ShadowDancer and SunSinger
Chapter 15
Rocky Oberlin
Disclaimer: It was a dreary day when this was typed, and then it got worse. I was forced to come to the conclusion that the Ronin Warriors belonged to a big corporation, probably on the West Coast, and the idea of ShadowDancer and SunSinger was the brainchild of Mercedes Lackey as a legend for her series. I didn't own anything.
The groups were made and the good byes were said. Sage and Mia were about to go into enemy territory with just their powers and the protection of the Nether Realm shadows, Anubis, and Dais. The others were going to make sure that there was a Mortal Realm for them to come home to. They had the dangerous job of keeping Lady Kayura busy at the Gate while the four infiltrators went to take on the head and root of the problem. The prophecy was going to be fulfilled one way or the other.
"Be careful Rowen," cautioned Sage. "I want to come back so I can kick you into next week for not letting me Challenge Kayura."
"And I want to be around when you try," smirked the HeavenSinger. "I want to see you and Mia finally get together formally."
"Over my dead body," muttered Cale.
"I don't think we have a choice in the matter, my friend," said Anubis. "I think that they are already attached."
"All the more reason for me to have a long talk with the SunSinger when we get done," said Cale. "I want to make sure that he understands a few things."
"You'll have to talk to his family first," said Ryo. The FireDancer walked over to the conversing pair and added his little bit of information. "You and the Date Clan will have to talk things over before Sage and Mia can even consider courting. Isn't that right Sage?" Ryo called.
Sage muttered a few things under his breath, but nodded. "Yeah, that's right." 'And good luck doing it, Grandfather will want your whole history before he'll even consent to talking this over.' Sage left that thought private for now. If anything, may be he could convince Mia to elope with him and save them all the aggravation of having the families talk.
Mia just smiled at the talk and joined her love. They were ready to go and were waiting for Anubis and Dais to join them. She wished that her brother could come, but he was needed to help fight the Dynasty soldiers coming with Lady Kayura. Dais and she would be hiding them from the rest of the goons that Tulpa used to gain his way.
"If everyone is ready," called Rowen. "We have to meet some soldiers at a Gate and Sage and Mia have to get to a different engagement."
There were nervous chuckles as the two groups spilt apart and started for their separate destinations. Sage and Mia were going to a little know Gate that Anubis found and the rest were going to the Main Gate that Lady Kayura was going to use for her invasion. No one wished the others good luck because everyone knew they all would need it.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure that this Gate isn't guarded?" asked Sage.
"Positive," whispered Dais. "Tulpa doesn't want to wade through a forest when the Main Gate opens directly to open road. Follow the road and lay waste to the city at the end."
"Direct and chilling," said Anubis. "And very effective. Too bad there wasn't some way of doing that to Tulpa."
"We will be effective, but we can't be direct," said Mia. "We would be killed in an instant."
"That's true," said Dais. "Sneaking like a ninja is the only way of getting rid of this threat."
Sage frowned, but didn't argue against it. Sneaking wasn't the way of his family, but if it weren't for Ryo teaching him the way of the Sananda Clan, then he would be protesting it at the top of his voice. Sometimes sending a ninja was better then sending a samurai. Mia smiled at Sage and he lost the frown for a gentler smile. He would always smile for his darkling Dancer.
"Don't worry," she said. "We'll be fine. Anubis and Dais will help us a much as possible to get into the castle. If we had to do it alone, then we would be going through the maze. It's easier for them to lead us."
"That wasn't what I was thinking of, but it's good to know that we have native guides helping us."
Mia punched Sage on the shoulder and mock frowned at him. "And what am I? Chopped liver?"
Sage smiled a little more at his love and rubbed the offended shoulder. "No, but do you know how to get us around the maze?"
Mia's shoulders slumped a little. "No. I know how to get us through the maze quickly, but no around it. That was saved for the head warriors and the soldiers. I was considered less than a warrior but more than a soldier. No one knew how to rate me."
"That's because Cale was threatening anyone who wanted to get close to you," said Anubis. "It was Tulpa's decision to not let you know about how to get around the maze. I think he wanted to use you as a strategist or a deadly single operative. You knowing how to get through the maze show that you can think on your feet."
"Figures that he would want to use me somehow," grumbled Mia. "He won't be happy until he gets everyone under his thumb."
"No getting around it, little Shadow," said Dais. "He sees potential only in terms of how useful is the person. You had the same potential Cale did; only you had a head for strategy. He would have loved to use you."
"I think that he was going to try," said Anubis. "He was looking into taking Mia away from Cale for a couple of months before she left."
"And how do you know this?" asked Sage.
"Like I told my friends, I look younger and easier to corrupt. I get told a lot of stories and rumors."
"And he likes to keep his ears open," said Dais. "He will fade into the background to listen to a private conversation taking place in front of him just to find out what was going on."
"And how many times did it save Mia and us?" asked Anubis.
"Too many times," said Mia. "We only survived because we watched each other's backs."
They ended the conversation when the reached the remote Gate. Anubis activated it and rushed through. The other three hurried after him and Dais closed it almost as soon as he cleared the doors. They were now in enemy territory with only the shadows as allies.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Think they'll be okay?" asked Cye.
"They should be fine," said Seckmet. "Dais can spin illusions that look like reality and Mia should be able to hide the rest in shadows."
"And none of them are defenseless," added Ryo. "They should be fine."
"I just wonder if it was a good idea to let them go with only four people. It seems like they are asking to get caught."
"Taking more would be asking to get caught," said Rowen. "I think that Mia and Dais can only hide so much."
"That's true," added Cale. "Mia may have more power over the shadows so she could do more then I can, but it is best if they don't push it. Tulpa will know that something is up with the opening of that Gate, but he will be concentrating on us more."
"And we should be getting ready for Kayura," said Kento. "I think that she's coming right now."
He was right. The Gate was opening and the first soldiers were starting to cross. Rowen looked for Lady Kayura, but didn't see her right away. "I wonder if she is waiting in the back?"
"She may be," said Cale. "She gave the soldiers their orders and now all she has to do is reap the rewards."
"It'll be hard for me to fight her if she stays in the Nether Realm."
"She will come. She wants to fight as much as the soldiers," said Seckmet. "And I think that she'll want to fight you because you are the same as her. That is a challenge she won't ignore."
"That's comforting," muttered Rowen as he knocked an arrow. It was time to defend his home.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Kento watched as the first soldiers came through the Gate. As they set foot on his element, he felt the revulsion of the Earth against the black magic making the soldiers move. Too much pain was used and not enough concern. It was unbalanced and revolting, now he knew how Cye felt when he felt someone else's feelings.
"And I'm going to fix this problem too," he muttered. He was going to defend his home and friends. He was going to make sure this Earth never became like the Nether Realm that the four warriors and Mia talked about.
When the first dozen soldiers came after him, he just grinned his goofy grin and raised his chosen weapon. That was the only warning the soldiers or Lady Kayura got from him before he called the power of the Earth to his command. The others watched the EarthSinger swing his staff around and take out the first of many soldiers. The earth itself took out the rest that surrounded him.
"That will teach you to threaten my home," Kento growled lowly.
Only Cye was close enough to hear him, but the sediment was the same. They were going to defend their home until Sage and Mia stopped Tulpa for good.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Anubis snuck his partners through the small gate in the wall. Dais was the one who disguised the door, but Tulpa's top warriors knew where it was hidden. Mia studied where the door was positioned and narrowed her eyes. Anubis knew that she was memorizing where it was if she had to come back here again. He hoped that she wouldn't have to; her budding relationship with Sage looked promising.
"This has been here for the whole time?" she asked.
"Yes," said Dais. "Tulpa had me hide it before Cale and you were brought here."
"So why didn't you or Cale tell me about it?"
"Because if Tulpa found out that you knew about it, then we would be questioned about what other things we have told you," said Anubis. Mia understood what he meant about questioning and didn't say anything else, but Sage didn't understand.
"What would be so bad about being questioned?"
"When Tulpa questions you, it will be in a dungeon and your answers will be pulled out by a torturer. He will also pull any other secrets you have before you die," said Anubis.
"Have you seen this before?" asked Sage.
"Several times," was the sober response. "Tulpa likes to make object lessons when he dominates you. That was how he got a few of his other warriors. The four of us just seemed to go along, but we wished that we could have saved the poor people who were being used."
Dais started to lead the small group through the passages built in the walls that lead to the castle proper. Soon they would be in the familiar corridors that they walked for centuries, serving the tyrant leader. With Lady Kayura taking most of the soldiers to the Mortal Realm to take on the other Singers and Dancers, the halls weren't as guarded as they should be. The guards that were suppose to be watching these halls were now guarding the throne room where Tulpa ruled.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Sage.
"To the left," said Dais. "The right will lead us to the rooms that the other warriors stay in."
"I wonder what happened to our rooms," mused Mia as she followed Sage. She absently motioned the shadows to hide her and Sage from the possible prying eyes of enemies that could be hidden along the halls. Other shadows flowed before them to look for other threats to their Dancer and her partner.
"I don't know," said Dais. "Tulpa probably gave them to Kayura as a reward for becoming the head warrior."
"That is a scary thought," said Anubis. "I don't know if I like the idea of Kayura going through our possessions."
"Tell me about it," returned Dais. "She'll probably burn everything she doesn't like."
"There goes my stuff," said Mia. "She never liked my taste."
"That's because it wasn't tight and looked like a proper lady's attire," said Anubis. "She liked being a dominator."
A shadow drifted up to Mia and told her of trouble coming towards them. "I guess we lost our easy passage," she sighed. "There's a patrol of soldiers coming this way."
"Press against the wall," instructed Dais. "Mia when I cast the illusion, call the shadows to help hide us. If they are anything like the other patrols, then they will stay away from the walls."
Sage pressed against the wall and grabbed Mia's hand. His vision wavered a little while Dais cast the illusion and then darkened when the shadows flowed over it. Now they would see just how good the leftover soldiers were.
Chapter 15
Rocky Oberlin
Disclaimer: It was a dreary day when this was typed, and then it got worse. I was forced to come to the conclusion that the Ronin Warriors belonged to a big corporation, probably on the West Coast, and the idea of ShadowDancer and SunSinger was the brainchild of Mercedes Lackey as a legend for her series. I didn't own anything.
The groups were made and the good byes were said. Sage and Mia were about to go into enemy territory with just their powers and the protection of the Nether Realm shadows, Anubis, and Dais. The others were going to make sure that there was a Mortal Realm for them to come home to. They had the dangerous job of keeping Lady Kayura busy at the Gate while the four infiltrators went to take on the head and root of the problem. The prophecy was going to be fulfilled one way or the other.
"Be careful Rowen," cautioned Sage. "I want to come back so I can kick you into next week for not letting me Challenge Kayura."
"And I want to be around when you try," smirked the HeavenSinger. "I want to see you and Mia finally get together formally."
"Over my dead body," muttered Cale.
"I don't think we have a choice in the matter, my friend," said Anubis. "I think that they are already attached."
"All the more reason for me to have a long talk with the SunSinger when we get done," said Cale. "I want to make sure that he understands a few things."
"You'll have to talk to his family first," said Ryo. The FireDancer walked over to the conversing pair and added his little bit of information. "You and the Date Clan will have to talk things over before Sage and Mia can even consider courting. Isn't that right Sage?" Ryo called.
Sage muttered a few things under his breath, but nodded. "Yeah, that's right." 'And good luck doing it, Grandfather will want your whole history before he'll even consent to talking this over.' Sage left that thought private for now. If anything, may be he could convince Mia to elope with him and save them all the aggravation of having the families talk.
Mia just smiled at the talk and joined her love. They were ready to go and were waiting for Anubis and Dais to join them. She wished that her brother could come, but he was needed to help fight the Dynasty soldiers coming with Lady Kayura. Dais and she would be hiding them from the rest of the goons that Tulpa used to gain his way.
"If everyone is ready," called Rowen. "We have to meet some soldiers at a Gate and Sage and Mia have to get to a different engagement."
There were nervous chuckles as the two groups spilt apart and started for their separate destinations. Sage and Mia were going to a little know Gate that Anubis found and the rest were going to the Main Gate that Lady Kayura was going to use for her invasion. No one wished the others good luck because everyone knew they all would need it.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure that this Gate isn't guarded?" asked Sage.
"Positive," whispered Dais. "Tulpa doesn't want to wade through a forest when the Main Gate opens directly to open road. Follow the road and lay waste to the city at the end."
"Direct and chilling," said Anubis. "And very effective. Too bad there wasn't some way of doing that to Tulpa."
"We will be effective, but we can't be direct," said Mia. "We would be killed in an instant."
"That's true," said Dais. "Sneaking like a ninja is the only way of getting rid of this threat."
Sage frowned, but didn't argue against it. Sneaking wasn't the way of his family, but if it weren't for Ryo teaching him the way of the Sananda Clan, then he would be protesting it at the top of his voice. Sometimes sending a ninja was better then sending a samurai. Mia smiled at Sage and he lost the frown for a gentler smile. He would always smile for his darkling Dancer.
"Don't worry," she said. "We'll be fine. Anubis and Dais will help us a much as possible to get into the castle. If we had to do it alone, then we would be going through the maze. It's easier for them to lead us."
"That wasn't what I was thinking of, but it's good to know that we have native guides helping us."
Mia punched Sage on the shoulder and mock frowned at him. "And what am I? Chopped liver?"
Sage smiled a little more at his love and rubbed the offended shoulder. "No, but do you know how to get us around the maze?"
Mia's shoulders slumped a little. "No. I know how to get us through the maze quickly, but no around it. That was saved for the head warriors and the soldiers. I was considered less than a warrior but more than a soldier. No one knew how to rate me."
"That's because Cale was threatening anyone who wanted to get close to you," said Anubis. "It was Tulpa's decision to not let you know about how to get around the maze. I think he wanted to use you as a strategist or a deadly single operative. You knowing how to get through the maze show that you can think on your feet."
"Figures that he would want to use me somehow," grumbled Mia. "He won't be happy until he gets everyone under his thumb."
"No getting around it, little Shadow," said Dais. "He sees potential only in terms of how useful is the person. You had the same potential Cale did; only you had a head for strategy. He would have loved to use you."
"I think that he was going to try," said Anubis. "He was looking into taking Mia away from Cale for a couple of months before she left."
"And how do you know this?" asked Sage.
"Like I told my friends, I look younger and easier to corrupt. I get told a lot of stories and rumors."
"And he likes to keep his ears open," said Dais. "He will fade into the background to listen to a private conversation taking place in front of him just to find out what was going on."
"And how many times did it save Mia and us?" asked Anubis.
"Too many times," said Mia. "We only survived because we watched each other's backs."
They ended the conversation when the reached the remote Gate. Anubis activated it and rushed through. The other three hurried after him and Dais closed it almost as soon as he cleared the doors. They were now in enemy territory with only the shadows as allies.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Think they'll be okay?" asked Cye.
"They should be fine," said Seckmet. "Dais can spin illusions that look like reality and Mia should be able to hide the rest in shadows."
"And none of them are defenseless," added Ryo. "They should be fine."
"I just wonder if it was a good idea to let them go with only four people. It seems like they are asking to get caught."
"Taking more would be asking to get caught," said Rowen. "I think that Mia and Dais can only hide so much."
"That's true," added Cale. "Mia may have more power over the shadows so she could do more then I can, but it is best if they don't push it. Tulpa will know that something is up with the opening of that Gate, but he will be concentrating on us more."
"And we should be getting ready for Kayura," said Kento. "I think that she's coming right now."
He was right. The Gate was opening and the first soldiers were starting to cross. Rowen looked for Lady Kayura, but didn't see her right away. "I wonder if she is waiting in the back?"
"She may be," said Cale. "She gave the soldiers their orders and now all she has to do is reap the rewards."
"It'll be hard for me to fight her if she stays in the Nether Realm."
"She will come. She wants to fight as much as the soldiers," said Seckmet. "And I think that she'll want to fight you because you are the same as her. That is a challenge she won't ignore."
"That's comforting," muttered Rowen as he knocked an arrow. It was time to defend his home.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Kento watched as the first soldiers came through the Gate. As they set foot on his element, he felt the revulsion of the Earth against the black magic making the soldiers move. Too much pain was used and not enough concern. It was unbalanced and revolting, now he knew how Cye felt when he felt someone else's feelings.
"And I'm going to fix this problem too," he muttered. He was going to defend his home and friends. He was going to make sure this Earth never became like the Nether Realm that the four warriors and Mia talked about.
When the first dozen soldiers came after him, he just grinned his goofy grin and raised his chosen weapon. That was the only warning the soldiers or Lady Kayura got from him before he called the power of the Earth to his command. The others watched the EarthSinger swing his staff around and take out the first of many soldiers. The earth itself took out the rest that surrounded him.
"That will teach you to threaten my home," Kento growled lowly.
Only Cye was close enough to hear him, but the sediment was the same. They were going to defend their home until Sage and Mia stopped Tulpa for good.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Anubis snuck his partners through the small gate in the wall. Dais was the one who disguised the door, but Tulpa's top warriors knew where it was hidden. Mia studied where the door was positioned and narrowed her eyes. Anubis knew that she was memorizing where it was if she had to come back here again. He hoped that she wouldn't have to; her budding relationship with Sage looked promising.
"This has been here for the whole time?" she asked.
"Yes," said Dais. "Tulpa had me hide it before Cale and you were brought here."
"So why didn't you or Cale tell me about it?"
"Because if Tulpa found out that you knew about it, then we would be questioned about what other things we have told you," said Anubis. Mia understood what he meant about questioning and didn't say anything else, but Sage didn't understand.
"What would be so bad about being questioned?"
"When Tulpa questions you, it will be in a dungeon and your answers will be pulled out by a torturer. He will also pull any other secrets you have before you die," said Anubis.
"Have you seen this before?" asked Sage.
"Several times," was the sober response. "Tulpa likes to make object lessons when he dominates you. That was how he got a few of his other warriors. The four of us just seemed to go along, but we wished that we could have saved the poor people who were being used."
Dais started to lead the small group through the passages built in the walls that lead to the castle proper. Soon they would be in the familiar corridors that they walked for centuries, serving the tyrant leader. With Lady Kayura taking most of the soldiers to the Mortal Realm to take on the other Singers and Dancers, the halls weren't as guarded as they should be. The guards that were suppose to be watching these halls were now guarding the throne room where Tulpa ruled.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Sage.
"To the left," said Dais. "The right will lead us to the rooms that the other warriors stay in."
"I wonder what happened to our rooms," mused Mia as she followed Sage. She absently motioned the shadows to hide her and Sage from the possible prying eyes of enemies that could be hidden along the halls. Other shadows flowed before them to look for other threats to their Dancer and her partner.
"I don't know," said Dais. "Tulpa probably gave them to Kayura as a reward for becoming the head warrior."
"That is a scary thought," said Anubis. "I don't know if I like the idea of Kayura going through our possessions."
"Tell me about it," returned Dais. "She'll probably burn everything she doesn't like."
"There goes my stuff," said Mia. "She never liked my taste."
"That's because it wasn't tight and looked like a proper lady's attire," said Anubis. "She liked being a dominator."
A shadow drifted up to Mia and told her of trouble coming towards them. "I guess we lost our easy passage," she sighed. "There's a patrol of soldiers coming this way."
"Press against the wall," instructed Dais. "Mia when I cast the illusion, call the shadows to help hide us. If they are anything like the other patrols, then they will stay away from the walls."
Sage pressed against the wall and grabbed Mia's hand. His vision wavered a little while Dais cast the illusion and then darkened when the shadows flowed over it. Now they would see just how good the leftover soldiers were.
