As always, previous chapters are availible upon PM.
I've got a more reliable comp setup now. here's chap 11
Chapter 11.
The sentry peered into the narrow pipe. It seemed like not even a sliver would be able to squeeze through that small of a space. Two sentries had died at their posts so far from thinking the same thing. The sliver attacks had been coming more recently in the last few days. Even the lowest level wizards were starting to question whether Lereif really could clear the slivers out of the Project. The noise of boots made him turn. That warrior elf stood there. What was her name again?
"Perhaps you should get back to your quarters, miss."
The elf glowered at him, and he realized that "miss" had been a mistake. The elf moved forward with a dangerous grace.
"Perhaps it would be safer if you went to your quarters, boy." The wizard gulped and stepped back.
"I meant no offence, miss... I mean, ma’am! I just meant that...it’s-it’s dangerous these days... and perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?" His attempts to appease the elf seemed to just agitate her more.
The sentry’s back hit the grimy wall, he was standing directly above the narrow pipe now.
A soft voice came from below him.
"Sorry lad. Terrible time to have guard duty."
Three jumbled senses came to the sentry before everthing went black.
Speed.
Height.
Depth.
"Was that nessecary?" snarled the elf as Pemmin squeezed out of the pipe.
"He’s not , so I don’t know what you’re sniviling about." He said blandly, brushing dust off his simple wrap.
Burdock glanced at the where the crumpled body had landed as if she seiriously doubted it. She rounded on pemmin
"Why do you them so much?"
"On the contrary, my dear, I’ll hadn’t just severly ingured an wizard, " Are you sure the elves will join me if I ask them?" welcome them to my care with open arms… just as soon as I find out wich of them are agents of Lereif in disguise I have Callow dealing with that my dear, we have other things to worry about," He took his ease as if he
"Maybe if I ask them, great wizard. Why do you want them anyway?"
"It isn’t easy to wrest power from a sucking backstabber. I’ll need all the help I can get. You find those elves." He turned and began sliding away.
"Where are you going?"
"I’ve got to see an old friend about something."
On the other end of the third floor, the doors from the stairs lay on the ground several feet from its hinges.
It made small pinging sounds as it cooled. Several bodies lay near by that one would sincerely hope were after smelling the burned flesh. A pile of rubble, streaked by lava, moved stealthily across the floor.
Zercis stood at attention in the small antechamber outside of Lereif’s room. Zercis had no doubt that it had been used for something else before the sliver escape. Servants didn’t have rooms this big. In today’s meeting, Lerief had once again quashed the notion of a larger rescue mission to find Burdock. Lereif insisted on sending no more than five. It was big enough to attract the slivers and to small to defend against them. Zercis had a soft spot for Burdock. She reminded him of his daughter. After Zercis had openly questioned Lereif’s decision, he had been told to wait until Lerief had time to deal with him.
The door from the hall opened, no one was there. Zercis put his hand on his sword and spoke in a no nonsense voice.
"I can’t let you through, my wizard friend."
What appeared to be a pool of liquid glass slid from the ceiling to the floor.
"Well done friend, but how did you know I wasn’t a sliver?"
"Slivers don’t have the hands for door knobs."
"Very clever of you."
"Thank you."
"Now if you’ll let me through…"
"I gave my oath to protect Lereif, good sir. You can’t pass."
Zercis planted his feet. Pemmin sighed and waved his hand. Zercis fell backward, not moving a muscle.
"How loyal of you."
Oak was not particularly moved by Burdock’s speech.
"We do not break oaths sister."
"What oath is that?"
"The elves will not betray."
"You make no sense."
"The elves will not betray." Burdock sighed and drew his sword.
"I challenge you to a duel of leadership."
Lereif bent over the black flame, eyes rolled up into his head. The putrid smoke wound in odd shapes around his head. It was almost too easy to find bodies for the ritual. The sliver attacks claimed many and his men dug all the graves. None would ever know they were empty. The door opened behind him, spoiling the ritual with light. Lereif’s eyes rolled back to normal
He spun and shot a tangle of black threads from his fingers.
The liquid being twitched a finger.
Lereif slammed against the ceiling.
"Hello my boy. You know that contest of strength we had a while back?’ Lereif tried to move his hands. He slammed against the ceiling again, this time spread-eagled.
i searched every thread in this forum from day 1. I found all of the other chapters from 1-9 in mixed threads. But no chapter 10.
Was/Is there a chapter 10? Did it get lost somewhere?
Chapter 11.
The sentry peered into the narrow pipe. It seemed like not even a sliver would be able to squeeze through that small of a space. Two sentries had died at their posts so far from thinking the same thing. The sliver attacks had been coming more recently in the last few days. Even the lowest level wizards were starting to question whether Lereif really could clear the slivers out of the Project. The noise of boots made him turn. That warrior elf stood there. What was her name again?
"Perhaps you should get back to your quarters, miss."
The elf glowered at him, and he realized that "miss" had been a mistake. The elf moved forward with a dangerous grace.
"Perhaps it would be safer if you went to your quarters, boy." The wizard gulped and stepped back.
"I meant no offence, miss... I mean, ma’am! I just meant that...it’s-it’s dangerous these days... and perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?" His attempts to appease the elf seemed to just agitate her more.
The sentry’s back hit the grimy wall, he was standing directly above the narrow pipe now.
A soft voice came from below him.
"Sorry lad. Terrible time to have guard duty."
Three jumbled senses came to the sentry before everthing went black.
Speed.
Height.
Depth.
"Was that nessecary?" snarled the elf as Pemmin squeezed out of the pipe.
"He’s not , so I don’t know what you’re sniviling about." He said blandly, brushing dust off his simple wrap.
Burdock glanced at the where the crumpled body had landed as if she seiriously doubted it. She rounded on pemmin
"Why do you them so much?"
"On the contrary, my dear, I’ll hadn’t just severly ingured an wizard, " Are you sure the elves will join me if I ask them?" welcome them to my care with open arms… just as soon as I find out wich of them are agents of Lereif in disguise I have Callow dealing with that my dear, we have other things to worry about," He took his ease as if he
"Maybe if I ask them, great wizard. Why do you want them anyway?"
"It isn’t easy to wrest power from a sucking backstabber. I’ll need all the help I can get. You find those elves." He turned and began sliding away.
"Where are you going?"
"I’ve got to see an old friend about something."
On the other end of the third floor, the doors from the stairs lay on the ground several feet from its hinges.
It made small pinging sounds as it cooled. Several bodies lay near by that one would sincerely hope were after smelling the burned flesh. A pile of rubble, streaked by lava, moved stealthily across the floor.
Zercis stood at attention in the small antechamber outside of Lereif’s room. Zercis had no doubt that it had been used for something else before the sliver escape. Servants didn’t have rooms this big. In today’s meeting, Lerief had once again quashed the notion of a larger rescue mission to find Burdock. Lereif insisted on sending no more than five. It was big enough to attract the slivers and to small to defend against them. Zercis had a soft spot for Burdock. She reminded him of his daughter. After Zercis had openly questioned Lereif’s decision, he had been told to wait until Lerief had time to deal with him.
The door from the hall opened, no one was there. Zercis put his hand on his sword and spoke in a no nonsense voice.
"I can’t let you through, my wizard friend."
What appeared to be a pool of liquid glass slid from the ceiling to the floor.
"Well done friend, but how did you know I wasn’t a sliver?"
"Slivers don’t have the hands for door knobs."
"Very clever of you."
"Thank you."
"Now if you’ll let me through…"
"I gave my oath to protect Lereif, good sir. You can’t pass."
Zercis planted his feet. Pemmin sighed and waved his hand. Zercis fell backward, not moving a muscle.
"How loyal of you."
Oak was not particularly moved by Burdock’s speech.
"We do not break oaths sister."
"What oath is that?"
"The elves will not betray."
"You make no sense."
"The elves will not betray." Burdock sighed and drew his sword.
"I challenge you to a duel of leadership."
Lereif bent over the black flame, eyes rolled up into his head. The putrid smoke wound in odd shapes around his head. It was almost too easy to find bodies for the ritual. The sliver attacks claimed many and his men dug all the graves. None would ever know they were empty. The door opened behind him, spoiling the ritual with light. Lereif’s eyes rolled back to normal
He spun and shot a tangle of black threads from his fingers.
The liquid being twitched a finger.
Lereif slammed against the ceiling.
"Hello my boy. You know that contest of strength we had a while back?’ Lereif tried to move his hands. He slammed against the ceiling again, this time spread-eagled.
"I’d like a rematch."
Was/Is there a chapter 10? Did it get lost somewhere?