Hallo there readers of TP! ^_^

Well, Instead of working on TP5-9, I wound up doing a beginning to TP10. 
*rolls eyes* Ah well, you work with your creative drives, not against them.

Another reason I'm starting TP10 early is that I think it will be bigger 
than TP3 in the end. @_@ I'll work on TP5-9 with TP10 on the side. *grin*

I'd love C+C on what I've done so far since this is NOT in an anime. ^_^ 
This is starting from almost scratch, and I need to think on this world more.
Also, Twister is of a slightly darker nature(I'm putting his age around 500)

Anyway, tell me what you think.

Twisted Path 10 - NEW WORLD/AD&D type

Chapter One
-----------

     Kellistra's eyes turned along with most of the other patrons
at the entrance of the stranger. The tavern's usual occupants had
gotten somewhat used to the female elf in their midst and someone
new was always a good source of gossip - and entertainment.
However, the ominous-looking black cloak the newcomer wore
prevented much close scrutiny though the pack he carried allowed
the black boots to be seen. Her eyebrows went higher when he pulled
back the hood to reveal handsome man's face, grinning at the stares
focused his way. He seemed around twenty years or so, a human just
in his prime, but a blink compared to her own long lifespan.
     "Must not be many bards around for my arrival to be this much
of an event," he joked and headed for the counter where Wolster the
tavern owner waited patently. The brown-haired man immediately
started up a low discussion with the former mercenary as they
discussed the cost of room and board.
     "Lady!"
     At the desperate note of that plea, Kel's attention was
reluctantly diverted to young man sitting on the opposite side of
her table, the look in his eyes had progressed to hopelessness.
Chonlis Hillsrun was the son of the weaponsmaster of the small town
of Lostgate. His clothes were well-made, unlike most in the town,
but his broad shoulders and toned body showed that a comfortable
lifestyle had not made him soft, at least in body.
     The elf sighed. "While I have been hired to escort someone to
Blaze, and I am looking for someone suitable to accompany us for
safety, your father has already said that you may not come with us,
young Lord," she told him politely, but knew that he would not
accept that.
     Chon slammed his palms on the table in frustration as he
glared into Kel's emerald eyes. "I am NOT letting Lyrina go without
me to a red dragon's domain, contract or no contract! Father may
have told me not to go, but I'll be damned by the Gods if I'll stay
here. I have heard enough tales about dragons to know that you
don't trust a red one."
     "Apparently, your Council does," the elf pointed out calmly.
"They have had a pact with Blaze for a hundred years and the dragon
has not attacked this town since."
     "Then why do most of the adults look away from me when I ask
about the Pact?" the young warrior pressed, worry on his face.
     "I do not know," Kel replied, though she had her suspicions
about the reasons why it would be so. The Council had been far too
pleased to have a strange elf show up just in time to escort Lyrina
the apprentice mage to the dragon to her liking. Feelings or no,
she had her own reasons for wanting to see Blaze. Rough laughter
turned her attention elsewhere, Chonlis reluctantly following her
eyes.
     The newcomer was reluctantly facing what most strangers faced
when arriving in The Opulent Hog: Vongrun the Brawler. The man was
over seven feet tall, four feet across at the shoulders, and
bulging muscle rippling all over his massive frame. It was said he
wrestled bears and trees for fun, neither lasted long.
     "Was it something I said?" the strange man asked curiously,
eliciting another deep bellow of laugher from the mighty Vongrun.
     "Young fellow asks where to buy a sword!" Vongrun chuckled
with his thunder-like voice. Tanned skin rippled as he flexed his
arms. "Where did your old one go, or did your mother say you could
not play with it today?"
     The stranger cocked his head, examining the monstrously huge
human blatantly smirking at him. "I suppose it has gone where all
lost swords go. Or did you find it outside and found it an
excellent tool for buggering yourself?" he asked the brawler, mirth
underlying his mild tone. Chon's eyes went wide in horror even as
Kel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 
     The tavern went dead silent as Vongrun incredulously stared
down at the one who had insulted him. Then his face turned a
murderous red and with a roof-shuddering roar launched his powerful
body at the soon-to-be dead man, ready to crush the life from the
smaller man. Kel thought the human male had made a terrible mistake
in insulting the big man.
     So what happened next was unexpected.
     Ducking the massive arms, the stranger gripped Vongrun's tunic
and belt firmly as the brawler fell over him and, in a surprising
maneuver, flipped the much larger man over himself. The floor shook
as Vongrun's heavy body smashed into it, temporarily knocking the
wind from him. The new man shook his head pityingly as he warily
watched the muscle-bound fighter recover and slowly stand on his
tree-trunk legs.
     "I'm the strongest man around and no fancy trick will fool me
twice!" Vongrun growled, expression murderous. 
     "True strength does not come from the size of one's muscles,"
the strange man retorted, a wry twist coming to his lips for an
unknown reason.
     "Oh?" Vongrun sneered and opened his arms wide. "Let me see
your 'true strength' then, little man, before I crush your bones!"
The rough men in the tavern laughed and the brawny man smirked,
confident that nothing this doomed fool could do would even bother
him.
     The stranger nodded, then flashed forward to crouch at the
brawler's feet. Only to sharply uncoil in a vertical leap, right
fist high, and straight into Vongrun's jaw. 
     Those watching gaped in disbelief as the massive man's body,
over three hundred pounds at least, was propelled a good three feet
off the ground. Landing easily on his feet, the cloaked stranger
landed a few feet away from where Vongrun, now possessing a broken
jawbone, crashed down on the shuddering floorboards. This time the
big man did not rise.
     His drinking companions did not take kindly to their champion
losing so easily and three hefty men rose from their seats, hands
going for weapons. 
     Flicking his gloved hand, the stranger threw a glowing
projectile at the closest one. Magical energy crackled over his
stiffened form before he fell to the ground, unconscious. The
others froze at the sign of magic.
     "He's only out cold," the hazel-eyed stranger told his
comrades. "Like the one who won't be speaking for a while. I'd
prefer not to fight," those same eyes glittered coldly at them,
"but I will finish one so please take your friends and leave for
some other place where you can care for them properly." He watched
the nervous men nod and drag the unconscious two out of the tavern,
the still form of Vongrun making two of them strain. When they were
gone he sighed and shook his head before looking around to make
sure no one else had any ideas. He blinked when he saw the blonde
elf, an odd expression flickering across his face, then grinned.
     Kel kept her resignation in check when the man strolled over
to her table and claimed a chair to sit on, ignoring the uncertain
Chon completely to the young human's annoyance. Saying nothing at
first, the brown-haired stranger examined the elf thoroughly, eyes
flicking from her face, what he could see of her body, and
lingering on her ears. It was irritating even though it was without
the usual lust she saw in most human males reactions.
     "I've guessed you've never seen an elf before, but are you
done yet?"
     Her examiner started at her sharp tone. "My pardon," he
apologized, "but you're right in that I haven't seen a true elf
before. You are very beautiful, lady elf." He smiled easily. "My
name is Darryl Storm, but I prefer to be called Twister. And you
are...?"
     "Kellistra Lallovana," Kel replied back, and nodded Chon's way
to redirect the stranger's attention. "This is Chonlis Hillsrun,
son of the local weaponsmaster."
     "It's very rare to see Vongrun defeated, but I've never heard
anyone doing it so quickly!" Chon exclaimed. An eager light glowed
in his eyes as he leaned towards the new arrival. "Where did you
learn to fight like that?"
     The man who called himself Twister shrugged. "Friend of mine
taught me how to fight when I was much younger and I picked it up
pretty quickly."
     "And your magic?" 
     "Oh that?" Twister laughed. "A good trick, but it's part of my
getup." He held up his hands, displaying the black gloves he wore.
"Doubles as good set of enchanted armour too since it includes my
cloak and outer clothes. Gift from another friend of mine," he
explained. "I lost my sword while travelling. Know of a good place
to get a new one?"
     "Yes, but I'm curious as to why you've come here. Would you
care to tell us?"
     Twister shrugged again. "No real reason aside from getting to
know the rest of the world my feet tread upon. Does a person need
more than that? I wanted to find out so I left. But, no, I don't
have any plans as of now."
     "In that case," Kel interrupted after a moment's thought, "I
have an offer for you."
     "Oh?" Twister looked intrigued as Chon, suspecting what she
would say, began to sputter.
     "I need someone to accompany me to help guard an apprentice
mage to fulfil her duty for this town, and from what I saw I think
you are capable of handling yourself with a sword quite well."
     "I'm not bad," Twister admitted, then nodded. "Sure, I'll go."
     "What?!" the young fighter demanded at last, pointing at the
cloaked man. "You're taking HIM?? But I- You-" Frustrated, Chonlis
stood up from his chair and nearly ran out of the tavern, leaving
the new arrival blinking in confusion.
     "I suppose I've missed something?" Twister inquired of his new
employer, puzzled, and in response Kel rolled her eyes.
     "Young love," she explained with a grimace. "That young human
is--involved with the young woman we will be escorting to and from
the dragon's lair."
     THAT made Twister sit up straight. "Dragon?! I may not know
much beyond where I live, but I do know a dragon means trouble.
What color?"
     "Red."
     "An evil dragon and primarily a fire breather," he groaned,
slapping a gloved hand on his face. "Of course. What else would I
get involved in on this trek?"
     The elf cocked her head, curious. "I thought you didn't know
much about the world."
     "Lady elf," Twister drawled, "from the tales in my homeland,
it's hard NOT to hear about dragons."
     "True," she conceded.
     "In any case, since you have offered me employment shall we
discuss my pay?" Twister added with a straight face, lips twitching
in amusement. Kel wondered why he would find it so funny.
     To her dismay, she swiftly found out why.

                          *     *     *

     The next day found Chonlis standing in the town's marketplace
with an air of depression about himself. Even after a two hour talk
with his father, his sire still said no to his going with Lyrina.
As a result, Chon's spirits were very low at the moment.
     "Why so glum, chum?"
     The young warrior was so depressed that he did not jump at the
unexpected voice. Turning his head, he saw his friend Hathron
casually walking his way, a grin on his face. The other young man
was of Chon's age, the youngest son of a well-to-do merchant, but
also somewhat of a rogue. He had an unhealthy interest in the
shadier section of town, but that did not hinder their friendship.
In any case, not much in town was missed by the canny merchant's
son eyes. 
     Hathron's usual good spirits turned depression into
irritation. "Banging your head against a stone cliff can do that,
Hath," he growled.
     Throwing his hands up in defense, the shorter statured Hath
backed up a little, mock-cringing. "Not so well, I see," he said
before dropping his hands. "No help from the elf?"
     "She found someone else yesterday. The one who knocked out
Vongrun."
     The other young man winced; almost everyone in town knew about
that impressive feat by now. His friend was a good swordsman, but
to knock out such a mammoth of a man bare-handed... "Maybe he used
magic. I heard he knocked out Olin with it." Chon snorted, but
cheered anyway.
     A noise made both young men look towards the middle of the
marketplace square where a crowd was gathering. After glancing at
each other, the two friends hurried to see what was going on.
Fortunately, people had just started crowding around so they were
able to get close enough to see what was causing the commotion.
     It was Ponton the trader, they found out, back in town from
his circuit through the Unclaimed Lands. The bald and portly trader
had braved the wild roads for many years to achieve a rich
lifestyle. Because of his travels to other towns and villages, he
was one of the main sources of outside information. But it was not
just his arrival that was making people gather.
     For Ponton was no longer bald!
     With a professional smile, the slightly overweight trader
waved off the questions of the townspeople and tried for silence.
Running a hand through his miraculous black hair, he grinned.
"Well, now, I suppose I shall have to tell you how Ponton has hair
once more, eh?" he said with a practiced storyteller's ease.
     "Ye'd better tell us, since yer head used to be as bald as me
chicken's eggs!" someone cried out, making everyone laugh,
including Ponton.
     "To tell the truth," the trader admitted, "it was from no
seeking of my own, but gained through both bad and good luck." He
placed his thumbs in his belt and told his tale.
     "The bad luck happened first. Not four days ago my modest
wagon was attacked by a tribe of Quents." There was a gasp from the
crowd and Ponton nodded. "A ways off from their usual haunts, but
they were there none the less. Perhaps a sign of evil times. Those
savage little, fox-eared, and evil creatures ambushed I and my
guard from the side of the road. Half my men died in the initial
thrust by the vermin, I surviving by ducking into my wagon and
unashamed to say so since I am not a fighting man. Still, I watched
through a hole in my cart and with a sinking heart saw the rest of
my guardians slain. 
     "What could I do? They found me in my wagon and dragged me
outside, tying me up with my own rope as they started rifling
through my precious goods. Perhaps fifty in all appeared from the
trees. I suspected they were sparing me so that I would tell them
if any of my good were magical, but unlike you all here they didn't
know I do not trade in magic.
     "Then... came my rescue, in a most unusual way."
     Ponton grinned and rubbed a hand through his hair.
     "Much to my captors' surprise, my own, and my rescuer's, my
salvation came walking through the forest and right into the middle
of my robbery. And she was a lovely vision indeed." The crowd
murmured in startlement as Ponton elaborated. "Hair red as fire and
possessing a face and body many a man would desire, my saviour
strolled from the trees in clothes such that I had never seen in
all my travels. Eyes blue as the sky widened in surprise as the
Quents, weapons raised, whirled upon her. I called out in dismay to
see a human beauty in such distress. But my distress quickly became
amazement as I witnessed what happened next.
     "The vile murders fired arrows in her direction, but she moved
with such swiftness that their bite never came close. And such
grace! However, that was not all. No, this lass spoke two sharp
words in a foreign tongue even as she moved and lightning flew
forth from her fingertips!"
     Ponton laughed at the memory. "I laugh now, but then I was
terrified even as the ground exploded before the startled Quents'
feet. Swords were one thing, but magic was something they were
unready for. Still, they attempted to overwhelm this fire-haired
mage with their numbers.
     "It was futile. Even as they did so, two more words and she
erected a shimmering barrier around my helpless self. Then the lass
made a light that shone so intensely that I was momentarily
blinded. It was even worse for the keener sighted Quents and, oh,
how they howled in pain!
     "The next thing I knew my bonds were undone and the lass
hurrying me towards my cart. The Quents were in no shape to fight
and the lass seemed disinclined to fight them further. I did not
argue my luck, but instead tossed what they had taken out back in
and got my mules going. Some of the beasts recovered and attempted
to pursue, but my rescuer spoke a long chant and they ran away even
faster, frightened witless by the spell she cast.
     "I paid no attention to the lass until I was sure we were well
away, then I attempted to talk to this surprising beauty.
Unfortunately, she did not know my language, nor any other I had
acquired over the years. Then she used gestures to communicate what
she wanted to try: a spell to learn my tongue. Eager to talk with
this ravishing creature, I agreed.
     "Another long spell and she succeeded, myself feeling like my
brain had been sucked dry. The lass seemed momentarily overwhelmed
herself, then gave me a radiant smile and thanked me in my own
language!" Ponton looked wistful. "Ah, to hear a civilized tongue
coming at last from those lips. After thanking her most profusely
for my rescue I asked who this vibrant creature was.
     "Alas, she would not give her name and told me that a spell
had gone awry, bringing her to our lands instead of another. The
lass considered the giving of language payment enough for saving my
humble life, but she needed money for food and shelter in our
lands. I did not wish repayment, so thankful was I, but she glanced
at my head and cast yet another of her strange spells. 
     "To my wonder, my scalp began to tingle and with my hands I
felt hair sprouting like a crop of wheat on my head. Nor did it
stop until it was the length you see now. The lass laughed merrily
at my expression and asked if this would do, to which I could only
nod dumbly. I gave her enough coin to get by for two to three weeks
by my reckoning. Her smile would have been payment enough, and in
my excitement invited her to travel to this very town. She
accepted."
     Ponton sighed. "Alas, she is not with me now because of my
mortal lust and for daring to touch such an enchantress. The lass
cast a spell to protect our camp and we ate from my stores as I
told her a little about the Unclaimed Lands. All too soon she
desired sleep and lay like an unclaimed rose within my very sheets,
though separate from me. I could not resist when she fell asleep
and touched her hair and, oh, was it so fine to the touch. Daring
greatly, I caressed her cheek. Her skin was so smooth I was loathe
to remove my hand. But my action woke her and she bolted upright in
a fury.
     "I thought my life was over, her eyes did flash so with anger.
But she restrained herself and asked my cowering form what I was
doing. I confessed my attraction to her beauty and she gave a sigh
that seemed to dispel all the fury I had seen. She told me that
such a thing would be unwise for me and to go to sleep. And sleep
I did, wondering what her dire warning meant.
     "The next morning, she was gone. I would think her a dream,
save for my new hair, my lost guards, and some of... these." Ponton
held up something in his hand that sparkled in the sunlight. People
gasped as they realized what the clear, faceted stone was: a large
diamond! "I found three where she had lain. Perhaps in regret that
she had to leave, I do not know. But I do know that the stones will
give me enough to retire. A rich treasure indeed." He fell silent
a moment before continuing. "But I wonder if I lost the greater
one."
     Someone who knew Ponton slapped him on the back. "I wouldn't
worry, Ponton! I'm sure there'll be other lasses for you." The
trader cheered at the thought even as the crowd dispersed a little,
gossiping about his tale.
     Hathron leered as he and Chonlis walked away. "I wouldn't care
about the diamonds if I met the woman who could make the well-
travelled Ponton sigh."
     "Lyrina is the only one for me," Chonlis said, rolling his
eyes at his friend's relish.
     "Well, Ponton is--" During a look back at the trader, Hath did
a double take and stopped when he saw two distinctive figures.
"Hey, there she is with the city mage." Chonlis whirled around and
found it was so. "And it looks like old Unthol has a firestar up
his arse."
     "Shh!" Chonlis hissed, making a mage mad at yourself was
unwise. He started walking again, this time towards the mage's
companion.
     In fact, the sour-faced, grizzled mage of the town did look
rather vexed even as he halted in front of a nervous Ponton. The
dark blue robe he wore marked him little except for the staff he
always carried. Upon reflection, Chon remembered why the mage was
so irritated: the town mage HATED competition. 
     Unless they were his apprentice Lyrina, whose long, jet black
hair fell smoothly down her back. Of average height, but above
average comeliness, the apprentice to Unthol had long held the
young fighter's heart. She was an orphan who only knew the snappish
Unthol as a father, her parents long dead in an accident. Her
lively green eyes caught his arrival, but she stayed quiet as her
master talked to Ponton.
     "And she used no scrolls? No rings? Books? Nothing?" Unthol
demanded in a surprisingly deep voice. Ponton shook his head.
     "No, mage, she only spoke and magic happened."
     Unthol's lips tightened. Snapping out a few words in an odd
tongue, he pointed at a frightened Ponton, who relaxed when nothing
happened. The mage, on the other hand, was livid.
     "That should have removed all magical spells!" he shouted to
no one in particular in his frustration. "Why is hair STILL
there?!? What did that foreign mage do??" Unnoticed, Chonlis
slipped up to Lyrina and gripped her offered hand. 
     "I know about your problems, Chon," Lyrina whispered, looking
up at him with a reassuring smile, "but I'll be all right. Truly.
My Master will give me an amulet tomorrow just in case it goes
wrong."
     "I know, I know, but I still wish to be there." She squeezed
his hand, telling him she did too. 
     Meanwhile, Unthol was peering into the diamond Ponton had
shown, turning it one way, then another. Finally, he gave up in
disgust, slapping the gem back into the trader's hand. "It's real
enough, but only a trace of magic at all, and only a residue of a
spell at that." Without looking back, he continued down the street.
"Come along, apprentice!" he snapped.
     Lyrina gave him a longing look, then hurried off after Unthol,
leaving a forlorn Chon behind. Hathron came up beside him and
glanced at the departing young woman. "And you say she's still a
virgin, huh?"
     "Why don't you tell Vongrun he's a wimp, Hath," Chon replied
in a dangerously mild tone. "I'm sure he'd appreciate it now."
     Hath wisely shut up.


Chapter Two

     NOW what is he doing? Lyrina thought, privately annoyed as she
surreptuously watched the man with the blue trimmed cloak across
the night's camp. He seemed to be practicing some kind of slow
dance. Why she had no idea, but it was distracting.
     The apprentice was seated and reading her spell book, but his
presence disturbed her with Chonlis not there. The female elf and
the two city guards who had also come were seated to her  Their
party had travelled one day's worth on horses, two days more and
they would reach the dragon's home.   
     She nervously shifted at the memory, then hissed in pain as
the bruises and chafing flared up again. The man, Twister, heard
and paused to look her way.
     "It would have been wise to practice before this jaunt," he
chuckled, earning him a glare from flashing green eyes. The guards
grinned at the young woman's ire, Kel silently watched the byplay.
"I remember my first time riding. Definitely a pain in the rear at
first, but after you get accustomed to the motions it's a pleasant
experience."
     "So I've been told," Lyrina grumbled. However, she could
hardly believe that at the moment.
     "I think I have some ointment that will help that if you wish
me to apply it," he added cockily. Lyrina was speechless with
sudden anger and embarrassment.
     "You'd better drop that idea right now," one of the guards,
Jolthon, said in a warning tone, all traces of humor gone. His
partner Konthil's hand was resting on the hilt of his sword. The
blonde elf touched her own slim sword, but for what reason was
unknown. Lyrina herself was surprised at their reactions, until she
remembered the Pact required her to be a virgin, making her flush
yet more. Totally unconcerned, Twister rolled his eyes.
     "I wasn't serious, friend," he said soothingly to the guard.
"It was a compliment to the girl's attractiveness, and besides, I
wouldn't take advantage of a child like that."
     "Child?!" Lyrina was on her feet in an instant and stormed
over to Twister, whose eyes were dancing with amusement. "I am
nearly seventeen cycles old, sir, and you are barely more than I!"
     "Well, then, by your own words. Compared to me you truly are
younger, and thus, a child." He held his hands up when the
apprentice looked ready to explode. "Peace! Again, I am merely
joking."
     "You have a poor sense of comedy, then," she grated before
turning on her heel and storming back to her place by the fire. The
sting when she sat down only added to her foul mood.
     The guards looked at the sighing Twister suspiciously, but Kel
wanted more of an explanation for this teasing and stood up.
Walking over to the startled human, she jerked her chin to indicate
that she wanted to talk privately. He shrugged and followed her
until they were out of earshot, then she faced him.
     "What are you doing with the girl?" Kel demanded.
     "Preparing an excuse," he said quietly.
     Kel blinked; this sober response from the odd human was
unexpected. "Explain."
     "We are going to meet a dragon and the one who I think is in
the most risk of her life is Lyrina," Twister said flatly. "I have
something that will provide some protection and will prove
believable as an apology after my embarrassing her. The guards
think young means stupid, but stupid I'm not. Personally, I'm
wondering if their main concern is the girl, or the dragon."
     Kel was taken aback at the deception; she had honestly not
thought he was capable of fooling the centuries-older elf, yet he
had. The fact his conclusions were close to her own was even more
unsettling.
     "You are not what you seem," she said at last.    
     "No one is." He gave her a honest smile and winked before
heading back to the fire. Kel stared at his back, perplexed, before
following him.
     Lyrina determinedly ignored their return, eyes boring into her
spell book. She was resolved to ignore the older man for the rest
of the journey and back. 
     There was a rustle by one of the tents, then footsteps
approached her and she tensed. Something small thudded into the
ground beside her, surprising her enough to glance at whatever it
was. She blinked before hesitantly picking the object up, catching
her breath when she got a better view of it. The guards stared.
     It was a intricately made dagger in a sheath made of a soft
material the apprentice was not familiar with. The pommel was a
many-faceted crystal, possibly diamond, with two smaller stones on
either guard. The metal they were joined with shone like silver and
the grip felt like it was easy to hold. Unable to help herself, she
drew the dagger from its resting place and stared at the silver
blade, for an exquisitely designed dragon was etched onto the
length of it. However, the most drawing feature was the strong
sense of magic she felt in the masterfully made weapon in her hand.
Lyrina started when someone finally spoke.
     "My apology, lass. Consider it a loan," Twister's voice came
from behind as he withdrew for his tent, "for it is bound to its
true owner. But I am sure she will not mind you using her
Dragonsword. Good night." A rustle of fabric told the astonished
magic-user he had withdrawn into the tent.
     With a shake of her head she recovered herself and struggled
upright in her haste. "Wait!" she said, frantically placing the
dagger back in the sheath while stumbling for his tent entrance.
Reluctantly, she stopped outside to retain some dignity, but could
not restrain the excitement she felt at possessing the magical
item. "What does it do??" she pleaded.
     "You're the magic maker," Twister's bored voice answered her
from behind the tent. "Can't you tell?"
     "I'm just an apprentice!"
     His smiling face emerged from the brown fabric as he parted
it. "Sorry. You really ought to stop making yourself so much of a
target for someone's wit," he observed as he stepped back out in
front of her. "I'm also zinging you more than I should."
     "'Zinging'"?
     "Forget it, just get the sword out."
     "Why do you call it a sword?" she said as she drew the dagger,
admiring it as she raised it high. Twister pointed at the dagger
with a grin.
     "Because it is. Will it to be one and so shall it be."
     Lyrina jumped when the dagger she held suddenly became a four
foot sword at her mental command, getting some surprised
exclamations from the guards. The blade was much longer in relation
to the handle's growth, but somehow everything retained perfection.
Wonderingly, she raised the blade before her eyes and gazed at the
now-larger, but still finely drawn dragons on the metal.
     "That's one of its powers," Twister said, enjoying her
surprise. "Now touch the flat of the blade. Don't worry, it won't
bite."
     Hesitantly, Lyrina obeyed, or at least she tried to. Her eyes
widened when her finger sunk into the shiny metal and jerked it out
with a yelp.
     Twister chuckled as he shook his head. "The blade will not
harm human flesh so you cannot touch, or be cut by, the blade.
However," he picked up a large branch for the fire and casually
swung it at the sword's edge. The apprentice barely felt it, but
the sword sliced through the thick wood with ridiculous else,
"anything else is fair game. As for the others--"
     Lyrina almost draw back as he suddenly advanced, but he only
placed his mouth near an ear to whisper so no one would hear. "Keep
these a secret, lass, for the blade can do many things. Fire
resistance and freedom to cast spells it bestows upon you when
wielding it or wearing its sheath with it inside. It can also focus
your spells when held, increasing their strength. Keep these to
yourself and be careful." He retreated a pace and, after a slight
bow, returned to his tent.

     He didn't insult me THIS much, Lyrina thought dumbly as she
stared at the blade, Twister's words sinking in. Kel came over as
the guards muttered excitedly and tapped the blade with a graceful
finger, nodding.
     "It seems it's true about the sword not touching human flesh,"
she commented. "However, the blade's name is ominous considering
our mission." Kellistra arched an eyebrow at the suddenly uncertain
young female. "For one who claims not to cast magic, he certainly
seems to possess much imbued with it."
     Thinking about the weapon's powers now revealed to her, Lyrina
was loath to part with it despite her uncertain feelings toward the
strange young man. "None the less, I will keep it," she told Kel,
shrinking the sword back to a dagger with a mental command,
thrilling her with its responsiveness. Carefully, she placed the
sheath on her left arm, hardly feeling it was there. Such was its
design Lyrina guessed.
     Turning to fully face the curious elf, the young woman said,
"My Master made sure that he was no spell caster before we left. He
was so empty of magic himself that the casting never even
registered him." She had found that most odd when told that, and
still did. "Master Unthol was curious about that, suspecting he
possessed a natural damping effect like some other non-human
creatures. Such a person would not worry overmuch about a magical
item backfiring for they would possess a great resistance to
harmful effects." The blonde elf nodded. 
     "I had not known that about him. That is likely it. Still,"
she mused, "I wonder about that 'friend' of his who gave him that
sword."
     "So do I," Lyrina said, nodding. And I plan to find out! she
added to herself.

                          *     *     *

     "There's a rider behind us."
     Everyone turned in their saddles at Twister's comment. It was
their third day travelling and they were almost at their
destination. Sure enough, there was a faint cloud of dust on the
semi-grassy road behind them. Jolthon the guard wheeled his horse
around and spurred his mount to intercept.   Twister chuckled.
"Bets on that it's the young fellow you were talking to in the
tavern, elf."
     Kellistra sighed, resigned, as Lyrina's expression brightened.
"That would be foolish from what I saw of Chonlis."
     Sure enough, the newcomer proved to be the weaponmaster's son
when two riders caught up to the party. The guard accompanying him
looked unhappy and angry. Chonlis, however, was beaming at Lyrina,
who returned the smile warmly. The young warrior was bedecked for
battle, wearing a mail shirt under his tunic, helmet, and bracers
on arms and legs.
     "You were told to remain in town," Jolthon muttered in a low
voice.
     "My father can punish me later. I'm here now." Chon moved his
horse up to the apprentice, both were giving smiles to each other.
     On seeing their obvious affection, Twister's eyes turned cold
before he turned away from the sight. Kel noticed and wondered why
it upset the human.
     She sighed. Things were getting more complicated than planned
for. Nudging her horse faster with knees only, the elf forced the
rest of the group to hurry. The sooner they arrived at their
destination the quicker her own destiny would be decided.
     For good or ill.

                          *     *     *

     Nine hundred years ago, Blazellertem'ner the red dragon
desired a new lair and found it at Fort Stonewall, an abandoned
remnant from the time of the Great Wars. The fort was part of the
cliff face, magically shaped so that its walls were smooth and
blockless. The courtyard was encircled by a forty foot high wall,
beginning and ending at the sheer cliff. Only one large living area
besides the stables existed, the block-like, yet smoothed structure
looking like it was cut in half when in reality that half was
inside the mountain itself.
     Blaze had carved himself a cavern in the cliff above the fort
proper, but the wily and knowledgeable wyrm had sealed it shut
magically to prevent other dragons access. It was rumoured there
was a smaller passage to the cavern inside the fort, but the old
wyrm had many servants who guarded this well. 
     "Just what they are is unknown," Lyrina added as she finished
the low-voiced speech begun when the respectful silence had
descended on sight of the fort, "because no one has seen them and
survived."
     Craning his neck up to see the giant building, Twister snorted
as they entered the opened gates. "Just fills you with confidence,
doesn't it?" The forested outside disappeared from view as they
trotted into the middle of the empty courtyard.
     "There's nothing to fear as long as the Pact is fulfilled,"
Konthil the guard said with a nervous look about him.
     "Lyrina, what does this drake need you for anyway?" Chonlis
asked the rider beside him.
     "Blaze has a magical object that only a female human virgin
magic-user can use," the apprentice blushed when she explained that
part, "and then only once for that person." She gave him a
reassuring smile. "It's not uncommon for an item of great magic to
have such a condition set, but only Blaze knows what the item can
do."
     "And what happens to the girl using this item?" Twister said,
looking back at the long haired young woman, some concern on his
face.
     "Nothing but exhaustion. Master Unthol's former apprentices
all left for other lands after completing this task." Then she
added in a low growl, "And I'm not surprised." Alongside her,
Chonlis held back a chuckle.
     The elf pointed to a place in front of the stables where a
water trough was. "We tie our horses there, or so it seems." An
outthrusting of stone was riddled with evenly placed holes,
providing places for the ropes. 
     The group dismounted and uneasily glanced around as they
secured their mounts. The silence was unnerving for what was once
a human camp of warriors, now a mere showpiece gateway for a
dragon's visitors. Once the horses were in place, they trooped for
the gaping entrance of the stony fort.
     "Impressive," Twister murmured as he and Kel slowly walked in,
both wary for an attack. Lyrina and Chonlis stepped in next with
the guards bringing up the rear.
     "Of course it is, it was made with magic to defend against the
forces of the Goddess of Evil, Zavena, and her son, the God of
Mind, Eraniol." She almost stumbled into Twister when he stopped in
his tracks, half turning around to blink at her.
     "God of Mind??"
     "Yes," she confirmed, puzzled at his reaction. "Haven't you
heard of that god?" He started walking again and she stepped up
close to hear his reply.
     "Not really," he said in a bemused manner. "I guess nobody
decided to tell me about him."
     "Easy to believe after the Wars with his followers," Lyrina
agreed, her voice shaking a little with fear and revulsion. Even
so, the tale of the god's involvement would take her mind of the
dark and forbidding keep.
     "Over a thousand years ago, the Goddess Zavena became
frustrated with the stalemate with her sister, the Goddess of Good,
Famita. In a dark deception, she met with the God of Magic, Rhinon
and asked to sleep with him. Being as lovely as all her sisters,
the god willingly did so.
     "Unfortunately, and against his wishes, she allowed herself to
become with his child. She originally hoped his magic would be as
great as his father's, but such was not meant to be as she
discovered at his birth. When the new God was born, ALL knew for
his birthing cry echoed in the minds of every sentient being in
every realm of existence. It was brief, for already He was great
with intelligence and already became learned.
     "The Gods and Goddesses thundered to the realm of evil that is
Zavena's and faced her with the child carefully suckling on her
breast.
     "'What have you done!' cried Rhinon. To which Zavena smirked
back into his thunderous visage, and said, 'Why, given birth to our
son, dear Rhinon. Does he not give a lusty cry?'
     "Later, the God of Magic regretted his next act in many ways,
but then he was enraged as like the God of War. The God raised his
Staff of Spells and prepared to smite both child and mother in his
fury, and it would have meant death for the child if not for the
somewhat weakened Zavena. If it had fallen.
     "The newborn Eraniol sensed the danger and reacted savagely
with his newborn, undisciplined, yet awesome mind inherited from
both father and mother. The unseen, unknown force smashed the
unprepared Rhinon away, almost ripping the Staff from his hands.
The phaeton drew back in alarm at what they sensed, save for one.
     "'What was that!?' shouted the bold God of War, Kellen,
marvelling at the feat as Rhinon strove to collect himself. 'That
was no spell!'
     "Amazed as the rest, the Goddess of Evil looked down at the
clear eyes of her son, and smiled wickedly. 'It appears, dear
Kellen, that my son possesses something never seen before. And
already strong in it. How fitting.'
     "Despite Rhinon's protests, the other Gods and Goddesses
wished the child to grow for the newness of this power was
refreshing, if sometimes unnerving when the child plucked their
thoughts from their minds. 
     "But Zavena secretly guided her son to expand her own reign
and with her own crafty mind plotted something that would herald
the Great Wars. For to her delight, he was able to gift humans with
his power. Lesser in power than he, but formidable to other humans
for to know another's thoughts was invaluable in a war. To further
the horror, those granted the power found that, often or not, their
children possessed it too.    
     "Zavena moved before the other Gods and Goddesses realized her
plans. From one Kingdom far in the east her minions exploded
outwards with the many gifted of Eraniol. Their power was not that
of a well-prepared wizard, but they were swift and devastating in
unison. War wizards were caught off-guard by this new power and
many quickly slain or pressed into the enemy's service. Kingdom
after Kingdom fell and Zavena's power grew.
     "When it became apparent that this was going unchecked, the
other deities reacted in their own ways. Some aided those armies
uniting against the Mind Lords as they were becoming known. Some
fell in with Zavena. And some, like Rhinon, stayed neutral. Those
allied with Good picked one man to rule over the rest off the free
Kingdoms and he became the first Emperor.
     "And so it stayed for fifty years. Some mages learned how to
protect against the enemy's gift, but they had mages too and the
two-sided attack was wearying. Until Eraniol acted."
     "He is hard to understand for his intellect is Godlike, but
for whatever reason he split from his mother's forces to become a
neutral god. When he did, the Barrier arose. Mountains tore from
the earth between the warring factions, and a magical Barrier
formed, blocking what passages remained between the two lands.
Whether it was Rhinon, Eraniol, or a group of Gods who did this is
unknown, for no priest has been told.
     "But Eraniol and Mind Lords are still feared, for the sons and
daughters of those gifted have spread and multiplied in the
centuries since. And in the West, those showing signs of that power
are usually killed or driven away."
     Twister nodded. "Understandable. It would be unsettling to
have someone know your thoughts. Thank you for the history."
     Chonlis snorted. "How you couldn't know that old tale is
beyond me."
     "Yes, it is sad, isn't it?" Twister gave Kel a sorrowful
expression, nodding in the warrior's direction. "The poor lad here
must have had very patient teachers."
     "WHAT?!?" Chonlis demanded. Lyrina giggled at his indignant
shout and he gave her a pained expression. "Lyrina, please!"
     "Well, I've had to deal with him for two days before you
came," she pointed out with a smile. "It's about time he started on
someone else."
     "And cheer is something valuable right now," Kel commented and
they realized they had not felt oppressed by the dark halls for
some time. Of course, once they realized that the gloom began
pressing in again. 
     Twister grimaced as they entered a large room. "Now why did
you have to ruin the mood? And here I thought elves were all-
knowing and wise."
     Kel gave him a level look. "Do not even think of starting to
use me as a target for your amusement."
     "Me?" he responded innocently. The blonde elf pointed a finger
at him and opened her mouth to retort, but never got the chance to
do so. Suddenly, she, Lyrina, and Chonlis vanished in three
separate flashes of white light.
     The three's disappearance startled Twister, but he drew his
sword more quickly than the two guards remaining with him had
expected. The black cloaked young man whirled on them. "What
happened!? Where are they?" he demanded, blade ready.
     "With me."
     Again with that surprising speed, the human spun around to see
a bobbing sphere of light hovering five feet away. It was the
source of the voice, and that voice had to belong to Blaze.
     "I had meant for you to be included in my teleport," the deep
voice continued with a hint of puzzlement. "How odd you were not
affected. Perhaps you own something that prevents this, human?"
     Twister's face hardened. "Where are the others, drake?"
     "Dragon," the sphere corrected. "I may as well tell you. They
are in my adjacent sub-cavern I use for such purposes. Not that it
should concern you long," it added ominously. 
     The sliding of steel from scabbards made the wary Twister
glance back to see the two guards advancing on him. His eyes turned
cold when he looked back to the sphere. "As I feared then. This
concoction about a magical item is a lie."
     "Oh, bravo," the voice applauded mockingly.
     Eyes narrowing, the young man spun to face the stone faced
guards. "And you two knew," he accused them, pointing at Konthil
with the sword.
     "It's our duty to protect the town, and this protects it," the
guard replied evenly as he positioned his sword. "Including slaying
any foreigners who were hired to protect the sacrifice."
     "So." Twister looked hard at one man, then the other, reading
their expressions, and finally moved his own sword into a ready
stance. "I would have forgiven you since you have little choice in
the matter," he stated, voice frosty in contempt, "but the fact
that you do not even care what you do will not stay my blade."
     Jolthon snorted and glanced at his partner. "Confident bugger,
isn't..."
     Those words were the last he ever spoke. Moving lightning
fast, Twister charged the meagre distance between them and slashed
before the surprised fighter could even move his sword to defend
himself. His head flew off even as the black cloak flew out,
spinning away as Twister easily pivoted to meet the somewhat
prepared and horrified Konthil, eyes widening at the swift death of
his partner.
     He was still doomed. The enemy blade knocked his aside with
far too much skill for a man just into his prime to have possessed.
Twister's return clove powerfully through ribs, lungs, and heart,
killing the overmatched guard instantly. The black cloaked young
man deftly avoided the spray of blood before the body fell.
     "Yes," he said quietly to the corpses, lowered blade slowly
dripping red blood from the tip, "I suppose I am a confident
bugger. With reason to be." He turned to the sphere and saw it was
no longer bobbing but still.
     "You are surprising, human. I like that. It provides me with
amusement," the voice of Blaze said. "But can you reach my lair in
time?" it chuckled, then added, "What are you doing?"
     Surprisingly, Twister's right glove had burst into fire, but
was not burning itself as he levelled his arm at the sphere.
"Giving you a hot time!" he announced, and a small ball of fire
burst from his palm to crash into the wyrm's viewing sphere. It
exploded, disrupting the spell in the process and destroying both
in a bright burst of flame. He viewed his vanishing handiwork
briefly before breaking into a sprint for the staircase he had seen
during the burst of light.
     "And an even hotter time to come, red dragon," he quietly
promised to his so-far unseen foe as he ran. 
     "Very, very soon."

Twister.

email to: twister@escape.ca, twister@tendo-dojo.ranma.net, fmw675@freenet.mb.ca
(More addresses! More addresses! Eheh heh heh... :)