The trail had been deceptive leading from the encampment to the foot of the mountain. A clear path to the foot, but truly full of loose rocks, throne bushes, and blockages by fallen vegetation. A true man would have made the climb before night, but this was no man. Erik struggled, his learner's feet were sore, his conjurer's hands torn and cut. Reaching the bottom the following night he huffed and puffed. His face was dirty, this clothes ripped, seeing the flat road before him filled the boy with joy. Slumping against a tree on the side of the road, he made up for the lack of sleep the next morning.
The next day, somewhere between sunrise and midday he was startled awake by the sounds of growling and snarling. Opening his eyes to the sight of three Lone Wolves, "Usually found in the Shroud" was his first thought. Followed by information beyond, "near enough to the border to be logical", all the study he had done feeding him facts that did not help as one snapped toward him. His scholarly examinations dropping as he scrambled to his feet, holding his sword and shield in shaking hands. One snapped again toward him, rearing back as Erik pointed both arms at him, only to have the others lunge at the opening. Fortunate for the boy, he was quick, hopping from one to the other in defensive and frightened form, the sight of prey.
He thought first of his father, seeing in his mind's eye how his father would have dealt with them. Swinging his great sword, cleaving the three monsters with his great strength, a jolly laugh followed by some good natured pun. Erik often wondered if his father secretly was ashamed of him, he would never match his father in power and respect. Everyone knew of "The Captain" leading his team of palace guards. One of many such groups, to be sure, but a respected group, waving the banner of the Phoenix on the white field. No... that was to high to reach in this case. These wolves were going to kill him he thought.
Then he turned his mind to his mother, as he did looking to a small fresh fallen limb at his feet, the tree having shed it within the last few days. He thought on his mother's defense of these three. Raising her staff high, it's crystal orb at its crown shining, her woat blue robes billowing in the aether as she casted some great spell. A barrier of Asylum, some mighty Aero, nature lending her strength, as her stoic, serious, and quiet mind works to call forth such power. He considered throwing down his arms for the limb, but thought better of it. He could not yet even conjure stones, never would he reach her piety. The wolves crept closer, drool dripping from their fangs.
A scream shook him from his thoughts, turning he saw them, children. One was his age he though, no more then ten or eleven, the other a bit younger. The noise called the wolves' attention. They turned away from the armed, all be it unskilled meal, to the unarmed meal twice in amount..... Tellah.....
...... Tellah was a Steward of his house, so full of stories and tales, Erik never knew what was truth and what was fiction, but.... there was more. Tellah held secrets, he was easy going when needed, and serious when needed. Part of Erik knew the old elf was more then a Steward. Everything he said of knights, honor, the shield, "A knight's worth is only shown by those he protects." He had seen him fight before, against a beast, a bandit once that tried to rob him, "Knights of old would draw their strength from faith, but not in the divine. Faith given by those they are charged to protect." Protect.... protect...PROTECT!
As the wolves turned away from him Erik moved with his quicken form and stood between the children and the wolves. A glint of fear in his eye,but something else now too, "You two.... get ready to run."
The next day, somewhere between sunrise and midday he was startled awake by the sounds of growling and snarling. Opening his eyes to the sight of three Lone Wolves, "Usually found in the Shroud" was his first thought. Followed by information beyond, "near enough to the border to be logical", all the study he had done feeding him facts that did not help as one snapped toward him. His scholarly examinations dropping as he scrambled to his feet, holding his sword and shield in shaking hands. One snapped again toward him, rearing back as Erik pointed both arms at him, only to have the others lunge at the opening. Fortunate for the boy, he was quick, hopping from one to the other in defensive and frightened form, the sight of prey.
He thought first of his father, seeing in his mind's eye how his father would have dealt with them. Swinging his great sword, cleaving the three monsters with his great strength, a jolly laugh followed by some good natured pun. Erik often wondered if his father secretly was ashamed of him, he would never match his father in power and respect. Everyone knew of "The Captain" leading his team of palace guards. One of many such groups, to be sure, but a respected group, waving the banner of the Phoenix on the white field. No... that was to high to reach in this case. These wolves were going to kill him he thought.
Then he turned his mind to his mother, as he did looking to a small fresh fallen limb at his feet, the tree having shed it within the last few days. He thought on his mother's defense of these three. Raising her staff high, it's crystal orb at its crown shining, her woat blue robes billowing in the aether as she casted some great spell. A barrier of Asylum, some mighty Aero, nature lending her strength, as her stoic, serious, and quiet mind works to call forth such power. He considered throwing down his arms for the limb, but thought better of it. He could not yet even conjure stones, never would he reach her piety. The wolves crept closer, drool dripping from their fangs.
A scream shook him from his thoughts, turning he saw them, children. One was his age he though, no more then ten or eleven, the other a bit younger. The noise called the wolves' attention. They turned away from the armed, all be it unskilled meal, to the unarmed meal twice in amount..... Tellah.....
...... Tellah was a Steward of his house, so full of stories and tales, Erik never knew what was truth and what was fiction, but.... there was more. Tellah held secrets, he was easy going when needed, and serious when needed. Part of Erik knew the old elf was more then a Steward. Everything he said of knights, honor, the shield, "A knight's worth is only shown by those he protects." He had seen him fight before, against a beast, a bandit once that tried to rob him, "Knights of old would draw their strength from faith, but not in the divine. Faith given by those they are charged to protect." Protect.... protect...PROTECT!
As the wolves turned away from him Erik moved with his quicken form and stood between the children and the wolves. A glint of fear in his eye,but something else now too, "You two.... get ready to run."
![[Image: Emblem%252520by%252520Rhea%252520Zaheela%252520x50.png]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5YSh8yMniHU/VlLStr_7SSI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/qLoOmtz-Jdg/s100-Ic42/Emblem%252520by%252520Rhea%252520Zaheela%252520x50.png)
