The Sacred Woods of Silvernarion (Book 1)

Chapter 16 Quick Death


Altium Cloudgray rubs his gray beard waiting patiently for Ald’Seran the dark elfin warrior and his son Sald’Morack. A scowling hobgoblin leaves the cave interested at the handful of slaughtered goblins sprawled around the wizard. It waves its axe viciously before approaching the tall and dark motionless robed figure.

Altium raises an eyebrow at the deformed figure, thrilled that it may challenge him alone. The foul creature curses in its language disapproving of the powerful staff before him. Confused of the staffs powers it continues to spit and scowl before walking backwards into the cave.

Altium stands frozen raising the staff higher allowing the glow to increase. He doesn’t dare to keep his eyes of the sly creature as one small mistake will leave an opening for it to strike. The hobgoblin covers its eyes as the red glowing shaft intensifies. Annoyed and frustrated it heads back into the tunnel that descends deeper inside the earth.

It gives a final roar accepting its defeat and angered that it cannot search the dead goblins for any valuables. Lowering his staff he looks once again at the odd inscriptions to his newly owned possession. He touches the symbols confused of its marking. He has mastered many dialects and ancient languages in his lifetime, yet these are unknown to him.

He rubs his fingers down the shaft following the symbols that wrap around it carefully. Why would a human girl, wood elf, and a halfling own such a rare and powerful staff? And if it is does not belong to the dark elf, then who does it belong to? Time passes as eventually two dark elves leave the cave looking keenly at the gray wizard.

“It seems I have made you wait awhile,” Ald’Seran says.

His son looks upwards at the star covered skies for the first time in his life.

“So as promised you will take me to this stronghold,” Ald’Seran continues stepping over a headless goblin.

“So it shall be,” Altium replies.

“He takes out from under his robes a scroll, unravels it and chants quickly the magical words to it.

“Morikulam-del-Sorikulam!” he screams.

(Puff) they disappear to appear in front of a huge fort. The fort looks worn down with chunks of rocks missing at various parts of its walls. A destroyed tower stands behind the wall followed by an arena, which overshadows the main wall.

“An interesting spell you have chanted,” Sald’Morack mentions as he looks around in his new surroundings.

Altium bows his head appreciating the formidable wizard’s compliment.

“Before you enter this place of hell, I suggest you wear these,” Altium explains in elfish handing over some masks made out of silver.
Sald’Morack frowns, as he looks at the gargoyle shape masks and gives them to his father.

“Why must we wear these?” Ald’Seran asks also frowning at the masks that have represented his enemy for centuries.

“It is too soon for any race to know of the return of dark elves. Rumors spread fast, yet I am sure this stronghold knows nothing of your kind yet,” Altium replies slyly handing over some black gloves woven decoratively with silver stitches.

They cover themselves completely trusting the human wizard’s idea.

“Follow me,” Altium orders as he leads the two elves towards the front gates.


The menacing stronghold is faintly lighted with torches.

Two men in typical mercenary armor stand guard in front of the rusty drawn gate. Their helmets reveal little of their faces, as their hissing sounds indicate that they are of lizard origin. They do not move allowing the newcomers to enter. Altium passes various shacks as grotesque creatures walk pass the dark elves.

They pay no mind at the newcomers. The many different types of creatures looming the streets are busy robbing and stealing others to worry about them at the moment.

A huge twelve foot Minotaur snorts, as he waits for his two handed battleaxe to sharpen. The equal sized ogre grinds the weapon on a spinning stone wheel with great pride.

The sounds of rumbling are heard after blaring noises of trumpets at the arena. Altium gets to the entrance of the huge building as a skinny man with one arm stares at the wizard.

“Are you a spectator or a challenger?” he asks mundanely as if he asks this many times throughout the day.

“Challenger,” replies Altium.

“To the left down the stairs,” the ticket master points with his one arm down the stairs.

Altium walks down the stairs to open the door.

Grunting, clashing, and clinging are heard from a distance as many challengers practice with their weapons on various platforms. A beastly hairy man approaches Altium. He scowls revealing rotten teeth.

“What do we have here?” he asks before spitting on the wizard’s boots. Altium rolls his eyes as he looks up at the burly grotesque man.

“I have the bandit king before your eyes beast man,” Altium replies.

“Doesn’t everyone say that,” he spurts laughing at the wizard.

He then walks past Altium to look up and down at the two masked figures.

“Do you harness magic because I could squash you with my left hand alone,” he jokes once again looking earnestly at Ald’Seran.

The dark elf stands unconcerned at the beast waiting patiently for the wizard to continue.

“What beast got your tongue?” the beast laughs once again before looking at the wizard.

“Get your children out of here foul conjurer before I ram their heads,” he warns breathing down the wizard’s forehead. Altium takes out a pouch of gold and jiggles it to catch the beastman’s attention.

“Only one will be challenging,” Altium replies coolly, continuing to hold the gold pouch in front of the beast.

He grabs it and scowls.

“Take them to Gijinxsko. She will tell you what to do,” the beast answers before walking up the stairs with his bag of gold.

Sald’Morack looks at the odd creature limping awkwardly up the stairs before looking at his father.

“What was that?” he asks.

“It was nothing more then a weak surface dweller. It doesn’t matter what they look like or what they say. I must defeat the challengers and claim my throne,” Ald’Seran replies.

“Good answer. Your first match will come tonight,” Altium says before walking ahead.

They pass the dark training room into a hallway that ascends. The walls are smeared with red, green, and black blood.

The stench is strong as Altium covers his nose with his robe sleeves. A roar occurs as a catbeast appears. She spins a dagger on the palm of her paws smirking at the newcomers.

“Fresh meat I see,” she says looking at Altium.

“I fear you will see no blood in your hallway Gijinxsko,” Altium replies.

“Good that you mention my name. Otherwise I would have skinned all three of you like I did last night to a human warrior who snuck his way here to me,” she replies.

Altium shows no expression at the many threats he received thus far for it is the mentality that this stronghold survives on. He waits patiently for the catbeast to continue.

“Who will be fighting?” Gijinxsko purrs now putting her claws lightly on the wizards shoulder.

Altium waves for Ald’Seran to draw nearer. The dark elf steps up to stand in front of the cat.

“How disappointing that an old conjurer cannot compete,” she purrs now looking at the masked figure in disgust.

“A mysterious figure you are,” she growls staring at Ald’Seran.

“I fear scimitars do little against some of the toughest cutthroats and warriors this land has to offer,” she continues.

“He will not disappoint you,” Altium intervenes.

“We will see soon enough conjurer,” she replies.

“Continue down the hall and wait when you reach the gates. When the gates open your match begins,” the cat beast explains.

Ald’Seran doesn’t understand and looks at Altium. The wizard points up the hall, as the dark elfin warrior grabs his curved scimitars and looks at his son.

“Stay with the wizard,” he orders.

Gijinxsko listens at the language but doesn’t recognize it. She then looks at the wizard looking for an explanation.

“It is an old form of elfish,” Altium explains.

“So an elf is in our arena. They are tough fighters and magicians. The last elf amazingly lasted seven challengers until he got sliced in half by Morash’s great battleaxe. He is the arenas champion with nine wins under his belt," replies the catbeast.

“Why doesn’t my elf just challenge him instead of having to fight nine opponents?” Altium asks.

“I don’t make the rules here, yet this Minotaur is not so easily defeated. He waits for an opponent with the same amount of wins before being challenged,” Gijinxsko replies.

“Come with me and I will show you were you can sit to watch your precious elf,” she purrs leading the wizard and the dark elfin magician down the bloody hallway and up the stairs towards the ticket master.

Ald’Seran walks to the closed rusty steel gate observing the huge stadium full of spectators.

The arena is loud as two beast men drag dead hairy bodies off the field leaving a trail of blood behind.

The spectators are anxious for the next fight, as others complain from the lack of entertainment. They throw debris onto the grounds screaming and scowling. He observes intently at the various spectators. Many odd creatures adorn their seat.

Some have long necks as other short. Some have stumpy heads holding small framed bodies. Many of them snort weird noises while they speak, as others have odd, bubbly, colored skin tones.

“Weak surface dwellers,” Ald’Seran scowls as he looks at the comical crowd.

Trumpets blare suddenly, as the crowd cheers stamping their feet onto the arena benches that encircle the stadium.

“Beasts and burdens of the arena, the ultimate battle begins tonight. This is an event you cannot miss.

It is a battle of blood. This is your chance of a lifetime to watch more then two fighters challenge each other.

Everyone will witness these ambitious warriors compete to advance closer to the title of bandit king!” screams a large man with an extraordinary mustache and fine burgundy attire.

The crowd continues to roar as the gates finally lift. Trumpets blare as drum rolls open the first gate.

“Burden and beasts of the arena, please allow me to introduce our first competitor. With five wins and one of the arenas favorites, welcome the notorious rogue Agon!” screams the announcer as the crowd roars louder.

An agile and quick dark figured shadow runs to the center of the arena grounds.

He bows gracefully in every direction before unsheathing a long and thin rapier whisking it back and forth. He then ends it by pointing the sword into the sky and adjusting his black cape.

“Let the battle begin!” shouts the announcer as the gates around the arena begin to lift into old arched ceilings.

Two lizard warriors with shields and spears enter the field as one beastman with a huge spiked club runs out of a different entrance. A pale human runs out of his side of the arena wearing ragged brown robes. He begins to waves his hands chanting a spell.

Ald’Seran grins as he recognizes two hobgoblins with their customary two handed battleaxes walks slowly out of their entrances looking oddly back at him.

The lizard men who enter simultaneously face the popular rogue at the middle of the field who is already dashing back and forth on his agile feet ready for the challenge.

With two quick stabs and three slices the first lizard warrior falls to the ground. His shield and spear fall with him, as he holds his throat trying to prevent from chocking in its own green blood. The other lizard warrior thrusts his spear at the quick rogue who only jumps to the side.

With a powerful slash the spear breaks in half. The lizard man hisses and throws the broken spear to the ground. He then jumps to the ground to grab his fallen partners spear.

The rogue grins to only look at the beast man sneak behind him. Standing two feet taller, it hobbles closer, as the rogue waits patiently following its every step.

Ald’Seran faces the pale human, as bolts of lightning escape his fingers enshrouding the dark elfin warrior. The childish spell is stopped with a wave of his hand.

It is a spell common among surface dwellers that dark elf apprentices learn in their first day of practice. The human mages face turns paler, as he watches his opponent approach.

His gargoyle mask and silky silver gloves show little of who he is challenging. He waves quickly his hands in attempt to cast a more powerful spell. Before he could finish his chanting a scimitar enters his throat. With shocked expressions the human mage falls to the ground.

Ohhhhs and Ahhhhhs are heard throughout the spectators, as they watch with much anticipation at the event.

Ald’Seran turns to snarl at the hobgoblin. The creatures eyes widen in terror surprised that their opponent speaks their language. He walks towards them in a threatening manner staring intently at the first hobgoblin who manages to see the evil violet eyes behind the opponents gargoyle mask.

The hobgoblin’s eyes widen, as he notices that the challenger is a dark elf. He drops his battleaxe walking backwards shockened that this ancient creature from the dark worlds is on the surface. He then runs towards his gate to only see it has been slammed shut. The dark elf smirks, as he grabs the tip of his scimitar and throws it with an easy thrust towards the frightened creature.

The grotesque hobgoblin manages to hold up his arms before experiencing the weapon sink deep into the back of its head.

He falls to the ground instantly. Ald’Seran walks slowly towards the hobgoblin and grabs his unusual weapon out of him.

Agon quickly slices at the lizard entertaining the crowd by shredding its rough leathery skin into pieces. The lizard hisses and hollers at the quick stings and gashes it receives.

Frustrated that the shield does little in defending him, he drops it and grabs the spear with both hands trying to thrust at the rogue. Agon jumps to the side easily keeping an eye on the beast man who tries to find a way to get closer to him.

“Enough playing around!” he says as he stabs the lizard warriors heart with an instant leap and rolls to the ground to face the beast man.

The hairy beast hobbles back a few steps amazed at the quickness of his challenger.

It then gathers its courage and charges hoping to smash the rogue to the ground. The rogue jumps in the air grabbing his sharp sword with both hands and chips with all of his might the head off the beast instantly. The body of the beast doesn’t fall for a moment, as the head rolls down the field. Eventually it falls to the ground.

Ald’Seran amused at the human rogue’s ability walks slowly towards his last opponent. The crowd chants Agon hoping he will end the fight for his sixth win. Sprinting in full speed he jumps into the air and grips his sword once again with both hands ready to slice the dark elf in half.

Ald’Seran impressed at the human’s quickness, watches the rogue fall onto the ground. The crowd’s cheers suddenly fade as the dark elfin warrior wipes the dark red blood on his pant leg before sheathing it. The motionless rogue sprawled on the ground still holds his sword with both hands not noticing what had happened to him.

Ald’Seran grins behind his mask, as he looks around at the dead bodies on the field. An eerie silence continues, as the spectators hoped for Agon to win the battle easily. They stare at the new champion confused.

The announcer staring oddly at the mysterious figure from the lowest benches of the arena stands up slowly. He looks around at the spectators who seem to have become frozen in time. Sald’Morack smiles behind his mask as Altium grins looking at the unusual quiet stadium.

“Well done mysterious figure,” the announcers almost stutters.

Ald’Seran looks up at the human unsure of his intents.

“What shall we call you?” he asks as Ald’Seran stands motionless staring from behind his mask.

“He doesn’t understand the announcer,” Altium Cloudgray whispers in dark elfish to Sald’Morack.

“What did the surface dweller say?” asks Sald’Morack.

“He asks for a name. I suggest a name they will remember,” Altium replies.

“Father the ugly surface dweller asks for a name,” Sald’Morack mentions through telepathy.

“Very well son,” tell them in my voice I am the new king.” Ald’Seran replies.

“My father wishes you to cast a spell to speak the human tongue,” Sald’Morack says.

“Dioris-tar-bel,” the gray wizard chants.

Ald’Seran turns to stare at the gray wizard who nods his head confirming he can now speak.

“You may address me as king,” Ald’Seran says.
The announcer laughs at the humor pushed onto him as the crowd slowly laughs at the ridiculous notion.

“You say you are the king! The king of what!” the announcer shouts with much sarcasm.

“It will not matter when I hang your head on a spike in front of the arena’s entrance,” Ald’Seran answers coolly with little patience.

The announcer stops laughing and looks at the masked figure earnestly. He then straightens up before speaking.

“What race are you?” he asks hesitantly as the crowd stops its laughing and listens intently.

“I am an elf,” Ald’Seran replies after a long pause thinking of what Altium mentioned that it is too soon to mention otherwise.

“Very well, then you shall be called the Silver King. Let us hear a cheer for our mysterious warrior the elfin Silver King!” the announcer shouts before the crowd begins to cheer.

“You may leave the field and get some rest Silver King,” the announcer offers.

Ald’Seran remains on the field. The announcer looks oddly at the threatening figure before repeating himself to leave the field.

“Well leave the field elf!” the announcer repeats somewhat annoyed.

The ancient dark elfin warrior remains motionless staring at the announcer with hatred.

“Very well then elf then you shall witness your next opponent without rest!” the announcer screams frustrated.

The crowd creates a huge roar as banging and thumping noises are heard behind some gates.

Ald’Seran listens intently at the odd fumbling noises the beast creates. He knows of many sounds beasts create in the underground, yet none on the surface.

Without concern, he puts his hand on the hilt of his weapon waiting patiently facing the gate from where the roaring comes from.

The other chapters you will have to see when you buy the novel!

This novel has been accepted by an publishing company and is being processed as we speak. There will be two more books to the epic trilogy and I hope you will enjoy them as well.

I personally am looking forward to the book cover

If you have read the 16 chapters here on Mingle2 then don't hesitate to give your opinion on the story. I am always looking for feedback.


To start from the beginning click the following link - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/195574

Very cool Smiless. Kinda reminds me of R.A.Salvatores style

I hope I have my own style if my novels get popular

but yes R.A. Salvatore is really good in writing battle sequences between two foes. I learned alot from this.

Cool! Thanks Smiless.

My pleasure and may you enjoy a imaginative world full of wonders

Finally. I have read all 16 chapters of the Sacred woods of Silvernarion that smiless have posted here on m2. It has been enjoyable an exciting.

Adventure, love, friendship, and loads of drama, excitement in anticipation of what will happen next. Never boring , always interesting, anxious to get to the next chapter, and the next.

Now I wait in anticipation of what happens till the very end, but alas I must wait until his book is out.

smiless you have done a great job !!!!!

Thankyou for your kind words. Such compliments inspires me to continue writing. It is for many writers one of the greatest rewards to have and that is to have appreciaten for the work they put into their stories.

The book will be out at the end of the year and I will make sure you receive a copy.

Oh what the heck here are 4 more chapters.

Chapter 17 The Storm - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/229597

You are to kind. Thank you , I know that am going to enjoy reading them as much as I did the first 16 chapters.