Disclaimer: What's mine is mine. What's Tammy's is Tammy's. The plot and main characters are mine. Everything else is her Lady Pierce's.

The Wave Warrior

Chapter Two

Ђ history class Ђ

The note skittered across Zak's desk. He deftly opened it looking over at Derrin. His friend however was listening intently to Sir Myles rant about famous knights. Returning his attention to the paper, it read:

Meet me in the library after Dinner.

I think I've solved your problem.

-Derrin-

Quietly folding the note up he turned his attention back to Sir Myles. The man was chubby and had silvery hair. Watching his teacher, Zak was still amazed by the amount of energy he had. He must at least be seventy! He thought as the bell rung, sending the pages to their next and last class.

Ђ after dinner, the library Ђ

Zak had finished scrubbing down and now stood on the threshold of the library. 'I wish I was in the Gallery of Portraits,' he thought glumly. Taking a deep breath he walked in, 'Let's see what Derrin found.' Upon entry Zak spotted his friend at a table with a small book. "What is it?" he prompted, setting his workbag on a chair.

"A diary," Derrin replied softly, his ocean-coloured eyes dancing, "belonging to Jehren of South Olorun. He also tried to crack the code of your stone princess. He even left an answer key, of sorts."

"Let me see," Zak demanded pulling out some of his notes, "Derrin, you are a genius."

"Well I knew that," Derrin said with a mock bow, looking up he noticed that Zak was nowhere to be seen. "You are supposed to sign the books out." With a sigh, he packed his stubby materials up. 'Off to the portrait gallery, I guess.'

Ђ the Gallery of Portraits Ђ

Zak entered the gallery and looked about the marble hall. He did not want people to be there while he sat with Ailin. Seeing that the coast was clear, he walked briskly towards where Ailin resided. Setting his bag down, he drew out the diary and began to read:

'July 2nd, 360 H.E.

I have discovered a collection of books that have assisted me solve this puzzle. They are as follows:'

Zak scanned the list and frowned. He had used all the recommended books. Flipping to a later page, he began to read again:

            'September 23rd, 360 H.E.

                        Nakalai has decoded the 20th line. It reads…'

'No interest in that, I'm on the 28th line.'

            'Mid-Winter's Day, January 1st, 361 H.E.

We decided to use our free time today for Ailin, instead of the city. The 27th line reads…'

Zak scanned down the page and found what he was looking for.

'…the 28th line is most difficult. After much deliberation, we found the Book of Eradeh in the library. Eradeh was the form of text used by 'Banjiku nobles'. The symbols are much more complex, but they seem to be a combination of runes much in the same way that the people of the Yaman Islands have more than one alphabet. For example, the first rune of the 28th line means 'magic', but is a combination of the runes meaning 'soul' and 'fire'. This new rune is pronounced 'me-ka-wa'. It seems that if two words can describe another word and share a first and syllable, they may be joined. 'Soul' is 'me-ka' and 'fire' is 'ka-wa'. If this principlie may be apllied to all the new runes, the the following line (the 28th) should read: Me-ka-wa ay-do-na…'

Zak copied down the line and flipped to the next page, which to his horror, was blank. He carefully examined the bind and saw that at least a finger's width of paper had been removed. 'You knew it couldn't be that easy.' Zak looked at his notes, making sure that each letter was clear. That was when the strong hand of a grown man rested on his shoulder, causing Zak to look up. The 30-something year old man had dark hair and blue eyes. He was none other than the crown prince, Roald of Conté.

"Your majesty, I…" Zak cried baffled, jumping up and bowing, "I…."

"Calm down, young sir. I was just curious about this statue. As you seem to be as well." The prince said amicably, indicating Zak's bag. He then looked closely at Zak, "Are you, by any chance, Neal's boy, Yamazaki?"

"Yes, sir." Zak replied quietly, "But what, if I may ask, do you find so interesting about Ai…about this statue?"

"what were you about to say?" Roald asked softly, his sapphire eyes fixed on Ailin, "And please, call me Roald."

"I as going to say Ailin, your majesty…er, sir…sorry, Roald." Zak bumbled through his reply, making the crown prince grin.

" I've seen you come here before, well many times actually, and well, why do you do this?" Roald asked turning his attention back to the boy who was packing up sheets of paper, scrolls and books into a canvas bag.

"I promised to set her free." Zak flushed realizing his words.

"Set her free?" the prince repeated with amusement, "Are you suggesting that this statue is a trapped being?"

"I know she is. All the records I've found say so." Looking the prince in the eye he continued, "besides, even if she isn't in the end, I gave my word that I would try."

"interesting…by the way, I really came to tell you that light's out is in a quarter-candle mark, for you pages. Best hurry." Then Roald turned his attention back to the statue.

Zak nodded and sped out of the gallery to find Derrin waiting for him.

"What'd he want?" the copper-haired boy asked.

"He wanted to know why I do this." Zak responded, his mind obviously elsewhere.

Derrin glanced back into the gallery. The prince stood before the corner where Ailin was. 'You and me both, Roald. You and me both.' With that he jogged to catch-up with Zak.

Ђ Zak's room, dream sequence Ђ

He shivered, but the night was not cold. Zak opened his eyes to see not his room, but a desolate plain. Light grabbed his attention. A monstrous snake-like being was exhaling green flame. He watched the shadow in the middle of the pyre raise their arms over their face, a staff'like weapon in one hand. 'A double-glaive!' Zak realized. Turning farther to the left he saw a blue, shimmering being. The same delicate blue fire he had seen before was flowing from the ethereal being to the shadow. Where the fire touched the being it was silver. 'Wavewalker!' he cried out with his mind. The water-goddess looked at him.

::You are my chosen. You must free, or no one will:: Came from the being.

Zak turned his attention back to the snake and shadow. He watched as the snake forced back as light sliced through the air. The creature convulsed and roared a silent roar. He watched as the fire cleared and the lithe, pale figure that was the shadow was encased in the sound.

"Ailin!" he shouted, sitting bolt straight. He clambered out of bed and splashed his face with cold water. "It was just a dream." He muttered to himself. Reflecting on the goddess' words, he shook his head. "So that's how it is and will be. Then I'll do my best Wavewalker. With his mind made up, the boy crawled back into bed letting the power of sleep wash over him.


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I gave you the next chapter anyway. Someone please review, because I need feedback. Chapter 3 is mostly done and will likely be up on the weekend if I find a review sometime soon.

~Sarai-IceElf~