*AUTHORS NOTE*
This story was inspired by actual characters in an actual place. Though the storyline remains fictional, I have done my best to keep the environment and the characters as true to the roles they play and the Everquest setting as close to real as possible. The adventure itself is also pure fiction. However the passions and desires of the characters are very real. I know this because I am Silkie and this story was written and inspired by my dashing and handsome Dark Elf, Crue. I would like to take this moment to thank him for bringing the passion back into my life and inspiring me to write again. It has been too long. I would also like to thank my readers for their continuous feedback. Your messages inspire me and keep me going. Enjoy!
DARK DESIRES: The Venekor Saga
It is a quiet summer afternoon and the young Shadowknight is packing up camp, preparing for his journey home to her. His silky haired maiden. He has dreamt of her every passing moment of this excruciating hunt and at last he can bear it no longer. He can hear the men in the distance, their shouts of battle ring across the hillside and he feels a pang of guilt that he will be leaving them on such short notice. He tells himself it is only for a night or two, his concern lies with her safety and he cannot find peace until he is certain she is alive and well.
"Commander!" He flags down the man in charge of overseeing the men.
"What is it Lieutenant?"
"I must go for a day or two. There are things I need to take care of. Can you spare me?"
"It is the dreams again isn't Crue"
It is not often they speak in such a personal manner and he can see the concern in his superiors eyes as he motions him into his tent, away from the eyes and ears of the passing soldiers.
"I just worry old friend." Crue begins to pace.
"So it is the dreams then?"
"Aye."
"How often now?"
"At least once in a night, sometimes more."
"And your certain she may be in danger?"
"Well, nobody can ever be truly certain. But the night is rarely wrong when the shadows speak their loudest."
"What did you see this time?"
"It is horrible. She's running, her robes are torn and she is running. They chase after her and she screams in terror. I see her, I am trying to get to her, but it's too late..."
His breath catches in his throat as he swallows down the memories of his own terror.
"And then?"
"She is gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes. Gone."
"Just like that?"
"The shadows, they sweep over her and she's gone."
"I see."
"So I may go to her?"
"Let me speak with the others. I do not believe there should be anything to stop you, however my duty lies with Freeport and it is Freeport that we must first consider."
"I understand."
He moves to take his leave when the Commander halts him one last time.
"Lieutenant?"
"Yes Commander?"
Suddenly there is great commotion outside of the tents as a breathless young woman enters the encampment.
"Has anybody seen Crue?"
Her voice is panicked as she calls out to the soldiers.
"I am looking for a lieutenant. The others said I would find him here. Can anybody take me to Crue?"
"Good God!"
His face goes pale as he hears her panic stricken voice.
"Crue! It is happening! You must go to her...get her out of here!"
The commander pushes him out of the tent towards the young woman as he begins to shout orders to the soldiers. There is a low rumbling over the hillside as the Queynosian Riders begin to close in upon the encampment.
Reaching for his sword, Crue starts forward to take his place in front of the Commander. The Commander pushes him aside. The young woman begins to scream hysterically as a man leaps from the trees, grabbing hold of her robes as he forces her to the ground beneath him. In a flash Crue is on him, his blade buried in the back of his skull. Wiping the blood from his blade he stands, taking her into his arms, crushing her body to his.
"Crue there isnt much time, get her out of here. NOW!"
He pulls her close to him. Kissing her lips before whistling for his horse. He lifts her up and places her upon his mount, his hands lingering for a moment as his eyes burn into hers. She doesn't have to say a word, he knows why she is here and his heart cries out for her. Why do the elders have to be so unkind? Aren't there other necromancers they could send?
"Is the ritual finished my love? Is the process complete?"
"Yes M'lord. I just had to see you before returning home. You were so close and it has been so long. Then the men. They were everywhere. I thought I had lost them or I would have never led them here!"
A tear runs down her cheek.
He can hear the cries of the soldiers drawing ever near. He fights the desire to touch her just one more time and hands her the reigns.
"You must go now my love. It isn't safe here. Ride. Ride like the wind my love and do not stop until you have reached the gates of freeport."
"But Crue..."
"Hurry, there isn't time!"
"Your horse!"
"Don't worry about my horse darling. Just release him at the gates, we are connected he and I. The shadows will lead him back to me."
He reaches up, wrapping his fingers into her silky white hair and pulls her face down to his for one last passionate kiss. His body aches for her as he watches her speed away, longing to be the horse upon which she rides. Hand on his sword, he gives her one last look and says a silent prayer as she speeds off into the distance.
The battle is a short one and many soldiers are lost before the Queynosians make their retreat. Just before nightfall he hears the sound of beating hooves upon the gravel and looks up to see his horse galloping towards the camp at lightning speed. Something is wrong. She could not possibly have made it to Freeport in such short time.
The horse stops mere inches from where he is standing.Catching the reigns he jumps upon the horses back.
"Take me to her." He whispers.
The horse rears up on it's hind legs and spins back around whence it came. He calls out to a passing soldier.
"Tell the Commander my lady is in trouble and I must go to her swiftly!"
With no time to waste he urges his mount onward and they disappear into the night.
The minute seems like hours, the hours seem like days as he searches high and low for her. Just as he is about to give up hope he hears a commotion just over the hill. He can see what appears to be a small Ratonga village. Hiding himself in the shadows he moves closer to see what all the fuss is about.
"No way! Absolutely not, we cannot keep her here."
"But sir, she's out of sorts, she'll be dead by dawn if we don't give her shelter".
"And just what have her kind done to for us? Even the worse Freeportian has morals you know. Except them. Those vile abominations will draw blood from their own kind if it suits some sort of purpose or ritual."
He moves in closer. Is it possible. Could they be speaking of Silkie? He fights the urge to place his boot into the chest of the rat who is speaking of her so unkindly.
"So what shall we do with her then? Feed her to the wolves?"
"No. No. Even I am not so unkind as to bring evil to a servant of the Overlord. In the morning you are to take her back where you found her and leave her. Until then have the gaurds keep watch over the village. Nobody is to touch her, there's no telling what kind of evil she carries with her. If she so much as breathes in a threatening manner they are to kill her. Is that understood?"
Crue emerges from the shadows and enters the clearing. With his hand on his sword he clears his throat.
"This woman. This abomination."
He looks in disgust at the Ratonga in charge.
"She wouldn't happen to be a frosty haired Necromancer would she?"
"What business do you have here Shadowknight? We do not wish for your kind or hers in our village!"
"I have only come to claim what is mine and then I shall leave you in peace. However..."
He draws his sword, holding it out in front of him.