Prologue: Blend Elves and Dwarves, Trolls and Ogres, add a pinch of magic, stir

Tom shielded his eyes from the brilliant green light. A moment later the light faded. Why is it suddenly so cold? he wondered. As his eyes began to adjust to the darkness, the space before him flickered strangely. Battle cries rang out off to his left, immediately followed by the sound of intense fighting. A few seconds later the space flickered again and the sounds of fighting grew nearer.

“They’re punching holes in the barrier. The battle’s begun,” cried a girl. But she was nothing like any girl that Tom had ever seen. She had dark brown almond-shaped eyes, long pointy ears and a beautiful thin face. As she turned toward him, her fear-filled eyes touched something deep within him.

“What are you waiting for? Come on, help me clear these rocks,” yelled a short stocky lad with a rugged face, a squat bent nose, huge furry eyebrows and a large battle axe strapped across his back. Turning toward the voice, Tom saw a massive stone wall like ones he’d seen in pictures of medieval castles. He could just make out the outline of a tiny roughhewn wooden door, though it was mostly hidden by a large pile of rocks stacked against the castle wall. Tom ran over. Everyone stooped down and began frantically throwing rocks left and right, everyone except a taller boy dressed in a rich royal blue doublet with large gold buttons. The tall boy had the same odd facial features as the girl, but his shoulders were slumped forward dejectedly, and although he held a sword, the weapon pointed uselessly down at the ground.

“Devraj, git yer sorry elven hide over here and help us!” screamed the stocky lad to the tall boy with the sword. But Devraj, the tall boy, didn’t move.

Suddenly a group of huge green hairless giants ran up, cursing and swinging massive wooden clubs at the kids. Just before the weapons smashed into them there was a loud “whomp” and blue sparks flew in every direction, lighting up the forest around them and sending the beast’s clubs flying backwards with tremendous force. The creatures cursed once more.

“The ogres have found us!” cried a young, freckle faced boy.

By now most of the stones were gone, so the stocky lad grabbed the door’s ancient gnarled bone handle and pushed. Nothing happened. Slamming his shoulder against the door, he yelled, “Come on, don’t just stand there, help me!” Tom, along with several others, ran up and pushed with everything they had, but it still wouldn’t budge.

Devraj spoke flatly. “It’s no use. I told you. It’s sealed with fairy magic.”

The beasts swung their clubs once more, and as before, blue sparks leapt outward and the clubs were thrown back violently.

“Avani, try yer magic,” urged the stocky lad.

Sounding desperate, the girl named Avani replied, “I’ll try, Goban.” As she lowered her head and relaxed her shoulders, a brilliant glow sprang forth from the satchel that hung from her belt.

The ogres screamed once more. A moment later several different, coal-black creatures rushed up holding a strange blunt rod. These dark beasts were even taller than the ogres, and their skin had natural rocklike armor covering their bodies. Massive heads with no visible necks seemed glued to their upper chests, and their eyes, though dark as night, seethed with anger. The rod the monsters carried had skulls for handles and slowly pulsed with a dark orange glow.

“Hurry, Avani! The trolls have the magic battering ram. It’s only a matter of time ‘til they break through the barrier,” cried Goban.

Avani chanted something beneath her breath, sweat forming on her brow. The light from her satchel glowed brighter. Tendrils of magical energy arced and twisted, then reached out and touched the door, but still the door stood fast.

Trolls slammed the sinister device right at Tom but it abruptly stopped, causing the area to flicker once more. There was a sizzling sound, accompanied by a bitter smelling smoke that burned Tom’s eyes and nose. The space before them began to glow a deep blood red.

A magical barrier seemed to be protecting them, but it was steadily being melted away by the monsters device. Suddenly, a long green ogre arm reached through the steaming hole and grabbed Tom by the throat. The ogre began to squeeze.

Tom sat bolt upright in bed, his eyes open wide, sweat dripping off his forehead. It was dark out, but faint strands of moonlight filtered into his room through his window. From what he could make out as his eyes scanned his room in the dim light, everything looked just as it had before he’d fallen asleep. He glanced at his digital wall clock/calendar. It read 11:27 pm on Monday.

I must have been dreaming. It was only a dream. Tom let out a deep sigh. Then, turning to his right, his eyes fell upon his closet. The door stood open and an eerie green glow came from within. Before he could decide what to do, there was a crackling sound, and green sparks flew off in all directions. A moment later the light slowly faded, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke and a tangy metallic smell. Tom blinked, then pulled the covers up tight around his neck. He vowed he would remain awake for the rest of the night and he’d remember his strange nightmare. But within moments his eyelids grew heavy, and soon he was dreaming of sailing his sunfish on a small lake with a warm gentle breeze. The sun was shining and he could hear birds softly calling in the distance.

The next morning Tom did not remember his dream, nor the strange green light that had beckoned from his closet…