Matthew travelled east for four days on foot eeong neither hide nor hair of any human dwarf or elf. Game was plentyfull however, so matthew didn't really have to break into his rations.

On the dawn of the fifth day of travelling he woke up to find an odd looking person sat nursing the embers of the previous nights fire back into life.

"who are you?" matthew demanded

"I know who you are matthew son of Philip Goldenbrier. I see that you are a young man who has seen many terrible things that no human or living being should ever see. I see many things in your life for i an a Seer a Wizard a Mage a Warlock. yes i am many things, but yet here i stand to help you on your quest, to slay the people who murdered your people, Matthew son of Philip Goldenbrier." And with that the stranger stood up and cast his cloak off.

Matthew could see that this man was about five foot ten and about two score and six years old. He looked like a powerful man who would only put his powers to use in dire circumstances.

"Impressive but you stil haven't given me you name stranger. How do you know about my quest and my background?"

the stranger replied, "I am Rauxbak, i do go by another name but that my friend is irrelevant, for it is an identity I left behind many years ago.

I know of your quest because i dreamt it would be so. I also saw the burning village six days ago and I knew then that I had been too late. Since then I have been following your trail. I could not arrive on time to warn your people due to........unforseen circumstances...." Rauxbak drifted off for a couple of minutes with a pained faraway look in his eyes before remembering where he was and carrying on again. " I had not been warned of this circumstance as the inner eye can sometimes not warn me of such things.

"I saw that there was no survivors in your settlement, so you can probably imagine my shock when I found your footsteps leading away from the site. I followed them till i found you, and my friend you will not believe how glad i am to see you alive and well. Tell me Matthew how did you escape?" Rauxbak looked puzzled at Matthew who felt awkward about telling this man about his plight. Slowly Matthew started to speak.

"I had been out hunting game for my family and I hadn't had much luck so I had decided to head my way back to my home. I saw an army of at least three score well trained elite soliders heading towards the direction of our settlement. Natrually I feared the worst and I hurried back as fast as I could to warn my people, but when I got back it was........it was too late...." Matthew paused choked with emotion. "By....by....by the time Ii had returned everybody was dead, no-one had been left behind. I don't know why this happened. My people were a peaceful tribe, we farmed and fished and so on. We never harmed or attacked nobody.

"It was horrible, everywhere i looked death stared back. Friends. Family. Neighbours. Everybody slain. Slain at the hands of the soliders that serve the king. Why? They'd done no wrong!" He paused again and looked up at rauxbak who was watching and listening intently.

"It is a terrible thing for a king to do to his people. I do not know why he would have done it myself. but then not many can understand the mind of a tyrant except for a tyrant himself. I had, had a vision that this would happen to a village in the area so I travelled as fast as i could, and i have been warning villages and towns as i have travelled. Unfortunately i was delayed somewhat when I was attacked as I rested one night by a gang of robbers. I was lucky to escape with my life and I had to travel slower due to my injuries. I am terribly sorry Matthew I truly am. I am at your service Matthew should you need me to acompany you." Rauxback stood up and walked over to Matthew and knelt on one knee.

"I would enjoy your company Rauxbak, i really would. It has been lonely and heartbreaking and i could do with someone with your talents." Both men fell quiet for a long time. somewhere a bird called out in alarm and then fell quiet again.

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this is a book i am currently working on in my spare time. i am writing it on here to get other peoples opinions as i would at some point like to see if i can get this published :)
if anyone reads this and enjoys it and would like to leave me a few tips then feel free to.
i feel a bit selfish saying this but leave the story as i write it and i will try to update everyday to keep the story fresh :)
thankyou so much for reading the story all comments (good or bad) are greatly apprieciated
thankyou
Colleen Bray
bullfringe@hotmail.co.uk

updated Sep 5, 2008 by Colly