David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

They each sat down on the couch in front of the fire and immediately felt relaxed and at ease. The cares of the world seemed to sweep away to a distant time in the past and their tired legs and feet seemed to recover their strength as if they had been resting for hours.

Suddenly, the two of them were snapped out of their trancelike state when the old man slammed his cane on the ground.

“Don’t get too comfortable, you two. We won’t be here for long!” he said loudly.

They each looked at each other and stood up quickly, realizing there was more to the couch than meets the eye, suspecting it was somehow enchanted to provide extreme relaxation to whoever sat upon it.

“Yes, yes, I know. It’s a very nice couch.” said the old man, noticing the look they shared when they got up, “but listen to me when I say this. You are both in grave danger!”

Startled by the old man’s sudden change of subject, Erin asked the question that was on both of their minds.

“You know about the orb then?” she asked.

“Yes…yes I do. I’ve dedicated my life to the study of prophecy, and I’ve lived a long life, indeed!” he said. Turning to David he held out his hand, “May I see it?”

He held out his orb hand for the old man to see.

The old man’s eyes widened as he inspected the orb glowing slowly in David’s hand. “Yes. I knew you would be coming to see me, didn’t know when, but I knew this day would come.” he said hastily. “This orb you have, it is from the legends passed down by the Elders from generation to generation. It is said to hold extraordinary powers, but no one has ever been able to wield it, so no one knows what it is truly capable of. But I happen to know a little more of its history than most. I have come across this orb before. I was actually the one who helped the first Elders set it in that temple.”

Erin looked at David in shock. She was under the impression that the Elders worked alone and in secrecy. She didn’t know that they would ever entrust their secrets to someone outside of the council. If what he was saying was true, it would mean that this old man was thousands of years old.

“That…. that’s impossible!” Said Erin, wide-eyed in shock. “Tyrius told me that the orb dates back to the First Age. That would make you…”

“Two-thousand, seven-hundred, and eighty-six years old, and several months, actually” replied Orin, with a grin.

“How is that possible?” asked David, completely amazed at what he was being told.

“How? By the Creator God’s blessing, of course! I’m what you might call, an oddity, one of the first-born of the Mystics. I was once called by a different name, but for the life of me I can’t remember what it was! Funny, isn’t it? How things like that can be forgotten with time….”

David and Erin both looked at Orin with a sense of awe and wonder. They couldn’t believe they were standing in front of a person made by the Mystics nearly three thousand years ago.

“So…what are you? I didn’t think the race of Man was created until much later, but you look like a man…you’re not an elf, at least not the kind I’ve seen in the books” replied Erin, looking him up and down curiously.

“No, no, I’m not an elf or a man. Like I said, I was once called something else…and at a time, there were more like me. But, sadly, I am the only one who survived the War of the Mystics long ago. But that is beside the point. I am here now, as are you, and our meeting is not by chance. We were meant to meet, you and I.” said Orin, looking at David.

“You see, like I was saying…I know much of the history of the orb. Would you like to hear it?” he asked.

“Of course, I would!” said David and Erin at once. They looked at each other and smiled, excitement sparkling in their eyes.

Suddenly, a loud banging erupted on the front door, causing everyone to jump in surprise.

“I thought I told that nincompoop to wait outside!” shouted Orin, annoyed by the sudden disruption.

He quickly walked over to the door and swung it open before quickly slamming it shut again. “Oh…” he said.

“What? What is it?” asked Erin, alarmed by the old man’s expression.

“There’s a company of men from the Royal Guard standing outside my front door” he said, “and they don’t look like they’re wanting to join us for tea” he added with a sheepish grin.

David and Erin quickly rushed to the window to take a look outside. Orin was right, there were at least ten soldiers standing just outside the door, each with their sword drawn and ready for a fight.

They could see Elbert smiling and holding something in his hand. It looked suspiciously like a large pouch of coins. He slowly backed up then turned around and ran down the path towards West Post.

“What are we going to do? There’s no way we can take on that many soldiers with just the two of us!” Shouted Erin, panicking. They were outnumbered five to one.

“Come out of there, you old hermit!” yelled one of the soldiers, apparently the captain. “Give the kids up and we’ll let you go free and unharmed. By order of the King, the boy and girl are to be returned to Eldergate to await their trial for the murder of three of our men.”

“How about you leave and never come back, maybe then I will let you live!” screamed Orin through the wall, seemingly enjoying the thrill of danger. “I haven’t felt this alive in years!” he said happily, turning to David and Erin.

They each shook their heads in disbelief. This old man was ancient, how was he expected to fight off these