Section Two: Sunrise on a new Adventure
Julian woke up with a start, sitting up and looking around. It took him a few moments to recognize his surroundings.
"Good. You're awake."
He startled again, looking up at Fox, who was fully dressed. "What time is it?"
"Just before sunrise."
"No hour?"
"I do not have a clock, a watch, or mark candles. I judge time by the sun and moon. If I had to name an hour, I would call it perhaps five…" Fox was already walking toward the door. "Up, Julian. You have much to learn."
He blinked a few times, then brushed a blanket off, stood, and stretched. It took only a few minutes to shrug into and tie his tunic, then stagger from the cabin with a yawn, stretching, popping the vertebrae in his back.
"Noisy exit."
He jumped, and saw Fox crouched the grass, fingertips pressed together. "I wasn't trying to be quiet…"
"Do." Fox stood, and then smiled gently. "At least, become aware of how much noise you are making."
"… Oh. All right."
The dark slowly melted away as the sun rose, stars fading into daylight, moon almost following. Julian watched as Fox bowed to the sun, speaking to himself in Elven.
"Are you praying to Pelor?"
"I am praying to a great many things." Fox replied, standing with his hands pressed together. "For a glorious day and ideal conditions to train, and of course, for you."
"Why are you praying for me?"
"I am the master and you are the student." Fox shrugged a bit. "It is hard to voice what I mean, but I wish you well." He turned to face Julian. "Who do you pray to?"
"It really depends on the situation. I have said prayers to Fharlanghn, Kord, Olidammara, Pelor, and Saint Cuthburt in my times, but I mainly consider myself under Fharlanghn." Julian stepped up even with Fox and said his respects to these Gods, simple, powerful prayers. "Yourself?"
"Oh, I have said many prayers to many gods. Baccob, Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Kord, Obad-Hai, Pelor, Saint Cuthburt. But I am not directly under any of these Gods, no. I am a direct servant of Heironeous."
Julian stared at him. "A, a direct servant? He speaks to you?"
"In a sense. Many of them have. I have left offerings to many I have mentioned, for I must be in their good wishes to survive. I practice magic, so I bow to Baccob. I have Elven blood in me, thus I bow to Corellon Larethian. Ehlonna and Obad-Hai are spirits of nature. I live only because of their grace." He bowed to the forests around him. "Kord is a God of strength, which I must have, and Pelor is God of the sun." Fox lifted his gaze, watching the rising sun. "I suppose I must be deeply spiritual to survive, but it merely my way. It might not be yours."
For not the first time, Julian felt awed.
"I am a legend, or so I'm told. I'm not even sure if I like being one." He turned to look at Julian. "And it does not matter. What matters now is that I teach you to use your weapon.
I cannot merely teach you to swordfight. I must teach you how to do hand-to-hand combat to accompany it, though I need not focus so much on it as my father did with me. The basis of many of the moves I know is found in the oriental martial arts. But we will not start with those either.
We will start at the beginning." He pressed his hands together.
"Praying?"
"No. Breathing."
Julian woke up just before sunrise a week later, this time folding his blankets, making sure he was neat once his clothes were in their rightful places, and proceeded to quietly exit the cabin.
"Better."
He sighed and looked at Fox, crouched as normal. "Better? Master Fox, I…"
"Relax, apprentice. I have been practicing moving silently for a long time, as well as listening. I have lived alone for a while. It would take a master to sneak up on me." Fox stood, going through his morning routine easily, honoring the sunrise.
Julian watched this silently. He never said his prayers aloud when Fox did, they sounded harsh and simple next to the flowing Elven words. He sighed, wondering how many languages Fox knew. At least three, because not two days ago he had been scared witless by a green dragon, falling back and crawling away from the huge beast, or at least until it lowered it's head down, snorted, and asked that he fetch Fox. The dragon and Fox had then had a conversation in draconic, and the dragon left, both parties satisfied.
"How many languages do you know?" He asked once Fox had finished.
"I'm not sure." Fox said, rubbing his chin. "That would be something to think about. I know I am fluent in common, Elven, and Draconic. I also know a good bit of Latin…" He frowned. "But I'm not sure if I am fluent… I also know some Mandarin, thanks to my father, may he find honor in his afterlife… besides a bit of Celestial and a touch of Dwarvin, that's all I know."
"Would you teach me? I do know the basics of reading and writing, I have to, being from a trading family."
Fox smiled. "I don't see why not. Shall we continue your training?"
Julian nodded, started to bow, then something bright white caught his eye. He straightened, and stared as a unicorn easily trotted out of the forest and started grazing next to his gelding, as if it was a normal thing. Fox, however, seemed unaffected.
"Is everything in order?"
The unicorn looked up, swallowed the grass, and nodded easily.
"Good. I suppose you know Julian, then."
Another nod and a nicker.
"Good, good." He turned back to his student, saw the wide-eyed look, and smiled again. "Didn't you know? I ride a unicorn. Much more useful in my mind then a heavy warhorse, much more agile and quiet, and much smarter as well. Now, for today…"
That evening, a hawk's cry above the cabin caused Fox to call the training to a momentary pause, allowing Julian to relax. Julian had many times seen Fox feeding the hawk, and now it came swooping in, landing on his raised fist. Fox ran his knuckles lightly over its feathered breast, murmuring, then took a message tube from the bird. This done, the hawk hopped to his shoulder, settling down and looking at Julian.
"Ah yes, this is Osiris. My familiar." Fox said almost absently, taking the letter out of the tube and unrolling it.
Julian was sitting lotus-style under a tree, watching this curiously, but not trying to read the letter from this distance. The only thing he noticed was that the paper was finely made, possibly meaning of royal origin. He knew that Fox, being a Knight, would be subject to summons at any time, and it worried him. He rather liked it out here in the woods, and didn't want his training to be interrupted.
But by Fox's expression, this wasn't a summons. No, he had never seen this expression on Fox before, it was… tender. Almost shy. Fox seemed to forget his apprentice was present, retreating inside his cabin, murmuring to himself in Elven.
He tried not to think about it, sinking into meditation, trying to teach himself to have the focus that Fox had. He had yet to understand how Fox did it so far, but he knew he was still just a beginner, far from being an accomplished student, even farther from mastering any of the techniques.
A bit later, Fox exited the cabin, Osiris perched on his fist, message tube tied to his foot again. A toss upward, and Osiris circled and disappeared, flying toward the city.
"I apologize for that, Julian." Fox said. "I just felt I should respond immediately."
"No harm done." Julian stood. "I just knew that if you were interrupting my training, it should be tended to quickly."
Fox shook his head. "No, it could have waited. It is a personal matter of mine, and I should have waited. I apologize."
"No harm done. Shall we continue?"
"We shall."
Osiris circled the castle, sharp eyes darting over the courtyard and the tower where he knew the royal family had their bedrooms. There was no one in the courtyard, and it was nearly sunset.
He circled closer to the tower, eyes still darting, finally landing outside Fara's window and tapping it softly with his beak. No reply. He peered inside, saw it was dark, and settled down slowly to wait.
"It has been an honor speaking to you, King Albrecht." King Phoenix said, shaking King Albrecht's hand. "When shall we hold the ball?"
"In two weeks time, I think, would be enough. I am anxious to see if our children will get along… my son would very much like to meet your daughter." Albrecht bowed to Fara, then kissed her hand.
Fara nodded, but said nothing, starting to get very worried indeed. She knew in her heart it would be horrible to marry who she did not love. "Thank you for your kindness, King Albrecht." She finally said.
"Ah but it is a trifle." He smiled, straightening. "Perhaps we could fix a meeting on a sooner date? Perhaps a few days from now? That is, if you would have my son in your house."
"We would be honored."
Fara was glad to escape the choking atmosphere of the throne room, swiftly climbing the stairs to her quarters. Marie was in front of her, opening the door and lighting lamps and candles.
"Something lurks outside your window…" Marie said, opening it. "Oh! Be gone!"
"What is it?" Fara stepped up next to her, and saw Osiris crouched there, staring at Marie, who looked as if she was about to bludgeon the bird. "Marie, no!" She cried, gently pulling her lady-in-waiting back and allowing Osiris to climb to her hand.
"Milady, you do not know where that filthy beast has been…!"
"Yes, I do, Marie. This 'beast,' as you so rudely call him, is a familiar." She brushed her fingers over the hawk's feathers lightly, cooing gently.
"That is what we are to protect you from…!"
"Leave, Marie." Fara said, taking the letter tube. "This familiar belongs to one of my father's own Knights."
Marie slowly left the room, with many glances over her shoulder, muttering, watching Fara as she closed the door. Fara sat at her desk chair, turning up the lamp and opening the message tube.
The letter was brief, and Fox apologized for that, saying as he was training he did not have much time to write. The letter was as tender as always though, and she fought the urge to hug either the letter or Osiris to her chest, wanting badly to cry, then picked up a quill and began to quickly write a reply.
She missed Fox, missed him badly, asking could he perhaps come to this ball? She explained her predicament, and poured emotion into the paper. She was worried about this arrangement for more then the reason she would be separated from who she loved. She was worried because something about it felt wrong, tense somehow, not evil but near it. She was a visionary of sorts; she supposed she was allowed such premonitions. She only hoped Fox would understand.
"I imagine you would like to rest tonight." She said to Osiris, again brushing her hand over his feathers.
He looked at her, and made a soft noise, almost a warble. Yes.
"Can you take my letter first thing in the morning?"
Again the soft noise. Yes.
"Thank you Osiris. I imagine you know, in your own way, just how much this means to me."
The bird made the noise once more, then climbed from her fist to a stand she had set up, drinking some water and settling down to sleep.
Fara read Fox's letter over a few more times, but realized she was only driving herself to a deeper depression, and after hiding the letter with the rest, retired for the night.
As soon as the first rays of sunlight spread across the land, Osiris launched from the bedroom window. Fara watched the hawk soar away, holding her robe around her. The bird dipped its wings in a goodbye, and soared out of sight, flying for the forest.
Fara sighed, then closed the window, removing the basic dress and getting into her sword fighting clothes, smoothing the fitted breeches and tying the swordfighter's shirt so it wasn't so loose around her. She really preferred dressing like this over the complex, many-layered dresses she usually had to wore, but knew she had no choice.
She fingered her Pelor pendant, and, after belting her sword to her side, went down to the courtyard. The sunlight was just beginning to come through here, and she said a prayer to Pelor then went into basic maneuvers, easily dueling imaginary foes in the morning sunlight. She had had this sword since just before the war had ended; this was the same sword she had taken from Felocial the Drow. It felt natural in her hands, much more so then any of the weapons in her father's many armories, and Fox had told her once that the sword was Mithral in make, though it had no other particular enchantments on it. She didn't mind, she knew that even something basic could be deadly.
The sun had come over the stone walls when she stopped, sheathed the sword, and bowed to nobody, saying another prayer. After a few moments of listening to the bustling city outside the walls, she cast a glance at the castle, and walked easily toward the gates, deciding to cast away her title for the day and enjoy herself.
Few recognized her when she was out of her dresses, and those that did knew enough to stay silent about it. She walked easily through the streets, listening to the cries of those selling wares, the laughter of children, the buzz of life around her. Harvests were starting to come in, and the city was busy.
"Morning."
She looked up, and smiled as Katt Monroe fell in step with her, having also cast away formalities, not wearing her sorceress' robes. Katt returned her smile, dressed in a simple tunic and loose breeches.
"And a good morning to you. How is business with the Guild?"
"Going well. Falco isn't awake yet. In fact he only retreated to his quarters a few hours ago…" She shook her head and sighed. "Have you heard from Fox recently?"
"Last night, yes. He took on a trainee, as far as I can tell… an apprentice of sorts in swordsmanship." Fara paid for a pair of apples and passed one to Katt, biting into hers.
"That sort of thing takes years." Katt shook her head in wonder. "And Fox isn't very old to be a teacher, though I acknowledge that he is a master at what he does."
"Yes, he is…" She sighed, staring off in the distance.
"Are you all right?"
"No. My parents are arranging me for marriage."
"Oh, Fara…!" Katt blurted, knowing well how she and Fox felt for each other.
"Yes. I'm not sure what to do… I'm hoping what I must do will strike me." She fingered her pendant absently.
"I hope so. You have my best wishes…"
"Yes, I know."
They were silent for a time, and both watched as a figure they didn't recognize came through the crowd, riding a white horse with simple tack, dressed simply with the hood of her cloak drawn up.
"Who is that?" Fara finally asked, gesturing, speaking between bites of apple.
"I'm not completely sure…" Katt muttered something in an arcane language, then rubbed her chin. "I think I might meet her later though. I believe she is going to stop in at Falco's tavern tonight. I will tell you when I know."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. Just so long as you keep me informed of your visions. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
They shook hands, continuing to walk through the marketplace.
"McCloud? Of all the Knights to speak to why him?" The bartender stared at the woman standing at his bar.
She looked at him from inside her hood. "It's urgent. Does anyone know where he lives?"
"Afraid not ma'am. He lives out in the woods somewheres a good day's travel from here." He served drinks to a few patrons. "If you really want to know, there's another tavern in town…"
"There are several in town."
"Yes, but this one is a Guild tavern." He put emphasis on the word 'Guild.' "They usually have a lot of information, though it usually costs a pretty penny too. But their inn isn't shabby, or so I've heard. I try hard to avoid the place. I know for a fact though that the local Guild leader, he knows McCloud. Right good friends with him, catch my drift?"
"I thank you." She sat a gold coin on the counter and left, untying her horse and walking the now-darkened streets of the town, eventually coming to the tavern she had been told of. She tied her horse again and went inside, cloak fluttering.
The tavern was busy and noisy, and she was bumped into more then once. More then once she noticed people eying her, local thieves she supposed. After some trouble, she made it to the bar. "Would you know where to find Sir McCloud?"
The bartender raised his eyebrows, then pointed. "Up the stairs. There is a private booth in the corner. Ask who you find there. They know."
She climbed the stairs with ease and approached the booth. She recognized a Guild cape, and also saw a sorceress' robes. After a long moment, she walked up to the table in the booth. "Excuse me?"
"Yes?" The sorceress asked.
"I need information. I need to know where to find Fox McCloud."
"Oh really?" Drawled the Guild thief, sitting back. "And why is that?"
The woman brushed her hood down and her cape back, revealing her appearance fully. "My name is Rita LaShette. I am a priestess of Obad-hai. Something is happening, and my fellows and I believe that Sir McCloud could help us."
"A pleasure. I'm Falco Lombardi, local Guild leader, and this is Sorceress Katt Monroe. Please, sit, Priestess LaShette. We may be able to direct you to McCloud, but I think we'd like to know more of your troubles first."
Julian willingly took a break, watching as Fox unrolled the letter, expression reverting to that odd tenderness, then his expression grew troubled as he read farther down the letter.
"Trouble?" Julian asked, curious.
"Not exactly…" Fox read the letter again, then looked at his student. "How would you feel about attending a ball in a bit less then two weeks?"
"A ball?" Julian gaped, then rubbed his chin. "I'm not sure. Perhaps if I could… I always dreamed of attending one when I was younger… But Fox, I have no knowledge, no way of knowing the etiquette…"
"I can take care of that. I'm not going to force you to go, but I must. This is a form of royal summons." Fox sighed, rolling the letter back up. "My presence is requested."
"Ah I see... but would I be wanted there?"
"I don't see why not. I can teach you the proper etiquette, if you desire. Furthermore, I can bring in some of my Elven friends to assist."
"But, Fox… I'm of common blood."
Fox looked him in the eye. "And so am I."
"But knights…"
"That is one of the things that makes my title… special. Yes my father was a Knight, but he became one in unusual circumstances. My mother was of common blood." Fox had turned away, and addressed Osiris. "I need you to find someone for me. An Elf named Laucian."
Osiris took off, flying away, heading deep into the forest.
"Laucian is an old friend of my family." Fox turned back. "Rather high-ranking among the Elves. If anyone can teach you etiquette in a short time, he can." Fox grinned.
"So does that mean I'm attending?"
"Yes I suppose it does. Now shall we continue with your training?"
"What do you think?"
Falco sighed, leaning his weight into the windowsill, staring out at the street that passed in front of his tavern. "Sounds pretty urgent… But if Fox hasn't noticed, how bad can it be?"
"True." Katt sighed, leaning back into a table that was weighted down with her tomes and scrolls. "Still, this has all the trappings of another quest."
"More then true." Falco turned to face her. "But you have to admit the last one left us well off. We're heroes Katt.. Well, in a sense, I imagine that few townsfolk think of me as one." He smiled sourly. "But even if the balance has been disturbed, what can we possibly do about it? Normally that would be corrected by the Divine…"
"What if they can't? What if something is preventing them?" Katt spread her hands helplessly.
"Then I suppose it falls to us. Again."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not sure. Doesn't bother me any, but Fox is in charge of the group, much as he hates to admit it, and he doesn't like being a hero."
"That, and we're only six people at most…"
"Right. We're hardly an army." He picked up one of her scrolls absently.
She took it from him. "That will hurt you in ways you can't comprehend if you try to read it." She rolled it and set it behind her. "I suppose we better wait to talk to Fox then…"
"That'd probably be wise. When's our friend the Priestess making her visit to him?"
"Tomorrow morning I believe. She's pretty desperate about this." Katt shook her head. "Oh, and there's going to be a ball in less then two weeks. I think we should attend."
"Are we invited?"
"Of course not. But you have such a big say in this city, we may as well."
Falco laughed, pulling her into a hug. "Sometimes I'm not sure what I'd do without you. I'll see you in the morning." With that he released her and left the room.
"Katt Monroe, Sorceress and secretary for a Guild Thief." She shook her head at herself, and dug into her tomes, trying to find something that would assist their upcoming quest.
Fox stirred, still asleep, seeing in haloed vision a rider approaching. It was just before dawn, and he would have awakened naturally anyway without Osiris showing him this. He forced himself into consciousness and sat up, quickly neatening himself and strapping on his swords, opening the cabin door to greet the rider.
He was surprised to see it was a woman, deeply enshrouded by her cape. Upon seeing him, she dismounted quickly, leaving her horse beside Julian's and walking forward. "Would you be Fox McCloud?" She asked simply.
"That would be me. What brings you here so early?" He looked toward the horizon, barely glowing with the sunrise.
"I need to speak to you. Please, it is a desperate matter."
He paused, assessing this, then said, "Would milady allow me to see who I am speaking to?"
She brushed the hood down and the cloak back. "I am Rita LaShette, a Priestess of Obad-Hai."
"An honor. Would you prefer to speak inside?"
"Please."
Fox let her inside and closed the door, opening shutters and lighting the fire with a toss of his hand, going about preparing breakfast for three instead of two. "What is this 'desperate matter' you speak of, Priestess?" He asked, crouching by the fire.
She was watching him sharply, trying to assess if this simple-looking young man was who she had heard of, then came to the conclusion it was true. He looked at her, and an intense aura spiked around him, completely good and holy, powerful. "I was directed here by your friends Guild Thief Lombardi and Sorceress Monroe… those at the temple I came from, including myself, have all been sensing something in the distance… we all have come to the conclusion that the very balance is threatened."
"The balance? Of nature? Or do you speak of the world as a whole?" He straightened, focusing all his attention on her.
"The world, and all the realms which share it." She sighed, accepting a simple wooden mug, sipping at the tea. Fine tea leaves, she noted. "We have said prayers, but they go unanswered… we feel that something is very wrong, or becoming very wrong. We discussed this, and one of the younger Priests said he had heard of your feats. We thought you could help us, and I was sent to speak to you. Thus, here I am."
"You believe that I could help you?" He rubbed his chin slowly, sinking into thought. "I admit that this matter you speak of concerns me. I have been busy the past while, and though I have found time for meditation, I probably have not found time as often as I should have." He sighed. "But, Priestess… I am merely a Knight."
"You have done things few mortals could, Sir McCloud."
"Perhaps." He replied, straight faced.
The other door opened, and Julian blinked. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Fox nodded. "Julian this is Rita LaShette, a Priestess of Obad-Hai. Priestess, this is Julian Reeves, who I have the honor of training at this time."
Rita stood and offered her hand. Julian bowed and kissed it lightly. "An honor, Priestess."
"She's come to me asking for assistance." Fox sighed, crouching by the fire again, deep in thought.
"Assistance?" Julian inquired. "Would this be something I could assist in as well, or should I start my exercises outside and wait until you are done talking to come back in?"
"No, you can stay inside. I don't see a reason why not." Fox sighed again, bowing his head. "Priestess, even if I could help, I do not fight alone. I tend to travel with a rather unusual group, two of which you have already met…"
"Yes, they told me…"
"And I would have to consult them. Also, I have been called upon to appear at a ball that is being held in a few fortnights, and as a Knight, I must make that appearance, unless I happen to be fighting a war." He shook his head.
"That might be what this is, Sir McCloud. We are not sure."
"True." He stood. "Does this need to be tended to tomorrow, or could our departure be delayed until after the ball?"
She hesitated, then said, "I believe it could be delayed. It would give us time to gather information and supplies…"
"And it would give me time to call my group together." He finished, rubbing his chin, still deep in thought. His aura flickered around him again, this time bright enough that even Julian saw it. "Very well."
Julian watched the next day's events quietly, trying to log it all away in his memory. After Fox had agreed, the letters started going out the minute Osiris arrived, accompanied by Laucian. A short conversation later, and Julian was learning protocol and etiquette.
Fox, meanwhile, continued talking to Rita, writing several letters and rolling them together into the message tube, which he gave to Osiris. Osiris immediately left for the city, seeking out Peppy and passing the letter tube over. Peppy read his, which was on top, and took all but one, which he replaced, thanking the familiar. The familiar left again, this time flying for the castle.
Fara was standing in her room, trying to contain her frustration as she was fitted for a new ball gown, and had to grin when the gentleman tailor let out a scream as Osiris soared right through the left-open window and landed on his stand, but didn't sit still, practically bouncing on his stand.
"Urgent?" Fara asked, taking the letter tube and opening it, ignoring the tailor and reading down the letter, eyes widening. Fox was proposing another quest and was going to call his team together, including some of the 'perimeter members.' After the general brief, the tone changed, loving for a few sentences, telling her that he would see her at the ball and he would tell her all about it there.
She sighed, wondering if she could possibly wait that long, asking the tailor to wait a moment and quickly penning a reply, then passing the closed tube back to Osiris, who flew back out the window. Only then did she return to the stool, allowing herself to be fitted into the gown, a sort of joy growing in her chest.
Fox was saying she could come on the quest, if she wished. And that sort of thing would be just what her father couldn't refuse, for he understood she was as much a fighter as his infantrymen or Knights, even if she was still a Princess. Which meant that the proposed wedding would be postponed… She smiled to herself, somehow joyous.
"Slippy."
"Yes? Oh, hello Peppy!" Slippy grinned, wiping ash off his hands and eagerly striding over. He still worked as a blacksmith, but his reputation had greatly grown since his last adventure with Fox, as had his reputation as a mage gadget master.
Peppy handed him a letter. "Read this."
He did, and slowly lifted his gaze to Peppy's. "Does this mean…"
"Yes. It means that we quite probably are going on another quest."
Peppy watched with amusement as Slippy did a sort of victory jig in his blacksmith's shop, overjoyed. He had quite enjoyed their last adventure, despite the many battles and hardships, and was bored where he was, more then eager to leave his current position and travel beside Fox again.
"Who else knows?" Slippy asked. "He said the whole group…"
"Falco and Katt were the first to know. I'm going to tell Bill after this."
"This is wonderful! The whole group…" Slippy beamed.
"Yes, well… There was a special letter for me. It seems we have a few additions."
"Who?"
"Firstly, though the details aren't clear, I think we've gained a Priestess. I think that Princess Fara is coming also."
"Oh, er… Well, I know that the Princess is an accomplished duelist, and I suppose I shall hear the reasons for the Priestess at a later date… anyone else coming along?"
Peppy hesitated, then said very carefully, "I think Fox might have invited Alan."
"Alan? As in the bard from the Blood Bayou?"
"Yes."
The Jack of Tears sighed, swinging a foot, fingers pressed together, looking out at the noisy-as-normal Marti Gra. Since the war, very little had happened in his area, even with the land expansion.
"Lord Momus?"
"Ah my good Baron! What is it?"
The Baron held up a sealed letter. "This was delivered to me…"
"Oh? For me?"
"That's the problem, My Lord. Do you remember the bard Alan, of the Krewe of Mangroves?"
"How could I forget?" Was the somewhat sour reply. "He's probably playing fiddle right now for your skeleton band."
"That would be convenient. This letter's for him."
"Who from pray tell, if I may be nosy…"
"I suppose we both remember Fox McCloud. Well, it's from him. It had an accompanying letter which I have already read…" He handed it to the Jack of Tears. "And I suppose that Demoiselle Antunes should read it too…"
The Jack of Tears took the letter, laying his mask across his lap and reading it, rubbing his dark, pointed chin. It seemed that a new quest was possibly on the horizon for Fox's group, and he was requesting that Alan accompany them.
"What could they possibly want with an insane violinist?" The Jack of Tears finally asked with a demonic grin.
"That's what I'd like to know." The Baron Mirth returned the grin. "But who are we to question mortals anyway?"
"True, true. And they call us insane… Very well. Forward this letter on to the Demoiselle, and see if you can find Alan. Chances are he's either hiding in the Bayou or dancing on a rooftop playing his violin. With him, there is no middle ground."
The letter got to the Demoiselle in less then ten minutes, however, it took close to an hour to find Alan, who was deep in the Marti Gra, sawing out tunes and dancing at the same time, calling out the dance steps as he went. When a skeleton hauled him away, the skeleton band took over for him.
"Evening Lord Momus. What can I do for you?" Alan asked easily, not worried about why he had been summoned.
"Mail call." Was the sour reply, and the Jack of Tears handed him the sealed letter.
Alan opened it quickly, having a seat on the floor right where he had been standing, reading it quickly. "Oh! Oh my!" He leapt up and bounced around the room, cornering off the walls and ceiling a few times. "They want me! They want ME to go on their adventure!" He cried, then realized he was still in the company of his King, so he landed and stood still, grinning fit to bust. "Can I go sir? Can I please?" He begged, bouncing in place. "Please sir?"
The Jack grinned behind his mask. "I don't see why not, and the Demoiselle has already sent her note saying you could. It is several days ride to their capitol though, and a hard ride…"
"Oh but Fox wrote saying he was going to ask Peppy to use his amulet!" Alan bounced some more, then started ricocheting off walls. "I'll be teleported there with all my equipment, if it works!"
"Feh. You're invited, so go now." The Jack twirled his want between his fingers.
"Really, sir?"
"Go gather what you must and come back prepared."
"Yes sir!" And the bard was gone.
The Jack sat back and began to laugh heartily, twitching a finger. "Demoiselle, how many of your followers act like that?"
"Very few." She replied through the spell. "Alan's a bit special."
"I'm sure we've all noticed that!"
Fox sighed, urging his unicorn on. The steed had taken measures to disguise itself, now looking like a normal brown mare.
"So we are meeting your friends at Lombardi's tavern?" Julian asked, easily pacing Fox on his gelding.
"Yes. I'm not sure how many will be there… a few members come from a distance, or might not be able to leave duty…" He sighed again.
Less then an hour later, they entered the town. Fox easily made his way around the streets, finding Falco's tavern with ease, leaving their horses at the livery stable.
Even in mid-afternoon, the tavern was fairly busy, and most of those there were under Falco's payroll, perimeter Guild thieves. They knew who Fox was though, and let him through unbothered, in fact parting so he had a clear path.
"They know you, apparently." Julian remarked as they approached the bar.
"Yes. That and they're scared of me." Fox leaned on the bar. "Is Falco at his usual table?"
"Sure is. He's waiting for you in fact." The bartender replied.
"Good." Fox easily climbed the wooden staircase, Julian following close behind him.
"Did he have this place built?" Julian finally asked.
"No, he bought it and renovated it." Fox came out of the second-floor landing, easily walking between the tables to the booths in the back.
"About time you showed up Fox! You're very nearly late to your own meeting!" Falco laughed, standing. "Afternoon, Julian."
"Afternoon."
Fox exchanged cheerful greetings with his friends, sliding into the getting-full booth then making room for his student. "Pleasure to see you again, Priestess LaShette."
"Indeed." She smiled.
"So we're going on another adventure, eh?" Slippy said, leaning on the table, face eager.
"Very possibly. I did give you a very brief run down in my letter, but I think it's better for the Priestess to explain."
Everyone looked to Rita, and she sighed, explaining again her troubles. The group listened gravely, paying attention to every detail she told. It was only then that she was certain that this group, as rag-tag as they seemed, were professionals.
"That does seem rather serious." Bill said, swirling his drink. "But this would very normally be a problem solved by the deities. If it requires their power to correct it, how can mere mortals like us assist?"
"We may not be able to." Peppy said, rubbing his chin. "But we can certainly try."
Silence for a moment, and then Fox turned to Katt and Slippy. "Do you know of anything that could help correct this imbalance? This is not as simple as defeating an army."
"Like defeating an army is simple." Falco grunted, setting his mug down.
"No, what I mean is that the threat is direct. Here it is not. We do not know what is causing the imbalance, nor do we know how to stop it." Fox sighed.
"There are many artifacts that have been created by the gods… perhaps one of them could assist?" Slippy hazarded, lacing his fingers together and setting his forearms on the table.
"More then likely, but most of them have been lost by time." Said Katt. "I have been reading since I first found out of this quest. Anything that could have helped has been lost for many millennia."
"What is lost can be found." Fox replied.
"Depends. Not if it's been melted down in a volcano…"
Julian had been listening to this, mind wandering along the memory of his travels, and sat up. "The Staff of Lazarus."
"What?" Bill looked at him.
Falco slapped his hands down on the table. "I've heard of it. Heard even more about Lazarus…"
"Who hasn't heard of Lazarus?" Katt asked. "Heard not to hear about a renowned sorcerer who, as the story goes, spoke to gods…"
"Yes and his specialty was artifacts. Lord knows there are a great many out there…" Slippy said. "I've read about many of them, but a Staff? I've never learned of just a 'staff' of Lazarus. Of a Lightning Staff, yes. But not just a 'staff.'"
"As the tale goes, it was created to be a tool of the gods." Said Julian, eagerly leaning forward as he spoke, happy to be part of the conversation. "Made to balance the world, smite down evil and good alike."
"A neutral weapon." Fox said, pressing his fingertips together.
"Yes but made for the common good. Good and evil must be balanced. I'm sure we all know that." Said Rita. "I too have heard of this staff, but what happened to it? That is a tale I have never read."
"Nor I." Julian admitted. "I heard the story during my travels."
"Near as I know, it was cast down because the deity using it misused it. The god in question led a campaign against evil, and in the last battle invoked the staff, killing most of his army in the process." Said Peppy, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Though where it was cast down to, I'm not sure…"
"What is going on down there?" Falco suddenly said, standing and working his way out of the booth.
The others tuned into their surroundings, and heard what sounded like some sort of brawl on the lower levels, but it sounded as if several were ganging up on one. Fox also stood, walking over to the railing with Falco.
"Well. I'll be." Falco shook his head, crossing his arms.
Alan was busily dodging and parrying swords, laughing gleefully, leaping backwards gracefully and landing on a table, all the while singing and making fun of his attackers. His cloak was swept back, both standing on the balcony guessed that was the reason for the fight. Alan wasn't normal by many standards.
"ENOUGH!" Fox finally thundered at the top of his lungs, lightning cracking around him.
The fight stopped immediately. Alan saw them, and with a happy cry sheathed his rapier. Then he leapt from table to table, leapt high in the air, and using a support pole swung himself up in a half-circle and caught the railing Fox and Falco leaned on, pulling himself up and holding himself there. "Hello chaps! Right fine party you hold."
"Alan for God's sake get on this side of the railing!" Falco blurted, and was rewarded when Alan promptly did. "When did you get here?"
"Oh but a few minutes ago kind sir." Alan draped an arm over Falco's shoulders, picking up an abandoned mug from nearby and downing the contents. "Your friend Peppy said he would use the pendant, but the Jack teleported me into town with his wand… ay what a good brew…"
Those that had never met Alan were staring when the trio swaggered over. Fox suggested they move, and they relocated to a large table, drawing up more chairs. Alan sat on the table, propped his feet on his chair, and proceeded to saw out a tune on the violin he had produced from seemingly midair.
"For those who don't know, this is Alan. He's a resident of the Krewe of Mangroves in the Blood Bayou." Fox said. "I invited him along."
Rita looked at him. "The Blood Bayou?"
"Oy yes milady!" Alan sawed his tune faster and grinned at her, warping his face even more. "Been a servant of the Demoiselle and the Jack for a while yes sir! I fought alongside your friends in the war." He lowered the violin and beamed at the others.
"No offence to you Alan, but…" Slippy turned to Fox. "Why?"
"Had you seen his earlier acrobatics, you'd be agreeing with me right now and offering some money to him as encouragement. Music lightens the soul. This may very well be a very long journey, and although Alan looks a bit unusual, he is an accomplished acrobat as well as a bard." Fox smiled a bit sourly. "I did some thinking and came to the conclusion that if we teamed Alan up with Falco, we'd be able to enter any building we like, even an enemy fortress."
"It does make sense." Peppy sat back. "And our last member is the Princess Fara?"
"Yes. Another sword may be just what we need. Besides, to be honest I think we may be saving her in a way." Fox rubbed the back of his neck.
The others accepted that.
"So, fill me in." Alan bounced, making the table shake, then stopped when Rita gave him a look. "The world's outa balance. How do we fix it?" He tilted his head.
"We were just discussing the Staff of Lazarus…" Katt started.
"Oh, that." He tossed a hand. "I heard that tale…"
"Do you happen to know where it fell to?"
"Heard a few different places. All a very very very long ways away." He threw his arms open. "The northern wasteland, the mountains to the far west… somewhere there is a church, sealed against time. You need something to open it, then you can have the staff." He shook off his serious mood and grinned. "Kinda puts us in a hard place eh?"
"Perhaps." Fox sighed. "Do we know of any other way to accomplish this?"
They looked at each other.
"Not without knowing the source, Fox." Peppy finally said.
"Well, we have two weeks or so before we leave. Let us gather supplies and ready ourselves. This will more then likely be a very long journey. Perhaps then the problem will show itself enough to offer us a solution."
