Chapter Five
"It's moments like this you realise you're a man. Standing in the dead of night, facing danger straight in the face, temples thudding, knowing that any action could be your last," breathed Xander.
"We're watching an empty van," chided Cordelia.
Xander looked her black jump suit up and down scrupulously.
"Isn't Steed out looking for you?"
She gave him a wry smile and ridiculing laugh, then ignored him. Xander was still smarting from her, completely unproven, summer affair with Pedro the Spanish waiter. His, totally unfounded, suspicions had been eating him up throughout the summer break. He could see them now, sitting on the beach, laughing, and Pedro's paella fondling hands all over his Cordy.
"Ssh, before someone hears us!" whispered Willow. She had Oz, but it still hurt to hear Xander and Cordelia's banter.
Buffy had gone to inspect the van more closely solo. Her head popped round the side and she waved them over. The Scoobies jogged over in full stealth mode and crouched behind the vehicle next to Buffy.
"Did you find anything?" asked Willow.
"Only a big bag full of weapons," Buffy replied and pointed to a large dark blue bag laying on one of the seats.
Checking around for any sign of the band, she climbed into the back of the van and grabbed the bag. Sitting on the floor, she lay the bag on her lap and opened it slightly, revealing an array of knives, daggers, a bow and even mace.
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner," murmured Xander.
Willow peered inside, her eyes wide.
"Ohh boy."
"Now what are a band doing with a bag full of pointy objects of death?" said Buffy.
"Maybe they're just. props," ventured Willow.
Taking one of the arsenal out of the bag, Buffy removed the dagger's sheath and stabbed it into the canvas, making a long rip in the bag.
"These aren't props, Will."
"Umm, not to butt in, but won't they notice the six inch tear?" said Oz.
"No, since we're taking it with us."
"What? So we're thieves as well as vandals now?!"
Willow sounded distressed, not liking the situation one little bit. It was one thing that her boyfriend was drawn to the singer, but if they were homicidal creatures of the underworld, that really crossed the line.
"I've got to take these to Giles. They don't look like your usual weapons."
She lowered the dagger down and pointed at some markings.
"See? Your average demon doesn't bother to nametag his things."
"Arfan leagus ic argan Saia," read Cordelia. "What does that mean?"
"That's why I'm taking them to Giles."
From the backdoor of the Bronze, Everett watched the Slayer and her people leave, hoping he had made the right choice. Battle had better not find them soon, he did not look forward to explaining the disappearance of their best weaponry to Rhett. Her Watcher was well known to them. His knowledge was renown in certain and specific orders. No doubt he be aware of the language or have some book about it. This way, there may be a way to aid the Lady, even if his Brother could not see it now. This betrayal of secrets would benefit, ultimately. Everett sighed heavily, made sure he had gathered his composure and returned inside the club, ready to face the Lady and his Brothers.
The name change had done nothing to make the atmosphere of Willy's Place more upmarket or less pungent. The same demon/vampire/occasional human clientele were still glued to the barstools or lurking at a corner table. Lysan had to shield his eyes from the new strip lights at first after coming in from the dark but his eyes soon adjusted to the burst of light. A familiar green and spiny face raised a glass at him in greeting and Lysan gave him a nod. When he sat at the barstool, Willy came over to serve him.
"What can I get you, friend?"
"A shot of O neg and a little extra," replied Lysan, trying out his new tough guy voice.
"Oh yeah? What extra?"
"Some information."
Willy cleaned the glass in his hand more rapidly and shook his head.
"You're out of luck pal," he said loudly, looking around at his customers. "I'm not in the snitch business anymore."
He leaned in closer to Lysan.
"I'll see you out back in five minutes," he whispered.
Lysan waited patiently and put a hand in his pocket, making sure he still had the envelope with the money in. He had already se out once before, got to within two hundred yards of the bar and realised he'd left the bribe. Willy gestured towards the stockroom with his head and Lysan followed.
"So what do you want to know?" asked Willy.
"I'm looking for a sword. Tennos nus. Ever heard of it?"
"Tennos nus, tennos nus," Willy repeated, looking at the ceiling. "Never heard of it."
Lysan took the envelope out of his pocket and waved it at Willy.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lysan simply nodded. He wasn't bad at this whole bad guy thing, he decided.
"In that case, I know a guy that knows all about things like that. A sort of weapon connoisseur."
Holding out the money, Willy reached to take it. At the last second, Lysan snapped it away.
"Write down the address."
Willy disappeared back into the bar and returned a few minutes later, holding a piece of paper with the scribbled address on. The vampire gave him the money and left through the back door.
"Hmm," said Giles, examining the dagger with the inscription. "This is very intriguing."
The rest lay on the table. It was an impressive collection. A few of those would be perfect for beheading your thicker necked vamp, thought Buffy as Giles paced, staring at the markings.
"I do believe this is the language of the Saians," he informed them. "It's a sort of hybrid Latin and hasn't been used in over three centuries. Where did you say you found these?"
"In the back of the creepy band's van," said lightly Cordelia, filing her nails.
"In the back of their van?" Giles exclaimed.
"We went on a little recognisance and that's what we.recognisanced," explained Xander. "That was pretty much our reaction too."
"This, coupled with Buffy's attack, does indicate towards a purpose beyond becoming rock stars," remarked Giles, selecting a book from one of the cases. He thumbed through it.
"Ah! Here we are! The Saians. I do believe that this is their work. They were a great but secretive race, not a lot is known about them."
He lay the book on the table for the others to see. There was a not a great deal of information, just a depiction of a great battle. "They were great warriors," Giles told them. "Guardians of great importance."
Below the picture were incomprehensible words.
devaped edam esoht ot denruter ytinas dna llef noitanimoba eht taerg ecneloveneb dna thgim sti nihtiw dessossop rewop eho ruo nus tennos eht drows eht dehcaer nerhterb eht psarg sti ni nemsnik fo sdaeh eht esor erutaerc eht ydob dna tsaerb worb sti nopu nem fo doolb htiw
"Well that makes a whole lot sense," Buffy sighed. "We have two clues and can't read either.
"This is curious. They don't appear to be the same language," observed Giles. "Though it is entirely possible that they had several dialects in case one was deciphered."
"Tricky people, those Saians," broke in Xander.
"Want me to scan it into the computer, see if it's encrypted or something?" offered Willow.
While Giles pottered around looking for more texts, Xander picked up one of the knives. It was the longest blade they had found and deadly sharp. It glinted in front of his face and he gazed closely at the italic, engraved letters.
"Tennos nus," he read aloud quietly.
Something clicked in Xander Harris' brain. He had seen those words before. Where? He willed his brain to work more. Soon it slid into place. He grabbed the book and scanned the text.
"Oh! Oh!" he yelled, waving the book aloft. "I, Xander Harris, have made a discovery!"
His friends raised their eyebrows at him.
"Hey, have a little faith. I have been known to come up with plans and knowledge," he said defensively. "Anyway, look!" He pointed out the similar words in the book and on the blade.
"So there's definitely a connection," confirmed Giles. "Now if we just knew what it said.," added Buffy.
Returning back to the table, Giles put the stack of books he had collected down with a thud.
"Here are all the volumes that are likely to contain information about the Saians."
The teenagers all stared up at him.
"Come on, these things won't translate themselves."
"It's moments like this you realise you're a man. Standing in the dead of night, facing danger straight in the face, temples thudding, knowing that any action could be your last," breathed Xander.
"We're watching an empty van," chided Cordelia.
Xander looked her black jump suit up and down scrupulously.
"Isn't Steed out looking for you?"
She gave him a wry smile and ridiculing laugh, then ignored him. Xander was still smarting from her, completely unproven, summer affair with Pedro the Spanish waiter. His, totally unfounded, suspicions had been eating him up throughout the summer break. He could see them now, sitting on the beach, laughing, and Pedro's paella fondling hands all over his Cordy.
"Ssh, before someone hears us!" whispered Willow. She had Oz, but it still hurt to hear Xander and Cordelia's banter.
Buffy had gone to inspect the van more closely solo. Her head popped round the side and she waved them over. The Scoobies jogged over in full stealth mode and crouched behind the vehicle next to Buffy.
"Did you find anything?" asked Willow.
"Only a big bag full of weapons," Buffy replied and pointed to a large dark blue bag laying on one of the seats.
Checking around for any sign of the band, she climbed into the back of the van and grabbed the bag. Sitting on the floor, she lay the bag on her lap and opened it slightly, revealing an array of knives, daggers, a bow and even mace.
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner," murmured Xander.
Willow peered inside, her eyes wide.
"Ohh boy."
"Now what are a band doing with a bag full of pointy objects of death?" said Buffy.
"Maybe they're just. props," ventured Willow.
Taking one of the arsenal out of the bag, Buffy removed the dagger's sheath and stabbed it into the canvas, making a long rip in the bag.
"These aren't props, Will."
"Umm, not to butt in, but won't they notice the six inch tear?" said Oz.
"No, since we're taking it with us."
"What? So we're thieves as well as vandals now?!"
Willow sounded distressed, not liking the situation one little bit. It was one thing that her boyfriend was drawn to the singer, but if they were homicidal creatures of the underworld, that really crossed the line.
"I've got to take these to Giles. They don't look like your usual weapons."
She lowered the dagger down and pointed at some markings.
"See? Your average demon doesn't bother to nametag his things."
"Arfan leagus ic argan Saia," read Cordelia. "What does that mean?"
"That's why I'm taking them to Giles."
From the backdoor of the Bronze, Everett watched the Slayer and her people leave, hoping he had made the right choice. Battle had better not find them soon, he did not look forward to explaining the disappearance of their best weaponry to Rhett. Her Watcher was well known to them. His knowledge was renown in certain and specific orders. No doubt he be aware of the language or have some book about it. This way, there may be a way to aid the Lady, even if his Brother could not see it now. This betrayal of secrets would benefit, ultimately. Everett sighed heavily, made sure he had gathered his composure and returned inside the club, ready to face the Lady and his Brothers.
The name change had done nothing to make the atmosphere of Willy's Place more upmarket or less pungent. The same demon/vampire/occasional human clientele were still glued to the barstools or lurking at a corner table. Lysan had to shield his eyes from the new strip lights at first after coming in from the dark but his eyes soon adjusted to the burst of light. A familiar green and spiny face raised a glass at him in greeting and Lysan gave him a nod. When he sat at the barstool, Willy came over to serve him.
"What can I get you, friend?"
"A shot of O neg and a little extra," replied Lysan, trying out his new tough guy voice.
"Oh yeah? What extra?"
"Some information."
Willy cleaned the glass in his hand more rapidly and shook his head.
"You're out of luck pal," he said loudly, looking around at his customers. "I'm not in the snitch business anymore."
He leaned in closer to Lysan.
"I'll see you out back in five minutes," he whispered.
Lysan waited patiently and put a hand in his pocket, making sure he still had the envelope with the money in. He had already se out once before, got to within two hundred yards of the bar and realised he'd left the bribe. Willy gestured towards the stockroom with his head and Lysan followed.
"So what do you want to know?" asked Willy.
"I'm looking for a sword. Tennos nus. Ever heard of it?"
"Tennos nus, tennos nus," Willy repeated, looking at the ceiling. "Never heard of it."
Lysan took the envelope out of his pocket and waved it at Willy.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lysan simply nodded. He wasn't bad at this whole bad guy thing, he decided.
"In that case, I know a guy that knows all about things like that. A sort of weapon connoisseur."
Holding out the money, Willy reached to take it. At the last second, Lysan snapped it away.
"Write down the address."
Willy disappeared back into the bar and returned a few minutes later, holding a piece of paper with the scribbled address on. The vampire gave him the money and left through the back door.
"Hmm," said Giles, examining the dagger with the inscription. "This is very intriguing."
The rest lay on the table. It was an impressive collection. A few of those would be perfect for beheading your thicker necked vamp, thought Buffy as Giles paced, staring at the markings.
"I do believe this is the language of the Saians," he informed them. "It's a sort of hybrid Latin and hasn't been used in over three centuries. Where did you say you found these?"
"In the back of the creepy band's van," said lightly Cordelia, filing her nails.
"In the back of their van?" Giles exclaimed.
"We went on a little recognisance and that's what we.recognisanced," explained Xander. "That was pretty much our reaction too."
"This, coupled with Buffy's attack, does indicate towards a purpose beyond becoming rock stars," remarked Giles, selecting a book from one of the cases. He thumbed through it.
"Ah! Here we are! The Saians. I do believe that this is their work. They were a great but secretive race, not a lot is known about them."
He lay the book on the table for the others to see. There was a not a great deal of information, just a depiction of a great battle. "They were great warriors," Giles told them. "Guardians of great importance."
Below the picture were incomprehensible words.
devaped edam esoht ot denruter ytinas dna llef noitanimoba eht taerg ecneloveneb dna thgim sti nihtiw dessossop rewop eho ruo nus tennos eht drows eht dehcaer nerhterb eht psarg sti ni nemsnik fo sdaeh eht esor erutaerc eht ydob dna tsaerb worb sti nopu nem fo doolb htiw
"Well that makes a whole lot sense," Buffy sighed. "We have two clues and can't read either.
"This is curious. They don't appear to be the same language," observed Giles. "Though it is entirely possible that they had several dialects in case one was deciphered."
"Tricky people, those Saians," broke in Xander.
"Want me to scan it into the computer, see if it's encrypted or something?" offered Willow.
While Giles pottered around looking for more texts, Xander picked up one of the knives. It was the longest blade they had found and deadly sharp. It glinted in front of his face and he gazed closely at the italic, engraved letters.
"Tennos nus," he read aloud quietly.
Something clicked in Xander Harris' brain. He had seen those words before. Where? He willed his brain to work more. Soon it slid into place. He grabbed the book and scanned the text.
"Oh! Oh!" he yelled, waving the book aloft. "I, Xander Harris, have made a discovery!"
His friends raised their eyebrows at him.
"Hey, have a little faith. I have been known to come up with plans and knowledge," he said defensively. "Anyway, look!" He pointed out the similar words in the book and on the blade.
"So there's definitely a connection," confirmed Giles. "Now if we just knew what it said.," added Buffy.
Returning back to the table, Giles put the stack of books he had collected down with a thud.
"Here are all the volumes that are likely to contain information about the Saians."
The teenagers all stared up at him.
"Come on, these things won't translate themselves."