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Description
The Soulkeeper Saga: Xenultha's Vengeance
An Epic Fantasy Tale

~ Chapter III ~

The smell of charred flesh and bone, as repugnant as it is, could not overpower the coppery aroma that only blood possesses.  The capital city of the Olacine Province, Bwiloon, was burning to the ground before the little girl's eyes.  Her silky brown hair, complete with ponytail, blew against the warm, vile air that emanated from the inferno that once was a city.  With tears in her stormy, gray eyes, she turned and ran from the ruined building that was once her home.  Luckily for her, none of the assailants that had conquered The World's Port took any notice of her, as they were busy taking their spoils of war.

Chief among the vile men that had descended upon Bwiloon stood a large, imposing man.  His violet-colored plate armour reflected the glow of the surrounding fire, and in his right hand he firmly gripped a massive halberd.  The head of this weapon was covered in glowing runes, a red light shining brightly where each symbol resided.  The curvature of the bladed head was rather vicious, the edge as sharp as a dragon's teeth.  His face was mostly concealed by the terrifying helmet he wore, but a ruthless sneer was still easily observed.  His teeth were a menacing white, and the combination of sneer and teeth was one to make your skin crawl.

"The blood of these worthless worms will serve me well in appeasing Her," the warlord said, his voice full of hatred.  "Her visage drives most men insane, but I dare gaze upon her form through the shadows with impunity," he remarked, kneeling over to collect some blood from a fallen woman.  She lay on her back, the skin there lightly burnt.  Regardless, you could still make out the bruises that indicate what happened before she went up in smoke.  Bowing his head, the warlord began to laugh, the sound echoing through the ruined shells of former buildings.  "Through blood and pain, I will awaken The Fallen One from her prison, and she will exact horrific vengeance upon those false and lying Gods!" he yelled, his fiery, orange eyes full of malice.

As for the young girl, she ran for her life, her little legs moving as fast as she could make them.  As she ran, tears began to obstruct her vision, and she tripped on a branch, falling right into some dense bushes.  Landing flat on her butt, she suppressed the urge to cry, fear shining in her eyes.  Composing herself, she prepared to cross the road in front of her hiding place.  But before she could act, she heard footsteps on the dirt path.  Ducking down into the foliage, she carefully peered out into the afternoon, watching for the traveler.

The man was minding his own business, humming a tune under his breath.  On his back was a box that, under closer examination, glowed slightly.  His face was creased with wrinkles, and he wore a very wide-brimmed hat.  As he made his merry way, he passed by the girl's hiding place.  Unknown to her, the man could easily see her ponytail.  It was poking out of the top of the bushes, for they were not as deep as she thought they were.  Chuckling, he began to approach the bushes where she hid, much to her horror.  Holding her breath, she began to tremble, the look of that evil man's face still haunting her mind.  Closing the distance between himself and the little girl, the man knelt down before her, then pulled away the foliage.

The little girl began to scream, her shrill voice alarming the nearby Honeywing Doves, sending them flying off into the sun-filled day.  Putting his large hand over the girl's mouth, the man shook his head slowly.  "Shh, don't be so loud little one.  You don't want them to hear you," he remarked, looking over his shoulder.  In the distance, a large pillar of smoke ascended to the heavens.  Nodding, the girl wiped her eyes frantically, her tiny hands covered in soot and ash.  As she rose to her feet, she was not much shorter than the traveler.  Gasping, she smiled.  "I told Mommy that little people were real!" she said, her smile seeming to bring joy to nature itself.  Laughing, the dwarf frowned a little, then picked the girl up, lifting her onto the top of his box.

Looking around at the summertime surroundings, the girl smiled, then played with the old dwarf's thin, wispy gray hair.  "Where are we going, mister?" she asked, her eyes not quite as stormy as they were previously.  Turning back to his little passenger, he smiled.  "Please, call me Azulfso.  You should ride up there for our journey, for it is some way still to my home," he said, a smile on his time-worn face.  "I'm Brumika Asynai, Mister Azulfso," the little girl said, that smile of hers melting away all of the fatigue the six age-old dwarf had.  "Nice to meet you, Brumika.  I will take care of you until your parents come to get you," he remarked, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Description
The Soulkeeper Saga: Xenultha's Vengeance
An Epic Fantasy Tale

~ Chapter III ~

The smell of charred flesh and bone, as repugnant as it is, could not overpower the coppery aroma that only blood possesses.  The capital city of the Olacine Province, Bwiloon, was burning to the ground before the little girl's eyes.  Her silky brown hair, complete with ponytail, blew against the warm, vile air that emanated from the inferno that once was a city.  With tears in her stormy, gray eyes, she turned and ran from the ruined building that was once her home.  Luckily for her, none of the assailants that had conquered The World's Port took any notice of her, as they were busy taking their spoils of war.

Chief among the vile men that had descended upon Bwiloon stood a large, imposing man.  His violet-colored plate armour reflected the glow of the surrounding fire, and in his right hand he firmly gripped a massive halberd.  The head of this weapon was covered in glowing runes, a red light shining brightly where each symbol resided.  The curvature of the bladed head was rather vicious, the edge as sharp as a dragon's teeth.  His face was mostly concealed by the terrifying helmet he wore, but a ruthless sneer was still easily observed.  His teeth were a menacing white, and the combination of sneer and teeth was one to make your skin crawl.

"The blood of these worthless worms will serve me well in appeasing Her," the warlord said, his voice full of hatred.  "Her visage drives most men insane, but I dare gaze upon her form through the shadows with impunity," he remarked, kneeling over to collect some blood from a fallen woman.  She lay on her back, the skin there lightly burnt.  Regardless, you could still make out the bruises that indicate what happened before she went up in smoke.  Bowing his head, the warlord began to laugh, the sound echoing through the ruined shells of former buildings.  "Through blood and pain, I will awaken The Fallen One from her prison, and she will exact horrific vengeance upon those false and lying Gods!" he yelled, his fiery, orange eyes full of malice.

As for the young girl, she ran for her life, her little legs moving as fast as she could make them.  As she ran, tears began to obstruct her vision, and she tripped on a branch, falling right into some dense bushes.  Landing flat on her butt, she suppressed the urge to cry, fear shining in her eyes.  Composing herself, she prepared to cross the road in front of her hiding place.  But before she could act, she heard footsteps on the dirt path.  Ducking down into the foliage, she carefully peered out into the afternoon, watching for the traveler.

The man was minding his own business, humming a tune under his breath.  On his back was a box that, under closer examination, glowed slightly.  His face was creased with wrinkles, and he wore a very wide-brimmed hat.  As he made his merry way, he passed by the girl's hiding place.  Unknown to her, the man could easily see her ponytail.  It was poking out of the top of the bushes, for they were not as deep as she thought they were.  Chuckling, he began to approach the bushes where she hid, much to her horror.  Holding her breath, she began to tremble, the look of that evil man's face still haunting her mind.  Closing the distance between himself and the little girl, the man knelt down before her, then pulled away the foliage.

The little girl began to scream, her shrill voice alarming the nearby Honeywing Doves, sending them flying off into the sun-filled day.  Putting his large hand over the girl's mouth, the man shook his head slowly.  "Shh, don't be so loud little one.  You don't want them to hear you," he remarked, looking over his shoulder.  In the distance, a large pillar of smoke ascended to the heavens.  Nodding, the girl wiped her eyes frantically, her tiny hands covered in soot and ash.  As she rose to her feet, she was not much shorter than the traveler.  Gasping, she smiled.  "I told Mommy that little people were real!" she said, her smile seeming to bring joy to nature itself.  Laughing, the dwarf frowned a little, then picked the girl up, lifting her onto the top of his box.

Looking around at the summertime surroundings, the girl smiled, then played with the old dwarf's thin, wispy gray hair.  "Where are we going, mister?" she asked, her eyes not quite as stormy as they were previously.  Turning back to his little passenger, he smiled.  "Please, call me Azulfso.  You should ride up there for our journey, for it is some way still to my home," he said, a smile on his time-worn face.  "I'm Brumika Asynai, Mister Azulfso," the little girl said, that smile of hers melting away all of the fatigue the six age-old dwarf had.  "Nice to meet you, Brumika.  I will take care of you until your parents come to get you," he remarked, his eyes filled with sorrow.