Category: evil

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choices evil exploited Faith focus Jesus life styles peace

See That Ye Be Not Troubled

I love the rain on the flowers!!

Peach here:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” — Matthew 24:6-8 KJV

I recently wrote that nowadays the world seems on fire and I just can’t watch it burn. I believe in being informed. But, it’s also important not to be misinformed and it’s also important not to fall in the trap of getting emotionally worked up and either angry, fixated or hopeless. I mean that’s what the donkey and the elephant want. It’s what the ‘news’ media and social media want. But, it’s not what I want. It’s not what Jesus wants for us either.

I was raised to pay close attention to society, religion and politics. For many good reasons. however, that was long before the 24/7 instant news-tainment was a thing, much less a hand held device to keep it coming constantly, right?! I have to turn my phone face down at night or the flashing ‘urgent’ notifications wake us up at night! Lol.

I started pulling back from the news November 2018. But, at the turn of this year I felt the Lord encourage me to keep my eyes on Him, so that I don’t get distracted from what’s most important. For me, too much news crowds out what, for me, is most important to my assignment. (I believe we all have assignments, more on this another day!)

I stay informed. But, I keep it short. And I move on. The verse He put on my heart, I come back to over and over, it’s a commonly quoted verse on social media, because it’s bulletproof! — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” — Isaiah 26:3. Says it all for me. And it’s so true!

I particularly like in the Matthew 24 verse above, that He tells us ‘See that ye be not troubled’. It means we have a choice in whether we get upset or not. By His grace we can relearn how to respond to the news. I have to try to not be shoved, mentally, into the quick reaction the media is hoping for, (and the political parties as well). I’m learning response is measured and I control it. Reaction is volatile and it controls me. That’s not going to work. It’s not what we are made for. Self control is my favorite fruit of the spirit. Now, I’ve come a long way in this regard, but of course, I still have far to go! It’s ok though! I’m learning and the Holy Spirit is a great teacher.

Here’s another fool proof verse for keeping our focus so that we are most effective at being salt and light wherever we are and whatever we do! — “ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.” — Philippians 4:8

For me, my goal is to not dull my shine, not waste my salt. Train my mind to respond, mentally to what I learn, pray and move on, not react and get emotionally worked up, which leads to (in my case) unhelpful attitudes, and words. It’s tricky. Because I do believe there’s a lot of evil in this world. And evil can cause a reaction for obvious reasons. But, in the darkness light shines the brightest! We have His light if He lives in our hearts, so I’m going to respond. In faith. And move on.

I’m learning. Like Robert Frost said ‘And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.’

This might be the start (or might not, we will see!) of a Tuesdays are for Thinking series!

I hope your day is filled with His peace and thoughts of virtuous, lovely and ‘good report’ things!

Love, Peach

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adventure danger evil family good mystery nature Sci Fi SyFy travel writing

The “Bevan” – Intruders

Part VI

Michael was watching the cameras and saw a flicker on the screen, it was quick and moved swiftly along the fence until it finally disappeared from sight. He did not immediately jump up or sound an alarm. He did what he was supposed to do, he kept watching, because as of yet, there was no need to make the others worry. Several minutes later, Michael again saw the flicker, but this time it was inside perimeter, and near the main house. He immediately recognized it as the Loarn, one of the portal watchers, and he was now on the deck of the main house. Michael alerted Matthew, His mother Elena, Liam and Van, telling Matthew and Liam to meet at the main house where Elena and Trinity were.

As the others were gathering at the main house, Van was not idle, he was gathering supplies via the internet, to have them dropped off at the property, and all the while guarding the young children and other wives. Van knew that despite wanting to rush off and help the others in case of some confrontation, he alone was the last protection for the rest of the extended family and he would not let anything happen to any of his wards if he could stop it.

Michael got to the main house first, and was met by the Loarn and Elena his mother, she relayed the message that 3 Braks and a Wrack had passed through the portal nearest the house about an hour ago, where they were now he did not know, but his scouts were looking for them, as Elena was relaying this message, the Loarn turned and looked towards the east fence and watched as two of his kind slipped through, and avoided the traps that they were warned of, as they headed straight to him. The Loarn met them, and there was a conversation between them that Elena could only hear part of, the Loarn turned and relayed the scouts’ message that six more total had passed through different portals, 2 more Braks and 4 Wracks, bringing the known total to 5 each. Elena told the others, who had now all arrived, and paused turning to the Loarn “Thank you my friend!! We will be ready for them, but only because of your help.” The Loarn then turned and he and his kin left.

Michael, Liam, Matthew, and Elena moved inside and sat at the table, “Well, things are accelerating quickly it seems,” said Michael. “Ok, we need to really tighten security up I think” and the others nodded in agreement.

Matthew said, “Mom, the first thing we need to do is get you and Trinity,” looking up at the teenager that had slipped in and was standing behind her dad Liam’s chair. “ The first thing we need to do, is move you to one of the other houses, as surreptitiously as we can, and set this one as the trap for as many as we can. It’s obvious they know where you are, and in which house, so we can use that to our advantage.”

Liam said, “I agree, Sis. Let’s put her in my house for now,” he said addressing his nephews. “That way there are several people who can help keep watch, in the same place. I also think we should move her from place to place, so as not to let them pin her location down.”

“Are you ok staying with her Trinity? I know it’s got to be a bit tough and stressful”.

Trinity replied in that quiet voice she has, “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Dad, I think I could help, if need be, but I will stay with Aunt Elena as long as you want me to, or until I am needed someplace else.” Trinity was also thinking to herself, that she needed her wooden practice blades, and if they moved back to their house, she could grab them and have them handy, not cutting sharp but they were formidable weapons to strike with, and could be used to stab if she needed.

Elena started to protest not just the moving, but putting Trinity into such a precarious spot, but Michael said before she could, “Well, that’s settled. Let’s make the move in the next hour or so, as I think they would expect us to stay quiet during the day”.

Van heard the sound again, like something dragging across a screen very slowly, so you hear each time it hit a new square. He was busy sending emails to a network of people asking for reports on anything that he could relate to the Braks or Treslanders. Van slowly tore his eyes away from the computer screen, after hearing the noise again, seemingly coming from outside the window. Turning his head towards the window in the room, he faintly saw movement through the curtain and blinds. Van picked up his pistol and as silently as he could, he stood up and backed out of the room. Stopping in the hall just outside the bedroom door, Van was noticed by River who immediately realized something was wrong. River quickly and silently, gathered all the kids and others together in the den.

Van stood by the doorframe for a second, then glanced down the hall to the den, seeing River had everyone there, he slipped down the hall to the den, “Stay here,” he said to River. “Look after them, I’ll be right back. Do not leave this room, ‘til I get back and use that,” he said, nodding towards the shotgun by the door. “Point it down the hall, and if anyone comes, just shoot, don’t think, just shoot,” and with that he was gone, slipping out the side door.

River picked up the shotgun and pointed it down the hall like she was told, and waited. Van slipped around the opposite side of the house quietly, silently thanking whoever thought to leave the area closest to the house covered in pine straw, as it was pretty silent to walk on. Looking around the corner, he saw a figure crouched by the window with a blade, slowly cutting one tiny square at a time, trying to be a quiet as possible.

The Wrack was cutting the screen. He had done this before, plenty of times, when searching for his prey over the years. These unsuspecting humans were so self secure in their lives, that they could not believe there were other lives out there, and things that could, and would, take their lives in an instant, if the price was right, and this price was the highest ever heard. As he continued cutting, he suddenly got the sense of danger but he did not stop, he slipped another knife out with his other hand under his cloak and prepared to meet the danger he felt.

Van hesitated for a half second, as whoever or whatever it was at the window, could just be a stupid burglar who picked the wrong house, and shooting him would lead to all kinds of issues. But in that hesitation, he did slip his gun up and point it at the figure. Once he was set, he said, “Door’s around front, Mister.”

Faster than he would have thought possible, the figure spun away from the window, slinging a knife Van had not seen, towards the sound of the voice. The knife hit the wall just short of where Van was standing, and glanced off, sliding past so close, that it nicked his shoulder that was exposed. Van was caught off guard for a spilt second, and the Wrack moved with lightening speed away from the house, slinging a second knife while trying to get an open view of Van, who was still protected by the house corner. The Wrack saw no knife or bow in the humans hands, but did see something he was not familiar with, yet it did not look like a weapon to him. He thought this stupid human would be easy to deal with, as he started drawing his skith, a wicked looking curved short sword, thick bladed and serrated on the back half.

Van felt the blade nick his shoulder and twisted back a bit, amazed that anyone could move so fast, as then a second knife struck the wall, where his head had been milliseconds ago. He then saw the face under the cloak and realized it was not human, seeing whatever it was drawing a nasty looking sword thing, Van hesitated no longer. He took aim and shot two times for the center of the chest, both striking, and the figure raised on his toes, then collapsed in a heap.

Everyone in the main house at the same time said, “Gunshots!!” and started to head that way, but Matthew said “Hold on!! We can’t all go running out there, it may be a trap!” Quickly it was decided Matthew and Michael would go, and the rest would stay and wait for word.

Michael and Matthew checked their weapons, then slipping out the back door, and starting to work their way towards the direction the gunfire came from. The rest of the families were supposed to be at Van and Rivers, so that’s where they headed, but they would circle around!and check the others, just in case, on their way.

Working in the bound method, they took turns moving, while one covered the other. They worked around two houses, and at the second house, stopped and watched the third, which was Van’s, and then both moved forward, Matthew towards the front corner, and Michael towards the back, both reaching them at the same time.

Michael immediately noticed a cloaked figure crumpled on the ground by the far corner, a large wicked looking knife/sword laying beside him. He signaled Matthew with his hand, got a negative hand sign, and then signaled that Matthew should move around the front, to the far side, and they would both meet on the farthest corner, where the figure was. Matthew started moving, and Michael counted 30 seconds, then started moving, keeping his weapon trained on the figure. They timed it perfect, except Van met Matthew, as he rounded the corner, and they both met Michael back at the figure on the ground.

All three examined the figure, and Matthew asked “You alright, Uncle Van? You look a little pale,” Van nodded yes.

“It’s not that I shot hi..it..whatever, it’s just unbelievable it really happened”, declared Van.

“Well, let’s get inside and check on the rest of the family.” Michael said.

Van cautioned, “Be careful! River has a shotgun, and I told her to shoot anything she saw in the hall”.

Matthew stayed with the Wrack, “I’ll be along in a couple, kids don’t need to see this.”

Van and Michael went around front, opening the door a bit, and Van yelling in “River? It’s me don’t shoot!!!” To which he got the reply “Of course it’s you! I saw you in the mirror I set up, you and Michael come on in! We’re all ok”.

Matthew studied the creature for a couple minutes, and took several pictures of it with his phone. He also collected a total of eight small throwing type knives, QQ and the weird sword. The sword had a snake with red eyes that glowed when light hit them and it had 36 lines down it’s body reaching less than half way like it was incomplete or something. “Well, you ain’t finishing it now are ya, Bub? Let’s get you outta sight,” Matthew said to the corpse, as he was dragging it away from the houses, and towards an out shed.

Matthew arrived at the house a bit later, at the end of Van filling the others in on what occurred. Michael had already texted Elena and Liam to let them know all was well. While doing so, he noticed that Uncle Liam’s oldest daughter ‘Lena, who was named after his own mother, had her sketch pad and he caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure she had drawn. He also noticed she was looking at him, like he had caught her doing something wrong. He did not say anything, and smiled as he turned and joined the others in plans as what to do next.

Matthew and Michael left everyone inside with Van, and they went to the house closest to them, which was Liam’s. Once sure it was safe, they went and got everyone from Van’s, and escorted them to the new place. They put the timers on in different parts of Van’s house, so the lights and TVs would come on at different times, in different rooms, and even on different days.

Michael went to the main house, while Matthew returned to the shed, and started up the tractor, “Funny, Dad always harped on needing a tractor, but I don’t think he meant for this,” he said to himself, as he dug a hole and dumped the Brak’s body into it.

After he was done, Matthew returned to the main house, and they all moved Elena and Trinity back to Liam’s. Now that everyone was in the same place, Michael, Matthew, Liam and Van, all sat at the table, and devised a plan to move everyone in two groups, from now on. Different houses each night. Sometimes even, both groups staying at the same house, at the same time, on occasion.

Trinity had gone to her room as soon as she could, and retrieved her two practice blades slipping them into the two sheaths she made that fit on her back. Handles down where she had easy access. She put on an over shirt, much like the one her Uncle Lee was always wearing, so it covered the blades perfectly. Trinity smirked at herself in the mirror, then went back out to where everyone was, and joined the group.

It was decided that for the night, everyone would stay here together, where there was safety in numbers. According to the Loarn, they had at least nine more “things” that had come through the portal, and were intent on stopping their family bloodline, from existing any more.

Matthew and Michael set several wireless trip alarms around the main house, before going to the house Michael and his family had been staying in. They slid the pivoting bookcase away, and went down a flight of steps, with the bookcase closing behind them. The brothers turned right, towards Uncle Liam’s home, heading along the tunnel that Lee had constructed, between all the houses on the property. They emerged in one of the spare bedrooms, after first stopping to listen for any signs of danger. Then they joined the others in the den, and kitchen. “Matthew and I will watch after dark tonight, and see if we can surprise any unwanted visitors. Have we decided who’s staying where, starting tomorrow?” asked Michael.

Liam had devised a plan, where every house was numbered. This one was #2, for example, and the groups would roll a dice and where it wound up is where they would stay. That way no one had prior knowledge, and no one could be forced to tell.

That night went by without incident for the group, and the next day they split into three groups. Elena, Trinity and one of the men would take turns being with that group, Van, River, Liam, Natasha and Elena would be in another, leaving Matthew and Annika with their infant, who would stay with Michael, Sophia and their six children. That way there is always a male with them, also.

As luck or fate would have it, Elena’s group drew the main house as theirs for the day, and prior to dawn, they made the move back, this time using the tunnel. The other groups moved to their locations, but did so normally, so that if there were watchers, it would seem that Elena and Trinity were still in Liam’s house. Matthew stayed with Elena his mom and Trinity as they settled. He then said, “Back in a couple. Have to check the triggers and traps. Don’t go outside, I’m going through Dad’s tunnels, and coming out of the shed, and I will come back the same way when I’m done”.

30 minutes later, as Trinity was alone in the den doing a bit of practice, she suddenly heard a strange noise come from the room her aunt was resting in. She got up heading rapidly towards the door, and as she got there it was flung open, and almost knocked her down. She saw the most scary, disfigured face, and the body of a man, and it was dragging Elena, who was either unconscious or almost so.

Trinity hesitated a second, and before she could cry for help, the Wrack drew a curved sword dropping Elena at the same time, thinking to himself that he could get rid of this brat quickly and make a bigger bonus. Trinity saw the blade, and she paled and her blood seemed to turn cold, but instinctively she backed away and out of the hall into the open den. She drew one of her practice blades as the Wrack lunged at her, trying to stab her in the chest. She swatted his blade with hers, knocking it off line, and it slid past her as she spun past the Wrack. Her blade kept going with the spin, and came full circle, striking the Wrack with the sharp edge on the back of his neck, and with enough force to knock him over the couch.

The Wrack made a grunt and growled, as he quickly sprang to his feet, twisting to face the young girl, and his eyes narrowed as he moved around the couch, to have a clear shot at her. Trinity knew this was no longer some computer game, and that she could easily not get out of this, but she was determined to stay and fight. She drew the second blade from its sheath, while at the same time the Wrack attacked again. This time swinging his blade straight from over his head, in an attempt to chop her in half, or split her skull.

Trinity barely arched back enough as the Wrack’s blade sliced through the air, and the tip barely knocked her shirt, cutting a hole in it at her waist. Trinity took the advantage, as the Wrack had over extended himself, and the move made him lean forward so much, he was almost off balanced. She swung one blade down with all her might, striking him in the neck area where it met his shoulder, and without slowing, the other blade swung and struck him in the forearm which was holding his sword, and he dropped it, as his muscles were temporarily stunned.

The Wrack lunged forward with his body, and hit Trinity in the stomach with his shoulder, driving her against the wall, and taking her breath away. He then grabbed her and slung her across the room into a coffee table. Trinity realized she was not going to be able to take much of that as she got up, her small body was bruised and she was breathing hard. The Wrack picked up his sword in his left hand, and slowly started to approach, sensing his opponent was weakening, and it wouldn’t be long before he could finish her off.

Trinity had somehow managed to hold onto both blades, was desperately trying to buy time, so she could catch her breath. She kicked the coffee table towards him, and he kicked it out of the way. There was now nothing between him and her, as he circled warily, several times lunging at her, and each time Trinity was able to knock his blade away, or dodge it. The last time though, he swung his sword at her, and she barely stopped it, slipping on something on the floor, giving him the opportunity he needed.

Trinity knew it was over as she slipped. She could not defend against him grabbing her from behind, and wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling his sword up to her neck to finish her off.

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adventure battle evil fantasy good mystery Sci Fi series SyFy writing

The “Bevan” — Fortress

Part V “Fortress”

Lee followed Rotar and Falan through the portal, it felt like walking through “heavy” air but only for a second and then they were all on the other side. Looking around, it resembled earth, a bit more lush and green though, and the air was clean feeling. The portal opened in a circle of rocks and boulders deep inside a dark forest, in which Lee felt very much at home as he melted into some brush, seeing Rotar and Falan doing the same on opposite sides. No one spoke or moved for almost 10 minutes, then Rotar indicated that they should follow him as he led away from the circle, not on a trail, but 20 yards off to the side of it. Lee followed, with Falan behind a few yards, the three continued for about 30 minutes, walking slowly uphill through the brush, keeping quiet as Rotar led them in a route slowly circling up and away. Rotar stopped in a thicket and Lee and Falan joined him. They all stopped and rested quietly and it was at this time that Lee checked his pack and the ammo was there and he took the handgun and spare magazines and put them on his belt under the hood quietly without being noticed. He also took the time to text Elena and hit send and watched but the message just sat there, not sending.

“How often do the portals open back to earth?” Lee asked.

Falan answered in a hushed voice, “The portals to earth open at different times. We are constantly sending our spies to track the enemy, and to try and monitor the portals. There are no set times”.

Lee glanced at his phone once more before shutting it, and realized the message had sent, so a portal someplace near must have opened.

“3 hours of light left,” said Rotar “We will wait here for darkness, before we continue.”

“How far to the fortress?” asked Lee.

“The fortress is about 3 hours walk from here in peacetime. It will take us 6 to be sure we don’t walk into an ambush,” answered Rotar.

Getting up, the three move silently through the forest, headed in a direction, Lee assumes is towards the place called the fortress, Rotar leading, and Falan in the rear. They walk silently on, with Lee getting glimpses of the night sky, as they skirted clearings, and he saw celestial bodies he could not recognize.

Slowly as they are walking, Lee starts getting a feeling of being hunted, a feeling he used to get at times, while chasing criminals who were armed, playing what could be a deadly game of cat and mouse. He began to slow his pace, as he listened to his senses telling him something is near and hunting them, Lee stoped and knelt, and somewhere behind him, Falan noticed and did the same. Lee lost sight of Rotar, who was up ahead, and the feeling got even stronger.

Lee slipped the bow off his back, and nocked an arrow, holding it low, as he looked slowly around. Then he saw a shadow move into the line, between Rotar’s path and him. Lee watched, not sure who was a friend here, but then saw the glint of light, off two blades being drawn off the figure’s back, as it crept towards where Rotar went. Lee pulled the arrow back, and clicked his tongue, as the figure spun lightening quick, sliding sideways and slinging a blade towards where the figure thought the sound originated.

Lee did not flinch, while releasing the arrow, as the blade slipped past his ear, over his right shoulder, and stuck in a small tree behind him, some 10’ back. His arrow struck the figure square in the chest, flinging it back, and onto the ground, as Lee immediately, from years of practice, nocked another arrow and waited.

Falan had slipped off to one side, and Rotar emerged from the darkness and knelt by the figure. “A ‘wrack’,” said Rotar. “Spy or assassins in your tongue. They work alone, this one must have been waiting along the trails, hoping to bump into us. Thought I smelled it a bit ago, but never caught sight, until just before you stuck him”. Lee looked at the figure, and even in the dark he could tell it was not human, even though it moved like one, he pulled the arrow out and wiped it on the wrack’s outfit and was stunned to see the knife it had left looked just like one of his Legion blades. Lee picked it up, and then went back and recovered the other, and took the sheathes, which were mounted on the wrack’s back, while looking at Rotar and Falan.

“I have to examine these blades in light, something very familiar about them,” explained Lee.

Falan spoke with urgency, “Come on! We are almost to the hidden path!”

The three hurried along, still quiet, but with much more zest in their steps, (as Elena would say) and as Falan rounded a large boulder, Lee lost sight of him. As he passed the boulder, it Lee was stunned to see the edge of the forest, but no sign of Falan. Lee stopped and looked closer in the bushes against the boulder and Falan emerged and said, “This is it come on,” and turned, disappearing again into the thick brush.

Lee followed, and found himself walking down into a tunnel, that curved around and headed back towards the edge of the forest, it seemed.

Rotar came in a few minutes behind him, “We were not followed, and our tracks are gone, that I made sure of! I left false ones continuing to the river ahead”.

They all three continued in the tunnel, and Lee saw flickering light ahead after walking several hundred yards. He then heard voices, and he started to tense, but Rotar behind him said, “No need to worry. They are the gate guards, and are here to keep the enemy out. We will pass freely, If we were enemy, they would just flood the tunnel with river water, not a nice way to go.”

Soon the three were past the guards, and they emerged through a series of 2’ thick wooden doors, each opening opposite sides and each having wooden poles behind, to be used to block them from being forced open from inside the tunnel.

Lee saw several holes in the walls and ceiling and Rotar said, “If a door is penetrated, then spearmen on the other side of these walls, and even the ceiling, will attack whoever comes in.”

“That would be a mite hard to escape in my estimate,” said Lee.

Finally they entered a wide chamber, and were met by several armor dressed soldiers. Gold in color was the armor, protecting arms, legs, chest and back. They carried a shield, and a heavy looking broad type sword, except that it was curved and decorated with engravings.

One of the soldiers spoke to Rotar, and he replied, followed quickly by all the soldiers turning, and placing their hand across their chest, and bowing slightly from the waist, a”then straightening back up.

Rotar and Falan turned, and Rotar said, “We should get some food and then rest. In the morning, we will meet the Premiere and his staff. Perhaps then, we can understand all that is happening, and why, you Lee, don’t go by Bevan, as the stories say?”

Lee answered “Food would be good, and to get washed up would feel really good as well! Lead on Rotar! Apparently, there’s much to see and do”.

Several hours later, after eating and getting cleaned up, Lee found himself dressed in Treslan clothes. Underneath it all, he still had his soft body armor on, and over top of it all, his cloak, which was shades of blue, gray and green m, it’s colors shifting to blend in. It was warm and a gift from Elena, years ago. Lee sat in a room he was given, and turned on his phone and got the message Elena sent, “Everyone is on board, and they are getting organized.”

“Good, and gosh! Good job, Boys, for arranging things,” he said to himself. Lee typed out a text, “Seems the signal only goes through when a nearby portal is open, so comms will be limited. Made it to the fortress. Meeting head honcho tomorrow. So far, so good. See if you can find the Legion book, I will tell you why later. Have to go, take care of my pretty girl, I’ll be back soon”.

He then pulled out the knives he took off the dead wrack, they were exact to the tip, as his Legion blade, and he could not see how that was possible. Turning them over, he saw what he was looking for, they were Legion blades!! The markers were on each blade, but how did they get here?! And more importantly, whose were they? And where were the owners?

Lee took pictures of the marks on the blades, and sent another text, to go through when it could, “When you find the book, look up these marks, and see who they belong to and where the owners are now, please”.

Later that day, Lee, Rotar and Falan were all assembled in a great room, around a table. Lee’s eyes moved along the painted wall, at the scenes unfolding, his thoughts interrupted by several people walking in, and everyone in the room, except himself, rising and bowing, with their hand across their chest. Not wanting to seem rude, Lee stood up, as what he rightly assumed, as the people they were waiting on, arrived.

Lee observed the group, the man, taller than himself, but lighter in weight, dark tanned and slightly built, but with an air of hidden strength. He was followed by a small woman, who reminded him of his sister. They were flanked by two massive men, with swords on their sides, and dressed in white gold colored armor, that looked light and flexible. The last in the group was a small man, one who when Lee met his eyes, immediately made him wary. Some sense of his, told him this man was not what he seemed, and was not to be trusted. The Premiere was introduced to Lee, as well as his wife, while the two large Ann’s well equipped guards stood silently, but ever wary, just out of arms reach of the Premiere and his wife. The other person, Trendar was his name, stood off to the side and was only introduced as “valued staff”, to which Lee saw his eyes take on an evil look, when he heard himself called that.

Lee was asked questions after questions over the next few hours. A lot was explained to him, and some of the questions he had were answered.

The story apparently spanned several generations, where ruling families and common folk alike worked for the common good. Then darkness slowly crept into some Treslander’s minds, and slowly that darkness spread through certain specific minds.

Eventually, there was an attempt to take power, and wars were fought. The ruling family controlled the better armies, and locations, not to mention portal access, making it possible for their soldiers to move where needed, and quickly.

Traitors learned the secrets, and soon the portals were used by both sides. Several key members of the once secure family and staff were killed by spies, until those spies themselves, were caught and dealt with.

Lee learned that the Treslander ruling family, long ago sent agents through many portals, to many places, and eventually they stumbled upon a group, that were known as knights, warriors, and defenders of all that was good. Some were brought back through the portal, where they lived and worked as agents of the Premier and his family. Eventually, some returned through the portal and back to their lives. This continued through the ages, until modern times, when some of the last went back through the portal, taking wives with them. Several were the “Bevan”, superb marksmen, with the long bow. Elena was a decedent of the ‘keepers of the word’, those who, by the very sound of spoken voice, brought calm to a place, and who, when sitting in the protected chair, saying the words long protected from evil ears, healed the planet, driving the evil away.

Several hours later, Lee found himself walking slowly around the large hall beside the Premier and his wife, as they explained the painting. It was a pictorial history of the planet, and it’s inhabitants, and it was constantly expanding and changing, on its own it seemed.

Lee stopped in front of, what could only be described as a medieval battle scene, where thousands were battling a dark enemy. Their armor and shield shining in the sun, wet with blood and sweat, but Lee had stopped and was staring at a small group.

Surrounding a flag on a hill, dressed in dark armor, with cloaks upon their backs, armed with swords and spears, their shields black mirrors, broad and thick. Lee was stunned to see a single knife on each of their backs within reach of their hands if needed. Lee stared at a picture, that could not be here but was, a picture of his ancestors in a battle against evil, the Black Legion!