Fan Fiction ❯ The Keeper of the Orbs ❯ Tales to Tell ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

Tales To Tell

 

Sala closed the door on the agonizing moans and the rotting smells outside. It reminded her too much of her last day in Orbian. Why did death and destruction have to surround her? Sathin sat on a high stool and pulled the pipe out of his robes. Sala stood by the door.

 

"Sit, pup, and I'll tell you the Tale of the Orbs." he said, sucking on his pipe.

 

She moved and sat down on a pile of cured skins. The old man waved his hand and out of the air popped two mugs and a pitcher of Lakit's finest wine. He floated the pitcher and one of the mugs to her. Sala took hold of the mug and let the pitcher hover over her cup, pouring warm red wine into it for her.

 

When it was almost over flowing Sala muttered, "Enough."

 

The pitcher floated to where her grandfather held his mug. Sala took a sip of the wine and let it slide down her throat. She took a large gulp and felt its mind numbing effects of the alcohol washing over her. Sathin watched her for a while. She had to be moderately sober for her to grasp this tale. He snapped his fingers and the mug in her hand vanished.

 

"Hey!" Sala cried angrily. "Why'd you..."

 

Sathin snapped again and produced a plate of venison with steaming rice and gravy, a bowl of baked apples in syrup and cinnamon, and a tiny glass of water appeared before her. Sala looked at the food, feel slightly sickened by the sight of it. How could she eat when all of the rotten smells of the village were wafting in the hut and filled her nose? Sathin snapped once more and a fork and knife appeared in her hands.

 

"Eat and I'll tell you the Tale." the old Mage said softly.

 

Sala stabbed a piece of meat onto her fork and began to eat it slowly. The old Wolf Mage took out his pipe and began to puff on it. "Where to begin?" he mused to himself.

 

"The beginning maybe." Sala said through a mouthful of apples.

 

Sathin nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes," he said. "That sounds like a very good place to begin. Long ago there was a man named Daxiv. He was one of the most powerful Wizards to ever be born in Rivak. In those times the elements were left untamed and unchecked. They caused mayhem in this part of the land.

 

"Daxiv devised a way for to capture them." he continued. "Thus ridding his people of the menacing beasts. However, the catch to his plan was that he couldn't do it alone. To lure the creatures into their glass prisons he had to enlist the help of a young woman, a half-Draegan, named Zarad."

 

Sathin took a long pull from his mug then puffed on his pipe for a few moments. Clearing his throat, the old man continued. "Zarad had the loveliest voice ever. Not only was she an amazing songtress, but she was also a very powerful enchantress. A Traevakin. With her help, Daxiv was able to trap the element in the Orbs. In exchange for her help, Daxiv allowed Zarad to keep the four Orbs. Well, Lady Zarad had a very unique and unknown power.

 

"When she sang on the night of a new moon, the four Orbs became one and formed a new Orb." Sathin continued. "The Orb of Light."

 

Sala nodded. "That's how our people came to have them. However none of this helps me understand what I have to do to keep this from happening." she said.

 

Sathin nodded. "Yes, I seemed to have missed that part." he said. "Daxiv told her that if she ever lost the Orbs and allowed them to reap havoc on Rivak again, then her would pay with their lives. To end this death, you must find the orbs, recapture the elements by singing, and once you have them all in your grasp, sing the same song that Lady Zarad did over 200 years ago to form the Orb of Light once more."

 

Sala sighed. "So begins my journey." she said, pushing away the empty plate. "I guess I should leave in the morning."

 

Sathin puffed on his pipe. "Not alone you're not." he said. "And no I'm not coming with you."

 

A loud knock on the door made Sala whirl around in her chair. The front door swung open and a tall figure stood staring at her. Sathin nodded greeting to the silhouette.