Prologue: 1186
A young boy of about fifteen years wakes up in the middle of the night from noises the seem familiar but disturbing. He gets out of bed and quietly walks to the doorway of the other room. He could see his parents in there and he was listening to what they were saying.
His father was talking at this time, “I found these papers in the library today.”
Listor’s wife said, “What is this all about Listor?”
Listor commented, “The papers are about the end of the world. They say a chosen one is meant to stop the end by finding some gem dragons and placing them in the right place.”
His wife was confused, “What does this have to do with anything?”
Listor said, “The Alesul one has a dragon birthmark on his forearm.”
The young boy looks at his arm through the light coming from the common room. There is a birthmark in the shape of a dragon.
His mother looked confused, “Are you talking about Dilan?”
Listor continued, “Yes, he will have to search for these dragons to save the world.”
His wife was shocked, “He’s too young.”
Listor said, “This will happen in about eleven years. We will have to tell him eventually.”
His wife said, “But not until he’s older.”
Listor reassured her, “Let’s talk about this tomorrow. The kids are going to your mothers then. We can research this a bit more.”
His wife said, “Ok, but I still think we should wait a few years.”
Listor said, “Maybe we will, but he needs to know.”
His wife put her hand on his arm, “Put that stuff away and let’s go to bed.”
Listor moves a stone at the foot of the fireplace and places the papers in the hole. He walks with his wife to their room.
Dilan watches them leave, “What does this mean. Eleven years to save the world? That’s not much time.” Dilan then comes up with an idea. He walks to the fireplace, making sure his parents were in their room. He removes the papers from where his father placed them and put the stone back. He read the papers and looked at his birthmark again. “I have to.”
Dilan runs out of the room.
In the dark in his room, Dilan grabs a pack and places clothes and other items in it.
From across the room, His brother wakes up and looks at him, “Dilan, what are you doing?”
Dilan looks at his brother, “Ranger, go back to sleep. I’m busy.”
Ranger said, groggily, “Busy doing what? It looks like you’re packing. Where are you going?”
Dilan said, “I have to leave. I have a destiny I must fulfill.”
Ranger was confused, “What are you talking about?”
Dilan continued, “I overheard mom and dad talking about me stopping the end of the world. I only have eleven years to find these gem dragons to stop it.”
Ranger said, “You’re talking crazy. Get back in bed.”
Dilan was frustrated, “You can’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell them what I’m doing until tomorrow.”
Ranger sits up in his bed, “If you don’t stop talking nonsense, I’m gonna tell them now.”
Dilan goes to Ranger’s bed, “No, please. I need time to get out of here. If you tell them now, they’ll stop me and they know I must do this.”
Ranger asked, “Where are you gonna go?”
Dilan said, “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
Ranger said, “What if you get into trouble?”
Dilan consoled him, “I’ve always been able to get out of tough situations. I’m gonna take a horse and head north.”
Ranger warned, “You are going to be in so much trouble.”
Dilan said, “Not if you don’t tell them where I’m going.”
Ranger was astonished, “Are you kidding? I’m telling them everything.”
Dilan said, “You can’t. You owe me for saving your life last week when you fell off the bridge. I didn’t tell mom and dad about it. You have to promise me you won’t say anything.”
Ranger replied, “I can’t. That’s too much to ask for.”
Dilan begged, “You have to. Promise me.”
Ranger sighs, “Ok, I won’t tell them where you’re going, but in the morning I’m telling them you’re gone.”
Dilan was relieved, “Thank you.” Dilan grabs his pack and leaves the room.
The next morning, Listor walks into the common room and noticed the stone missing on the fireplace. “Dolmina!”
Listor’s wife runs into the room, “What’s wrong?”
Listor said, “The stone is missing. Someone’s been in there.”
His wife said, “Are you sure you replaced it last night?”
Listor was frantic, “Yes, check Tempest, I’ll check the boys.”
Listor walks into the bedroom of Ranger and Dilan. Dilan’s bed was empty, but Ranger was fast asleep. He walks to Ranger and gently shakes him, “Ranger, where’s your brother?”
Ranger stirs from his sleep, “Oh, he left last night.”
Listor asked, “Left? Where did he go?”
Ranger sat up, “He said something about destiny and he had to go. Wouldn’t tell me where.”
Listor runs back into the common room.
When Dolmina joins him, he said, “Dilan’s gone. He must have been listening to us last night.”
Dolmina said, “Oh gods, we have to find him. Where did he go?”
Listor commented, “I don’t know. I’m not even sure where to find him. He could be anywhere by now.”
Dolmina said, “We have to try.”
Ranger walks into the room, yawning. “Dad, I will help you find Dilan. He said he was taking one of the horses.”
Dolmina said, “He really could be anywhere then.”
Listor holds his wife in his arms, “I trained him well, and he’ll know what to do.”
Dolmina said, “Go find him.”
Later that day, Listor and Ranger rode off to find Dilan.
A few days later, in the afternoon, Dilan rides into the town of Andol. He looks around to find a place to stop. He ties his horse in front of a tavern and goes inside.
Dilan walks up to the bar, and a tender walks up to him. “What can I get you young man?”
Dilan replied, Ale.”
The tender giggles, “You’re a bit young for that. How about some orange juice.”
“Well, ok.” Dilan lays some money on the bar and the tender gives him the juice. Dilan gets up and walks to an empty table.
While he was drinking, a tall man walks up to him, with a blonde woman at his side. He was wearing a dark leather shirt and had two swords strapped to his belt. He had a full beard but trimmed nicely. The woman was just a bit shorter with blonde hair and Dilan could see her Elvin ears protruding from her long hair.
The man said, “Where are you headed, young man?”
Dilan looks at him, “Nowhere specific. I just stopped here for a drink.”
The man said, “Its nice meeting you, my name is Milosin Rindolin and this is Kessinda Amoralin.”
Dilan smiles, “I’m Dilantik Kesintar.”
Kes said, “What brings you here to Andol? I don’t think we’ve seen you before.”
Dilan said, “I’m on a mission of great importance.”
Milo asked, “Oh, are you? What’s this great mission?”
Dilan replied, “I’m searching for some gem dragons to save the world.”
Milo said, “Oh, I’ve heard of those. The stories say that if these dragons aren’t in their proper place at a certain time, the world will end.”
Dilan continued, “Yea, I’m the one supposed to find them.” He shows them his birthmark.
Milo looks puzzled. “I’ve never seen that birthmark before.”
Kes grabs Milo by the arm, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Milo looks at Dilan, “If you’ll excuse us for a moment.”
Kes takes him away from Dilan so he can’t hear them. “What are you doing?”
Milo looked at her, “He’s a young man. He might need some help and find his family so they won’t worry about him.”
Kes said, “He must be a runaway. What are we going to do with him?”
Milo said, “I was hoping we would take him home, but that birthmark knocked me for a loop.”
Kes asked, “You don’t think he’s really the one?”
Milo replied, “I didn’t believe these stories before but after seeing him, I’m not sure anymore.” Milo goes back to the table. “Where do you Live Dilantik?”
Dilan said, “It’s Dilan. I can’t tell you or you’ll take me home.”
Milo said, “You’re a bit young to go off on your own.”
Dilan argued, “No I’m not. I can do just fine by myself.”
Milo said, “Maybe we can help you find these dragon gems.”
Dilan looked suspicious, “Are you serious, or you just toying with me?”
Milo responded, “No, I’m serious.” Kes whispers in his ear, “What are you doing?”
Milo continued, “You don’t need to be alone at your age and since you won’t tell us where you live, you might as well join us until you’re ready to tell us.”
Dilan said, “I’d be glad to have some help, but don’t press me on my family or I’ll be gone in a heartbeat.”
Milo replied, “Fair enough. Let’s go get some supplies and get on the road. We need to find these gems.”
Dilan gets up, finishing his drink, and follows them out the door.
