Beneath Heavens Helm.



The sun, although up couldn’t break through the thick mist and fog that seemed to envelope the entire valley floor. And as Falco, Sylvie and Chelti Demio traveled the path that would take them directly into Goyth, Falco wondered almost out loud where Asa had gotten himself off to. He would occasionally find himself looking up and over his shoulder behind them to check for signs of the King of Gosia, but he was nowhere to be seen. Chelti smiled while muttering out loud in Falco’s direction.
“Not to worry my friend, I think your friend the king, is quite capable of taking care of himself.”
All three shared a laugh, until Chelti suddenly pulled rein on his animal stopping abruptly. He stared deep into the mist as if his wandering eyes were searching for a spirit. Falco and Sylvie both pulled up beside him.
“Chelti? What is it Man?” Falco asked in almost a whisper.
He leaned towards his two companions.
“Didn’t you hear that?.. Just then, a voice.. Distant yet unmistakable through the mist over there.” he raised a finger and pointed.
A gruff voice almost growling, echoed in the distance. Now it was Falco who was puzzled. He too slightly recognized the distant voice, but could not outwardly put a name to it. He nodded to Chelti.
“I too know this voice Chelti.”
“ The voice is deep.” Sylvie added. “Perhaps it is Asa having a game with us father.”
It was getting closer.. Close enough to hear it having what appeared to be an argument. But with who?
“Foul Beast!” the voice growled. “I prompt you north and you go west.. At this rate I shall complete my journey when I’m ninety! Ah ho! But still for all of your sabotage and trickery, I have still managed a successful and bountiful hunt!”
It is then that the gruff warm voice stops Chelti Demio dead in his tracks. For he knows the voice to be that of Modo Demio his dearly departed Father.

Modo's Long Ride.



Falco seemed confused as he leaned forward in his saddle. Chelti looked as white as a ghost, unable to speak at the prospect of seeing the ghost of his father, he nervously looked in the direction of Falco and his daughter.
“Falco! it is the ghost of my father Modo Demio!”
The voice yelled great disdain at the sentiment.
“Ghost? Bah!.. Though Modo Demio I be ! .. a ghost most certainly not!”
“Father??.. Is it really you?? It is I Chelti Demio! Your Son!! I was told that you were dead!”
The form of a crusty looking Modo Demio appeared through the mist and fog.
“Told I was deceased were you then?.. By a scoundrel no doubt. Who would propose such a lie as this My son?”
Chelti, Falco and Sylvie were all now grinning from ear to ear.
“A scoundrel indeed my father, and a cowardly one to boot. A man named Felstus Crowe told me so!”
Modo snarled and made a fidgeting noise as he slowly climbed down from his animal to give his only son a proper greeting.
“Hmmmph! Coward.. Scoundrel.. Moron.. All fitting titles for such a cad as Felstus Crowe.”
The two shared a warm but brief embraced as Falco and Sylvie dismounted to greet Modo Demio.
“Well.. As I live and breathe, if it isn’t my old friend from the guard Falco Trinity!”
The two shook hands, and greeted each other warmly. They decided to make camp to wait for Asa to catch up with them and give the Demio’s a chance to catch up.
“Father why would that cad Felstus tell me you were dead if it weren’t so?”
Modo scratched his bearded chin thoughtfully.
“Though his manipulations are many, his intentions are kept rather well guarded I’m afraid.. Perhaps a guess?”
They all nodded.
“Well it is largely known throughout the area that where you find the Dragon Asa you will find yet another one of Felstus old nemesis’s, Falco Trinity. Perhaps he was trying to direct your anger in Falco’s direction.”
“But father, where did he get your medallion from the royal guard?”
Modo produced a medallion from his pocket.
“No. the necklace is broken.. But I still have mine. Perhaps the medallion was his own.”
Falco stood to face his old friend Modo.
“I am relieved to see you still in the land of the living Modo my friend.. But we still have the matter of Felstus and his men bearing down on the village of Goyth to deal with.”

Scratch. A.B.T Copyright © 2007.

From the Mountains to the Valley.



He had pushed himself to the very edge of the heavens themselves, to where the air was cold and thin, and each breath his lungs took in was a labor in and of itself. And yet his body moved through the air with a grace that defied his massive frame. The king of Gosia, rose above the clouds to where the sun was slowly surrendering its precious light to the falling of the dusk, now he pulled at himself, his snout dipping into the clouds, his wings, his entire body following suit, and when he broke free of them he slowed his sudden descent and stayed just below them. “Patience Dragon,” he thought to himself, “be mindful of your distance.. If they see you.. The game is up.” He stayed far enough up so they couldn’t see him, but he never let the fifteen riders bearing down on the village of Goyth, out of his sight. To the east now on fresh animals, Falco, Sylvie and Chelti Demio, were in the mountain passes of Heavens Helm, following a trail that would take them to Goyth, a full six hours ahead of Felstus and his band of toadies, a trail that Falco had known all too well, having traversed it many times before. He and Chelti had before their journey, a brief but successful hunt , and it allowed them to replenish their dwindling food supply, while Sylvie replenished the water supply in the fresh water springs beneath Gosia, she filled all twelve of the leather water sacks, more than enough to complete the journey ahead. Fresh food, fresh water, fresh rested minds, even still Asa would fly over to cast a watchful eye on them from time to time, to ensure safe passage, through the sometimes hostile terrain. The sun slowly made its way behind the horizon and his vision improved twenty fold, he could see the fifteen riders veering slightly off course heading for the edge of the Gentry, he circled back around, on his third pass he could see the faint flickering of fire pits being formed at the edge of the Gentry, Felstus and his brood, had no doubt stopped for the night to rest, leaving Asa ample time to return to Heavens Helm to see to the aid of Falco, Sylvie and Chelti Demio. He landed quietly, directly behind them, and there they were the three huddled by a fire no doubt of Falco’s making. Sylvie lay nestled sleeping, while Falco discussed plans for Felstus with Chelti.
“What will you do, when you come face to face with Felstus Chelti?”
He stared into the fire as if searching for some unseen answer to offer up to Falco for his question. Asa lowered his head down to them and interjected softly into the conversation.
“Yes young sir.. What indeed?”
“Of this, I cannot be certain Asa, Falco.. my mind is not steady when thoughts of my fathers murderer are conjured, I am not certain of what will occur .”

Dragon Speak.



He slowly lowered his snout down next to where Sylvie lay sleeping, gently he nudged the end of the blanket up around her.
“Innocence.. Is fleeting. Is it not Falco?”
He stared into the eyes of the king of Gosia, but offered him no immediate reply.
“ It seems like a short time ago my friend, when Sylvie was so little.. Barely as tall as the flowers that she use to pick in the Choctaw meadows near the Gentry. Look at her now.. Grown into a beautiful flower herself she has.”
His eyes turned slowly in the direction of Chelti.
“And to where has your innocence disappeared young Chelti Demio?.”
He did not answer.
“Such sadness.. Such anger.. I see in your eyes.” he moved closer to Chelti now looking at him directly.
“Now hatred is it?… Innocence… Fleeting indeed. Be mindful of such feelings young sir, your hatred may blind you, be it the scorn of your soul.. It will lead you to madness, control you, consume you it will, and in the end, such ill will.. Shall be your undoing young sir.”
“Is it wrong to want justice for my father King of Gosia?”
Asa’s eyes narrowed.
“Justice?… Or revenge?”
“I want to be looking him in the eyes.. I want to see the fear when I -”
“Kill him Chelti?”
He lowered his head.
“ And how will this serve your fathers memory?”
Silence.
“When you have him under your blade.. What thoughts will cross your mind Chelti?. When you take his life for the same reason that he took your fathers.. Where will that put your soul Chelti? And where will you fit into the memories of those that YOU leave behind, when you pass from this world into the next?.. You must be careful young sir.. Not to become the very thing that which you most despise ”
For a few moments a strange uncomfortable silence overcame them, with both Falco and Chelti each analyzing their own thoughts, until Asa rose again to leave.
“I will see you in Goyth, I must now return to the valley to watch over our flock as it were.. Eh Falco?”
“Yes Asa.. Tomorrow then.”

Scratch.. A.B.T Copyright © 2007

In The Beginning.



The journey on horseback, back down the slope of the mountain was slow going at first, and they could feel Gosia’s icy cold breath nipping at their backs like a hungry carnivore. With their cloaks wrapped tightly about them, they braved the cold as the caverns where Asa and Sylvie awaited their arrival were only two hours ride from them. As they rode Falco regaled young Chelti Demio with the story of how his friendship with the king of Gosia came to be. It was a time when he was a much younger man, when the lure of wealth would pay a handsome price for the head of an adult male Dragon, so he and others if only for a brief moment in time, banded together to hunt and kill them for bounty. There were two within the first month that they had taken the lives of, but there came a more vicious dragon, an older one who hunted men, he chased Falco and his fellowship into the woods several times during the fall, until winters cold bite came calling. It was only then that they would be able to return to the feet of Gosia to continue their hunt for the head of the Dragon they came to know as “Scratch.” when they had found him again one week later he seemed much more frail now but was no longer alone, there was a gray Dragon with him. And when the elder came at them again from the skies of the meadow, it was Falco’s own spear that struck it in the heart causing it to fall from the sky. After they had stripped its flesh from it Falco had somehow realized that the dragon was already dying, when he had taken its life. They then took the chase to the younger Dragon, who took them up the side of Gosia herself, when all around him perished in her breath, Falco alone survived, he knelt before the gray Dragon expecting to die, only to lose consciousness and awaken the next morning back in the meadow at the feet of Asa. “I killed his father,” Falco told Chelti. “And yet in all of his young wisdom, Asa spared my life.”
Chelti pulled rein on his animal and studied him.
“You killed Asa’s father?.. And he let you live?… WHY?”
Falco stopped and looked at Chelti square in the eye.
“The true nature of violence is mans alone Chelti, to kill for a price, for profit, to kill for sport, to take a life regardless of its true value, mans violence towards his own species, towards others, is self perpetuating, as long as there is a profit to be made of it, the cycle of violence continues. By letting me live, Asa was choosing life over death, my life Chelti, I live because the king of Gosia allowed it. For me the cycle ended when I no longer would allow my soul to be corrupted by wealth. I take what I need to survive from the land Chelti, nothing, more. ”
Chelti lowered his head remembering his own father.
“Why do you think Felstus killed my father?”
Falco stopped again to address the question.
“Men like Felstus live in constant fear of anything that challenges their courage, he will never take the high road and forgive and forget, he will always feed from the strength of others who will gladly do his bidding for a price, and he will never soil his own hands unless it is an easy kill. More than likely he recognized your father long before your father realized who he was. And he more than likely stole the life from him while his back was turned. He killed your father for the same reason he will try to kill me.. Revenge.”

Death's Whisper.



The snow was getting thinner as the approached the valley floor as they were now about fourty five minutes from where Asa and Sylvie were waiting. It was there at the feet of Gosia that something began to pull at them, a strange feeling of sadness that Chelti and Falco both could feel the undeniable presence of. They turned off of the trail and headed towards the small gathering of trees about two hundred yards out, it was there where they discovered the half naked body of a young girl . Falco dismounted to examine her.
“There are deep bruise’s on her upper thighs, I am thinking that she was raped repeatedly, someone’s prisoner that had outlived their usefulness.”
Chelti closed his eyes and tried to recall the first moment that he saw Felstus emerge from the hut, his shirt unbuttoned, and the first button on his trousers as well. Had Felstus had his way with this girl? In his young mind he wondered, in silence at first, but then in the slightest moments passing he had decided to share his thoughts with Falco. He studied Chelti for a moment.
“And you think this girl was in Felstus’s hut being raped?”
“I suspect it so.. Yes Falco.”
He rose to his feet and looked down at the girl.
“We will wrap her in my blanket and take her body to the caverns where the ground is not frozen, we will make her a grave there, come Chelti help me wrap her.”
It was then that Chelti looked to the sky to see the form of Asa circling above them, such a sight still made him uneasy, he prodded Falco slightly in the side and nodded towards the sky.
“I think someone is looking for us.”
He stepped into the clearing and waved both hands to Asa, who was slowing making his descent towards the ground. Asa knelt down to speak to Falco.
“There is a group of riders, perhaps three leagues from here, riding towards the village of Goyth, fifteen riders in all Falco.”
“We have found the body of a young girl Asa, she has been raped and murdered I think, Chelti thinks it is the work of a man named Felstus.”
“And what do you think Falco?”
He turned to look in the direction of the body.
“I must concur, it appears to be the work of a deviant and a coward, both of which Felstus most certainly is.”
Asa stared into the distance, and then returned his attention to Falco and Chelti.
“If those men ride steady, it will still take them two and one half days to reach Goyth, it will be safe through this day and perhaps tomorrow as well Falco. Your daughter has built a fire and is cooking your evenings meal not far from here, let us bury your dead here in the meadows, amongst the trees where she will know a peace not of this world. I will help you place her body in the earth my friend.”

Scratchwork’s… A.B.T Copyright © 2007.

Hunters.



He paced them at about two hundred yards out, as they made their way along the foothills of mount Gosia, the snow fall made it difficult to keep an eye on the snow beasts that had been trailing them for the last three leagues. But Falco knew that the beasts themselves would also have a difficult time of it as humans wearing fur clothing would be hard to spot as well. He kept them downwind just in case the six of them picked up the scent of his daughter Sylvie and Chelti and he himself as well. If the giant cat like beasts had decided to make them a meal, they would have a time of getting away unscathed. The closer they got to the first turn around the Hooves bend the cats began to close on them, and Falco knew that if they were to survive they would have to brave higher ground and much colder temperatures. He turned to face his two companions.
“They are closing on us young Chelti, tighten your cloak about you and cover your face, we will have to go higher to survive this day, they are much faster in the snow than our animals, we cannot out run them, and if we stand and try to fight we will surely be made a meal of, ride up my friend.. We must go up or perish.”
Forty five yards up the incline, disaster struck, as Sylvie’s animals legs gave out from under her, she fell in the snow forcing him and Chelti to pull rein and administer aid to her. The wind began to increase its own assault on them, as Falco now knew that they would have little choice in the matter, they could go no further up, and they could not go back down as the six snow beasts had closed the distance between them to a paltry fifty yards. He studied Chelti for any signs of fear.
“We can go no further young sir, any suggestions that you may offer in this instance would seriously be taken into consideration.”
Chelti studied the terrain.
“We cannot go up?”
“No.. the terrain has become much too steep for our animals.”
“And we cannot go down?”
His eyes rolled up slightly, as he nodded his head towards the snow beasts who were now closing in on thirty five yards.
“Nooooo… Going down doesn’t seem likely either now does it?”
Chelti angrily drew his sword.
“Then brave Falco.. I say we fight to the last breath to make them OUR meal!”
Him smiled slowly.
“Well. It doesn’t look as though we have much choice, Stand beside me Daughter?”
Sylvie smiled at her father drawing her own sword, but the unexpected again reared its head, as the snow beasts closed just inside of twenty yards from their would be prey, they ceased their advance. In fact they began to back away.

The King Of Gosia.



Falco cast Chelti and his daughter a confused look, as the beasts studied them from now forty yards away. They paced almost nervously watching the three humans as though searching for another way to acquire them as a meal. slowly, the largest of the six began to make its way back up the incline towards them, but stopped again after only twenty feet, it reared its head skyward and began to cower. It was then that Falco realized what was happening. Chelti looked at it.
“Why do they fear us so suddenly Falco?”
He smiled warmly.
“It is not us they fear Chelti.”
“If not us, what then?”
“Not what, young sir… Who.”
Chelti seemed more confused than ever, as they huge gray shadow swooped from the sky and snatched the snow beast from the ground and returned skyward with blinding speed, the vision took his breath from him, and he could feel the sword trembling in his hands as he slowly tried to raise it.
“My Lord man! What in heavens name was that?”
Falco calmly placed his hand over the top of Chelti’s, and slowly pushed his sword down.
“You’ll have no need for that Chelti, not in the presence of the king of Gosia.”
Chelti’s eyes widened as he witnessed the large gray figure coming closer almost as if it were a large dark angel coming to take him home, and when it landed twenty five feet right in front of him he thought his heart would leap from his chest. Falco walked calmly towards the large gray Dragon, and gave it an almost human greeting, the Dragon slowly lowered its head to peer at Chelti Demio. And in the deepest calming voice that he had ever heard it spoke to him.
“And just who might you be young sir?”
Chelti’s only response to the Dragon’s question was a blank stare. Sylvie on the other hand was very happy to see her fathers friend Asa.
“Thank you Asa, We thought that perhaps we would have to face those nasty beasts alone.” she told him.
He lowered his head to get a better look at Falco’s daughter, and then he slowly looked Chelti up and down.
“My how you have grown! you are not my little Sylvie anymore ay?”
She calmly placed her hand on Asa’s snout, as Falco called out to him from down the hill, he slowly turned his head to face his friend.
“Asa my friend, you sure saved our backsides, but I’m afraid Sylvie’s animal did not fare as well. It is dead I’m afraid.”
“And what of yours and the young mans animals? Have they enough strength to carry you?”
“Yes, king of Gosia, But I fear neither of them are strong enough to carry two people.”
Asa reared his head and looked down the mountainside.
“Can you and he make it back down the mountain to the caverns if I carry Sylvie?”
Falco nodded.
“Yes I believe so.. It may take us two or three hours though. But we will make it. I have stripped the animal of all of my daughters valuables, will they be a burden to you my friend?”
Asa chuckled warmly almost forcing a smile to Chelti’s face. The large gray Dragon lowered his head, and instructed Sylvie to grab her belongings and climb aboard his back. He turned once again to face Falco.
“Your lovely daughter and I, will see you in the caverns.”

Scratchworks A.B.T Copyright © 2007.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In The Breath Of Gosia.



And so it began at the dawn of the next morning, when young Chelti Demio had set out to mount Gosia to find the Dragon called Asa. Despite the warnings of Felstus and his men, he decided that he simply could not let it stand. His fathers life had to be avenged no matter the cost to him or a Dragons life, and so he rode, through the place of the great standing stones, and through the towering emerald trees of the Gentry forest and out the other side. On through the days and nights he pushed his animal to the brink of exhaustion, until he found himself at the very feet of the angry mountain called Gosia, where the wind howled cold and harsh, her icy breath, and the very land beneath him seemed to cry out in pain for Gosia’s mercy. Still he pushed on until he came to a cave that he might use as refuge from the angry mountains elements, inside this cave, there was warmth, and a faint light that flickered from deep within its belly. He dismounted from the animal and let it rest near the entrance, and carefully, Chelti drew closer to the light until he saw the fire burning in a small circle of stones, with freshly cooked meat hanging over it, it was then that he once again realized, that he was not alone. He looked around but saw nothing and despite the familiar rumblings of hunger in his stomach, he left the meat untouched and slowly sat down resting his back against the wall. He quickly fell asleep in the company of the warm fire, but was soon awakened with a start at the touch of a cold steel blade to his throat.
“Comfortable I take it young sir?”
He opened his eyes to see the young woman holding the blade to his throat, she wasn’t tall by any means, perhaps a bit over five feet, with flowing red hair that seemed as vibrant as the fire itself, falling along both shoulders. She was covered in fur , and the only thing being exposed was her beautiful face.
“By who’s permission do you sit by my fathers fire?”
He slowly looked her up and down and then back again.
“I am sorry miss, I have been traveling many days and nights without rest, it was warm here and so I sat until the owner of this fire returned, I hadn‘t intended on falling to sleep.”
She sat down directly across from him and poked at the fire with her blade and then used it to pierce a small portion of meat, which she tossed to Chelti by flicking her sword at him.
“So.. Do you have a name young traveler?”
“I am Chelti Demio.”
She smiled.
“I am Sylvie, daughter of Falco. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. ”

Another Truth.



One hour had passed when the figure of Falco appeared next to the fire by Sylvie’s side. He pondered young Chelti's appearance for a moment before turning to her.
“Daughter, what stray have you brought home this time?” he laughed.
She rose to greet him.
“He is a traveler that only seeks the warmth of your fire my father.”
He looked down at Chelti, the smile slowly faded, and now the look was that of concern.
“And what brings you to the feet of Gosia young traveler?” Falco asked.
Chelti stood.
“I have come for the head of the Dragon called Asa!” he answered.
Falco studied him in silence, a look of puzzlement slowly spread across his face.
“You seek to kill Asa?”
Chelti was becoming more agitated at the thought of hearing the Dragons name.
“He killed my Father, in a village near the grasslands. Burnt him alive he did.”
“ASA?”
“Yes Falco.. Asa did.”
Falco rose, now becoming slightly agitated himself.
“And you know this how young sir?”
“There was a group of men that I rode upon, in the village remains, their leader, he told me.”
“And does this leader of men have a name?”
“He is Felstus.”
“Felstus Crowe?.. A tall man with long black hair and brooding dark eyes?”
“Yes.” Chelti answered. “With a long scar that travels the length of his cheekbone. Why? Do you know him?”
“Yes.. I do.” Falco answered. “We were both members of the kings guard, he, and I along with four others were sent by the king to the edge Pantheras. We were attacked by a group of Panthrans, three guardsmen were killed, Felstus froze in battle like a coward, I fought but was injured, and one man amongst us fought back the remaining four Panthrans. When we returned to the kings court a tribunal removed Felstus from active duty, and found him guilty of cowardice. He never forgave Modo Demio or me for our testimonials. Soon afterwards he joined the order of the black Hand. A guild of thieves and murderers of the lowest sort.”
Chelti stood in awe of Falco’s tale.
“Modo Demio was my father.”
Falco stood and placed his hand on Chelti’s shoulder.
“Young sir, I have fought beside your father, he was a great man, but with the gods as my witnesses, I would bet that Felstus is behind this. You have been deceived my friend, by a professional liar.”
“And how do you know that the Dragon did not do this Falco?”
There was less anger in the way he spoke of the Dragon now.
“Because young sir.” Falco told him. “Asa The Dragon is my friend.”

Scratchworks… A.B.T Copyright © 2007.

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