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A young stable boy, head down, kicks a small stone through a dusty lane by the knights' quarters within the confines of Castle Avalon. It is a warm summer day and he can't help but wish he didn't have to work. His mind fills with wonderful visions of playing in the near by lake with his friends. 3
Suddenly his thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a faint cry for help coming from within the thick walls. He stops and listens, yet nothing more does he hear. The silence looms heavy with the burden of knowledge. He knows no one has been in the knights' quarters for a very long time. Yet, this voice, light, almost feminine, perhaps that of a child, is unlike anything he's ever heard. 4
Curiosity piqued, he carefully enters the building, unsure of what he'll find. A cold chill passes through his veins like tendrils of ice as he faces the shadows and darkness within. He wants to run, get away, but the call he heard, like a desperate plea, holds him steady. Finally, conquering the fear, he enters. 5
Diffused light is scattered along the walls and floor from the many open doorways. His eyes play tricks on him as the movement of the clouds cause the shadows to move along the walls in a sort of surrealistic pattern. Conquering his fear again, he moves on, glancing with wide eyed terror into every open doorway he passes, spotting only old armor and wood framed cots. Until, there ahead, lying in the middle of the hall like a pile of discarded rags he sees a form. In cold fear, heart racing, he presses himself against the wall in the darkness between the rooms, ready to bolt at the first sound, or sign of movement. Yet, all he hears is the howl of a lone wolf calling out from far off in the distance. When no movement is forthcoming, the fears ebb, until, with considerable in trepidation, he approaches. 6
The figure lies face down, unrecognizable. He can see only long black hair and loose fitting robes. Drawing on courage he didn't know he had, he rolls the figure over to discover a young woman. Her un-tanned skin seems dry and her lips are cracked. Bringing his face a little closer to her mouth, he feels a slow breath of air touch the side of his face. What the heck are you doing here? He wonders. While from his belt, he takes a water flask, opens it, and pours a little into her mouth. 7
Choking on the water, Sir Justin, a bit blearily, opens his bright green eyes and stares up at his young rescuer, shakes his hair back and reaches for the leather flask so close to his parched lips. The boy startled, gasps. Thoughts flash through his mind. This was no woman! Those green eyes are not even human! It's at this point the boy notices the pointed ears. Here was something he had only heard about in hushed whispers and overheard snippets of conversation. A DARK ELF!, One of the most dangerous and feared races in the outer kingdom. 8
Falling backwards, and dropping the flask in the process, he scrambles up and races down the hallway too frightened to even scream. Justin too weak to try and stop him, wonders briefly what caused the boys fears. After all, he was here with the full knowledge and permission of the king, wasn't he? Unaware of how much time had really passed since his arrival, he thinks it couldn't be more than a few days at most. Picking up the water flask he crawls to the hallway wall, lifts himself up enough to lean against it and slowly sips more from the boys abandoned flask.. 9
In the meantime, the stable boy in total terror, races from the knights' quarters to the safest and most familiar place he knows, the stables. Slamming open the large double doors, he blindly rushes in, smashing right into the side of the stable master. 10
"Whoa boy, what’s all the rush about?" The boy's frightened eyes, darting everywhere, are unable to focus on him. Trembling and unable to speak, he tries to break free from the strong grasp of the older man holding him, in hopes to find some dark corner to hide in. However, the stable masters grasp is firm and he is unable to break free. 11
Slowly, he begins to calm down enough to speak. 12
"MMM ma MONSTER! I, in Knights Quarters!" he finally stammers out. The stable master looks at him curiously and calmly, "You know no one has been in the knights’ quarters for a long time. That place is empty. All the Knights of Avalon have been sent out on missions for the Prince." 13
The boy, looking wide eyed incredulous, states again, "Bu but… there's a demon in there, a, A DARK ELF!" 14
The stable master with a frown of frustration simply states, "Come now boy, the only dark elves you'll ever find in Avalon will be in the castle’s dungeon, I assure you. Now, tell me exactly what happened." 15
The boy choppingly rebuilds the story, while the stable master listens with growing alarm. With the boy’s description of a tall slender form with pointed ears, his heart begins to race with fear. An unknown dark elf in the confines of Avalon? Absurd, yet.. if so, it must be a spy for an impending invasion and must not be allowed to escape. 16
Letting the boy go, he rushes out to the court yard to sound the alarm.
~~O~~ ~~O~~
~~O~~17
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