Raven explains to the Gate Guardians, also known as Keepers of the Gates, who guard the lay lines, which all portals follow through their domain with it lying parallel to Fin. They are never too happy about a portal being opened a lot to the same destination. The legend has centuries of experience dealings with them and has learned charming them goes a long way.
The Gate Guardian starts to laugh and states in a softer tone of voice, “Your charming complements will not work on me, Raven, unless you can turn yourself into a pretty woman.”
The legend shrugs and replies, “You cannot blame me for trying, Kasumi.”
“True and I will admit you are adorable when you do it. All right, I understand the situation you are facing, however, I should make you aware that place you call, ‘Salt Flats’, gives off a strange aura. Is that not so, Crystal Master?”
Raven waves his hands out in front and says, “Wait a sec, Yè fēng, why have you never told me?”
“Well, for starters it is something only us Crystal Masters can see and it’s really, really creepy. It kind of glows greenish blue. It is even worse in the dark. The thing is, I know why it is happening, it’s because my eyes are picking up on all the salt crystals, because of they’re alkaline and really acidic contents is why they reflect that eery green colour.” The teacher shivers and wraps his arms around his body. “That’s why I’ve never told you, brr, creepy.”
“He is right, it is unpleasant,” chimes the Gate Guardian. “I just don’t know how a place like that can exist in your world?”
“It was at one time part of the sea,” explains Dusk, “after the great earthquake it simply dried up and became the White Desert also known as the Salt Flats.”
“Ah, I see, fascinating. All right, carry on,” replies Kasumi and the once black portal fades away to reveal the Salt Flats once more.
Dusk leans down to whisper in the man he love’s ear, “I hate to break it to you, that has just scared the crew half to death.”
Yè fēng sighs and moans, “Things like this always occur when we least expect them. And always at a very inconvenient moment.”
Raven starts to bite his bottom lip as he thinks of a way to explain without scaring the crew further, whilst his husband carries on using his abilities to get the ship off the sandbank and through the portal before it closes. He strokes his chin and admits, “I don’t even know how to explain what just happened.”
The entire crew are not only frozen with fear some are even hugging each other and all have been rendered unable to speak. However, after a moment the captain is able to enquire, “W-what was that?”
“Emm… a Gate Guardian,” answers the hero knowing full well they have no idea what one of them is and he begins to think if he describes them it will only make the situation worse or will it? Raven can tell the man is poised to ask that very question so he decides to answer for him. “They are, well, creatures of another domain,” he explains with a smile.
The teacher rests his hands upon his waist and declares to the dwarfs, “Raven has always had a great relationship with them, which kind of makes me a tad jealous. I am not kidding, if he was not here right now that Keeper of the Gates would have slammed that portal shut, rendering us unable to reopen it. I mean it, we would not be doing this.”
“I like the way you said, we, old friend,” responds Dusk with a slight shake of his head, “It is I who is struggling to keep a big cargo ship steady. A little help please, darling, before it crashes into us.”
Raven quickly turns to face the bow of the ship throwing out his hands to stop the other ship inches from smacking into them. He continues to work alongside his lover to send the ship of dead into the Salt Flats and once it is on the other side he closes the portal. When the legend begins to yawn Dusk gives him a kiss on the forehead and suggests, “Let’s return to the dock so you can get to bed.”
Raven yawns again and asks with a tired voice, “Ooh, can I just drop to sleep in your arms?”
The Vern scoops him into his strong arms as though he is holding a baby and begins to sing, “Close your eyes, my sweet darling, and drift into the land of dreams where unicorns roam.”
Yè fēng is not surprised to see Raven has gone to sleep all snuggled up against his lover’s body. “Aww, adorable,” he whispers. “Don’t worry I will sort the crew to get us back.”
Dusk takes a seat on the deck and magics a blanket to place around his sleeping husband as ship moves at some speed back to Windomfalls main port to see Lady Méiguī is waiting for them.
The moment the gangplank is dropped she runs up it to the Crystal Master to inform him, “Yè fēng, the crew of the Yulescissa are cursed. I take it there is no way to save them?”
The teacher bows his head and is about to answer when a sleepy, “Extractor,” comes from Raven. Yè fēng can tell the Orb Master is aware of what is going on around him, so it was not just something from a dream. He also knows he is not going to get anymore information out him, nor would he with the legend being so tired. “Yes, it might just work. In other words I am willing to give it ago. Dusk, does he have another one on him?”531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl45UFqgWh
The Vern shrugs and replies, “No idea. Give me a sec.” he goes on to check his husband’s bag, which holds more stuff than is actually possible and finding anything is not easy. “Ah, ha, there you go,” he announces a moment later holding out a black stone.
“Thank you,” answers Yè fēng giving it a check to make sure it is unused before slipping into the front pocket of his bag and walks away with the Healer.
Dusk picks up his lover giving him a soft kiss on the forehead before he continues off the ship and makes his way to an inn that lies just off the port, because even though Raven is a slender Dark Elf, he is still quite heavy. The innkeeper, a lovely lady, shows him to a back room, she turns down the bed and even closes the shutters as she walks out closing the door softly behind her.
The Vern removes Raven’s bag placing on a chair and removes his boots placing them on the floor along side it. Then he decides to lie down next to him and he too falls asleep.
It is early evening when Raven awakes to find a set of rose gold eyes are looking back at him, he chuckles, “Morning.”
“Morning, darling,” answers Dusk giving him a kiss, however, he can tell his mind is somewhere else. “Penny for your thoughts.”
The legend’s eyes blink in confusion to his lover’s statement and he emits a soft, “What?”
The Vern sits up, resting his head upon his hand and says, “You, you are here, but not here. You seem preoccupied… vision?”
Raven’s eyes close and begins to speak in a slightly deep voice, “The tale of the love, loss and beauty.”
Dusk has no idea at all what he is on with and it is reflected in his question, “What the feck are you on about?”
The legend's eyes partly open and he replies, “A tale I feel is kind of based on us, about a Vern who put a spell on his lute to capture the heart of a beauty. Except his beauty was a lady. A woman he was denied all because she was a Woodland Elf and destined to marry a prince.”
Dusk rolls his eyes and grumbles, “Why is it in those stories it is always a prince or a king the lady ends up with?”
“Because it makes it, in a way good story telling. Even though you’re right, sweetie, it is not exactly true to life.”
Dusk pats him on the chest and says, “Anyway, why are you thinking about this tale?”
Raven sits up slightly, resting himself upon his elbows and answers, “It’s just something I have remembered about the Lullaby Lute it was made by a Woodland to, funny enough, capture the woman he loved. The only problem is she had to always hear the music so the illusion would never break, but of course it drove her mad to the point she ended her life. Now according to what I have read the lute in question was mentioned to have been destroyed along with the very sell the Woodland use to create it. There is a dark side, a twisted side to this tale.”
The Vern begins to giggle and remarks, “Always the way. Let me guess the lute took his soul in exchange, right?” His husband though seems a little hesitant to answer. “Or did it take all three, his mind, heart and soul?”
The legend sighs and lies back down placing his left forearm over his eyes. “This is the problem, not a single document on the Lullaby Lute is the same. Some say it stole his soul, where others claimed it ripped out his heart or just simply took everything that made him a person. The list is endless. Also the gender of the conjurer changes, however, they are both called attractive bards.” He removes his forearm from his face and sighs again. “This is the problem with old tales, there is no telling how much of it is real and how much of it is fake. Also are we dealing with a Woodland or a Valley who has turned on their people.”
“The other question is where will this hypnotising bard hit next.”
“That is a good question. We need to grab breakfast and look at some maps of Valley Elf settlements to see if there is any pattern.”
Dusk gives him a kiss on the chest, before he gets out of bed and announces, “I’ll sort that, you lie there and look dashing in the moonlight.”
Raven giggles and places his fits under his chin. “You’re right, I always look fetching in moonlight.”
The couple kiss, then Dusk trots out of the room and down to the front desk to find his son has arrived. “Virmaris, what are you doing here?”
The innkeeper is looking up at the Vern, she can see they are related and says, “My, I can tell he is your boy. He has only just arrived.”
“Dad,” calls Virmaris giving him a hug. “I have being doing some digging.”
Dusk is not too pleased to hear this for he is always afraid it could lead any of his four children into danger. He has to though remind himself they are all parents and have proven time and time again they are more than capable of looking after themselves. Even so, he still views his children as venerable with them having such famous parents. He gently pats the side of his son’s face and expresses, “I don’t like the sound of this.”
“Dad, trust me, it’s good and I swear I didn’t get into any trouble,” states Virmaris slightly rising his hands in front of his waist.
“All right, my boy, let me sort—”
“All taken care of, Dad,” interrupts Virmaris with a smile.
Dusk takes this as sign what his son has found out is quite important. He places his arm around his shoulders and leads him back down the corridor to the room he is staying in. “Darling, look who is here.”
Raven sits up throwing out his arms as he calls, “Son, come and give your old man a hug.” They hug and the legend gets him to sit on the bed. “What have you found out, hmm?”
Virmaris taps him on the shoulder and gasps, “Hey, not fair!”
The legend waves his hands in front of his chest and quickly says, “No, no, I wasn’t scanning you, I just guessed that is why you are here, you’ve got some jouncy gossip, hmm?”
“No, not exactly, Father, all the Valley Elves that have been targeted all come from one family who once lived in the first fallen city. Also this bard who is going around hypnotising them, only seems to targeting traders, because others around them have not been effected. One lady told me the bard could sing his heart out about that place of lost fortune and it didn’t effect her or her family. Why it is happening… now that is anyones guess. Perhaps it is nothing more than a Woodland’s hatred for their race. Or it is because the man wasn’t allowed to be with the woman he loved because of the Great Divide. It is in the air.”
“So, this bard is a Woodland?” Dusk asks snuggling up to his husband.
“Oh yes, for the description of him is perfect, long dark chestnut hair, that appears a deep red in the sunlight. Piercing or strange green eyes and a pale complication that has a hit of green to it. Some described him looking always ill. I was also careful to check we are dealing with a man and they all say the same thing, tall, well built, dressed in a shirt that shows off his toned chest. And because I am a Vern, some ladies told me he had quite a package.”
They all laugh and shake their heads and Raven remarks, “That’s the last thing you wanted to know.”
“Yep, Father, but, they felt it was important. I told them, take it as a sign he is right for breading.”
Dusk gives his son a tap on the knee and gasps, “Naughty.”
“I know, I am just awful,” replies Virmaris still giggling.
Raven shakes his head and questions, “Son, focus, where were you when they were telling about this bard?”
“Buttervine Keep, finding out more about our strange crew of the Yulescissa.”
Dusk and Raven glance at each other for they are both wondering why they son referred to them as strange and a second later their son quickly announces, “The reason I am calling them strange is well, everything they have been giving you so far is fake. They are infect the missing crew of the Emberfond. The odd thing is they are all still using their own names. This is how we discovered they have swopped ships, but there is no reason for it.”
“Back up what do you mean by fake?” Dusk asks watching his son take out a document from his left hip bag.
“They were not bound for Buttervine Keep or Norven’s Gate they were in fact heading to Moonlit Cove to set up a base there. Also there gems have been proven to be nothing more than Ja’ka Pods that have been made up to resemble Fuchsite Gems. This has been conformed by grandmother.”
“Of course mother would know, she has been through this before. Now they have been in the dock for a while she knew from the formatting smell they weren’t the dreaded gems,” says legend.
“You guessed it, Father. Her reaction was priceless the moment the potent smell hit her nostrils, she went pink and couldn’t even tell us. Grandpa rushed to her side and immediately regretted it and was telling me to stay where I was. I never knew Ja’ka could smell so bad,” informs Virmaris pulling a discussed expression and pitches the end of his nose.
Dusk gives him a hug as he says, “My poor baby.”
Raven strokes his son’s back and mutters, “Why fake it and still go there?”
“Uncle Crimson has already asked them that and they couldn’t answer him,” informs Virmaris crossing his arms. “He said they looked blankly at him. They were just like the rest of us thinking why now is the Woodland doing this?”
The legend flops down and responds in a soft voice, “To be honest there are too many reasons. It is though something to ask him when we have caught the bard. Just two Valley Elf villages left.”
Their son starts to look at himself and says, “Grandmother suggested only the elf side of the family stakeout those places, for us Vern are kind of noticeable. The problem is they mostly like won't accept help even from you, Father.”
Dusk pats his son’s shoulder and agrees, “Mother is right, however, those idiots will be gaining help whether they want it or not. Also it will make a lot of them realise Orb Master’s exist.”
Raven claps his hands and rubs them together as he announces, “It is going to be so much fun… Son, why are you worried?”
Virmaris rubs the side of his neck and explains, “The bard only appears in the daytime.”
The hero slightly waves his left hand and remarks, “I’ll be fine.”
“I like the way said that. More likely you will be snuggled into my side fast asleep and I will be going, darling, darling,” says Dusk using his arm to give his lover a soft nudge. “Time to act and he will just be pushing me away and moaning.”
Raven narrows his eyes at him and is quick to defend himself, “I would never do that when I am on a case.”
Dusk smirks and says sarcastically, “Yes, you will be wide awake.” He looks to their son and mouths, he won’t be.
“Ha, no faith in me, my own husband,” the legend playfully snaps then pulls the covers over his head.
“Dad, now look what you have done, poor father. I will leave you to make it up to him,” says Virmaris quickly trotting out of the room.
Dusk sighs and softly says, “Darling, come on out.”
“No,” comes Raven’s muffled voice from under the bedclothes, “not until you apologise.”
The Vern strokes his husband’s chest and says, “I love you and I am sorry, my sweet, sweet darling.”
The legend comes out from under the covers and gives him a kiss. He takes a breath and says, “I can't be bothered to help them and you know what I will leave it to you day dwellers.”
Dusk is shocked by this, however at the same time he completely understands when none of the Valley Elves had reported a single thing. He though knows how to peek his love’s interest. “I though want to find out why this bard is doing it? What did they do to piss him off. Also that lute of his needs to be locked away or destroyed.”
“Hmm, you are right, that lute is a musty… can it really be the one from the spell?”
The Vern rests his head upon his lover’s chest and says, “That is why I am going to get that lute away from the Woodland. If at all possible.”
Raven runs his fingers over his husband’s horns as he thinks about the Lullaby Lute spell and explains, “There is no way to get it from the Woodland as it will reach out for him. The only way is to throw the bard inside the Box Barrier.”
Dusk is not pleased to hear him suggest this for that spell is classed as forbidden and highly dangerous for it has been known to eradicate magic. However, his husband is the only Dark Elf to be able to use it the way it was intended to punish a magic user or in this case an object of its power for just a short time. Even so he is still concerned it could go horribly wrong. “Yikes, that seems a tad extreme, yet again it is the only way.”
“Yeah, brutal but effective and he will only be temporarily without magic.”
They are about to kiss when a knock comes at the door making them both softly chuckle and Raven calls, “Enter.”
Dusk helps the maid to place the dishes from the tray on to a small table along with a pot of tea and once she is gone he returns to his husband to kiss him and help him out of bed. They both take their time to enjoy the sweet, thick porridge toped with dried berries and nuts. The tea is a nice breakfast tea with a slight bitter after taste. Then it dawns on them the last two Valley Elf villages have had nothing to do with past events for they only came about after the second wave of the Undead Army and they decided to pay the last place he was at Buttervine Keep a visit.
The village is in complete darkness and not a soul is staring. This is very typical of Valley Elves, the moment the suns set the people bed down for the night, even though there are plenty of night activities to do. They consider it though immoral for the night belongs to beasts and monsters. They see the only light is coming from the inn sign which creaks and moans in the breeze. They know there is no use in trying to enter for the door is most likely locked. They are about to turn away when the door opens and a hand waves them inside. Raven is about to enter when his husband goes in front of him to protect him of what is lurking within. They both see in the soft glow from a light it is a young lady who presses her right index finger to her lips and uses the same hand to beckon them to follow her.
Once they enter a small room the woman whispers, “I am guessing, Orb Master, you are here to find the bard?”
Raven emits a soft laugh and questions, “You seem well educated.”
The lady giggles and replies, “You will have to thank my grandmother, she speaks very highly of both of you. That is why I guessed you would turn up here after dark, of course. It is a good job you both did for that other Vern who came, no one told him the bard would return. Well, to be honest I think everyone assumed he was long gone. No, he is here. He came back this afternoon with that strange lute strapped across his back.”
Dusk’s eyes glance to his husband then back at the woman as he asks, “What was strange about it?”
The lady grows afraid and tells them, “It plays when he isn’t touching the strings and some of us have heard a woman’s voice whispering, play, play the tune and watch them dance. The thing is he is all alone. Oooh, it sends a shiver down my spine.”
“Damn! It is the one from the spell,” informs Raven to his husband. “This vitally important, my dear, does the boy look like he is lost in some kind of trance?”
The lady nods. “Yes, it is clear as day he is in some kind of trap. Grandmother has said you are the only person who can help him. So, the lute is controlling him?”
“No, more like the lad is its pet, it will eat into his heart, his desires, his dreams and use them to hypnotise everyone with their song. The poor lad, that thing will use him until it has sucked all the life out of him and become a walking corpse, unless he has allowed it to swallow his very soul.”
“What's puzzles me, darling, is how did he mange to get his grubby paws on it?” Dusk questions noticing the door is opening and another lady comes trotting over to them.
“Xilra, what are you doing up…” then the new lady relies the first girl is not alone and she gasps in a soft voice, “Orb Master.”
“Grandmother, you were right, they came.”
The older lady starts to push the girl away as he damns, “Go, get back to bed.”
The young lady is not about to argue with her elder, she bows to the guests before she walks out of the room.
“Gentlemen, I am Valxina, owner of the Water Droplet,” says the lady performing a shallow bow. “Come, I will take you both to him.”
Raven and Dusk follow her out of the room down a narrow corridor to come to a stop outside a door marked with the number three, which makes the couple smile for Woodlands are notorious for doing everything in threes. She points her hand at the door then continues to walk away.
Dusk notices the incantation marks upon his husband’s neck and the top part of his chest are beginning to glow a soft whiteish blue, which can only mean one thing his protection spells are detecting a spell stirring within. The legend tries the door to find it is not locked, he pushes it open and they see the Woodland is floating in the centre of the room with the lute by his side. A wave of sound comes echoing from the strings making their ears ring until Raven's defences hit back with a wave of energy which hits them sending the lute one way and the Woodland another. The hero waists no time he uses his abilities to bring them back together and places them inside the Box Barrier.
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