| 1 |  | The trio move through Skytorn Mountains, past huge trees. Above them on a ledge is a large muscular Elfheimbane who states that the law claims only one of the Elfheimbane shall walk away. In Evarmohr, Greylone claims past, present, and future mingle. Windy is cold. Ravenclaw asks Cloudshadow via a crystal ball held up by three skeletons that she must get rid of Greylone. As she talks to Ravenclaw, behind her, a tentacled, green slime thing is grabbing a youth who is shirtless and in his underwear, one tentacle covering his mouth. Greylone is pulled out of this world and vanishes. Hawk sets Windy to run but the white haired boy runs into Toad of Shadow Market who is doing business with a Srith. A sleazy part of the capital Greenhaven is Shadow Market where Falcon (now wearing a patch on his right eye), Purebreeze and Brolo are. Ravenclaw's agents gave mustard haired Fenris gold. He and his elf—youths and a gang of older elves (he and his orange haired pal are much younger and seem to be page boys with Purebreeze and Falcon) are not to let the trio past Dragonteeth Rapids. Sparrow has everything ready for the journey. Two bald boys pull a fat elf in a cart on wheels and load barrels. One wears a vest and briefs, the other a loin cloth and sandals with a brown jacket. A gang attacks the trio; one kicking Brolo between the legs. Falcon sticks his sword into the chest of another, smiling. The tip is blood red. Purebreeze tells a blackhaired older elf, "Move!" as she splits his belly open, ripping his shirt and belly open at the same time! She also swishes across the fat one's pants and they fall——the fat one who started the fight. It is difficult to tell but an arrow hits into the chest of an elf boy who might have been on Falcon's side or it might have been Fenris (NOTE: it turns out to be Falcon's guide boy). A major free for all breaks out with the bald boys getting into it; Brolo on top one, squashing him and opening his jacket inadvertently, as they are pushed over a rail as the other with a knife is on his shoulders. A page pushes the raft away from the dock. Brolo dives for it but the fat one jumps on his head. Purebreeze sticks her sword into his belly, "You are beginning to tire me, oaf." The page boys pull Brolo up onto the raft. An arrow passing by Brolo's head hits a barrel, revealing a rat being named Garth, who was one of the names the fat one called out as wanting to get back at——yelling something about Rat smugglers. Fenris and the orange haired boy now seem to be part of the raft group and the pair plot to kill Rat, who must hears all the gossip in Shadow Market. The fat man who was pulled by the bald boys is called Grimwart. He claims he didn't know the Rat was in his barrel. Beneath Skytorn Mountains, Windy is carried through a maze of torture and agony as Sriths have many named elf boys, some with long tails on the back of their hair, some in rags and remainders of their shorts and underwear, some completely naked, working. One boy is being carried, his hands and feet tied to awooden stick held by two Srith. Boys move rocks, use picks, and sticks. Other boys are tied to wooden brackets and poles, ready to be burned at a fireplace oven. A Srith puts his blade against a boy's neck, telling him his pure Elfie blood will cool a new blade just come out of the fire. Boys are on the ground nearby. Others on the poles have swords in devices which are aimed at their bellies. A sword or the Srith with the knife stabs one boy. With Ravenclaw and the trolls, the Srith will march as Cloudshadow protects them. Cloudshadow tells Ravenclaw that he is fool, Hawk is alive but the law tells them there can be only one. Hawk is moving down steps. He kills several Srith. He sees slave boys pushing a cart of rocks, worrying that if they hurt Windblade. Windblade is one of the boys on the pole now. Others are too weak to work so their blood will cool the blades. Greylone's face appears and tells Windy that something is holding him from coming back. Windy ducks from the knife thrust of the Srith that is tormenting him, using his powers to break free of the double bonds holding his arms and wrists up. As the Srith puts a blade to Windy's neck from behind, Ravenclaw tells him to hold. Hawk appears and the two says, "There can be only one." Windy is free and runs over boys, leaving other boys tied up. Greylone grabs Windy into the shadows as the Srith passes. In the fortress is a sorcery stone which she uses to communicate with Ravenclaw. Her power is channeled through it. Windy hears Cloudshadow calling to him and is put into a trance of some kind, hearing her song and feeling it is beautiful. Greylone tells him to snap out of it, Cloudshadow is taking control of his mind.
Art: Barry Blair, with help from Pat McEown, Eiwin Mark, Don Lanouette. |
