The Epic of Brightblade Warpony

Chapters IX

For half the day the trio trekked through the untamed depths of the Dark Forest. By noon they could hear the river in the distance. Epona insisted that they press on and save their midday meal until thy reached the river.

As they neared the river, the forest became thick with brush and brambles. Breeks flew ahead to see if he could find a path through the growth, but to no avail. Brightblade blazed a trail as best he could with the Warrior's Horn, but still the going was slow. From the time they had first heard the river to the time they reached it's cool waters was near an hour and a half.

Brightblade waded into the river, the clear water soothing his sore hooves. Epona touched he horn to a small, calm pool and gazed into the images that appeared.

"What do you see?" asked the Warpony.

"Nothing of import," Epona replied. "We are on schedule. Now let us eat and hear further of your adventures."

---

Ramon, Breeks, and I made our way across the valley to the Temple of Light. We climbed the steps cautiously, as we did not know what to expect inside. I peeked into the temple from behind one of the columns and saw that it was mostly empty. The floor was of polished marble, as white as fresh milk or new fallen snow. The columns that supported the domed roof surrounded about three quarters of the area (I don't want to call it a room as there were no walls). The quarter that was without columns, which was opposite me, was dug into the hillside and there was an arched doorway that led to some unknown inner chamber of the temple. In the center of the temple there was a statue of a unicorn carved from green stone, bathed in light from the opening in the center of the dome.

"It looks clear," I said as I stepped out from behind the column. Ramon followed me, and Breeks flew past and perched on the statue's horn.

"So, where's the Warrior's Horn?" asked Ramon.

"It must be through that doorway," I said.

"Khaar, that's obvious," kawed Breeks. "Which means that there is probably more to it than that. Something doesn't feel right here."

I walked up to the statue. "It is strange that this place is so clean, being open to the elements and all.. But we haven't got time to worry about that. We have to find the Warrior's Horn." I was about to investigate the arched doorway when Breeks squawked in terror.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Rawwk! The statue moved!" he replied as he fluttered about my head.

"What? That's impossible," said Ramon.

"Yah," I said. "You're just imagining things." Even though I didn't believe that the statue had moved, I couldn't help but stare at it, waiting for the slightest hint of movement.

"Brightblade," said Ramon, "weren't you going to look for the Horn? Let's move."

"Huh? Yes, Breeks has just got me a little spooked I guess," I replied. But just as I turned away from the statue, I thought I caught a slight movement, or maybe it was just the shadow of a cloud, or a high flying bird, at least that's what I told myself at the moment.

"Halt! Trespassers! None shall enter the Temple of Light lest they have proven themselves worthy!"

The booming voice came from behind me, where only the statue stood. I turned to see the statue no longer on its pedestal, but walking towards me. It seemed unreal, it was still the same smooth green stone I had seen before, at first. Then it seemed to soften a bit only to remain stone. Its movements seemed blurred, as if the thing did not really move, but existed at a different place at each moment in time.

"You who would claim the Warrior's Horn must first face me in single combat!"

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