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From: [e-mail] (Kip J Mussatt)
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Subject: STORY: When Gods Cry - part 1 - please critique
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Date: 4 Oct 1995 10:16:10 -0400
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Chapter 1 -- Rain

Night fell slowly in Asraija. In fact, for a few months in the year, it was hard to tell
night from day. It was definately night though, and it was getting colder. Axel knew she
would have to build a bigger fire if she didn't want to be frozen by morning. The make
shift lean-to wasn't much in the way of a shelter, but it would suffice for now. The wind
began to blow harder and a sudden gust took one of the hides off the top of the shelter.
Axel jumped up to retrieve it before the wind carried it too far to find. The brown bear skin
she had tanned last summer had not gotten far when she finally caught up with it.

As she bent down to grab it, Axel heard a twig snap off in the darkness. She was not
the only creature out tonight in the frozen tundra. The hairs on her neck became stiff and
her heart quickened. She carefully walked back to her small shelter. Axel threw the hide
into the lean-to and grabbed her only friend; her axe.

Throwing back her cape and tightening her grip on the ashen handle of the deadly
weapon, she moved slowly and cautiously into the darkness. After her eyes had adjusted
to the absence of light, she moved slowly toward where she had heard the alarming sound.
A gust of wind brought a disturbing scent to her nostrils--a cat. Axel's heart pumped
harder. She had fought Asraijan cats before. The usually traveled in packs of four or five
and they were by no means small. How many times had she scoffed at men in taverns who
had boasted they had killed great lions and tigers. They were men from the south. They
had never seen an Asraijan cat. Full grown Asraijan cats were often as tall at the shoulder
as a man. Now Axel was all alone with no one to guard her back. The last time she had
fought these cats, she had been in the company of four others. This would be very differ-
ent. Probably fatal if she did the wrong thing. Here, alone in the dark, the wrong thing
could encompass almost anything. Movement on a rocky bluff caught Axel's eye. She
stopped. She looked around, but could not see any other movement. The cats were on the
bluff. It almost looked like they were in some sort of cave. Smart cats, she thought, they'll
be warm tonight. A low growl escaped the rocks followed by a large form jumping down
from the rocky shelter and landing about thirty feet in front of Axel. The cat moved slowly
towards Axel. Gripping her axe tightly, the warrior took a defensive position ready to
dodge and slice should the great beast jump. The eyes of the large cat shown red in the
moonlight. The cat beared its massive set of teeth and let out a tremendous roar. Axel
glanced around for other cats, but could see none. It was bitter cold, but Axel was sweat-
ing hard. The large beast growled again, this time louder. Axel's fingers itched under her
gloves. She readjusted her grip. Then she heard them.

They were faint, but on the rocky shelf two little cubs peeked over the protective
ledge. Now Axel understood why this cat was alone.

"I have no quarrel with you or your cubs!" Axel yelled to the large mother cat. "Attack
me though, and know this night you will surely die!" Axel didn't know why she was
speaking to this animal. It couldn't possibly understand her. Axel backed up about ten
steps and stopped. Enough so the cat would see she was not going to harm the cat's cubs,
but not too far so Axel would not appear as if she was running away.

The large cat looked back at the bluff. The cubs let out another cry. They were getting
cold waiting for their mother to return. The mother cat growled at them and they ducked
back under the protective ledge. Then the mother cat turned her attention to Axel.

It growled at her, but not like it had earlier. Axel took a few more steps back. She
understood the meaning in the cat's growl. Then the mother cat let out a low growl as it
turned its head back to the rocks and returned to its lair.

Axel stood there for several moments amazed at what had just taken place. She then
returned to her make shift lean-to and tried to sleep. Axel slept with one eye open expect-
ing to see the mother cat coming to collect her as the morning meal, but all she saw was
blackness, the sky and an occasional falling star.



* * * * *



Axel woke the next morning before dawn. The fire was almost out. That was fine she
thought, I won't need it anymore. She kicked dirt on the coals with the toe of ther boot and
collapsed her lean-to. She rolled up the hides and blankets and tied them atop her pack.
The sun's rays were beginning to dance on the horizion. She stretched and put her armor
on. It was cold even though she had placed it near the fire during the night. It wasn't as
cold as it could have been she thought. At any rate, once she started walking her body heat
would warm the inside of the furs and she would forget about it for the most part. Axel fin-
ished clipping on her weapons belt. Made sure everything was in place. She slung her
pack over her back and grabbed her helmet.

Her helmet; how long had she had it? That was the one piece of her armor that had
been with her the longest and brought back the most memories. The massive ram horms
pointing down and forward like tusks. And the chain-mail veil that covered the front.
When she wore the helmet, most people who met her mistook her at first for a man. She
was after all somewhat tall and most women in this part of the world did not wear armor
and boast weapons. That was silly she thought.

How long had it been since Hans' death? She tried not to think about it too much.
There was still a great deal of pain left in her heart. He had been everything she had ever
wanted in a lover. He was kind and patient. He listened to her even when she wouldn't
have. And most of all he respected her as much as he did himself. He had held her in his
arms when she cried. He had always been there for her. Now he was gone. Besides the
memories, all that was left was the locket and his ring. She had promised him she would
give the ring that proclaimed his inheritance to his younger brother, Wolfram. By nightfall,
she hoped to have accomplished this. She fit the helmet over her head. All that shown
through were her blue eyes.

Another half day journey from here would bring her to Welvehagen, the city-state
where Hans' father precided as Lord Majestrate. With any luck, Wolfram would be there
so she could give him the ring personally as Hans had wished. If however, he was off gala-
vanting around the land, there would be no telling when he would be back. Of course this
is what Hans had done for the past ten years, so she couldn't blame Wolfram for doing the
same. Staying in the same place had never been her fortay. It was also boring.

She slung her axe over her back and headed off toward the hills north of her. It was
going to be a long walk, mostly uphill, and over rocky terrain. Welvahagen lay on the edge
of a great lake, but it seemed to lay on the edge of the world right now. Her feet were
going to regret this part of the journey. It was the shortest, but the most difficult. Axel
glanced back over her shoulder and saw the protective mother giving her cubs a bath on
the rocky ledge. The cat stopped and glanced at Axel as if to exchange a fairwell, then
went back to bathing her cubs. Axel smiled her crooked smile beneath her helmet and con-
tinued walking north over the barren tundra of Asraija.

* * * * *



The bright sun was at its peak when Axel spotted a set of very large tracks near a small
brooke. She knelt over and examined the tracks. They were very deep and far apart. But
she was a fighter, not a tracker, Hans was -- had been -- the tracker. He could have identi-
fied the prints. The creature was large, very large, whatever it was. Axel looked to see
where the tracks lead and saw they stopped just a few paces away. "How odd," she
thought aloud, "they don't come from anywhere and they stop at the water's edge. It's as if
whatever was here had been swept away or flew off. Hmm. The only thing that large is,"
she paused, "a dragon." she finished her sentence in a murmur.

She glanced quickly around to see if there were anymore tracks like these, but she saw
only grassy tundra. These were very large tracks even for a dragon. If the beast that had
made them was a dragon, then it was twice the size of the one they had fought at Perimore.

 What was it doing this far north? Asraija was the epitomy of cold climates. Dragons
were not suppose to like the cold according to the tavern tales she had heard. The tales she
knew were just tales though. Half of which she knew had not been true. "The Dead Troll
in the Middle of the Road." now that had been a funny tale. It was one of her favorites she
like hearing again and again. Her sister, Thea, had liked that one too. Axel bent down to
fill her wineskin with the water the brooke provided as her mind wandered about times
long gone and about people she once knew. She was the last of the her friends and the last
of the company. How many had died in their last quest? Too many; all but one. She was all
that remainded now. An old wise woman, a sage, had once told her that she would die
alone, but those who loved her would remember her forever. Yea right! The ones she loved
were dead now. She had seen every one of them die before her eyes. The vision of the dark
silhouette of a floating pire which carried the one man that she had ever truly loved burned
in her eyes. A ray of sunlight glistened off of some moisture just below Axel's left eye.
Her glove quickly removed the small sign of her painful yet unforgettable memories.

She was done filling the water vessel. She glanced at the tracks again trying to put to
memory the size and indentions. Perhaps she could bring someone back from Welvahagen
to examine the tracks. Axel plugged her wineskin and slung it back around her shoulder.
She walked a bit upstream and found some stepping stones to cross the brooke. Continu-
ing her journey northward, Axel soon saw the ruins of a forgotten temple atop an upcom-
ing hill. Welvahagen was not far off now. She had made better time than she thought.

As she reached the top of the hill near the crumbling temple, a sudden gust of wind
caught Axel's cape and she almost stumbled. A storm was brewing across the lake and
moving this way. She decided to hurry so she would not end up getting soaked. She liked
walking in the rain, but not when she had walked all day in battle armor across the rocky
plains of Asraija. The journey from here would be easier. It was almost all downhill. She
headed down the hill at somewhat fast pace. She soon found a game trail and quickened
her pace. She was almost running but not quite. Her feet hurt too much for that. She
rounded a bend in the trail and came to an abrupt halt.

Five wolves had taken down a large-horned deer and she had just interupted their
meal. Three of the wolves turned her way, bared their canines, and snarled. Axel drew her
axe as two started circling behind her. She moved to the side to keep from becoming encir-
cled. She had learned that wolves love close entanglements where they can catch their
prey off guard and make their attack. Axel was not about to let these get the best of her,
but again, she had no one to watch her back. The wolves kept trying to encircle her, but
she kept on moving around them; keeping them at bay. Then the other wolves had joined
in and were making things more difficult. An over anxious wolf reared back and jumped.
He was to Axel's right flank. Seeing him tense to jump, Axel made her swing at the proper
moment. The blade of her axe caught the wolf's skull from the bottom of the jaw and split
it cleanly in two. Axel brought her follow through up and around to catch the next wolf on
the top of the head right where she had expected him to jump. Her experience fighting
horned dire wolves was proving to be invaluable at this moment. Two piles of bloody fur
lay on the ground. She moved off to the side again to put her on the outside and regain
control of the battle. The remaining wolves backed off. They were a bit more cautious
now. Two of their comrads lay dead before them. Axel moved to the far side and
approached the lead wolf, axe poised for a kill. The wolf snarled and darted to the side.
Expecting this, Axel followed the animal's movement. The other two wolves tried to get
around the wolf killer, but where unable to do so. Axel was playing the wolves' game on
themselves. The lead wolf looked at one of the females and she barked. Axel looked at the
female knowing what to expect. That was it, the axe flew. The lead wolf let out a yelp and
fell limp as the axe crushed its spine below the skull. The strength and speed the magic
cheetah cape gave her was nice for manuevers like this. That was enough for the other two
wolves. Keeping the deer did not seem very important now. They headed off across the
rocky hills in search of easier food.

Axel looked at the three dead wolves and the deer. She was almost broke and these
skins would give her a little money. There was a good sized tree nearby. Axel went to the
tree and a few swings of her axe have her a couple of good sized branches. Using some
rope, she fashioned a crude sled from the branches. The wolves and the deer just bearly fit
onto the makeshift device. Axel took hold of the reigns and began pulling the sled down
the trail toward the lake. She pulled for a while and then stop to rest. Her feet really hurt
now. Another gust of wind reminded her that getting caught in a storm would not make her
feet feel any better. She got up, grabbed the rope once more, twisted twice around her
wrists and began pulling it toward the lake. Axel kept imagining how good her feet were
going to feel soaking in a bucket of hot herbal water. Soon, the walls of Welvahagen came
into view. She had a feeling something was very wrong.

A thunder clap sounded across the lake. Axel didn't notice a lone figure standing high
above the lake on a rocky outcrop. The figure didn't notice Axel either. However, the two
would meet soon enough.

The familiar sounds that usually escaped the city were gone. Everything was quiet.
Axel approached the front gates expecting to see the stark figures of city guards patrolling
the walls, but they were gone. She dropped the reins of the sled and walked inside the
open gates. There was no one in sight. The scent of death filled the air. Axel drew her axe
as she looked for the carnage she could smell. Her fingers began to sweat. As she walked
into the first street the smell grew stronger. There was a building that had been crushed by
something. A broken cart littered the street. Axel continued walking towards the Raat-
house where she would normally expect to find the Lord Majestrate of the city, Hans'
father. Then she saw the bodies. Here and there were torn remains of what had been towns
people. The crushed head of a small girl lay in the middle of the street. Flies had made it
there new home. Axel looked on. She saw a body that had been somehow melded with the
building around it. The building looked devistated. There was nothing left of it except rub-
ble. Here and there smoke still lifted off of charred buildings. Axel bent down to examine
a torn limb that had belonged to someone. The flesh still had some color, but not much.
The blood had not fully dried in it yet and it was maggot-ridden. Decideing the carnage
was recent, she examined a few more bodies, Axel concluded that what had happened had
done so between three and five days ago. The most important question was: were there any
survivors? Axel continued her walk towards the center of town to the Raathouse. A swing-
ing sign caught her attention. The sign with a picture of a beer stein swung from a tavern
that her and Hans used to visit when they were here. It had been one of his favorite places.
She remembered they served the best roast pork she had ever had. But that was over now.
For no particular reason, she peeked in. The inside of the tavern had somehow escaped
destruction. There was broken furniture here and there but nothing major. The roof
seemed still intact.

She continued on to the Raathouse. A while later, she turned a street and there it was.
And outside of it her worst fears became reality. Three long sharp poles had been placed
vertically in the ground. At the top of each pole was skewered a body placed there to die a
most horrid death. Without looking, she knew who was atop the death sticks. As she
walked closer she could recognize them. The three bodies had belonged to Hans' father,
his brother Wolfram, and the high priestess of the city; the three individuals that the city
depended on for leadership and strength in times of chaos. There were other decaying bod-
ies around, but none like these. None of the others made her heart heavy with grief. The
rain began to come down now, but not as rain should. The drops seemed more like tears of
a goddess weaping over her dead children. Perhaps weaping because Axel would not. But
perhaps, it was just like any other rain in the north.





Chapter 2 -- The Black Wolf



 Axel had dumped the wolf carcasses in the street, but kept the deer's on the sled. She
made her way back to the tavern she had passed. Once there she set about dressing the
deer to cook. Wolf meat was tough and besides, the deer was more than she could eat
alone anyway. Some broken furniture provided dry wood for a fire. Axel couldn't recall
when there hadn't been broken furniture in this tavern.

The Dead Horse had always been a rowdy place. That was one of the reasons why she
liked it. She had always enjoyed herself there; partaking in food and drink, and later, Hans.
Ocassionaly, she had enjoyed herself a little too much in drink. One particular time Hans
had tried to carry her back to his house. This would not have been a problem, but she was
a bit taller than he and she was wearing battle armor at the time. Somehow he had man-
aged.

Axel put some of the meat near the fire to cook, while some she salted and hung to dry.
She would probably leave before the jerky was done drying, but there was no harm in try-
ing nevertheless. Why hadn't the wolves come into the city though? she thought. There
was plenty of food in here for them now. Her mind went back to cutting the meat. If the
meat she hung wasn't dry when she left, she could always pack it in salt and take a little
with her. Of course, she considered, hunting game around here shouldn't be that difficult.
Then again, she didn't have Hans and his handy bow around. The bow was always some-
thing she meant to learn how to use, but never took the time to. Now her life might depend
on knowing how to use one. Oh well, she thought, she would manage somehow. Feet on
wet sand brought Axel's mind back to reality. Her axe already in hand, she moved silently
to the blind side of the doorway.



>>> here is where i need to start<<<

The footsteps were right outside the building. She could faintly see a shadow
approaching the doorway now. Any second and the creature would be inside.

"Excuse me. Is anyone in here?" a voice asked, followed by two open palms held aloft.

Not expecting a peaceful gesture, Axel bolted from her hiding place and confronted
the figure standing in the door. It was a middle aged man. His clothes were quite dirty.
Seeing a very menacing Axel, he jumped back in alarm.

"Please! I mean you no harm!" he pleaded."I just wanted to know who was here."

"Who are you? What has happened here?" Axel snapped. "Are you the only one left or
are there other?"

"Whoa. Slow down a bit miss. My name is Hegthor. I'm one of the few survivors of
the massacre that happened three days hence."

"Forgive me. I thought you were,"

"One of the beasts that ravaged the city?" he answered for her.

"Yes," Axel replied,"I did. And I almost cut your head off. You shouldn't sneek up on
people like that. It is very dangerous."

"Perhaps so, but being in the city now after dark is dangerous too." Hegthor replied. "I
saw you come in the gates and decided to come find you before they did. If you will permit
me miss...what did you say your name was?"

"Axel. Perhaps you knew a friend of mine, Hans Blackwulf, son of the Lord
Majestrate of Welvahagen?"

Bowing, Hegthor said, "How do you do Madam. I am at your service." Axel wrinkled
her brow. She wasn't sure if she like this patronage or not. "Like I was saying Madam, if
you will permit me, I will take you to the safety of the caves where the some of the other
survivors are staying."

"What is wrong with staying here in the safety of this building?"

"It isn't safe to be in the city anymore, especially after dark Madam. Please do not take
this wrong, but even a great warrior such as yourself, would not want to face the beasts
that haunt this place at night. After all, you are all alone."

"Very well," Axel replied, "as soon as the rain lets up you may lead the way to these
caves of yours. I'm hungry and I'm not letting this meat go to waist."

"As you wish Madam Axel. May I ask what brings you this way?"

"Look, just call me Axel, alright? Enough with the madam bit!"

"But Madam, you are well known among the city noblemen for your association with
the late Majestrate Blackwulf's son, Hans. His feats of courage and valor are unmatched
by any warrior in Asraija and,"

"Look," Axel cut him off," Hans Blackwulf is dead. He died in my arms and his pre-
cious soul..." Axel bit her lip. She felt as if she had said too much. "Anyway, it doesn't
matter who I am, I came here to deliver something to Wolfram, but I cannot do that now so
I don't think I will be staying here much longer."

"What sort of thing?" Hegthor inquired.

"A ring. It used to be Hans'. He wanted Wolfram to have it, since he was the only
other son Lord Blackwulf had."

"May I see the ring?"

"I suppose." Axel said and reached into a pouch and produced a silver band with and
onyx face in the shape of a wolf with small inset rubies for eyes. Hegthor's eyes brighten
as he gently took the jewel from Axel's black leather hand.

"Do you know what this is?" He asked her.

"Yes, it is the ring that symbolizes the heir to Lord Majestrate." She replied. "But what
good is it now that Wolfram is dead?"

"What good is my dear Madam?" Hegthor said as he handed her back the ring. "It pro-
claims you, the owner, as the new Lord Majestrate."

Axel fell silent at his words. She had not thought of that. Albeit she didn't want to
think about it. So much had happened in so little time, she was just now learning to live
alone. Before, there had always been Hans, Varmen and Thea, to share things with. Axel
had not quite gotten used to doing all of her thinking. Earlier, she would always ask the
others for their advice or just listen and accept things she was told. She knew how to swing
an axe and as far as she was concerned that is all that mattered in battle. But now, it was
different. Now she only had herself as a guide through life. There was no one else to help
her. Her sister, Thea, had always listened to her when she just needed someone to talk
with. Varmenthos, he and his philosophy and knowledge of everthing. He had said that she
would some day be a queen. She hadn't believed him. He had been full of wisdom. Proba-
bly moreso than he should have, but that was another sad mystery altogether. Varmen was
the most patient person that she had ever met. He could wait it seemed forever for some-
thing. It was as if time had no meaning to him. Perhaps it didn't.

Then there was Hans, her man. She remembered the exact day they met. Hans' horse
had run off and her and Thea had found him walking alone the road to Morin. He wouldn't
accept a ride because he would weigh her horse down too much. And he claimed he was
so filthy from crossing the swamp, that he would forever taint the horse's beautiful white
hair. She had thought that funny and had felt sorry for him so she had dismounted and
walked with him to Morin. They became friends and soon lovers. But that was over now.
Now there was only her to travel the world and solve its mysteries, fight its monsters, and
save its kingdoms. There was only her to keep herself company.

"If we leave the city, where do you propose we go?" Axel asked.

"We, the survivors, have been staying in the caves up in the hills that overlook the
lake. There are not many of us. There are however, a large number of men." Axel looked
confused. "There was a large hunting expedition gone when the beasts attacked. Most of
the men returned and found there families dead or missing."



******



The rain began to let up after a while. Axel had eaten a good portion of the venison and
had offered Hegthor some too. He had obliged and eaten like he had not had any food in
days. He had not. The meat she hung to dry was of course still wet, so she packed it into
her bag of salt and collected the rest of her things for her journey to the caves.

By the time her and Hegthor had reached the caves the survivors had taken refuge in, it
was past dark. Fortunately, Hegthor knew the way well. From their conversation, Axel
learned that he had been a tracker in his early years and as a child spent a great deal of his
time playing in the caves with a few of the other children from the city. He knew the lands
of Asraija well. Axel could hear the wolves baying in the night as she passed the sentries
at the cave entrance. She could hear other sounds as well, but didn't know what they were,
nor did she care to find out. The caves were somewhat damp inside, but not cold. The fires
that burned farther up in them kept them fairly warm. She and Hegthor passed a few bends
and the cave opened up into a fairly large cavern. From as much as she could tell, there
were only about a hundred or so survivors. A small group of men and women approached
them. Hegthor motioned for her to stop. Axel removed her helmet. The approaching group
stopped and stared.

"Hegthor, I see you have returned and brought us someone who may help." said a grey
bearded man dressed in robes who recognized Axel. From his clothes, Axel could tell this
man was obviously a priest of the city. He wasn't too important though, he only wore the
yellow sash. The high priestess that had been erected on the stake had worn all three col-
ors.

"Yes I have Kin-Malwin. This is,"

"Who is she?" A short pudgy women interupted. "What is she doing here?"

"I was just about to get to that." Hegthor recovered, "As I was saying, this is Madam
Axel. She is, or rather was, a traveling companion of Hans Blackwulf. "She has traveled
far and fought many beasts to visit our great city."

"You mean our once great city." the short pudgy woman snapped.

"I came to give," Axel started to stay, but Hegthor cut her off.

"She has come as a blessing." Hegthor continued,

"How do we know she is telling the truth about traveling with the Blackwulf's son. We
shall question her and find out if she speaks the truth. Look at her! Does this look like a
woman to you? What if she is a demon sent here to kill the rest of us? It will be all your
fault Hegthor. You lead her to us."

"If you are quite through my good woman," a sarcastic tone escaped Hegthor, "I am
afraid that her companion, Hans Blackwulf is not with her any longer."

"Oh I see! We have started taking in the ex-whores of our late majestrates sons'. Great,
real great!" the pudgy woman exclaimed.

Axel let her hand fly. It struck the woman across squarely on the side of the face. No
one was sure what had happened until Axel spoke.

"Woman," Axel pointed her gloved finger at the short pudgy woman who was still
recovering from the slap, "I did not travel all this way so I could be called a whore by
someone like you. Hans died in my arms! If you have a problem with that then stay out of
my sight."

"If I were you Griselda," Hegthor said cooley, " would be very careful what I said
about her. Afterall, if she is a demon, it would not be in your best interests to upset her."
Hegthor looked at Axel through the corner of his eye. It might have been a sudden gust of
night air, or just the sight of Axel's large body layered in armor and kissed with the sharp
edge of an axe that knew the taste of blood, that made the small group all seem to take a
step back.

"It is nice to have you with us Madam Axel." Kin-Malwin said breaking up the silence
that had seemingly overtaken the group. The short pudgy woman just scowled at Axel.
Axel pretended not to notice and focused her attention on Malwin and Hegthor.

After the small group had dispersed, Hegthor told Axel, "Won't they be suprised when
you show them Blackwulf's ring?"

"I tried to tell them that is why I came here, but you stopped me." "Yes, I know
Madam Axel. Please forgive me, but this wasn't the time or the place for that. Griselda,
the short ugly woman, would have had time to figure out some way of making your story
seem like a falsehood. She pulls Kin-Malwin's strings like he is a puppet in a festival
show. She has quite a bit of influence among the people now that our Lord Majestrate is
gone. That is until now." Hegthor grinned at Axel.

"What do you mean?" Then Axel caught on. "If you mean that since I have the ring, I
am to be your new Lord Majestrate, you are wrong. I did not travel across this vast land
just so I could sit around and dictate rules and laws. I came here to deliver a ring. I am
going to do that and then I am going to leave. I have other pressing matters I need to attend
to."

"Like?" Hegthor asked, dropping the formalities.

Axel could not answer. He had called her bluff, and she was indeed bluffing. There
was nothing else she had even thought about doing since Hans' death a few months ago.
What little free time she had had, she had spent with the sorrow and agony of her lover's
death. Now this person was trying to make her some sort of queen. Well she didn't want
that. At least, she didn't think she did. What was she to do? In a short while, these people
were going to try and make her there ruler. But she couldn't just walk out. Afterall, it was
dark outside, she did not know her way around the countryside, and she would be alone.
The perfect prey for whatever it was that had destroyed the city. Whatever it was, if it
could knock down buildings; it was stronger than she was. Even with her magic cheetah
cape, she wouldn't be a match for it. What if there was more than one? She had assumed
there was, but it crossed her mind again.

"Shall we go find you a place to rest for the evening?" Hegthor's voice broke through
her thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, uh, sure." she replied in a quite voice. So quite, he had barely heard her.

Later, Axel had removed her armor and her cloaks. The cave was suprisingly warm
and someone had loaned her a blanket to use for the night. The light in the cave began to
dim as fires were put out and people began to fall asleep.

Axel closed her eyes and tried not to think what the next day would be like. Instead,
memories of her earlier life filled her head. Her eyes became hot. Somewhere in the night
she thought she heard the cry of a lone wolf. She turned over. The drop of moisture that
had gathered at the corner of her eye crept slowly down her cheek. The lone wolf cried
once more and she fell asleep.

During the night, she reached over to find and embrace Hans, but found only dark
emptyness.











































































Chapter Three - No Need To Ask



Axel woke a bit before dawn just as she had for the past ten years she had been travel-
ing. she quietly put on her armor. The metal scales had become somwewhat cold during
the night. The leather straps squeaked with resitance to Axel's tugging. She gathered the
rest of her world; her axe and pack and walked outside the cave.

The lake was so calm that it was a perfect mirror of the surrounding mountains. there
was no wind, but the songs of the small blue-feathered birds still found their way to Axel's
ears. It would be light soon, but she wouldn't see the sun for sometime over the high east-
ern fjord that loomed over the valley like a stone guardian. From time to time, the eastern
fjord had proved difficult enough to pass that ivading armies usually went around the val-
ley and left it and its inhabitants alone.

Axel made her way to the ruins of Welvahagen. the carrion birds were having their
way with the remains of the many corpse that littered the streets. Rats scurried in and out
of buildings hardly noticing Axel amoung the other bodies that were scattered here and
there. The air was heavy with the smell of the rotting bodies. Since there was no breeze,
the stench just hung in the city like fog.

Axel walked slowly toward the three stakes that carried Hans' father and brother and
the high priest. There they were in the main square. Bare-necks had begun to help them-
selves to the free meals that had been set for them. Axel picked up some rocks and threw
them at the birds who took flight for a moment, but settled right back downd to enjoy their
meal. Axel saw that the rocks were useless and quit her feeble attempt to keep the birds
away.

Axel began looking around for some signs of what had happened. Several buildings
had been crushed or torn apart, while some were burnt to the ground. Axel did not know
what to think. She found the remains of more city dwellers. These all had their heads
ripped from their bodies. She had seen the same thing happen when a jotun had attacked a
city where her and her friends were visiting. This could be the work of a jotun, she
thought. That would explain the crushed buildings. But a jotun could not do all this. Then
she remembered that that Hegthor had called them "beasts" which would imply more than
one. Why not just call them "jotuns" ? The giant jotuns did live to the far east of here,
however, they would have been noticed earlier and more people would have been able to
flee. Odd, very odd, Axel thought. Then she saw them.

Now it made sense. She had seen the tracks at the brooke earlier and not thought of
them since. What were dragons doing here? She asked the question aloud just as she had
the day before. So this was what "beasts" Hegthor had meant. No one in Welvahagen had
probably ever seen a dragon. Most thought dragons only existed in legends and myths.
Few had ever seen one, even fewer had seen one and live to tell about it. She was one of
the latter few. This is what had attacked the city. It almost all made sense now, the crushed
and burnt building, but what about the three wooden shafts in the ground and the torn apart
bodies? That was what jotuns did, not dragons. Strange. Except for the single set of tracks,
most people that would later examine these ruins would think that the giant jotuns had
attacked and destroyed the city. Maybe that was what I am suppose to think Axel pondered
as she looked towards the sky and far easter fjord which towered above the valley and lake
below.

Axel found a weapon smith's shop that was mostly untouched by the attack. She
opened the door and the little bell jingled above her. A familiar sound. Too bad no one was
here, but then again, no one would ask her for money for what she was about to take. On
the far wall, she found a long spear with a wicked looking tip. She took it off its hooks and
examined it. This would do well. She grabbed five more spears and headed for the door
when she saw something that really caught her attention. It looked like a large cross bow
mounted on a stand - a ballista. She had seen them used agains her and Hans when they
had stormed castles and such. This was a powerful weapon. She would need it if whe was
to kill the dragons that had attacked Welvahagan. She looked around for the large arrows
the ballista shot, but could not find any that she thought would work. Oh well, she thought,
we can make some arrows. She left the shop and the city and walked back to the cave
entrance carrying the six long spears she had aquired from the shop. She smiled at the men
standing watch at the cave entrance and bumped into the same pudgy woman she had the
misfortune of meeting the evening before.

Griselda gave Axel a cold stare and disappeared into the cave while muttering some-
thing under her breath. Axel went and found Hegthor who was eating some small moun-
tain berries he had found that morning.

"I see you have eaten. Good!" Axel told him in a stern voice. "I need your help."
Hegthor gave her a puzzled look and she explained. "I found these spears and there is a a
ballista that we can use if someone will make arrows for it. Now I need to find five strong
warriors to help me kill the dragons that attacked your city." Hegthor's eyes got wide and
he choked on a berry. He pounded his chest a few times to clear his throat and replied,

"Madam Axel, surely you do not think we are capable of destroying those beasts,
those dragons, that destroyed Welvahagen and nearly killed everyone?"

"Of course she doesn't!" Griselda interupted as she, Kin- Malwin, and two others
walked up. "Only an utter fool would think such a thing possible. She is merely jesting
with you Hegthor."

"I do not jest woman." Axel said cooley while looking deep into Griselda's eyes.
Axel's eyes narrowed. Griselda looked at Axel only for a moment and then looked at the
Kin and said,

"If she thinks we are going to have our best men die like the other misfortunate souls,
she is insane! Tell her!"

"I believe she is right, Madam Axel. We cannot have the few warriors we have march
off and get killed on some crazy notion of yours. I just cannot and will not allow it."

Axel's jaw dropped open at what the Kin said. "You are all pathetic! How do you
expect to live with peace of mind in your city again if we do not kill these dragons?"

"We will wait till the beasts go away or we will go somewhere else." the Kin replied.

"Go somewhere else? Most of you are afraid of the dark. How do you expect to sur-
vive the trip to the next town. It is three days journey from here. One of these dragons see
you, it will eat the rest of you for lunch. No, we need to hunt them down and kill them.
then you can return to your city and go on with your lives."

"You speak brave words, but how do you expect us to trust you?" Griselda quipped.
"Do you think because you carry a big axe and were the whore of the Lord Magistrate's
son that,"

The back of Axel's hand cut the rest of Griselda's sentence off. "Woman, if you con-
tinue to use that language when speaking of me, you shall regret it! That I promise." Axel
said in a voice so cold and pronounced that everyone in that general vacinity of the cave
stopped and took notice.

A moment later the Kin said, "Well anyway, we cannot let you take our best warriors
and go get yourselves killed."

"Then I will ask for volunteers." Axel retorted boldly.

"There is no need to ask." said a voice. Axel turned around as the Kin, Griselda, and
the two others with them frowned. Standing before her, were seven men and two women.
Each appeared in good physical condition and each were carrying some sort of weapon.

"It seems I won't need to ask after all my good Kin." said Axel coyley and then turned
back to her newly aquired leiges and gave them the spears she had brought, keeping the
one with the wicked point for herself. "There are more supplies in the city. We will need to
outfit ourselves with them if we are to survive." After she had said that, Axel walked to the
entrance of the cave and the group followed. When she got to the entrance, Axel stopped
and turned and called, "Hegthor, will you be joining us? We could use your tracking
skills." Hegthor grumbled something, grabbed his belongings and walked over to follow
her. Axel smiled, turned back, and lead the group down the mountain side and to the shop
in the city that had the ballista.





























































Chapter Four - A New Beginning



 They had been at the weapons smith's shop about a half an hour when they first saw it.
Two eyes black as coal had been watching them since they had entered the building. Two
ears had been listening to everything they had been saying: vanquishing the dragons that
had destroyed the city, where they were going to start looking, and what Axel had in mind
to accomplish all this.

"What is it?" Axel asked in a soft voice from across the room.

"I do not know," said Thrgrim, one of the men that had joined her, "but it won't take
long to kill."

"Kill, Kill, Kill!" that is your answer to everything isn't it Thr?"

"Do you have a better idea, Hegthor. I know, how `bout I send you up into the rafters
and scare it down." Thargrim said as he turned to face Hegthor.

"It would probably be the other way around Thr." said Lara, one of the few women of
the group. Thargrim turned back around to look at the small creature, but it was gone.

"Oh great! Now where is it?"

"What do you mean?" Axel quizzed Thargrim.

"It's just plain disappeared Ma'am."

"Things just do not `plain disappear'." interjected Hegthor.

"Some things do." Axel said looking sternly at Hegthor. Hegthor just shrugged his
shoulders. Axel went over to where the creature had been and glanced around.

"Should we hunt for it Ma'am?"

"No, if it doesn't want to be seen, it won't. Anyway, it was probably just a small ani-
mal or something. Let's get the rest of the equipment that we need and see if there were
any horses." Just then, the door opened and a large bearded man stepped in grinning from
ear to ear.

"With your permission Ma'am." and made a gesture with his arms for everyone to go
outside. "Jaax, you amaze me." said Axel as she shook her head will looking at the nine
horses and one pack mule he and Gaul had assembled in front of the shop. Each was com-
plete with saddle, reins, and water bottle. The pack mule had large empty grain sacks
thrown over its back. It also carried a large bundle of hemp rope.

Nobody heard the tiny clawed feet of the invisible imp as it crept out the now open
doorway.

"Jaax, you and Gaul put the ballista on the mule. The rest of you, get the rest of your
equipment outside and pick a mount."

"Hegthor gets the mule!" someone shouted. Giggles and snickers followed. Hegthor
didn't laugh. Instead, he quickly picked a horse as far away from the mule as he could.
Jaax and Gaul went inside the shop, gathered the supplies and weapons that had been set
aside for them and a few extras, and put their new belongings on the horses they had
already chosen. The entire group mounted up except for Axel. She was looking around the
weapon shop for something. She couldn't seem to find whatever it was she was looking
for. Then finally she spied her prize among the rafters of the building. A lance. It had quit
a bit of dust on it, but it was in excellent shape. She grabbed the mighty weapon and joined
the others outside. They looked at her with approval at what she had brought out. She
grabbed the saddle and reins and mounted her bronze colored steed. She handed the lance
to Jaax. He looked at her puzzledly.

"You will know when the time comes." is all Axel said to him as she flicked the reins
and began leading her new group of followers out of the chaos stricken remains of the
once great city of Welvahagen.























































































Chapter Five -- Tiny Clawed Feet



The small winged creature appeared out of nowhere inside the dark cave lit only by a
few candles; candles that stood four and a half feet tall and burned bright red. The only
movement in the cavern was from a snake that crept slowly across the cave floor where the
wall met the floor. Imp looked into the snake. It was a real snake, no illusion, or disguise.

 Where was she this time? This was a game that he and his mistress had enjoyed for
many many years. It was fun and amusing, and also challenged each of them to the best of
their abilities. The game was a way of trying different spell and conjuration techniques
without having to suffer any of the bad consequences for failure that an actual enemy
would impose.

Imp floated to the high ceiling of the cavern and looked all around. He could see noth-
ing, save the snake. Concentrating, the imp used his powers to detect his mistress's magi-
cal aura. All he saw that was magical were the candles and the snake. The snake? It was a
real snake though. It shouldn't be magical. Imp thought for several moments and finally
decided that something on the snake was magical and made it appear as a normal snake to
his usual vision. He flew down to the snake to examine it. Startled, the snake began mov-
ing off very fast towards a hole in the cave wall. Imp grabbed the snake by the tail and
tried to keep it from escaping. The snake pulled even harder. This was one determined
snake! Imp began grunting as he struggled against the reptile.

"Boo." her soft voice said as Dija tapped her finger on the imp's winged shoulder. "I
feed the snake some leftover magical dust in with its regular food." Now it will have a
magical aura for a day or two. Neat diversion, don't you think?" Dija said as she smiled
coiley and half giggled to herself. Imp let go of the snake with a huff and it disappeared
into the hole.

Dija looked Imp squarely in the eye and asked, "So what news do you have for me?"
He remembered what he had seem at the mountain cave and weapon shop. Dija frowned
as she read his mind. She was not pleased with his news. Her golden-haired nemesis had
aquired a new band of followers. They were headed around the far side of the lake. "Too
bad for them," Dija thought aloud, "by the time they will return to the mountain cave,
everyone there will be dead.

"No, I have a better plan." she corrected herself. "A much better plan."



* * * * *



It was late in the day. The group had been skirting the lake for about three days when
they saw the torn-up farmhouse. The farm was on the far side of the lake, back in a small
cove. It wasn't much, but it was enough to have kept the farmer and his family alive for
several generations, until now anyway. There was nothing left of the barnyard. It had been
burned to the ground. The house had several scortch marks on it as well, but it suffered
mainly from being ripped apart. Bae and Monti were the first to spot the bodies. The
corpse here were just like the ones back at the city except for one thing. These were fresh.

"Probably only been dead since yesterday." Hegthor noted as he examined one of the
bodies. "The birds haven't had too much time to take their share. Axel, this is something I
do not understand." The dark sky boomed as lightning flashed in the distance.

"Where are the other bodies? We have found only two."

"Dragons feed on live flesh. They probably ate the others. From the looks of things,
these two where dead before the dragon got to them. Most of them will not eat dead food.
They believe it is below them to eat anything that is not fighting for its life."

"What are you talking about?" inquired Jaax. The others nodded with agreement to
this question.

"Simply what I said. Dragons do not like to eat anything they cannot enjoy terroriz-
ing."

"Surely you don't mean that these dragons of yours are smart like we are." Monti
shook his head in disbelief as he asked this question.

"Yes I do." Axel's audience became disgrunted at this and a general tone of disagree-
ment swept over them.

"Well no animal is going to get the best of me!" someone chided.

"Think what you will. I have fought dragons before and know the way they think and
act. Don't think yourself so great that you get yourself killed. Anyway, someone go look
and see if there is any food left in that house." Monti and Bae headed toward the house and
the others dismounted to look for other clues that might help them. Small drops began to
fall on the cove. There was nothing to be found that would help them. Jaax found a small
keg of ale which he reported as `tasting adaquate for mass consumption' as he put it.
Shortly Bae and Monti returned, each carrying a sack over their shoulders. Axel smiled
her crooked smile. Everyone else smiled too. They knew what Axel had in mind.

"Is the farmhouse nightworthy?" Axel asked the two as they approached.

"It would seem so. Most of the damage is to the right side. There are several rooms
that are fairly well intact. Including the kitchen." The drops began to get larger and fall a
little faster.

"So I gathered. Well it seems that the weather is going to delay us anyway, so why
don't we stop here for the night. Eat, relax, and get some decent sleep?" Everyone cheered
at this idea and headed toward the half-destroyed farmhouse.

Once inside, space was made and the rubble cleared from a big room for a night of
feasting and relaxing. Wood was put on the hearth and a nice toasty fire started. Food was
prepared and feed to hungry stomachs while the races of ale consumption raged on. The
group of warriors were finally enjoying their first real meal together as Axel's followers.
They sang songs, told stories and jokes. Monti and Bae sat close to each other. It was
apparent to everyone what the night would bring for the pair. Jaax and Gaul put on a mach
fight with roasted chicken parts. Hegthor began playing a stringed instrument and reciting
a tale of great warriors who never die. Axel sat at the edge of the circle of people. She ate,
but drank little and didn't put up to much conversation. Her thoughts were with someone
else tonight. She just stared into the fire and slowly sipped her ale tankard. Old memories
flashed in her mind, but her face said nothing.

"Axel aren't you going to join us?" asked Bae. Everyone in the group had found a
makeshift musical instrument and was trying to play it as best they could. A few were
dancing clumsily around the fire.

"Huh?" Axel looked up have dazzed, unaware of what had been going on. "Oh, no I
don't think so. I don't know how to play anything."

"Nether do I." said Jaax.

"That isn't true," giggled Gaul, "You know how to play with yourself." The group
burst into laughter including Jaax. Axel giggled. "Actually Hegthor is the only one with
any talent, but the ale makes things sound much better. You should have some more."
Gaul said through interrupting hiccups.

"That's alright," I don't much feel like singing tonight, but I will have another shot of
that ale. It is pretty good brew." She handed her mug to Gaul who fought Jaax for the priv-
iledge of refilling it. Gaul finally won the arugment after bringing up that he had bested
Jaax earlier in their chicken fight.

The rest of the night dragged on for another hour or so. Then, one by one, the group
decided to turn in for the night. The only sound was the blowing of the wind and the scam-
per of tiny, clawed feet that stole a small lock of Axel's golden hair.











































































Chapter 6 -- Fire



Axel woke early the next morning. She was used to getting up before dawn and found
pleasure in watching the hot star leave its burrow on the horizion and make its way sky-
ward. A yellow morning star was just barely still visible in the south eastern sky. A gentle
breeze from the valley below played with Axel's golden hair. The first ray of light broke
over the mountain and shined on her face. The birds were singing familiar melodies to
each other and anything else that cared to listen. A few more light rays crept over the east-
ern mountains. Axel stood and took up the sight. How many mornings had she and Hans
watched the sun rise? She had now idea, but it was many. Perhaps the gods knew. Axel
just stood silent and watched the darkness fade to day.

The rest of the yellow star burst over the mountain top proclaiming the sky its domain
-- its hunting ground. Golden beams of hot light reflected from Axel's body armor. She
leaned on her axe, but not the way a person leans on any other item, but rather as if it were
her friend. Stray currents of air ruffled her cape and teased her hair. There she stood,
motionless, except for her hair. Golden. Powerful. Axel looked like a goddess. She could
not be hurt. She also had the cold look of warrior who hasn't lost the art of killing.

A dark cloak moved back inside its own shadow. From across the valley something
was watching the sunrise and had taken notice to this gold haired legend.

Dija left the morning sunlight and made her way back to the catacombs that ran
through the mountain she called home. She made her way to a particularly cavern. The
cavern was large, very large. Columns of multicolored rock decorated the far walls that
seperated this cavern from many others. A high waterfall spilled forth across crystalline
rock near the a group of columns. The water gathered in a pool at the base of the falls. It
was a small pool carved forth by the hundreds of years of water falling from above. The
water disappeared into an underground stream beneath the pool, but there was enough
there to add a nice accent to the cave; and to satisfy the thurst of the two great beasts who
had been asleep. An eyelid opened as the cloaked figure strode into the cavern.

"Glad to see you are awake Shadrok," the cloaked figure said, "I have a job for you
and Mishkot." The other beast hearing his name called opened his eyes and yawned. The
sight of the beast's mighty jaws was enough to send fear into even the most valiant war-
riors.

Glimmerming white teeth set in row upon row outlining the forked crimson tongue
that lay between them. Mishkot knew when his queen wanted something it was best not to
keep her waiting, leastwise as soon as he was done, he could get back to his nap. Shadrok
on the other hand was a bit more contemptuous. She was a bit more arrogant and didn't
always like obeying her queen.

"What is it now?" Shadrok growled. "Have you found more cities for us to destroy?"

"You will not speak to me in that tone, Shadrok." The head behind the cloak spoak.
"And no, I do not want you to destroy anymore cities. I want you to bring me someone."

"That is all you want! Why can't you bring it here yourself instead of waisting my
valuable time on something so trifle. Besides, I might decide to eat it on the way back."
Shadrok chuckled seeing that her joke had made Mishok grin.

"This person is not just anyone. Her name is Axel. She is a mightly warrior, one that
you might find a challenge to subdue."

"Hmph, I doubt it. No one has ever been a challenge for me." Shadrok snapped avoid-
ing the look she was getting from Mishkot.

"Think what you will, but I have recently learned that she was partially responsible for
the death of Kobraks, the giant who used to rule Erindale. He had the same attitude you
do. One of these days, your arrogance will be your undoing. "She also wears the Black-
wulf ring. The ring you failed to bring me when you destroyed that miserable city, Welva-
hagen, looking for it. I need th ering, but I have an old score to settle, so I want Axel
brought here alive.

"Where is she?" Mishkot asked quietly while stretching his mighty wings.

"She is currently in an abandom farm that you two appeared to have wreaked. It is in a
cove on the north side of the valley. There are eight others with her. I want you to bring her
and her followers to me, I don't care how, but just don't kill her. Try not to waist too many
of her followers. I need them too.

"As you wish my Queen." Mishkot replied and leaped into the air to take flight.
Shadrok waited a moment for her friend to gain some altitude before taking flight herself.
She always let him go first; he was the strongest; she knew he could challenge her and
win. The two flew upwards towards the top of the cavern where the cavern wall gave way
to a dead volcano and led to the sky above. They had to be careful navigating in the nar-
row walls in the cavern, it was easy (and painful) to tear a wing. If that happened then their
flight might be temporarily impaired and they would be discraced. Discrace was some-
thing a dragon would not take kindly to.

Soon the two were soaring above the valley below. The mid morning sun had warmed
the valley's cool air and the fog was starting to lift. From where they were, everything was
visible. They ruled the sky and the valley below. Lords of the sky; they were invincible.
They could see the remains of Welvahagen, the city that only shortly ago, they had
destroyed. They had toppled building with their mighty strength, eaten children infront of
screeming mothers, while others they just tore limb from limb. They had killed many that
day, and that day was just one in many.

Shadrok had always found killing more exciting than Mishkot. Perhaps it was her arro-
gance or her joy at seeing others who were weaker than her die by her will. Most of the
city's men had been out hunting when they had attacked. That had been most unfortunate.
Their crimson tongues had never tasted the hot blood of warriors that day. Instead, they
had feasted on the innocent blood of women and children. How Mishkot remembered that
day, they just stood on their thick scaly legs, picking up whoever they could, and ripping
them apart or snapping them in two like twigs. All anyone else could do was just watch in
tears of horror. Shadrok thought of how she had only eaten half of a woman when some-
thing from behind hit her and knocked the rest of the woman out on to the ground, still
alive, infront of who Shadrok thought was her children. How they had cried to her. A gig-
gle escaped Shadrok at this thought. They were dragons, Lords of the sky; invincible crea-
tures created long ago to feed on the livestock of the land. It wasn't their fault they were
the most powerful, the most intelligent, the most feared creature in the land.

Below, they could now see the farm Dija had spoken of. They could see a figure they
assumed was Axel standing outside looking out into the valley. The two beasts looked at
each other in acknowledgement of what they were going to do. It was a standard tactic; see
how strong the opposing forces are, but strike quickly instilling as much terror as possible.
Sure picking up Axel and flying off would be easier, but that would not be as much fun.
Besides, being a dragon is not easy. Mishkot dove and began screatching a terrible sound
that must have take years for him to perfect. Mishkot moved toward Axel, but veared off
before Axel would be close enough to do anything.

Axel began running to the door of the farm to warn the others, but they had heard it
and met her at the door. Jaax and Gaul were busy assembling the ballista that was on the
pack horse. The others were grabbing spears and bows. Mishkot swooped down toward
Axel who had taken a defensive position with the spear she now carried. Mishkow
swooped low enough to grab a loose piece of wood in a massive claw. As he neared Axel
he flung it at her. Axel had to dodge to keep from being hit. As Axel did this, the great
dragon, Mishkot swung around and grabbed for Bae with a front claw. Bae ran to avoid
being grabbed.

"Where are you going sweet one?" Mishkot said teasingly as his crimson tongue
wiped the sides of his huge jaws.

"I can not have you running away." Bae kept running, but it was not use, the dragon
could fly faster. Mishkot grabbed her with the front claw and brought her to his face. No
longer air- borne, his huge mouth was open and waiting for this tender morsel to fall in.
His yellow eyes blinked from the glare of metal below him.

He chuckled aloud.

Shadrok was waiting high above to dive on her victim. Surveying the situation, but not
seeing the other dragon lurking high above in the sky, Axel raised her spear and charged
Mishkot.

"Halt or it dies." Mishkot said in a cool voice. Shadrok dove. Axel came to an abrubt
halt.

"Put her down!" Axel commanded. Suddenly feeling the hairs on her neck stand up,
Axel turn and swung around, planted her spear beneath her foot, and pointed the deadly tip
at the new dragon. Shadrok let out a horrifying screach as blood gushed out of the hole
made by the sharp, wicked tip of Axel's spear. The force from the blow knocked Axel
over, but she rolled with it and came up with her blood sodden spear held fast. The spear
firmly planted, Axel grabbed her axe and swung at the monster that was flailing around on
the ground. Axel turned Shadrok's left hind leg into a bloody stump at the hip. Somehow
the dragon still managed to get into the air.

"Alright, it dies!" Mishkot said and promptly tore the girl in two as he took his first
bite. Dropping her remains, he bat his wings and took flight. What was left of the warrior
known as Bae fell into a red pile of goop on the rocks.

Shadrok had fire in her eyes and swooped down again, the spear still in the monster's
chest, This time Shadrok would tear and shread Axel not just to take hold of her. The
dragon was too close for Axel to get a clear swing, so she paried the dragons' claws to the
side with her axe as best she could. One claw dug into her leg and ripped out a chunk of
flesh. Another spear suddenly appeared in the underbelly of the female dragon. Pushing it
as far as he could, Monti managed to wound the creature enough that it fell and hit some
rocks. Screaching and trying to remove the spears, Shadrok rolled around on the ground
filling it with pools of the deep red story of this day. Seizing the opportunity, Axel charged
the beast. Her axe came down hard and swift on Shadrok's scaly neck. A thunder clap
sounded, the sky was clouding up and rain was starting to pour.

The warm blood from the dragon made a burgendy stream down the hillside.
Shadrok's body reacted violently for a short moment and then became limp.

Meanwhile, Mishkot was preparing to dive. Jaax and Gaul had the ballista in place.
Everyone else was wielding deadly spears or bows with arrows. Just as Mishkot reached
the right altitude, he looked down and saw his mate's head quite a distance from her body
and surrounded by a moat of her own blood.

"NO!" He cried and dove. All thought left him. This was no longer a mission for his
queen, it was a mission of revenge. Shadrok had died at the hands of this creature and it
was going to pay with its life. He kept diving, and suddenly stopped in mid air and inhaled
a big breath of air.

"Down!" cried Axel, "It's gonna to flame us!" The group dove behind rocks, and the
what remained of the farm house. Jaax, however, waited the the dragon was close enough
and fired the ballista. The bolt hit the dragon in the wing making a sizable tear, but not
doing to much to Mishkot. There were no rocks or buildings in reach of Axel. Gritting her
teeth, she swung her shield infront of her and crouched behind it.

Flames shot out of Mishkot's mouth engulfing the farm yard. Axel's armor burned her
flesh, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her armor had sustained most of the
damage from Mishkot's blast. She stood up and prepared to face the flying death dealer. It
looked like Mishkot was going to dive again, but this time he wasn't starting as high.
Extending his hind claws, he folded up his wings and fell. He wasn't diving; he was fall-
ing right on top of Axel. Axel saw this happening and braced herself for the blow. Her axe
ready to gut the enormous creature once he was close enough. This was going to be close.
If she didn't swing at just the precise moment, then the dragon would be too close and her
axe would not find its target. She would probably die, but that thought did not cross her
mind at the moment.

Mishkot had gain considerable speed in the few seconds he had begun dropping. He
was no more than fifty or sixty feet above Axel.

"That axe will not even touch me." Mishkot thought. He had done this before. Right
before he was to his, he would flute his wings and slow down just enough that the swing of
the axe would miss. He grinned at this. Then he would finish dropping on Axel and rip her
limb from limb with his mighty claws. He had first thought of this tactic when he had
fought a great knight which legend said could not be defeated by man or beast. He had
always liked challenges and had scoffed at the knight's boastfulness. This would be
another such event. This time he not only did it for himself though, but for Shadrok as
well. She had been his mate for over two hundred years. They had fought so many battles
together, went so many places, and seen so many things. He could not imagine her being
gone now. The pain he felt was like no other he had ever known. How could he go on? His
life was meaningless without her. His head was filled with crazy thoughts. He was angry
and sad. His heart had been crushed. How could this person kill the one he loved? Didn't
she have any feelings? Shadrok's body still lay were it had fallen. The blood running down
the mountainside had slowed and formed small pools now. Her body was still twitching
from the shock of her head being sliced off my Axel's blade. This person was going to
pay! Mishkot was going to enjoy killing this one. So many times he had killed for the mere
joy of killing, this time he was seeking revenge for his lover's death. Only twenty feet to
go.

The arrival of Jaax's spear could not have come at a better time. Pushing Axel out of
the way, he planted himself and the spear to take the full blow of the falling beast. Had
Mishkot slowed a moment earlier, he could have avoided the spear. The only sound any-
one heard was that of the spear as it punctured the soft underbelly of Mishkot and found its
way to the dragon's heart. Axel got up off the ground. She had not dropped her axe and
swung around ready to fight the mighty Mishkot, but the beast could only fall in a slump.
Axel looked around for Jaax who had pushed her away. Then she realized what had hap-
pened. She ran to the side of the dragon and called to the other men to help her roll the
dragon over. They did and she found what she had feared; Jaax had been crushed by the
blow and worse, a bloody claw had punctured his stomach and his ribs were bruised. His
left leg was bent at a funny angle. His head was bleeding from hitting a rock.

"We got both of them, eh Ma'am?" Jaax whispered.

"Why did you do that?" Axel replied."I could have taken care of it! Now you are
hurt."

"It...It is just a scratch or two." Jaax whispered again as he spat up blood. The rest of
the group gathered around. They knew what going to happen.

"Look at you. Rushing in so you can take all the credit." Gaul stammered. There were
tears in his eyes. Jaax had been his best friend since childhood.

"That is what you would have done friend, had I given you the chance." Jaax grabbed
his friends had one last time.

"Everything will be alright." Gaul reassured him. Jaax smiled as his eyes began to
close more and more.

"You need to work on your aim more next time."

"Remind me to do that." Jaax said so quietly it was hard to hear.

"I will my friend. I will." Jaax finished closing his eyes and his hand relaxed and
slipped from Gaul's grip. No one else said anything for a long while. They just stood their
looking at their friend. Looking back at what had been Bae. Only Gaul moved. He stood
up and walked away from the others and joined Monti who was indisposed. Their eyes
were full of water now. Monti was standing looking at the dragon that had killed his lover
before his very eyes.

"She never stood a chance. She never even got a chance to fight back, Gaul!" Gaul put
his arm around the young boy and Monti returned the gesture. They had both lost someone
that day. Their lives would not be the same ever again. They both got sick again.

"Take his body and what is left of the Bae's." Axel commanded. "We will make pyres
and set their souls to rest."

"How can you just stand there and be so cold?" snapped Lara. "Two of our friends just
died!"

"I have seen my entire army die before my eyes. Don't talk to be about death until you
can say the same. Now move the bodies." The half burnt group did as they were told. They
collected the bodies as best they could using a blanket to carry Bae's.

"Carry them to the edge of the lake, there we will build rafts and set them on their way
across the water." Axel told them.

By Noon, they had carried the dead bodies to the shore of Lake Dreams, the lake Wel-
vahagen was built by. They had constructed the funeral rafts and placed the bodies on the
rafts and folded the the hands over their hearts. Each had their weapon by their side. Axel
picked up a torch and touched each and the group pushed them out to the awaiting lake.
The group stood and watched as the firey ensemble marched across the lake and disap-
peared from sight. Most everyone cried. They had all lost friends that day. Axel stood tall
and still. Only her blond hair was visible from underneath her helmet. Leaning on her axe,
she just stood and watched.

 Chapter 7 -- A New Beginning



What had happened the day before would affect the group of warriors for the rest of
their lives. Everyone would grieve for the friends they had lost. Some grieved more than
others except for Axel. She mourned silently for those left alive that had lost. She knew
what they felt and what they were going through. You could not tell that though from her
appearance. On the outside she was all warrior. The other knew she hurt, but she did not
show it. She had to be strong for them. Everyone looked up to her for the valor she had
shown yesterday.

Gaul, Monti, Lara, Thar, Trix, and Hegthor would follow their new leader to the ends
of the nine worlds. They had faced death and had not become it prey because of Axel. As
for Axel, it was just another day like many she had been through.

They started heading back to the caves where they would find their other friends. The
survivors could now return to Welvahagen and to their normal lives. They did not know it
at first, but their lives would be far from normal for sometime to come.

Hurray! Hurray! The great beasts--the dragons--are dead! Why did that not seem like
the thing to shout? Gaul thought. as the warriors approached the cave entrance, that is all
that could be heard. Shouts, cheers, and whistles all around. Didn't they realize that Jaax
and Bae had not returned? Drums began playing and soon flutes and other instruments
joined in as everyone rallied around the returning group of heros. Axel and her followers
received quite a welcome. The absence of the two friends was noticed, but no one else
seemed to care. The cavers were just happy and excited that they could return to their
homes and lives.

A few weeks later, people had made themselves at home back in the city. Some began
cleaning up the place, while others busied themselves looting it. No one was coming back
for their things, so why not take them? Message was sent out to neighboring cities and
towns that free land and buildings were available in Welvahagan for anyone interested.
Slowly, thieves, mercenaries and merchants of every kind began arriving. The looting sub-
sided as more and more buildings went from vacant to occupied

Without any city guard, crimes of every sort skyrocketed. This soon became a major
concern for merchants and towns people alike. Axel was preparing to leave and had been
assembling her team and insuring they were properly outfitted.

She had planned to go south, across the Blue Desert, to the lands where she grew up.
She knew people there. Those people had not kept up with her life. All they would know
her as was Axel, daughter of Durken the sheep herder. Her father had been killed by a
highwayman. At least that is what everyone else thought. She had always known it had
been Chi-Chen, the squinty eyed man who had always given her father trouble. Chen was
a cattle rancher in the area and found her successful father as competition. Too much com-
petition for Chen's liking.

Axel's mother died while giving birth to her younger daughter, Thea. Axel wa only a
few years older than Thea and could not even remember her mother's name. Axel had
taken care of Thea for as long as Axel could remember. Thea always looked up to Axel.
But oh, how Axel envied Thea. Thea was so beautiful. Her strawberry-colored hair and
dark eyes had broken so many boys' hearts; young and old alike. Axel had raised Thea and
taken care of the home till she was sixteen. She had stayed home and done the chores
while Thea had been sent to learn at a temple. The priestess there had taught Thea how to
read and write. Thea had learned quickly and was excited about learning. Every night,
Thea would tell Axel everything she had learned. She even showed Axel how to write her
name. Axel had thought that neat and was happy to see her sibling learning so much.

That life ended the night the knock on their door had come; the stable master had come
to tell the girls of their father's death. Axel cried more than Thea, then and later. Thea had
always comforted her big sister. The two girls packed their belongings that could be car-
ried on their horses and left. That was the last time she had been in Gorinth, her homeland.
The nameless town she had grown up in later became a thriving city when silver was dis-
covered in a land that had once belonged to a sheep herder.

"How is the packing coming?" yelled Axel as she knocked and entered the familiar
weapon shop that Gaul, Monti, and Trix had claimed as theirs so they would have a good
supply of weapons and money.

"Just fine!" Gaul yelled back and walked to the door where he motioned her outside
where it was easier to hear. Trix was a great blacksmith just as his father had been. Trix
was busy at work making whatever the group thought they wanted. He was currently
working on some more ballista arrows. He planned on bringing the ballista along although
Gaul thought it a waist, Axel had agreed with Trix about the ballista. Axel like ballista, she
knew what they could do.

"Trix should be done with the last of the arrows today. He has a few helmets to make
and then we will be ready."

"Furs?"

"Monti has got that covered. He has a whole chest full of `em Ma'am." Axel looked at
him, but had finally accepted the patronage given her. Her followers gave it out of respect,
not ass-kissing. She and Hegthor had had a long talk about it.

"Good. I want to leave in three days. Is this going to be a problem?"

"Shouldn't be a problem." Gaul replied. Axel had made Gaul her second in command.
He had served with the city guard and had made his way up to sergeant. He and Jaax had
served together. Axel felt he would keep his head on in a tight situation and was competent
enough not to louse things up when she wasn't around.

Axel left him and went to check on Thar and Lara. They were suppose to be preparing
food-stuffs for the long journey ahead. Coming to Asraija was not so much a problem, just
bribe the captain of the ship to go a little out of his way. Getting a boat-ride back would be
a problem. She had figured they would just go around the sea once they hit the south
shores of Asraija. If they could get to a town or fishing village along the shore before the
first storm hit, they would be in luck. Axel did not plan on that happening. She had a feel-
ing it would storm before then. The weather had been getting real strange lately. Asraijan
weather is hard to predict, but it seemed that every bright sunny day ended around noon
when it rained a drizzly cold bath down in the valley. The rain would not let up until
almost dawn. The lake had risen noticeably the past week or so as a result. Oh well, it was
nothing. As Axel walked down the street, people who recognized her waved and smiled.
Others looked at her oddly and couldn't understand why this woman walked like she
owned the town. A sudden ruckus caught Axel's attention. It was coming from the Dead
Horse tavern. She smiled and continued walking. Axel's expression changed when she
heard a cry from the tavern. Someone, a woman, was in trouble.

Axel trotted over to the door and walked through. The Dead Horse had become a
coven for thieves and low-life scum. Three men were trying to have their way with what
looked like a serving girl.

"Ah good, more wenches." said one thug as he tapped mugs with a buddy. Axel did
not have her helmet on.

"Let the girl be." Axel said in the commotion. No response except the man managed to
undo two more buttons on the young girl's dress. The serving girl was about fourteen, but
was developing quickly into womanhood. She had strawberry-colored hair and deep dark
eyes. Axel walked over, kicked and broke the offender's table from beneath their mugs of
ale. Everything got dead quiet.

"You got real nerve comin' in here and bustin' up our fun, bitch!" said one of the burly
men after a long pause.

"Let the girl be and maybe I'll forget your ugly face." Axel replied.

"How `bout we help you take off that pretty armor your wearin'?" Axel grinned at his
comment.

"Please Miss. I ain't worth the trouble." the girl pleaded as Axel pushed her aside
while grabbing a nearby mug and breaking it over the first man's head. The man who
wanted to undress Axel got the broken mug shoved in his face and a knee in the groin.
Axel grabbed the third man by the throat with one hand and lifted him from his chair and
said in a slow, cool voice,

"If I ever see you or your buddies' ugly heads again, I will remove them. Under-
stood?" The man answered with a gurgled non that meant he understood. Axel threw him
down and walked out. The other men in the tavern made a mess in their trousers. The
young girl came running out after Axel.

"Miss!" the girl yelled. Axel replied by stopping and turning towards the girl. "What
you did back there, I just wanted to thank you . You didn't have to do that."

"I know."

"My uncle says he wished you hadn't. It was bad for business."

"Allowing what he did is also bad for business as far as I'm concerned." Axel turned
back and resumed her walk not yet remembering where it was she was going. Oh yea, to
check on the food. The girl tagged along.

"Don't you need to get back to your uncle's place?"

"No, he told me to get lost for the day." Axel groaned.

"My name is Ashley, just Ash for short. That's what most people call me." The girl
looked at Axel waiting for a response, but got none. "What is your's?" Ashley said after a
bit.

"Axel." then the warrioress repeated it after realizing the young girl didn't catch it.
"Axel, that is my name."

"Axel, that is a funny name for a girl. Why do you wear armor like a man?"

"Axel is a great name for a warrior and where I come from, many women are warriors,
just like men."

"Could you teach me to be a warrior like you?"

"Being a warrior is hard work." Checking on the food supply was becoming a long
journey. "Besides, why do you want to become a warrior? It can be very dangerous."

"Then I won't have things happen to me anymore." Ash replied.

"What kinds of things." Axel was curious now. She looked at the girl beside her who
had sunk her head to the ground. Axel sensed something wrong. She stopped and knelt
down to the girl. Ash was crying.

"What kinds of things?" Axel asked again.

"Things like today." Ash said as more and more tears came down her face.

"This has happened before?" Ash only nodded. With that, Axel took Ashley into her
arms and held her. The two stayed that way for several minutes. Maybe it was because
Ashley looked so much like Thea or maybe Axel now had a soft spot for the young girl,
but anyhow, Axel took her home and began taking care of her. The rest of Axel's compan-
ions seemed to get along with Ash. During the early morning hours of the next third day,
Welvahagen was covered in a blanket of white.













































































 Chapter 8--Uninvited Guest



"Imp! Imp! Where are you ?" Dija called. "This is no time for games. I need you!" The
imp appeared from the bowl of quicksilver he was resting in. The bowl was only one of
the many items in Dija's study that Imp had hidden in at one time or another. A vast
assortment of thaumaturgic items decorated the room. An odd looking glass bowl lay here
or there. Hung from the ceiling was a glass bowl with a tightly sealed lid. Inside the bowl
there was movement. Millions of teeth seemed to scratch in vain at the container's glass
walls. A single tenebreaus worm. Most miners hated the odd creature. It fed on gold and
silver.

Over to the far wall was a silver sensor filled with special crystals only Dija knew. The
blue and green flames that sprung from it were a hundred times hotter than amy man-made
forge could produce. Not even the breath of a great wyrm was hotter. The flame was used
to create the many dark amulets, toxins, and powders that the sorceress used in her work.
A grimoire that had more book marks than one could count lay open on a wooden stand
that looked more like a tree stump with hands than a wooden stand.

Dija stopped near a desk and removed some maps and charts. She spread the papers
out on the desk. The papers were used to being rolled up, but where held flat when Dija
whispered, "Cha- tok." to the desk. Small tentacle-like hands reached up from the inlaid
design and grabbed the documents holding them firmly down. A nice convenience. Imp
bounced over and landed on Dija's arm.

"We are going on a trip." she told him. Imp smiled He like trips, especially when he
was around other people; he had more of a chance to cause trouble. The imp's dark eyes
gleamed with anticipation.

"I'm not sure where we are going yet, but I'll find out soon." the sorceress answered
the question on the creature's mind. She sent the creature off to collect some items and
powders. She mixed some of the powders together and threw them in the large blue-green
flame. The flame changed to deep red, almost violet. Next, she lit several sticks of incense
and threw some more odd things into the fire including part of a lock of blond hair. Smoke
rose. Dija breathed in deep the aroma that filled the air and chanted some cryptic words.
She began seeing an image in the fire of a land far away. She saw soldiers, many soldiers.
They were all dying. Why? Ah! A banshee cry. Mortal men could not handle the cry of the
undead maiden. The bodies of the men aged so fast the men did not have time to cover
their ears. They were in the Canyon of Terrors. Dija recognized the place now. Of course,
it all made sense once she thought about it. She looked further into the fire. Yes, these
were Blackwulf's old men; Dija recognized the standard.

Then suddenly the scene changed. Dija's face changed from elation to panic. A too
familiar saurian face formed in the flames. Dija concentrated harder and threw some more
powders into the fire. It did not matter, the face kept forming. It's my eyes, they are play-
ing tricks on me. She squinted. No, the face was still there. The face looked at her. It did
not look pleased.

"You remember the pact?" it hissed. "Do not interfere with her life anymore."

"The ring she wears will destroy me."

"That is what you said about me, remember the pact?" Dija remembered the pact. She
had divined three times that Varmenthos would bring about her death. Varmenthos had
been however, immortal, he cold follow her through time if he needed. She had it in her
power to take his immortality away--only with his consent. Varmen was tired of living in
this world so he sacrificed himself for his friends so Dija would leave them alone. By
doing this, he would be allowed back to his homeland, Vehlm, the land of the gods. Varm-
enthos, the once-god who had been exiled to the world of man and given a body until he
learned to care and love as all gods should. This sacrifice would be one of love, his people
would let him come back.

Well that is what he thought. Since his sacrifice was done for selfish reasons, he could
not return to Vehlm. So his soul had been damned to the Abyss. He was all alone and with
out a body. There he was helpless. Well, almost helpless.

Dija had foreseen this flaw in Varmenthos' logic, but would not tell him. She had
needed him and out of the way. She was also scared of him. Now the divination changed.
The warrior who wore the Blackwulf ring would kill her. Well Dija had no intention of let-
ting that happen. The dragons had failed to bring her the ring so she could destroy it. No
ring to wear -- no one wearing the ring would kill her. No sense in killing the warrior.
Another could always fill the shoes by taking the ring. She had tried killing Axel earlier
when she had sent a death knight after Hans and Axel. That had not worked well, but it did
get Hans Blackwulf out of the picture.

But now what was this? A voice and face from the past coming back to haunt her even
after it was dead. ? She knew Varmenthos was dead; it had been her who held the Cere-
mony of Passing and laughed when his old was reported to have been sent to the Abyss.
She had seen him there through Imp's eyes.

Dija remembered the pact.

Varmenthos was no more. God or not, he was in the Abyss. Nothing passes through the
Gate and comes back, so is the way of the Abyss. How many enemies had she sent there?
Many.

Dija stared ate the fully formed face now. It's words rang in her ears.

"Remember the pact." Varmen commanded in a clear hiss. Then the fire went out
immediately followed by all the candles in her study. She stood in the darkness for a
moment. She couldn't even feel any heat from the crystals that had seconds earlier been
aflame. For the first time in a long time, Dija was scared.

"Kee-tal-ya!" she shouted and the candles lit up again. It took her a few hours to
relight her magic fire. She was scared of what had just taken place, but she feared her own
death even more. Doesn't everyone. She began preparations for the long trip she was
about to embark upon.

























 Chapter 9 -- New Friends, Old Memories



"Did you even know your real parents?"

"No." Ash answered Axel. "All I remember is the family I grew up with. I always
thought they were my parents but they told me one day that I wasn't." Ash frowned. "I
guess it don't matter too bad `cause they still loved me and fed me. I only started working
for my unc' `cause m'dad owes him a lot of money, so I am helpin work it off I guess."

"If I ever see your uncle again,m he is going to meet the common sense of my hand."
Axel grumbled, more to herself than to the girl. The two had gotten to know one another
the past day or so during the group's lay up. It had stormed and know outside for a day and
a half now. The snow was knee high to Axel in the street. Travel plans had changed. They
were adding a small horse-drawn sled that would carry extra provisions. She did have
some trouble getting bigger horses that could handle the cold weather. Axel had also pur-
chased a team of dogs to help guard their caravan. Many animals of prey would find the
horses easy meals in the deep snow, especially cats. It would be too early for the cats to
have lost their brown autumn fur. A few months later and the cats would be hard to see in
the snow with their white winter fur. Asraijan cats! memories of the mother cat and her
cubs filled Axel's mind.

"I wonder how they are?" she asked aloud not realizing.

"Who are?" Ashley brought Axel back to reality. They were packing the sled.

"Just some old acquaintances." Axel murmured in response.

"Did you know your parents?" Ash changed the subject back.

"Huh? Oh, uh, yes."

"Is that where we are going?" Axel didn't like the idea that Ash had decided to follow
her; the road was no place for a girl so young, but she didn't want Ash to go back to work-
ing for her "unc".

"Sort of," Axel answered her, "we are going back to my homeland. Not to see my
folks. They have died." She paused, Ash was confused. "I haven't been there since I was
about your age. It is a great place. It doesn't get so bitterly damn cold there."

"How do you know your ma and pa have died if you haven't been there since you were
my age?" Boy! Ash was just full of questions. Why do I feel like the res of the trip will be
this way? Axel thought.

"My mother died when I was six or seven when she had my sister, Thea. My father
was murdered my someone. We left shortly afterwards."

"Was your mother as beautiful as you are?" Axel stopped and blushed.

"I don't know?" Silently. Ash did not press the subject. Ashley's eyes lit up as the bar-
racks door opened and Trix cane in holding a leash that disappeared into the snow outside.
Trix tugged on the leash and a small pup came bounding into the warm room Axel looked
at Trix with disapproval. Trix pretended not to notice and the pup looked around like he
was expecting a grand announcement of his arrival. Ash bent down with open arms and
the pup let out a bark and ran to her, tongue wagging and painting Ashley's face with
kisses. Ash giggled.

"It won't be that much trouble. I'll help her take care of it!" Trix defended himself
against the look he was getting for what he had done.

"She's so cute!" Ash squeaked.

"Well, she is a he and you have to promise to take good care of him."

"Oh, I will. What is his name?"

"Doesn't have one yet. That's part of your job." Trix instructed.

Axel was still silent. Maybe if Ashley had this pup, she wouldn't ask so many ques-
tions. Anyway, it was probably good for her to have something to keep her mind off of
things. If the girl did leave with them as they had all accepted that she would, she would
be leaving behind everything that she had ever known. Axel would leave word with her
family that the girl had chosen to come with them. Ash was old enough to make that kind
of a decision and it would keep her out of her uncle's tavern. Anyway, who would stop
Axel from taking the girl. Axel knew how large her reputation had grown. No one would
challenge her, especially not with five armed warriors at her side.

"What kind of dog is it, Trix?" Axel queried.

"His mother was half wolf. Don't know about the father. Looks strong though, but I
wouldn't put him up against any cats for at least,"

"...For at least a week or so." Axel grinned approvingly at last.

"Yea, for at least a week or so." he teased back. They both looked down at the pup
resting in Ashley's arms. Her fingers rubbing his long black and white fur.

"Thank you so much mister Trix!" Ashley said standing up and setting the dog down.

"Don't mention it. Did you get everything packed that I told you to." Trix winked.

"Yes I did, Sir." she winked back. Axel knew something was up, but didn't think she
would get it out of them. She had some business to attend to.

Axel went to the Dead Horse. She had barely walked in when everything got dead
quiet. Axel was wearing her battle armor under her fur cape.. Her helmet was on, but the
chain mail veil was not fastened.. It was easy to see who she was.. Some of the men
remembered her from recent experiences. Axel walked to a table that was empty and sat
down. Her armor clinked with every step and her boots finished the crescendo with a
thump on the wood floor that would not have been heard except for the silence. The din of
the bar slowly came back to normal.

A fat man of about forty years came over and asked what she would like. Axel replied,
two cups of brandy and a candle. The man nodded and brought them out. Axel paid for
drinks. The man thanked her and went on to serve his other customers.

Axel opened a pouch, removed a folded up wad of powder, some parchment, and a
feather pen. She took one cup of brandy and drank it. To the other, she poured the powder
into and stirred with the feather. She heated the mixture on the candle for a minute or so.
that should be enough she thought. She flicked the end of the feather with her fingers and
then dipped it into her new ink. She wrote:



To: Marik the Carpenter

Your daughter, Ashley has decided to travel with me.

Please do not be upset. We will take good care of her. She

is a fine girl. I do not think your brother's tavern is where

she should experience life. I promise to make her visit you.



 -Axel Blackwulf



Finished, she folded the paper in thirds so the outer seam was not near the folds. She
took off her glove then poured some wax from the candle across the seam. With the wax
still hot, Axel pressed the signet ring into the wax. She had seen Hans do this to send offi-
cial papers. It seemed appropriate here. She put the writing utensils away back in the
pouch, grabbed the two cups and the document and went to the bar. Space was made for
her as she approached. She sat the two cups down, ink still in one. She looked at the man
behind the bar.

"You are the owner?" she asked politely. The man nodded. "You have a brother named
Marik?" The man nodded again. "Take this message to him." She handed the man thee
document. He took it slowly not knowing what to say. The man to Axel's left looked at the
cup she had sat down and reached for the one not empty.

"Make sure it gets to him." Axel said sternly and put two silvers down on the table.
Two silvers would have bought a weeks stay at an inn or a night's heavy drinking. Two sil-
vers just to deliver a message. Axel left. The tavern owner looked at the paper and saw the
seal. He blinked and his jaw dropped open. The man who had been examining the forgot-
ten cup of brandy took the opportunity to swallow it before the bar tender tried to save it.
Axel was out the door, but she was sure she had heard someone get sick. She grinned and
walked back to the barracks.

Axel saw Trix and the dog team as she rounded the corner.

"Everyone else is getting the horses." he explained as she approached.

"Good! Now is going to be as good a time as any. I didn't expect this much snow so
soon."

"Yea, it will make traveling a lot more difficult."

The dogs ears pricked up. The sound of horses told Axel, the others were arriving. The
sled was sitting outside the barracks ready to be hitched up. The sled had been fashioned
so Ash could sit in the rear and not fall off very easily. She didn't know how to ride a horse
and this was not the time to teach her. On the sled would be the safest place for her if they
ran into trouble. All their extra weapons including the ballista were packed on the sled.
Gaul came riding up with the lance she had given Jaax, winked and nodded to Ash. Axel
caught him and knew the others were in on the scheme too. Ash was busy digging for
something on the sled.

She pulled out a mulitcolored cloth all folded up. Ash walked over to Gaul who bent
the lance down carefully towards the girl. As Ash unfolded the cloth, Axel recognized the
pennant. It was a copy of their original they had lost long ago in a canyon when all her
men died.

The pennant in place on the lance, Gaul called out,

"Mount up and form on me!" Ash giggled, grabbed her pup, and hopped on the sled.
The sled was her post. The other riders moved their horses around and formed a line two
horses wide, some behind the sled some in front. Once they had formed, Gaul looked
around for Axel. She was on her white and spotted mount. Her helmet fully assembled--
the veil was up. Only her baby blue eyes were visible. She caught on to their game. Inside
her helmet, her face was red. Blushing? or memories? She moved up to Gaul, he saluted as
he knew she had been used to.

"The company is formed Ma'am." he barked.

Axel returned Gaul's salute and winded. She was smiling ear to ear behind her mask.
She didn't say anything, just turned around and headed for the south gate. Gaul barked
commands to follow. He and the others had been up to mischief while Axel and Ash had
packed the sled. As the company rode through town people came out to watch. They
didn't now why they watched, but warriors leaving on a journey were always a sight to
see. No one cheered or waved. They just watched.

The warriors had traveled far that day before the sun began to set. They had made it to
the south shore and had begun to skirt it around to the east. They would have to spend their
first night out in the cold. They camped in a small knoll in the land where they found some
dry wood for a fire. A lost mule deer was a luck find. They would have fresh meat for a
few days. Around friendly camp fires they found warmth and comfort in long tales and
shared food. Occasionally, Hegthor would get out his mandolin and delight the group with
on of his songs or limericks. Lara usually joined in with her tambourine. At first Axel was
reluctant to join in, but with enough tugging from Ash and encouraging yelps from the
pup, Axel and Ash would dance around the campfire to the music of their peers.

More snow fell and they had to make a layover in the middle of nowhere during a bliz-
zard. Fortunately, Hegthor could sense the blizzard coming and the company had dug in.
The trick was keeping the horses warm. Somehow they made it through the blizzard with-
out too much harm.

During the blizzard, after the campfire had died down and everyone was asleep. A
familiar voice woke Axel.

"Beware my Axel." it hissed and then was gone. Axel was wide awake. At first she
was not sure she had heard the voice at all, but then after a moment, she knew she must
have.

"Varmen?" she said, "Where are you?" No answer. Only the cold wind. She laid back
down and tried to sleep, but sleep came hard after that.



The next day, the blizzard had lifted and the sun was out shining bright.

"Should make good time today Ma'am." Gaul addressed his commander.

"I plan to." she answered. "Send Lara, Thr, and Hegthor out to the north a bit more.
See if they can't scare up some live food."

"Yes Ma'am." he replied but did not salute. She had told him she was not ready for all
the formalities yet, nor was there the need. If and when their small group started becoming
larger than just them, salutes would be necessary to help with discipline, but that didn't
seem to be a problem yet. The group of hunters went out to see what they could find. The
sled and dogs would stay near the shore so they should be easy to find when the hunters
decided to catch up.

Axel walked to see how Ash was doing with her coat she was trying to sew from some
of the hides they had skinned. The pup, Skadi as Ash had named it, was growing a lot. He
was almost twice as big as when Trix had gotten him. He was healthy too.

Ashley was attempting to tie knots in the cats-gut she had been sewing with. She
seemed to be having trouble so Axel helped her out. Axel examined the coat so far. Not
bad for her first time, Axel thought. She missed a few spots and some of these knots won't
hold, but it is pretty good. Axel told her so. Axel decided to let her find the holes and bad
knots on her own. She would learn to tie them better next time. Ash continued work on her
coat. Axel caught the pup getting into some sacks and ripping them apart. Axel swatted at
the beast and picked supplies up off the wet ground. The she put the items in a spare sack
and threw the torn one to Ash.

"Your mutt broke the sack, you need to fix it." Ash let the sack fall to the ground. "Did
you hear me, Ash?" Axel walked over to the girl.

"He's not a mutt! He's part wolf! Fix your own sack." Ash kicked the sack. Axel
removed a glove and slapped Ashley across the face.

"Don't ever use that tone with me or anyone else until you wear my shoes." Axel told
her, "Do you understand me?" Ash just ran off and began crying.

"I didn't hit her that hard." Axel said more to herself than anyone else. Trix walked up.

"She's having it kinda rough right now. We've been gone from Welvahagen a couple
of weeks now. She's getting homesick."

"How can you tell?" Axel looked confused.

"Because I am. It is one thing to go out and hunt down a dragon expecting to return,
but your not planning on ever coming back here are you?" Trix replied. Axel didn't
answer.

He took the sack and went to find Ash. Axel busied herself rearranging things on the
sled. She had not asked Ash to come with them A moment later Ash showed up with the
sack. Trix was not far behind.

"I'm sorry. I will fix the sack and may more attention to Skadi, he is my responsibil-
ity." Ashley said with her head down, not looking at Axel. Axel looked at Trix and then
bent down to Ash, put her hand under her chin and lifted Ashley's eyes to meet hers.

"I'm sorry too. I have just been on edge lately. Some things are not going quite as I
planned."

"The food. I know. Everything will be okay." Axel reached out with the other arm and
drew Ash close and hugged her. Then she stood up and patted Ash on the back.

"Go finish your coat!" Axel told her. "Fix the sack when you are done." Axel walked
over to Trix.

"I don't think raising kids is easy." she told him.

"It never is." "You seem to know a lot about it."

"I used to be a father." She looked at him funny.

"Two daughters and a son." he paused. "They and my wife Chellie were in the city
when the dragons came. I was gone. I can't help but blame myself for what happened."

"Had you been there, you wouldn't be here now."

"That is what I keep trying to tell myself." he walked away.



Soon, they broke camp and headed down the coastline. It was dusk before the hunting
party caught up, but it was worth the wait. They had bagged twenty rabbits, two foxes, a
possum they would use as dog food, and two mule deer. That would last them a while. The
dogs had a hay-day with the possum. Hegthor taught Ash how to skin rabbits and foxes.
She didn't stick around to help with the deer. They sang and danced that night around their
campfire. This time Axel did not get merry. She spent the night reflecting and thinking.
Thr shared turns dancing with Ash and Lara. Trix had fashioned a tom-tom drum from
some stretched hide and some logs he'd found. Lara and Thr reenacted how they tracked
down the deer. Thr did a better deer than Lara. Axel sat, watched, and listened.