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Chapter 2 The Ring and Linden

But there was one Gargoyle they didn't kill. Be it pure fate or luck that this Gargoyle somehow slipped out. Some may think it was a deadly mistake, others may not. The humans scattered everywhere finding any remaining Gargoyles that were alive. Afterwards they piled the bodies on the field and burned them. All of the childern died. It was soon found out that Akadar and Wvyern would do the same to Torran and Escobar, only time would tell.

But before all this happened, two men came upon a nursery. They found very few hatchlings still alive. Also a young Gargoyle of the age of five was seen there, Kane was his name. He was peering outside through a window looking at the burning houses and Morrey Castle off in the distance. A dark cloud hovered just above the Castle.

"Kill the others," commanded the man. The other one who's armor was dusty and had blood stains on it headed straight for Kane first.

The man smiled as he stepped next to Kane, "What are you looking at little one?" he said calmly, "Your fate perhaps?"

Kane turned his head to face the man and growled softly, "And what do you suppose you're going to do little one?" asked the man again.

At that moment Kane sprang from his feet and onto the man's face scratching it tearing it up while his feet digged into the man's neck letting his adam apple drop out.

The other man watched his compainion in horror and disgust, and went after Kane. Kane jumped off the now lifeless body and sprang to the other man's belly letting his intestines flow out.

That one died slowly and painfully. Kane was now covered in blood and went to a water pale washing himself off. He knew he had to make a get away. His family, persumed dead. He didn't bother to look among the dead.

Peering out from the nursery he saw men gathering dead bodies and carrying them to the fields. Looking straight across he saw the tall wall of Morrey and it was battered open from the attacks earlier. He would make a run across from it.

Turning his head left, a captain of a small platoon was still checking the nurserys for live hatchlings. Night was coming soon so Kane would have to go now or be killed. It was his only chance if he wanted to escape alive.

Turning his head right, no one there, the coast was clear. He turned left again and the small platoon was in a nursery checking the hatchlings. He ran for it as quick as he little feet could take him. He got out to the field and saw that great fires had been started and the stench of death and flesh grew thick. He ran some more until Morrey seemed but a small hill.

The Captain of the small platoon got to the nursery where Kane was and saw the two men dead, "One of them escaped, " he gasped.

Looking down he saw bloody footprints that ,if he followed, led to the fields of Morrey, "One of the hatchlings escaped, go get him men, he can't be far. Make sure it's dead."

What Kane saw will be forever ecthed in his memory. As he was running he saw the bodies of his family, cousins, uncles, and so on. There was a massive stacking of dead bodies being burned. The sky was hazy and black. All Kane could smell was the flesh of dead Gargoyles. In his mind he knew too he may become one of them. Something inside of him told him not to give up and to keep going.

After running for what seemed ages Kane could go no further that day. His mind was completely exhuasted and also his legs ached so much, the pain seemed to never die down.The sun was soon at setting. He panted heavily and sat himself on top of a small rock and looked back towards where he had been running. He could hardly even see Morrey anymore. It was beginning to get cold and night was falling near.

Kane couldn't travel any further, he looked up at the sky feeling a few drops of rain and a light sprinkle began. He was not only cold but lonely. His whole kin slaughtered, maybe even his own race. He was probably the last of his own kind. He eventually feel asleep and had troubled dreams.

That night he dreamt a very lively dream. He was awake but lying down on the rock still and it was sprinkling cold stinging rain. His lungs ached from the cold stale air as he breathed he could see it forming in front of him. Just then he heard other voices.

"We've been tracking this Gargoyle all day! Let's just turn back and tell the captain we killed it and left it for the hawks to eat!" said one the soliders.

"It's orders! You know how the Captain can smell a lie! I say we get the job done and burn it alive with the rest of the dead bodies! That'll teach it a lesson!" said the other.

Suddenly another voice hovered over the other two, "Leave it be!" it said in a commanding voice.

The two soliders gasped. Kane could barely make them out and barely dared to breathe, 'Who are you and what gives you the right to say so?" said the first solider.

"HE gives me the orders and HE will kill you if you don't follow them. HE has special plans for this Gargoyle, leave it be and I will deal with it when the time comes."

Kane heard no more in his dream and then fell into an uneasy black sleep.

That next morning Kane did not find himself awake on top of the rock he had slept on. He found himself in a cushion bed with a feathered pillowed. He opened his eyes slowly as he felt the new environment around him. Staring at the ceiling his other senses came back. He smelled a wood pine scent and he heard singing. He sat up peering around the room. It was an ordinary room but it seemed like a dream to him.

"Did I dream it all?" he muttered to himself, "Is this just another dream?"

"Oh no it isn't," anwsered a voice, and in came an old man with a wooden cane, he looked feeble and old but he was no ordinary person.

He is Linden, Dragon Master Linden. Coming from a long line of Dragon Masters. The Dragon Master clan is believed to orignate in Malidorian when the great wizard Ibion hid there during the Great War. There he tamed and later killed the greatest of all dragons, Faladar the Red. Ibion went to taming his sons and daughters.

Kane stared in awe and fear at who this person was. He looked like the old man from his dreams. He rubbed his eyes and blinked to make sure. He growled softly at Linden.

"I don't mean any harm. I found you yesterday in the fields and I thought I'd take you in. My name is Linden. My students call me Dragon Master Linden. That is if I had any students, in which I have not for so long."

Kane didn't speak but continued to growl at him. Linden pulled up a chair next to Kane's bed, "Aren't you going to talk little one? I did save your life you know!"

Kane growled some more, "Mad at me are you? Don't be! Well anyways, I'm going back into the kitchen to fix up your breakfast. You'll be having eggs and oatmeal." At that he left Kane alone in the room.

Kane didn't know what to do so he stayed in bed waiting for his food. He sighed at the thought of his lost family and of his home. A minute later Linden came back in with Kane's breakfast and set it down on a tray next to him.

Linden sat down next to Kane's bed again, "So little one what is your name?"

Kane eyed the man a little and turned his head, "Kane" he anwsered softly.

"Kane? A very nice name. But let me ask you this, what is a young Gargoyle like you doing out in the fields alone by yourself?" he had a concerned look one his face as if he was being a father to him.

"I don't remember much, but I remember my home was on fire and I fled, most of my bothers and sisters were dead because they killed them." Kane's eyes were filling with tears.

"Who is they?" Linden asked.

"Those men, those humans, those filthy dirty humans," the thought of humans made Kane more furious and angry at each passing thought.

"Well, you are safe with me for now," he said sympatheticly

"But for how long?" Kane asked.

"As long as you like."

With that Linden left Kane alone to be content. When he got out in the hallway a pain in his wrist was felt. A ring with a red gem was glowing on his finger and he wailed to himself, "Confound it! How much longer?"

After Kane finished his meal he placed the tray to his side and quickly fell asleep again. After waking up he decided to creep across the house to see exactly where he was. He loked outside of a window and saw nothing but trees, "Hmmm...a forest..." he thought.

He creeped out of the bedroom and saw or heard no signs of Linden around nor anyone else. He found this strange and saw another room persumabely Linden's room or someone elses. A kitchen and a living room were also present with shelves of books, but what they were Kane could not read.

He saw the front door and decided to open it slowly peering through the crack. After he opened it a little more and stuck his head out, looking to his left he saw Linden sitting on a rocking chair pondering his thoughts and smiling thoughtfully.

Linden was not aware of Kane until the ring on hid right hand glowed red and Linden turned his head and saw Kane and smiled, "Well hello there young one, did you sleep nice?" He was quite curious to see if he had any nightmares since a child of his age would probably be traumatized.

Kane shook his head and walked outside closing the door and sat near Linden's chair crossing his legs, "I saw you had lots of books in a room, what are those?" Kane asked.

Linden sighed and looked down at Kane smiling, "Well some are books for spells, others for potions, some for just plain reading. Why do you ask? Would you like to learn to read?"

Kane sort of shrugged his shoulders and sighed staring straight ahead into the forest wondering what lied past and how Morrey was doing knowing that it's probably utterly destroyed by now.

Kane stayed with Dragon Master Linden for years to come. Linden taught Kane all he knew about the history and lore of Raisher. Kane became a smart young man and a tough one. It was not until Kane was eighteen he asked Linden a question that would change for the worst for Kane.

The two were sitting in the dining hall finishing up some supper when Kane asked, "Why is it you always wear that ring?"

A thought crept back into Linden's mind and he became silent for a long time, he sighed slowly and looked back at Kane, "You see my son, I think you are old enough to learn of it."

"This ring has been passed down from my father from his and so on. It is a magic ring. The Ibion Ring of legends old. It is said to be very powerful. If the person has a good heart the magic is good. But if the person has a bad heart it is used as bad. But no man, elf, dwarf, or gargoyle is always on one side that is why it is said the ring was split into two. One good, one bad. But I don't know if my ring is the bad or good part."

"Who created it?" asked Kane.

"It was created by my ancestor, Ibion. It was said he was a great Wizard and a great advisor to the king of Raisher. Ibion made himself immortal with the Ibion Ring. The ring was said to be meant for power, to destroy the power off to the east, Malidorian."

"Malidorian? You've never mentioned that place before." said Kane sounding ever more curious.

"Well back then, Faladar the Red, a dragon, ruled Malidorian in his tower, Uk-sharg, so it's called by the Orcs. Faladar was here before any of us migrated here from the big lands. Centuries later when our country was beginning to prosper Faladar saw us as a threat. We constantly had wars with Malidorian. The Kingdoms of Akadar, Wvyern, and Filliet mostly kept the forces of Malidorian at bay."

"Is Malidorian still around?" asked Kane.

"Well yes it is, but it is a desilent place now. Uk-sharg still stands, but the rest is in ruins. But to get back to Ibion, when he became Immortal Akadar became very jealous of Ibion. The King of Akadar wanted the ring very much but Ibion would not give for all the riches in the world. Akadar and Wvyern set war towards Raisher. Raisher had the help of Kadainakin, the dwarven kingdom, and Beraligur, the elven kingdom and they won against Akadar. But shortly after that war Faladar sent forth his most largest army of Orcs and dragons."

"He sent forth Valazagoth an anicent enemy, and Flindar son of Faladar. Both of them led the army of Malidorian. Akadar and Wvyern allianced with Raisher, Filliet, Beraligur, Kadainakin. It was one of the most bloodiest wars ever known. The alliance eventually won but not without tragic losses. Most of Filliet and Beraligur's forces were wiped out and so were the dwarves from Kadainakin."

"Where was Morrey in all of this?" Kane asked.

"Ah yes Morrey, you see Morrey wasn't invovled with any of this, no one knew about it"

"It's not really known which ring he took or if the ring ever really split in two. They're some say that he took the good ring, others the bad, and some say it never split at all." Linden sighed and looked thoughtfully at Kane for a moment, "Would you like to have it my son?" he asked.

Kane was a bit dumb strucked for a moment, "I cannot take it, it's too dangerous!" he yelped.

Linden let out a cheerful laugh, "It's only dangerous if you make it to be. But it can guide you and protect you also. It may come in handy one day you will see" he winked at him and slipped it off his finger and put it in Kane's hand.

Kane looked at it for a moment and slowly slipped it on his ring finger and peered at it more. The red gem on the ring glowed for a moment and stopped.

A year later the happy days for Kane and Linden fell short. Kane found Linden dead on his bed. He did what anyone would do, bury him. He was buried by the garden on the side of the cabin.

Kane wept silently near his grave and knelt down beside, "Farewell! Until we meet in the next world. I will miss you."

Kane stood up and turned his back on the grave, he let out a long sigh and went back in the cabin looking at all the familiar places of the cabin.

Crash!

"Oh no! Linden wll be mad at me!" said Kane as he looked at the shattered glass picture frame.

Linden came in and just chuckled at Kane who was kneeling on the floor terrified and crying himself to death.

"Well well well! What did we do here?" asked Linden.

Kane gasped and looked up at Linden and wailed out sorry to him. Linden patted Kane on the back and told him it's alright as long as he didn't hurt himself. Kane snifled and smiled a bit.

Kane sighed as the flashback ended in his mind. He smiled a bit as a tear went down his face. Kane walked slowly into the kichten and looked around.

A mess was everywhere on the floor, flour, eggs, and milk spilled everywhere, "Oh sheesh, I hope Linden likes the breakfast i'm making him," said Kane as he climbed up on the counter and opened a cabinet and out fell a box of sugar covering him from head to foot.

"What's all this racket so early in the morning?" said Linden coming into the kitchen and noticed the mess.

Kane smiled and blushed a little, "It was a surprise!"

"This mess?"

"No! I was going to make you breakfast but I guess I didn't do very well." sniffled Kane.

"No no no, it's quite allright we'll clean up together and I'll spruce something up for you." Linden smiled and grabbed a broom.

Kane smiled softly and walked into his bedroom where he orignally met Linden in his bed when he was a timid young gargoyle.

"I don't mean any harm. I found you yesterday in the fields and I thought I'd take you in. My name is Linden. My students call me Dragon Master Linden. That is if I had any students, in which I have not for so long."

Kane didn't speak but continued to growl at him. Linden pulled up a chair next to Kane's bed, "Aren't you going to talk little one? I did save your life you know!"

Kane growled some more, "Mad at me are you? Don't be! Well anyways, I'm going back into the kitchen to fix up your breakfast. You'll be having eggs and oatmeal." At that he left Kane alone in the room.

Kane didn't know what to do so he stayed in bed waiting for his food. He sighed at the thought of his lost family and of his home. A minute later Linden came back in with Kane's breakfast and set it down on a tray next to him.

Linden sat down next to Kane's bed again, "So little one what is your name?"

Kane eyed the man a little and turned his head, "Kane" he anwsered softly.

It was the longest summer Kane ever endured. Never did the days seem so long without Linden. His father, his mentor, his only family gone. He had no where to go, no one to take him. His whole kind could be wiped out for all he knew.

A month later Kane set out. He never really did travel outside the forest, since it was such a vast forest. Though they lived near the kingdom of L'usuma they were never noticed or found by the Elves. Linden and Kane lived off the very edge of L'usuma.

Kane headed south towards the city of Rydain. He didn't have a map but he remembered when Linden told him which direction to go if he ever set out for any place, "Head south towards Rydain if something happens to me, there you will be safe". A feeling welled up inside him. He had nothing here and staying there would only prove worst. He knew he must move, his heart couldn't take the pain anymore, so the thought of travel lightened it up.

He put on his pack and some gear and started before dawn. It was still dark in the forest and little light was beginning to show. There was a small path made and that's where Kane headed down. He looked around the forest and smiled, "Maybe this will be easy after all" he said in a cheery mood.

The start of his journey was nice and easy with a smooth path. Kane smiled as he smelled the fresh air and the buzzing of the bees and birds chirping about. Having no worries or cares at all. He didn't really imagine how long this journey would really take him. He figured a week or so.

A week passed later and Kane, whom never had much experience in long hikes or walks, was only about thirty miles away from Lindens house and L'usuma being a big forest as it was, was still no where near the exit of the accursed forest.

The next day Kane was feeling very lightheaded and the rest of the day had been hard on him. Food was becoming scarce and water was too. There was always a little stream nearby and some berries but it wasn't enough for a big person like Kane.

As the day waned and noon was passing Kane took a short rest under a tree. He was a little weary and sat down. But what Kane didn't know was that two patrolers were about.

The Patrollers were Elves that of L'usuma. Usually it was very peaceful but an occasional Orc or ruffian Gargoyle would pass through causing a ruckus. The two Elf guards spotted Kane from far off. They went silently about, since Elves can go unseen or unheard, and the two jumped out of from a bush on the path and ready their bow.

"Who dares to trepass on his king's path, made by his people that came before him and before you," said one of the guards.

"I was just passing along, I mean no harm. I'm only but a simple traveler trying to find his way through this forest." sputtered Kane.

"How do we know you're lying?" said the other.

"If I was I would've killed you two already," said Kane.

"Oh, a big ego we have no doubt? I could've shot you in the dark not even needing to see you," said the first one.

Kane was about to say something when one of the Elf guards fell down with an arrow that was stuck in his skull spilling blood. Before the other could do anything he too was down with an arrow in the back of his skull blood spilling everywhere.

Kane was dumbstruck. He had no idea what happened or if he was going to be next. Kane could hear a bunch of birds fleeing into the skies above and a little rustle was heard but he could not see anyone.

Kane was approaching near the Valley of Doandil, named after the first king of L'usuma, and the road would soon turn for the worst. Kane would also be nearing the crossway towards the king of L'usuma's halls. The Elves were in an uproar of a tresspasser and murderer who killed two Elven guards and Kane was their target.

The Elves of L'usuma shunned themselves out from all other nations. It was not always so for when Doandil was the ruler of L'usuma all was peaceful. L'usuma was peaceful with every nation, even the hated and feared Morrey at the time. One thing was wrong with Doandil though. He always secretly desired power and greed. He had a taste for blood and destroying the other nations.

It was here when everything turned for the worst in L'usuma. Armies were sent to Kintad in the south to take it over. It was later seiged. No news was sent or heard of Kintad's fate. It was sealed until soliders from neighboring Wyvern and Akadar heard of it, but Doandil's thrist for blood did not end there. He then sought for the second most powerful elven kingdom, Filliet.

The army of Wvyern and Akadar somehow suspected Doandil's plan and put forth all it's strength to stop Doandil. His army later retreated back to Kintad where a peace treaty would later be signed. It was called The Elvish Non agression pact and was signed by each ruler of the four elvish kingdoms. It put a stop to the wars of L'usuma for awhile.

Years later Doandil died of mysterious causes and his son took place as ruler. Lorandul, made the people fear him and love him. He controlled with an iron fist and killed anyone who did not swear alliegence to him. He did not trust any other nation and therefore shut out every entrance in L'usuma in a fifty mile radius. He made L'usuma impregnable.

It was here when Lorandul broke the Elvish Non Aggression pact signed by his father. He, like his father, went after Kintad since it was so remote. Having nearly slaughtered all of Kintad, Lorandul was not done. He made the same mistake as his father did. He went after Filliet and the army of Wvyern and Akadar was expecting them.

After being defreated Lorandul's army retreated with their tails between their legs. It was then that L'usuma was taken under seiged. Lorandul did not give in and sent all his forces to break it but was unsuccesful. After four months under seiged, Lorandul gave up. Filliet proposed a treaty, which said that L'usuma would never go to war with any fellow brethern and Kingdoms. Lorandul gave in and signed it.

So now with Lorandul not being feared made him furiously mad. He killed many of his people who he thought did not swear alliegence to him.

Kane looked and saw the path turned upwards and saw that it was very rocky. He let out a sigh and started the path. The rocks on the path started to hurt Kane's feet and made them sore. Gargoyles usually walked barefooted only using soles unless on long hard journeys. Unfortunately for Kane he didn't have any.

He traveled up with the slopes getting steeper with each passing step. Every step seemed more of a challenge and took away his energy more and more. He could see the land gradually changing before him. The trees were getting sparse and it was more rocky. His feet were aching and bleeding a little from the ground.

When he reached the top it was a sight to behold which lifted Kane's spirits and also sunk thm even lower. He could see the whole forest laid out before him. The sun was slowly sinking if he looked to the west. He saw the forest's edge and a great plain after it and mountains looming up blocking out everything behind it. He could only guess that Rydain was behind those mountains.

The forest was so vast that Kane's spirit sunk lower and lower. He saw that he still had a long way to go, but he couldn't give up. He started making his way down the valley. The land was changing again with the trees becoming more dense again and the ground less rocky. Kane made camp a little after nightfall in the forest.

During the night there was a rustle and it sounded very close. He woke up rubbing his eyes and when he blinked he saw many red eyes about him. Evil looking eyes peering at him. Kane blinked and the evil looking eyes soon disappeared. He soon fell asleep and thought no more of them.

That night he had a dream. A dream of a dark dreaded castle and in that castle he saw a being, unable to tell what it was though it looked like an old man. The being was sitting on a throne with Orcs by his side and a red gem hung above him.

"Morrey!" he said aloud as he woke up from the dream.

When he woke up it was nearly dawn. The dream disturbed him little then he forgot most of it. That day Kane traveled on and on through the valley and finally came across the other end and traveled back up then finally down.

Kane was hoping to at least come to the exit of this accursed forest. Though no luck came by him. It was just trees, thick as the eye could see. He sighed loudly, "When will this forest end?"

But what Kane didn't know was he just one days journey from the exit of the forest of L'usuma. That night, Kane had another disturbing dream. He was out in an open field with two shadowdy figures ,one tall and one short, standing next to him. He couldn't make them out. The grass was swaying back and forth slowly. He turned his head and he saw himself, not in the water or in a mirror it was himself a twin almost but not quite. The mirror image was about a foot shorter. He went to touch the image but it soon faded away and laughter was heard trailing off in the distance.