A/N: Guyz… so sorrie.. haven't updated in quite a while! (Not that anyone misses it.. -.-) I've been separated from my darling comp cuz a certain sibling of mine happens to need it for the entire week.. :( Anyhooz… here's another chappie, and pple!! I need more reviews!!
And a certain couple of reviewers *koff Chrissie, Raliena, koff* happen to be so smart pple and guessed that pyro would be next, which is true! But I'm sure EVERYONE should kinda know that already… And to all those who need replies, I shalt proceed to do so now…
Repliez –
Nari ~ Yay!! U finally reviewed!! And wait for scotty!!!!
Me ~ No.. so sorrie.. not Storm's tribe.. They're a little too… short. o.O Hmm.. abt this chappie.. dunno if u'll find it draggy.. bt it can't be helped *sighs*. It's kinda building up to the story plot and all.. so yerz.. ^__^
-- sylver rain
The Clydesdales
Chapter 17: The Sand Kingdom
Remy was just getting comfortable on the ground when one of the guards pushed him from the back, and having his hands tied behind him, he fell forward with nothing to cushion him. He twisted so he fell on his shoulder, and he winced painfully as he managed to pull himself up without the help of his upper limbs, which was quite a tortuous task.
"Who are you and what is your name, young man?" The King suddenly spoke. Apparently, the King sounded a lot more good-natured then Remy had expected, and nothing like his own men.
"A wanderer, your majesty, and my name is Gambit." Remy replied. He's been in front of many Kings before, usually because he was in trouble for some reason or another, but still, he had learnt how to act in front of them – what to say to keep them happy and what not to say to avoid them getting pissed.
"A wanderer, you say?" The King asked with the wisely voice he held. Remy nodded. The Kind continued, "Well wanderer, welcome to the Sand Kingdom. And what, may I ask, are all these horses for?"
"Gambit sell them to people, your majesty." Remy lied through his teeth. But he had spent a lot of his life lying, so he was pretty good at it.
"Really?" The King raised a brow, "And in a desert?"
Remy said the first thing that came in mind, "We got lost, sire." At least this time he wasn't lying.
"Well, Gambit, the middle of a wasteland is quite a long way to get off-track, don't you think?"
Remy thought fast, "We were travelling over a small part of de land when dis guy here," he pointed at the Clydesdale nearest to him, which happened to be Lance, "ate de map and so we got lost." Lance grunted but attracted no attention from the dwarf-like men.
The King nodded and stroked his beard, "And, these horses, don't mind me saying, but they are rather odd. They're not horses you'd see everyday."
"Ah… yes sire." Remy had no idea how to reply the King.
"Do tell, young wanderer, where did you find these… horses?" The King continued his interrogation.
"Well, Gambit found them at… in… around." Remy finished lamely. The King noticed that some of the horses were coughing wildly.
"I see. I have to say that these horses of yours have some very peculiar characteristics. Like that blue one. What breed is it?"
Remy's head worked as fast as it could, "Bronco Demona?"
The King raised an eyebrow, "Bronco Demona? I've never heard such a breed before in my life!"
"Well, it's a new breed, your majesty." He wasn't lying about this one either.
"And where is it from?"
Remy's brain stopped right there for a moment, "Erm…" He searched his brain as best he could and came up with an answer that got Kurt coughing madly, "Hell."
The King looked at Remy skeptically, "Hell?"
"Yea… Well no. Actually, yes. It was hell." Remy nodded gravely, "Yep, de gates of hell."
"I see…" The King leaned back in his throne, "And this. The winged one. Is it a Pegasus?"
Remy turned around and looked at Angel, who was ducking his head as low as his neck would allow. "Ah… yes?" Remy turned back and put on the most innocent face he had. His answers were getting more ridiculous as they continued.
"Is that so? Do you know that the Pegasus herd can be only found on the mountains tops of Keilah?"
"Really?" Remy quickly corrected himself, "I mean, yes! Of course Gambit knows dat. You just got Gambit surprised for a moment dat you knew dat yourself!" He smiled innocently, "Your majesty." He quickly added.
"So, tell me about your journey up the mountains." The King kept on with the questioning.
Remy was getting tired of them, partially because his legs were aching themselves off, but mostly because he was running out of answers. "Gambit walked."
There was a moment of silence for a moment, and it was so quiet, a feather could drop on the sand and everyone would have heard it. "And?" The King finally said.
"And…" Remy looked around, "We walked more…"
The King nodded his head, beckoning Remy to go on.
"And we… walked to the top." Remy finished. He was seriously losing his touch.
"And what about all the obstacles that you should have faced? I've heard that there were three-headed lions, giant five-headed snakes and seven-headed dragons!"
"Yes! There were! Gambit managed to fight all of dem and win. The dragons, I mean, dragon, almost got me, let me tell you." The King raised a brow, and Remy shifted position uncomfortably before hurriedly adding, "And dere was a nine-headed ostrich around de top too. But Gambit managed to creep pass it when it's, ah… nine heads were in holes in de ground." He smiled, hoping that his story was convincing enough.
"Nine-headed ostrich?" The King asked quizzically.
"Yep." Remy said, then mentally slapped himself on his head, "Actually, de truth is, what happen was de horse," He pointed at Warren, "Was on de ground with a broken wing and it appeared to have fallen out of de sky. So Gambit decided to go pick it up and help it get better." He finished with the most convincing face he could muster.
The King and all his men were now staring at him with blank expressions. Remy just looked down at his feet.
To everyone's surprise, the King burst out laughing. He laughed a laugh which most wise old men would laugh, and Remy just kneeled there and stared, "Umn… is there something Gambit's missing out on?"
"Sure is, son." The King laughed heartily, "My boy, you are the funniest fibber I've come across in my entire history!"
"You knew I was lying all the time?" Remy asked in absolute amazement.
"Yup!" The King laughed. "There is no such place called Keilah. I just made it up!"
Remy rolled his eyes, "Well, you could have said so earlier and saved me the trouble of making the whole story up!"
"Haha… young wanderer, you are spectacular." The King wiped tears from his eyes. "Now, would you mind telling me what really happened?"
So Remy did. About his journey and why he had started it off. The King listened intently all the while.
"Clydesdales, are they?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Ha. Bronco Demona indeed…" The King chuckled. Remy looked down at his feet bashfully.
"And these Clydesdales. They were formally mutants, you say?"
"Yes. Mutants." Remy nodded.
"All because of Kar. Yes. I have heard of Kar. The great wizard. The evil wizard…" The King seemed to be deep in thought.
"Ah, Sire, may I ask if you have any idea of the wizard's whereabouts?" Remy asked hopefully.
The King sighed, "Sorry, boy, but I have no idea."
Remy looked down at the ground discouragingly. Then the King suddenly said, "Clydesdales… I think we may have one of your friends here."
Remy looked up in confusion, "Sire?"
"A Clydesdales, I mean." The King replied.
"A Clydesdale? Here?"
"Yes."
"Where?" Remy was getting a little excited now.
"He's in one of the chambers. I'll show you to him later. We call him the Fire god."
"Pyro!" He heard one of the Clydesdales yelp.
The King and his guard looked at the Clydesdales in astonishment.
Remy turned around and back at the King, "Ah, did Gambit mention they could talk?"
End of Chapter 17
A/N: Sigh, sigh, and sigh some more…
