TITLE:     LORDS OF MAGIC 7:  THE BARBARIANS
AUTHOR:    DONNILEE
E-MAIL:    DONNILEE@SNET.NET
WEBSITE:   http://donnilee.tripod.com
RATING:    NC-17
CATEGORY:  MSR
SPOILERS:  NOT A ONE.

SUMMARY:   Mulder and Scully find themselves on a magical 
world no one ever knew existed.  They must fight for their 
lives and the lives of others if they are to ever make it back
home again.

DISCLAIMER:  All characters used from the show, The X-Files 
are the property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions,
and Fox Broadcasting.  No copyright infringement intended. 
No money made here.

DISCLAIMER 2:  All references to elements of the game, The 
Lords of Magic, belong to the creators of the computer game, 
Sierra Games.  No copyright infringement intended.  I have 
not just stolen characters as I have in the X-Files.  This 
time I've stolen an entire universe!  Just showing that I'm 
an equal opportunity thief!

THANKS:  To my beta readers, Cratkinson, FatCat, and 
XochiLuvr, who keep me from making major boo-boos and looking 
stupid.  I really appreciate it.  Go team!  Thanks so much.
This one has been beta read to death!  Any errors herein are 
mine alone.  

DEDICATION:  I would like to dedicate this story to my late 
grandmother, Blanche Claire Wright Green Taylor, better known 
as 'Tot'.  She was Mahopac, Native American, and was probably 
the first person to excite my imagination, as she was a 
storyteller to end all storytellers.  She entertained my 
sister and me for hours by reciting epic poems and stories,
filled with adventure and happy endings.  She couldn't read 
well and she couldn't spell for shit, but she had what counted
most; an unlimited supply of unconditional love and an 
imagination without limits.  She died over a decade ago, in 
her own bed, at home, at the age of 84.  I still miss her.  
So thanks to my Gramma Tot, for making me believe imagination 
can take you far.

XXXXXXXXXX

PART 1 (NC-17)
ASTARTE
ELVEN TERRITORY

She was pregnant.  Holy shit on a shingle.  She was pregnant.

I knew it the moment she walked into the room.  She'd been to 
see Ashante who was to examine her.  A smile split her face 
from ear to ear.  

My whole body began to tingle and I had her in my arms, 
lifting her off the floor and twirling her around before I 
knew I'd taken the two steps to get to her.  

Her laughter rang out and bounced off the walls.  It was a
sound I rarely heard, a full-blown Scully laugh.  I set her
down and covered her mouth with mine.  I pulled back after 
a rousing two-minute game of tonsil hockey. 

"It's a miracle," I said.

She nodded.  "Yeah," she said, her voice shaky.

"We have to get married, Scully," I blurted out without 
thinking.

"Mulder, does it matter here?" she asked, no rancor in her 
voice.

I lost some of my own smile.  "It matters to me, Scully.  
I've wanted to marry you anyway, child or not."  

Her eyes pooled with wetness and I stared into their depths.  
"You sure?"

I chucked her lightly on the shoulder.  "Of course!  I've 
never been so sure of anything in my entire life.  Marry me,
Scully, right here in this strange world."

She let go of me and walked to the bed.  I followed her, 
frowning.  She sat down and I knelt on the floor between her 
legs.  I nuzzled her breasts with my nose and she smiled.  
"It's so much to take in."

"I love you, Scully.  I always have and I always will.  It 
doesn't matter if we're here or on Earth.  That's not going
to change."

Her fingers raked lightly through my hair, scratching lightly
on my scalp and I shivered.  She smiled.  "I love you too,
Mulder."

"Then marry me, Scully.  Be my wife.  Be Mrs. Mulder."

"We don't even know how it's done here," she said, still 
hedging.

"I don't think it will be hard to find out.  They mentioned 
handfasting.  In modern Wicca, that's the ceremony of marriage 
for pagans.  It's the same thing here.  I'm sure Ashante and 
Anzwen can coach us through it, make sure we don't bungle any 
major traditions."

She chuckled, leaning down to put her forehead on mine.  She 
stared into my eyes.  "All right.  Let's do it."

"Wwwooo!" I shouted.

She laughed again.

I trapped her in another lip lock.  Our teeth clashed and I
held her tightly against me.  Then I loosened my grip,
softened my kiss and felt her tongue lap gently over mine.
I moaned into her mouth, feeling the now-familiar arousal 
zing through me.  Every time we touched, my body responded
like Pavlov's dog.  I'm sure Scully would be amused that I 
was thinking in scientific analogies, but I decided not to 
mention it.

We stood without a word and undressed.  She sat back down on
the edge of the mattress, now nude.  I knelt in front of her
again and put both hands on her belly.  "Tell me about it.  
What did she say?"

She backed up on the bed and I followed like she had a
magnet on her forehead.  I settled between her legs, holding
my weight on my elbows.  I waited patiently while she composed
her thoughts.  My rising shaft brushed against the soft skin 
of her inner thigh and I sighed, beginning to rub it back and
forth.  

"She explained that it was normal for Elves to get stuck 
together for a few minutes immediately following conception.
It had something to do with the reproductive system creating
a home for the embryo."

"Well, it's odd that you're even fertile, so I guess it's no 
odder that you're taking on Elven reproductive features."  I
was stiffening by the second.

She nodded.  "You know what?"

"What?" I asked gently.

"I don't even care how it happened.  I'm just so overwhelmed,
so happy that it did."

I kissed her tenderly.  "Me, too," I whispered.  I reached 
down and found her wet and ready for me.  I'd hardly touched
her, but I could see her anticipation was as high as mine.  I
was hot and hard.  My balls felt extremely heavy.  "You know 
what else?"

"What?"

"Your being pregnant makes me so hot," I said.  She stared 
deeply into my eyes and I tried to put all the love and 
desire I was feeling into my return gaze.  Another time, this
would have been said with a leer or as a joke.  Today, right 
now, it was a statement of fact.  I had never felt so turned 
on in my life.  The love of my life was carrying my child in
her womb.  It was almost unbelievable.

I gently nudged her labia with the tip of my cock.  She 
smiled and nodded.  I knew she understood.

XXXXXXXXXX NC-17 PORTION XXXXXXXXXX

I slipped into her gently and began rocking in and out.  We 
moaned softly together.  It was a quiet, gentle, and easy 
lovemaking.  I thrust shallow, then deep, and then shallow 
again, building slowly toward our climax.

"Ohhh, God, it feels so good," I muttered.

"Mmm, yeah.  Awww, Mulder, God, I love feeling you inside me."

"Good thing, cause I love being here," I whispered.  She 
smiled and I leaned down to kiss her.  "Play with your breasts, 
Scully," I requested.

She complied immediately and began pinching and rolling the 
taut buds between her small fingers.  I groaned, watching her
eyelids flutter and her eyes roll back in her head.  

"So sexy, baby," I grunted.  "Oh yeah."

I shifted higher, lifting one of her legs higher on my hip and 
began to stroke into her in long, steady, hard strokes.  My 
belly rode over her clitoris with every thrust and she groaned 
deeply and began to quake around me.

I hissed through clenched teeth and held myself deeply 
embedded, enjoying the feel of her muscles clamping and 
releasing my shaft.  When I felt her begin to calm, I resumed
stroking.  Maybe it was this place, but I had better endurance
than I used to.  Perhaps it was just that I was getting some 
on a regular basis.  Like her, I didn't really care why.  I 
intended to enjoy it to the fullest.

I made love to her until she shuddered around me twice more 
and then I let go of myself, shooting a heavy load inside her.  
Maybe it was my imagination, but I could swear our orgasms 
were getting fiercer and lasting longer.  The intensity was
often mind-boggling.

"Ohhhh, here it comes!  I love you, Scccuuulllyyy!" I shouted.

XXXXXXXXXX END NC-17 PORTION XXXXXXXXXXX

She held me with her arms and legs until I came back to 
reality.  We kissed in a post-coital haze and I rolled off 
her.  We fell asleep quickly.  Tomorrow was a big day.  We 
were heading out to meet with the Barbarians.  Every race was
sending a small group to represent them.  It was thought that
a show of solidarity would be the best approach with the 
Barbarians.  Not that the lovers of chaos would be likely to
have a problem being different from everyone else, according
to Anzwen.
 
Anzwen said that they excelled at it.  However, we hoped we 
could convince them when they realized that refusal would 
leave them being the only ones without willing armies to come
to their aid should they need us. 
 
The trouble was convincing them that they might even need us
in any circumstances.  Anzwen made of point of saying how 
proud they were, particularly of their warring skills.  
Their territory lay to the north of the Atmos and south of
Stonehaven.  

I fell asleep with a smile on my face, thinking of the life 
growing inside Scully. 

XXXXXXXXXX

I woke up with a frown.  Someone was pounding on the door.  I 
slipped out of bed as Scully grunted softly and lifted her head, 
coming up on her elbow.  She pulled the sheet up to cover her 
breasts as I slipped into a pair of leggings.  I opened the 
door.

Joachim stood there.  "Can you get dressed?  We have a 
problem."

"What's going on?"

"Ever see a Giant and a Dwarf fight?" he asked, almost
casually.

"Oh shit.  We'll be right out."

"In front of the city gates," came his hurried reply.

Scully was sliding out of bed as the door closed.  We 
literally yanked on our clothes, grabbing our belts and 
weapons and cramming our feet into boots.  We bolted down the
hall.  I grabbed Scully's hand to make sure I didn't get too 
far ahead of her.

We hit the steps of the Palace at a run and saw the enormous 
crowd that was forming in the streets between the city gates
and us.  The crowd parted like a wave as we ran.  I put my
fingers to my lips and ripped out an ear-piercing whistle. 
By the time we reached the gates, Jadian and Brenneka were
trotting up.  

We didn't even stop running, but took flying leaps onto their 
backs as the city guards pushed the enormous gates open.  We 
kneed our faithful mounts into action.  About fifty yards 
away, I could see the problem.  A Storm Giant, one I hadn't 
seen before, was standing in a fighting stance, his broadsword
held in front of him with both hands.  His normally smooth, 
bluish face was creased around the mouth and eyes with rage.

Guess who the Dwarves' arch enemies were?  Although they 
Hated Amazons, their biggest racial hatred was with the Storm
Giants.  Wow, I thought the confrontation with Medini and King
Fongel had been bad.  At least there had been no weapons 
involved.

We exited just in time to see him swing at the Dwarf, who 
surprised us with how fast his stout, short body could move.  
He darted to the side, a large axe held in his right hand.
He threw a boomerang with his left.  It hit the giant's wrist
as he was lunging back for another swing.  The Giant roared
and everyone cringed, the sound hurting our ears.  He swung 
his sword with one hand as the boomerang returned neatly to
the Dwarf's hand.  "Take dat ya overgrown blue mount'n!" he 
shouted, once again dodging the sword.  

It crashed into the dirt and the ground literally shook
beneath our feet like the aftershock of an earthquake.

Ashante and Anzwen were standing on the sidelines shouting
at them.  Anzwen roared, "Stop this nonsense right now!"

Ashante shouted, "Don't make me stop you!"

Neither one was listening.  We pulled the unicorns to a halt.
I looked at Scully.  "Well?"

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.  "You take the Dwarf.  
I'll take the Giant."

I didn't question her.  I just kneed Jadian into a lope and 
swept down into the small depression where they were going at 
it.

Scully peeled off to the right.  I couldn't spare her more
than a glance.  The Dwarf saw me coming and I saw surprise 
cross his features for just a moment.  To my surprise, he 
threw the boomerang at me.  I leaned heavily to the left, 
Jadian immediately dodging.  We thundered past the dwarf 
and galloped in a wide circle, heading back toward him.  
I didn't want to harm him, just stop him.  

I patted Jadian's neck and said, "Pick him up, boy!"

The Dwarf dodged another swing of the giant, turned and 
threw the boomerang again.  I was about to dodge when I 
felt more than heard a message from Jadian.  **I've got it.**

His head canted to one side, catching the boomerang neatly on 
his horn.  He flipped his head.  The boomerang circled his 
horn twice and then whooshed past me and sailed off into the
meadow.  

I saw the Dwarf's astonishment.  I'd be willing to bet that 
was the first time his boomerang hadn't come back to his hand.
He began to run as we ran him down.  He was no match for 
Jadian though.  He swung once with his axe but his reach was
far too short.  Jadian dipped his head as we cantered up 
behind him, and neatly slipped his horn under the Dwarf's 
belt,lifting him high into the air.

I sat back, slowing Jadian to a trot.  The Dwarf was 
flailing his arms and legs as he hung from the end of the 
unicorn's horn.  He appeared unharmed, and Jadian seemed to
have no trouble holding his weight.  I turned and trotted 
over to Anzwen.

Jadian dumped the Dwarf onto the ground with a dip of his head.  
He fell before Anzwen about three feet to the dirt with a loud 
thud, flat on his face.  "One Dwarf, as ordered," I quipped.

He was laughing, despite the situation.  Sending Zalika or 
Percy to pick the surly, little hothead up had apparently 
never occurred to him.  He bent and wrenched the axe out of 
the Dwarf's grip.  If he had tried, I'm sure he could have 
hung onto it.  I finally turned my attention to the Giant
and Scully.  

She was standing in front of him, having dismounted Brenneka, 
her arms spread, her staff held high.  A slow trickle of 
crackling energy was flowing into her staff from the sky.  It 
was then shooting out towards the giant and enclosing him in
an energy cage of sorts.  He flailed inside it, but was 
unable to even raise his arms.  It was blue and white and
crackled all over his body, but the cage-like shape of it
was clear.

Scully looked calm and placid when I looked at her face.  
She was simply waiting for the Giant to tire himself out.
"Are you finished?" she asked in a haughty tone.

He roared once more, pushing against the cage.  Then he 
deflated, arms hanging at his sides, broadsword at his feet.  
His shoulders were hunched with exhaustion and his chin was 
hanging down on his chest.  He was breathing hard and 
staring at her.  "Well?" she asked.

He nodded.  

The energy cage dissipated.  He immediately bent and grabbed
for his sword.  Ashante stretched out her hands, saying, "Oh,
no you don't!"

The heavy broadsword skittered across the ground, straight 
toward Ashante.  She was using some sort of telekinesis to 
pull it to her.  It stopped with a rattle on the gravel at
her feet.  

As we'd slept, apparently representatives for this envoy had 
been arriving.  "Gee, isn't this off to a good start," I 
said sarcastically.

Anzwen grunted.  The Giant was scowling at Scully.  He raised 
his fist in the air.  I thought it and next thing I knew I was 
right next to her.  Jadian had responded to my prick of panic 
for Scully's safety.

She looked at him calmly.  "Don't even think about it," she 
growled.

He subsided, his hands dropping to his sides.  Ashante and 
Anzwen approached.  Anzwen had the Dwarf by the scruff of his 
neck, marching him along.  Again, he probably could have 
broken away, but chose to go along for now.  Once we were
standing in a circle, Anzwen said, "Well, I can think of 
better ways to start my day."

"Now there's an understatement if I ever heard one," I replied 
blandly.  I turned to the Giant, then to the Dwarf and then
back to Anzwen.  Without rancor, I asked, "What the fuck 
happened here?"

"Our FRIENDS decided to start their day insulting one 
another.  Some sort of tiff over who could best aid the 
Saviors.  I believe there's been some discussion about the
fact that the Giants have not contributed to the cause as 
yet."

"Excuse me?" Scully said, incredulously.  She looked at the 
Dwarf.

"The proph'cy clearly states dat da leaders should give dare 
finest gifts ta da Savior.  Deese overblown snow bunnies even 
gotten 'elp from ya'll an' day havena give a ting," he 
protested.

"What's your name?" she asked politely.

"Lindwick," he grunted.

Scully cleared her throat.  "Don't you think that whether or
not someone gives me a gift is my problem and not yours?" she
asked softly.

"But da proph'cy!" he blustered.  "How dare day take ya 
'elp an' na give back!"

She held up a hand to shut him up.  "How DARE you pick a 
fight and duel on Elven soil?" she countered.  

He cringed.  

"This is a mission of peace and alliance, Lindwick.  While
I appreciate your enthusiasm for the spirit of things, I
get the feeling that it is just an excuse to justify 
fighting with your civil enemy."

The Giant snorted.  "I've brought gifts, My Lady.  I'm so
sorry.  Please forgive me.  I had not seen you before.  
I didn't know who you were.  I only intended to defend myself,
not to harm you or anyone else," he said, his low bass voice 
rolling out of him and sounding like it came from his toes.

"Never mind the gifts right now," she said testily, waving her 
hand to brush off that part of the discussion.  She looked up
at Ashante and said, "You could have stopped them.  Why did 
you wait for us?"

She smiled but then looked down as though pondering what to
say.  Suddenly, I knew.  "You wanted to see what we would do, 
didn't you?" I asked.

She nodded.

Scully was flabbergasted.  "You mean to tell me that you were 
going to let them beat the crap out of each other while you 
waited, just to see what we would do?"  She was clearly upset 
and angry.

"Scully, it's over."

"It's NOT over!" she nearly shouted.  "That's ridiculous, 
Mulder," she exclaimed.  "They can't count on us for 
everything.  Damn it!  We're going to have enough casualties
in this war, we don't need unnecessary ones!" she scolded.

Her blazing blue eyes lit on each of them.  They all hung 
their heads.  Anzwen said softly, "We tried to get them to
stop verbally.  We thought maybe they would listen to you 
if they wouldn't listen to us, seeing as how the fight was
over you.  If they injured each other, we would have 
stopped it."

Scully took a deep breath.  She looked at the Dwarf.  
Lindwick," she said, getting his attention.

"If you are so caught up in the spirit of the prophecy,"
she said, pausing.  "Why in HELL did you throw a weapon at
Mulder?" she hissed icily.

He pursed his lips, embarrassed and angry at the same time.
"It was an impulse.  He was bearing down on me."

"You could have hurt him, even killed him."

"There wasn't much chance of that Scully, it was two against 
one," I said calmly.

"That isn't the point!" she hollered.

Lindwick looked up.  "I'd a ne'er drawn a weapon on yee," he 
protested, like a spoiled child, as if that was supposed to 
redeem him.

The famous Scully eyebrow rose nearly to her hairline.  "Why?  
Because I'm a GIRL?" she stressed.

He straightened.  "No, my Lady!  Cuz yee be da Savior."

Ashante put her face in her hands.  "Lindwick, they both are, 
not just Scully," she said in bored tone.

"What?  What ya be talkin' 'bout now?" he asked, flustered.

Ashante met his piercing gaze.  "The two that act as one, that 
are male and are female, that belong to none."  She paused.  
"Two, Lindwick, two."

His mouth dropped open and he looked horrified.  A blush stole 
over his face.  "Mother Gaea ha' mercy!" he cried in a dramatic 
fashion.

I smiled at Anzwen over his head.  I couldn't help it.  This 
entire thing was ridiculous.  I decided to say so.  "This is 
ridiculous.  Obviously, neither of you were there when this
was discussed with your leaders.  Why don't we retire to the
city and have something to eat.  I'm god damned starved and
you rousted me straight out of bed," I grumbled.  I wasn't 
really that indignant but I wanted him to think so.

"I ne'er meant ta insult ya, My Lord!" the Dwarf said 
quickly.

"Just don't throw any more weapons at me, all right?"

"No, o' course not!" he exclaimed.

I glanced at the Giant.  "Are you alone?"

"No, Zephyr is with me, along with nine wind riders, nine 
Eagles, a Faerie thief and six fae slingers."

"Whew," I whistled.  "Wow, that's a big envoy."

"Acedric wanted to show his gratitude," he rumbled.  

"Well, let's show gratitude over breakfast," Anzwen stated, 
ending the discussion.

XXXXXXXXXX

PART 2 (PG-13)
ASTARTE
ELVEN TERRITORY

The envoys had been arriving for the past two days.  It was 
going to be an impressive group that arrived on Arkia's 
doorstep.

Scully and I expressed our wishes to be handfasted at the 
earliest opportunity.  Ashante and Anzwen asked if we could
wait until after our meeting with the Arkians.  They wished
to do a proper ceremony and there was really no time right 
now.  We weren't happy about it, but realized the practicality
of it and agreed to wait.  

We were packing our saddlebags for the trip when I brought up 
what had been on my mind for the last couple of days. 
"Scully," I began.

"What?" she asked distractedly.

I sighed.  "I'm not sure I want you charging into these 
battles now."

She spun away from the bed where she'd been folding and
rolling her clothes to fit them into her bag.  She was 
scowling and I braced myself.  "Where is this coming from?
What on earth are you talking about?"

I didn't point out that the earth reference really didn't 
work here.  "You're pregnant, Scully.  This may be the only
chance we have to have children.  What if something happens?
I mean, how would you feel if you lost the baby?" 

She stared hard at me.  "Mulder, let's get something 
straight.  I've never been a wilting flower and I'm never
going to be."

"I know that!  Jesus, nobody knows better than me how capable 
you are.  I also realize we have more resources and more 
strength than ever before."

"Then what's the problem?  You can't protect me all the time, 
Mulder.  You can't wrap me in cotton wool," she cried, raising 
her voice.

"Scully, it's not just about you anymore.  Don't you get 
that?"

She frowned even harder.  "Don't you think I know that?  What 
the fuck, Mulder?  We already agreed.  We have to ride this 
train wherever it takes us.  I can't back out now.  These 
people need us.  In case you've forgotten, we need them!  
Yes, I'm pregnant.  Yes, I like these people, most of them
anyway.  The fact remains that I want to go home!" she cried
out, tears pooling in her eyes.

I stepped into her and wrapped her in bear hug.  She hugged 
me back.  "I'm scared too, Mulder.  However, I've come to 
realize that we have a part to play here on this planet.  I 
don't think any amount of finagling on our part is going to 
remove us from it.  Not that we have NO choices, but I think
trying to avoid it would be a mistake.  It has to play out the
way it's going to play out."

"So you believe in this prophecy?" I asked, finding it hard to 
believe that Scully, the ultimate skeptic when we arrived here, 
was willing to accept this prophecy and everything that it 
implied.

"I have my questions, but I don't see any other way to play 
it."

"We could tell them, no," I suggested.

She shook her head.  "If I'm supposed to have this baby, I 
will.  If I'm not, I won't.  Trying to keep me safe isn't 
going to make a difference."

"Are you telling me you believe in fate and destiny now 
too?"

She smiled up at me.  "I don't know, maybe a little.  I do
 know 
I believe in God's will.  If we're supposed to be parents, we 
will be.  I've finally accepted that."

I nodded.  "I'm just so scared, Scully.  I finally have the 
things I've always dreamed of; you, a wife to be, a child on
the way.  The thought of taking risks with it leaves me cold."

She squeezed me tightly.  "I'm not saying I'm not afraid, 
Mulder.  I'll try not to take any unnecessary chances.  
Nonetheless, we both know that when the time comes, we'll do 
what we have to do.  We've never been able to do anything 
else," she said softly.

"I love you so much," I whispered.  "I don't know what I'd 
do if I lost you."

"I love you too, Mulder.  Don't ever doubt that."

"We need to finish up here.  I'd love to throw you down and
fuck you till your teeth rattle, but we really don't have 
time right now," I said flippantly.

She laughed and stepped away, swatting my arm playfully.  
"Finish packing, Conan.  We have some Barbarians to meet."

XXXXXXXXXX

When we set out for Arkia, our procession was much larger than 
the one that we had traveled with before.  We were, therefore, 
obliged to move slower.  The benefits were that we were better 
armed and protected than before.  

As the Storm Giant, whose name turned out to be Murnottin, had 
said, the people of Atmos had sent a large party to escort us, 
twenty-seven in all.  After breakfast he had also bestowed 
upon me an enchanted long sword and dagger.  I'd been using a 
substitute long sword since I'd lost mine in the head of a 
serpent on my first trip away from Ashante, battling for our 
lives in Crestfall.  It was all right, but not as fine as the 
one that had originally been made for me.  

This one was fit my hand like a glove.  It gleamed with an 
ethereal blue aura and sent sparks flying when it struck 
anything, doing additional lightening damage with every blow.
I had been duly impressed and thanked him profusely, saying 
I'd never seen a finer weapon since I'd arrived.  The Dwarf
had snorted, but made no further comment.

Since it was clear from her actions during the battle at 
Atmos and later when she used lightening to encage the 
enraged Giant that she could already wield the magic of the
Air people, they didn't give Scully magic.  They gave her 
something extraordinary.  

Zephyr had come forward with a wooden cage.  He opened it 
and a creature waddled out onto the table.  I almost cracked
up when I saw it.  It was about the size of a beagle at this
point.  At first I had thought it was a dragon.  Honest.  I 
was informed politely that the Fire Giants were the only ones
that commanded the fire-breathing dragons of Urak.  Oh joy.  
Something else we had yet to see.

This, however, was the next best thing.  It was pure white 
with glowing, blue eyes, and light blue trim on the edge of
its leathery wings.  It had pointed white horns on its head.
Its body was covered in snakeskin-like scales that shimmered
in the sunlight.  Its claws were enormous, sharp and deadly.
"What is it?" I asked breathlessly as the Giant carefully
placed it on Scully's outstretched arm.

"A baby ice drake."
 
Scully had seemed delighted and said, "What do I do?"

Murnottin and Zephyr had laughed, their amusement rumbling 
from deep in their big chests.  "It's only a couple of weeks 
old, just hatched.  He will grow to an immense size.  For now, 
he will bond with you if you simply call his name.  After that, 
he will follow you and protect you.  Like your own personal 
bodyguard."

"How does he protect?  Tear things with his claws?"

"That's one way.  Mostly though, their breath, when expelled 
forcefully, will freeze anything in its tracks."

"Holy smokes!" Scully said, turning her head to peer into the 
eyes of the baby drake.  He cocked his head to the side and 
regarded her with an expression of curiosity.  She smiled and 
asked, "What's his name?"

Zephyr held out a piece of paper and Scully frowned.  In 
answer to her unspoken question, Zephyr said, "The drakes
tell us their names telepathically when they are born.  We
write them down.  If I were to speak his name out loud, he
would bond with me.  Therefore, I wrote it down for you."

She read the paper and looked up the drake again, leaning 
her head down to look him in the face.  "Hello, Shadar," she
said clearly.
 
He made a series of grunting noises, bobbing up and down on
his bent legs.  His wings spread out and he did a funny, 
little dance on her arm, waving his wings back and forth.  
We were all chuckling.  
 
The Giant said, "He's acknowledging your Call, special one."

Scully beamed a smile at me and I nodded in agreement with the 
wonder on her face.  "Oh!" Scully said suddenly in surprise.  
She lifted him off her arm and placed him reverently on the 
table.  "Thank you, Shadar."

Zephyr smiled.  I asked, "What?"

"The drakes communicate telepathically, although they can 
understand your thoughts or your speech and will obey unless
the action requested will endanger your life."

"What did he say, Scully?"

"He said, 'Shadar think Master is awfully small but pretty for 
an Elf.'"

We all laughed.  The Giant added.  "Anyone can say his name now 
with impunity.  It is only the first uttering of their name
that creates the bond.  As long as you dwell on Urak, he will
be at your beck and call."

Scully bowed to the Giant.  "Thank you, Zephyr.  It is a 
kingly gift," she said.  I could tell she meant it.  She was
truly touched.  

He bowed in a stately fashion.  "You're most welcome.  We 
would have given you these things before, but in the aftermath
of the battle, we had so much to do to recoup our losses."

"I understand.  That's perfectly all right."

XXXXXXXXXX

The Amazons had returned, sending Medini, Deirdre, and Natanni 
again, each with six cavalrywomen.  Medini was also commanding 
twelve lizard women, and they had brought Mystrider, a spy and 
thief with them.  She was commanding six slingers, or male 
lizards.  A priestess adept, Coralynn, was also with them.  
Her familiar was a water-elemental that followed her 
everywhere.  This was something we hadn't seen while in 
Crestfall.  It was basically a duplicate of her made out of 
animated water.  It was a bit disconcerting to see it 
following it her like a shadow, but I got used to it pretty 
quickly.  

I was finding the shocks were less intense now.  New and weird 
things generally created only one question.  'Was it dangerous?'

The Knights appeared from their encampment just outside the 
city and we learned that there were three paladins commanding
five Knights each, as before.  Aidan was also there with a 
group of six crossbowmen.

The Dwarves consisted of Lindwick, and two other warriors, 
each with three mounted troops.  A Dwarven thief had come with
them with a group of six axe throwers.  I noticed the thieves 
of each race tended to use some sort of missile weapons, often
some variation of a bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt.  The 
wizard Siobhan was there with his stag as well.

For another first, we got to see a bigger variety of Fire 
Giants.  Darjon was there and he had brought another fire 
warrior, Helvi.  He and Darjon each commanded five mounted 
fire riders.  Their horses were light golden-colored with 
black tails and shaped much like Belgians, only about the size
of elephants rather than horses.  The faces were a bit more 
sloped like the old plains horses of earth during the 
Paleolithic era on earth.  They were stout stock for sure.  

An Imp spy was also there, commanding eight Giants they called 
rock hurlers.  That was a weird sight.  These were Fire Giants 
who had been trained to use Fire Magic to fight but were not 
sorcerers or sorceresses.  They could do one thing, draw mana 
from the earth they picked up, channel their natural aptitude 
with fire into that earth and hurl it at their enemies, 
effectively turning plain old earth or sod into burning embers 
that were tossed at their enemies.  Naturally, the damage that 
could be done this way was great.  They were used mostly for 
defensive purposes in Cyneraayt, posted on the walls of the 
castle and able to hurl fire down on anyone dumb enough to try 
and breach the walls.

Last but not least, was Loopkar, the fire sorceress, standing
in a field next to an honest to goodness fire dragon stood 
easily twenty feet tall at the shoulder, his head rising into
the air like a mobile skyscraper.  He had horns and wide 
nostrils and scales just like the dragons of fairy tales.  He
would sigh and fire would shoot out of his nose.  Fortunately,
his head was so far above everyone, he didn't singe the hair 
offanyone or light anyone on fire.  He was Loopkar's mount in
battle.  The fire dragons, of which there were precious few,
were the guardians of the Fire Giants, much like the phoenix 
was for the Elves.  

At one point, Shadar took to the air and was circling the 
dragon's head like a bomber buzzing the tower.  The dragon 
snorted at it and Shadar would blow ice breath right back at
it, the fire and ice colliding in the air and canceling each 
other out.  Scully saw this and hollered, "Shadar, stop that 
right now!"

He made one more circuit of the dragon's head and headed back 
for Scully.  Loopkar was laughing and said, "Don't worry, I
told Kasai not to hurt him.  He's just a baby."

Scully sighed dramatically and looked at Shadar.  "Behave 
yourself."  I could swear he pouted.

Then there were the Elves, of course.  The ever-faithful 
Dorian was there with his newly formed troop of nine Elven
riders.  Joachim had been promoted to captain and now led
his own regiment of nine Elven riders.  He was beaming with
pride.  Anzwen's six bodyguards were with him.  Glimmerwynn,
an Elven thief, was to accompany us this time.  She led a 
group of twelve Elven archers.  Anzwen told me that while 
other races had their strengths, archers were a good portion
of the Elven army strength.  According to him, they were 
second to none in Urak for missile weapons.  

Then again, every race thought their army was the best.  I 
sighed.  I hoped we had no more nonsense like what had 
happened that morning.  Ashante was staying behind this time
and sent Elvara, her top adept, who rode a unicorn named 
Galedwen.  Including us and familiars, the members of our
party numbered 110 in all.  Amazing.

As we lined up in the procession, we asked Zephyr how big
Shadar would grow.  He smiled and looked at the sky.  
"Drucilla!" he said in a voice only slightly raised.

A shower of leaves erupted from one of the enormous ash-like 
trees that dotted the Astarte landscape at the edges of the 
meadow.  A loud squawk like that of falcon, only considerably 
louder and fuller, split the air.  We looked up as 'Drucilla' 
appeared.  

"Holy shit!" I exclaimed.

"Oh my God!" Scully said at the same time.  Drucilla was 
circling in the air above Zephyr.  She was enormous, her body 
easily twice the size of Jadian.  Her wingspan had to be 
thirty feet across, and her tail trailed out behind her for a
good fifteen feet.  "Is she your familiar?" Scully asked.

"Yes, she is bonded with me.  She is also Shadar's mother."

Scully waved at the gigantic dragon-creature and it snorted in 
response.  Shadar squawked and left his position on the ground 
next to Brenneka to fly up and land on her neck.  He duck 
walked up her neck and wiggled his butt as he nested on top of
her head just behind her ears.

Brenneka's ears laid back and down in response to the sharp 
claws kneading into her mane and head.  She whinnied loudly 
and tossed her head but did not unseat the determined drake.

Scully laughed but said, "Shadar, no claws."  He craned his 
long neck around, almost spinning it around backwards to look
at her.  "If you hurt her, I won't let you ride there," she 
said firmly, as if talking to a child.  

He snorted once and faced front, but retracted his claws and
I saw Brenneka's eyes roll up as though trying to see what was
on her head.  Her ears slowly rose up again and faced front.  

I was nearly choking on my mirth.  "Sometimes life is just too 
unreal, you know that?" I quipped.

Scully smiled at me.  "My life is turning into a Tolkien 
novel."

It took a while to get everyone organized.  In the end, 
Anzwen and his personal bodyguards of six Elven riders headed
up our procession.  Scully and I rode in between the other 
Elven riders.  The archers were behind us.  

After that, each race, the Storm Giants, the Amazons, the 
Dwarves, and the Knights traveled in a pack with their race.  
The Fire Giants brought up the rear.

XXXXXXXXXX

IXIA VILLAGE
ELVEN TERRITORY

It took us a full day to reach the Ixia Village.  It was an 
Elven outpost with a watchtower that overlooked the border 
between Astarte and Atmos.  I wondered aloud why we hadn't
gone this way before on our way to Atmos.

Anzwen informed me that path we'd taken straight up the 
mountain, while more rigorous, was a straighter and therefore 
quicker path to the Atmos capital.  This village was on the 
outermost northwest rim of Astarte.  The ocean could be seen 
to north.  He explained that we were far from the capital of 
Atmos on their northern-most border and would be skirting 
through a small stretch of their northern territory before 
passing into Arkia.

The village could not accommodate the entire envoy, so 
everyone had brought provisions to set up camp.  They did so 
in the area surrounding the village.  Anzwen, the Elven 
captains, Scully and I were brought into the village and 
housed for the night.  I worried about jealousy issues and
Anzwen shrugged them off.  "It's our village.  They will 
expect our troops to bunk with the barracks here and they 
will think nothing of us availing ourselves of the village.
They understand that they can't all be in here.  There simply
isn't enough room.  They would clog up the streets."

Once inside, I understood what he meant.  The village was 
small, consisting of a food market, a stable, a barracks, a
watchtower and only three houses, two of which housed the 
resident captains and their mates.  I peered up at the
spiraling white limestone of the watchtower and could see 
arrow slits occupied by archers at intervals all the way up
its side.  It rose about ten stories into the sky.  It was 
impressive to say the least.  We were given a spare room in
one of the captain's houses, and Anzwen was put up with the
other captain.  Joachim, Dorian, and Glimmerwynn were given
the third house, which was empty and meant for guests.  Their
troops were in the barracks, along with the Elven riders, and
it was pretty crowded in there.

Scully and I made love that night, knowing we might not get 
another chance for a while.  We were gentle and quiet and fell 
fast asleep once our bodies were sated with a taste of each 
other.  Again, our minds had joined and created a blinding 
pleasure that was baffling in its wanton ecstasy.  I surmised 
that it was because of Scully's budding magical powers.  She 
countered that it was probably the mana of the place finally 
affecting our bodies.  I didn't really care.  I was just going 
to enjoy it.  My only niggling fear was that it would ruin 
regular sex for us once we got home.  

'If we got home,' a pessimistic voice in my head reminded me.
I forcefully banished that thought.  I had to believe we would 
find a way home.  

XXXXXXXXXX

In the morning, we were fed breakfast and met briefly with the 
captains of the village.  It still wasn't fully light out when 
we saddled up and began to assemble our procession.  I checked 
and double-checked my possessions.  I carried so much now; I 
wanted to be sure I didn't leave anything behind.

We were loping through the encampments, which were being 
dismantled as we made our way to the border behind the village 
where the envoy would head out once formed.

A shout went up from our left and I slowed Jadian.  Scully 
pulled up alongside me and we came to stop.  I could hear a 
scuffle going on and raised my eyebrows at Scully.

I heard a woman shriek, "You rigid freak!  Let go of me."

Scully sighed and we turned toward the ruckus.  We came upon
a circle of Knights and dismounted.  One turned and saw us and 
shouted, "Amaline!"

The circle parted and we stepped through.  The paladin, 
Amaline stood there, towering over a woman wearing what
appeared to be rags.  A small suede skirt hung on her waist
and barely covered her bottom.  A tube top was made of the 
same material.  Her hair was in a long, brown braid down her
back.  Her body was small, only slightly larger than Scully's,
but heavily muscled.

Paladin Amaline had the woman's braid fisted in his gauntleted 
hand.  A dagger was pressed to her throat.  She thrashed, 
trying not to move her head, lest he cut her throat.  "What's
going on here?" I asked.

Amaline looked up and I saw the splash of a red Symmet banner 
painted on his armor that proclaimed him as a paladin.  "I 
caught this little wench trying to palm my gold purse," he 
said with malice.

"Who is she?"

"I don't know.  She won't tell me her name but meet your first 
Barbarian, Mulder," he said sarcastically.  "In Symmet, we cut 
off the hands of thieves."

I examined her closely and so did Scully.  I said firmly, 
"Let go of her."

He looked at me in surprise.  "You're kidding, right?"

"No," I said simply.  

For a moment I thought he would refuse, but then his fist 
widened, letting go of her head and he drew the dagger away
from throat, holding it carefully out to his side.  

She staggered to her feet and crouched as though we would 
attack at any minute.  I felt Jadian in my mind and a name 
came to me.  "Hello, Kellevanna," I said calmly.

Her eyes widened and she gasped, obviously surprised I 
would know her name.  "You know this wench?" Amaline asked
in surprise.

I shook my head in the negative.  "No."

This garnered me strange looks.  "Why are you here?" I asked.  

Her eyes darted from me to Scully and then around at the five 
Knights still circling her.  "Give me my dagger," she growled
at Amaline.

He just laughed.  I held out my hand, palm up.  He hesitated 
but flipped it deftly and placed the hilt in my hand.  I 
gripped it and slashed it through the air.  It was well made,
with a long thin, double-sided blade.  It was like a mini-
rapier, the point so fine that the last couple of inches were
nearly wire that whipped in the wind.  The entire thing was 
maybe eight inches long.  "Well made," I said casually.

She gave me a haughty smile.  "Of course it is," she said 
belligerently.

Scully frowned.  "A nasty attitude is not going to help you 
here," she said. 

The woman turned to Scully.  "Let me go.  You'll never see me 
again, I promise."

Amaline laughed again.  "Don't believe her.  These animals lie 
like snakes."

"That's enough, Amaline," Scully said.  She turned back to the 
girl.  "Answer the question.  Why are you here?"

She swallowed.  "I was sent to scout.  I saw these 
encampments.  I was checking them out and going to report 
back."

I nodded.  "Why steal?" I said.

Amaline said, "Because that's what they do.  They're like 
vultures, feeding off everyone else's leftovers."

"Why steal?" I asked again, ignoring the paladin, knowing his 
racial hatred was boiling close to surface.  Once again, we 
were intervening in a racially charged fight.  I had no doubt
Amaline would have slit her throat without a moment's 
hesitation.  The people of Symmet worshipped order.  They 
found Barbarians, who worshipped chaos, to be the most 
offensive of all the races, and another civil hatred had 
been born.  We thought racism back home was bad.

She was trying to stare me down.  I was determined she
wouldn't win.  "Look, I can save your life here, or I can 
toss you back to Amaline to do what he will," I said.  
"Somehow, I don't think you'll make out so well with him."

Scully looked at me wide-eyed.  I hoped she realized it was a 
ploy.  The woman didn't know that though.  

She stiffened and then said, "It's my trade, and I'm poor, 
and I hate Knights," she added with a hiss, nearly spitting
the word Knights.

"Well, that's unacceptable here.  If you'd asked for help, 
perhaps we could have helped you."

"No one helps a Barbarian," she said, her voice dripping 
sarcasm.  She had stood up from her crouch and was now 
standing at her full height, which was only about five feet,
five inches tall.  She wore leather boots that only came to 
the ankle.  Other than a belt, which had various pouches
hanging from it around her waist, the rest of her was bare.

"We're on a mission of peace, Kellevanna.  We are coming to
meet with your king and queen and head shaman.  Go back and 
tell your people to prepare for our arrival.  We'll need space
to camp 110 souls.  We'll be at your border in about a day 
and a half.  You travel fast and light.  You'll make it back
 well ahead of us."

"You're letting her go?" Amaline exclaimed loudly.

I nodded curtly.  She began to back away.  The two Knights 
behind her parted to let her through.  She wouldn't turn her 
backs on them.  I thought that was probably a smart move.  

I swished her dagger back and forth and flipped it easily in
my hand, two fingers on either side of hilt next to cross 
hold.  "Forgetting something?"

She stared, her eyes darting nervously from side to side at
the scowling Knights.  I took the three or four steps to put
myself about two feet away from her.  She was clearly ready 
to bolt when I held out the dagger, hilt first.

She glanced at it, at me and back at the dagger.  I knew 
nothing of their customs, but I figured a weapon this finely
made had to be valuable.  I noticed a boomerang on her belt 
as well.  She slowly reached out for it as though expecting
me to pull it back at the last minute.  "I wouldn't give her
the weapon," Amaline advised.

"Why?  You worried she can best you?" I said blandly, not
taking my eyes off her.

He snorted.  "Hardly."

She took the weapon slowly.  Once it cleared my hand, she
deftly slid it into a small scabbard at her waist.  "Why?"
she asked. 

I didn't need to ask for clarification.  "No one should 
travel unarmed," I said simply.  "Lots of dangerous things
out there."

She nodded, accepting my explanation but not quite believing
it.  Then she turned and dashed out of the camp.  Within 
thirty seconds she had blended into the beige and rust
colored hills at the base of the mountain.  I turned and the
Knights stood quietly, watching me.  Amaline stepped up to me.
"That was a mistake," he said firmly.

I easily held his gaze and then smiled, not in a pompous 
fashion, more like a sad one.  "I don't think so," I said 
simply.

He pursed his lips but didn't say anything.  He backed away
from me and Scully and I turned and left the circle.  We 
hopped back onto our mounts.  Scully said, "Better hurry 
and finish breaking camp.  You've had a delay," she stated
the obvious.  

With that, we turned and began loping away.  When we 
reached the area behind the village where the Elves were 
assembling, I told Anzwen what had happened.  

He nodded thoughtfully.  "Good work."

"Was it?  I really don't know anything about the Barbarians 
except what you told me."

He seemed to consider for a moment and then said, "I won't 
lie.  The Barbarians are not to be trusted fully.  They are
sneaky and they do scavenge if given the chance.  They are 
opportunistic people.  On the other hand, they aren't as vile
as the Knights think they are.  That's one of the longest 
standing racial hatreds on Urak.  The Knights despise them 
and everything they represent as you can imagine.  The 
Barbarians are primitive.  They live primitive.  However,
don't make the mistake of thinking they are stupid, because 
they're not.  The Knights consider them stupid."

I nodded.  "Do you think she'll go back and tell them we're 
coming?"

"I'm sure of it."

"She didn't just take my excuse for letting her go and run 
away with it?" I questioned.

"No, a party like this approaching Arkia is big news.  She
won't keep it to herself.  Her name was Kellevanna?"

"Yes, that's what Jadian told me."

"Hmm, interesting."

"Why?"

"The king is Kellerite, the war lord is Kellerak, the 
high shamaness is Katelanna.  Sensing a pattern here?"

"She's related to one of them?"

"They have name patterns for families.  I'll bet she's 
related."

"Glad I let her go then."

"I just hope they don't meet us at the border with an
army."

"I hope not," I said.

He smiled.  "Despite what the Knights say, the Barbarians
are formidable warriors."

XXXXXXXXXX

PART 3 (PG-13)
ANARIA VILLAGE
BARBARIAN TERRITORY

A day later, we reached a village on the southern border of 
Arkia.  The mountains had become increasingly steep and the 
terrain rocky as we climbed to an altitude even higher than
the peak of Atmos.  The land was not completely barren though.  
Scrub brush and what looked like stunted bonsai trees were 
scattered throughout the landscape.  Cactus-like plants 
called kale were also seen.  

Anzwen told us the centers were full of a gel-like substance 
that had healing properties.  The Barbarians had kale farms 
closer to the capital.  It was the main industry of the 
common people of Arkia.  Scully surmised the substance was
probably like aloe.

Our education continued during our ride, Anzwen deciding to
tell us all he knew about the Barbarians.  While they had 
little contact with them, they didn't despise them and had 
never fought a battle with them.  They had, however, seen 
the devastation a Barbarian army could wreak on a foe.  
Havoc didn't even begin to describe it, he said.

The other resource they had were crystal mines, quite a few
of them.  This was their other cash cow, along with raising
Yurts, a creature that I pictured like a wild boar after his 
description.  The hides were used for clothes.  The tusks of 
the creature were used for many things, everything from
needles, to hide scrapers, to pegs and dowels and pieces of
weapons.  The tendons of the animal were stretched, spun and
woven into thread, bow strings and sometimes used to sew
clothes together, depending on the fineness of the fiber.  
The meat, of course was eaten.  It was what the Storm Giants
traded with them for.  I asked him if that was the meat we'd
eaten before the battle at Atmos and he said it was.

Despite the rocky, desert-like terrain, the paths through the 
territory were clearly marked with sticks, holding the dried 
heads of their vanquished foes.  It was not a pretty sight, 
and was a clear warning to anyone with less than honorable 
intentions.  Scully was clearly appalled but kept her opinion
to herself.

Fortunately, Anzwen had warned us before we reached the 
village that we were to be introduced to new creatures this 
time around as well.  I'd come to expect it and so wasn't 
surprised by this pronouncement.

Despite expecting it, my first sight of a Barbarian warrior
in full battle dress was intimidating nonetheless.

XXXXXXXXXX

The war lord rode out to meet us before we reached the gates
of the village.  We were barely in sight of the stockade fence 
surrounding the village when he topped a ridge and looked down 
on us.  He himself was a magnificent sight, riding atop of
full-grown, yellow, saber toothed tiger with black stripes.  

His clothing could best be approximated to Native American.
He wore full breeches of some type of leathers and moccasins
on his feet.  His chest was bare, but elaborately painted 
with some type of red grease.  He wore a long strip of hair
down the back of his head, adorned with multi-colored crystals
and bird feathers.  In a scabbard much like a lance-holder, a
large two-headed axe protruded behind his saddle.

A thick leather belt surrounded the top of his breeches and 
was hung with various objects and pouches, among them, the 
rapier-type dagger I'd seen with Kellevanna.  For him, it 
was clearly his back-up weapon.  He was sitting, so I couldn't
be sure, however, I thought he was probably only a little 
shorter than me.  I guessed around five feet, ten inches.

Their bodies however, were nothing like mine.  He was bulging 
with muscle everywhere.  A necklace made of some creature's 
claws hung around his neck and his ears were pierced with 
dangling bone earrings.  They were built even stockier and 
heavier than the Knights.  

Unlike the Knights, their features were not fine and pretty,
but more craggy and rugged.  Wide flat noses and thick lips 
next to low cheekbones and close set eyes spread across their
faces.  Their brows were high and their skin ruddy and tanned.

He would have been stunning all by himself.  The scary part
was what rode over the ridge behind him.  Twenty jet-black 
horses, built like the other race's warhorses, advanced in 
a straight line.  On their backs were warriors looking much
like their war lord.  The differences were few.  They had no
paint on their chests and wore the dangling bone earrings in
only one ear.  Instead of a necklace of claws, they wore a 
single large claw on a leather thong around their necks.  

Behind them was a row of fifteen men on foot.  These men had 
hair grown to about their shoulders and unbound.  On their 
backs were strapped quivers holding miniature spears with 
sharp metal points, which I assumed they must hurl at people.
They stopped about the length of a football field away and 
waited in silence.  The only sound was the thud of hooves on 
the terrain, the creaking of saddles and the occasional cough
or throat clearing from one of our party.  We stopped and 
Anzwen said, "Just the captains and you," he said, indicating
Scully and I should accompany him.

One of his riders said, "My Lord, I don't think that's wise.  
Let some of us come with you."

Anzwen shook his head, his dark maroon robe fluttering slightly 
in the breeze.  "No, it's a show of good faith that I not bring 
my personal bodyguards to the greeting.  It's a gesture of peace 
to them.  I don't want to be seen as hostile."

I could tell the rider didn't like it, but he nodded and 
settled back in his saddle.  Dorian, Joachim and Glimmerwynn
rode up on one side of Anzwen.  Scully and I rode up on the 
other.  I took the outside.

Anzwen turned in his saddle and looked at the assembled 
envoy.  He looked at Arethal, the head of his personal guards
and said, "They're yours to command if things go bad."

Arethal nodded and sat straighter in his saddle.  He said,
"Stay alert, people.  Do not draw a weapon, but be ready."

Anzwen nudged Percy with his heels and the Pegasus surged 
forward into a trot, his wings against his flanks, securing 
Anzwen on his back.  The rest of us kept pace about two 
steps behind him.

When we were ten yards away, Anzwen raised his closed fist to 
indicate we should stop.  We did and sat waiting.  "Don't 
move," he said softly.

Another thirty seconds or so passed as I watched the war lord 
scan his eyes over us and then over the envoy.  His attention 
returned to Anzwen.  He stared at the medallion on Anzwen's 
chest for a moment.  His scrutiny turned to me.  I saw his
eyes rake over the mithral chain mail protruding from the 
neck of my tunic, the fire gauntlets on my arm, the crystal
pouch at my neck, and finally, the glowing hilt of the sword
at a scabbard on my waist.  

He did another scan of Scully, clearly noting the two staffs
in holders at the rear of her saddle, the baby ice drake 
perched on Brenneka's head.  

Finally he spoke, his speech clipped and short.  "The Elven
king brings strangers and an army to my door."  He paused 
and then said with disgust, "And Knights."

Anzwen held up both hands, palms up.  "We are on a mission 
of peace and wish to speak with King Kellerite, Queen 
Ysabelle, and Shamaness Katelanna."

If these troops were assembled at the village, I shuddered
to think what the home army looked like.  The war lord asked,
"Why should I let you pass?"

"We come to discuss an alliance of races against the Drow.  We 
wish for the Barbarians to join us at a summit one moon from 
now," Anzwen explained patiently.

He looked suspicious but contemplative.  "What do you know 
about the Drow?" he asked.

Anzwen said, "The Age of Darkness is coming.  We must join 
forces before the hell spawn are unleashed on Urak.  Please 
allow us to meet with your leaders.  I am Anzwen.  I would 
have your name if you will give it," he requested politely.

The man seemed to consider it for a moment and said, "I am 
Kellerak, war lord of all Arkia."  I realized he knew Anzwen
was king by the medallion he wore, but hadn't known his name.
I found that odd.  On the other hand, perhaps he had, and this
was a polite thing to give your name even if the other knew it 
already.

Anzwen nodded in deference.  "You are kin to the king," he 
acknowledged.

"Yes.  I am his brother.  Katelanna is his sister."

I realized quickly that the names all began with Ka or Ke.  
That must be a family moniker of some kind.  It sounded like
this family ruled Arkia; one as king, one as war lord, and 
one as head shaman, or shamaness, as they called their female
magic users.  I wondered if Kellevanna was related as Anzwen 
suspected.

There was a slight commotion behind the spear throwers and the 
troops parted.  A woman rode up on the back of a tiger, this 
one white with black stripes.  She wore a full headdress of 
crystals and feathers and I couldn't see her hair.

She wore a sleeveless leather tunic, unbelted, that hung to
her knees with fringe on the bottom.  She wore knee-high
moccasins under it.  Crystal tubes wound their way over her
bulging biceps as armbands.  She stopped next to Kellerak. 

Anzwen obviously knew who she was.  "They are true, Kellerak,
at least this Elven leader is true."

He nodded.  Her eyes landed on us.  "I would greet the two 
that act as one, that are male and female, not of this world,
that belong to none," she intoned.  She dismounted and waited
next to her tiger.

By now, we were familiar with these words.  Anzwen glanced at 
us.  I looked at Scully and she nodded.  Anzwen said softly, 
"You must dismount.  To greet a shamaness you stop an arm's 
length away and hold your arms straight out, palms up."

We nodded and slid to the ground.  We held hands and 
approached.  I could feel everyone holding their collective 
breath.  For some reason I wasn't nervous.  When we were close, 
we dropped our hands and raised our arms as we had been 
instructed, bending slightly at the waist.  I surmised this 
must be a gesture of faith as well, showing you held no 
weapons.

She reached out and placed her hands palm down, one on my 
right palm and one on Scully's left.  I felt a slight swirl
of dizziness that passed quickly.  She stepped back, dropping
her hands.  We did the same.  She stared, her eyes darting 
over us and taking in every detail.  

She nodded once curtly and turned to Kellerak.  "Let them 
pass.  Kellerite expects them.  I needed to make sure they
were really the ones from my visions of entropy.  They are
true." 

Entropy, my mind supplied:  A measure of the disorder or 
randomness in a closed system; inevitable and steady 
deterioration of a system or society.  

"The leader of each army and mages may enter the city to meet 
with the king and queen.  The rest of them can camp outside 
the city walls.  We cannot allow them to enter the city." 

Kellerak nodded.  "Very well, we shall let you pass.  Be 
warned, you are watched." 

The meaning was clear.  Any funny business and they would cut
us down like dogs.  Surveying the assembled crowd in front of
us, I had no doubts they would be capable of it.  Even though
at this moment, we outnumbered them greatly, I was sure this 
was a small representation of the size of the whole army. 

XXXXXXXXXX

ARKIA
BARBARIAN TERRITORY

I let my eyes roam freely as we traveled the last hour over the 
territory to reach the city of Arkia.  We hadn't bothered
making camp at the village.  There was too much daylight left,
so we pressed on.

I could feel the tension in the air as everyone in our envoy 
went on high alert.  The stares of the people of Arkia as we 
made our way to the city were unnerving.  Small farming and 
mining villages were passed through.  When half of Kellerak's 
troops led us in and the other half flanked our rear, I 
realized they were an escort sent from the city.  They 
weren't the army for the village at all.  We still had no idea
how many warriors were inside that village.  For some reason,
that bothered me, but I decided there was nothing I could do 
about it.

Finally, we reached the city.  It was surrounded by a moat.
The drawbridge was lowered.  There was a wide stretch of 
hard-packed dirt leading up to the city gates and I thought 
that many armies had probably assembled there over the years.
We were instructed to make our camps in that area.  Our envoy
immediately set about making camp.  Joachim went from camp to
camp, advising the leaders that they had to follow us into the
city.

When we were all assembled, Kellerak led us through the streets 
of the city.  It was teeming with activity.  Blacksmiths banged 
on anvils while making weapons, farmers hawked their wares, and 
an apothecary sold healing unguents, creams, salves and potions.  
I heard shouts and looked over to see what appeared to be an 
arena where warriors were practicing their art with axes, 
broadswords and daggers.  
 
I looked at Scully and said, "Remind you of anything?"

She smiled at me.  "I'm thinking Roman gladiators."

"My thoughts exactly.  More Indian than Roman in dress, but the 
society structure and war-like society fits."

She nodded.  "I just want this part to be over," she said 
honestly.

"Me too," I agreed.

We didn't speak again until we were led into a huge stone 
building that looked like a Roman coliseum and were presented
to the Barbarian royalty.  The surprises didn't end there.

XXXXXXXXXX 

ARKIAN PALACE
BARBARIAN CITY

King Kellerite, Queen Ysabelle, Shamaness Katelanna, and 
Kellevanna were seated in sturdy wooden throne-like chairs
with green cushions on them.  Kellerak took his seat in the
empty chair the left of the king and to the right of 
Kellevanna.

It hit me like a brick.  All the K's.  Kellevanna wasn't just 
related, she was a part of the royal family, and the leader 
of the Barbarian thief's guild.  Holy shit!  She smiled 
crookedly at Scully and me. 

I could tell she was just now realizing who we were.  My hair 
had grown longer and so had Scully's.  Although mine now 
brushed my collar, it wasn't quite long enough to put in a
ponytail, so I let it hang.  Scully's hair was down to the
middle of her shoulder blades and wavy and lush.  I realized
that she had thought we were Elves.  I tucked my hair behind
my ears and she stared, fascinated, realizing we were not
Elves.  She became more alert, but did not look alarmed.

The king and queen were nearly as big as Kellerak.  Katelanna 
was his equal height.  The king was about an inch taller than 
his brother, but just slightly less bulky.  Kellevanna five 
foot, five inch height seemed an oddity and out of place.  She 
was just as bulky and muscular though, reminding me of a 
female body-builder.  Katelanna had removed her headdress and
was wearing a beaded headband to hold her otherwise unbound
hair back; I saw that both she and Kellevanna's had long, 
brown hair.  Kellevanna's was in the braid I'd seen her 
wearing before.  Kellerak and Kellerite both had strips of 
hair on the back of their heads.  Otherwise they were shaved
bald.  I didn't wonder how they shaved bald until much later.
If it weren't for the robes worn by Kellerite, I would have 
been hard pressed to tell the difference between them.

As if she'd read my thoughts, Katelanna said, "They are twins.  
Not identical, but close."

I colored slightly, as if I'd been caught doing something 
wrong and she chuckled.  "Do not be bothered.  They are often
mistaken for one another.  Kellerite makes sure to dress in 
robes now unless he's practicing warfare.  Otherwise, it gets
confusing."

"We greet you," Anzwen said, as we stood flanking him.

Behind us were the representatives from the other races, 
standing quietly.  Kellerite finally spoke, "We greet you, 
Anzwen, and the rest of your party.  My sister tells me that
you bear the burden of caring for the Saviors from the 
prophecy."

He nodded.  "I don't consider it a burden, but rather a 
privilege."

Kellerite nodded, his eyes scanning the group.  Finally he 
turned to me.  "As you may have guessed, Kellevanna is our 
little sister."

I nodded.  "I'm just realizing that now."

"You didn't know that when you rescued her from the Knights?"

I heard some shuffling behind me and knew that the paladin and 
wizard back there knew nothing of my confrontation with their 
brothers over the small Barbarian.  "No, I did not," I 
answered simply.

"You saved her anyway.  That shows a nobility not often found
in the company of Knights."

I heard a grunt behind me and silently willed them to keep 
quiet.  "Perhaps.  She lied to me though," I said.

His eyes darted to Kellevanna and back to mine.  "How so?"

"She was caught stealing.  I asked her why.  Other than her 
distaste for the Knights, she claimed she was poor.  I told 
her she should have asked for help if she needed it."

He raised his eyebrows at Kellevanna and she shrugged.  "I 
didn't know who he was.  I thought he was that one," she 
said, waving at Anzwen.

"You mistook the Savior for the Elven king?" he asked 
incredulously.

Her eyes widened and she said, "How am I supposed to know?  
They all look alike to me."

He grunted.  "You're a spy, Kellevanna, a trained observer.
You should have known he was no Elf."

She looked chagrined.  "I'm sorry!  I've never seen his like 
before, and his ears were covered with that mane of hair."
She paused.  "Why do all you other races have your men wear so
much hair, anyway?"

That was obviously an irrelevant dodge and Kellerite scowled 
at her.  "Stop it, Kellevanna.  You're being petulant."

She almost pouted, her lower lip sticking out.  Upon seeing 
his glare, she thought better of it.  "We owe you an apology.
That was a stupid thing for her to do."  He turned to her. 
"You could have been killed."

She frowned.  "It was just a few Knights there."

He looked at her like she was stupid.  "We'll discuss it later."  
He looked over our heads and said, "Who represents the Knights 
here?"

We stepped to the side as Siobhan and a paladin stepped 
forward.  "I'm Paladin Anselm.  This is Wizard Adept
Siobhan."

The king nodded.  "We've no love of your people," he stated 
simply.

The paladin nodded but said nothing.

The king pursed his lips as though thinking.  "However, we owe 
you an apology.  My sister had no business sneaking around your 
camp and trying to steal from you.  She hardly has need of 
anything."

"Kellerite!" she shouted, clearly upset.

"Shut up, Kellevanna.  Don't make it worse."  He turned to the 
paladin.  "Please accept our apologies.  If she took anything, 
it will be returned."  He looked at her meaningfully.

"I didn't take anything.  He caught me before I made off with 
it."

"Made off with what?" he asked curtly.

"His gold pouch," she said quietly, looking away.

He sighed like a put upon parent and turned back to the Knights.  
"You came with this envoy in a gesture of peace and solidarity, 
am I correct?"

The paladin nodded, not letting on that he had known nothing of 
the incident.  "Yes, My Lord," he answered. 

A few brows rose at that.  No Knight had ever respectfully 
addressed a Barbarian, even their king.  The king nodded his 
head slightly in acknowledgement.  He was clearly pleased.  
"Then you are welcome in my home."

They nodded and went back behind us to stand with the others.  
Anzwen said, "King Kellerite, we come to ask that you attend 
an interracial summit taking place in Astarte on the next full
moon.  As you can see from those behind me, all other races 
plan to attend.  We want to discuss an alliance against the 
Drow, pledge assistance to any race that calls for it should
they put upon by the Drow."

Katelanna said, "I have had visions of the Saviors, Kellerite.  
They stand before us."

"The Barbarians have always stood alone against all enemies," 
he argued.

Anzwen said, "The Knights, Amazons and Dwarves can say the 
same.  However, they realize the importance of setting old 
ways aside to fight the Drow.  They understand the 
significance of the Age of Darkness.  If we are to succeed, we
MUST ally.  They have demons and hell spawn beside them.  We
are not just fighting the Drow if this comes to pass.  All 
manner of creatures that are not easily vanquished with 
traditional warfare are going to be involved."

"Are you implying I don't understand the significance of the
Age of Darkness prophecy?" he asked, somewhat testily.

"Not at all, "Anzwen said, keeping his cool.  "In fact, I'm 
counting on the fact that you do."

The king was silent for a moment and then began to laugh.
"Ahh, you're a clever one, Elf king.  If I don't agree, 
you've made it sound as though I'm stupid and don't understand
the importance of the prophecy.  If I do agree, I am presented
as smart and wise.  Do I have that right?"

Anzwen smiled.  "That wasn't my intention.  It's not a matter
of intelligence.  It's a matter of survival."  He paused.  
"For all of Urak, and you are part of this world.  We are 
asking at this time only for a commitment to attend the 
summit, hear what everyone has to say.  We are not asking 
you to commit to an alliance yet."

The king sat very still, contemplating what he'd been told.  
When he said nothing for a long while, Anzwen added, "We
cannot force you to attend.  We have no intention of trying
to do so."

"Then why did you bring such a large force to my door?" he
asked calmly.  Despite his outward calm, I could sense
something simmering under the surface.

"It is merely a show of solidarity.  I didn't know if you 
would take my word that the other races have agreed to attend.  
Therefore, I asked that each of them send a small envoy to 
join me on my mission to bring the Arkians into the fold.  
Some sent more than a small envoy; they sent a large one but
that was not my request.  I didn't turn them away, because 
frankly, traveling the roads these days has gotten 
frighteningly dangerous.  Drow can walk in sunlight now.
No one is safe."

I noticed he didn't call them Barbarians, he called them 
Arkians.  I wondered if Barbarians was a racial slur or 
truly the given name of their race.  I would have to
clarify that later.

After another few moments of silence, the king turned to 
Katelanna.  I got the impression that a silent communication
had taken place.  We waited in tense silence.  Finally, he
turned his attention back to us.  

"I will consider the matter and give you an answer before you 
leave," he said simply.

We all smiled widely and began nodding.  I said, "You won't 
regret it."

He nodded at me in acknowledgement.  "We aren't the heathens 
most people think we are," he said.  "We prefer a simple life, 
that's all."

I nodded, wondering how warfare as a way of life was 
considered simple.  Then again, there were farmers, crystal
miners and common folk here as well. 

Katelanna stood and said, "I prepared for your coming.  I saw
it days ago.  I have something for the Saviors."  She stepped 
around behind her chair and emerged with a sack.  From it she 
took what looked like two silver and copper discs about five 
inches in diameter.  
 
She approached me and said, "These are chaos blades."

I took them carefully, noticing a button in the center.  Upon 
further examination, they were almost shaped like a daisy 
flower, when in fact; they were a series of overlapping 
curved blades, connected in the center.  I looked up and said,
"How do they work?"

"If you push the button in the center, you have about three 
seconds to drop it an arm's length away from you."

"What happens then?" I asked.

Kellevanna stood up.  "Allow me to demonstrate."

She stepped off to the side about two feet away from us and 
said, "Move back."

We all backed off until we were ten feet away.  She extracted
an identical disc from a pouch at her waist.  She pressed the 
button and tossed it gently about two feet away from her.  It 
bounced on the ground and then sprung up into the air.  A 
series of blades, maybe ten in all formed a ring around her
and began swirling, their speed increasing until they were a
blur.  The ring swirled about a foot away from her body at 
chest height.  Anyone getting within arms reach would be cut
to shreds by the whirling blades.  She smiled serenely as the
rest of us gasped and tried to track their movement.  

"How do you stop them," I asked.

She smiled.  "You don't stop chaos magic," she replied as 
though I were a bit dim.  "They only last for about five
minutes and then the magic wears off.  There is a crystal 
chip in each blade that is enchanted and controls the movement
of that blade.  Our shamans produce them for our spear 
throwers.  It can protect them if they find themselves in
hand-to-hand combat.  They aren't really equipped for that.
If you're ina tight spot, it could buy you time."

She moved carefully, not wanting to send the blades into the 
crowd, but she crouched and shuffled to the side away from us 
and then came back.  I found myself leaning back even though
she was nowhere near us.

She leaped and slid across the stone floor so we could see the 
blades move in perfect sync with her moving body.  She drew 
her dagger and stretched out her arm in a parry demonstration
and the blades expanded away from her arm in front of the 
dagger and then snapped back in close when she pulled it back
in.  Finally, they slowed and began to sink to the ground.  At
last, they clattered to the stone floor.  She picked them up 
carefully, one blade having stayed attached to an upright 
metal dowel in the center.  She carefully stacked them back
on the dowel in their circular pattern and clicked them back
into place.  She walked over and handed them to Katelanna.  
They would obviously have to be re-enchanted.

Kellevanna said, "I don't have to tell you not to do that 
when you're near anyone you like, do I?"

I laughed out loud.  "No, you don't."

She smiled and returned to her seat.  She was telling me that 
the weapon would hurt friend and foe alike.  Not something to
be used lightly, but extremely deadly if I found myself 
surrounded by enemies.  I nodded gratefully to Katelanna and 
said, "Thank you.  How should I store them safely?"

She smiled and extracted two leather pouches with belt loops
on the top that matched Kellevanna's.  I unbuckled my belt 
and slid them on, one on each side.  I re-buckled and she
carefully stowed them in the pouches and fastened the metal
button on the flap of the pouch to secure them inside.  
"Again, thank you," I repeated.

"You're welcome.  May they save you in your darkest hour."

She walked to Scully and extracted what looked like wand 
from the sack.  It was in its own leather tube and she 
pulled it out.  It was about two feet long, and made of 
twisted copper-colored metal.  In the top, woven strings of
wire surrounded a large, oblong, bright pink crystal.  The 
crystal was gorgeous, cut in an octagon and flat on the top.
"This is a Gnosis wand.  It casts one spell only, a psychic
sensor spell.  Basically, it overwhelms a magic user's mind,
turning his or her magic in on himself.  All you need is the
person's name, not always as easy as it sounds to get, but if 
you have it, you just point it at the subject and utter their
name.  The magic will take itself to that person.  While they
are caught, they are paralyzed as well."

"Does it have a limit?"

"No, there is no limit.  It will cast this spell over and over 
again as long as the crystal remains intact.  If the crystal 
cracks, it will be useless and dangerous.  Get rid of it; bury 
it if that happens."

"How long does this last?"

She smiled.  "No one can predict, sometimes a minute, sometimes 
hours."

Behind us I heard Siobhan mutter, "Ah, the joy of chaos magic.  
Such a precise thing."

I pressed my lips together in order not to laugh.  I saw 
Scully's mouth twitch and knew she had heard him too.  I
glanced at Katelanna and realized she had too.  She was
scowling but said nothing.  She whispered.  "I have seen it.
Save it for your greatest foe."

Scully swallowed, all serious now.  "Who?" she whispered.

"You will know," she said simply.  She slid it back into its 
tube and the process of attaching it to Scully's belt by the 
loop on the top was repeated.

If this kept up, Scully and I were going to look like we were 
wearing construction belts.  In effect, that's what they were.  
Too bad we had to get our training on-the-job.

We left the chamber and were led to sleeping quarters.  We 
planned on staying one day to rest, and leaving the following 
morning to make the two-and-a-half day trip back to Astarte.
We weren't going to have much time to prepare for the summit.
It was coming up fast.

Medini approached us and said, "I could send my gullwind to 
summon Corsairs.  We could take most of the party back by 
water.  You have a port three miles behind your Temple," she
reminded Anzwen.  

He shook his head.  "I appreciate the offer, but if we can't 
take everyone, then I would feel like we were abandoning the 
envoy.  How many people and mounts can a single Corsair 
handle?"

"About thirty if they're all mounted, forty if they're 
footmen or women."

"We have 110 members in this envoy."

"You counted?" she asked saucily, looking amused.

"Yes, I did," he snapped, not really annoyed.

"If you take into the account the size of some of the mounts
and the various familiars floating around in the air, I'm 
going to say we'd need four Corsairs."

"Yes.  Is that possible?"

"I think so.  I can ask.  If I send Nella out now, she'll be 
back by morning.  The Corsairs can get to the shore on the east 
side of Arkia in about 10 hours.  I can tell Foamrider to send 
them.  They'd be here by dawn day after tomorrow.  If not, we 
leave the way we came and take two and a half days to do it.
If they can, we'd be back in Astarte in about six hours.  They
have to pass your port to get here."

Anzwen thought for a moment.  "I hate to make a decision like 
that without consulting them."

"Go talk to them.  The Storm Giants will probably go directly 
south anyway and not bother coming back to Astarte."

"That's a good point.  That would cut the numbers down a bit.  
We'd still need four Corsairs if we don't want to be crowded 
though."

"It would make the trip home quicker for everyone.  We can 
unload anyone that wants to in Astarte.  I'm sure we'd even
take the Dwarves and the Knights home if they wish."

"Are you sure?" he asked suspiciously.  

She shrugged.  "Let bygones be bygones.  My beef was with the 
king's attitude.  He's not here.  I meant to apologize for 
that, by the way.  I was out of line."

"You were under a lot of stress, you'd lost kin.  Don't worry 
about it."

"Still, it was no way for a general to behave.  I set a bad 
example and I'm sorry."

"It's forgiven.  No one was harmed.  In fact, I think it may 
have turned out to be a good thing.  It may have tipped his 
decision, reminding him in no uncertain terms that he owed the 
Amazons for the lives of his warriors.  The Dwarves hate to 
owe anyone anything."

She snorted.  "Don't I know it?  Well, let me know.  If I 
need to send my gullwind, I need to do it within the next 
couple of hours.  Frankly, I'm exhausted.  I'd like to get
some sleep."

Anzwen nodded and we parted ways.  I was tired and Scully 
had to be exhausted.  I knew I would sleep once I was 
horizontal.  I didn't want to wait for the answer.  I just 
wanted a bed.

XXXXXXXXXX

The morning brought a message from Medini.  Nella the gullwind 
had returned with a message from Queen Imatra.  Four fully 
equipped Corsairs with food provisions would be waiting in the 
Arkian port for their passengers tomorrow at dawn.

Everyone but the Fire Giants seemed happy about shortening the 
trip.  Then I realized they were terrified of water.  It 
almost made me laugh but I really didn't think pissing off a 
Fire Giant would be a good idea.

In their stoic manner and so as not to look like cowards, 
they agreed to sail if they could have the center cabins, 
farthest from the deck and waves.  It was agreed they could.  

The Storm Giants were going home by land, since their
territory bordered Arkia and they could be home in a day and 
a half.  The rest of us would trek to the Arkian port and 
board the Corsairs for home.  I, for one, was glad not to 
have to ride for another two days.  I was pretty sure my ass
was growing calluses.

XXXXXXXXXX

PART 4 (R)
ARKIA ARENA
BARBARIAN TERRITORY

Turns out the Barbarians did have an arena, much like the ones 
used for the Roman gladiators.  We were all invited to take
part in games and contests in the arena and spent the morning 
learning the ways of war according to chaos.  

Although I'd done long swordplay with various knights and 
warriors, nothing serious had happened.  It had been more of
a learning practice than anything else.  I figured practice 
never hurt.  I had learned a few new moves that might come 
in handy.

Around an hour before lunch time, Kellerak approached me.
"My men would like to see us duel," he said calmly.

I raised an eyebrow.  "Duel?"

"Test our swordplay against one another."

"Is that a good idea?" I asked.

He smirked.  "Just a mock duel, not a challenge duel."

"What's the difference?" I asked.

"Challenge duels are to the death."

"Marvelous," I said blandly.

He threw back his head and laughed heartily.  "We will stop if 
one of us takes a bad injury.  Our healers are on hand."

I swallowed hard.  "Why do I feel like if I get lucky and 
injure you, I'll have a horde of warriors on my back?" I 
asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

He smiled.  "No, I'll tell them it's a demonstration duel.
They understand, they won't interfere."

"Why?" I asked.

"I think they just want to see what you can do.  Elven chain 
mail and enchanted dagger, Fire Giant gauntlets, Storm Giant 
sword.  They've never seen the like."

I nodded.  "I have your guarantee that I won't be attacked if
I hurt you."

He grinned again.  "You have my word, but I'm hard to hurt,"
he said just as blandly.

I grinned nervously.  "I'll bet you are."

He motioned for me to follow him and I did.  We proceeded to
the center of the main arena.  It was hard-packed sandy dirt.
He raised both hands for silence.  When the murmuring stopped,
he said, "We shall have a demonstration duel.  No one is to 
interfere.  Katelanna will call a halt if one of us is 
injured."

"I don't like this," I heard Scully say.

Next to her, Katelanna said, "He'll be fine."

Kellerak backed up until we were about five feet apart, facing 
one another.  "Draw!" he hollered, hefting his two handed axe 
from the thick holster that was draped over his shoulder 
diagonally and held his axe on his right hip.

I crossed my arms, drawing my long sword in my right hand and 
my dagger in my left.  The long sword glowed blue, the dagger 
glowed yellow.  I heard several people making sounds of 
surprise.

He charged me and I spun out of his way, swinging my sword.
It glanced off the blade of his axe with a clang and a shower
of sparks.  Cries of 'Ooo and Aaahhh' were heard from the 
crowd.

We danced around one another.  For a full three minutes or so, 
he charged, I danced out of the way, deflecting his intended 
blows.  I could tell he was slightly frustrated.  He was 
bigger and bulkier than me so I was trying to let him expend
most of the energy in this duel, saving mine for later.

I saw his eyes light with determination and knew he would try 
something different.  He feinted to the right, spun and swung 
at me the left.  I twirled, so I could swing with my right 
hand and met his axe blade squarely with my sword.  I saw one
hand leave the handle of his axe and then his dagger, that 
whip-like rapier weapon I'd given back to Kellevanna was 
singing toward me 
through the air. 

I jumped straight back, lashing out with my dagger.  We 
connected, the end of his dagger curling over the end of mine.  
They sang and whistled as we ripped them apart.  We then started 
to fight in earnest.

I could feel the sweat pouring down my back as we circled each 
other, lunging, dodging and parrying each other's blows.  
Seemed we were pretty evenly matched, although I had no idea 
if he was holding back or not.  Other than a few murmurs here
and there, the crowd was oddly silent as they ringed the arena
on the bleachers, watching the duel play out.

I began to get tired and parried late, feeling his axe blade 
slide down the edge of my blade, and then glance off my rib 
cage.  I grunted as white hot pain flashed through my chest and 
I staggered backwards.  He charged immediately, taking advantage 
of my hesitation, but I was able to spin out of his path and 
swung with all my strength.  He hadn't expected it and my blade 
connected with his bare torso, slashing a long cut across the 
left side of his ribs.  Sparks flew from the blade and the heat 
of it from the gauntlets sizzled in the cut.  

He bellowed and pain and staggered back.  I advanced on him, 
swinging my long sword in a figure eight, my right side out 
front, protecting my bruised ribs on the left.  He swung 
sideways, having not regained his footing for a charge.  Had I 
not ducked I think he would have decapitated me.  

I jabbed upward with my dagger and sliced his right bicep.  He 
roared again and I heard nervous rustling in the crowd.  Blood 
was pouring from his left side and his right arm now, washing 
his skin in blood.  "Enough?" I hollered.

He shook his head, roared and charged me again.  We proceeded
to swing, dodge and parry for another few minutes until we 
were both drenched in sweat and huffing with the exertion.
I saw him gather his strength for a final vicious charge and
went up on the balls of my feet.  As he charged, everything
slowed down.  Instead of using my weapons, my hand to hand
combat training kicked in.  Without thought I took a running
leap of two large steps, planted one foot, and pivoted,
throwing all my body weight behind my round house kick.  

I was slightly to the side of his right arm when my boot 
connected with his wrist.  I heard a crunch as he plunged by
me and his axe flew out of his hands and into the air.  I
resumed a fighting crouch, sword and dagger held out to the
side as I watched the axe turn over once in the air and fall
to the dirt.  

He was holding his left wrist with his right hand, and he 
staggered, going down on one knee.  He scrambled to his feet
and limped toward his axe while I waited for him to regain 
his weapon.  I couldn't believe he was still going to fight.

It was this point that Katelanna walked out into the center
of the field.  He saw her coming and hesitated.  She shouted, 
"That's enough, Kellerak.  It's over."

He swallowed hard and his face reddened but he nodded.  I 
relaxed from my fighting crouch and sheathed both my weapons.
I was dizzy and exhausted and my ribs hurt like crazy.

He straightened and approached me as I stood there panting.  
After a moment, he stuck out his left arm toward me.  I heard
a voice in my head, which could only have been Katelanna, 
**Grab his elbow and shake once.**

I stuck out my left arm, grabbing his elbow and lining our 
arms up.  I shook it once firmly, knowing he wouldn't 
appreciate me being gentle on account of his wounds.  He 
grunted and then one corner of his mouth turned up.  "Good 
fight.  You're quick."

I gave him a close-lipped smile and nodded.  "You're powerful," 
I said, returning the acknowledgement of our strengths.  

The crowd began to cheer.  We all walked off the field.  To my 
amazement, he showed no signs of being hurt now.  I could see 
the blood still seeping from his ribs and arm but he walked 
straight.  The only outward sign of pain that was he was 
holding his right wrist away from his body.  We were nearly 
to the gate at the edge of the arena when he said, "Can you 
teach me how to do that kick?"

I grinned and chuckled.  "It would be my pleasure."

Katelanna hustled him off to the shaman's quarters where she 
could treat his wounds.  We went back to our room in the 
palace.  Scully climbed in the bath with me and used one of
her crystals on my ribs.  By the time I exited the bath, I 
felt good as new.

We dressed in fresh clothes and a knock sounded on our door.
I answered it to find Katelanna and Kellevanna standing there.  
"May we come in?" Katelanna asked politely.

"Of course," I answered and ushered them into the room, 
closing the door behind them.  Scully and I sat on the bed 
and they took the two chairs next to the small table in the
 room.  

"Is everything all right?" Scully asked.

Katelanna nodded.  "I treated his wounds and set his wrist.  
Your enchantress, Elvara, graciously agreed to knit his 
bone back together."

Scully asked carefully.  "You aren't able to do that?"

She shook her head.  "No, I can seal flesh wounds and repair 
psychic damage done by spells, but the art of healing organs
and bones is the province of the Elves.  We do make a potion
from kale that heals internal injuries but it takes a few
days."

Scully nodded.  "What can we do for you?"

She turned to Mulder.  "No one has ever bested Kellerak in 
the arena," she said simply.

We held our silence.

Kellevanna said, "Needless to say, he was impressed."

"Not pissed off?" I asked.

She smiled.  "Surprisingly, no," she answered.  "I wondered
how he would take defeat.  It's never happened before."  She 
smirked.  

"Don't take such delight in it," Katelanna scolded.

Scully and I both suppressed smirks.  Even a galaxy away, 
family rivalry was the same everywhere.  Katelanna eyed each
of us and then said, "He's agreed to send an envoy to the
summit."

"That's fabulous!" Scully said.

"Because I fought him?" I asked, slightly confused.

She stood up and Kellevanna did too.  "No, because you beat 
him."  My confusion must have shown.  She added, "He reasons 
that anyone that can beat him deserves his respect and 
attention."

"I want you to do it for all the Arkians, not for me," I said.

She smiled and said, "Me too.  My advice is to take it any way 
you can get it."

"I understand," I said, even though I really didn't.

Scully asked, "Can we ask you a question?"

"Of course," she replied.

"We heard a rumor that you have a portal in Arkia that might be 
a way home for us."

Her face went blank.  "Who told you that?"

Scully shrugged.  "That's not important.  Besides, we don't 
plan to leave until we've helped the Elves and played our 
part here, but we need to know."

She looked back and forth between us for a couple of
minutes.  We were silent while she contemplated.  Finally,
she asked, "Where are you from?"

Scully answered, "A planet called Earth in the Milky Way 
galaxy."

There was another beat of silence and then she answered, "We 
have a portal in the dungeon of the palace but it leads to a 
planet called Perseus."

"Where is that?" Scully asked.

"It's in the Seyfert galaxy.  It is the home of the other-
worlders."

"The ones that abducted us.  Tall, gray, big eyes?" I 
clarified.

She nodded.  "We have blocked it off for many centuries.
The Elves deal with them on occasion but we've never liked
them.  They show no respect for anyone but their own kind."

I felt a wave of desolation creep over me.  I hadn't realized 
how much hope I'd placed in this portal being here in Arkia.  
Scully said, "I guess Skulldown is our only hope then."

Katelanna nodded.  "I'm afraid so.  I'm sorry," she said, and
it seemed she really meant it.

We nodded and they said their goodbyes.  When we were left 
alone, I looked at Scully and said, "Well, shit."

"Well, shit, indeed," was her only reply.

THE END.