Justice

"He is an evil wizard, so of course he has plenty of treasure inside his tower. You may have all of that gold and I will split what he acquire along the journey there." Nimli crossed his arms and stroked his long beard. He pulled out the axe strapped across his back and ran his hand up and down it a bit.

"I haven't gotten the chance to use this for a while?Alright, I'll join ya." With that the two mounted their horses and started to the tower. They left the town into a large plain in front of the forest they needed to go through to get to the tower. "So, what about these woods up here," the dwarf asked his hand in a salute looking forward, "what do ya know of them?"

"Nothing, but they seem very dark and evil," said Elverion very clear and plainly.

"Aye, glad you know where we?re going," retorted the dwarf in a mocking tone.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Sevyloth was casting many a spell to get back some kind of creature into a portal. Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind the mage and blew the monster through the portal and closed it. "Tis the last time I summon creatures without experience." He said to himself, huffing and puffing sitting in a large wooden chair. Suddenly a little goblin came through the door of the room and bowed in front of Sevyloth. "My lord, the ranger has been seen coming this, and he has Nimli with him also."

The mage sat back in his chair running his hand through his long white hair, "Where are they now?"

"In the plains. What shall we do about them?"

Sevyloth leaned forward his face one foot away from the goblins, the mage's black eyes staring into the goblin. He clenched his staff tightly and cringed his teeth, "Kill them! Now leave!" When the goblin ran off, Sevyloth stood and walked over to a window looking out over the woods. The wind blew his long dark robe back against his body. In one hand was his staff and the other was behind his back. "So, you have come back. It may have only been a month, but that was all the time I needed to learn the ways of the wand. I am much more powerful now. You will not stop me, you will not stop me, ranger!"

* * * * * * * * * * *

"So, Elverion," the dwarf started, "why you so bent on getting this guy, aren't you rangers supposed to stay in the woods alone, not go running around after killers."

"When I was young, my teacher taught me of the paladins and their virtues. He told me the story of man stealing an apple, no one thought it was important, so they all just let him run away. The next day, that man the man poisoned the apple and gave it to our king as of that time, and he died. This man has already killed two men, there is no telling of how many he intends to kill." Elverion's face went almost blank as he stared forward into the plain, weakness almost covering over him. He quickly got out of that set of mind and looked into the purpling sky. "Tis time we make camp."

When they were on the path the next day, it was completely silent. The wind blew in the grass like a musician blows into a flute. This was the day they would reach the forest. So dark, so secret, unexplored, it would be a challenge for both of the mighty heroes. Many stories have been told of secret forest, how they were the creations of evil wizards, intended to destroy unwanted intruders. They soon reached the entrance. The entrance was wide enough to fit two horses, there was one path covered with leaves and debris. The two looked to each other to try and find any fear, then they moved into the forest. They meandered through the forest, a mist filling the air and sending sweet scents into their noses. Woody vines and branches hung over their heads, and the wind whistled through the trees as if it was speaking to them. Then, a noise came to their ears, a thudding of large feet, a great many feet. Soon, they saw a band of about a dozen goblins coming at them, their faces sick and twisted just like their minds. The orchs pulled out there many of death and charged towards them. "This is why I wanted you to come." Elverion simply said to Nimli as he jumped off his horse.

"Aye, you chose the best. This is my specialty!" The dwarf said a large smile showing beneath his thick beard. The mighty warrior hopped off his horse and pulled out his large axe and held it firmly with both hands staring straight at the orchs. Nimli ran towards the orchs yelling out some kind of battle cry in his dwarf's language and sliced an orch in half with his first blow. Elverion pulled out his bow, arched back three arrows, and released them into the back of an orch about to attack Nimli. He then fired two arrows, striking two orchs in the hearts as they charged him. Nimli sliced away at the orchs, mostly hitting armor and shields. Elverion fired arrow upon arrow towards the orchs, then Nimli finally sliced the last one across the chest, the creature's heart splitting in two. The two put their weapons away, walked back to their horses, nodded to each other, and rode on down the trail.