Evan’s horse plodded two riders behind an unremarkable cart. Unremarkable that is, save for the contingent of 5 heavily armed riders in front and rear. A scrawny creature with greenish skin, long pointy ears, rode a donkey in the lead position. It’s eyes darted nervously from side to side as the jagged peaks of the dragonspine range loomed in the distance.<br/><br/>“Yes, yes, this is the way” the creature whispered under its breath.<br/><br/>“He don’t know where he’s going..” the rider beside Evan complained, “We’re going in circles.”<br/><br/>“We have our orders.” Evan replied quietly, but firmly. He wore the same black chain and leather as his compatriots. His short brown hair was tousled and greasy from their travels. Evan eyed the cart cautiously. He was careful not to convey his disbelief in this ludicrous situation. He scanned the rugged terrain surrounding the party for any sign of others and satisfied himself that there were none.<br/><br/>“Hold. HOLD.” he called, “That’s all for today. Let’s make camp before we get too deep into the rocks.”<br/><br/>The riders dismounted, relieved after the long day and began to make camp in the void between two large boulders that protruded from the nearby hillside.<br/><br/>“Branf,” the leader called out to the largest of the riders. “Make our guest comfortable.”<br/><br/>“Gladly...” replied the large soldier with a mischievous grin.<br/><br/>The green skinned creature objected in a high pitched squeal, “No no. I’ll be good. I’ll be GOOD” his voice raised an octave as the large soldier scooped him off his feet and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.<br/><br/>“Yous was good last night because we tied you up.” the brawny man lashed a few loops of cord around a nearby tree trunk, tightly squishing him against the rough bark.<br/><br/>“Please, please” the creature begged.<br/><br/>Evan approached their bound guide and sat cross legged in front of him. He looked the creature over sternly for a long moment, then abruptly asked. “How much farther?”<br/><br/>“Not far, not far! I promise” the creature answered hastily.<br/><br/>“That’s what you said last night. Why should I believe you?” Evan replied.<br/><br/>The creatures body relaxed and he seemed suddenly calm. “Let me see it.” he demanded, “The master needs to know it is here.”<br/><br/>Evan shook his head, “Not happening. That was not part of the deal. We bring him the sceptre, he releases my brother. That’s it.”<br/><br/>Suddenly a muffled scream pierced the air and then died out. Evan spun around. He was about 100 yards away from the main encampment where he could now see a flurry of activity. The horses bucked and fled. Arrows shredded the dim twilight, tearing into his men from afar. He saw movement as several dark figures rushed between the boulders, shimmering swords glinting in the last rays of the setting sun.<br/><br/>Evan charged blindly into the fray. His blade glowed faintly, and hummed with arcane energy as he darted into battle. His men were caught off guard, but had fallen into a defensive formation around the cart. These were his father’s best men and they fought bravely, but it wasn’t enough. One by one they fell, taking as many of the enemy with them as they could.<br/><br/>Evan caught an arrow in the back, spun around to find the source, and another pierced him from the other direction. They were surrounded. Blood spattered his face and dripped from his sword. His vision began to recede and it was all he could do to stumble forward, behind one of the boulders. It hurt to move, but he slowly dragged himself to cover.<br/><br/>The din of battle died down. Was it over? He heard nothing. No voices. No cries, no groans of pain, nothing but a faint ringing in his ears. It looked dark in front of him. Was it just a crevice in the rock, or a cave? He dragged himself inward. Delirious with pain. He could feel a warmth coursing through his veins. Perhaps poison. He couldn’t be sure.  He pulled himself deeper inside. Slowly. His knees and feet scraped against the rough floor of the cave. His arms gave out under him and he fell to the floor.<br/><br/>The blackness seemed infinite, punctuated only by an occasional fevered dream. A face, not like any he knew, but concerned. Not vengeful. The sensation of being loaded into a cart. His head rolled to the side and he saw a hazy view of the precious crate. The cart began to move beneath him and his consciousness slipped again. Then later, a cold table. Strange words rang in his head. And then searing pain in his back that seemed to intensify uncontrollably. He awoke with a scream. Eyes, swollen and sunken. He started to sit upright, but the elven priest and his attendants were able to quickly restrain and mollify the wayward lord. Evan breathed loudly and quickly through his nose. Eyes wide and darting from one face to the next as he drifted off to a more peaceful sleep.