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She took one last look at her room. She had personally decorated it, put many hours of hard work into it, despite her servants’ protests. A man walked into her room. She looked him up and down, wishing there was time for them to be alone. But there wasn’t. She knew there wouldn’t be for a very long time.
“Hektor, did you bring them?” she asked quietly.
“Yes, milady.” His stern voice made her shiver slightly, and made her glad he was her personal bodyguard and her fiancé.
Hektor pulled two bright red fingerless gloves from his bag, and handed them to her. “The council wouldn’t hand them over easily, even if it was the queen who asked for them. I nearly had to draw my sword on Lenget to get them. What do they do exactly, my queen?”
She sighed warily. “They are magic, Hektor. Thousands of years ago, my ancestors created them, created an exit from this world, should it ever be needed. Today, they are needed.” She tore her eyes away from him and looked back out her window.
Hektor shook his head slowly. “Shall we be going, my queen?”
She nodded. “We’ll need to go to Ba’yorn Hill. The magic that hides us from the rest of the world resides there.” Without waiting for a response she pushed past him and left the room.
She walked down the countless hallways that she grew up in. She barely had her eyes open, not wanting the beauty of her castle to keep her from her duty. She was distracted from her thoughts as Haas, the chief cook, nearly collided with her.
Haas bowed himself as far as he could to hide his embarrassment. “My apologies, Queen Leila. Jeon is not anywhere to be found and he is the only—“
“Haas. It’s ok; I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. I’m sure Jeon will show up.”
Haas bowed himself again. “Yes, milady. My apologies for worrying you. I know you have enough to think about today. Which reminds me, you commanded that no one leave the castle today, am I correct?”
Leila nodded. “No one needs to know where Hektor and I are going. Why do you ask?” She could hear Hektor lean against the wall behind her impatiently.
Haas fiddled with his red apron and wiped his sweating bald head quickly. “I could swear on my mother’s grave—the High One rest her soul—that the new soldier—the one with the mark on his neck—left the castle this morning. Normally I wouldn’t tell on a soldier—they know how to kill good, they do—but he was dressed in black armor and black gloves. I’m sure its nothing, I do, but you might want to check that out. Now, if you will excuse me,” he bowed himself again and continued his chore.
She knew immediately who it was, Jaur, a soldier who claimed to have demons approached him in his sleep and give him a diamond shaped mark on his neck. “Hektor,” she could hear him already draw his sword behind her before she could give him the command. “How could he reach us in here? The only portal to Phoenix-Rallah is the magic of these gloves. Unless…we have to find him!”
Without another word they raced down the last few halls, and out the gates of Phoenix Castle. They kept running into the barren land, until they came to Ba’yorn Hill, and at the top was the Holy tree Ba’yorn, and Jaur standing next to it, the black energy from his gloves engulfing the tree.
“Jaur!” Hektor shouted. She knew Jaur and Hektor were close; Hektor personally trained Jaur to be a soldier.
Jaur glared at them with a black face. “It is over. Marel has gained immense power. The three brothers have been awakened. The world will end.” In an instant, black energy from his gloves engulfed him, his lifeless body slumping to the floor.
Hektor protectively stood in front of Leila as figures in the shapes of humans poured out from the energy covering the tree. They both knew what they were—Ghosts, disfigured humans under the service of Marel, king of Rallah, with the ability to turn invisible for a short time. The last figure to appear from the dark energy, they knew, was Marel. Ten times larger then his Ghosts, it was hard to believe he was human. Many believed he wasn’t.
Marel glanced at the body of Jaur. “Eat,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. All six Ghosts leapt at the body, tearing and biting. Leila winced and tried to make herself not watch.
“It has been a long time, my dear Leila,” Marel chuckled. “Oh, it has been far too long.” His whispering voice made Leila shiver, and not like Hektor’s voice did. “Now, would you mind telling me why you plan on entering Rallah, hm? This wouldn’t have anything to do with the three brothers would it? I would…hate for you to get involved in such…nasty business. No answer, hm? I had high hopes for you and Phoenix-Rallah. But now, my dear, you must die.”
The six Ghosts leapt at Leila, but Hektor was already on the move. Hektor ran his sword through the char-black chest of the nearest Ghost, and quickly moved on to the next.
Leila already had the fingerless, magic-infused Goyrn gloves on, and was chanting the spell passed down from generation to generation in her family. Just as a Ghost charged towards her, it’s long teeth hanging out of its mouth, Leila brought up her hands, and the Ghost was engulfed in flames. It only took a moment for it to silence and collapse to the ground, and Leila was already running towards Hektor, who was fiercely battling the remaining two Ghosts.
Halfway up the hill, time seemed to slow for Leila. She saw a giant, disfigured tentacle shoot out from Marel’s cloak and through Hektor’s chest. She heard the cracking of armor and bone, the horrifying scream from the man she loved. She felt his blood spray across her face, and a tear running down her cheek.
Just as quickly as it happened, it was over. The tentacle retracted back into Marel’s cloak, Hektor’s body falling to the ground, and the remaining two Ghosts feasting on his body.
Leila dropped to her knees, unable to weep, unable to cry out for help, unable to move. All she felt was hatred for this monster that killed her loved one, and a tentacle wrapping around her body.
She was being pulled towards Marel, who looked nothing like he did before. His soft, pale face was now a hideous char-black, with long teeth hanging out of his mouth, just like the Ghosts.
Marel’s voice was no longer a low, menacing whisper. It was now a loud, disturbing growl. “I am sorry it had to end this way, my dear. Maybe someday, when you are with you High One, you will understand I saved you from a terrible, terrible fate. Hehe. Besides, ever since we first met, I always wanted to see how you tasted.” He laughed a long, terrible laugh, and the tentacles retracted quicker then before.
She knew this was her end. Before it even started, she failed to retrieve La’armel and keep all four lands of Rallah peaceful. She was now able to fully weep.
But then, she felt a strange pulsing in her hands. Without chanting, flames engulfed Marel’s tentacles. With a growl, he threw he threw her to the ground, swinging the tentacles trying to put the fire out. Leila winced as she realized she broke her arm when she hit the ground.
She was only inches away from the Ba’yorn Tree. With her good arm, she steadily crawled closer. She knew that if she couldn’t make it, it would be the end.
Realizing what she was doing, Marel ignored the flames, and wrapped his tentacles around Leila’s legs. Leila gasped, and panicked. She couldn’t let him stop her. She summoned all her energy, and flung her hand towards Marel’s face. The creature let out a loud roar, and stumbled backwards, tripping over the Ghosts, and fell down the hill, releasing Leila.
Leila managed to stand up, though with great difficulty, and placed her good hand on the tree. “Lert yuurn la’len…” she paused as she noticed the giant tentacle coming towards her. Hurry, she told herself. “Centag lourn portal!”

Marel roared as a bright, red light engulfed the area. He felt his tentacle hit the tree, and heard a crack. He smiled to himself. She may have gotten away, but when she returns, there will be no one to greet her, and no way to get back. He laughed menacingly as his tentacles found their way through the remaining Ghosts, and slowly started making his way towards Phoenix Castle.