BATTLE FOR CRAYNOR (EPISODE 3)

[sidhe_faerie]

 Episode 3 (prompts from July 21, 2012)

Two soldiers came forward and held out a scroll. Lady Starr took it and read it then handed it to Grim Ranger. “When does he want to meet?” She asked the soldier.

 

“Now. The man said and indicated for her to follow him.

 

“It may be a trap.” Endora whispered.

 

“I’m sure it is.” Lady Starr said softly. “I will not come alone. These two will come with me.” She indicated Endora and Grim Ranger.

 

The soldier shrugged and motioned again for her to follow. Lady Starr followed them. Grim Ranger and Endora looked at each other and then followed along.

 

They walked through the camp of the enemy to the largest tent. Inside was Bartamas. He was a rather large man with dark hair and a full beard. He was sitting at a makeshift desk smiling when they entered.

 

“Welcome! I hope you will find my terms to your liking.”

 

“No one is surrendering here.” Lady Starr walked up to the desk and smiled. When Bartamas saw her fangs he swallowed hard. She leaned forward, her hands on the desk. “Where is my son?”

 

“So that little abomination is your offspring? What is he exactly?” Bartamas leaned forward.

 

“By now I’d say hungry.” Lady Starr leaned closer and smiled wider.

 

Bartamas sat back in his chair. “I will give him to you if all of you leave with all of your kind and never come back.”

 

“There are many in this Realm that was born here. What gives you the right to order them to leave?” Endora asked from the door way. “You have magick.”

 

“I have no such thing.” Bartamas said with disgust. "I have a companion, let me tell you about her."

 

“It’s of no importance to me who your companion is; my son will feed on anyone that is near him. So if you don’t want someone to die…..”

 

A painful scream filled the air. Lady Starr smiled. Bartamas looked like he was going to be sick.

 

“Well that’s one less we have to deal with.” Grim Ranger said under his breath.

 

“Grim, I can’t feel them.” Endora said quietly as she looked at the soldiers that had led them here. “It’s like they aren’t even here. Could he be fabricating this delusion?”

 

Grim Ranger sent one of his shadow hands out over the ground and tried to grab the ankle of one of the soldiers. The hand went right through him. “They are illusions!”

 

“Not all of them. There is no more than a dozen that I can sense.” Endora said quietly. “We have to let Lady Starr know. But if he’s not doing the magick then who is?”

 

“That companion of his must be responsible for all of it.” Grim ranger turned to looked at the door. “Starr, do you smell smoke?”

 

“Kyo must have set the body on fire.” Lady Starr said. “It’s the only way to keep it from rising.”  

 

Bartamas flinched at the statement.

 

“Where is your companion?” Endora asked as she stepped forward.

 

“Ah! Someone who is interested in her finally. She will be here in a few moments. “ Bartamas grinned.

 

The tent flap fluttered and Kyo ran into the tent. “Mama!” He ran to hug Lady Starr. She held on to her son tightly until he wiggled free.

 

“‘Dory and Uncle Grim too!” Kyo ran up and hugged them both. Kyo looked at Bartamas and then at his mother. “I’m still hungry.”

 

“Did you hear that?” Lady Starr threatened the man. “Now where is this companion?”

 

“Here I am.” A voice on the air said. A dark haired woman appeared out of a puff of smoke.

 

Lady Starr pushed Kyo behind her. “Who are you and what do you want? Why make all of the magickal beings leave this realm?”

 

“I am Xalanthra. I want to rule here and they are not wanted.” The sorceress said. “I will not associate with creatures that are freaks of nature, just like you.”

 

Endora walked over to the sorceress. “I am not a freak.”

 

Suddenly there was a swirl of silver shimmer. When it cleared Dulcina Leeas and Zoren appeared.

 

“We were tired of waiting.” Dulcina said with a shrug.

 

Grim Ranger cleared his throat and motioned them over to where he was standing. Dulcina and Leeas came over to where he was standing.

 

Zoren stepped forward. “Xalanthra! I thought you were dead.”

 

“No but you wished it true, didn’t you?” Xalanthra said sadly.

 

Endora moved back to stand with Grim Ranger. The two mages obviously had history. The others listened and watched.

 

“You are my daughter. I would never wish that.” Zoren said as he reached out to her.

 

She stepped back. “You left me for dead when the creatures came. I haven’t seen you since.”

 

“I didn’t know. Please forgive me.” Zoren tried to reach out again but Xalanthra moved away again. “The house was burning, falling in. I thought you were inside.”

 

“I was hiding in the woods. Why didn’t you search for me?” Xalanthra said tearfully.

 

“I had no idea that you could have survived that. I stood there and watched it burn when I returned. Let’s put the past behind us and start over.” Zoren said holding out his arms to her.

 

“I don’t know if I can.” A tear started to fall down Xalanthra’s cheek.

 

“You can start by reversing the magick you have done.” Lady Starr said.

 

“Now wait just one minute.” Bartamas started to say. Lady Starr hissed at him her eyes burning red. Bartamas cowered in his chair. 

 

Xalanthra raised her hands and the tent they were in disappeared. They were standing in the middle of a field of wildflowers. Bartamas hit the ground with a thump. Nearly a dozen men looked at each other confused now that the enchantment had been lifted.

 

“Thank you, Xalanthra.” Zoren said. His daughter ran into his arms crying. Zoren looked over her shoulder at the group. “I’m sorry for all the trouble we caused. Please accept my apologies.”

 

“It is over and we will leave.” Lady Starr said. “Ah…about what Kyo did.”

 

“It was understandable. He is young.” Zoren said. “I will make amends in his place.”

 

“Thank you.” Lady Starr said.

 

There was a rustle in the tall grass. A large dog came running at them. It ran straight for Kyo. He fell onto his back as the hound pushed him over and licked his face enthusiastically. Kyo giggled merrily.

 

“Do you see what that is?” Leeas said. “That is a hell hound.”

 

“That was why he wandered off.” Lady Starr sighed. “Kyo let’s go and bring your puppy. Zoren if you need us….”

 

The mage nodded.

 

Lady Starr, Kyo and Kyo’s puppy disappeared in a wall of fire.

 

“Goodbye all.” Grim turned into a shadow and slipped into the ground.

 

Leeas shrugged and turned into a silver and blue dragon and flew off.

 

“Dulcina? Coming with me?” Endora asked as she held out her faerie crystal to form the swirling magick portal.

 

“Why the hell not.” Dulcina walked over and went through the portal ahead of Endora.  

 

Endora nodded to the old man and his daughter and stepped through the portal.