Chapter 1

Sameth lay on the cold floor, gazing blankly at his stone ceiling. His sword was still neatly tucked into the scabbard on his back. He had a bed, but hardly ever used it. He found more comfort in the cold, stone floor of his cell in the tower of Shan. He climbed up and walked to the wall, supporting his tired, hungry body on his vorpal blade, still glowing a very dull orange from practicing his enchantments the previous night.

Sameth was an odd person. He stood near six feet, tall, yet skinny. Built like a stick. His skin was not blindingly light, though it was not dark. It had just the faintest amount of a tan. He had black hair that hung naturally down both sides of his head, then once it hung down to about his ears, it all seemed to flow to the back of his head and about halfway down his neck. Not long, like a woman’s, but just long enough that his ears weren’t visible. His facial features were etched perfectly into his skull. Almost like his skull and features were magically selected somehow, after how perfect they all looked. His arms were both long and slender, but were always wrapped in his long, black sleeves. Over his scrawny chest was his long-sleeved black shirt, covered in a dark gray vest. Across that was Anathros’ scabbard. His long, skinny legs were always concealed within a pair of baggy black pants. Though, his physical description was rarely ever noticed, considering how he was always consumed in a black cape that wrapped all around his body, concealing everything but his head and feet.

His cell was rounded, made of dark brick. No furniture or anything. The roof was about nine or ten feet high, also made of brick. About four feet off the ground was set a barred window. Through which, he could see all the country around him. He was on the sixteenth floor, after all.

He stood staring at his wall. He picked a rock from a crevice between two bricks and marked the 247^{th day of prison. He was only nineteen and had been accused of theft. He pleaded himself to be innocent, but the Queen of Shan, Kaat, would do anything to torture him. The two had hated each other for years, Kaat for breaking her brothers trust, and Sameth out of pure annoyance. Her family had a long history of being royalty. Sameth’s had a history of being thieves, murders, and pyromaniacs.}

But he had an escape rout. It would take a while to prepare himself, but he could do it. He sat back down in a heap of black cape and hair underneath the only window in his cell.

Heavy footsteps approached the door. The heavy latch of iron on the other side of the wooden door slid across and the door blasted open. Kaat walked around the room, not noticing the boy under the window.

"Isn’t this just a bit too rustic for you?" He exploded.

"What do you mean?"

"I wouldn’t normally see you in a cell. What are you doing here?"

"We had reports of a black figure escaping across the fields. We decided to check on you. But, all the guards are on other duties, and I had to do it. But now, I can see clearly you weren’t escaping. But, if you should, I must reassure you that any attempt would be both futile and mortal."

"Well, then I must assure you, once more, that you are wasting your time."

Kaat sighed. "Well, I’ve got a proposition for you. Follow me out of here." The two of them stood tall in the cramped room.

Kaat led him out into the hall. "You see, the Queen of Thons is to be coming for a brief visit, to see how to run her country. I ask you to please go to the shore North of here to greet her and escort her back here."

"Well, it does seem better than sitting here all year. I guess I have no other choice." He went willingly, not truly knowing what was coming.

The two of them walked to the final floor of the tower.

"But I do have one request. Take my servant, Meesh. Meesh!"

A girl no older than Kaat approached them. "What can I do for you, my Queen?"

"Meesh, I would like you to escort Sameth to the shore to greet the Queen of Thons."

"I shall not argue with you on this one, your hinus. Please give me two days to prepare."

Sameth rolled his eyes. "Please. Let’s just go as soon as it’s possible. The sooner we can leave, than the sooner we can arrive home. Please."

Kaat looked more surprised than Samth had ever expected. "Well, Sameth. You could wait for the two days, or you can go back to your cell for the rest of the year."

"Oh, decisions, decisions."

"Well, then, I shall grant you your freedom as of this day. Do not do anything stupid, or you may not be so lucky next time."

Sameth turned and left the room.

Meesh glared at Kaat. "Are you sure you want us to do this?"

"Well, I suppose that it is the only way for me to get him out of my hair. But Meesh, hear me out. We don’t know what he’ll do. Nor do we have any way of telling for sure. Keep your sharpest eye on him. Now, go."

Meesh left the prison. Once she was gone, Kaat threw her arms up and screamed.

^{Chapter 2}

The two young adventurers climbed atop a hill. They had been deathly quiet for the half of a day they had journeyed. Atop the hill they saw what spread before them, a massive plain, with scattered rocks every here and there. A herd of buffalo crossed some fifty yards in front of them.

"Wow. It’s huge!" Meesh said. She had never seen a plain this massive. The Shan valley held the biggest plain in the country, and now it stood before them.

Sameth didn’t say anything.

"Why are you so quiet? Did someone just die or something?"

HE spun around and stared angrily at her with his dark eyes. "No, but I get the feeling… nothing."

"What was that? You stopped without finishing your sentence. Don’t you know that that makes it hard to understand?"

Sameth sighed and continued down the hill onto the plain.

Meesh still stood atop the grassy hill, gazing blankly out across the plain. A whirlwind popped up across the plain. "What is wrong with him anyway?" She whispered to herself.

"Are you coming or are you just gonna stand there?" Sameth hollered from the bottom of the hill

"Oh yeah…sure…be right there." She walked slowly down the hill.

Sameth stood patiently. He knew everything she was thinking, for he could read minds, and see a few days into the future, and do some attacks with his spells.

The two of them were now half way across the plain. The herd of buffalo that had been meandering around the field now approached them, seven feet, six feet, and closer. Sameth stealthily leapt upon a high rock. The stampede rushed through and swept away Meesh. She ran against them, staying in place, getting pummeled.

"Sameth!"

"What do you want me to do?"

"I don’t know! Anything that can help me!"

He rolled his eyes and untied his cape. He twisted it up and threw one end to Meesh. She grabbed it. Sameth pulled her in. She flopped down on the dry, crunchy grass by Sameth’s rock. He unwrapped his cape and tied it around his neck.

Meesh took a deep breathe and laid her brunette head back.

Sameth leapt down and landed by Meesh. As he landed, a terrifying vision struck him. Their home town in flames, run over by citizens of Thons.

"What is it Sameth?"

"It’s nothing. Except Shan. We have to get back."

Chapter 3

Kaat ran across the village, locking every door, closing every window, and setting all the fire barriers. Her sword was tight in her left hand.

One of her servants stood at the end of a road. "Is there anything I can do for you, your Hinus?"

"Get everyone with knowledge of swords and bows armored and positioned atop the barriers," she said quickly in between pants. "Oh, where’s Sameth when you need him? He is so good with attack magic. I know he wouldn’t fight for us though, not after how I treated him," she whispered as she ran off.

One of the sergeants approached her. "We need more string to tie down the barriers and fire walls. Where can we find it?"

"Wait." She untied her ribbon from her blonde hair. She handed it to him. "Ask the farmers. How close are they?"

"Seventy meters and closing."

She dashed off even quicker.

Another sergeant approached. "WE need more weaponry. The smiths are out."

She looked across her blade. "I am afraid I can’t help. I need mine for my own safety. Set the rest on bows. We should have enough."

Kaat ran up to the barriers. She climbed a ladder to a guard post. The fine lines of fire and men from an unknown force stood across the plains, surrounding the capital of Shan, Shan city.

An order was hollered in some other language. Men raised swords and bows.

Kaat leaned back and whispered to a general: "Blow the horns."

Upon that command, a mighty horn was blown that engulfed the whole city in its blows. The gate below them was burst open as more than half of Shan ran into battle. Arrows zoomed through the air in both directions. A loud clash of metal sounded from where the two armies collided.

Soldiers were hit and killed all around Kaat. More than half of the swordsmen were gone now.

"Get more people on bows now!" She screamed, barely hearing herself over all the commotion. She dashed down from the barriers and ran through the gate herself, sword in hand.

She charged the opposing enemies, slicing furiously at them. She was among millions, possibly even billions fighting. A horseman was shot straight off his horse. She climbed atop the horse and rode it through the raging war.

‘Sameth, were are you?’ She thought to herself. ‘If by some odd occurance your reading my mind right now, please get here!’

The war raged on for hours and hours, drifting slowly into days. It rained, nights fell, days rose, the sun came out of hiding, and back into. Kaat was still never hurt, but almost dead of exhaustion. Her once clean black dress and cape were now almost red with all of the blood. Suddenly something odd happened.

She found herself flying across lands, plains, through mountains, and over lakes. She stopped at a sight that shocked her: Sameth and Meesh intruding into a tower with swords drawn. Two saddled horses stood impatiently outside. Sameth turned at her.

"Are you coming with us Kaat?" He questioned.

She reached out her hand. "I need you back at Shan City. It is under attack. You’re the only one who can save us now," she tried to say as everything disappeared.

A new image took shape: A tall man covered in mail and armor, turban over his helm. "Kaat, you mustn’t give up hope. The city will live as long as you keep doing your job as queen of Shan. Remember that, your highness. It is not Thons that opposes you. It is a far more powerful force. What you have been witnessing is not even half of their power. You must find Sameth and bring him back; the queen has her own escorts and warriors. They will all join your battle to overthrow this force."

"Who is it?" She squeeked out. The man said nothing, but faded. A pain came in her back as she was suddenly winded.

She opened her eyes to find her horse had been shot from under her. She landed in the mud of the plains. She quickly was helped up by one of the generals.

"What are you doing out here, your highness? A war is no place for a young ruler of sixteen. I beg you to go and rest now. Your skin is sagging underneath your eyes. You’re very tired. Go rest."

She turned and ran back to her castle. She flung open the metal doors. Almost all of her servants were helping her. She shunned them all away.

‘As soon as this small war is over, I will go out to find Sameth and bring him back,’ she thought to herself.

Eventually the war was over, but not without great devastation. She would soon have to address the city and tell of the heavy losses.

The general who helped her up in the war came into the room. Kaat sat staring out a massive glass window at what was hers.

"Your highness, are you ready? I see you’ve cleaned up already. The city is awaiting you."

He held the door for her. She was joined by more of her generals. They all walked out onto a massive stone balcony. All of the city was gathered in a crowd.

They all cheered.

She raised her hand. "Citizens of Shan. We have won the war, but not without great devastation. We have lost over 40,000 citizens. Soon I will be leaving you all for as long as it takes to go to the shore. I’m very sorry about all of this everyone. But until then, the generals you see behind me will be leading the city." She walked in from the balcony and to the stables. She had spent the beginning of the day preparing to leave to find Sameth. She had chosen a few warriors from the city to join her. Now their quest had begun. A massive crowd gathered outside the stables.

A small girl approached her. "Must you really go, my queen?"

"I don’t have a choice."

They all left without saying anything else.

Chatper 4

Sameth lay in the grass outside of his tower of which he had done the majority of his growing up in. He was alone in there except for his dogs. The only thing that lit anything right now was a fire off in the distance, the torches lit aside the door to the tower, and the moon.

Meesh came out of the tower. "Shouldn’t we maybe go help Shan city?"

Sameth propped himself up on his elbows. "If Kaat needs us, she will come to us."

He stood up. A dark figure approached the tower on horseback with several of others with it.

"Quickly. Into the tower," he commanded.

"Why?"

"No time to explain. Just go."

Meesh scurried into the tower, with Sameth close. He stopped on the stoop and looked back at the figures that were coming closer by the second on horse back. He dashed in and grabbed his sword.

"Meesh, you need a blade. Go upstairs into the guest bedroom. You will find a switchblade mounted above the door. Grab it and come back here."

"Hm." She nodded and ran further up into the tower. Sameth pulled out his blade, of which was oddly enough named Anatharos.

He glanced at his blade. ‘Ready Anatharos? It’s time to do your stuff once again,’ he whispered to himself. Upon saying this, almost as a response, the blade was circled by small orange orbs. The orbs veered off course and into the blade. An orange light crawled up the blade from the black hilt, which was a design of four points going out and then up, the inner two curving back into the blade. The orange light crawled up it as if the blade were clear and was being filled with orange water.

A moment later he was rejoined by Meesh, who was now armed with a mighty switchblade. Sameth slowly retreated through the door and into the black yard. The figures stood by horses. Sameth slowly approached them.

"Can I help you?" He questioned.

"Sameth, I need you to return to Shan city."

He lowered his blade. "What? Kaat, I’m not doing anything for you now. Not after the way you’ve always been treating me."

"It’s not like you were abused as a child. And regardless. You were proven guilty, though you truly were innocent. It isn’t like you wree abused."

He turned and stomped angrily through the door of his tower. By now Meesh had also retreated to the yard.

Kaat looked her servant in the eyes with her deep brown eyes. "Was it something I said?"

"Who knows. I have spent the last four days with him and I haven’t learned a thing about him," Meesh replied.

Kaat sighed. "I reckon he’s just lonely. Living all alone in this massive tower."

"He is not alone. He has his dogs, oddly named Bean Soup and Coleslaw. They keep him plenty company. You should see the way that they live together under that one roof."

"I suppose I should figure out what’s wrong with him." Kaat walked so smoothly into the tower that it looked almost as if she was floating.

Sameth sat on the leather couch staring at a painting on a plain blue wall. The painting was a flat plain with a tower and a very small family, a mom, a dad, and a son, probably about six or seven, with a small dagger in his hand.

Kaat sat down on the couch beside Sameth. "I’m sorry about what I said…earlier…outside."

"Hm…"

"Look. If you don’t want to talk to me ever again, I’m sure that I’ve earned it."

"It’s okay Kaat."

"Oh good. That’s a nice painting. Where’d you get it?" She asked, trying not be too solemn.

"It’s actually a picture of my family, outside of the tower. The small boy is my brother. I was not really in account of my family."

"I’m sorry. Whatever happened to them?"

"As far as I know, they are all still around." He stood up. "Well, I’m going to retire for the night. You and your men have permission to rest in one of the many guest rooms. Good night." He walked out of the circular room into a stairwell. He walked up the winding stairs, holding up Anatharos, like a torch, the orange light opening the stairwell. A hidden door was positioned a few flights up. He laid the blade into an embedded slab of metal. The door began to glow with the same orange light and then disappeared into nothing. As he stepped through the door, it reappeared behind him. A small bed was placed against one wall, with two torch posts positioned at the head and a fireplace on the opposite wall. He swung Anatharos through the cold, musty air. A mighty flame shot through the air and landed perfectly into the fireplace. Suddenly a large fire blazed through the fireplace. The flames danced around madly, casting light all around the room. He peeled off his cape and tossed it on the floor. He laid down and stared at the ceiling. He fell asleep.

Chapter 5

He awoke to the refreshing smell of toast and bacon. Now only a few flames danced around in the charred fireplace. Sameth remembered Kaat arriving last night with her soldiers.

He went downstairs. Kaat stood over the stove with Meesh leaning on the counter.

"Ah, Sameth. How are you?"

Silence.

"You aren’t still mad about last night are you?"

"Look. I know how it feels to be left dying at the bottom of the stairs when all the lights go out and everyone forgets about you."

"So… Are you still mad?"

He chuckled slightly. "No, not too bad. But I’m still not going back. The city holds too many evil memories for me."

"Well…"

"I’ve at least got to get you home. Now round up your guards. I got to make sure you arrive home safely."

She carried a plate to the table. "Well, I appreciate your concern, but I can get myself back."

Meesh entered the room. "I thought I smelled something."

Sameth turned and left the room.

Meesh and Kaat stood in the large kitchen, bacon still sizzling over the fire. The toast was neatly stacked on the table.

"I suppose we should begin to head home," Meesh said.

"I appreciate your concern. Sameth has offered to take us back to Shan City. Now go round up the guards. We will begin the journey home this afternoon."

Meesh stared at Kaat through her large, hazel eyes. "If I may soeak, I would feel much safer taking Sameth along, your Highness. HE was the whole reason you left the city in the first place. To get him, am I correct?"

"Indeed you are, Meesh. I suppose we will take him up on his offer. Go find him and bring him here."

Chapter 6

The group had spent the morning packing for the journey to Shan City. They had all traveled through the day and stayed the night in a town conveniently placed in the middle of no where.

Sameth had cast spells on everyone’s rooms but his, so if he had to get out quickly.

The next day they made it back to the city. Some of it had been rebuilt. Kaat’s massive palace still stood intact in the middle of the city. People crowded the gates, watching the arrival of the small group of travelers. Kaat rushed into the city, followed closely by Meesh and the guards. Sameth stood behind. Kaat whispered something to her guards. They all bared arms and approached him. They grabbed him and bound his arms behind his back.

"What? What is this all about?" He yelled.

The guards shoved him towards Kaat. "For kidnapping me."

"What? I could blow this whole town to pieces now!"

"Try it. I dare you."

A large orange shock wave shot from his body and into the guards. They fell as if they had been a statue getting knocked over.

A messenger approached Kaat. "Your Highness. While you were gone, we have found the best leaders and armies in the country that will help us to fend off this foe. Here is the list."

He handed her the list. "The top is…Sameth?" She looked up from the list. Sameth suddenly flashed an odd smile at her. She thrust the list on the ground and stormed away.

Later that night Sameth was called to Kaat’s palace, to witness the arrival of the other armies and their leaders. After several of hours a guard and a messenger came into the room.

"They first army and their general has arrived. Please welcome Carashor from the land of Cons."

A short boy with blonde hair wearing something that resembled nothing of a general’s uniform entered. He wore a green shirt, red pants and a purple cape. He had a bow on his back.

He bowed low. "Your Highness. It is my pleasure to stand and fight beside you in the land of Shan." He straitened up. "And who is this?"

"Just a rat who can help us."

"A rat, huh? Looks a little more promising than a rat to me. What is your name?"

Sameth had his right hand on Anathros’ black, iron handle. "Sameth."

"Well, Sameth. Pleased to meet you."

A few minutes later, the guard and messenger came. "Your Highness, Dyonne of Sathe has arrived with his army."

A short boy with red hair came into the massive room.

The boy bowed low. "Your Highness Kaat. It is a great honor to be in your presence." He straightened up.

Kaat signaled for him not to ask about Sameth, who still had his grip tight on Anathros. Dyonne joined Kaat and Carashor at the massive glass window to watch the three armies unite into unison.

Sameth still faced the massive copper door. He sighed. ‘Maybe the next one will actually show a touch of sympathy for me,’ he whispered.

Countless hours, turning to days, to months went by, and still the fourth general would not show. Carashor and Dyonne and Kaat still lodged in the palace, and Sameth stayed in a hotel room, because Kaat wouldn’t lodge him.

Sameth stood atop an empty guard tower. All towers were emptied a few weeks back because of the fact that no sign of their unseen foe had been seen or heard for a few months. He gazed around the city, trying to earn acceptance from Kaat by keeping her city safe. All the alleyways were black except for the occasional lantern ever here and there. A loud rumbling protruded from one of the surrounding hills. Lines of torches came down the mountain in neat and organized lines. Sameth knew exactly who they were and what he should do. But he could not wake the whole city in time. He cast a barrier around the city, a spell that took so much energy out of a person that it had been known to kill.

He enchanted Anathros. The blade glowed a brilliant orange. He Raised it in the air and slowly lowered his blade down. He suddenly jabbed forward. Four lightning bolts blazed down from the sky and hit the ground in the middle of the army. He tried it again, but nothing happened. He was out of energy.

Sameth sighed. ‘Well, this is it. Nobody lives forever!" He leapt down and began swinging Anathros madly. Flames flew from the blade with every swing. Eventually the enchantment was gone. He stood, dumfounded as the army began to attack. He blocked every attack. He held out for a few minutes, but then grew weary.

He heard the sound of arrows. He saw a massive army circle around the opposing army. The army crashed into the one opposing Shan. He bent over on his knees and caught his breath. Just as fast as he stood up, the opposing army was gone, and the new army stood around him on every side but one. The brutes stared him down. He felt nervous.

Sameth turned and ran back into the city.

"No wait!" Someone called after him.

He dashed through the city. IN an alleyway a force he could not see threw him down. He shot up and charged at the person with a grunt. He felt Anathros strike the person. What felt like a powerful strike of a staff knocked him in the back. He fell forward on the cobblestone walk. He stood and turned toward the person. He did a simple lightning spell and then leapt onto a roof. He stood staring down at the person, dimly lit in the alleyway, staring up at him. He turned and ran away, hopping from roof to roof. Lighting struck down behind him. He froze.

‘So this person is a magic user too, eh?’ He whispered.

The form of the person appeared where he had leapt up at. He began running away again. The person caught up and threw him down off the roof. The person leapt down and whacked Sameth with its staff. He turned with his back to this person. Furiously he spun and cut the staff in two.

The person looked at the jeweled end of the staff laying on the ground. Dazed it said "Who are you?"

Sameth was shocked to discover that his foe was a girl.

"That depends," he said, trying to gather as much respect for her as he could.

She sighed. "I’m Edge, leader of the Caranor army."

"Oh. Finally you are here. Kaat has been waiting," He paused, pointed towards Kaat’s palace, which had the giant glass window he had been staring out illuminated. He looked back at Edge. "In her palace."

He disappeared into the shadows. He paused and looked back at the tall, slender girl, half illuminated in the candle light of lanterns hanging from houses. He could see that she had neatly combed hair, of what color he couldn’t tell, a baggy-sleeved, silkish shirt, and a long, flowing dress with a tall, wooden staff with jewels embedded in it. He saw her majestic figure bend down and pick up the other end. A blue light flew from her and into the two halves of the staff, making the two parts become one. He continued to run from her.

Chapter 7

Over the next few days the generals and Kaat lounged around Shan, just waiting for anything to happen. With Edge’s army being the largest in the world, it was split into smaller sections, which each of them was sent to scout. No body ever saw Sameth in those weeks. Eventually the scouts returned one of them with news. They had found this empire. Within two weeks all the armies were sent in to attack. The march was long and hard. Edge kept riding on horseback from front of the armies, to the back.

She leapt off of her horse right by Kaat. "I’ve checked the army several of different times, and still no sign of Sameth."

Kaat sighed. "Damnit. Without him, we may not actually stand a chance."

Edge looked back at her with a sense of evil in her deep, blue eyes. "You’re forgetting once again that I am also one of the magic users."

Carashor rode up. "After all the years I have known Edge, she has always been using it. This should be no different," he sighed as he rode right by them, hanging half off his horse.

On the horizon, the armies and generals could see a massive city. Dyonne stared at Kaat. "I believe we are here."

Edge pulled out her long, triangular blade with the carved snowflake in the middle of the pointy silver hilt. "Armies…" She paused. She looked down at Kaat. "It’s ok right?"

Kaat gave a nod. "Attack!" The massive army ran straight into the city, destroying everything. Armies ran out of the city and attacked theirs.

This battle raged on for days. Again, it rained. Most of the governors stayed away from the battle, but, as always, Edge was as ready as anything. She fought hard for days. It rained, and snowed about 2 feet during the battle.

Edge swung her sword as hard as she could during what was expected to be the last day of the battle. She gasped for air and dropped her sword. She had been struck in the chest. She dropped from her horse into the 2 feet of snow and laid there, clenching her chest.

The battle ended. Kaat, Carashor, Dyonne, and the remaining soldiers helped to clean up the death count. Edge was transferred back to Shan’s hospital.

Edge lay there, staring at the roof of her hospital room. Her doctor said it would be at least three weeks until she could be released. Her door flung open and Sameth stood in her doorway.

"Edge, we won the battle."

Edge sat up. Sameth could see the bandages wrapped around her stomach.

"But we feel all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant…"

END OF PART 1

BOOK 2