Chapter II.

I.

Yori paused as smothered giggles erupted. She smiled. "What do you find amusing?"

One girl, her hand trying half heartedly to smother her laughter, answered, "Sensei, the master does not smell."

Another girl piped up. "No, he always smells so good." There were other giggled agreements.

Yori laughed, "Yes, Ron Sama has a very pleasant scent. However, after three weeks without cleaning, walking across the Gobi, I believe he would have a scent none of you would like to cuddle up to."

More giggles erupted.

"Now," Yori continued, "the master entered the silent village and..."

II.

Ron casually adjusted his grip on his staff. The silence ate at him. The soft movement of wind through the huts was the only sound. Stepping up to the first threshold, he knocked, then slowly opened the door. The interior room was neat with no indication of attack or panic. Smoke curled from a dying fire. Ron pulled the door shut, carefully stepping back into the street. He checked three more houses with only the wind for company. He moved to the middle of the street. If anything attacked, he would at least have space to defend. He slowly moved down the middle of the village, eyes moving warily, finally turning to stare back down the empty street. Leaning against his staff, he shivered at the puzzle. His whirling leap in response to the scream that sounded behind would have impressed even KP, if he hadn't tripped on his staff.

Still spitting dirt, Ron eased his head over the crest of the hill. His forehead thumped the damp earth. "Monkeys! Why is it always monkeys?" He raised his eyes for another look. "And really, really big monkeys at that." In the hollow below him people stood in silent groups, all eyes on the wooden platform. Around them stood men in ancient armor, swords and spears in their hands. The groups ignored the guards, staring at the wooden platform on the rise opposite Ron. From his position Ron could only see the monkeys, big hairy monkeys, big hairy monkeys with armor and spears, big hairy monkeys with....Ron blinked. "Armor?"

A tall man in ancient armor stepped in front of the apes. He shouted something to the crowd, then waved the apes aside. A naked woman slumped between two apes, her arms held tightly. The armored man shouted again, then turned, gesturing to the woman's guards. At the man's next shout, the apes turned the woman, forcing her to her knees by her outstretched arms. The man pointed at her back. A fourth ape shambled forward. The man raised his arm clenching his fist. The ape jerked his arm up and down. Ron heard the scream; he saw the bright red line spurt across her back.

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AN: I don't usually append author's notes, but in this case I thought I'd explain. These chapters will be short, as the plot bunnies push me. (G) Please stay tuned. More will be coming. Spectre