Chapter 4

Back in the guest bedroom

"Iris, I have something to tell you." I said.

"What is it?' Asked Iris still crying.

"Your father is still alive and is in the infirmary." I said.

"Could I go see him?" Asked Iris.

"We can find out if we can, yes," I said. Looking out the window.

"It is night though, so in the morning." Said Iris.

"Yes, I agree to let us sleep and see him in the morning. If you want to stay here with your father, you can," I said.

"That would be amazing. Oh, since my father is here, can you go to the kingdom of the Mountain alone?' Asked Iris.

"Yes, I can go there alone." I said.

"Night then. "Said Iris.

" Night." I said.

In the Morning

"Well, I will be off to the kingdom of the mountain." I said.

"Have a wonderful trip." Said Iris.

"See you when I get back," I said. Little did everyone know sooner or later things will turn for the worst.

"Watching him leave without me is weird, but still I know that there is work that needs to be done." Said Iris.

"Iris, your father is awake and wants to see you," Said one servant.

"Will you take me to him?" Asked Iris.

"Follow me. Right, this way." Said the servants. The servant leads me to the infirmary. "Right in there. "Said the servant.

"Thank you." Said Iris. Pushed open the door.

"Father, it's good to see that you are alive and well." Said Iris.

"A few bumps and scrapes, but yes, I am all right. Let me look at you," Said Wern. Wern looks at Iris.

"Where is Arc here?" Asked Wern.

"No, he is going to the kingdom of the mountain right as we speak." Said Iris.

"I see, and those are the twins that I heard about. May I hold them? "Asked Wern. "Yes, you can," Said Iris.

"Oh, Iris, what happened to your uncle?" Asked Wern.

"He trashed the house and endangered the twins." Said Iris.

"So from what you told me you are not on speaking terms right now," Said Wern.

"That is an understatement." Said Iris.

"Could you tell me why is there still a black mist in the air if the Kingdom of Grey is gone?" Asked Wern.

"Well, speculation is that the evil that the legend spoke of is still out there," Said Iris.

"That makes sense. When I ran out of the burning castle, I saw a black dragon heading to another continent." Said Wern.

"Why don't you rest more so we can talk more later?" Said Iris.

"That is an idea." Said Wern.

Back in the guest bedroom

"I need to tell Arc about what my father told me," Said Iris.

"I bet he already knows," Said, someone.

"Who is there?" Asked Iris. As she said that, she was knocked unconscious.

"Iris, are you in there?" Asked a servant. There was no reply from the other side of the door. The servant opened the door and there was no one there.

"Your Majesty Iris is not in the guest chambers and not in the castle." Said the servant. "

What! Sound the alarms. Find Iris before it is too late." Said the Queen.

"What is going on?" Asked Wern.

"Your daughter is missing." Said the Queen.

"What! Who took her?" Said Wern.

"We don't know right now. We are finding out right now," Said the Queen.

"We have a report." Sais Rex.

"Yes. What does it say?" Asked the Queen.

"Iris got taken to the place that the black dragon was heading," Rex said.

"The Undead continent." Said Wern.

"You know of the place?" Asked the Queen.

"Yes, I know of it. I fought there 100 years ago." Said Wern.

"That was a long time ago," Rex said.

"Yes, it was. I was lopsided born yet, but was about to be," Said the Queen.

"The question is what to do now." Said Wern.

"We prepare for a counterattack." I said. They all looked at the doors to the throne room.

"What happens in the mountain's kingdom?" Asked the Queen.

"They will help us." I said.

'That good to hear," Rex said.

"Now, what about that continent?" I said.

"The Undead continent is not habitable, or so we thought," Rex said.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"There is one tower there. No one knows why that is," Rex said.

"I Suggest I small team of five get Iris back." Said Wern.

"I will go," Rex said.

" Same here." I said.

. "That leaves eight more spots." Said Wern.

"Yes. How about eight knights?" Rex said.

"That will work. You leave for the undead continent tomorrow morning." Said the Queen.

In the morning

Knock Knock.

"I am up and ready to go to the undead continent." I said.

"That is good to hear. Meet me at the docks in one hour." Rex said.

"Well, I have an hour to get fully ready. What should I do?" I asked. Will thought Arc heard another knock.

"I know you need to get my daughter back, but I wanted to give you this," Said Wern.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It is a sword. The name of the swords is Elder." Said Wern.

"Is that the sword that was used in the legend?" I asked.

"Yes, it is that sword," Said Wern.

"Could you tell me why do you have that sword?" I asked.

"My family is the one that protected this sword for centuries. The only reason the hero legend could not vanquish the evil." Said Wern.

"Why did the hero do that? I asked.

"Because she only had the Sword. She also needs the armor and Shield." Said Wern. "Where are the rest of the pieces?'' I asked.

"No one knows where the rest are," Said Wern.

"They are not looking hard enough. Let us see the sword?" I asked. Arc took the sword.

"There is an engraving on the hilt of the sword. What does it say?" I asked.

"It says whoever wields this sword has the power to save the world." Said Wern.

"That is Interesting." Said. Arc.

"You will be off now. You have thirty minutes to get to the dock." Said Wern.

At the Docks

"Where is Arc? We have twenty minutes till we have to leave." Rex said. "You wanted to know where I am? I am right here," I said.

"Let us get onto the boat and get you set up. What is on your back?" Asked Rex.

"Wern told me it was the sword from the legend." I said.

"I see. Do not lose it, then that would not be good at all." Rex said.

"Yes, Wern told me to have it by me the whole time," I said.

"That makes sense. We will find another piece to the armor set on the undead continent." Rex said.

"That would be something." I said.

"Yes, that would be," Rex said.

"All aboard." Said the captain.

"Time to find where to put my stuff." I said.

"The crew's quarters are down below that deck," Rex said.

"Thanks, see you in a bit, then." I said.

"I will be at the ship's stern with the captain if you need me," Rex said.

"Ok see you in then." I said.

"Captain, is there anything that I can do to help?" Asked Rex.

"At the moment, no. Now leave and do not distract me! Said the Captain.

"Rex, hey I put all my goods in an empty room. Are you here and not with the captain?' I asked.

"That good, and the captain. Kicked me out of the control room." Rex said.

"Really. Could you tell me why did he do that?" I asked.

"Because he told me. I was a distraction," Rex said.

"You a distraction near." I said.

"Glad that you think I am not a distraction. Oh, and another thing about the undead continent wears these." Said, Rex. Rex hands Arc a mask.

"Why are you giving me this mask?" I asked.

"It will help trust me." Said, Rex.

"Ok. I will trust you," I said. Arc puts on the mask and waits. "Does it fit?" Asked Rex.

"Yes, it fits. Do you have another mask?" I asked.

"No, only that one. So I need to be careful where I go." Said, Rex.

"Land ho," Said one sailor.

"That was quick." I said.

"Yes, it was quick." Said, Rex. They want to the stern of the ship.

"So that is the undead continent." I said.

"Yes, it." Said, Rex.

We looked up at the jagged rock that protruded from the cliffs. Even more jagged rock in the water.

"That is a lot of rocks in one place." I said.

"Yes, that is." Said, Rex.

"This is as far as we can take you. We will wait for you right here," Said the Captain.

"They cannot come with us, because this is a big boat. Two well the captain cannot get closer. "Said Rex.

"Does this boat have any smaller boats?" I asked.

"Yes, we right down two floors down." Said the Captain. Pointing to two small boats. They look like they can fit five people in them.

"That will be successful." I said. Just as he said that, the sword glowed.

"Looks like a piece of the armor is here." Said, Rex.

"Yep. The question is now. Which one piece is it?" I said.

"Yes, and that means that we have to travel to the undead continent." Said, Rex.

"Yep, and I bet Iris, the armor piece, and the person who took her are in the same place." I said.

" I agree with that assessment. That said, we will travel cautiously." Said, Rex.

"True, the last thing we want is to get trapped." I said. We went to the boats with the other eight soldiers that came with us.

"So what made you want to come with me on this trip?" I asked.

"I could not stand by and watch as allies' loved one gets captured." Said, Rex.

"I see. That makes sense." I said.

At a bay on the continent

"We will set up a base camp here." Said, Rex.

"I will help you. The rest of you go gather supplies we will need." I said.

"Hey, Arc." Said Rex.

"Yes, what is it? I said.

"I think something is watching us." Said, Rex. Pointing to some trees.

" Hmm. Let me see what you are pointing at and you continue with establishing base camp." I said. Walking over in the direction that Rex was pointing at. "Who goes there?" I asked. No one answered back.

"I guess now one is here." I said. Walking back to camp.

"Was there something there?" Asked Rex.

"I looked around and saw nothing, so I do not know." I said.

"I see. Well, for right now, I should not worry about it." Said, Rex.

Then, the rest of the group came back to the camp.

"We got food for the night." Said one soldier.

"Looks good. Let's dig in." Said, Rex.

That night

"Get up," Arc told Rex, using a short and direct command.

"Could you tell me why? What is going on?" Asked Rex.

"I think we are under attack." I said.

"I am up." Said, Rex. Looked out of the tent, and what he saw was fire everywhere.

" Who is attacking us?" Asked Rex.

"I don't know. The way that they attack is weird." I said.

"Weird how?" Asked Rex.

"It is like they want us off this continent." I said.

"Yes, that is weird." Said, Rex. "

Ok here. You take one group of five and I will take the other." I said "Also here." Arc hands some sort of flammable material to Rex.

"What is this for?" Said, Rex.

"To tell the others where you are," I said.

"Wouldn't also tell the creatures on this continent where you are too?" Asked Rex. Taking one bundle.

"Thanks, I think." Said, Rex.

"Don't mention it. Now let us find Iris." I said. Rex went one way with five troops. I went another way.

"Sir look." One soldier pointed to a tower.

"What is a tower doing way out here?" I said.

"Don't know, but shouldn't we tell Rex where we are?" Said the soldier. "Send the signal." I said.

"Right." Said the soldier. Taking the tinder and lighting it up.

"Sir look." One soldier with Rex pointed to the smoke.

"Looks like Arc and his group found something. Let's move to the smoke." Said, Rex. Rex met up with the rest of us.

"What did you find?" Asked Rex.

"Look." I said. Pointing to a tower.

"What the!! Could you tell me why is there a tower in the middle of nowhere?" Said, Rex.

"I don't know. That is why I sent a scout to see what is going on," I said. "I see, so now we wait." Said, Rex.

"Yep. The waiting game," I said.

"Sir, there is just one person in the tower." Said the soldier.

"Is there anything around the tower?" I said.

"Not that I saw sir," Said the soldier.

"Ok. Get some rest. You earned it," I said.

"So there Is no one around the tower." Said, Rex.

"Yep. That is true." I said.

"I say one of us goes up and sees how he is in the tower, and the other one stays out here." Said, Rex.

"I will go." I said.

"Then I will stay down here." Said, Rex. Arc left and started the climb of the tower. Will Rex looked around to see if anyone was lurking around in the shadows.

"I made it. I am at the top of the tower." I said. Looking around, he saw Iris sitting there.

"Come over here Iris." I said. Looking up.

"Arc, you are here." Said Iris. She got up and ran to him.

"Let us go back to your father." I said.

"Ok let us go." Said Iris. We made it down, told Rex, and then went back to camp. Took the tents down and got into the boats and left. Little did we know dark forces will make their way to our continent sooner or later.

"Arc and you ok?' Asked Iris.

"Yes, I am glad that you are safe." I said.

"Hey, Arc it is getting late. Could you tell me why don't we go to sleep?" Said Iris.

"That is an idea." I said.

That night

Knock Knock

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It is Rex. May I come in?" Asked Rex.

"Yes, you can come in. What is the matter?" I asked.

"Well, it is about the undead continent. I had an eerie feeling that we were being watched." Said, Rex.

"I see. So we will be on the lookout for something?" I asked.

"That is the thing I don't know what or who to look out for." Said, Rex. "That makes things challenging," I said.

"Yes, it does. That said, now, I don't know what to do." Said, Rex.

"Right now, the only thing you can do." I said.

"Which is?" Asked Rex.

"Keep an eye out for it." I said.

"That makes sense I think." Said, Rex.

"Well, good night. See you in the morning." I said.

"See you in the morning." Said, Rex.

In the Morning

"That was a sleep." Said Iris.

"Yes indeed. Now let us see what Rex is up to." I said.

"Ah. You two are up. How was your sleep?' Asked Rex.

"Good, but what was with that thing you told me about?" I said.

"O, h that. Well, I can't talk about that right now." Said, Rex. Walking off in the other direction.

"That was weird. What was that about?" Asked Iris.

"Something that is not good," I said.

"Like what?" Asked Iris.

'Well, I don't know what. All I know is that something sinister is coming soon." I said.

"I see." Said Iris.

"land ho," Said one sailor.

'Well, it is time to disembark." Said, Rex. We looked out and saw Iris's father coming down to greet us.

"Iris, you are back. Come here and hug me." Said, Wern. They hugged each other.

"Thank you, Rex and Arc, for bringing back my daughter." Said, Wern.

"You are welcome." Said, Rex. He then left to go to the castle to report to the queen, about what had transpired.

"So, how are you two doing?" Asked Wern.

"Goo, d a little shaken hooked up right now." Said Iris.

"That is ok. You are safe now." I said.

"I have to go to the castle, too. Do you think you can watch over Iris for me?" Said, Wern. Wern leaves.

"So, where do you want to go?" I asked.

"I want to see the children." Said Iris.

"Ok let us go see them. I think they are with Alice and Grace right now," I said.

"Oh, you are back. It is good to see you again." Said, Alice.

"Where are the twins?" I asked.

"In the living room with Grace at the moment." Said, Alice.

"Alice, who is there?" Asked Grace.

"It is Arc and Iris." Said, Alice.

"Oh. Bring them in." Said Grace. Alice brought Arc and Iris to the living room.

"You to have gotten so big." Said Iris. the twins walk/crawl to Iris. "Momma, Dada. "Both of them said to us.