Setting: Unknown

Characters: Pirotess

Pirotess is standing in total darkness, she spins around trying to identify her surroundings. Suddenly an image of Ashram appears over her. Ashram is chained to an invisible wall, and his body sags with the weight of his armor.

Pirotess: (crying out and reaching to him) Lord Ashram!

Voice: (it is hollow yet demanding) His soul is tortured, he does not rest.

Pirotess: Who are you!? Show yourself!

Voice: He can be yours once more, whole in body and soul. That is what you wish is it not?

Pirotess: (closing her eyes to hold back tears) Ashram is dead. Who are you that you torture my heart so?

Voice: I have the power to return him to you. Do my bidding and I shall restore him, and your child shall know its father.

Pirotess awakens from her sleep. She had escaped the castle dungeon, and had traveled through the night before collapsing near the river bed. Her breathing is erratic, and her body drenched in sweat. She goes to the river side and looks at her reflection. She takes a handful of water and splashes her face.

Pirotess: Was it all a dream? (she looks down at her stomach and places her hand over it)

Roid

The castle has been kept busy with preparations for the wedding. In the main hall adjacent to the courtyard, Liara, Shiris and Orson meet. They have all been searching for Parn and Deedlit, knowing only that they had been there that night.

Shiris: Did you see them? (both Orson and Liara shake their heads) Where can they be?

Etoh, Woodchuck, Lelia and Slayn enter the hall from the door way.

Slayn: They are not at the clearing, nor in the surrounding forests.

King Tesan: (walking down one of the two sets of stairs that are set on the east and west ends of the room) You will not find them. Not in Valas.

Lelia: King Tesan! Do you know where they went?

King Tesan: Yes.

Slayn: Your majesty, it is important that we find them. Pirotess has escaped. Their lives may be in danger.

King Tesan: (looking at no particular object) More then just theirs. (he looks at the group) More then just theirs.

Forest path, just outside Valas's lands

Deedlit: (she sits behind Parn on a majestic white horse) We must cross the Desert of Flame. Their should be a road that will guide us safely through.

Parn: (pulling his deep blue cloak around his shoulders) All right. YA! (he kicks the horse and it begins at a gallop down the path)

The path is shaded on both sides by thick trees that are positioned to form an aisle. The trunks of the trees fly by them as the horse gallops with all its speed. Suddenly, an arrow flies through the air and imbeds itself in the ground in front of the horse. The frightened animal stops short and throws its forelegs into the air, knocking its riders to the ground. Several arrows come flying towards them.

Parn: Deedlit! (he throws his body over her shielding her from harm)

The arrows land within two feet of the fallen lovers, one strikes the earth beside Deedlit's and Parn's heads with mere inches to spare. Parn rises off Deedlit, stands and draws his sword. The sword catches the sunlight and reflects a beam of yellow light. Deedlit rises to one knee and casts a look around. The only site that meets the two of them is the forest foliage. Deedlit hears a noise and her eyes dart to the right. From out of the forest, seemingly from nowhere, comes a masked sword bearing pale skinned elf.

Elf: Ha AH! (he brings down his blade in a slicing motion)

Deedlit draws her rapier in time to deflect the blow, but the impact of it knocks her back to the ground. The elf attempts to follow through with the killing stroke. With a swift thrust, Parn places his sword between the attacker's sword and Deedlit. The elf falls back and eyes first Parn, then the sword.

Parn: (stepping in front of a quickly recovering Deedlit) Who are you? What do you want?

The attacker doesn't respond, he merely resumes his attack. Parn continues to meet his blows but fails to deliver and significant blows. The swords clash an the noise resounds out of the forest. The two combatants lock swords, and Parn views his attacker face to face, staring at a glaring pair of brown eyes, that reflect the look of a cat about to pounce on its prey. With a swift shift of his thumb to the sword hilt he flicks a switch and a small panel in the hilt slides to the side and releases a vapor into Parn's face. Parn jerks back and inhales reflexively. Parn wipes his face and weakly looks up to his opponent who simply smiles back at him as Parn passes out on the forest floor.

Deedlit: (dropping her sword and falling to Parn's side) PARN! Parn wake up. (tears in her eyes and in a weak voice reflecting rage and dispair) What did you do to him?

Elf: (removing the mask) Hmp. (he turns and whistles into the forest, and five more elves appear in similar masks)

The apparent leader of the group, motions for the five newcomers to pick up Parn. Deedlit stands and draws her rapier. The five oncoming elves halt and glance at each other, then at the one who had felled Parn.

Deedlit: (menacing look on her face) Back off.

Elf leader: (stepping forward) Stand down girlie. Right now all we want is the kid. (he looks Deedlit up and down) But maybe our motive will change, eh men? (a laughter of approval goes up from the five)

Deedlit: First off, call me girlie again and I will slay you where you stand. Second, you lay a hand on him and you will pull back a stump.

Elf leader: (mock fear) Ohh I am so frightened. Ain't you frightened men?

Elves: Oooo yeah--Terrified--I'm quaking.

Elf leader: (moving forward a bit more) Now, girl, stand aside.

Deedlit reacts without hesitation. She attacks him with a quick slicing motion. The elf leader jumps back, but Deedlit's sword cuts his belt and his sword sheath falls to the floor. The other elves look just as surprised.

Elf soldier 1: Did you see that?

Elf soldier 2: Sliced Arbin's belt clean off.

Elf soldier 1: That ain't no ordinary girl.

Arbin: (pleasantly surprised, smile on his face) There are not many who can catch me like that. Who are you?

Deedlit: (rage in her voice) Who we are is not your concern. I would rather hear who you are.

Arbin: (suddenly taking on the air of a seasoned nobleman) Ahh my lady, but I do believe that I asked you first. A trade then? I shall give you my identity, and you shall give me yours hmm? (Deedlit nods) Very well then, I am Arbin, leader of a small band of misfits that roam these forest paths. Now my dear I believe it is time to fulfill you end?

Deedlit: I am Princess Deedlit, of the elfin royal family.

Arbin: My, we are in the presence of royalty. (he does a half bow) And your companion? Some sort of guardian? I think you had better find a more skilled warrior. (Parn begins to stir) Hmm, that’s unusual. Usually the gas keeps them unconscious for a longer time. Maybe there is more to this one.

Deedlit: (turning and looking down to Parn) Parn!

Arbin wastes no time. As soon as her guard is lowered he pounces on her and takes her sword. He jumps back as the other five elves grab Parn and Deedlit.

Arbin: Take them back to the camp.

Roid

Etoh and Slayn are in a small study reading. Etoh suddenly jerks up and looks out the window with a look of dread. Slayn quickly notices and is at his side.

Slayn: What is it Etoh?

Etoh: Parn and Deedlit, something has happened. Get the others.

The small group meets on one of the high terraces above the castle gates. King Tesan and Queen Rashia stand with them, as well as King Kashue and Princess Fiona.

Woodchuck: So what’s the deal Etoh? What is so important that you had to drag us all out here?

Slayn: Etoh, tell them what you told me.

Etoh: I had a vision. Parn and Deedlit, they were in trouble.

Shiris: What your getting us all worked up over a dream?

Etoh: (angry) It a wasn't a dream! I know there is something wrong.

Lelia: King Tesan, where did they go? You seem to know where they were headed.

King Tesan: They were headed for the northern part of Raidon. To Half Crest Mountain.

Shiris: (despairingly) Argh. There is no way we would be able to get there in time to help them. It is a four day ride to get to Raidon. There is no way.

Etoh: There must be some way.

Lelia: (stepping forward) I know a way to get there. (the group looks at her)

A forest camp

The camp is a group of small circular houses with a large bonfire in the center with food cooking. Parn and Deedlit are led into the small village with their hands tied behind their back. Two of the elfin guards carry Parn and Deedlit's weapons, but left on their bracelets. Peeking out from the windows and doors of the houses Parn spies dark elf and high elf children. Parn and Deedlit are brought into one of the larger houses. The house is a simple one room house with a small fire smoldering in the center. On one of the walls is an assortment of weapons ranging from daggers to cross bows. Arbin sits down behind a table and takes the swords from his guards. He takes special interest in Parn's sword, delicately tracing the edges at the top of the sheath before pulling it out.

Arbin: (holding up the sword) It is masterfully forged. How did you come by such a blade?

Parn: What is it to you?

Arbin: I'll excuse you insolence as a result of the gas, (he stands up and stares Parn straight in the face) but my mercy extends only so far. Now, where did you get this sword? (Parn remains silent) Very well. (turning) Take them to the prison hut. I shall deal with them later. (he turns back) On second thought, put the princess in the hut with the women. But post a set of guards there.

Parn: (tearing at the guards and reaching out to Deedlit) Deed!

Deedlit: (also struggling) Parn!

The guards pull them apart and drag them out in the street and towards their designated prisons. In the streets, men women and children leave their home to see the commotion. Dark elf and High elf alike stand together watching the guards drag the two lovers apart.

A town in the kingdom of Raidon

Woodchuck, Shiris, Orson and Liara are walking around the town. The town is unkempt, with many suspicious people wandering the streets. Orson and Shiris keep up their guard and eye everyone that comes within three feet of them. Liara looks totally out of place and she realizes this fact with visible uneasiness. The group had made her change her outfit when she demanded to go wit them. she now wears a long-sleeved red squire shirt, a green skirt the stops above the knee, and a brown belt with the sword given to her by Orson strapped to it, at her side rests her bag with her different potions. Woodchuck casually walks around as if the surroundings are familiar to him.

Woodchuck: (smiling) Ahhhh, Raidon. Home sweet home.

Liara: (turning surprised) Your home? I didn't realize.

Woodchuck: Well I haven’t been here for a good many years, but this will always be home.

Shiris: I never understood why this kingdom has no leader. I figured that one of the neighboring kingdoms would have conquered it or someone would take power.

Woodchuck: Ahh, but that would only happen if Raidon had something to offer right?

Orson: Does it?

Woodchuck: Not unless you consider an infertile, baron, ruinous land and population something desirable.

Liara: Well then, how is food distributed and the kingdom protected?

Woodchuck: You get food where ever you can. Grow, buy, or steal it. As for the protection of the "kingdom," Raidon isn't really a kingdom to begin with. More like a bunch of towns and such that trade with each other. If a problem comes up in a town, the town has to solve it on its own, with occasional assistance if other towns feel threatened.

Liara: I see.

Shiris: (looking around once again) So why did we come here? What makes you so sure that Parn and Deedlit have to come through here?

Woodchuck: (crouching on the ground) There is another reason no one has tried to conquer Raidon. (he draws an outline of Raidon's boundary on the ground and makes a line with a single break in it) Raidon is separated from the rest of Lodoss by a high mountain range. (he points to the break in the line he made) This is the only way into the land without a ship and avoiding the moutons. And here, (he makes a dot a few inches away from the break) is where we are.

Shiris: All right, so we will wait here.

A drunken man comes out of one of the buildings, obviously a tavern. He staggers along laughing, until he spies Liara and Shiris. He wipes his mouth and runs his hand through his dirty hair. He staggers up to them.

Drunk: Well, hello there ladies. (the group looks at him with disgust) Howsh about we have a bit of fun huh?

Shiris: You have got to be kidding.

Drunk: Ohh come on. (he grabs Shiris's ass and searing anger comes to her eyes)

Shiris: HAAHH! (Shiris grabs the mans arm and twists it, causing him to yell out in pain) Don't touch me. (she takes her boot and gives him a hard kick in the chest sending him flying)

Drunk: Wahhh! (he lands hard) Crazy bitch! Just you wait!

The drunk gets up and runs back into the tavern. A few seconds later a yell goes up inside. The group backs up, Orson takes a fighting position.

Orson: I think we should go.

Liara: I am with you. (the drunk comes out of the bar followed by six of his buddies)

Drunk: (pointing) There they are! Get 'em.

The seven of them charge at the group. The four of them separate, and as such so does the group. One of the men goes after Liara. She screams and ducks under his outstretched hands. The attacker's equilibrium is off due to his drunken stupor, and he falls flat on his face. Be fore he can get up, Liara takes out her sword and holds it over him.

Liara: D..d..don't move (she feels very uncomfortable holding a sword against someone)

Her attacker smiles, lets out an unrecognizable sound, and passes out.

Woodchuck: (yelling to the three men) Run! He's a berserker!

At the mention of the word berserker, the three me jump to their feet and run. One of them doesn't get up fast enough and Orson grabs his neck with one hand. The drunk is lifted off the ground and over Orson's head, his legs kicking out at Orson's shoulders and his hands, in a futile manner trying to disengage Orson's hand from his neck. Orson rears his hand back more and throws the man through the air into a wall. As the man's body falls, the group sees the wall caved in where his head impacted. Liara turns away, unable too look at his crushed face. Orson looks at Shiris and Woodchuck.

Shiris: Wood go see if he is still alive!

Woodchuck: (relieved at putting off facing Orson) Right.

Shiris: (yelling to Liara without taking her eyes off Orson) Liara, you have any of that stuff from last time?

Liara: (frightened) No.

Shiris: Great. (Orson charges) Look out! (she leaps out of his reach) Orson! Calm down before you hurt someone! (Orson turns and grabs Shiris by her arms pinning them to her sides and lifts her up)

Liara: (starting to cry) Shiris! (she runs to Orson)

Shiris: (her voice weak due to the pressure of Orson's hold) Liara, no. Run.

Liara: (banging on Orson's arm) Let her go Orson! Please!

Orson looks down at Liara, as a wild animal would look at its next meal. But then his face calms as he sees the tears streaming down Liara's cheeks. His eyes close and his body relaxes. The green energy retreats from his body and his grip on Shiris is released. Shiris falls to the ground on her knees, and she catches Orson as he collapses.

Orson: (weakly) Shiris...........I'm sorry. (tear drops form at his eyes)

Shiris: (tears in her eyes as well and holding him closer) Shhhh. It's all right. Rest now my friend, rest. (Orson passes out in her arms)

Liara: (startled as Woodchuck comes up behind her) How is he?

Woodchuck: He'll live. He was lucky he had a hard skull.

Shiris: (looking up as her friends come up to her) It's not right. Such a gentle person, he doesn't deserve this.

Woodchuck: No one does Shiris. No one does. (he clenches his fist, remembering his capture and possession by Karla) We should go now. People here might not take this incident too lightly.

Shiris: Right. Help me with Orson (together they pull him up and he half continually staggers with them, Liara picks up his sword)

Liara: (looking up at the dusk sky) I hope Parn and Deedlit are better off then we are.

Arbin's forest camp

Parn: (banging on the door of the prison hut) Let me out! You here me! Let me out! (the door opens and Arbin walks in with a guard)

Arbin: No need to yell. This whole thing can be forgotten if you just tell me where you acquired that magnificent sword. (Parn remains silent) Again with this infernal silence. (he appears for a second to be on the verge of rage but regains his composure and puts on a smile) That is a very exquisite bracelet you were. An engagement bracelet hmm? I do believe that I saw a similar one on the arm of the princess. A forbidden love perhaps? I am sure the elfin king would reward us if we turned over the two of you. (he studies Parn's face) But no, you don't seem like the type of man who would do something like that no. Well then...... (from outside come the sounds of a fierce battle and one of the guards staggers into the room before collapsing in front of Arbin) What is this? (a female figure appears in the door way)

Parn: (squinting in the bright sun light) Shiris? (the figure steps forward) Pirotess!

Arbin: Who are you? What are you doing here?

Pirotess: (stepping inside) I am Pirotess. Be smart and move out of my way. (Arbin attacks, leaping at her, but Pirotess is too fast and uses his momentum to slam him into the wall, he falls unconscious)

Parn: (tensing for an attack) What are you doing here?

Pirotess: (taking out Parn's sword) Saving your worthless lives. (she tosses it in front of him and he picks it up) Where are they keeping the princess?

Parn: How do I know I can trust you anymore then him? (he gets up and points to Arbin)

Pirotess: I have my own reasons for saving the princess, but I know she wouldn't leave with you locked up here. Now where is she?

Parn: The far side of this village. There are guards outside of it.

Pirotess: (dragging in the other elf guard) Let's go.

The prison hut is out of view of the main village so Parn and Pirotess pass unseen. Parn never takes his eyes off of Pirotess. They arrive at the village and discover the hut that Deedlit is being held in. Parn motions, warily, to Pirotess to take out the guards. She nods and moves to attack. The guards never know what hit them. Pirotess attacks with deadly accuracy and efficiency and strikes down one of the two guards. The other one is too surprised to move and Parn makes him pay for it. Parn opens the door and is greeted with screams of multiple elf women. Deedlit sees him and embraces him.

Deedlit: (happily) Parn, I knew you would come for me.

Parn: I had help.

Deedlit: Huh?

Pirotess: (walking in behind them) We have to leave now! Reinforcements are on the way.

Deedlit: (coldly) Pirotess. What are you doing here?

Parn: There is no time for this, we have to go now!

The three of them reach the horse stalls and Parn and Deedlit find their pure white horse. Pirotess gets atop a black horse with white spots. They pull out of the stalls and head full gallop out of the village. They don't stop till they reach the edge of the forest. Parn and Deedlit look back at the path and then focus on Pirotess. She stares back coldly.

Pirotess: I believe we have lost them.

Parn: Why did you help us?

Pirotess: Make no mistake, I plan on killing you still. (she turns her horse back to the direction of Half Crest Mountain) But for now, I need you both alive.

Deedlit: (distressingly) Why is that?

Pirotess doesn't respond, but she puts her hand to her stomach and looks north.

Pirotess: (mentally) 'I will make it, for you.'

Night. The passing of this day, leaves Orson, Woodchuck, Liara and Shiris alone in an unfriendly land and Parn and Deedlit in the company of one of their greatest enemies. What is Pirotess's mission? And why does it require that she keep Parn and Deedlit alive?