The Dark Queen was the most beautiful woman in this realm. Although her motives were cruel and ugly, she ensnared her victims with a perfect mixture of cunning, guile, fear and beauty. Although feared as the most ruthless and powerful warrior in her whole army, she hadn't wielded her sword in decades. Durring key battles in her recent bid for dominence of the relm, she would ride out on her jet black steed and charge full at the front of her army. Casting a quick enchantment on herself, any man who looked at her during this charge would look into her eyes, turning against friend, family and couyntry, and serve her loyaly as long as they lived.
It was wispered among her subjects that she was some fallen goddess who was trying to regain a place of worship in the world. These were generally prompted by her magical power and that she never showed any emotion to anybody.
At the moment, Queen Zophina sat in her throneroom wearing her full battle armor. She was preparing for the main act the next morning. At that moment, a dark warrior who seemed to be clad in the night itself entered the room.
"Lord Erich, how goes our plan?" asked the Queen, watching the dark figure grow prostrate.
"Well, my Lady. We have recieved word from our spy in the Royal Family that they have found the Stone of Genia. He will have a task force under his command obtain it this evening."
The Queen's eyes seemed to sparkle at her general's words. "Excellent work, milord. Return to your command and prepare the reserves to escort our spy to the palace. I expect the stone in my possession by morning."
"But of course, my Queen."
*
Sir Jon waited in the tent erected to lead the warriors he had at his disposal. He quickly wrote the details of the failure of his negotiation mission and called in one of his mages to take it to the king. His scouts hiding in the surrounding forest had informed him that, with a fierce swiftness, the Dark Queen's army had epositioned to march on the Gordehen Tribe Capital, Grunslund, directly before attempting to sack Sanado. Agreement or not, Sir Jon realised that loosing this village meant a tactical disadvantage for the Sudanesti Capital and may very well lose the war for them. So, he would use the troops stationed here and defend this city to the death.
Interrupting his thoughts, Sir Jon's subordinaste, his brother Sir Chadwic.
"Sir, I hate to interrupt you with this, but some Gordehen males are rebelling near the beach and are attacking the command post."
Jon sighed inwardly. When would these racial differences end so they could actually deflect the real threat, he asked himself. "Take a troop of six men and arrest those involved. Hand them over to their kind. And no killings! I want them to see at least one of us is focused on the true enemy."
"Sir!" said Chadwic, leaving the tent. When clear from hearing range of the tent, he took an onyx pendant from his belt and carressed it till it seemed to glow.
"I have obtained the command. Meet me at the the gate in an hour," whispered Chadwic into the pendant. He ten collected his command and headed for the city.
Karwyn sat in her cage, exhausted in her efforts trying to bend the bars and negotiate with the fat elf. She heard a knock at the door of the shack in the other room and the fat elf answered it.
"What brings the military to my hu-ARGHH!" moaned the elf, as he gugled up the lifeblood he recieved from the stabbing.
Great, thought Karwyn. Now I have to deal with Her servants. She looked through the doorway and saw a dark figure enter the room.
"Where is the stone, pixie! I know you have it."
"It unfortunately changed owners. But if you free me, I might be able to help you," said Karwyn gibly.
"Nice try, dear. I would rather like a pet pixie, I'm afraid."
She waited for him to deat nice and close, then, using her remaining pebble of pixie dust, she cast a freeze spell on him. Acting quickly, she pulled a small pin from his mail and picked the lock. Then, flying as fast as her wings could carry her, she flew for the stone.
Grabbing it, she shouted "I wish I was as equipped as when I left and- OOF!"
Chadwic knocked the pixie unconsious and grabbed the stone, chuckling in the success of his plan. Then, speaking aloud, he said, "I wish all of my warriors were freed from any pixie enchantment." The frozen warrior thawed instantly and turned to him.
"Next, I wish my men would return to camp and assasinate Sir Jon." Not noticing the pixie had just come to, Sir Chadwic watched his men leave, took out his onyx pendant, place it on, and disappeared.
"Well, I lost the stone. That's bad, but maybe Sir Jon can help me," said Karwyn aloud. Using her pixie dust, she teleported to the command site.
*_
Sir Jon sat at his desk, writing now to his beloved princess his farewel letter when the pixie appeared.
"Sir Jon, I need your help quickle! You-"
"Whoah, whoah. Slow down, little one. Tell me slowly what is bothering you so I might be of assistance," said Jon, smiling.
"The Stone of Genia has been stolen and someone hished you assasinated."
"The Stone of Genia is Here!?!?" exclaimed Jon, surprised at the news. He had heard of its power. However, rumer had it that it was well protected by the Lady of the Order of Celeste. "No wonder her Dark Magesty is taking such stock in this little part of the world."
"Yes, I was its secret guardian. But-"
Just then, tha warriors sent barged into the tent. Swiftly, Karwyn grabbed a handful of pixie dust and threw it at Jon, casting the first spell to protect him that came to mind. A pink cloud enveloped sir Jon as he dissappeared from view. After looking around, the soilders only found their commander's letters, his belongings, and two, cute pixies lying unconsious on the floor. Placing them in a cage on the desk, they turned and continued their hunt for Sir Jon.
