No time to talk……ehn…I'm rushed at the moment x(. BTW, thanks a million for all the reviews, luv'em *hugs* J
As his father scooped up the sauce to place over his tray of meat, Joren spotted a cleverly hidden crinkled piece of paper in the center of his father's palm. He reached out to allow the ladle an easier reach to the plate and managed to snatch the paper away with a hand trick he had learned himself. After giving his father an inquisitive glance, he went off to site at one of the tables with his friends.
"Hey, Joren!"
He nodded to them, and sat down on the wooden bench. Looking around his table to make sure everyone was eating, he unfolded the crinkled parchment underneath the table's wooden surface:
Meet at Balor's Needle. In one hour, try to be on time.
He saved the message in his mind. Later, Father, just a few more minutes.
***
He dashed out of the hall a few moments later, realizing that he was almost going to be late. There were some things that weren't done in life, and one was displeasing Joren's father. He ran along the corridors, and discovered the enormously tall structure right when he turned the corner. Letting out a sigh of relief, he scrambled to the base and stood up suddenly at the door, brushing his hair back, he turned the door knob and entered the room.
"On time, son, what a surprise." The man drawled, his eyes almost annoyed that Joren hadn't been late.
"Yes, Father." Joren's eyes darted around the corners of the room but nothing seemed unchanged.
"Stop peeking, it will be revealed after everything has been told."
Joren stopped twisting his neck to get a wider view of the place. He stretched a bit to relax his tensed muscles, and stood still.
"Sit."
He went over to the wooden chair that was propped against the wall. Placing it properly on the stone wall, he sat. The elderly man turned opened a medium-lengthed parchment in his hands and peered over the edge to gaze into Joren's eyes.
"Do you know what this is?"
"No, sir."
The man flipped the parchment around and Joren's eyes stared curiously. Intricate lines detailed the exact borders of countries and the names were written in tiny but visible printing.
"A map?"
"No, not just any. It was enchanted by a mage long ago who was an explorer for a time being. Instead of drawing everything out by hand, he poured the knowledge into this. It's called the Kan ShiJia, meaning all-revealing. He was a Yamani as you can tell." He raised an eyebrow. "The item I want you to discover is said to be buried in volcanic rock so hardened that it is assumed impossible to break. But, if the item is retrieved, imagine how much power the holder would have. All the riches in the world! Countries would bow down at your feet for wealth to pay for their debts. The wealth, power, Joren, it is all that counts in this world. Use this map to your advantage." The map was handed to him shortly after the speech.
"If so many have not found it, how do you expect to succeed yourself?"
"Joren, I do not expect you to go alone. There will be help. I have been informed that this person has Yamani connections. Indeed, he would be useful."
"Will he's absence be unnoticed."
"Concentrate on your task, I will take care of the rest."
Two men from behind the door in the tower appeared, holding a third person between them. He was apparently unconscious or else the head wouldn't have been rolling that freely.
"You are to leave at dawn."
***
The carriage ran raggedly along the pebbled road. Jerky turns and twists caused Joren to be pushed around. Mumbling after the fifth time that he had felled to the floor, Joren pulled himself back onto the seat. He looked sideways at the bound man and was relieved that he hadn't fallen yet. Seeming to have jinxed himself, the unknown person fell upon him, pulling him down for the sixth time.
Joren groaned as a result of having hit himself on the head and picked up the person to place back in its proper place. Amazingly, it was quite light.
Then the motion stopped, Joren sighed gratefully.
"We're here, sir."
"Very good."
He got out, signaling the people to carry the other person and follow behind him. All cargo was then loaded onto the ship.
***
Stone Mountain almost screamed with joy when a cabin decorated lavishly with lush bedcovers and pillows were presented to him.
After he had closed the door quietly, he jumped onto the mattress, enjoying its soft feel after the bumpy ride. Sighing, he pondered on who the unknown person could be.
"I'll identify him tomorrow."
***
A knock sounded upon the door.
Joren opened it. A servant bowed and lead him to the dining room. The person, still blindfolded and bound at hand and feet awaited him there. First, Joren untied the rope binding the limbs and became surprised when the hand gripped his wrist tightly.
"What am I doing here?" The voice had a familiar growling tone to it.
Great Mother Goddess, please don't let it be who I think it is. He took off the blindfold and snarled. Of all the dumb, foolish, pig-headed ideas his father had come up with in the past. Why did he had to invent this one? And tricking him that the kidnapped was a male. He sniffed, well the baggy clothing did conceal her figure well. Though certain parts were obvious. He wondered why he hadn't notice this when a smack brought him back to Earth.
"Why, Stone Mountain, am I on a ship instead of in the school? Would you care to explain?" Kel said through gritted teeth. Her eyes were narrowed to slits sharp enough to cut a feather in half.
Even Joren had to gulp at a moment like this, but he managed to reply smoothly.
"Seems like you're the one doing illegal actions. This was my journey, I did not invite you."
Her eyes adopted a confused look.
"What?"
He smirked.
"This means, that you, Lump, will not be able to leave my ship freely IF we go back to Tortall."
Kel's expression quickly morphed into a deep look filled with hatred as she realized what he had said. Even if the King and Queen believed her; the law was on Joren's side. Muttering fiercely to herself, the Lady Knight stalked off, seeking a place where she could release her anger upon, without being watched by Stone Mountain, of course.
***
"Ha, ha, ha. VERY funny Joren, trust you to come up with an idea like this." Kel yelled through her own cabin door.
There was an extra one on the ship, unfortunately, it was right by his. Joren went to her cabin door, standing outside, he asked curiously.
"What?"
The door opened and Kel was dressed in a very…revealing kimono. Joren tried his best not to stare.
"This. I am going to torture you until you think you're looking at Mithros' ___ when we get back to Tortall." (a/n: sorry, the blank is for imaginative minds, since I do not want to corrupt others.)
"Wear it when we get there…you need to look like a Yamani." He coughed. When Kel stared at him, she realized the motive, which earned him a low sludge in the stomach.
Then, she growled and marched off.
***
Joren sighed, how was he going to stand this girl for the next week? He glanced at the girl standing at the ship's rail. The moment that he had taken a breath of air after clutching his painful stomach (of which was caused by Kel), she had managed to grab a pair of his shirts and breeches. Joren smirked, amused at the sight of a girl wearing his clothes. Well…he couldn't really count Lump as a girl now, could he?
But his thought was interrupted when he watched her, suddenly, from a different view. The ocean air gave her a light scarlet color, which bloomed prettily around her cheeks. Kel's eyes matched the blue-green of the ocean and they seem to glint in the same manner the way sunlight reflected from the waves. A light breeze was drifting, coincidentally, through her hair and it made her seem ethereal.
The Lady Knight whirled around, her face grim. The story spilled from her eyes as she stepped down from the deck. There was trouble to come.
"What is it?" Joren looked at her serious expression, tense.
Kel, startled from her train of thought, glanced up at him as she shifted through a weapon case. She mumbled and Joren had to step closer to recognize the word.
"Pirates."
Now, move after me. Motion mouse over review button and ClIcK "okkiez" and TYPE!!!!! J