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A cloaked man with a bow was standing at the ridge of a house. “You have some nice skills, Dallion,” said a voice so familiar, yet so unfamiliar because he hadn’t heard any familiar voices for what felt like ages.
The archer left off the rooftop and landed on the ground steadily. His nice boots stepped across the grass and towards Dallion and the warrior.
“Who are you?” asked Dallion in disgust. He hated hooded figures, knowing they could be anybody. Especially in this case. Any of these goons could be spies of Drevious Steel, if that had been a message warning Dallion about the old man. But it might have been false.
The archer lifted off his hood. It appeared this man was not a man, but a girl. Dallion recognized her as the girl he had ran with from Trey.
“Zoë!” shouted Dallion in anger. “I told you that you were not to come!”
“I am perfectly capable to take care of myself. Had I not been here, you would be dead right now. What can you say to that, eh?” she asked.
Dallion pondered the thought for a moment. Then he sighed in defeat.
“See?” sneered Zoë. “You have no answer.”
“Okay, just shut up Zoë,” growled Dallion. “I did*’t ask for your help, and I *certainly* do not need it.”
Zoë looked at the ground for a moment and then back up at Dallion. “Your actions indicate differently. Besides, if this warrior hadn’t protected you, you’d have been dead before I shot the final goblin down. And possibly he would have been dead, to.” She pointed at the warrior. “Uh, what’s your name?”
“Dustin,” said the warrior. “And I would have snapped the goblin’s throat,” he added.
“Probably,” replied Zoë. “So where is the treasure?” she asked eagerly.
“Treasure?” asked Dustin suspiciously and excitedly.
“You have nothing to do with it Dustin,” cut in Dallion. “Only she does,” he said, looking at Zoë. “She was there when this unfolded and she will be there when it folds up for a final time.” He then started away without another word.

18-Mar-2008 18:33:20 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:34:13 by [#E4B29LWTR]

[#E4B29LWTR]

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Dustin ran up to catch them. “Wait, Dallion, that’s your name, right? Whatever. I have a good grasp on history and have a talent for puzzles. I’m probably the best warrior in all the Western Lands. And I do have some skill when it comes to throwing knives.”
Zoë held her bow to her bre(c)ast defensively. “Nobody shall ever claim my title.”
“Don’t care,” was all Dustin said. “You need me and my skills, Dallion. Just catch me up on all the details and I’ll travel with you guys.”
“But you’re too old,” said Dallion. “We like to keep within the age groups.”
“Sometimes it’s good to have an experienced warrior with you.”
They decided Dustin could join the expedition and Dallion and Zoë would catch up and share the information they had learned. “I have a few new pieces of information myself,” commented Zoë.
The trio marched across the docks and towards the closest ship. Dustin said, “We’ll take a ship to Musa Point on Karamja, then we’ll charter a ship to Catherby. I have lots of gold, but it is limited.”
They approached a sea man wearing blue cloth and a cap over his smooth dark hair. “’Ello travelers from distant lands. You need a lift?” he asked.
“Yes please,” replied Dustin, lifting a small bag of coins out of his pocket. He tossed it to the seaman.
Dustin said, “We need a cabin for three.”
The seaman responded, “Climb aboard. We lift off in ten. Cabin 9 is where you be staying.”
Dustin bowed his head and led Dallion and Zoë through the decks. It was a fine night, except for the blood that had been shed earlier that night. After a few minutes of water dropping onto their hair they opened the door to Cabin 9.
Three comfortable beds lay in the corners of the room. There was a window in the back so they could see the sea trailing behind them.
So the trio each sat on their beds and Dallion asked Zoë, “So what have you learned since I left Draynor?”

18-Mar-2008 18:35:49 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:35:57 by [#E4B29LWTR]

[#E4B29LWTR]

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“Well,” said Zoë, “when I saw you leave; I went down to the old man’s house. Again,” she said regretfully. “So anyways, I grasped some handholds and climbed to the window. I saw him giving Trey a lecture of punishment. The traitor swore that he would track you down and bring you back to the old man. Before I left, I heard Trey say, ‘Yes, Master Drevious’. Do you know anything about that name, Dallion?”
“I do,” replied Dallion. “Drevious Steel is the descendant of Arasis Steel.”
At the name of Arasis Steel, Dustin flinched. “Wait, wait, what’d you just say? Arasis Steel?”
“Yes, why?” asked Dallion.
“Because he was the killer of Tregal Goldrider, the King of Kandarin from a thousand years ago,” replied Dustin.
“GOLDRIDER?” exploded Zoë.
“Keep your dang voice down!” hissed Dustin, which made Zoë do her glare of venom.
“Yes, Goldrider,” said Dustin. “Why’d you explode like that?”
Zoë turned to Dallion, which made Dustin do the same, only more suspicious.
Dallion was just looking at the floor. “Because my name is Dallion Goldrider.”
Dustin backed up against the wall. “No way! I thought all your family had been whipped out!”
“Well they obviously weren’t,” said Zoë sharply. Then all was still for a few moments. It seemed as if time had frozen like water turns to ice in the winter.
Then Dallion spoke, “’Cuse me. But Dustin, do you have any explanation for what a ‘Maringol’ is?” He already knew the basic facts, that they guarded a treasure and were hunted, but he wanted to know more.

18-Mar-2008 18:35:50 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:39:55 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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“Ah ha, now we’re getting somewhere,” started Dustin. “You see, ever since the treasure was made one millennia ago, King Tregal of Kandarin, King Rubin of Asgarnia, and King Felder of Misthalin all started to secretly organize a group called the Maringol. They had rights to every piece of information about the treasure and were sworn to protect it. Together, the Maringol and the Three Kings called the treasure the Legacy of the Three Kings, enough to buy all of Runescape. But a few years later, something tragic happened. Arasis Steel, as greedy as he was, lured all of the Three Kings to the Cavern of Transportation. He killed them all, one by one, but was still unable to find the treasure. But then he declared himself a king, but a false king. He ordered every Maringol brought in for torture so they would give up information. None gave in, and he enjoyed ripping their guts up.”
“Gross!” spat Zoë in disgust.
“I couldn’t agree more,” agreed Dustin. “Anyway, very few exist; I thought they had all been whipped out. I knew a few more still existed, but they are no longer really hunted, but now the treasure is only a myth. I knew the descendants of the Three Kings were still Maringols, but it doesn’t matter.”
Once again, time froze. All that was to be heard was the creaking of the cabin floor above them. They all fell asleep, not noticing each other drifting into drowsiness.
When Dallion was sure they were asleep, he crept out the door and climbed to the main deck. It was a peaceful night, with only the soft strokes and water crashing onto the boat.
A small fire burned in the middle of the deck, like a camp fire. Dallion crept towards it and asked, “Dad?”
A face emerged from the hot flames. “Once again, my boy, I don’t have lots of time, so keep it simple, what do you want to know?”
“How to prevent the war,” said Dallion. “You said you’d tell me how to stop it next time we talked.”

18-Mar-2008 18:35:50 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:40:48 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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“All I can say now is that with Zoë’s archery, you’ll be able to strike any foe from any distance. With Dustin’s whip, you will be able to penetrate any armour. And with your brains, you will be able to forge a plan that is unbreakable.” And then the face drifted off.
“No, Dad, Dad!” yelled Dallion. In the middle of the last word he had spoken, the water had exploded from the right side of the boat. Dallion whirled around and ran up to the very top deck where the captain should have been steering. Then Dallion gasped.
A ship was docking beside them.
The first instinct Dallion had was to scream for help. But he could not do it; it felt like there was duck tape over his lips, and no matter how hard he pulled, it would not let go.
As quick as a wink, five men each cloaked in black robes as black as the darkness itself, leapt onto the main deck and seized Dallion. By the wrists and began dragging him towards the unknown boat.
Dallion gave a scream of horror, as if he were one of Arasis Steel’s torture subjects.
~!~!~

18-Mar-2008 18:35:51 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:42:11 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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Zoë’s eyes popped open as if the cork of a wine bottle had just sprang off the bottle and into life. She had heard Dallion’s cry. Stumbling, she strapped her quiver over her back and grabbed her bow. She also swiped a throwing knife from Dustin’s weapon pouch, in case she needed to get in close to her foes.
She dashed across the decks, trying to stomp as much as she could to make the others. But making haste and stomping at the same time did*’t work quite to well. It just slowed her down.
Zoë quickly ran up the last set of stairs before she notched and arrow. The five cloaked figures were dragging Dallion towards the railing, and Dallion was fiercely fighting off the people.
Zoë pulled back the string of her bow and an arrow launched itself into the closest figure’s back. He gave a short groan of agony and sunk to the ground, dead.
One of the cloaked men leaned towards his fallen companion. At the same time Zoë fired an arrow at the man’s head, and blood spurted from his head.
The other three were aware of Zoë. One drew his dagger, while the other two forced Dallion towards the other ship.
Zoë drew Dustin’s knife, and the two blades slammed against each other. Zoë did*’t hesitate for a second. She drew back her fist and punched the figure in what she thought was the head (it was the throat, she just couldn’t see through the darkness).
A rope was around one of Dallion’s legs. Suddenly, he was jerked upward and he slowly felt the blood rushing to his head. Only a few seconds later did he realise he was hanging off a rope above the calm sea.
Zoë threw Dustin’s dagger at one of the charging men. The dagger fell into his ribs, and he growled as he fell into death.
One was left.
Without hesitating, she jumped into the air and threw a nicely placed back kick into the last figure’s face, smashing his brain in and putting him into an eternal sleep.

18-Mar-2008 18:35:51 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:42:51 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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She looked around, and noticed she was alone. Nobody had come to aid her. They did*’t even know about Dallion.
*Dallion*.
Zoë looked up at the rope and saw her friend hanging upside down, squirming. “Hold on Dallion!” she called. She ran towards the fallen man with a knife in his stomach and ripped it out. The dagger was covered in blood.
Zoë looked around and noticed a mist had rolled in and surrounded the boat. And the other ship was nowhere to be seen.
Dallion, the one true person he had ever talked to her and had an adventure with her, her only friend she had ever had, was lost again. And she feared this time she wouldn’t see him again while he was still breathing.
» End of Chapter Four «

18-Mar-2008 18:37:01 - Last edited on 06-Apr-2008 21:43:30 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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» Chapter Six -- The Captive «
As soon as Dallion’s head broke the fall with his head and crashed onto the rotted planks he was seized by the arms once more. The position was becoming strangely comfortable, but not under these circumstances.
The men holding his arms and another repeatedly punched Dallion in the ribs, and he vomited all over their feet. The men looked at their feet in disgust and whaled on Dallion once more.
After two straight minutes of a brutal beating, the lead man who had joined the gang beat last punched Dallion in the gut so hard he would have (gladly) flown over the railing and into the sea, had the other two men not been holding his wrists.
The leader of the punishment led the way across the rotted decks as the other men were doing their crew jobs. Dallion did*’t even move a hair to resist. He was *so* beat up he would have killed himself.
Only when they reached the person Dallion had dreaded of seeing since he began his journey was he fully awake.
Trey was in wearing a black vest and black trousers. His hair was messy as usual. It looked like he was sweating, but Dallion could only think of one possibility in why: Drevious Steel had given him a beating.
“Well, well, well,” said Trey, looming over Dallion. Dallion looked up fiercely and tried to rip his arms free to punch Trey in the side of the head, but the arms of the men holding him contained enough strength to keep him standing straight.
“So how goes the failure?” asked Trey casually, but with so much cruelty Dallion felt like a helpless toddler.
“I am... not a failure...”
“Your actions indicate otherwise,” replied Trey with a venomous smile. “By your skills in combat and the friends you trust.”
Dallion thought through his memory. Then it hit him. “Dustin was your... spy... all along... and he told you... our location.”

18-Mar-2008 18:37:01 - Last edited on 12-Apr-2008 05:14:55 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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“Guess again,” said Trey, toying with Dallion’s mind as if it were his younger brother, who had been beaten several times. Dallion had never seen it in live, but the bruises on his legs and body produced enough evidence.
Dallion had been betrayed by his friend. *Zoë*.
“You convinced Zoë to join you,” guessed Dallion, trying to draw a conclusion.
“No,” replied Trey smugly. “I’m just toying with you, punk.”
Dallion smiled up at Trey, and the former bully of Draynor Village noticed. “What?” he asked. It was clear where the power lay. Dallion felt it in his voice, and so did the men holding him.
“Do you remember what Zoë asked when you captured us in your master’s house?” asked Dallion.
“No,” replied Trey uneasily. “Why?”
“Because she asked why you betrayed us. Why did you.”
Trey swept on his heel and walked around the room. “You see, Dallion, when you beat me at that fight, I had to avenge my honour.”
Dallion’s voice was quick to cut in as he asked, “So you killed a bunch of people just to take revenge on one of your favourite bullying targets.”
“Precisely,” Trey simply replied. “You ruined my reputation, and I had to get yours out, as one of the last human beings in our land who had knowledge of the Legacy of the Three Kings. If a war had broke out, which it *would* have if you hadn’t foiled our plans, my master then would have commanded all the kingdoms to destroy the last of the Maringol and go to find the treasure. When we had found it, my master would have bought all of Runescape.
“Speaking of the treasure, I believe you have something that unlocks where it is hidden. Would you be so kind as to bring it out so me and my master can conquer the land?” He then reached his hand out, doing the *give-it-here* motion.
Knowing that if he denied it, Trey would order the guards to search him or worse. Reluctantly, Dallion handed it over.
“Thanks,” said Trey. “Do you have any ideas where we could be going?” he asked challengingly.

18-Mar-2008 18:37:02 - Last edited on 12-Apr-2008 05:15:42 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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Dallion guessed, *Eh... Ardougne?”
Trey stood up and looked out the window. “Foolish child. We would never go to the silly city that was once your foolish ancestor’s.”
“Don’t say a word against Tregal Goldrider!” roared Dallion, which received only a punch to the gut in return.
“Or what?” sneered Trey. “You can’t do anything here. I am the master on this ship. *My own* master is back at his house, right where this all started.”
At the mention of that, rage and anger brewed inside Dallion like a soup being cooked. If Drevious Steel hadn’t tried to get the key, he wouldn’t be on this adventure. If Drevious Steel hadn’t tried to get the key, his father would still be alive, probably telling him about Wally’s battle against Delrith.
And Matt. If that stupid old man hadn’t attacked his family’s rights, he wouldn’t have had to good somewhere without telling his friend.
“Then where are we going?” asked Dallion calmly, trying to contain his emotions within him.
“The place where Arasis Steel put Tregal Goldrider.” And then he slowly turned towards the struggling Dallion. “Lumbridge,” he said in one word.
The answer was so surprising that Dallion would have fallen back if the guards hadn’t been holding his arms. He bent his back forward and into a normal stance. “Lumbridge?” he asked. He and Father had been in Lumbridge all the time, and they missed the body of their ancestor?
“Yes, and then we will look into the old King’s mind. If my master’s theory is correct, if you pick open a brain from royal blood memories will spill out. Then we will find the entrance to the treasure vault.
“Which brings me to one last job,” said Trey, walking over to a desk and searching through the drawers. “It appears you have ways of getting yourself out of situations. You beating me at Draynor was nothing more than a fluke.”
“It was skill,” growled Dallion behind gritted teeth.

18-Mar-2008 18:38:49 - Last edited on 12-Apr-2008 05:16:29 by [#E4B29LWTR]

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