Before the days of men, there were elves. In a time they were great and powerful, the first dwellers, the brightest ray of dawn upon the earth. They brought light and music to the world and every breeze that stirs and wave that crashes still echoes with the wonder of the fair folk.
But a foulness is brewing in the east, where men deal in sorcery. They summon dire forces, unleashing a terrible power into the world. And the elves, once immortal, now fade from the earth. But knowing that all sorcery comes from Runes that were carved ages ago, Efkin, a young elf lord, races to find and destroy the hidden Runes before all is lost. He sets out to recover the horn of his ancestors that long ago summoned the forces that shaped the world. Only the horn has the power to break the Runes. He journeys into the east, but comes too close to the heart of sorcery and does not dare blow the horn. If he is tainted by the poison of the Runes the horn will sound a ruinous note that could spell the end of the earth.
In the center of the cave, they found a black thing that looked like a large pearl. It jutted out of a crack in the floor as if it had been hammered into place. The company stood around it.
“What is it?” asked Efkin.
“Something very strange,” said Peledomn. He leaned forward to eye the pearl, careful not to touch it. There were small cracks around it. Peering closer, he saw the cracks were actually etchings carved into the floor in a tight ring around the pearl. He stared at the crude cutting in disbelief.
“Can it be possible?” he said stunned.
“What have you found?” asked Chaelos.
“These carvings around the stone are runes,” said Peledomn.
The company was stunned.
“The trolls know nothing of runes,” said Chaelos.
“Yet they are cut in this cave,” said Peledomn, “etched in the crude manner of trolls.”
“Trolls could not master the runes,” Chaelos insisted. “They are scarcely able to speak any words at all.”
“Some days ago I believed trolls could not summon the shaith,” said Peledomn. “We have all seen that trolls deal in sorcery.”
Chaelos stood staring at the black pearl for a moment. “What foul thing is this stone?”
“I cannot discern its purpose,” said Peledomn, “but I sense something is contained within it.”
“What do you perceive?” asked Efkin.
Peledomn eyed the stone with a penetrating gaze. “There is a force in this pearl.”
There was a sound then, like a distant humming, growing louder. They searched the darkness to find the source, and then with sudden realization Efkin drew Harbinger. The crooning blade sang out of its sheath and all eyes were upon the mystic sword. The tone grew louder and they knew something foul was upon them. They turned to face the tunnel behind them, for it was the only way into the chamber. Wyn and Chaelos stood in front, ready to meet whatever was coming, while behind them, Peledomn stood with Efkin and Ebin at his sides. They stood for some moments with swords drawn, but spied no movement in the tunnel. Suddenly, a ghastly thing appeared, passing through the rock like an apparition. It swept into the chamber, its crimson eyes alight with a sinister fire. Behind them, a strange fog issued from the black pearl, growing thicker, slowly filling the cavern.
Wyn loosed his arrow and pierced the creature. The thing shrieked and tore the burning shaft out of its chest as Chaelos blasted his flames. It raised a clawed hand and deflected the fire aside. With a gesture, it sent them tumbling across the chamber, hurling them with a terrible force.
The fog was growing around them, flowing out of the pearl that glowed with a dark radiance. The mist surrounded them and they were aware of a presence in the fog. Strands of smoke tightened around their arms and legs, gripping them somehow, and they were cast against the walls. The chamber filled with the grey mist; it spread into every corner, forming strange shapes that ebbed as if alive with an eerie pulse. Efkin could not see the others, but glimpsed two crimson eyes glowing through the fog. He struggled to break free, drawing all his strength, but could not defy the force that held him. He felt a coldness upon him. His whole body shook suddenly as a strange force coursed into him. He felt it throbbing inside him, seizing his mind. His whole essence was slipping away, being drawn toward the black pearl. His strength was fading as he tried to fight it. He would lose consciousness in a moment and then he would be lost, wholly absorbed by the dark pearl.
He saw the wicked eyes again, glaring at him through the mist. He knew the creature would consume him, feeding on his soul.
He was fighting again, reaching deep within himself, and drawing on a sudden strength of will, he pulled his arm free. He swept Harbinger up, slicing through strands of smoke that fell away and slowly reformed. He struggled forward, cutting a path through a tangle of sorcerous tendrils.
A glowing arrow shot past him. The creature screamed. He peered through the fog and saw a blue flame burning below its mouth. He made his way through the grey mist and saw Peledomn attempting to dispel the fog. Then he saw Chaelos draw his sword. The elf lord swung at the creature and his blade passed through its body with no effect. The being knocked Chaelos to the floor with a blow to his head, then tore Wyn’s shaft out of its throat. It turned around and Efkin was stunned as he met its crimson gaze, momentarily paralyzed by the glowing jewels that eyed him.
