The Elder Gods of Maa

    My eyes had rested on the wizard since the commotion began. The wizard had been gazing into mine for a long while. Our stares were locked.
    "What I would like to know, what I need to know… is…
          Can an elder god be killed…?" I whispered into the growing silence.
The wizard did not flinch, nor did he break away from my eyes. His gnarled, wrinkled face tightened even further as if the question demanded too much of him. When he finally spoke, it was in a stillness which was palpable. He seemed to exclude everyone else from his presence as he breath the word…
         "Yes…"
"What is wrong Kerttu? I thought you would be one of the first ones who would go into the cave of Ali-Dika." I said to the gloomy redheaded Elf.
"For the first time in my life Mandannis, I am afraid." He said bluntly.
"You're going to have to give me a little bit more information, Kerttu. What are you afraid of?"
        "I have been in the darkest forest, fighting the ugliest daemons, never flinching when trouble came my way. I was always ready to tackle the worst situation. A prince, wood Elf, mage warrior, strong, bold, maybe even handsome." He said smiling again, then he grew serious and despondent. "But what if I am not worthy of becoming a dragon-lord? What if the cave of the elder god decides I can't pass the ceremony?
       What if I fail the test?" He seemed genuinely distressed.
 I destroyed your Elven city." He said turning his baleful black eyes on Shian-lee. "I killed your kings, princesses and all those whom I choose… will die. I killed your Valkyrie warriors." The evil shade said leering at Shian-lee, trying to bait her.
Shian-lee steadied herself, her misty green eyes sweeping the daemons before her. She had her helmet on, her armor made her seem like one more shadow under the dark cloud cover. The Valkyries were just the opposite, their bright armor made a stark contrast with the princess they surrounded. They did not like what they heard, and I could sense their aggravated emotions but only their leader had the right to start this battle.
"The way everyone remembers… daemon." Shian-lee said pausing to make her statement all the more odious. "You are barely a fairy warrior. No one has ever called you elder god. You are just another weak fairy. Worthy only of our contempt." All about her, the silence and the darkness deepened. Rage swept through the malevolent shade.