Bethjoy.com

The Lord of the Ving
by Elizabeth Von Fange
Special Thanks and apologies to J. R. R. Tolkien whose indulgence I beg for the wanton borrowing from The Lord of the Rings

Part One: The Fellowship of the Ving

Chapter One
An Unexpected Party

When Elizabeth Von Fange announced that she would be chronicling the tale of the Ving with a story of special magnificence there was great excitement in Drylanor. However, since at the beginning of this story, Drylanor had, for all practical purposes, ceased to exist ages ago, we shan’t talk much about it yet. Still, I, Elizabeth Von Fange, had to write an opening for this tale and as I had no other ideas, this suited and continues to suit.

Now, if I can just figure out where to go from here, which is no easy task I do assure you. For one thing it is difficult to tell where the tale should begin though I know what this chapter is supposed to have in it. From the title of this chapter I know that there is supposed to be an Unexpected Party and from my plot/chapter planner I know that the Ving is supposed to be discovered. So perhaps, we should begin with the Ving. Technically some wise old man much learned in the lore of the times should be telling the inexperienced protagonist about the Ving, its deadly powers and its forging in the dark ages of the world long ago, but since the protagonist knows as much about the Ving as anyone, in fact more than most, this really won’t suit the thread of my tale. Therefore, as official (and only) current living recorder of the history of Drylanor, I shall take it upon myself to tell you, the inexperienced (at least when it comes to Ving Lore) reader of this tale all that is currently known to me about the Ving.
Quite some time ago, as happens in most stories of this type, a dark lord arose. I don’t know why he was lying down in the first place but apparently he was, maybe he was getting up in the morning from being asleep at night or perhaps he had a trifle of indigestion and was getting up in the middle of the night to take something for it. At any rate, once he had risen the idea struck him that he ought to make a Ving of Power! I’m inclined to think that it was indigestion he was arising from for what he created was something that had never quite been seen before and, hopefully, will never be seen again.
The greatest Lore Master and Poet of that age of the world once tried to immortalize the design of the Ving in words and failed utterly. Eventually it was set down in the books of lore as being “Indescribable” thus creating a paradox for if it was indescribable and yet it could be described by the word “indescribable” then it did have a description. That subject was debated on a particularly boring day by the Council of the Wise when nothing more interesting could be thought of and something had to be debated on. I forget what the outcome was.
What the Ving actually did was even more debatable than how to describe it. Only the dark lord truly knew it’s full potency and power and he certainly was not telling. However, it was generally known amongst the wise that the Ving was a thing of great power and that it rhymed with Ring, Zing, Thing, Wing, and even Something and Procrastinating. It was also foretold that so long as the Ving existed the Dark Lord could never die. As the Dark Lord was true to his name and a Dark Lord of Cruelty, Power, and Domination the existence of the Ving was distasteful to those who wished for the Dark Lord decease.
Long before the start of this story though the Dark Lord finally went too far with his plans for world domination and fought against a foe that was too great for him. He had had the insolence to tangle with Drylanor, a mighty nation, bold and powerful, who usually contented themselves with living and let living but when disturbed it was like aggravating a hornets nest, two dozen alligators, fifty boa constrictors, a pride of lions and seven hundred thousand of the fiercest warriors imaginable for that was what Drylanor’s army consisted of. Naturally, the hornets were the least of the dark lord’s problems.
Thus it was that the Dark Lord was driven from his ancient fortress in a valiant battle on the part of the soldiery of Drylanor. But the victory was not without it’s cost for with one last powerful use of the Ving the very foundations of Drylanor were sunk into the earth, or to be more specific, into the depths of the sea and the kingdom of Drylanor sunk beneath the wave and, for all practical purposes, ceased to exist.
However, in the final struggle the Ving was lost, it fell into the depths of the Dark Lord’s closet and there lay hidden, waiting….
For over a thousand months it lay there undiscovered, until, at long last, someone found it! It wasn’t exactly the most unlikely person imaginable who discovered it. If it had been the most unlikely person imaginable it probably would have been found by Old Toby Smithers who hadn’t stirred foot beyond the confines of his room in the past eighty years. In fact there were probably scores of persons more unlikely to find the Ving that the person who actually did find it. And who did find it? It was none other than Nan Miles a lowly cleaning girl who had a knack for organizing.
Despite her supreme intelligence in being able to recognize the use of objects, she could tell the difference between a skillet and skewer, she simply could not figure out what use the Ving was. Therefore, as she thought it was useless and since she was supposed to be cleaning out the place and making it livable again so that a real estate agency could severely mark up the price on it, she promptly threw the Ving away.
She threw it out the window that faced towards the east, towards the rising sun, and towards, give or take a few degrees, Drylanor. The window also looked out towards a garden where there was a hedge maze made out of many cacti plants which through years of neglect had become so tangled that anyone who tried to go through the maze would turn into a porcupine in about five minutes. That was were the Ving fell, right in the center of the prickliest part of the cacti maze. And there it lay for another very long time.
The real estate agency had been able to sell the ancient fortress of the Dark Lord after they had refurbished it and modernized it and taken down the torture devices from the bedroom walls. The new buyer had no interest in hedge mazes made out of cacti but did like huge groves of wild cacti and for generations out of count the secrets of the cacti maze were not probed. Until one day…
The current descendants of the buyers were considered to be a very respectable and wealthy family. Typically no member of that family had trouble falling in love, getting married, and living happily ever after but the current eldest daughter of the family, her name was Rosalyn, had the great misfortune of being very plain and having several very beautiful younger sisters. The younger sisters however, thought that the misfortune was all on their side because according to the laws of propriety and precedence they couldn’t marry until their older sister did.
And, we are just about to get to the title of this chapter! For there was an unexpected party! At least, it was unexpected for Rosalyn. The invited guests all knew that it was going to happen as did Rosalyn’s eight younger sisters. You see, it was Rosalyn’s birthday and she was turning an age which she did not want to admit being, indeed, she stopped celebrating her birthdays after she turned twenty-three and that had been seven years ago.
Thus, on a bright and cheerful morning Rosalyn was quite surprised to find that her birthday was about to be celebrated with a party of special magnificence, and no candles on the cake.
After the general eating had gone on and Rosalyn had opened her presents and been wished happy birthday, sincerely and otherwise, there came a time when most of the guest seemed to be tired, all save one. His name was Jerinarianalious but he was usually called Jeri. He was an adventurer of far less peerage than was usually considered acceptable but he had been invited because he had once actually complimented Rosalyn on her appearance and that was more than anyone else had ever sincerely done.
Jeri, being an adventurer, wanted to probe the depths of the cactus hedge maze. Rosalyn, who was the one this remark was addressed to, attempted to inform him that it wasn’t a maze but a wild grove of cacti. However he insisted that it was and walked towards it. Rosalyn, despite deep misgivings, followed him until they stood approximately where the old entrance to the hedge maze of Cactus had once been.
“It looks very prickly.” Rosalyn ventured to say.
“Indeed, but I can remedy that.” And with that Jeri promptly pulled out his sword and slashed his way into the maze with Rosalyn following and marveling at his strength and skill. Sadly Jeri, intent on what he was doing, never bothered to look round and notice this.
After exploring his way into the maze for quite some time Jeri almost began to get tired out of it and was about to yield to Rosalyn’s unsaid but fervently thought desire to go back out of the hedge maze when Jeri noticed something. Hacking his way down in between four very large cacti with intertwining branches he reached in and pulled out, THE VING!!!

Chapter Two
The Council of the Wise and Not So Wise

Jeri examined the Ving for a moment then, exclaiming loudly, he grabbed Rosalyn by the hand and quickly rushed out of the hedge maze. Though Rosalyn’s thoughts were a bit too firmly fixed on the fact that at last someone was holding her hand to take notice of anything else it almost came through her consciousness that Jeri was telling her that what he had just found was the Great Ving of Power and that it must be brought immediately to Counlic and the the Council of the Wise.
Eventually however she realized that they were no longer in the hedge maze and as Jeri let go of her hand her reason came back to her and she began to wonder how she had gotten into the stables. The long line of horses pacing impatiently in their stalls was a little frightening for typically when she wished to ride she merely informed one of the servants and then a few minutes later when she came out a nice tame horse was all saddled and waiting for her, but then she reflected, Jeri was there and he seemed quite capable with horses. He was briskly saddling his own steed in silence. When he had finished he turned but seemed to wait for her to speak.
“You are going away?” she asked regretfully. He nodded. “I wish I could go with you.” Rosalyn said and in a hardly perceptible sigh she whispered, “always.” Whether he heard her or not was not obvious. However he did ask her which horse was hers and she promptly pointed it out and he saddled it for her and they rode together towards Counlic, which fortunately was not very far away.
They arrived a good two hours before sunset and Rosalyn reflected that a long ride gives one a voracious appetite. This, however, she had no time to abate for Jeri promptly went to Head of the Council of the Wise who was busy writing in a book of lore and said, “I have brought the Indescribable Ving!!!”
“You’ve brought many indescribable things, Jerinarianalious.” the Head of the Council of the Wise said without even looking up.
“But this is the Indescribable Ving!!!” Jeri repeated with great emphasis on the last word. At that the Head of the Council of the Wise, whose name by the way, was Dnorle the Wise, finally looked up and when he saw what it was that Jeri held he promptly said, “We must call the Council of the Wise at once!!!”
Ten minutes later everyone who could be gathered in ten minutes had gathered in the council hall and more were on the way.
A half hour later all of those who were considered acceptable to be at the Council of the Wise to discuss the great problem they were now faced with, and only of those all who were then in Counlic, were there. There were, of course, the official members of the council of the Wise but there were also quite a few other persons there for the Wise members of the council were wise enough to know that they didn’t know everything and therefor had persons who knew things that they didn’t know in case that knowledge would be of any use. Jeri was not the only adventurer there. In fact, there were more adventurers there than other specific class of person there. Most seemed inclined to stand in the shadows and be mysterious while the rest seemed to want the look bold, adventurous and important. As there was a limited availability of shadows not all of the adventurers who wished to could fit in them but one adventurer, who had arrived earlier than the rest, had secured the darkest and most shadowy corner of the council and was very inconspicuous. So inconspicuous that the eight other adventurers who selected the same vicinity to stand in never even saw her.
Dnorle the Wise called the council to order. No one would have ventured to order fries and a cheeseburger in that assembly, for one thing, the Council of the Wise were all vegetarians… Also, Levity was not considered appropriate with weighty matters and especially not when weighty matters are on top of one.
“Though it is not yet clear which it is, either for good or great evil the One Ving has been found!” Dnorle the Wise said.
“Is that we came here for?” some one asked.
“Yes, Jerinarianalious has found the Ving and has brought it here as should be. Now we must decide what to do with it!”
“We should destroy it!” was promptly shouted by all those present.
“We seem to have a majority of opinion.” Dnorle the Wise commented, “However we shouldn’t be hasty. After all, Elizabeth needs for this chapter to be three pages long and the Fellowship of the Ving is not supposed to officially start out until Chapter Three.”
“Then let us debate upon what that fellowship will be and who shall be in it and what their road shall be.” One of the Council Members said.
“There I fear we shall not be so unanimous in our opinions.” Dnorle the Wise said with a shake of his head and a smile.
“Perhaps first it might be well if all here knew just how the Ving might be destroyed.”
“That is simple. One merely has to locate an extremely active volcano and drop the Ving into the hottest part of it and move away from the volcano very quickly and hope that one isn’t destroyed in the resulting explosion.” Dnorle the Wise told them.
“When it comes time to decide on who is to do this count me out.” said one of the more businesslike of those present.
“And count me in!” Jeri exclaimed, “Having found the Ving I’d like to see this through.”
His offer was met with approving nods then a council member said, “A goodly sized company should be sent.”
“I would say it should be a number with a multiple of three!” one of the older Council members said. He had once been a professor of mathematics in his younger days and was still very found of numbers, especially the number three.
“Perhaps we should send out nine companions!”
“Three squared…” the aged council member mused,
“No, I don’t think that would be enough.” one of the adventurers mentioned.
“How about three to the third power!” the aged council member asked eagerly. No one made any objection.
“Now we should chose twenty-seven companions for the Fellowship of the Ving.” Dnorle the Wise said, looking pleased.
“Shouldn’t that be thirty-six?” Rosalyn asked Jeri in a whisper but as there was silence in the council chamber at that moment her question was heard by all present and the aged council member threw up his hands in astonishment and asked a question of his own,
“Thirty-six! Don’t you know anything about mathematics?”
“I’m fairly sure that two plus two makes four.” Rosalyn said timidly.
“As long as they are both positive.” the aged council member agreed reluctantly.
“So currently,” Dnorle said, attempting to bring the subject back to serious matters, “We have Jeri in our Fellowship of the Ving. That leaves us twenty-six more members to be found here. Any volunteers?”
“I’ll go.” was said by twelve adventurers right off the bat and they promptly went to join Jeri who was standing a little apart.
“So let’s see, ” Dnorle the Wise mused, “We now have fourteen… Oh wait, are you going?” he asked Rosalyn.
“Um…” she said looking rather worried and undecided. Then she looked at Jeri, relaxed slightly and said, “Apparently so.”
“Then I should go.” the aged council member said, “You’ll need somebody with mathematical intelligence on this quest!” He attempted to get up and stride over to the other members of the Fellowship of the Ving but he tottered on his shaky limbs and stumbled to the ground.
“Perhaps I should go instead.” a much younger mathematician offered as he hastily aided the aged council member to his feet and back to his chair, “You’re far to valuable to the council to risk the journey.”
Not very reluctantly the aged council member agreed.
“But what of our route?” Jeri asked. “Maybe that should be decided before all of the fellowship spaces are filled.”
“For such wisdom to come from such as you is not without hope for humanity.” a council member said.
“Which volcano is the nearest? This deed should doubtless be done quickly before the Dark Lord is aware that we now have the Ving.” a wise adventurer asked.
“He probably already knows that we have the Ving. It sends out a signal to him. Apparently the signal can be blocked by a large mass of things in the way but only if they are close by it. Or at least, that is what I have gathered from the facts that it has been lost for so many years without his finding it. But you may be sure, he will have felt it and his dark servants with doubtless begin their deadly pursuit to retake it very soon. Already it may have started…”
“So where is the nearest volcano?” persisted the questioner who had asked the question before.
“In the very center of the land inhabited by the dark lord. I would not advise using that particular volcano.” Dnorle the wise said.
“Then which?”
“I would suggest the great Uralthi Volcano on the other side of the Hlidron sea.” Ganderoff suggested.(Note of interest, in the original draft it was not Ganderoff who said this as his character wasn’t introduced for another chapter or so though he was at the council)
“An excellent choice.” Dnorle agreed, primarily because the chapter was now almost long enough and further debate was unnecessary.
Now that it was known it would be a sea voyage sailors and mariners volunteered their services or were nominated until, at last, only one spot was left vacant.
Then, out of the dark corner where she had stood, Nrogara, an adventurer/ranger of great mystery stepped forward and without saying anything joined the fellowship of the Ving. Those who noticed that she had done so were glad for when Nrogara chose to go on a quest the object of the quest was always fulfilled.
“There are now twenty-seven companions of the Fellowship of the Ving!” Jeri excitedly announced.
“Very well! You are now the Fellowship of the Ving!!! And this Chapter is now over!” Dnorle the Wise said very impressively and then he sat down.

Chapter Three
A Crowd Squared

It was the next morning. Rosalyn had hardly had time to go shopping in Counlic for the proper attire of an adventurer and send a letter home to her parents explaining her absence, before it was time to set out. The fellowship of the Ving were all mounted upon fine horses of Nahor. This was just as well for one or two of the company, primarily Rosalyn and the mathematician, were not accustomed to much walking. The mathematician was not accustomed to much riding either but he did manage to stay on and equations about the amount of bruises resulting from a fall of a horse going at x speed aided him to keep his seat.
This perhaps, might be an excellent point to tell who all was in the Fellowship of the Ving and despite the fact that it would take up a lot of space which would be good my tired brain feels much to weary to think up twenty-five or so new character names, not to mention personalities and history! Therefore, since there are conveniently twenty seven of them I shall name them all after a letter of the alphabet. Should a name become necessary, or if they already have one, that name will naturally have the first letter be the letter they are named after. One of the companions will need to be named & and although that is inconvenient to type it certainly is easy to remember.
“So where exactly are we going?” Rosalyn finally summoned up the courage to ask Jeri after they had been riding for what seemed like a very long time though in reality it had only been about two hours not burdened by unnecessary talk. So actually, they had been riding for a long time and at a goodly pace for wherever it was they wanted to get to they wanted to get to quickly. And now perhaps I ought to let Jeri speak before he burst with impatience at my loquaciousness. Loquaciousness might be a good word to look up in the dictionary if you don’t already know what it means. But now I really ought to let Jeri talk.
“We are going to cross the Hlidron Sea and then journey to the Uralthi Volcano.” Jeri very calmly told her.
“And how far is that? And how long should it take?”
“It’s quite some distance away, it’s rather hard to measure a sea in miles so I don’t know they exact distance as a crow flies. It’s a relatively short distance to the coast but the see is wide and then there will be a great journey on land to reach the Volcano. It should take many weeks, maybe even two or more months to manage the journey. Or less. Who knows?”
Rosalyn seemed a bit surprised rather disheartened at that. “And why are we trying to destroy the Ving anyway?”
“Weren’t you listening?” Jeri asked in surprise.
“When?”
“At the council, during the journey there, and in the cactus hedge maze, I’ve explained it all at least three times.”
“Oh dear.” Rosalyn said in alarm, “I must have been inattentive!”
“That or you weren’t paying attention. Anyway, to put it in a nutshell, the dark lord made the Ving and can use it to do powerful and destructive things, like sinking Drylanor beneath the sea.”
“Yes,” said Companion of the Ving X, “It’s now Wetlanor instead of Drylanor.”
“Be that as it may,” Jeri continued, “For it’s possible harm if for no other reason the Ving should be destroyed. Also there is a legend that tells that the Dark Lord will not die until after the Ving’s Destruction.”
And then,” added helpful Companion of the Ving T, “there is the legend that after the destruction of the Ving Drylanor will be restored and the royal line will once more rule that kingdom.”
Nrogara stirred at this. Perhaps that is a little too obvious way of stating that Norgara has something to do with Drylanor, for good or ill, and is very interested in its history and future. To make things even more obvious I will state that Nrogara was originally intended to be the protagonist of this fiction though Rosalyn seems to have usurped her and since, If I did write this story from Nrogara’s point of view, there might be less humor I think I’d better leave things as they are.
“Oh really.” Rosalyn politely exclaimed. “Drylanor restored! I’m sure that would be wonderful.” Then in a private whisper she asked Jeri, “What’s Drylanor?”
Again, he looked at her in surprise but politely checking the comment he was about to ask her as to where she had been all of her life (he already knew that) and whether she was deaf (he knew that she wasn’t deaf) he replied, “Drylanor was a very famous and powerful kingdom. The citizens of that kingdom were not like normal mortals, they were stronger, more powerful. They could cover great distance at speed. There are many legends of them, and especially of their royal line, but since the falling of Dryalonr beneath the wave myth, legend and enterprising storytellers have added more than there was originally to tell I think and perhaps left out some things.
“I see.” Rosalyn said. She knew all about enterprising storytellers. Her younger brother had been one occasionally and often his stories, while presumably about real persons and events, had sometimes had but little basis in reality.
“I’m sure you do, in fact, I would venture to say that you have excellent vision.” Jeri replied looking into Rosalyn’s eyes. She smiled sweetly and for a moment one would have thought that she was actually rather pretty. But Jeri, busy looking into her eyes, didn’t notice.
“Now where were you?” Companion of the Ving P asked having quite lost the thread of what was going on.
“They were discussing Drylanor.” Companion of the Ving S told his friend.
“And before that they were discussing the Ving” another one, W I think it was, said.
“I think that their discussion is, for the moment, over.” Boaramire, a mighty warrior of men whose parents had a had a strange sense of humor, informed the companions of the Ving. He was quite right. Standing directly in the path of the Fellowship of the Ving was a black cat. It appeared as though it was going to cross it.
“If a black cat crosses your path you will eventually die.” Companion & informed them.
“Everyone has to die sometime.” Boaramire boldly stated as he bravely rode forwards the black cat. His attention was not on the black cat who had just decided to go back the way it came without crossing their path at all, but it was fixed on the three hundred Nilbog Soldiers who stood at arms blocking their path and appearing as though they were quite ready for a fight and wanted it to be over so that they could have lunch. It would not be approved by my mother if I told you what they planned to eat for lunch. It might make some persons sick. And now that I have your imagination going…
Boaramire’s charge forward into the front ranks of the Nilbogs, hacking as he went, was the general signal for all of the brave adventurers to charge also and for Rosalyn to feel as though she was going to be sick and for the mathematician to do some rapid calculations as to how many Nilbogs would have to be killed by each member of the fellowship of the total were destroyed.
However, to destroy all of the Nilbogs was not the goal of Boaramir, nor indeed of any of the fellowship. The current plan was merely to ride through the band of Nilbogs and they did so and left behind them less living Nilbogs than there had been before riding through their ranks. They rode on at a rather swift pace having no desire to have be attacked from behind.
With great joy as they rode on I thought that there only lacked about half a page left before this chapter could be declared over. However my joy is rather lessoned by the fact that I seem to now have writers block and also I am weary because it is now the end of a busy day despite it only being the morning of the day that the Fellowship of the Ving started out. And that has given me an idea for the morning has been rapidly passing and soon it will be time to halt for lunch.
The Fellowship of the Ving halted for lunch. As they were still in friendly lands, which made the arrival of three hundred Nilbogs now seem quite odd once all reflected on it, they were able to stop at a good inn and have an excellent lunch without touching their supplies. The topic of the Nilbogs was discussed thoroughly by them all with the exception of Rosalyn, and about ten other of the companions of the Ving who all either had no interest in the subject or too great an interest in their lunch to join in the discussion.
After lunch all mounted again and proceeded once more along the way. They rode fairly easily after lunch for the digestive organs required that great exertion not be made until after lunch had time to settle.
However sometimes, even the best of intentions and quietest of rides may be upset by something. And, in the next chapter which should be forthcoming very soon, something indeed will be happening to disturb the peacefulness of an an after lunch ride. And now, since I think that this chapter is now approximately three pages long, though it might be a bit shorter which is why I’m sort of filling in some words here so that it is the required length. Maybe later, when I don’t really care, I may go through my chapters and take out the rambling but for now it serves me in good stead though perhaps it is a false security but anyway it’s time for the next chapter.

Chapter Four
Black Carpet Riders of DOOM

I like putting “Of DOOM” after things. Somehow it seems to offer distinction to something, though really, the fierce Black Carpet Riders need little more distinction, they just need extinction.
In this chapter, according to my sources, the pursuit is supposed to begin. Therefore, since I may as well get to the point, the pursuit is going to begin! Even as the riders meandered on their way after a delicious lunch the black carpet riders spied them from afar.
Rosalyn began to feel an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. At first she attributed this to the normal after effects of eating a large meal but soon a cold feeling spread over all of them.
Nrogara once she felt this quickly turned and looked up towards the sky for she guessed the cause quicker than the others. She urged her horse forward and spoke to Ganderoff, the unofficial leader of the company, “The Black Carpet Riders draw near. The Ving is calling them.”
Ganderoff looked behind him and up towards the sky where Nrogara indicated and his eyesight not being what it had been seventy years ago he couldn’t see the Black Carpet Riders so as to be able to distinguish them from the broadside of a barn but as the broadside of a barn would not have been up in the sky without the aid of a tornado he promptly assumed that it must be the Black Carpet Riders.
“We should do something.” Nrogara told him.
“Any suggestions?” Ganderoff asked.
Boaramire, who had listened to the conversation and had also now seen the Black Carpet Riders, “Perhaps we should try to stop the Ving’s calling to them.”
“That can only be done with the destruction of the Ving” Ganderoff said sadly.
“But maybe we could block the signal briefly,” Friedlow suggested.
“Excellent idea!” Aridgorge suggested, “perhaps if we put the Ving beneath us and all piled over each other we could prevent it’s signal from reaching the Black Carpet Riders.”
Thereupon Ganderoff ordered a halt and the Ving was placed on the ground and they all piled over it with their belongings, and partly with some of them. Nrogara watched the sky calmly while Ganderoff anxiously looked to see what the black carpet riders would do. Apparently their idea worked for the dark specs in the air flew over and went passed with outs stopping. There were several sighs of relief.
Everything now had to be packed back up but the Ving was still kept covered with as much of their goods as they could manage, or to be more specific, with as much of their goods as the horse carrying it could manage.
They rode on, quite pleased with themselves. But soon the shadow of fear seemed to be returning. Anxiously they quickly scanned the skies but could see any sign of the black carpet riders. However Rosalyn took this opportunity of asking Jeri,
“What are the Black Carpet Riders?”
“Don’t you already know?”
“No, I know nothing about such creatures.”
“Well then, the Black Carpet Riders as the foremost servants of the Dark Lord. It is said that the destruction of the Ving will bring about their destruction also. One does not want to meet a Black Carpet Rider for they are terrible and can make one feel so afraid that one just stands there quaking and wishing that one had never gone anywhere at all.” As Jeri spoke Rosalyn wondered if he spoke from personal experience but it was hard to tell. Jeri’s face, while not being handsome, was still a mystery that she found attractive and despite the fact that he was three years older than herself he still had a boyish spirit in him that was hard to fathom.
A loud shriek suddenly pierced the air. “The Black Carpet Riders!” Ganderoff shouted. Immediately what faintly resembled a football team hurtling themselves on an unfortunate player with a football happened. The Ving was effectively covered and the black carpet riders sped by far overhead.
“I’m not sure we can keep this up much longer.” Dentedoor said as he got off the top of the pile, “Sooner or later the black carpet riders are going to become very suspicious.”
“I would think that they would be now.” Kelpaboard said as he gazed at the dwindling figures in the sky above them.
“Well,” Ganderoff philosophically said, “It’s said that great age usually doesn’t improve the mind and the Black Carpet riders are of great age indeed. Nonetheless, they are still fierce foes. Hopefully when we put to sea it will throw them off our trail. We must now travel more swiftly.”
They traveled more swiftly. Rosalyn soon felt very, very sick and tired, and even more so when she realized that there was still a page and a half left to go of this chapter. Though actually, she reflected, it was less than that by now and maybe something interesting, like maybe a proposal or possibly even Jeri smiling at her, just might might happen.
When one waits for something to happen something will usually happen and so in this instance something eventually did happen. To begin with a small squirrel was busy in its ever growing attempt to gather enough nuts to last itself, it’s family, and its large number of lazy in-laws, for the winter. It scampered across the road in front of the company and frightened the horse of Friedlow causing it to rear up and Friedlow to fall off. This disturbance caused those who noticed it to quickly reign up and stop their horses and those who didn’t notice it to promptly collide with those who did.
There was a moment of silence in order to enable all to figure ought what had happened and then a few more moments to calm the horses. The squirrel was long gone before they were ready to go on their way again.
“You know,” Dentedoor pointed out, “It’s not good to have a random unplotconnected event happen in the middle of nowhere. This event should have something important plot wise connected with it if it is to have any socially redeeming value.”
“Well, I for one,” & commented, “have learned that if one tailgates one will eventually crash into that which is in front of one when whatever it is stops suddenly.”
“Doubtless an important piece of wisdom” Kelpaboard approved “One should leave space enough to stop in conveniently between the object in front of one and oneself, the greater the speed that one is going the greater the distance.”
“True, and while we are on the subject…” Loqua (presumably it was short for Loquacious) began and while he briskly expounded on laws of safety and traffic regulations which, while very useful knowledge then it wouldn’t be much use now since the traffic system in this story is quite different from the traffic system wherever you the reader so it really isn’t worth mentioning.
However Friedlow, as he remounted and was about to go on and was thinking that the next horse he got he would be sure of checking to see that it didn’t have squirrelaphobia, observed that on the ground a little to the right of his accident, there was a key. He dismounted and picked it up and Ganderoff, who wasn’t paying attention to Loqua either, quickly rode towards Friedlow to examine the key.
It was not a largish key, medium sized might be the correct way to describe it. It was made of metal, probably gold or brass but it was so covered in dirt that other than a yellowish color that showed underneath, it was hard to tell. The key had three irregular shaped prongs and one or two regularly shaped ones.
“What do you make of it?” Friedlow, who had great respect for Ganderoff’s opinion, asked.
“The chapter is almost over.” Ganderoff replied looking pleased but just a little regretful.
“I mean about the key.” Friedlow indicated the key.
“It probably unlocks something.” Ganderoff told him, “But what it unlocks is beyond me. From the condition of it it’s been lying over there for quite some time so I doubt it’s owner is going to come pick it up. Perhaps you’d better keep it.” With that Ganderoff remounted and I went to go check the chapter length to see if by any possibly stretch of the imagination it had reached three pages yet or not even though my heart foreboded that it hadn’t happened yet. But I’m a hopeful sort of person…
Perhaps this might be an excellent time for a bit of poetry since the chapter is not yet long enough. As Loqua was conveniently still on his tirade about safety in the road and happened to be reciting a poem we shall now tune in on it.

They said to stop, so stop I did
Their eyes were grey
And their noses big
They said they had the right of way
As said the judge with a wig
But I drew my sword straight away
And then their graves did dig

“That,” Loqua said, “Was a most improper way to handle the situation. However as that bit of poetry was said to have been written by one of the Black Carpet Riders in the days before he rode upon a black carpet it proves that one really shouldn’t meddle with a black carpet rider.”
“It also proves,” Ganderoff observed, “That there are only so many words that rhyme with did and big.”
“But they don’t even rhyme with each other!” Kelpaboard pointed out.
“They could, with a stretch of the imagination. And also, with a stretch of the imagination, one could say that this chapter had reached its desired length and that the next chapter could begin.” I said.
And that, is precisely what is going to happen. Imaginations are quite useful things you know.

Part Two: The Two Towering Ships

Chapter One (yes, we are restarting the chapter numbers with each part)
To the Open Sea

The coast, according to what all is supposed to happen in this chapter and the length of the chapter I probably won’t have them get to the coast quite yet. Therefore let us resume…
Still some distance away from the coast the fellowship of the Ving, which won’t get broken up for at least two chapters yet, were galloping madly along the rode in the hope that the Black Carpet Riders wouldn’t notice them. Rosalyn was feeling as though she was going to be sick and resolving that when she was sure of strenuous exercise promptly following a meal not to eat so much at the aforementioned meal.
What the others were thinking was rather a mystery. Some where doubtless wishing that I would pay them the honor of naming them and those whom I had named would probably have told them how lucky they were not to be named yet. After all, who really wants to be called Dentedoor or Kelpaboard not to mention Friedlow! But just try to come up with twenty seven names I say back in my defense and then move on.
Norgara would not have taken part in the previous discussion. For one thing she was rather pleased with her name and for another thing she was far to busy thinking about important things to be bothered by trifles.
At this point I started thinking that it was going to be fairly odd to go back and read what I’ve already written. I probably have rambled much too much in this story but after the first chapter or two I really had no idea about what was going to happen or how it was going to happen and therefore rambling became necessary. But only seven more chapters are left after this one, seven more chapters… they loom ahead like dark clouds of billowing storms or perhaps huge marshmallows that are sweet but sticky and difficult to get through (actually I have no idea how a marshmallow is. I may have eaten one as a child but I don’t remember the taste at all.) So perhaps I should say that the next seven chapters loom ahead as task yet to be done and that I want to get done quite quickly so that this book is over and unfortunately it looks as though the quality of this book is rather low and I’m probably spoiling myself with all of this talking about myself in the book but really, it’s kind of an “Original” writing style don’t you think?
Ganderoff coughed loudly for attention.
“Are you quite alright?” was immediately asked him by the fellowship of the Ving.
“Of course I’m quite all right!” Ganderoff told them. “I just wanted to say that we are approaching the coast!”
“What!” I said.
“But it’s still at least five miles away!” Kelpaboard pointed out.
“True,” said Aridgorge, “But as a matter of fact when been approaching the coast ever since we left Counlic.”
“It’s far less than five miles away.” Ganderoff insisted.
“Maybe, but it depends on what it is. I have no doubt that there are many its within a five mile radius of this place.” Aridgorge said, reminding me strongly of my brother whose name starts with A.
Ganderoff really did not know how to reply to him and didn’t think it would do any good. So he merely waited a while until they rode up to within view of the sea and saw the great billowing waves crashing upon the shore and if surf boards had been invented I’m sure there would have been several surfers out there but surfboards were nonexistent so they just saw the sea. And that was quite enough.
“You see!” Ganderoff said.
“No, it’s the Hlidron Sea not the U Sea” Aridgorge pointed out.
Ganderoff chose not to reply and sped his horse down to the the town that that was by the sea. As speed was important without pausing for anything else Ganderoff quickly led the way to the proper location to purchase a ship and, while the other twenty-six members of the company sat on their horses and waited outside, Ganderoff quickly purchased a ship and then he went to the docks and engaged a few sailors to be the crew and then he began to provision the ship.
He worked swiftly and rather distastefully for he did everything so quickly and so boringly that it didn’t take up more space than a paragraph or so and made the members of the Fellowship of the Ving worry lest Loqua should recite another poem. But he didn’t at that time, so there fears were groundless. All hoped that the fear of pursuit by the black carpet riders would be equally groundless but that still remained to be seen when they finally set sail out of the small harbor town later that day.
As there really hadn’t been time before, quarters were now assigned and fought over, though very politely of course, and person got settled. I’m sure they were very thankful that the horses had been left behind at a stable by the inn and not taken on board for the horses would have needed quite a lot of space and the ship, though it did tower above the water, really didn’t have a lot of deck space for though it had height it had not great length and width and made the company feel rather like they were riding on a cork bobbing out of the water and many felt apprehensive about what would happen if a storm blew up.
Rosalyn was rather troubled by this thought so she leaned over and whispered to Jeri, “Do you know how to swim”
“Of course!” Jeri replied, “Don’t you?”
“No!” Rosalyn replied as she shook her head and looked more than a little frightened.
“Then be sure to grab onto something that floats if you do happen to need to stay alive in water over your head.” Jeri said encouragingly. Despite it coming from Jeri Rosalyn didn’t feel much encouraged. Her face plainly showed this so so Jeri decided he’d better say something more, “However, I’ll jump in and try to save you if you do happen to fall overboard.”
“Oh, that would be so heroic!” Rosalyn said with a dreamy sigh and Jeri sort of nodded and did not pursue the subject further but Rosalyn felt sure that if she did fall overboard he would jump overboard after her. All the same, despite the possibly felicity of such a circumstance she decided to do her best to avoid falling overboard.
There was a brisk breeze blowing and the ship seemed to be making very good progress until Ganderoff and Kelpabourd decided that the wind was actually blowing them off course. Then more careful steering had to be done and there was a lot of discussion over compasses, which had been invented, and maps and other things that mariners use.
Eventually the direction was decided on and the sailors and those of the company who knew something about ships and sailing were quite busy keeping the ship on course and in its proper position.
“There really is nothing like the sea air.” Loqua, for once saying something short, said as he leaned back and inhaled deep breaths of the aforementioned air.
“No, there isn’t.” Aridgorge replied, also deeply breathing in the air, “There is also nothing quite like the aroma of rotten egg mixed with an angry skunk.”
Loqua looked at him, but then, like Ganderoff, decided not to pursue the subject any further.
“Where is the Ving stowed?” Kelpaboard asked Ganderoff in a whisper. With the sailors near at hand the Ving was not to spoken of much or loudly.
“It’s in the lowest part of the ship with all of our baggage that can be spared on top of it in addition to several bales of cotton I purchased.
“Why cotton?”"
“Why not cotton? Though there was a reason, it was on sale and I got it for a bargain price and it’s highly likely that it may be sold for a profit elsewhere.”
“I suppose that is the knowledge and forethought that made you the leader of the Fellowship of the Ving.” Kelpaboard nodded.
Nrogara stood at the back of the ship looking towards what little could be seen of the coastline and also making sure that Rosalyn, who had just found the sea to be a bit much for her internal organs, did not fall overboard whilst she was in a state of seasickness. In addition to these pursuits Nrogara was busy scanning the skies, for she had great suspicions that perhaps the Black Carpet Riders might fly that way soon and that could well prove to be disastrous. What was to be done if the black carpet riders did come and attack them was primarily what Nrogara was filling her thoughts with.
However, as land faded out of sight and no sign of the black carpet riders were seen and Rosalyn’s sate improved sufficiently so as to be able to just lie down quietly, Nrogara ceased her vigil and went to eat supper.
The boat sailed on peace for quite some time and eventually the sun went down, sinking slowly into the west, and the moon rose, it was not yet a full moon but rapidly approaching it, and the stars came out and utter peace and stillness reigned and if the moon had been full it might have been the ideal time for a proposal. But that probably won’t happen quite yet. Though who it will happen to is probably easily guessed because there are only so many known characters and of them only two seem romantically connected in anyway whatsoever. However future events may occur to throw in another romance but for now the ship that has no known name, that we know of at least, sailed on under the star light.

Chapter Two
The Other Towering Ship

The morning dawned fair and bright and lulled everyone into a false sense of security. Breakfast was eaten in a leisurely fashion but it was remarked by Ganderoff that the healthy appetites that the sea brings probably should be kept in check so that the provisions didn’t run out. At this dire thought everyone almost lost their appetites and ate more conservatively after that. All of them, that is, except for Meri, Whippen, Freidlow, and Cram whose appetites were as great as their stomachs were large.
After breakfast the deck was considered the proper place to be. Some of the adventurers were practicing swordplay and Jeri was amongst them. Rosalyn, sitting watching them on the steps leading up to the upper deck, was quite amazed with his skill with a blade as he easily broke down Boaramire’s defenses and caused him to surrender. But then, almost spoiling the effect, Boarmir said, “Now it’s my turn” and promptly beat Jeri even faster than Jeri had beaten him.
Nrogara was not one of those practicing. She stood leaning against the steps railing watching what went on. Rosalyn realized that she had never yet seen Nrogara draw her sword. She wondered what would happen of Norgara did fight and how well she’d be and whether Jeri could beat her. Then she began to wonder whether Jeri liked Norgara at all. Norgara was strange and mysterious and rather cold and forbidding but she was more beautiful than herself. Though really, Rosalyn reflected, nearly everyone was more beautiful than herself. That sunk her into gloom.
Jeri however, whose opinions are still as of yet unknown, noticed the two and called out, “How about some swordplay?”
Rosalyn looked towards Nrogara. Norgara turned towards her and nodded slightly as if to say, “Yes, he is talking to you.” and Rosalyn got up.
“I don’t know much about it.” Rosalyn said as she stepped forward and picked up a spare sword.
“Then you should learn.” Boaramire laughed.
With Jeri as her opponent Rosalyn felt more than a little nervous but as he explained the basics of swordplay, with helpful advice from all the other adventurers except Nrogara, she felt a little better and as he was quite gentle and allowed her to defeat him in their first match she began to enjoy herself.
Nrogara watched the proceedings and her mind was briskly running on a problem that she hadn’t quite figured out the answer for yet. Rosalyn herself had once tried to fathom this problem and failed utterly but Nrogara was not Rosalyn.
Eventually however Nrogara’s thoughts were broken by sensing a presence and she swiftly walked to the rear of the ship and strained her eyes looking back and upwards. After about ten minutes of standing there she walked towards the helm where Ganderoff was, though he wasn’t steering he ship, just watching it being steered.
“I think that the black carpet riders are coming this way.” Nrogara told him.
Ganderoff looked worried and turned back. “I don’t se them.”
“They are very hard to see, but I believe they are drawing nearer. I can see them.” Nrogara said and her vision was far greater than that of Ganeroff’s.
“We should probably stop the swordplay then.” Kelpaboard said as he came up.
“Yes, we should look like peaceful traders then maybe they won’t stop and inquire.” Ganderoff said before ordering all swords to be sheathed. This was done.
Norgara went back to the aft of the ship and gazing back she said, “I think I see a ship.”
“A ship?” Ganderoff asked walking back and looking as hard as he could but seeing nothing.
“In another hour, unless it changes it’s course, you should be able to see it. And, in another four hours or so if neither of our courses change it may catch up with us.” Nrogara said.
Nearly everyone was now gathered at the back of the ship straining their eyes to see either the ship of the black carpet riders that Nrogara was talking about.
“We seem to have sunk lower down in the water!” Kelpaboard suddenly exclaimed as he looked down.
Nrogara turned and looked back and saw that the front of the ship was considerably higher in the air than the back. In a commanding voice she said, “Meri, Whippen, Friedlow, and Cram, go stand at the front of the ship!” They obeyed and Kelpaboard observed that the back of the ship rose higher out of the water until it was where it was supposed to be.
Then, far above them as if blown on the wind they heard a fierce and piercing cry! Unbeknownst to them when the ship tilted the stores in the lower hold had shifted and the Ving was uncovered except for the cotton. Also, unbeknownst to them cotton, instead of concealing the Ving’s signal, actually amplified it’s call and the Black Carpet Riders were now certain of their quarry. In their command and directly under them was a large ship that, you guessed it, towered above the water but was also long and broad and stuffed to the gills with Nilbogs who were quite ready to fight.
In command of this dread ship was Sourman whose cruel maliciousness had earned him the name of Sharky. He stood in a position of command and laughed evilly as he looked through his powerful telescope and saw the ship on which the fellowship was on “More Sail!” he commanded and the ship increased it’s speed.
Despite this, it still wasn’t going fast enough for the black carpet riders and they swooped down towards the ship and attached ropes from it to their black carpets and began towing the ship, increasing its speed.
All of this was not known to the Fellowship of the Ving. However that didn’t matter too much other than the fact that the fellowship can’t discuss it and take up a lot of space since I want to get this chapter done as I only wrote two chapters yesterday and I’m still one chapter behind today and I need to write three chapters and I have what might be known as something like writer’s block. At any rate, I’m not concentrating well.
“I would that we had a telescope.” Aridgorge said as he strained his eyes looking back.
“What is a telescope?” Rosalyn asked.
“It is a device that when you look through it you can see objects in the distance.”
“Like spectacles?”
“No,” Kelpaboard explained, “Spectacles make things appear in focus where they wouldn’t be. A telescope makes things in the distance look closer than they are.”
Rosalyn nodded and with one page to go the company once more sank into silence. This lasted for quite a while until Nrogara said, “It’s a ship of war. We should prepare for battle.”
Ganderoff agreed though he added, “They may not mean to attack us but all the same, it’s best to be ready.” Everyone swiftly got ready for battle. Swords were sharpened, the two ship’s cannon were loaded with extra ammunition laid close by. Ganderoff decided to go down with Kelpaboard and check on the Ving.
“What happened here?” was Ganderoff’s comment when he saw the stores shifted and the case containing the Ving without hardly anything over it. With the help of Kelpaboard he soon had things ship shape again with the Ving quite thoroughly covered up. The damage, however, had already been done and even though the signal was then less than what it had been the Black Carpet Riders were still sure of their quarry. They had indeed become “suspicious.”
On deck everything was prepared and as they sat waiting for the ship to come with less than a page left to this chapter Loqua decided to recite some poetry. He cleared his throat and said. “You know, this reminds me of a poem I once heard.” He then proceeded, in his stentorian voice, to recite the following poem.

The ships helm was laid to rest
Upon the billowy and foamy crest
While in the sails the gull had its nest
And it squawked while the ship sailed west

The gull was fond of the stormy sea
Stretching as far as ones eye could see
And never leaving the sight of it he meant to be
But such love for water is not known by you or me

The poem however has was interrupted hear by Aridgorge crying out, “I can see it!” Once again all rushed to the back of the ship, even Loqua who, since he had forgotten the next forty eight verses and wasn’t even that sure of the ones he had already recited was not sorry to have his recitation interrupted.
And naturally, once again the ship titled and the front stuck up into the air and the back sank down into the water and this time it was Ganderoff who ordered Meri, Whippen, Friedlow, and Cram to stand at the front of the ship.
Everyone, with the exception of the four in the front of the ship, could now see the boat that was fast approaching them.
Every moment brought it closer and closer for the wind had died away to a stand still and there own boat stayed still while the pursuing boat, carried on by the speed of the Black Carpet Riders, quickly closed the distance between them. Then, as the ship drew close enough, one of it’s great cannon boomed and the shot landed squarely on the mast and knocked it over into the sea. Battle was about to be joined.

Chapter Three
The Battle Begun

The Two Towering Ships (this is where I got the title of this part of the story from in case you didn’t know that…) were coming into very close proximity to each other . A few cannon shots had already been exchanged which leads to the question of why does a fantasy story have cannon in it? Perhaps I shouldn’t have pointed that out but in a lot of the sea battles I’ve read the cannon have fired and the ships are usually a bit damaged before the brave heroes either stand to repel an attack or charge to board the enemy ship.
And so it shall, maybe, happen here. The cannons manned by the fellowship of the Ving fired and being that those who fired them actually knew what they were doing they were able to do quite a bit of damage to the enemy ship but the enemy ship was doing more damage to them.
The Black Carpet Riders were attempting to unhook their black flying carpets from the ship that they had been towing and were not succeeding too well at it. Fortunately this was putting them out of the battle so the fellowship of the Ving had more chance to bother their opponents without having to worry about the Black Carpet Riders overwhelming them.
Cannons were firing now briskly, fortunately no casualties of the Fellowship of the Ving though one or two them had been wounded by splinters flying in the air. Most of the damage was done to the rigging and the masts so that the ship would be severely crippled in it’s speed. As there was no wind blowing it didn’t matter much then but would later.
The Fellowship of the Ving had amongst them quite a few archers and these stood at different parts of the ship and chose the officers on the other ship for targets and also the larger and more fierce looking of the Nilbog soldiery and shot at them and felled them more often than not.
Once the ships were close enough together grappling hooks were thrown to the other ship and Nilbog soldiers quickly jumped onto the ship and began attacking the Fellowship of the Ving. Rosalyn decided that maybe she just might want to go into her cabin and lock the door and hide under the bed so she quickly did so while she still had an opportunity.
It’s been a long time since I last read a sea battle and as I’ve never been in one I’m not sure how to conduct this one since I have at least a page of it left before the next known event can occur. I’m inclined to have Loqua recite another piece of poetry but I have a feeling that with cannons roaring and soldiers shouting and archers whizzing their arrows and lots of ugly looking creatures attacking him, Loqua probably wouldn’t be reciting a pome right now.
If you, like Rosalyn did, were wondering how Nrogara would fight once it came to it there is now an opportunity to find out. Nrogara was fighting quite well, her sword blade was bright and deadly and as she had a rather tidy side to her usefully when she felled an opponent she would either throw them overboard or back onto their own ship so they wouldn’t clutter up the deck.
This does sound a bit gruesome. I’m afraid, my Mother probably won’t approve. So perhaps Loqua, as he stood in the heat of battle suddenly was inspired to write a poem of his own composition about something that caught his notice.

Oh, the spray of the sea!
It calleth unto me!
I cannot see

He was about to go further but those who were opposing him were not fond of poetry and promptly silenced him by dumping a whole lot of sea water upon him before he could say anymore. So he kept silent. And so much, for that notion.
Jeri observed Loqua’s discomfiture and somehow made him think of something else so temporally disengaging himself from his opponents he looked around. He did not see what he was looking for since what he was looking for was hiding underneath a bed in her own cabin with the door firmly locked. Not thinking that this might have been what happened Jeri assumed that maybe she had fallen or been taken prisoner and as that mattered a great deal to him for we shall at last get a glimpse of the heart of Jeri though hopefully not through the surgery of a Nilbog sword, Jeri began fighting with redoubled vigor still earnest searching for Rosalyn.
The Black Carpet Riders meanwhile had finally manage to disengage themselves from the ropes and now began to circle, vulture like, the two ships. However, Ganderoff, as he gazed up into the sky for a brief moment cried out, “The Eagles! The Eagles are coming!”
The Black Carpet Riders looked around quickly to see from where the eagles were coming. They did not see any eagles. Apparently Ganderoff’s vision, which was not of the best, had mistaken the Black Carpet Riders for Eagles however his mistake did afford them a few moments of peace while all looked for the eagles that did not come.
During this silence out of the galley of the enemy ship there came a great cry of joy and out rushed a sailor who screamed triumphantly at the top of his lungs “I’m the son of a sea cook!!!”
He was looked at in astonishment by all, except for Rosalyn of course since she didn’t even hear him since she had two pillows stuffed over her head. Then, in reply one other sailor who was up in the rigging called down, “No, that wasn’t it! It was ‘I’m not a cab driver, I’m a coffee pot!’.”
“Oh, that was it.” The sailor said as he shook his head sadly and went back into the galley and if you can figure out what they were talking about and what the question had been that the one sailor had asked the other and the sailor had answered was then congratulations.
The black carpet riders, however, not being as easily astonished as others now began their fell attack upon the Fellowship of the Ving. One or two even leapt off their black carpets and began their fierce and deadly attack on those near them.
However, one of the black carpet riders, their dread leader whose name was so unpronounceable and unspellable that even he didn’t know what it was, had a more practical mind. He landed right in front of the door that led down into the bowls of the ship for the Ving was calling him. Nrogara observed the door opening and saw him go down and quickly she fought her her way to the door and rushed down after him.
She knew the way better but he was more swift and so it was not until the Black Carpet Rider came to the very spot that the Ving was and stretched out his hand for it that their paths collided. And their paths collided forcibly. Nrogara had her sword drawn but the armor of the Black Carpet Rider would not be pierced by her blade. He now drew a sword, a deadly notched weapon and then, before striking to the kill or reaching down to the Ving he did something rather unexpected. He began to speak,
“Fear me, mortal, for I shall not die until the Ving is no more and now that I have the Ving it shall not be destroyed and I shall take it and I shall become important and I shall buy stocks and bond and equities and become rich when I command others to buy them for exorbitant sums of money and I shall invest in beach front property and have typhoons attack it and collect the insurance and build myself a palace out of granite and emeralds and obsidian and will have eighteen bakeries make fine chocolate chip cookies for the consumption of myself and my minions and so I shall live happily ever after Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha” He began laughing an evil laugh. Nrogara however merely rushed passed him, grabbed the case containing the Ving and ran out the door again before he realized what she was doing.
However, when he did notice his pursuit was swift and Nrogara, though no slow runner, would soon have been caught when another problem arose. Several other Black Carpet riders were coming down the into the hold of the ship and they also were after the Ving. Caught between the frying pan and the fire Nrogara quickly decided to be caught by neither and she rushed towards one of the cabin door along side the passage. It was Rosalyn’s door and it was locked and that delayed her for a precious moment. The Black Carpet Riders were almost caught up to her as she opened the door into the next room, slammed it firmly and locked it quickly behind her, rushed towards the porthole, and opened it.
Doors not being considered much of a problem the black Carpet Riders had not been provided with skeleton keys that would open any door but that didn’t bother them because doors weren’t much of a problem and all they had to do was just grab out their swords and slice right through it.
The door crashed down and revealed Nrogara just about to climb out of the porthole.
Triumphantly she said, “You shall never get the Ving now!” and then she dove out the window. The Black Carpet Riders quickly rushed towards the window and the foremost dove after her. However, the Black Carpet Riders were wraiths. And whatever it is that a Wraith is made of for some reason it just won’t go under the water. So a bath for a wraith is a technical impossibility though a shower might be possibly if dirt removal is necessary but usually that isn’t bothered with.
Disappointed the black Carpet Riders, the ones who hadn’t dived in, quickly returned to the ships deck planning to get some divers to go down and recover the Ving. Also they wanted to keep an eye out for Nrogara’s return to the surface for air. In their croaking voices they informed the news to the other black Carpet Riders and a careful watch was kept for Nrogara.
One thing that disturbed the Black Carpet Riders was that they could no longer feel the call of the Ving but that, they assumed, was because a lot of water was blocking the signal. In actually there was another reason but that is for another chapter.

Part two of this story is here