Beyond the Hell Cliffs Read Online Free Page B

kettle for tea and thought back to the story of how their kingdom came to be.
    The Greimere, or “grey things” as they were first called, were the first real threat to the northern lands in recorded history.  Appearing from the barrens of the south like a black tide, they threatened to destroy the peaceful lands inhabited by the civilized races.  They were a dreadful army of barbarians, bent on the utter destruction of anything before them.  They were malicious and vile and no amount of effort by the unsuspecting and unprepared denizens of the plains and forests could deter them.  Their numbers were great, filled with creatures out of nightmare of every size and shape.  Chief among the dark army were the Rathgar.
    The Rathgar were highly resilient to physical and magical damage and were incredibly strong, making them ferocious adversaries.  They were hulking, blood-crazed berserkers similar to the men of the North in stature.  They wore animal bones for armor and carried weapons meant for desiccating flesh.  They commanded the legions and drove them onward toward the Cerulean Coast, covering everything they passed in a shadow of blood and death. 
    The races that inhabited the lower half of the north were annihilated.  Entire species were wiped from history and only three organized civilizations stood in the way of total destruction of the peaceful lands: the studious Faeir in the eastern mountains; the harmonious Twileens of the western forests; and the agrarian Sabans scattered among the plains and northern coast.
    From those three remaining civilizations came the salvation of the northern lands.  The army was driven back to the south in the greatest push the world had ever seen.  The three races routed the Greimere’s advance, cast them from the lands and assembled the greatest nation in history: the kingdom of Rellizbix.  That was the story that Raegith loved most among the ones his mother would tell him when she visited him in the hidden Forster’s Keep that sheltered him from the world around him.  It was not just a wonderful story of history and the heroism that created his homeland; it was his birthright… technically.  He loved it because the the Saban who rose from a life as a simple blacksmith to unite the three races and drive the scourge of the Greimere from the lands was Throm Caelum, the first king of Rellizbix and his ancestor.

Chapter 3
     
    Raegith’s first contact with the group was its leader and his personal warden, a Paladin named Hemmil.  Raegith’s mother had made only passing mention of the small sect of Holy Warriors in the Rellizbix Army.  Paladins were as much chaplains as they were soldiers, given higher rank and status for their devotion to and knowledge of Fate.  Their place in the histories was not well documented, however and most of Nuallan’s knowledge was from tall tales spun by travelling bards.
    Hemmil came through the unlocked doors of the keep with a purpose to his step and a very gruff attitude.  Standing only to Raegith’s shoulders, Hemmil was wider than the king and his boots sounded like thunder on the stone floor of the entry hall. His yellow hair was pulled back and secured behind his head and his wide face was cleanly shaven and scarred.  His plate armor was buffed to a high sheen and he wore the Loom of Fate, an emblem that denoted his status as a Paladin.  He looked very serious.
    “Guards, quickly!   We have a breach of security!” Raegith yelled as Hemmil approached him.  “Arrest this atrociously dressed intruder, post haste!  By the Fates, shield your eyes first; oh the agony!”
    “Listen boy, I’ve been warned of your smart mouth and I’m telling you now that I’ll have none of it,” Hemmil said, pulling a full leather skin from his side pouch and taking a swig before replacing it.
    “Ah, something to take the edge off…?” Raegith asked, looking past him to where the sunshine breached the doorway.  “…at