A Warrior's Quest

by Brandy Golden

Chapter One

Xanthia heard them before she saw their owner. The mournful wails of a dying animal immediately tore at her tender heartstrings and hurried her light step through the surrounding foliage of the Murmuring Woods. What was making those pitiful cries? It sounded like nothing she had ever heard before!

She wasn't supposed to be in these woods, but her curiosity had finally gotten the better of her and she had succumbed to temptation in spite of her father's strictest warnings. Fear of the unknown had kept her obedient thus far, but now that she was growing up and considered herself an up and coming young sorceress, she had arbitrarily decided she could make her own decisions.

When the climbing vines and plentiful harvest of greenry gave way into a sunlit clearing, she finally saw the beautiful animal that was in so much distress. It blinked at her with golden orbs of wisdom and understanding, it's beautiful blue fur shining in the sun's giving ray's. She recognized the Royal Blue Skatz at once. It looked exactly like the pictures in the magic books that Mistress Fior taught her from. The essence of all magic on Vandor, the holder of the sacred wisdom of the ages, it was a rare and wondrous creature revered by warrior and magician alike. There weren't very many of them in the entire kingdom and even a glimpse of it was a treat precious few ever received in a lifetime.

She stared in wonder, her breath coming in small panting gasps as she drank in the magnificent catlike form as it lay stretched along the pristine greenness of the mossy forest floor. It's great head lifted to pin her in it's painful gaze and the pointed ears curled at the tips and back down to rest lightly on it's eyebrows. The fluffy feathers at the tips of the ears moved lightly in the morning breeze and she was fascinated as her gaze traveled the length of it's powerful body and back to it's all knowing orbs.

She had seen instantly that it's beauty was married by an ugly gash on its powerful chest as it tried to rise and then slumped back down, unable to complete the task it set itself. The long blue tail switched back and forth in agony as it returned her stare, acceptance of her presence no longer an option.

“Go away,” growled the marvelous animal, it's teeth opening to a feral snarl. “Leave me!”

Xanthia started at the ferocious growl, but she stepped closer, refusing to be intimidated, and knelt near the side of the wounded Skatz. Her soft heart pounded in excitement and sympathy. “I can't leave you like this.”

The great feline hissed at her in fury. “You must...you will! No one must touch me, it is forbidden...now GO! Go before my mate finds you here and slashes your puny human frame to pieces!”

But Xanthia was made of sterner stuff and her empathetic heart would never allow her to abandon this queen of animals, this protector of all that was magical in the world of Vandor. Nothing, nor no one would convince her to do such a thing, not even the Royal Blue Skatz herself and she reached out her hand, intending to heal the animal in spite of it's querulous attitude.

Xanthia was well known for her prowess as a healer and knew the arts of the Cleric very well. She was famous for her healing prowess, even at her young age of seventeen passes of the seasons. She was also well known for her extraordinary gift with animals, much to the chagrin of her family and instructors. But the other thing she was well known for was her intense stubbornness, and it did not always rebound to her credit.

“No...you must not,” snapped the Skatz, reading the humans thoughts, realizing what she was going to do. She tried to shrink back from the young girl. “Do not heal me...you don't know what you are doing.”

“I assure you I do, I'm a wonderful healer,” replied Xanthia firmly, but the Skatz lashed out at her hand with a desperate rake of her long claws.

“I said NO, you don't understand! You must not do this! All of Vandor will suffer...”

But the screeching cry of the Skatz was too late as the magic flowed from Xanthia's hand into the bloody wound on her breast, healing and sealing the torn vessels and skin, closing the gash, permeating the very cells of the flesh and putting it back to it's original state.

The screams of agony from the great animal filled Xanthia with terror as it thrashed around on the ground and the very air around her seemed rent with the cries and growls of a thousand animals as it lifted it's voice in a thunderous roar of despair. And then it was gone. It seemed to disappear in the very blink of her eyes and for an instant, she wondered if she had imagined the whole episode.

The earth began to shake and the heavens themselves seemed to fade, the sun losing some of it's brightness as the winds of the forest whipped around her, tearing at her hair and clothing, forcing her to her knees for protection. She felt weak, as if drained from a long illness and she fell to her side, hugging her arms around her middle and curling into a small ball on the floor of the glade.

As she lay there, the commotion subsided as quickly as it came and she pressed her hand to her mouth, willing the weakness to fade away, healing her weakness with her own magic. Finally she sat up and looked around, wondering what had just happened. She got to her feet, her knees trembling slightly, and looked around her. When she finally turned to head back towards the castle, her father was suddenly standing in her path, his face a shocked mixture of fear and anger.

“Xanthia, my child, your tender heart has caused you to make a grave error in judgment.”

Xanthia was confused. “But...but I just used my healing power to help..I...”

“You healed the Royal Blue Skatz in spite of it's warning not to,” replied her father, his stern visage noticeably pale. “Had I been able to stop you, I would have, but you acted too quickly. Not only that, but you came into the Murmuring Woods unescorted and against strict rules to do so. Your disobedience and blind stubbornness have set in motion a chain of events the Wizard's Council has been trying to avoid ever since the evil Warlock Mondar escaped from the Ice World.”

“I...I...I didn't know, no one told me about Mondar.” Xanthia put out her hands, a pleading look on her face. Her adored and understanding father was never angry with her, no matter how stubborn or willful she became and she was seeing a side of him that scared her greatly. What in the world had she done to merit such displeasure?

King Xander looked harshly upon his daughter's stricken countenance, unable to fully believe she had actually disobeyed the Royal Skatz. He had always been afraid her stubbornness would bring about her downfall if it wasn't curbed, but he hadn't imagined anything as bad as this. Then again, maybe it was his own fault for not telling her about the dangers of the Warlock Mondar, and what Vandor could look forward to were he to achieve his scheme of taking over their world.

Her deep blue eyes, the same color as the royal blue of the wondrous Skatz were misty with fear and regret, but he knew he couldn't relent. She must be taught a lesson. In fact, would be taught a lesson, a very harsh lesson, but perhaps it was better this way.

He reached out to brush a silky white strand of hair back from her cheek, a wayward strand that had escaped the leather braiding that took her glorious hair down her back and to the top of her buttocks. Her skin was a golden color in spite of the fairness of her hair, her brows delicate and arched upward in the center and out towards her hairline. A blue jewel teardrop in the middle of her forehead was suspended from a piece of leather that went around her head on both sides and attached to the braided leather in her hair.

She wore her usual attire, a white silky garment that gathered at the neckline and banded beneath her full breasts, leaving her slender arms bare. A golden chain came from the garment beneath her breasts and attached to pants that were gathered in at the waist and fell in soft folds around her sculpted thighs and gathered just below the knee into a band once again. Leather sandals with criss crossing braid went up her legs and ended below her knees. She was a very fetching sight and his heart melted at the beauty of this royal daughter, but his face remained stern and impassive.

She wasn't going to like what had to be done, yet he knew there was no other way. The Wizards council knew it too. She must be brought before them to face the consequences of her disobedience. Consequences that would affect the rest of her life, taking her in a direction that she had always intended to avoid. She would have been able to avoid it, had she listened to the Royal Blue Skatz, but as usual, her impetuous nature had driven her forward in the face of objection. This time, he could not interfere. There would be no redemption from the consequences of her actions. In fact, the whole world of Vandor was now at risk and only she and one other could save it.

_______________________

King Xander sat beside the child of his heart, the one who bore a derivative of his own name and silently awaited the decision of the Wizard's council. There were eight of them, all talking among themselves in hushed and worried tones as Xanthia and her father looked on. King Xander was the ninth member of the council and was their leader, his vote being a tie breaker in the event of such a happening.

Finally the Wizard Draylock stood and cleared his throat, his dark brown eyes fixed on King Xander and noticeably ignoring Xanthia. His face bore strong lines of disapproval and his deep voice issued forth from his long white beard, deep and cultured.

“There is no other way, my King,” he said, folding his arms inside the long sleeves of his robes. “The fulfillment of prophecy is upon us. Xanthia will have to wed the Prince of the Warrior Clan and seek the four pieces of the Quadrangle Star. Without it, we cannot hope to defeat Mondar, not when he now holds our own magic in his hands and will be gaining more with each capture of a Royal Blue Skatz.”

The color drained from Xanthia's already pale face. Marry? She opened her mouth to protest, but her father squeezed her hand, indicating her to stay still. She subsided, sure her father would negate this council decision. The whole idea was lunacy! She would never marry a loutish warrior, it was far beneath her class! In fact, she didn't intend to marry at all for a long long time. And even if she did, in the distant future, it would be to a great Sorcerer, someone who could match the prowess she intended to have when she became fully trained.

She glanced over at Sandion, the youngest member of the Wizard's Council. He sat with a stony countenance, his gaze fixed on King Xander's face like the rest of them. Even Sandion seemed to be against her, he would not even glance in her direction. Her heart quivered with deep fear and uncertainty.

Sandion's countenance gave away very little of what he was thinking. The anguish and despair he felt inside his heart would never be allowed to show on the outside. He had intended to marry Xanthia one day, but that would never happen now. His duty to the Wizard's council and the future of Vandor was a great responsibility that could never be taken lightly. Nay, would never be allowed to be taken lightly. The safety and security of not only the magic kingdom, but all the other kingdoms within Vandor rested in the hands of the Wizard's council. No, he and Xanthia's paths had diverged and would never again meet. She had brought this on herself, and on him, and there was naught he could do about it.

Xanthia looked at her father, waiting to see what he would say. The council had been in chambers all day and it had only been a few minutes since her father had summoned her to the council room. Draylock was the leading wizard just below King Xander himself and as such, had led the meeting that was to determine her fate. But now her father would have the final decision.

King Xander arose slowly, the seeming weight of the world on his broad shoulders, as indeed, it was! He was a majestic figure and all bowed their heads in deference to his status and stature. He was a full Warlock, capable and trained in all arts of magic from healing to war. He could slay a fierce enemy with a single flick of his hand, heal a body faster than it could be decimated, yet this slip of a child completely undermined him. She held his love. The love of a father who would give up everything he stood for, everything he owned, everything that he was for her sake. And yet...it wasn't possible. For it wasn't his life in the offering, it was lives of every man, woman, child and beast in all of Vandor. He cleared his throat and turned to face her.

“It is the decision of this council that you will wed Prince Ramoric of the Warrior Clan.”

Barely had the words escaped his throat before Xanthia was on her feet to protest. With a flick of his hand, King Xander held her frozen in place and gently eased her back into her chair. With the power of his mind, a mere pittance of the power he held, he kept her still and in place. He did not like to use his powerful mind magic against her, but this was too serious a matter to allow her to dishonor herself and their family. He went on to explain.

“Mondar attacked the Royal Blue Skatz that you found in the Murmuring Woods this morning. It is the home of most of the Skatz's on Vandor and they have always been protected there. He captured a cub that had wandered beyond the confines of the forest, counting on it's mother to expose herself long enough to bring it back. When she did so, Mondar attacked her, seeking to control her. She was able to fend him off long enough to get her and her cub back into the protection of the forest, but she had become infected with dark magic. It was then she realized her cub was already dead. Mondar had killed it and then tricked her out of her magically protected realm”

He frowned as stroked his square chin. “He must have been awaiting such an opportunity for a long time and the cub provided it. When he killed it, the magical properties of the cub came into him, enabling him to wound the mother. It was what he was hoping for, a chance to get some of the enchanted magic of the Skatz and endow him with a way to control them.. Unfortunately for him, she was able to escape him and return to the forest.”

He paused to stare thoughtfully at his daughter, his dark eyes filled with regret. “As you know, the Skatz holds the key to all the pure and good magic on Vandor. Once the Dark Wizard holds some of it within his own powers, he can capture the Skatz's and channel pure evil through their power and take over Vandor. Without the purity of the Skatz, even the Wizard's council will not hold out forever against him.”

He paused again and stared down into the worried eyes of his daughter. At least they had lost some of their defiance and she seemed to be listening intently. “She told you not to heal her. She was correct. Once you healed the wound in her chest, she was unable to keep herself from responding to the summons of the Dark Lord. She knew the dark magic in her veins would kill her or force her out of the Murmuring Woods and into his power. She had chosen to die rather than become his subject and would have done so, thereby protecting Vandor and all the other Skatz's...including her mate.

Regret and sorrow was etched into King Xander's rock hewn face as sentenced his daughter to a path she had not chosen for herself. “It is the decree of the Wizard's council that you mate with the Prince of the Warrior Clan and seek to undo the damage that has been wrought by your stubbornness. Only the combination of warrior strength and pure magic can hope to defeat Mondar. Through it, you can find the pieces of the Quadrangle Star that will purge the dark magic from the Royal Blue Skatz and restore order to Vandor. Only children of royal lineage can combine their powers and hope to be successful against the various pitfalls and traps that will abound as you commence your search. You and Prince Ramoric are Vandor's only hope. Without the Quadrangle Star, we cannot hope to prevail against Lord Mondar. It will only be a matter of time before he captures all of the Royal Blue Skatz's and then Vandor will become a dark place where evil abounds and none will be able to stop him.”

King Xander flicked his hand and released his beloved daughter from the mind control spell. “What you have wrought, you must seek to undo, even unto death. Will you?”

Xanthia stood slowly and looked around. Finally all eyes were upon her. She looked at Sandion but found only pain and regret for her there. The loving humor that had marked their relationship thus far was gone, replaced by honor, pride and grudging acceptance. “Do I have a choice?” She whispered painfully, her gaze swinging back to her father.

He nodded. “There is always a choice, my daughter. Just as there are always consequences to those choices.”

Xanthia lifted her chin. “I cannot let my family and friends suffer because of my mistakes. I am willing to work with Prince Ramoric, but why do I have to wed him? I do not wish to do so!”

“You must wed him because it would be unlawful for you to mate with him if you didn't.”

Xanthia scoffed. “And why would I wish to mate with a barbarian? I can assure you, Father, that would not be an issue!”

King Xanther turned to the council and nodded for them to leave. This was a chat he would have with his daughter in private. After they had done so, he turned back to her. “There are powers that you will transfer to one another that can come no other way. And you will both need all the strength of the physical and the mind that you can achieve together. This is no simple task, Xanthia. It will test the very limits of your endurance and your powers if you are to be successful. You need Prince Ramoric...and he will need you.”

“Ha! What can he offer me that I don't already have? Who needs bulging biceps when you can destroy with a flick of the wrist?” Xanthia flipped her hand and the vase on the desk shattered into a thousand pieces.

Her father merely looked at the vase and it was restored to its perfect frame. “Not every creature is susceptible to magic. There will be times when physical strength will be your only hope.”

Xanthia flipped her long braid behind her and mocked, “Well, then his muscles should be able to save us! I'm sure he will have enough of them, the warrior class always does.”

King Xanther's brows raced downward to a scowl. “You will be wed, Xanthia, as soon as possible. King Pendragon has already been notified and will be bringing Prince Ramoric here. You need to accept that and do your best to be cooperative.” Relenting his fierce scowl, he took his daughter into his arms and held her tenderly. “I'm very proud of you, my daughter, for being willing to atone for your foolishness. All of Vandor will be in your debt if you are successful.”

Xanthia held her tongue, keeping back the sarcastic comments she still had about Prince Ramoric. Her father was right in this respect, she had made a grave mistake. She had to do something to make it right. But if her father and this Prince Ramoric thought she was going to mate with a barbarian, then they were in for a few surprises. She didn't intend to allow anyone privileges with her body that she didn't want happening. She would marry him, since her father and the Wizard's council deemed it so important, but that was as far as she would go! “I will do my best to succeed, Father,” she murmured. “I won't let you down, I promise.”

When the door to the council chambers closed behind her, the Royal Blue Skatz appeared in the window seat, it's tail flicking lazily as it hung down the stone bench. “She is very young and very very inexperienced.” The voice was husky and deep, it's tones emanating from the huge creature, it's muscles appearing almost to undulate even in its restful recline.

King Xander sighed in resignation. “I know, Baroc, but it is the only way. We must give them both all the help we can. Even then, it may not be enough.”

The beautiful animal, much bigger than the one Xanthia had healed, dropped silently to the floor and padded over to the King. “It will have to be enough! Pandia must be saved. Every moment she is in the control of the Dark Lord is a moment too long!” His growl was low and intense, pain resonating in every nuance.

“I know, old friend, I know,” soothed the King. “You mate will be free again and the threat from Vandor removed, but it will take some time.”

“I intend to go with them, you know.”

The King looked down at his old friend, smiling into those huge golden circles. “Yes, I figured you would. Just be careful. If Mondar should get his hands on you, it would destroy the concentration of the rest of the clan.”

“You just concentrate the Wizard's council on protecting the Murmuring Woods. We can't allow any more of our kind to fall into his evil hands.”

“We can't protect the ones who won't go to the woods,” King Xanther reminded him. “And there are some who will refuse, just as they always have.”

Baroc flicked his ear dispassionately. “Their magic is not enough to be of any great consequence, so I'm not too worried about that. Mondar will soon find out how weak they are when he tries to channel their energy. Pandia has more power than all the other's combined, as I'm sure he will find out However, losing even one of our kind is unacceptable. Especially my son. He will pay for that!”

His fierce eyes glowed blue with a sudden primordial light and at that moment, King Xander almost pitied Lord Mondar. Almost, but not quite. Baroc would be a formidable foe and Mondar would die a thousand deaths before Baroc was finished with him. He would beg for death long before the end ever came.