"I remember sitting on that bridge" he said as he looked at her next to him
"How did it start" She asked
He cleared his throat and she thought she could see a tear well up in his eyes
" We started down the hill her and I, swords in hand already unsheathed. Two Warriors prepared to fight to the end. That's when he appeared in the middle of the bridge and began casting spell after spell. As we dodged fireballs and lightning strikes it became clear that death was on his mind. When we placed our first step on the bridge we saw an army of undead appear atop the opposite hill. We stopped and glanced at each other. We knew what must be done. This evil needed to be dispelled before it could spread farther. We charged on heading for the mage and his army started down the hill at a dead sprint. As swords were raised high and shields enduring all the evil they could muster. We came with in feet of the evil mage, everything stopped. The army halted and the mage raised his hands. Behind us we heard a flapping sound, I slowly turned around and saw before me a dragon. Its eyes were blood red. I spun around and swung my sword at the mage, he lifted his scepter up to block as Angelina brought her sword crashing down snapping his scepter in half. That was when things went awry. The army of undead and the dragon began fighting each other, really not much of a battle for the dragon. As for the mage it was his time to meet his maker. He dropped his cloak and yanked the sword off his back. Swords clashing and crashing together, from out of no where an unseen blow hit Angelina, she crumpled to the ground. I brought my sword crashing toward the mage and my blade sent his head tumbling down and his body spasmened and fell silent. I dropped my sword and rushed to Angelina's side. The wound was deep and she had already lost a lot of blood. I had seen wounds like this before and I knew she would not survive. My Love, my wife was dying. She looked into my eyes and knew what was to happen. I screamed in Agony. I looked up and saw the dragon staring at me. It shook its head side to side, even the dragon knew that she would not make it. In her last breath she grabbed my hand and swore our blood oath. My blood, Your Blood, Our Blood, together we shall be and then she smiled and said I love you and fell silent. I buried her in the ravine over there and sat here for hours. The dragon sat down near me on the bridge and spoke.
"You and her were the last of a dying kind. The Dragons Conclave has watched you two for years. You were the ones to destroy the evil that lived. One to live, one to die, one to carry on. That is the price that must be paid to keep evil from this land, you must train your daughter so that she too can keep this evil from the land. She and her bethrotheed will do the same and the cycle will continue. It is your lot in life. Your ancestors did it and so must you. For this is the way" with that he left
"so that is why we are who we are and why you continue to train day by day.
The memory faded as Ashalen stood on the hill looking at the very spot her mother had died. Thoughts crept into her mind " did her mother know her own fate." She smiled at her husband next to her and they pulled there swords from there backs and raced at full charge for the bridge.
"Relax my dear, you have some nasty cuts on you" came a sweet voice
as her eyes began to focus she saw a plump woman sitting on a small chair in front of her.
" who are you" asked Ashalen
" I am Marta, my husband runs this Inn that you stumbled into 3 days ago. We were all surprised to see you are alive, after all your wounds are very deep and you lost a lot of blood"
"3 days" replied Ashalen
" Oh yes dear we were really concerned until this morning my daughter Kristnalia was watching you and she said that you were screaming something about the evil that has taken over the lands, did you get caught in the middle of it all my dear"
A brief memory of her husband being slain in front of her flashed in front of her
" I can only wish that, that was the battle I was in"
" Oh really dear, if you don't mind my asking what battle could be worse than fighting the evil that has descended upon us." Marta sweetly asked
" A fight for my life and my husbands"
"Your husband, well where is he" asked Marta inquisitively
" Dead" Ashalen replied " hes dead and I survived it wasn't suppose to be this way, I was suppose to die and he would train our daughter not me. Damn the GODS FOR THIS Shouted Ashalen.
Was it Ashalens screaming or the sound of lightning bolts and wood splintering that brought the plump woman to her feet.
Ashalen jumped out of bed and raced to the small window in the room, frantically she was looking for anything that seemed of destruction. Nothing could be seen. She turned around and spotted her weapons lying on the floor. As she went for them the floor beneath gave way and she fell through to the bottom floor. Landing with a thud she was stunned for a few seconds. She looked around and heard a familiar voice.
"where is she old man" came a gruff voice
an instantaneous recognition came over Ashalen the mage who had slain her husband was there in front of her, only he did not see her amongst all the rubble.
"I tell you I have no idea of whom you speak" came a groaning voice from the inn keeper
"I will kill everyone and everything till I find that wench and what she stole from me" the mage snarled
Looking for any weapon any thing that would work she spotted a dagger laying not 5 feet from her. Slowly she crept as not to arouse attention slowly picked up the dagger and recognized it as hers. She slowly turned and stood up.
Then came a voice " well, well you are here. Nice of this old man to lie for you now you have killed you and him"
Ashalen spun around in a furry and kicked the mage causing him to drop the old man but before she could send the dagger home he blocked her with his staff.
"To the death again Las just like I killed your husband"
Ashalen spun around but again the mage blocked her attack. Every barrage she threw at him he countered.
A voice inside her head kept screaming run , run
She bolted for the door and out into the street. The Guards of Cornea had just started arriving on the scene when Ashalen ran into the street.
The mage was right on her tail and stopped at the sight of the Guards.
"Halt in the name of Prince Jothan"
the mage just laughed and then vanished
" what is the meaning of this ma'am" one of the Guards asked Ashalen
I do not know replied Ashalen I was sleeping in my bed when I heard a noise got up fell through the floor and landed near that what ever he was and then he started coming after me. If you hadn't shown up I fear my life would have been lost" She said in a sweet sexy sorta believe me I am innocent voice
The guards reply was very cander " we understand ma'am this evil that has descended amongst us has caused many to do things they never would have done, I am sure if you have any other problems find us immediately and we will help you our numbers are growing daily someone is always around"
Ashalen gave a short bow and said "thank you kind sir"
With that he walked back in to the inn and up to her room grabbed her belongings and started out the door when she was met by the Inn keeper. A sultry old fellow who spoke with a rasp in his voice definitely from old age.
"I am sorry for the damage caused or any problems with business this might have caused" Ashalen said quietly
" Ah las tis no problem this sort of thing has gone on fer years here. Besides I used to be in the Cornea Guards myself aint no mage worth there weight in Trinium could hurt me. Oh I may look old but I have a few moves even you have not seen, if you would follow me down to the cellar I have someone you may need to speak with he's known as a protector of sorts one who understands things better than we do and his knowledge of the events taking place right now surpasses those that say they know what is going on. He's a good fellow and needs warriors to fight with him to help in destroying this evil"
" Well sir I would really like to talk to him but I have caused enough trouble as it is, I need to find my daughter" came Ashalens reply
"Your daughter is safe and sound" came a voice from beneath them
" Jasdar I am sorry for the disturbance, I know you were sleeping" the innkeeper said
"Morgath tis no problem you know I never really sleep" Jasdar replied,
"How do you know my daughter is safe," Ashalen quickly interrupted
" because my dear you are Ashalen Azuresky, Johnthan Azuresky's wife mother of Dalinia Azuresky, and sister to Asmien Mortashar-Demodredd" Jasdar calmly replied
" You are Jasdar Demodredd, My sisters husband. Her death was mourned by all Calster, I am truly sorry for your loss. She always spoke of her love for you in her letters to me, She said that she knew in her heart that you two would always be together forever no matter what happened." Ashalen said as she wiped tears away from her cheek
Memories dashed in front of Jasdar, memories of Asmien and her beauty, her smile, her warmness, how she always was helping others, her thoughtfulness. The memories faded quickly, No he thought NO I can't go back to mourning her death I must press on and destroy this evil it is my solemn duty to her and to the land
"Last night I went to your house and explained to your daughter who I was and explained that I needed to take her some place safe, little did I know that you would choose the same inn where I hid her."
"Dalinia is here where"