Chapter 11 ~ Following the Yellow Bricked Road
It was late in the night when Folken reached Tarrin Village. It had been almost a week of travelling alone. Ghanima had kept her promise, and she led him to the nearby village, where he replenished his supplies, and then set out without her. Somehow, Folken thought that she might want to accompany him, but she said she couldn't. She had to go retrieve her "rings" as she called them from the raider who had them. He was sad to let her go. She was good company, but everyone had to do what they had to do. Tarrin Village was about a day's journey from the Temple of the Green Dragon, where the pendant supposedly was. Lady Celena hadn't told him much, and Folken was planning on asking in the village. He needed a more detailed map to get through the jungle, so he could reach the temple unharmed. Folken hoped he wouldn't meet any dragons, though the name of the temple suggested just that. Taking a look at the fiery sunset, he sighed, wishing he had company. "Oh well, you can't have them all," he thought.
"May I please have room at your inn?" Folken asked the innkeeper of Tarrin Inn.
"Of course. Do you have the money to pay for it boy." The man asked.
"Yeah. How much?" Folken asked.
"Four golden pieces." He said with a superior smile, thinking that Folken didn't have them.
"Done, can someone wake me up with the sun?" he asked.
The innkeeper was speechless." Sure boy, but first, let's see the money." He said.
"First let's see my room." Folken retorted.
"As you wish." The innkeeper led him up the stairs, and showed him a small, but fairly clean room. Folken paid his four golden pieces and let himself fall on the bed. It had been a most tiring day, and he was very tired. Immediately, he fell asleep.
~~~~
Folken was all alone in the village. No one was in sight, and the streets were empty. He had an uneasy feeling that someone was watching him. He looked up, only to see the sky get cloudier and cloudier. Something wasn't right. Just then, he felt a cloaked figure go past him. It was trying to get away unnoticed, but Folken was faster, and he grabbed its hand.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am not allowed to tell you that! All I can say, is follow the yellow bricked road." The figure whispered hoarsely.
Folken thought he saw a skeleton underneath the hood, but he wasn't sure. He kept looking at the dark cloaked figure. He couldn't help but feel drawn to the apparition. Just then, the cloak fell to the ground, as if nothing had been sustaining it. The scenery abruptly changed, and Folken found himself in some sort of garden. Tied to a flat bed-like stone, there was another cloaked figure. She was moaning softly, as if she were in pain. Folken got closer, and this time he could see that there was a person in that cloak. He took another step forward.
"Help me," she whispered powerlessly.
"Are you in pain? How can I help you?" Folken asked.
"Help me, before they come," she told him.
"How?" Folken asked.
"You know how, your heart knows. Follow your heart when on the yellow bricked road." She told him. Her chest heaved up in one painful breath, and then was still. She went limp, Folken just stood there. He thought he saw a strand of reddish hair under the cloak, but he wasn't sure.
"Wake up!" he shook the cloaked figure. "Wake up! You can make it!" he screamed. But she was lifeless. "No, noooooo!" he screamed and then backed away. His hands were covered with her fresh blood.
~~~~
Folken jumped out of bed. That had been some nightmare. He was swimming in rivers of cold sweat. "What did that mean?" he wondered in silence. He brushed his hand past his hair. "Well, I might as well wake up, it's almost dawn." Folken thought.
It was indeed dawn. The sky was illuminated by streaks of reddish light. The sun crept up against the greyish landscape, clearing up the foggy features. Folken continued to stare out the window, engrossed in his thoughts. "I wonder what those dreams were about. Follow the yellow-bricked road. What was that all about? And that girl that died. She begged me to free her, but I couldn't. What could she have meant by follow my heart? And what about those cloaked figures. What could it mean? Is it a path to the Green Dragon Temple? Or does it mean something more? Is this that woman's way of taunting us? I wonder if Kari's having similar dreams. Well, whatever it is, I have to go down to the cavern to see for better directions. There's got to be a better route. I've already lost more than enough time to get hereā¦" Folken's train of thoughts was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"It's dawn sir, wake up." The voice said.
Folken sighed, and drew away from the window. He dressed and with the directions of the innkeeper, headed to the cavern. Every city or village had one. It was the place to get information regarding travel routes and even people. So, Folken headed there. He wanted to have time to buy some supplies and then head out of the village. He estimated he would be back to the village in two days, with the pendant.
The cavern was a smoky dirty place, filled with raucous laughter. Folken coughed a little bit, and then entered. What he saw frightened him, but he contained it. The place was filled with oily dangerous looking thieves. This was definitely something he didn't expect. Well, he would just have to ask around. Folken stepped carefully between the people. He knew he stood out, and he didn't want to cause trouble. He knew some locals just loved to bother unknown folk. He looked around for someone who could help him. Unfortunately, trouble was not far behind. A tall fat man stood up, and blocked Folken's path.
"What are you doing here pretty boy?" he asked rudely. Folken could smell the booze on his breath.
"I'm here on business, if you would allow me to pass, I'm sure we could get along." He said.
"I don't get along with anyone scum. What are you doing in my cavern? This is no place for a pampered person such as yourself." The man laughed.
"I'm not looking for trouble, all I want is information about a destination." Folken said. He could feel the blood in him begin to boil, but he knew he couldn't make a scene. Already some of the brute's friends were standing up from their tables and closing in menacingly.
"Well, you can't have it, now get lost! You're not wanted here, scumbag!" the man told him.
"Who're you to say who can and who can't come in. And I think the term scumbag fits you better! I feel the need to warn you, call me that one more time, and suffer the consequences." Folken said in a dangerously low voice.
"Listen to this! The youngster is threatening me! He's threatening Zorbax the Great!" raucous laughter filled the room.
Apparently he was the leader of the pack. Folken didn't like the predicament he was in one bit. He couldn't pick a fight with all of them, and he didn't want to pick a fight with the brute. He was one gigantic person, with a soiled face and a samurai sword on his side. However, maybe if he defeated their boss, they would leave him alone, which was all that Folken wanted.
"So, what are you going to do, scumbag?" the man asked mockingly.
As much as Folken didn't like it, a fight seemed impossible to avoid.
"What if I do this?" Folken asked and drew his sword. He punched the giant in his face with the handle. The man took a few steps back, and fell on one of the tables. He then slowly picked himself up. The fierce blow did now affect him in any way.
"Oh, so that's the way you want to play! Well, no one insults Zorbax the Great! You shall pay, you worthless insect!" he screamed. His gang members jumped to his defense, but he stopped them with a blow of his hand. "No one will help me squish this pest." He said angrily.
"Wait, if I defeat you, I gain immunity from you and your gang." Folken spoke, knowing that the brute's gang would tear him to pieces the second their boss hit the floor. If he ever did that is.
"They won't have to tear you to pieces, I will do that all by myself." Zorbax told him.
"I would think that even the lowest of brutes would know how to fight a fair fight, or are you too weak to do it without the help of your friends?" Folken provoked, knowing he was willingly attacking his pride. Zorbax was all pride, thus Folken insured his fair fight. After all, the giant had a reputation to maintain.
"Zorbax is the most powerful fighter in these parts. I don't need their help. It shall only be me and you, and if you defeat me, you shall have your immunity. If not, you are never to show your face here again." he said, unsheathing his sword.
"First person that touches the floor, and can't get up is the looser." Folken told him. If he would have let the giant make the rules, he would probably have fought to the death. Folken didn't want to kill anybody.
"Deal scumbag!" the giant said. Not waiting for any signal to start, he charged with a blood-freezing roar.
Folken was caught off guard, but all he did was dodge the fatal blow. The giant was after his life, that was clear enough. No one said that killing wasn't allowed. He could reach the floor tattered to pieces. It was clear to Folken that this was no game. His life depended on it. The giant quickly recovered from his initial surprise. The spot where Folken had been was empty. A sudden hard blow struck his head. Zorbax felt a little dizzy, but nevertheless turned around to face his opponent. Folken stood behind him boldly, his green eyes shining oddly. Zorbax prepared to strike again, but this time Folken was prepared. He jumped out of the way, at the same time applying another blow to the giant's skull. Maybe, just maybe if he hit him hard enough Zorbax would lose consciousness and thus he would win. The giant was back, and angrier than ever. He was determined to pin Folken to the ground. Unfortunately, since Folken was 1/3 his size, he had the freedom of movement. Folken did a dive kick, and Zorbax found himself in disadvantage once again. For one, the kick had been aptly aimed at his stomach, and secondly Folken was behind him, and had the freedom to choose any kind of attack. Folken wasted no time. He was getting tired, and he knew he wouldn't last much longer against the giant. "Let's end this," he thought. With a low kick, he got Zorbax kneeling on the floor. Then, gathering all his strength, he stuck the beast in the head. Zorbax spun on his feet, and then lost balance. He fell to the floor, unconscious. Folken just stood there, breathing hoarsely. That blow took all his strength. Folken just stood there expecting the giant to wake up. When he didn't, a roar went through the cavern.
"I won this fair and square. I suggest taking care of Zorbax. He might have a head ache after." Folken said and turned around. A path opened for him in the crowd. He could hear people muttering, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do is just get his information and get out of there. He had wasted enough time. Folken noticed a cloaked figure in the crowd. He then realised that it was calling out to him. He quickly made his way toward it.
Following the figure proved to be easy. He reached a dark alcove, and the figure stopped. It took of its hood, and Folken found himself staring in the eyes of an old lady.
"Welcome to Tarrin Village Folken Fanel." She told him.
"How do you know me?" Folken asked.
"I know many things." She said with a raspy voice.
"Such as?" he asked.
"I know that you plan on retrieving the green pendant from Green Dragon's Temple. I know that the easiest path there is the yellow bricked road, and I also know that you're getting the pendant for Lucilla, who has your mother captive, and your father sick." She told him.
"How do you know all of this?" he asked amazed.
"One requires to know many things, when one lives as long as I do. Not to worry young one, you shall be on your way soon. I called you here to give you the answers you've been looking for." She told him.
"Thank you." Folken said a little uncertain. "How can I trust her?" he wondered.
"I know you're wondering how you can trust me, but you'll have to take a blind leap of faith. Let's just say I'm an old acquaintance of your mothers. In order to get the green pendant, you must have the green energist of the last Green Dragon." She told him.
"But, that means I have to slay the last of a species. I don't want to hurt anybody." Folken protested.
"You don't have to slay any dragon. That dragon died a long time ago. Luckily, we were there when it breathed his last, and took its heart. We hid it at the entrance of the temple, I can't tell you where, or else I risk making your job harder. Take these. They will help you find the secret place, if you know how to read between the lines. You need that energist in order to unlock the pendant." She told him and handed him two thick see through bracelets. Keep them hidden and only give them to their right owner. Take care." She told him and put her hood back on.
Folken took the bracelets. "Wait, where will I find the yellow bricked road?" he asked.
"At the Green Dragon Fork, take the right path. It shall turn into the yellow bricked road. Take care, and please rid Gaea of evil forever!" she told him.
Folken thanked her, and left. Just as he came out of the alcove, he noticed another conflict taking place in the cavern. He was bound on ignoring it, only that from the corner of his eye, the figure in the middle seemed familiar. He turned around, and he saw another tall brute grabbing Ghanima. The red haired girl was struggling to escape him. Folken quickly made his way through the crowd.
"Where did you put them you slug?" he heard her say. Not even when she was in a position that required the exercise of caution could she hold her mouth.
"I told you to stop bothering me about those! I am never going to tell you where they are. You betrayed us, and that was your punishment! Now get lost before I decide to gut you!" he yelled grabbing her hand.
"Never, those are mine! You had no right to take those from me! I want them back, or else! I swear your whole gang will be eliminated!" she told him.
"You dare threaten me wench?" he asked annoyed.
"I don't threaten you! I curse you and your whole gang. May your flesh be eaten by the ugliest disease, and may your bones whiten in the sun, for you shall never find the peace of a grave!" she told him, rage written in her eyes.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" he said and slapped her had across the face. He was about to slap her one more time, when a firm hand impeded his forceful blow.
"Didn't your mother teach you never to molest a lady?" Folken asked sternly.
"Stay out of this boy. Your tricks won't work against me! I have a right to treat her like dirt if I want to! Now out of my way!" he yelled.
"I don't think so. Now, we'll leave peacefully. Come on," Folken said helping Ghanima off the floor.
"No! I need to teach her a lesson, or else she'll come back." He said.
"I'll wage for her. She won't come back, if you let us leave in peace."
"If she will, I have the right to hunt you down and shred you to pieces." The man said.
"She won't, I promise you." Folken told him.
"Very well, you seem to be a most respectful fighter, I shall take your word for it. The wench may leave."
Folken helped Ghanima stand, and then he led her out.
"You know, I didn't need your help back there." She told him.
"Certainly didn't seem that way. I see we meet again, Ghani." He told her with a twinkle in his eye.
"So we do. I guess I now owe you something." She said demurely.
Ghanima examined his face closely. His green eyes sparkled with an intensity she couldn't identify, and his sandy hair was an unruly mess. He looked tired and stressed. Almost like something was eating away at him. Ghanima didn't know why, but he liked the boy in front of her. Although he seemed rather shy, she could feel that there was more to him that met the eye. After all, he had helped her, a stranger that knocked him out the first time they met. No one had ever done that for her. Everyone she had met and opened her heart to had hurt her. Somehow, she could feel that Folken was different. She could feel a force of life similar to hers. Maybe they could get along, after all, fate had wanted them to meet again.
"No, you don't owe me anything." Folken smiled. She was indeed something. Her grey eyes sparkled with life, and her red hair hung about her shoulders wonderfully. Folken could feel that she had not had an easy existence, and he wanted to help her. There was something about the way she looked at him that sent sparkles through him. He felt as if he had known her for a life time.
"Well, we'll see about that. I don't think Haroud will let us get away that easily. We should leave. He will try to track us down." She told him.
"You know him?" Folken asked surprised.
"He was that raider leader that I was tracking down. I know he has my rings, but now I can't go back to get them. Come on," she motioned him to follow her.
"Well, I think I deserve an explanation. Let me go get my horse, and I'll meet you here. I have to be on my way. Do you want to come with me?" Folken asked rather shyly.
"Sure, I've got nothing better to do. He probably sold them for money. I'll never get them back ever again." she told him sadly.
Folken looked at her, and saw that she was about to cry. Those rings must have meant a lot for her. He got closer to her and hugged her. She hugged him back tightly.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"It's not your fault. It's mine. Come on, let's go. We might encounter more trouble in this city than we've expected.
Ghanima and Folken mounted their horses and dashed out of Tarring Village. They rode on the path for about two or three hours, when Ghanima stopped by a spring.
"I think we're far enough now." She told him.
"Yeah, it's time to get something to eat. I barely had any breakfast." Folken told her.
"Me too. Let's sit down and eat. You seem like a nice person, I'll exchange part of my story with you." She said.
Folken smiled. He liked her trusting him. "Deal. You tell yours, and I'll tell mine." He said.
"Well, let's just say that I'm not what I appear to be. In fact, I'm more than any one could guess. I have been born of an ancient family, and the curse of the rings fell upon me. You see, I'm actually the only child of The King and Queen of Ispano. My mother died at my birth, and I was raised to be the ruler of the country when my father died. I was supposed to marry by my sixteenth anniversary, which is a yeah away. The council decided that I must marry a prince of a near by country, so that we could strengthen our alliances. You see, Ispano had been weakened in the Destiny War, and most of the conspiring sorcerers punished, but not before they made a curse. They cursed my father, and said that he will never have part of a wife and child. It was true. On my fifteenth anniversary, I was given the test of the rings. The test of the rings tests to see if you have magic. Magic is forbidden in our culture, and the people who possess it are automatically killed. It is the magic of the sorcerers that brought destruction upon us, thus we forbade it. What the rings are, it's two see through bracelets, that are filled with a greenish liquid. It has been known to identify anyone that has magic, since only the people that have magic can touch them without being hurt. Thus, I took the test, and not only was I able to touch the rings, but I was able to pick them up, and carry them. Once I carried them, they merged with me, and became part of me, thus giving me the mark. " Ghanima paused there, and she showed him an accentuated mark of two rings on her biceps. "They tried killing me, and they couldn't. The rings were protecting me. Thus, they faked my death, and exiled me from my country. I have been all alone ever since then. I can never go home, I'm a monster." Ghanima told him looking down. "Everyone is afraid of magic one way or the other, so I don't fit anywhere. I understand if you want me to leave now." She said.
"No, Ghani, you're not a monster. They're the monsters, because they can't see what a wonderful person you are! So what if you have magic? It happens, you didn't choose to be that way. It's how life is! Look at me. I don't think you're a monster. I think you're a very good person, with a kind heart, that just happened to be in a very cruel twist of fate. Don't be sorry for who you are. You can't help it! No one can. And if people can't see how great and caring you are, then it's their loss. Don't be ashamed of who you are!" Folken told her fiercely. He would have never guessed the awesome story behind the grey-eyed girl. She was indeed phenomenal. With what he knew now, he respected her even more. He understood the concepts behind her fear. After all, he was part Draconian and knew what it meant to hide your true self. Yet she was truly a fantastic person. Folken blushed, thinking how boldly he had spoken his deepest feelings about her.
Ghanima looked at him puzzled. Did she hear him right? He didn't detest her? He was actually still looking at her? He thought her phenomenal? Ghanima felt herself blush at the words of praise. He was indeed a good person. She was right about him. Underneath that shy and opaque front, lay a magical world. He was indeed very sweet to cheer her up like that.
"So, why do you need the rings so badly?" Folken asked.
"Well, one, because they're mine, and I have to take care of them. They are very ancient and powerful, and I feel myself linked to them in a way I can't understand. It's like I need the rings to be whole. And two, because they offer me protection from harm. Although I've learned how to fight, I still feel safer with the rings. Haroud would have never touched me, if I had them on." She told him.
"How did you get involved with him anyway?" Folken asked.
"They were the first people I found after I was exiled. I didn't care about life any more, thus not caring what became of me. I was part of their gang until they attacked this village, and I saw Haroud mercilessly killing a little girl. That night, I told them I'm leaving. They didn't accept that very well, so they ganged up on me, and I fought them, however I was outnumbered. Even my rings couldn't do that much. They left me in a rather poor state, and took my rings as "payment" for my "crime". I was virtually left to die, but some poor family found me and took care of me. Ever since then I was hunting the members of Haroud's pack, so that I could get back my rings. I also prevented some of their raids." She told him simply. "But I guess he sold them for money. Now I'll never get them back." Ghanima had tears in her eyes.
"Ssh, it's ok, don't cry." Folken came up to her and hugged her again.
"You don't understand, without my rings it's hopeless. I could have done good to others with them, but without, them, you see, I had a dream last night. It told me that without my rings I shall end up in huge pain. I am their protectors, and they are linked to my life force. Also, this cloaked figure told me to follow the yellow bricked road. I don't know what that means, but now it's hopeless. The pain shall kill me if I don't get back my rings soon." Ghanima cried.
Folken's face brightened with understanding. She was their rightful owner, as that woman had said. Those bracelets were her rings, and he must return them, but in turn, she must accompany him on his journey. They had been fated to meet!
"Ghani, I don' think you should despair." He told her smiling.
"Why not? It's all hopeless! I'll never find them!" she cried.
"Not quite! Tell me, are those your rings?" Folken asked bringing out the two bracelets the woman gave him.
"Yes, but how did you find them?" Ghanima asked surprised by the coincidence.
"It's a long story. Take them, they're yours, but in return I must ask that you come with me on my journey." Folken said.
"Thank you so much! You're my saviour! It's like the gods sent you! You're an angel!" Ghanima jumped up, took the rings and then hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're welcome, but now you must listen to what I have to say." Folken told her.
He began to relate the story from the beginning. He told everything. His parent's adventure, and then how his mother got kidnapped, and how he and his sister went on that crazy woman's quest, and then of his dreams. Ghanima listened attentively, and in the end she agreed that it was a trap, but their only chance.
"So, will you help me?" Folken asked.
"Of course! You have been such a good friend, let's go get your mother back, and kick that woman's butt!" she said happily.
Folken had to laugh. She was indeed a very nice person, and he would enjoy her company very much.
"Yeah, let's go follow the yellow bricked road!" he agreed laughing.
"If you can catch me!" she said and rushed her horse.
Folken followed her chuckling. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
*Author's Note*
Hey, sorry I took so long to get this chapter out. Writer's block!!! I hope you liked what I did with Folken and Ghanima. Would you have ever guessed? Hehe, I hope you like it! I think the fighting scene was much better (I actually put some research into it this time) I hope you liked this chapter! It was full of surprises eh? That's how I wanted it to be! Hehe, just a few more chapters to go! Please tell me what you thought of this one! I really hope it was ok! Oh yeah BIG ANNOUNCEMENT I might be going on vacation for the whole of next week, thus it shall make me unable to write. If I don't post ne more chapters next week, it means I'm on vacation. So please don't be mad at me! I do what I can with the time that I have. I'll promise you another interesting chapter when I get back! Oh yeah, I might post another one tomorrow, but I'm not sure, cuz I'm either leaving Monday or tomorrow, so I need to pack, you all know how it is when you go on vacation! My second time this summer too! Hehe, meanwhile, tell me how this chapter was? I really want to hear from you what you thought, since I tried my VERY best! I hope you're enjoying the story and are addicted to it more than ever! Please please tell me how it was!!! Thanks a lot, and I'll keep you posted. If I don't write ne more I'll be on vacation!!!!! I'll cya when I get back everyone, meanwhile, enjoy your summer!!!! And cya on the other side!!!!!!!!!
