- "Land ahead," Peri said enthusiastically.
- "And a good thing too, Winski and Imoen are exhausted," Sarevok nodded. What loomed ahead of them was a scattering of small islands as if flung to the sea by a spoiled brat of a godschild who has been bored of a board game and tossed the pieces to the floor. In spite of the absurd situation Sarevok enjoyed the beauty of the darkening evening and the fresh, clear sea wind.
- "That one looks like it could offer shelter for us... those trees should shield us from the winds," Jelena said. The island she meant was densely forested with crooked pines, and small waterfalls ran down the steep cliffs emerging from the forest.
Near the beach of the island the pale and exhausted wizards ceased the casting, and the group was splashed to the shallow water. They waded to the cliffs, shivering from the evening chill but enjoying the fresh scent of the pines.
- "Not that I don't appreciate your efforts," Sarevok said, "but couldn't you have levitated us just a few meters further? Now we are wet."
- "Worry not," Imoen said. "We have a few fireballs left - should be able to make a campfire."
- "You think this island is inhabited?" Peri asked.
- "This is one of the so-called Outer Isles of Wa," Winski said. "A large group of small islands, many of which have not even been recorded in the maps. There is a lot of mystery shrouding them - some are inhabited by ghosts or demons, others with monsters, others with ancient native races. So I don't know."
- "Who wants to bet all their property that this turns out to be the home of friendly folks who speak common, want to give us dry clothes and a warm place to sleep and know all about the mountain thing and can remote-kill it by snapping their fingers?" Peri asked humorlessly. No-body answered. That, in their experience, wasn't generally how things went.
- "Ang Ning was nice though," Imoen said after a while.
- "He intended well, but his erred divination stirred the pain in my heart," Sarevok said.
There was a path through the forest, the traces of it almost disappeared. The family started to follow it, and it soon started to wind up a cliff, the pines the smaller and more crooked the higher they went.
Darkness had almost swallowed the island by now, and Cespenar conjured a ball of light to illuminate their steps.
- "Was nastybad bigbigbig mountainthingie..." he muttered. "Perhaps nastybad here too, yes?"
- "Look," Imoen said. "Those look like... ruins of something."
Indeed. Ahead loomed crumbled stone structures, some of the walls still partly erected.
- "This has not been a temple of any sort," Winski said. He indicated the iron grates still covering the remaining windows. He was reminded of his stay in a prison in Hades, and shuddered.
Suddenly the shadows shifted. A sound soft as black velvet could be heard as a warrior, wearing a Kozakuran style armor and a pair of blades like Tamoko's, drew the blade in one fluid motion. His bearings were haughty and arrogant, his feet disappearing somewhere in the midair, and the entire man seemed to be made of materialized obsidian shadow.
- "Who are you, gaijin, that you dare to disturb the Isle of Thousand Pines?" he asked, the empty eyes staring at Sarevok alone.
- "I am Sarevok, a spawn of a celestial one and murder most foul, a warrior risen from the despair of death. I dare go where I want to, for I fear no man or beast!" Sarevok bellowed, his eyes ignited in the golden fire. He also drew his blade, countering the attack of the shadow warrior.
Peri started to draw hers, and Jelena started to chant, but Sarevok yelled: "No! Cease it! Trust me!"
The remainder of the family stood tense, ready to attack, as the two warriors fought. After minutes of dueling, Sarevok had an opening, and plunged his blade right in between the plates of the ghost's armor. To the surprise of everybody, the thing, however material it seemed to be, didn't seem hurt. Nevertheless it stopped fighting, and knelt in front of Sarevok, touching briefly the ground with its forehead. It stood back again, sheathing the blades.
- "You bested me in combat, gaijin. I wonder how you were able to see through the maneuvers of the old masters unfamiliar to gaijin," the ghost spoke.
- "I have been taught combat by a samurai lady of Kozakura," Sarevok said. "Her ghost also warned me, just a moment ago, that the others should not be involved in the fight."
- "Aye, that is the legend of the isle, and the ruins of the old prison I guard," the ghost said. "I was the last of the prisoners... there is a lot of suffering buried in those stones. I am the guardian, but if a bushi beats me in an honorable duel, I shall offer him my aid."
- "Er... doesn't that kind of suck?" Peri wanted to know. "You are bound here to eternity in case someone happens to land here and duel with you? Guarding a bunch of old rocks?"
The ghost shrugged.
- "Such is the will of the Celestial Ones. This is my penance for betrayal in my life. A samurai of Wa I was, bright as ever, a nephew of the shogun. But I hungered for more, and betrayed my own daimyo. Found out, I was sent here, and after I passed on in the great cycle, this became my duty. Perhaps one day I have served long enough, and may pass to Meido to wait to be newly born."
Sarevok nodded. He could relate to that.
- "What may we call you?" he asked.
- "My name is Kazuo Tokuri."
