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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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354
Although the warmth would be more than welcome you believe it far too risky to light a fire here. There are many dangers on these plains, and some will be attracted by any light that burns brightly in the dark. It is a risk you choose not to take.
In the uncomfortable chill of the evening you try and settle, but the events of the past days crowd your mind with questions and the possibility of answers to dangerous to contemplate. Mostly you think about your quest, the distance travelled and the hard road still to follow. You have no doubt that you will complete your quest, life has been hard for you and there have been many times when only your intelligence and strength have stood between life and death, however you have always won through. This quest will be no different.
The Kalboreans bother you though. This is probably an understatement, they have been the bane of the Dwarvendim for a century and there is nothing about them that commands either respect or loyalty. It is interesting though as to what they believe the restoration of the Tellandra will bring. There has been more than one ancient voice that has expressed the view that the Kalboreans do not fully understand the real power of the Tellandra. Since their pilfering of its power from the Dwarvendim they have known the EarthMagic only in its diminished form, a lesser power torturously extracted from a pillar of stonewood that legend says was already broken by the Dragon Windhammer before the Kalboreans' defeat of the Stone Kingdoms. When you do restore the pillar to its fullness they will be wholly unprepared for its true potency. Unable to control it, the EarthMagic will be lost and the Dwarvendim Loremasters will take it back as their own. When that happens the Dwarvendim will have the tool they need to throw off the shackles of oppression and reclaim the Kingdoms that are rightfully theirs.
You know the Kalboreans are unaware of this and you will complete their quest, but you do it for the good of your people, not your oppressors. The aftermath of the loss of the Tellandra will not sit well for you. Realising what has happened the LoreMages Guild will come after you, there is a hope though that they will be far too busy to worry about your sorry hide. You hope anyway.
Outside the wind picks up its strength and the rushing air howls like wolves at midnight through the cracks and holes of your shelter. Without the benefit of a warm fire you toss and turn for some time before the inevitable fatigue of the day takes hold and you fall into a restless sleep.
The next morning arrives without incident. Woken early by the sound of a wild boar snuffling about the other side of the shelter you stretch cold, numb limbs and prepare for another day. At first you do not see Pallenten but you can hear her grazing on the grasses just outside the entrance. With no time to spare you eat a quick, cold breakfast and then call Pallenten to your side. In the cold of the early morning you start out on this next leg of your journey.
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This book, and its associated books and other documents in the Chronicles of Arborell series are the intellectual property of the author, Wayne F Densley, and all rights are reserved by him. Windhammer is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution. Any questions regarding the Chronicles of Arborell can be answered by emailing the author at densleyw@shoal.net.au
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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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