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    Dobrynia's Path 5: Raven Knights
    Dobrynia's Path 5: Raven Knights
    Dobrynia's Path 5: Raven Knights
    Ebook402 pages6 hours

    Dobrynia's Path 5: Raven Knights

    By Raymond Towers

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    About this ebook

    Finally, Dobrynia has returned to Loam. There is much work to be done. King Garim has a kingdom to build, harsh rules must be enforced for peace and the mystery of Doby’s memories must be solved. Next will come Paranak, where battle after battle will be waged against the Skeltroth, and where allies from Asgard will be revealed. The savage war for Loam will end here. Rating HIGH controversy.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRaymond Towers
    Release dateJul 3, 2017
    ISBN9781370791866
    Dobrynia's Path 5: Raven Knights
    Author

    Raymond Towers

    Raymond Towers is an author of fantasy, horror and science fiction that strays away from the mainstream, plus a little in the way of true paranormal and other genres. He has written and independently published over forty titles, most of them full-length novels and collections, with several more on the way. The author has been a lifelong resident of warm and sunny southern California, a location that pops up frequently in his writing. At the moment, the author is looking for ways to reach new readers all over the world, in addition to pursuing his great love of writing and taking it to the next level.

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      Book preview

      Dobrynia's Path 5 - Raymond Towers

      Cover image: The cover image is titled Concept Of Fantasy. It was taken by Andrey Kiselev and was acquired through Dreamstime.

      #####

      Dobrynia’s Path 5

      Raven Knights

      Raymond Towers

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2017 Raymond Towers

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      All of the characters in this e-book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental.

      This e-book contains a HIGH amount of controversial subject matter.

      #####

      Table Of Contents

      Raven Knights

      About The Author

      Dobrynia’s Path 5

      Raven Knights

      The Valkyrie Dobrynia swam in a dark, watery abyss. Her legs fluttered to propel her, until she bumped into a body violently thrashing in the water. A near panic gripped her, as two arms grabbed at her side and clenched her. In her hands, she held too many weapons: the quiver with her modern bow tucked inside of it, and also an Asian sword and spear she’d been using only minutes before. When she realized the body drowning against hers was Eva’s and not an enemy’s, the Valkyrie released her tools of war and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. In a rare occasion, Dobrynia wished she possessed mind-speech, so she could tell her struggling friend that they would not drown. It was not true water they were in, but magic meant to imitate water. If Eva did drown, it would be because her brain had convinced her of it.

      While keeping hold of Eva and propelling her legs, the Valkyrie scanned the area around her for a way out. It was too dark for her to make out anything definite. Vague forms were around her, giving her the impression that the pool they were in was not that large. Surely, these were her other friends: her lover Victor, the dwarf Tekkin and the Asian girl See.

      What looked like a large fish came to her side and tried to tear Eva away from her. No, that was wrong. It was the dwarf swimming by, possibly reaching out for them. Dobrynia felt his tiny hands on her waist, before they moved over to Eva. There was a tug at her side, and then the dwarf kicked away. Because he might know of a way out, the Valkyrie released Eva and followed in his wake.

      Tekkin seemed to have found the edge of the darkness. He was pushing against it, trying to break it apart. A tiny hole of light appeared, soft blue and glowing as if it was full of magic. The hole became bigger. At once, Dobrynia realized that Tekkin had taken Eva’s dagger and was hacking with it to create an opening. His progress looked to be too slow to save anyone, until great cracks appeared in the darkness. The fragments didn’t fall into the water; they dissipated away magically.

      Once the hole was big enough, and the blue glow above it illuminating the dark water below, Dobrynia pushed Eva up in front of her. Unexpectedly, the smaller woman was flung through the liquid, with enough force that both she and Tekkin were thrown out together. Briefly astonished, the Valkyrie realized her augmented strength was back. It had abandoned her for two worlds, leaving her only with a strong woman’s might, but now it had returned. She was once again a powerful deity.

      There was no time to dwell on this, as she still had two friends to save. Dobrynia returned to the murkier parts of the abyss, her view now much clearer thanks to the blue glow above. She saw one form frantically swimming about, and a second one floating perfectly still. The first was See, looking for an escape and believing she would run out of air to breathe.

      Dobrynia swam toward the Asian woman, snagging her by a flailing ankle. See must have thought some monster had grabbed her, as she started kicking out at her rescuer to get loose. The Valkyrie pulled the woman close, intending on taking her to the surface. When she recognized the tiny form of Tekkin swimming to her, she pushed See toward him, more gently this time so See wouldn’t be hurled out like Eva was.

      With a second friend heading for safety, Dobrynia swam toward the last of her companions. Victor had been through magic water several times before. While her lover had never learned how to swim on his Earth, he had learned how to distinguish between real water and a magic facsimile. Victor had simply put himself into a state of meditation until someone went to rescue him. Reaching such a relaxed state in a magical environment like the one they were in now had profound effects. Metabolism, breathing and the circulation of blood would all be slowed down to a fraction of their normal rates.

      Dobrynia studied her lover as she approached him. Victor looked so handsome with his serene countenance, simply floating in the magic as if he’d been born there, as if he were floating in a mother’s womb. At the same time, he looked like a man freshly dead. The Valkyrie out to touch her lover’s face. When Victor’s eyes opened, she pressed closer to kiss him. The magic of their love created a new aura around them, a glow that shifted in color from amber to gold to pink. This brilliant radiance pushed the magic water away, forming a different substance altogether. It felt as if they were swimming in liquid gold, or liquid love. Victor was awed by what they had created. He laughed and smiled and returned Dobrynia’s kisses.

      The Valkyrie didn’t stop kissing her lover until she felt a tiny finger tapping at her shoulder. She looked at Tekkin, who was making funny hand signals at her that she didn’t understand. Oh, she thought, the dwarf was going to look for the weapons she’d dropped into the water. Dobrynia nodded, resulting in the dwarf going in one direction while she tugged Victor over to the surface.

      When they emerged from the magic, they were wet with real water, as if water was necessary for the transition between the realm of magic and the realm of reality. Not all realities were like this, the Valkyrie understood, but the one they were looking for certainly was.

      It seemed as if Dobrynia jumped out of the water, but there was more to it than that. It felt as if some form of magnetism was pulling her from one dimension to the next. In the first moment, she was underwater and looking up at the bluish glow that lay above it. In the next instant, she was leaping out of a small cauldron, much too small for her to fit inside of, yet there she was coming out of it with Victor.

      See shrieked upon seeing them emerging from such as small place, while Eva gaped and rubbed her eyes.

      Eva, are you well? Doby asked.

      The woman with the auburn hair nodded, still clearly in disbelief.

      See?

      I am well. The Asian woman replied. Frightened but well.

      The Valkyrie quickly took in her surroundings. This was a place she recognized. The walls were rounded, colored in light blue and formed by magic. It felt confined as if they were inside of a man’s coin pouch. All of us must remove our clothing. It doesn’t feel as if the magic of this place is tainted, but after what happened to us on Muru, I cannot be completely certain.

      Eva needed no further prodding, despite that usually she was a very modest woman. When they first breached Muru, they’d been infected by viscous syrup that looked like blood, and that had very nearly turned them into flesh-eating zombies. Once See observed how quickly Eva complied, she too undressed.

      Behind them, the spear Dobrynia had held sprung out of the cauldron and dropped to the floor with a loud clang.

      Yeah, let’s take a couple of steps away from that cauldron. Victor said. Before Tekkin accidentally stabs one of us.

      Victor strode by her, beginning to strip down over where Eva was.

      See, move closer to us and further away from the cauldron. Doby said, although it sounded more like an order. As she too began to remove her attire, she realized that her lover had slept with all three of them. This caused her to smirk, as Victor was becoming, how would he say it on his world, a little slut?

      What’s so funny? Victor noticed her expression.

      I will tell you later, alligator. Dobrynia smiled. She turned when she heard her sword rattling on the floor behind her.

      A moment later, her quiver appeared and so did Tekkin’s arm. Suddenly, the dwarf was jumping out of the cauldron.

      Did anybody drop anything else? Tekkin asked, when he noticed all the bare flesh being revealed. What, are we having an orgy now? Victor, you can keep your clothes on, buddy. I’ll handle this!

      I thought it would be a good idea to remove our clothing. Doby explained. In the case that this magic is tainted.

      Hey, I don’t mind the view. Tekkin shrugged. But ya got it all wrong, toots. This is pure magic. Whoever put this place together was a good guy. I can read the intention behind it from a mile away.

      We must be certain after what took place on Muru. She reminded him. Besides, we need to dry our clothes.

      Tekkin held his finger up before his face. He blew on it softly, then a second time with more force. Ya know, this place has some decent magic on it, compared to the last two planets we were on. Ya gotta tell me we’re finally on Loam this time!

      Victor shucked off his pants, before he strode around in his black briefs. We’ve been here before, Doby and me. We called this place the Crossroads. Last time, all kinds of refugees from Loam were here. A few sorcerers were migrating them to other planets. We came out of that same cauldron, and we walked over this way. That table right there, that’s where the sorcerers were sitting. They had this big paper-thing...

      A scroll. Doby interjected.

      Right, what she said. Victor nodded, as he went to stand before the table. The two old guys wrote down our names and where we came from. Hey, Doby, come check this out. I don’t remember this.

      Clad only in her underwear, the Valkyrie stepped over.

      Hey, guys, look at me. Tekkin announced. Once he had everyone’s attention, he teleported from one spot to the next. That wasn’t so spectacular, except his clothes had stayed behind. Without the wearer, the garments simply fell to the floor in a little heap, while the little man stood there naked.

      Victor made a face. I didn’t need to see that.

      Show off! Eva scolded, while See giggled.

      Tekkin vanished from his spot, reappearing in a sitting position on the sorcerer’s table. What were ya pointing at, Vicky?

      Dude, don’t call me Vicky. Victor reprimanded the small man. But anyway, have a look at this thing.

      What they were focusing their eyes on looked like a small spider web spread out on the table, with unusual shapes on it and several small globs seen at seemingly random places.

      Do you remember this, Doby? Victor asked.

      No, I do not. She scrutinized the web from different angles. This is a map of Loam! Look, there are the two continents: the Great Mother and the Little Daughter. Here are the western lands of the Keltoi, where we first arrived. We traveled south, yes, to this region.

      Where we took the boats. Victor added.

      The Valkyrie followed the course of the smaller continent. She pointed. Here, this is the river where we used magic to transport us to Kimenia.

      Okay, so the place we want to go is over here somewhere, to the east. Victor scrutinized the strange map. This is where King Garim started setting up strongholds.

      Where we battled with the armies of Skeltroth. Doby finished. Tekkin, can you take us there?

      Hold on, doll-face. The naked little man said, as he took in the chamber they were in. You said there were all sorts of people in here the last time, right, and sorcerers and whatnot? Where the hell are they? We got no sign o’ nobody in here. He pushed off the table and started waddling around. The magic here is good magic. So why did somebody take the time to block off the entryway?

      Maybe they didn’t need the Crossroads anymore? Victor suggested.

      Tekkin set his hands on his hips. That’s possible. If they were trying to prevent anyone from coming in completely, they didn’t do so good a job. We got in here, right? He teleported beside the cauldron. That magic surface reformed on the cauldron. If anybody comes in after us, they won’t be able to see the way out like what happened to us.

      Can you fix this? Doby asked.

      I have ta figure out how they weaved the magic, but yeah, if I wanted to. Tekkin nodded. I could fix it. First, I gotta figure out why they blocked the entrance. They didn’t lock it, you know. They only closed it.

      The dwarf crossed his arms and stared at the cauldron. By blockin’ it, they might’a been tryin’ to keep this world from bein’ seen in the Chaos Rift. Youse mentioned how there was a Call Of Heroes sent out.

      One of the stars in the Chaos Rift was blinking. Victor recalled. It caught Doby’s attention so much that she decided we should go there to investigate.

      That was the first time. Tekkin held his little finger up. Now, think about this. Something weird happened in Doby’s memories. It was weird enough that she wanted to return to Loam to check things out a second time. Only, the blinking was gone by then. So, it took us three tries to get where we wanted to go. Why is that? Well, I’m gonna tell you why. Somebody came in here and blocked off the portal. That stopped the blinking so new people couldn’t come in here unless they really knew where they were going. Now, if this was a bad guy, and they found this place and understood what it was, which they should have o’ course, then they would have locked this place up or destroyed it. Then they wouldn’t have ta worry about any new threats comin’ from this way.

      But they didn’t destroy it. Doby reasoned. That means they wanted to keep it active. Perhaps it is an emergency way out of Loam.

      Not only that, but they didn’t taint this place with dark magic. Tekkin added. If this place was a trap, I woulda felt it by now, but it ain’t. Hear me out. It is possible that a bad guy did this, but they didn’t want to tip anybody off that the bad guys were in control o’ the Crossroads. On the other hand, a good guy might have had a good reason to keep new people from coming into this world.

      That was part of the reason why the sorcerers were here. Victor said. They said too many bad guys were reaching Loam. They were filtering out the bad guys from the good guys in this in-between place.

      What if all the fighting on Loam is over? Eva suggested. What if they didn’t need this Crossroads anymore?

      That’s how I remember things. Victor said.

      So do I, now that I think on it. Doby agreed.

      Tekkin pointed at both of them. There ya go! Do ya see what just happened? Both o’ youse got subconscious implants in your heads. If that story was legit, you wouldn’t have conflicting memories about it. Somebody gave the two o’ you false memories to get youse both off Loam.

      It must have been that goddess that Doby fought. Eva remarked. What was her name again?

      Queen Toraga. The Valkyrie answered.

      That don’t make any sense. Tekkin shook his fuzzy head. Think about it. If this queen bitch was strong enough to take Doby out, she woulda done it. A goddess don’t need to play all these mind games with somebody at Doby’s lower level. Somebody else did this. Somebody blurred out Doby and Victor’s memories and implanted new memories that didn’t match. Why? Because they were in a hurry and they did the best they could. Who knows, maybe they did it to save youse two. Maybe they assumed Doby or Victor would regain their memories and come back to Loam. So they set up the Crossroads in a way that it looks shut off, but it ain’t really shut off.

      Whoever did this was an adept at sorcery. Doby assumed.

      Yes and no. Tekkin replied. The magic on every world is different. We’ve been learnin’ that as we go along. Whoever did this knew one form of magic, but they aren’t experts on the magic of Loam. If they were experts, the false memories would have matched and they would have been more convincing. Unless they were good guys, an’ then they would have deliberately made the false memories flimsy so they could fall apart right away. How many sorcerers and mages got close to you on Loam?

      That could be like a hundred people that could have done this! Victor balked. We had necromancers, shaman, witches, all kinds!

      Those are the showy kind. The dwarf shook his head. They do magic stuff outside o’ them, like the elemental sorts that cast lightning and fire. I’m not talkin’ about them. I’m talkin’ about the really dedicated types that want to modify a single spell a thousand times until they get what they want. That’s the kind of sorcerer who would know about implantin’ false memories in the first place. You’re talkin’ about the guys that play checkers, Vic. I’m talkin’ about the chess players.

      These would be older mages? Doby guessed. With many years of experience?

      Most likely. Tekkin nodded. Unless they were really gifted youngsters.

      The Valkyrie searched her past, as there were very few such seasoned mages they’d come across on Loam. Victor, could it have been Echarch?

      I don’t think so. Victor grimaced. That guy was a dick, but he was super-loyal to the Keltoi people and to King Garim. I don’t think he would have done anything against us unless he was following the king’s orders. Besides, that guy was from Loam. If anyone knew a lot about how the magic here works, it would have been him. That doesn’t fit with Tekkin’s idea that whoever did this didn’t know Loam’s magic that well.

      Is it possible that the king could have moved against us? Doby asked, as King Garim was very young and impressionable. At the same time, he’d been the Valkyrie’s tender lover for a time, which prompted her to dismiss the idea right away. What of the other mage, Yigin?

      That was the guy in the blue robe, right? Victor recalled. I think he could have done something like this. He was always showing his skills off and trying to one-up the other guys.

      Is that how you remember him? Doby wondered. I thought he was brave and tenacious. He was very dedicated in trying to unravel that secret book of magic that was stolen from the Keltoi. Who does that leave, Victor?

      That black chick from Kimenia. Victor said, only to shake his head a moment after. I don’t think she would have done it. Thanks to her, the Keltoi made an alliance with Kimenia. Her biggest worry was that the Skeltroth would destroy every nation one at a time until they got to hers, and then Kimenia would be fighting against all of Loam, basically.

      Yes, you’re right, Victor. Doby remembered. Velar was very eager to take us into Kimenian palaces and to form a new army under King Garim. She would have never betrayed us, but she may have fogged our minds in order to save our lives.

      At Tekkin’s prodding, both the Valkyrie and her ward gave their accounts of what had taken place during that final, fateful battle between the Keltoi and their mercenaries versus the vast armies of Skeltroth. They were no closer to deducing who had deceived them at the end of the discussion than they were at the beginning.

      We’re gonna have to keep our eyes and ears open. Tekkin decided. During the discussion, he’d roused up a breeze to dry their wet clothing. Now that they were dry, everyone except him got dressed. All the dwarf had to do was to imagine that his clothes were on his body, and poof! They were.

      Show off! Eva scolded him.

      You’re just jealous because you can’t do it. Tekkin brushed her off, as he went to stand before the map made of spider web. After a few minutes of studying it, he vanished out of sight and came back a few seconds later. He gave the Valkyrie a thumb’s-up. I know how to get there and back now. Who wants to pop up next to a swamp at night?

      Doby went to scrutinize the map as well. She pointed at one specific spot. Here. I believe this is close to King Garim’s fortress at Canbrig. Take us there, Tekkin.

      Your wish is my command, sweet-lips.

      Had the dwarf carried them directly into the spot, they would have all ended up knee deep in water and mud. Fortunately, Tekkin had the common sense to teleport to the location first to check things out. Because Loam had enough magic, the moment he arrived he was already hovering four feet into the air. It was indeed night, but with the light of two moons to guide him, he hopped around from one place to the other until he located the end of the swamp and the start of dry land. Even then, Tekkin didn’t bring the others right away, but he hovered into a rosewood tree to listen for the sounds of any potential threats. When he deemed it safe, he focused on the Crossroads and the map of web found there, and he vanished from sight.

      Doby, you never said this world was going to be so hot. Eva whined, once they were all on Loam.

      I must have mentioned it before. The Valkyrie replied. It is of no large matter. Worlds have their hot regions and their cold ones. You have complained much during our travels. I have had enough of it. If you pester me here on Loam as much as you have done on the last two worlds you were on, I will no longer bring you along. You cannot expect every world to be as comfortable as San Diego is on Earth. It is unreasonable.

      Eva stayed quiet upon hearing this. The last thing she wanted was to get kicked off the team. The smaller woman did notice that Tekkin was snickering and Victor held back a smirk. This made Eva angry, but she did her utmost to hide it.

      A few minutes earlier, Tekkin created a bright blue ball of light the size of a softball. This gave the dwarf enough illumination that he began pulling all manner of items from the pocket dimension he hid things in. While Tekkin produced more and more items, Eva and See were organizing the stuff into piles they could use right away, and piles they didn’t need at all. Doby and Victor stood vigilant while they did this.

      Any idea how close we are to Canbrig? Victor asked.

      No, Victor. Doby frowned. I have forgotten the orientation of the moons on Loam. We must wait until morning to see where the sun will rise. From the map, I have gathered that Canbrig must be to the northeast.

      The athletic Hispanic man turned his gaze toward the heavens. This place has four moons, right? They were called the Little Sisters?

      That is how I remember it. Doby replied.

      I hate to break it to youse, but we all stink like dead skunks right now. Tekkin reminded the group. Before we head off anywhere, we need ta take advantage of the water around here and bathe our behinds.

      They’d just left a pitched battle on Akina, Doby recalled, where her companions and her were only minutes away from being slaughtered. The only reason they’d survived was because Tekkin had tracked them down and whisked them away from danger. She looked to Victor, who wore a cloth bandage around his arm after having been cut by the tip of a spear.

      Come to me, boyfriend. She called out. Let me heal your wound before you become infected.

      Yeah, all right. Victor nodded. I don’t think there’s anything out here waiting to attack us, anyway.

      Don’t you worry about a thing, Victorious. Tekkin pointed at his light ball. That ain’t just a nice glow up there, buddy. That’s a lightning ball. The first thing that raises its ugly fingers at us is going to get its ass zapped.

      Except for Doby, every head took another look at the glowing orb. Tekkin’s orbs that were the size of marbles were strong enough to give anyone a good jolt. Knowing that an electric trap the size of a softball was only an arm’s length away was enough to warrant a healthy respect for it.

      When the sun ascended the next morning, they used moist towels to wipe their bodies with swamp water. After that, they dressed and packed light. Doby and Eva wore black sport bras, while Victor wore a black tank top. For their lower halves, they’d put on tan cargo shorts that they hadn’t used at either of the last two worlds they’d been to. Tekkin didn’t like wearing shorts, but he liked the hot climate even less. He somehow convinced his black pants to think they were really black shorts, and his casual shoes to change into short hiking boots. See already had an off-white wrap for her breasts, while her brown trousers were cut off just above her knees.

      The most crucial items to carry were food, water and weapons. Eva and See had bows, but only four arrows between them. Victor wore a leather sheath tied to his waist with a short sword tucked into it. Doby’s collapsible bow was tucked into the quiver on her back, but instead of a short sword she chose to carry a spear she’d taken from the last world they’d been on, Akina. Everything not deemed crucial, from extra clothing to bedding to whatever else, Tekkin stuffed back into his magical pocket universe.

      The five travelers journeyed east, taking the easiest, shadiest route available to them. Groves of walnut and mahogany trees came and went, along with other hardwoods.

      While crossing a clearing, Victor pointed up after having spotted a new, third moon up close to the sun of Loam.

      Frequently, Eva was seen wanting to complain, but she managed to bite her tongue before she drew the ire of everyone else.

      When Doby signaled for the group to halt and crouch, everyone behind her went on alert. She whispered back to the others, I can hear grouse or pheasants nearby. Perhaps we can down one of these birds for our noon meal.

      The other two women in the group glanced at one another. Eva was a parking cashier and homemaker from Earth. See was from a fishing village in Akina. It was only recently that both women had hunting bows put into their hands.

      We’ll do what we can. Eva said. Right, See?

      The bigger Asian woman seconded the statement. We are no masters with the bow, but we will loosen an arrow when the time comes.

      While making no sound, Doby reached back into her quiver to retrieve her modern collapsible bow. It would take her only a couple of minutes to extend the black aluminum limbs and string the weapon. Tekkin, go ahead of us and lead the fowl this way.

      Yummy! The dwarf said, just before he vanished from sight. Fried chicken, here we come!

      The Valkyrie looked behind her. Victor, you’ll have to guard our rear flank while we hunt.

      Her ward gave her a thumbs-up.

      Doby gave a few instructions to the two novice archers beside her. They were to fire their missiles only if their targets were at forty or fifty feet away. Much further than that and they would probably miss. It would be up to her to secure the meal. The Valkyrie waited for Tekkin’s signal, which could come in a couple of different forms. The dwarf might whistle as a bird if there were few targets, or growl like a movie monster if there were many.

      A couple of minutes crawled by, and then a couple more. Perhaps the fowl had already been spooked away, Doby thought, and the chance was lost. When the duration stretched closer to ten minutes, she began to wonder if something had happened to Tekkin. Just as she stood to move position, the dwarf suddenly appeared and startled her.

      Doby, Doby! Tekkin exclaimed. You gotta come quick! We got two bears chasin’ a bunch of kids through the forest! I’m tellin’ ya, those kids are getting mauled out there!

      What direction, Tekkin? The Valkyrie dropped her bow to the side.

      Quarter mile east and headin’ northeast. The dwarf said. We’re gonna lose them if we don’t hurry! Come on, toots!

      The fastest way for her to travel would be in her raven form. The hardest items to remove were her short boots, but after that everything else peeled off quickly.

      Victor, stay here until we come back. She ordered. If you must retreat, stay west until we find you.

      Before her ward could make a reply, the Valkyrie took a running jump and shifted into a bird. She couldn’t help but think that one day there would be no magic and she would land flat on her face. That would make for a good Epic Fail video on Youtube, she smirked. Fortunately, the magic of Loam did not disappoint her. In seconds, she was in her bird form and flying above the tree line while trying to keep up with Tekkin’s quick teleports. If she lost sight of the dwarf, he would most likely whistle for her attention.

      The dwarf was taking care to remain visible to her sharp eyes, as he appeared in high trees and waved his short arms for a second before moving on. The distance between jumps was steady, so the raven had an idea of where and when to expect him. Tekkin waved his arm twice toward the north, informing his follower that he would teleport twice as far this time.

      The raven surged forward, scanning for any airborne threats, spotting none. She calculated where Tekkin might be, but she didn’t see him at first. Possibly, he was hidden under too much foliage. This prompted her to circle above the trees, to let Tekkin know she could not see him. It was a good system that they’d come up with together. After a few moments, she heard a sharp whistle and soared in its direction. She saw the dwarf waving, acknowledged him by dipping lower and moving back up. Next, Tekkin pointed hurriedly. The Valkyrie knew she was close to the chase now and pushed forward on her own.

      She heard screaming below the trees, and dove through branches and leaves for a closer look. There was a brown bear loping through the woods. It caught up with a second brown bear that was finishing off a child. Doby was caught by surprise, when the first bear motioned the second bear with its head. It was a signal or communication between the two big animals, as the second bear loped on while the first silenced its prey forever.

      Already, the Valkyrie was formulating battle tactics to use against the predator. If she distracted the animal, Tekkin could sneak up behind it and set it on fire. Knowing the dwarf would follow her lead, she dove down on the bear’s head and cawed into its ears. When the bear turned its bloody maw toward her, she fluttered back and shifted into her second animal form as a large gray wolf.

      The she-wolf bared its fangs and growled. This caused the bear to lunge and swipe at her. The canine barked sharply, as the big bear stood up on its hind legs and roared. Tekkin had teleported into her sight and was nearly in position. He teleported again, closer this time, but was still hidden in the high branches of the trees.

      When the brown bear leapt, the wolf dodged its claws by jumping to one side. Her first instinct was to sink her teeth into its furry side or leg, but then Tekkin might set her on fire as well. With the dwarf now in place, all she had to do now was move back by a few strides. This is the moment when she saw the armband high on the bear’s left bicep. It was partially hidden under the fur, thin and colored in red. The symbol on that band was one she readily recognized; it was the silhouette of a raven.

      In an

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