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Down through history there has been many stories of heroes and the weapons of power. Thor with his Warhammer Mjölnir, the sword of Aries and Mars, Attila the Hun’s sword, and King Author’s Excalibur. These are but a few legends. Yet for every one of these legends there are two legendary weapons lost to time. Among those lost weapons are the few whose power comes with a cost. They are the cursed weapons of power. Each curse is unique to the weapon. The Black sword is but one such weapon of great power. This is the story of the weapon and its newest welder.

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Chapter 9
Somewhere on the Northern end of Avalon.

The twenty-five year old young woman stroud easily through the woods heading north hoping to find cavillation or the seashore. She knew that her best chance for finding help would be along the shoreline or near a river’s mouth. Over the last several weeks she had yet to figure out where she was or how she got here. One minute she was standing next to the restoration room’s main computer server. The next minute she was deep in the heart of a forested mountain range with nothing more than the clothes on her back surrounded by elves. Later that night Lisa used the one thing she never went anywhere without to escape.

It was 7in folding hunting knife that had been a graduation present from her father. She first used the knife to cut the ropes binding her hand and feet. She then used the knife to kill her guards. Lisa was like a lot of Native American maidens. She learned how to use a knife back home on the Shoshone reservation. If she had too she would kill to defend herself. After making sure she had escaped from the elves by putting as much distance as possible between them and her. Lisa got down to the business of surveying in this strange world.

For the first time in her life Lisa was thankful for her father’s demands that she the traditional tribal ways of the Shoshone. She might have started off with nothing more than a 7in folding hunting knife but with hard work, some skill, a lot of patience, and a little luck she had been able to feed herself and cloth herself. The first thing Lisa did was to start a fire using her Buck knife and a piece of flint she found. From there she used her knife to cut down a sapling tree to make a spear. The point of that spear she hardened in the fire. Once she had hardened that spear point Lisa killed her first rabbit. She quickly gutted and skinned that rabbit with her knife. Lisa followed the traditions of her tribe and used every piece of the rabbit to survive this strange place.

On the 10th day Lisa found an aspen tree. After selecting a good branch, she carved a bow. By 14th day she had fashioned her bow and seven arrows. She used the feathers from an owl for the arrow flights and shaped flint for the arrowheads. To make the bowstring she used the leg tendons from the rabbits she had killed. She used her bow to kill her a small buck on her 17th day in the woods. After skinning and butchering the deer. Lisa spent the next day scrapping and tanning the deer hide. She used strips of deer hide and branches to fashion a crude backpack. Lisa’s wilderness skills might have been rusty when she first arrived in this unspoiled land, but she quickly recalled them. Her returning wilderness skills weren’t the only thing that Lisa noticed returning.

Her once pale yellow skin had turned a deep copper. Her once shoulder length dark brown hair had turned midnight black and now reached the middle of her back. Once she paid attention to the changes in her body. It didn’t take Lisa long to realize that she wasn’t in the world of her birth. At first she thought it was the change in her diet that was causing the changes. But when her father’s Native American heritage started to really show. Lisa knew that there was more going on than just a change in diet would account for no matter how radical a change.

During the fourth or fifth week in this strange place Lisa that started losing track of the time. Then one day she remembered a talk she had with her grandfather. ‘In the time before the White Eyes the People never watched a clock or counted the days. We marked time by the changing of the seasons. Remember Small Dove, that the days grow long and short never staying the same. Only the seasons remain. The wind doesn’t always blow. The rain doesn’t not always fall. But the seasons always change. This is how we keep track of time.’

She spent her days living off the land the way her ancestors had. She never killed more than she could eat or use. She would spend her mornings hunting as she traveled. In the afternoon she would spend her time butchering her latest kill or tanning the hides. She used everything from the animals she killed. After four deer she had enough hides to make herself a whole buckskin wardrobe. She made everything she thought she could need, a pair of leggings, tunic, knee-high moccasins, coat, gloves. She even fashioned a pair of braid sheaths for her hair. If her grandparents saw her now they would only smile at her finally embracing her Shoshone heritage.

The sounds of waves crashing against rocks drew her attention from the path before her. “Heavy surf. Not good. I’ll have to hunt more before winter gets here. I was hoping to at least snag some fish before the first frost.”

“I am surprised human. I thought that you would have preferred to hunt.” The female voice had Lisa spinning around bring her spear to the on-guard position. Standing on top of a fallen tree no more than ten feet away was a woman in a simple yellow dress. She gave Lisa a small curtsy then waited patiently for her reply. Pink hair in this day and age isn't an issue but the fact that she stood only about a foot tall was a dead giveaway she possibly wasn't human. “I have been watching you from the moment you first appeared in my Grove. You are a strange one for your race.”

“How so?” Lisa asked the Pixie as she lowered her spear. She knew that her ancestors had another name for the creatures but couldn’t remember the word just then.

“You only take what you need to survive from the land. You’re thankful for what you do take. You are not greedy. You don’t kill unless you have to. Even then you have gone out of your way to avoid fighting. You took to the trees when faced with the Dire Wolves and Blood Bears. You could easily killed either with that strange bow of yours. Yet you chose to let them be. Even when the Cobalt’s came near your camp you only drove them off. Letting them take their wounded. You only use your magic to create the things you need to survive from the animals that you kill. You have the smell of the Land about you and your magic. Yet you are not a wood elf. You dress as one of the barbarians, yet you do not have their appearance or speech.” The Pixie answered Lisa with honest confusion. “Who are you?”

“I am Lisa Small Dove of the Shoshone.” Was all Lisa could think to say just then. In all of her years she never thought that she would be having a conversation with a pixie. “I have been living the way my people have lived for centuries. We only take what we need and thank the spirits of the land for offering up its bounty.”

“I welcome you to Avalon, Lisa Small Dove of the Shoshone. I am called Cherec.” The pink haired pixie told Lisa as she flutter her wings and took flight. The pixie flew very close to Lisa and sniffed her hair. “That’s strange you have the same smell as the humans who accompany the dragonkin Empress.”

“Excuse me, but did you say that smell the same there are humans accompanying a dragonkin Empress?” Lisa asked in shock. Could they be her friends Mike and Tony.

“Yes. Why? Is that important?” The pixie asked smiling hoping to help this wild woman of the Shoshone. She could tell that Lisa had real power within her.

“I think that I was brought here from my world with at least seven other humans. How many humans did you see with this dragonkin Empress?” Lisa asked Cherec.

“I saw only three with her. All young men. They came from the direction of Avalon City. They travel towards the northern edge of the island. The trail they’re on will end at the Grand Shore Beach. It is on the other side of the Dreaming City.” Cherec told Lisa with a bright smile as she land on her left shoulder.

“I take it that you want to come with me.” Lisa chuckled as the pixie took a seat smiling. “Okay little one. You can come with me. Besides right now I could use a guide. From the sounds of things. The shoreline up ahead is extremely rocky.”

“Oh, you mean the Emerald Coast.” Cherec giggled. “Yes you could say that area is rocky. It is made of giant green crystals. Some of them are a dragon’s tail tall.”

This peeked Lisa curiosity in more ways than one. With a smile she continued on through the forest until she reached the edge. There she found a cliff face at the bottom of which stood the massive green crystals. Lisa could tell that the biggest of them were over twelve meters tall. She could also tell that the crystals weren’t emeralds in the truest definition of the word. Only she needed proof to confirm her suspicions. Looking around she spotted most small green crystals near the cliff edge. Being careful as she picked one up Lisa smiled.

“Gaia Stone.” Lisa chuckled. “Thousands of tons of worthless green volcanic glass.”

“They’re not worthless. They’re very pretty and useful pieces of glass.” Cherec pouted as she sat on Lisa’s left shoulder.

“You’re right Cherec. This type of volcanic glass can be used for many things. Just not to buy things in the human world.” Lisa told the pixie. “I just wish I had the tools to work some of this glass. It would make fantastic arrowheads, or some very beautiful jewelry. With a large enough piece, I could make a knife or even a sword.”

“It is really that strong?” Cherec asked excitedly as she fluttered off Lisa’s shoulder to pear over the cliff’s edge.

“This type of volcanic glass is. Only obsidian glass is even stronger.” Lisa told the excited pixie. Then explained further at her confused look. “It is black in color. Very hard and can only be shaped by using special tools.”

“I could get you a bigger piece of the green crystal.” Cherec told hoping to see Lisa work the pretty glass rock in something useful.

“Thank you for the offer Cherec.” Lisa told her kindly as she picked up several more small, medium, sized pieces and one large piece of the nearby Gaia stone before putting the small pieces into a pouch on her hip. The medium and one large piece she wrapped in hide before placing it in her backpack. “But I don’t have the right tools to work the glass into something useful. Right now, anyway.”

“Then what are you going to do with those pieces of glass?” The pixie asked.

“You’ll see.” Lisa giggled as she turned back towards the woods. “Is there a way down from this cliffside Cherec?”

“There is an old selkie trail about forty paces into the woods in that direction.” Cherec said as she pointed in the direction of the trail. “It leads down from here to the other side of the point to a really long and sandy beach.”

“That sounds like the place I need to be.” Lisa grinned and started walking.

“You need to be careful if you’re going down there, Lisa.” Cherec warned her.

“Why?” Lisa asked her quickly but keep walking.

“The selkie are part of the Unseelie courts. They do not take kindly to humans trespassing on their land.” Cherec told her bluntly.

“I have no desire to anger the selkie or Unseelie courts spirit.” Lisa told her bluntly as she worked way over the hidden trail. Once Lisa found the trail though she stopped cold. Kneeling down Lisa examined the area closely. “No one has used this trail in years Cherec. It might not be usable all the way down.”

“How can you tell?” Cherec asked as she fluttered down to hover over the grass covered dirt of the trail. “It looks usable to me.”

“It might be up here Cherec, but the further down we go I bet we’ll find a landslide blocking the path.” Lisa told her as she stood up. “Somewhere close to the cliff face is my bet. It happens all the time back home.”

“Is that where mountainside moves?” Cherec asked as she land on Lisa’s left shoulder.

“Yes it is. Back home we need heavy equipment to move clear the debris sometimes.” Lisa told her then went on to explain what she meant. “Those are huge machines.”

“Your world must be filled with great marvels of construction if you use these machines. Though I doubt any of them will compare to the Dreaming City.” Cherec giggled as she sat down to ride Lisa’s shoulder.

“Why do you say that Cherec? What is so special about this Dreaming City?” Lisa asked her as she worked her way along unused trail.

“It was built using magic. It is a harbor city protected from the sea by a great maze. The city itself is one of tall towers that scintillate with many different colors in the light of the sun. It was once a truly beautiful and terrifying place.” As Cherec described the city they were headed for something about the description tugged at the back of Lisa’s memory.

Like all of the Professors Pendragons’ students Lisa was picked for her study of medieval legends. Her specialty was in Native American legends, but she had also studied the Arthurian legends. She would often compare the legends of her people to the legends of other nations with Mike and Tony. It was one of their favorite topics over lunch or drinks after work. There was one legend to all of their mutual surprise that crossed all cultural and geographical boundaries.

The legend was of a great island empire and its capital city. One of the most obscure legends to the Native Americans talked about this empire and its city. According to the legend it ruled the world between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, it was an age undreamed of. An age filled with magic. It was this legend that drew Lisa into studying archeology, and the myths that surround certain cities.

“Cherec does this Dreaming City have an actual name?” Lisa asked her tiny companion.

“You mean like how the City of Ancients is really Angelward, and the Mystic City is Frosthorn?” Cherec asked Lisa happily.

“Exactly like that. Does the Dreaming City have such a name?” Lisa asked her.

“I don’t know. The Aos Sídhe Queens have forbidden the use of any other name for the city. I doubt that any Daoine Uaisle' would know the true name of the Dreaming City.” Cherec told Lisa thoughtfully.

“Why would these Aos Sídhe Queens care if people know the real name for the Dreaming City?” Lisa asked her tiny companion.

“The Dreaming City was home to the Dragonkin. Their power was unmatched by even the most powerful of the Aingil Anúabhair Queens. All of the Aos Sídhe both light and dark were the playthings of the Dragonkin. We have hated the Dragonkin for as long as can remember. When the Dragonkin disappeared all the Aos Sídhe rejoiced. Especially the Aingil Anúabhair because they were finally on top. The first thing the Grand Queen did was to declare the true name of the Dreaming City taboo.” Cherec told her honestly as Lisa worked her way down the trail. “The second thing the Grand Queen decreed. All surviving dragonkin and humans were to be ejected from the north end of Avalon island without question.”

“Is that why those elves attacked me?” Lisa asked her.

“Most likely. Though dark elves have been known to raid the human villages near the foothills on the far side of the Mist covered mountains. Queen Amisra Ianra of the Dark Aos Sídhe loves her human slaves.” Cherec told Lisa with a small giggle. “You would have fetched a hansom price in the Angelward slave markets.”

“What about now?” Lisa asked with some worry.

“Now you would be more trouble than your worth on the block.” Cherec answered honestly. “Barbarians are not considered human by the Aos Sídhe.”

“So, I’m a barbarian now?” Lisa asked with a smirk.

“In many ways Lisa Small Dove. The most important way though is how you treat the land around you. That alone would mark you as a barbarian in the eyes of the Grand Queen.” The pixie snorted. “Beware my new friend. Even among the humans on the other side of the mountains barbarians are considered subhuman.”

“It won’t be the first time my people were considered less than human. Even in my home world by other supposed humans.” Lisa snorted then chuckled. “Though there have been strides to change that attitude among people.”

“Lisa most humans new to this world become upset. They scream why them and try to find a way back home. You haven’t done any of these things. Why?” Cherec asked.

“For some reason I know that there is no going home for me. There is a prayer about not being able to change things and acceptance. I learned it during a dark time in my life. It goes like this. Great Spirit grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change; the courage to change the things that I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” Lisa told her as they walked. “Though I did change it a little bit to fit my personal point of view on life. Great Spirit grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change; the courage to change the things that I can; and the wisdom to hide the bodies of my enemies.”

“Oh, I like that the second way much better.” Cherec giggled before she jumped to her feet and took flight. “Wait here!”

Not knowing what was going with her little friend Lisa moved into the woods to wait. After twenty minutes the pixie finally returned. “Lisa?”

“I’m right here Cherec. Why did you fly off like that?” Lisa asked as she stood up.

“There was a marsh bear on the trail up head. I didn’t want you to have to fight him. They might be slow and stupid but they’re big. Not to mention deadly in a fight.” Cherec told her as Lisa stepped back onto the trail.

“Is it safe to continue on the trail?” Lisa asked her.

“It should be. He left the trail after I asked him politely. Bog bears only become unreasonable when you try to take away their honey.” Cherec told her with a giggle.

“I’ll try to remember that.” Lisa chuckled as she returned to the trail. For the next four hours the two new friends slowly made their way down the abandoned trail. Cherec talk with Lisa about the island she now found herself on. Then came the one thing that Lisa was hoping they would not find. “Damn. It looks like over half the mountain face broke off all at once. It must have been one hell of an earthquake to cause this massive of a landslide.”

“Is this what you were talking about earlier Lisa?” Cherec asked her.

“Yup. Looks like it’s time to head in land for about two to three hundred meters before we start heading back down.” Lisa told her as she turned toward the tree line. Cherec flapped her wings and flew ahead of her. Just as Lisa predicted after 285 meters Lisa found the end of where the landslide had started. For the next 865 meters Lisa followed along the edge of the slide zone before finding the trail once more. Once they were back on the trail Lisa found that she could now see the deserted city of Imrryr. The sight of the towers glinting in the late afternoon sunlight took her breath away. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It has always been this way. No matter the storms or earth termers that strike the Dreaming City. It remains the same. It is truly a city locked in time.” Cherec told her as she floated back down to rest on Lisa’s shoulder. “Not even the magic of the Grand Queens has been able to damage the city walls.”

“Is there a way in?” Lisa asked her.

“There are two. If we had a boat we could go through the Great Sea Maze. The only other way in is through the Dragon Spine mountains before turning north towards the cliffside Imrryr. There you’ll find a single road that leads towards the rear gate of the city. If you manage to get that far you’ll face the Guardian. A sixty-foot tall Golem.” Cherec told Lisa bluntly.

“If we had a canoe could you lead me through the Great Sea Maze?” Lisa asked Cherec with a small smile as she fingered a double fist size of Gia Stone.

“If a canoe is some kind of boat. Then yes I can lead you through the maze.” Cherec told Lisa in confusion. “Why?”

“Because there is a downed fur-tree not too far back from the shoreline that will make a great one-man canoe.” Lisa told her as she headed for the fallen tree trunk. As she walked along the tree line she hunted for a suitable branch to make a handle for her Gia Stone. It didn’t take her long to find what she needed. Pulling a strip of tanned hide from her backpack Lisa began to sing a song that her father taught her as a child. Whenever she worked with her hands Lisa would often sing or hum the song to help her concentrate on her task. What she didn’t realize as she sang the song that she was working magic.

“By the all Gods! You’re an Elemental Shaman!” Cherec sang out in surprise as she took flight once more. “No wonder you can craft things so quickly and easily. You are no barbarian but an actual part of the land.”

“I’m a what?” Lisa asked as she stopped singing.

“I said that you’re an Elemental Shaman. It is little wonder that you and your magic have smell of the Land. You instinctively use crafting magic to make the things you need to survive. You used it to make your spear, then your bow and arrows. You used it to tan all those hides.” Cherec told Lisa happily. “Even now you’re working Elemental magic as you make your ax. Look at the edge of the Gia Stone. See how sharp it has gotten.”

“Damn. Is that why I’ve been able to make everything so quickly?” Lisa asked in disbelief. Cherec just nodded her head smiling. “And here I thought it was because of something else. Something that was occurring naturally. Not because of something I was doing. Oh well. Whatever it is I think I’ll keep doing it.”

With that Lisa returned to her work on the hand ax and began to sing once more. As she sang she kept her eyes on the edge of the Gia Stone. With each rap of the leather strip the edge glowed and became sharper. Now that she knew exactly what she was doing Lisa focused her magic. The head of the ax quickly took on a more refined shape. When she finally tied of the leather strap the stone had become razor sharp and was shaped like a true ax. The head wasn’t the only thing affected by her magic. Her improvised handle also took on a more refined shape. By the time she was done. She held a tomahawk that her grandfather’s grandfather would have been proud to own as he road across the plans.

As she approached the fallen fir tree Lisa took a deep breath. Now that she understood that when she sang she worked magic Lisa picked a deferent song. One that she knew would shape the magic to her will. With the first swing of her tomahawk Lisa knew that she had chosen the correct song.

“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called 'Gitchee Gumee'
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty.
That good ship and crew was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early.”

As she began to sing the green crystal tomahawk head began to glow with a deep emerald, green light. With the first strike of her tomahawk the tree trunk split neatly in half. Lisa moved about ten feet down the length of the two halves. There she took her second swing cleaving the trunk in two. With her third strike she began to carve out the inside of her canoe. As she worked she continued to sing.

“The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well-seasoned.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?

By the time she had finished the second verse Lisa had fallen into a trance like state. With every blow of the tomahawk the inside of the canoe took shape. Lisa should have gotten tired by this point. Yet the fatigue and pain of swing the hand ax against the seasoned hard wood did not come.

“The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too,
T'was the witch of November come stealin'.

By the end of the second verse Lisa had the inside of the canoe basically carved out. Now she only needed to do the finish work. Lisa spun her tomahawk in her hand. Starting at the bow she drew the blade along the inside edge of the gunwale.

“The dawn came late, and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin'.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'.
Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya.
At seven p.m. a main hatchway caved in, he said
Fellas, it's been good t'know ya.”

As she finished the third verse Lisa had completed her work on the inside of the canoe. She continued to sing as she set aside her tomahawk to flip the canoe over. As she sang Lisa felt a rush of energy that refreshed her strength and sprit.

“The captain wired in he had water comin' in
And the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

With the canoe now upside down Lisa recovered her tomahawk. Instead of swinging full force Lisa used her ax as a carving blade. She started at the bow and worked her way to the stern quickly debarking the tree trunk.

“Does anyone know where the love of god goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searches all say they'd have made whitefish bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized.
May have broke deep and took water.
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.”

By the end of the verse Lisa had the overall shape of the haul completed. She knew that with each stroke of her tomahawk she had to be careful to not remove too much wood. She knew that the carving of a dugout canoe was more art than brute force.

“Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion.
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams;
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below lake Ontario
Takes in what lake Erie can send her,
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed,
In the maritime sailors' cathedral.
The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call 'Gitchee Gumee'.
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early!”

As she finished the song Lisa felt the trance left. Stepping back Lisa looked down at the finished canoe. She was surprised that the finished product could very well have been produced by machines. When finally noticed the carved paddle Lisa voiced her shock at what she had done. “Oh shit.”

“I must say Lisa. That was amazing. In all of my two-thousand year of life. I have never witness an Elemental Shaman work such a spell of crafting. It was amazing to behold. The magic seemed to flow from to the ax. Then into the wood of your boat.” Cherec was amazed at how easily Lisa had carved the small boat and paddle. Cherec knew that Elemental Shamans were capable of great works of magic, but to see one actually work their crafting magic was a once in a lifetime treat. “Have you ever worked a forge, Lady Lisa?”

“Nope. Never had the pleasure of working with metal.” Lisa told her honestly as the thought of actually working a forge intrigued her. Reaching down Lisa grabbed the bow of the boat and drug it towards the surf. Looking over at Cherec she smiled. “Are you coming or are you just going to float there?”

“I’m just going to float here. Not because I won’t led you through the maze but because of the time. It is near sundown. It would be best to leave just after sunup. That way when we reach the first entrance the sun will be just before noon. It’s not safe to travel through the maze at night.” Cherec told her honestly.

“Okay. We’ll make camp up here by the tree line.” With that Lisa set the bow of her canoe down along with her backpack. Within moments Lisa was gathering up pieces of wood for a small fire. As she worked to setup her camp Cherec flew around watching her every move. Over the last few weeks, the pixie had become festinated by the strange woman who had appeared in a bolt of lightning in the middle of her Grove.

She had watched from the treetops as Lisa was captured by a band of roaming Frost Elves only to escape them later that night. Cherec was amazed by how Lisa had started off in this world with nothing more than a simple knife. Yet that knife had allowed the human woman to feed and clothe herself. It wasn’t until she got an up close look at Lisa working magic did she realize who and what this strange woman was an Elemental Shaman. Even now as she watched Lisa, Cherec was amazed by the human. In just a short time Lisa had built a small campfire and was cooking dinner. When the sun finally set, and night came Lisa curled up next to the fire. Within moments she was fast asleep.

Through the night Cherec stood watch over the sleeping human. Shortly before sunrise Lisa woke to a full bladder. After a light breakfast she put out her fire and packed away her camping gear. Without a word all morning long Lisa placed her backpack, bow, and spear into the canoe. Grabbing the bow of her canoe Lisa dragged it to the waterline. Cherec had gotten used to Lisa not talking during the first few hours after waking. Cherec quickly flew to land on the bow of the canoe as Lisa paddled out through the light surf.

An hour and twenty minutes later the pair were starting to round the outer edge of Imrryr’s Great Sea Maze. As Cherec guided Lisa towards the second entrance Lisa’s wonder grew. At first she thought the maze was built into the cliff face. That was until she saw the top of the wall suddenly level off at about 50ft up from the sea’s surface. It didn’t take her long to spot the completely smoothed surface of the outer walls. Lisa knew that these walls were not made by the hand of man.

“Whoever built this place were true masters of the Alchemistic and Elemental Arts.” Lisa breathed out as she rowed towards the entrance.

“The Dragonkin were said to be true masters of all the mystical arts. Especially those concerning the elements.” Cherec told her brightly. “According to the legends of my people. The Dragonkin who built this maze in an act of Great Alchemy that lasted for six days and five nights. It is said that he gave up his life to build this maze. Oh, you want to stay in the middle of the channel.”

“Why?” Lisa asked her.

“Because of the great rock eels. Over the last few centuries, they have borrowed into the sides of the channels. One of them could snap this small boat in half. They are meat eaters and very efficient hunters.” Cherec warned Lisa as they approached the entrance to the maze.

“Are there any other dangers that I should know of?” Lisa asked her.

“During the time of the Dragonkin I would warn you about their great Battle Barges, and other defenses. But they’re gone now, and no one is here to manned those.” Cherec told her as they passed under a massive sea gate made of stone.

“Thanks for the warning. We should still be careful of deadfalls and other unseen traps. I doubt these Dragonkin relied solely on manned defensive points for the protection of their city.” Lisa pointed out as she paddled through the passageway.

It took Lisa and Cherec three hours to work their way through the maze. When they finally reached the actual harbor Lisa gasped in surprise over the sight of the ancient city before her. “Cherec whatever happened to the Dragonkin?”

“No one really knows Lisa. They just disappeared after the last Great Reset of Balance. The Story Tellers all say something different. Some say that they died off. Some say they boarded their great battle barges and sailed beyond the mist never to return. Others say that they are in an enchanted sleep deep in the crystal caverns below the city. Down pass the dragon caves.” Cherec told her as she flew back from the bow of the canoe to sit once more on Lisa’s shoulder. “It is like I said. No one really knows what happened to the Dragonkin. All anyone really knows is that the Great Queens of the Aos Sídhe fear the return of the Dragonkin.”

“Why do they fear the Dragonkin return?” Lisa asked the pixie with some worry.

“Because no Daoine Uaisle' can match their mystical power. If what the Story Tellers say is true. They could call upon the very power of the Elemental Kings and Gods.” Cherec told Lisa with a shiver.

“Then let’s hope that wherever they are, they stay there.” Lisa grunted as she paddled towards the nearest shoreline next to the city. Once she was on dry land she grabbed her backpack, and gear. “Come on Cherec. I want to find some place that I can bed down for the night before sunset.”

“You’re not going to explore the city first?” Cherec asked with her head cocked.

“Nope. Rule one of Archeology. NEVER work in the dark if you can avoid it.” Lisa told Cherec bluntly. “If something goes wrong. We can have someplace to hide.”

Hearing this Cherec smiled and relaxed on her human’s left shoulder. To the pixie this was worth leaving her home in the Great Grove.

The Grand Shore Beach, Eastern Gate to Imrryr.

Morgan, led Lee, Mike, and Tony towards one of only two land entrances to Imrryr with some reluctance. Thanks to one of her latest racial memories Morgan knew exactly how many ways there were into the ancient city of the Melnibonéans. Through the Great Sea Maze there was three routes emptied into the harbor. Coming from the landside of the city there were just two. One of which was only accessible at low tide once a day for three hours. Make the Eastern gate both easily defendable and highly dangerous to use under the best of circumstances.

“Slow down Morgan. We got time. Sunset isn’t for another four to five hours.” Mike called out to her as she rode towards the Eastern Gate.

“No, we don’t Mike. The tide has already started to return. We have two and half hours before the beach tunnel becomes flooded and unpassable.” Morgan yelled.

“What do you mean by flooded?” Lee snapped.

“This gate is only usable during the low tide. The rest of the time it is under ten to fifteen feet of water. That is what I mean. Now, fucking ride already.” Morgan snarled as spurred her horse.

“Damn it! Don’t let her get too far ahead of us guys!” Tony ordered and spurred his own horse into a gallop. Unlike Lee, and Mike, Tony knew the dangers of fast changing tide. He had no desire to find out if his horse could swim.

As the foursome passed under the outer opening to the tunnel all three boys looked towards the ceiling. The sight of a massive portcullis made from obsidian volcanic glass caused all three to gasp in more than just surprise. Only Morgan ignored the deadly and power defensive structure. She knew it was there. She also knew that nothing short of a battleship’s main guns could damage that portcullis.

She also knew that the portcullis was only there for show. The real defensive fortifications were further up the cliff face. Hidden from sight there was batteries of ballistae, catapults, trebuchets, bombards, and cannons. Not to mention the thousands of murder holes for crossbows, longbows, gutters and downspouts for boiling oil or water. This entrance also had one defense that none of the others had. Somewhere in the next two-thousand-meters the Gargoyle of Imrryr waited. It stood four-meters tall at the shoulders and made from a single black granite bolder weighing more than fifty tons.

Unlike the Golem that guarded the Eastern Gate. The Gargoyle was a living statue with a will of its own. In the time of Elric, it was known to attack friend and foe alike with equal savagery. Only those of Royal Blood were able to control the beast. If it was still alive it would be her first challenge to her claim for the Melniboné throne. If she could not control the beast. It would attack her first. Then it would go after the guys.

‘Worry not Morgan. You are the rightful Queen of Melniboné. The Gargoyle will sense your power and remain still until our party has passed.’ Hearing Stormbringer’s voice in her head calmed Morgan fears to a point.

“I hope you’re right Strom. Because I doubt that even you could kill that thing.” Morgan snorted as she led the way through the tunnel.

‘You’ll know soon. I can feel its magical signature not too far ahead. I can also feel the Three Royal Seals. Plus, one other magical being. They have a strange feel about them. It is as if they are wrapped by the magic of the land. They feel similar to one of the Great Artificers. Though there is something off about this Artificer. There is no touch of a master about this being.’ Stormbringer told her honestly.

“Whatever. We’ll deal with whoever it is after we’re out of this tunnel. Are you sure that the Royal Seals are somewhere in the city?” Morgan asked her.

‘They are, Morgan. Have no fear of that. The Ring of Kings and Queens Tiara are both still in the Royal Treasury. You will find it in the tallest tower of the Palace.’ Stormbringer informed her kindly. Then gave her a warning. ‘Beware Morgan. The Gargoyle and Golem are not the only guardians of sleeping Imrryr.’

“What else should I look be looking for?” Morgan asked her.

‘The dragons may still sleep, but they will awaken at a moment’s notice. Once awakened they are deadly in the extreme. They are renowned for their anger.’ Stormbringer voice had taken on a slight chuckle as she talked about the dragons of Melniboné. ‘From what I understand humans taste good with a little mustard, garlic, pepper, and olive oil.’

For some reason the image of a dragon slow roasting a human carcass over a Bar-B-Q pit flashed through Morgan’s mind tickling her funny bone. The giggle that escaped her brought looks of confusion from her friends. It also brought one more racial memory flashback. This time the memory was from Elric the 428th Emperor of Melniboné. She now knew exactly where the Gargoyle waited for her and her friends. Along with what and where all of the other defensives were in Imrryr. The full impact of this flashback almost caused Morgan to fall out of her saddle.

“Hey, Morgan. You okay kiddo?” Tony asked her quickly.

“Yah, just dealing with a nasty flashback, Tony.” Morgan told him honestly before feeling the pull of powerful and ancient magic. “Guys you might want to pull back some. We’re about to have company.”

“What’s up Morgan?” Lee asked her as he and the other two men reined in their horses just enough to allow her some space. They had learned over the last few days to give Morgan plenty of room when she asked.

“Let’s just say that I’m about to face the first test to my claim as the next Queen of Melniboné.” Morgan warned them as she waited for the Gargoyle to appear. They didn’t have to wait long. The massive stone creature stepped out of an alcove just twenty feet ahead of them. “Here we go.”

The massive creature sniffed the air as the three young men fought to control their horses. Morgan barely controlled her fear and her horse as the Gargoyle stepped within ten feet of her. It sniffed the air around her again before growling. “You have the stench of humans about you Empress.”

“You smell my servants Guardian. Will you let us pass?” Morgan asked. She could tell that the guys weren’t happy about the servant crack.

“Travel with care young Empress. Imrryr is no longer the Dreaming City of old. She has become a city of the lost.” With its warning given the Gargoyle returned to its alcove. “I may be forced to recognize your claim, but Imrryr may not be as welcoming. Imrryr might be ready for the return of her ancient rulers.”

“Wonder what the hell that means?” Morgan grunted as she spurred her horse. “Come on guys. Let’s get in there, find the Queen’s Tiara and get the fuck out.”

“What about Lisa? Isn’t she supposed to be in there somewhere?” Lee asked her as he and the other two men spurred their horses into a gallop.

“If we find her. We find her. If we don’t, then we don’t. We’re not staying in Imrryr any longer than we have to.” Morgan shouted back over the sounds of the huff beats in the rapidly raising surf. She knew that they had less than twenty minutes before the water would reach the belly of their horses. Once that happened the rock eels would begin to hunt. Unlike the Gargoyle which was made of stone. Their horses would have no nature protection against the predators. “Get a move on guys. We need to clear this tunnel in twenty minutes or less.”

“What happens if we’re not clear of the tunnel?” Mike called out.

“Then we become the newest Blue Plate Special.” She called back. Her smartass warning had the desired affect on the three young men. All three spurred their horses to even greater speeds. Fifteen minutes later with the water just reaching the bellies of the horses the foursome cleared the tunnel. At the exit they found a set of steps craved into the rock face of the outer curtain wall. Morgan waste no time in leading them up the stone steps.

Each step had a tread of twenty-feet, a riser of two-feet, and a width of fifty-feet. More than large enough to hold a horse comfortably. As she road up the stairs Morgan realized that the size of the steps was made for horses. She could lead a whole Calvary troop up or down these steps with ease. Once they reached the top of the stairs Morgan and the guys were finally able to see the city of Imrryr.

It took Mike all of ten-seconds to put their feelings into words. “Beauty matched only by the backdrop of pristine skies. Imrryr the Beautiful.”

“Don’t let her beauty fool Mike. Within these outer walls many great and horrible deeds were done. There is a reason they called Imrryr the Dreaming City.” Morgan sighed as she looked upon the ancient city of her race. “She derives that nickname.”

Mike, Lee, and Tony all looked toward Morgan at the same time with real worry. Her voice had taken on a wistful and dreamlike quality. They had seen something like this happen before. Right before she was taken over by some ancient king or queen. this time was no different.

“Many of the ancient Melnibonéans were addicts. From nobles to slaves, many had active dream lives, enhanced by certain plants and drugs. It is in their dreams, both magnificent and monstrous, that the ancients found their greatest pleasures. Trust me my friends. The ghosts of the past still plague this city of towers and magic.” Morgan sighed before shacking her head. “Damn it. At least he didn’t stick around to be a pain in the ass.”

“Who?” Tony asked her.

“The Last Emperor of Melniboné.” Morgan sighed as she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. “The same asshole that could be my father. If I had been born before the last Great Battle between Law and Chaos. Elric of Melniboné, the Albino Emperor, Elric Woman slayer, Elric Kin slayer, the Pale Prince of Ruins, the White Wolf, and many other names. The four-hundred-and-twenty-eighth and final emperor of Melniboné. The last incarnation of the Eternal Champion. The last unfortunate asshole before me to be symbiotically bound to the rune sword Stormbringer.”

“Why do you say it like Morgan?” Tony asked her kindly.

“Because only the most unfortunate of assholes get bound to this cursed blade.” Morgan sighed. “The power that Stormbringer bestows comes at a cost.”

-----tbc-----