Book One

In the silence of Per-dawn when decent people still slept Ka’alid walked stealthy along the streets of Meharro, a town near the southern coast of halto-awar torn continent of Rivendale.
As he tightened his cloak around him, Ka’alid said, “Dam this horrid weather!” Not long ago Ka’alid had been part of the king’s elite infantry. Now he is just an angry 30-year-old man with no purpose. After 12 years of military structure, he still rises at dawn and straps on his twin scimitars, given to him by the king himself.
As he round the corner of the street, he hears a rasping pained caught, caught by surprise his had instinctually goes to his scimitar strapped to his left hip. “Who’s there speak now of hear my blade speak for me” Ka’alid says, with that said he draws his blade with surprisingly quickness it blade glimmering in the orange sunlight. There was no reply, however another cough arose form the dark damp ally.
Cautiously he approached the direction of the alarming sound in a defense stance. After about 30 steps, he looks upon a body half slumped against a cracked brick wall. For just a moment, everything went silent except the haggard breathing of the slumped figure.
Against his better judgment, Ka’alid reaches out his free hand towards the figures shoulder and says, “Excuse me, sir, or madam are you alright? I heard your labored breathing form the road and came to see if you needed assistance.” As he closed the distance to less than five feet, the figure begins to take shape. An old mal looking to be nearly 90 with peppered gray hair and a beard. The figure possesses a light blue cloak with some kind of writing on it. It is too filthy for Ka’alid to make out but he figures this man for a trade’s man of some sort.
“Dam it all, Dam this cold this day and my luck Dam it all!” Ka’alid says under his breath as he sheaths his sword and helps the old man stand up straight. He steps closer to get a better look at the old man and is astonished at what he sees. The man’s face is bruised and fresh hot blood ran form the man’s cheek.
“Gods be dammed what happened to you elder sir!?” Ka’alid says so loud it surprised the old man. The old man shifts his weight to lean on Ka’alid and says’ “Pilzar Ocwill is my name in case you are wondering I was wondering if anyone was going to come to my assistance. Thank you kind sir. Please help me to this bench over there and I will tell you my story.
After taking a breath on the bench the old man says” I was attacked, for my gold I think. I was pushed into this ally where I was robbed and beaten.” His labored breath was evident to Ka’alid.. After a few labored breaths the man continues.
“ I am a neutral mage from the guild called Broken Staffs and I am here to speak to the elders at the magi tower on the other side of town. I thought the robbers were going to take my money pouch but they did not. I am almo…..” he broke off in another fit of coughing that caused him to collapse off the bench. As he lay exhausted, he had to force himself back to the bench and continue. “I am almost dead now so it’s of no matter anyway.” When finished speaking he wiped blood off his mouth with the back of his hand.
In the awe of the man willpower Ka’alid says as he kneels in front of the old man, “Pilzar please tell me who did this to you?”
“Special guardsman, I think they wore the royal emblem.
I Don’t Know why the let me live. Perhaps they wished me to suffer to my death.”
Ka’alid noticed that the man’s eyes were beginning to glaze over his death will come soon he had to do something to help this man.
“ Can I help you? Should I get a doctor?” Ka’alid says as he puts his hand on the man’s shoulder.
“Calm down friend, I am dying no doctor in this land can help me now. “ Pilzar says as his breathing becomes increasingly difficult. He reached into his dismantled robe and withdraws a fist-sized pouch. And speaks aging “ Pleas take this….avenge me my friend. I leave my gold to you..(Cough).Just please find and kill the men who did this. You found me for a reason you now have a purpose do this plea…” blood filled tears ran down the old mans cheek as his life was slowly fading.
Not much longer Ka’alid thought to himself.
“I will not do this thigh in which you have asked me to do. Is there not something else I could do?” says Ka’alid.
“No nothing my son just do I have asked. They are five large men. There leader has dark hair and a cut on his face from my dagger.” The old man said. His hold on the pouch slipped dropping the pouch to the ground.
“Go in peace old man. I’ll not soon forget you” Ka’alid said as he closes the old mans eyes.