Chapter 4: Pelenecki

Kawn and his entourage reach the town of Pelenecki. Kawn gets some bad news from home and changes what he is supposed to do. Will he continue on his quest?

 

            The Renduits reached Pelenecki after three days of traveling in the woods looking for clues of what maybe lying ahead. Pelenecki turned out to be a sparsely populated hamlet composed of thatch-roofed huts. The poverty of the hamlet was shown by the scarce, infrequent garb on its inhabitants and their thin, gaunt faces.

            “Welcome to the humble town of Pelenecki. I am Tyrovian. I am the leader of these people. The title humble was given to our town by the Lord of Effreti himself.” said the tall, old man withered by age and the long streak of poverty in the hamlet.

            “We wish to acquire a room for the night.” said Kawn as he shook the hand of the skeleton like man.

            “What is your name young man?” inquired Tyrovian.

            “I am Kawn Renduit of Ramadaggan and these are my brothers Raglan, Ramblan, Dofert, Tozack, Taran and Roabla Elfgood, who is Amon the Wizard's apprentice.” said Kawn.

            “Come this way. You may stay in my hut.” as the old man motioned for them to follow. “What is your purpose here?” inquired Tyrovian as he led them to a large hut that was much like the others except for its size.

            “We are in search of the Scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus and this was on the way there.” said Kawn.

            “Enter quickly!” said Tyrovian as he opened the door. They quickly entered and seated themselves around the bare table that lay inside.

            “Why did you hurry us in here?” inquired Kawn.

            “So I could tell you about what you will face and what has happened to those who tried. The wielder of the scepter that so many have sought through the years was the great Lord of Effreti. Some have returned unable to talk about what they saw and others never returned. They say the Lord of Effreti himself judges those who come for his scepter. He judges them by their heart, pureness of their soul and by their wisdom. A long time ago he gave me a wooden box that contained a stick with intricate runes carved into its surface. A scroll accompanied it that contained the instructions, but there is a disadvantage. They also are written in runes. They are the runes of the pure hearted, which means you have to possess a pure heart to be able to read and understand the directions. Many have tried and have failed. Would you like to try it?” said Tyrovian.

            “Yes!” replied Kawn as they heard a knock at the door.

            “Who is it?” inquired Tyrovian.

            “Bio, with an urgent message for Kawn.” said the voice from behind the tortoise shell door.

            “Come in and deliver your message Bio.” replied Tyrovian.

            “Kawn, your wife was killed in a recent raid from the north by the Dyjnni forces. She was decapitated and died instantly. I am sorry you had to find out this way. Here is the crystal necklace we found with her remains to show what I say it true.” said Bio. He handed Kawn the Crystal of the Guardian and then started back toward the door.

            “What!? The Dyjnni have been gone for over two thousand years!!” exclaimed Kawn in anger.

            “We thought so too until they woke up the night you left and attacked the following morning.” said Bio. “I must return for I fear for the worst. The city may already be destroyed. Continue on your quest and return once it is complete. Those are the orders of the Dragon Lord.”

            “This indeed is depressing news.” said Kawn as he escorted him out of the hut. He saw Bio off and then ran into the woods of the Blood Forest to grieve for his beloved wife. He sat on a stump that was in the middle of a glen and started sobbing. While he was sobbing about the loss of his wife he was interrupted by a girl who came out of nowhere and comforted him. “What is your name?” he managed to utter between sobs.

            “My name is Tolea.” she replied as she gave him another hug and patted him on the back.

            “My name is Kawn.” said Kawn as he looked at her. She was a beautiful girl who looked to be only two summers younger that he was. “Where do you live Tolea?” he inquired as he pulled himself together and stood up.

            “Here.” she replied.

            “Here?! Where is here?” inquired Kawn with confusion.

            “Here. Where you sit is my home.” said Tolea sarcastically not knowing that he was not from this area.

            “This is no place for a young woman such as you to be living. Will you accompany me on my journey?” asked Kawn as he took her by the hand.

            “Yes. I will accompany you as long as I can.” replied Tolea thinking that he meant to Pelenecki. They sat and conversed for two hours when they finally decided to head towards town. They wander through the forest, which was like a journey to her. They finally reached Tyrovian's house later in the night.

            “Are you leaving?” asked Kawn as he approached Tyrovian.

            “Yes. I have pressing business mattes to attend to elsewhere. Even a poor village as this requires much work to keep it going. Your brothers are all sleeping inside. There will be a small meal set out for you in the morning when you awaken.” said Tyrovian as he pulled up his hood and drew his cloak tightly around him and started off towards town. “hat night Tolea lay next to Kawn to comfort him through the night. As the rays of the sun peaked through the window frame, Kawn awoke to find that Tolea had left before morning. He sat up and consumed his meal. Tyrovian entered the hut and Kawn swallowed a bite of food to prepare to talk to him.

            “What is your need for today?” asked Tyrovian as Kawn started to talk.

            “Where is Tolea?” inquired Kawn.

            “Tolea who?” questioned Tyrovian.

            “The girl with whom I returned to your hut with last night.” said Kawn spitefully.

            “I beg your pardon Kawn, but you were alone last night.” said Tyrovian.

            “I am telling you Tyrovian. I was with a girl last night. I met her in the woods. Now quit pulling my leg where she is.” said Kawn like he was fed up with the whole thing already.

            “The woods? Ahhh, that explains it. Long ago a girl named Tolea Burrfoot was slain in the woods as a sacrifice to a demon. Now her spirit dwells in that location awaiting a person of great courage to bring her back with the Power of Tyr.” said Tyrovian.

            “Power of Tyr? I want to know more about this Power of Tyr. What does it do? How do to use it?” inquired Kawn.

            “To obtain the Power of Tyr you must behold the Sword of the Valkyrie, Dryvinnyu, in the last light of day. Crows will flock around the bearer of the sword bringing forth the dead to the sight of the living. Simply thrust the Sword of the Valkyrie into the dead of whom you wish to revive. Once that is done, drawn some of your own blood and drip it into the wound you marked upon them. Only after this will they be able to return among the living. Rumor has it after the Lord of Effreti hid a chalice that gave him and his wife eternal life after he was revived by his wife using the Power of Tyr. Only a drink from the chalice will allow you and her to remain together forever. That is the Power of Tyr.” said Tyrovian.

            “The Sword of the Valkyrie… Inform my brothers it is my will for them to stay here until I give them word to return to Ramadaggan. This is my will and let it be known to them. Thank you for this box and for your help Tyrovian.” said Kawn solemnly.

            “Good journey.” said Tyrovian as he walked Kawn out of the hut. Kawn entered the Blood Forest and awaited dusk. It grew colder and windier as dusk crept up from the east. Kawn drew Dryvinnyu from its scabbard and held it high above his head. Crows started to flock around and voices chanted Come forth from the shadows yea who art dead, Dryvinnyu commands. He looked around for the visage of his wife but it was not to be found, then his gazed fell upon the visage of Tolea. He thrust his sword in to her chest and she fell to the ground with a shriek. The others disappeared in to the shadows as Kawn cut his right hand to draw his blood.

 “With this blood I bring you life.” said Kawn as he dripped his blood into her wound. After what seemed like hours, Tolea stood up and gave Kawn a hug that nearly broke every bone in his body. Kawn and Tolea started toward the North Forest by traveling under the star of Yilduz up through the Blood Forest. Tolea and Kawn rode along the Trader's Path on his Horse. Along the way they intermittently ran into merchants who were heading the opposite direction. Many merchants would occasionally give them a warning. They came upon a small group of severely battered merchants.

            “Be wary of the Dyjnni forces to the north.” whispered a mortally wounded merchant who then finally gave up the ghost and collapsed as he passed by the Kawn and Tolea.

“Go to Tyrovian of Pelenecki. He can help you.” said Kawn as he and Tolea pressed forward. They approached what appeared to be a dock on the River Shyn. There was a horn hanging on a stick near the mist-covered river. Kawn grabbed the horn and blew it. As the sound echo across the river the mist at the end of the dock cleared to reveal a boat. Kawn led his horse on to the boat and the craft unaided and unattended moved enchantedly up the river. The mist enclosed the craft on all sides but the path they traveled on the river was clear in the center. Along the way, they could hear the sound of swords clashing, bodies falling into the river around them, and people letting out blood curdling screams as they perished by the swords of the Dyjnni forces. Kawn and Tolea rested on the craft through the night, uncomfortably listening to the continuous din of the belligerent Dyjnni's attack along the riverfront, as it drifted north. When they finally awoke they were just docking and a grim figure held his hand out for payment. Kawn reached into his pocket and pulled out ten dumes. As he placed them in the figure's hand it clutched the coins and disappeared. Kawn helped Tolea on to the horse and then led the horse off the boat, which disappeared as the mist retreated to whence it came. They found themselves standing on the southern edge of the North Forest.

Reviews

[csprohar]

Tolea is actually introduced as a ghost. I guess I have to develop her a little more. She actually ends up going with Kawn because there is a rumor that there is a way to make her ressurection perminate rather than only lasting for the space of a full cycle of the moon. I just realized that I neglected to add that in. Kawn and Tolea actually do not have sexual relations til later in the book. She was just present to console his emotions rather than give the impression of a more physical nature.

[Hans von Lieven]

The introduction of Tolea in this fashion is unfitting and out of character. Kawn has just lost his wife and for him to jump into a new relationship at this stage is callous and unfeeling and portrays him as a worthless cad.

Furthermore to take Tolea into the group without knowing anything about her is irresponsible and inconsiderate towards his travel companions and endangers the quest..

If you need Tolea as one of the main characters in your story you must find a different way to introduce her. There must be a reason to take her along other than Kawn's dick.