The Quest (1)

As the sun rose early in the morning, the humans in the Resistance camp were woken up by some rhythmic drumming. It began low, but gradually building up. Each of the drummers knew their work well, for these were the same drums used while rallying soldiers to war.

A somber mood enveloped the entire village as many made their way out of their huts. Everyone's eyes were on a solitary figure. He was standing at the top of a ridge, with the sun rays hitting him just right.

"Today we go," Joyce said, as she made her way towards Kedan. Despite the somber mood, there was also a sense of excitement. Contrary to what many thought, this would be the first major undertaking by the Resistance.

They were a Resistance by name, but not by actions. They hardly fought, and for the most part, the wolfkin race was happy to let them be. They hardly caused any trouble and ever since they started suspecting new would-be members to be spies, they stopped taking in more members. They were not even a thorn at the side of their oppressors. If anything, they got rid of the malcontent in the society leaving behind only those that would submit.

While the wolfkin race preferred to ignore them and let them be, they never really forgot them. They knew who their enemy was, and while they had all but won, to a point where the enemy couldn't mount any form of resistance, they couldn't afford to be complacent. That was why they sent spies in the form of other humans, who were promised wealth, or just the well being of their loved ones, and they would capitulate.

While all this was well and good for the wolf-kin race, it wasn't so much for the humans. They had to walk around with their heads lowered, for starters. Next, they were taken in by their superiors as servants, but this quickly deteriorated to slavery. Pretty soon, humans were left with the worst of choices, live free in deplorable conditions, or capitulate, live like a slave, or as a slave in somewhat better conditions.

It had been tough at first, a few squabbles. Humans wouldn't willingly give up their freedom. No matter, they were slowly whittled down until there was no fight left.

The story helped in some way. With a promise of someone coming and helping the humans rise above their station, many fighting spirits were put in check. No point in fighting now when they could wait for the promised someone who would see them to victory, and the resources that they would unlock. Many even suggested this was one of the reasons why the wolf-kin race leaders allowed the myth to continue. Of course, these were the scholars, those with access and wit to analyze history.

Now here was one such person. Many hoped he was the one, but others didn't believe. How many had tried, how many had gone up and taken the test? None had survived. This new character was just another in a long line of foolish daredevils who get some power and think they can overturn the world!

Even those that hoped that Kedan was the one, they still doubted in their hearts. It wouldn't be a lie to say that chances of his success were pretty slim.

Many even went to those that had seen him fight, hoping to find some more encouragement. Really, what had they seen, so what he could move a few arrows and target a few enemies, we talking about a damn quest that no one has ever completed, could he do it?

As this question echoed through everyone's mind, Kedan stepped into the little boat. The Quest of Keeling was held in a lake.

When Kedan had sat down and listened to the instructions, a knowing smile had come upon his face. He couldn't believe that it was so obvious. If at all he doesn't pass this test, then he was not himself, or the one who set it was not Dane. This was the process of verification.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, he followed the instructions as many looked on. He was supposed to row the boat to the center of the lake, well, as close to the center as he could estimate. At that point, he would then take the trinket he'd been given and dive into the lake. Once inside, he would activate the trinket by pressing the button on it.

If he failed any of these, the Quest was failed, and he would not be able to take part again.

Underwater, Kedan pressed the button on the trinket, which had a dragon emblem on it. It would seem that the time his friend set this he'd been already embracing the dragon side of him. Still, when he pressed the button, a Gate appeared leading him to another dimension. 'How very Dane-like,' Kedan thought, as he entered the dimension. Let the Quest begin!

***

As a victor, Tsapo didn't even consider humans. To him, they were a none issue, and he would much rather focus on the stiff competition that was there between the city-states. So far, Harrow was not even among the top in terms of defense, warfare and economic capabilities.

Despite all this, they still had to be quelled now and then, weakening the enemy, like nipping the bud. Even then, his several packs of Sacred wolves were more than enough to keep the humans in check, and he did not have to see these wretched creatures.

Like many in his generation, he truly saw humans as being beneath his station. As a prince who later became the city lord, even servants were honored, so he personally never had experience with humans. They were so far removed from him that he believed the stories.

There were quite a lot of stories about human females. They were said to be quite attractive, although it was a taboo to cross race. Such a thing was abhorred even by the worshipers of the wolf god. Trust religion to come in the way of a good thing.

There were other stories where it was said that some powerful nobles would buy these human slaves in secret and lock them in dungeons. Though this was abhorred upon, the young warriors would talk about such things in their training.

Anyway, all these were stories that they shared among friends, whom Tsapo had grown up with.

They had known each other since childhood. Their friendship persisted even past the years of warring, now they were at the top, and among them, Gnome.

The leader had been pouring over tax records, not that he was paying any attention. The city was facing an economic crisis of his own making, he naturally had to take action. All that suddenly came to a stop when a messenger came running in and bowed at the lord.

"Speak."

"Sire, Lord Gnome has been found ... dead."

"..."

It took a while for it to sink in. His good friend had died? Denial quickly followed him vehemently demanding answers, which he received from a very scared messenger.

Those humans! Those damn humans!

They had never entered his sights. Why would they? The traders came in and brought the money trading for iron ore. While it was valuable, they were more interested in other things, as they had plenty of metal.

The others were too puny to think about. Some traveler, some barmaid, some inn patrons, some sailors? There were the ones that dared to kill his beloved friend? The thought sent a pit of bile down his stomach. NO! Gnome, you shall be avenged.

One of the least defensible position is at the beach. There just isn't any decent cover at all. All in all, this is not a place you want to be when an enemy comes knocking. Yet this is where the majority of the Resistance was.

This bright and sunny morning, they had followed one Kedan down to the lake where he had taken the canoe. They had then sat down all around it the lake and waited. Was is it hope? Even those that scorned waited around, as though they too hoped to be proven wrong.

'How nice for the sheep to gather!' Thought Tsapo, as he watched the human army seated by the lake, mostly unarmed. They were all gathered here, paying tribute to their would-be hero. 'How nice for that prophesy to serve its purpose.'

Tsapo may not have been among those who engineered the scheme that involved maintaining the prophecy of a hero to come, but like many of the previous leaders, he had seen its benefits.

Not only had it served to mellow the public, but now had gathered the humans in one place for his attack, and in the least defensible place at that.

He nudged the warg he was sitting on forward. The order was clear, the assault was to begin. It was time to give his friend a bloody vengeance!

Joyce looked towards the lake. She wanted to go under the lake's surface and watch the progress, but she couldn't. There had never been any victory. Few who ventured in ever came back, and it was known that they could even take hours, days, weeks or even months. After a year, people would usually be done waiting, and no one had come back after being gone for that long.

Kedan's strength had been well demonstrated, but that was against a few guards, and later, when he released his aura. That was all well and good, but did this stranger have the qualifications to challenge and indeed emerge victorious against this age-old Quest? She wondered.

She didn't notice their approach as she was so engrossed in her thoughts. From the corner of one of the lake shores, she heard screams. They seemed to be getting louder, and more and more people were joining in. There was a major commotion going on.

Before she could react, several wolfkins moved out from behind the treeline, each riding on vicious-looking wargs. Even she, the legendary sword saint, took a moment's pause, none of these were simple, for she knew that hidden among them were dragons that had some sort of ability.

Brandishing her sword, she rushed off towards the lead wolfkin, ready to strike him down off his warg. She sent her sword at the warg, intending to put it down first. Alas, the movements were too quick, and the monstrous mount had already tossed her away, nullifying her attack and simultaneously landing its counter attack.

It then sprang forward, jaws bared. It was a stalk of a predator that knew it had its prey right where it wanted it. The fallen Joyce watched her assailant, not even bothering with the rider on top. The mount had proved a difficult enough foe on its own.

Just before the beast could launch an attack, an arrow hit it right on its skull, instantly putting it down. As it tumbled down, the rider, who all this time had remained almost as a bystander, was received with open arms, or is it it's edges, by Joyce's blade, instantly ending him.

Turning back, she looked to see where the arrow had come from, who was her benefactor. A timid looking 16-year-old girl was waving at her. Looking closely, she realized this was the same 16-year-old that had come in with the mysterious expert. She waved back as she got to her feet. The first touch hadn't been very good, time to show these damn bastards what she was made of.