The night was dark and lonely.

But some things were dark and lonelier, thought Rhygar Borne as he backed away from the cliff’s edge. It was the third year of his travels in the lands beyond the Shoals of the Sea. The young Prince had left his homeland of Fabuliana and the responsibilities it brought for the lure of the sea.

And the sea was a good mistress indeed, thought Rhygar. Hardly three years before he would never have been able to climb this cliff. Now, a life of adventure had hardened his veins, made him ready for action.

And he was ready indeed. Beneath the waves of the sea breaking against the rocks on this small isle of Rath and the rustling of his dull yellow jacket in the wind, the adventurer heard a small, light footstep. Immediately, his senses realized who it was. Without turning, he intoned, "Hello, Lyta."

Indeed, it was the beautiful girl that the band of sailors had met only a few days before. Rhygar was still amazed at her courage - she had handled herself fairly well in the brawl that had broken out because of Captain Mitt’s ability to annoy any person who he sat down to play cards with. Lyta had ensured their escape, and had surprised them all by agreeing to give up her old life and start anew on the sea.

And now she was here, alone on the hilltop with Rhygar. Lyta spoke. "You’re good at this… most of the people on this ship wouldn’t have been able to even tell somebody was coming."

Rhygar grinned. "I guess I just must know your footstep fairly well." Lyta grinned as well. Rhygar continued. "So what are you doing up here on this lonely hillside in the middle of an evening?"

"I might ask the same of you," retorted the lovely maiden. "Isn’t there work to be done back at the ship? I thought we were leaving tomorrow."

Rhygar laughed. "There is work, but not for those who’re smart enough to avoid it!" The joke wasn’t lost on Lyta, but she didn’t laugh as heartily as the adventurer. Finally, the two sat down against a pile of rocks up on the cliffside. Neither said anything for a long time, merely watched the tide break and the silvery moon shine, leaving reflections on the water.

After many minutes, Lyta said, "Rhygar?"

"Yes?"

"Where exactly do you come from? Why’d you sign on to this voyage?"

Rhygar was silent for a moment, and then answered. "I come from Fabuliana, within the Shoals. I was to become King there… but I couldn’t stand a life of royalty… so I left the kinghood to my brother Allen and went adventuring."

"Doesn’t that strike you as slightly irresponsible?" inquired Lyta.

"I am irresponsible, Lyta." The adventurer grinned. Lyta did not return it.

"So you ran off to hunt treasure and adventure while your kingdom suffered for it? How could you do such a-"

"Hey," said Rhygar. "The kingdom can take care of itself. I want a little more out of life than the privilege to wear an uncomfortable metal hat and sit in a chair! I want to see the world, discover new lands, slay dragons, the whole hero bit!"

They both fell into silence again for a while. Lyta again broke it. "Where’d you get your sword, anyway?"

Rhygar smirked. "Now THAT was an adventure… but it’s too long to tell right now."

"We do have all night…"

"Yes… I suppose we do…" The two looked at each other for a moment, and it struck Rhygar exactly how beautiful she looked in the moonlight with her long, red hair and green dress. They scooted closer together.

"RHYGAR!" came the bellow from the cliff directly below. A burly, black-bearded man came lumbering up the rocks. Rhygar cursed silently. Another example of Mitt’s impeccable timing.

The captain finally struggled up to the top. "Where’ve you been, old boy? There’s a celebration down in the village! We’re putting to sea again tomorrow!"

Rhygar broke into a wide grin. "Celebration, eh?" He turned to Lyta. "Might I have this dance, fair maiden?"

Lyta grinned back. "Certainly, good sir," with mock courtliness. She even dropped into an overexaggerated curtsy.

"Then let’s go!" bellowed the captain. The three began lumbering down the rocks, eager to get to the celebration.

image [https://archiveofourown.org/web/19990424073226im_/http://members.aol.com/bongo79/liner.jpg]

In retrospect, thought Rhygar, perhaps we shouldn’t be so eager. He rose up, groggily, from the pile of spare rope on the deck of their ship, the "Sunset Seeker," that had been the softest place he could find to collapse after the celebration. "Why, oh why did I enter that ale-drinking contest?" he wondered aloud.

"Probably because you’re a fool, but we won’t hold that against you," sneered a nasal voice from across the deck. Rhygar sighed. It was Maxen, of course.

The lanky, blond sailor came sidling up to the groggy adventurer. "You jerk! First you go running off to some godforsaken hillside while the rest of us are working, and then come back right at the exact time the festivities start! And you had the nerve to cheat so that you could beat me in that swordfighting contest!

"I didn’t cheat! I whipped you, fair and square," retorted Rhygar. It was true, as well. As irresponsible as the Fabulian was, he still played fair.

"Why is that so hard to believe," challenged Maxen. "I’ll see you later. The rest of us have work to do." Maxen stalked off below decks. Rhygar sighed.

Sydney came up to him, having witnessed the whole thing. "Don’t worry about Maxen, old pal," said the old sailor who had become Rhygar’s best friend on the voyage. "You were by far the better swordsman. You learned well." Rhygar grinned. On his first few weeks of the voyage, Sydney had taken to teaching Rhygar swordplay. The adventurer still had some bruises from then, but it had been worth it to become the best swordsman on the voyage - barring his teacher, of course.

"But he is right - you have been avoiding your work lately. This ship cannot sail without the aid of every person in the crew… you need to do your share of the work as everyone else does," continued the old sailor.

Rhygar smirked. "I’m not a member of the crew. I’m along for glory and adventure, remember?"

"So are all of these men. You’re no different or better than any of them. And if you think you are, you’re no better than the arrogant Maxen."

Rhygar was set to make an angry reply when he heard a call from the captain’s cabin. "We’ll finish this talk later, Syd… right now, I’ve got work to do." This last remark was dealt bitterly, but both men knew that Rhygar didn’t really mean it.

The adventurer made his way down the length of the deck to the cabin door, and knocked. "Enter," came the voice of Captain Mitt from the inside. Rhygar did so. Inside, the cabin was decorated with trophies, all from the adventures the crew had gone on in the past. Rhygar noted with pride the head of an Orc he had slain a year before.

Mitt was standing in the center of the room, with a brown-cloaked man beside him whom Rhygar had seen once before - he had joined the crew on the isle of Trikka. Mitt introduced him now. "Rhygar, this is the wizard Dulles. He’s just informed us of a new quest possibility."

"Which is?"

The old wizard spoke, with a voice that was both scratchy like old leaves and strong like the tree trunk. "Many years ago, I was apprenticed on the isle of Salz, about four days sailing west of here. I learned much from the master of the lighthouse there, which he called Gatherwatch. Although I had many adventures there, I wish to speak of the one day, when I and the master of Gatherwatch were hiking in the hills of Salz. He indicated to me a cavern there, and we walked inside it briefly. He picked up an old bone, and gestured to me the back of the cave. The old master then told me that in years past, a great war had been fought here, and the spoils of that war were hidden back here in this great cavern, behind many traps and magical devices. He finally said that he was the last living man to have seen the treasure, and that he would show it to me on the condition that I would never tell anyone where it was."

"But you are doing so now," said Mitt.

Dulles snorted. "I’m an old man now, and I’ve seen things that would make you paralyzed with fear. You think that I’d be terrified of a warning from a dead wizard? I want some of that treasure, and I need a strong crew to get it."

Here Rhygar spoke. "Exactly how much treasure is there?"

"The master never told me, but he said that it was beyond imagining. Yet he also warned that it was a treasure that no man could reach without sacrificing his most valuable possession. I, frankly, consider this one of the stupidest things I have ever heard."

Mitt chuckled. "I believe you may have sold our adventuresome friend here, and I must confess, me as well, on this rumor of wealth. Very well. We shall adjust our course to Salz, and take this treasure from the earth! I shall tell the rest of the crew." Mitt strode out, and Dulles was about to follow, when Rhygar stopped him with a question. "Mr. Dulles… why don’t you believe in ancient curses if you do believe in magic?"

Dulles chuckled, a hoarse, old sound. "Because, my young friend, I’m not one to take advice well. Rather like yourself, I believe…" Here the old man crossed the room, his staff thumping as he walked. He looked directly into Rhygar’s face. "But you… you seem to me to have the spark of greatness. One day, not today or tomorrow, or maybe not for many years hence, but one day you’ll accomplish great things. My master said the same of me, once, and now I say it to you. Now come, we’ve much preparation to do." The old man walked out the door onto the deck, leaving Rhygar alone in the cabin.

image [https://archiveofourown.org/web/19990424073226im_/http://members.aol.com/bongo79/liner.jpg]

It was five days after. The Sunset Seeker had docked in a small cove near Gatherwatch Lighthouse, and the crew had unloaded preparations for the next morning’s expedition (without the help of Rhygar, of course.) Now, the crew was celebrating the next day’s treasure hunting… with a swordfighting contest.

Sydney went up first, taking his place on the sandbar where the fighting was taking place. It was about a four-foot drop to the water for whoever got knocked off. Sydney didn’t plan to be.

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The first challenger was a young fellow named Rulm. Rulm drew his broadsword, momentarily toppling forward with the weight of it. Sydney held back until Rulm gained his balance. Finally, the youth was ready, and announced it by charging at Sydney with his sword.

Within about six seconds, the old swordmaster had twisted around and hit Rulm with a sound clap with the flat of his sword. The young challenger toppled into the water, coming up with a mouth full of seaweed. A hearty cheer rang out, and the next challenger hopped up.

This went on for half an hour more, and Sydney was not even working up a sweat. Finally, in response to the crowd’s cheers, Rhygar was nudged up to the sandbar.

Sydney’s eyes lit up. He immediately readied his sword. Rhygar drew his blade - a simple design, but with an ornate hilt. It served him well, and judging from the two chips in the blade, had saved his life in the past.

The two combatants started towards each other, neither striking. The crowd held its breath. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Rhygar raised his blade and slashed.

A bad move, and one that Sydney had been counting on. The old man easily parried the blow, and with a speed uncharacteristic to his age, dealt Rhygar a sharp rap on the shoulder, which was immediately joined by several more. The crowd cheered.

But Rhygar was not to be outdone. He sprang back, with incredible agility, and countered the last blow. Sydney nodded, impressed, but only for a moment before the attacks were renewed. The two clashed together like engines of controlled rage. Finally, inevitably, Rhygar raised his sword once more, and let loose with a swiping attack, knocking away Sydney’s sword. Sydney grinned, and then leapt off the sandbar himself. It was a great gesture, and in that moment Rhygar knew that he had surpassed his old teacher. The crowd cheered, but equally for both Rhygar’s skill and Sydney’s valor. Lyta cheered loudest of all.

And then, suddenly, Maxen leapt up to the sandbar, leering. "Think you’re so great because you could beat an old man, eh?" Before Rhygar could get his sword ready again, Maxen drew his own slim blade and struck at Rhygar’s sword hand.

The crowd booed. Rhygar quickly, with a speed that shouldn’t have been plausible with his stinging hand, drew his blade again. He waited, and Maxen struck.

However, Rhygar still did not know all the tricks, and attempting to do what Sydney had done to him at the beginning of the fight, left a wide opening for Maxen, which the other gladly took. Rhygar managed to parry it, but only barely. The two then began fighting in earnest.

While the previous fight had been a lighthearted challenge between two friends, this one was brutal. Any time either saw an opening, they took it, never giving ground, never resting. The sword clashes sounded like thunder to the people watching.

Finally, Maxen pulled a dirty trick. He glanced over Rhygar’s left shoulder. Rhygar, who had the swordfighter’s instinct to follow every movement of the enemy, was distracted by this for a moment - all Maxen needed. His sword slashed out, singing in the cool night air. And Rhygar stumbled and fell, feeling the warm, red blood rolling down his cheek.

The crowd angrily yelled. Maxen leered down at the fallen adventurer. "So great a swordsman are we now, little man?" Rhygar could do nothing but stare in shock. Finally, Sydney and Lyta came out of the crowd and helped the adventurer back to the ship, with Maxen laughing maniacally the whole way.

image [https://archiveofourown.org/web/19990424073226im_/http://members.aol.com/bongo79/liner.jpg]

Rhygar awoke the next morning. The slash in his face had been healed during the night. Rhygar suspected Dulles of this, the old wizard had been watching the contest. But it was no matter. Today was the day the treasure would be reclaimed!

Rhygar stepped out of the bunks below deck on the Sunset Seeker. It was a foggy day, the kind his old wizardly tutor back in Fabuliana had called "a day charged with mystery, magic and fate." It certainly felt like it.

The young adventurer had hardly walked three paces before he literally ran into Lyta. The young woman looked annoyed at first, but then broke into a grin when she saw who it was. "You’re back with us," she said.

Rhygar grinned as well. "For the moment, anyway. Seen Maxen around?"

Lyta’s face fell. "No."

Rhygar’s grin took on a hard, grim quality. "That’s good… for him. If I see him around, I’ll pay him back for that little episode last night."

Lyta sighed. "Forget him, he’s just a jerk. Come on, I think Dulles is getting ready to open the cavern." The two hurried up the hill side.

They arrived at the cavern mouth just in time to see a somewhat spectacular sight. Dulles was standing in the cavern mouth, with the bones of the fallen warriors who had brought the treasure here around him. The old wizard raised his arms, and suddenly he didn’t seem as old anymore. It seemed to Rhygar that an inner brilliance had just started to shine within him.

There was little time to reflect on this, because the wizard closed his eyes and began concentrating. Rhygar could see his lips moving, chanting ancient words of power. The brilliance seemed to be concentrating now in the old man’s hands more than any other part of him.

Finally, the wizard pointed his right arm at the rock wall in back of the cavern and shouted. A bright bolt of light burst from his fingertips and struck the rock wall. Both began glowing, pulsing with an unearthly golden light until it seemed that they were one, connected by the cord of light from the wizard’s fingers.

This went on for a long while before Dulles silently mouthed, "Forgive me, master-" and redoubled his efforts. The rock wall shuddered and finally shattered in a burst of light and sound, leaving nothing left of it. Contrary to the mighty struggle they had just witnessed, the rock remaining, which should have been rough and burnt, was smooth as polished wood.

The crew, who had been awestruck by this mighty display of power, remained so for another moment before shouting, "TREASURE!" and rushing into the opening. Rhygar prepared to follow them before Lyta put a hand on his arm to stop him. She gestured over to the wall, where Sydney was already sitting next to the wizard, slumped against a jutting piece of rock.

Rhygar walked over to Dulles. The old wizard lifted his head and grinned. "It’s been ages since I ever tried anything like that."

"Master Dulles, are you alright," asked Lyta.

"Oh, I’ll be fine… just a little winded. I’m afraid I’ll have to sit this one out… but you three can go ahead in… there’s bound to be lots of treasure, and if those others get to it first, there’ll be nothing left!"

This was all that was needed to convince Rhygar. He rushed into the aperture. Lyta, after a moment’s hesitation, followed. Only Sydney and Dulles remained sitting in the cave’s entrance. The old blademaster chuckled. "Youth… heedless youth. Can you ever remember yourself like that before you grew up and became wise?"

Dulles chuckled. "Who said I ever did?"

Meanwhile, Rhygar and Lyta had reached a fork in the tunnel. It was a dark, musty cave indeed, and at several times the two had to hold hands in order to make sure the other was still there in the clouds of dust. They faced this fork with indecision. Which way, wondered Rhygar.

Finally, Lyta spoke up. "Should we stay together? I don’t want to be alone here in this cavern…"

"No," said Rhygar, although he didn’t like to abandon Lyta. "We should split up. Cover more ground." He strode over to the left tunnel. "I’ll take this one, you take the right." With that, he entered the tunnel. Lyta stared after him for a moment, and then, sighing, entered the right tunnel.

It was darker and dustier in the left tunnel than it had been in the previous one, if such a thing was even possible. Rhygar lit a torch. It helped, a bit. Slowly, he made his way down the tunnel.

Suddenly, inexplicably, he bit his lip. Something here wasn’t right. Then, he noticed the body of one of the crew lying on the dusty floor, with fresh blood coming from several arrow wounds.

Rhygar hit the floor just in time to see three arrows stick in the wall above him. He remembered what Dulles had said about magical traps and devices, and cursed himself for not being more alert. He rose up, and began moving, more carefully this time, down the tunnel.

After perhaps fifteen minutes, the tunnel joined up with another tunnel on the left. But that was not the main thing Rhygar was looking at.

What Rhygar was looking at was an ornate silver door, traced with gold all around its edges, flanked by two of the gargoyles that lined the walls. He drew closer, but cautiously, remembering the arrows. He reached the door, and began checking it carefully. He found two small trap devices that less trained eyes wouldn’t have been able to pick out, and cut the nearly-invisible wires connecting them to unknown perils with his sword. Satisfied that there were no more traps, he read the inscription on the door. This door has been placed here to guard the greatest treasure of all. Lain here by the master of Gatherwatch Lighthouse in the year 1332 C.D. Rhygar bit back a laugh. It was the right door! He turned the knob.

Instantly, he leapt back by instinct, and it was a good thing he did. A pit opened below where he had been standing. And then, the sound of cold steel being drawn paralyzed him for a moment, and a familiar nasal voice sneered behind him.

"So, the little Prince reaches the treasure before me, eh? How wonderful. But the treasure is mine, you little thief!" Rhygar dodged to the side just in time to evade the clash of Maxen’s slim blade on the rock. A killing move.

Rhygar edged backwards to gain time and space. The blond sailor had a wild look in his eye, and a long cut on his stomach. Obviously he had not been as cautious as Rhygar on the trip to the treasure chamber. Maxen spoke again. "You think you’re so brilliant, the rich little Prince and his sword, traveling the world, don’t you? Ha! I’m the one who deserves the glory and the treasure! And I’m the one who’ll get it!" Maxen slashed out again. Rhygar barely managed to draw his sword and parry the blow. "Come on," sneered Maxen. "You and me. Right now. The winner gets all the treasure. The loser gets death!" The sailor swung his sword in a circle. Rhygar leapt off the ground, avoiding a slash that could have easily crippled him.

"You’re insane, Maxen," shouted Rhygar, who was becoming swiftly enraged. "But I’ll have the treasure in a moment… and you’ll be dead!" Rhygar swung with his sword, hatred bubbling within him. The strike surprised Maxen for a moment, clashing against the sailor’s blade and shattering it halfway down the blade length. Rhygar struck again and again, forcing Maxen back and back. Finally, Maxen was against the wall. Rhygar raised his sword over the enemy, glaring into the surprised eyes of Maxen. And then suddenly, all hatred left Rhygar. He didn’t want to kill anybody, and he lowered his sword.

That was all Maxen needed. He pulled a small dagger from his cloak, and without warning stabbed it into Rhygar’s shoulder. The adventurer cried out. And then, another cry sounded. Lyta’s. Rhygar looked up in surprise. Maxen had the dagger, but seemed to have forgotten about Rhygar entirely as he moved over to the ornate door. Sidestepping the pit, the crazed sailor traced the ornate carvings. Rhygar looked down the tunnel, back to where Lyta’s scream had come from. He looked at Maxen, at the door to the treasure vault. He looked back at the tunnel. Finally, he stood slowly, feeling the pain in his shoulder, and began running as fast as he could down the tunnel.

He arrived back at the central tunnel, and without hesitation entered the right tunnel. Running, he raced down the tunnel, until he came upon a slim figure with bright red hair in a bright green dress, lying on the dusty floor of the tunnel. Rhygar sobbed and fell to the floor, forgetting all about treasures and weeping over his own greed that had killed Lyta.

image [https://archiveofourown.org/web/19990424073226im_/http://members.aol.com/bongo79/liner.jpg]

It was the three days later. Rhygar’s wound in the shoulder had begun healing (Dulles was too weakened after opening the cave to heal any of the injuries sustained by many of the crew in the cave.) A search party had been sent out to search for the missing Maxen. It had come upon one cavern where half of a slim blade was found on the ground and chips were in all the rocks around the area as if a sword fight had happened there, but there was no sign of a silver door anywhere. When told of this, Rhygar smiled weakly and said, "Maybe it’s for the best after all…" but he would never explain this.

On this third day, Rhygar, Sydney and Dulles walked up into the hills, carrying the corpse of Lyta with them. They chose a spot on a lonely cliffside, and dug a grave. When it was done, they marked it with stones and began walking back to the ship, which was preparing to leave, having given up on the treasure. Dulles was in bad standing with the crew over this wild goose chase, and had decided to stay on Gatherwatch, to live the rest of his life as the keeper of the lighthouse. "It is the least I can do, for the trouble I have caused," he said gravely as they walked down the mountain.

"Master Dulles… I believe I know what your master meant when he told you of the treasure. He said that you were to give up the greatest treasure of all to claim the treasure… and I know what that is," said Rhygar after a long silence.

"What," asked the blademaster Sydney.

"Integrity…"

None of the three said anything as they walked solemnly down the mountain to the waiting Sunset Seeker.

image [https://archiveofourown.org/web/19990424073226im_/http://members.aol.com/bongo79/liner.jpg]

A torch flared in the darkness.

The half-mad blond sailor giggled to himself. He had been wandering around in the darkness beyond the door for a long time now. Even he didn’t know how long, it had been forever since he had seen the sun. But all that didn’t matter now… all that mattered was the treasure. His mind whirled as he staggered along the passageway, a death grip on the half a sword he had left.

And then he saw it. Piles of treasure, gems and chests the like of which he’d never seen. He laughed, the sound echoing in the dank cave.

The sailor immediately ran to the nearest chest. With a madman’s strength, he shattered the lock and pulled it open.

Inside was a note. "To the one who finds this… obviously my disciple Dulles, whom I trusted, has betrayed that trust and opened the cavern. No matter. For if it is Dulles, he is lost now. The instant one passes the silver door, the rock shall crumble, and the entrance be sealed. Thusly does greed and a lack of integrity lead to ruin. Signed, the Master of Gatherwatch."

Maxen read this. And then, the full meaning of it striking him, he began to laugh, the hollow laughter to echoing about the room like a disembodied ghost.

The torch went out.