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Chapter Two

Xander groaned and rolled over where he laid on the ground, "just five

more minutes' mom." He mumbled, before sitting up abruptly.

Staring into the distance as the memories of recent events flashed through his mind, the

images of Strucker shooting his father, than shooting him. He checked his

shoulder for the bullet wound, but it was gone, the sudden light from the

device, Him disappearing.

Xander held his head as a headache came on. "What the hell happened?" He asked through gritted teeth. A tear

rolled down his face as the full impact of what had happened washed over him,

and he began to cry. After crying for several minutes, he finally wiped his

nose on his sleeve and stood up.

He noticed his whip lying next to him on the ground. Picking it up, he coiled it and secured it to his belt. Only then, did

he finally look around and take stock of his surroundings. It looked like he

had appeared in the clearing of a large forest, with thick foliage surrounding

him. The sound of birds and forest animals moving through the brush were all he

could hear.

"Where the hell am I?" He wondered. Turning slowly, he

attempted to find a path that could lead out of the forest. When he could see

none, he was about to head off in a random direction, when the sound of

boisterous laughter came to him. His head spun to the left, where the laughter

was coming from.

Making a quick decision, he set off in that direction. Making

his very carefully, not yet wanting to make his presence known to the locals.

At least until he knew more of what was going on? Stealthily making his way

through the underbrush, he approached to within twenty feet of the source of

the laughter.

Peering through the lower branches of a bush, he lay behind. He

made out what appeared to be a caravan, with ox-driven wagon arranged in a

circle around a large campfire. There was a large crowd standing around it,

listening to a man playing a musical instrument.

'He looks like a bard' Xander

thought as he watched the man play. Xander continued to scan the crowd, until

he found what he believed to be the caravan leader. A large and jolly looking

man, looked like he was a gladiator, yet appeared gentle; Though Xander did not

doubt that the man could be ferocious when he wanted to be.

Making a mental

note to be careful around him in the future, Xander looked through the

gathering some more. Looking back to the bard as he started another song,

something at the corner of his eye caught his attention. Looking that way, he stopped,

and felt his heart start to race, as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen

stepped down from the wagon closest to him.

He watched her approach the leader,

place a hand on his arm, and kiss his cheek. The man looked down at her and

smiled, patting her shoulder. 'Must be his daughter' he mused. Making her way

to the center by the fire, a pair of musicians started to play, joining their

music to that of the bards. They got a rhythm going as the young woman stepped

into the ring. She began to dance. Xander watched her, entranced by her beauty

and the music.

The grace of her movements was enthralling. Making him long to

go and dance with her, to take her in his arms, and kiss her. He was already on

a knee when he shook his head and came to his senses. Lying back down, he

continued to watch. Her dance seemed to go on for hours, though it was only a

few minutes. As Xander lay in his concealment, he noticed that the sky was

getting dark. Looking back to the fire, he saw that the girl had finished her

dance and the bard had taken his place again.

Xander was sad to see her stop. However,

he turned his attention to the words of the bard as he began to speak. "Come

now people, gather round and listen to the story that I have to tell." He

struck a few notes on his instrument. "Now this tale is an old tale,

passed down through many generations of bards. It tells of a great and powerful

wizard. Who fought against the forces of darkness? He battled many foes,

demons, goblins, and orcs, Evil spirits, monsters, and many other evil

creatures.

Great were his works, for he

helped those who were in need of help. He ended droughts, healed grave

injuries, and put out a town fire. One day, he went up against a foe that

turned out to be stronger than he was. A powerful sorcerer that swept over the

land. Causing chaos wherever he went. The brave wizard went and did battle with

him. Great and terrible was their battle. So great, that at times, it seemed to

shake the very earth. In the end however, the sorcerer proved too strong for

the wizard.

The wizard took a beating. Before

the final blow, the wizard made this prophecy. 'Beware ye sorcerer, for after

ye have struck down this person. Know ye, that in four generations. A warrior

will come. One who will have the power to destroy you and your evil? End your

terrible reign over the land. Ye will not know him, for he will be a stranger

in a strange land. However, ye shall know when he has come by looking at what

he bears. A snake of leather, coiled at his hip. Beware sorcerer, for he shall

be the end of thee.'" The bard played a few notes, "and with those

words, the wizard drew up the last of his strength.

Hurled one last attack at

the sorcerer, knowing he was doomed. The sorcerer blocked the attack easily. ,

gathering his energies of darkness, blasted the wizard, turning him to ashes.

Now, the sorcerer was wary of the prophecy the wizard had made. For he had

heard that many of the predictions he had made had a way of coming true. Being

of a caution nature, the sorcerer set in motion preparations that would allow

him to know when this so-called champion will come. When all was ready, he sealed

himself inside his castle, and waited.

There he has stayed, and waited. For

almost four hundred years, he has remained in his castle, waiting. No one knows

what he does with-in. Nevertheless, some say he is gathering his dark energies,

in preparation for the coming conflict with the unknown warrior. Others say he

is dead and gone, having died long ago. But I know that he still lives."

The bard took a swig from his water skin before continuing. "He is even

now calling on the forces of darkness, amassing an army of evil beasts, and

hideous creatures, preparing for the day that the warrior, the champion of

prophecy, will come."

The bard, finished with his story, stood, bowed, and

retired to his tent. The two musicians struck up a tune to help keep the

festivities going, but the crowd was slowly dispersing, People going off to

various wagons and tents. Seeing that everyone was going to bed, Xander got up

and made his way back into the forest. However, he was careless and stepped on

a dry stick, which broke with a load snap. The dogs, which Xander had seen

earlier when he first arrived, looked in his direction and starting barking.

One of the guards nearby also looked, squinting slightly in the growing

darkness.

"Who's out there?" 'Aw crap' thought Xander. He jumped up

and took off at a dead run. "INTRUDER Release the dogs. After him" Several

of the guards and men gave chase and ran after Xander, while another cut the

ropes holding the straining dogs. Who sprang forward and soon caught up with

the men. Xander ran on, breathing easily. Silently thanking his sister for the

training that she had given him. In a bit of a panic though, he grabbed his

whip, and with expert ease, wrapped the end around a branch and swung up into a

tree.

Resecuring the whip, he walked along the branch towards the trunk, and

waited, before long, the dogs passed by his tree, followed closely by the men

from the caravan, never having been in a situation like this before. He decided

to stay where he was for the time being. Unfortunately, his current position

put him upwind of the dogs who, having good noses soon came back to his tree

and were barking up at him.

When their barking brought the men, Xander knew he

was in trouble. One of the men spotted him in the tree, "there he is. The

spy is in the tree." 'Spy?' thought Xander, 'I'm no spy, and I just got

here. But then again, guess they would consider a spy, since I was spying on

them.' By now, the whole group of men had gathered around his tree. "Come

down from there spy. Or we shall burn you out." Xander gulped as he

noticed that several of them were carrying torches. He froze for several

seconds, waiting to see if they would really carry out their threat.

The

leader, when he saw that Xander was not coming down, shouted to his men

"burn him out" As some of the torchbearers came forward, "STOP!

I'm coming down." They stopped when they heard this and stepped aside as

Xander dropped to the ground. Two men came up behind him and grabbed his arms,

quickly binding them. Therefore, with their captive secure, they made their way

back to the main camp, where the leader of the search party, along with two

others, led Xander to the main tent.

The man leading them, who Xander would

soon learn was Gathner, held open the tent flap to allow the others to enter

first. After stepping in and closing the flap, Gathner approached a curtain

that sectioned off a part of the main tent. He said a few words that Xander

could not hear. The caravan leader, a bear of a man, stepped out from behind

it. Xander actually felt his knees start to shake from the stern gaze of the

man looking at him. However, after a few moments, he steeled himself and

regained his composure.

The man sat down in a large chair in front of Xander.

"I am Rorik the brave, Leader of this camp. Who are you and why were you

spying on my camp?" Xander could tell that Rorik did not want to hurt him.

Therefore, he decided that the best course of action to take would be the

truth. "My name is Xander Rodius, I did not mean to spy, but I am lost and

do not know where I am. I am a stranger in a strange land."

He fell silent

as Rorik studied him, possibly to see if he was lying. Rorik leaned back in his

chair and grunted. "I will believe you for now boy. However, I will have

to insist on placing a guard on you day and night, Until such time as you gain

my trust, something which is very hard to gain." Xander nodded, "I

accept your terms sir." Rorik gave a curt nod in reply. "Gathner here

will see to it that you are given adequate sleeping quarters and...." The

growling of Xander's stomach interrupted him, which he was holding, a sheepish

look on his face.

Rorik chuckled. "And some food to fill that hungry belly

of yours too." He stood up and moved back behind the curtain, signifying

the end of the meeting. Gathner nodded to the two guarding Xander and they all

went out. Gathner turn to Xander, "you will be given a spare tent that we

have for guests. You will have to set it up yourself. Your food will be brought

to you shortly." He looked to one man and nodded to him. Then turned and

left for a different part of the camp.

The man he had nodded to left also,

probably to get some food for Xander. The other man, who introduced himself as

sarsen, led him to one of the wagons, where he drew out a bundle of cloth,

rope, and some sticks, All of which he handed to Xander. "Follow Me,"

he said before heading off in a seemingly random direction.

Xander followed

behind, taking this chance to take a better look at his surroundings. He

noticed that several of the wagons had different patterns of painted designs on

them. As he studied the designs, he noticed someone looking at him from a window

of the one he was walking past.

He was surprised to see that it was the girl

from before, who had danced by the fire. Now that he was closer, he could see

that she had brilliantly blue eyes, a small nose, soft lips, and light caramel

colored skin.

Xander stood rooted to the spot as the two of them looked at each

other. It seemed like an eternity before he felt a hand on his arm. Looking up,

he noticed Sarsen standing next to him. "Come along Xander, you can set up

your tent over here," and pulled gently on his arm. Xander allowed himself

to be lead away.

When he looked back to the window, the girl was no longer

there. "Who was that?" he asked Sarsen as they walked. "That is

Rorik's daughter, Aria. I wouldn't be trying anything if I were you

though."

Xander looked at him, "why not?" "Rorik is very

protective of his daughter, Will not let anyone approach her for her hand, unless

they have proven themselves worthy in his eyes." Xander looked thoughtful

as they continued.

"How would he know if they were worthy?" Sarsen

looked down at him in surprise, and then said with a stern voice. "You

best put such thoughts from your head, for it will be a long time before Rorik

will even consider you being worthy."

Xander sighed. "However, I do

not think that you will have to wait long." he said with a smile. "I

could see what was passing between the two of you just now." Xander felt a

blush rising up his face as he walked along. Sarsen laughed when he saw it.

"Hey there is nothing to be bashful about.

There has been many a man who

has asked about her. But you're the only one who I think has actually caught

her interest." Sarsen stopped and pointed. "You may set up your tent

here. I shall be back to get you in the morning. Boris shall be here shortly

with your food. Sleep well Xander." With that, Sarsen left him. Xander,

not wanting to give them a bad first impression, set about setting up the tent.

It was simple.

He had been on many camping trips with his dad and grandfather. Therefore,

he was not without the expertise of camping. Ten minutes later, the tent was

ready. He was just setting up the bedding when Boris walked up, bearing a

wooden plate with a large chunk of cook meat, a cooked ear of corn, and a water

skin. "Here is your food. More will be brought to you in the

morning."

He set it down, and then walked over to examine Xanders

handiwork. "I'm impressed; obviously you have done this sort of thing

before." Xander nodded. "Yes, I used to go on camping trips with my

grandfather.

He taught me a lot." "Perhaps I could meet this

grandfather of yours someday" "Yeah, perhaps." Boris turn and

left, "well, goodnight." When he had left, Xander went over to the

plate and ate with gusto, being very hungry. After he had finished and washed

it down with some water. He crawled into his tent, and fell asleep.