4Prologue
He quickly darted through the forest, his eyes sharply scanning to make sure that no one was around. A light snow began to fall in the chilly night air, as he clutched his bundle close to his chest. He knew he had to get there soon, or it would be too late.
He stopped and nervously peered around a thick oak tree. He quickly scaled the tree and perched on a branch looking down on the path below.
Soon a group of large burly men appeared down the path carrying torches and clubs. The bundle, containing a baby girl, in his arms began to stir and whimper quietly. He quickly muttered a few words under his breath and the child fell silent.
Below three men were passing beneath the tree, shinning their lights about in search of something.
"He has to be around this bloody forest somewhere," one of the men said gruffly. He cursed as he kicked the ground.
"I don't understand how he got away, he was so heavily guarded," a second man said.
"I'd hate to be one of those guards," the third man said.
"You're telling me," the second man said. "They'll all be dead by morning."
The cold air bit him. He pulled his jacket closer to himself as the snow fell harder. Cramps rose in his legs from crouching on the tree branches. He shifted his weight slightly, causing a rustle among the branches.
"Shh, what was that?" The second man asked.
"Ah, it was probably a squirrel," the first man grunted. "Now shuddup and focus on the search, instead of flapping your yapper."
The three men disappeared down the path.
He exhaled a sigh of relief, releasing a cloud of condensation in the cold air. He waited until he was sure it was safe before jumping out of the tree and continuing on.
The snow was now falling heavily; they were big fluffy flakes, sticking to the ground. He had to get there soon; the warmth spells he used on the child couldn't protect her forever.
He was thankful when he approached the small clearing in the wood. He turned around to make sure there was no one around before hurrying over to a dome shaped cabin in the center of the clearing.
He grasped the iron ring on the door and pounded it against the wood.
A young blonde woman, holding a blond haired little girl on her hip, answered the door.
"Oh, thank goodness, you're here!" she exclaimed. "We've been so worried. Get in here before anyone sees you." She grabbed him by his snow covered coat, and pulled him inside. "He's in his study. I'm sure he'll want to see you."
He patted the little girl on the head, and kissed the woman on the cheek, as he entered the cozy, warm house. A roaring fire crackled, lighting the neatly cleaned room.
She set the small child on the floor and took the baby from his arms. "This is Bastie and Kari's little girl?" she asked, looking down at her small sleeping face.
He nodded at her gravely.
"Then . . ." she stopped as he turned away from her.
"You said he'd in his study?" he asked gruffly.
She nodded at him, holding back tears.
He turned into the study. The tiny room was a disaster. Scrolls and books were everywhere littering the study. On the walls there were jars and bottles containing strange liquids and objects. In the corner, medical devices from the old days sat covered in dust and cobwebs and dust.
From behind his paper covered desk, Dr. Zook looked up from his book.
"So you've arrived at last," he said slamming the book shut.
He nodded.
Dr. Zook rose, round the desk. "It's good to see you, Argon. It's been too long."
Argon nodded again. "I'm afraid this meeting comes with unhappy news."
"Then it's true?" asked Dr. Zook.
"Yes, we were discovered. Bastie and Kari are dead." Argon said quietly.
"They killed Bastie first," he went on. "They wanted Kari to give birth before they would kill her, so the child could be raised in the cult. I tried to rescue her when I escaped," he choked. "She wouldn't come; she made me take the child. I should have made her come, I could have . . ."
"No," Dr. Zook cut Argon off. "No Kari is too headstrong, you know that. She wanted to ensure your safety and her child's as well. And that's all you could do."
Argon knew it was true, but he felt a pang of guilt as he thought of it.
"I was able to secure the jewel however," Argon told him pulling a black pouch out of his jacket. He opened the bag, dumping a small blue jewel into the palm of his hand, extending it out toward Dr. Zook.
Dr. Zook took the jewel and examined it. "They call it the Utopian Jewel," he laughed a harsh, hollow laugh. "Well, it's safe for now," he said handing it back to Argon.
"You can stay here, you'll be safe." Dr. Zook said. "There's a room down the hall, Chiara can show you to. You must be tired after your travels."
Argon turned to leave the room.
"Oh and Argon, you did the right thing."
Argon turned to look back at Dr. Zook, he looked him in the eye, then went out into the hallway. "Good night, Kieran."
Four Years Later . . .
"Renny!" called out a small blonde haired boy. "Look what I found!"
A tiny black haired girl came running over to her playmate, her thick curls bouncing up and down as she went. "What is it Zek?" She knelt down on the muddy river bank next to him peering at his new found treasure.
In the boy's hand was a circular flat object about the size of a saucer. In the center, there was a small hole no more than the size of a coin. On one side there were bright colors painted on it, with words their young eyes were not able to read. On the opposite side it was a mirror, but when the sunlight shone on it a prism effect became present, bringing a rainbow of color to life.
"I think it's magic," Zek told her matter a factly.
"Me too," Renny agreed.
There was a crack down the center of the disk. Zek took it and broke it completely in half. "Now we both have magic," he said proudly handing her half.
Renny smiled taking the piece and shinning it in the sunlight.
A little further down the river bend, Chiara sat by the water, washing clothes.
"Zek, Renny, don't go too far from Mama! Hannalore could you please go play with them, I'm trying to do the washing," she said to a blonde haired girl about seven years old.
Hannalore stomped over to the other children. "What are you doing?" she asked with a tone suggesting she had authority.
"We have magic!" Zek exclaimed happily, showing her his treasure.
"You shouldn't be playing with that," Hannalore said bossily. "It's dirty!" She reached to take it away from him.
Zek let out a scream. "Mama! She's trying to take away my magic!"
Chiara looked over to see what they were playing with and almost laughed. "Let them play with it, Hannalore, it's harmless."
Suddenly there was the sound of a men shouting in the forest.
"Quick children! Help me pack everything up." She scrambled to put the clothes in the basket, careful not to leave any signs they had been there behind.
But they had received warning too late. Just as they were about to escape, two men came bursting through the trees at them.
Chiara dropped the basket on the ground and pulled a sword out from under the clothes.
"Aw little missy," said one of the men, "We ain't here to fight, we just want the children." He pointed to Renny, who was hiding behind Chiara's legs.
"Never!" Chiara said forcefully, brandishing the sword in front of here.
"Give us the little brat now, or we'll be forced to kill you all!" yelled the second man angrily. "I don't want to play games!"
Chiara began to mutter quietly then forcefully threw a spell at him knocking him unconscious on the ground.
The first man charged forward, sword in hand. Their swords began to fly, crashing angrily against one another. The children watched in terror as the sword clanked against each. The harsh metal screeched in the flurry of lunges and swings. Chiara was proving herself to be a far better swordsman than she looked. She showed skills of someone having much training in sword fighting. In fact, it quickly became obvious that her skills were far superior to her adversary's. Her swift movements quickly backed him into the trees.
She quickly disarmed her opponent, knocking his sword to the ground. He reached down to grab it, and she sent her sword into his shoulder blade. He fell to his knees and then forward to the ground. He grabbed the hilt of his sword slicing it through the air, only managing to nick her ankles. In turn, she kicked him square in the forehead with her black boot. He fell backwards into the muddy ground in defeat, throwing his sword away.
"I'm defeated, you may kill me, but do know you shall surly die as well," he laughed.
Without hesitation, Chiara sliced the sword across his neck, and his laughter fell silent. She then did likewise to his partner unconscious on the ground.
Her sword fell from her hand. A wave of dizziness quickly overtook her, and she fell into the mud. The children stood fixed in place, equal looks of terror on all of their faces.
Chiara tried to stand, but failed. "Hannalore, baby, be a good girl and go back to the house, and get Argon and Papa. Bring Zek and Renny with you. Do you understand Mama?"
The little girl nodded wide eyed. She took the hands of Zek and Renny, and took off screaming through the woods.
Chiara lay back in the mud, cursing the poison tipped sword that cut her ankles. She knew the man she had fought was right. She was going to die. Chiara was comforted by the fact that she had kept the children safe as she closed her eyes.
Sabine exited the bedroom, "Kieran, she'd like to speak to you."
Dr. Zook looked up nervously. He smiled at his old friend. "Very well," was all he could manage. He went into the bedroom.
Sabine sat at the table next to Argon. He looked up from his crinkled napkin and studied her expressionless face. Her long, thick black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She was dressed in a black dress, adding to her extremely conservative appearance.
"She's going to die," Sabine said solemnly.
Argon looked into her blue eyes. "Are you sure?"
She nodded sadly. "That was a very strong poison on that sword. I tried every remedy I know, there was nothing I could do; those poor children, little Hannalore and Zek without a mother."
Argon was quiet for a moment. He was deep in thought.
"They were coming for Renny and me," he said at last.
Sabine looked into Argon's dark eyes, but said nothing.
"I think that I should leave, and take Renny with me. I don't want to put Kieran and his children in danger any longer."
"You can stay with me if need be," Sabine offered.
"No," Argon replied. "Thank you, but no, I can't put you in danger as well."
"Poor little Renny, she doesn't know, this will be so hard on her," Sabine said softly.
Argon nodded.
"Perhaps a spell should be cast so the children cannot remember this or each other, until the time is right. This is a lot for them to handle. I think it would be for the best."
Argon peered into the other bedroom. All three children were fast asleep on the bed. "Perhaps you are right."
He rose from the table. Argon went into the bedroom and began grabbing clothes and other supplies for the two of them, and putting them into a pack.
He slung the pack over his shoulder and picked up sleeping Renny. She began to stir and opened her eyes.
"Renny! We're gonna go on a little trip!" Argon told her.
"Zek come too?" the child asked.
"No sweetie, Zek isn't coming."
Tears welled in the little girl's eyes, "No Zek!"
Sabine walked over to Argon holding a small amount of a blue powder in her hand. She extended her palm and blew the powder into Renny's face; causing the child to instantly fall back to sleep.
"It won't take complete effect right away," Sabine told Argon. "But the memory will fade with time."
Argon nodded.
"Be careful Argon," she said and kissed him on the cheek.
"Aren't I always," he said. He smiled at her, "You take care of yourself."
Sabine was right. As time went by, both Renny and Zek slowly forgot about that day, and finally they completely forgot about each other, with the exception of magic disk. For they each held on to their part throughout the years, even though they couldn't remember why.