Chapter One
By Untwisted

Reprinted with permission.
Added 07/19/2002.

Dajyrad had narrowly slipped through the fence when he heard the gut wrenching sound of rusted steel being clawed at. In an instant he had been knocked down and was being dragged back toward the filthy hole from which he had just emerged. The place stank like rotting meat and the dung of hundreds of foul monsters. The pungent smell snapping him out of the daze he was in, Dajyrad reached deep into his breast pocket. Withdrawing a marvelous flute crafted of bone he began to play - weaving a melodious spell which prompted the horrific creature dragging him to grunt and stop.

"Stop that, or mime gonna eat yer fingers one by one till yer cry!" said the boar like monster.

"Yes, of course" replied Dajyrad smoothly.

With that the monster began to drag again, carefully making sure to drag his prey over every sharp rock he could see in the dimly lit passage.

Presently they stopped. Something was troubling the monster, although Dajyrad couldn't make out what it was. After a brief period of deep thought, the monster pulled open a large door and kicked Dajyrad in.

Dajyrad waited patiently, and whistled to himself. When would Palyn arive to save him, but he didn't have to wonder long. Dajyrad felt Palyn before he saw her. Palyn was his familiar, a dark gray ferret with deep blue eyes, most uncommon for a ferret. He could feel her presence in the tunnel and began to stand up, waiting for her to get him out.

Palyn crept down the tunnel swiftly, avoiding the light as much as possible. When she reached the room where Dajyrad was being kept she scratched the door, and bit the man guarding it. He quickly turned to the small animal which bolted through a crack in the door. The guard angrily opened the door and grunted, but before he could do so much as blink Dajyrad ran past, Palyn clutched to his breast.

Once Dajyrad was sure he was safe he pulled a small coin bag from his belt. Carefully opening the bag he shook the contents into his palm. In the moonlight Dajyrad gaped in awe at six beautifully cut gems, each sparkling marvelously as if it possessed it's own inner light.

Palyn gasped and licked Dajyrad fondly.
"We make a great team" Palyn said in a squeaky voice.

"We sure do Paly, we sure do," replied Dajyrad, still in awe from the gems.

Dajyrad patted his faithful friend on her small head and said, "Tomorrow we take these to the mage Di-Jin. He'll know exactly what to do with them!"

Packing up the gems carefully, and securing them to his belt they scouted the countryside for a proper place to spend the night, or what was left of it.

In the morning, Dajyrad woke, Palyn was curled up, sleeping by his neck. He slowly rose and rubbed his eyes. From the hillside they were sleeping on they could just barely make out a horde of monsters searching the nearby field, they knew the jewels were gone.

Without waking Palyn, Dajyrad tucked her into his tunic and began his march up the hill. He would have two more hills to climb and a river to ford before he slept in the tower of Di-Jin later tonight.

**Later**

Dajyrad rapped on the hard oak door of the mage's tower, and was greeted at once by a welcoming face. It was the mage's brother Kabal Kinslayer, a kind Axeman who had taken residence in Di-Jin's tower.

Kabal led Dajyrad into the den where Di-Jin was sipping his Hyssop tea lazily.

"We've been expecting you" Kabal said.
"Yes, indeed we have!" said Di-Jin as a serpent familiar coild his way up Di-Jin's arm.

"You have the jewels Dajyrad? I hope they weren't that hard to get!"

"Yes, I have them, but how did you..."

"Mages know many things" interrupted Di-Jin, "and I know you came here to learn about these jewels." he added as Kabal opened his palm and showed Dajyrad six beautiful gems.

Dajyrad immediately grabbed for his coin purse, but found his gems were still there. He opened his mouth to speak, but Di-Jin motioned for silence.

"What you have there is a spectacular gift my boy, the gift of the elements." Di-Jin said, while motioning something to Kabal, who promptly turned and opened a cedar case to the left.

Immediately Dajyrad knew what the mage had meant. In the case were six axes, beautifully crafted from some metal he had never seen. These axes were not special only for their superior quality, but for their properties! One axe spouted flames, while another coruscated with electrical energy. There was an axe dripping poison, and an axe which swirled like mist! An axe of water, and an axe of Frost!

The old mage nodded and Kabal closed the case.

"The gems which you hold are gems of elements, when properly added to a weapon, that weapon will receive the properties of that element. Use the gems well my friend as they are a rarity; and be weary of who you show them to as many will be willing to go through great length to get their hands on them" said Di-Jin.

Dajyrad rose, and Kabal ushered him out the door. Once they began to walk Palyn asked, "What now my friend, what now?"

Dajyrad scooped his friend up in his arms and merely said, "Only time will tell my faithful companion."