Stone of Power==Chapters 3 &4

[cscpttrainer]

Comments welcome. I think it will be finished in two more chapters.
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THE STRENGTH CHRONICLES

Leaina and the Stone of Power

? 2006 All Rights Reserved. Not to be reproduced without author?s prior permission.

Chapter III The Finding

On the 25th day after the generals had approached Leaina, a raven returned to Leaina and told her of a long haired, muscular man seen at the foothills of the Pindus mountains at the edge of the Thessaly Valley above the town of Zelos. She took the raven to her reflecting pool, quickly snapped its neck, repeated her spell and threw the bird into the water. The water became black and there appeared the image of the man in her vision. He was standing inside a cave holding the stone she had seen him with in her vision.

Arkus held the stone up to view it. He knew it was the only possession in his home that he cared about. He was 32 now and it was almost ten years since he had been given the stone and had repeated the chant that bound the stone to him. He did not know where it came from or who made it but he knew it had made him the strongest man on the earth. He knew it was the Stone of Power and as far as he knew it was the only one in the world. It has changed his physique from that of an athletic young herdsman to a muscle god-warrior. It gave him unfailing endurance in addition to what seemed like limitless strength. Other men envied his strength and skills. With it, he had become a legend among the Vaslos tribes, his people. He was treated like royalty and they supplied him all of his needs. In exchange he helped them where his great strength was needed. He also protected them. Women begged for his attention. He slept with many of them and had many offspring. However he obeyed the tribal custom and had no affairs with any married ones despite their flirting with him. This maintained peace within the tribe and permitted him free reign with the other women.

Unknown to Arkus, his Stone of Power had existed for centuries. It had had several ?bound ones,? which was the name the wizards called the men and women who connected with the stone. The Stones of Power originated during the era when wizards ruled the earth and before the rise of men. At the peak of the reign of the wizards, there was Cretaz, who was the first among the Council of Five. Cretaz was said to be the most powerful wizard of all and very wise. He foresaw the Great Betrayal and the war among the wizards that followed, which war led to their destruction and the end of their era. He also saw a great hope in man who had just then began to appear on the Earth. Man possessed a good mind and heart but he was weak, sickly and small in stature. Cretaz wanted to help this new creature for he feared it would not survive and would not be ready in time to lead the Earth when the reign of wizards ended. Cretaz did many things to help this new species, such as give it fire. He also created the first Stone of Power. The stone he made was round and white. He gave the first stone to a wise human king named Lazos. He taught Lazos the chant that would bind the stone to him for his life. The stone gave Lazos incredible strength. It healed him quickly when he felt ill or was injured. Although it did not make him immortal, he led a long and healthy life. King Lazos was a great leader and did great things for his people. The people admired his strength, bravery and wisdom so they followed his lead. The many children he fathered were also more healthy, less sickly, bigger and stronger than other human children.

Cretaz made other Stones of Power as well, but none more powerful than his first one. Other wizards saw the work of Cretaz and they were quick to copy it and create their own Stones of Power. Not because they shared his ideals but because they used it a test of their wizardry. These other stones came in many colors---some white, some grey, some black, some brown. Some looked like jewels and were small, others like large rocks. Some would bind only to men, others only to women, and some to either. Even the Great Dark Wizard, Zatar, who rivaled Cretaz in power, joined the challenge and created a powerful black stone which would bind only to men with evil in their heart. The power of a stone was limited by the power of the wizard who created it, with stronger wizards creating stronger ones and weaker wizards creating weaker ones. During the Great Wizard Wars, the wizards enlisted their bound ones to join their battles and as a result many of the bound ones fought each other and died. Many of the stones were lost or destroyed. Others were hidden in fear rival wizards would use them for their warriors. But during the many centuries between the creation of the first stone and the Great Wizard Wars, the stones created powerful strong leaders among the emerging human race and help strengthen humankind through their effects on the offspring of the bound ones.

Arkus placed the stone down on a shelf temporarily.

He then heard someone approach his dwelling. ?Arkus, Arkus,? Thais called. ?I need to speak to you.?

Arkus moved toward the cave entrance and shouted to his friend Thais, ?I am here. Come on it.?

Thais struggled up the hillside and finally made it to the entrance and sat down exhausted.

?What a climb!?

?Well if you would lose alittle weight, you might not have so much trouble,? said Arkus wryly.

Thais glared at Arkus but shrugged it off. ?Ok, Ok, I know. But enough of this chit chat oh muscle headed one!? he smiled. ?I have been sent by the elders to speak to you about a serious matter.?

?And what do they want from me now??

?Arkus, the scouts have reported what looks like a build up in Doria?s forces along the border of the valley. They are worried about an invasion and want you to come and meet with the council to discuss defensive plans.?

?An invasion? They would be foolish to attempt that. I would crush them.?

?Well, the elders want to meet you in four days, will you come??

?Of course, I will, Thais. But tell them I am confident together and with my strength, we will repel any attack.?

?Very good. Now I will take that glass of wine you offered me.?

?I did not offer you anything.?

?Well you should have! Now come on.?

And Arkus threw a sheepskin flask filled with wine at Thais for him to drink.

Leaina was estatic she had found Arkus and the stone. She called a servant to summon Maciste and Therapon to her. Therapon was one of her most trusted, crafty, spies. She knew his sneakiness would serve her well.

Meanwhile, while she waited, she took a stone that was about the same size as the Stone of Power and covered it with a special red clay that she had. She whispered several chants over the clay encapsuled stone and then covered the clay with special ash and placed it in her fire.

?Yes, your highness,? said Therapon, as he bowed to greet her.

?Therapon, I need your cunning. Look in my reflecting pool.? There in the pool Therapon could see an image of Arkus holding the Stone of Power. Maciste then joined them.

?This is the man who is trying to destroy me and I need your help. His name is Arkus. He lives in a cave above Velos. I want you go sneak into Velos and go to this man?s cave. On the fourth day from today, Arkus will leave his cave for Velos and then I want Therapon to search it and see if he can find that stone and take it without Arkus?s knowledge. Meanwhile, when Arkus returns from Velos, Maciste, I want to you surprise him and kill him if you can.?

?If I can? Don?t worry, my Queen, this man is already dead in my hands.? cocked Maciste confidently.

?While I don?t doubt you can, Maciste, be careful with him. If you find him winning, give up the fight and return to me for I have other plans.?

?All this for a stone?? said Therapon.

?Don?t worry about the stone. Just bring it to me,? she said.

?Well, your highness, even if this Arkus survives your strongman here, wont he see the stone is gone when he returns??

Using a metal claw, the Queen then removed the clay capsule from the fire. It had hardend in the fire. With a small hammer she chiseled away the clay and rinsed the stone inside with water. There now in her had was a stone that looked exactly like the Stone of Power that Arkus held.

?When you find the stone, you will put this one in its place. Arkus will think it is his stone.?

?Well if you already have the stone, why do you need his?? asked Therapon.

?Just shut up! This only looks like the stone, you fool,? shouted the Queen, ?Just do as I command! Maciste, before you leave, I will need six drops of your blood.?

?Why?? he asked.

?It is for a potion I am making that might help you.? Maciste?s finger was pricked and he and Therapon went to get disguised and left for Velos.

Chapter IV The Trip to Velos

Therapon and Maciste arrived at Velos within four days. Maciste wore simple peasant clothing to cover his impressive physique so as not to draw attention. Therapon asked around the town for the location of Arkus?s cave and quickly learned where it was. As they traveled up the road toward it, they passed Arkus at the edge of Velos. Maciste started to approach Arkus on his horse. But Therapon grabbed his thick forearm and said, ?No, remember the Queen said when Arkus returns to his home. Not here, there are too many people who might aid him.? Therapon tried to stare at Arkus as they rode toward each other without being blatant. ?What a magnificent specimen of a warrior,? he thought. His muscles seemed as large as Maciste?s and were full. His arms and chest flexed as he road on his horse. He wished he could see the battle between these two musclemen and maybe if he acted quickly he could.

As they continued up the foothill road, Maciste found a spot at which he planned to ambush Arkus. With Maciste staying behind, Therapon continued on toward Arkus?s cave.

When Therapon reached the cave, he called Arkus?s name pretending to be a visitor but no one answered so he quickly ventured inside. The cave looked like a simple abode. Arkus had a range of weaponry, foods, a simple animal skin covered bed and a spring fed pool for water. He searched every where for the stone but he could not find it. He looked for anything that would tell him more about Arkus but found nothing.

Arkus began the journey back toward his home in the early afternoon. He rode quietly up the road he had taken many times before. As it narrowed, he saw fewer people until he reached the final stretch that veered off to his cave in the foothills of Mount Melos. He enjoyed living in the foothills of this semi-active volcano. It fed many hot springs in the region including one in his cave and one could climb into several caves near the top and actually see pools of lava. He admired its natural beauty and it calmed him from all the stress of hearing all this talk of war and invasion. His calm did not last long. As he reached a narrow pass, a tall, large man jumped from above and knocked Arkus down off his horse.

Therapon was becoming increasing impatient and worrisome. ?Now where would I hide it if I were him?? he asked himself. He looked under animal skins, he looked behind wall coverings. Looked in every crevice he could see. Nothing.

Then he heard someone walking slowly and deliberately up the path to the cave?s mouth. The person sounded tall and heavy as he heard the stranger?s feet crush the gravel leading to the entrance. It must be Maciste he thought but to be safe, he decided to hide behind one of the cave?s pillars.

He peered at the entrance and in walked a tired Arkus. Arkus did not look as large as he looked earlier in the day. His pecs and biceps seemed almost a bit smaller. He watched as the giant staggered over to a rock in the wall near his bed. Arkus pulled the rock away and there was a small hole in the wall in which he put his hand and pulled out the stone Therapon was looking for! Arkus then placed the stone on a wood table next to his bed and collapsed into his bed. Lying on his back he closed his eyes and seemed to fall asleep. His breathing seemed laboured. His body was covered with dirt and scrapes including a gash bleeding on his forehead. Now thought Therapon was his chance to grab the stone and run. However, as he watched to make sure Arkus was sleeping, he hesitated to admire Arkus?s beauty. His soft long brown hair, his narrow nose and square jaw. As he started to step forward, he watched in amazement as Arkus?s wounds seemed to begin to disappear and then slowly Arkus?s muscles grew larger as if air were inflating them. His pecs once again appeared as cliffs besides his sternum. His biceps returned to the size and vascularity he saw earlier in the day. ?What magic is this?? he wondered. Arkus?s breathing began to normalize and Therapon felt it was now or never. He crepted over to the bedside and gradually lifted the imitation stone from a small burlap sack with his right hand and exchanged it with the Stone of Power from the table. Then he stealthily slipped out of Arkus?s cave.

Arkus woke an hour later from his rest and looked at the stone on the table. He looked at his body and though dirty it was its beautiful form once again. He picked up the stone and kissed it and placed it back in its hiding place in the wall. He then went and bathed. As he soaked in the hot spring, he thought about his encounter with the man on road. ?What fool would dare to challenge the great Arkus?? he thought. But he knew in the back of his mind that this man was quite a challenge for even him. He had never met such a strong warrior previously. The man not only had great fighting skills but also impressive strength. But he knew he once again proved he was the stronger one. He knew he had the Stone of Power.

Therapon first traveled slowly down the path to the road to Velos fearing Arkus might hear his footsteps. Once he reached the road, he ran to the place where he hid his horse. It was nightfall. There he found Maciste, badly battered and bruised. Maciste looked up at Therapon and said weakly, ?Did you get the stone?? ?Of course,? said Therapon, ?But let me help you.? He soaked some clothing in some wine and applied it to Maciste?s wounds. ?I almost had him,? he said. ?Just when I thought I was overcoming his strength, he suddenly grew stronger almost at will. He beat me badly.? ?We can talk when we return to the palace.? said Therapon. ?Can you ride?? ?Yes, we must,? said Maciste. And the two returned to their horses and to the Queen.

[Durkluster2.0]

A truly excelent job. I would have also liked to have seen the battle between these two musclemen (Or atleast have read about it. ), but that's life. Anyways, this story has the potental to become a series, and I would be a loyal fan throughout. You have an uncanny sence of ballence between description ond the importance of the facts. Your insight in how magick works is impresive, and there is alot of potental character growth. I also enjoy how you tell the story from the queen's point of view; it's original. So, please continue.