Chapter 4: Within these Ancient Halls of Stone...
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      He stood in awe of the fortress looming before him.  Vast towers
rose above the cavern floor, some embedded where the lime had dripped to
encase them in a living tomb.  Stone walls, perfectly cut and shaped,
guarded the halls with defiance.  Here, the gloom of the caves was
stripped away to be replaced only by might and honor.  Rubble was strewn 
about the ground, but it stole nothing from the majesty that seemed to 
flow from the castle.  It was a creation that demanded admiration.
      Forgotten and encased in stone.
      Kindar took a step forward.  It seemed to take an eternity.
His mind was flooded, and time could not keep up.  Each footfall was
an hour.  Each turn of the head to draw in the sight was an eternity.
And yet, somehow, almost before he knew, he stood at the gates.  
      Left forgotten for centuries, they stood open to welcome him.
But he didn't enter.  Not yet.  He couldn't.  The gates had markings
upon them.  An engraving that had been worn away with time, but could
still be seen.  The markings were faded but clear.  It had to be.
      "Baron..." he whispered.  His hand came up to the seal, perhaps to 
prove it was real.  His fingers touched the wood, caressed it, traced
the encompassing circle down, and finally rested beneath it.  All the
knowledge of ancient times... all the reading, studying... exhumed
and filled with life in a moment.  His mind was suddenly filled
with the texts from the library.  Filled with the stories of Baron's
noble birth and rise to become a kingdom of might.  The legend of its
capture by the dark Golbez and its freedom through the one, true
paladin, Cecil.  The tales of its role and eventual fall in the War of 
the Magi. 
      Awestruck, Kindar breathed deeply.  His head was whirling with the
concepts that could hardly be accepted, but had to be true.  After
another moment, he pulled away from the door and entered the main hall.  
      The light.
      It was brighter ahead.
      Curious at the source of the mysterious illumination, he stepped 
ahead into the gathering chambers.  Chairs lined the tables and counters.  
A passage to the far right led into darkness.  Ahead, double doors led 
to the royal audience chanbers.
      And the light.
      He opened the doors, puzzled as to why they were closed.  It was
not long before he understood why.  The occupant wished privacy.  He
was quick to comply as he dashed back into the main hall.  Yet the
man from the waiting room was swift to follow.  
      Kindar lept down the stairs into the basement and quickly 
regretted the choice.  The room in which he found himself was small,
and the space it did provide was taken by a large table and bookcase.
A return up was not an option, but neither was remaining.  Panic set
in as Kindar's hands began to sweat.  Where was his family when he 
needed them most?
      Quick steps brought his persuit to face him.  The mouth was
covered by cloth, and ceremonial robes hung loosely around the form.
Little of that mattered to the intruder who's eyes were focused on the
curved blade that gleamed in the assailant's hand.  
      A moment passed, and nobody moved.  Each muscle tensed and
ready.  Sweat began to form on each man's brow as the moment became
forever.  Suddenly, forever was shattered as the samurai warrior lept
up and across the table to strike.  Kindar took the moment to swing
beneath and thrust the table upwards.  Caught off guard, the other
barely had time to regain his bearings and land on his feet as the
wood below flew out from under.  In the confusion, Kindar fled back 
up the stairs.
      Cursing the luck, he dashed into the gathering chambers once
again.  Hoping to confuse his predator by choosing a poor direction,      
Kindar jumped first to a counter, and then to the rafters above.
He crawled silently along the beams until he came to rest above the
entry.  The warrior was but a moment in coming.  He scanned 
carefully for his prey, but saw nothing.  He turned, and Kindar
relaxed.  With that, the weight shifted the beam with a groan.  
      Knowing doom was certain without, Kindar swung down into the 
man as he turned, knocking them both to the ground.  Amidst 
tangled limbs and clothing, Kindar regained composure first and 
started for the audience chambers.  Running with all his strength, 
he flung the doors to the waiting room back and hopefully closed.  
Not pausing to see, he burst into the audience chambers and slammed 
the double doors.  Quickly, he swung the heavy bolt into the catch.  
He felt the rotting wood give even as he pulled it down and knew it 
wouldn't last.  He prayed for another way.
      Shock overcame him as a voice answered.