Post by Arya on Oct 4, 2008 19:48:28 GMT -5
Prologue
excerpt from the book (still in making) Kranithia
excerpt from the book (still in making) Kranithia
A tall, willowy man walked quickly through the corridors of the great castle. His long, vibrant robes billowed behind him as he trekked silently onward. The man would cut corners sharply and held his head high. He obviously knew where he was going.
Finally, he arrived at a large golden door. It was bejeweled with all varieties of gems. He did not stop to enjoy the splendor, but pushed it hurriedly and almost ran into the room.
This room, the Council Hall, was huge, with hundreds of cushioned chairs on raised platforms covering the circular room. Candles shed light that shone brightly through the room. Four lonely thrones sat in the middle of the otherwise empty floor. They were dim with age, gathering dust.
No one had sat in these thrones for over a decade now. This was the reason for this meeting. That was all going to change.
The man looked puzzled. They should be here bu now. He mused silently.
Suddenly, a loud high groan echoed around him. The man covered his ears and grimaced. With a Pop! a burst of white light engulfed the entire room. He sheilded his eyes against the intense ligt. As soon as it had come, the light was gone, along with any light that was there before.
From what seemed like the east side of the Hall, the sound of loud wheezy coughing began. " Oh, goodness!" a male voice emerged amongst the coughing. "I told you we should not have speed-traveled! It is highly too dangerous! It would have been safer to simply travel by carriage here. I do enjoy the fresh air. But someone just had to arrive late...as usual."
"Aw, hush up, ol' geezer." This time it was different voice, still male, lower than the first, but still had the crackle of old age. "Live a little, you ain't getting any younger."
"But just look at what you've done! Oh, wait, you can't. You can't see anything! This is just great. Now we're all blind!" the first voice shouted.
"We ain't blind, you dunce!" the second voice growled. "Just knocked out the blasted lights is all. Though, we may have blinded poor Ley here."
"Ley? Ley! You're early for once lad! It's nice to see you...or at least know of your precense because I can't see! Sorry if Belgun blinded you, lad. He's not so good with magic transportation, you know. Actually, he's not so great with any type of magic, really..."
Belgun growled, "Why you scrawny, little-"
"That is enough! Honestly, I wish you to would stop fighting like a couple of goblins. We have work to do!" This thrid voice was deep, very low tenor. A tone of commanding rang in his voice. "Now for our little light problem..." Two large hands clapped twice and the room was suddenly veiwable again. Ley had to blink a lot to get used to the bright light.
Three men sat along the first row of chairs on the east, s Ley had predicted.
"There. Now when we are joined, the lights shall not but waver." The deep voice came from the dark-skinned man to the right of the others.
Just five minutes later, the entire council sat in their normal seats, talking loudly to one another. There were seventy in total. They glanced down at Ley, who was standing in the middle beside the thrones yet not touching them. Most had curious expressions, except a man with long jet black hair, who looked simply bored. Finally, the dark man stood. His crimson robes draped around him in a cascade of fire. He turned to face the council, opening his arms and extending his hands.
His deep voice rumbled through the Hall. "My dear friends, the Council. You may be wondering why we have gathered again, after four years of absense. We swore only to gather when situation called for it. Well, today Master Ley has some very important news for us. Please listen with your upmost sincerity. Ley?" He gestured to Ley and sat back down, signaling him to begin.
Ley held his head and cleared his throat. "As you all know, my partner, Sir James, and i have been looking for