HammerFall

Chapter 0049: Racin the Wind, Heavy Metal Thunder :

It was to expected. They were far to busy to be concerned with the King of HammerFall's disappearance. The dragon lord already had his suspicions of what had transpired after the meeting between wizard and king. Now HammerFall was in chaos from the loss of the monarchy. Petty tyrannts squabbled for power over HammerFall while innocent villages on the borders were slaughtered. This was no time for civil war when the Black East was stirring so strongly, and the Horde of Iced Earth was already on their door step. He had not heard word from the dragons in a long time. The dragon lord's brow was creased with a worry wrinkle. It had been a month, if not a little more then that, since the King had sneaked away from them, and all war had broken out along the borders.

He looked up from his brooding as he felt a comforting hand upon his shoulder. He smiled as he looked into the pale blue orbs of Aion. His hand reached out and felt those soft, elfin ears of Aion. His hand jerked back quickly realizing how rude was the gesture he had just taken.

Aion brushed back his long golden, silky hair behind his ears, "You worry over this land, don't you?"

"My duty as dragon lord is to ensure that the Dragons have some land of hope that they can abide in when the forces of darkness overwhelm so much of this world, Lord Aion." Ngwey told the other.

"That is not the only reason you worry. And also not your only worry. Despite being of the Dragon Kingdom you worry for HammerFall? Why?" Aion inquired.

Ngwey had to smile at this, "Because HammerFall is one of the lands of Hope. If it falls then hope has fallen. HammerFall must stand strong and serve as an example to the other border kingdoms or the people my kingdom will lose heart. Then the demons' victory will be complete and they shall crush us. With dragon aid or none."

Aion nodded his head sagely, "Wisely spoken. But I shall tell you this much. Darkness clouds the paths we walk. Only uncertainity ever surrounds the fate of mortals. Even demons are mortals. They just don't like to admit it to themselves."

Ngwey laughed. He had not heard it put so amusingly before this moment. He continued to laugh, despite the odd look that Aion was giving him.

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Marduk frowned at the latest message from Sabbath. It appeared that things were not going in their favor and that he had met up with undesirables in his quest for the Seven Keys. This was a mission to important to leave to mercenaries. He had thought to take the Seven Keys forged by the Guardians for his own purposes. But it appeared that others had also become knowledigible about them.

He was silent as he moved back towards the massive bed that his own. But this night he had to share his bed with another. It had repulsed and disgusted him to every fiber of his being, and yet one had to admit a certain charismatic magnetism about his father. The handsome, mature Emperor of the Black East rested easily in his sleep. He felt certain that the Emperor was unaware of his own plans.

He slipped quietly back into bed without making the slightest sound. Then he heard the tired voice of the Emperor speak, "Was the message that urgent, that it couldn't wait until morning?"

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Ryan Schaller stood beside Aes'Danaan as they overlooked the carnage to the borders of Stratsovara. He smiled as he heard the sound of horses galloping towards them in the distance. He could see a cloud of dirt raised up there as well as the noise he heard coming from that direction.

Ryan remarked unconcerned, "So finally they send the border knights of Stratsovara. Petty really. Show them our true power, Aes'Danaan. They have come a long way and we should show them a worthy welcome."

Aes Danaan raised up the Eye of Elgard. Soon the image of the Border Knights filled the jewel. Once that had happened slowly smoke raised up in the jewel that blocked out all image of the Border Knights.

Winds raged about the two Warlords. The armies behidn them hungeried for battle. That would wait as far as Ryan was concerned. He would use sorcery to instill fear in his enemies. The Power of the Eye of Elgard could not be put aside without using it for it's fullest effects.

Soon great tunnels of air transformed into small cyclones that grew larger and more omnious the closer they moved in on the Border Knights. Screams could be heard in the distance as the charging knights were met by the raging winds and cyclones.

Ryan laughed darkly as Aes'Danaan stood stoically holding onto the Eye of Elgard in his hands. He let the pendant drop so that the jewel dangled slightly as it twisted in the dying winds.