Sword of the Oracle Part 2

Four people came running out of a dark woods. It was midnight and the moon shown high in the sky. They were panting one of them, a black haired young man fell on fours and began to cough.

“Were…were…we…followed?” he said breathlessly.

“No I don’t think so.” said the hooded figure of Rider. Phillip’s still was on the ground. His chest was on fire from running for five hours straight and almost dying.

“What should we do.” asked Darius.

“I don’t know.” replied Collin. Rider took a breath and said,

“Go to Old Man Gordon.”

“What?” asked Phillip getting to his feet.

“Remember the stories about the Gods he told us when we were kids?” Rider said plainly.

“Yes.” said Phillip, Darius, and Collin together.

“On the mercenaries chest plate there was a symbol from one of the books.” Rider exclaimed.

“We should go.” said Phillip. Collin and Darius nodded. Old Man Gordon used to be a merchant many years ago and in his travels he found out many things about the world. He would know what the symbols on the chest plate meant. They walked in silence to the gates of Old Water. Two guards stood in front of the gates. The guards were clad in silver chain mail and carried poleaxes.

“Any trouble?” asked one of the guards who noticed the sweat and dirt on their faces. Before anyone could speak the wind began to howl loudly and two gusts of smoke came from the sky. Out nowhere two pairs red eyes began to gleam in the darkness. To Phillip’s horror he saw the same heavily armored mercenaries.

“On the eve of a new dawn our master calls upon us.” said the mercenaries together in a deep voice echoed through the darkness. “Summer shall never come in a time of endless winter.” The gates opened up and Old Man Gordon came running out holding an old book and muttering something Phillip couldn’t understand. All of a sudden the two armored brutes disappeared.

“Come in the gates.” Gordon said in a worried wheezy voice. Gordon was leaning on his walking stick and started walking fast to his house. His house was near the gates it was one of the largest in Old Water. It was surround by a large wooden fence and had two statues of a dragons by his front door. The entry way was filled with heirlooms from Gordon’s travels. “What’s going on?” asked Rider.

“The end of the free world.” said Gordon.

“What,” asked Collin “explain yourself!” he yelled.

“Are you familiar with the gods Mr. Saddlemain?” asked Gordon.

“Yes.” said Collin.

“Rider fetch me Tales of the Unfamiliar.” Gordon said. Rider nodded and closed his eyes. Seconds later and old dusty book with some sort of eye with a slit pupil printed on the cover appeared in Rider’s hands. “Tell me about your day today boys” They told him of the hunt and the goblins, and the armored mercenaries. Fear was etched on every line on Gordon’s face.

“Those weren’t mercenaries,” said Gordon “they were heralds.”

“Heralds of what?” asked Phillip nervously. Gordon gave a sigh and said “Turn to page 1205.”
Phillip did and saw a drawing of the heralds and a large drawing of the rune that was on it’s chest plate. “Read aloud.” said Gordon. Phillip cleared his throat and began to read.

“The Heralds are messengers from the deepest abyss. Their presence signals the countdown to the end of the world. A war of the gods. Once a mortal realizes he was chosen by the gods for a task or close to realizing Evil will send his heralds to hunt down that mortal. If the chosen is slain Evil shall conquer and the world will freeze…” Phillip was cut off by Gordon

“If that story is true then the end of the world may be upon us.”

“Who is the chosen?” asked Darius

“Someone who is this room,” said Gordon “at least I think so.” He ignored the looks of shock on the other fours faces. “Any guesses?” he said looking around smiling. Phillip, Darius, Collin, and Rider shook their heads. “Well he just read something out of a book that he could only read out of and read what is true and not what is make believe.” Phillip’s eyes opened up in shock.

“What do you mean?” asked Phillip.

“What is the title of the book.” asked Gordon patiently. Phillip closed the book and looked at the cover. To his surprise the title book was not Tales of the Unfamiliar but in golden letters was
THE GUIDE OF THE CHOSEN

“What is the title of the book?” repeated Gordon

“The… the…The Guide of the Chosen.” said Phillip in disbelief.

“Is it now?” asked Gordon.

“You told me to turn to page to 1205.” said Phillip.

“Well each page to regular eyes only gives legends and theories,” Gordon began to say, “but to the Chosen’s eyes it’s a guide filled with facts, key to the Chosen’s survival.”

Phillip felt weak in his knees he couldn’t believe what hey was hearing. “Darius read page 1205.” Phillip pleaded. He wanted to hear that Gordon was lying. Darius to the book from Phillip’s hands and read,

“Legends predict that before Summer will begin a great schism of the gods…” Phillip shook his head. He felt dizzy, this could not be true. Gordon walked over to Phillip and put his hand on his shoulder.

“Let me show you something son.” said Gordon in a fatherly sort of tone. Gordon began to walk through the cluttered room to a door that led to his basement and Phillip followed. The basement was dark, Gordon lit a torch and began to walk down a long flight of stairs. As with the above floor the basement was covered with tokens and memorabilia. Gordon walked over to a large display case. Inside the display case was the most beautiful sword Phillip had ever seen. Its hilt was gold and at least a foot long and the end of it was jewel made to look like the eye on the cover of the Guide of the Chosen. Its blade was four feet long and made of what looked like steel. There was something familiar about the sword.

“Open the case and take out the sword.” said Gordon eagerly. Phillip walked over to case and took out the sword it was as light as the one from his dream. It is the one from my dream! Thought Phillip.

“Only one who is chosen by the gods can wield the Sword of the Oracle without feeling severe pain,” said Gordon “and Evil has realized you are the Chosen One.”
Phillip almost dropped the sword.”

“I suggest you leave before we all die.” said Gordon with a grim look on his face.
End of Part 2