After everyone went to sleep, Torin found himself fighting old fights. His dreams were filled with old enemies, dead allies, and bloodshed beyond need. He took each fight easily, refighting it, but only a glimmer of joy was seen in him after each battle. Suddenly, there was a roll of thunder, and he saw Atran. Atran attacked, stopped by an arrow again. But this time, when he turned, Elspeth was fighting a hooded creature. The creature stood about eight feet tall, and possessed long, metal claws. It hit, slicing through Elspeth, causing her to fall, dead, it would seem. “Your friends have watched over you…” Torin turned, as everything faded, to see Gensar. She was frowning. “.. But now you must watch over them, or pay the price.”
He waited, expecting her to leave, but she didn’t. “Why do you only fight some old fights, Torin, and not all?”

He stared at her, wondering what the question meant. However, she didn’t seem to want an answer, for she soon replied; “The time will come when you will truly fight an old fight. The blade might change, but the warrior does not.”
With this warning whispered, Torin awoke.

Ok... well, if anyone does still read this, I'm going to post the next chapter, beginning the next part, today or tomorrow.

A THREAD NEVER DIES!

I am still posting, just took a bit longer.

Anyways, due to the fact that I just passed 10,000 words, I figured I should give the heroes a bit of a break. This chapter doesn't really have much fighting, but well, you'll see.
Anyways, next, I would like to show you that this Fan-Fic has...

10,180 words,
47,118 characters (without spaces),
and 57,069 characters (with spaces).
I'm happy.
And lastly but not leastlyly, the next chapter! With Music! Enjoy!

PART IV: THE KHAN’S COURT
Chapter XVII

“So that’s Fornan.”
Torin nodded at Azalus’ remark, staring down from the mountain at the wasteland. It wasn’t a desert, but there really wasn’t anything there, besides an occasional tree or clump of brownish grass. Because it was so empty, and they stood on the side of a large mountain, they could make out multiple towns, and even a glimmering speck on the horizon that Perri said was the capital. It was nearing dusk, and things seemed to be going well. The group made camp, and Torin looked around. It was about a month since they had first set out, and already a lot had changed. Dag was still his calm, quiet, almost emotionless self, but Torin saw him as more human. Elspeth, who hadn’t even set out with them, was now happily setting about preparing the campfire to make a meal. Krenlin and Azalus sat aside, talking quietly and slowly. And he had definitely changed. Yet in a way, he knew he hadn’t.

“Torin! I’m gathering a hunting party. Want to come?” He looked up at Elspeth’s words. “Father will continue getting the camp ready.” Torin nodded with a smile. Soon, him, Elspeth, Krenlin, Brenna, Azalus, and Aidyn set off. They all agreed that their best approach was to pair off. So, Torin and Elspeth went one way, Krenlin and Azalus went another, and Brenna and Aidyn went the other way.

An Aethyll ran, and crouched next to a stream. It started lapping quickly at the water, before hearing movement behind it. A hatchet flew, and hit the ground next to it, on its left side. It reared, and charged off to its right, only to have Aidyn jump down from a nearby tree and stab his spear through its side. The creature still struggled slightly, until another hatchet flew and hit it directly in the head.

Another Aethyll walked slowly along, eating shrubbery off the ground, before hearing the other’s cry. It stiffened, and stared in that direction. Before it could move, though, a crossbow dart zipped and hit the beast’s right shoulder. It shrieked and stumbled slightly, as Krenlin ran towards it, finishing it with a sword blow.

Meanwhile, Torin and Elspeth watched almost gleefully while a giant rhinoceros-like creature covered in bluish fur, known as a Septinry. Torin was, however, still doubtful as to how they could pull it off. “I told you. I use an arrow from the right, causing it to run towards me, and you ambush it on the way.” Torin shook his head. “I still don’t like that idea…”
“So what idea do you have?”
“Hunting doesn’t always mean attacking straight on.”

Later, the creature, while eating from some low hanging branches, Felt something sting its ear. Hard. It charged off in that direction, while the arrow still stuck in its ear. It ran for a long time, before it crashed downward into a large pitfall trap. It wasn’t at all deep, but for the massive beast, any jump would hurt its legs, and being that the hole was also filled with stones, the creature was thoroughly shaken. Torin ran forward, and swung his Troika, putting it deep in the creature’s skull.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hunting party began to return one by one to camp. Azalus and Krenlin had an Aethyll and a few Dust Bunnies. Brenna and Aidyn had two Aethylls, but nothing more. Then, Torin and Azalus returned in a rush, asking for helping carrying something. When the returned again, with the help of Dag and Krenlin, everyone was dragging a Septinry. Cheers went up, and it was clear who had done the best.

The next day, after a good feast, Xylin handed Torin a shield. It had the Almirian crest on it, but it was made from the hide of the Septinry, along with a strange metal that Torin thought he had seen before. “Everyone brainstormed, and we decided to give you this. I think you recognize the Septinry hide, and I got the metal from Perri. It’s found in these mountains and is known as ‘Shadow Steel.’ This shield will stop almost any blow.” Torin thanked him, and replaced his old shield with it. If anything, he felt more ready to take on his quest than ever.

I deeply apologize for long absence, but wish to inform anyone still reading (read: Lord-Hood, and >hopefully< Ember-Break) that new chapters should posted soon, but I can' say anything for sure.

Lastly, I thank you all for your patience. Hope to hear from you later!

Good to know. Like I said, I'm really sorry I haven't posting. But hopefully tomorrow...

I wish you a merry Winterfest,
I wish you a merry Winterfest,
I wish you a merry Winterfest,
And a happy new year...

Good tidings I bring,
To you and your guild,
Good tidings for Winterfest,
And a happy new year...

Now bring me some Jelly Pudding,
Now bring me some Jelly Pudding,
Now bring me some Jelly Pudding,
And bring it right now,

I won't post until I get some,
I won't post until I get some,
I won't post until I get some,
So bring it right here.

Merry Winterfest all!
Note: I will keep posting anyways, but Jelly Pudding would be appreciated.
Anyways, I got some news! Below is a brand new chapter, and very well the largest one I have written to date, and also the 20 chapter!
Besides that, I will be writing a short story, unrelated to the rest of the story, about Torin, Dag, and Azalus on a cold Winterfest night when they were young...
Anyways, the new chapter has some music, feel free and listen while you read! Here it is!

Chapter XX

They were paraded through town with crowds staring and jeering at them. They were heading towards the palace. It was made of stone bricks, imported wood, and had a giant garden around it. They entered the palace with only the captain, but there were guards everywhere. They went through the front room, whose walls were adorned with paintings.
They climbed a small set of stairs, and a tall man came to greet them. There was a sword at his side, and he seemed to be smiling. He waved the captain away, and he left, leaving them allow with the man. Only one man could have been confident enough to take on ten people.
High-Swordsman Enaur.
“I’m deeply sorry, my lord is out at the moment.” Perri and Torin greeted the man one by one, each mumbling “Jec-Thal’lec.”
“I hear that you hail from Almire. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“Right. I should behead you, but I think I’ll give you a chance.”
Torin looked at him confused.
“We have a tradition in Fornan,” Enaur continued, “that those who wish to claim Fornan’s protection must prove they are worthy of it. To do this they must survive a number of monsters in our arena.”
He smiled. “I guess you should start getting ready.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The entire time they were getting ready, they were treated as guests. Finally, it was almost time. They were in a large, but dim, preparation room beneath the arena. Enaur walked in with a smile. “Now than, the crowds have begun to gather, and we’ll begin in about twenty minutes. I suppose I should tell you about what you’ll face. The fight is in three waves. First, you will face a group of beasts imported from the Gloaming Wildwoods. I can’t tell you the details, but you can know that much. Next will be a wave of jellies, and lastly, a wave of constructs. I can also tell you that all of these will be hard, but I believe you possess the skill to deal with them all.”

With that, he left them, wishing them luck. A few minutes later, the gate in front of them opened. The each drew a weapon; Azalus had a crossbow, Brenna brandished her throwing ax, Torin had his Troika on his should, and Aidyn’s spear was at the ready.
The crowd roared cheers and boos, and Torin tried to take in his surroundings. The arena was covered in sand, and seemed to slope ever so slightly towards the center. It was about a hundred yards a crossed, and in the center was a monolith of glimmering, yellow stone. “Luminite,” said Perri. “Some monsters are scared of it. Stay near it.” Everyone began moving towards the middle of the arena, and suddenly the crowd began to grow silent. Two of the other gates opened. Silence. Suddenly, out of one burst a Vog Cub, a fiery Snarbalox, and out of the other came a pack of Wolvers.
The battle had begun. “Focus on the Snarbalox,” shouted Torin, turning towards the Wolvers. “Krenlin, Dag, to me! We’ll hold off the Wolvers.”
A Wolver lunged at Dag, and Torin’s troika came down just in time. The beast was crippled in front of Dag. Krenlin side stepped a biting Wolver, and shoved his blade deep into its side. They were making quick work of the pack, and that was a good thing, because there were so many of them. Meanwhile, Elspeth’s arrows and Brenna’s axes were annoying and holding off the Snarbalox, while Azalus run around to the side with Aidyn to try and get a kill.

Azalus put a dart in her crossbow, and fired. The creature rolled onto its side, giving Aidyn enough time to stab its stomach, and finish it. At about the same time, Dag sliced through the last of the Wolvers.
Cheers rang out, and another gate opened. Jelly Cubes moved out, fanning out as they moved towards the group. Lastly, a Jelly Prince, the size of the Monolith. “Stay near the Luminite! These jellies won’t come near.”

Arrows, Crossbow darts, Hatchets, and other weapons flew, stopping the jellies. Eventually, Dag, Torin, Krenlin, Aidyn, and Azalus ran out and tried to finish the Jelly Prince. However, they couldn’t. Finally, Perri threw something towards Azalus. She caught it, grinned, and tossed it at the prince. It flew right through it, straight into its center. Then the prince began to shrink, bubble, then swell, and finally, explode. “Salt. Works wonders on slimes.” Torin grinned, and thanked Perri. But now it was time for the final challenge. The gate opened, and everyone readied they’re weapons.

But no one was fully ready for what did come out.

Next chapter is much shorter, but story is advanced a lot. Also, it has music. Here we are....

Chapter XXI

No gate opened, but rather, five entities appeared out of the ground; two Gun Puppies, two Ironwood Sentinels, and one blue-gray Battlepod. Elspeth shot an arrow quickly, but it bounced right off the side of the Gun Puppy. “That won’t work well,” said Dag, “Piercing weapons are going to do nothing against anything except the Battlepod.” “Well then,” shouted Torin, dodging the Lumber’s first attack, “Wait and attack the Battlepod when the shield goes down.”

Krenlin and Azalus moved in and started taking on the other Lumber by themselves. They charged in and out, but eventually the Gun Puppy fired off a shot towards them. The spread of three bullets flew towards them, and Krenlin shouted something. Shortly afterwards, Azalus took up Krenlin’s blade and swung it along with her own, dealing the final blow to the Sentinel.
Aidyn, Dag, and Torin all had to focus on the other one for a while, before it was finished. They then charged on and made quick work of the two Gun Puppies.

Meanwhile, Elspeth waited patiently until the Battlepod shot out a large number of missiles. Everyone managed to escape getting hit, except Dag, who only got scratched, and quickly recovered and continued. At that point the Battlepod’s shield went down and Elspeth fired away. A few well aimed arrows and it was blowing up. They had been bloodied, but made it in the end.
Cheers rang out. Enaur shouted out that they were under the protection of Fornan and would be escorted to a feast to celebrate. Azalus walked back over, with tears in her eyes. “Krenlin,” she murmured, “We need a medic.”

working on it, but I am having writer's block to an extant. I know where I want to go with this, but... erm... =/
Patience. One day, there will be more.... I hope.

The party was at the border, about to leave Fornan. Ahead of them was a dark forest. “These woods are supposedly haunted, we’d best be on our guard.” Torin nodded at Perri’s advice, and the party began to enter the woods. They seemed far from dark. If anything, the group seemed dark and grim in comparison. A small bird flew past Torin. He flinched. Elspeth giggled. What her speech had done for the party was only for so long. This forest seemed to, by magic, be healing them.
“There is no doubt how joyous these forests are in daylight, but in the night, the Gloaming Wildwoods show there true name. Still,” Dag smiled ever so slightly, “this place is... nice.” He held up his mask again and his face was stone.
“Lighten up,” replied Torin, “No doubt you are right, and the night will give us no rest. Till then, let us laugh and enjoy what we can.”
They walked, and talked, and laughed. Soon, there was another atmosphere; everything was peaceful, Torin and Elspeth held hands, and quiet thoughts came to everyone.

Eventually, night fell, and Perri lead the way, saying there was an old castle they could take shelter in. Howls rose through the air, and everyone began to feel hunted. But they all knew combat. No one screamed, or ran. Everyone kept together and made it to the ancient ruins. They were black and dark, but coals were near at hand to relight many of the candles.
“This place is known as Candlestick Keep. One of many. If you want some, ‘interesting,’ bedtime reading, try finding a library,” Perri murmured with a thoughtful expression, “The so called history books are quiet fascinating, really.” No one, of course, accepted this offer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Torin?”
Fabian and Elspeth were waking up and watching him. It was now the middle of the night, and Torin was pacing up and down the room. He paused and looked at. “Sorry, I think, I think I want to look at those books.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What!?”
Kalem was in no mood for this type of news. The gremlin trembled but nodded slowly. “They have survived, though… we believe one of their number is wounded, d-dying, I believe.”

Kalem stared at the gremlin before him. “Leave me.”
He had nothing to do. He would have to go out and challenge them. But first, he must give something to his son…

Tinkinzar.