Yay! It's another chapter! :D
We've seen the laying of the foundation. All of the ingredients for this story are before us. Now it's time to turn on the heat and start cooking! And so, without further ado, I bring you:
We're Just Playing The Hands We're Dealt
"What you are asking me to do will be considered treason the moment I cross the border onto Lord Oroku's lands," Arturo spoke slowly, having carefully weighed the information put before him.
His friend nodded, "We know. And we do not ask it lightly. Take time to think it over. Refuse if you feel the risk is too great."
Arturo looked up at Leatherhead, "Out of curiosity, why did you even ask me? I am sure that there are men more willing; men who are already agents of your lord; men whom you already trust personally."
Again his friend nodded, "This is true. But aside from your strategic advantages, you come the most highly recommended. Please, consider our request and send someone with your answer," With that Leatherhead stood and left, leaving a very puzzled bear to finish his drink.
The Hun entered the Great Hall of Lord Oroku's fortress; his face was a picture of solemnity as he knelt before his lord and benefactor. The presence of Lord Oroku's heir did not go unnoticed.
"Rise John Hunter. An opportunity has arisen for you to again prove yourself useful to me," Lord Oroku intoned.
John Hunter nodded his compliance as he regained his footing, "Name it, my lord."
Lord Oroku retrieved a piece of rolled parchment from a small table beside him and passed it to his daughter. Lady Karai rose and glided forward. She handed the parchment to Hunter and returned to her seat, all the while regarding the man with an expression that made her opinion of him very clear.
He did not think highly of her either. By sheer chance, she was his superior and he would honor that. But he held little respect for a silly little girl who had been handed all that he had worked so hard for and more.
The Hun turned his attention to the parchment, breaking the seal and unrolling it. Two sketched faces stared back at him.
"These criminals lead a gang of rebels and thieves. They have become a nuisance to me, one which you shall remedy. Arrest them, kill them if you must." Lord Oroku ordered, "Lady Karai will turn over to you the information we have gathered so far."
Lord Oroku and Lady Karai stood and John Hunter hastily bowed again. "I shall serve you to the best of my abilities, my lord," he proclaimed.
In the darkness of a dungeon cell, a prisoner of the Triceraton War lay on his thin blanket and padding of dirty straw. The grey darkness was becoming black darkness yet again. Another day gone in this stinking hole.
"How the mighty have fallen..." Traximus muttered bitterly to himself.
The once proud warrior, who had vowed to die honorably in battle, reduced to a withering husk wasting away in the possession of the enemy. He had lost track of the ages of his confinement, resigning himself to his fate, waiting for the day when he had built up enough strength to attack the guards and die a Triceraton's death.
That had changed.
The cell across from his housed one of the Triceraton War's most famous warriors. Even his enemies knew him by name; his notoriety was second only to Oroku Saki himself. At first, Traximus thought he had misheard. It made no sense. Why would his enemies incarcerate one of their greatest war heroes? But he heard the name again and again until there could be no mistaking the identity of the inmate across from him:
Yoshi.
Traximus still built his strength, but now he built it to escape.
Lord Mortu entered the Council Chamber and bowed. Before him stood the traditional three members of the Honored Council. They stood before their ceremonial seats in full dress for an official audience. He hadn't told them he would be coming, and yet there they were to greet him, the white robes and hoods stood out starkly on the dark stone floor. Normally, the council would sit or stand just before their chairs during an audience. Now, they crossed the floor and met Lord Mortu in the middle of the large, circular room.
"Lord Mortu. What was the outcome of your meeting?" the head council-member asked impassively.
"Honored Council, Sir Leatherhead introduced me to a man who would be useful for our purposes. We presented our offer to him, but he was hesitant. His life is not completely his own to pledge to our cause, there are others who rely upon him. He will contact us with his decision." Lord Mortu replied, recovering from his surprise at the Council's unprecedented behavior.
The council exchanged a glance, "With conflicting interests, you are certain that this man is the right choice?" the youngest member asked setting her gaze upon the lord.
This member had joined the Council in the last five years, replacing the previous member who had died. Councilman Zek had been one of Mortu's mentors and his loss had been keenly felt. And for a time, personal feelings had clouded Mortu's opinion of the new Council member. Though as with most things, he was beginning to see the wisdom of the Council in their decision. The question was one that Zek would have asked of him.
Mortu nodded, "Absolutely! Those conflicting interests are the best cover for him and the best motivation. Our success is the only way to truly ensure that his people achieve true safety."
"Officially, we must protest this entire venture," A council member said calmly.
Lord Mortu looked around the room at the white pillars that sprouted from the dark stone floor like a forest. He was well aware of the Honored Council's Guardian Unit. And their occasional habit of using those pillars for cover in order to fulfill their duties during confidential meetings. But the Council kept no Guardians who were not worthy of trust.
"I don't see anyone taking records, honored council members," Mortu said.
The youngest Council member smiled wryly, "Indeed, Lord Mortu. Do what you must to see this undertaking succeed. But remember your foremost duty: to protect these lands at all cost."
Lord Mortu looked at the two other, more senior members of the council. Both seemed fascinated by the pillars, looking more solemn than usual in their ceremonial robes,
"I understand." He replied.
There would be no further council on the matter. He was on his own.
Lisa woke up bright and early to the sound of someone pounding on her door.
"This starting to become a habit, isn't it?" she muttered as she threw a shawl around her shoulders and made her way to the door.
She woke up enough to take stock of the fact that the light timidly making its way in through the windows barely had the strength or presence to abate the shadows. Lisa lit a candle with the sudden determination to either go back to bed or make someone pay for forcing her to rise.
Another series of pounding thuds reverberated against the door. There went the fantasy of sleep.
"Raph, isn't it a little early? Are you sure this friend of yours will be awake?" Leo asked as Raph pounded on the door of a small farmhouse.
"Who, Lisa? With us around she's gotten pretty used to keeping weird hours," Raph waved him off dismissively.
Don and Leo exchanged a glance. Don shrugged. He was no stranger to the concept; medical emergencies didn't always wait for a convenient hour and he said so. Leo still wasn't quite convinced. He was about to suggest that they come back at a more reasonable hour when the door flew open.
"Raph if I've told you once-"
they never found out what the young and quite perturbed looking woman standing in the doorway had told Raph because Donatello and Leonardo interrupted with gasps of surprise and exclamations of "You!" Leo even went so far as to reach for his knife as he stepped in front of Don protectively.
There was a moment of tension and then Raphael spoke up, "Leo, Don, this is Lisa. But I take it you've already met."
Leonardo was trying very hard to hold onto a grudge, but seemed that Lisa was as good at apologies as she was at ambushes. Raphael had proven to be an excellent judge of character. Donatello had been a bit wary at first, but even he was warming up to the woman who had, upon their first meeting, held a knife to his throat.
Raphael had made a joke upon learning that; something along the lines of 'some things never change', which prompted the story of how he had met Lisa. Similar circumstances had been involved.
Somewhere along the line, they had all drifted into Lisa's kitchen. She and Raph had begun making breakfast, slinging quips at each other and bantering back and forth all the while as only friends can do. Leo was glad to see that, in the absence of family, Raphael had found people who would support him.
"If you let the bacon burn, I'm going to kick your ass into next week." Lisa proclaimed sweetly. Raph hurriedly turned to check the meat.
'Yes,' Leo thought, hiding a smile behind a sip of tea, 'Raph has found exactly the sort of friends he needs.'
Not far from a little hamlet, The Hun hid behind a tree. The information was good. He'd double checked the sources personally. Most men would not be so thorough as to look into extraneous background information. The Hun was not most men.
He allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up briefly. Most men didn't have the access to the background information on this case either. The file Karai had provided him with had proven enlightening to say the least. It was the information that he had found in that file that had formed the basis of his plan to capture the rebel. And now he was ready to see the first fruits of that plan.
With the raise of a hand, he gave the signal and he and his men advanced upon the little house nestled in the trees. The pre-dawn grey covered their approach in shadow, allowing The Hun to reach the front door itself undetected. He held up his hand and the men halted. They all waited tensely for a moment, fur on the back of necks lifting, tails flicking back and forth, all anticipating the signal and the ensuing action.
The Hun threw his shoulder into the door. He had the strength, weight, and momentum to splinter it. No one was expecting it to fly open, unlocked. The Hun picked himself up off the ground and glared at the stunned men outside. Remembering their purpose, they charged into the cottage, tearing from room to room, searching for their quarry.
"No one's here!" the shouts resounded through the little house as each room was searched.
The chaotic hunt didn't take long. It was a small house. The Hun performed an investigation personally. Finally, there could be only one conclusion: the apothecary's house was empty. The Hun frowned. He did not lose. And he most certainly did not lose to some herb woman and a fugitive's bookish little brother.
"You," he pointed to a group of men, "stay here and keep searching this house. Take it apart if you have to. The rest of you fan out and search the woods," there was a slight hesitation as the men waited for any more orders. The Hun was not in a patient mood.
"Now!" he barked and the men scurried off to their assignments.
This was only a delay, a setback to his ultimate victory. People knew that when John Hunter set out after something, it was only a matter of time until he got it. The Hun did not play to lose.
Kirby drove his cart along toward town. The bushels of grain in the back made the donkeys slower, but they'd bring in much needed money and supplies as well. As he idly thought about what he needed most at the moment and what could wait another season, Kirby noticed a young woman carrying several heavy looking bags down the side of the road. A dog trotted at her heels.
As he came alongside her, Kirby pulled his cart to a stop.
"Good morning!" he greeted cheerfully, "Those bags look heavy. Need a lift?"
The woman paused for a moment as if in thought, then nodded, throwing the bags into the back. She pulled the dog up onto the front seat with her. The hood of her cloak fell back as she situated herself, revealing her bright red hair.
"Thank you," the young woman said with a grateful smile, pulling her hood back up.
Kirby urged the donkeys forward and nodded to her.
"It's no problem. Where are you headed?" he asked.
She was silent a moment before she replied, "As far as I have to go."
This is your author speaking. Please make sure your tray tables and seat-backs are in their upright and locked positions. The action will be taking off shortly. As always, reviews not required, but much appreciated. Thank you and have a nice day. :D