Chapter 18 ( How To Retrieve A Mage From a Block of Ice)

Rahnyah and Valudus along with their group of fighters advanced into the tomb and moved down the corridor  for two hundred yards effortlessly to the first junction.” There is a room here.” Valudus said and they advanced into the room. They reverently looked upon the mummified remains of the Hawass family. Backing out of the room they went further into the tomb. Marley found a descending stairwell and came back to tell them as Ballz had a seat to smoke his pipe. He sat moment before they moved further his short ,thick body wasn't made for this tight cramped areas and he was feeling a little closed in. As he sat down upon his pack ,they heard a loud click. “OH Crap !” He said in his thick Nordic accent. There was a small stone trigger that unlatched something somewhere else. There was scraping of stone against sand as they heard a door opening and something bad skittering down the hall towards them.

 Raising the torches high, they made out gryphons with scorpion like tails poised high above their heads. They were quite large and barely fit into the passageway. Snipes sent his bear forward as he launched a poison dipped arrow into the first one causing it to scream with a shrill pitched scream. The gryphon spoke,"You can not be here. We must stop you." it hissed as it pulled the arrow out of it's shoulder. Valudus and Rahnyah began to pummel them with magic. Rahnyah flicked her fingers and formed sharp Ice cicles from her fingers and launched them at them at the creatures while Valudus sent in swarms of hornets to sting them relentlessly. Marley dropped into tiger form and began slashing them with his claws on the legs and torso. Swiftly, the troll dodged the blows from their tails as four more came their way. Mike jumped forward and began slashing them with his swords  Yelling Loudly," Get some you insane fucks!"  Ballz was quickly sending bolts of healing to all of them when he saw them injured. Dead beasts lay scattered on the floor. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, this burly Yeti came out blasting wind and snow at them from inside the tomb. The ice blizzard chilled them to the bone but they kept fighting the gryphons. Rahnyah protected them with an Ice wall shield that blasted the frigid air back at the beast. Marley and Val swiped last slash, and they all lay dead scattered at their feet.as the Yeti advanced their way. Ballz in his frustration yelled,” A Yeti? What the Hell were they thinking putting a Yeti down here?” Snipes laughed as he pummeled it with arrow after arrow laced with neurotoxins. The beast showed no signs of slowing so he loaded his best Black Betty arrow packed with and incendiary round and a small bit of magnesium to trigger the blast when it hit the creatures blood. The blast dropped the beast mid stride dropping it to the floor. 

Ballz looked at the floor and said," Man the smell coming off that beast is putrid." He kicked it as he walked past. reaching down to the closest gryphon to him he cut the stinger off of the tail and put it in his pouch to press the venom from it for later useage for sale or use himself. Grasping the talons he cut each one off there could be use for them at some point. Snipes was doing the same on the creature he was going over. The armor on the one he was looking at looked to be of solid gold and took it for it's value. as did everyone else as they plundered their way through the corpses. When all the claws and stingers had been removed along with the armor they piled it near Rahnyah who simply opened a wormhole in her back yard and they shoved it through. laughing she said," No one will touch it. My dog will rip them to shreds. ok now lets move on we have a spear to find." 

they moved deeper and deeper into the tomb when they came upon a huge seventeen foot long sarcophagus surrounded by a pool of mercury they knew that they had found the right chamber. Hyroglyphs covered the walls as if they were carved and painted yesterday but in reality they had been there for close to twelve thousand years. Golden Scorpions crusted the upper lid and the four posts held statues of Anpu. Iinside they knew the spear of Osir rested. The cunundrum was, how to get to the coffin, open it and get the spear without getting the dangerous mercury on themselves and their belongings.

Marley, Snipes, Valudus and Ballz circled the pool for any clue. Mike walked to the otehr side and looked as well. Rahnyah threw some light out there so it would reflect of the mirrors she found on the far side of the tomb. She wiped the dust off and found a huge oil basin that led to troughs laid into the stone that the oil pooled into. Mike came over to where she was and helped her tip the oil into the troughs and light it on fire. The fire from the room hit the mirrors and it was illuminated as bright as midday. 

There near the side of the pool on the left hand side was a very small latch that barely glinted through the dust. She walked over to it and flipped it. Loud grinding came from the floor and it shuddered slightly as a stone bridge emerged from the mercury and the pool began to drain. Val looke up and smiled broadly , his large canine teeth slightly protruding from under his lip." Woman, You always seem to amaze me, thank you. Now to get the lid off that damned coffin." Looking at the glyphs she spoke," be careful when you open it there will more than likely be some sulphuric acid or salt acid of some kind to thwart whoever is trying to open it. So, get something in there and pry it then move away.wait a few minutes and go back to it."

They all nodded their understanding and the men began to work as they struggled with the lid. Val looked up and said," This is way to fucking easy. Something doesnt feel right." Ballz agreed as they managed to move the lid about an inch. Stepping back from the coffin they all went to have something to eat as Rahnyah whipped up some food for them. She had a wonderful picnic set out with various foods and drinks. After they finished their meal they went back to work on the lid and got it opened. the lid fell off and broke in two as it landed on the bottom of the empty pool beneath them. 

Before them lay a very, very large man holding the spear of Osir between his hands upon his chest. the funerary mask was exquisitely elegant. Lapis Lazuli ringed the face and deep set ony stones ran down the front of the mummy's chest. Val reached into the coffin and grasped the spear and pulled it free from the corpses grasp then he heard a click. He looked up and tossed the spear to Rahnyah and said," Ahh there it is the Fuckening." They all looked around them for what was sure to come when a pannel on the left side of the tomb wall began to retract and slide open. the stench that bellowed out into the room was noxious and made it hard for them to breathe. Rahnyah quickly put the spear in her satchel and slung it over her chest cross ways so it would not come off or be lost in anyway. This yeti was larger than the last, it towered over them head bent over scraping the top of the tomb.

Val dropped into tiger form as well as Marley, they both pounced at the beast and clung tightly distracting it while Ballz slid in low slashing the creatures achillies tendon and making it scream with rage. The yeti began tossing out shards of ice and rooting them to the floor. Each time they broke free it would throw out more. Rahnyah pummeled it with both fire and ice cicles but the beast would not drop." Snipes ! do you have any more of those incendiary arrows?" She asked and he shouted back, No! That was my last one!" the team worked hard and Ballz was running out of steam healing them. " Agh! somethin's got to give!" He shouted and threw a chaining spell at the creature and it held it there for a few moments then finally, the beast charged them and the fight clashed and slashed in one last effort to stop his death he flung out hard with his fist and cast a bolt of icy magic at Rahnyah wrapping her head to toe in glacial ice. With his last breath as Twiztid Mike stabbed upwards through the rib cage the glacial ice completely encased the beautiful mage. It was clear blue so everyone could see her frantically trying to dispel the ice. Everything she tried would not work it seemed. Val, Ballz, snipes, Marley and Mike all pummeled the ice and could not even make a dent. Slowly on the inside Rahnyah was succumbing to the cold. She wrapped herself in her cloak and sheilded herself with an ember of warmth. Val, pounded on the ice and yelled to her,” Just hang on Rahny, I’ll be right back!”

Looking to the others around him he spoke quickly as he began to flick his fingers .” I’m going to the Big Easy. I will be right back I know someone who can help.” Two seconds later he stepped through the portal and spun around and landed hard on the other end. Thinking to himself,” Now where the hell is she?” He was panicking now the mage only had a small amount of time before Hyperthermia took her life. Quickly, he ran to the inn where he last saw Ishellia and ran up to her room and began pounding on the door.” Shellia! Shellia! I need your help! Oh my Goddess , please be there! Shellia!” 

He said as he pounded harder. A soft voice came from behind him and he turned to see the woman he had spent so many years of his life with. “ She’s trapped in Ice we can’t break it! I need something to get her out.” Ishellia touched his arm softly as she opened her door.” I think I have what you need hun. Come over here. I have a book of fire spells, the only thing that will break a glacier tomb is a fire ball. It’s fast and quite hot it should melt it quick enough." She flipped the book to the the page she needed and spoke," Ok stand in front of it and flick your fingers counter clockwise and say.Shebanch tabou naoule!” Here let me show you.” She found a window that looked off the edge of the street and aimed there. “Shebanch tabou naoule! “A blast of fire hit the street and burned hot for a moment then died out.” The fire will last longer when it contacts magic.” Kissing her on the cheek as if it was second nature he stopped and paused,” Thank you Shellia, I have to go now, can you send me back to the tomb?” 

Nodding quietly she flicked her fingers and opened a portal then spoke to him softly.” Val, you love her don’t you?” Looking at the woman who had been his wife for five thousand years he spoke ,” Yes , of course, she's been our best friend for years.” Touching his shoulder and looking into his eyes, “ No Val, I mean You love her enough to marry her.” Val looked into the pained eyes of his undead mate and took a deep breath ,” Yes , She has been a good companion for me since your death and resurrection. I would not have made it through had she not been there. Yes, I think I will ask her to marry me.” Shellia smiled a pained smile. “ It’s as it should be love. She is my best friend , if anyone knows you better than I it would be her. Go now to her and get her out of that blasted Ice!” Val stepped through the portal with his admission of love and Ishellias blessing what a weird fuckening kind of day.

He slammed into the ground in front of Kv5 and ran inside loosing no time. He began flicking his fingers counter clockwise “ Shemanch Tabou Naoule! A blast of fire shot out and Marley and Ballz both joined in quickly within minutes Rahnyah was out of the ice and had crumpled to the floor. She appeared not to be breathing and panick hit Val's heart . Marley blasted her with a healing surge of leaves as Val shifted  into his tiger form and wrapped himself around her giving her the warmth of his fur. He nuzzled up to her ear and purred and chuffed softly as he pressed her chest rythmically with one of his paws.Suddenly! She gasped for air as Marley hit her again with some healing gifts. She began to tremble uncontrollably and he wrapped himself around her tighter. Looking up at Marley as he silently slipped into his Black panther form and laid on top of them both.Telepathically he sent them," If you ever tell anyone I am a softy at heart, I will kill you both." Rahnyah smiled slightly and soon her shivering began to stop and Marley got up. He then shifted back into druid form and started rolling a  huge blunt.

“Here Cherie’ this will cure what ails you.” He said ,as he handed it to Rahnyah who graciously accepted the vision flower being offered.” We, we have to get the spear of Osir,” she said weakly. Marley smiled a big toothy grin and replied quickly brandishing it to her ,” Ahh but we already have it. You put it in your satchel before the beast came out.” He said as he took the blunt from her hands.” Let’s get you back to Avalon Miss Rahnyah.” They all exited the tomb and ran to the dragons Val carrying the fragile Rahnyah in his arms. “ Briesef, come. “ He thought  as the beautiful dragon came near and lowered her neck.  He laid Rahnyah on the dragon's back and climbed on behind her wrapping her in his cloak.

 Everyone else had mounted up on the other dragons and they were off . As they flew over the delta Val looked down and saw Ishellia’s long dark black hair flipping as she was midlessly kicking and slashing at the Naga that littered the delta region. Tears rolled down her face and her anger at Lucifer grew in her belly. He had taken her everything away from her. One tear fell from Valudus’s eye when Rahnyah looked up and with her small hand wiped away the tear and reached up and kissed his mouth softly. For a moment he was bewildered then softened to her touch and returned her kiss. “Thank you for saving my life.” She said as she curled in closer to his chest. Taking a deep breath he spoke slowly and softly into her hair.” I couldn’t let another woman I love die now could I?”Rahnyah smiled slightly and drifted off to sleep comforted by the beat of the dragon's wings and Vals warm body. Briesef, flicked her claws and the wormhole opened for them to pass through and she followed behind.

Within moments of landing in Avalon,Val took her to his home and up to his bedroom and placed her fragile body onto the bed and covered her up to her chin in furs. Moments later, His mother joined him in  his drawing room where she scribed her enchanted works. becuase she was queen and did what she wanted to do.” I am assuming there will be a wedding soon?” Without speaking he just nodded his head silently. Then took a breath.” Mother, I was with Ishellia for five thousand years. Rahnyah is merely 45 human years of age, she is but a child in the whole scheme of things but I do love her and I think she will be a fine queen don’t you?” Madeline smiled and nodded then moved forward to touch her sons arm.”Ishellia helped you save her life didn’t she?” Mother, I could not bear to loose another that I loved.”

His mother replied softly, “ Time heals all wounds Valudus.I have taught you well and I am so glad that you were able to find love once more. The Fires of Beltane will be lit soon do not tary, Tis good luck to be wed on Beltane.” Val nodded and went outside for a walk to clear his mind. Nuptuals seemed rather quick but he was in need of a queen and he did love Rahnyah. So it seemed the most logical choice in these days and times. Taking a resigned breath he walked into his suite and up to Rahnyah and smiled and snuggled down beside her and whispered in her ear. “ Rahnyah Fury, Will you do the honor of being my wife. I know I lived many years with Ishellia and I know she is your best friend. She gave me her blessing and Mother gave her blessing  just now, so now I am asking you. Will you do this old man a great honor in becoming my queen?”Time stands still for no man or woman even when you are immortal .Time is awfully long to spend it alone. Please done’t make me go through the ages alone. My mother can give you the tincture of everlasting life if you wish then I will not have to suffer another of my wives to die before me.” Turning over in her furs so her cheek was on his chest. She touched his chest and fiddled with the clasps on his shirt for a moment. She looked up with tears in her eyes and spoke softly.” I would love nothing more than to be your wife and queen Val.” Leaning down he kissed her softly and noticed she was still shivering.” I know a way to warm you up.” He said with a smile and slid under the covers with her.

The next morning dawned a beautiful day. Rahnyah rose and dressed in a beautiful peach silk dress that Madeline had sewn for her the night before. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled softly. Peach became her red hair that fell down below her bottom. She brushed it carefully and twisted part of it into a braid to keep it off her face and left the room.

As she entered the kitchen the young priestesses brought her some food to eat and smiled at her.” Madeline is waiting for you in her drawing room.” The mage finished her meal and walked to the drawing room and bowed elegantly before the queen of the elves and spoke softly,” Good morning .” Madeline looked up from her scribing and motioned for her to come join her. “ It has been many years since I have had the pleasure of the company of another scribe. Please , come join me.” Rahnyah grabbed an apron off the counter nearby and tied it on. She sat on the stool opposite the elf and looked through her inks.” Oh Wow! Dragon’s blood! It has been a while since I have had the pleasure of such exquisite inks to work with!” Smiling at her soon to be daughter-in-law .” Look further, there are inks you have never seen before from flowers that only grow in Avalon. I thought since you got trapped in ice I should show you a few spells that we could scribe into a book that would allow you to improvise should the need ever arise again.” Rahnyah’s eyes welled with tears and touched the elf’s hand.” Thank you for everything Mam.” Oh no , not mam,” The elder woman said softly.” You may call me mother.”

Val told me of his proposal last night and that you honored the Goddess to seal the union.” Rahnyah blushed lightly and nodded with a smile.” Well then we must make ready for your vows. Beltane is two days away. The most prosperous unions are made during the fires of Beltane.”

The fires of Beltane burned brightly in the night sky as Rahnyah prepared for her nuptials to the King of Lorthramar. All of the kingdom would be present as the crown was placed upon her head. Madeline and her priestesses wove intricate orchids and baby’s breath into her long red hair and draped her in the finest white gossamer gown that flowed out behind her. The shoulders set just off her arms so her long slender neck would be accentuated. The bodice was tight against her body and tight across her hips with it beginning to flow out from there.Tiny seed pearls were sewn down her back and then spread in spiral designs with beautiful shards of sea shells and tufts of white velvet from the stags. She took a deep breath as she looked at herself before she stepped outside to be sat upon Cerrnunnos’s mate. Val sat proudly astride Cerrnnunos and gently took her hand as they wound their way through the forest towards the altar near the bonfire. There at the altar Ravi Allen stood nervously as they approached making sure the chuppa was correctly over the altar. Flowers of all kinds had been woven into the structure.

Rahnyah’s beautiful smile radiated through the masses and Val was regal with the crown of the ancients upon his head. The Deer stopped and stood still so Val could dismount and walk around to his bride and help her dismount. She placed her hand upon his as they walked to the altar and as if from out of nowhere , Madeline appeared beside Ravi Allen dressed in the splendor of nature. Ravens and fairies , sylphs, dryads and nymphs all found their way to witness the union.

Valudus led Rahnyah up to the top of the altar and The queen of the elves spoke loudly for all to hear. “Do you both come freely to this place to be joined for all eternity?!” Valudus looked into Rahnyahs eyes and they both spoke in unison.” We do.” Cheers rang out through the crowd and the ravi began to speak. Do you Rahnyah under the eyes of the universe accept the duties and rights of an Elven wife?”” I do.” Valudus King of Lothramar and High Prince of the Elvin Nation do you freely accept the union, rights and responsibilities of joining with a Jewish woman?” He smiled broadly and spoke clearly.” Yes, yes I do. It is my honor.” Then Madeline stepped forwards and spoke. “ Give me your hands that they may be bound .” They presented their hands and She stepped forward and bound them together. “ In this life one can not merely accomplish things upon their own. The love and guidance of a mate can be the success of any endeavor. You must be strong like the mighty Oak but be able to bend in the storm like the mighty Willow. No matter what storms come your way with love and compassion you will make it through. Now repeat after me.” I Valudus, High Prince of the Elvin Nation and King of Lorthramar do here by swear my troth in perfect love and perfect trust We will bind our souls in this life and the next.” Valudus repeated the lines and smiled at Rahnyah. Madeline turned towards the mage and said ,” Rahnyah repeat after me. I Rahnyah Arch Mage of Salem, Citizen of Lorthramar do here by swear my Troth in perfect love and perfect trust we will bind our souls in this life and the next.” Rahnyah repeated the lines as she looked loving ly into Valudus’s eyes. “ Now there is one more thing. Rahnyah , you must drink from the vial.” The Elf Queen handed her the vial and she tipped it up and drank it completely down.” Every ten years on Beltane night you must drink from the vial.”

Ravi Allen stepped forward and spoke loudly for all to hear.” Rahnyah step forward and receive the Queens crown.” Rahnyah knelt before the ravi and he lightly placed the velvet red crown of the queen upon her head.” Rise Queen Rahnyah. By the powers invested in me by the universe and High Queen Madeline I do hereby acknowledge this union for all time!” Ladies and Gentle men! I Give you His Majesty King Valudus  Stormyst and Queen consort Rahnyah Stormyst!”

The whole of the Nations of the elves and of Lorthramar all bowed in respect to their king and queen. “ All Hail the King and Queen!”