Sword of Death

Prologue

T he man crawled on his hands and knees, begging for his life. The powerful lich who sat on the throne starred mercilessly at the man. You have failed me for the last time.

No! No… please master, have mercy. The man pleaded, tears streaking down his dirt streaked face.

Mercy? the lich whispered through thin, bloodless lips. I know not what mercy is. Lifting his hand, the man suddenly screamed in agony. It lasted only a few seconds but to the man it felt like hours of unending torture. His screams were cut off as his soul was wrench from his body. The lich held the man’s soul in the palm of his hand. Small and frail, it floated as a tiny orb.

Behind the throne, the lich’s pet edged forward. With a head resembling a horse, its body was stripped a dull brown and black. Its long beard flowed down to its chest, pieces of meat still stuck in it. Its long legs were similar to a deer’s in structure except it had clawed feet that click-clacked on the stone floor. Its long lion-like tail flicked like a cat’s. A forked tongue snaked out expectantly, its red eyes watching the orb in its master’s hand.

Seeing his pet’s anticipation, the lich said, Does Mordread want this?

Leaning forward, its poisonous drool dripped on the floor.

Take it. The lich whispered, holding out his hand.

Head snaking out, the creature gobbled up the soul that silently screamed. Contented, Mordread curled behind the throne, resting his head on his paws.

Turning back to his terrified subjects, the lich asked, Anyone else want to disappoint me?

Shrinking back in fear, the lich’s subjects lowered their eyes respectfully.

Thought not. The lich chuckled as he leaned back comfortably in his chair though he could not feel it anymore.

The door to the great hall opened and closed quickly. A young man approached the throne calmly, his eyes widening at the sight of the soulless body. Falling to his knees, the young man groveled before his master. Master, I have news.

Snapping his fingers, the soulless body stood obediently and walked out of the room. Speak.

Trembling, the young man stammered, Ma-master, I ha-have news of Mount Volvalnic.

Leaning forward eagerly, the lich snapped, Well?

Lips trembling so badly that he couldn’t speak; the young cowered before his master.

Slamming his fist on the throne’s arms, the lich yelled, Speak!

Jumping, the young man spit out, Clouds darken the skies, birds of prey fly there, and the grass and trees begin to die!

Leaning back, the lich thought about the news for a moment before smiling. His subjects relaxed a bit and the young man crawled over near the others. Finally, the time had come. At long last his master would arise once more!

The lich smiled even more. With his master’s return he, Lucifien, would rule once more!

*     *     *

The messenger arrived early in the morning.

Leona was washing her face and torso when the knock came at her door. Come in. she called as she dried her face with a towel and draped it over her breasts.

The door opened to reveal a young boy. He paused, blushing slightly as he lowered his eyes. G’day, miss, I’ve a message for ye.

Smiling at the young boy, she sat on her bed and began brushing her long light brown hair. Well, spit it out, boy!

Standing tall, the boy said, Leona is ta come ta the temple o’ Elestrial a’ once!

Leona paused in her brushing. What do the priest of the goddess of light want with me?

The boy shook his head. I know not ma’am. I only know what I’m told. Bowing awkwardly, the boy left the room after a quick gaze at the young sorceress.

Lying back, Leona gazed at the smoke-stained ceiling of the tavern’s room. Curious as to what the priest of so powerful a god would want with her, she sat up and pulled on her road-worn boots. Throwing off the towel, she stretched her arms and reached for her blue blouse and magically enchanted scimitar. She starred at the three gemstones that glittered in the hilt of her scimitar. Each one was a different color that represented an element. A sapphire gem (and her personal favorite) contained the power of ice and water. A ruby gem contained the power of fire while a grayish-white gem held the power of air.

After tugging on her blouse and fastening her cloak about her, she left the room, locking it behind her.

Walking down the stairs, she paused to let her eyes adjust to the dim light of the tavern’s main room.

Men, elves, and men who looked to have orc or goblin in them littered the room, laughing and drinking fine dwarfish ale.

Jumping over the last three steps, Leona walked quickly across the room towards the door. As she opened the door, she felt eyes on her. Casually glancing over her shoulder she saw nothing out of the ordinary.

As she left she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

Leona glanced around. The city of Elestrialla was one of the largest cities in the world. The city was built around the Temple of Light. Cobbled streets, aqueducts, and huge stone pillars gave the city the appearance of wealth and power. Various institutes such as the Wizards’ Tower abounded in the city. Most of the city’s wealth came from the nobles that made their home in the city.

Turning down the worn street, Leona passed shops, taverns, smithies, a stable, and the newly refurbished Wizards’ Tower. Glaring at the huge tower with circling star-shaped balls, harmless fairie-fire, and suits of armor guarding at the door Leona felt the strong urge to destroy it. As a sorceress she despised all wizards. The feud between the two peoples had been going on for thousands of years; no one remembered how it started but it wasn’t going to end anytime soon.

Passing the Wizard’s Tower, Leona spotted the Temple of Elestrial on top of the largest hill in the city. The roads were paved now and much cleaner. More expensive shops and taverns lined the roads and nobility road in gilded coaches.

Several of the nobility snubbed at Leona, turning their noses up at her. Others simply pretended she didn’t exist.

Leona shrugged at the snobbish nobles. She hated nobility; well, except for a few exceptions but they were few and far between. Though wealthy in her own right (stealing dragon gold was a quick way to get rich, after all) she was peasant born. All she was missing was a title, like she cared one wit about that! Feeling the strong urge to throw fireballs at them (burning, screaming nobles were oh-so-fun to watch) Leona decided on a less painful (and legal) way. Casting a levitation spell on herself, she jumped into the air, flying high above the stunned snobs. Smiling to herself, she flew to the temple, landing gracefully in front of the door.

The doors opened as an apprentice priest held the door open for her.

As Leona took a step forward to enter the temple, she was struck from behind by something heavy. Falling to the floor, she heard, Oh, a thousand pardons, miss. I’m terribly sorry.

Glancing over her shoulder, Leona saw a fat halfling sitting on a carpet which was on top of her!

He wore a small top hat that was crooked from the rough landing. Rich, velvet cloak and shirt were colored a burgundy color as was his silk pants.

Pushing up on her elbows, Leona snapped, Get off!

Standing, he took his time brushing off his pants then lifting his carpet. Stepping off of her, he rolled his carpet up, tucked it under his arm, and (finally!) offered his hand.

Annoyed at this point, Leona grabbed his hand and cast a minor lightning spell. His hair stood up, knocking off his top hat. Yelling, he leapt back, tripping over his long cloak. What the- he yelled as he glared at Leona.

Standing up, she brushed the dust from her pants, placed her hands on her hips, and snapped, That’s for running me over!

Gasping, he pointed an accusing finger at Leona, You’re a sorceress!

And you’re a fat halfling who should skip a meal every now and then! Leona responded, glaring at the halfling.

The apprentice priest shifted nervously as he watched the two glare at one another. Please, do not fight. This is holy ground you stand upon. Show some respect.

Turning to glare at the apprentice, they both yelled, You keep out of this!

Jumping back in fear, the young man turned and ran back inside the temple, leaving the two to fuss.

They began to circle slowly around each other. The halfling drew a wand, revealing his identity.

Wizard! Leona growled, hate boiling inside of her.

Smirking, the wizard cast a fireball at Leona.

Unsheathing her scimitar Leona slashed at the air, producing a blizzard that obliterated the fireball and threw the halfling head-over-heels.

Jumping nimbly (for a halfling) to his feet, the wizard threw fireballs at Leona. She rolled to dodge then shot lightning as she landed on her feet. Running, she circled around pillars, casting lightning and fireballs at the wizard. Casting a shield, the wizard pulled a green stone from his pouch. Muttering a few words, he threw it at Leona. Ducking, she laughed, Is that it? The wizard just grinned in response. Sensing something behind her, Leona jumped aside as a huge, stone fist crashed into the pillar she had just been next to. Spinning around, Leona gasped as she saw a huge earth elemental. Shit! He’s got an elemental! Leona muttered as she leaped aside to dodge another stone fist. She spun quickly again and cast a shield as the wizard shot lightning at her. Now facing two enemies, Leona bit her thumb to draw blood. Two can play this game, wizard. She muttered as she crouched to smear the blood on the ground. Drawing a circle with three stars in the middle she slapped the drawing the yelled, Come forth Úlfur!

Green mist appeared out of nowhere, circling the blood drawing. The elemental stepped back as a Shadoe Wolf from the abyss appeared. It looked like a shadowy being with flames for hair and eyes. The mane of fire wiped around as the creature charged the elemental. Punching out, the elemental hit the shadoe wolf right in its chest. Instead of knocking the shadoe back the shadoe’s body formed around the elemental’s fist. The mane of fire wiped around, wrapping itself around the elemental’s head. Rock began to melt as the shadoe’s fire increased in temperature. Hissing, the shadoe detached itself and ran back to its mistress as the elemental crumbled and fell to the ground. Petting the shadoe, Leona said, Return, Úlfur. Howling, the shadoe vanished back into the abyss.

The wizard gaped as he watched his elemental get defeated. Glaring at Leona, he pulled a toad’s tongue from his pouch and twirled it around his head, muttering incoherent words (wizards are known for just making up words as they cast, after all). Suddenly, four extra halfling wizards appeared, each one twirling a toad’s tongue.

Leona smirked. Clones, huh? Well two can play at this game! Weaving her hands in the air, Leona muttered some ancient words (as all true practitioners of the magic art i. e. sorcerers do). Four extra Leones appeared, each glaring at the five wizards.

Unsheathing their scimitars, the Leonas each flicked the jewels on the hilts of their scimitars to different colors.

The five wizards cast defensive spells as the five Leonas raised their scimitars and slashed vertically and horizontally. Fire, ice, and wind burst from the scimitars, combining as one for ultimate power.

Stone broke, columns collapsed, and trees shattered from the awesome might of Leona’s attack. As the attack ended, the wizards collapsed with exhaustion. The Leonas also gasped for air.

ENOUGH!

Turning towards the temple’s entrance, Leona and the wizard saw the Head priest glaring at them; his white moustache quivering with fury.

Pointing at one another the Leonas screamed, He started it! while the wizards screamed, She started it!

Gesturing at all the destruction, the Head priest exclaimed, I care not who started it! I only care about who’s going to clean it up!

The Leonas and the wizards pointed at one another.

Enough! You, all of you, will clean it up together! Right now! the Head priest exclaimed as he turned back to the temple. Curious priests and apprentice priest quickly scurried away from the angry Head priest.

Glaring at one another, Leona said, This is all your fault!

Mine? I’m not the one tossing spells like an amateur!

Growling, Leona cast levitation on a large piece of a column. Lifting it high into the air, she tossed it at the wizards who promptly scurried out of the way.

Glaring at her, the wizards pointed their wands at another large piece of column and threw it at the Leonas who jumped out of the way.

And so the fight continued until the two exhausted themselves, creating an even bigger mess than before.

Chapter One

A New Adventure

T he Head priest sat behind his desk, watching the two battle-worn people. He placed his fingertips to his forehead and rubbed, trying to dispel the headache.

Sitting straight, the Head priest began, I summoned you two here for a very important mission. Instead you attack one another and nearly destroyed this temple.

Hanging their heads, Leona and the wizard secretly glared at one another.