Chapter 10--Shou-lao's Blessing
Tea woke up before sunrise the next morning. She felt like a prisoner on execution day. What would Lai-shi say to them? What would she do to them? Tea shivered. Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She shrieked and spun around. Raidoshu, looking bemused, stood behind her.
"My apologies, traveler. I did not mean to startle you. You're certainly awake early. What troubles you?"
Tea sat down on the cot she had been given. "Do you think Lai-shi will help us? We have to find something right away. It's very important."
Raidoshu smiled. "Lai-shi is a good and wise leader. She will help you if your quest is just. Lai-shi has been our leader for many years, and I know her well. She can be short-tempered, but she has the best interests of our Clann in mind. Our alignment with the Chinoki Clann has improved since she agreed to shelter them until they can successfully repair their homes--the huts you saw below these trees were constructed for them. Recent attacks have caused much trouble for the Clanners, and we must band together if we are to survive. Lai-shi knows this. Do not fear her."
Tea thought about this. She and her friends must have been sent to the Clanner World...had Vice known this? Or had he only known that half of the Key of Aramas was here?
"Raidoshu, why is Lai-shi so young? In my World, leaders are usually older..."
Raidoshu sighed. "Some people think that Lai-shi is young, but she is not. She is nearly thirty, and while that is still young for a leader, she is no child. She is often mistaken for one because of her height. Lai- shi, as you may have noticed, is...short. Even among our Clann, their are those who do not think she is a fitting leader. They do not see that age and height make no difference to a person's character. Lai-shi is a great leader, and she has kept our Clann safe from much danger. She's just sensitive about her height."
Tea grinned, thinking of her own vertically-challenged friend, Yuugi. "I know someone like that. Raidoshu...have you ever heard of something called the Key of Aramas? I mean, is it here, in this World? My friends and I promised we would find half of it."
Raidoshu pulled a map out of a small cabinet. "You see this map? I cannot give it to you--it would be of little help in any case--but it does show much of our World. We are here, by the great forest. To find the Key, you must go to the mountains. In the past, it was as simple as that. If you were of pure heart, the keepers of the Key would allow you to enter the Shrine of the Key. All was well until one day, an evil creature overpowered the keepers and stole the Key. In the end, only half of it was recovered. This half still resides in the shrine, but the door is sealed. It can only be opened by the two Gate Seals. I don't know where they are now; they were given to two Clanns for safekeeping. You must find the Seals and bring them to the Shrine of the Key. I advise that you go first to the dwellings of the Raasha Clann--Clann of the Bearers of the Light. They held one of the Seals, and they are gifted with strong protective magic. Good luck, stranger. May you be fortunate in your quest. Now, wake your friends, and I will take you to Lai-shi."
Some time later, after Tea had succeed in waking (and keeping awake) her friends, they followed Raidoshu back to Lai-shi's throne room. Tea explained what she had learned from Raidoshu concerning the Key as they walked.
"Well, at least we know what we're supposed to do now," Tea concluded, trying to be optimistic.
"Of course we do. All we have to do is wander around until we find two Gate Seals, whatever they are, then go to the mountains and figure out what we're supposed to do with them. Of course we know what to do. You idiot! We don't even know where the Gate Seals are!" Kaiba was not in the best of moods, having spent the night in a cramped treehouse and now finding out that he had to go find two missing objects with Joey, Tea, and Tristan.
"At least we know we're supposed to be looking for them," Tristan said, supporting Tea. "It's a start."
"I say we could just break inta the Shrine like dose otha' people did," Joey said sagely, thinking Kaiba was right about how hard it would be to find the Gate Seals but refusing to agree with him.
"Weren't you listening? The Seals make that impossible," Tea said tiredly; no matter which way they looked at it, this was a problem.
Raidoshu turned around just in time to prevent an argument. "Shh! We have arrived. Speak politely to Lai-shi, travelers. If you are fortunate, she may help you." With that, Raidoshu shoved them forward.
Lai-shi rose. "Well, travelers? I am told you seek the Key of Aramas, the Key which has been locked away. There is little I can do to help you, but I wish you luck. You are a sign of hope for all Clanns. To aid you, I give you this. It is a powerful Sign, one which the Clanns respect. Show this to a Clanner, and they may help you. Here, travelers. Go with blessing of my Clann."
Lai-shi held out a mysterious symbol, wrought of a beautiful, silvery metal. It hung on a small chain. They all stared at it for a minute, not sure what to do.
Finally, Joey nudged Tea. "You take it, Tea."
"Me?"
"Yeah. The rest of us'd look silly wearin' a necklace anyway."
"You are such an idiot sometimes," Tea muttered as she took the Sign from Lai-shi, placing it around her neck. The Clanner Chieftenn bowed to them as they left the hall.
The boy smiled. "Come with me. Shou-lao has been waiting for your arrival."
Mystified, they followed him. They soon reached a stand of sod and grass huts constructed under the trees of Lai-shi's people. Sitting in front of one such dwelling was a strange, old woman sat cross-legged in front of a fire. She had many symbols on her face, a staff in her hand, and two covered cages next to her.
"Come," she whispered, "I have much to tell you, and time is short..."
They nervously approached.
"Yes...yes........you are the seekers of the Key. You must find it for another, but for a purpose that you do not know. You are known to me, travelers. I know your names, your hopes, your fears...everything can be read by looking into your eyes. I am gifted with the Sight. My Clann, Chinoki (Clann of the Masters of the Wind), produces many seers. I am Shou- lao, Chieftenn. You must find the Key, not only to save your friend's life, but also for another reason...it will find its use in another's hands...they may use it for a task long prevented, but why? That cannot be Seen. I know much about the Key, for my people were its traditional keepers. You yourselves will find the Key of little use; it can be used only by one of a pure heart. Your quest, your struggle, is important; it is my wish to aid you. There is little I can do now, but I will give you a gift. If I cannot guide you myself, I will send two allies to direct you. Do not underestimate their worth..."
The Clanner boy who had led to Shou-lao stepped forward, removing the coverings from the two cages by the Chieftenn's feet.
"Here. They will guide you, if you listen to them with your hearts."
They all watched as the contents of the wicker cages were brought forth. The Clanner boy stepped forward, holding two creatures, each large enough to reach about to a normal human's knees.
Kaiba glanced down. "What good are two rabbits going to be?" he asked scornfully.
Shou-lao laughed softly. "Do not think ill of my creatures, Seto Kaiba. Nor any of you others...I know all of your names, and I have seen into your hearts...I know much about you that you do not...The hare is the animal of my tribe. Here; take this one, Tea Gardner. This other is for you, Seto Kaiba. Go now. They will help you more than you can know............." She lapsed into silence.
Joey shivered as they walked away, Tea and Kaiba now holding their hares. "Dat was creepy! How did she know your names? It seems impossible..."
They walked off slowly, still pondering Shou-lao's mysterious words. To be used in another's hands? A purpose they did not know? A task long prevented? It was certainly strange.
Tea looked at her hare. It was white-gray, with clear, stormy-blue eyes. In a noble effort of friendliness, she turned to Kaiba. "I think I'll name my hare Windpaw. What are going to call yours?"
Kaiba glared at her. "Why should I call it anything? It's just a rabbit."
