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The Guardian Crusade

Volume I



Chapter 12



Aj quietly closed the door as he walked into Rayne’s room. He walked over to her bed and stopped when he heard a soft mumble. Slipping his hand between the two curtains he pulled the one back and looked in. Rayne was under the covers and she was tossing in her sleep. A worried look on her face, her head turned to the left and then back to the right. He tied the curtain back and sat down on the edge of her bed. Carefully he took her hand and gently shook her with the other.



“Rayne?” He said as he shook her again, a little hesitant not wanting her to hit him with another nature spell. Her eyes shot open as she jolted from her sleep and sat up quickly against the back of her bed. “It’s ok.” Aj said as he held onto her hand. She looked at him confused as she tried to catch her breath. He scooted closer to her as his right hand drifted up to the side of her neck.



“I am alright now.” Rayne said as his thumb drifted across her jawbone. Aj lightly smiled as he leaned in and kissed her.



“We’re getting ready to go.” Aj said as they pulled away from each other.



“What is the plan?” She asked as she took his hand.



“Nick, Nalia, and Howie are going with Rossi, they’re already there. His army will head out and we’ll meet in Drisel.” Aj told her. “Kevin, Brian, You and I will leave from here, when the ships set sail, the Gryphon Riders are going to fly ahead and keep watch. When we get close they’re going to go west of Drisel and fly up too Rossi.” Aj explained to her.



As Aj explained to her more of the plan, she crawled out of bed and walked over to her dresser. She pulled out a long blue robe with silver thread and ribbon crisscrossing around it. Aj looked at her, her back to him, she pulled her night robe off and for the first time he saw exactly why she flinched early in the day. There were bruises on her arms and Aj could tell they were hand marks from Dyn holding her down. He stopped talking, looking away as he clenched his fist, angry at himself he didn’t get there sooner, angry that he fell of the ship leaving her alone in the first place.



“Alex?” She said and he looked up at her. She was dressed in the new robe and she looked at him confused.



“He did that to you.” Aj said looking at her. Rayne was confused at first but then she realized what he was talking about.



“They will go away.” She said as she sat down beside him.



“Yeah but what he tried to do.” Aj said looking at her. “I don’t want to see you sad, or crying, or hurting anymore. We’re going to fight the Mage, we’re going to win, and then you and Nalia will be able to go home.” He said as she tangled her fingers around his.



“Or the Mage walks right over us and we all die.” She said as she looked at him. He stared at her for a moment and then rolled his eyes.



“You’re not allowed hanging out with Nick anymore.” Aj said as she started to laugh, he looked at her and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he watched her laugh. It was contagious and soon Aj was laughing too. Someone knock at the door and Aj stood up and walked over to answer it.



“Avit.” Aj said when he saw his General standing at the door.



“We are ready Sir.” Avit said with a nod. Aj turned and looked at Rayne as she walked up to him.



“You have everything.” He asked. She stopped and thought about it, then turned around and walked over to her dresser, pulling out the necklace Kevin had saved from the Castle, putting it over her neck.



“Alright.” She said as she tucked the necklace in and walked up to them at the door.



“Kevin and Brian at the harbor?” Aj asked as the three of them walked down the hallway.



“Yes.” Avit said with a nod. “They are on the Lead ship.”



As they walked down the steps of the back staircase, a trip Aj and Rayne had taken earlier in the day with Dyn, Aj wrapped his hand around hers. They walked out of the stairwell and into the large giant cave. Aj was a little taken back as ships sailed in one side of the cave, filled up with men, and then sailed out, stopping just outside, waiting until all the ships were ready. They walked down a long deck beside a giant ship and Aj looked up as the men in the small windows ran back and forth preparing the cannon’s for a fight.



He felt his heart begin to race. It was hard to believe he started all this, called for all these men to go to war. He was asking them to go war, he was asking them to fight, he was asking them to possibly die, and they went, they fought, they died because he said so. They walked down the dock towards the plank that allowed them to walk up to the tall large ship. People were running around pulling on the ropes and shouting to one another.



Aj followed Avit into the chambers of the ship; Brian and Kevin were sitting on chairs by the desk. The room was different than the Master ship, no bed, no personal quarters only the desk, chairs, and two small bunks on the side of the cabin wall. Aj could tell this ship was meant for fighting. He looked down to Brian and Kevin and was a little surprised to see they were fighting with each other, in a whisper, but Kevin’s face was beat red, and Aj new what that meant.



“Are the gryphon’s ready?” He asked as Avit and Rayne walked over to the desk. He ignored the fight that had ended between the two cousins, for now.



“Yes.” Avit nodded. “When they see the sails of the ships they will take flight from the tower.”



“How long till we set sail?” Rayne asked.



“As soon as I get word from Harls.” Avit said with a nod. “I need to talk with the Captain I will return when we set off.”



“Ok.” Aj nodded as Avit walked around the desk and left the room. He looked over to Rayne who was looking over the map on the desk.



“Brian zip it now.” Aj heard Kevin whisper and he turned around, eyeing the two cousins as they sat in their chairs.



“What’s up?” Aj asked as he leaned against the desk.



“Nothing.” Kevin said looking to Aj and then to Brian but Aj knew what they were fighting about.



“Look dude I told you I’m not going back, ok?” Aj said as he looked at Brian.



“I just don’t understand why you need to stay?” Brain said to him. “I get the whole war thing, I want to help them too, and I am but why do you need to stay?” Aj was about to answer when Avit opened the door and walked in. He was followed by his Second in Command Harls and the two of them walked right up too Aj.



“We are ready sir.” Avit said with a light bow. Aj took a deep breath pushing Brian out of his head and nodded.



“Good, Nick and Rossi should be sailing right now.” Aj said with a light nod. Avit and Harls bowed and then walked out of the room. He sat against the desk as he heard Avit shout to the Captain and then heard the Captain shout to another Captain on another ship. It was muffled but the ceiling above them; the floor below the Captain upstairs was thin enough for shouts to leak through. Then he braced himself as the ship rocked and jerked a little as it began to sail out of the harbor.



“So this is it.” Kevin said standing up.



“Yep.” Aj said with a nod.



“What do we need to do?” Kevin asked.



“Nothing unless you want to help the crew.” Aj said with a shrug.



“Can you answer my question?” Brian said looking to Aj.



“Dude.” Kevin said looking at his cousin.



“Because I want too.” Aj said staring at him. “Is that so hard to believe? I want to stay here, I like it here, it’s different than home and they need me here.”



“Need you? They sent you away in the first place.” Brian said with a light scoff.



“For my safety.”



“Well Rayne stayed, Nalia stayed and nothing bad happened to them.” Brian said.



“Nothing bad?” Aj said in a raised voice. “Nalia and Rayne lost their homes; they were at war when we got here.”



“And how is that your problem?” Brian said.



“Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me.” Aj said as he pushed off of the desk and walked passed Brian.



“Man were the hell have you been?” Kevin said jumping into the conversation.



“Here, I’ve been here and I’m the only one questioning why you and Nick were sent away and those two stayed but now it’s so important for you to remain here?”



“We all were supposed to be sent away.” Rayne said and everyone realized they had forgotten about her being in the room. “My Father and Nalia’s Father were against it, they thought they could protect us better if we stayed. But they were wrong, Johon still came, and he took Pomic.” Rayne said as she looked at Brian.



“You know what’s funny to me.” Kevin said and Aj looked from Rayne to him. “Say Rayne’s Father and Nalia’s Father sent them away with you guys, what would have happened to Pixcadia?”



“What do you mean?” Brian asked confused but Aj knew what he meant.



“There would have been no one here.” Aj said looking at Kevin. “We wouldn’t have been here to stop him outside of Darlawind, we wouldn’t be here to go to war. Or if they brought us all back like they did with Nick and I we would have been completely clueless, like Nick and I were.”



“But I thought this Pixca, their God told them too?” Brian said even more confused.



“She did.” Rayne said and Aj looked back at her. Her eyebrows frowned a little; he wasn’t sure if she was thinking or if she was getting angry.



“Have you ever seen this tale?” Aj asked as he turned to face her.



“No, Father said that there is only one copy of the tale she wrote for us to follow.” Rayne said as Aj felt Kevin walk up beside him.



“Where is it?” Aj asked.



She looked up at him. “Father said he was shown the tale in a dream, like the others.”



“A dream?” Kevin said.



“Pixca came to him in a dream, showed him the tale and told him what to do.” Rayne said remembering.



“Wait.” Aj said thinking. “When I first got here Marsa said something about the tale being written down, only to be read when the guardians arrive.”



“As far as we know, it was a hundred years ago but something happened to it and Pixca took it back to protect it.”



“What happened?” Brian asked. “That she needed to protect it?”



“It was..” She stopped mid sentence and her face fell with puzzlement. “It was..” She stopped again. “I do not know what happened to it.”



“So you don’t know where this tale is, you guys barely remember the tale as it is, and rely on a dream to tell you what to do?” Kevin asked.



“Well if that doesn’t reek of sabotage I don’t know what does.” Aj said looking to Kevin.



“You think the mage did something to the tale?” Kevin asked him.



“Well not the Mage but whatever evil it is, yeah.” Aj said with a nod.



“But the dreams? With Pixca?” Rayne asked confused.



“Could they be magic?” Aj asked her.



“Magic?” She asked and Aj saw this was starting to up set her. He walked up to her and took her hands.



“Let’s say this Evil did something to the tale, changed it, destroyed it, who knows.” He said as she looked up at him. “He made people forget, a hundred years is a long time.”



“But Pixca is real, she is in us, in nature, she gives us our powers she.” Aj stopped her.



“I’m not saying she’s not darlin’ but something happened, something happened to make everyone forget the real tale, and something is making them send us away so we’re not here to defend her.” Aj said.



“I think I understand.” Rayne said with a light nod. Aj looked at her and lightly smiled but she looked just as confused as before.



“Can you go check with Avit, I think the Gryphon’s should be riding ahead soon.” Aj said too her with a light smile.



“Alright.” She said with a nod and a smile, but he could tell it was forced. He watched and waited for her to walk out of the room and then he looked over to his friends.



“You wanna bitch me out for staying fine, but don’t do it in front of her.” Aj said as he pointed his finger at his band mate.



“Why she’s the reason you’re staying.” Brian mumbled as he sat down.



“I swear you got cotton in your ears or something man.” Kevin said shaking his head as he sat back down.



“So what is it Brian huh? Am I staying to help this place, or am I staying just to get laid.” Aj said angrily. “Cause if it’s the latter, I got news for ya I don’t need to be here to do that.”



“I’m saying you are in this new place, a place where you’re still pretty popular, you meet this nice sweet girl, she’s different from the other girls and you’re just not thinking.”



“Thinking? Thinking about what?” Aj yelled.



“About your Mom dumb ass!” Brian yelled back.



“I have.” Aj said to him as he looked Brian right in the eyes. “Every second, every minute, every hour, every day I am here I think about her. But I think about what she would want me to do, she would want me to be happy, if she knew how I felt about this place, she would tan my ass if I thought about going back.”



“You know she would man.” Kevin said looking at Brian.



“I need to go check with Avit.” Aj said as he stood up. “Brain I really don’t want our last days together to be fighting over why I’m staying, or the fact that I am, it’s my decision and this is what I want.”



Brian didn’t say anything and Aj knew he wouldn’t. He walked over to the door and opened it. Walking out onto the deck, it was dark, the sun had fallen behind the horizon and it was a little cool out on the water. He scanned the deck and looked for Avit. He didn’t see him but his eyes caught Rayne sitting on the bow of the ship. Slowly he turned around and looked up to the Quarter deck and saw Avit talking to the Captain. He looked back to Rayne and decided to go talk to his General before talking to her.



“Alexander the Gryphon’s have left and we will get a report in two hours sir.” Avit said with a nod.



“Ok.” Aj said nodding back to him.



“It is a good plan.” Avit said with a nod.



“Really?” Aj said a little surprised. “Never really saw myself as a King before.” Aj said half jokingly half not. “So just kind of going with it.”



“As any Elvaan would.” Avit smiled.



“Huh?” Aj said confused.



“We are carefree people, we like to be happy, and have a good time with life. We will fight when we have too, and we’re very good at it which most people do not expect.” Avit told him. “We care about our family, friends, and we are true to our word, which can be a down fall, as others are not so true to theirs.”



“Tell me about it.” Aj said with a light smile and then he sighed as his thoughts went back to Brian.



“Everything alright?” Avit asked.



“I just had an argument with one of my friends about me staying.” Aj said looking at him.



“The Preist?” Avit asked meaning Brian.



“Yeah.” Aj said with a little laugh. “If he would just accept it and look around he would see what I see, and the others see.”



“Which is sir?” Avit asked wondering if he was being to nosy.



“That I do belong here.” Aj said with a shrug. “Although picturing me as an Elvaan is a little trippy.” He said shaking his head. “How long will this spell last?”



“The one that shows your human form?” Avit asked and Aj nodded. “I am not really sure.”



“Well I hope for Nick’s sake it last forever.” Aj said laughing a little.



“I could see Prince Nickolas having some trouble adapting to his Dwarven form.” Avit said as he started laughing too. “Is it wrong I show some curiosity though?” Aj’s General asked.



“No Avit.” Aj said laughing harder.



“What’s so funny?” Kevin said from beside Aj and he turned around. Kevin and Brian were coming up the steps.



“Nick as a Drawf.” Aj said with a shrug.



“Nice.” Kevin said smiling.



“Promise me something.” Brian said and Aj looked over to him. Brian took a deep breath and rolled his eyes a little. “If that happens you’ll come back at get me, cause I owe that kid some short jokes.”



Aj lightly smiled knowing Brian was going to lay off of him. “Sure thing ya prick.” Brian laughed and shook his head a little. As Kevin started talking about what kind of beard Nick would have as a Dwarf, Aj looked over to the bow of the ship but Rayne wasn’t sitting there anymore. He started to scan around the deck when he heard the squawk of a Gryphon.



“Sarila is on their way!” The rider shouted down to Avit.



“On their way?” Aj said quickly to Avit.



“How far?!” Avit shouted back.



“Around three fields ahead!” The Rider shouted back.



“How far is that?” Brian asked.



“I think a field is a mile.” Aj said a little unsure.



“Three miles?!” Brian said knowing that wasn’t that far by ship. “We’ve barely left Winnol. Nick won’t make it here.”



“Can we get a Rider to fly to Rossi?” Aj asked.



“Yes but it would not make his fleet get here any faster.” Avit replied.



“Then we’ll stall as long as we can.” Aj told him. “That fleet will not reach Winnol.” Aj turned around as Avit shouted to his Rider to send news to Rossi and tell the other Riders to return to the ships.



“Where’re you going?” Kevin asked as Aj walked passed him.



“To find Rayne and let her know what’s going on.” Aj said as he quickly stepped down the steps. Looking around the deck again quickly he didn’t see her so he walked into the Meeting Chambers.



“There you are.” He said when he saw her leaning over the desk looking at the map. “The Riders are on their way back, the Mage’s ships are about three fields away.” She looked up at him shocked but didn’t say anything as she looked back down to the map. Her finger scanned along the page.



“What’s up?” He asked as he walked over to the front of the desk.



“That puts them there.” Rayne said pointing to a spot on the map.



“Isn’t this where the Master ship is?” Aj asked as he pointed to a spot in the middle “Or was.” He said remembering the Elemental.



“She will not be pleased if she finds Dyn.” Rayne said looking up at him.



“If she hasn’t found him already.” Aj said as she looked at him confused. “Which way does the current flow?” Rayne looked down at the map and scanned her finger over an arrow.



“North.” She said. “Towards the ships.”



“We need to stall her.” Aj said as the door to the chambers opened. They both looked towards the doors and saw Avit, Kevin and Brian walk in.



“We’ve slowed the speed of the ships and we have flanked out.” Avit said to Aj even though he wasn’t really sure what he meant.



“Have we sent word to Rossi?” Rayne asked Avit.



“The Rider is on his way.” Avit said knowing it wouldn’t be quick enough.



“I need to get on that ship.” Aj said as he looked down at the map.



“By yourself?” Kevin asked.



“I can teleport but I need to be within eyesight.” He said. “How long till they come into view?”



“I am not sure around five minutes or so.” Avit said. “Depending how fast they are sailing, they are against the wind so that is to our advantage.”



“You can not go by yourself.” Rayne said to Aj as he walked over to the door.



“I’m the only one who can get there quick enough, maybe I can stall them or throw them off as far as we known they haven’t seen us yet.” Aj said to her as they stopped at the door.



“I can take a Gryphon and meet you there.” Rayne said too him.



“And they’ll see you coming a mile away, besides I need you here with the fleet.” Aj told her. “I’ll be fine.” He turned and opened the door, walking outside onto the deck. He walked over to the bow of the ship and looked out trying to see anything. A loud boom made him look up to the sky quickly and he saw dark grey clouds circling over top of them. He looked back out to the ocean and still couldn’t see anything. Another crackling sound made him look up again and he slowly started to back away as he saw bolts of lightening scream down from the sky.



“Storm cloud!” The crew started shouting from behind him.



“She knows we’re here.” Rayne said from behind him. Aj turned around and looked at her, but something behind her caught his eye, and as he looked up at the Quarter deck his eyes went wide as he saw Dyn standing behind the Captain as the Elvaan slumped to the floor dead. As his brain processed what he saw the anger he had felt earlier returned.



“Get behind me now.” Aj said to her as he looked to her.



“Pardon?” She asked confused and she turned around. He didn’t give her time to react as he stepped in front of her and looked back to Dyn. “How did he?”



“I don’t think that’s him.” Aj said as he quickly looked back at her.



“You mean.” She looked at him and then back to Dyn.



Aj looked back to Dyn and saw Avit, Kevin and Brian standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at Dyn. He looked up at his brother and the Elvaan was standing on the railing looking down at him with an evil sadistic smile.



“A little surprised to see me?” He asked as the guys and Avit walked over to Aj and Rayne.



“Not really, always thought you were like a cockroach.” Aj said with a shrug. He watched the puzzlement on Dyn’s face but heard the chuckles from Brian and Kevin. Dyn realized he was being mocked and this made him angry.



“That mouth is about to get you killed!” Dyn shouted as his hand shot out and an ice bolt flew at Aj sending him back into Rayne and down to the deck floor. He quickly rolled over and saw Rayne rolling over too.



“Are you alright?” He asked.



“Yes.” She said nodding as they both stood up. A smashing sound made them look back to Dyn and they saw him fighting with Avit, Harls and some guards.



“Sarila!” A man shouted and both Rayne and Aj looked up to the man standing in the crow’s nest on the main staff. They looked to where the man was pointing and saw a line of ships coming at them in the distance.



“You loose brother.” Dyn shouted at him and Aj turned around.



“Hardly I’m just getting started.” Aj said and he didn’t even move as a gust of wind blew past him and Rayne, and blast at Dyn. The Elvaan fell back off the railing and down hard to the Quarter deck. He jumped up quickly and flew over the railing and over Brian and Kevin landing in front of Aj and Rayne. Spinning around he slammed both Kevin and Brian back against the wall to the Meeting Chambers with a wind spell.



Then someone walking past him caught his eye, it was Rayne and she was headed right to Dyn. She raised her hand to him as he turned around and a beam of light came down onto him. The light gave off a thunderous boom as it struck its target.



“I see you have not forgotten how I like it.” Dyn said with an erotic smile as he slowly got up to his feet. Aj watched as Rayne conjured another Moonbeam spell the one she had used against Johon in the camp. Dyn dropped to his knee’s as he cried out in pain.



“You will not win.” Rayne said as she looked down at him. “We figured out what you did.”



Dyn looked up at her confused at first and then a small smile came across his face. “Did you now?” he asked. “And what did I do.”



“The tale, what you did to the tale.” Rayne said and even Aj looked at her a little confused. “Erasing our memories, and changing the tale so we would be sent away so you would have free reign to do as you please.”



“Oh.” Dyn said with a sigh. “That.”



“Where is the tale?” Rayne asked.



“You ask that question like I would actually tell you.” Dyn said as he stood up looking at her.



“You will tell me Dyn.” Rayne said looking at him with anger.



“And what makes you so sure?” Dyn asked her. She didn’t answer him but grabbed him by his robe and to the shock and amazement of everyone around her including Aj slammed Dyn against the side railing. He fell back a little but Rayne held onto him but if she let go Dyn would go over the railing. Aj quickly ran over to them as Dyn struggled unsuccessfully to get away.



“Rayne?” Aj said as he looked at her. Her eyes were glowing, her fingers sparked and he stepped back a little not sure what to make of her. A splashing sound from below took Aj’s attention away from her and he looked down to the water below. Fins, tails, and large jaws with sharp teeth poked out from the water, splashing around, banging into each other as the sharks waited for their meal. He looked back to Rayne as she held Dyn over them.



“Where is the tale?” Rayne said angrily as Dyn looked at her and then down to the sharks below.



“Kill me I do not care, I will come back, and you will be forgotten.” Dyn said with a sinister laugh.



“Not this time Dyn.” Rayne said as she leaned him back further. The sharks started jumping, trying to grab at Dyn. Aj looked at Rayne and saw her eyes were glowing brighter. He wasn’t sure what was going on with her, if this was a spell he had never seen her use before, or if it was something else.



The ship rocked suddenly to the right and everyone including Aj, Rayne and Dyn fell back as the boat tilted. Aj fell back down to the ground and felt himself start too slide to the other end of the ship. Then he felt the ship rock back as it pulled itself up right. Aj sat up and looked around quickly; he saw Brian and Kevin pulling themselves to their feet. He looked over to the railing and saw Dyn pulling himself up and then to Rayne as she laid on the deck floor. Getting up he headed over to her but was stopped by a fist against the side of his face. Aj fell onto his side, his head rattled by the shot, his sight was blurry and he lightly shook his head as he heard yelling around him. He looked up as he saw Avit go flying past him; he quickly looked back and saw Dyn fighting off Brian, Kevin, and Harls.



There was no way Dyn could do this; he had to have that Evil in him. As the fog from the punch lifted from his head he remembered Rayne and looked over to her as she slowly sat up on her knees. As he looked back to Dyn he saw the Elvaan coming at him and he quickly let a frost bolt go. It hit Dyn in the chest and the man stumbled a little as the ice shattered against him.



Quickly Aj got up and ran over to Rayne; she was still having trouble getting up as he wrapped his hands around her waist. “Come on darling get up.” Aj said as he helped her stand. She looked up at him, her eyes showed confusion and as he watched them go wide he felt something or someone grab his robe from behind. He felt an arm wrap around his neck and he tired to pull it away as it closed tighter around his neck. The ship rocked again and this time a wave came crashing down onto the deck. Aj felt the arm let go as the wave sent him across to the other side and he slammed into the ship railing. The water came splashing up around him and he brought his hands up to his face trying to block what he could. He wiped his face as the ship began to tilt back upright and the water rushed away.



“What the hell is going on?!” Aj shouted to anyone who would listen.



“I thought it was you!” he heard someone shout and he looked to his left and saw Kevin hanging onto the stair railing and Brian holding onto his foot.



“No!” Aj shouted back as he started to look for Rayne. He scanned the deck, looking at the crew as they slowly got up and recovered from the wave. “Rayne!” Aj shouted out. He scanned the deck again as he stepped forward wondering if she was sent behind the boxes on the deck. “Rayne!” Aj shouted again his voice filling with panic. He spun around and ran back to the railing looking to see if she went over. He scanned across the water below looking around the men trying to get back onto the boat, the men who just floated in the water but she wasn’t there. “What the hell.” Aj said to himself as he turned back around.



“Where’s Dyn?” Kevin asked as he walked up to Aj.



“Dyn?” Aj asked as he started to look around.



“Did he teleport?” Brian asked. Aj turned around when he felt someone walk up behind him but his heart sunk when he saw it was Avit.



“Have you seen Rayne?” Aj asked.



“No Sir.” Avit said shaking his head.



“What about Dyn?” Aj asked as his heart started to race and his panic intensified.



“I have men checking below but I do not see how he got down there with the wave hitting us.” Avit said.



“How could they just vanish?” Kevin asked. Aj didn’t know and he didn’t want any more questions. The thought of him alone with her again angered him, and now he was racing with fear because there was much more too Dyn now.



“Rayne!” Aj shouted again as he walked passed Avit and towards the bow of the ship.



“Alexander we still have to deal with Sarila’s ships.” Avit said from behind him.



“Rayne!” Aj shouted again as he stood up on some boxes ignoring Avit. He got up onto the bow holding onto the bowsprit. Sighing in frustration when he didn’t see her again, he looked up and was about to climb down when saw something in the horizon. “Ships.” Aj said quietly to himself. He remembered the man shouting that the Sarila ships had arrived.



“I’m going over there.” Aj said as he turned to look at Avit, and the guys.



“Are you mad!?” Avit said not even letting Kevin say the same thing. Aj looked at Avit shocked he hadn’t really been angry at him before. “You teleport over there with all of his men and you will be dead before you even know you are there.”



“I am not leaving her there with him.” Aj said looking at Avit. “Get me a Gryphon I’ll fly over and attack from the air.” He said as he stepped down from the boxes and walked across the deck.



“His archers will shoot you down.” Avit said as Brian and Kevin followed.



“You can’t stop me!” Aj shouted as he spun around. “I’m your King damn it so get me a Gryphon now!” The fear rushed through him and he looked at his General with panic and anger. He felt the tears coming and he fought to keep them back.



“Incoming!” A man shouted and everyone looked around to see who was shouting but a whizzing sound made them look up and as they did something smashed into the foremast. Aj, Avit and his friends ran towards the back of the ship as the long piece of wood came crashing down the bow of the ship, pulling the fore topsail down with it. It crashed into the three sails on the bowsprit, ripping a huge hole in the flying jib.



“What was that?” Aj yelled as he looked to Avit.



“It appears Sarila is firing on us.” Avit told him. More whizzing was heard and they were sprayed with water at the cannon balls hit the ocean around them.



“I think he’s trying to tell us something.” Kevin said as they stood up.



“Yeah, he’s back on that ship and he has Rayne.” Aj said as they looked to the ships head of them.



“What is that?” Brian said as he touched Aj’s shoulder. He looked to his friend and then to where he was pointing. Aj looked at the Sarila ship that was closer to them, the one that was firing at them.





What he saw shocked him. He couldn’t see the people but he could see the magic spells lighting up the night sky. He watched as the ship started rocking like there ship did before. Aj, Kevin, Brian, and Avit all walked over to the bow of the ship as the water surrounding Sarila’s ships started getting rougher.



“Is that the Tohil spell?” Kevin asked Aj.



“No.” Aj said as he lightly shook his head. “It’s a..” He stopped as a lighting bolt struck the back of the Master Sarila ship.



“It’s a what?” Kevin asked.



“It’s a spell, like a Typhoon.” Aj said as he watched the boat start to get toss around.



“Is it one of those old spells?” Brian asked.



“Yeah.” Aj said.



“Why is Dyn fighting with that kind of spell on his own ship?” Avit said stunned and confused.



“I don’t think it’s Dyn.” Aj said although he wasn’t to sure himself.



“What do you mean? Dyn is the only Mage on that ship that can do that spell isn’t he?” Kevin asked him as Aj looked at him. “Well besides you.”



“No.” Aj said shaking his head. “Rayne’s Mom.”



“You mean she’s alive?” Brian asked shocked.



“I’m not sure, Dyn was dead I know that much, and now he’s not. So what happened to Rayne’s mom.” Aj asked. “Damn it, Avit I need to get over there.” Avit looked at him for a moment, and then looked to the ships.



“Very well.” Avit sighed. “I and some men will fly ahead and distract them, then you can teleport over, grab Rayne and return to the ship.”



“Ok.” Aj said shaking his head in agreement. Avit sighed again as he walked across the deck and called for a Gryphon. Within a second the birds were on the deck and Avit and his men were climbing up. Aj looked back to the ship as they heard a clasp of thunder crack around them.



“Hurry Avit!” Aj yelled as a wave came crashing down onto Sarila’s ship. As Aj said that Avit and his guards took off into the air and started flying towards the Dyn and his crew.



“Dude, be careful.” Brian said as he took Aj’s arm. Aj didn’t say anything as he looked from Brian to the air. He watched as Avit and his men got closer, when he saw a flaming arrow fall from the sky he took that as his cue and readied to teleport himself over there.



He closed his eyes and thought about Ranye on the ship, he thought about where the ships were and how to get there. With a wooshing sound everything went from silence to banging, screaming, and fighting. The boat rocked and Aj grabbed onto the mast as men went slidding across the deck. As the ship straighten out Aj pulled himself up, when out of no where someone went flying passed him. Quickly he turned around and looked down, he saw Dyn lying on the deck floor. Slowly he turned around and he gasped a little when he saw Rayne’s Mom. The wind was whipping around her; the rain would break away around her and not even touch her.



Then he froze when he realized she was looking right at him. He didn’t know what was going on with her, was she good, was she bad, or was it some weird side effect from what the Evil did to her. But before he could think of a conclusion an arm wrapped around his neck again and dragged him away from the staff.



“So nice of you to join us.” He heard Dyn from behind and he reached back and grabbed onto the Elvaan’s hair. Dyn yelled in pain as Aj grabbed onto his hair and pulled. He tried to pull him forward loosening the grip Dyn had on him but it didn’t work. “Do you think she smells like Twills brother?” Dyn asked. Aj wasn’t sure what a Twill smelt like. He knew they were a flower in Winnol, used for many things by the people. “Her skin is so soft, and her lips, well her lips are..” that was enough for Aj and with a deep growl he pushed back and sent him and Dyn back into the Foremast. Dyn shouted in pain and let go of Aj’s neck and he started coughing and gasping as more air rushed into his lungs. Just as Aj was standing up he felt someone jump on him from behind and sent him crashing down to the deck floor.



The sound of Dyn yelling in pain, and the smashing of ice around him made him quickly get up and he looked down. Dyn was lying on the deck in pain as he slowly tried to get to his feet. Aj looked up to the Quarter Deck and saw Rayne’s mom was still there starring at both of them.



“It’s not good to piss of the in-laws Dyn.” Aj said as he looked back to the Elvaan as he got up.



“I swear that mouth will be the end of you.” Dyn hissed at him and then dove at him again. The two men grappled with each other as they pushed each other around the ships deck. Dyn would throw a punch and then Aj would, then Dyn again and then Aj again. “Come on Alexander we’re brothers, we could always just share her.” Dyn said laughing.



“I grew up an only child.” Aj said as he grabbed Dyn’s robe. “I don’t share shit.” And with that he pulled back his arm back and slammed his fist into Dyn’s face. If Aj hadn’t been holding onto Dyn’s robe the man would have fallen back, but Aj held onto him, so just his head snapped back.



“Well than that is to bad dear brother..” Dyn said as he grabbed Aj’s arm and spun him around, the two stumbled back against the ships railing. Then with one violent jerk the ship began to tip over, as the ship rolled over, the two men slid down the deck and over the railing as giant ship capsized. Aj felt himself go under the water, something pulling him down, then a second later he felt himself get pushed up and he popped out of the water. He looked around coughing from the little bit of water he swallowed.



He was wading in the water beside the ship; the belly was sticking up, completely flipped over. With a little bit of panic he started looking around. He hadn’t seen Rayne since the moment he got on the ship, and now that it had capsized he was even more concerned.



As Aj shouted out for her something grabbed his ankle and pulled him under. He struggled as he went down, not being able to get a good breath before he went under he was already running out of air. Quickly he looked down and saw Dyn pulling on his leg. He looked past Dyn and saw the robes from the sails and mast had tangled around Dyn’s leg and they were pulling him down as they began to sink to the bottom of the ocean, and Aj realized in that moment Dyn was taking him down with him.



Aj tried swimming up pulling himself up, kicking at Dyn as he tried to break free. His heart started racing he had no breath and was fighting with everything he had not to open his mouth and inhale all the water. He heard a deep splashing sound and he looked up as Rayne swam past him and down to Dyn. She let off a spell and it broke Dyn’s grip from Aj’s leg. Quickly Aj swam to the top, the closer he got the more he wondered if he would make it as his head started getting dizzy. Then when he felt it was little to late, his head poked out of the water and he gasped for air.



He began choking and spitting water his body almost slipping back under, but a hand on the back of his robe stopped him from going down. Slowly still hacking he looked up and saw Avit hovering over him on a Gryphon. Aj grabbed the saddle and with the help of Avit pulled himself up onto the Gryphon.



“Rayne’s still down there.” He gasped out to Avit. “She’s still under the water.” Avit looked to Aj and then down to the water. As Aj started to catch his breath he looked over to see if he could see her. “Damn it where is she.” Aj said as he looked down.



“Alex!” Aj heard Kevin shout and he slowly turned around and saw Kevin flying up to them, as the Gryphon stopped Aj was shocked to see Brian on the back. “Are you ok man?”



“Rayne’s still down there.” Aj said pointing to the water.



“Let’s land on the ship’s belly, should be able to hold our two Gryphons.” Avit shouted to Kevin, Kevin nodded and they both flew their birds down to the boat. As the birds landed Aj jumped down and the shipped rocked a little. He knelt down easier to balance himself until the ship settled, but his eyes didn’t leave the water. Aj’s eyes locked onto a pile of debris floating in the water, he squinted to see better when he saw something that didn’t look right. He wished at that moment he was Elvaan so he could see farther.




“Avit what is that.” Aj said pointing to the pile. Avit followed Aj’s direction and locked his eyes onto the broken pieces of wood and cargo.



“It is her.” Avit said to him quickly with a nod. Aj turned and dove into the water, when he surfaced he swam at a lightening pace towards the debris. When he got close enough to see her he stopped and called out to her. She laid on top of the floating board, on her side, her arm hanging in the water.



“Rayne?” Aj said breathless as he reached the floating board. He followed the broken piece of wood along the side and pulled her arm out of the water. “Rayne can you hear me?” Aj asked as he brushed her hair from her face.



“Mom?” Rayne said as she lifted her head.



“No it’s Alex.” He said to her as she started to come too.



“She saved me, she’s not evil anymore, Alex you have to find her.” Rayne pleaded with him. Aj looked back to the ship, when he saw the guys and Avit were gone he looked up and saw them over top.



“Avit have you found the Mage?” Aj yelled up to him.



“No.” Avit said.



“Find her; I’ll get Rayne back to the ship.” He said pointing to the floating wreckage. He then looked at Kevin as Avit took off flying. “Meet me there.” Aj looked back at Rayne as Kevin took off towards the boat.



“Can you swim?” Aj asked her.



“I am too tired.” Rayne said barely holding her head up. Aj took her hand and with a light smile conjured a small wind spell. It was enough to push the board towards the ship and Aj slowly swam beside her. When they arrived at the ship Kevin reached down and pulled Rayne up as Brian helped Aj onto the ship. When Aj was out of the water he crawled over to Rayne as Kevin laid her down.



“Did they find her yet?” Rayne asked as Aj helped her sit up.



“No, not yet.” Aj said as he looked up too the sky quickly. “Are you ok?” He asked.



“I think so.” She said with a light sigh. Aj looked up when he heard the sound of a Gryphon riding past them. He saw Avit flying fast towards Winnol’s ships and he saw someone slumped in front of him.



“Kevin help me get her onto your Gryphon, I’m taking her back to our ship. Harls and a Rider can take you two back.” Aj said



“Ok man.” Kevin said as he reached down and helped Rayne up. Aj carefully got up on to the flying beast and then Kevin handed him Rayne.



“Ready?” He asked her.



“Yes.” She replied with a light nod.



“I’ll see you two there.” Aj said as he looked down to Brian and Kevin. The two nodded at him and then he gave the animal a gentle kick and up it went into the air. As they flew over what was left of Sarila’s Master ship Aj looked around at the destruction. It looked like the whole top half of the ship had been ripped apart. He looked at Rayne, she was awake and aware of where she was but she looked tired and weak. Aj tightened his grip around her as he wondered what happened on Sarila’s ship.