The Four Elements of Magic Ch.2: Rath

Rath Emberstave walked along dutifully but with joy through a clearing and down a path beaten by
the deer which lived in the forest that he now traveled through. Rath had always enjoyedtraversing
areas of woods and forest, a strange liking for Fire Mage as he was. Others that studied the arts of
fire magic preferred open spaces, such a deserts or grasslands, where they could work their
flame-based spells. But Rath had been apprentice to an exceedingly wise Mage, Tereth Arn, who hd taught
Rath spells that were very precise and focused, unlike the great, flaming walls and firestorms that
other masters told their pupils how to summon. The young sorcerer gazed toward the sun, shielding
the glare with his left hand; it was setting in the east, so he was still going north to Atharas and
the Council of Mages.

The clearing came to an end and the deer-path was swallowed, but Rath could still follow it. He
walked through the woods for a good while before he heard the sound of what seemed to be great tides
of water. When the trees came to an end Rath was greeted by a full moon, and the greatest troupe of
cascading waters he had ever seen. "Ah, the Falls of Rarden. I shall see if there is a place to
sleep here, tonight.", he whispered to himself. The ground he stood on went forward until it fell in
a rock face, which overlooked the River Rarden far below. A strangely erected bridge of rock led out
from the cliff, out over the Rarden and in front of the Falls, and finally to another rock face. As
Rath crept warily over the bridge, he noticed that marked cobblestones covered the surface of the
rock. This bridge was probably raised by spell or incantation, for Rath couldn't think of any way to
raise a brigde of stone this far up, and above a river! After he crossed he found a path leading
steadily down. As he made his way in the growing darkness, Rath thought of a spell of lighting his
master had taught him. "Illumanus Instatum!", and with those words a small light appeared in the
crystal shard that topped the rune carved staff he carried. It lit the way as he climbed down the
rocky path. It finally came down to another group of trees. Rath walked on through them and
eventually came to an large and shallow emptying pool for the Falls. Here was also a clearing full
of tall, green grass. After drinking from the pool with cupped hands, Rath drew his curved sword and
a cut a swath through a group of grass to bed down on. But before he slept, he would find dead tree
limbs to make a raft. He found a half-dozen of large tree limbs. He found the enduring bark of
Mallorn trees some quarter mile from his camping spot. The bark he then cut into ropes to bind the
logs. He decided he'd leave the bonding until the morn. He took one last look at the section of the
Falls that fell in the pond before him as he lay down on the soft grass. He gasped at what he
thought was a human skull staring eyeless back at him, mouth upturned in the disturbing grin of
death. He shook his head and looked again; nothing. "My weariness must be getting to me." he said
shakily. At he reluctantly let sleep take him. After a few hours past midnight, something cracked in
the bushes. Rath, knowing he was watched, opened his eyes slightly as to not let his enemy know he'd
woken. Rath remembered the skull in the falls, but before he could consider further an eyeless human
skull poked its way out of a bush only feet from him. He almost gasped with fear but kept himself
calm. He knew if he moved more would come and he would certainly be killed, for the Undead see their
enemy through the sounds he makes, for their faces bear no eyes. Rath watched with anticipation as
the skeletons gathered around his prone body. Eventually, he was surrounded by a circle of spear and
swordbearers, with weapons raised. Just before the blades fell, Rath drew himself to a crouch and
unsheathed his sword, swinging it in wide circle around him. The skeletons howled terrible curses
and screams of pain as the flaming weapon clove through them.

Rath quickly analyzed his situation. He had just defeated many of the Undead, but he knew more
would come. He whispered something and his staff flew into his left hand from its place on the
grass. Rath shuddered as he heard horrible moans and howls from the surrounding trees. He put his
back towards the river and readied himself. First came more skeletons, and then horrible, flesh
eating, zombies. He waited, silently as to not give away his position. An idea showed itself to Rath
and he kicked a smooth river stone into the shallows with a loud splash. Immediately the skeleton
warriors rushed to the sound, and Rath sent a small meteor of fire from his staff into their midst.
The resulting explosion knocked the zombies to their backs but Rath kept his feet. The spell he had
just cast had taken a lot of energy from him, and he dropped to his knees with fatigue. That was all
the time zombies needed. The were surprisingly fast for their various states of decay, and they were
on him in seconds. Rath dropped his staff and fought desperately with his sword, but he was no blade
-master and the end looked near. Then as all hope drifted from him, he heard a resounding cry from
within the trees,"IN THE NAME OF HERET AND SERAAAAAAAN!" And with that a huge armor clad figure
astride a towering warhorse crashed through the undergrowth with great warhammer raised high above
his head and a gleaming shield at his side. Just the sight of this incredible warrior gave Rath a
burst of courage. He whispered a repulsing spell and the zombies flew from him. The great fighter
began ride down the zombies with a will. Rath once again regained his staff and went about blasting
the foe with arrows of fire that lept from his open palms.
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Yeah, this ones really old, so it shouldn't amaze you.

Joseph