CROSSED DESTINIES The valley lay scattered with bodies of dead, wounded soldiers as the heat began to bake the bodies from the harshly fought battle. Branson stood on the battle field eyeing his warriors, some dead and some moaning from injuries. This was not what he had wanted for any of the men laying on the blood-soaked ground. He had hoped even though he had concluded that his desired dream would never have happen that not one of these men had to sacrifice their lives because of the evil sorcerer, Akeem- Athom- Kenon. How many men would have to die before Branson would the foretold story of this outcome he thought. Turning his attention to the fair lady now known as the Keeper of Time he noted that she had held her own in this messy siege of swords, arrows and axes and magic. Abriel had been the first to tell him that her being here in this time and place was not by chance but rather by certain legendary forces beyond anything that she had seen or studied. She had said more than once that she knew not why she had arrived here in this place only that she had for the longest of nights known, felt that whatever her destiny was to be, he, Branson, "The Golden Tiger" would become her future. Somewhere written in the ancient scrolls of Zefmire their story had been foretold and now on this field of death and bravery the future of mankind to come had begun a new course. Here The Golden Tiger and The Keeper of Time had joined forces and the unforeseen nature of destiny was certain to wage war with the mighty dark sorcerer. The future was not yet set, but in the days to come Branson, his men and one lady from a time un-known to him would decide the final journey of their Crossed Destinies.