Woodhaven Part I

Quist must make the most special delivery of his life...

Written for "Invalid Item" 

Word Count: 864

He could smell the smoke before he could see it. On the wafting, acrid air was the smell of death as well and a cacophony of herbs, timber and other, nondescript scents. Quist's pace quickened as he glided lightly on his Elven feet over the crest of the small hill that blocked his view of Woodhaven.

"Oh dear..." Quist said aloud. His mind raced as he saw his mission becoming a complete failure.

Ahead of him, the quiet mountain hamlet of Woodhaven was now a smoldering ruins. Columns of dark smoke rose into the air and Quist could see many people scrambling to put out fires and help. He continued on and hoped that Sir Artemis was both still here and alive.

Entering the town, Quist saw the familiar bodies of the Knolls, half wolf, half man beasts that have been a constant threat in these parts. Even in Quist's village just outside Shadowdale, these beasts have plagued the elf for centuries. Their tall bodies, long spears and crude armor were no match for man but in these numbers they could easily have taken over this town.

Why did they leave anyone alive? Quist Elvenstarr though to himself. Strange...

As he walked through Woodhaven, or what was left of it, he scanned every inch for Sir Artemis the Valiant; his long time friend and once adventuring fellow. He walked around the Main City House, House Dalron, in the center that the town was built around, looking down every street and alley that branched off like a spoke in a wagon wheel.

It was down one of these alleys that Quist found Sir Artemis; broken and battered. From his left shoulder protruded a Knoll spear that clearly had penetrated his lung. Sir Artemis was not going to last the night.

"Sir Artemis," Quist began. "What have you done to yourself, old friend?"

"Damn Knolls! Invaded in the night and took everyone by surprise!" Artemis gurgled; blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth. "There were so many of them and not enough soldiers."

"Quiet," Quist wiped the blood from his friends face as best as he could. "Let's get you to a more comfortable place than the ground."

Quist helped his old friend up and brought him to the Cobbler, one of the only remaining buildings left standing.

Quist has seen devastation like this before when the skeletons raided his small village about a hundred years ago. That time they were sent by the evil mage Kelvin who was trying to obtain a sacred object that had been in the possession of House Elvenstarr for centuries; a small scroll tube containing the Tear of Almada; a powerful spell to be used only in times of great strife.

"Did you bring the scroll?" Artemis asked as he grunted and tried to get comfortable in the Cobblers shop.

"Aye," replied Quist. "I brought it but..."

Sir Artemis raised a hand and motioned for Quist to stop speaking and reached for one of his large belt pouches and gave it a shake. He handed it to Quist. "This is what I was going to give you for the scroll tube for you to give back to House Elvenstarr. In light to recent events, I think you should have it." Artemis gestured for Quist to open the pouch.

As Quist opened the pouch he realized what this was. This was the Knights Ring that was given to Sir Artemis by the King when he was made a Knight. This was the most valuable object that Sir Artemis possessed. It was meant as a token of his honesty and forthrightness. Quist was touched.

"Artemis, no one in House Elvenstarr had any doubt about your allegiance. You rest and I will finish this task."

Artemis grabbed Quist by the lapel and pulled him down, wincing in pain and breathing in broken, shallow breaths. "There is no rest, my old friend, only the final rest. I am sorry that I have failed House Elvens..." Artemis's grip on Quist released and he slumped into the chair.

Quist looked at his old friend and put the Ring on this finger, "You are a Knight of the highest Order, sir Artemis the Valiant. You deserve more than this but I hope you find rest." Quist looked to the Cobbler, "Sir, please find the Undertaker and make sure this Knight find respite and an honorable burial?" the Cobbler agreed and Quist closed his friends eyes for the last time.

Quist now had to take this scroll and it's undertaking all the way to the port city of Waterholme; House Elvenstarr depended on him. This was to be no easy task as the roads to Waterholme were treacherous to say the least. House Elvenstarr has aided Waterholme for hundreds of years as they defend the Realms from threats from the sea.

The journey will be wrought with danger and strife, "I had better call upon some old allies..." With that, Quist bounded on about his way to make this most special of deliveries.

To be continued...