The Burning Rose (Chapter One)

A tablet was set up on a podium to be read, it recounted Gomots life as a Padwa as well as all the good work that he had done in Lucida. The heroes sat in a circled portion of the garden nearby the memorial; they witnessed all who came to visit Gomot as he lay peaceful inside his floating capsule. All manner of visitor paid their respects to sleeping Gomot be it the Padwa seeking spiritual guidance, the merchant who sought good fortune, or even a lonely widower who wanted not to be so lonely the grande wisdom of Gomot would watch over them. The traffic went on and on as the heroes sat nearby watching and wondering as well as searching for answers.

The stools in which everyone sat upon resembled toadstools and were more comforting to Plodok as well as Zoomer than either Styx or Malcome.

Plodok was in deep contemplation with his legs crossed as he blew bubbles from his crooked pipe. Zoomer was actually carving long branches he had plucked from some trees with a sharpened knife to keep himself busy. While Styx examined Malcom's right hand to check to see if it had mended yet.

"I believe that your hand is almost as strong as it once was.", Styx said as she rubbed it with the same ointment, she had originally used on it. "Let your hand wallow in the fresh air for a bit then I'll re-bandage it again."

"How does it feel otherwise?", Styx asked Malcome

"Actually, my hand is the least of my concerns, but it feels fine. It should be worse for wear as much a I've used it for riding. First to Soros then off chasing a wild horse to some hidden labyrinth of the Salamander or something.", Malcome said sarcastically

"You hide your pain well with humor as well as bravado.", Styx quipped

The conversation between Malcome and Styx continued open to those beside them yet neither felt inclined to join at the moment.

"I am going to have to report back to the Royal Palace to debrief what has transpired. The mission was an abject failure, I will surely be demoted.", Malcome concluded

Plodok said nothing as he blew bubbles from his pipe passively to himself with his eyes closed.

Malcom's remorseful statement allowed for Zoomer to vent a little," I had them...or at least the one that I shot...the one that hit you with that blast of cold!"

"It was paralyzing...", Malcome said

"It also reminded me of something you said at Soros...", Malcome reminded Styx who chimed in, "Yes, when the vault door opened by itself...there was an icy cold wind that blew in...it felt like death!"

"If you had not shot that arrow at that...whoever she was then I would have surely been done for. I am in your debt.", Malcome told Zoomer

"Her name is Armatura, she used to be a part of the covenant until she committed a crime that cast her out.", Styx said

Styx went on, "I saw her from the Lion carriers visual screen along with that other armored warrior beside her. You see Armatura works in the armory as an inventor of weapons as well as machines. she has a power that can animate the machines she builds."

"Was she the tall red headed woman with a robot bird on her shoulder?", Zoomer asked Styx

"That's her, evil to the core, that clawed arm of hers unnerves me as well.", Styx replies

"That is not the one I was referring to. Though she was going to be my next target!", Zoomer said

"Well, I only saw one on the visual! There was only Armatura as well alongside her the armored warrior along with the other black clad warrior's that moved about so quickly, they were hard to spot on screen.", Styx explained

"That armored warrior you keep mentioning referred to himself as Lord Komodo right before he sealed the back entrance of the Salamanders Labyrinth.", Zoomer informed Styx.

Upon hearing the name Zoomer mentioned caused Styx to make a connection, "Prior to leaving Igniton with my young prince that name was mentioned to me. Lord Tyr was in meetings with this Komodo involving some grande project, though I was not privy to learn what about."

"The other one was invisible to your screen, lady Styx.", It was Plodok who finally joined into the recapping of what had happened.

"It's possible.", Styx admitted

"As well as probable.", Plodok said as he hopped off from his toadstool.

"Though it is this Armatura that I heard you talk about that interests me the most. Also, who was it that first recommended you visit Lucida in Pacwad?", Plodok keenly asked

"Her name is Varna; she replaced Lord Tyr's Worlock as his council.", Styx answered back

"How do you feel about Varna becoming Lord Tyr's latest council?", Plodok quired

"It doesn't seem suspicious just unusual because Varna has not been in the council for very long. If nothing else she could be Lord Tyr's paramour as she is stunningly as beautiful as she is young. Furthermore, she let me know that she voted to have the prince stay in Igniton. Varna did not have to share that information, though since she was outvoted, she offered advice in where to go in search of the prince's twin flame. Varna chose Frogtown...er Lucida because of Traces nightmares. Otherwise, Varna has not done a thing to me.", Styx divulged

"Except deceive you!", Plodok plainly stated

"No, no let me explain!", Plodok went on before Styx could argue against his accusation," To put it simply, this Varna fed you a line that if you had not swallowed would not have led you to this point. Everything was set up to lead you from first Lucida, then to Soros and then finally to the Salamanders Labyrinth! Hook, line and sinker "

Plodok did not stop there as he went on," I also do contest that Prince Traces premonition was real though it was also manipulated somehow to give Trace such a strong reaction to it. I am not blaming you for taking Varnas advice! You did what you thought would most benefit the young prince. I do not even blame Rotar for going along with Armatura! From my understanding, conspiracies are a thing in Igniton, alliances, strange bedfellows, backstabbing, it's all game! The only thing that we need to do now is find out where the prince was taken to! We have a strong suspect in Armatura of whom most likely wants to get rid of the prince since he is destined to root her out if ever, he took power which means she is plotting something far more sinister as well as far reaching. I believe that Armaura has big plans for the Eyes of the Salamander currently in her possession.", Plodok convincingly stated

After Plodoks speech nobody countered any of his points they just stood in awe of what they all heard him tell them.

To punctuate his point, Plodok went even further," I believe that Gomot was placed in his state by an operative placed in Pacwad just as there was one in Soros. If anything, once the prince was seen by Gomot at the dream observatory that was when there plan really unfolded! I identified some subsonic frequency leading the wild horse the prince was chasing! It led the horse back to them as well as the prince to the horse as reenacted in his nightmare...everything adds up! That other witch was invisible on the view screen in the carrier which leads me to believe she stole the eye in Soros!"

There was more silence until a bristling sound was heard behind some bushes nearby.

"Oh, thank you.", a kind voice said from the bushes

The kind voice continued unseen, "Thanks to this little frog I am awake again.", the voice continued from the bushes which started to take on a life of its own. As what once appeared as bushes seamlessly became a very large green man covered in moss with a vine strap across his shoulder along with pouches along his waste with nothing save a leafy green loincloth.

"Though would you excuse me as the line is gone. I want to pay my respects to Gomot as he was a dear friend of my father.", the green man said as he walked past everyone towards the pond where Gomots body was placed.

Everyone just watched from afar as the green man walked to the pond where he then proceeded to kneel down. Several moments went by until the green man stood back up again then came back in the direction from where he came from.

After stopping in front of everyone, the green man introduced himself, "My names Moss Man, I could not help overhearing you because I was sleeping behind those bushes. You woke me up, for which I again thank you. Though when you were talking to one another you seemed to be discussing some interesting things. One of those things was about an eye in Soros. Is that correct?"

"Do you know about the other eye?", Plodok asked the Moss Man instead of giving him a straight answer to his original question.

"I know a great many things.", Moss Man told Plodok

"Do you know who took them then?", Plodok said as he assumed Moss Man implied that he knew the other eye was taken in his previous answer.

"I was sent here on behalf of someone who I know can answer all of your questions. Let me take you to him.", Moss Man kindly suggested

"Your father?", Plodok questioned

Malcome having had enough of Plodok chasing his own tail if he had one interrupts to ask Moss Man," If you can help us, it would mean a lot."

"I would be glad to help you by taking you to him. Only you have to meet me once again in the Lost Valley of the Mystic Mountains.", Moss Man imparted

"The Lost Valley! That's impossible as no one has ever been to the Lost Valley, because of it being lost!", Malcome blurted out.

"I am sorry as I cannot lead you to the Lost Valley itself but from there, I will take you to see my father who is a very old wizard.", Moss Man explained

"Well, goodbye for now.", Moss Man said as he walked back into the brush as Malcome cried, "No, wait how will we find you again...or get to the Lost Valley?", but Moss Man had disappeared once more into the brush when a Padwa came upon them.

"How does he do that!", Zoomer said in reference to Moss Mans disappearance through the bushes.

"Excuse the interruption but I needed to speak with you privately.", the Padwa said

"Go on, we do not have much time.", Plodok told the Padwa

"Here, out in the open?", the Padwa asked

"Make it quick.", Plodok said

"Since you are the head of security, I may as well tell you that the Eye of the Salamander has been stolen. We found the eye missing after finding Gomot comatose in the meditation room. We were never able to revive him.", the Padwa said sincerely

"I know all about the eye being missing though you must not reveal it to any other authority. We must keep this a secret until I return to Pacwad. Will you keep all knowledge of the missing eye within Lucida?", Plodok asked

Instead of saying anything the Padwa bowed towards Plodok who bowed back.

After the Padwa left, Malcome suggested, "We have to regroup, probably try to find out how to get to the Lost Valley somehow."

Slyly Plodok then asked Styx who was taken aback, "Whatever happened to Lord Tyr's dismissed Warlock?"

"How should I know by that time I was preparing for my journey with the young prince to Eternos City.", Styx said almost defensively.

"My friends, I think finding this warlock could provide us with a lot of the answers we seek!", Plodok erupted

"I agree with you Inspector!", Malcome said, "That is why I say let us ride due west, towards Igniton in order to find the whereabouts of this Warlock!"

"We should stop at Krol on the way to Igniton as I know someone there that may be able to help us with both finding the Warlock as well as the Lost Valley!", Styx offered

"Fair enough, let us be on our way!", Malcome said as everyone followed him towards where the Lion carrier was stowed away in order to leave Pacwad once again!

Somewhere in the long chain of seemingly endless peeks along the Mystic Mountains a hooded figure disembarks his steed which happens to be a large red dragon. Along the cliffs edge very high atop a mountain peek the dragon watches his master in the mists proceed slowly towards a black silhouette in the shape of a decrepit tree. The slender hooded man beckons his dragon follow by motioning with an unlit torch. The red dragon stagers behind as his master leads him closer to the shadowy tree hidden in the mists.

The man now standing before the withering specter - like tree reveals a wooden cage that he was also carrying. Inside of the wooden cage is a blindfolded creature like a chicken with scales. The reptilian bird creature cries a retched caw for food while clawing the cage with large yellow talons. The hooded man places the cage on the cold gravely ground so he can reach inside of a shoulder bag in order to procure a dead rat inside of a filament encasing. The hooded man also lays down his torch to open as well quickly grab the creature out of its holding. The hooded man secures the creatures feet with one hand as he cradles it tightly to his bod so it cannot break free, just yet.

The man dangles the dead rat just above the creatures snout so that it can smell the potential meal.

As the bird like creature snaps at the dangling dead rat the man tells it, "Now, now my fledgling Cockatrice you will have your snack." The man then uses his other fingers whie holding the dead rat lift lose the blindfold from the young Cockatrice so that it now sees the potential meal before it. The creature snaps at it but the man holds the dead rat just out of reach until he flings it away! The Cockatrice is also let go so that it can fly after the dead rat which was throne somewhere on the cliff away from the dying tree.

"You can now enjoy freedom along with your meal! I have tested enough Cockatrice beyond the threshold of this tree I need not another.", the hooded man said as he decloaked himself to reveal an older man with a long dark beard wearing a golden cap on his head with a row of bumps along the middle like a rooster.

The man announced as he looked past the decayed tree," As I must now go beyond the threshold for which this tree is connected. It is now or never; I travel through the dying time towards a past world I know still exists."

The man takes up his torch once more to then hold out calling his dragon," Light my sacred torch for protection Spear!"

Spear the red dragon proceeds to emit a hot flame from its mouth which quickly ignites the torch!

The man then proceeds to remount his dragon once more on its saddle holding in his right hand the straps for flight while holding his torch high in his other hand!

"Dash Spear! Dash!", the man shouts at his dragon as it starts sprinting towards the dying tree just in time to spread its large, scaled wings in order to take flight beyond the threshold! Spear then begins its journey in the all-consuming mists as it enshrouds both rider as well as dragon.

"May Morgoth have mercy on us!", the man says for cold comfort in the uncertain voyage beyond.

Then after a long ride, the torches light remains just as strong as when it was first lit yet the same cannot be said for the man holding it!

"I grow weaker, weaker by the minute...", the man says as he then suddenly drops the torch into the abyss below!

"No!", the man shouts in despair as now there is no certainty, no protection from the dying mists of time.

Though as the dragon plunges deeper into the mists where its own body begins to feel leaden. The man holds on for his life as it begins to also fade away in the free fall!

Suddenly, both rider and dragon emerge out of the mists! They have gone beyond the threshold, far beyond into another world! A green valley is seen below them as they fall towards it! Then after the dragon crash lands on the ancient landscape of large, wild trees it breaks into pieces! Spear has had its life drawn from it while its body just as it began in birth has reverted back to stone once more. Though this time the stone lies completely shattered as well as lifeless.

The man is not unlike a statue himself as he lays supine in rigidness unable to propel his body of the firmament.

The man's eyelids begin to wane as well shutting the view of this place he has travelled towards, given his life to uncover.

After one last gasp, the man lies motionless forevermore.

In the silent aftermath a figure emerges from the tropical fauna, walks over to examine the fallen man as well as his steed. A glint shines in the light of the valley on the deceased man's skinny thimble index finger. On the dead man's hand is a ring with a small cut dark red ruby on it.

The figure soon leaves after relieving the deceased of his ring as well as his shoulder bag. Probably as the discoverer of the recently departed considers they can no longer make use of them.