now. The Road is not much farther." "The Road is not much farther." he said.

Sarah frowned, then her eyes lit up. "Can you feel it?"

Josh's eyes widened. "Feel it? I can practically see it!!"

"What?" Sarah asked. Josh turned to her.

"I can see it now. It's like...it's like a road of light!" He exclaimed. She nodded. "Where's it going?"

He pointed. "That way." As they walked, light seemed to swirl about them. Josh looked about. Wherever this was, he didn't think it was any part of Earth. There was a serene beauty all around. Plants and vegetation surrounded them, and Josh could swear that the very wind carried some sort of celestial music. He brushed aside the vegetation and gaped at the sight. Sarah came up beside him and stared.

"A temple?" they both asked. Josh frowned and stepped forward, Sarah right behind him. "Where are we?" she asked. "You are between the between. The place that touches the worlds."

The Ever War: Chapter 1.6

Sarah stared out the window. After leaving the hotel, they had driven on, always going in the direction they felt pulled. "Beware, Sarah. Danger lies ahead." the whispered warning confirmed her feelings. "Josh, something's wrong."

He glanced at her just as a large mass slammed into the car. Sarah screamed as the car rolled over and over. Josh kicked his door open and pulled Sarah out. She moaned and put a hand to her head, blood running from a large cut. Josh ripped a strip off of his shirt and wrapped it around her head to stop the bleeding. "Josh! Look out!" She shouted. He dodged the large tail.

A roar filled the air as a massive creature hovered above them. It resembled a large skeletal monster; black ooze dripping from its maw. Instinctively, Josh summoned Solaris. The Sacred Blade flashed as he held it before him. A figure leapt from the Dark creature's back. The Waith glared down at him, its red eyes flashing. "Give me the Sage, boy. A newborn such as you is no match for a Dark Dragon." the Waith hissed.

"You will never have her!" Josh yelled. Fire flared from Solaris, startling the Waith. The Dark being glared at him.

"You may have grown stronger, but you are still no match for me!" it hissed, leaping back onto the Dark dragon. The tail whipped down at Josh, but he leaped to the side. Without hesitation, he sliced down; the blade cut deeply into the flesh, black ooze gushing out. Solaris sizzled as the ooze was burned from its blade. The Dark creature roared in pain and fury. It threw its head forward, maw gaping. A foul smell filled the air, as toxic fumes poured from the open mouth. Josh dodged to the left, swinging Solaris. The fire twirled about the blade and shot through the dark fumes, scorching its face.

With another roar, it soared up into the air, far out of his reach. Josh gritted his teeth and waited for the attack he knew was coming. Dark fire fell at him, the balls exploding in bursts of dark energy. He cried out as his left arm was grazed. Blood oozed from the wound, but he could still use his arm. "The wings, Josh. Summon the wings." the whisper came to him. He closed his eyes. His palmed felt like it was burning, and to his great concern, the sensation traveled to his back. Two great wings burst out of his back in a flurry of red feathers. He fell to his knees in pain, but the whisper returned to him, "Fly Josh. Reclaim the air from this abomination. Sarah's magic is too weak to be of help right now. Protect her, Josh."

The Dark Dragon circled back for another volley, but Josh was ready this time. He jumped, his new wings spreading to catch the wind. With a roar, he flew straight at the beast, Solaris blazing with pure fire. The dragon growled with surprise, and flew to the left. Josh slashed out as he shot past, the firey blade slicing through its armored scales. The Waith hissed in rage and raised its palm towards the new Wanderer. Murmuring a dark curse, dark energy swirled within its hand. The Waith threw the ball at him, but Josh blocked it with Solaris. The blast still nocked him back a few feet, but he remained airborne. Again, he felt something stirring within the newly awakened part of him. A power he never knew he had surged up within him. The feather of his wings began to crackle like fire, and an orange glow and heat began to swirl about him.

The Waith shrieked out its rage at this new show of power. The Dark Dragon roared and lunged at Josh. Josh's eyes narrowed. He stared both creatures in the eyes as he spoke with a new authority. "For the crimes you have committed, begone!!" Fire flared about him and swirled about Solaris. Raising the sword high above his head, he swung down. Pure fire and light surged from the tip, piercing through both dragon and Waith. The Waith shrieked in agony as it dissolved. With one last roar, the dragon fell from the sky. It slammed into into the ground with a force that sent out a small shockwave. The body smoked and melted into a large pool of foul smelling black ooze.

Josh landed next to Sarah. The whisper spoke up. "You must purify this area. If you don't, the Dark Beast will only return. Raise up the Sacred Blade and vanquish this taint." Josh did as he told, light shining from Solaris. With a cry that was heard a mile away, he sliced the blade down into the ooze. Light blazed throughout the area, blinding Sarah and him.

The light faded to reveal no trace of the ooze. The area had been barren even before his fight, but now, grass and flowers bloomed all around them. Pain coursed through him as he felt the wings leave his back, and both they and the sword returned to his palm. He turned and knelt next to Sarah. "Can you walk?" he asked gently. She shook her head, and before she could protest, he scooped her up into his arms. "We need to keep moving. The cops will be looking for us, and I have a feeling that they'll be here soon." Without another word, Josh carried her off, leaving behind a wreck car, and a beautiful field that would baffle people for years. Years later, Sarah would say that that was the day that she truly fell in love with Josh, but Josh would claim that they had always been in love.

The Horrid Truth

Kayla gazed out into the courtyard. Flamian stood, sword drawn, going through the routine of his practice. Every day, he would be out there training, and at night, he always vanished untill way past midnight. He would wake around noon, go back to sleep, then he would train more. She couldn't help but wonder where he disappeared to. She had a suspicion of what he was up to.

Finally, after five days, he had taken to the courtyard to train. Currently, her elder brother, Zax, stood in place as an opponent. They stood, blades at the ready, when Flame leapt forward. She watched as her brother twirled in a blur of parries and strokes. Flamian was hard pressed and quickly driven back.

"Is that it?" Zax asked. "Is that your best?"

Flame panted for breath. He leaped back as Zax swung at him. He gritted his teeth and charged the older man. Zax, taken aback but the sudden switch, was hard pressed. Flamian pushed him back farther and farther, his attacks increasing. Zax laughed. "That's more like it!!" The sound of metal striking metal could be heard for a mile. Several servants, and even a few neighbors, came to watch. Kayla smiled from her window. Flame always had held back. No one else had seen; she had ignored it. She always knew of his true nature, but she had chosen to throw him aside. She had been foolish.

Her eyes widened as Zax sword went flying. Moving as a blur, Flamian's tail lashed out behind the older draigon, and he shoved Zax, tripping him. He placed a foot on his fallen friend's chest and held the tip of his blade to Zax's throat. The crowd cheered. They all looked at Flamian with new eyes. He released Zax and helped him up. Then he turned and walked back inside. He headed up to his room, but as he turned the corner, he almost ran into Kayla.

She was in his arms before he could say anything. She leaned up on her toes, and her lips found his. The kiss seemed to last forever. Her taste, her smell...he had only dreamed of this, and now she was here in his arms. She pulled back slowly, reluctantly. Her eyes opened, and she sank even deeper into his embrace.

"I was so blind." she whispered. "I listened to lies, when I should have listened to my heart." A tear traced down her cheek.

Flamian sighed. "Don't dwell on the past. We still have trouble ahead."

She pulled back to look up at him. "What do you mean?"

He cupped her face in his hands and lightly kissed her lips. "There is far more at stake here than anyone realizes. Jardin isn't just after you. He's after the kingship."

"What?!" her eyes widened. "He's planning a revolt, and you didn't expose him?!"

Flame released her and turned away, frowning. "Many clans are already on his side. Kayla, this isn't just a revolt we're talking about. We are talking about a civil war."

Fresh tears fell from her eyes. "Isn't there anything you can do?"

He nodded. "I already warned the king. He's gathering his supporters, but there's no stopping it now."

"What about the Challenge?" she asked.

"He's convinced that he'll win. He won't be expecting the fight I'm planning on giving him. It will buy us some time, but not much." He said. He held her hands. "You should get some rest."

She embraced him. "You should too. You need all your strength for the battle." She kissed him once more before leaving him for her room. He stared after her, and when he slept he dreamt of her.

The Ever War: Chapter 1.5

Josh woke up with Sarah curled up next to him. She had been so upset that he had held her for hours before she finally passed out, and when he had tried to move, she had clung to him and cried out.

He sat up and slowly slipped out of her grasp. She moaned softly and rolled over, her breathing still soft and peaceful. He walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. He looked at his reflection. It was the face of a stranger stared back at him. In place of a smiling high school student stood a man who had seen death.

He stood in the shower allowing the warm water to wash over him. He stared down at his hand, at the sword embedded in his palm. His hand trembled. That sword. That sword had killed. He had killed. True it was in self defense, and he briefly wondered if Waiths were even alive. But he had still killed. They had screamed and shrieked as the sword sliced through them. He realized that tears mixed with the water.

After an hour, he exited the shower, dried himself off, and dressed. He left the shower to find Sarah sitting up on the bed, hugging her knees. She looked at him with tear filled eyes. Josh sat down next to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"How are you doing?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

A sad smile played at his lips. "I've been better."

Tears leaked from her eyes again. "They were after me."

Josh nodded. "Yeah, they were. But I won't let them have you." She looked up at him. "You're all I have now."

She frowned. "What about your father?"

His eyes darkened and he looked away. "What about him? I barely even remember him. The last time I saw him was back when I was five. That was thirteen years ago, Sarah."

"Do you think he can help us?"

"My mom seemed to think so." He trembled at the memory of her last words. Soft arms wrapped around him from behind.

"I'm so sorry, Josh. I'm so sorry." She wept. He twisted around, and they held each other for a long time.

When they finally parted, Josh brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "You should go freshen up. We need to head out soon." She nodded, her tears dried up. She kissed his cheek and went into the bathroom. He heard the shower turn on, and he laid back on the bed. Emotions ran through him and threatened to drown him, but he took deep breaths and tried to clear his mind. As he did so, he brushed against the part of his mind that seemed to have awakened. It felt strange, almost alien, but it wasn't threatening.

He suddenly felt he wasn't alone. He looked about and found himself in some sort of ancient looking chamber. A man walked into the room and froze. "Josh?"

Josh's eyes widened. "Dad?"

James Evans walked up to the son he hadn't seen in so many years. "What are you doing here?"

"Where is this?" He asked, gazing about him.

"This is the entrance to the Ever Road. But why are you here?" His father asked. Josh raised his right hand, palm outwards. His father's eyes widened. "The Mark of the Wandering!! That's why Sophie told us to watch over you!"

"Sophie? Is she the Sage?" Josh asked.

James' face fell. "She was. She was slain a month ago. And Jerard was killed two days ago." He frowned in thought. "You have some knowledge. Your mother always did love telling you stories." His face fell even further. "It pained me greatly when she passed."

"Sarah and I are on our way to you." Josh said, his face stoic.

"Sarah? Sarah Carson?" His eyes widened in realization. "She's the new Sage!"

Josh nodded. His father studied him a long time. "You've used the sword, haven't you? You summoned the Sacred Blade, Solaris. Get here as fast as I can. You already know where to go. See you soon."

Josh's eyes snapped open, and he sat up on the bed. Sarah walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair. She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I think...I think I just spoke with my father." he answered.

"What?!" she exclaimed. "Your father was here?"

Josh shook his head. "No, he wasn't here. It was...it was more like in my mind. Like we spoke telepathically or something. He already knows about mom."

"And what of me?" she asked. Josh nodded. "Yeah, I told him. Apparently, the Marks are passed on only when the current bearer dies."

Sarah closed her eyes. "So the last Sage died a month ago..."

"...and the previous Wanderer was killed two days ago when I received mine." Josh finished.

"And the Shield was passed along yesterday." she said softly.

"Let's go." Josh said. Sarah nodded, a new light shining in her eyes.

Consequences pt 2

Jardin wiped the blood from his face and glared up at his enemy. "You'll pay for that."

Flamian stared down at him, his gaze cold. "We'll see who pays the price. You have much to pay for."

Baldwin looked down at the boy he had come to think of as a son. "Flamian, have you any idea what you are doing?"

Flamian stared the Council straight in their eyes as he took the center floor. "Of course. I have watched from the shadows, ever since Kaylandra rejected me. She told me to leave, and I did. I left the world of light to dwell in the shadows, and I learned much that you don't know. Such as Jardin's abuse of his power. Will the Council recognize my challenge?"

Baldwin frowned. "The Council has already reached its verdict and has concluded his innocence. However, your words do hold power. You have named him an Oathbreaker, and that name is not used lightly." His frowned deepened. "You have placed the Council into a very precarious predicament. If we allow your challenge, we acknowledge the fact that he may be guilty, but if we do not allow your challenge, and moreover the claim you have made, we put your honor in jeopardy."

At this moment, Caldrin stepped forward. "This is an outrage!! How dare you even suggest that the Council has erred! This is nothing more than your selfish desires!"

Flamian turned to him. "You have completely misunderstood me. It is not that I believe that the Council has erred, nor is it even about my own desires. This is about the honor of one whom I hold dear!" He shouted. The room fell silent. "It is true that I confessed to her my heart. It is true that she demanded me to leave. And I did. Why? Because it was never about me. It was about her! It was always about her."

Kayla stood next to her father, tears streaking down her cheeks. Even though she had scorned him, torn him down, he still stood by her. He still protected her. He still loved her. He continued, "I have nothing left in this world. Nothing that I can rightfully claim as my own. My entire clan was wiped out before my eyes. My home, destroyed. No possessions. No wealth. Nothing but the clothes I am wearing and the sword strapped to my back. In short, I am a nobody. But I'll be damned before I allow this Oathbreaker to betray the one person who means anything to me!"

The Council began to whisper amongst themselves, and it wasn't long before Baldwin was handed a slip of paper. His frown vanished and he stared down at Flamian. "The Council withdraws its previous verdict."

"What?!" Caldrin exclaimed. "How can you do this?! How can you just accept the word of this...this...outcast?!"

The Council stiffened. Baldwin glared down at the nobleman. "May I remind you, sir, that the so called 'outcast' has been recognized as a Gifted. And furthermore, it has come to my attention that the king has verified that his daughter was indeed caught in the company of your son under very suspicious circumstances, as well as being in the presence of several other ladies all from prominent houses here in the capital. Several witnesses have come forward and are all willing to testify against your son. Therefore, the Council recognizes Flamian's challenge. The Challenge will take place in one weeks time. Jardin, as the Challenged, it is your right to set the terms of the challenge."

Jardin sneered at Flamian. "Anything goes."

Baldwin's face was sincere, but Flamian held his gaze, fury burning in them. "What say you, Flamian? Do you agree to the terms?" Baldwin asked.

Flame turned to the Council. "I agree." Baldwin nodded. "So be it then. This Council is adjourned."

Aldric and his family approached family. "You don't have to go through with this."

Flame looked at Kayla, who avoided his gaze. "Yes, I do."

She refused to look at him. "Why? After all I did to you..." A finger to her lips halted any more words, and her chin was lifted up.

"We were all deceived by him. Not just you. I admit that I didn't like him at first, and I was jealous of him. But when you rejected me...that was when I learned his true nature." Flame looked into her eyes before looking away. "I should have warned you earlier. You shouldn't have found out that way."

Aldric looked at him with concern. "Are you sure that you can win?"

Flamian held his gaze. "Losing isn't an option. I will fight, and since his terms are 'anything goes', I will not hold anything back. I've wanted to knock him down the social ladder for a very long time, and now that I've the chance, I will not let it go by. No matter what he throws at me, he will regret accepting the challenge."

Kayla's arms suddenly wrapped around him, and he felt the moisture soaking through his shoulder. "Please, be careful. Please." she cried. His arms wrapped around her.

"I will." he whispered. Aldric clasped his shoulder. "Since it's our honor you are uplifting, it is only fitting that you stay with us. We have more than enough room."

Flamian nodded. "Thank you." They left the building with their heads held high.

The Ever War: Chapter 1.4

His mother had refused to say anything more after that, and they went about their evening as usual. Almost as usual. Josh had tried to get a few more answers from his mother, but she refused to answer and completely ignored any questions he asked. He went to bed that night with questions buzzing through his mind.

The next morning, he awoke to the sun shining in his face. It was Saturday. He glanced at his clock. His eyes shot open, and he leaped out of bed. Hes had to pick up Sarah in five minutes! He hurriedly showered, groomed, dressed and jumped down the stairs.

Marilyn poked her head out of her office as he dashed past. "Have fun!" she called after him.

Josh paused and turned back to her. "I will Mom. Bye!"

Sarah was waiting for him. She got in the car and kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning, Wanderer." She smiled.

"Wanderer?" Josh raised an eyebrow. When he actually looked at her, his breath caught, and he couldn't help but stare. She was so beautiful. He had always admired how she always managed to look good and be modest, and today was no exception. She had her hair tied back in a pony tail, a purple T-shirt with a light blue vest, and jeans that showed off her figure but weren't too tight.

"Yes Wanderer. That's what your Mark means." she answered. As Josh pulled out of her driveway, she answered his unspoken questions. "I don't really understand it, but somehow, I just know what your Mark means. What Wanderer means, I have no idea, but..."

"The Arbiter of Justice." Josh answered.

"What?" Sarah asked curiously.

"My mom used to tell me stories when I was little. I always thought they were just stories, but now I begin to see truth in them. One story in particular, tells about a traveling Wanderer, who had to go from place to place until his service was over." Josh answered. "I'm not sure if this is right or not, but I believe now that the Wanderer traveled the Ever Road."

Sarah frowned. "How is it that your mother would know that?"

"She has a Mark. She has the Shield." Her boyfriend answered.

"What?!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Yeah. Although, her Mark is really faded. She says that her time of service is almost over." He glanced over at his girlfriend. "And she says that your the Sage."

Sarah was silent for a moment. "Josh..." she began. "If, and I really do mean if, but...if something...you know..."

Josh cut her off. "If something happens, I am to take you and run." He stared at the road and soon he pulled into the parking lot of the mall. "Now, let's put that aside, for now. Let's just enjoy the day. Shall we?"

Sarah allowed herself to smile. "Yeah, let's. Huh, I need to quit being such a worrier."

They had a great day. They window shopped (Josh even ventured into a few stores with her); they talked. And they laughed and just enjoyed being in each other's company. As they were leaving one store in particular. A loud commotion broke out at the other end of the Mall. Josh instantly went stiff as he heard screams and shouting. A strange feeling formed in his gut, and his palm tingled. He looked down to see the sword glowing brightly. He felt an energy building when he heard a whispered, "RUN!" Without hesitation, he grabbed Sarah's hand and ran away from the screaming. A black shadow suddenly fell in front of them, and a strange being materialized. It was human in shade but was thoroughly covered head to toe in black robes. Where its face should've been, there was a skull like mask. A faint red glowed in the depths of the eye socket.

The tingle in Josh's palm intensified, and without really thinking he raised his palm. Light and fire erupted from his palm and the Sword vanished from his Mark, just as a real one formed out of the fire. It landed in his hand; his fingers instinctively closed around it. Flames briefly ran along it, before returning back to his hand.

He had held a sword before, but this was different. It was as if this blade was made for him. Again, he simply reacted without really understanding how he knew what to do. He brandished it and held it before him threateningly. "Move, or I will force you to!" He demanded of the creature. Sarah crouched behind him, her eyes fearful. The creature gave a hissing chuckle.

"A newborn Warrior standing up to a Waith? Don't be foolish, boy! Give me the Sage, and I shall be on my way!" the waith said. Its voice was harsh and whispery.

"I will never hand her over!" Josh shouted. "Now, move!"

The Waith gave another hissing chuckle and lunged. Moving faster than he ever had, Josh sidestepped, taking Sarah with him, and swiped straight through the creature. With an earsplitting shriek, the creature dissolved into nothing.

Not wasting a minute, Josh grabbed Sarah's hand and pulled her along. People shouted and pointed at Josh and his sword and ran screaming as more shadows appeared. The two ducked and dodged as more Waiths appeared. Somehow, they made it all the way to the car. They jumped in, and Josh tore out of the parking lot. A second later, he realized that the sword had disappeared. A quick glance at his palm showed that it had reappeared back in the Mark.

After several twists and turns, Josh realized where he was going. Home. As he turned the last corner, a cry tore itself from his throat. "NOOOO!!!!" His house, the home he had grown up in, was going up in flames. In the distance he could hear sirens and knew he didn't have much time. He didn't bother pulling into the driveway. A figure staggered out of the house, and Josh rushed forward to catch his mother. He gently laid her down and the cement, cradling her in his arms.

She gasped and choked, a gurgle escaping her throat as she coughed blood. Josh looked down and couldn't help grinding his teeth at the gash in her stomach. "Josh..." her whisper drew all his attention. "Josh. You...have to...get her....away from here. Her powers," a cough interrupted her, and more blood seeped from her mouth, "her powers are far greater than either of you realize." She coughed again. "I always knew....you both were...special. I am...sorry," another cough, "I am sorry that...I won't be able...to help you...now...take...care...of...her...Josh........"

And so, she drew her last breath, and as she breathed out, her eyes closed, and her body went limp in her son's arms. A soft hand on his shoulder caused him to look up. Sarah stood over him, tears coursing down her cheeks. "Josh, the sirens. We must go."

He nodded. He leaned over and kissed his mother's forehead. Gently, he laid her down and got to his feet. Then he turned, took Sarah's hand, and together they left their childhood behind and stepped into a world that would change everything they had ever known.

The Ever War: Chapter 1.3

Sarah! We're home!" her younger brother called. She was the oldest of three children. Her sister was a year younger than her, while her brother was three years younger. Sarah quickly opened her door and headed downstairs. Josh followed her.

Her sister frowned. "What were you doing upstairs?"

Their brother smiled. "Probably making out."

"Lucas!!! We were not!" Sarah shouted, her face beet red.

"You showed him your tattoo, didn't you?" her sister, Melissa, asked.

"I did. What of it?" Sarah asked defensively.

Melissa rolled her eyes and headed up to her room. "Whatever. I'm going to work on my homework." Lucas shrugged.

"I'm going over to Jill's." he said as he left.

It was just Sarah and Josh now. Josh looked down at his palm again. "What do they mean?"

"I'm not sure, but ever since mine appeared, I've...been sensing things." she answered.

"What? What kinds of things?" Josh asked, concerned.

She shook her head. "I don't know. It's as if...as if there's this dark cloud. And it's growing..."

Josh pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry about it. You've always had a kind of sense for that kind of stuff, but don't dwell on it."

Sarah gave him a squeeze and stepped back. She smiled up at him. "I won't. You better get home. Your mother will start to worry." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

"Bye." Josh said, giving her another squeeze before leaving. On the way home, his thoughts kept going back to everything that had happened, and the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't shake the feeling that the Marks were important. They meant something, represented something.

He pulled into his driveway and headed inside. "Mom? I'm home." He called. His mother came out of her office (she worked at home) carrying some books and folders.

"Hi. How was your da....Oh my heavens!! NO!!!" She cried, dropping her books. She rushed to her son and grasped his face. She looked into his eyes and examined the rest of his face closely. As she did so, it was evident that whatever she saw upset her greatly. Finally, she grabbed his right hand and twisted it palm up. The Mark glinted a faint gold. She gave a horrified gasp and clamped a hand over her mouth. "No...not you too. First my husband, and now my son as well?" Tears streaked down her face.

Josh grasped his mother's shoulders and gave her a light shake. "Mom!! What is going on?! Sarah's Marked too, and now her sixth sense is working overtime!"

His mother instantly snapped out of her stupor. "What?!"

Josh stared into her eyes. "Sarah has one as well. She said that her's appeared a month ago."

His mother instantly began thinking. "Did she show it to you? Do you know where it is?"

He blushed and looked away. "It's on her back. Her Mark has the sun and the moon."

His mother nodded. "The Sage. But for her to be a close friend...very unusual." She turned back to her son. "Do you believe in the Ever Road?"

"Yes, I do." Josh answered, surprising himself. His mother nodded and turned away.

"It's time you knew, my son." She said softly. She lifted up the front of her shirt (her chest was still covered) and revealed a Mark of her own. In the center of the wings was a shield. However, her Mark was faded, the once bright gold now dulling. She sighed. "Perhaps I sheltered you too much, but then...the Wanderer's path has always been a trial."

"Mom?" Josh asked, voice wavering slightly. She lowered her shirt.

"Listen very carefully, Josh. I haven't much time left. When your father and I found that I was expecting you, it became my mission to protect you. That is what I am: the Protector. The shield represents that, and my ability to control water. Remember when you almost drowned when you were little? I thank the heavens for my gift, because you are special, Josh. Much more special than your father and I thought. Although, I had hoped you would be spared from all this. And now Sarah has been Marked as well. I'm not going to lie; I don't know the will of the Ever Road. But you were chosen for this for a reason. Now, I need you to promise me one thing Josh, and before I tell you what it is, I want you to swear that you will do it without question when the time comes. And it will." His mother said, her face set and determined.

"I swear." Josh said.

She nodded. "My time is almost up. You saw how faded the Shield is. My time of service is almost up. Now, I want to promise me that no matter what happens, you will take Sarah and run from here. Run and never look back. Don't forget this place; don't forget me. But never look back. Promise me!" She said, her voice trembling slightly.

"I swear that if something happens, I'll take Sarah and run. But where will we go?" He asked. His mother looked directly into his eyes and gave a faint smile.

"To your father of course." she answered.

The Ever War: Chapter 1.2

For twenty minutes, Josh stared at his hand, pondering over the mysterious mark and the strange whisper. The Ever Road. It was just a myth, right? There really was no magical road that took you who-knows-where. Or was there?

None of the stories he had heard mentioned the mark, and yet...he could feel a connection between the mark and the whispers. A strange pulling in his gut made him look up. In the distance, the road shimmered. He stared down it, and as he did so, something awoke in him. A desire, a longing, to just start walking and never stop. There was...something. Something...he needed to find?

The shuffling of feet on asphalt snapped him back to reality. Sarah stood next to him, and she looked like she was going to cry. "Are...are you...ok?" she barely managed to whisper.

Josh put on his best smile and pulled her into his arms. "Of course I'm all right. I was just...so dang worried about that test." She looked into his eyes and frowned. Without a word, and before he could react, she reached down and twisted his right hand palm up. She let out a small gasp. She began tracing the mark absently as she looked him, her childhood friend and sweetheart, with renewed interest. After searching his eyes (and from her expression she had found something there), her gaze returned to his palm. "So much like mine..." she murmured. Before he could ask her what she meant, Franky and the twins came sprinting to them. Josh didn't fail to notice that Mary didn't have her earphones in, Mark was wide awake (very unusual as he was most active around midday and then crashed afterwords), and Franky was seriously silent.

"So what happened in History?" Franky asked, very much concerned. Mark and Mary waited anxiously for an answer.

Josh shrugged as Sarah entwined her left hand in his right, hiding the mark. "I guess I had a small panic attack. You know I'm not that great with History."

"Are you kidding?! People are all saying that you finished it in five minutes!!" Mary exclaimed.

"Ten." Sarah muttered. "It was ten minutes, maybe fifteen."

Josh briefly wondered about how she could possibly know that, but then she was always good with time. "It was just a lot easier than I thought it would be."

"Still, to have finished in that amount of time...impressive." Franky kept going on and on as they piled in. Sarah insisted on driving, just in case Josh had another "attack". Josh let her. He had long ago given up trying to change her mind when it was set. If she was set on something, then by golly, she would see it through.

After dropping off Franky and the twins, Sarah drove to her house like usual. Josh went in with her to study like usual, but today, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into her bedroom. She almost slammed the door shut (they were alone since her parents were at work and the bus hadn't dropped off her brother and sister yet). For a second, Josh stared at her, completely confused. She had never acted like this before. Never. Except...

She turned around so her back was to him, and to his utter surprise, she began lift her shirt up. He rushed forward to stop her, but she practically shouted a "NO!!" and then in a softer voice, "Lift my shirt up all the way. Please, Josh, just do it."

Reluctantly, he stepped up to her and grabbed the hem of her blouse. Her skin shivered at his touch, but he pulled it up. As he did so, his eyes widened. There, on her back (and he blushed at the lack of a bra strap) was a mark. But it was slightly different from his. He finished lifting her shirt all the way up to her neck, and she pulled her hair over her shoulder so it was out of the way. The wings spanned her entire back, the bottom tips intertwining around each other and around her waist. In between them, where his had a sword, her mark had a sun and moon. He lightly brushed his fingers over it, her skin shivering again, and he heard a small gasp from her. Without a word, he pulled her shirt back down and stepped back. She slowly turned, her cheeks flushed and her eyes slightly teary.

"It appeared a month ago. Around the time when I was so...out of it. You remember?" she asked.

"I remember." he answered softly. A smile tugged at his lips. "For a while, we all thought you had become emo or something. Sitting by yourself. Not talking to anyone other than to yell at them. Even when we were in the car, you would just stare blankly out the window. And now I know why."

"Do you?" she asked. "Do you really know what the marks mean?"

Josh's face hardened slightly. "Do you?"

She looked away. "No. No I don't, but I..." She turned and looked up at him questioningly.

"What?" he asked softly. "You what?"

She took a deep breath. "I think it has something to do with the Ever Road."

Josh turned away and looked out the window. He heard a faint sniffle, and feared she was about to cry. "I think you're right." he said, turning back to her.

Her head whipped and she looked at him through her tears. "What?"

He stepped closer to her. "I said I think you're right."

"How? How can you think that?" she asked, her words full of doubt.

"Because my father said to 'Follow the Ever Road.'" he answered, just as the front door opened downstairs.

The Ever War: Chapter 1

Ok. Due to a request I am posting this story here as well as on my deviantart account. Beck you better read this!!

A hand flew out of the covers and slapped at the clock on his desk. A boy, hair disheveled from sleep, wearily opened his eyes. With a grown, he threw back the covers and sat up.

"Josh! Time to get up!" his mother called. He rubbed a hand across his eyes and headed for the bathroom. After a long hot shower, shaving, brushing his teeth, and rubbing a hand through his hair, he dressed and headed downstairs.

His mother had just set the table for breakfast. She glanced at him and smiled. "Good morning."

"Morning mom." he said as he sat down. It had been just him and his mom for many years now. His father, James Evans, had disappeared several years ago. He was presumed dead, but Marilyn Evans, Josh's mother, never spoke of him.

"Did you study for your Chemistry test?" Marilyn asked, placing her son's breakfast before him.

Josh rolled his eyes. "Yes mom. I studied for both it and my History test."

She took a sip of her coffee and smiled. "Good." Josh ate in silence, his mother lost in her thoughts. She was often like that. Not that she was mental or anything, but every now and then her eyes would simply glaze over and she seemed to be listening to something. Almost as though someone was whispering in her ear. He took his plate to the sink, then picked up his lunch. His mother stirred from her thoughts. She smiled. "Have a good day, dearest. Don't forget to pick up Sarah and the others. She'd never forgive you if you forgot her."

Josh chuckled. "As if she lets me forget her? I've already got three texts from her." He said, checking his phone. He heard his mother's chuckle as he grabbed his keys and headed out.

As a senior at the local high school, he was the only one in his group of friends that had a license. And a car for that matter. He drove the few blocks to Sarah's house. They had been best friends since preschool, and recently, there seemed to be something more between them. She hopped in, destroying his train of thought. She smiled, her long dark hair falling down her shoulders. "Good morning."

"Morning." Josh said, heading to Franky's house. Franky, her full name was Francine, was another old friend of theirs. Lucklily, Franky lived right next to there last friend, Mark. Mark had just recently joined their group, and his twin sister, Mary, joined them every now and then. Today was one of those days.

"Hey guys!" Josh said as they all piled in. Mary grunted and put in her headphones, turning up the volume and laying her head back. Mark blinked sleepily before muttering, "Morning."

Franky, on the other hand, was overly perky like always. "Good morning lovers." she winked.

Sarah turned several shades of red. "We are not lovers!!"

Franky laughed and turned to Josh. "So, set a date yet?"

Josh looked in the rearview mirror at her. "Ha ha. You know, I could make you ride the bus."

Franky grimaced at the thought. "Ugh!! You would subject me to such torture? Having to put up with all the jocks and drama queens?"

Josh laughed and rolled his eyes. "And you wonder why they pick on you."

"Anywho, so, you guys all free Saturday afternoon? I was thinking of another trip to the mall." Franky said.

"Sure, I'm game." Mary said. Mark nodded.

"Sorry, I've already got plans." Josh said.

"Yeah, I'm busy then." Sarah said.

Franky's eyes widened and she giggled. "Oh uh-uh! You guys did not set up a date Saturday!!"

Sarah blushed like mad. "It's just lunch and a movie!!"

"HA! That's where it all starts!!" Franky giggled. Her eyes glazed over. "You two are perfect for each other!! You guys grew up together and everything!!"

Josh laughed as he pulled into the parking lot. As the girls and the twins walked to the building, Franky going on and on, Josh hung back a bit. He'd had a strange feeling all morning, a weird kind of...pull. He shrugged it off and headed inside. The day seemed to fly by. At lunch, he and his friends chatted and laughed as usual. Chemistry wasn't that bad. The test was actually easier than he thought. But as the day wore on and History approached, Josh began to feel slightly ill. There was a slight buzzing in his head, and he felt dizzy. He almost doubled over as his stomach clenched. His dominant hand, his right, tingled and itched. "Excuse me." he said as he ran from the room. He ran to the bathroom and locked himself in the back stall. The buzzing in his head increased to a torrent of whispers. His hand burned like it was on fire. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he clutched his hand to him. There was a final surge, like a red-hot branding iron, and the pain and the buzzing vanished. His breath coming in ragged gasps, he raised his hand...and stared.

There, in the very palm, was a mark. He stared at it in utter shock. The mark looked like a pair of wings sprouting from an ancient looking sword. The bottom tips were elongated and swirled around each other, all the way down his wrist. It glowed with a golden light.

Brushing off the shock, he got up and left the bathroom. He stepped back into the classroom. He gave a nervous smile and shrugged. His teacher raised and eyebrow and handed him the test. Josh took his usual seat, ignoring Sarah's concerned glance. He had been unsure of several of the facts and details, but now...the answers just seemed to come to him. Much to everyone's, and especially his, he was the first one finished. As it was the last class of the day, he left the room and waited at the car like usual. And that was when he heard it. The whisper that changed everything: "Follow the Ever Road."

Consequences pt 1

Thunder crashed across the sky, but Flame didn't care. His thoughts were focused. Aldric was wrong. He had hidden it from everyone. A powerful gift flowed through his veins. Only one other knew of it. And only one other did not fear it.
Flame looked to the sky and allowed the rain to pour over him. It seemed to penetrate into his soul, washing away the shell that he had hidden himself in. His time had now come.
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The kingdom was in an uproar. Many were outraged by the rumors and stories that ran rampant throughout the kingdom. The Council was called together, and had been in meeting for weeks on end, trying to get all the details and the full stories. A trial was called.

The accused, Jardin of the drax, stood before them, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Jardin, son of Caldrin, do you understand why you have been summoned before this Council?" High Councilman Baldwin asked gravely.

"With all due respect, I am afraid I do not. Clearly there has been some misunderstanding." Jardin answered.

Many of the Councilmen began to murmur. Baldwin looked down from his seat. "You have been accused of violating a life pledge between you and Kaylandra, daughter of Aldric, a member of a highly thought of and respected bloodline. You also stand accused of being in a relationship involving the King's youngest daughter."

More murmurs coursed through the Council, and even more in the spectator's balcony that circled the upper levels of the building. Jardin merely smiled. "My lord, I do not know what you mean. Are you proposing that I, a member of the drax, the most powerful and respected of the draigons, would dare to desecrate such an sacred covenant? And moreover, disgrace the house of our lord, the king?"

"Do not play with me, boy. You may belong to the drax, but this Council is the law of this nation. It is only subservient to the king himself. This is trial to prove whether or not you are innocent." a Councilman stated.

"Forgive me, sir, it was not my intention to be insulting. I am merely pointing out the ridiculousness of this situation." Jardin bowed.
Baldwin raised his hand. "Enough. Has High Councilman, I hereby declare this Trial's start. Bring forth the Witnesses."

The rest of the day passed slowly. Jardin was questioned again and again. Every answer he made could not be countered, and Aldric felt his heart break for his daughter. Why hadn't he seen it all before? Jardin was a powerful political figure, and that had blinded Aldric to the truth. So when Caldricn had approached him with the offer of a union between their families, he had immediately accepted.

Finally, the Council was satisfied. Baldwin stood to his feet. "Jardin, we the Council, find you innocent before us and all the people here. As much as it pains me, you are...." The doors burst open.

"I demand the right to challenge!" Flame declared, striding to the center of the chamber.

"How dare you! Who do you think you are, boy?!" A Councilman asked.

"For too long, I have lurked in the shadows, watching. Constantly watching. And I have seen and heard much." Flame said. He turned to Jardin, eyes burning with rage. "By the ancient kingdom of Asgaroth, I demand the right to challenge this man's right to Kaylandra, daughter of Aldric, and daughter of the drax."

An audible gasp spread throughout the room. Whispers broke out as the people discussed this new predicament.

Baldwin frowned. "What do you mean, Flamian?" Aldric felt hope rising up in him. The boy looked different; somehow, he appeared more confident and determined then ever he had seen him.

"Have none of you felt it? The power that flows through her veins? Think! How could a girl like her have such persuasion over people? She holds a power, a gift." Flame answered.
Baldwin couldn't help the sudden intake of breath. "H-how did you know she was a Gifted?"
"Because those with a Gift can sense others who have one." Flame answered. "And I will not be denied my challenge!"

"I accept. I should have killed you long ago, you interfering mongrel!" Jardin sneered. No one saw the fist coming till Jardin had landed on his back, four feet away.

"Don't call me mongrel. You disgrace the blood that courses in your veins, just as you disgrace everything else. Oathbreaker." Flame said. A deadly silence fell on the room. The Council looked on in shock, even horror. Oathbreaker was a very serious curse. It was only used when someone broke a very sacred, or a very deed covenant, pledge or oath.

A Choice is Made

Kayla ran blindly through the rain. Away from the pain. Away from him. The traitor, how could he? He had confessed to her. He had told her he loved her more than life itself. He had proven it so many times. How? How could he have kissed another the same way he had kissed her.

Her foot snagged on something, and she went sprawling in the street. No one was near. She wept, her heart breaking with each tear. Agony coursed through her. She hated him. She despised him. She remained face down, allowing the rain to drench her.

Then, the rain was blocked from her. She raised her head and looked up. A large wing was spread above her, curving to allow the water to run off, keeping the rain from her. Her gaze shifted to the one to whom the wing belonged. Her heart began to beat again.

"You..." she murmured. Strong hands lifted her off the ground. "But I told you to leave..."

"And I told you that I would always be there. So I did as you asked. I left the light and lurked in the shadows." he answered. "I promised to love you always, remember?"

More tears coursed down her cheeks and she buried her face in his shoulder as he carried her through the rain.

"Flamian..." she murmured.

His wings wrapped around her, shielding her. "Hush now. It's in the past."

"It...hurts..." she cried.

"I know." he replied. "I know."

"I should have listened. You tried to tell me so many times..." she whispered.

Flamian stopped before a door. His tail rapped against the door. It opened and he entered.
A man in formal clothing rushed forward. "Kayla!!" he shouted. A woman came running out of the sitting room to the left. The man glared at Flame. "You! What have you done?"

"I have done nothing. Why don't you go ask the cretin you have her pledged to?" Flame snapped.
The man recoiled. "What do you mean?"

"Did you know that he already had a lover? Did you know that all his promises were empty?" Flamian demanded.

"Th-that can't be!!" Kayla's father exclaimed. "This....this...."

"Marial, let's get her upstairs and changed out of these clothes." her mother said. The servant who had answered the door took her from Flamian and walked up the stairs, followed by the girl's mother and the maid.

Her father began to pace. "This does not bode well. It is a disgrace!! Why, our family is some of the noblest of blood throughout this kingdom!!"

"I'm going to kill him." Flame said, eyes burning and fists clenched.

"No, Flamian, it is not as simple as that. There is nothing we can do." the father sighed.

"There is something we can do." came the reply.

The father looked up. "And what would that be?"

"We could challenge his claim." Flame answered.

The father gave out a bitter laugh. "You? Challenge a drax? Don't be foolish boy! As much as you love my daughter, there is no possible way you would win against Cardin."

"Then I shall die trying." Flame turned and left, back out into the rain.