Chronicles Of the Ren-Ky Warriors (Book 1)

Chapter 8

Lance huffed as he looked down the cliff's edge seeing the steep wall below.  Lance shuddered when he looked up to see Lovell and Gale still climbing.

“Hey, Lovell? When will we reach the border to the elven kingdom?” Lance complained, feeling his hands and feet were sore.

“Tomorrow for sure,” Lovell answered as he climbed over the small ledge.

Lovell then turned to help Gale up. While lance struggled behind.

 “It also depends if we can get to the top of the ridge without you stopping every ten to twenty minutes,” Lovell growled as he watched Lance reach the ledge.

Lance groaned as he pulled himself up. Gale looked up to see the top was a short distance away. Lovell began to climb once more as Lance caught his breath. Gale turned to Lance as he raised his brow at him before starting the climb's last leg. Lance looked up and groaned, followed after them. When Lance reached the top, Lovell and Gale were looking at the forest’s edge. Lance fell over as he was exhausted.

“I don’t know how you two can have so much energy climbing that cliff face. But I am pooped.” Lance huffed as he looked over to see Gale and Lovell staring deep into the forest. “What is wrong?”

“You feel uneasy too.” Gale ignored Lance as he turned to Lovell.

Lovell felt a cold sweat was running down his back as he looked into the forest. As he nodded. He reached for the hilt of one of his swords and gripped it tight.

“Yeah,” Lovell’s voice shook, “There might be an ambush awaiting us once we enter. So, stay sharp and do not draw your weapons. Even if they draw theirs.”

Lance sat up as he looked into the forest. Lovell’s expression was enough for him to know that what he said was true.

“So, are we going in today?” Lance asked, hoping they would enter tomorrow.

 “Yes, we are, Lance.” Lovell glanced back at him.

“Oh, great. Why could we not go tomorrow?” Lance protested as he fell back.

“Gale, be ready, and remember—do not to attack no matter what.” Lovell expressed with great enthusiasm. “And Lance.” Lance looked up at Lovell and winced. “Do not talk. Please.”

Gale looked over at Lance. “Lance has a point. We should camp here. That will give us to tie our gear up. To ensure we can’t draw them. Plus, jumping right into the forest right after we just climbed. Might put too much strain on our bodies.”

Lovell sighed as he looked back at Lance. Seeing that Lance was unable to move as he groaned in pain. Lovell closed his eye before looking at Gale.

 “Alright, then. Lance! Did you hear that?” Lovell called out to Lance.

Lance raised his arm in the air and gave them a thumbs up. Gale snickered as Lovell growled at the thought of setting up camp. Gale walked over to start setting camp. While Lance stared into the sky before Lovell walked over and stood over him.

 “Come on you. You need to help out or no dinner.” Lovell growled at Lance.

Lance glared at Lovell before standing up. Lovell walked over to set up the fire. While  Lance then set the sleeping bags up, Gale was preparing the food for dinner. Once Lovell finished starting the fire, he propped up the cooking stand while Gale asked him if the cuts were alright. Lovell said they would do while Lance gathered the cured meat from his pack. He passed the cured beef to Lovell. Lovell thanked Lance as he added it to the pot while placing the cauldron ingredients together, creating a stew.

Once the stew was done, Lance moved the bowls of food to Gale and Lovell. While he dished them up. Lance looked off the cliffside to see the sun setting as Gale turned to watch with Lovell. Lance looked over as he filled his bowl before turning his attention to the forest before them.

 “So, what’s possibly waiting for us in the forest?”

Lovell turned to the forest before taking a mouth full of the stew. And then looking up at Lance. He could tell Lance was worried about what awaited them within its swaying branches and quiet facade.

“Evermore Elven sentries and/or patrolman,” Lovell answered as he placed his bowl down. “They regularly portal the borders around the Faremin and Grand Dale area. Seeking out invaders and usually killing them.”

Lance went pale as he turned slowly towards the forest. “R-really?”

Lovell nodded as he glanced at Gale. “They also know we are here and know that we have intentions of entering. When I was with the Goanna Mercenaries, we had dealings with them until ten years ago.”

Lovell gripped his bowl tight as Gale look at him. “What will they do now once we enter? Are we going to be safe with you around?”

Lovell nodded as he hesitantly answers. “No, there should not be any problem, but I never dealt with them personally. Yet they might wait until we are too far in then ambushing us. Cutting us off to run back out. With the other possibility of us being surrounded at the same time.”

Lance was not feeling secured by the thought. “So, we are just going to walk in, and we could either be captured, killed or have a free pass? That sounds great!”

“Yes,” Gale answered as he placed his empty bowl down. “We have no other choice if we want to find Mama K.”

Lovell stood up as he checked what was left in the pot. Lance got up and grabbed more as Gale handed him his bowl. Lovell sighed as he walked over to the stream, not far, and washed his dishes.

“Once you two are finished eating. Lance will be on the first watch, then Gale.” Lovell announced as he walked back.

“What? Gale tell him I don’t have to listen to this?” Lance protested.

Gale sighed as he looked up at Lovell, who sat back down. As he sighed heavily. 

“Lance, you will have first watch end of discussion. If you don’t like it, then head back down back to Grand Dale.”

Lance looked at Gale as he got up and walked over to his sleeping bag. Stopping short as he turned to face Lance.

“Sorry, but I’m with Lovell on this one. Though I’m on the second watch.” Gale answered as Lovell got up and did the same.

Lance went to protest as he watched them go to bed. Lance reluctantly sat down as he grumbled as he watched the area for the night.

As the sun peeked over the horizon, Lovell woke Lance and Gale. Lance, still groggy, yawned and went to ask what time it was when a piece of bread was shoved into his mouth. Lance gaged as Lovell shook Gale awake. Gale opened his eyes to see a bit of food handed to him. Lance barked at Lovell as he was treated with more respect. Lovell turned to Lance and glared at him—shutting Lance up.

After eating, they started to prepare for their journey into th forest. The three young men all sealed their weapons to ensure no bloodshed or any other conflict. To show the locals they were no threat. They packed the last of the gear. Lovell glanced at the edge of the forest once more.

“Ready?” Gale asked.

“Yeah, I’m ready.” Lovell turned to face him

Lance rushing to finish as he looked up at them. “I am not! Just give me a moment to finish!”

Gale and Lovell turned to Lance—annoyed at how slow Lance was taking to pack. Lance got the last of the gear on his pack.

“Hurry up, Lance. They don’t have all day—waiting for us to enter foolishly.” Lovell growled at Lance.

Gale grabbed Lovell's shoulder—Lovell turned to look at Gale as he shook his head. Lovell growled as he turned to Lance. Seeing that he was almost finished packing the more significant items neatly away. Lovell rolled his eyes as he started to head into the forest. Lance pulled his pack over his shoulder and ran after him. Gale gingerly smiled beside Lovell.

“Are we really entering? What if the worst happens!!? Then what will we do? Lovell, you said—” Lovell growled at Lance as he began to talk. “Okay then, never mind me.”

As the trio walked in, Lovell glanced around to see the shadowed outline of elves scuttling from tree to tree. Just as Lovell thought—they followed them as they had entered. Lovell kept his ears and eyes out for the elven pursuers. Lovell kept his calm as he glanced back to see Lance struggling to keep up.

Lance trailed behind as Gale walked close to Lovell. They walked for two hours. Lovell noticed the elves stopped as they acted strangely. Lovell stopped. Gale stopped just short from Lovell’s position while Lance ran into them. Lance began to wonder why they stopped.

“What are we—” Lance went to as arrows are drawn towards them shot out from the brush, “—stopping for?”

Lance was raising his hands, while Lovell and Gale did not. The Evermore Elves walked out as they surrounded the group. Lovell glanced around, seeing the elves had earthy-toned hair colour. Lovell knew they were Evermer elves. He continued to glance around, seeing if he could find the leader of the group. Gale clanked back at Lance. While Lance started to panic. Gale then glanced at Lovell as he could tell he was calm despite the situation they were all in.

“State your business here, Humans?” One of the elves demanded as they raised their bow at Lovell.

Lovell smiled, seeing the cockiness of the elf aiming at him. “So, where is your leader? He must be close if you are all here?”

 Elves drew their bows back farther. While they aimed at the other two. Lance squeaked as he did not want to die. Lovell glanced around once more around to see if he could find the leader of this troop.

“Lovell, this is not the time.” Lance barked as arrows drew closer to his face.

“Wait, did you say Lovell?”

Elven captors were ready to release their arrows when a voice shot out from the treetops. Lovell and the others looked up but could not see them as they stood in the sunlight. The leader jumped down, revealing an Elven-beast man hybrid with dark brown hair and beast-like legs. Lovell could tell he was on the satyr style of the beastman crossbreeds as he swallowed hard, trying to not show his concern around this hybrid.

“Sire, they are –” the one that was aiming at Lovell started to explain.

The hybrid grabbed his bow and snarled at the elf as he ripped the bow away. The others stepped back and lowered their bows.

“You will NOT harm my little brother and his company!” The hybrid barked. “Sorry about that. My name is Kratos.” The elf bowed at the hybrid.

Lovell stood stunned when Kratos said he was his younger brother. Lovell never knew he had any siblings, as Marie and Morris never told him. Gale walked up to Kratos as Lovell was too stunned to even talk.

“I’m Prince Gale McKnight. This is Lance Pendragon, back there, and this is, as you already know, is Lovell Krisnik.” Gale introduced everyone to Kratos.

 Lances waved sheepishly at Kratos.

“Pleasure, but like my men said, what is your business here?”

“We came to see Mama K—” Gale began to explain.

Lovell snapped out as he waved his arms in the air. “Whoa, whoa? How are you even related to me?”

Kratos turned his back to Lovell as he started to walked away while glancing back at Lovell. “we have the same mother. Now come. Mama K is at the castle.” 

While Kratos walked away, the elves forced the group forward. Lovell still did not understand what was going on as he moved with the group.

‘I have a brother?’ thinking to himself as he shook his head. ‘this is just crazy. It might have been in the letter, but I left it with Grailla for safekeeping.’

As the group approached the elven city, Kratos looked back at Lovell. He seemed to be surprised that he had to know the idea he had a brother.  Kratos started to deal with the guards. A sour look ran across Kratos’s face. Looking back at the trio, Kratos nodded. The men that guided them to the capital left. Though the trio knew they were not out of the woods yet. As a  set of palace guards surrounded them. Lovell,—who was no longer impressed by what was going on—looked at Kratos. His expression was the same as his. The men led them to the King with Kratos at the head.

Once they entered the throne room, Kratos walked up next to the king While the king shifted in his seat. His long chocolate hair slipping past his hand.

“So, what business do three humans want in our kingdom?” The king roared. “To so blatantly enter?”

“Lord Vain, we—” Gale stepped forward to state their case.

“Silence you! I can tell you are not the leader of your group. I was talking to your leader!” King Vain barked.

He turned to Lovell as Lovell stared back at him before moving closer himself and kneeling before the King.

 “We are on our way to see grandmother K. Lord Vain,” Lovell answered.

“Little old me, you say?” the voice of an elderly woman approached from the shadows. Lovell lifted his head to see the old woman walking into the throne room. “and who might you be a theyan mix?”

Her words catching the King and his men off guard, Kratos sneered a smile in the corner. While Lovell glanced over her, seeing she had grey hair speckled with dark strands revealing her hair's original colour. Lovell stood up and faced the elderly woman.

“I’m Lovell Krisnik, ma’am.”

In the blink of an eye, Mama k was at Lovell’s face. “Oh my—” Mama K pulled back as her eyes filled with joy to see him. “How is Marie doing, my boy? Is she doing well?”

Lovell was shocked to learn that his mother knew her before turning away. “She…she  was killed a little over twenty years ago.” Lovell’s voice was hoarse as he answered.

Mama K closed her eyes, seeing that Lovell was heartbroken from the incident, before moving closer and touching his shoulder.

“So, she died, protecting our secret.” Mama K said to herself before lifting her hand from Lovell’s shoulder. “Well then, it's high time you know who I am, Lovell.” Her attention turned to him. “I am Kora-Kana Krisnik, your grandmother.”

Lovell dropped his mouth as words could not escape. Lance trying to clear his ears, and Gale stood still in shock.

“Lovell, have you read your mother’s letter?”

The words were returning to Lovell. Mama K raised her brow at Lovell, seeing that he could not look her in the eyes. “No, I have not. I had left it with a good friend to take care of. Why?”

Kora closing her eye’s in disappointment. “Well, it tells you who you are? Who your mother and father are? As well as both of your half-brothers.”

“H-h-half-brothers!?” Lovell stuttered while stepping back.

Lance and Gale stood in shock as the words rolled out. Mama k sighed as she moved closer to the King.

“Yes, your father had a son a thousand years ago with another woman before meeting your mother. Who was married to an elven lord at the time.” Lovell looked at Kratos, “Kratos is only a year older than you. Though his father only married her for status.”

Kratos turned to Lovell as he shifted his weight. “My father was a drunk noble. The king raised me out of our mother’s wish. For my safety.” Kratos then turn to King Vain. “thankfully, your grandmother came to visit me. She kept me in line more times than I could count. Even though the king has never known that I had any siblings.”

Lovell looked back at Kora. Rage built inside him as he gripped his hands into a tight fist. Gale could only watch, knowing Lovell need to get this out of his system.

 “Why? Why did you not try and find me?” Lovell screech at Kora. She could only close her eyes, waiting for his borate of question. “Why did you not look into seeing if I was ok or that the woman I-I called mother was alive?” tears began to well up as Lovell continues. “Did you not hear of Blacklights fall? Huh? Some family you are?” Lovell unable to hold the tears from streaming out. “Why? Just why?”

Lovell fell to his knees, feeling betrayed by his grandmother he just met. Kora turned away. She could not look at him in. Knowing what he said was true to some extent. Keeping her eyes shut the entire time.

Kora opened her eyes before answering Lovell. “because I hoped that you would seek me out if anything happened to you. I had hoped Marie told you to find me.” Tears escaped her own eyes. “I could only hope—please forgive me, Lovell. Please forgive me.”

Sadness filled the room as they conversed with their feelings. Lovell looked at his grandmother. Kora walked up to Lovell and hugged him.

“I did find you, though. I’m both overflowing with joy and frustration.” Hugging her tight. “You could only hope. Whereas I suffered without even knowing that I had any family left.” They looked in each other’s eyes. “I sought you out. Not knowing I was going to find family.” Lovell let out a smile.

Kora, still teary-eyed, dried her eyes. “So, what is it you were looking for before all of this?”

He was drying his eyes. Lovell looked back at Gale and Lance. They both nodded with a smile. Closing his eyes, he regained his composure.

“I’m looking for a girl with silver hair and eyes with a milky complexion.”

Kora stared into his eyes, “what’s so important that you find her?”

Lance and Gale looked at each other. Even they had no idea why she was so important to him. Lovell closed his eyes once more. Then looking long and hard into Kora’s eyes.

 “Because I made a promise to her as an infant to protect her. The fact is that she is the reincarnation of Lunatica.”

The room echoed with whispers of shock. Kora’s jaw gaped open.

“Lovell, are you certain?” Kora asked as he grabbed Lovell by the shoulders

Lovell glanced at the people in the room. “More than certain. She has the mark on her chest.” Lovell’s eyes burned with passion. “So, do you—”

Kora stopped him. “I am going to stop you there.” Lovell stood back. “No, I don’t know of her. Though you should probably check the last place, you saw her?”

“Marewood, of course.” Lovell felt dumb after thinking about it. “Mr. and Mrs. Humbly! Do you know if they are still alive?”

Kora smiled. “Yes, they should be, but Lovell?” Her eyes dimmed. “Marewood is now part of the Faremin kingdom. Just as a friendly warning.”

Lovell looked at his friends. They all smiled. “No worries, grandmother will be just fine.”

Kora closed her eyes again. “once you find the girl. You will come back here, and we will discuss the next steps on what should happen—”

Lovell cut her off. “To deal with the Lord Damora?” Hatred filled his eyes.

Kora was turning away. “Yes, that.” Something was bothering her as she turned away from Lovell, though Lovell did not want to ask what she had on her mind. Lovell decided to ignore her worries. “Kratos.”

“Yes, Kora?”

They are looking back at Lovell. “Lead them to the dragon grounds. So that they can reach the outskirts of Marewood.” Kratos nodded, leading Lovell and his friends to the dragon grounds. “Oh, Terrance. Look at what you have done. To your family.” Tears are flowing down as King Vain helped her to the gardens.