laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After five days of sailing aboard the Urmia, the weather was getting colder. Lisa had the privilege of being within a crew of devout worshippers of the Lady of the Seas and their personalities reminded her a great deal of the paladins back home. Fortunately, none of them wished to investigate their passengers closer and she was glad of that as she and Tess sat within the large berthing area, lit only by candlelight as they awaited the sighting of land.

"So, what do you know of this 'great white north'?" Adgertesse' asked, sharpening her sword's blade.

"Actually, nothing. I've never been there and only know what the Varangians believed about it. It's supposed to be some burial place for their brave and a haunt for those who didn't make it to the halls that they believe those who die valiantly in battle will be able to go to." She shrugged, knowing that facing undead may be a distinct possibility.

"Hmm. I guess we'll find out when we get there."

Lisa watched the whetstone run up the blade's length and noted the high sheen in the metal. Studying it, she realized that it was made of high steel as were the hammer and shortsword that Tess carried. "Are those magical?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I know if we run into certain things that they will be the only weapons that can hurt them. I had to find you once, remember?'

"I've been hurt by normal weapons before. I guess he didn't tell you that."

"He didn't tell me much at all, just to find and...you know."

Lisa nodded as hurried footsteps down the distant stairwell caught her attention. They both turned and eyed the shaggy haired crewmen as he jogged into the cot filled room. "Land," he announced. "Captain said to come get you."

"Thanks." Lisa said as she hopped up and gathered her things while Tess resheathed her sword and shouldered her own backpack. They soon headed up to the main deck, lit brightly by sunlight within the brilliant blue sky above. She turned towards the bow as the captain peered over the merloned forecastle.

"Haltiatinturi," he stated, then motioned to the distant white line.

Lisa moved to the starboard side and gazed to the horizon, then back up to their benefactor. "Thank you and I hope you have the weather gauge home," she smiled.

"Best of luck."

Lisa grabbed Tess' hand, concentrated and they both disappeared to re-emerge within the snow covered land. As she scanned around them, the distant mountains suddenly gave her an odd sensation which coursed up her spine.

"I take it we're heading north from here," Adgertesse' inquired as she began walking through the snow, then turned to eye Lisa. "You alright?"

Green eyes scanned the rugged, white peaks in the distance and she quickly noted a shimmering within the foothills. Tiny and quick, she wasn't sure if it was light reflecting from steel or not. "Yeah, I think so. But, we need to get moving."

"Waiting on you," Tess stated, turned and began trudging through the drifts as Lisa grabbed her arm, concentrated again and teleported to the distant hills. "I wish you'd warn me first before doing that."

"Sorry, but we're in a hurry. I think they're already here."

"Who?"

"Lericanin and the group," she informed, distracted as she scanned the mountains which loomed before them. Through a narrow gap, she noted a trio of caves as another glimmer of light exploded, then disappeared. Lisa touched Tess's arm again and took them to the entrance of the leftmost cave whose large, dark entrance stank of death.

"Look," Tess pointed to a host of large footprints in the snow. "Someone's been here alright. About a dozen or so, carrying a litter," she pointed to round indentations in the white carpet.

Lisa gazed into the cave and suddenly felt a tug towards it. "We have to go, come on." Drawing her sword for the first time in months, she walked into the icy cave whose light grey walls flanked a shower of broken shards around a large body of a giant. His chest and legs bled a bluish liquid that had pooled around him. She hurried her pace into the giant's home as they looked around beyond an enormous cookpot still simmering from the fire that was only embers now. A long sleeping pallet was nearly the size of a small boat and piled clothing and gear lay in a heap at the back of the cave. Frantically, she began rifling through the clothing, looking for anything familiar.

"Hey," Tess called. "Over here," she motioned with her hammer, prompting Lisa to approach the illusory wall at the back of the rugged cave. "You think they went this way?'

"Possibly," she could still feel the tug and quickly decided to investigate. Climbing, dodging and running, the duo soon reached the narrowing finale' of their trek which found a tower of metal rungs that followed the walls up the box-shaped tunnel that rose into darkness.

Lisa resheathed her sword and began climbing, driven by some unseen force to reach the top and her friends as soon as possible. Desperately, she pulled herself up and reached a heavy lid made of thick wood which she bowed under and pushed with her back and arms. Lifting it off, she shoved it back and hopped out into the small, rectangular shaped room, then turned and helped Tess up.

Spinning, she approached the banded door and found it was made of metal. Pushing, she quickly realized it was locked and very solid.

"Here, let me try something," Tess pulled Lisa backwards, then concentrated. Motioning with the fingers of her right hand, a heavy metallic pop resounded in the room as Lisa felt the flowing energy through the wall behind them. Something had triggered a powerful focus and she yanked the handle on the door, then ran out into the bright daylight that spilled through the open, column-lined wall that overlooked distant snow capped mountains. To the right, they sprinted up the stairs into the immense, open temple centered by a frozen pool whose round bordering wall opened up and led the frozen stream to the wall behind them.
Within the center island of the pool, an oak tree rose into the air surrounded at its base by tall stalks of wheat and fronted by a stone statue of a sword standing into a large, deep grey rock. Ignoring the people gathered at the pool, they both ran to their right and into a hallway where five large cylinders stood within a tall alcoves to either side. Standing before the black cylinders which stood idle, they each began meditating as if called to those already not energized with blue pulsing light.

"Welcome," a female voice inside her head greeted. "All you need will be provided." A vision of the symbols of the benevolent deities standing within the frozen pool filled her mind as the black cylinder began spinning and igniting with blue flame. She opened her eyes and turned as missiles flew in their direction. Raising her right hand, she magically deflected a hammer and Calista's blades.

"Wait," she yelled while Lericanin's hammer returned to his hand as he and Sir William charged them. Turning to Tess, she could feel the heat rising within the temple's main room. "I don't want you involved in this," she informed, feeling His presence emerge from the depths. "His hold on you could be dangerous to both of us," she motioned down the hallway to a distant veranda. "Wait for me there."

Adgertesse's mouth opened to protest, then closed as she nodded. "If things go ill, I'm getting you out of there."

"Alright." Lisa turned to Lericanin and William whose eyes went wide upon recognition. "Where is it?"

"What?" Lericanin asked.

"The sword."

Their confusion made her realize that another plan had to be hatched, and soon as the tree, sword and wheat suddenly lit brightly. She quickly ran through the group to the island, leaping to the base of the tree as red misty clouds began to spill from a raised platform beyond them and his presence formed within the burning column.

"Alone at last," he greeted as they all turned to face the Dark One. Most of the group immediately ran for their lives, dropping weapons and gear as they sprinted up the long hallway.

Lisa touched the tree which quickly morphed into a tall staff. "Sceva," she yelled, then tossed the fighter-mage the gift from Elminoir.

Grabbing the sword for herself, she then reached down and gathered the wheat that had when pulled from the ground turned into arrows which she tossed to Alandria. Again to the stone, her hand brought up another sword as her right hand rose and she straightened. "Lericanin," she yelled, then tossed the sword to the knight of Arhus.

He caught it, then with confusion in his eyes. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Use it," she stated, jumping to Sceva's side as they advanced on the fire enveloped foe.

He laughed as they approached as one, then blocked the first arrow from Alandria. "I'm glad you won't die alone," he hissed, glaring at Lisa as the group all attacked. His battle hammer blocked, then struck as Sir William rejoined the group on the opposite side. Thrusting and blocking, most of their strikes hit a magical protection, but some hit home as a mighty swing crushed Lericanin's shoulder and sent the large knight to the floor. Amidst more attacks, he then sent Arthur backwards in a heap. Lisa grew desperate as they attacked, knowing that it was all or nothing as William swung with the sword that she had given Lericanin, hitting home as the malevolent opponent turned on her next. In a shower of fire and red mist, he dissipated in an angry cloud which evanesced down the stairs and soon disappeared.
As his spirit was recalled, the weapons gained from the resident protectors also disappeared and returned to the oak tree and wheat as Lisa ran to Lericanin's quiet body. Concentrating, she used her healing magics to bring him back to life and heal his wound. Once done, she turned to Arthur, Alister's squire, and healed him also.

The world was free again, if for a little while as the frozen pool melted and began flowing, giving life back to the tree whose boughs refilled with green leaves.

"Hello there," Lericanin greeted weakly as she turned back to him.

"Welcome back. How are you feeling?"

"Fine. What happened?"

"William vanquished him," she motioned to the stunned knight of Ruse, still standing quietly.

He sat up and fingered the dent in his magical armor at the shoulder. She knew that they had much to catch up on and she was glad they were all back together again.