The Tamer And The Shield Maiden

CHAPTER ONE

 

 

The moongate glowed in the predawn haze. For a moment it hummed with magic and then the shape of a man on horseback appeared within its center. The rider urged his mount forward a few steps into the clearing which surrounded the sphere of light.
 
He wore a cloak of rich forest green. A hood hid his face in shadow. Black leather gloves and sturdy black boots kept the chill of the early morning air at bay. A large bow carved with ancient runic symbols hung across his back. He sat quietly atop a huge black Nightmare

Bronson let his eyes adjust to the half light as he surveyed the city for the first time.

Umbra.

It lay before him like a cemetery. Cold and silent. Not like any city he had ever seen before. A community born of dark magic and death.

With a tap of his heels Bronson guided his mare onto the road. The steed was ready for a fight. She tossed her head and danced a few steps to the side. He held fast to the reins, controlling the energy of the monster.

“Soon, mistress Nox” he promised her.

The sound of the mare’s hooves upon the pavement echoed off the jet black stone buildings. The stones which formed this city were said to have been mined in the bowels of the dungeon Doom.

A dense mist snaked along the surface of the road and into the distance. It crawled between the leafless black trees, giant mushrooms and stacks of bleached human skulls.

Burning gas escaped from pyramids of stone along the sides of the road, lighting the way. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the sound of whispered chanting, many voices calling out as one. “Anh Mi Sah Ko.” Voices trying to summon the dead.

Bronson had read of this place in his studies long ago. It was the center of Necromancy. A haven for those who practiced the magic of the dead.

The shops looked deserted at first. Then a flutter of movement caught his attention. A man, pale and bloodless as a corpse, was standing in the doorway of a provisioner’s store. He held a broom as if preparing to sweep the steps of his business. But the shopkeeper looked back at the traveler through black hollow holes instead of eyes.

A familiar warning sounded in the warrior’s mind as he continued down the road. Only in the deepest gloom of a dungeon had he felt like this. Never in a city.

Quietly Bronson pulled his bow from its resting place, glad he had chosen the undead slayer as his companion this day.

From out of the fog another human came towards him, hurrying up the road on foot. As Bronson rode closer he could see that this person wore the dress of a Necromancer in training. A white skull helmet covered his head. Dark leather armor and a dark cloth wrapped around his waist completed the uniform of a novice. He carried a large green book close to his body as if protecting it.

Bronson drew his mount to a halt.
 
“Good morrow.” he called out in a clear voice.

The young Necromancer stopped and looked up through the eye slits of his skull helmet. The bared teeth of the skeletal face made him appear to be wearing a frozen ghoulish smile.

“Do not linger in this city if you value your life.” The student’s voice was muffled in his mask. “Only the undead and those with the knowledge and power to control them can remain here.” he said boldly.

The mare snorted, misting the air between them, tossing her head with a jingle of bridle. Her red eye fixed upon the young man with angry intent. The youth’s gaze fell for a moment to the three long faded scars marring the shoulder of the black beast’s coat. The vivid image of a giant claw slashing across flesh flashed before his mind’s eye. A battle between the mare and a daemon from the depths of hell played out inside his brain as he stood transfixed.

The lad shook his head suddenly realizing that this event was being shown to him by the monster the traveler rode.
 
“Telepathic powers!” the Novice gasped. He looked again into the magical red eye of the mare.

Instinctively the student took a step backwards holding his spell book closer and higher against his body, like a shield. “I say this with all due respect, my lord.” he stammered.

“I thank you for your warning, I shall heed it well.” His deep voice held a touch of humor. “If you would point the way to the west gate I will leave this place with all haste.”

The lad pointed in the direction which Bronson was already traveling. “Keep to this road and you shall find it, Sire.”
 
Bronson inclined his head in thanks.
“Good luck to you, young one.” He said.

Lightly tapping his heels to the mare’s ribs, Bronson set them in motion once again. The novice continued in the opposite direction, his breathless chant joining the other distant voices. “Anh Mi Sah Ko.”

The road wound around the buildings of Umbra until it came to a stone gate leading out of the city to the west. Through the gate a bridge carried the warrior across a black abyss littered with tiny lights. The abyss of dark energy surrounded the city like a moat, protecting it. Bronson peered into the bottomless river sparkling with stars and thought of the night sky of his home near Minoc. What tales he would tell when he returned from this journey.


A wide dirt avenue stretched out from the gate of Umbra into the wilderness beyond. Shops and houses of every conceivable size and design crowded together along its length. Colorful banners and signs beckoned the passing travelers to stop and inspect the wares of hopeful vendors. Adventurers and tradesman dressed in bright clothes moved along the road.

After the darkness of the city it was like walking from a cave into a field of flowers.

A lovely young woman in a pale pink dress called out to him from her shop. “Here, my lord, try my tasty meat pies. I just put them out. They are still warm.”

Before he could respond another voice hailed him from the vendor shop across the road. An old man riding a giant blue beetle cried. “Young Warrior, look upon my wares. Wondrous artifacts brought up from the Dungeon Doom. Rarities, oddities, things your mind can little comprehend!! Weapons to make you powerful in battle! Come see for yourself, come.”

Bronson shook his head.
“Perhaps another day.” he replied as he rode past, still heading west.

West.
 
“About half a days ride west from the Umbra gate.” His brother had written to him. “Along the road to the Tree Fellow Pub.” The letter had said.

A pub!! His brother was a pub owner?
 
He had worshipped his older brother Seamus like a hero since childhood. Seamus was fearless. Any venture Seamus decided to take on he completed, mastered and excelled in. Seamus was now a shop keeper? He tried to picture his wild adventuring brother meekly serving ale to passing strangers. He could not imagine Seamus fat and lazy, idling the hours away by the fire with a book.

“Marriage must have addled his wits.” Bronson said out loud.

The mare’s ears twitched back at the sound of her master’s voice, listening for the few words she knew. Attack. Kill. Guard. And stay.
Bronson chuckled at the thought. Stay!! That command rarely worked with his pet. She was still half wild.

The buildings became fewer and farther apart once away from Umbra. Soon dark thick woods bordered the road on both sides.
Deep in the woods creatures stirred. Bronson recognized their voices. A bear roaring. A llama chortling. But one sound was new to his ears. A short sharp cry came from beyond the trees. It drew closer and was soon joined by more cries. A chorus of ear piercing shrieks.

With a swoosh of leathery wings a group of enormous vampire bats came sailing out of the trees one hundred yards in front of him. Their sharp claws and fangs showing plainly even at a distance. They increased in speed as they drew closer, excited by the smell of the man and his pet.

“God’s teeth!!” Bronson swore.

In one fluid motion he dismounted, drew and loaded his bow. He fired at the closest vampire bat. It took the arrow full in the chest but only slowed for a fraction of a second. With wings beating rapidly it dived towards the warrior. The bat’s claws latched onto his arm, tearing his cloak. The fangs of the beast buried into the thick leather gorget at his neck.

“Nox kill!!” he shouted. But the mare was already charging headlong towards the flock of blood drinkers. Her battle roar was deafening as she lashed out at the largest attacker with her hooves. She breathed her flaming fury over the next two bats, sending them crashing to the road.

Bronson drew his hunting knife and drove it into the bat dragging at his arm. Again and again he plunged the knife into the creature until it released him and dropped to the ground at his feet.
Large black hooves beat upon the fallen bat until it was little more than jelly with broken wings attached.

Nox stood proudly beside the carnage she had created roaring and stomping her foot. Like a spoiled child she wanted her reward.
Bronson used the toe of his boot to search through the bat corpses for one which was not totally pulverized by the mare’s frenzied attack. With his hunting knife he quickly dissected a carcass and pulled out the heart with the knife point. He held the bloody prize out to the mare like a lollipop on a stick. She carefully lipped it into her mouth and devoured it in one gulp.

With a grin Bronson repeated the process on another bat but when he turned to offer his gruesome treat, Nox was gone.

He caught a glimpse of black hooves and a flying tail disappearing into the forest to the north. He shouted her name but knew it was pointless. He could hear her battle roar half a mile away in the forest.

“Evil beast.” he grunted, heaving the meat to the dusty road.

Bronson gathered up his pack and slung his bow over his back. With a sigh of exasperation he set out at a trot into the forest trailing his pet.

He had not run far when he heard the roar of two Nightmares locked in mortal combat. Bronson increased his pace towards the sound. In a clearing ahead he could see Nox and a wild mare fighting. Flames and explosions, blood and black hair whirled around the two monsters as they tried to kill each other.

The warrior drew his bow and fired at the wild mare. The arrow flew straight into the neck of the enraged creature. Bronson kept his distance sure of his mare’s victory with his aid. He continued to fire off arrow after arrow hitting the wild mare in the chest and neck.

But as the battle raged on he heard the shrieks of vampire bats approaching from the east. The bats, drawn by the scent of blood, burst into the clearing. They began swarming around the fighting mares, tearing at their exposed flesh.
Bronson moved closer and cast a magic healing spell over his pet.

 
“ In Vas Mani “

He reached her side and attempted to staunch the flow of blood with bandages.
The bats were concentrating their attack on Nox. They tore at her with fangs and claws from behind. The wild mare attacked her head on. She was badly hurt but still fighting for her life.

He cast greater heal again and fired an arrow at a passing bat, missing.

From the forest to the west a crossbow bolt came flying towards the battling mares. It hit one of the bats and knocked it to the ground. The bat floundered unable to continue its assault. Another bolt hissed above Bronson’s head hitting a bat and tearing its wing completely off. He looked towards the trees and saw a hunter dressed in blue aiming a heavy crossbow at the circling bats.

The bandages were working and Nox began to take the advantage in the fight. The wild mare was tiring quickly now. Crossbow bolts from the hunter in the woods hit with deadly accuracy around them, wounding and killing the bats one by one. Finally Bronson stood back, took aim and fired an arrow into the wild mare’s chest. She crumbled to the ground and lay motionless in her own blood.

 
Bronson stood up and scanned the woods. There in the trees on the west side of the clearing was a young woman dressed in a blue riding gown and feathered hat. She lowered her crossbow and look steadily at him.

He gave her a salute and a courtly bow.

She smiled and nodded her head in reply.

As Bronson was about to call out to her, he was hit from behind with tremendous force. He stumbled to one side, nearly falling. He turned to see Nox standing beside the fallen mare’s body, stomping her foot and roaring for her reward.

The sound of female laughter floated across the clearing. When Bronson looked again he saw his lady fair disappearing into the trees.


“You will grow fat on this journey, I fear.” Bronson grinned at Nox as he held out a piece of bloody nightmare meat. He wrapped the mare’s reins around his wrist to prevent another escape. Taking bandages from his pack he prepared to use his veterinary skills on her deep wounds.

The mare nudged him again with her nose. Being nudged by a Nightmare is very much akin to being hit by a troll with a club, Bronson thought.

He flexed his abused shoulder and set about the task of healing his mare. As he knelt beside her, applying the bandages, he began to see telepathic images from the mare’s mind.

He envisioned the woman in blue riding across the clearing pursued by the wild nightmare. Her ethereal steed was no match for the galloping monster. The deadly mare gained on her as it expelled balls of magical flame. She was losing ground and her strength was nearly spent when Nox came charging out of the woods. His pet’s attack had allowed the woman to escape into the trees.

Bronson blinked his eyes as the vision ended.

 
“So you had good reason to leave me standing in the road.” he said applying another bandage. “And the lady came back to help us with her crossbow.”

 
Nox roared and stomped her foot.Bronson threw the mare another chunk of raw meat and continued healing her.


Before long they were heading back through the forest towards the road. Bronson scanned the trees many times for signs of menacing bats or mysterious ladies in blue.
Neither one appeared.

The skies opened up and rain poured down turning the Malas highway to mud. The rain seemed to invigorate Nox and she splashed through the puddles like a frisky colt. Despite the weather they reached his brother’s pub in the mid afternoon.

The Tree Fellow Pub stood before him. The new stone building and its nearby stable looked clean and well cared for from the outside. It was a three story building made of thick grey stone and iron fencing. It was placed close to the road.

A stable boy came running from a smaller building next door. Bronson dismounted and handed the boy the reins and a gold coin. As the mare was led away Bronson walk up the stone steps and opened the heavy gate. He walked through a small courtyard to the front door.

Inside a large fireplace dominated the rear wall of the room. A grey stone table with comfortable chairs had been placed before the fire.

In one of the chairs a red haired women sat sewing leather armor. She peered over her glasses at the water logged, muddy traveler with his torn, bloody cloak.

“Welcome, sire” she said as if his state of disrepair were an everyday
occurrence. “The common room is up the stairs.”

She went back to her sewing.

Seamus had written that their widowed cousin, Kayla, had come to oversee the running of the pub. She was a grandmaster tailor and smith making her an asset to his arms enhancing business, as well.

Bronson pushed the hood back from his head revealing his face. He ran a hand over his wet red hair. “Is that how you greet your favorite cousin, Kayla?”

The woman looked at him again. She took in the red hair and mustache. His features so like Seamus’. She looked startled for a moment and then her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

 
“Bronson?” she asked rising from her chair. “Cousin Bronson?”

“Aye, it’s me, Kayla lass” he answered, smiling at her.

She came forward taking his hands and looking him over like a prized steer.
“You have grown so much! I hardly knew you!! I was expecting a beardless youth! You are as tall as your brother now.” she said, kissing his cheek.

He squeezed her hands and laughed. “Beardless youth! Has it been so long since our paths have crossed, cousin?”

Kayla surveyed the torn and dirty cloak. She took note of the blood on his face and arm.
“You had a pleasant journey from Umbra I see.” she said suppressing a grin.

“The usual morning ride down a country road.” he removed his cloak and gloves.

“Seamus told me you refused a recall rune to this house. You prefer to ride for miles and fight monsters along the way?” she asked picking up his soiled glove between two fingers as if it were a dead mouse.

“Aye, It’s the best way to explore a new place.” He answered, smiling. “I have never been to Malas before.

“Where is the proprietor of this fine establishment?” Bronson asked, pulling off his muddy boots.

“Seamus should be returning soon. He could not wait any longer to start his hunt.”

“He’s not here? Not here serving ale to his patrons?” he asked with a mischievous grin.

It was Kayla’s turn to laugh. “The day will never come when Seamus waits tables in a pub. You will find your brother much as he has always been. But you will see for yourself soon enough.”

“Go upstairs and get something to eat while I mend this for you.” She picked up his cloak and gave him a gentle push towards the stairs. “Go on now.”

He took the stairs two at a time.


The clock on the mantel ticked and the rain pattered gently against the glass window panes. Bronson’s chin rested on his chest and a soft snore passed his lips as he napped in a chair by the fire. Kayla sat across from him sewing and drinking tea from a delicate china cup. She had cleaned and repair all his clothing and gear. Then she had placed them near the door while he slept. “What could be keeping Seamus?” she thought.

Suddenly there was a thundering roar that shook the glass in the windows and set the tea cup to rattling in its saucer. Bronson jumped to his feet reaching for a weapon that was not at his side. He stood blinking and trying to remember where he was.

The door burst open and the wind blew wildly around the room as Seamus entered. The large sleeves of his pure black robe flew out around him like daemon wings as he strode across the room to a line of chest against the wall.

He wore a golden helmet on his head. His red hair hung around his shoulders like a cape. The hem of his robe was soaked with blood and mud. Bits of leaves and twigs fell on the floor as he moved. A large dragon scale was hanging precariously from the front of his robe.

“Three Bloods and a Poison!” he announced as he threw open the first chest and rifled through it. He stopped and looked over at Kayla, his eyes were unreadable under his helmet. “And the lock picks would be…?” he questioned with a smile showing beneath his red mustache.

“In the chest on the right” she said quietly, returning his smile.

He crashed the lid against the wall as he opened the next chest. Quickly he grabbed the picks and whirled back towards the door. The dragon scale on his robe came loose with the motion and sailed across the room hitting the table.

He stopped at the door and turned looking back at Bronson. “You’re late!” his voice boomed. “ALL FOLLOW ME!!” he commanded. The roar of a wyrm sounded from outside the building rattling the windows and tea cup once more. Without another word he disappeared out the door.

“You must hurry” Kayla said herding Bronson towards the door with one hand, shoving his pack and equipment into his arms with the other.

Bronson was all but running when he hit the courtyard, shrugging into his cloak as he went. Outside the house a blue moongate stood in the road. Seamus and his white wyrm were gone. The stable gates flew open and Nox trotted out, the young stable boy dragging beside her by the reins. As Bronson ran to mount the mare Kayla stood calmly on the steps.

“I put a rune for this house in your pack just in case.” She called out to him.

Bronson jumped up on the mare's back and catching the reins steered her towards the moongate. He was within a hair’s breadth of the gate when it closed leaving the road in darkness. The mare whirled, prancing in a circle for a moment and then came to halt.

Bronson took a deep breath and let it out. “Daemon dung!” he swore.

“Just wait a moment.” Kayla said in a soft voice from the steps. She pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders against the evening chill.

With a hum of magic energy a moongate opened in the road. Seamus stepped out of the moongate, looked at Bronson and boomed “I SAID ALL FOLLOW ME!!”
Then he disappeared once more into the gate.

Bronson threw his head back and laughed before following his brother into the magic portal.

 

 **************************************************************

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

Bronson emerged from the moongate only to find himself face to snout with a huge battle scarred White Wyrm. The creature’s nostrils vacuumed over both man and mare for a few seconds before Nox snorted out a small fireball of warning.

The wyrm snaked his head away and resumed crunching a half eaten mongbat. It rock slowly back and forth making a satisfied rumbling purr as it chewed the fuzzy snack.

Bronson looked around, finding himself in the middle of a jungle. It appeared to be mid day. He guessed they were somewhere in the southern hemisphere of Trammel. The air was heavy and humid. Ferns and palm trees surrounded the clearing he stood in. The shrill voices of many tropical birds filtered through the forest. A gorilla grunted as it wandered nearby in the underbrush.

 

The mangled bodies of giant serpents and alligators littered the ground in every direction. Several feet away, Bronson saw that Seamus was bending over a newly unearth metal chest, cleaning the mud off of the rusty lock with the cuff of his sleeve.

As Bronson dismounted he stepped into a red oozing pile of slime which had recently been a Blood Elemental. He surveyed the area again. This time he counted the remains of two more Blood Elementals and a green glowing glob which was most likely a Poison Elemental corpse.

“Three Bloods and a Poison.” Bronson said to himself. The strange words his brother had spoken at the pub became clear to him now. These monsters had been the guardian spawn of a Level Five treasure chest.

He heard the rattle and click as Seamus successfully picked the treasure chest’s lock.

“Are you doing this treasure map alone?” Bronson asked. He reached down into the Blood Elemental corpse and carefully pulled a parchment scroll out of the remains.

“I’m not alone, lad.” Seamus said as he walk twenty paces away from the chest. “Og is with me!”

At the sound of his name the Wyrm roared and started to lumber after his master.

“ALL STAY!!” Seamus bellowed.
The wyrm stopped and began to rock back and forth again. His black beady reptilian eyes watched Seamus’ every move.

“Amanda Rose was hunting with me all afternoon.” Seamus said referring to his wife. “Her pets and my wyrm made short work of the first round of spawn. But my lady has returned to Mountain View. Something about potted plants.”

“ Mountain View?” Bronson asked

“Aye, our new house near Luna.” He answered, swatting at a mosquito.

Seamus stood a safe distance from the treasure chest and cast the spell of Telekinesis on it. The spell would destroy any deadly traps which might protect the treasure.

“Ort Por Ylem”

A mighty explosion erupted from beneath the lid of the treasure chest. The trap would have easily killed Seamus had he been standing any closer.

“I am sure you had a very good reason for being so late.” He said striding back to the chest.

The memory of a lovely face smiling across a clearing came to Bronson’s mind.
“Aye, the best possible reason.” he answered. “A lady in distress.”
Bronson heard Seamus chuckle as he opened the still smoldering lid of the chest. He began to carefully examine the treasure inside.

“ALL HIDE NOW!!” Seamus suddenly commanded. He quickly cast the spell of Invisibility upon himself.
“An Lor Xen.”


Bronson bristled at the barked order. “I fear you are spending too much time in the company of wyrms. Your manner of speaking is…”

Bronson never finished. With a blinding blast of energy a Poison Elemental materialize and moved with lightning speed towards him. The green glowing tornado shrieked with rage as it attacked. He scarcely had time to react when the monster struck him hard, sending immobilizing pain through his body.

Bronson could hear his Nightmare and the Wyrm attacking the Poison Elemental as his lungs stopped working and he started to black out.

From somewhere far away he heard his brother’s voice casting a spell to cure the poison coursing through his body.

 
“An Nox!!”

Like a drowning victim breaking the surface of the water, Bronson could suddenly breathe. He gulped in air as his vision cleared.

“In Vas Mani” Seamus’ voice sounded nearby.

 
Bronson felt the warm comforting tingle of a Greater Heal spell being cast upon him. It felt like floating in warm water.

He became fully aware of the fact that he was sitting in the mud beside a very large fern. Seamus was standing over him. He reached down and grabbed Bronson’s forearm and pulled him to his feet. A small round bottle full of orange liquid was pressed into his hand.

“Never go on a hunt without a good supply of Cure potions!!” Seamus ordered.

He pulled Bronson’s hood back up over his head and strode away towards the chest.

Bronson stood there like a chastised school boy. He felt foolish for letting himself be caught off guard. He always carried cure potions with him. Only a novice would make such a mistake.

“I found another map!” he said lamely holding up the parchment he had retrieved from the Blood Elemental corpse.

“Oh?” Seamus turned and marched back. He took the map out of Bronson’s hand and unrolled it immediately. “HAH!! It’s right on this island!!” he exclaimed with a grin. “We will dig it up as soon as we finish this one!”

Seamus made his way back to the treasure chest tucking the new map into his oversized sleeve. He started to pull loot out of the chest. He tossed the items he deemed useless onto the ground. The quality items he sorted and placed in two leather bags.

“ALL HIDE NOW!!” Seamus commanded again.
 
“An Lor Xen!!” was Bronson’s reply this time.

       ***********************************************************

The Lich Lord gave a demented laugh as it cast a flaming spell over Nox. She resisted the magical energy, taking little damage. Her hooves lashed out hitting the Lich and causing him to double over in pain. An arrow from Bronson’s undead slayer pierced the Lich’s chest as he started to straighten up. The White Wyrm grabbed the decaying Lich Lord’s arm between his teeth and tore it off.
The Lich made one last attempt to fight with his remaining arm before being crushed under the gigantic foot of the wyrm.

An Elder Gazer appeared a second later. It hissed a warning before sending a bolt of lightning crashing into Nox. The mare staggered for a second. Then she roared with rage.
 
“OG KILL!!” Seamus commanded.

The White Wyrm breathed intense flame over the attacking foe. But the Elder Gazer was focused on Nox. It floated lazily above the ground, tentacles waving. Again it cast a powerful spell at the nightmare. The flames did more damage to her as she charged forward kicking and breathing fire balls in return.
Bronson stayed beside the mare, healing her wounds as she fought.
With a powerful swipe of his claw, Og knocked the weaken gazer into the mud. Both mare and wyrm then proceeded to stomp the life out of the monster.

For a moment the jungle clearing was silent as a tomb.
Then Nox began to roar for her well earned reward.
Bronson tossed a cut of raw meat to his mare and applied another bandage.

The bodies of dead monsters were piled around the treasure chest. The top of Seamus’ golden helmet could be seen moving behind the twisted remains of a daemon.
Seamus grunted as he pushed the limp wing of the dead daemon out of his way.

“Well lad, that’s the last of it.” he said dragging his heavy bags of loot a few feet away from the chest. “Here’s a little something for you.”

He tossed a fat bag of gold which landed in the mud at Bronson’s feet.
Bronson picked up the bag, feeling its weight.
“A little something? Feels like a king’s ransom to me!” he laughed.

He wiped the sweat and mud from his forehead. Every muscle in his body ached and he was tired enough to sleep standing up. But he could not remember having had a more exciting day. Not to mention a more profitable one.

Seamus pulled a timepiece out of his sleeve and checked it. “It’s two in the morning, Malas time. My lady awaits me.”

“Vas Rel Por”
Seamus cast a moongate.
“ALL FOLLOW ME!!” he bellowed. The wyrm roared as it ambled after him through the blue sphere.

Seamus had opened a moongate to the Luna stables. They emerged on the grassy court yard between the stable and the main building of the town.
Towering sandstone walls glowed in the torchlight and the air was filled with the aroma of food cooking. Even at this late hour tradesmen hurried past.

The brothers saw that their pets were stabled for the night before walking up the wide sandstone steps to the bank. They deposited their treasure loot into their bank boxes.

Bronson noticed that Seamus left one of the loot bags filled with weapons and armor on the floor in the center of the bank. At his questioning look, Seamus replied. “I leave a few things for those just starting out. Many have need of them but not the gold to spend.”

“It’s nothing to fuss about.” He said gruffly at his brother’s teasing smile.

Bronson laughed “I won’t tell a soul that you have a soft heart.”

“I would appreciate it.” Seamus grinned. “I have a reputation to maintain after all!”

They laughed together for a moment longer and then Seamus said. “Well I’m off to a warm bed. You’re welcome to stay the night at Mountain View or return to the pub, whatever you wish.”

Bronson looked around at the bank of Luna and the surrounding shops. “Perhaps tomorrow night, Seamus. I think I shall stay the night here at the Inn and explore the city in the morning.”

“Suit yourself, lad. Come out to the house when you’ve had your fill of vendors and pretty maids.” Seamus grinned. “ Mountain View is but a short walk to the north and Amanda is planning a meal to welcome you.” He clapped Bronson on the back. “Good to have you here, brother.”

Seamus cast a moongate and vanished into it. Bronson patted his very full money pouch and went in search of the Inn Keeper.

                          *******************************************

Bronson woke to the smell of fresh baked bread. He lay with his eyes closed relaxing in the softest bed he had ever slept in.

Last night he had found the Inn keeper and the Inn on the second floor of the Luna bank building. He had rented himself the finest room available.
Bronson had ordered a bath and a late supper to be brought up to his newly acquired room. Then he had given his clothes to a giggling chamber maid to be cleaned and mended.

His new found wealth from yesterday’s treasure hunt made him feel like Lord Blackthorn himself!

“This is turning out to be a very good journey.” he thought, smiling.

 
Opening one eye Bronson looked at the clock on the wall.
“Ten o’clock!!”

 
He rolled out of bed with a thud.

He had never slept so late before. The day was wasting away while he lay in bed!

Bronson quickly dressed and packed up his belonging. As he was leaving the Inn he stopped to look upon the Shrine of Wisdom.

He knew this was the shrine where young Paladins took their vows.
It was a place filled with light and peace. Just as Umbra was fill with darkeness, death and despair.

He walked along the wide balcony on the top floor looking out over the beautiful city. The sandstone buildings gleamed in the sunlight. A gentle breeze blew the white banners which proclaimed this to be the Holy City of Paladins. Scholars and men of Healing dressed in pure white robes were exchanging ideas in the shade of ancient pillars.
Emerald green grass sloped down to meet the golden cobble stones which formed a roadway. Deer and skittering hoppers grazed on the lush lawn.

This seemed to Bronson like paradise. He had the sudden desire to stay and make a new life as his older brother had done. Seamus had married Amanda Rose here. He had settled into a happy prosperous life in the beautiful land of Luna.

Again a memory of his mysterious lady in blue came to mind.

Bronson mentally shook himself. This place was too enticing. Perhaps he should have gone back to the pub last night, after all.

He wandered down the narrow stairs to the main hall. The Provisoner, Blacksmith, Tailor, Carpenter and Mage shops were all housed in this structure at the center of town. Beyond the inner gates there were dozens of houses and privately owned vendors shops lining the cobblestone streets.

Bronson stopped at the provisioner and bought a loaf of bread to break his fast. As he chewed the warm buttery crust he walked down the main steps eager to explore the city of Luna.

               **************************************************

The young woman peered into the empty flour barrel and sighed.

“How much food are you planning to make?” she asked her cousin, Amanda Rose. Every flat surface in the huge kitchen was covered with bowls and platters of food.

“Enough to feed my hungry brother-in-law. I want to make him feel at home.” Amanda answered as she let another blob of cookie dough drop onto the pan.

She wiped her hands on her apron and turned to take her fourth batch of cookies out of the oven. “It is always better to make too much food than too little I have found.”

The two women looked very much alike. Both were fair of face with hair the color of sunshine. Amanda Rose was a few years older than her cousin, Jeanne Rose. But the two were as close as sisters.
“This younger brother….” Jeanne Rose began.

“Bronson.” Amanda corrected.

“Aye, this Bronson must be as big as an Ogre Lord to require so much food!” Jeanne Rose said as she picked up a cookie and nibbled on it.

“Please don’t eat those!” Amanda pleaded. She tried to shoo Jeanne away with a wave of her hand. “They are for tonight!”

“Oh no!” Jeanne teased. She snatched up another cookie and danced out of Amanda’s reach. “I have taken two cookies and that only leaves 4998 cookies for the enormous brother to eat!”

Amanda started to laugh at the absurd conversation. She shook her head and went back to preparing the cookie dough for baking.
“I have not seen Bronson since he was little more than a child.” Amanda said. “Seamus says he has grown...”

“And grown and grown and grown, apparently!” Jeanne finished with an impish grin. She took off her apron and started to wash her hands in the water basin.

Amanda laughed again. “Be serious for a moment. Do you really think that I am making too much food?”

“Not at all.” Jeanne reassured her. “In fact I believe that I will go out and slay a Swamp Dragon just to be sure the poor starving man is properly fed!”

Amanda smiled as she watched Jeanne leave the kitchen. Her cousin continued to walk through the dining room and down the stairs leading to the first floor of the large house.

“Where are you going?!” Amanda called after her.

“To slay a Swamp Dragon!” Jeanne answered from the bottom of the stairs. “Or perhaps a Drake, the meat has more flavor.”

Amanda hurried out of the kitchen and down the stairs into the entrance hall. “Jeanne Rose! Wait!”

Jeanne stood at the front door in her favorite blue riding gown. She put on her blue feathered hat and with dramatic flair checked the tautness of the string on her heavy crossbow. She laughed at the worried look on Amanda’s face and said. “I’m just going into Luna to get more flour. I shall be right back.”

*******************************************************

It took nearly two hours for Bronson to make his way around the city of Luna. The road formed a huge rectangle around the main city hall. He had stopped and inspected the wares of most of the vendors and bought a few items as gifts for his family.

The road eventually brought him back to where he had started, the entrance closest to the Luna stable.

Bronson decided to check on Nox before heading out to his brother’s house. But as he rounded the corner inside the gate he saw Seamus standing near the stable talking to a group of tamers.

The men he spoke to were heavily armored and most were riding nightmares. A line of dragons and wyrms stood close by and Bronson assumed the tamers were on their way to a hunt.

As he approached the stable one of the tamers cast a moongate. It glowed with a sinister red color, signaling that it would take them to somewhere in Felucca.

The tamers and Seamus all laughed loudly together before one by one they called to their pets to follow them through the red moongate.

Seamus stood with his back to Bronson until the moongate closed. Then he turned and started to walk in his brother’s direction. Lost in thought, Seamus did not see Bronson at first.

As Bronson observed his brother he saw a look of fevered excitement in Seamus’ eyes that he knew all too well. Sure as there were bulls in Delucia this day would end with him running through some dark, dank and dangerous place wearing only a grey robe to protect him. Bronson grinned at the thought.

Seamus saw Bronson then and quicken his stride. He called out loudly. “HAIL BROTHER!!” and put his arm around Bronson’s shoulders pulling him a few steps towards the wall of the stable; away from the prying eyes and ears of those passing by.

Looking suspiciously over his shoulder, Seamus confided in a low voice. “Your timing couldn’t be better, lad. My spies tell me that there is a very foul, menacing and profitable evil brewing in the depths of the dungeon of Fire! FELUCCA! Lad, Felucca no less.”

Bronson started to take a mental inventory of everything he carried. Sorting his belongings in his mind, deciding what items he could afford to lose without regret. Suddenly he remembered that Amanda was expecting them.

“What about the visit with your wife?” he asked.

He could tell by the way the excitement in Seamus’s eyes dimmed for a second that his brother had completely forgotten about any prior commitments. “Hmmm.” Seamus said.

Bronson could see the wheels turning inside his brother’s head.

 
Finally, that familiar look of mischief lit Seamus’ face as he answered “Well, I suppose since you are the honored guest it should be your decision as to how we spend the rest of the day. I shall be forced to abide by that decision, of course, out of courtesy for you…as my guest.”

 “Now, here are your two choices, brother.” Seamus continued with sly smile.  “One. We go to the house and spend the remainder of this fine day drinking tea, eating cookies and helping the ladies decide the exact placement of numerous potted plants. OR! Two. We ride out with our brothers in arms to defend this land against the dark forces of evil; and most assuredly make a tidy profit should we succeed!”

Bronson laughed out loud.

“So what’s it to be?” Seamus asked. “Tea and potted plants?” He made a face as if he had just bitten into an over ripe lemon. “Or fame, glory and GOLD!!” Seamus exclaimed as he flashed his brother a broad smile and wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Just give me a moment to replace this magic bow with one which is less valuable.” Bronson answered with a grin. “And then I will gladly follow you on this quest for fame and glory.”

 

 

 

Music: Ultima Online/The Forest
Performed/Enhanced by Dinaris Techarin