The sun shined bright and white. It was late afternoon. Four ticks past dawn in their system of time. Around Half past ten in ours. There were clear blue skies on that day. People were about their work, some caring the cattle, some were on their way to the fields, some were off to nearby towns to sell their goods and some were fast asleep.
Merwin Skoots lay on his bed. Snoring. Not budging even a little bit. It was the best sleep he had gotten in a few months. And no one dared to disturb him. For he was a guard at the village's gates and was good with a sword. The only one besides Grular. The village was quite peaceful and apart from a few arguments here and there, they had not seen a crime in quite some time now.
Merwin's job was to make sure that the village was free of crime and to check any one who came into the village for any signs of suspicious activity. Although the village was peaceful, there always existed the threat of The Twelve - Tailed Wolf. A gang who travelled the country, going to villages and looting them. That was Merwin's worst nightmare. He hoped that he wouldn't have to face them. But little did he know what his fate would drag him to.
The sun got to its peak. Atlast Merwin moved. He yawned. "What a good sleep. I haven't got such a sleep in months! ". He looked out of his bedroom window. The sun was high. He made up his mind to get out of bed. Half clad, he got out of his bed and lazily made his way into his living room.
A cool summer wind blew. Half an hour later, he emerged out of his front door. Vankuldir was a magical place. The residents of which were dwarfmen - mostly like men but shorter and stronger with a beard being common (or a mustache at the least. You can't be a dwarfman without either of these! ). These folk were hardy and rough yet had an air of kindness around them. They lived underground but usually had a small, single floor house above the ground. They liked art and underground was usually full of carvings and hung paintings (which were not really colorful but had intricate designs and patterns). They also liked plants and so they had pots full of flowers kept in their living rooms.
The flora and fauna of this place was not much varied. But they were cheerful just like the folk. The orange cherry trees were the most seen. When the snow covered the ground, these trees would turn green to orange and bring warmth to the people. The Valanthus would come up in the spring with its blue colour and cool the hearts and minds of the people. But it was summer now. And it was famous for the Pika fruit. A red fruit with feather like pattern on it. It was sweet and sour and would bring joy to the eater. Not only were they beautifully to look at, they had healing properties too. So the people never fell sick. But to discuss about these, is a completely different story.
Merwin took a relaxing stroll through the village and off to a path which led into a forest. This path, only he knew. It led into the forest and into a clearing. A pond lay nearby. You could see it teeming with life. Fishes, turtles and frogs. A hammock was tied to a nearby tree and Merwin got into it. "A little more rest would do no harm. " he thought and soon his eye lids closed.
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The sun became orange. The shadows grew long. The birds started to make their way back to their nests. Merwin opened his eyes. It was getting dark.
He started to make his way back to his house. As he walked down the path, he heard someone call out his name. 443Please respect copyright.PENANAxWoxsrNHFu
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"Merwin...Merwin!"443Please respect copyright.PENANAM6RUvTPJwl
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He stopped. He turned to his left and saw his friend Moruin. Moruin came up. 443Please respect copyright.PENANAovYsTDI56l
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"Where had you gone off to? What happened to your hair? You look like...."
Merwin was about to answer when Moruin cut him short. 443Please respect copyright.PENANApC6LSgIMjV
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"Anyways, I had been to your house to call you for the party. Get yourself tidied up and come quickly. I have a lot of guests you would like to meet."443Please respect copyright.PENANAYwhrl7rToD
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"But what's the party for? "
"Because my sister's brother-in-law's daughter got married."
"What - ". But Moruin was off. Merwin found it strange too that someone would throw a party because their sister's brother-in-law's daughter got married. Then again, she might be close to him. He tried not to think about it too much and get home fast.
The sky turned black. The lamps were lit along the streets. Merwin walked to his friend's house. He looked up at the sky. It was cloudy. Not much could be seen but a faint glow through the clouds where the moon was supposed to be. He came up to his friend's house. He could hear voices. The door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open. It opened with a creak. But the noise from inside was too loud for anyone to notice. He went in to the living room closing the door behind him. He had good manners.
It was filled with people. Atleast 40 of them. "Over here!" called out his friend holding a glass of beer. Merwin was handed a mug and told to refill it when he had finished. He downed his mug quickly and refilled it. He stood leaning against the wall watching the crowd.
Just as he was going to refill his mug, a tall man bumped into him. He was wearing a dark red, almost black robe, held a staff in his hands, his long white hair was knotted, he had blue eyes and most importantly, he looked familiar. He spoke first.
"I'm sor...- Oh it's you Merwin"
It took some time for Merwin to recognise him. Then he remembered, 443Please respect copyright.PENANA5f4aiUWriH
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"Hello Ebin. It's been a long time. I almost had forgotten you." 443Please respect copyright.PENANAZpDqtNvA8U
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"I had forgotten you too. I have come here for a reason. There was something that I wanted to ask you. " 443Please respect copyright.PENANANEAl1b18M3
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"Sure. Sure. Let me get my drink first" and he went to refill his mug. Then Merwin said, "Now, what was it that you wanted to know ?" 443Please respect copyright.PENANAU6e6aHOWDf
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"Have you received any letters recently?" asked Ebin. 443Please respect copyright.PENANA1V0xFkUO84
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"No. Why do you ask?" 443Please respect copyright.PENANAoikVuzKjXz
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"It's just that.. Its just that something might be a-brewing. Are you sure you have gotten none? " 443Please respect copyright.PENANAfDwjVhFJUX
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"Pretty sure."443Please respect copyright.PENANA5L50TEJrxx
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"Well, if you get any try to contact me as soon as possible. " 443Please respect copyright.PENANAtI9Iz1DMCK
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"What has happened? What are you not telling me?" 443Please respect copyright.PENANAEzdz3B4wPy
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"I guess I have to tell you. But this place is too crowded and I don't know who might be eavesdropping. Follow me. " he said and led them outside. It was cool outside and the noise of the party was not loud here. He checked around to see if anyone was here. None.
"This might be a serious matter. I am not sure if you are the right person to be involved in this. But fate has chosen so. 443Please respect copyright.PENANADh7wBTo3A7
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Have you heard of the Jewels of Eledith?" asked Ebin.
"The Jewels of Eledith....? " repeated Merwin.
"Yes, the Jewels of Eledith. Legend goes back to a long long time ago. Lesdail was ruled by King Tutain. A fine king he was. Loved peace and was wise. He could foresee things which were yet to happen. No scholar, wizard or witch could match his intelligence. But he was not without greed. During his rule, a plague broke out and smote thousands. The King, however, was saved. Then came a man to the King's court. He said that he had a miracle cure which would bless anyone with good health, forever. The king was impressed by this. He failed to think of the consequences. The once great king now bowed before his greed. The man said that you could find the jewels deep deep down below the ground. Two of them. One, a ruby like gem called Spherlifite and other a emerald like gem - Caramerite. These two when held together by a person would make him stronger than any man but it would also corrupt him from the inside. This, the man did not tell. This, the King did not know. The King sent many men to look for these gems. To find its whereabouts and dig it up and bring it to him. Then the mines of Eledith were found."
"The mines of Eledith!" exclaimed Merwin. He had heard about this marvellous place. Deep underground it bore gems, metals and ores which were found nowhere else. They were mesmerizing to look at and would entrap you in their magic. They held powers which could make you the most powerful of all, the most wisest of all and even the most corrupt of all. Or so the legend goes.
Ebin continued, "The mines were found, but not the jewels. The deep darkness was not free for all to pass. They are guarded by creatures which no one can even imagine. Creatures of the Elder times. It was a daring task, and the King sent his best men. Three hundered of them. And only one returned. Captain Alsandair. The King made a gold box to keep the jewels in. He kept it near him at all times. It would make him happy. It would make him strong. But it would weaken him from the inside. But the King realised this. He knew his mistake. He knew that it was killing him from the inside. He closed up the box and sent it to a place no one knew about. He hid it so that no one could find it again. Where he hid it. Only he knew. He told no one. Except one. He told the cleric who tended to his illness which he suffered from after hiding the jewels. The cleric knew where they were. But he didn't take them. He didn't dare to take them. He left a small note in his diary about the home of the jewels. 443Please respect copyright.PENANAY0UuAtAgRV
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And that's all we know about them. But I suspect that someone is trying to look for it again. Find it and dig it back up. To satiate their own lusts. Who this is, I do not know. But there definitely is someone looking for it. And that someone is probably after you. "
Merwin was shocked. "But-but I have nothing. I don't know anything about the jewels. And how do you know that someone is after me?"
The noise of the party had died down. Maybe they were too drunk and tired.
"I will tell you another time. Now, I will go get another drink" replied Ebin. 443Please respect copyright.PENANAaxDL9tkMM2
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"I am done. I think I am going home." said Merwin.
The clouds had cleared up. He could see the stars. They formed nice patterns. Merwin walked home. He could not understand why someone was after him. After all, he was just a gaurd at the village. He knew nothing about the gems. Heck, he knew nothing much about the history either. It seemed like it was all a prank played by Ebin. Maybe he had gotten drunk and was out of his mind. Maybe not. But now he wanted to get home and rest. After all, he doesn't get much rest.
He reached home and unlocked the door. He thought he could see some light downstairs. He went down. Just as he was able to see the light clearly, a black shadow darted and the lit candle extinguished. It was pitch black. Merwin fumbled his way around and lit some lights. No one. Now he began to be scared. He looked on the table. He could see something.
An envelope.
His heart started to beat faster and faster. His breath became heavy. He turned around and started running towards Moruin's house. He cried out.
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"Ebin! Ebin!"
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