Memories of the Past
In the Camp to the North, the Skeiths were also preparing for an attack.
They knew the Defenders would get word of their deeds and the Skeiths were hoping
for just such a reaction from the Queen's. Their leader, a fierce and mean Skeith,
Gorlaz sat pondering the events of the day. Gorlaz had blood red eyes and a
tough slime green coloured hide. Larger than most Skeiths, he was demented and
cruel. Often attacking his soldiers and eating them for no reason other than
he didn't like the way they looked. Unknown to the Defenders he had made sure
to leave the little faerie child alone to bare witness to his plan. I wonder
if the Queen's will personally come to the fight, he mused.
"Foral! Come here," he called to his slave. A pathetic, ill and obviously
beaten Grundo crawled from the shadows of his master's tent. Foral was a sickly
yellow, with huge purple and greenish bruises, distorting the colour of his scales.
Dim coloured orange eyes peered up at his Master.
"Yes, Your Greatness. What may your humble slave do for thy greatness?" Foral
asked. Staying just out of reach of his Master.
"Go to General Dieel and tell him I want him to double the guards and scouts,
for the Defenders should be here soon." Turning away from his slave already
dismissing him from his mind and presence, he returned his attention to the
map of the realm.
"By tomorrow all this will be mine," he snickered under his breath. He sat
his heavy frame down onto a chair. Examining the map closely he knew exactly
where the army would attack, with how many troops they'd bring and their weaknesses.
For he had been planning this war for a long, long time. The Skeiths were a
people of a warlike nature and evil to the core. Many of the "prisoners" had
all ready been eaten, but Gorlaz warned his troops to make sure plenty of them
stayed alive so to be bait for the arriving army. Laughing evilly, Gorlaz remember
how many of his "prisoners" he had eaten as well. "Tasty things those pixies
are." He said to no one but the warm summer night air. "Soon I will throw down
those Queen's and the Defender's Army will be no more." He gathered up his maps,
armor and weapons and left his tent to see if his orders were being followed.
The scene outside was of pure military order, the type you'd find only in
a tyrants army. For his soldiers knew if they failed him in any small way their
life wouldn't be worth a cup of slime. All around the encampment Gorlaz saw
his guards keeping watch for any sign of the impending attack. Good, Good,
he thought, everything is ready.
Just then General Dieel walked up to his leader. Dieel was the colour was shadows
before sunset, with large black eyes. Not as big as his master but just as strong,
which is why he probably hadn't been eaten yet.
"Your Grace, scouts have returned word that we were indeed successful in getting
the false information to the Defenders." The general smiled. "Also that their
scouts know nothing of the ambushes to the east." Handing Gorlaz the report
from the scouts he added. "There is word that the Widow will be leading one
division."
Gorlaz gave a spasm to hear that. "Truly?" He asked. Rubbing the scar that
ran down the left side of his face. "So revenge is to be mine." His mind drifted
back to when he received that scar. It had been over four years ago when he
was on the hunt for Eyrie meat. Coming to a clearing he saw a magnificent beast
dueling with young faerie women. He watched silently for a bit and could tell
that they were sparring. All around them were other faerie folk and their companions.
"Great move, Widow!" one called out.
"Thanks, Samtila."
Samtila was the daughter of Morgana, a small child even by faerie standards,
the same raven black hair as her mother and deep sapphire coloured eyes. The
marshal's daughter, mused Gorlaz; he knew this about them and much more,
for he had plans in the making for these faerie folk. Samtila sat on the grassy
knoll of a small hill near by where lady and her Eyrie were sparring. Next to
her was a delicious looking Aisha, named Ashmon, blueberry in colour with pink
eyes. What I wouldn't do for a bite of that one, Gorlaz had considered.
Skeiths were legendary for their huge appetites and their love for hunting other
Neopian creatures. As for the others around the knoll, Gorlaz guessed their
identities easily, for he had been gathering information on these people for
years. Beside Samtila and her Aisha was her twin brother Ma'ttin with his huge
Grarrl companion. Ma'ttin was large for his age, also very smart and strong.
His hair was a bluish type of black, with golden brown eyes. His Grarrl was
of course huge as Grarrl's are, blue scaly skin with, glowing green eyes. Gorlaz
felt pity for the Grarrl having to be around so many creatures that it classed
as food and yet never being allowed to give in to its primal urges of hunting.
Next to them was the their elder sister Abby MagicWater, also one of Morgana's
pesky brats, Gorlaz snorted in disgust. Where her siblings were coloured after
their mother, she had blonde white hair, peach coloured skin and large brown
eyes one could lose themselves in. She was grooming her Kougra, a royal blue
coloured striped cub with soft violet eyes, with a gold hairbrush and whispering
quietly to him, lost in her own little world.
Morgana, Avalona, Aurora, Isadorfae, and Sybelle were across the clearing
sitting on a blanket eating a picnic. All their companions around them frolicking
in the mid afternoon sun.
Too many to attack, but I'll sit back and watch. Gorlaz hunched down
into the brush and waited, taking in every movement and every word.
A messenger arrived what felt to Gorlaz as hours later, and rode up to the
Queen's. Judging from her dress she was of council blood. So this must be
the famous Pebs, Gorlaz noted to himself.
"Your Graces, an urgent matter has arisen at the castle that needs your attention."
Pebs then gave Aurora the note and stood patiently by for an answer. Pebs was
of noble baring and her manner showed it. With snow white hair and vivid gold
eyes and she was striking. She was also the daughter of the Knight Tiedkisses.
Avalona stood up not needing to read what her sister was, due to their bond.
"Okay time to gather up and return to the Castle." Avalona announced to the
gathering.
"Grand mother may I have more time please?" Lady Black asked of her.
"Of course darling, but be careful!" With that she turned to gather the food
and children.
Finally! thought Gorlaz, What a streak of good luck.
Everyone but Lady and her companion left after a few moments. Creeping out
of the shadows, Gorlaz quietly removed his Sword of Domar from its scabbard,
and walked towards his intended victims.
"I don't know who you are but if you wish to live beyond the day, I suggest
you announce yourself." Lady stated this without fear and hadn't even turned
around to see who was behind her. Gorlaz jumped and whispered a curse. How foolish
and clumsy to have been heard.
Turning around Widow regarded him with a cool and level gaze. "So Sir, will
you please state your name." Acknowledging the blade in his hands. "So I am
to know who it is I must defend myself against." Raising her own sword between
herself and Gorlaz.
"My lady," he said, giving Widow a mocking bow. "I am Gorlaz, High Ruler of
the Skeith Nation, Slaughter of innocents, and your worst nightmare." Grinning
he started to stalk her.
"Skeith Nation! What business brings you out of your filthy lands," asked
Lady.
"Why your Eyrie for dinner, my foolish young one," Gorlaz growled and then
pounced for Widow.
They exchanged blows for what seemed like forever to Widow. She was growing
weak at paring the blows of such strong enemy. Kooby tried many times to join
the battle but accidentally knocked Widow on her back, giving Gorlaz the opening
he needed. Swinging his blade he went for the final blow, Kooby knocked his
arm, attempting to protect his lady. The flat of his blade hit her full force
across her temple, knocking Widow unconscious.
Gorlaz laughed, returning his attention to the Eyrie when Kooby swiped his
talons across Gorlaz's face.
"You'll pay for that, Eyrie."
"Make me, Skeith!" Kooby spat. Putting himself between his lady and Gorlaz.
Gorlaz calmed his mind and muttered a spell. Suddenly a temporal leak opened
to the side of Kooby. Using his magical powers Gorlaz lifted Lady up and was
about to throw her through the opening, when Kooby pushed her aside and was
sucked in the temporal phase himself. It closed with a bang. Growling in frustration
and totally exhausted from the wound he had received, Gorlaz ran from the clearing.
Lady, who had woken up just a moment before Kooby disappeared, scrambled to
her feet screaming.
"KOOOOBY! NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." Lady watched helplessly as Kooby vanished
from her sight, never to be seen again.
To weak to give chase, to the retreating Skeith, Widow felt to her knees and
curled up into a ball on the grass and sobbed.
"No Kooby don't leave me. I need you." Lying still, she succumbed to the darkness
of unconsciousness again, not realising the hair at her temples on both sides,
had turned white.
Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs of the past, Gorlaz refocused his mind
to the present.
"Soon this will all be over," uttered Gorlaz as he stalked away from his general,
shadows of the past still clouding his vision.
To be continued... | 
