This is the Epic Story: Page Three! While some of our many stars of the Epic Story already know the deal with this great adventure, let me and Karadon explain what you could do to join the adventure. First, so you know what happens, read The Epic Story to learn of what happens on the first page. Just click on the link to go to the first page. To read the second page, click on this link: The Epic Story Page Two. Now, so that we may continue the adventure, you may put your username and/or the name you want to be called in the Epic Story. Be imaginative, and you could be anything! A vampire, werewolf, gargoyle, sorcerer, kelpie, mermaid, golem, anything! Just put your character name under Names and describe your character. You could only have one!
Note: This is the third page of The Epic Story, so if you are new to the tale, you may want to go back and read page one: The Epic Story, and then The Epic Story Page Two.
Note 2: Remember to put a website username and a character name.

Writers/Characters:
Vampirejediknight= Adair, Shape-Shifter
Unaekgnoah=King Unaek, The King of the Fairies (Yes, there are male fairies, you know, even though they have "flower powers," they are still man, who else attracts the fine lady fairies)
killerbeast222=king of the elves, ally to all good dragons.
mythsoftime= The phoenix rider karadon
KingLaceration=Newly crowned King of Heaven
TheDragonLover = Ashaedia, The Dawn Dragon Lord. Elven Dragon Rider and Ally to All Good Dragons (GIRL and Dark Elf). Rides on a black, red and gold dragon with shining red eyes. Has long dark blue hair and eyes the color of molten brass. She's a good guy.
Irishdwarf45= Brandand, an old dwarf who once worked in the south-western jade mines. I'm a good guy.
Elvishwarrior22=Tharandil, (thar-an-deal, a like a in father), a High Elven Elite
wolfkid12=deathbringer= a wraith who plans to kill king
priencekenny= tomiki hotttri wood elf king
Chapter Thirteen: A Deadly Rival


It was Midnight, and Unaek wandered the encampment. His faerie light that emitted from his wings gave off an eerie golden light that illuminated the darkness that surrounded him. Each night, someone had to keep watch and stay up all night looking for suspicious activity. Last night it was Adair's turn, now it was Unaek's. He was still uneasy about Marth's visit, and he hoped that he wouldn't be staying long. Unaek's encounter with him seemed to chill him to the bones, and he almost felt like Marth was watching him from the shadows. To make sure he wasn't awake, he passed by Karadon and Ashaedia's tent. A new bed was placed inside for Marth to sleep in. When Unaek pulled back the curtains, he sighed with relief and wriggled his nose as he saw that Marth was sleeping peacefully. He was unusually still, and the only sound that escaped him was his soft breathing. Unaek looked to the right of him and saw Marth's shadowy cloak. It looked like it was just floating there, suspended in midair. The peculiar threads of dark wisps that poured down from the cloak's hem shifted and swirled. A dark mass was curled up beneath the cloak, and Unaek didn't dare to take a look. Unaek looked around the room for any other clothing of Marth's and immediately realized that the cloak was all he wore.
Eww. Unaek thought. That meant he didn't wear pajamas. Unaek shook with disgust. He looked back down at Marth, and noticed that his bed had seemed to move closer to Ashaedia's bed.
Strange. Unaek thought. Beds don't move by themselves. He turned towards Karadon. He would toss to one side occasionally. Unaek shifted his gaze back to Marth and his heart almost stopped. Marth was gone. So was Ashaedia. And so was Marth's cloak and the mass that was curled up under it. Unaek searched the room. No one was there except the slumbering Karadon. And then Unaek's eyes fell upon the ancient dagger. Karadon's special weapon, an ancient knife that could fell any beast. Unaek had no weapons other than his magical powers. Unaek sighed and took Karadon's dagger and fluttered out the door. He was able to track the footsteps of people. He scanned the ground, and found footprints of Marth and Ashaedia. Unaek followed the trail through a thicket of trees and came upon a spring. White steam was in the air, and it was hard for him to trace Marth, but he heard their voices.
"So.... You were him all this time?" Unaek heard Ashaedia's voice say. He followed the sound.
"Yes. I was meant to protect you. Dark forces are at work here. King Mort will rise from the darkness and try to conquer this world. I had to be disguised as your mount." Unaek heard Marth say.
"B-But the egg -"
"Ashaedia, I turned myself into a dragon egg and planned myself to be passed to you. After I hatched, I watched over you with great care."
"Oh, so the Ashnard I once knew.... was you."
"Yes."
"But your hissing -"
"I was born with a cursed tongue called Serpentgaldr. It is the dark form of Galdr, but using it had helped me greatly."
"I see. But how were you blinded? You never told me." This is what Unaek had been waiting for.
"I was battling a rather evil mage that could bend Light at his own will. He used a spell called Nosferatu, and he blinded me for eternity. I tried to heal my condition, but none of my methods worked. I stumbled across a kingdom called Sarfeth, and a kind sorcerer helped me be able to see again. But as of right now, I am completely blind because my Bind Spirit is not in contact with me." Bind Spirit? Unaek had heard the term before.
"A Bind Spirit is an animal that allows one to see or heal someone of their disabilities if they are in contact with their master's skin. A master sorcerer could assign you one by seeing what type of animal suits you best. My Bind Spirit is a Snake, or a Dark King Cobra, to be more specific. I could summon him if you would like to see him."
Oh no, Unaek thought. He was right, Marth did have a serpent with him. Unaek's skin crawled as Marth hissed in Serpentgaldr. When he was done, a low hiss responded. Unaek looked behind him as he saw a shape appear in the steam. It was a black snake with a gold belly and was about six feet long with staring blueberry colored eyes. The Dark King Cobra's black tongue flicked out, tasting the air. Unaek looked back towards Marth and could now see him clearly now. He and Ashaedia sat in a pool of warm water and had his arm around Ashaedia's bare shoulders. Ashaedia was blushing for some reason that Unaek didn't want to know about. He looked back down at the serpent and saw that it had stopped slithering. It stared at Unaek with confused eyes. And then it slithered away towards Marth.
"Ah, there he is. Ashaedia, this is my Bind Spirit, Sephris." Marth said. The snake named Sephris slithered onto Marth's bare shoulders and studied Ashaedia. Marth's eyes glowed blue for a brief moment, and he sighed.
"You look more beautiful than ever, Ashaedia. Seeing your face lightens my spirits." Marth said, smiling. Ashaedia blushed again.
"Why thank you." Ashaedia said. "So, what have you be studying?"
"I have been studying sorcery. Though I never knew it, the sorcerer that gave me Sephris said that I had magical blood run through me. He traced what type of sorcery I can be taught and I was kind of sadden about the results." Marth said, his smile disappearing.
"Oh? What type of sorcery were you destined to use?" Ashaedia asked.
"Dark Sorcery. I don't get this! Yes, my father have had a shadowy past, but how does that inflict me? But Dark Sorcery is actually kind of exciting. I was lucky enough that I didn't get Necromancy. I hate zombies." Marth said, his smile coming back. "That's why I wear that black cloak. Because I am now a master Dark Sorcerer."
"You know, I don't see why anyone should fear you. Yeah, you do Dark Magic. Oh so scary, but not all Dark Sorcerers are evil. So far you're the only kind one I know, and I hope that other people see that kindness within you." Ashaedia said. There was silence, and Marth and Ashaedia seemed to stare into each others eyes. Unaek held his breath. What was going to happen now? They were both really still, and it gave Unaek the chills. And then Marth leaned in close to Ashaedia and their foreheads met. And then their noses. And almost their lips. Without thinking and clearly panicked, Unaek drew out Karadon's dagger and tossed it like a throwing knife. It whirled through the steam, gleaming gold and emerald in a blur, and then there was a shriek. Indeed, the dagger went between them, but in the process Marth reeled back, his hand firm on his left cheek. The ancient dagger clanged against a rock, making a noise that made Marth scream out in pain. He clapped a hand to his right ear, trying to block the high intense clanging. It sounded like steel getting rubbed against a rock combined with nails on a chalkboard. Marth put his head underwater to try to dull the sound from his head. Sephris was so surprised that he slithered away and up a tree.
"No!" Marth yelled, coming back up for air, but it was too late. Blindness flooded his eyes once more. That foreboding white cloud that seemed to never go away invaded his sight.
"Ashaedia! W-Where are you!?" Marth shouted. Ashaedia's hand touched his shoulder and she pulled him out of the pool. He was breathing heavily, and dark blue blood trickled down the side of his face from a deep cut that the dagger had left. A small puddle of blood formed by Marth's cut cheek. Ashaedia spotted Karadon's dagger and picked it up. Stared hard into the silver surface of the blade, and she cried. The blade was stained with Marth's blood, and it reflected the moonshine.
"Who... Who did this?!" Marth gasped, reaching for his cloak. Ashaedia pulled his cloak down and covered him with it.
"Karadon did." Ashaedia said, anger rising in her voice.
"I did not sense Karadon anywhere near us. I can sense him breathing softly, in his bed." Marth said.
"How can you be sure?! You're BLIND!" Ashaedia cried, and buried her face into Marth's chest. Marth put a blood-soaked hand on her head.
"I may be blind, but I could sense people's movements. Right now I am tracing Karadon's and he isn't moving at all." Marth said calming. "But I do sense a... powerful fairy nearby." Unaek's breath shuttered, that was the wrong thing to do. Marth sat up quickly, making Ashaedia jump back. His pupils turned to slits.
"Here, wear this. It'll keep you warm." Marth said, and held out his hands. Dark wisps swirled into his hands and formed the same cloak that he wore. He handed the new cloak to Ashaedia, who wrapped herself in it. Marth gathered his cloak about him and set off towards Unaek's direction. Unaek flew away, but Marth followed silently. Soon Unaek heard Marth tumble over a hidden set of rocks. Marth swore as he lifted a now severely scrapped arm. Unaek hid behind a cascading waterfall and sighed. His wings felt heavy with fatigue. Unaek closed his eyes, but then a dark figure appeared behind him. Before Unaek could turn around to see who it was, he was tackled. He and Marth tumbled out of the waterfall and landed in a foot deep water. Marth lifted his bloodied hand and dark light appeared in his fist, shrouding it in a dark glow. His blood, getting wet, trickled down the side of his face and onto Unaek's clothes. Unaek thought he saw Marth's eyes turn red with anger. Marth had his hand pressing down upon Unaek's chest, almost cutting his air supply. His knees were pinning down Unaek's legs, and Unaek thought his frail legs would break.
"Why did you attack me and Ashaedia?!" Marth asked viciously. Unaek stayed silent. What would he say?
"Tell me!" Marth demanded, his dark energy growing in strength. Unaek stayed silent.
"Then you will suffer my wrath!" Marth shouted, and was just about to let his energy loose when Ashaedia pushed him aside.
"Marth! What are you doing? You going to kill King Unaek!" Ashaedia shouted at him.
"He threw Karadon's dagger! He was the only one there other than us! He tried to kill me!" Marth yelled. Ashaedia turned to Unaek.
"Is this true, King Unaek?" Ashaedia asked.
"I .... I ...." Unaek said, and looked down at his submerged feet. "I was only trying to protect you."
"Protect me? By trying to kill one of my closest friends? King Unaek, this isn't right! I know you, and you wouldn't even hurt a fly! Well, maybe you would, but please, you mustn't think Marth is a dark figure. He is a true idol." Ashaedia said. Sephris weaved through the shallow water and Marth put his injured arm down. The serpent climbed his arm and rested on his shoulders. Marth looked down at Unaek's quaking form. He towered over the Fairy King, and he looked at him in disgust.
"I will not associate with a murderer," Marth said, turning to leave. "Especially someone who had tried to kill me." And with that, he left.
"Marth! Please, come back!" Ashaedia said, running after him. Unaek was now alone. What has he done? He had created a deadly rival now, and there would be no way how to get him back. If only Karadon and Adair were there to support him....


With that in his mind he waited for karadon to wake up. Unaek already growing inpatient of Karadon hastily woke him up. Desperate, Unaek had an idea that would turn their friends against each other. "Karadon! Karadon!" Unaek said, "What?" Karadon said hastily. "It's Marth, he was going to hurt Ashaedia!" Karadon sat up immediately.
"No,...no, that's impossible, Marth is Ashnard, he's blind and they are close friends!"
Karadon was astonished, but this was all acording to Unaek's plans. "No I saw him sneaking about always seeming to be out of her sight, he had grabbed your dagger and had flung it at her but missed as she turned around. The dagger is at the rock near this building!" Unaek had another idea to finally overthrow Adair to gain control of the attack group. It would be a great idea as long as no one planned to over throw HIM! Knowing that there might be a battle between them he started to think of the outcome, If Marth won the battle between them, Unaek would be leader and Marth would have to obey him at the time. If Karadon won, It would be the same thing but much easier, because they would not have been rivals. What would happen?

Ashaedia caught up to Marth and found him sitting on the edge of a grassy moonlit cliff. He sat there, staring at the full moon. Sephris laid curled up in his lap, making small hissing sounds once in awhile.
"You okay?" Ashaedia asked, sitting beside him. She turned to look into his eyes and saw, to her great surprise, he was crying. Marth tried to blink away the tears, but the flow didn't stop.
"That... that blade that the Fairy King threw... it left a lingering stinging pain that never seems to fade... like poison. I feared the worst that the dagger was cursed," Marth said, stroking Sephris' head. "The agony is unbearable! It burns as if a dragon just breathed fire on me! It stings as if a swarm of bees stung the same spot ten times!" Ashaedia put her hand on his chin and turned Marth's head toward her direction. With her other hand, she touched the long bloody scar that Karadon's dagger had left. Memories of her meeting with Karadon came, and Unaek. She sighed heavily as the recent memory of Unaek's attack came.
"Marth... I think Unaek was scared, you know, him being a fairy and all -"
"Ashaedia, he tried to kill me! Do you know what that means?" Marth said angrily. Ashaedia looked down at her knees. "I thought so. I guess he was afraid of watching people... people srething each other." He folded his arms.
"Um... what does srething mean?" Ashaedia asked, a look of pure questioning on her face.
"It's a word I made up for the k word. I don't really like to use the k word." Marth responded.
"K word? Give me a hint of what it is." Ashaedia asked. She wondered if it meant Karadon. She held back a laugh just thinking about it.
"You know those songs that immature children sing?" Marth said.
"I know some but I don't sing them." Ashaedia said.
"Yes well, do you remember this one? I'll just use us as an example," Marth said, and sighed. "Marth and Ashaedia, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
"Oh, okay. You sounded funny when you said it." Ashaedia laughed.
"I bet Unaek would say that to you if I wasn't around." Marth said, and his gaze narrowed.
"He is a pathetic being with no worth! Trying to kill me is like him against a basilisk, and small fairies have no power over such powerful creatures." Marth said, shaking his head and looking back up at the moon.
"Marth you can't hate him with such dislike for long. You would have to save him once in awhile." Ashaedia said.
"I hate fairies. One had hurt my sister with their nature powers. My sister almost died because of that fairy." Marth spat.
"What happened?" Ashaedia asked. Suddenly, a small fairy girl floated by. It was the size of a maple leaf, and Marth spoke softly to Sephris in Serpentgaldr. Sephris rose and chased the fairy away into a small bush. His black tail flicked vigorously from side to side from inside the bush, and a tiny scream became muffled. Sephris slithered out and onto Marth's lap again. A green glow from Sephris' belly lit Marth's lap.
"My older sister and I was at a picnic with some of her friends. This was when I was ten, mind you, and I was bored so I came with my sister on her picnic. We picked a spot in a beautiful clearing filled with fairies, and we had a great time eating lunch and playing with the fairies. It was until some stupid vain fairy came by, thinking that we were invading its territory. It rounded all the fairies together and they went into the trees around us. And that was when all hell broke loose. The ground cracked and vines crawled out of the crevices, trying to ensnare us. We got up and ran away, but one of my sister's friends foot got ensnared and she tripped. I went back and cut her loose and we ran away to catch up with my sister. The bushes around us moved and grew sharp arms and legs of wood. It was like a nightmare, fairies gone feral. I don't understand why they attacked, but the Fairy King is in charge of the fairies, probably making it his doing. I still have horrible flashes of memory on that day when I dreamt. That same day we lost one of my sister's friends because a tree came alive and stabbed her. She fell, and was instantly covered in vines. A thorn bush shot poisonous thorns at us, and many of them hit my sister. We made it out of the forest alive, but my sister and her friends needed medical help. We brought them to a temple where they were instantly healed, but my sister was near to Death's touch. The poisonous thorns had injected a high dose of poison, and luckily our Royal Bishop healed her wounds." Marth ended his story, and Ashaedia stared at him, awestruck.
"I... I'm so sorry, Marth. I can see why you had given Unaek the stink eye when you first met him." Ashaedia said. "Oh, and I have something for you." Marth stared in her direction.
"A gift? No, no, you don't need to." Marth said, blushing.
"No, I insist! Here, I hope it helps." Ashaedia said, and reached behind her. Her fingers closed around a silver staff. She brought it around and put it in Marth's hands. It was a silver staff that had a silver cobra at the head of the staff with its mouth open, its teeth showing and its tongue lolling out. The silver snake's tail spiraled down the length of the staff until it got to the bottom. The cobra's eyes were blue sapphires.
"You could use it as a cane if you'd like when you don't have Sephris around. And you could wield your Dark Magic more easily." Ashaedia said.
"Thank you, I'll use it well. I wish I could repay you, Ashaedia. You are such a kind and gentle person, I can't see why no one would love to have you around." Marth said. Ashaedia leaned her head on his shoulder. Marth blushed and put his arm around her shoulders.
"If something horrible happens to you, I'll be there to protect you. Always." Marth said, closing his eyes. Ashaedia smiled, but she then sensed a powerful fairy nearby.
Marth's eyes snapped open. They turned to slits and dilated. He lifted his head, and his nostrils flared.
"Unaek." He hissed.
"What?" Ashaedia said.
"UNAEK!!!" Marth shouted, and jumped up and sprinted towards a thicket of trees. A golden figure of light flew away towards the encampment. Ashaedia ran after him. There was a scream and Ashaedia came just in time to see Marth unsheathe his sword and point it at Unaek's heart.
"I've had enough of you! Prepare to -" Marth said, but someone tackled him. It was Karadon.
"You don't touch him, you... you... you thing!!!" Karadon shouted, and punched Marth's cut cheek. He spat blood and hissed a swear word in Serpentgaldr, but Marth stared frightened into Karadon's eyes when he realized it was Karadon.
"Karadon -?" He said, but he got another punch to the face.
"Stop it! Karadon, stop it!" Ashaedia pleaded, pushing Karadon off of Marth.
"Ashaedia! Why are you defending him?!" Karadon asked.
"He's my friend! And he's yours too! Why would you hurt him, Karadon?!" Ashaedia shot back.
"Unaek told me he tried to kill you! With my dagger! Step away from him, and I'll make sure he dies -"
"NO! Unaek told you the wrong info! Unaek tried to kill Marth because he -"
"That's enough." Adair came out of his tent.
"Adair! Thank goodness you're here..." Ashaedia said, and embraced him. Adair looked down at Marth. Blood was dripping out of the side of his mouth and he had a black eye. Adair knelt down beside him and touched his cut cheek.
"Who did this to you?" Adair whispered to him.
"Karadon punched me twice. Earlier tonight Unaek threw Karadon's dagger at me." Marth said, staring past Adair and glaring blindly at Unaek. Adair helped Marth up and he winced in pain. His cut started to burn like fire.
"Karadon, Unaek, come with me. Ashaedia, tend to Marth." Adair said, and with that, he led Karadon and Unaek into his tent.


Ashaedia, infuriated at Karadon,tended to Marth as Adair led them to the tent, "What were you thinking Karadon? Who in the world gave you this information?!" Adair asked as he suspiciously eyed him. Karadon, barley paying any attention to him looked at Unaek with much disappointment as he muttered his name, "King Unaek..." Karadon said slowly lowering his head. Adair gave Unaek a sharp look as Unaek responded by glaring at Adair an eye full. "I am so sorry, I never would have done this if Unaek
would of stayed-" Adair put a finger to his mouth, "Please take some time in your tent to absorb this info in as I have a serious talk with Unaek."Adair said as Karadon walked out staring seemingly bewildered at how Unaek would lie about something like that.
He walked out not even daring to look at Marth and what he had done.
He bobbed his head as Mistral came from a bush with a morsal of a squirrel. He agiley made his way into the tent. At the sight of Karadon's
long face he let a confused screech. Karadon looked at Mistral, "Do you remember Ashnard?" Karadon asked weakly as Mistral nodded his head with a bit of pride.
Mistral and Ashnard had gotten to be friends before the war but he hadn't seen him since. "That snake person IS Ashnard and I just punched him." Karadon said with
little enthusiasim as Mistral screeched in astonishment but was interupted by a yell of agony coming from Adair's tent.
Karadon also heard Marth yelling in anger.
Seemingly close to the tent Karadon heard another yell as Ashaedia's voice responded
to that of Marth's. Taking precuations about anyone stealing his blade he strapped to his wrist and took out the switch
that held in place. It was now a wrist blade that could be used in stealth and combat. He got his cloak and ran out to Adair's tent. Marth ran inside to witness an attempted
murder with a dark figure looming over Adair. Karadon followed Marth in to see KING UNAEK trying to kill Adair though king Unaek had some cut's from Adair too.
Marth's eyes turned to slit's as his eyes turned red with tormented anger.
"KING UNAEK!!!" Marth yelled. "I am sorry but this is the way I can ensure my protection with the way Marth reacted the first time we met and with me trying to kill you and all, I would never be able to be an ally of your's so this is how it has to be." He said as Marth crouched and pounced like an animal on all fours knocking Unaek to the ground. He let Sephris go to attack King Unaek as he fell back blind. Sephris slithered to Unaek dodging fists of Unaek constently meaning to hit Sephris. "Ashaedia, tend to Adair real quick!" Karadon said as he ran to Unaek while Sephris bit and slithered back to Marth letting him see. Karadon dodged a dagger from Unaek and said some words that would heal the knife wound on Marth. Marth winced in the healing pain and heald a hand to his wound. Unaek saw this as a chance and The fairy wings shifted to make an energy beam that would hit Marth as it was fired. "You are done now Snake boy!" Unaek yelled as Karadon ran in the way of the beam that was fired. Karadon's dagger slit out and cut through the beam. Unaek charged at Karadon as he was slit by Karadon's blade in
the abdomen and flexibly zipped behind Unaek to slit his throat as
Unaek ducked only to be tackled by Marth as Marth's hand met Unaeks forehead
and Sephris slithered down so both Sephris's head and Unaek's head met as
Sephris turned silver and then gold. Soon Sephris turned red in the eyes and then all over.
Marth's new staff seemed to give him new powers because this was never seen by anyone.
Unaek tried to resist as his wings shifted again to fire the energy beam
at Sephris. However he was dieing so if he did not fire it, the beam could be extremely deadly.
It charged as Unaek got frail and soon grew. "MARTH! YOU HAVE TO STOP DRAINING HIM! THIS BEAM IS GOING TO BLOW!"
Karadon said with panic on his face,"I CAN'T! I DON'T KNOW HOW WITH THIS NEW POWER!" Marth said as panic spread through his face too.
ASHAEDIA, DO YOU HAVE THE LANCE OF THAT HARD ROCK STUFF?" Karadon said remembering the gift her father gave her. "IF YOU DO, POINT IT AT THE CENTER
OF THE BEAM!" Karadon said. She ran to her tent and got and did so. Soon the beam blew upword with the gravitational push sending everyone back. Ashaedia, Karadon,
and Marth went back to the tent with Adair staring at the ground where the beam was centered.
Unaek was gone and barley made it out ALIVE. Marth looked at the floor with grit teeth as Ashaedia stood near him, "He is in the woods, he probably won't make it,"
Ashaedia said but they just looked at each other....

"Karadon, look!" Ashaedia exclaimed as she, Marth, Karadon, and Adair ran through the woods looking for Unaek. They found him lying at the foot of the hill where Marth and Ashaedia sat after the battle at the spring. A strange black mist rose off his body, and he lifted his head weakly to stare at the group. Brandand jogged behind them.
"Blimey, what the hell is goin' on here? I heard some shoutin' and yellin' and some screamin' and then some big ol' beam shot through yer tent, Adair!" Brandand said, and then he stared at Marth. "And who is dis?"
"Brandand, this is not the time. We must attend to some... business." Adair said. The old dwarf shifted his gaze onto Unaek's body.
"So... you decided to chase me... to my death..." Unaek said, and coughed. Black liquid spurted out from his mouth.
"What are you? You are no fairy, but a dark being!" Marth said bravely. Unaek chuckled.
"Well... that's something that King Mort should have told your girlfriend and Karadon here before they... 'destroyed' him." Unaek said.
"You mean.... he's not DEAD?!" Karadon shrieked. Great, he thought. I slashed my hand vein for nothing.
"No, he is not dead you bird loving idiot! He was recovered from that wave of light, and his form is materializing! He'll destroy you all!" Unaek shouted, his voice echoing through the night.
"Then you must be a spy!" Adair declared.
"Correct, Shape-Shifter. I am a spy, and a dark copy of your Fairy King friend Unaek. He's fine... for now. But the real target here is your snake-talking buddy." The fake Unaek said, and Marth gasped. Everyone turned towards his direction to stare at Marth with troubled eyes.
"Confused? You should know why!" The fake Unaek said, and crawled towards Marth, dark matter eating away his withering body. Ashaedia got in front of Marth, the mythical Dark Elf lance Gradivus in her hands.
"Don't you get near him! I'll slice you in two if you touch him!" Ashaedia said. The fake Unaek stopped crawling.
"Of coarse you would." He said.
"Ashaedia..." Marth said, his voice almost faded by the updraft wind that formed.
"Your friend here is a very important key into getting into that sacred land surrounded by gates. Gates of light, should I say. HE is from there, well, from a kingdom that's in the land. To get into the heart of the land you need the boy AND to get through his kingdom. His kingdom is on the coast, thus being the first thing you see when you enter the sacred land." The fake Unaek coughed. Adair looked at Marth. HIS kingdom? What does the dark Unaek mean by that? Surely Marth's not royalty.... Is he?
"Well, if you want your fairy friend back, you got to face some of King Mort's toughest soldiers and penetrate King Mort's main prison. But for now, my job is done. King Mort now knows that you have the perfect tool to get yourself into the sacred land... better watch out...." The fake Unaek said, and his body dissolved into black fog and disappeared. Ashaedia stared off into space, trying to figure out what the fake Unaek meant by, "his kingdom". She then turned to Marth.
"Marth.... are you....?" Ashaedia asked, but her question was immediately answered.
"Ashaedia, I'm a prince."

Chapter Fourteen: A Basilisk or Dragon Prince?


Karadon stared dumbstruck at Marth as they walked back to camp. He couldn't believe that he was prince, a man of royalty! Marth didn't show any of the attributes of a wealthy person, but Karadon felt bad for him. Marth was King Mort's target. How horrible is that? Marth pulled back the curtains of his tent and Ashaedia beckoned him to rest. Marth bowed his head in response and lied down on his bed and closed his eyes. Ashaedia healed his wounds and Marth pulled the blankets on top of him. By the door his cloak suddenly appeared. Ashaedia sighed.
"Marth, you're not going to get caught. You have friends all around you." Ashaedia said. Marth sat up, his chest bare.
"Ashaedia, I have brought terrible fortune into everyone who is attending this quest! I must leave, or Mort will kill all of you! I'll guide him away from -" Marth said, but Ashaedia put a finger on his lips, silencing him.
"Marth, if we accept a new member, we will protect them with all of out hearts. You are a new member, and now that we know your situation, we will protect you even more. Especially me." Ashaedia said smiling.
"Thank you, but I still put you guys in peril." Marth said. Karadon lowered his head and sighed. Marth looked up at him.
"Do you remember when I almost killed the fake Unaek?" Marth asked. Karadon nodded. It haunted him just remembering him punching Marth in the face.
"Well, I forgive you. You were misguided, and so since we all thought that Unaek was an ally, you believed him. You only wanted to protect Ashaedia by doing what's right." Marth said. Karadon looked up.
"How could you forgive me so easily? You should punish me! Royalty always punish people terrible if they've done something bad!" Karadon said, his face turning a light shade of pink.
"Karadon, I'm not like any of the other nobles you've met. I am merciful, and getting punched in the face won't go as an execution trial. I let people live if they make mistakes, but people always.... gossip about me. They have been saying that I am mysterious, dark, anti-social, and unfit to be the next king of Altea. I am a very shy person, but when they say that I am 'anti-social', they just don't understand that I am practicing my abilities in my room. I am afraid to walk out onto the streets, and if I do I have to be wrapped up in my cloak. Not regular attire. If they knew what I am, then they will start a rebellion and try to kick me out of Altea and dethrone my father and mother. You see, my father was once bitten by a basilisk, and his blood changed.... terribly. My mother has some dragon blood in her veins. When I was born, I had both dragon and basilisk blood running through me, but that made everyone think I was born as a being of pure chaos. Also being born with the ability to use Serpentgaldr is rare, but it's related to dark magic, which my people abhor everything dark. Though one day when I become king of Altea, the people will still.... fear me," Marth sighed, and put his hands over his eyes. Ashaedia put a hand on his bare shoulder. "My people had been passing rumors that I will the cause of the end of the Sacred Land. They just don't get it.... and I want to put change in their hearts. If these rumors reach the other lands, I could be hunted down and killed. But some support me, and those supporters would call me a Gift from the Gods. No one in Altea had been born with such power like me, let alone no one in the whole entire Sacred Land had been born with Serpentgaldr. But strangely I was born both a dragon and a basilisk."
"So, which are you? A Basilisk Prince or a Dragon Prince?" Adair asked.
"I'm not sure, but right now I'm going with Basilisk Prince. That seems to fit my profile better." Marth said, and lied back down. Sephris slithered through the curtains and curled up on Marth's chest. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Let's let him rest. He's had a big day." Ashaedia said, and she, Karadon, and Adair left Marth to sleep.


Time past as Marth slept deeply, as the whole war party soon fell asleep. Karadon soon slept too, though he heard rustling in the bushes.
He woke up and grabbed his blade as he put on the robe and peeked out of the tent. He walked out as he strolled through the bushes and trees. He stopped
suddenly and hid in an open shrub. He saw five people hiding in the trees. All of them were wearing masks with robes. they surrounded the tents. Karadon
climbed steadily on a low tree the he could easily climb on. He jumped to the next and soon he silently went behind one of the masked men. He heard a whisper,
"Time to take the prince, kill anyone in the way of your mission or anyone who is a threat." Karadon slipped his blade into the persons throat and
put on the mask. He had the same cloak as the people so he could within enemy lines.



King Mort walked into the throne room
"Ah, King Mort," said the voice of a man on the shadowy throne. "How's it going?"
"I don't have the sword, my lord. And worse, there is one, Adair, he seeks it with a group of followers. He has the strenghth to defeat us if he were to take Excalibur."
"You have failed me." The Englishman snapped his fingers and Mort fell dead. "Poor, pathetic fool." He turned. "Dracul!" he called. A pale man stepped forth, his eye glowing crimson. "Take Mort's place. Find the book of Bartainian. Summon the Chained One. He will be bound to your will. To bind him in this way, look at the ritual on the final page. The 666th page. He is a great warlock. He will summon three great, chaotic beast to crush Adair's followers and all their allies. Then, you will kill Adair with a sword forged in dragonfire."
"Excalibur?"
"No, I shall forge a sword for myself. One even more powerful than Excalibur."

Things were not going too well with Adair at that moment. Karadon had killed a group of assassins the night before, and Marth had dissapeared in the struggle. Ashaedia was rather upset about it, and Adair knew that his little group was falling apart. He had dreamed of King Unaek, lost in a forest with nothing but his clothes and dagger to fight off an onslouhgt of strnge, batlike creatures. It was time they stike the heart of the evil. He would gather all those he could an march on King Mort. Little did he know, King Mort was no longer their problem. Dracul was. Father of all vampires.
Epic Story Page Four is ready for editing!!!