To Dream of Dragons and Kings
The adventures of Jule Shannara, part 1
It was a hot and humid morning when the elven leader of the Brotherhood of War guild
awoke. Even for Ascalon City it seemed unusually warm and sweat poured from his body.
He reached down and scratched between the ears of a large Snow Wolf. "Good
morning Manx." Said the elf that was slight in build but tall, middle aged by
human standards but still very young for an elf. As the snow wolf left the tent a
voice called from outside.
"Jule, Are you alright in there?" said a deep voice with a slight southern
accent.
"Yes Cyprus, I am fine. Why would you think otherwise? Please come inside and get
out of the heat." Replied the elf. The tent flaps parted and a rather thick
warrior entered carrying a mighty Battle Axe.
"Now, tell me what concerns you Cyprus of Nod."
"Well Jule," the warrior continued," You were talking in your sleep.
Talking of un-natural beasts, animals who spit fire and disease, among other
things."
"Yes Cyprus, I have been having the dreams again," replied Jule, "Only
this time there was much more to the dream! I saw a great many beasts again, and also
I saw the Stone Summit Dwarves and a mighty Dragon!" Cyprus' axe clanged
as it fell from his grip and struck the ground.
"A Dragon? You're telling me you really dreamed of a Dragon?"
exclaimed Cyprus shakily. You see, normally when people dream of dragons and beasts it
is attributed to an active imagination. But when the elves dream, the things they see
tend to turn out to be real or at least a fragment of reality.
"Yes Cyprus, I saw the dragon and more. At the end of the dream I saw my
Grandfather, and He gave me a message. "Find the dragon and the Forge and you will
find those whose beliefs are most like ours. There you may still not find the peace you
desire, but you shall find home."
Awestruck, the warrior from Nod simply nodded. "And when do we leave Jule?"
"Ah, you do know me well Cyprus, as soon as the Brotherhood can be mustered,
supplies gotten, and we break camp. I have a feeling this will be a long journey, but
that at the end we will finally find rest….and peace."
"Sir, there is something you should know." The warrior looked grave as he
continued, "When the Brotherhood heard talk of your dreams of Dragons, monsters,
and Dwarves they became frightened and fled from Ascalon. X Scout X, along with his
pet wolf, and the necromancer Nadas Souldrinker has gone to search for them but they
have yet to return.
At that moment they heard a noise outside the tent. The tent flaps opened and a human
in Ranger garb entered carrying a large Flatbow. "They have all fled to Nolani.
Natas and I gave chase and tried to convince them, but none shall return. I tried Jule,
but they fear the Dragon, and the dwarves for that matter."
"It is just as well Scout, a smaller party will travel quicker and need to carry
fewer supplies." said the elf as he rose from his cot. "Gather your things,
we leave within the hour!"
As the men left the tent, the large Snow Wolf padded back in and laid himself at
Jule's feet. "Well Manx," Jule addressed his furry friend," It
seems we are off on another great adventure!"
Filling his bags Jule stopped to look at a picture of his grandfather, Jerle Shannara,
once a great elven King of the Westlands of Shing Jea Island in Cantha. In his mind he
heard his grandfathers words from the dream. "Safe journey, Jule Shannara. For you
are a prince of the elves, and there are great things ahead for you."
