Fate Guides My Steps
Chapter Nine: Flight
Author: YoseiAmbereyes (Jade)
Velaterra, Hummai
4th of the Sixth Moon Month
Tomoyo set the lantern down on the ground and then reached up over her head to feel the low ceiling. Instead of the stone that had stretched down the entire passage length, Tomoyo's hands touched the rough wood of the trap door in the basement of the local tavern. Sound filtered down to sensitive ears, the sound of drunken soldiers enjoying a cup of stiff ale after a hard day of work.
Kero listened intently to the sounds, he nodded to Tomoyo who pushed on the trapdoor, forcing it open. Luckily, there was a sack of meal laying on the ground, so the door falling back made no noticeable noise. Tomoyo hoisted herself up, leaving the lantern behind. She could see fine here, the doors to the kitchen were open, and light from the fires illuminated the small space. Kero leapt up and landed without a sound.
"Tomoyo, I'm going to return to being invisible for the time being. I'll be nearby, you try and get what you can out of the soldiers."
The slave steeled herself and nodded.
"What are you going to do?"
She asked in interest. Kero flinched at the sound of someone dropping a pot in the nearby kitchen.
"I have a friend that guards one of the higher ranking officials. I'm going to see if I can find him."
"I see. You will be close though?"
Kero smiled at her and leaned his body against her legs trying to give her encouragement.
"I'll be very close, I promise I won't go far, even if I can't find my friend."
"Thanks, Kero."
The two righted themselves, Tomoyo straightening her apron, and Kero disappearing completely. Kero moved to walk next to Tomoyo, bowing his head so her hand that was limp at her side brushed the soft fur of his ears. Tomoyo smiled and gave his ears a good scratch before stepping into the kitchens to face the frazzled cook.
Moments later, the cook had laden her with plates of food to take out. Tomoyo had merely supplied the excuse that she was the new slave bought by the tavern owner to help with the evening rush. Making sure to keep her head down she shuffled quickly around the crooked tables and haphazardly placed chairs to deliver orders and refill drinks. While she did this, Tomoyo kept a careful ear out for any kind of gossip about the new Colonel. Mostly it was just drunken talk; loud boisterous ramblings of loosened tongues and weakened minds.
It wasn't until her attention was brought to one of the dark corners of the tavern that she saw him. There he was, the new Colonel Asagawa, having a rather loud conversation with another man dressed similarly. Suddenly they were both calling for a round of ale, waving her over to their table. What followed was a very fast paced, rambunctious drinking game, one that included nonsense phrases repeated three times, and a rather intense game of higgly peg. Tomoyo wasn't the only one who watched tensely as the two Colonels used small knives to stab the spaces between their splayed fingers laid flat on the table.
Tomoyo was rather annoyed that she never got the chance to hear any information of the Colonel Asagawa's popularity. However, she did notice that when bets were placed on the winner of the contest, it was Sakura's brother that was favored. The game ended a good while later, when Toya's opponent not only nicked his hand, but bumbled a key phrase and tumbled from his seat. While loud laughter ensued, Tomoyo took her chance and disappeared back down her little rabbit hole, trusting Kero to be able to find his way back to the palace on his own.
Kero padded silently and invisibly through the narrow streets of the once beautiful city. Kero never saw the old capital Cornith in its splendor, but as he eyed the pink sandstone walls, the clear glass windows, and white alabaster stone blocks, he recognized fine workmanship. In his mind, Kero imagined the city before the High Lord turned it into barracks to house his enormous standing army. He had heard the slaves speak of Cornith, describing its beauty for the young who couldn't remember or had never seen the city. Window boxes that had overflowed with flowers and plants, due to the lack of space for gardens, hung from every available window. The King hired the poorest to sweep the streets of trash and garbage, so that the city remained fair, and everyone and anyone could manage to procure some money. Cornith was a bit of a cultural epicenter. With Hummai having outlawed commoners using magic, and Vasan having declared itself to follow one faith, Arcadia received an influx of immigration over the past fifty years. Cornith, having good access to the Kor River, and being in a temperate region, soon came to have a colorful collection of all kinds of people. As a result, the city was never in short supply of some sort of festival or holiday or party. The city, while it had problems with a high crime rate, and with overcrowding, never seemed to lack laughter.
Kero, as promised, remained close to the tavern, doing circles around the block searching for any clue, sign or whisper of Yue's presence. Time passed swiftly, and the number of roaming soldiers grew smaller and smaller. The great lion knew that pretty soon the kitchens at the tavern would be closing, and all that would be left in the streets would be the lost drunks. Kero was getting ready to give up when a figure stumbled into the light of one of the open windows.
The lion raised an eyebrow, recognizing the young Colonel. But his attention was immediately captured by the pale young man that supported his intoxicated friend as they struggled down the street. Kero stared slack jawed at the pair, knowing the first and hardly able to believe he knew the second.
Yukito lowered Toya to the ground where he leaned against the wall lopsided, and then slid down to lay in the street. Yukito stood over him and frowned, contemplating the use of magic to either wake him up, or just carry him back to his quarters. Toya who had managed to get into a drinking contest of all things with one of the Colonels from the Southern Army, had only just barely won. Now, he was incredibly drunk and was going to be feeling quite regretful in the morning. Yukito patted the small leather purse hanging from his belt; it jingled merrily with the winnings. Then again, perhaps he would be consoled.
Yukito bent down to help his friend to his feet again, when a presence tickled his senses. The war mage turned and looked about with narrowed eyes, whatever it was, it had a heavy invisible spell wrapped about it.
"Good to see this form doesn't dampen your senses, Yue."
Yukito knew no more.
Kero watched as wings sprouted from the pale young man's back and engulfed his slight figure. Moments later, the white feathers parted and retreated to revel his magical partner of countless years. Yue raised an eyebrow in question to Kero's words.
"You regained your ability to speak."
Yue stated, Kero glanced about and ensured that no one was around. He dropped his invisibility spell and grinned at his partner.
"Nice to see you haven't forgotten what my voice sounded like."
The corner of Yue's mouth twitched, perhaps trying to quirk into a smile.
"Nay, my friend. What brings you here? The High Lord ordered you to never leave your charge's side, did he not?"
"He did. However, he also ordered me to not follow her into the Throne Room. Yue, have you noticed anything...odd about your charge?"
Yue looked down at the passed out young man laying in the gutter.
"You must be kidding."
"Your temporary form seems to like him."
"He is a guise, a guise only."
"And I'm going to believe that."
"Is there a point to this arbitrary conversation?"
One would suspect there was some irritation in the pale being's voice, but it continued to lack any. However, Kero having known him for a very long time, happily noted the dry look in his eyes.
"The point is, that young man's mother was Nadeshiko Kinomoto, her maiden name was Avalon."
Kero explained at last. Yue dropped his emotionless mask to revel stunned disbelievement.
"How did you come by this knowledge?"
"My charge, her name is Sakura. We discovered it, after she felt my presence and then demanded I show myself. She stripped me of my invisibility spell, Yue. And no wonder I could never find you, no matter how hard I've looked, you've been hiding in that temporary form; I couldn't feel your aura."
Yue took a deep breath, his mind racing. In all honesty, the idea of having Toya as a master was not the least unpleasant. He could resume his guise of the young mage Yukito for as long as necessary.
"Anyways, Yue, I don't have much longer. Things are changing, Sakura, my charge, wishes to escape the High Lord."
Yue snapped his gaze to Kero.
"Escape? Where does she plan on going exactly?"
"Her slave, Tomoyo is her name, says she may be able to convince the Prince Eriol to allow her haven in the North. He...owes her a favor, I guess you could say."
"And the deal she made?"
Kero shrugged in response.
"The High Lord has been bending his word as of late. And can you tell me that the High Lord would be so stupid as to imprison one of his most popular Colonels with no explanation what so ever? It isn't like he can tell anyone that the two are siblings."
Yue was silent for a long moment, looking between his partner and his charge, still unconscious on the ground.
"I have learned that we shouldn't try and predict the High Lord's actions. He is guided by no conscience. If your charge successfully escapes, the High Lord might actually be furious. Who knows what he might do. Never think that the soldiers' loyalty to Toya, is greater than their fear of the High Lord."
"Then he would punish the boy?"
Kero asked, knowing that if Yue answered yes, Sakura would never set foot outside of the castle. Yue could feel the weight of the question. If what Kero said was true, if these children could free him from his bonds to the High Lord, than getting Kero's charge out of the palace and to the Northern Mountains would not be to hard a task. However, that meant that Toya remained in the clutches of the High Lord. Without his memories, Toya would never leave the High Lord's Army and take the side of the rebels. Not when he believed the Arcadians were responsible for his 'family's' death. And...Yukito...would never leave Toya in danger. Yue felt now the consequences of remaining in his temporary form. His temporary form had now taken hold in his considerations. There was attachment there, as much as Yue wished to deny it. And there was the small matter of him being an Avalon, and now more than a charge the High Lord had given him, he was a promise made to his first master.
"If he tries, Kero, I will protect him, he is an Avalon, and therefore a part of the oath we took."
Trinsdell, Vasan
5th of the Sixth Moon Month
The reigning king of the country Vasan was no slight man. In his old age his heavily muscled form had widened to a girth that failed to fit on his throne very well any longer. But with his weight, his wisdom had grown through the years as well. The King of Vasan was one of the few people living on the continent of Isha who remembered the peaceful days. He was old enough to recall clearly his father teaching him about the six other countries that occupied the lands.
Then just a few months after his coronation, over fifty years ago, things began to change faster than anyone could imagine. Without a hint of warning, Hummai invaded a small, wealthy country to their north, along the eastern shores of the continent. It was the ancestral homes of the Avalons and the Li Clan, who had generations before combined their two small countries into one, and came under the rule of one powerful sorcerer the only son of both royal families. Hundreds of years after the peaceful change, it was their nation that fell under Hummai's relentless invasion. While one country, the lands had been divided into two provinces, still held by the old families. And in the end, it was the fierce loyalty the two had for each other that played a huge part in their downfall.
Avalons fell first, their lands being ripe for the taking, and lacking any creditable armed forces. Most of their people fled to the Li Clan lands where they were welcomed. The rise in population however taxed heavily on their resources, so when Hummai turned its sights on the eastern most province, they were not prepared. Vasan, Arcadia, and the rest of the nations, looked on in horror as Hummai toppled the proud nation in just a few short years of fighting. The remaining countries had done what the could for the nation before it fell. None dared send armed forces for fear of incurring Hummai's wrath on themselves, however, that did not stop them from smuggling supplies to the Li Clan and the Avalons for most of their campaigns.
The King of Vasan knew why the old High Lord had gone after Clow. Had he been the High Lord, he would have done the same. The Kingdom of Clow was not only the oldest of countries on Isha, but it was also the most powerful, magically. It was no secret that Clow was the place one traveled to, to receive magical training and teaching. Clow had the most extensive libraries on the subject, the most experienced masters, the most powerful mages. With the combining of the two oldest, and most magical families the Avalons and the Lis a daunting, but peaceful nation was born. And the old High Lord knew, if there was any nation that the rest of Isha would align themselves with, it was the nation of Clow.
So, it had to go.
The old High Lord of Hummai gave no quarter and took no prisoners. He simply exterminated an entire culture over the course of seven years. After the fall of the eastern nation, the rest of Isha waited on the edge of its seat to see what Hummai would do next. Surprisingly...nothing.
Hummai moved its capital to Yanit, its army swelled with the victory, but the country made no move to attack any other nation. In fact, it extended the olive branch, setting up alliances, trading agreements, even annexing a large piece of land to the old nation of Pontira, when it suffered a drought and lost much of its agricultural lands. Hummai suddenly became an exemplary nation of peace, and good will. The continent relaxed. Everyone tried to forget the bloody horror stories that had whispered out of that conquered eastern nation after it fell. Stories of no mercy, of rape and pillage, and unparallel violence. Everyone tried to forget, how the fallen nation of Clow, once thought to be the most powerful had been defeated, trampled and stricken from the history books. In these present times, one was hard pressed to find any mention of the Kingdom of Clow.
Thirty years went by. The High Lord grew old, and began to groom the young man that would take his place. As according to the law of the hoard, the protégé defeated any other contenders for the throne after the High Lord died. The moment he claimed the throne, he ordered the armies out and to attack. Pontira, Racili, and the small group of islands the Tallin fell to Hummai's vast armies that had been built up and trained over the thirty year period of peace.
"Your highness? These dispatches just arrived for you by courier."
Thoughts of the past were completely interrupted as the servant offered the rolled parchments on a silver tray. The Vasan King accepted the dispatches and recognized the seal on the outside of it. He waved his hands, dismissing the servants from all the random corners of the room. The seal on the outside was not any that anyone knew any longer.
A long broad sword crossed with a short magician's staff with a star at the top. The Prince Eriol and the Rebel Warrior had sent him yet another plea for help. The King loosened the wax seal, smiling sadly at the old seal of the dead Kingdom of Clow. He unrolled the parchment and read the lines written in a steady hand.
To His Highness the King of Vasan,
My Lord, I must once again plead with your kind conscious for support in our fight against the cruel High Lord of Hummai. We continue to struggle against our common enemy. Your Highness, there is no polite way to do this: you invaded my lands, but you refrained from killing any of my subjects. You make no effort to hide where your public loyalties lie, this I understand, your responsibility is to your people first and the rest of the continent second. No good would come of you inciting the High Lord's wrathful attention. Yet, while you support the High Lord on the surface, for years you have been sending secret aid to all who would stand against him. I know it was you that sent the ship that saved the last of the Li Clan from annihilation nearly fifty years ago. It was you that helped Racili last as long as it did. It was you that sent Tallin arms and money to pay for mercenaries. We are coming to a time when secret support may no longer be enough. You know as well as I do the High Lord could move against your country and win any moment. I am asking you to do the stupid, fatal, noble thing and stand against the High Lord with us. I am asking you this, because we are coming to our end. And I am one of the kinds of people who would rather face that end with a sword in hand, and I am asking you to do the same.
Eriol Hiiragizawa
The King of Vasan stood from his silver throne. He moved to the fireplace and dropped the rolled piece of paper in the fire. The flames took to it greedily, curling the edges and turning the page charcoal black. He leaned a heavy hand against the mantle and rested his weary gray head against his wrist. The fire began to hiss as water fell onto its hot haven through the chimney.
It must have begun to rain.
Velaterra, Hummai
5th of the Sixth Moon Month
This was it. The board was set. The die cast.
Sakura rolled out of bed about mid morning, which was a completely normal occurrence. Tomoyo helped her dress in the most humble clothes that were available. Again, a normal happening in Sakura's day. The High Lord didn't call for her that morning, so the two girls had lunch in the only remaining garden in the palace. It was once the king's private one, where he and his queen would sit to watch the sun set, or just relax in the flora. The up keep of the garden was low on everyone's priority list, so it was an overgrown mass of tangled vines, brambles and briars.
Neither had seen a more beautiful place.
The stone outside was a dull gray, and the varying shades of green and browns that over ran it made the dullness fade till the word no longer described the walls properly. The flowers that the queen must have tended to very lovingly had not died without her care. Instead, they rose to the new challenge of survival and flourished.
Tomoyo remembered having once, caught a glance inside this sanctuary before the fall of Arcadia. It had been breath takingly beautiful with its bright fullness, and overwhelming scents and blossoms. It had been like catching a glimpse at another world, one of easy perfection and grace. It had been beautiful then. Now it was stunning. The wildness that is plants, that is life was in full array now. There was no order, no straight, manicured flower beds, just gorgeous chaos.
Sakura picked at the hem of her sleeve, pulling at a loose thread. She wound it tight around the tip of her finger, turning the affected area white and then unwinding it, making it flush its normal living color again. Tomoyo was nervous too, but she put her nervous energy to work, creating a sturdy and becoming dress for her new found friend. Sakura who had no clothes that she called her own, was rather excited to receive such a gift. But watching it being made, was offering no distraction for the green eyed seer's nervous thoughts.
"If this doesn't work..."
"It will work."
Tomoyo responded before Sakura could even finish her thought. Sakura wound the thread about her finger tip again, feeling the heavy pulse of blood as it tried to squeeze through the suddenly restricted capillaries. Her heart was beating so fast. She unwound the thread and then reached into the pocket of her humble light pink dress and pulled out what she had spent most of the previous night working on. Using pages of the medical textbook, Sakura had cut out replicas of the Seer's cards. They were the same size as the Seer's Cards, the same weight, and the same feel to them. They did not, however, have the intricate designs and images on their faces. Sakura's plan of successfully stealing her cards back from the High Lord hinged on him not going the one thing he loved to do after she finished her readings for him. And that was his rather creepy habit of going through and looking at each card before putting them back in their blue silk bag that would disappear into the depths of his cloak.
"I can't help but feel..."
"Kero volunteered for the job, Sakura. It was his idea. And we couldn't come up with a better one."
"But still. So many things could happen to him."
"We will just have to trust him. He's older than he cares to say, so he must have picked up some wisdom along the way."
"Tomoyo, have you ever met Kero?"
Tomoyo laughed and reached for her glass of water.
"You make a valid point. The fur ball does tend to be rather...spontaneous."
Sakura snorted.
"Spontaneous? That's-"
"My Lady Sakura? The High Lord requests your presence in the Throne Room."
The two girls looked up at the servants soundless appearance at the archway to the garden. Both were extremely glad they had left out any specifics or details to who exactly 'Kero' was, in case the servant had overhead any of their conversation. Sakura got to her feet and took a calming breath. There would be no signs of her nervousness when she saw the High Lord. All would have to be normal. Tomoyo discreetly reached up and grasped Sakura's hand. She gave the older girl's hand a firm squeeze.
Sakura left with the servant for the Throne Room. Tomoyo, the moment they were gone, picked up her things, stuffed them into her sewing basket and was sprinting through the palace halls. She made it back to Sakura's room in record time, and securely closed the doors behind her. Kero wasn't there, he was no doubt in position waiting for her to give the signal. Knowing she had minimal time, Tomoyo raced about the room. She and Sakura had already gathered what they could manage for the trip. While Sakura was making the cards last night, Tomoyo stayed up as well, prying precious gems from the lavious gowns in Sakura's wardrobe, that way buying food would not be an issue. A rucksack had been procured, and the two girls had carefully packed one extra set of clothes each, Sakura's small collection of medicinal herbs, Tomoyo's sewing things, and the money and jewels they had pooled.
One last quick glance about the room told Tomoyo she wasn't forgetting anything of Sakura's or hers. But as she was making for the bookcase to open the secret passage, she recalled that this was indeed Eriol's old room. Sakura said she hadn't changed much, the only thing she got rid of were the clothes in the wardrobe. She had told the slave that the settings of the room had suited her, and she felt she couldn't disturb the bits of a person's life that she help destroy. Tomoyo paused for an extra few precious seconds to look over the room for anything she could easily take to the ex-Prince of Arcadia. Her eyes fell on a collection of writing tools on one of the shelves. There was an ink pot, stacks of used and unused parchments, a collection of quills in a porcelain cup that had its handle broken. On the broken handle of the worn cup hung a large silver crest ring. Tomoyo's sharp eyes recognized the crest of Eriol's family, after all it had been emblazoned on her uniform for seven years of her life. Quick fingers retrieved it from its perch and she slipped it over her thumb, crest facing her palm. Its heavy weight was comforting.
Tomoyo climbed into the passage way, shouldered the rucksack and started running once again.
Basick Valley, Northern Drume Mountains
5th of the Sixth Moon Month
Syaoran sat in a dark corner of Melin's tavern. It was around noon, and the common room was bustling with lunch traffic. Blue smudges were prominent under the twenty year old's eyes, and his eye lids were drooping with every passing moment.
No sleep.
He had gotten absolutely zero sleep last night, despite the exhausted state he had been in when he tumbled head first into his bed. Syaoran spent the night tossing, turning, counting sheep, drinking warmed milk, and even going for a run around the perimeter of the town. Nothing had worked, he just couldn't go to sleep.
To top it all off. His magic was restless too.
Something was going on, something that Syaoran could feel he had no knowledge of, but that he was somehow tied to it. The feeling was an extremely uncomfortable one, like he was in a room full of people but he facing a corner, unable to turn around. His entire body wasn't making sense, he was exhausted, but he was incredible restless.
Eriol had taught Syaoran to mask his magical aura like he did, to keep other mages from sensing his presence. Now, the restraints he had so effortless applied to his aura were quickly becoming something that taxed even further on his already taxed energy. For some unknown reason, his magic was fighting against the suppression he applied to it daily. It was fighting to be heard, and Syaoran was loosing the battle.
His reserves were already low because of the long day spent trying to fix the terraced field and save the rice crop. They were successful in their efforts, but Syaoran had drained himself both physically and magically in order to help. Now, without a few hours of desperately needed rest, Syaoran was starting to feel the control over his aura dim.
His magical aura burst from its suppression, and flared in one startling blast that sent Eriol (who was in his closet writing) reeling back in his chair in surprise. It surprised them both how much Syaoran's magical aura had grown in the past few years. Syaoran relished in the moment of release, and relief. But that passed quickly, and exhaustion began to drag him down. He laid his head down on a table, closed his eyes and summoned his remaining strength to pull back his magical aura. He also, finally, fell asleep.
And in his sleep, he saw a beautiful, green eyed girl whip about in her sitting position on a marble floor to stare directly into his own eyes.
You!
Her voice was clear in his mind, as if she was next to him in the tavern, or he was next to her in this marbled room.
But his aura quieted, and pulled in close to his body. And his mind shut down and his body grew lax. He knew nothing of the things that all happened at the same moment as his aura flaring, hundreds of miles away. South, to be specific.
Velaterra, Hummai
5th of the Sixth Moon Month
Tomoyo shoved open the trapdoor that came out in the stables. It was in the tack closet, and the door was closed. Tomoyo, while scrambling out of the hole in the floor and making for the door called out to Kero.
"Kero! Now!"
Kero, who was invisible and pacing the long length of the royal stables heard Tomoyo's call perfectly. He dropped his spell and made his presence known to all forty seven horses in the royal stables, not to mention the dozen or so others just outside or in a paddock. The animals froze at his sudden appearance. Kero's barrel chest expanded as he took a full breath, and then opened his mouth to let out a feral roar. The very air shook with the thunderous sound, and it filled the ears of all who heard. The horses panicked. Most, in their fright and surge of adrenaline, kicked down the doors of their stalls, shattering locks and splintering wood. Some, actually managed to jump the walls of the stalls, and Kero was forced to leap out of the way as the horses barreled from the stables in a blind effort to escape certain death. They as one stampeding mass made for the exit of the stables, with Kero behind them letting out a few more terrifying roars just for good measure.
The animals tore out of the stables, causing everyone around to join in the panicking. Kero looked about, and a devilish thought came to mind. It wasn't part of the plan, or orthodox in any way, but he could tell that there was no one left in the stables, and the palace was made of stone...
Kero opened his mouth and summoned some of his magic, passed to him by his first master, one of the most powerful magicians to ever exist. He exhaled a breath of orange flame that ignited the straw and hay about the stables. The fire took quickly, racing up the available wooden beams and stalls. Once assured of the fire's success, Kero bounded to the tack closet where the door opened. He hurried inside, and Tomoyo closed the door behind him. They both disappeared down the trapdoor, and slipped quietly away, traveling underneath the pounding of hoofs, and crackle of fire.
Sakura was forcefully shoved out of her seeing trance by the startling appearance of a strong magical presence. One she recognized instantly. It was like he was in the room with her, standing right next to her. But at the same time, she could feel the rough wood of a bench, and the smoky atmosphere of a tavern, or inn suddenly clouding her senses. She whipped about, and faced to the right and a little behind her. Her eyes locked on something, something she couldn't quite make out from the normalcy that was there. Eyes, she received the distinct impression of intense amber eyes.
You!
She thought. It was a strange sensation, this seeing but not seeing. The closest thing Sakura could compare it to was when you closed you eyes and summoned an image to your mind. You don't see it. But at the same time, your mind is analyzing it as if you were.
The image, or rather, the impression faded, along with the magical presence, and it was as if it had never been there. Sakura must have gasped, or made some sort of startled sound because everyone was looking at her strangely. The High Lord was leaning over the arm rest of his throne a frown on his face.
"What happened? What is wrong?"
Sakura put a hand to her forehead and breathed through her nose, trying to banish thoughts of a certain rebel warrior that she had just seen standing not two feet from her side.
"I'm sorry, my lord. A magical presence has disturbed my trance...there is something wrong."
The High Lord's frown deepened, but before he could responded the doors to the Throne Room were thrown open and several servants stumbled inside. They were out of breath and their clothes were rumpled.
"My Lord, forgive this disturbance, but a great beast has appeared in the stables and the courtyards! The horses and other animals broke free from their stalls and are stampeding through the palace! One must have knocked over a lantern because the stables are in flames! It's chaos!!"
The High Lord rose from his throne and began to shout orders out to the high ranking officials who had been in the throne room for Sakura's reading.
"Call that mage Tuskishiro! He should be able to calm those idiotic animals! And whoever brings me this 'great beast' shall be rewarded!"
Sakura steeled herself, and while everyone's attention was focused on the High Lord, she gathered together the Seer's Cards and pulled her copies from her pocket. Hiding the real ones in the folds of her skirts, Sakura slipped the fakes in the silk bag. A second later the High Lord turned to her.
"My guards will escort you back to your chambers. I will call for you later this evening to do the reading over."
Sakura nodded numbly and stood, using one hand to presumably hold up her skirts, but in reality, hold up the Seer's Cards which she hadn't had enough time to put in her pocket. She kept a handful of fabric wrapped securely around them, with her other hand she offered the silk bag to the High Lord. He took it mindlessly, and returned it to the depths of this cloak. He then followed his generals and courtiers out to the main terrace to personally watch the happenings below in the courtyards and by now, the upper levels of the city. Panic spread very quickly.
Sakura was hard pressed to keep her steps and breathing even as she followed behind the guards, one hand still in her skirts. The walk back to her rooms was most assuredly the longest she had ever experienced. She felt for sure her grip on the cards was slipping and that they would tumble from her grasp at any second. Her mind was begging what ever God that lurked in the clouds overhead to just keep gravity at bay for a little longer. She prayed for the safety of Kero and Tomoyo, glad that no reports of their identity were circulating.
Finally they came to her door. One of the guards opened it for her, and Sakura slipped inside. Quickly, before the guard to glance around for Sakura's maid, Sakura shut the door and sank to the floor. She twisted the lock on the door and let go of her hold on her skirt. The Seer's Cards slid from the haven of fabric to the floor where they lay, face up staring back at Sakura.
Her Cards.
Sakura held back tears of happiness as she climbed to unsteady legs and gathered up her cards. As she made for her dresser, she counted them, ensuring that every single one was present. They were all there.
Five years...It's been five years since I've held these cards as my own.
Sakura thought to herself, slipping them into a bag that Tomoyo had quickly constructed the night before out of some leftover green cotton. She tied a sturdy knot at the top of the small bag, double checking to make sure nothing could slip out. Then she put the precious bag in her pocket and made for the bookcase. Tomoyo had already gathered and taken their things, but Sakura couldn't help but pause as she climbed through the passage entrance to glance about the room once more. The familiar contours of her prison and her haven met her searching eyes. She didn't know what she was looking for. None of these things belonged to her. All that truly belonged to her, rested in the depths of her pocket.
She set her jaw and finished climbing into the passage way. There was a lit lantern waiting for her on the floor. Sakura picked it up, pulled the passage door shut and started a quick walk down the length of the passage.
The city of Velaterra was barracks, however it took a small army of slaves to keep the place clean. So the sight of two slave girls hurrying down the street, darting in between the alleyways and shadows. Kero's debut appearance in the stables had been quieted down, however soldiers were still running about the barracks exchanging stories and tracking down the last of the escaped animals. Rumors as to the identify of the "giant beast" were circulating in the air. So far, Sakura and Tomoyo had overheard four accounts of a dragon, seven of a huge griffin, and lastly the account that was no doubt being passed as the truth: that one of the High Lord's menagerie animals got loose, specifically a lion or tiger.
It was mid-afternoon now, and the three decided that they should try to escape now, while Sakura's disappearance was still unnoticed in all the commotion. Tomoyo had nicked two dirty aprons and head kerchiefs from the tavern when the cook wasn't looking. Now properly disguised the two, with Kero just an invisible step behind, were making their way to the main entry way of the city.
"Sakura, I wish you had let me carry the rucksack."
Tomoyo whispered as they slipped down an alley way, and discreetly cut through a building to enter one of the lower levels of the city. Sakura hefted the sack a bit higher on her shoulders.
"No, It's okay, plus it gives me an excuse to keep my head down."
"Alright, but if you get tired, just let me know."
"Hey, I'm not completely spoiled. I was the daughter of a village healer before I became what I was."
Sakura took a moment and pulled her kerchief a bit lower on her head, effectively hiding her auburn hair. She made sure to keep her eyes downcast hiding her bright green eyes.
"That's right. So what was your old life like?"
Tomoyo asked, genuinely interested.
"Well, we moved around a lot, when I was little I didn't understand, but when I was about eleven I realized it was because of what me and my mother were. We were Seers. We stayed for a couple months here, couple months there, making sure to keep moving. The longest I can ever remember staying in one place was at the village where me and my brother were captured."
"Li's village, right?"
"Yea, Syaoran's. But I guess everyone calls him Li, now that he's finally of age. You know he was always training? Constantly. I don't think the Elder, or his family ever let him just be a kid."
"How long were you in Li's village?"
"Six months."
There was a pause in their conversation as they stopped in a patch of shadows to avoid a group of soldiers hurrying by.
"Did you get to know him well?"
"No. He was always busy, and I was very shy. Not to mention I tried to stay close to my mother, there was never any warning as to when we'd pick everything up and be on the road again."
"But you saw him a lot?"
"Sorta, he was the heir to the Clan. He seemed to be everywhere. In the stables, in the fields, helping the elder, talking with people, being chased by his older sisters, running from his cousin. He was a very responsible person. I did talk to him once, but only once, I doubt he remembers."
"What did you guys talk about?"
Sakura grinned at the small memory.
"A rusty well bucket."
Tomoyo chuckled, then silenced as she cast a cautious glance around a blind corner they were about to take. They had come to the main gate much quicker than she had imagined.
"Sakura, we're here."
The green-eyed seer glanced discretely about, making sure no one was watching. She nodded to Tomoyo but continued to look about for anyone's straying gaze. Tomoyo ducked her head and yanked the dirty kerchief from her head, then she undid the knot that tied the apron about her waist and pulled that off as well. Once she was finished, she took up keeping watch while Sakura dropped the rucksack and did the same with her kerchief and apron. Now, instead to two filthy slaves, the two looked like two simple servant girls returning to the dwellings outside the city walls after a hard days work. Sakura shouldered the rucksack again.
"Alright, keep those green eyes of yours down. No matter what happens."
Tomoyo said firmly, taking Sakura's hand in her own. They squeezed each other's fingers tightly, and stepped out into the sunlight.
The High Lord was in a beautifully decorated room. Its theme was a navy blue and silver, complete down to the drapes that hung from the canopy of the bed. He had never been in this room himself. But he had walked down from his throne room to see it with his own eyes, to see exactly what it lacked. Behind him, the door into the bedroom had been forced open, the wood around the lock twisted and splintered.
The room was empty, save for him.
And the crumpled remains of paper on the floor by his feet.
The Colonel Asagawa after an extremely tiring afternoon chasing down frightened animals and controlling a rampid fire, wanted nothing more than to find a nice shadowy corner in the tavern and enjoy some food. However, orders from his Uncle came down that he was to ride to the main gate of the city and take up guard duty of all things!
He had accepted those orders, despite the degrading nature of them. He was a Colonel now for God's sake. He hadn't done guard duty since he was a Captain. None the less, there had been something about how the General Asagawa had delivered the orders. He had been pale, and his form was riddled with barely detectable shivers and shakes. Something had spooked him. And Toya, had a heavy suspicion that it hadn't been the "giant beast" in the stables earlier that afternoon.
With him, as always, was Yukito. The mage stood next to him, despite the orders not extending to him as well as Toya. The main gates stayed open from sunrise to sunset each day, and a steady stream of people moved in and out of the portal. Mostly servants and a few business men who had jobs or businesses in the city, but lived in the shanty towns outside the walls. On either side of the gate way, an armed guard stood, watching the flow of people for any signs of anything out of ordinary.
So here Toya stood, with his best friend at his side, watching hunchbacked servants, and ragged business owners exit the city at a weary pace.
"Is this a punishment of some sorts?"
Yukito asked cheerfully, switching his mage's staff to his other shoulder and went back to leaning against the open gate door. Toya stood beside him, not leaning, but standing at attention and eyeing each of the people as they passed.
"If it is, I have no idea what for."
"Getting completely shitfaced last night and passing out in the gutter?"
The corner of Toya's mouth twitched in restrained amusement.
"Would this be the gutter that you woke up in next to me?"
Yukito chuckled.
"Aye, that very same."
The mage wouldn't say it, but both men knew that it bothered Yukito. The fact that the last thing the mage could remember was bending down to heave Toya to his feet, both irritated and frightened the young man. Old fears of his old illness, the amnesia came roaring back to the surface. Neither had any ideas how, Yukito, who hadn't drunk a drop the previous night, awoke right next to the hangover Toya as if he had downed as much as his friend.
"Whatever the reason, I'll do this job as I've done all of them. Perfectly."
Toya said, never once taking his focus from searching each person that passed in front of him. Yukito put a hand on his shoulder.
"No doubt you will, my friend. No doubt."
With that, the two lapsed into silence. Until, at the same moment they both stiffened. Their respective senses were trying to communicate something to them, but just what that something was, they couldn't figure out. Neither felt endangered, it wasn't an enemy that approached, no they just felt anxious. They shared an apprehensive look, and immediately began to look about for the source of their discomfort.
While Yukito looked about in vain, Toya's eyes fell on a pair of servant girls traveling hand in hand, heads down. Toya felt his eyes drawn, as if by magic to the taller of the two, a slim girl with a thick braid of auburn hair down her back.
"Hey, you two, the servant girls, halt."
He said, walking forward and putting himself directly in their path. The two stopped, and one raised her head to look up in confusion. She was quite beautiful, wide violet eyes framed by black lashes. Pale skin that glowed underneath the dirt and grim of her station, looked smooth and flawless.
"Is there a problem, sir?"
She asked innocently, glancing at her companion for only a second.
"Where do you two work?"
"In the palace, sir. Did you hear about all that commotion this afternoon? Strange stories floatin' around."
She said, shifting from one foot to the other in clear nervousness. Toya noticed that the second girl, the one that he could barely keep his eyes off of, did not raise her face.
"I have heard. Where in the palace do you work?"
"For the Lady Seer, sir. We keep her room and things tidy."
Toya started in surprise.
"The Lady Seer? The Green-Eyed Witch?"
"Aye, sir, the very same."
The servant girl replied evenly and smile on her face. But Toya wasn't looking, he still stared intently at the girl who didn't look up. For her part, Sakura was frozen. In a small part of her shocked mind, she was grateful for the state of shock, because without it there was no doubt in her mind that she would throw herself at her brother and beg him to remember her. Just the very sound of his voice, that had gotten deeper in the past five years, made her knees shake. She clutched at Tomoyo's hand, knowing that it was probably become painful, but unable to stop herself.
"Why do you not look at me, girl?"
Toya questioned harshly, becoming quickly annoyed by his unfounded fascination with the second servant girl.
"Forgiver her, sir, she's deaf, she can't hear you."
Sakura made a mental note to congratulate Tomoyo on her quick thinking. At the back of her knees, she suddenly felt the warm touch of golden fur. Her friends were with her.
"I see."
Toya said, he reached out and hooked a finger under Sakura's chin and pulled her face upwards. Sakura held her breath, and didn't resist. She felt Tomoyo and Kero both tense, ready to spring. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed there was a pale young man that was staring at the space directly behind her with confused eyes.
He sees Kero...somehow he can see Kero!
Sakura made a split second decision, the moment that her eyes met those of her brother's. Toya stared into her face, his face growing lax in surprise, but Sakura saw no recognition there. He did not know who she truly was.
"Tomoyo! Kero! Run!"
She shouted, jerking back from her brother and leading the way for the outside. Toya was stunned only for a second, and then leapt forward acting on soldier training alone to snatch the end of Sakura's braid. Sakura was yanked back, but managed to keep her balance, her hands coming up to clutch her braid above Toya's hands and pull hard in retaliation trying to free herself. Tomoyo turned, still holding Sakura's hand and tried to pull her friend forward. Kero waited no longer and appeared to all for the second time that day. Other people screamed at his appearance and ran, the other gate guard too. Yukito rushed to Toya's side, but caught sight of Kero as he materialized; and suddenly his limbs stopped obeying his commands. He felt something well up inside him that still all his movements and fought back hard against Yukito's tries to regain control.
Sakura pulled hard, but could free herself from her brother's grasp. He pulled her in close, and grabbed at her arm to restrain her. But she was quicker, she used her right hand to grasp the hilt of his dagger and draw it. Then she brought the sharp blade behind her head and sliced off her braid there. Toya fell back at the loss of tension and stumbled right into his motionless friend. Toya turned to check on Yukito and to shout orders to the soldiers that were swiftly appearing at the scene.
"Get the girls! Get those two girls there!"
He pointed at their fleeing forms that were protected from behind by a roaring golden lion. Sakura and Tomoyo ran as fast as they could, outside the walls, their feet beating hard against the ground. They had planned to take cover in the foliage that bordered both sides of the Kor River, but that was some distance away, and with soldiers after them, they'd never make it.
"Tomoyo! Sakura! Wait! Stop!"
The two looked over their shoulders at Kero who was catching up to them easily with his four legs. Armed soldiers were only a few steps behind, however.
"My back! You two have to get on my back!"
Sakura slowed down, reducing to a bare jog, pulling Tomoyo along with her. Kero bounded forward and Sakura grabbed hold of his armor around his broad shoulders. The two girls slung themselves up on Kero's back like they would a horse, and Kero put on an extra burst of speed.
"Hold on tight now!"
Kero shouted. Suddenly, the area where Sakura clung to Kero's armor was disrupted by the eruption of white wings. Both girls squealed in surprise as the unfurled, blocking their few of all else. Kero shifted his weight to his hind legs and leaped, taking flight in the thick late afternoon air. The girls screamed as the ground dropped away, and Kero pushed down with powerful wing strokes to take them higher.
It only took seconds for the soldiers left on the ground to overcome their shock and nock arrows on their bows. They whistled by Kero and the girls, making them turn and look back.
"Fly out of their range Kero! You have to go higher!"
Sakura shouted to the great lion. He suddenly let out a furious roar, as one of the arrows hit its escaping mark. Tomoyo looked back and viewed the feathered end protruding from the delicate thigh muscle of the lion. Back on the ground, Toya was screaming to be heard.
"Stop shoot you morons! That's the High Lord's Seer! Stop shooting!! You might hit her!!"
Toya knew it was her. He had seen the woman at his promotion ceremony, she had been looking directly at him, with the strangest look in her green eyes. A look that now, in his memories, unsettled him. Sadness mixed with desperation. What would make her look at him like that? Toya didn't know. But he intended to find out.
"You!"
Toya singled out one of the soldiers.
"Run back to the city and get enough horses for all here! You!"
He pointed to another soldier.
"Report to the palace and tell what has happened!"
""Aye, Sir!""
They shouted before turning tail and making all haste back to the city.
"The rest of you! They are headed for the River! After them!!"
The group of two dozen soldiers roared a war cry in response and began to run steadily after Toya. The rolling hills were thankfully not high enough to loose sight of their quarry.
"Kero!? Are you alright?!"
Sakura shouted over the rush and whoosh of air as it screamed past.
"Fine! It doesn't hinder me flying any!"
"But we need to land so I can tend to it, Kero! We have to stop the bleeding!"
"It'll take too much time! We have to reach the Kor River first!"
Kero shouted back, Sakura fisted her hands in his fur. Tomoyo had her arms about Sakura's waist, and was clinging for dear life. She did still have the sense to agree with Kero.
"He's right Sakura. We have to get away first!"
She shouted. Sakura tightened her fists some more, they were completely white now.
"The first place that's out of sight you hear?!"
Sakura yelled, and Kero nodded in response, knowing she could feel it. Sakura and Tomoyo relaxed just a bit as Kero's flying evened out, and was no longer the breakneck speed it had been. The girls looked back and down at the line of soldier's that followed them. Soon however, they would be well out of sight.
Sakura unfisted her right hand and reached down into the pocket of her gown. There she felt the comforting presence of her cards. She patted them and then returned her hand to Kero's fur. She looked around in wonder, the true meaning of the situation dawning on her as the adrenaline receded from her system.
Blue sky and green earth stretched out before her, uninterrupted by walls or bars. Despite the details of the situation, the soldiers following them hard, Kero's wound, the long, dangerous journey that awaited them, Sakura felt her lips curve into a broad smile.
She was free.
A/N: I do not own any of the characters used in this fictional piece, nor do I stake any claim on them with the publishing of this work.
Forgive the iffy editing job. I was in a hurry.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! (I am only an hour behind my self set deadline. I hope you guys can forgive me.)
