The Cabal’s Defilement – Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Sir Jarnius Dunrieth

“Where are they?” Kaurd whispered. The gruff little fellow was beginning to act, rather nervous. As he pulled on his scarlet beard, his eyes shifted restlessly, all about the wood. He was becoming a tad bit tiresome, but I keep reminding myself to make allowances for the more unsophisticated folk, like dwarves, with whom I travel.

“Watcha thinks gonna happen Kaurd? The trees gonna come to life an eat ya?” Sevrun giggled, like the unfortunate half-breed, he was. The trace of elvish blood, he carried, often led to an unseemly bent, toward annoying jocularity. His dirty chain mail and splotchy facial hair, was made all the poorer, by my own immaculate Plate and tastefully groomed Beard. Even Kaurd’s Dwarven Pride, couldn’t compare to my own, manly display.

“Stop teasing him, Sevrun. There’ve been no sentient trees, in all of Elaysia, for hundreds of years. Still, I’m also a little… disturbed.” Jaelen, Priestess of Dawn. I had to appreciate the way she publicly carried herself. Even if, her private behavior was less than spotless. Surely, her goddess was chagrined, by the way the priestess carried on with that Wizard. Speaking of which, what was Nayzin up to?

Oh, reading. Of course.

“So, what does your ‘magic sense’ tell you Nayzin?” His absurdly red robes, glared back at me, as the wizard, lazily sitting upon his horse, rather rudely answered my question, not having the manners to look up from his book.

“Not a thing Jarnius. Perhaps if…?”

“Sir Dunrieth!. Sir Jarnius Dunrieth! I will be addressed, properly!” The fucking gall, of that low-born…

“Sir Dunrieth, perhaps if you bothered to listen to my patient explanations, as to the workings of magic…”

“I learned all I needed to learn about magic, at my temple! The Most Holy, saw I needed no such unmanly aid and decreed I should go forth and do His Will, by the powers of my Mind and Blade, alone.” My weaker brethren were often given priestly magics, to help prop up their faltering humanity. I was one of the few Knights of Homgar, who was honored with the trust of The Most Holy, to make my way without such aid.

“Still, you would think that the druids would have greeted us, by now.” Kaurd, almost whispered.

“We knew something was up Kaurd. Mayor Dunn, explained that the druids have never failed to send an envoy, to bless the beginning of planting season.” The priestess was smiling at the dwarf, as if a true warrior would need such reassurance. She was correct, though. We should have already been challenged, by some robed, heathen envoy.

The trees began to thin, as we entered what Mayor Dunn, had described as the Outer Grove of the druids. Already, I could dimly make out a clearing, up ahead. No doubt, a primitive ring of stones, or something of the sort, would decorate the place.

Sevrun was busy teasing Kaurd and I was about ready to give him a much needed scolding, when my eye caught a form in white, suddenly appear amidst the trees, not fifteen yards ahead of us.

The druidess, or so I presumed her to be, was quite fetching. Even at this distance, her high cheekbones and elegant, slightly sharp nose, lent a patrician air to a face framed with sun-colored hair. She smiled and waved at us, standing amidst the trees, waiting patiently as we approached. I stopped my mare a respectful distance in front of the lovely nature worshipper, gave her a respectful nod of my head and was about to speak, when Jaelen, rudely interrupted.