by R. F. Pace
They settled down and waited. They had an answer fifteen minutes later, Ralnor came through the cave entrance. Jake said, “Glad to see you could make it.” “It is a long hike from your village to here. I saw you pass me a while back. It would have been nice to have a horse to travel, but I didn’t have that luxury,” Ralnor said. Jake replied, “I just thought you would have been here when we got here, I didn’t think about you having to walk back.”
***
Ralnor used the downward journey to provide a full, detailed briefing. Ralnor said, “Since you left, 24 moon cycles ago, a lot has happened. “Two years? We have only been back for about four months, and you’re telling us two years have gone by for you?” exclaimed Sara. With Ralnor looking a little confused, Jake reminded him that a moon cycle was about a month and 12 moon cycles were about a year. Ralnor nodded, then continued, “North of the mountains are gone. Mendor has mounted many forces together to take all those lands. We have been able to stop him from crossing over the mountain, but I fear we are not going to be able to hold them too much longer.”
Jake asked, “Who is Mendor?” Ralnor said, “He a very power wizard that has figured out a way to control many different kinds of creatures. He comes from a city well to the north call Kindron. It’s a place where dark magic has been practiced since I can remember.” Tammy said, “Wow, that’s a long time!” Ralnor gave a half smile.
Jake asked, “Why have you come for us?” Ralnor said, “To help us stop him.” Jake questioned again, “Why us? There are some powerful wizards in your world, can’t one of them do it?” Ralnor answered, “It is possible one might be able to, but you hold more power than any of them. The counsel has instructed me to find you and have you come back to listen to what they have to say. The last thing they informed me of is all four of you had to do this of your own free will.” Sara looked at Jake and asked, “Are you having reservations about doing this?” “I just hate that our world gets turned upside down like this, and I don’t know very much magic. That worries me,” Jake commented. Ralnor said, “I can understand your concerns, but in the past we have never come to your world to get help from others. With you being the first one in many moons that is able to wield Yatuku, the council decided it would be best for you to join us.”
Confused, Sara said, “Isn’t Yatuku for earth magic? I thought it was for balance of the earth, not to be wielded in battle.” “That was my understanding of how it worked,” added Jake. Ralnor said, “That is one of the many ways it has been used. It can and has been wielded in many great battles over time. Something no one has mentioned was Yatuku also has a counter to it, call Turulka.” George asked, “Are we heading out on a quest to find Turulka now?” “No. Turulka is being wielded by Mendor. Which makes the problem even worst for us,” stated Ralnor. “That sounds bad, if not downright dangerous,” Sara said, “What else do we need to know about?” Ralnor replied, “The Elvin Council will give you a full briefing when we arrive back at Alalda Ostar.
