Thelgar and Hte Blade of Destiny - Chapter 2

This chapter goes out to all those who are following my Webisodes so closely. We are far from the 2k mark I hoped for but you are all great. So this chapter is dedicated to you, my fans!

Introduction

"Why am I laying in the dirt?" Thelgar wonders. The last thing I remember was the thiev... Pulling his blade he spins in a full circle searching for the thieves. There they are! But what happened? They are all lying in the dirt; well actually their bodies are lying in the road their heads are laying next to the road as though they had rolled downhill. But how did it happen? "Did I do this? I don't remember anything" he thinks out loud." And what was the bright flash?" o well I got to get out of here. Quickly he moves towards town only looking back twice to verify his own thoughts.

Chapter 2

Calling Glendale a Town was an overstatement. It was a very small gathering of buildings around a small well. There was a general store, where Thelgar spent most of his money, a nursery, and a post office. There were 2 or 3 small empty storefronts as well, which the town council were hoping would draw in additional business and eventually tourism. So far this year hadn't been that year.

Alison's father owned the General Store. He and Thelgar had not gotten along well over the years. Recently that had all changed. Last winter Alison's father, Jacob, was out ice fishing when the ice broke under him. Thelgar happened to be passing by and heard is final scream. Without thought for his own safety Thelgar rushed out onto the thin ice and grabbed Jacobs arm as he went under for possibly the last time. Since then Alison had been free to date Thelgar and their marriage was practically a done deal.

Entering the general store Thelgar immediately noticed something was off. Jacob was normally toiling in the front of the store, dusting or setting up displays, but today he was in the rear of the store sitting in a chair. Alison, normally behind the counter, was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly Thelgar had his knife out, without thinking, and every nerve in his body was on fire. Since he was so tense and ready he was not caught off guard by the man that jumped him from behind. Spinning quickly around Thelgar's blade found its mark square in the would be attackers chest. The man dropped where he stood looking at Thelgar with immense surprise. Springing aside Thelgar spun around to meet his next attacker. Unfortunately he was a little slow and the attacker kicked him in the chest knocking the wind out of him.

Thelgar, not one to be outdone, rolled behind a table, yet another spool of cloth turned into a display, to catch his breath. This new attacker was much bigger than the other. This wasn't going to be an easy fight. Suddenly Jacob was behind the attacker with a shovel. One quick hit and the matter was closed. Catching his breath, Thelgar rose from behind the display slowly. His head was spinning and there were a dozen questions running through his head.

"Jacob! What's going on?"

"I don't know, they got here not an hour ago and said nothing. They simply held me at bay with their weapons. They took Alison out the backdoor. I was afraid they were going to kill me, and they might have had you not come in."

"How long ago?"

"Not 5 minutes I would guess."

"Groan" "groan"

Thelgar looked down to see the big guy coming around. Quickly grabbing some ribbon from the nearby display, he quickly bound the attacker's arms behind his back.

"Who are you?" Thelgar demanded slapping the man in his face to get his attention. "And where did your friends take Alison?"

"You'll learn soon enough Thelgar!" the man spat as drool ran down his chin. "If you want to see her again you'll release me and come with me now."

Slapping him across the face Thelgar slid his nice free and pressed it to the man's neck. "I asked you a question, and if YOU want to see tomorrow you will answer me now." To emphasis his point Thelgar drew his blade across the man's cheek slowly.

"Ok. They are taking her to the Angels Falls on Mount Wilson."

"Why?" asked Thelgar

"You really don't know do you? Well it is to lure you into the ....."

SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! Plunk!

"ARRRRGGGGG!"

The man drops dead at Thelgar's feet, a bolt sticking from his back. Looking up Thelgar sees a dark figure flee the rear exit. Without pause he leaps towards the door. Throwing it wide he rolls through the opening and into a crouch blade positioned and ready to fight.

NOONE! Not even a hint of anyone. "Who was that then?" He wonders. "I know I saw someone leave through this door. Or am I going crazy?" no the dead man inside was proof he was not going crazy. "But what was he going to tell me?" Someone really didn't want him to say whatever it was.

Blade still in hand Thelgar wearily moved back inside. Jacob was still standing where Thelgar had left him, staring down at the dead man by his feet. There was nothing in the words to explain all this, except that it had been because of him somehow that Alison was now in trouble. Without a doubt he knew he had to save her, somehow.

"I am going after her!" The strength in his voice surprising even himself. But it snapped Jacob out of his funk.

"No! What could you possibly do against these thugs alone?"

"This is my fault, somehow. You heard what that man said. They are holding her in Angels Falls. I have to go. I don't have a choice."

"Very well, I can see you have made up your mind. I will give you a horse so that you can make better time. Just bring my daughter back to me!"

Jacob leads Thelgar out to the stables and offers him the choice of horses. Thelgar is naturally drawn to the deep black colored horse near the rear. There is an instant bond between them, Thelgar realizes. "I'll take this one!"

"Sandra? She isn't anything more than an old mare. She doesn't even plow the field anymore. Take one of the stronger males."

"Nope, this is the one! I can feel it."

"Again, I can see your mind is made up! Ok, well I will get her ready for the ride and put some food in a saddle bag for the trip. Go inside and rest while I ready your steed."

Returning to the store Thelgar searches his attackers. On the big man's hand he found a silver ring with a strange symbol. Obviously this ring would be too big for his own hand since the big man's hands were much bigger. Placing the silver band in his palm to inspect it he was amazed to see that the ring appeared much smaller in his palm then he would have expected. In fact it looked like it might fit his finger.

Sliding it over his finger he was shocked to see it did indeed fit. With a sudden blue glow it became warm to his touch. "Wow! WTF!" he shouts pulling the ring from his finger. Coming off grudgingly the rings glow fades.

"Time to go," Jacob calls from the rear door, "Daylight is fading fast and you better get started if you want to make headway today."

Slipping the ring into one of his waist pouches he heads out the door in search of his one ture love. "I'm coming Alison. And God help these people if they hurt you." He thinks as he mounts his steed and heads towards the mountains.

Chapter 3 (teaser)

Snorting and flailing her head Susan stopped dead in her tracks. There before her was a man lying in the street. Dismounting slowly Thelgar approached the man carefully.

"Sir? Are you well? Do you need some help?"

Approaching cautiously, blade in hand, Thelgar turns the man over. Man? No beast in clothing is more like it. This dark skin, hairy faced creature has the face of a man but the teeth of a Dog. Good thing it is dead, He thinks to himself, I'd really hate to have to fight one of these. Suddenly the creatures eyes open and a great howl spews forth from its jaws.

"OH SHIT!"he exclaims drawing his blade as he jumps back! Looking around he now sees he has walked right into an ambush. As 3 more of these creatures step from the surrounding brush. "Come and get it!" he shouts and lunges at the nearest of the creatures.