Archen stretched his arms out in the way one would after carrying a heavy load. Actually, Archen had just finished a fencing lesson with his friend, Sir Quickning. Quickning fixed Archen an amused look and said "You are learning, but I feel obligated to tell you that we won't be making a knight out of you in this lifetime".

Archen wiped the sweat from his brow and said "In this Empire, the last thing they need is a swashbuckling bureaucrat, you are probably right that it's best I don't try anything". To an onlooker it would seem very odd seeing the two of them together in a sense that Archen, the higher ranking of the two, was a pudgy short man, who walked with a cane even though he was only in his mid-thirties. And beside him was the formidable Sir Quickning, the captain of Nova Q'lynnesti's armed forces. Even though the armed forces of the Duchy were the smallest in the entire Empire, there really wasn't much need for it to have a large force.

Sir Quickning himself was a large man, easily six feet high and a build similar to an ox. He looked down at his duke and spoke in an even voice "Well your grace, it is about time I attend my matters of state, perhaps you should stick with the books for now" Archen chuckled and dismissed his friend. He continued to walk out of the Imperanon into the city. Walking freely about, he could see the city was again returning to it's peaceful self.

Archen walked across several streets and ended his journey at the half-completed "Bard's Haven", which was the forum that the late Duke Mandolf wanted to build. The site was off-limits to the public because it would present a hazard in its uncompleted state.

Walking inside Archen marveled at the quality of the existing construction, being built of white granite and big enough to host nearly five thousand people, this would be definitely the greatest marvel in the empire next to Dragonspire itself.

Archen had a seat, thinking of the few times he met Mandolf. While his mind drifted into the past, the music of a flute cut into the air. The music sounded nothing less than amazing. Archen scanned the surroundings for the source of the melody. Spying downward he could see at the bottom seats there was a man playing. Archen walked down, wincing with every step for stairs ailed his stumps of feet. Making it the whole way down, Archen was nearly out of breath when he sat next to the boy.

The boy looked at Archen and seeing the brooch of rank he bowed steeply and said in a melodic voice "Its an honor, Your Grace. I am Daniel, son of Mandolf" Archen then noticed the pointing of the boy's ears. Noticing the eyes of the Duke, Daniel carried on to say, "My mother is of elfin blood as you can see. I have left the forests to complete my father's legacy. That is why I am here right now". Archen studied the boy carefully. The innocent eyes, the face unweathered by life. But he still was a Mandolf; it was all over him.

"How can you carry on with his legacy though, you are a boy with nothing to him but a flute and a good manner? I mean no disrespect, but the shoes that your father left are big ones to fill..." The young boy looked at Archen with a glint in his eye and said "That will be no problem, all that is needed is for me to complete the Bard's Haven".

Archen looked gravely at the youth. "Even if the duchy sponsored this project, it would never be done in our lifetime".

Daniel looked at Archen and spoke in a firm voice "But I know where to find the treasure of Vim".

Archen gasped. The treasure of Vim was known as being the greatest of lost treasures. Somewhere in the mountains north of Nova Q'lynnesti there was the lost city of Vim.

"I'm sure I know where it was, my father told me where it was and made a map when I was young. Now I am ready to get it".

Archen believed the boy, he knew the son of Mandolf, the nephew of Onaeus, would not be a liar. "I can sponsor your going on this quest, but please accept my services. Not mine in particular, I am too old and fat for a journey of such. Come with me to the Imperanon, I think I have just the person for you".

The two made it to the Imperanon, and after Archen did several duties of state, he arranged another meeting with Daniel. After the meeting, Daniel went to the guest chambers and prayed his thanks to Kala. All that happened in the meeting was Archen arranging supplies and an escort for the young bard. His escort was a knight, Sir Wildfire.

As Daniel closed his eyes and drifted to sleep, his thoughts were of his father.

As Archen tossed and turned in bed, his thoughts were also of Mandolf. Thanks for having a son, old friend.

Wildfire finished strapping the gear back onto the saddlebag, and then called for the boy to put it on the horse while he checked the other saddlebag.

The boy, Daniel, pranced over to the bag Wildfire had just completed and attempted to heft it up onto the horse. All he succeeded in was hurting his back. He looked to Wildfire. "Hey! Can you get over here and help me with this?" Wildfire sighed and walked over to him, easily lifting the bulky bag and strapping it onto the horse.

Wildfire looked at the youth and imagined what it would be like to be so weak, so frail at that age. Daniel was but seventeen years of age, a boy yet. At the same tender age, Wildfire was a squire to Sir Quickning, who at the time was but a young knight as well. Even as a page at the age of thirteen, Wildfire was stronger than the boy that he saw before him.

"Already young master, mount your horse, we have a long journey ahead of us". Wildfire spoke in the fatherly voice so he could at least make the effort to be friendly to somebody so different to him. This was going to be very interesting...

Wildfire scratched at the stubble that had formed on his chin in the last fortnight. Despite the fact that some over-zealous brigands had given him some trouble, things have been well with the boy. After two of the brigands were disarmed, the others realized that he was a Draconian Knight, and they were quick in leaving. Now Wildfire and Daniel were digging. Digging. And digging.

At the base of a grassy hill Daniel said that they would find the gate to Vim. The "Lost City" that was making Wildfire very impatient with every minute of the digging. "Sir Wildfire, I hit something hard!" came the tired voice of Daniel. Wildfire stepped over toward him, but they both were engulfed by earth as the ground beneath them gave way...

**********

Evening was quickly overtaking Soliath. It was a beautiful sunset, thought Archen. His thoughts, he noticed, were becoming more and more sentimental of late. Must be age, yes it must be age, he kept thinking. Calling in Sir Welch, his Aide, Archen asked to know the day’s news. In the last few weeks, reading was a difficult task, although his sight seemed unaffected. Not letting anyone know was going to be a difficult task, but Archen knew that he was in too important position to show any weakness.

Welch was a strong man, but didn't appear to be a scholar by any means. Something about that boy isn't right... That thought was a recurring one for Archen. Archen reached down to pick up a glass of water. But his hand would not work. After nearly a whole minute, Archen's fingers wrapped around the cup. But his hand wouldn't stop shaking. "Your Grace, what is the matter?" came the bulky voice of Welch. Archen spoke to him in a quiet voice "Welch, you are dismissed for tonight, thank you for your help".

Archen lay on his bed and thought about what was happening. The sole thought that was resolute was the sole one that scared him. His whisper into the darkness of night confirmed his belief. "I am dying".

"Daniel...Daniel...get up you knave" Wildfire felt dizzy. "Where are we Sir Wildfire?" Daniel lifted himself up, dusting off his soiled tunic. Wildfire did the same, noticing that he had nothing but his shovel with him.

They were in a dark room, although he could see the light from the hole above. Looking around, Daniel was fortunate to have his keen elven blood, for he could navigate the chamber fairly well. The room was square; the fallen roof looking to have once been a dome, all covered over by earth in the ages past. Daniel looked at Wildfire and spoke in a quivering voice; "Welcome to Vim, Sir Wildfire".

They sought out a door, and finding a tarnished bronze one, they went through...

***********

This morning Archen lifted himself out of bed. It took him the better part of an hour to do so, and after getting dressed, he felt exhausted. Walking to the meeting chamber where he would meet up with Baroness Velera and Sir Quickning, Archen began experiencing spells of disorientation. The room began spinning. Everything turned white. Then black.

Velera stood astonished as she saw Duke Archen collapse to the ground. He was in a stroke of some sort. Kala save the poor soul...

In the darkness Wildfire could see little. He could hear the light breathing of Daniel, who was leading the way with his keener sight. Daniel whispered "Sir Wildfire, I think I've found a door" Wildfire approached it and gave a slight push. The door opened. Before the two journeymen, they saw what looked to be a sunken valley. Ruins of old buildings littered the ground. But more important, these were houses of gold...

************

After several nights struggling to remain alive, Archen found the energy to attend a guild meeting. In the meeting, he was noticeably silent. His failing health was becoming a serious problem. Two hours after he returned to the Imperanon, Archen closed his door and locked it. He went to bed, and closed his eyes for the last time, amid a flurry of convulsions.

Farewell all, this is my farewell nod to all of you. I promise that someday you will see me again for the winds of time are always in a circle. It has been fun.

"Long live the empire." (The last words of Duke Archen)

Wildfire stared in complete awe over the great city, (he estimated it was about the size of Soliath but he had no actual way of knowing). "Let's move," said Daniel "we have no idea what might be down here after all the years of pure darkness and decay."

So they continued on into the vast valley Daniel first and Wildfire, sword in hand, right behind him. There was a clear path from the entrance to the city of gold in a deep valley with rocks on both sides. This alerted Wildfire’s unconscious for he had seen this in many different military tactics but he didn’t think of them while staring at all of riches the valley held...

***********

Welch sat there staring at the lifeless body of his Duke, and dearest friend, Archen. As of late, his life had been in a downward spiral, and it was about to get much worse.

He heard a scamper of feet as the door to Archen’s Room opened to reveal two guards of the Duke. Upon them laid newly polished armor, with the sigil of Nova Q’lynnesti.

"You are coming with us, Sir Welch!" One of the guards demanded.

"For what reason may I ask?" Questioned Welch cockily.

"For poisoning, and killing the Duke of Nova Q’lynnesti." The guards quickly grabbed Welch’s hands and tied them together with a tight piece of rope, and took him to the executioner’s block.

All of a sudden they were ambushed. Wildfire was caught off guard and took a claw to the leg. Daniel was knocked to the ground. Wildfire took this injury as nothing, and stood over Daniel, as he hacked away at the undead that surrounded him. The undead were dropping like flies. With the skill Wildfire had, he managed to kill all the undead that attacked him, and only took one wound to the leg. As soon as he killed them off he dropped to the floor instantly. He grew weary, and fell asleep.

By the time he had woken up, Daniel was taking some of the riches, and putting it into his pockets. They headed off to Nova Q’lynnesti to tell them about the treasure. They didn’t believe them until Daniel brought out of his pockets a great wealth. From than on Nova Q’lynnesti took the gold from the treasure of Vim, and had all they needed for the building of the Bard’s Haven.

***********

A huge crowd had gathered around the executioner. Everyone was booing at Welch. Everyone will now remember Welch as a traitor. His brother Schaffer has the potential to be a great man, but Welch is a foolish man. Times have turned. Welch being only seventeen years of age is the youngest knight ever to be executed in the empire. A man, whom looked to have been aged in years, spat in Welch’s face.

Welch was gestured to put his head on the block. As he did, he heard the executioner say "LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF ARCHEN! NO ONE SHALL FORGET HIM! LET THIS BE A MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS OF NOVA Q’LYNNESTI, NOT TO KILL THE INNOCENT." With saying this, he brought the axe down upon Welch’s head, and cleanly sliced it off his neck, leaving his body lifeless and his accomplishments ill.

About a year after Wildfire, and Daniel’s encounter of the city of gold, the Bard’s Haven was created. It was to keep the memory of Mandolf alive. It also succeeded in keeping the memory of Archen alive.

Yet, was Sir Welch innocent? Or was he guilty? The truth may never be revealed

LONG LIVE THE DRACONIAN EMPIRE!

LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF MANDOLF!

LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF ARCHEN!