Artemis and Kifka stood on the brink of a cliff. Kifka had a big task on his hands. He had to locate Sennymay.
"Anything?" Artemis asked.
"Nothing," Kifka answered. He tried harder. His mind stretched over the land to the other continents. There was a familiar energy nearby. He concentrated on it. Closer, closer… Artemis. Wrong energy!
"Damn, it's you!" Kifka exclaimed, then added before the Elf could get offended: "I keep finding your energy." He closed his eyes again. This time he tuned out Artemisiana's energy. There was a different force far away. He came closer to it. Got it!
"Get the hell out of my mind!" ran through his head. It was multiplied hundred-fold and shot back at him. He was blasted backwards and knocked to the ground. A drop of crimson blood fell from his lips.
"Are you alright?!" Artemis exclaimed and rushed to him. Kifka wiped his lips with his hand, smearing the blood. He could see Artemisiana's question in her eyes.
"I found her, alright," he laughed painfully in return. "South Continent, Traders Landing."
After Artemis's poor attempts at healing Kifka, he pushed her aside and told her not to worry. The blood soon dried, leaving a light bruise in the left corner of Kifka's mouth.
He looked Artemis over. She was quite a catch now. Her lustrous auburn hair was even longer now, and she wore beautiful polonaises and colourful ribbons in her hair. Apparently, she had made it big.
"How did you become so rich?" Kifka inquired. He couldn't help himself. "Last time I saw you, you were an Elven outcast."
"After Senny had dropped me off in that town after the acquaintance with K'krath," she started, "one of the local traders recognized my talent. I guess I rose higher and higher until I finally met up with Chelrodin. He is like a brother to me," she explained. Kifka was not satisfied with the answer. He noticed how the Elf had changed the subject. Maybe not intentionally, but she had. But he was still recovering from Senny's mind-blast to care if Artemis made sense or not.
"Must charge a hefty fee from your patients…" he remarked. Her gowns were something else.
"I charge highly from people who can afford it," she replied. "For instance, I'd charge you at least one thousand gold pieces, while I would only charge twenty-five from a poor person."
Kifka nodded understandingly. It made sense. Turns out he gave her less credit than he should have had. "I admire that," he said with a smirk.
Artemis swallowed. She had never seen Kifka this way before. The slanted rays of sunshine mixed by the clouds light his face. The wind ruffled up his hair and draped it over his enchanting eyes. Artemis's stomach filled with butterflies and her cheeks flushed. The light passed and Kifka shot her a cross look.
"Don't get any funny ideas!" he exclaimed. "I've got what I want, or will have it soon, and it's not you!"
"Well, sorriee!" she exclaimed and whirled around. He was so arrogant! She couldn't believe it. She also couldn't believe that she found him attractive, even for that tiny split second. She buried the memory deep inside her mind and turned back around. "How do we get to Traders Landing?" she asked.
"Onward to the castle for a ship!" Kifka exclaimed, startling Artemis. He pulled out a pouch, the last of them, grabbed the Elf around the waist and threw the pouch on the ground. The teleportation powder brought them to an island. Artemis turned around to see where she was. Her jaw dropped.
In front of her a black castle rose out of the ground, surrounded by merchant tents. It cast an enormous shadow onto the land around it, filling the island with uncomfortably cold atmosphere. The castle's whole disposition seemed evil. The skies behind it seemed like they were in eternal night. Neither sunlight, nor light came through. Not even the stars or moons. This was the castle of Armond, The King of Etrion.
Kifka walked towards it without hesitation. The structure was much greater than Artemis had even imagined it to be. It was tall and massive, taking up most of the dark sky. The Sorceress shivered at its sinister look. They neared a small tower. It branched off the castle wall, but was relatively smaller than the latter. Kifka waved at the guard on duty in the tower.
"Lord Kifka!" the guard yelled from atop his tower. "It is nice to see you again!"
"Nice to see you too, Tolore!" Kifka yelled back at the guard.
"Please step to the Crest Graph, milord," Tolore yelled and punched in some runes into a grid. Kifka walked up to the gate and placed his hand on a small red portal. It hummed for a moment, then turned green with an friendly beep, opening the enormous gates. Kifka gestured for Artemis to go in. She stepped through the gate, but was met by another guard's sword. It was Drekore.
"Halt! Who are you?" he demanded, keeping his sword at the Elf's throat. Kifka narrowed his eyes.
"Is there an experienced guard on duty here?" he belted out.
A guard in a less dressy uniform ran in. "Lord Kifka!" she exclaimed, "Forgive Sir Drekore for his rudeness! He is new in this castle, you see," she told him. The guard waved them in, with Drekore giving the two a suspicious look.
Kifka walked by all the merchant tents, straight to the Inner Castle doors. The guards opened the massive doors in front of him. The two walked in. Artemis held her breath. The inside of the castle was the most amazing thing she'd ever seen. Torches hung from carved stone walls, red velvet carpets stretched throughout the halls, and doors of marvelous craftsmanship trailed along through the corridors. Kifka strolled past the guestrooms, maids' rooms, guard barracks, tunnels leading to places that did not concern either of them, dining rooms, and then two fancy doors with big locks and Crest Graphs on them. Kifka passed another fancy door and paused.
"This one brings back memories," he said almost to himself. Artemis walked behind him with a puzzled expression on her lovely face. They appeared to be heading straight for the Throne Room. Maids along the way waved at Kifka and giggled. Once in a while he'd wink at one of them, making them swoon. Artemis rolled her eyes. Kifka was apparently enjoying himself.
They finally reached their destination. A wide door stood in front of them. Another guard opened it for Kifka and they walked in.
The Throne Room was enormous! Three whole giants could fit in it without any problems. It was beautifully lighted by mage lights and gold candelabras. The King sure didn't hide his wealth! Trophies and majestic armours along with fancy weaponry and medals hung along the back wall. Along the left and right walls, dozens of ancient tapestries and maps of conquered lands shone in all their glory.
Artemis froze as the Throne came into sight. It was made of solid gold and surrounded with thousands of gemstones, perhaps even more than an Archmage's coffer.
The King, an old graying man, sat in the throne. His crown hung to one side, and his robes were rumpled and wrinkled. He looked up and saw Kifka.
"Kifka, my son!" the Ruler exclaimed, rising off the throne. Artemis dismissed 'son' as a politeness, used by people who were close friends but of different ages.
"Long time no see, Dad!" Kifka smile back and walked to towards the King. Artemis's jaw dropped. Kifka was the King's … son. Kifka was the eldest prince that she had heard so much about! She watched them exchange a pat on the back. Just then did the mighty Ruler notice Artemis.
"I thought Half-Elves were your type," he finally said after carefully examining the Dark Elf.
"They are," Kifka answered. "I would like for you to meet my friend, the famed Healer Artemisiana Aquiliga!" he exclaimed. Artemis curtsied. She would have rather been introduced as 'sorceress,' but when in the presence of a King, one could not be choosy.
"I will certainly call a celebration in the name of my son's return!" King Armond exclaimed before Kifka could protest.
Three maids rushed in and ushered Artemis to her rooms. There was another person, however, that Kifka wanted to see besides his parents. He walked out of the Throne Room and towards the door on his left. A door rendered in a scene from an early spring morning, with a Crest Graph along its side. The Wizard placed his hand on the portal. It turned green, opening the door in front of him and he walked in.
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Etrion,"Four Gems," and its characters are Copyright © Sennymayy 1997 - 1999.
