Paraphernalia

Once upon a time, there existed a land, a land of five kingdoms, a land so old that there isn't a person who can recollect it's name.

What we do remember is the story of the five relics. It all began one quiet evening at a courtyard in the Kingdom of Wind.

Fatality

"...and that is how we breach the barrier", finished Gendra as the two elders looked at him with stunned expressions. One always expected Gendra to find a way through the trickiest places and his sleuthing expertise was legendary.But even by his lofty standards, what he said and proposed to do in this quiet little garden by the lake shook the two powerful elves to the core.Elder Elves rarely get flustered by anything,usually employing cool logic in face of adversity.Neither of them were doing so at the moment.

"But that is...that is preposterous, surely we needn't resort to such ...such vile conspiracy,can we sink so low Oh King ?",spoke one of the elder elves to the other finally. He wasn't the most powerful elf going around in the kingdom, but The King invariably brought him to meetings where key decisions had to be made for he trusted his judgement and his integrity.And the south wind blew strongly as the King looked at him in his eyes,grasping what he meant.

"It is what needs to be done",said the King firmly."It doesn't you please you Faarta,but you must have understood that if there was a better way of doing it, we would have undertaken it. Certainly Gendra doesn't see another way out of this and it seems..."."But what of the implications!" cut in Faarta rather brusquely," Have you forgotten your duty to the Elvish?When you took over the throne,you swore to.."


"..to do the best to serve the empire", completed the King who was looking fierce now."I haven't forgotten that Faarta, and I intend to do what I see is best for us.I am beyond fear now to worry about such trivial implications as they are now,what with rumors of similar efforts being undertaken elsewhere."Faarta was about to rebuke this when the King forced himself again "Do not interrupt me!for I haven't finished answering you yet. I will not stand and let my kindom wither away so easily when there is gainful albeit a slightly unpleasant path to regaining our lost glory."


For a few minutes no one spoke and it was nearly pitch black now. It did not matter to the three elves, they were well trained in functioning adeptly in all forms of light."Finally I've realized that you value your position more than the kindred" said Faarta simply. No one dared enrage the King least of all a elf who was past his prime.Hence,It did not surprise Gendra who was sitting in silence,that The King was now glowering at the old elf with his full magical poise emanating. Faarta wasn't afraid or intimidated,as far as Gendra could make of him,he looked just sad.





"How dare you!! Faarta of all people,I could not have expected such words from you. Undoubtedly, you have faded.Now for the good of Paraphernalia I have little option but to sunder you ".Gendra winced at the words but kept quite.He knew where the talk was heading right from the time Faarta voiced his disapproval.He was hoping it wouldn't happen for losing Faarta would be devastating.

"When passion clouds reason, an elf emerges as the demon" said Faarta ruefully." Then let the demon be slain!!" yelled the King as he wielded his silver sword in the dark. What was a pleasant evening turned into a stormy night as the wind billowed harder accompanied by thunder and lightning.Gendra couldn't look or feel anything but the huge gust of pressure holding him in place. It seemed like it would crush him when he saw the white outline of the king about to bring his sword down, he heard Faarta's last words

"You have failed Dwin".