A/N: Hmmm I feel that I am behind in things. my psychic awareness tells me this. imitates a professor trelawney pose yes. I am sixteen and I like harry potter. Its official, I have run out of sat words to use. aw man1 And the reason most of this is in lower case is cuz I am too lazy to reach for the shift key. I think that I have this strange quirk that allows me to only write when I am supposed to be doing something else. Like homework, for example. But I only have five classes, so I should have a lot of time, right/ that was supposed to be a question mark. again I am lazy. Okay. Enough of me. Let's see, I left off at a cliffhanger right/ oops. I see people in my crystal ball attacking me oh wait that's a mirror…pause…ahhhhhhhhh1111111111111 those were exclamation points.
Disclaimer: TPOE there, no long annoying sentences.
Section: Winter
Chapter 14: Discoveries
Someone screamed.
The kakophans were back. There were ten of them this time. Vaguely, Kel heard Daine whisper to Numair, "I thought you said there were only four of them."
"I didn't calculate reproduction rate" Came the reply.
"What do you want from us?" Kel heard the King say. At least she thought it was the king. She was too busy gawking at the large feathered serpent taking up most of the room to pay attention. The ten were led by a kakophan far larger and fiercer than the last. Its black scales glimmered like ebony in the mage light, showing off a sinuous body beneath which muscles rippled threateningly.
The kakophan glanced around, as if searching for the brave speaker. Finally, it spoke.
"We want our homeland back."
The voice, like so many trumpets played at fortissimo, echoed around the room. It buried the remaining feast goers in sound. Some of the weaker were forced to their knees. Kel clapped shivering hands over aching ears and waited for the sound to stop.
"Give us back the home that the great Lady bequeathed to us".
It repeated, its voice lowered to a whisper.
"It does not belong to thee."
A murmur went through the small crowd. What was the snake talking about? Seeing the confused reaction, the kakophan spread mighty black wings, and prepared to lift off.
"We give thee twelve wing circles to ponder thy decision. The clan (?) beat large wings in unison. We shall see thee again then. And we shall not be as kind next time."
They were gone.
Kel glanced around. Most of the nobles had long departed, after the earthquake, leaving only a few pages, some squires, and a few brave highborn. That group included the Queen, the King, Lady Alanna, the Baron her husband, Lord Raoul, Sir Myles and his wife, Gareth the younger, Gareth the older, Commander Buri, Daine, Master Numair, Lord Wyldon, and a few people Kel didn't know. Khari, Owen, and Merric had taken Faleron to the healers' wing, though Owen and Merric had come back.
Standing there helplessly, Kel was amused to see that she still held the washcloth. She handed it to Raoul, who smiled grimly and muttered thanks. Lord Wyldon dismissed the remaining pages and squires with a wave, then left the room with the King. Those nobles who knew Kel said goodbye and left with Lord Wyldon.
"To discuss matters, I suppose." Neal commented on the nobles' silent departure, as they sat down for a very late dinner.
"Neal," Merric remarked, "Do you know anything about the kakophans and their land?"
"You have read so many useless things." Owen added. "Surely you've come across something. Some little tidbit of information?"
"No." Neal replied, "I've never so much as seen a picture of such a creature."
"Wait." Roald began, inspiration forming in his mind. (ugh. OOC Prince) "but I'll bet you that Master Tkaa has a book on immortals!" Kel and the others agreed to…borrow the book.
As all the pages were very eager to learn more, Kel found herself, along with her friends among the squires and pages, in the library the group had claimed for themselves. They were all watching Neal pore over a very large and dusty book.
Neal, having experience, was obviously the right choice for such a task, and Kel heard him muttering under his breath.
"Kako, Kakophan…kakophan…oh! Here we are! Pages 1065 to 1067." The other pages pressed in closer to Neal. Though Kel was excited, she couldn't help her heart beating when she was pushed against her friends' shoulder.
"Ouch Kel." He muttered. "Anyways. Kakophan. An Immortal, class five dangerous species. Looks like a cross between a snake and an eagle."
"And here I was." Cleon butted in, "Thinking it was a chicken." The others laughed nervously. Neal continued as silence fell.
"Normally rising 18 feet in height, 30 feet stretched out. Width=2 feet thick at the middle. It is usually green, blue, or gray. Black and white species are rare (see footnote)
"The most dangerous part of a kakophan is its eyes. They, like those of its relative, the cold fang, can hold the eyes of its victim, who will lose all will left. However, the weakest part of the kakophan is its heart. This is found twixt the two eyes of the kakophan. Rendering it lifeless if an arrow feathered with griffin plumage pierced such a part.
"The origin of the kakophan. Legend has it that Uosoue created the great serpents for use as messengers. Only four were created. But when they became too prized and intelligent for labor, Chaos gave them a sacred land to live in.
"Location of the land. Neal paused before turning the page, and everyone drew closer.
Neal turned the page. Resuming reading, his voice low and solemn, he said,
"The land was later taken over by humans for inhabitation. The kakophans disappeared. We believe the land was located between the great desert of the south and the mountains of the North. West lies the hills, beyond which is the sea. More hills border on the east."
Neal stopped, and spread the page with the map of the supposed home of the kakophans.
"The desert on the south." Cleon muttered, indicating the dots on the south of the area.
"The mountains to the north." Kel waved a shaking hand over the great expanse.
"Hills on the east." The prince murmured, pointing.
"And hills on the west." Neal finished. "Beyond which lies the sea." The squires and Owen stared at each other silently, not daring to confirm their suspicions.
Finally Neal slid the modern map of Tortall over, covering the country with his hand. Though everyone knew what was beneath it.
Neal pulled his hand away.
"Mithros and the Goddess." He breathed, closing his eyes warily. Kel met them when he opened them again. She swallowed as the bottom of her stomach plummeted.
"The land that Chaos gave the kakophans…"Someone said.
"Is Tortall."