THE BOOK
The public library, in Lorth, was founded by a wealthy citizen Quertin, whom the family disowned do to his failed political campaign. Every book he had, he gave to the library as a gift. The workers are still cataloging then, even today. People say that in the endless piles of books, there are those that are rear, extremely rear.
The building, itself, stood long before Quertin was born, in the beginning it was a command post, later it was dormitory of student of magic. It had many more usages, until the town decided to expand the previous library.
At the end of his life, Quertin tried his hand, again, in politics. Even this time, fate had a different card to play. He could do little against full-day and guerilla campaigners. Did he have another option? It's hard to say. Whatever the case may be,
Two figures slowly walked down the large hallway. They were searching for something or someone. It matters not, they are ne
THE EVE OF THE BATTLEAlbin moved up and down, in every direction on his mat. He had that strange feeling that something unexpected is going to happen, but unfortunately, he didn't know what. No matter how hard he tried, it was a constant problem that drilled somewhere deep in his mind, not giving him a single moment of peace.He stood up, looked through the tent door, it was still night, dark and unwelcoming.Jin Tian was nowhere to be found, as usual.A soldier slept, leaned on his spear. Slowly he lifted his head."I…I wasn't sleeping."he said."No you weren't, you were resting your eyes,"Albin replied."Yes, I was doing that. Everything is quiet.""True."Something moved in the tall grass. The soldier, insecure, slowly moved forward. He lifted his spear, searched through the grass. A sign of relief appeared on his face. It was nothing. He turned.The sound of crossbow bolts
WAYSThe King of Alban stood near the beginning of his castle, looking in distance across the Golbar plain to the High Mountains. The scene was more than idyllic, it was peaceful and tranquil. A man could rest his eyes for hours. Nothing has change this far. A shadowy figure walked across the lonely courtyard. The king turned:"I knew that you are alive, you are a hard man to kill.""True,"Albinreplied."Where have you been after the battle?""Lying low, even if was strange for me.""Strange, indeed, if I say so. Where are you planning now?""Who knows, maybe, I'll follow the ridge north to Tamasar?""Tamasar of all places?""Why not?""It's a strange place.""I know.""But you still intend to go there. Why?""I still plan to go west.""West, is there a reason?""Yes, the key is the west.""Where in the west?""That I don't know. B
THE WALKINear the battlefield, on top a high single tower, a man stood and waited for news, good or bad, it depended, but he preferred the bad ones. The wizard turned on the balcony, looked towards the mountains. He entered the brightly lit room, searched for possible source of the strange anomaly. He searched and searched, until he found."The battlefield,"he rattled, "Albinis still alive, it doesn't matter! My plan will succeed, no matter the cost!"His hands moved in a strange pattern, made a complex sign. Magic eliminated from of his fingers, a power so powerful that it shook the foundation of his tower.The tower shook periodically, at even interlopes.The head minister moved forward, from the shadow."What news do you have?"his voice was sarcastic."Not good, I'm afraid.""And they are?""Albinstill lives.""Great, you remember what happens t
IA few days passed since the events in the Midwinter Town, the road to Agbata was finally opened.Albinrode his favorite horse, a chestnut. Even that didn't change his mood. He never liked this city; the people were too hospitable. It was unusually for him to be treated that way. In other parts, people feared sorcerers. Here, they were a normal thing.The massive entrance greeted him. The stone walls stood there as far as he could remember. A guardsman was there, wrapped in a fur cloak, snow was falling on his head and neck. He lifted up his head. In his long mustache traces of ice could be seen. The second patrol post was empty, the sorcerer concluded, the second guardsman must be on a break. The guardsman nodded.A young woman passed by, caring a child, the guardsman looked at her backside and firm breasts. He did not notice that the sorcerer was still there, waiting."Look at the cleavage on that,"he said to himself
After Albinsuccessfullyfinished his mission in Chigrin, a rider was sent to deliver the information.The rider rode through the dark night, his horse, a black stallion, was uneasy. There was something foul following them through the dense but dark wood, something sinister. The rider turned, he saw nothing, only a small layer of mist that rose from the moist bushes. There was nothing, but why did he have this strange feeling? There is something wrong with this forest. He wished that he took the right turn when he had the chance a few miles ago; there was no going back now. But he was on a deadline, he need to deliver the message to the queen, as fast as possible. Much depended on that. Only he knew the content, since it was written in an old tong long forgotten by men or elves. And there he was, a brave messenger, scared like a lonely child that fears to go through the dark hallway at night. The feelings were mutual. There was nothing else that he could do but to c
ITwo shadowy figures were walking down a lonely forest path. One of them was heavily armored the other one was lightly armored. The road was empty; they haven't seen anybody on the road; they were walking for hours. Nearly all the roads were deserted on this strange fork. The fork was a typical three part fork. They stopped, looked at each of the roads. They were the same. The figures waited. It was a hard choice; they didn't have the time for a long debate."What now?"the light said. "Where, Hjolt?""Where ever,"the heavy said. "All roads lead the same.""You aren't helping,"the light moved his left leg."You asked,"the heavy replied with a smirk."I did.""And I replied.""You did.""Why must you be a pain in the ass?""I thought you are used to it.""I am.""What's the problem, then?""Nothing…"By their calculation it was two mo
IWhat does a man know about the gods and their actions? Nothing, to be precise, nothing at all. But he still hopes that they will change their mind. Most pray to the Old Gods of the mountains and rivers, while some pray to the New Gods that came across the sea with the Ivarns. They pillaged, looted and raped their way into the history books, as one of the greater threats that the Westerlands faced. They were a small tribe, at first, living on the northern shores of Sevardokin, the largest island in the Lovin archipelago.The wind blew across the grass field. Hjolt looked up to a moon. The visage of the moon changed, the craters became a laughing skull. He thought that he's imaging things. He looked again, on the surface of the moon a laughing skull clearly stood. There was no use debating. The skull became larger and darker. He looked around, there was nothing, the field was gone. There, in front of him, stood a dune. A real dune, he wasn't seeing thi
IThe group of men stood and debated in the large longhouse. The major sat in his high chair, which was decorated with two fierce eagles. "What are we to do?"he asked. He had a brooding face that saw seventy winters, each stronger than the other."We will have a wedding,"Olaf replied. "Who's with me?"The hall cheered."Is the choice unanimously?"the mayor stood up. "I ask again."Everyone raised their hands."The matter is closed. Sing men, let the hall echo."The stood up and started to sing:"Friends and kinsfolk met to deliberate To whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year? Rosy youth They deliberatedTo whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year? We want you to wed the son of a king Who has more gold than poor Roland has land? Wed the son of a king