From: jpg@bnr.co.uk (Jonathan P. Gibbons)
Newsgroups: alt.prose
Subject: fantasy story
Date: 29 Jul 92 13:58:23 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: BNR Europe Ltd, London Rd, Harlow, Essex, CM19 9NA, U.K.

No title.....
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A window shattered, the sound of glass breaking loud in the live stillness of
the night.  Quieter now than before.  Chaloon stirred from his reading; for 
this was chaloon's tower, a modest tower with no more than three stories but
made of stone and roofed as well as any.  It had boasted a full set of fine
stained glass windows but he thought it likely that at least one was less 
than perfect now.  It was also likely that the intruder was arcane in some
way or another because his guarding imp hadn't come to him.

Chaloon lent forward and gently blew out the single candle flame.  There was
no further noise from below, only to be expected of a fellow mage.  Time for 
action he thought and he stood, stretching his arms to either side of him as
he did so.  Closing his eyes he soon felt the drift and pull of the trance,
seeing a brief landscape of shades and colours.  Such peace could be had here
but not for a summoning.  He guided the trance, passing through the shadows 
and bursting into the realm of the blood paths.  He knew he was good at this,
unusually good for his age and experience.  The paths lay before him, pulsing
with the desires of demons and entwined within them lay the gates to the demon
courts.  Chaloon paused to survey the red glistening landscape.  He had no
time for a true demon lord and so plunged towards a smaller stream.  There
was a fleeting stomach churning nausea as the stream enveloped him.  Some 
went mad in the blood streams and returned warped.  

Now for the true summoning.  His voice, low and slow as treacle sounded 
within the trace, "Chaloon summons, as did Ethuin, come forth to the land of
mortals.  Lay claim to life through service to me.  Follow Calbehar to the 
bright  lands."  The summons echoed about him, muted and becoming  more 
muffled with  every repetition.  A pulse within the stream grew, answering
his call.  Coming towards him, desires from no human heart for a chance to
experience in the brighter realms.  Chaloon guided the trace once again, 
opening the blood stream, creating the gateway the demon required.  He saw
the demon then, a blood covered form, the stream birthed him and in an 
instant he changed from the mewing, helpless form of a baby to a form of 
power.  Skin rippling red and brown, fire flickering in its eyes, it saw 
him and followed.  Through the  realm of peace which rejected them both 
now that the deed was done.  Shooting them back to reality.

Chaloon opened his eyes noting that his room was still dark and undisturbed.
"Enter the realm, answer the call, come forth", whispered the mage.  A sudden
twist of his vision and there stood the demon.  Taller than Chaloon he cast a
ruddy glow about the room.  Powerful muscles ending in black gleaming claws. 
Wings gently unfurled behind it, strange ethereal wings - not quite real in 
the cramped space of the room.  Cloven hooves gently clicked to the stone 
floor and the demon gave a brief bow of acknowledgement.  

This was a third echelon demon with the best of the elemental manifestations;
fire, air and earth.  The mage chuckled at his luck and bid the demon walk  
before him.  They walked quietly through the hall to the head of the twisting
stone stairway.  Chaloon muttered a brief enlivening and one of his  
enchantments flickered into life on the stone wall.  It gave a 
glistening view of himself with the demon standing close by.  He moved his
fingers and the  image slid downwards, towards to the base of the tower.  
All seemed as normal, empty of intruders.  He guided the view again and came
to the smashed window.  Most of the window remained intact, only a small 
portion was broken and among the shards lay a single arrow piercing the still
form of the imp.

No mage had done this but some simpleton hunter or warrior.  They would pay. 
He banished the mirror with a sharp cut of his arm and strode down the stairs.
The demon flew before him, its wings still unreal, disappearing into the  
walls on either side on it.  Chaloon muttered another enlivening as they  
reached the hall on the ground floor.  Light flickered on the walls on the 
tower.  As he opened the door to the outside the whole tower lit up, its 
walls growing brighter and brighter, bringing day to night.  This enchantment 
drew aside the shadows that usually hid the tower and suddenly the young 
hunter saw it.  He had shot to bring down the wolf that the party had been 
hunting all day and night.  The one that had killed sheep and almost eaten 
the goatherd.  But he had missed and had been surprised by the sound of glass
breaking.  Curious, he had crept towards the sound  when the light appeared 
and made him drop to the ground. To Chaloon he appeared as a cowering form,
almost pathetic after the preparation.

"Please master, I didn't mean it.  I couldn't see your tower," pleaded the 
hunter.  "What were you doing here?", queried Chaloon.  At the same time he 
sent the demon into the air to hover above the man.  Its wings unfurled and 
its whole body grew, stretching out, its head elongating as it formed the 
traditional form of the fire lord.  A dragon of old, the first Chaloon had 
ever called forth, at least a fifth echelon demon.  The power of the beast 
took Chaloons breath away.  It hovered, gently flapping its wings yet staying
in the air invulnerable above the quaking young man.

The hunter curled up, "Nooooo, please God, no", he whimpered, sure now he 
would die without understanding why.  Chaloon was at a loss.  The man seemed
free of any evil intent, perhaps he should banish the demon and return to his
study.  As he thought this the demon responded, straining to be released from 
his summoners will.  Such a magnificent beast should not be returned
immediately,  Chaloon decided.  With a gesture he beaconed the demon to land 
to one side.  It moved with unbelievable speed and elegance.  Again all its
actions defied nature.  With another thought be bade it lie still and then  
walked over to the man. 

"You're fine, get up and tell me what you are about, but don't move for any 
weapons or you'll be fried where you lie."  The man slowly unwound and looked
up at the dragon.

"H..hunting, I, I mean we a..are hunting for a wolf," stuttered the hunter, 
all the while staring at the demonic form.

"Call the rest of your men here and I'll get your wolf for you" replied  
Chaloon.  "Go on, you must have a horn or something, call them all here." 
The man didn't move, just stared at the dragon, glancing now and then at the
mage.  Obviously not believing a word of it.

The Dragon stirred a little, took a breath and an ominous grumbling started
deep within it.  "Call your men, " Chaloon repeated, "if they aren't here 
the dragon might get them instead of the wolves".  The fire lord let out a 
brief spurt of flame which licked the ground in front of the demon, close 
enough for the hunter to feel the heat.

"OK, I'll do it," croaked the supine man as he scrambled at his belt.   He 
took a small horn and blew hard upon it.  A surprisingly fine tone went out 
into the night.

"Good, now we will wait for them," Chaloon stated.  He uttered another short
command and the towers unnatural light dimmed and went out.  The night  
returned, peaceful, lit by the pale moon.  The normal noises of the night 
soon returned.

"Where are you", a voice called from farely close.

"Over here", a second replied. "Who sounded?  Where's Barloe?"

More voices spoke out.  Chaloon made out five before he saw the figures enter
the clearing and stop when they saw the strange silhouette before them.

"Do not worry, I am Chaloon the mage."  The figures turned towards him, 
several drew bows with smooth practiced motions.  It wouldn't matter if they
fired he thought,  the dragon could burn the arrows as they flew.

"Don't worry every thing is fine," he said, "tell them its alright,"  he 
directed to the hunter who still lay on the ground.

"Don't shoot him, put down your bows," the young hunter said.  "Please put 
down your bows."  The group slowly obeyed, several went to the man and quiet 
words were spoken.

"Look, you are hunting wolfs, yes?"  Several agreed.  "I have a friend who
can help, now don't be shocked it won't hurt you," cautioned Chaloon. At the 
same time the tower flickered back into light, dimmer this time but enough 
for several of the men to gasp at the sight and one run, only stopping 
and returning after a hundred yards or so.

The dragon stared at them with inhuman eyes and then did a curious little 
bob of the head.  A nod of hello was the only way of interpreting it.  It 
took only a little longer to get the men to agree with Chaloons' help.  Soon 
after that the dragon took off, seeking wolves until morning.  The men made 
camp  outside the tower and Chaloon went inside to sleep.

Shouts and cries rose him, barely had the sun risen than the dragon returned.
Chaloon ran to the window and looked out.  Lying before the smug looking  
demon lay a pile of 15 wolfs, all charred and still smoking.  The men stood 
nearby with swords drawn looking pale and scared.

"Good morning," shouted Chaloon from his lofty window.  "I think it got your 
wolf"

"Damn near got us to," replied one of the party below.  "Chased then all in,
right through us they ran to be fried at your door, God what a thing."

Later still, after a breakfast Chaloon served, the men  departed.  The mage
was left before his tower in the morning sun with his dragon.  The men had
taken the wolves for skinning and disposal, possibly for use as totems to 
keep other wolfs at bay.

"And now for you, demon.  You served me well, tell me your name and you 
shall again see the sun in my service."

"I am Methgar, spoke the demon.  I would stay and serve you more, your guard
imp is dead.  Let me be your guard.

"You would be a fine servant and a fearsome guard but you muddle my thoughts 
with your power," so saying Chaloon closed his eyes and murmured briefly.  
The dragons form wavered.

"Methgar, I bind you no longer to the bright realm and free you from my mind,
my will is my own, answer my call again for I will no doubt have need of such
a powerful fire lord.  Begone".  Chaloon opened his eyes at the last and saw
the dragon pounce from the ground in a futile attempt at escape.  An instant
later he vanished.



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Thats all...
Jonathan
--
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  With fearsome eyes and fiery breath the dragon burnt the girl to death
                    -- from "Too Late Saint George"