Crossroads Part 3

Irefenia Salgonda & Elensaar Gelindor

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Crossbow Isle – The Quest – Part 1

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Crossbow Isle – Crossroads – Part 3

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Copyright © 2012 Irefenia Salgonda & Elensaár Gelindor

All rights reserved.

Registered with the IP Rights Office

Copyright Registration Service

Ref. [253510418]

Copyright © Irefenia Salgonda & Elensaár Gelindor

Published by ISEG Media®

Crossroads – Volume 4 – Part 3

Illustrations © Elensaár Gelindor

First published 2015

ISBN–10: 1500643017

ISBN–13: 978-1500643010

CS–Title ID: 4921738

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the authors.


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Abridged Recapitulation of Volume 3 – The Quest Parts 1, 2 and 3

SPOILER ALERT! (If you have not read those books yet, be warned that the following is a spoiler. If you read it now, you will learn about names

and essential developments that will be detrimental to the reading pleasure of

these books but you won’t understand the entire story of Crossbow Isle if you

had not read all previous books.)

After the short but hefty winter and the celebration of Alban Eiler for which Ddraig had ‘carried’ the sun of spring on his back to Willowbee, Enyana and Y Ddraig Goch decided to inspect the north farthings of Crossbow Isle for damages caused by the countless landslides that Oqualorak’s voice and sounds had triggered. After a much welcome interlude in Caradoc Castle and the naming of the new village to Caravalley, they followed the Ardara River where the vigilance of the shepherd Cormac directed them to a tributary that had almost dried out over the winter.

A close inspection revealed a threatening situation where a land and rockslide had dammed up an entire vale and the waters had no where to drain. Hence the whole valley had filled and the dam was close to collapse. Further inspections revealed more landslides that had blocked smaller rivers whose waters contributed now along with the melting water from the mountains to the aggravating and threatening situation in that dale. Therefore, Enyana decided to engage also Elensaár and her seanmhair Morgan, the healer of Willowbee who held the powers over the wild waters.

Almost at the last moment, they were able to prevent the imminent catastrophe to happen and after days of hard labour, they restored the natural flow of water in that part of the mountains. As Enyana and Ddraig scanned the drained


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valley for hidden damages, they found by chance the fracture of a panel with gilded elven scripture, which was not only very beautifully crafted but entirely out of place. A search of the valley for other parts of that fractured panel was fruitless and they continued their flight over the mountainous regions of Crossbow Isle, but nowhere else had the situation been as threatening as near Caradoc Castle.

A few days later, Cormac the vigilant shepherd, made the unexpected acquaintance of a dwarf who belonged to the tribe of the Pjόðroerir dwarfs. They had lived in the mountains for hundreds of years but had successfully avoided any contact to other beings to stay away from being coerced into granting favours to people who did not deserve it. Nevertheless, Fullangr the son of the Pjόðroerir had met Zaron long time ago and decided to make contact to him, which rekindled the old friendship and soon he remembered about another piece of that fractured panel to which he guided Enyana and Zaron after some persuasion with the tempting aroma of pipeweed.

Now that Fullangr’s interest was roused, other incidents recalled the memories of a story that his grandfather Olnir had once told him and as Fullangr questioned Olnir with limited success, they found the “Spire of the North” and later, the second attempt to clarify the pending questions led to an invitation for the Trinity to visit the well hidden realm of the Pjόðroerir named Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim. As they arrived, they were overwhelmed by its splendid design, hence very unexpected appearance but is was no lesser surprise as the Pjόðroerir asked them to re–establish an old alliance between elves, dwarfs, druids and humans, whose reestablishment was acknowledged by the appearance of ghost like manifestations of their ancestors.


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However, Elensaár who studied the ancient elven tongue with aid of the palantir was not lesser astounded than the rest of his friends by the large number of questions that had begun to pile up since Ddraig’s Minya Nosta. The appearance of those fragments, which much to their astonishment were found in sequence but in very different places culminated lastly in unearthing all the fragments of a queer panel whose inscriptions contained additional riddles that had to be solved before they could partly comprehend the goal of their quest.

Now, questions after questions mushroomed but the answers still remained elusive. The Pjόðroerir were engaged to solve the many riddles but instead of finding answers, they found more questions and on top of that, Olnir, Fullangr’s grandfather, remembered a journey that had led him not only to a disturbing discovery that he could not describe with words but also to a place called Corracloona, where the Trinities abilities were suspended as soon they had crossed Corracloona’s boundaries.

In Corracloona, they found out why Olnir had known more about the Trinity than they knew themselves and were bestowed with two queerly behaving crystals of which they had not the slightest idea whereto they belonged but on their flight to Willowbee, Ddraig, Zaron and Fullangr discovered a structure that had emerged from the ground at the time as Enyana had received her miraculous crystal.

Whilst the riddle masters in Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim discussed the many possible interpretations of the panel script, one member of the clan who had earlier been caught eavesdropping stole three parchments with questions that were not meant for everyone’s eye. Meanwhile, Fullangr was


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invited as reward for his loyalty and help on a journey to Ai Seler’ en’ Tolea’Fuin. As they stayed on the elven island, Ly Cheen Reedfly sought advice from Enyana and Elensaár about a queer notion that turned out to be her ultimate question and during her not lesser unusually developing Tar’marty a’Ambar Tel’Quessir, she as well received two names like Elensaár and her new name was Irefenia, daughter of the house of Salgonda. Along with her new name, she received a beautiful but queerly behaving necklace in the shape of a butterfly. Moreover, she was revealed being the last member of the Companionship of Seekers who was poised to solve the mystery of the quest.

On their journey back to Crossbow Isle, Irefenia’s necklace guided them into a hidden underground harbour at the southwestern tip of Crossbow Isle where they found another crystal hidden in the ceiling of a room. Considering that with Enyana’s crystal, one of those queer structures had emerged, they searched for the one that must have emerged with Irefenia’s crystal and after a lengthy search, they were quite successful and did not only find this structure but also the ancient race of the Onodrim who were entrusted with guarding that device.

Investigations had revealed that at least Enyana’s crystal belonged to the structure that had emerged first and during a map making exercise in Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim that fell not short of some comical situations, they figured out that there had to be a third structure that had not emerged yet since a crystal for it had not been found up to date. However, the right place was identified and a search indicated that indeed, this structure was still hidden in the ground below a lake.


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That time, Torgos had finally found a place where he could get in contact with his former ally Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer, the ruler of the worlds below, but much to Torgos’s dismay, he did not receive his powers as he had hoped, instead, his mind was possessed by a demon named Tokolosh who had to ensure that Torgos would not stray again from his new order to capture Fullangr’s grandfather Olnir, who was the only person who ever saw the gate that Enyana and Ddraig saw in a vision as they had searched the lake.

With no other choice, Torgos obeyed and captured not only Olnir but also the twisted and ill minded Bávorr who was eavesdropping and stolen the parchments. Long time ago, Bávorr had killed hundreds of his clansmen including Olnir’s only son Gilgur in the pit that was now called “The Mine of Doom”. They were dumped together behind a massive landslide that was supposed to close the mine forever.

Inside the mine, Bávorr turned entirely mad and killed himself after revealing the truth about that long bygone ‘accident’ he had caused. Now the shaken–up Olnir had to find his way out and managed with his mining and mountaineer climbing skills that bone crushing task bravely. Once outside, he contacted Zaron who retrieved him from the slope of that mountain and soon enough, Torgos appeared not knowing that Olnir had already returned, threatening to kill Olnir if the White powers were not leaving the island within a week’s time.

Understanding Torgos’s sinister plot, they played along and duped not only Torgos but also Tokolosh, and as Torgos reported their ‘glorious deed’ to Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer, they both were in for a surprise that they would never forget.


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Thanks to the vigilance and courage of the little elven Norhidayu, the Companionship of Seekers learnt facts that led to the assumption that the time had come when Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer had no other choice than to wage war against the Pjόðroerir and the White Powers, and how the tale continues can be found here in the chapters of the third volume of Crossbow Isle named “Crossroads”.

Crossroads, – volume four of the Crossbow Isle sequel continues a part of the tale and we wish you much reading pleasure. However, for really understanding this volume and everything that follows, you should have read the first three volumes completely since Crossbow Isle is ONE large tale of more than 4,500 book pages and not a conglomeration of independent episodes! This abridged recap of the complex story is not sufficient to fill you in, but merely meant to refresh your memories.

Enjoy

Elensaar Gelindor

&

Irefenia Salgonda


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Dear Reader and Elven friend. As Crossbow Isle spans over five volumes in fifteen parts, we found it most suitable to let you know what the entire tale holds in stock. Therefore, we have ‘conjured’ a very brief introduction to the tale of Crossbow Isle.

�

About four–thousand–years ago, the Elven Planet Phaéthon was deliberately destroyed in a fiery inferno and a large number of its inhabitants were stranded between the times. From within this void, time did not anymore appear as a consecutive string of events but allowed their minds to access some of the many realities that are attributed to each planet.

The lass Ithilhin or Moonchild was born and lived in one of those accessible realities of planet Earth on a place called Crossbow Isle. Here, Ithilhin, the Moonchild was raised by elves who had ‘somehow’ come to that island as well.

As the ripples of the event that had led to the destruction of Phaéthon bounced back and struck the reality where Crossbow Isle was located, another part of the plot unfolds, coercing Ithilhin and her friends into an intriguingly planned plot, which is spiced with countless mantraps, hilarious to gut–wrenching situations and deadly fights that eventually will guide them to an event that changes this universe and its realities and reverses the adverse influences of the ‘One’ who had caused the destruction of Phaéthon. However, they are not yet able to influence the effects on the planet that the ‘One’ had isolated and occupied for himself, – the people and world he had changed to his liking – Earth!


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Table of contents

XXIIIIII MMaaddnneessss MMoovveess IInn.................................. - 1 -


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XXIIIIII

MMaaddnneessss MMoovveess IInn

With icy winds and loads of snow even the weather in the lowlands had settled for winter. In the foothills of the mountains it had turned well nigh inhospitable.

Although Torgos/Tokolosh had found a shack with a solid roof and an open fireplace, food was scarce and the amount of firewood stacked along the inner walls was dwindling all too fast.

His wounds had healed surprisingly well and Tokolosh’s attempts to grow skin and bone into the voids of his skull had almost been accomplished. The former mage’s appearance was surely not to be considered anything close to handsome but at least a crude human physiognomy was restored that allowed his mouth to form words. Not very


- 2 -

clear it was but with a little effort one could understand what he muttered.

The relationship between Tokolosh and his host had not really improved but the necessities were such that the demon deemed it wise enough not to kindle Torgos’s wrath since that would have cost too much physical powers, which anyway were just enough to stay alive. Without the powers of immortality the famished body of the former mage would have given up living long time ago.

“We have to move on or even your powers of immortality will not be strong enough to sustain your life any longer”, Tokolosh urged him to think about how to go on.

“Yeah, – that is right. The only problem we have, – I don’t know where I could turn to anymore. Nothing is left in these accursed mountains after I had swept all the peasants away. Never had I thought that this would lastly mean my own misfortune, – now it is too late for regrets”.

“Don’t tell me that you feel something like remorse? That would not be you”.

“No, that is not remorse you moron that is regret that I have now to bear the consequences of my own deeds”.

No matter how Torgos tried to twist the truth, he obviously was well aware that his deeds were the reason he had to suffer. After a while of fruitless mental arguing, Tokolosh rose again the question what they could do to change the hopeless situation or else all his efforts would be in vain and even if Torgos would not die as any mortal being, he would slowly begin to mummify alive.


- 3 -

For quite some time the two minds pondered all options and decided that in one of the next few days when the weather would permit it, Tokolosh had to hover his body as swiftly as possible down to the Tylesion River and to the other side where more homesteads could be found and perhaps some people would be ‘courteous’ enough to let them come close enough to risk the jump.

At least Tokolosh hoped for that chance to leave the body of the former mage. That however was something that Torgos knew as well and not yet could he allow the demon to leave his body.

As he pondered that matter he realised how absurd the situation had turned. At the beginning, he would have given everything to get rid of Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer’s servant but now, – his survival depended on the capabilities that the demon still inherited.

The fire had burned down and he scraped the straw together to form a kind of cocoon with high walls that preserved the meagre warmth that his body was able to produce.

It took not long until his exhausted body succumbed to sleep and his frantically working mind had to postpone finding a solution to the next morning.

�

His mind was madly spinning like a whirligig but he could not think of any other solution. He had to destroy the last remains of physical matter that manifested his being in this world. Since Narya the Great had abandoned him, he had no other means to cross from one reality to the other without disposing off any kind of physical form.


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Well aware how painful that procedure would be, – it was the one and only chance to escape his destiny, which had actually been meant for him to be trapped forever in this reality that he had managed to leave a couple of thousand years ago. This time he could not count on the powers of the “One” who had bestowed so many talents on him.

All of those had vanished in thin air after the loss of his realm with the sources of his powers and the last one of the mighty rings that the gifted Elven Smiths had made eons ago.

Once more, he regretted that he had overconfidently poured all his talents into one ring, which had allowed him to control all the other rings that had been forged and therewith to subdue all what lived on that other world.

Middle–Earth had they named it since it was one of the realities between the lower and the upper worlds.

Yeah, in some regions and according to his judgement, quite beautifully it had been and the creatures that lived there were not the wisest ones at all. Even the elven races were not really a hindrance since their numbers had dwindled significantly. Oh yeah, – it would have been a place to his liking. He could have done well if he had prevailed. That however was altogether a long and much different tale. Now he had to cope with what was left, – and frankly spoken, – that was next to nothing.

For still some time his mind dwelled in the past.

He recalled how all beings had spoken his name with fear, – “Sauron”, the “Dark Lord in the Land of Mordor”. The mighty armies that he had bred and gathered for that purpose only had roamed and ruled the land and if not for


- 5 -

that freak accident in the last and all deciding battle against elves, men and dwarfs he would have prevailed.

The wrath of a despairing man had crippled him and destroyed all that was but worst – his mighty ring had fallen into the hands of men. However, as it was the fate of men, the powers of his ring were too much to wield and so the man called Isildur failed himself and his kin and the ring was lost again for thousands of years.

The stump of his missing claw, which usually had turned into the ring finger of the human shape, began paining and his mind returned to the task he had to accomplish. He had to destroy his physical structures for good or else he would not be able to cross the borders between the realities if not that elven device was aiding such undertakings. That however, was never to be reinstated or the “One” would suffer greatly and would ultimately find him; that, however, would even mean the painful end of his spiritual being.

He had made up his mind and his huge body struggled slowly towards the region with the fiery mountains, the landmarks of his world, – the places of the lowest world where all evil begun – and where everything good eventually ended when it had fallen prey to the servants of the dark side.

�

Whilst Ddraig floundered with the children of Ddraig’s Swell through the turquoise water of the lagoon, the rest of the Companionship of Seekers with Olnir had arrived in Mount Kibil where icy wind howled still eerily through the tunnel–like string of caves.


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“Whoa, – that has not become any better today. How was it inside those caves?” Rasmus asked whilst he rubbed his hands that had turned freezing cold in no time.

“Well, as far as we have experienced, I can say that the temperatures inside the chamber were quite pleasant, especially if one considers the clime in this tunnel”, Enyana replied whilst Elensaár had asked Anar Tinechor to generate two tiny suns. One hovered to Irefĕnia and Rasmus and the other one towards the first chamber where they had spent the day before and besides light they spread comfortable warmth.

“Please do not forget to remember every move you make with those puzzle–stones especially to what side you rotate every block”, Zaron reminded his friends ere he walked with Fullangr and Olnir to the next entrance, closely followed by Irefĕnia and Rasmus who had chosen to explore the third chamber.

As Enyana and Elensaár entered the first room, darkness embraced their bodies like thick fog as the day before. Except for their bodies, the spot with the puzzle was the only object that reflected the light of Anar Tinechor’s sun.

“Where do we start? Shall I take out the block that Zaron had used yesterday and rotate it to the other side?” Elensaár asked.

“Well, I think that would be best. That way we learn also if it makes any difference in what direction such a block is turned”.

Elensaár removed the block that Zaron had lifted up first, rotated it a quarter to the left, reinserted it and – nothing happened at all.


- 7 -

He looked at his friend, “You know, that could become an endless game if we don’t find another way to identify and unlock what we obviously shall find. If my assumptions how that puzzle works and if my reckoning is right, then it allows for at least sixty–five thousand and five–hundred thirty–six different combinations and since it takes a few heartbeats after inserting a block ere we get a response, then even if we would continue day and night for the next year, we would not be able to explore all options that this puzzle allows”.

“That many?” Enyana asked with big round eyes.

“Yup, – at least for the two possible positions of turning the blocks left or right as we have discovered yesterday. If there would be even one more option, we would not stand any chance to explore them over the next few years, leave alone that no one would be willing or able to do that”.

“So what shall we do? We cannot waste our time to find the positions that reveal something. We do not even know what to expect and what to look for if a scene unfolds”.

“Yes, – that is true. There are so many options that I cannot think of a key to unlock that riddle”.

“Do you think that a significant date could be of help?” Enyana asked.

“Well, any date that produces a larger number could be of help. What do you have in mind?”

“You see, in that context there are not so many dates that really matter to us and our quest and the fact that those beings behind the palantir must have known how we look and that we shall exist at all suggests that if they wanted us to use such hint, it had to be a number known to us.


- 8 -

How about the date of your Tar’marty a’Ambar Tel’Quessir or Ddraig’s birthday? Those dates we never would forget easily”.

“Yeah, – that’s not a bad idea. Let us try it first with the date of my Tar’marty a’Ambar Tel’Quessir because from my point of view, that date had a great impact on our quest because without my decision to become a mature elf we would not have set out on that quest at all, – right?

“Yes, that is true. – Even when your decision might not have been as uninfluenced as we had thought”.

Elensaár nodded and he firstly inserted all blocks with the holes pointing up and downwards, which seemed to be a kind of neutral position and indeed, nothing changed at all.

“Let us assume that the first block that Zaron has lifted from this puzzle was coincidently or intentionally the number one and the right turn represented the first number, then we should be able to find the right combination by trying out a few blocks only”.

Once he had identified the blocks that could represent the number of that date, his mind lifted those blocks in one go out of the puzzle and since he had no idea if the turning to the right was truly representing the first number, it still was a challenge to find out which direction the blocks had to be turned.

For the start, his mind rotated now all blocks a quarter to the right and reinserted the whole pattern in one go. The moment the blocks had settled, everything changed from one moment to the other and as the day before, a scene filled the chamber that was not lesser familiar than the one they had


- 9 -

witnessed before. The only difference was that they had not ended up in Rialian Yldannan but in Menomenta.

Despite the fact that even Menomenta looked much different from today but by no means was it under construction. It looked much more complete than they ever had seen it.

The twenty–eight sentinel stones were about fifteen yards high and located near the edge of a round base plate that was the foundation of a large structure. Seven wide tiers with four stairs in every quarter led to a much higher level, which was the base for a tall rectangular building with lancet–arched doorways on all sides. Two archways opened in the visible short side and four in the long side that pointed to the right of their view whilst high above but below the roof, a frieze of dark–green stone bore engravings of golden glittering elven letters that looked very familiar.

However, as astonishing as all that looked, more overwhelming was the large glittering sphere that hovered in the centre and high above all, sending bright beams of light to the twenty–eight smaller and lancet shaped crystals that hovered slowly rotating within the golden shimmering crowns of the sentinel columns.

In a distance of less than half a furlong, the whole place was surrounded by impressive buildings of white stone with arch–pointed windows and doors that suggested that they were of elven origin. Behind those buildings, tall stone sculptures, much similar to the Corracloona Giants surround the entire place like a ring of sentinels. Wide and elevated walkways were connecting each building and elegantly dressed people stood together in groups or hovered swiftly from hither to thither.


- 10 -

It was a hustling and bustling as rarely seen on a market day in Crumbleton. The sound of many voices echoed like a constant buzz over the place and it took a while ere Enyana, and Elensaár were able to comprehend what their eyes beheld.

Suddenly, a melodious signal sounded from high above over the wide place and in the sky above Menomenta, wide and familiar looking vertical tapes of light reached for the glittering sphere above the building of the ‘table stone’. The tapes began to flicker and changed colours as they had seen it in Corracloona and the attention of the people turned to the centre of that huge monument, – as it seemed to be.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light made the crystals in the sentinel stones shine brightly and they began to create a cocoon of light that enshrouded the entire upper platform with everything known as Menomenta.

That spectacle was not unequal to the procedures of Ddraig’s Minya Nosta but lasted a short while only and once the cocoon of light dimmed, they beheld a large group of people, which emerged now from the cubical building on top of the tiers. It was very clear, – that many people could have never been hidden in that place, hence the only alternative was, – they must have arrived from somewhere.

Meanwhile the wide and decoratively paved place between the houses and the sentinel stones had filled with hundreds of beings and a closer look revealed that it were no humans but elves, dwarfs and other unknown beings that had gathered as if to watch an extraordinary spectacle that beyond doubt was not an everyday event.


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Some actions took place on the top platform where a kind of cortege formed whilst a large group of people in the elegant raiment of high–ranking elves, similar to the dress that Elensaár’s likeness in Corracloona had worn, were forming a cordon on both sides of the stairs down from the platform.

Baffled and with wide open eyes watched Enyana and Elensaár what happened next.

Two people, clad in ceremonial raiment were leading the cortege and beckoned friendly to the people who had obviously come to welcome someone of highest rank.

Not yet were they able to recognise the faces of the two beings but once a group of elves who had been waiting left and right on the uppermost tier had welcomed those who apparently had just arrived, the two beings, now accompanied by the welcoming committee were slowly walking down the wide flight of stairs, welcomed by many who reverentially bowed their heads until Enyana and Elensaár were able to see the faces of those dignitaries that came directly towards the viewpoint of that chamber.

If someone had poked the two spectators with a knife, they would not have given a drop of blood. Too overwhelmed they were of what they beheld.

Side by side, clad in richly embroidered robes, laced with sparkling gemstones, crowned with small circlets that held each a single large stone on their brows, the stately figure of Elensaár walked down the stairs whilst on his left side and by all means not lesser elegant, Enyana waved graciously to the people who had come to welcome the dignitaries.

As it had happened the day before, first a few dark patches indicated that something was wrong and a short moment


- 12 -

later even that memory turned dark and only a few fragments of that image rumbled around ere the only light was Anar Tinechor’s tiny sun that still shone from above into the darkness of the chamber.

“What was that? If those were images and scenes that we saw showed the distant past, then how can it be that I am part of it?” Enyana asked well stirred up.

“Frankly spoken, – despite the fact that we saw our images of light in Corracloona, I am not one iota lesser puzzled than you because what we were watching now was apparently the arrival of a high ranking couple. Although they looked like you and I, I have no recollection of those moments whatsoever”.

“Hmm, I do understand but just consider the name and title that was bestowed on you, – would that not fit to the scene we just watched? Grand Lord Elensaár, Son of the house of Gelindor. Would that not fit to your appearance? Isn’t a Grand Lord something like a King of Old or even higher?”

Elensaár kept silent for a moment and one could see that his mind worked on Enyana’s words. “Well, perhaps not a King but definitely the ruler of a circle of Lords, a Grand Master of an order or the ruler of a larger place under the reign of a King. I remember next to nothing about the system of royalty that was established by the ancient elven races. You even might be right with your assumption.

No matter how we both feel about our unexpected appearance, – not lesser intriguing was the setting of Menomenta and its surroundings. If my interpretation is correct, then our guesses were right as well. Menomenta was never a place of worship or spiritual contemplation but


- 13 -

something much more trivial like a station where travellers arrived from other places. That would confirm why the lettering is crafted so flawless and impressive to be read by, and impress strangers and why its texts are reminders of commonly acceptable rules and not words of worship and devotion.

It looks as if the sphere we saw, which was actually much larger than the one Fucanglong had called for Ddraig’s Minya Nosta but had a similar function of creating that cocoon of light with the help of the oval shaped crystals in the sentinel columns. Then we have seen those tapes of light that must have come from the trylons. If I count one and one together, then this fragment of memory has shown us exactly what has to be reinstated or restored.

That whole scenario has shown us how things had worked and since the crystals for the ascalars were played into our hands and since the trylons itself have emerged from thousands of years of hiding, the only conclusion I can draw is, – this is exactly the purpose of our quest. We are supposed to bring all that back to life”.

Now it was Enyana who thought for some time about her friend’s words ere she replied, “Yes, – I agree. All you said makes a lot of sense. The only question I have is, – why would anyone need those spectacular lights and settings to travel from one place to another if he has the talents that we have and I assume that those beings had even greater talents than the ones that were bestowed on us”.

“Hmm, that’s a good question and not yet do I have an answer. However, we know how fast time is lapsing in those chambers and if my feeling is right then we are here for more than an hour. At least my stomach tells me that it could use a


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healthy refill. Let us join with our friends and find out what they have discovered so far. Perhaps then our picture might become more complete”.

“Good idea, – I am thirsty and hungry as well”.

Elensaár focused on the puzzle and reversed all blocks into what they believed was the neutral position and once they were able to see the outside of the chamber, they hovered into the aisle, which was empty and the light that fell through the openings into the tunnel–like string of caves confirmed that much more time had passed here than inside the chamber. They held hands and the next moment appeared in the roof garden of Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim, which was covered in deep snow.

�

The unshapely body of Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer had reached the foothills of the fiery mountains where it rained brimstone and glowing rocks from a gigantic plume of smoke and ashes. Despite the pain he felt when hit by a glowing rock, he tried not to heed the one or other impact, knowing all too well that worse was awaiting him. His mind was torn by fear of what he knew about to come and the knowledge that if he wanted to size his last and only chance, – then he had to go ahead with his plan.

The two rows of short legs with their razor–sharp claws shoved the unwieldy body slowly uphill and towards the regions where yellow–reddish glowing holes spat rivers of molten rock. Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer knew all too well it had to be done now ere those beings would discover the devices that allowed its users to bridge the gap between the different realities, worlds and universes. Anytime later and all his


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efforts were bound to fail. Once that stone had started rolling downhill, – nothing would stop it anymore.

Hissing and bubbling sounds filled the air that smelled of hot molten rock whilst other elements added their distinctive odours to the overall nasty mixture, which was dominated by the pungent pong of burning sulphur. The whistling sound of glowing rocks shooting high into the sky ere they smashed with deep–sounding thuds to the ground mingled with the sharp sputtering and snarling of slowly congealing lava streams.

This was Tumba’ palurin aikanaro1 or in the crude language of this world, Darunorgator, the world and true home of Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer and other beings that were bound to dwell in the lowest and deepest of all worlds.

He looked around but there was nothing he liked anymore. Too long had he dwelled in other worlds where he had found more pleasure and could outlive his passion for destruction and deceit. The creatures of this world were as crude and cruel as his current appearance.

By far not as sophisticated as the human bodies he had abused, not as filigree as the elves that he clandestinely had always envied. Now he had to get rid of that last shred of matter that tied him to this world and a shiver of fear run over the caterpillar shaped body with the countless outgrowths that looked like frozen purulent impostumes2.

He slowly approached one of the yellow glowing holes from where molten rock oozed as pus from a festering lesion. He

1 The Deepest world of hellfire (Quenia) 2 Abscesses (archaic)


- 16 -

tarried for a short moment ere he forcefully catapulted the massive caterpillar shaped body into the gaping wound of the mountain. For the blink of an eye he felt nothing but then excruciating pain flooded his mind as searing heat begun to burn skin and flesh from the bones. He had no more time to ponder if his decision was wrong or right because the intense heat inflated his body and blocked the entire hole like the stopper of a bottle.

Liquid, glowing and boiling lava filled the void in front of his chest, reaching up to the ugly and now wide gaping mouth, filling his throat and from there, – the inside of what once had been the original form of Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer. A few moments later the boiling corpse burst and a lance of liquid fire shot the remnants of Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer’s body out of the hole like the cork of a champagne bottle.

However, – of all that, – the former ruler of the worlds below had not felt a thing anymore. As soon as the body temperature had reached a certain level, it simply had shut down and with it freed one of the cruellest minds that this world had ever created.

�

Feelings of hurt had overwhelmed his brain and with an explosion of agonizing pain, darkness and quiet had fallen over his mind. That moment he knew that his spirit had been separated from his body – forever.

Actually, it was not very different from the experience he had made with the powers that he had lost, only this time there was no way back into a shape of his choice. There was no thin thread that linked him to anything known, – he was all


- 17 -

by himself and a queer feeling of peace and tranquillity tried to fill his mind.

That however was not what he wanted to embrace. He had to scan for the pattern of a mind that he wanted to abuse, – just like one of his servants, – the demons that he had sent to the worlds above.

It took time until he was able to focus on what he had aimed for and even more time until he found it in the pool of minds that filled the void between the worlds. Once he had spotted that pattern he was sure that he truly had crossed the borders between the realities as he had hoped it would be and if he had been able to grin, – a very satisfied grin would have played over a surely hideous face.

�

Tokolosh had watched his host’s mind, – well aware about Torgos’s fear that he would abandon him at the first chance, which actually was true. The moment he would find a way to leave that dying creature he would not tarry one heartbeat to leap out of his mind. From his point of view, even the powers of immortality could not sustain Torgos’s flame of life very much longer and even if he would not die, he would begin to dry out like a winter apple on a shelf until he was a living mummy, – unable to move.

The fingers of the first light crawled slowly over the eastern wall of the shack as Torgos stirred in his cocoon of straw and hay. His body temperature had not dropped any further but he shivered in his sleep whilst dream fragments rambled through his mind.

He just had not enough power anymore that his body and mind could function orderly. The demon wondered a bit that


- 18 -

hatred and malice had almost vanished from that dying mind and he felt that those changes were affecting him as well. Where a while ago the smallest cause had been good enough to trigger hot boiling rage and malevolence, a queer kind of compassion had found room that he never before had known to possess.

Today, he had to get him out of that place and down the hills. Perhaps he was right. On the southern side of the Tylesion River more homesteads and villages were home to families and with a bit of luck they would find people that would be unlucky enough to be found.

�

The roof garden was covered with a thick layer of snow and the waning light of the day conjured queer figures where usually benches and tables occupied the spaces. Elensaár opened the door and they walked swiftly along the aisle and down the stairs to the Great Hall, which was dimly lit as always when no functions were held.

As they entered the inn, the only people sitting at the large round table in the corner were Zaron, Fullangr and Olnir.

“Hullo, nice that you are back. How was it going? Have you had any more surprises today?” Zaron asked whilst Fullangr and Olnir just looked questioning because their mouths were full with bites of meat from the large haunch of venison that still bathed in a dark red wine–onion gravy on a long platter.

“Well yes, – we learnt a bit about this and that but how come that you arrived much earlier?” Elensaár straggled away from the question with the most innocent mien he could muster.


- 19 -

Fullangr had emptied his mouth, washed the remnants down with a deep draught of Stewarts brew and then he answered instead of Zaron who filled his plate with another helping of meat, sauerkraut and dumplings.

“We are not here very long either but since Burlok and Fregar had such a nice treat for us, we could not resist satisfying the craving of our stomachs ere we expected anyone to arrive”.

“So cravings you call that?” Zaron rumbled with a deep chuckle. “I thought the cave was collapsing as we were watching the scenes we had unleashed with that puzzle–block. I certainly was not sure if those sounds came from what we watched or from the mountain itself”, he chuckled.

“Yes, yes, – I agree. That moment it was not clear where the rumbling came from but as my great grandfather used to say, ‘A hungry dwarf is worst than a natural disaster’”, Olnir chuckled and refilled his plate as well.

“So what have you found?” Enyana asked after she had ordered her supper.

Zaron scratched his head and began, “Hmm, – we are not very sure what it was supposed to show us and since the number of options to select scenes is just mind boggling, we tried random combinations until a scene unfolded. It appears that not every combination is yielding a result or the other memories must have been younger and hence were erased.

Whatsoever, the combination we found opened a view into a forest that was very much different from any forest we ever have seen. Firstly, the trees were shaped like the tree in Rialian Yldannan and they grew in large numbers. Our first impression suggested that it was quite a spacious forest with


- 20 -

not much of undergrowth until something appeared on the ground and we thought that it were a troop of ants.

As the view approached those beings we realised that it was a group of elves on the way to one of the trees. Only as they levitated to the first talan and from there walked up a stair that wound around the bole, we realised how huge those trees were since from a distance that stair could not be seen at all.

Well, as if that was not remarkably enough we then realised that the elves were followed by a group of trees and that was even queerer. Despite the fact that we know the Onodrim, those trees or whatever they were, were even different from our entlings”.

At that point, Fullangr took excitedly the word. “Yeah, – they were different from Samry and his kin. I almost would dare to say they looked like older, – don’t laugh at me, – female trees I would call that. Their boles were shaped much differently than any ordinary trees and their voices sounded, hmm, simply more ‘womanly’ I would say. Lighter, higher in pitch and not so deeply rumbling as the voices we heard from our forests.

Unfortunately, we could not understand anything but we watched as the elves guided them to something remarkable on a talan high up in that tall tree. Once the entire host had reached that flet, they entered the wide platform where in its centre a twig of the bough on which the platform was built protruded through a large hole. Just as if it were a separate but smaller tree itself and on this tree or branch something grew that I would say looked like a very large kind of fruit or nut.


- 21 -

Those ‘womanly’ trees gathered around that seedpod and must have had some sort of discussion because now their voices rumbled almost excitedly and as fast as we have never heard any tree rumbling.

Then the elves spoke to them and after some time those ‘womanly’ trees formed a ring around that gigantic seedpod and a few heartbeats later the scene turned black and did not reappear. Hence, we are not very sure what we had watched and what this scene was supposed to tell us”.

Fullangr had ended his report but Olnir added, “If my reckoning is right, then that seedpod had been selected for a special purpose, and those queer trees that Fullangr said were called Onodrim, must have been entrusted with a particular task. Unfortunately, we could not understand anything but rumbling”.

“Yeah, that is exactly what has happened and I think Olnir’s guess is right. If I count one and one together and assume that those scenes were stored for the purpose to preserve the memories of how the elves had built certain places and how they had dwelled on Crossbow Isle, then my guess would be that from this seedpod we saw our tree in Rialian Yldannan has sprouted. Nothing else would make sense to me.

The only question I have is, – if so many things have endured for such a long time, – why have we then not yet come across such ‘womanly’ Onodrim on our island. Since the Onodrim at the trylons have not perished over the thousands of years, why then should those queer tree–creatures, or Female–Onodrim not also be somewhere around?”


- 22 -

Meanwhile, Enyana and Elensaár’s orders were served and the two had just begun to eat as the door opened and Irefĕnia and Rasmus entered the guestroom.

With much hello were they welcomed and once they had taken place and ordered supper, Enyana asked Fullangr to repeat a concise report to keep the two latecomers posted. That was something for what the son of the Pjόðroerir did not need a second invitation to follow with delight.

Fregar served two more portions of sauerkraut with dumplings accompanied by two tankards with tall beer–froth–crests and whilst the two appreciated the food, Fullangr repeated what had just been reported but he could not help himself, he had to add some flowers to his story.

However, once he had ended, Enyana’s face showed that she seemed to ponder an idea but not yet did she reveal her thoughts.

“Judging how long you were away, I guess that you as well have made some discoveries today, – isn’t it?” Elensaár asked and looked into Irefĕnia’s twinkling eyes whilst Rasmus grinned benignly.

“Oh yeah, – you can say that aloud. However, in the beginning we had much problem finding a combination that yielded anything at all but then we were confronted with something very strange and we have not the slightest idea if that has any relevance to our quest or not. Especially because we both would not know where we could or should look on our island for anything that large”, Irefĕnia said and Rasmus nodded consentingly whilst he cut a large piece of meat from the haunch.


- 23 -

“Well, – then don’t keep us on tenterhooks”, Fullangr requested and fidgeted expectantly on his chair.

“That’s easier asked than done”, Rasmus replied and looked at his friends. “Once we had found a combination that did not only flicker for the blink of an eye, the chamber changed as you described it and we beheld something that looked like a very huge hall.

Most of that place was dimly lit and we could not make out more than that the distant walls that were obviously very smooth because the light from a structure in the centre was reflected by those walls. That whole centre structure was lit by a bright but not unpleasant light and our viewpoint drew very swiftly near that large and cube like building, which had a few openings that somehow looked queer like short tunnels but we had no time to look for details.

Not tarrying – in the blink of an eye flew our viewpoint though one of the openings into the cube and swooped downwards into something that I would describe as a kind of tower or shaft. Every now and then was that shaft divided into levels, which opened up behind decorative balustrades in front of wide walkways that circumvented the entire shaft.

However, our view was travelling down swiftly and very little we could see. It almost felt the way you had shown the trylons to our riddle masters.

Frankly spoken, – we both do not know for how long and especially how deep our view had travelled but I am more than sure that it took almost a quarter of an hour until it slowed down and a kind of harbour opened up.

Here on the right side reached a long and well–lit space up to the embankment of a waterway that in some distance


- 24 -

vanished in a dark tunnel like hole, which suggested being a kind of underground channel. The waterway might have been about thirty yards wide and the high arched mouth of the tunnel had about the same height.

The queerest thing was a long and narrow ship that was anchored to the pier. It had not much resemblance with the ships of our days and its two masts were folded down backwards. However, our view did not tarry very long in the harbour but moved along the waterway where it travelled for a seemingly endless long time though that sparsely lit tunnel, until we reached another but smaller chamber.

Here, our view showed us a few dimly lit chambers and in one we saw a queer gadget on the wall whose purpose became only clear as a large handle on it had moved and then our view returned to the chamber where we watched a huge double door that opened slowly.

Just as we thought our journey would continue, everything turned black and we were not able to see more than what I just described”. With those words, Rasmus shoved the last piece of dumpling with meat into his mouth, chewed appreciatively and washed it down with a deep draught from his tankard. “Uhh, – that was good and badly needed”, he exclaimed satisfied and rubbed his flat belly.

For a moment, it was silent and only Fullangr’s fiddling as he took his pipe from his doublet interrupted the silence.

Elensaár looked at his friends. “That was truly a remarkable journey and I agree with both of you, I would not know where I should look to find such a place in all of Crossbow Isle and yet, I am sure that it is related to our quest. No matter how that works. Up to now we have not encountered


- 25 -

anything that had no relevance to our undertaking and I am sure, even that quite unusual journey is somehow related to what we are supposed to accomplish.

I think the time has come to fill you in with our discovery and then you might understand why I feel that all we have seen is relevant”.

He looked at Enyana who nodded slightly and the next half an hour one could have heard a pin drop as the two gave account about their discovery of today and even after they had ended, silence lay over the guestroom of the inn like a thick blanket.

�

The light in the shack grew slowly brighter and Tokolosh was just about to wake Torgos for their journey to the lowlands as something queer happened in the former Mage’s head. It felt as if another spirit was finding its way into Torgos brain and mind. Quietly it spread and Tokolosh kept quiet as well. He wanted to find out what it was without giving his presence away too early.

It took not very long until he felt a tentative searching sensation that seemed to scan the frequency waves of his spirit. Something was going on that he could not control. Even more surprised he was as a well–known voice asked,

“Tokolosh, is that you?”

For a tiny moment he tarried. Much too shocked he was but then he replied with a question of his own, “Is that you, – our Master, – are you Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer?”

If a demon’s spirit could be bewildered at all, then Tokolosh’s was more than bewildered. How could that be


- 26 -

that the ruler of the Worlds Below needed it to steal himself into the mind of a being that he had tried to kill not long time ago?

“Yes, it is me. You don’t have to be surprised. Sometimes even I have to use unusual methods to achieve my goals. How is Torgos doing?”

“Well, to tell the truth, I don’t know if he will be able to make it down to the lowlands and over the river. I have to find another host ere his life light extinguishes”.

“That bad it is?”

“Yeah, he has suffered greatly on the flight from your wrath and if not for the little powers you have left to me he surely would not have made it up to now”.

“Oh yeah, you still have some powers. That is very good”.

“Why, have you any need for us and those powers?”

“Oh yes, – indeed I have”.

“Well, in that case you have to find a way to replenish his powers or he will be of no use to you at all”.

With all the commotion in his head, which was unavoidable ‘loud’ enough that Torgos’s mind got aware of it, he stirred and slowly raised his head.

“What is going on? Do you have to deprive me of

my rest? You know that I hardly can keep my head up anymore”.


- 27 -

“What are you wining? Just be happy to be still alive. If it had been my liking, you would have perished long ago, you worthless piece of crap”.

Torgos was stunned. That voice he knew all too well but in his drowsiness he was not able to comprehend that from now on he was hosting another unwelcome guest in his mind.

““““What are you doing here? Have I not suffered What are you doing here? Have I not suffered What are you doing here? Have I not suffered What are you doing here? Have I not suffered enough of your unjustness? I have obeyed to your enough of your unjustness? I have obeyed to your enough of your unjustness? I have obeyed to your enough of your unjustness? I have obeyed to your whims and fancies and what have I earned? I am whims and fancies and what have I earned? I am whims and fancies and what have I earned? I am whims and fancies and what have I earned? I am more dead than alive; my face is destroyed and if I more dead than alive; my face is destroyed and if I more dead than alive; my face is destroyed and if I more dead than alive; my face is destroyed and if I make it through the day is less than certain. The only make it through the day is less than certain. The only make it through the day is less than certain. The only make it through the day is less than certain. The only thing that has cared for me was that demon you thing that has cared for me was that demon you thing that has cared for me was that demon you thing that has cared for me was that demon you have planted into my head for watching and controlling have planted into my head for watching and controlling have planted into my head for watching and controlling have planted into my head for watching and controlling me and now you come to torture me even more? Gome and now you come to torture me even more? Gome and now you come to torture me even more? Gome and now you come to torture me even more? Go away. You are the useless piece of shit and I donaway. You are the useless piece of shit and I donaway. You are the useless piece of shit and I donaway. You are the useless piece of shit and I don’’’’t t t t care if you kill me right now you stupid bastard. GOcare if you kill me right now you stupid bastard. GOcare if you kill me right now you stupid bastard. GOcare if you kill me right now you stupid bastard. GO–––– A A A A –––– WAY WAY WAY WAY””””....

Surprisingly, Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer did not respond as he would have done not so long ago but kept quite for a little while, which made Tokolosh wonder as well.

What was that? The ruler of the Worlds Below allowed Torgos to talk to him like that and did not retort immediately? That was very queer indeed.

�

After Elensaár and Enyana’s report, Zaron had broken the silence. “So it really was the two of you who had arrived


- 28 -

from somewhere? How odd is that. That time your great, great, great grandparents were not even born. However, your description of Menomenta is not lesser stunning but it fits much more to the assumptions we were pondering as we had explored the inscriptions on the fries, – isn’t it?

I really don’t know what should surprise me more, – the fact that Menomenta was, – or still is deep below, – the centre of a sophisticated place or the appearance of Enyana or someone who at least looked very much like her.

That you have appeared could well fit to what we have learnt from the first scene with Deirdre as the masons spoke of a Grand Lord who should arrive the following day, and the images of light you had seen in Corracloona.

The longer I ponder those matters, the more sense it makes. It is as if one by one our questions find answers and as if the riddle were unravelling itself”.

“Yeah, – you might well be right. What were the words that have we heard so often that I could say it in my sleep, – everything has its own time and nothing will work as hoped if the time is not right”, Elensaár replied and sucked his pipe, blowing a cloud of aromatic smoke over the table that shaped into a slowly rotating sphere.

“Yes, I cannot agree more with your assumptions. However, the question I ponder is, – how do we continue from here? We know now that we would need years to explore all possible combinations and we have not yet looked into the other chambers if there are puzzles as well. If we really want to make use of the time at hand, we have to decide if we shall continue finding more memories that hold clues to our quest or if we continue along the way that Olnir had travelled


- 29 -

to find that door he once has seen and that was shown to you in the vision you had in the lake”, Irefĕnia asked and looked at her friends.

“Hmm, that’s a good question my dear and I have no rush answer for that”, Zaron replied after a short moment of pondering.

“Why don’t we split up in two groups? One group continues to explore those chambers as well as the subsequent ones to find out if there are more puzzles whilst the others continue to follow my grandfather’s trail?” Fullangr suggested and Olnir nodded consentingly.

One could see, as exited as he was about the discoveries that had been made, more exited he was about the idea to follow the path he had travelled hundreds of years ago.

“I think that would be a reasonable idea and we would not waste too much of time”, Rasmus supported the idea but gave to consider that it still was a very uncertain undertaking to use those chambers without having the company of anyone who had more experience with such matters.

“I would not feel good exploring such a chamber all by myself. Why we are not inviting Morgan, Queen Deirdre, Queen Nooriaty and some of their mature elves to give us the support we need right now?” he asked and looked around if someone was following his idea.

Elensaár had listened and one could see that he considered his friends’ suggestions but then Enyana voiced out a valid point.

“If I think about how we have done it today, I believe we do not need to go to that extend. Our thought was that those


- 30 -

beings who had prepared all those memories for the purpose that we and no one else should find the right information, we have chosen significant dates that are only known to us and the event we have witnessed was stored under the date of Elensaár’s Tar’marty a’Ambar Tel’Quessir.

There are not so many significant dates we could choose hence it might be a good idea just to continue for one or two days to see if we can find other memories stored under the dates that might be significant to us”.

“So what dates do you have in mind?” Rasmus asked.

“Well, if we consider that neither your, nor Elensaár’s, Irefĕnia’s or Zaron’s dates of birth are known, the number of really significant dates that are related to us is not very large. I would consider that Ddraig’s date of birth as well as mine is relevant because they are known exactly and perhaps the date of the fight with Torgos since that was the very particular date of a celestial event. Do you have any further suggestions?”

“How about the date of my Tar’marty a’Ambar Tel’Quessir?” Irefĕnia asked.

“Yeah, that could be relevant as well, which means if we set the puzzles to those dates and if nothing happens then we should continue our way into the mountain. Who knows what else we will find that requires time to be explored”, Elensaár replied and lit his pipe again.

For still some time they talked about the exiting revelations of this day and later, Ráðspakr, Fjosviðor and even Mótsognir joined with a few of the ‘riddle masters’ and the more red wine and beer was consumed, the more pipeweed was burned, the livelier the conversation turned but before


- 31 -

midnight, even the last ones had gone to rest and Elensaár and Enyana sat for some time in the chairs on their porch, giving account to Ddraig who had been waiting for their return and especially to learn what had happened today.

“That were really the both of you who had come down the stairs?” he asked excitedly.

“Yeah, – they pretty much looked like the both of us”, Elensaár replied and lolled in his comfortable chair.

�

“The next morning they met in the tunnel of Mount Kibil and once Elensaár had explained again how a date had to be set they dispersed in to the chambers they had explored the day before.

One by one arranged Elensaár the blocks according to the dates they had decided to investigate but this time the inside of the chamber flickered only for brief moments but no scenes unfolded. Now he tried a few more settings with the blocks turned left and right but also to no avail.

“I guess that here is nothing for us to be seen anymore or shall we try randomly a few other settings?” Enyana asked but Elensaár shook his head.

“I don’t think that this is necessary. Your idea of using dates, which are relevant to our quest was a good one and has proven its value. I would say we should see if our friends have been more successful and if not, tomorrow we should continue our way into the mountain. If it is not too late already we can find out if there are other chambers with similar devices ere we return to Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim”.


- 32 -

“That is a good idea. We should not needlessly waste our time”, Enyana replied whilst Elensaár returned the blocks to the neutral position.

Once the entrance opened a view to the outside, they hovered over the threshold and deeper into the mountain until they arrived at the entrance of a fourth chamber. Elensaár sent Anar Tinechor’s sun inside but this time they beheld a spacious cavern and where in the other places a puzzle block was inserted into the cavity of the floor, only a deep oval shaped void gave account that the device had whether been removed or had never been installed at all.

A quick glance inside did not reveal anything worthwhile to explore and they continued the way through the string of caves where they found two more openings into the mountain but the same interior as at the fourth one, except that in the last two caves, not even a space for a puzzle device had been prepared.

“Hmm, it pretty much looks like as if just the first three chambers had been used for that purpose and one more had been prepared but never used. Let us return to Yamen’ Grotha Naugrim and wait for our friends to return”.

“How can we let them know that they don’t need to inspect the other caves as we have done it?”

Elensaár scratched his head and pondered her question whilst the wind sung eerily around their ears.

“Do we still have that parchment that Rasmus has used to contact us?” he asked.


- 33 -

Enyana shook her head but one moment later another sheet appeared along with a writing stone, – but this time without a dwarfling clinging to it.

Elensaár grinned, squatted down and scribbled a brief note onto it, took one of the stones from the gravel bed and laid it onto the parchment in the middle of the way.

“Well, that should do it. Come let’s see how late it is and if we are the first ones to return”.

“Hmm, since I cannot find the pattern of their minds yet, I guess we are truly the first ones”.

The next moment, the walkway in the string of caves lay deserted whilst the two appeared in the Great Hall and right in front of the door to the inn.

�

Much to Tokolosh’s surprise, Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer had not reacted as he and Torgos had expected but ignored the aggressive reply.

“I have other plans and if you obey to my orders I will do all in my powers to return the talents that were taken from you. I promise”.

“Would it not be wise if you would first restore his physical powers for the time being?” Tokolosh asked slyly, sensing an unusual weakness of his Master.

Now the former ruler of the Worlds Below was cornered. As far as he had experienced, he had no such powers anymore because everything he had tried after the involuntary end of the battle, had failed. On the other hand, since he had


- 34 -

abandoned his physical form he had not tried anyone of the basic abilities that he had possessed before the “One” had bestowed the host of mighty talents on him. Perhaps somehow they were still available.

Not that he would be able to fulfil the promise he just had made to Torgos, not even hovering was one of those abilities but he had been able to lure prey into his reach by sending the mind patterns of other creatures favoured prey and he had been able to find water in a place that by nature was so arid that even a bowl of dust had looked like a lake but most important, he had been able to influence minds of other beings and so he tried his luck.

“Yes you are right; let me see if I can restore some of his powers because we need to make a journey to the high mountains”.

“To the high mountains you want him to go? There will be even less to eat and drink and especially, there will be no other people in this time of the year. If his powers are worn out, we both will be stuck in a slowly mummifying body and we have no way to escape”.

“Since when are you allowed to question my orders? Are YOU now the Master?” he asked angrily.

“No Master but due to the conditions of our host I am just worried about the outcome of such an exhausting journey”, Tokolosh replied obediently but that was not wholeheartedly since he sensed that something had changed and he was not yet sure what exactly and how much his whole relationship with Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer had changed.


- 35 -

Firstly, Yaara Heru en’ Thaurer focused on influencing Torgos’s mind to suggest strength and power where little was left and he connoted to Tokolosh’s spirit that he was still his Master who demanded his loyalty. He had to persuade both to follow his orders to go on that journey up to Mount Kibil where he knew the place that he had to destroy before those creatures would find out what he had tried to hide.

In his former state, he had been able to wield all sorts of powers but he had not been able to enter or destroy that place. Torgos’s body should not have that problem, not even with the two spirits in his head.

The body of the former Mage responded reluctantly but after a while it appeared as if he really had found some power, stamina and resilience. First, he stirred more vigorously and then he got up. Something he had not done on his own accord for days.

A low and pale winter sun shone over the white glittering glade as Torgos opened the door of the shack whilst Tokolosh prepared for hovering his host’s body towards Mount Kibil as his Master had ordered.

�

If you liked what just read, go for the ‘real If you liked what just read, go for the ‘real If you liked what just read, go for the ‘real If you liked what just read, go for the ‘real thing’ and order your copy today.thing’ and order your copy today.thing’ and order your copy today.thing’ and order your copy today.

Kind regards Kind regards Kind regards Kind regards

I. Salgonda & E. GelindorI. Salgonda & E. GelindorI. Salgonda & E. GelindorI. Salgonda & E. Gelindor


- 36 -

The tale continues in

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- 37 -

TThhee AAuutthhoorrss

Elensaar Gelindor. Very early had he developed a

passion for Music, Art and Technology, which guided him all his life to the most unusual places and events.

However, as restlessness might have lain in his blood, he followed the example of one of his grandfather’s, – who had migrated in the early years of his life to China, – so eventually, he took up an assignment that led him to

West–Africa, where he worked for several years.

Once he had met Irefenia, for many years they both travelled in pursuit of business around the globe and lastly settled in Malaysia.

After a turbulent time that saw the introduction of new and unusual businesses, they moved to Borneo, where Irefenia developed the first draft chapters of “Ithilhin – Moonchild”.

From that point onwards, they both worked out the story’s development and the central theme. Lastly, Elensaár decided to author Irefenia’s red–line–script into the version of this book.

His writing style of stringent adherence to logic and sequencing had now been combined with a style of lively story telling that considerably aided and influenced the story’s flow.


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Irefenia Salgonda was born as the first of three

children. Very early, she had developed a passion for writing. Her essays and short stories were circulated amongst friends, later she wrote longer stories but never considered publishing any of them.

Once she had met Elensaar, she accompanied him on journeys around the world, which allowed her to explore her passion and fascination for

ancient cultures, their history, and mythology, on four continents.

During that time, she studied the English language and mastered it with distinction as foreign–language correspondent. Especially during the time of travelling, she extensively pursued her writing passion; therefore, it was not much of a surprise as she presented the first draft chapters of “Ithilhin – Moonchild” to Elensaár, together, they developed the idea to “Crossbow Isle”, – but this time with aim of publishing it.


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Understanding the world of real elves begins with

Crossbow Isle

All Crossbow Isle instalments are published in 4 monthly intervals.

Crossbow Isle is available at AMAZON, B&N and many others online stores. They are also available as KINDLE and YUDU editions.

YUDU e–books can be read on every computer like real books.

Currently YUDU supports most tablet computers and Android devices but NOT yet APPLE machines, because it requires ADOBE or JAVA software to be installed, which APPLE does currently not support.


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Please take note! All 5 volumes or their 15 instalments are 1 book and 1 story only!

Starting in between or skipping one part is affecting the understanding of the story!

It is also not advisable to change the reading sequence because the story is quite complex and sorting things out whilst reading might not work all too well!


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Documents

Crossroads Part 3