Rivermoon,

Few hours’ later rain once again chose to appear stopping its route in Gisalior’s stony roads and buildings. The whole city was build under the shadow of the Northern Mountains or the mountains of Mithril as they used to call them because of the endless mithril savings. The ground was hard and rocky and the only source they had to build this enormous city was stones from the mountains. The city was built in two floors. The lower was the biggest and was for the common people. The upper was for the nobility and for king’s relatives. In the upper Dean and Kevin were living. While the rain was still heavy and noisy Kevin had found warmth and solicitude in Roxanne’s hug. They were making love and the emotions were spreading out in the air just as incense is spreading out in ceremonies and in god’s temples. Only a word or only millions of words could describe such emotional scenes in which people choose to seal their love for each other. Kevin and Roxanne were couple for months, just little time after the accident Kevin had in the mountains. The most considerable fact of their relationship was that they were keeping it secret from all. They kept it secret because of the noticeable interest that Dean had for Roxanne and because Kevin was as son to the king Duenhir while Roxanne was under his protection after her father had been killed. Therefore they both didn’t want to provoke a maybe angry response from him. Kevin had guilty conscience about Dean not knowing the truth but he thought there was nothing he could do to maintain both his friendship and his relationship. When they finished making love they heard someone hitting the door and shouts. Kevin asked Roxanne to stay hidden while he was going to deal with the visitor. He moved rapidly towards the door and opened it. The man who was standing there was Dean and the rain kept falling with rhythm.

“Hi Kev, should I enter or you prefer seeing me sinking in the clay?”

“Come in, I wonder why you even ask.” Kev answered trying not to show that he was hiding something and forgetting for the moment their morning dustup.

“I hope you forgave me about what happened back in the morning. I was acting like a fool because I had some difficult time with some of my men. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness,” said apologetically Dean who was approximately twenty inches taller than Kevin.

“Apology accepted my friend. You know that I could never stay angry with you. I was always getting you into troubles and you protected me with your life. I am most grateful to you. Now, do you want some wine or a bottle of cold beer from the very best stores of Gisalior? What else could I offer you? My home is your home and my supplies are your supplies, you know that.” Kevin said hiding artfully that he was still angry with him, but in order Dean to leave a moment earlier, he was able to pretend anything.

“No Kev, I don’t really have time for a drink although I would like one. I came here firstly to apologize, and then to suggest you to come with me to Rivermoon in a week, to have some time together as we had some years before. I know it’s your favorite place and we are going to have great time together. I will ask Roxanne and Ntalya to come with as because it would be nice to be companioned with them. I know that you and Roxanne are very close friends and you share lots. I hope you come. We both need vacations.” And when he finished talking Dean gave Kevin a smile just like he did when they were returning safe back from the Mushrooms Forest searching for treasures or witches. Ntalya was the king’s youngest daughter and the most active in politics. So active se was that you could easily confuse her as a diplomat or a council member.

Kevin after a small pause told that he would see his program and he would answer the upcoming days agreeing that it was a very good idea. Dean made to leave and he said, “I will support you on not going to war. I am going to write a full report to king analyzing why I changed my mind. Do not be bothered with this matter. Also stop drinking so much seriously. You have two glasses of wine there and they are both empty. Come on my friend. You will lose your perception with all this wine running through your veins,” and he laugh loudly locating the two glasses which were lying in a table and which Kevin and Roxanne used some moments earlier. “You got me once again. I am going to stop it my friend. It’s something I should do before it’s too late or it costs severe,” and they goodnight each other with a handshake. Kevin knew that these drinking glasses had betrayed him revealing to Dean that there was something or someone been hid from him. Moment’s earlier back in the Roxanne’s warmth Kevin would be forgetting anything annoying.

The next days passed rapidly. Kevin answered affirmatively to Dean’s proposition of visiting Rivermoon. The day they would visit this place they would be able to observe the full moon something which was an activity very common to these lands. Rivermoon was a spot in the southern western of Gisalior in the river bank. There the river was getting really dangerous and no swimming or fishing was aloud. The four of them started their trip on November nine. They travelled one day and the next evening finally arrived in an amazing place where the sky was taking all the colors from deep ruby to pale ginger. A small camp built years ago from Kevin himself was still standing. There they would rest and enjoy this fascinating phenomenon. The night came and they decided it was time to have something to eat. Dean offered himself to prepare and serve and when it was time he did it in great mood making the others thank him for his kindness. Kevin for first time after years was seeing his best friend so jovial.

War Games,

The autumn of 1123, war once again was going to change and rule the fates of the two friends. The kingdom of Retoria was about to declare war to the free elven kingdom which located in the centre of the continent naturally protected from the river Tharmyr. Also the expansionary tactics which the kingdom applied were aiming at the mountains where the kingdom of dwarves was suffering a great plug. A rainy morning the greatest men of Retoria were about to meet to discuss about their upcoming decisions. Dean and Kevin were also part of this meeting having a specific plan in their minds. The elven kingdom was closed to anybody not being an elf and they do not appear to any town of Retoria’s domain. This led to a lack of elven supplies to men cities, supplies of any kind from elven weapons to elven clothing. The king was ready to launch an assault and he showed this from the beginning of the meeting.

“We shall not wait my fellows, this greedy elven kingdom to change their minds by talking and offering alliances. The only thing we are about to lose is time. Our kingdom is in great need of supplies and they are not going to provide them.” The king Duenhir stated with shaky voice, immediate effect from a disease he had for several months. Kevin took the speech after seeing that the others agreed totally with his king. “I am not sure whether that’s a good idea my lord with all the respect. The elves are highly secured from both the river and the darkness of their great forest. They have traps in every inch of their kingdom for uninvited guests. The only way to reach Sir Elethar is by river but this will make us slow and easy target. We have no hope if we lead our troops to battle into the forest.” The charisma of this once careless child gave him such credibility in his speech and his acts causing headaches to his rivals and making the king a bit more skeptical about the concept of going to war. Dean, who was against his idea, made an expression of disagreement and decided speaking his mind without caring about Kevin’s thoughts, “This is untrue I’m afraid. Our army is the experienced, the deadliest and the most terrific in Dumenor. Elves have neither the technology nor the numbers to resist us. That’s so obvious that I am wondering why my friend offers such negativity and disloyalty to our army. We should make the war my lord, as soon as possible, not giving the elves the time to prepare themselves.” Dean’s suggestion and the manner of speaking confused Kevin. In their private talks Dean usually was against war just like him. But now he was a passionate supporter of a bloody solution. To say the truth there had been a long time passed since the two friends had made a real conversation. The last months they only share daily news or deal with matters such as training.

The speech now was taken by the king after listening some other opinions all of them supporting making war. “Kevin’s unwillingness brought me some sobering thoughts on the subject. I see no disloyalty as you said my dear Dean but when a great man opposes mightily on any plan you must listen to him like your life is depending from his words. What defenses will the elves provide, General Kevin, if we attack with full strengths?” The king asked and Kevin answered immediately. “If we attack from the north they will bring down the bridges so we will have problem transporting our troops in the forest. Also we will be easy victims while we will fixing the bridges. Even if we enter without problems into forest our troops will be permanently traveling in small groups because of the closeness of the trees. We will suffer numerous casualties before we reach Sir Elethar. They will attack us from trees and from the ground from behind and in front of us. We will get tired to death while they will be fresh because of the forest’s aura. They will be close to their regeneration posts while we will be miles away from our lands. At last we will enter Sir Elethar only as prisoners or badly wounded. There they will not spare our lives and our kingdom will lose such power that even the dwarves are going to made profit of it. Attacking from the river with ships is something so foolish I do not want to even talk about it. I am telling you that declaring war in the elves will have deadly impact in our forces.” After the members of this meeting listening Kevin’s words started defending the invasion by talking to each other and making insufferable noise.

“Quiet…quiets my fellows. We should not adopt barbarian mores to our lands. I want to hear everyone and that’s why I called you here,” said the lord of Retoria and was interrupted awkwardly by Dean. “Our army possesses the most experienced archers and the most capable builders and scouts, something Kevin while knows it he chooses not to say. Elves have ridiculous shields and armors.”

“But are fast and dexterous” defended Kevin instantly.

“They do not have weapons we have and are not tactical fighters as we are” Dean stated.

“But they now where to hit their weapons and are cunning.” Kevin answered again seconds before the king silence them with a yell which clearly took enough strength from him. “I release you all from this meeting. I will think your suggestions but I will not forgive anyone creating conflicts in the board. I need you all to be cooperative with each other. You will learn my decision the next weeks. At the moment i will suggest you to take some days off your posts. Farewell to you all.” After these words three guys approach him and carefully escorted him back in his chamber. Dean left with swiftness giving no look to his friend. Kevin confused even more by Dean’s attitude and he walked to his way to ask him for an explanation for his doings. “What’s your problem Dean? Why are you acting like i am a ghost. Like I did something terrible to you? We have discussed all these things and you coming here presenting an option with which, some days before you were against.”

“Some days before? We had discussed this matter months ago my friend. A whole new report from the scouts was saying that it would be easy to seize Sir Elethar. I imagined that you were checking those reports,” answered Dean with coldness and indifference.

“A report? I know nothing of a report? How it reached first your hands and not mines?” Said Kevin clearly upset.

“Maybe you didn’t check it. Maybe you were too busy with other things and you missed it,” his friend said leaving suspicions of what Kevin was busy with. Then Kevin who had reached his limits said with peeved voice. “You have lost your mind Dean. I am familiar with all my soldiers and no one would had created a report in which he would say that attacking in a forest full of elves would be an easy task. And if you are suggesting that i am busy by doing other things than to work for my force you are deeply wrong and you should apologize.”

“Take it easy Kev. I am not suggesting anything. I am only suggesting to do better your job and sending me reports accurate and true and not whatever comes to your men’s mind.” Dean told with the same expression of apathy, which completely broke Kevin nerves. “This isn’t about the report, is it? You just wanted to embarrass me in front of everyone. You wouldn’t even listen to what I was saying. You only wanted to support anything it was against me and you did. I… I really want you to explain what made you act like this. We are brothers for god’s sake.”

“Oh come on now Kev. You are becoming annoying by saying all these. Everyone knows that you are king’s most beloved person. He is in favor of you from the beginning and now he sees you like his son. You weren’t embarrassed at all. I indeed think that he is going to listen to you and not to everyone else who supported clearly war.”

“He sees you as his son Dean too. What’s the problem with you at least? Kevin said with a cry that made everyone near them curious about what they were talking about.

“Take it easy. Everyone is looking at us. You should relax. Take the days off as the king said. It would be good for your nerves. I see you around.” Dean answered again with easiness in his voice which was clear a mind game from him and then he climbed on his horse and  rode with hastiness leaving Kevin wondering where his friend, he knew, had gone.

 

The Palace,

The years passed rapidly. The once unprotected and scared children were now crucial and charismatic parts of the Retoria kingdom. Their fate was very kind with them, after what happened to their families. They still were more than friends and they spend hours together talking about everything they want and it was bothering them. The Retorians poisoned their minds, deceiving them with lies after saving them. They had been told that the Red Lake kingdom had started the war actions and they had no option other than to attack, something which was a sheer falsehood. They had also been told that they tried to negotiate with Carlow’s peasants but they had been provoked by the majority of them, so they destroyed the whole village as an action of self defense. The two friends trust these lies, but something inside them was still burning and was still asking for revenge and they would discover it someday. For the present, they had to obey in those who spared their lives and made them eminent young adults. The fortitude they showed back in the forest made Retorians believe that they had something special in them. Therefore they trained the children to be great warriors and so they became. Their capability in combat and their wisdom and intelligence made even the king to command his servants to pay special attention to these young miracles.

After seven years of hard and unstoppable training in the year 1120 they joined the army in different units but they had the same commission. They were the youngest generals that the history of Retoria had ever seen. Dean was the General of the Army and Kevin was the general of an elite force of scouts better in search and movements than the elves, something which was extraordinary. For someone to be a general was something very painful because he had to fight several battles as a soldier and as a sergeant something the kids never did. But the attention the king gave to them was something special. Lots of council members criticized openly the king for showing such favor in such young and foreign origins, while the army recruits believed that the skills of Dean and Kevin were god’s gifts. They’ve also changed their religion. They didn’t worship Progo but Dreathor the god of strength and fighting. The god that the whole empire was worshipping with enormous statues and imposing temples. When they reached their twentieth year the king announced in a bright ceremony that when he would be dead, these two men would be in charge of this kingdom, ruling the lands by their will. This decision angered the council members who tried to change the king’s choice by force. All of them were banished from Retoria lands once and for all and when they were far away they and their families were killed and no one heard anything from them again.

Dean and Kevin gathered all the attention a man could have in such a terrific kingdom. The Red Lake kingdom was only a memory and all its lands were added to Retoria. The only free lands escaping Retoria’s dominance were the dwarven kingdoms of the mountains north of Gisalior and the elven forests south of Gisalior.

Concerning their fighting abilities Kevin was great in battling with one sword in each hand without holding a shield. He was able to defend with his long swords particularly good. Also he was very fast and cunning but he was powerless to resist in strong and heavy calls. In the other hand Dean was invincible. He hadn’t lost a single fight and his strength was something unseen before. He was six and a half feet tall and he was too muscled. In battle he preferred fighting with a great sword and a tower shield which made him even more terrifying. He was also a tactical genius and his army was in great respect for him. The next two years they fought many battles all with great results for Retoria. But fighting and war was not the only concern they had.

While they were still growing they fall in love with the same woman. A girl called Roxanne. She was the daughter of king’s brother who had been killed years ago. The girl was so beautiful that dozens of nobles were seizing her. She had blonde hair and amazing hazel eyes which were freezing every man he was looking at them. She was astonishing and her presence made the adult men population to suffer every time she was making a public appearance. But the most interesting thing about her was not her beauty but the fairness and the graciousness of her personality which enchanted the two friends. She always had a jovial smile and was in the mood of helping and chatting with anybody and always was getting shy with a compliment. Kevin who was more charismatic and handsome adult always attracted her more and Dean was feeling that he would lose her any time. This grew a small competition between them. They were never talking about it pretending each one that had no interesting for the young lady.

In twenty one of December of 1122 the young lords of Gisalior took part in a battle between Retorians and orcs in the northern bounties of Retoria’s kingdom very close to dwarven cities. Kevin came back badly wounded and the news spread. Roxanne visited him in the hospital where he found also Dean. The three of them made a good company despite the little secrets they had between them. Roxanne was very concerned about what happened and stayed whole nights in Kevin’s side. The same did Dean. When Kevin wake up he said what happened and he fully forgot that the man who saved his life was Dean. Since then Roxanne stacked with Kevin and ignored Dean continually. A cold night, Dean while he was returning back home felt cries covering his face for the first time after his parent’s death. The man hid in a small alley and whispered “I should have left you behind Kevin; I should have ignored you like she is ignoring me.” Then he looked his chest. There it was a big mark from an orc’s axe, which he had taken to save the unconscious Kevin. It was a hit which would have killed anybody. But Dean was able to walk and run few moments later holding tight his friend. The rain started slowly to appear and Dean turned back to his place. From now on nothing was going to be the same for the two brothers.

The future,

Minutes later she had prepared the potion which she drunk and walked nearby children causing them fear and disgust from the smell she had. The witch took Kevin hand with convulsive movements and put it in her forehead. She whispered some prays in an unknown language and the only word the kids recognize was Wee Jas, the name of the goddess of death and magic or the Death’s guardian as people use to call her.

After she finished, she left Kevin’s hand and said, “I… I think I’ve made a mistake… This is impossible. You, a king? That’s impossible. But in the other hand, I never failed in such spell. It’s definite right. You…are going to rule a whole kingdom my child. You are going to be…a king.” These words made Kevin’s head going around . He wasn’t sure if he listened what he wanted or if he listened badly. Therefore, he asked again what the witch said, taking again the same answer, “a great king of men.” The emotions that were created into him were burning every inch of his body. “Me? A king? But how? I am only a village boy having no thoughts of becoming great.” Kevin noted. “Oh my child, you are too small to have any thoughts. The chain of events in unpredictable and you only walk one path in your life. Our destiny is deliberate.” The witch pointed winsomely. All this time Dean had been watching with an expression of someone who saw a dragon killing a whole unit of soldiers in a glimpse of an eye. He wasn’t able to believe what he was listening to, either because he was usually the voice of logic or because he was little jealous of what his friend had the chance to be. Moments of silence followed. The old lady openly shocked from what she foreseen tried to remain calm. Kevin’s mind was creating images of him been a king, having all kinds of comforts and whole armies ready to be launched by his command. Great palaces with thousands of servants in his will. He would do friendships with elves and dwarves and slain orcs and trolls with his might. He would build a big palace for his family to settle there instead of the small house they were leaving on. It was just then that his thought was interrupted by the witch. “But I saw great pain and death also my boy. I saw things that I must forget them for I do not want to have any relevance with them. You must go now. Tell nobody that you saw me because I’ll haunt your steps for all eternity. Run, run now.” She bawled with this frightful voice. The two friends took some seconds to come back from the fantasy world they had created with palaces and terrific armies. The witch now seemed angry and inhospitable. They stood up with fast movements and walked outside without speaking to the woman. It was then that Dean turned back to witch’s lair and asked her if he was in Kevin’s future a great warrior or a king of himself. The answer of her was a great blare that pierced children’s body thousands of times making them run like never before falling over and over again in their hastiness. Moments later they looked back to see if they were been chased from her and surprisingly they saw nothing, neither of a house or a witch, nothing at all. Like all these happened in a dream so alive that you don’t know if it was true even if days or weeks have passed. The kids decided that it was pointless to go back. This was something they would discuss back home near the fire, under the table as they used to do when they gathered in Kevin’s house.

The sun had risen a few hours ago meaning that they spend approximately all morning resting in witch’s lair. At last they reached their village. There were no sounds of the chapmen going here and there selling things and driving you mad with their cries and no sounds of chickens or cows or birds lullabies. There was no smell of fresh bread taken straight from the bakery and no smell of green grass. The only smell that was infecting the air was the smell of fire all over the land. The smell of blood and pain, of death and heartless deeds. The two beloved friends without even speaking made their nasty conclusions but were too feared to speak or them. They approach carefully and when they walked outside the forest, they saw what it was causing them illness even in the thought of. The whole village had been burned. Not a single house was standing. People and kids just like them were lying in the grass killed with cruelty that you hardly believe that a man with feelings deed that. That a man with family and kids would pierce a child in such a way without imagining that he is piercing his own flesh. Kevin asked Dean to search for their families but Dean was crying choking with sobs. He knew his family was dead. Kevin knew too, but he was hoping in a miracle. He was hoping that his father dealt with the Retorians or took his mother somewhere safe to protect her from death. Moments later a soldier of Retoria with full plate armor and the red and blue characteristics of this kingdom appeared seeing the boys. He started running to their side with his sword ready to pierce them until there was no life in them. The kids were panicked. Staying few seconds more and they will be dead for sure. They stampeded again inside the forest, first Kevin, and then Dean. They didn’t look back again and they were shouting to the witch to show herself to save them. As expected the witch never appeared and they continued until the forest was dark. They had been running for hours with full speed and now were exhausted. Kevin collapsed while Dean stayed alert all night long, crying for his lost family and his fate. He was sure that the witch was just all a fake because now it was more than ever sure that they would never be kings of men.

When the morning came the smell of fire had reached them making breathing difficult. Without realizing they had travelled all the way through Mushrooms Forest and had reached the other side something they hadn’t done before. They carefully stepped outside and they could hear water falling from a far distance. It was the noise from the great waterfalls of the Red Lake from which their kingdom had taken its name. This lake was located a hundred miles far from the spot where the children were. They had no place to go and they knew nothing of the areas far away from Carlow. Anxiety and fear were now covering their hearts while the emptiness from their family loss was growing and eating their insides like a virus spreading across their body. They decided to go in the direction of the falls something which was going to take their life because the nearest village was three days far and the falls were one week trip. The kids were unacquainted with these facts so they started with no food and supply their peregrination. The hours were passing dramatically slow and their patience was slowly ending. The hunger was undefeatable and their muscles run weak.  When the night came they stopped with fever and they were sure that this was their last night. They slept uneasily having to deal with terrible nightmares. The morning continued their path but few hours later they had been overcome by illness. They stopped waiting for a miracle which did actually happen. A small unit of Retorians was passing through. They saw the kids and approached. Kevin was now seeing his family calling him to follow them. But he was so ill that he couldn’t even move his fingers to reach his mothers hand. Dean was crying loudly with desperation and anger. The army reached them and captured the kids. The two young friends fell into a swoon. They had their consciousness when they saw the Red Lake’s villages falling and when they entered from a huge gate into a giant city called Gisalior which was the capital of Retoria. They were the only prisoners from their lands, the only ones having survived. It was the last day of April of the year 1113.

The witch,

The whole witch idea lasted about two two years. The young lads searched all places near and inside the Mushrooms Forest to find any evidence of an evil witch casting spells and laughing hysterically but there was nothing found, disappointing them greatly. Several weeks passed without any searching until the twelfth birthday of Dean. The day started for Dean tremendously. He ate the whole cake which his mother made for his birthday and then his father gave him a small sword with wooden blade crafted with patience by him. Dean was so jocund that he was singing and dancing in a hilarious way all day long making others laugh with his doings. Early the evening had invited some of his friends to his home for playing and eating the new cake which his mother was going to make. Of course Kevin was invited to and he was the first who came but speaking the truth he was in Dean’s home from late the morning, therefore it’s falsity to say a thing like that. When all kids arrived they sat in the garden in small little chairs except from Dean for obvious reasons. Then his father who was a great storyteller spun a yarn about a kingdom far away where half men and half wolves’ creatures were leaving. The kids were listening with impatience and were asking questions of all kinds. Few moments later emotions changed. A man riding a horse stopped near the garden and asked Dean’s father to come. He was wearing leather armor and he was equipped with a long sword which was attracting children’s eyes. Some other peasants also went nearby to hear his talk by his command. Kevin and Dean with the curiosity levels high, tried to approach but Dean’s mother with sharp voice cut them instantly. When the talk finished, the horseman run away, announcing in such a way that anyone could hear him, “Meet me at the centre of the village as I said to you.” People’s faces seemed desperate. Dean’s father came back with an expression of great pain and sadness. “Oslonham has fallen. Kingdom of Retoria had prevailed against it and tomorrow morning they will be here.” His words were like a stab in the heart, like a thunder in a no clouded sky. He walked amongst kids and asked them to return back home to be with their families. In fact he said the half true about what happened in Oslonham. The army of Retoria invaded and massacred the whole city burning it from the ground. Oslonham was the capital of the kingdom of the Red Lake and the small Carlow was a part of it. The kingdom of Retoria was for a long time hostile to Red Lake and this assault was just natural consequence. Now the peasants had a few hours of preparing themselves to die with dignity if Retorians were to attack. The children run all away except from Kevin as expected. “You should go back home young lad. Your father would like to have you there to do some work for him for he must meet me in the centre of the village with the other citizens. Do not make him wait.” Dean’s father said with hard voice. Kevin who was no sure for what was happening whispered that he had a great plan to Dean’s ear and then by saluting his parents went straight back home. Anxiety and fear covered the village like fog covering the lands in a cold winter night. People were coming here and there with emptiness in their eyes. Kevin was recommended strongly not to leave house for today and that’s what he was going to do because his mother was too depressed to be leaved alone.  The night came and Alexander came back. He was in good mood and he tried to transfer it to his wife vainly. “Tomorrow it’s a big day my son. We must sleep early enough to restore our power because visitors will come to our lands. We ought to be polite to welcome them.” Alexander said with a soft tone in his voice provoking instant questions to the small child’s mind.

“But father, we were part of Red lake and Oslonham were our leaders as I know from history books and from what you’ have said to me. These Retorians are no friendly as I know. Why to welcome them and not give them steel and axes…” were the words of Kevin.

“Steel and axes? My boy steel and axes is never the way. Not the way of a peasant, not even of a great warrior. Remember this. A great man uses no weapon until he finds a solution with his head. Until all options are unable and the only way of escaping death is using your steel or axes or whatever you like most. A man’s weapon is firstly his mind, then his speech and then his weapon. Forgetting this thing and you will be grounded by me you little demon. Promise me that you will keep this in mind whatever your future will be.” Answered the father and then he took his child for bed.

“I promise father. I will never touch weapons because I don’t want you to be sad because of me…” the young lad said while he was climbing into bed ready for sleep. Alexander kissed his boy and walked heavily outside. Few moments later Alexander and Marianna lied down and saw dreams full of death and agony.

Of course Kevin wasn’t going to sleep at all. In his mind the idea of the witch never went away and now was determined to find this creature at all costs. He thought that early the morning all peasants will be gathered in the centre of the village, so he will be able to search the forest with his comfort. In this plan he wasn’t alone. He would pay a visit to Dean early the morning to awake him and take the route straight to Mushrooms Forest. A smile had been created all over his face and something was telling to him that tomorrow he would be speaking with a real witch.

Before sun rising, his parents were awake and they had preparations for today’s events. Kevin had slipped carefully through the hall and by finding the front door open, escaped from his home staring for the last time if anyone had seen him. Then walking rapidly reached Dean’s house and by hiding into a bush threw a stone in Dean’s window. The tall kid woke up with curiosity and when he opened the window he saw his friend inside a bush with small green ears instead of real. “WHAT are you doing down there? Are you serious?” told Dean.

“SSSShhh…shut up. Put some clothes in you and come outside. I have a great plan. It’s going to work for sure.” The small demon answered. Dean who had heard this suggestion a thousand times didn’t had the courage to say no because Kevin had the ability to be twice annoying each time he listened to negative replies. He dressed up with whatever he found and carefully followed Kevin until they reach the forest. The village was still sleeping and it was easy enough to walk unnoticed through it. The forest looked as a dark mass, like an iceberg in the night sky without stars. “I am scary…” said Dean with frightened voice, but Kevin never replied. He was full of passion and he nearly jumped into the forest. They wonder here and there in the dark making Dean ill from fear. The incident two years before had made him scaring to death in the view of a dark forest.

“Can you hear this? Can you hear this voice?” questioned Kevin with flashing eyes after reaching the deeper parts of the place. “No, no … What is it? Let’s…let’s run from here. We are not safe. Have you lost your mind?” Dean said and he was ready to start yelling with all he had. Kevin stopped for a second and located the voice. “The witch. She is inviting us. We must go straight ahead. She is waiting us.” Dean’s soul froze to death and he couldn’t breathe at all. He didn’t listen to any of these unimaginable things that Kevin was speaking about. He followed him. They were almost an hour out there and the sun rising made his presentation above the old trees that were lying in this forest. They continued until they came close with a derelict house. It was very old and in the garden of it there were symbols crafted in stones. The kids were scarred but now even Dean was curious to explore this finding. Kevin heard no voices before but he pretended to, just to convince Dean to carry on because he knew that his beloved friend would never leave him alone in such place. And now because of his trick they reached something which seemed more with a witch house like any other they had explore before. They approach without making any noise and entered in the small unguarded garden. Near those stony symbols were tiny little animal corpses. The fear was filling every inch of their existence. A sudden scream froze them and the appearance of an extremely ugly and scary shape, looking like an old lady with the face of a troll, made them collapse instantly.

When they recover from the shock, they were inside this dirty hole in which this creature had found a home to live. Dean screamed immediately but he felt that his voice couldn’t be heard even outside this cabin. The witch put them in a small sofa dirtier than a bear’s cave but no matter what her action took some positive points in children’s thoughts. Her look was terrifying and he seemed a thousand years old. “Do not be scary of me you little squirrels. I am not meaning to harm you. I had a long time to meet people and especially young children like you. You should forgive my small outburst before. Screams and things like that.” Said the old lady with a voice taken from a scary fairytale and then she offered a cup of forest tea to her guests. “We want to go home. Please leave us.” Said Dean still frightened to death. “I want to learn my future. Can you do this for me?” Added Kevin aggressively, giving no importance on his friend’s request. In fact the main reason why all this time Kevin was searching consistently the witch was about learning his future. “Your future? I have many years to foreseen someone’s future my kid. So many that your father’s age multiply with your village’s existing years don’t even reach them. But I’ll give it a try for you because you are my only visitors since a very long time, plus the will you showed to find me all this time is something remarkable. I know everything going on in this forest my kids. Even the time you were lost a whole night in the dark paths of this old and peculiar forest.” The old woman replied and his last words made the kids shudder at the mere thought of. She was all this time out there and had been watching their steps while they were seeing nothing. The witch asked time to find the ingredients to make the right elixir which Kevin had asked and which was going to reveal his future.

The birth of a friendship,

He slipped in the slippery road which was covered with rainwater and fell. He felt no pain and continued his way with full speed.  The tall and spare man with long blonde hair and a neglected beard was running so fast that you could easily assume that he was trying to escape from the worst nightmare or his most feared enemy. A few moments earlier, back in a pub of a small village called Carlow, a friend informed him that his pregnant wife was ready to bring a new member into family. As a result, he now was running to meet her back home, so to assist her and provide all his positive energy. He was whispering prays and begged the almighty Progo, the god of sun and protector of his family, to help his wife in this particularly difficult situation. Once he reached home, the running shape entered without recognizing that he passed through the door cutting his face in several places.

“Marianna, Marianna my love,” he shouted more desperately than ever before. In his frenzy he managed listening cries coming from the bedroom. Not cries from an adult woman but from a small little thing unable to speak his gratitude or to spell his love for the people who gave him birth. The man with his lower limps suffering from an instant petrifaction finally made it and stepped in the bedroom. They say that there is just one second, in which you deal with such happiness that you think you could easily fly or pass the most difficult barrier, in your whole life. The picture of his wife holding their child was that second of true happiness for the peasant and something which he would never forget. Near there, were two women, who aid his wife, bringing the baby to life.

“My love Alexander, it’s a boy, a boy. Look at him my love. It’s so beautiful,” his wife said with tears covering her face. Tears which now appeared also in Alexander’s face and made him unable to see a thing and eventually sobbed his heart out. Moments later Alexander lied down next to his wife and gave her a kiss placing in it, all of his love. He then hugged Marianna and their child in such way providing snugness and tenderness not only in their bodies but also to their hearts.

“What shall we call our baby?” asked the man with softness in his voice so not to disturb the baby who was now falling asleep. “Let’s give him the name of your father…Let’s call him Kevin. It was a noble and strong man,” answered his wife. Alexander wiped his eyes and his nose from tears and smiled giving his wife a stare which he rarely did.

“Kevin is a great name. I am sure that he would be greater than his grandfather and nobler and stronger. I hope my beloved wife that we will be there, next to him to see him making his own family until we fall in deep sleep full of pride and happiness. I love you both and I would gladly give my life for what I consider as the most expensive and priceless gifts I have ever had,” where the last words from Alexander before closing his eyes holding his family tight. They fell asleep without realizing, that these were the happiest moments of their lives.

Several years  passed since the birth of Kevin and now the child was already ten years old. He was just as every kid in this age. His body was weak but his mind and his fantasy was growing day by day strong with rapid rhythms. The little child was everyday up with something different, but usually was playing around or was making numerous jokes with his buddy Dean who was taller and fatter than other kids but was also stronger and frightener. Those two had made a perfect team and were the troublemakers of the small village. They were always searching for adventures either by sneaking into Progo’s temple and causing troubles to priests by stealing candles and different things or by entering the Mushrooms Forest which was laying east and south of the village. They spent hours and hours imagining and pretending that are great kings of men who had magic swords and invincible armors. Each day the sympathy and the companionship for each other were growing swiftly. They didn’t care if it was too early in the morning or too late in the night. They only did care about was playing and wondering here and there until they had no fuel to carry on their adventures.

One day, as they had as usual escaped from school and sneaked into the forest without any permission, they got lost because of Kevin’s utter folly to follow a dire, which was going to lead them in a temple when an ancient and powerful item had been held. Of course the dire lead them not to an ancient item but deep into the forest where they knew no way back. Therefore, they spend a whole night in the wilderness crying and praying to gods for their savior. Lastly, early the morning their parents found them but were so upset with their children that started yelling about their inappropriate behavior. It was then that Dean took a deep breath and said. “You should not be angry with Kev. It was my fault and I take full responsibility about what I have done. Leave my friend alone.” Kevin stared at Dean with astonishment. His friend had taken the blame for what he had provoked. Instantly the parents of Dean started shouting and stretching his ears and disciplined their son by grounding him for a month. In the road back Kevin despite the fact that was two young he knew that he had from now on a brother and not just a common friend. In the last glance they give each other, Kevin asked with his eyes “why”. “Because that’s what friends do Kev. See you in a month.”

Back in the house Kevin’s family were still upset but the anger had gone way because of Dean’s statements. While Alexander was outside taking care of a business with the small garden they had, his child approached careful and said to him apologetically.

“Father, it was me who did this stupidity. Not Dean. But he took the responsibility and I wonder why he did that. Please don’t start shouting again. I… I am sorry like never before.” Then Alexander turned his head to Kevin and with warm and soft voice answered his boy.

“My boy, I am not going to shout again at you. My heart is already in pain by doing that back in the forest. Shouting is never the solution and I should apologize for this despite what your mother believes about shouting and yelling.” Said Alexander creating a small sarcastic smile in his face and continued. “Dean did what he did because you are a friend of him. He cares about you and he wants to protect you just like you do. Friendship is not only playing around or doing funny things and laughing with others. A friend is a person similar with a brother. In fact, we choose friends while our brothers not. A friend is someone who is going to take the hit for you, who is going to sacrifice himself for you to survive. That’s what Dean did today. He took the hit without caring about the consequences for you to go unpunished. Do not forget what he did. You should be always there when he is going to need you, not just to pay back what he did for you, but because you are a friend willing to take the hit for him to survive. Do you understand my boy?”

“Yes father. I am willing to take the hit for Dean whatever the cost. I will visit him now just to say to him how much grateful am i.”

“Stay where you are you little demon. Your friend is punished at the moment and he must sleep well because as I imagine he stayed asleep all night watching your back while you were sleeping deeply.”

“But father…” gasped out sadly the young kid. “No young lad, you should stay here for now. You will see your friend tomorrow. Now go as fast as possible inside before I change my mind about you being grounded.” Kevin accepted his father’s words and walk straight back to home. Just before entering into house Alexander spoke his last words, “Don’t you ever reach Mushrooms Forest again Kev.  It’s unsafe as you saw and there is a witch down there casting unholy spells to young lads like you and your friend. You should avoid these places before you find yourself in bigger problems. Promise?”

Kevin’s eyes flashed, “I promise dad. No forest. No witch.” Moments later he had figured a plan of how he would find the witch and he was going to share it with the only brother he had!

Dumenor!

 

This is the map of Dumenor!