Heirs of the Banished

*** In the harsh cold of the winter night up on the mountains, Elanxa Klagaen the half-elf, crouched down between two rocks in hopes that they would shield him from the impact of the wind and protect him from being sighted by the mountain beasts. Just then, a portal opened in front of a half-elf, swirls of green and blue waves of what looked like water gathered up and opened a doorway to another plane, through it walked an elder looking elf about 7 feet tall with long white hair braided behind him, closing the portal behind him. The ears of the half-elf cut to fit the shape of human ears, Elanxa hardly looked anything like an elf. The elder elf had gone far in his years, though their race wasn't one that lived the short lifespan of humans, they were still prone to sickness and could die of reasons other than old age. Elanxa noticed lines on his face that weren't there the last time they met. "This must be unexpected, for you to be summoned after all these years. I have a request to ask of you, boy" He started. Though he looked like a boy, the half elf was much older than a boy. Still, knowing that this 'boy' standing in front of him could very much refuse to offer him the help he's asking for, he had nowhere else to turn. The half-elf stared squarely at him, trying to guess why now of all times was he being summoned after everything that happened, he had never been contacted in the 70 years he spent on Fitzroy's Keep with the greedy humans. Elanxa sensed that something else was going on here, General Rhegnaar wasn't the sentimental type to care about his well being after so long. "Khajir is at war" General Rhegnaar said suddenly. The young elf couldn't hide his surprise or mask it. "What?" "I know that I wasn't the best father to you..." "Step father" Elanza snapped shooting a glare his way. The elf expected this kind of reaction but he wasn't fully prepared for it. "Right...step father. " the General almost lamented but continued nonetheless "I was poisoned in battle and I don't have longer than a month to live. The Kingdom is not safe anymore, I have the four heirs safe with me but not for long. So I'm asking you to please raise them and protect them." The general said, not daring to meet the eyes of the half-elf before him. If he had asked 60 years ago, the half elf would've definitely said no, without hesitating for a second. But no matter how much he wanted to say no, leaving four innocent and helpless kids wasn't something he wanted to do. "I don't owe you anything" "I knew you wouldn't do it for me, but do it for your Mother" He looked up expectantly at his step son. The only hope left. *********** Far away in the Kingdom of Khajir'e, the Lady Arfki walked hurriedly down the halls to the court room in the House of Krensh'i, in the northern part of the Kingdom. Outside the palace, people gathered food supplies to the ferry station which was to sail out of the Kingdom with only elflings and elven-maids aboard to sail to the dwarven towns while the elf men stayed back to fight for their Home. Meanwhile, armor, swords, shields and helmets were distributed to the elves that were remaining, the skilled and not skilled elves alike, they all had a look of determination on their faces, no elf-man would leave their kingdom unprotected. They were willing to die. The Lady Arfki walked into the court room to find all the war ministers already discussing counter plans against their attackers, all of them too engrossed in their discussion to notice Her Grace. Among them was General Rhegnaar, the oldest of the war Lords in the court room. He stared intently at a map that showed every nook and cranny of the Kingdom, laid out on the large table in the middle of the Court room, thinking of a way to evacuate the people safely and to counter their enemies. Their enemies had blocked off every route in and out of the Kingdom. The only escape they had, would only save the elf maidens and their elflings. "The elven soldiers cannot follow the same route out of the Kingdom on a ferry and risk the safety of the future of our kingdom." The general whispered to himself. "King Jeffrey does not have the military strength or resources to attack this Kingdom and even succeed at conquering the House Wyken our biggest defence system, not too far from the House Rytang, our biggest offence system. It is only a matter of time before our collective demise. We do not know what he is capable of using against us, and that is our biggest weakness right now." The room went silent as every war Lord digested this information. "We need to act fast. We do not have enough offensive and defensive military Forces to attack and protect ourselves. We certainly cannot put all of our hopes in the Lady Arfki, though she is strong without question, the only person that could defeat the armies of King Jeffrey is the Lord Gayton of House Rytang, and I doubt that he would leave his palace to come and protect us." Lady Arfki listened intently at every word that the War Lords said, she knew there was some truth to the fact that she couldn't protect them alone. There was the last option of calling on the great spirit of the House Krensh'i, the cost was something she could pay without hesitation. Though it was highly unlikely to resort to such a plan. "We need to save the four heirs..." General Gregaar started but was cut off. "I'm sure we don't need to do that" Lady Arfki walked slowly towards the large table. Every War Lord turned to acknowledge her presence. "Milady" they all said in unison. Staring at each War Lord closely, the court room went silent awaiting her decision as she motioned for them to sit but she remained standing, sitting after a brief moment. "General Rhegnaar, how can we get out of this with the least possible damage?" She asked completely ignoring General Gregar's comments, which angered him a bit. Standing up to acknowledge his queen, he started. "Milady" He bowed. "The armies of King Jeffrey have halted their march after the fall of House Wyken for some reason, last they were sighted was near Fitzroy's Keep where they massacred many humans, a ten-day march to this palace. We have taken the time we have to safely evacuate the elf-maids and elflings out of the Kingdom on the biggest ferry the Kingdom had to sail across the River to the dwarven towns. The elf men remain to fight and protect the Kingdom at all cost, after which we have yet to find a safe route to escape." The general stated in one breath. "How was the army able to break the walls of House Wyken with mere goblins?" She asked, and as though everyone was waiting to hear the answer to the question, they all averted their gaze to the General that was still standing. None of them expected the answer he was about to give. "The army of the undead." He stated, sure that he had everybody's attention, he continued. " King Jeffrey has been dabbling with the Dark Arts enough to summon an army of undead goblins. They do not die even if they're struck a hundred times. The only one that can stop them is their King. Its not a matter of fighting them off, we can only run." That last line sent shivers down their spines. He bowed and then took his seat. Just then a messenger banged the court room door open. "House Rytang and House Resh'iy have fallen." He cried gasping for breath. "What? I thought the army was near Fitzroy's Keep how did they make it to the house Resh'iy and Rytang in a day?" General Gregar asked panicking. "They must've sent a different army to the two houses, and its not too far fetched to assume that there should be another army marching towards this House." General Rhegnaar remarked calmly. Lady Arfki knew what she had to do, consequences be damned, she stood up straight and said. "I know that I don't have the power to protect our people alone, but I can do it with the help of the great spirit. General Rhegnaar, I need you to get the four heirs to safety, and we need to act fast." "Of course" General Rhegnaar bowed. As the Lady Arfki started walking towards the General Rhegnaar, General Gregar shot up from his seat. "But Milady....." He started. "You won't survive" she handed her necklace to General Rhegnaar looking at him knowingly. "You know what to do" she whispered. Then turning her attention to General Gregar, she answered. "That's why we need to protect the four heirs. It has to be done." ********** "I barely escaped to meet you." Rhegnaar continued. Stepping back, he moved his hand in a circular motion, a blue water like tomb coming into view, Elanxa noticed four babies inside fast asleep. "Take them" he said. As the tomb started to disappear, Elanxa stuck out his hands and took the babies. "Please, you're our only hope, the future of our home is in your hands."He said as he opened up another portal and walked right through it. Elanxa stared at the kids for a while and then spun around on his heels and went home with his newly found responsibility. Clarissa might not be pleased he thought. ***