• Chapter the first
    The Learning Process

    In a far away land, in a world that can only be imagined in your wildest dreams (how many times you heard that one?), there are many famlies, tribes and nations fighting in world wide war, started in the year 789 millenia of the Bull (a time chart will be provided later). They fight for dominence, money and power (ya know the whole sha'bang). Currently the Half Orc tribe of Garrudon is acknowlaged as "top dog" in the middle eastern kingdom. These include Geon, Farade and the high imperial city of Harven (these three places make up 32% of the worlds economy (see orcsies can be smart)). Garrudon's current tribal chiefton, Barrokton, got to this position by murdering his cousins father (his uncle), in the old guys sleep. Barrokton slew his uncle by slitting his troat, and if that wern't enough he then took his weapon, a combination of a hammer and an axe, and bashed it into his skull 26 times. this of course cover most of the tent in blood (hehe he dyed it red.) as he did this the splashes made horrifieing sillouettes scareing most of the slaves in the camp out of thier wits as they watched in a daze (they had been woken up by Barroktons yelling as he smashed). Barrokton (ya know his name is long for an ork (then again he's half ork (aaah, decide for yourself))) then emerged from the tent and orderd all to listen as he claimed his right as Chief. I could give you hundreds of examples of horrors from this war, from the deeds of the mercenaries to the assassins killing innocent children of an enemy, but that’s not what this story is about.

    The reason for this world wide war is of a legend first heard in the year 936 Millenia of the Pheonix (the millenia before the Bull). This is the short short version of it, There was this guy that fought the whole world to save his family, only to end up being the one to kill the, accidently, feeling sorry for the man an ancient being took pity on him and granted him the only power that could bring him peace. The power to destroy or the power to heal the power to save. The man not understanding the power he was given or why, he imprisoned the being using the very power she gave him makeing the only way to open the seal on her a crystal key that he left behind, to far for her to free herself. And so the legend gose the one who frees her will gain powers even greater then those she gave to the man before. So everyone is fighting to find the key.

    Even through all of the turmoil many families succed in remaining peacful. One of these is the first family of the country of Asvtsi; the bridge of the 5 powers of the Bronze Allience. The Bronze Allies is a union formed by the ancients, they took the name bronze for they felt the could hold up to enormus heat and pressure. The Allience was formed to try and form peace between some of the more powerful reigons in the world, and to help this process along most of there children were forced into politicaly arranged marriges with niehboring countries. Asvtsi was one of the families that managed to avoid politically arranged marriges for most generations. The currant (late) queen of Asvtsi was born of the Britanian Empire (thier almost the same as the Birtans on earth). The only reason they didn't avoid the arranged marriage this particular time was because the two of the happened to fall in love shortly after they met in London (yes, yes I know). But enough about the Parents.

    Now im going to send you back 14 years from the war. One of the girl children of the Asvtsi family had fallen in love, not with a politicians son but with the son of her maidservant Atoli. Although she had told no one in fear. In this high society it is condemed to love someone of lowly for lack of gain, of these cases the one of lower position is punished, posibly killed, even if the feelings aren't mutual. But in this case it was (weather either of them knew it or not).

    The two current families in this part of the story are the Asvtsi (you know the parents already), there are five children in the family. Bere (17), Jordyn (16, Female), the twins Grain and Seed (4, male and female), and last but not least Gardenia (7), who is the one in love with her brother's' servant. Then the Rosuto family, Atoli the mother, Jessica (deceased, but would be 19), and Veeatie (10) who, although, seemed to be a vigilent worker, his mind was always on other things. Lately his mind has been on the girl he loves Gardenia.


    Chapter Two
    Making Memories

    Most of the Asvtsi children would spend part of their time wondering around one of the several labyrinths in the back yard and the other part learning the fine arts and basic other stuff ya. Except the two youngest, they would find most of there time spent playing with Veeatie; hanging on his trousers, clambering on his back, and trying to pull tricks on him without impunity; all the while he wouldn't complain just allowing them to do as they may as he continued to work. Even though he didn't complain he would always find out what the pranks were and avoid them, so the twins swore they would one day pull a prank so complicated that Vee couldn't figure out how to avoid it.

    One day when Veeatie finished his work early, he decided to explore the labyrinth that Gardenia and Jordyn said they were going to. This being only the second time hes been in one of the 3 mazes in the yard he was fairly lost. As he meander he started to hear small noises wondering around him. The noises started to sound like giggles to him and he thought he was going mad, then he remembered that there were at least two other people here, then he thought "How would they know i was here" starting to feel frightened he then thought "mabe its Grain and Seed, mabe they followed me here and are try to pull a prank again-" Crack. Veeatie turned to where the noise came from, unbenounced to him that arms were comingout of the bush behind him, "Gotcha!" piped the voice of the arms as the owner of them leaned back to pull Vee through the bushes. "Hey scardy pants" Gardenia said as Vee lay anxious in her lap.

    "I wasn't scared, I was concerned, that.... there was imps in the garden"

    "Riiiight" Gardenia said in response. "Anyway lets explore outside of the labyrinth."

    "Outside where?"

    "Outside 'The Gate', ok?"

    "What?! your father said not to go outside the gate until you learn advanced self defence!"

    "You know advanced self defence right?"

    "Yes but-"

    "then you can protect me"

    "But-"

    "Lets go." Gardenia grabed Vee's arm and pulled him along hundreds if twists and turns like it was the easiest maze in the world, and Vee knew he had no idea where she was going. But in only a couple of minutes she had brought him to the exit on the back side, she had brought him to "The Gate".

    "Are you sure that you want to do this?" he said caustiously as they approched the metal doors.

    "Positive" was all she said before grasping the semi-rusted French style handle and slow as posible, turning it.

    "Uumm, if were going to do this can you at least hurry it up?" was Veeaties response to the loud creaking of the handle.

    "I can't help trying to make it seem as erie as posible!" Gardenia whined.

    "Whatever..." Veeatie said as he reached foward and cranked the door handle and started to push the door open, "Dang this door is really heavy," his feet started to slip as he pushed with his whole body.

    "Wow! you moved it a whole 3 inches...... let me help." she said as she stood behind him and put her hands right beneath his on the door "Push!" and after the two of them had pushed for several minutes, the door which had bearly budged suddenly swung open asthough it had become well oiled.

    "What the-" Whomp! Veeatie Tripped over the thresh hold and Gardenia followed. "Well we opened the gate, now what?" He said as he ajuted himself to fit comforably the girl on top of him.

    "Lets just take a nap." She said as she lay her cheek on the back of his head and dozed off.

    "Uumm, are you gonna sleep on me or should I move you?"

    "Hhmm." Veeatie realized she was already sleeping as her sigh of content whispered its way into his ear.

    "I see." he said as he ajusted his head into a comfortable position for the both of them.


    The Third Chapter
    The Other Side of "The Gate"
    "Oooooooohhgg.." Gardenia moaned as she flopped off Veeaties back and onto the soft grass beneath her. "Wow," she said as she stared blankly into the star shaped light shining trough the tree tops. As she wobbled her feet, Veeatie, instinctivly grabbed her ankle, "Not leave with-t me...." he groaned, muffled, into the grass. Gardenia couldn't help but crack a smile, he'd try to protect her; even in his sleep he would do so.


    "Let's Go!" Gardenia orderd onward.

    "And where might you be going young lady?" a deep echoing voice called from behind a nearby evergreen and a tall shadowy figure stood out before it.

    "Aaand how might that be any of your business old man?" Gardenia stompped and glared up at him.

    "Gardenia!" Veeatie shouted and the old man raised an eyebrow. "Don't be so rude!"

    "But this is part of my backyard!" Gardenia turned to Veeatie "Which means he is an intruder anyway, soooo if he dosen't want me to call the gaurds he'll leave us alone." She turned back to the old man. "Right?"

    "But if you call the gaurds we'll be in trouble.." Veeatie scratched his head.

    "Oh right..." Gardenia lowerd her head in dispair.

    "Children," the old man raised his hands, "this place has been my home for 853 years. I'm quite sure it's not part of your backyard and that you should not be here. It's far too dangerous for you."

    "Dangerous?" Gardenia frowned and Veeatie started to think, "if an old man like you lives here then we'll be just fine, but may I ask why you live in my backyard?"

    "As i said child this place is my home, not part of your backyard." The old man leaned onto the tree he emerged from. "But I suppose you can explore it if your very carefull not to wake the Dragon."

    "D-Dragon? N-No your just trying to scare me." Gardenia stepped back.

    "Nope. Theres also Verperlions, Battiggers and Stagbears." The old man smiled.

    "Oh my." Gardenia started to sweat.

    "Wait, if your really that old then you know what really happened with the man of the legend. Cuz 853 years ago is when that took place right? But then again you can't be 853 years old, no one can live that long, so you mean't its been in your family for 853 years, right?" Veeatie stared questioningly.

    "Who cares! He can protect me! Let's GO!" Gardenia grabbed Veeaties arm and ran.

    "Wait where are you going?"

    "Anywhere! I dont care-huff as long as-huff your with me!" Gardenia Shouted in between gasps.

    "What are you crazy?!?! I can't protect you from all that stuff! I'm just one person!" Veeatie yelled as he stammerd to his feet. Gardenia suddenly flipped upside-down and went soaring in the air.

    "But you have to your the only one that can" she said tears streaming down her face. Veeatie clinging to her, looked up. Laughed. Then looked down. "Hehe, i was trying to see what caught you, but." He stopped and laughed again.

    "But what?" Gardenia asked anciously.

    "But I can't see anything past your bloomers" he looked up and smiled at her now beat red face. "I'm gonna get down brace your self" as he let go Gardenia popped up and down a few times.

    "Ow ow ow" she refocused herself. "Well it's not my fault!! My dad forces me to wear THESE stupid THINGS!!" Gardenia shouted pushing her skirt away from her face.

    "Yeah, yeah, hold still" Veeatie said after jumping down and pulling a small machetee from under his pant leg.

    "W-what are you gonna do with that?!" Gardenia sputterd quickly.

    "Don't move." Veeatie threw the knife and it sliced through the rope above her.

    "Eeeeep!" Gardenia yelpped as she fell, Veeatie jumpped to her, but he jumped too soon. *Clonk* Cuz they smacked heads.
    " Ooowwwwww" Gardenia rubbed her head and then her ankle "you couldn't have timed that better?"

    "Sorry," Veeatie cut the noose around her. "Try to stand." Veeatie grabbed her elbow.

    "O.K.," she staggerd upward. "Aaahh!" She fell down on her bottom. "It hurts too much." Veeatie examined her ankle.

    "Looks like the noose might have fractured it, here" Veeatie said turning around "Piggy-back"

    "O-O.K." she blushed as she put her arms around his neck. "Hey where to now?"

    "I'm bringing you home."

    "B-but!"

    "No buts, your injured and I'm bringing you home." Veeatie said sternly.

    "Fine then! But im telling my dad what happend" Gardenia shot off.


    Chapter Four
    What Happens, Happens
    "Is that REALLY what happend?" The King Faulst Asvtsi Stared at his daughter next to him.

    "Y-yeah," Gardenia said looking down at her twiddling thumbs.

    "We were playing tag at the market, a-and I tripped over a basket a-and he tried to catch me a-and we bumped heads, a-and thats what happened, the basket hurt my ankle." Gardenia sputtered nervosly looking at her shiny new splint.

    "Really? Because you always twiddle your thumbs when your lying to me." He raised one eyebrow.

    "N-no its the truth. I promise" She said still twiddleing her thumbs. King Faulst Looked from his left to his right.

    "Well Veeatie is that the truth? Tell me" he asked the boy stareing at his feet.

    "Sir. No Sir." he paused "I was curious Sir. So I brought her with me to the other side of the gate. we heard some scary noises so I grabbed her arm and ran and got her caught in a noose trap. I cut her down and we clocked heads then I brought her home, Sir." Veeatie spoke confidently in military style looking directly into the kings eyes.

    "What? No thats a lie Daddy! He's-" Gardenia was cut off by her fathers commanding voice.

    "STOP!! You've already lied to me twice today, I don't need any more of that. Valencia, take her to her room and don't let her out." Faulst raised his hand to a small row of royal knights in the back of the room, one stepped forward.

    "Yessir!" the woman responded in a loud voice as she reached to pick up Gardenia. "Come on," she whisperd, "you dont want to be here for the next part, mistriss."

    "NO! Wait! Let me go! Daddy don't hurt him!" This was followed by a series of "let me go"'s on Gardenia's part as Valencia carried her away.

    "So you knowingly put my daughter in harms way? You know thats a capital offence right? Putting a member of the royal family in harms way."

    "Yes sir i am aware of this." Veeatie lowerd his head because he did know what it meant.

    "Well boy, I don't suppose I can just give u the punishment. After all my daughter is special to me, and your special to her. I know if I did give you the normal punishment my daughter would hate me forever; no changing that. So since everything else is so special I'll have to think of a special way to punish you. Understand?" The king stood up. "So for now, until i can think of something, you'll have to stay in the dungeon. Balmust take him to an empty cell." A tall platinum hair man stepped forword, armor bold and rusted.

    "There are no empty cells your majesty," he seemed to whisper into his muffler, "however there is a cell with a woman who killed a man because she thought he was threatening her son who is the same age a Vee. She will mostlikely care for him." His word sped near the end.

    "Oh your-" the king began to speak but was cutoff

    "Yessir the one brought here last week." Balmust's words were shakey and his breathing shallow.

    "I see... then that is your sentance until I can find some other way to punish you!" Faulst pointed one strong finger at Veeatie "To the dungeon!"

    END OF BOOK 1