Before The Poisoned Apple

By LS Dubbleyew

Long before the Time of the Ancients, two Scrolls were created― one for the lands and one for the skies. Those written words hold all worldly mysteries; they reveal all secrets. With those words, eternal domination can be had.
And She who wrote them, hid them. Because the greatest evil seeks them.

There is a prophecy: “If the Seven fail in defending all, the hearts, the pillars, the love, will fall.”

Two babies are saved from certain death and hidden, as their fate is to marry and grow a family. An exceptional family of seven brothers. Of seven little men. Their world is a deadly one.
In the vast, bewitched land within The Reach, there are dragon-elves, witches, ogres and Kings. It is a world of evil castles holding deadly spirits. Where demons ride lightning and mountains can move. Where blood-trolls lurk deep in the ground. And below them...still deeper terrors lie.

Follow the seven and their family as they battle for their lives while a greater fate unfolds before them... to protect The Scrolls.
From the day they were born, the wicked have them marked. Every turn is a test of loyalty and strength. And love alone is not enough to ward off horrors and evil.
Share the family’s happiness as special friends come into their lives, and grieve with them as loved ones are taken.

Before The Poisoned Apple is the first in the series, Brave Tales of Seven Little Men. An epic tale: dramatic, imaginative, magical and fun.

Grow with them, for their story doesn’t end with the princess whose skin is as white as snow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LS Dubbleyew
• Release date: Jan 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301277803

LS Dubbleyew

I am a fantasy junkie that can not get enough Lord of The Rings or Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones.)Plus, I'm an old Deadhead that loves Dr. Seuss and horror movies...so you get a bit of an idea where my head is at. The world I've created is every bit as fun as those above. My first book jumps into it, the next one terrifically builds on it.

Book preview

Chapter One

Lightning Dust

She adored her father.

At her wits end, she acted upon his last urgent words, cried to her right before he was killed... Fear not the light, eat the dust, call to them—they will come!

The tired young maiden brought the silky soft pouch to her mouth, tilted and poured. Like the sweetest of sugars, the powder coated her tongue. She screamed for help, screamed for hope from an unknown hero. The tinny heat of the lightning tingled her tongue as a jagged bolt jumped from her mouth. She watched it fly and smiled as it rose. Another flash— her world went gray. A spear sliced through her throat.

The stalking beast that speared her watched the flashing light fly from her mouth. Frightened, it chose not to take her, so it ran. After all, its leader, the Kig, would have fresh human babies to eat.

In those brief moments while her life-light dimmed, a crescent moon and her mother’s last soft words haunted her... We make babies because they have special magic that we need in our lives. It was an answer to a child’s question. It was the last day of her fairy-tale life. And she broke the last promise she made to her mother…"Momma, I will save her. And I’ll save the other one too!"

On that day, all the cities and towns in the West Fields, that special place within The Reach, where her family had lived for generations, were over-run by monsters. The army of beasts had gathered in strength and couldn’t be defeated. The children were protected as best as strong parents could, but the evil was too much. The forest she once played in was misty with smoke, and muffled screams of fighting poked through short bits of quiet.

As she lay dying, she barely remembered what happened only one minute before— that she stopped for only a clock tick to grieve…I’m an orphan? Or that only two minutes before, as skilled as a seasoned warrior, she pulled a lance from the chest of an ogre and thought…I might need this again! There was a quick thought... survival must conquer sadness. And a voice…"Fear, one of life’s most natural forces, has a might, all its own."

It was only three minutes since she realized the place where she hid her sister and the other baby, a cubby she once played in, an old knothole in an enormous tree, was empty. Could they have crawled to escape? No! They were infants, not able to crawl, barely able to roll. They had been taken.

Darkness came to her while her father sang…Your shiny green eyes, your strawberry hair... the Kingdom’s most beautiful, a princess so fair. It was his song to only her.

* * *

Meanwhile, young Angus Grimsdyke watched in horror as the town fell and the land burned. He cringed watching deformed ogres and other mindless beasts torch houses and crush out lives. He hated his family. His useless leech of a father first tried to use Angus as an offering, then as a shield. But Angus was too squirmy; he broke free from his cowardly father and happily watched when Papa lost his footing and was caught by an orc with tusks. His mother screamed at Angus to come back, but he would not. He knew she too would try to use him as bait. He ran, but knew not where to go. He didn’t care what ate his mother. Scattering about the woods, darting from tree to tree, he remembered and breathed hard, The fort! and ran further into the woods. Angus jumped up the ladder to the tree-fort castle that he was never allowed to play in. He lifted the ladder in; nothing could climb up. He prayed that ogres couldn’t fly.

From his perch, Angus watched the woods. Every now and then, there were screams and grunting calls of attacking creatures. The town was gone. He was truly alone and just about to cry uncontrollably, when he heard a shriek. Looking down, only a short distance from him, he recognized the beautiful little red-haired girl with green eyes running through the forest. He’d seen her before, but she wouldn’t recognize him; there was no reason for her to have ever known him or his family. He was just about to call to her, to let her know that she could be safe with him, when he spotted some type of creature hiding behind a tree. He couldn’t scream out, it would come at him. Angus could only watch as the ogre followed the girl. Suddenly, she made lightning fly from her mouth, and the creature threw its spear. Angus whispered hard, She made lightning-speak. She’s calling the dragon-elves! He watched the attacker’s spear hit the pretty little red-head’s neck, and she tumbled to the ground. The attacker ran away. It’s afraid! he quietly cried out. Angus quickly looked around and saw no other beasts. He climbed down the ladder, knowing that dragon-elves were coming and that he’d be saved. He sprinted from tree to tree, looking to the spot where the little red-head lay twitching. He dashed to, and stopped at a row of hedges; he smiled, thinking it a perfect hiding spot.

He was too shocked to scream as a beast’s thick, scabby hand shot out from the dense hedge and grabbed his face. A powerful clobber to Angus’s head made his world go black.

Cries

Dagon, an old dragon-elf, rested uncomfortably on a dusty peak and watched smoke rise in the distance. Some of his friends also rested; from other peaks, in treetops, and some watched while hovering within clouds. The battles were being lost. Armies of ogres and other ferociously foul monsters sprouted from the ground, attacking, killing and eating everything. Dagon wondered…why do they leave their lands? And who, or what, leads them to attack the good folk? Another dragon-elf, Zeck, glided down near Dagon, and spoke while landing, We need more help. I’m sendin out our fastest, to da north and south. He’ll find friends. Humans can’t last long. He looked at his elder— Dagon, you hear me?

Dagon was lost in thought, but aware of all happenings around him. The air had been tense for too many moons. The Spirits had warned him of this time, of their destinies being entwined, humans and elves. But it didn’t feel like destiny to the weathered old dragon-elf. It felt like their demise. The mutants and fiends grew in strength and number, and Dagon questioned fate. He rescued the golden goblet, as was demanded of him…but why? All he knew was his kind and their friends were dying. And still, the Spirits’ thin, wispy voices said confusing things… Find the Scrollsssss…. Babiesss, must live! Dagon reached far back into his ancient mind for clues to the riddles the spirits had been whispering to him for decades. And Dagon had searched, but where are they? And babies? What babies? The spirits last screamed in his mind… Their cry will be clear!

And clear it was. Before Dagon could answer Zeck, a distant silver flash exploded and flew from the ground, shot like an arrow; its path was obvious. Homing in at the source, Dagon’s eyes didn’t move. The jagged white lightning passed close enough to singe the hairy scales on his head. Zeck dropped to the ground while Dagon jumped up and screamed, We fly! His leathery, bat-like wings unfolded; strong flapping thrusts stirred the dusty ground.

Zeck, slower to react, called out while running and taking flight, Wait— not alone. He flew fast, but couldn’t catch his stronger friend. Dagon kept his eye on the spot... must fly harder! He saw an ogre, but couldn’t kill it. The source of the lightning must be found first.

The large ogre that speared the young girl heard flapping high above and looked up. Surprised to see a dragon-elf, it ducked and dropped the human it held—Angus. The ogre watched Dagon fly past and thought... must not’v see me. It didn’t want to take a chance; it left Angus and ran away.

Zeck flew hard, seeking Dagon, but spotted that ogre running. He thought…Dagon didn’t attack it? Well, I will! Zeck’s long claws were fully opened as he dropped from the sky. The ogre ran; its back was to Zeck. The much smaller dragon-elf landed hard on the ogre’s head and back, his thick talons embedded into its skull and neck. The surprise and forceful attack made the ogre buckle. Zeck was thrown as the monster hit the ground. He rolled once and stood at the ready. The grounded ogre clutched its head and saw its attacker. Before the ogre stood, Zeck, with clenched hands, blew his strongest fire-breath at the monster’s ugly head. The powerful blast of heat met the ogre’s surprised gasp; daggers of flame seared deep into its eyes, nostrils and throat, instantly blinding and choking it. Before taking flight, Zeck spat one last bit of fire and sneered, Suffer!

The ogre, crumpled in a fetal position, could only take short, quick sniffs of crispy breath while it waited to die.

Meanwhile, Dagon had found the lightning source. Cradling the badly wounded girl, he whispered, Stay strong little-un.

Hearing his words, she faintly spoke... Save them please. She prayed she wouldn’t die, she needed to say more.

Startled, Dagon asked, Save who?

Babies... save babies. Dagon’s heart beat faster. The girl whispered the word mountain, and fell silent.

The elf ’s mind raced…babies! His mind screamed…the Spirits said babiesss must live! He pulled the spear from her neck, lifted her and took flight. Before clearing the treetops, he stopped and floated in mid-air. He thought he heard something… a cry? He looked around, but the smoke was thick; he saw no one and flew on.

* * *

Angus Grimsdyke woke just in time to see a dragon-elf fly from the ground with the limp, pretty red-headed girl. He was amazed to be free of the ogre and prayed that the only scream he could muster would be loud enough for the dragon-elf to hear. The elf stopped and hovered, Grimsdyke punched the ground and screamed again, I’m here, I’m here. And when the elf climbed hard and fast and flew away, Grimsdyke still heard his own cries, I’m here. Please. I’m here. And when he could no longer see his savior, he still cried… Please. Please. Pleeeeese. Then Grimsdyke passed out.

In mid-air, Dagon met Zeck, threw him the girl and said, To da nest, let her drink from da goblet. I’m not done yet. I’m going to da mountain. As Dagon flew away, he screamed an ear-piercing cry to his brothers, a call to fight! For the first time in decades, Dagon flew with a different purpose; he needed to find babies.

From all points of a compass, his warrior-elf brethren heard his cry.

* * *

Grimsdyke woke to being dragged by his feet along charred ground.

His head bounced along bits of rock and rubble, his dangling arms and hands were useless. He saw ogres dragging others, they looked human, but it was hard for him to tell from his position. He was thrown into the back of a cave guarded by two beasts. Bits of skulls, bones and old clothing were scattered about the rocky, sandy floor. He wondered… where were the others dragged to? He knew he would be eaten alive and prayed for time. He hoped... maybe—just maybe he could find a way out of there. To no one he cried, He saw me! That dragon elf saw me. His head pounded with a fierce headache. His anger began to fester.

At the dragon-elves’ nest, the wounded little redhead was surrounded by young and old: mothers, fathers, and children—all dragon-elves. A beautiful golden goblet was taken out of a pouch and filled with water; a drop of the young girl’s blood was added— dripped into it. The goblet was lifted to the girl’s mouth. Drops of the magic water moistened her lips and found her broken throat. In the background, Zeck heard the elders chanting their ancient healing songs. Within a few clock ticks, her wound bubbled and steamed, the girl gasped, coughed, then let out a soft cry. She opened her eyes and quickly grew scared, but a gentle caress followed by a soft voice calmed her... Tis ok, little-un, we watch-over.

The girl rubbed her speared neck. She thought…I should be dead. I should be a spirit. The babies? My sister? she sadly asked.

The dragon-elves looked at each other. We don’t know, Zeck answered, but our strongest went ta da mountain where da monsters live. If they’s there, he’ll save-um. The girl passed out.

* * *

A huge monster came for Grimsdyke. Was it an orc? Perhaps an ogre? It didn’t matter. With their mottled skin and matted, weed-like hair, they looked similar; only they themselves bothered sensing the differences of their kind: the fatter ogres, the slimier orcs. The beast that lumbered up to him smiled and muttered grunts of hunger. Grimsdyke could only cry and think of his happy place, by his pond, with his fishing cane. For the first and only time, he was filled with regret. He was sorry for hurting his younger brother; he was sorry for hurting a little bird. He was just sorry for everything. The beast reached for him, Grimsdyke cried, and a flash of green light blew up in back of the ogre. A grayish mist followed the flash, swallowing the beast. Before his eyes, the ogre just melted. In its place stood what Grimsdyke immediately knew to be a hag-witch: greenish, tight skin— cadaverous looking features, exactly what he envisioned a witch to look like.

Come with, boy, she demanded. Dat dragon-elf, ee did see ya’s, ee jest waasn’t gonna save ya, she cackled, not like me, I can save ya. Ya wants ta be saved?

Grimsdyke looked at the witch. Numb with fear, he could only nod slowly while saying, Yes please.

An that little girl, she with green eyes an’ pretty red hair. She alive I’m sure, an’ she tells him ta let ya’s get eaten by that! the witch pointed to the pile of green ogre slime.

But…I... I saw her die, the young boy said, She was killed, an ogre killed her.

She aaain’t dead, the witch mocked, an I’ll tell ya’s why. Angus looked beyond her, sure that ogres and orcs would soon be running into the cave to try to eat him.

Don’t ya worry ‘bout them, they won’t hurt ya now that I’m with. Anyhoot, them dragon-elves, they got somethin’ should be mine. They’s stole it. If ya help me, I helps you. The witch walked up and put her face close to Grimsdyke’s, If ya don’t help, then I don’t need ya.

Scared, hurt and lonely, he said, I can help.

Good, she said, call me Myrtle. We gonna be good friends. I have somethin’ fer ya. She fumbled in her pocket, then brought her hand up to his face and opened it. In her palm was some sort of flower. They both looked at it, and poof! - the blossom twinkled and became a little star. She moved her hand away, and the star floated at eye level with the little boy. Grimsdyke smiled at the tiny bit of magic. So did Myrtle. He thought... she saved me! With a simple suck, the witch inhaled the tiny star, then spit at his face. But what came out of her crusty mouth was not a breath, but a blast of wet heat, sending young Grimsdyke to the ground holding his head in pain. She screamed at him... They stole me goblet and ya promises ta get it back! Don’t care ‘ow long it takes, da longer it takes, da more misery there be. Drink from da goblet an’ magic fills you up. But you... you mine! Myrtle grabbed Grimsdyke by the face and lifted him off the ground while chanting her spell...

"Never to love, your kind, your heart,

The wicked men to fall will start,

Your pain will show your truths to bear,

A darkened spirit within your lair,

Every tick the time to take,

Your spirits flame, your soul to bake,

A master’s bidding, a master’s bidding."

Myrtle continued to mumble and chant, then threw Grimsdyke to the ground and said, Go east. Look to da weeping crescent. The beasts won’t hurt ya. You’ll see me agin, I’ll finds ya. She skirted out of the cave, but before leaving his sight, she turned to him and screamed, IF YA’S DON’T HELP,THEN I DON’T NEEDSYA. YOU OWE ME SOMETHING!

I’ll help, I promise, he answered back. A nervous jolt made him shudder; he had just lied to a hag-witch. And Grimsdyke first wondered... how does one kill a witch? He sat up and lightly rocked back and forth. He wasn’t afraid. A magic goblet, he whispered and thought... I bet it’s made of gold; it should be mine, will be mine, not the witch’s. He didn’t know what she meant about the weeping crescent, he didn’t care. To no one he said, "And her—red hair, pretty green eyes. If she’s alive, I’ll find her. I’ll kill her. Leave me to die? I’ll save her pretty green eyes in a jar. And I’ll kill that dragon-elf." Grimsdyke was furious. He couldn’t help but to believe the witch. But he wasn’t afraid.

Myrtle heard Grimsdyke speak to no one. She smiled and disappeared.

Seven hours later, the young, green-eyed girl rescued by the dragon-elves woke. Sleeping next to her were the two babies she couldn’t save. Somehow, they had lived. From behind her, Dagon said, You ok now, but we have ta gets ya far, far ‘way from here. Far east. To da other side of da Reach. He stepped into her view. He was bigger than the others. She wasn’t afraid. She had been told of this special race of elves. Her mother once said, You’ll come to love the look of them. The girl thought she already loved the one named Dagon.

While caressing and touching both babies she said, My name is Zee, this is my sister, Rose. I don’t know his name.

Plenty a time for makin’ names, Dagon said, Rest a bit more. A long, long way we have ta go.

Zee stroked the babies. And staring at Dagon, her eyes moist, she simply said, Thank you.

He smiled. No need fur dat, spirits say ta save ya, dat’s what’ll do. Smiling, Dagon patted the infants. Least ‘til they grows up a bit. He looked at Zee. See, these two babies, they special—like you. They gonna marry. Don’t know why yet— suppose da Good Mother has her reasons, just has ta be.

Zee paused, she thought of their future. Thoran, she said. We’ll call him Thoran.

Chapter Two

To The East

The next day, a score of dragon-elves flew in wishbone shape heading east, over the immense lands known as the Naturean Reach.

The Reach is vast, with oceans bordering east and west, and mountains, deserts, valleys and rivers to the north, south and in between.

Protected by the formation, on the inside were two elves, Dagon and Shida; and each held a baby. Zee traveled with another named Durt, who was a bit of a troublemaker, but was strong and held a perch that Zee sat on. Flying higher than they ever had, to an end farther than most knew even existed, Dagon and his friends were doing the Spirits’ bidding—saving the little-uns.

How we gonna know where ta take ‘em? one in the pack asked, again. The Reach is huge. Right?

Don’t you worry, we’ll knows, Dagon answered, you jest look ahead an’ fly true, he said.

They flew over far reaching forested peaks, colorful rivers and hidden lakes. Every now and then they spotted a burning castle, a smoldering cluster of cottages, and smelled smoke. They glided through humped valleys and seemingly barren deserts. The further east they flew— away from the armies of ogres and beasts that ripped their Mother Earth apart, the calmer the world became.

After a fortnight, they crossed a great river. A small town was far below them. That town’s alive, down there, Shida said, her sharp eyes spying streets that bustled. The beasts haven’t come this far. She whispered to Rose, Hope they never will.

Zee had always wondered what a city was like. Oh my... she dreamed... the cities I’ve read about, with people and things to see. Father was always afraid of them... why? Zee got teary at her brief thought of Papa; he spoke in her mind... Always watch. Be careful, he’d say, Like most of life, there is always something more than that which is within only a whiff of our sights. Papa had never taken them away from their cottage.

The pack slept mostly in treetops, and took cover when lightning filled the air, or if rains beat too hard about their wings. Only Dagon seemed to never sleep. He would sometimes scurry about the woods, mumbling, or he’d fly around, scouting the land. The elders in the group knew he spoke to those who watch-over.

After thirty some odd days of their trip, two elves on the tail of the formation, Ornald and Thum, broke from the crowd, flew into the middle, and to Dagon whispered, We’re being followed.

I know, Dagon said, devil-hawks—they huntin’—been back there fur days. Dagon gently flipped and flew backwards to scour the skies. They jest waitin’.

Another elf, Faert, heard them and broke a bit from formation to look back. So? he said, Those tiny things—we’ll eat them f... f... fur dinner.

Those little things are thrice da size of ya, Dagon said, they’s jest far away—they spit fire too, they can gives us a heap a trouble. Then to everyone, he spoke loud. Spread outs a bit.

They had been lucky; they had had no trouble and were getting close to the eastern lands. They had traveled across most of what was known within the Naturean Reach. The faintest whiffs of salt from the Sea of Algaen tickled their noses. But luck could run out in a flash of lightning. They had to be careful in daytime—and more anxiously, at night.

On the thirty-seventh night, scattered amongst the tops and in deep knotholes of giant redwoods, they rested uneasy. A nest was built only for Zee and the babies. On that night, the babies slept soundly, as did most of the elves. The next morning, all woke to the sounds of hungry babies—all except three.

From a large hole, Faert blasted out, Where’s Ornald? An’Thum? They were right next to me! Another elf cried, And Burth? There’s blood on da branch we slept on. Ee’s gone! At the sound of panic, the babies cried.

Dagon knew that the devil-hawks had begun their feed. Need ta get goin, he said, tis ok, no screamin—ermember our task. Grumbling spread throughout the pack. If the hawks gained in number, there was no hope. The elves took to flight. Dagon and Shida flapped their wings hard. The others quickly followed.

Our task? Durt complained loud while fighting the wind. Our task should have been to stay with our land, fight with our kind. Zee looked at him and knew it best to stay silent.

Dagon also heard him, You go back anytimes ya want! Although he said no more, Dagon made a decision. Dropping to the rear of the group, he called to four of his kin to follow. Dagon still held a happy baby Thoran. The five dropped far back from the main bunch.

Durt screamed, What’s he doin? Silence! Shida hissed at him.

Zee said nothing while baby Rose cried…looking for her friend. Dagon came back after a few minutes and joined Shida at the inside of the pack. Dagon cried; he knew he had sent loved ones to their certain deaths. But it was necessary, for they desperately needed something they were running out of—time. The graveness of their predicament created quick, hard tension amongst the pack. Some stole nervous glances backwards. After only a few more minutes, in the far, far distance, roaring shrieks could be heard, unmistakable sounds to those who know the cries of battle. Dagon still held Thoran, and again dropped to the rear of the group, and called to four more of his kin to follow.

Rose watched Thoran being taken again; she stopped giggling. Her little lips pouted while Shida hummed to comfort her. Rose was just about to cry when Dagon returned with her friend. Durt said nothing, even though he wanted to scream at Dagon, to remind him how few dragon-elves were left. To calm the little-uns, Shida spoke softly, as a mother would. Our friends—your friends, they already built you a cottage in a fairy-tale woodland. It’s gonna be your home—forever and ever. It has two windows for eyes, two awnings for brows, a door for its nose, and its glassy eyes will sparkle for you. Rose fell asleep while listening to Shida’s smooth voice. Thoran played with Dagon’s chest hair. More roars, coupled with faint screams were heard in the distance. The devil-hawks were getting closer. The dragon-elves flew quicker. Dagon and Shida swapped a simple stare; Dagon and two more of his friends dropped to the back.

Durt couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Speaking loudly he said— I hears amongst that woodland are things. Little furry things, an big, scaly, angry things. Zee knew Durt was trying to scare her. He continued— "An things are always hungry. Some a da things have a hundred heads that guard treasure, an some are spidery things, with lots a eyes that always see, never sleep, with heads and eyes taking turns ta rest, while others watch."

Zee looked at Durt, smirked and said, So? Zee had seen things, run away from things, and killed things. I’m not afraid, she said. Dagon heard Zee. He smiled and thought... no, you’re not.

Closer roars sounded like thunder. Dagon, Shida and Durt stole quick glances behind. The hungry flock of devil-hawks could now be seen. They playfully tossed heads and bits of dragon-elves amongst themselves. For the first time, Durt was speechless. He looked to Dagon, his eyes began to tear. Dagon turned to those that held no child and quietly said, Da Good Mother waits. Fight like never before. His friends smiled, nodded and dropped back. To his last companions, Dagon said, With da wind, and they fell from the sky with fury.

Far below, scattered townsfolk from the little Village of Laban looked up to the sky. Puffs of flame, black smoke, and far-off sounds of anger were heard. The sky battle was too far away to be fully seen, but concern filtered through the crowd. What’s that noise? a child asked. Why’s that little cloud on fire? Not wanting to scare the children, someone said, Never you mind. Let’s go about our business. The parents looked up one last time, then at one another, and thought it best to tell the town’s council what they had seen and heard.

Meanwhile, Shida, Dagon and Durt flew along the treetops. It was only a few clock ticks before they felt the heat from the hawk’s laughing screams. Great shadows darkened the sky. In his mind Dagon heard the flying devils speak to each other... eat the babies first. Coming over a small mountain, an amazing crescent-shaped lake opened up before them. To Shida, it looked like a claw, yet Dagon knew it meant life! They landed hard in a field next to the lake; their feet didn’t miss a beat, running at the moment of impact with land, their wings folded in. Rose was jolted awake; she began to cry. Thoran, not rattled, still giggled. Zee jumped off her perch and ran to her sister, grabbing her, then Thoran, cradling them both. She wished she had a weapon. The three dragon-elves formed a shield around the children. Clenching their fists, they prepared to battle the circling devils dropping from above.

The first blast of fire came at them; Durt swung his wing, hitting the fireball, bursting it into smaller bits that scattered about. The largest devil-hawk swooped in. Shida and Dagon blasted it with their own daggers of hot breath. The hawk laughed and swatted away the two smaller blasts with each of its wings. Then, from the woods came a sound. A sharp, pointed scream, followed by a glistening, bright spear. The spear flew hard into the hawk’s body, sending black feathers exploding. A shriek of panic came from the devil-bird. From its wound came white hissing smoke, and the bird fell into the claw-shaped lake where a great commotion came about. Whatever was in the lake began to ravenously feed.

From the woods they came, scores of small, fuzzy creatures, each holding sparkling spears. The devil-hawks above screamed with anger, flew haphazardly about, but did not further the attack. Throwing their weapons at the hawks, the new, little attackers screamed back in anger. The devil-hawks retreated in defeat to their far-away nests. The battle was over.

The small army of fuzzy beings greeted the dragon-elves, The Good Mother always tests, doesn’t she? one said, Welcome, friends, I am Shuran, leader of our family of wood-sprites. And motioning to those with him, proudly he said, We’ve been expecting you. Staring past the elves, he walked to Zee and held out his hands. Come little brave one. Let us take your family home. Zee smiled. Rose began to calm down. Thoran still giggled. Turning to Dagon, Shuran said, Even to us, she tests. We’ve had those ice-spears for many years— never knew what to do with them, and they never melted, they just stayed cold! He laughed and shook his head. An’ imagine. Our worst hunter—that little one over there, he said while pointing at a small goofy sprite that pointed back, while picking his nose, Ee screams and just throws that thing with all his might. Hits that devil right in its heart, eh? Shuran laughed and shook his head, Odd, odd stuff, he said while scratching a tuft of hair.

A bit of rustling came from the wood sprites, and a small cart was brought out, obviously for the babies. The wood-sprites themselves were slightly smaller than Thoran and Rose, and much smaller than Zee. All stared at the beautiful surroundings. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Dagon, Shida and Durt could rest. Speaking to Dagon, Shuran said, You’ve done well. We’ll watch-over them now, my friends.

Dagon reflected. I know you will, he said. Dangerous tiems we do live in, he nervously chuckled. The speed of the battle, the loss of their friends, the defeat of the hawks, the normally talkative dragon-elves had little to say.

It’s time to say goodbye, Shuran slowly said. For now. We’ll see you in a few years. Shida and Dagon smiled; both hoped to visit the babies as they grew into children, but they knew they had to fly back west, to help their kind do battle. Without further fuss, Dagon and Shida kissed the babies, hugged Zee, and watched the wood-sprites and the children walk to a path in the woods. Then they were gone.

Afraid to speak earlier, Durt, the troublemaker said, That’s it? Dagon smiled, Maybe we do a little fishing, eh? He and Shida walked to the lake’s edge, holding hands.

* * *

In the meantime, young Angus Grimsdyke was making his own way east through The Reach, from the place where he was born. But he walked; there was no one to fly him the great distance. He left right after he met Myrtle. And she was right—the ogres didn’t bother him. He knew the creatures had spotted him, but they’d just grumble and walk the other way. He thought…maybe I smell funny. The first few days, he watched flocks of dragon-elves flying high above. On their way to attack, defend and try to take back the lands, no doubt, he’d say to no one. Grimsdyke always talked to himself. He was his own best company. He didn’t care what happened to any of the towns within the West Fields. He didn’t care about anything, except for going east. As he kept going, he saw less and less of anything—man or beast.

On a clear night, many days on his trek, Grimsdyke stared at the crescent moon. A small cloud in the shape of a teardrop floated at the bottom point of the crescent. Look to the weeping crescent, he said to the still forest. That’s what the witch said. He decided not to sleep that night and walked, keeping the moon in front of him. When the teardrop vanished, a memory washed into his mind. He remembered his father beat him for no reason. On that night, Angus dreamed it was he that killed his father. When he dreamed of killing, his head seemed to ache less.

Angus came to a small cluster of thatch-roofed cottages separated from him by a river. He looked to each side; the river rounded away from him. To the inside of the round canal were thick hedges with few breaks; only the upper cottage floors, chimneys and roofs could be seen clearly. He stood at the edge and stared at smoke that came from stone and mortar smokestacks. He started to walk the perimeter; the little village was actually surrounded by a moat. It was an odd little island, and he was impressed at the inhabitants attempt to protect their dwellings. He couldn’t swim and saw no way in. But the smoke carried with it the scent of bread baking and Grimsdyke was famished,