It Could Be Worse (3rd Season)
Episode 10: Enter the Mist…
By Sulia Serafine
[A Protector of the Small fanfic set in an alternate universe; all credit goes to Tamora Pierce. I'm broke, so you can't sue me. Any other copyrighted things that don't belong to me in here in fact belong to other very businesslike people. Could you believe that? I guess that's why I'm broke.
E-mail me at silverwlng@aol.com okay? And you know the drill: titles or subjects of emails are fanfiction.net, s.serafine, or icbw.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I'm still accepting people into the mailing list. That means you'll be told when the next episode is posted, as well as other tidbits of information about the series whenever I put them online. ALSO: Every now and then, as a pledge, I'll send everyone bonus material, such as drawings of ICBW characters and little random facts about ICBW.
Rating of this episode: Let's say… PG-13… drama, revelations, and witty banter—oh my!
~~
The glare of the sun upon the bright snow capped mountains temporarily blinded Neal as he followed his guide Imrah and his partner Joren up the increasingly steep slope. He wrapped his hand around the rope that connected the three men. The rope gave him a sense of security, though he knew he had more to fear than falling to his death.
Squinting despite the shaded goggles over his eyes, Neal surveyed the area around them. He gazed distrustfully at the area that they were supposed to hike down upon. His small sense of vertigo had multiplied since arriving in the mountain range.
"Would you keep up? I hate having the rope stretched so tight because you're lagging behind," Joren groused. He glared at him before turning back around and following their guide.
"Sorry." Neal sighed. He hastened his step so as not to incur Joren's wrath again, but he couldn't help but look around at the scenery around him. The beauty of nature still caught him off guard sometimes. Though the place was cold enough to kill an unprepared man, Neal also noted that the appearance of plains of snow created a clean, untouched feeling. He felt at peace with himself when he wasn't thinking of the crashed plane or of his less than agreeable partner.
A blur of brown and gray from the corner of his vision caused Neal to stop again. He frowned and looked over his shoulder.
Joren felt the rope stretch taut again and cursed. "Queenscove! What is the matter with you? Can't you do as you're told?"
"I would, except she's there."
The former special operative turned fully around at that, being very careful to keep his balance. Imrah halted as well. The two other men retraced their steps again until they were on the same level as Neal. The captivated officer was now leaning against the snow and rock, watching the wild woman above him.
Joren sneered. "Damn it. How long do you think she's been following us? Legann?"
Imrah shrugged. "She could have followed us from the very beginning for all we know."
"Maybe I should ask her for help. I'm sure she would have noticed a plane crashing in her mountains," Neal said. He looked forward to talking to Shinkokami again. It was a common for men like Neal to always wish for the one thing they could never have. Unfortunately, he did not have the strength of mind to resist it.
"Tell her to go away. We can't trust anything she tells us."
Neal was about to protest, but Imrah began nodding his head. "I agree with Mr. Stone. Though she would not bear us any ill will for any reason I can think of, evil things are always at her heels."
"You mean… those beasts? Those wolf-beasts that attacked us?" Neal asked. His eyes were still fixed on the beauty overhead.
The old guide let out a deep breath. "They follow her everywhere. They become jealous if anyone talks to their mistress."
Joren appropriately elbowed Neal hard in the side. The taller officer winced.
"How was I supposed to know?"
The blond was silent for a few moments. He, too, stared at Shinkokami, who remained unmoving on her icy perch. Finally, he turned to Neal and squeezed his arm so firmly that the other man let out a small yelp.
"New rule," Joren whispered to his partner. "You don't talk unless one of those beasts is chewing your leg off."
Neal blinked. He decided to test his limits. "What if they're chewing my arm?"
"Then I point and laugh my highly amused ass off." He released Neal's arm. "Travel up a bit and tell her to go away. You heard him. She brings a lot of bad karma with her. We really don't need that right now."
"I didn't think you believed in karma."
"I believe in kicking your ass," Joren offered with a malicious undertone.
Having found new inspiration for the task, Neal reluctantly removed the rope from the harness around his waist. He took a deep breath and began climbing up the way they had come. The slightly steep slope offered little purchase for him to grab hold of. It took him several minutes to travel half the distance between him and Shinkokami.
This is the Stairmaster from hell, he thought, his chest heaving. He scolded himself for not leaving his pack behind with his companions. The weight on his back and at his waist only inhibited his movement. He finally halted and removed his goggles and scarf so she could see his face.
"Shinkokami! Princess!" he shouted, though not too loudly. He had no idea how loud someone would have to scream to cause an avalanche, or if it was even possible, but he didn't want to find out. He dug his feet into the snow as deep as he could so as to anchor himself. "Can we have a word?"
She gazed upon him disdainfully. Flinging her long black hair over her shoulder, she gracefully lowered herself a few more feet. She crouched, wrapping her assortment of skins and furs tightly around her body. The image reminded him of a mountain lion waiting to pounce.
"Hi," Neal grinned. He cleared his throat. "Um, Shinko—can I call you Shinko? Anyway, my associates and I were wondering if you could stop following us." He nervously clasped his hands in front of himself. "I mean, you're wonderful eye candy, but you're a trouble magnet, too. So, would you be so kind as to… go away?"
His heart was pounding. A few moments after his brief monologue had ended, Shinkokami shifted her weight around and stood again. Now she appeared to him as a goddess of some sort, poised above him in such a way that he was reminded of not just a princess, but also a queen among queens.
"Why are you here? What right do you have to be here?" she demanded. It was at that point that Neal noticed a bow and a quiver of arrows slung over her back. At her waist was a sheathed dagger. He hoped he wouldn't have to see her use it.
"Our friends' plane went down somewhere in these mountains," he explained. "We found their plane, but they're not in it. Perhaps you have seen them?"
She seemed to be considering his words. Neal thought he had a very honest appearance. He wouldn't tell her a lie. In fact, he didn't think he was capable of it. Finally, she shook her head. "No. I have not seen them. But I know where they might be. If you swear by the souls of your mothers to leave after you find them, then maybe I shall show you."
The idea of swearing by the soul of a woman he had known very little bothered him. Then again, he didn't have a choice if he wanted to find Keladry's brothers and get out of the freezing country. Showing off a triumphant smile, Neal turned around and flashed a thumbs-up to Joren, who scowled. He turned back to Shinkokami. "I swear. Now. Just one more question for the lovely lady."
"What?" she asked suspiciously.
"How in the world does some phantom girl of legend learn to speak Common?"
The corner of her mouths lifted upwards in a suppressed smile. She began to descend to him. As she did, Neal's eyes lit up. Out of habit, he offered his arm to her as she came within range, but she declined politely with a shake of a head.
Joren and Imrah eyed the spectacle above with mistrust. The officer growled and reached for his weapon. "Nealan," he ground out through clenched teeth, savoring the effect that the disliked name had on his partner. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Neal was indignant that such a bad reaction would come from his success and glared at Joren. "I happen to be getting help! Face it, Stone! We don't know where our missing people could be and she—"
His reply was cut off prematurely when his foot missed a step. As he tottered on the steep face of the mountain, he waved his arms frantically and muttered, "Oh shit."
Below, Joren looked up at his flailing partner and sighed with a weary acceptance. "Oh shit."
…The last words that were heard before Neal tripped and began tumbling down. Joren and Imrah, too weighed down by their packs, were unable to move out of their way. The plummeting man struck both of his comrades and soon, all three were sliding down the snow and screaming bloody murder. They desperately tried to stop themselves by reaching out and grasping anything that their hands could reach. Unfortunately, the weight of their packs and the smooth texture of their parkas and jackets made it nearly impossible. Even Joren began to curse the uselessness of the shoes he had bought specially for the purpose of its rough, spiked bottom.
Shinkokami sat down on a cleared patch of rock and waited patiently for them to come to a stop.
Men. They always had to make everything so difficult for her.
~~
When Joren awoke again, he felt himself being jostled about in a rhythmic movement. He was being carried on a stretcher, he realized. A bit of snow had drifted onto his face, making it difficult to open his eyes first since his eyelashes were joined by the frost. Now he blinked slowly. His gloved hands weakly reached up to part the blankets that were wrapped around him. Many parts of his body ached from the fall, but at least he would be up on his feet sooner than his companions. He didn't like the prospect of being injured and defenseless.
He made an attempt to sit up while they were still moving. A hand pushed him down and peered down at his face. A feminine voice shouted something in Yamani that he couldn't understand. The stretcher carriers stopped and held still while their leader bent down toward Joren.
"You're the first one awake. Are you well enough to walk?" she asked. It was Shinkokami. This time however, her hair was combed and tied back in a large bun that he'd seen Eastern Yamani women wear for formal appearances. Her clothing was also changed. She still retained some of the snug furs from before, but now they were coupled with rich green and red silk scarves that trailed around her. He wisely decided not to comment that she had missed the Christmas season.
This time, he sat up without her pushing him back down. "Yes. I'm fine." He glanced at his carriers—men, he decided, who were so bundled up in their own skins and furs that Joren couldn't distinguish one from the other. "Who are these guys? Where did they come from? Where are Queenscove and Legann?"
Shinkokami gestured behind them. Joren eased himself out of the stretcher, a basic thing made of two long sticks and a stretched coarse cloth between them. He saw two other pairs of men carrying Neal and Imrah. Blankets had also been provided for them. It was obvious that the two other injured men wouldn't be awake for some time.
"Great," he grumbled. He faced his reluctant rescuer again. "Well, who are these guys? What do you want from us?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What I want is to help you find your friends so that you may leave these mountains and never return! These men answered my call. We will take you to the City. Hopefully there, you may find who you are looking for."
Joren decided to study his surroundings. They were definitely not in the same place as before. In fact, they were on a path that seemed to circle the part of mountain they were on. In the distance, he could see a series of incredibly tiny valleys that was covered with green. He identified the moving white and gray dots to be animals grazing. He frowned. It should have been physically impossible for there to be so much vibrant plant life at such altitudes.
"Very few foreigners have ever been this far," Shinkokami told him, as if reading his mind. "There are many unexplainable things here, but it is best that you do not dwell on them. You must concentrate on what you came here for."
He took back his things from one of the men and hoisted it onto his shoulders again. The shadows of the mountains did not make it necessary for him to put his goggles back over his face. He stuffed them into a pocket and began a small inventory of his other equipment.
"We did not take anything from you, if that was what you were thinking. Even your gun is there."
"I'll check for it just the same, thank you very much," he said, still eyeing the woman with blatant doubt. Finding nothing amiss, he nodded. "Okay. How long until we get to this… City?"
It was no use fighting against her. He couldn't carry Imrah and Neal on his own. And since they had moved them so far from their initial point of contact, Joren had no idea where they were. He had no choice but to trust these strange people.
Joren Stone did not take a thing such as trust lightly.
"We shall arrive there as soon as we reach the other side of that mountain," Shinkokami answered. She pointed ahead of them, down the path that they had already begun to travel upon.
He nearly betrayed a gasp of astonishment as his eyes rested upon what must have been the most colossal mountain he had ever seen. It must have covered as much ground as one of Mithros' major cities. Joren craned his head back to see the summit of the mountain, but he couldn't make it out. Indeed, the stone giant was so tall that it touched the clouds and even surpassed them.
"That's impossible. It would have gone down in geographical history," he muttered to himself. He imagined that it was simply a fog that was low in the air. It made so much more sense when he began explaining it to himself that way.
Shinkokami shrugged dismissively. "Nothing is impossible. Just well hidden."
"It will take us days to go around that," Joren protested.
She scoffed. "Well, we had been traveling at an accelerated rate until you woke up. Now that you must walk with us, we shall have to slow down." She pointed down the path again. "And we're not even going around the mountain. Even at our true pace, it would take days, as you said. The real path lies underground."
He blinked. "Underground." He took in all the impossibilities that he could see and that she had just told him. Of course there was a tunnel underground. Anything was possible at this point. "Sure. Okay. Whatever. Lead the way."
"Good. We shall be there sometime during the night. If you feel tired again, let me know and the litter shall be prepared again," Shinkokami advised.
He nodded, but eyed the two poles and the cloth with contempt. They continued hiking down the worn path. Every now and then, Joren could see a few pieces of dung. They traveled on a shepherd's path. He tried to familiarize himself with the surroundings and took note of any forks or turns. In the back of his mind, a part of him acknowledged this as useless.
"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked Shinkokami.
"It is late morning now, so…a little under a full day. We have had to pour a bit of wine into all your mouths. Luckily you did not gag, but swallowed it reflexively. Do you wish for drink or food?"
He touched his chapped lips. "Um, no. I've got my own."
As he reached behind him to an easy to access pocket for food, he recalled the legend that Imrah had told him. He nodded toward the giant mountain. "Is that what I think it is? Enishijirou?"
Shinkokami hesitated. "The old one has been spinning tales, I see. Yes, that is Enishijirou."
"Why do you look at me so strangely?"
"You ask too many questions," she huffed.
Joren chewed on his rations. "I don't like being uninformed. So, answer me. You don't think I haven't noticed how strangely you look at me? You did it even when you were talking to Queenscove."
"Was I?"
"Yes."
The wild woman sped up her pace. Joren did the same. She rounded on him angrily. "You are egotistical. What makes you think I was secretly observing you?"
Joren stared her down. "Because I know what it feels like to be watched."
She rolled her eyes and mumbled something he couldn't hear. She finally looked up at him again and began walking as they had before. He joined her. "Yes," she admitted. "I had glanced a few times. I was surprised to see someone of your… appearances here. I thought you would be…" she paused. "Somewhere else."
"My appearances? What of my appearances?" he pressed.
"You cannot threaten me to tell you, foreigner! I do not have to tell you anything. I have but to say it and these men with us will dump your friends down the side of the mountain and leave you to freeze to death!" she yelled. With that, she stormed up to the front of the group and remained by the side of the lead litter bearer.
Joren dropped back so that he walked evenly with the leading man carrying Neal's stretcher. He didn't understand Shinkokami and he couldn't figure out while Neal was so obsessed with her. This experience had only proven his belief that people were made up primarily of confusion and deceit. Neal was mostly confused. Shinko mostly deceived.
And Joren… well, Joren deceived, too. But he didn't think that mattered here.
At last, the path led into the side of a mountain. The tunnel that continued from that point was completely pitch black. It was just the height of the tallest man among them, and only wide enough for two people to walk abreast. It would have to be shoulder to shoulder, though. Joren decided it would be wise to be between Neal and Imrah, since he couldn't fit beside the litters. The thought of the wolf beasts that followed Shinkokami still lingered on his mind. Being at the rear of the group would put him at risk during attack.
Shinkokami entered the tunnel first. She touched the walls with the tips of her fingers. Suddenly, Joren could see a soft blue glow coming from within. The train of people proceeded. As Joren entered, he discovered that the light was emitted from swirl-shaped markings carved into the walls. On closer inspection, it almost looked like minerals imbedded in the rock. He wanted to chip away a fragment for further observation, but decided to do it later when he was alone.
They moved rather swiftly through the tunnels. Joren realized he wasn't as cold as he had been inside. If he were to remove a layer of clothing, perhaps two, he would be quite comfortable. He kept his clothing on, anyway. There was always a chance he might have to exit the way he came and he didn't look forward to becoming a human icicle.
Several hours passed. Joren was tiring from the prolonged traveling, but at least his aches from the tumble had healed themselves. He nibbled now and then on his rations and took drinks from his solar powered thermos—though the water was now cold thanks to the relative darkness.
He looked at his pager and discovered that the display screen was still scrambled. It must have been nearly half a day since they had entered the tunnel. If he didn't have such a good threshold for pain or such a large ego, he would have taken his new guide up on her offer for the litter.
"We are almost at the First Gate," Shinkokami called. Joren sought for her with his eyes, but all he could see was a few shadows against the blue light.
"First Gate?" he turned his head slightly and asked the man behind him. If Shinkokami spoke Common, there was a good chance that these men did, too.
"The First Gate leads to the First District of the city. It is a series of caverns that Shinkokami has domain in. Mostly peasants live there. The Second Gate leads to the next district, which is only partially under Enishijirou. The rest of it is aboveground in the valley. The third region is the Palace itself. We shall bring you there," the man explained in a deep, accented voice. He reminded Joren of Dom for some reason. It caused him to frown and turn facing front again without asking any more questions.
Caverns, Joren thought. Legann's legend about Shinkokami said something about underground havens, didn't it? He wished he had paid more attention when Neal had asked their guide about it. Perhaps she had something to do with the creation of this place.
It was still a little incredulous to him. Exactly one day ago, he wouldn't have thought that there could be much more out here than a bunch of snow. Now he was traveling with a woman he didn't trust and her supposed servants to a secret city hidden in the most remote region on the planet.
Maybe he had taken one too many blows to the head. He could blame Neal's clumsiness for that. His partner would be sure to hear another sound lecture from Joren as soon as he was awake. If he awoke. This was Neal's second major accident within the past year. The blond seriously considered it more prudent if his partner would be demoted to a safer rank. Second class officers were given much less severe jobs. Kel would be happy that Neal was safe.
Kel.
Joren shook his head. As much as he wanted to dwell on thoughts about her, he knew that once he began, he would not want to stop. He focused instead, on the light blue markings on the wall. As soon as they had passed a particular area, he noticed that the marks extinguished themselves again. Could only Shinkokami activate them?
I have a flashlight. I can use a flashlight if I really need to, he told himself. His batteries were in dire need of charging, however, and there was no solar energy to be found for his other equipment since they were now underground. He distantly wondered if the blue light of the tunnels would work as solar energy.
"We are here," Shinkokami called. They proceeded more slowly than before. The tunnel opened into a small cave—a dome, almost. Like the tunnel, swirl-shaped markings covered the interior of the cave. The blue light was brighter here. Joren gazed around him in wonder.
The size of the cave was large enough to put thirty standing people with space to swing their arms around them. Tiles of rectangular shapes covered the floor. Each tile had a character of the Yamani language upon them, painted in black. Nothing appeared chipped or old. If Joren wasn't so skeptical, he might believe that someone had recently swept the place with a fine bristled broom.
A large set of doors faced opposite from the tunnel entrance. They appeared to be wrought from some sort of metal. He couldn't identify the type, but it appeared impervious to any large blows or attacks. The doors were outlined in what Joren was able to classify as a semi-precious stone. Jade, or perhaps malachite.
The doors had no handles, but raised images of animals crafted from the metal of the door itself. Even with modern blacksmithing technology, such a detailed work would still require a great deal of time and precision. He could clearly see lions, tigers, elephants, wolves, hawks, falcons, and even a rat or two.
"Someone cover his eyes," Shinkokami commanded.
Joren backed away from the group. "Wait a second. I'm not going to be blindfolded."
She sneered. "You, foreigner, are not permitted to see how the doors open."
She issued an order to one of Joren's former litter bearers to wrap his scarf around Joren's eyes. The officer hated that he had no choice to submit. Neal and Imrah were still unconscious, so Joren couldn't put them at risk with a clear conscience.
His hand was placed on the back of the man who blindfolded him. He tensely waited, trying to pick up any sound at all. After a few moments, there was a scraping sound. He assumed that it was the bottom of the doors moving against the floor. Then, they began to advance. Joren followed awkwardly. He had the strangest feeling he was going to walk into a wall. Luckily, his sight guide didn't have that sense of humor.
He had gone about thirty steps when they halted again. Shinkokami commanded the man to remove Joren's blindfold. Joren kept his eyes shut, still, but after a few seconds, opened them.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," he muttered to no one in particular. His gaze swept over the cavern before him with disbelief. The cavern was as large as a football field. But everywhere he looked, there was a crude structure built, either out of rocks or warped pieces of wood. They reminded him of cubes stacked one on top of the other. It had the effect of creating a human beehive.
In the area directly in front of him, men and women in skins, furs, and other brightly colored cloths were going about their business. It almost appeared as if it were a marketplace or a merchant's forum. A few cows and horses milled about their stalls and poss. Even a few rams caused a ruckus as they butted heads with each other.
Where's that light coming from? Joren pondered. He leaned his head back to take a look at the cavern ceiling. Stalactites hanging from overhead were imbedded with thousands of different colored minerals. They resembled the blue deposits from the tunnel, but since these minerals were of various colors, they all blended to cast a mostly clear white light. Even the stalagmites seemed to have their use as lampposts. Some were even used as cornerstones for domiciles.
He decided that he would never enjoy living in such a place. He would be too worried about stalactites and other rocks being able to fall. Shinkokami seemed to notice his apprehension and said, "There are more things in those rocks than just pretty stones. This place shall never collapse in on itself."
He was about to reply with a snide comment, but stepped back when someone emerged from a doorway above and called to them. An older woman, dressed similarly to the Yamani natives Joren had met outside the mountains, slid down a ladder from her home on the second level of one of the hive-structures. Her many long necklaces of bright beads rattled as she bowed numerous times to Shinkokami.
The two women began conversing with each other in quiet tones. Shinkokami gestured to Joren, then to his 'sleeping' companions. The woman nodded vigorously, causing her slightly gray braids to fly around her head.
"Your friends will be awakened and treated here. We will travel a bit further tonight by animal and sleep in the Second District," she informed him.
Joren glanced back at the horses on the other side of the forum. "I don't like horses."
She snorted. "Who said we were going to use horses? They are skittish in the First District. They are mostly used in the Second District, where they can roam in the Valley Plains."
"Of course. How stupid of me," he mumbled sarcastically. "So what are we going to ride?"
"You shall see. Now is not the time." She called out an order. Neal and Imrah were brought inside the first hut of the hive to their right. The old woman followed, clucking her tongue like a disapproving matriarch.
Inside, Joren was slightly amazed to learn that there was more room than appeared on the outside. Of course there were no windows, just smooth planes of stone. The wooden furniture was very standard and functional. A few decorations, such as multicolored tapestries and rugs adorned the place. Even a rocking chair in the corner of the first room gave the place a normal touch.
They carried Imrah and Neal into the next room. They were placed on thick mats that were on the floors. Joren kneeled between them as the old woman retrieved medicinal herbs and potions from her private stock in a large pantry.
She poured a few drops of purple sap from a vial into each of their mouths. Slowly, Neal began to stir. He groaned slightly and moved to roll onto his side. The old woman, satisfied, started to pay more attention to Imrah.
Shinkokami listened intently as the old woman spoke rapidly in the Eastern Yamani language. Joren felt slightly ashamed that he was technically a Yamani native, but knew nothing of the language of the eastern states.
"She says the old man will need more rest. Your younger friend will be completely fine, but you will have to leave this other one here while you move on to the Second District and the Palace."
Joren stood up. "No. I'm responsible for him, too. I'm not leaving him behind."
"You do not have any say in the matter. Your companion will rejoin you tomorrow, whether you like it or not. Now tend to your other friend. He is waking up."
Neal was indeed showing more signs of life. He moved his arms about as if trying to ward off invisible tormentors. Joren laid a hand on the taller man's shoulder. Neal woke up with a start, breathing in sharply and opening his eyes wide.
"Oh! I have the biggest headache," he moaned, cradling his head in both hands while sitting up. He screwed his eyes shut again and hissed in pain.
The old woman chuckled and tilted Neal's head back, placing a few red leaves on top of his tongue.
"Wah! Wha iz tha?" he sputtered. The woman held a hand over Neal's mouth, forcing him not to spit it out.
"Hope you enjoyed your beauty sleep," Joren said cynically. "Now before you start to spaz out, as I'm sure you will, let me explain what has happened within the last twenty four hours." He then went on to describe Shinkokami's "generous" rescue and the long trip from the outside world to the legendary Mount Enishijirou.
Neal gaped at him with his mouth open and leaf-covered tongue out, presenting a ridiculous sight. The old woman eventually took the leaves off and poured some water into Neal's mouth. He swallowed and coughed. "Gah! Whatever those leaves are, they're strong stuff."
"Your headache gone?"
"Um, actually it is." He blinked. "Strange."
Shinkokami approached from the first room. Neal bolted to his feet, bowing deeply. "Thank you so much for your assistance, Shinko. I knew you would help us!"
Joren rolled his eyes.
"You may take a short time to eat and relieve yourselves. I will be waiting outside with our transportation," she said, whirling around briskly and marching out. The other men followed her. Neal pouted, disappointed.
The old woman gestured further back in the room. They supposed this was where they were supposed to wash up and "do their business". When she left the room, she drew a curtain over the doorway to allow them privacy.
Neal shuffled to the corner and gazed down at the hole. He could faintly make out a pipe. "A variation of a toilet, I suppose?" He also spied several jugs of water on a barred shelf and a large basin of water. "The floor tilts downward over here. I suppose it's a multi-purpose bath and toilet, then."
Joren sighed. "Absolutely wonderful."
His partner snickered. "I suppose that everyone around here is an expert at ballet squats, then. Not to mention the men having… impeccable aiming abilities."
Joren glared at him in disgust. "Just take your turn, Queenscove and let me know when you're done." He turned around and strode to the other side of the room where a few bowls of dried fruit and bread awaited. "They don't have any meat to offer in this house. I suppose we'll have to use our rations."
After the slightly embarrassing (or in Joren's arrogant eyes, mortifying) experience with the makeshift hygienic utilities, they checked on Imrah one last time. The old woman assured them that he would be fine by smiling excessively and pushing them gently toward the doorway. Shinkokami waited impatiently outside.
"Do they have proper plumbing in the Second District, or should we expect chamber pots?" Joren asked with disdain in his voice.
"They have far better technologies there than in your pathetic world," Shinkokami haughtily replied. She whistled.
At once, three large wolf beasts, larger than the ones that had attacked Joren and Neal, appeared. They leapt from the rock formations outside the hive structures and lied down obediently in front of Shinkokami.
Neal balked. "No way. Nuh-uh. Don't think so!"
She began stroking the large heads of the two closest creatures in front of her. "These are domesticated versions of the wild wolves you saw outside. They are not as skittish as horses in the First District."
With that, she straddled one large light gray wolf. It jumped up to a standing position and waited patiently for commands. She gestured for Neal and Joren to follow her example. Joren adjusted the pack on his back.
"Do not take those with you. Leave it here," Shinkokami said. She pointed to the doorway where Neal and Imrah's packs had already been set aside.
Joren angrily threw his things down. He touched his belt for his holster. "I'm still keeping my gun."
"If you wish," she shrugged. "Hurry up and mount. Hold onto their fur. Be careful that you do not get thrown off."
Both men cautiously approached the large wolves that were lying on their bellies. Neal picked the black one whose tongue was lolling out its mouth. He slowly straddled it and tentatively reached for a fistful of fur behind its neck. The wolf slowly got up. His nerves gradually calmed down. "Hey, it's not so bad. These ones are a lot different from the ones outside. Like… big hairy ponies with sharp teeth."
"Right, Queenscove. Ponies." He scoffed. Joren seated himself on the other one, a dark gray animal who was not as enthusiastic. It waited patiently until he was ready to jump to its feet.
"I think he likes me!" Neal laughed, scratching his mount between the ears. It turned its head and licked Neal's offered hand. He glanced at Joren and blushed. "What?"
"Halfway around the world and I'm still surrounded by idiots," the blond officer muttered.
With a quickly shouted word, Shinkokami rode forward. The other two automatically followed, giving both unaccustomed men a jolt of uncertainty in their positions. The people in the marketplace parted. Most of them seemed to be packing up and going inside for the night anyway. Thick black curtains were drawn over the windows and doorways. A few men threw dark cloths over the shorter stalagmites to dim the overall lighting.
The wolves turned out of the marketplace eventually and began running through a darker network of paths and roads outside of the central cavern. Shinkokami glanced over her shoulder. "There are many caverns between the First and Second Gates. We should be able to reach the Second District just before midnight."
Both men instinctively held on tighter to their mounts and looked in speechless wonder at their surroundings as they practically flew past. The roads were mostly larger versions of the tunnels they had used going toward the First Gate. Phosphorous minerals, Joren had finally labeled the blue swirls, but he still had his doubts.
After a while, they began to lose speed. By this time, they had taken so many twists and turns that Joren and Neal were both sure that they would not be able to return on their own. Shinkokami approached a dark part of the tunnel where the soft glowing light did not reach.
"Who goes there? And at this ruddy hour of the night?" an annoyed male voice called from the inky blackness.
"Gatekeeper! Mind your tongue!" Shinkokami rebuked.
There was a series of noises in the darkness, as if someone were scrambling to his feet. Slowly, a large red crystal began to glow from atop a large brass staff. The crystal itself was pyramidal in shape and the staff was equal in height to the man who held it.
"Forgive my ignorance, Mistress. It is after appropriate curfew," the Gatekeeper explained. He bowed. He was a young man with pale skin and long pale blond hair tied in a small ponytail. He had a rather fragile appearance to him because of his bright red silken tunic and his many bejeweled ornaments.
Shinkokami turned to Neal and Joren. "Dismount. The Gatekeeper will take you through. Someone should greet you on the other side and take you to some lodgings for the night."
"Wouldn't it have been better to let us stay with Imrah?" Neal asked. He and Joren got down from the backs of the large wolves. Neal's mount licked the officer's face and made a whining sound before darting back down the tunnel with its companion.
"The less of you in my domain, the better." Shinkokami turned about and rode away. The blue lights brightening and darkening signaled her departure. Neal seemed partially upset that he hadn't a chance to wish her sweet dreams.
The Gatekeeper yawned and stretched his arms over his head, causing numerous bracelets to jangle on his forearms. "Well, come on then. I haven't got all night."
They followed him into the smaller tunnel, lit only by the red crystal of the staff. Joren squinted. "You're not one of them. Eastern Yamani. Are you?"
"No. I'm from the northern states, actually. Don't ask how I got all the way here. It's an odd story that seems more like a dream to me than anything else." He scratched his back and casually began to whistle.
Neal wrinkled his nose. "I would have figured someone with as ominous a title as Gatekeeper would be a little more… intimidating."
"Ha! Just comes to show what you know," the man bit back a laugh. He came to a stop before a gate that was at least ten feet high and fifteen feet across. Like the First Gate, it was made of metal and had impressions of animal's images all over it. The only difference between this and that was that there was a golden circle in the middle with the imprint of a hand upon it.
The Gatekeeper ambled over to the side of the door and stuck his staff in a hole in the ground. He wiped his palms on the thighs of his pants and put his hand on the corresponding hand on the gate door. A spark of blue light flashed around the golden circle and spread through the entire surface in little paths outlining all the images. The Gatekeeper stepped back as the gate slowly began to rise.
Joren could hear the unseen chains and wheels turn and move with the opening of the large gate. The other man stood by, unimpressed by what was to him the normal way of things. When the Second Gate was open, he stood aside and made a sweeping gesture with his arm for them to go through.
The Second District was drastically different from the first. Although part of it was supposedly still beneath Enishijirou, the high ceilings of the caverns had very few stalactites. Shining, glittering rocks and stones covered the entire surface. They were blue, Joren noted, but a dark navy blue as if the ceiling itself was attempting to imitate a starry night sky.
On the ground, several structures came into view. Towers made of white stone stood out among the countless homes. Every single one was made out of the same white stone, though few of these were stacked like the hive centers of the First District, and all of them consisted of smooth surfaces and straight, geometrically practical designs. The only curves existed in the pagoda-style roofs that covered each building. These homes also had the benefit of colored glass windows and actual doors as opposed to curtains.
The structures seemed to be plotted on a grid of sorts, as far as both men could see. The streets of the Second District were cleared from most obstructions. On a few of the corners, they could see signs and lanterns hanging from stalagmites.
What stood out most was the assortment of jewels and precious stones that were imbedded in almost every single surface. On closer observation, they saw that the white stone that constituted the houses and the other buildings was littered with what appeared to be diamonds or pieces of white gold. Even where they stood, a sign to the right of a gate that pictured an arrow and a painting of a green valley was framed in gold and emeralds.
"I see now how you can just wear all that jewelry as if it weren't anything at all," Neal said to the Gatekeeper. He blinked slowly, as if he were afraid everything before him was a mirage. "Is all this real?"
The Gatekeeper shrugged. "Well, of course. Why wouldn't it be?" He noted their stares. "It's not like you can remove the jewels from the stone. You need special equipment to do that, or else the damned things turn to dust. Magic, I suppose."
"Haven't you ever considered taking what you have and going back to the northern states a rich man?" Joren asked.
The man frowned. "Why would I do that?"
"Everyone who dwells under Enishijirou, sirs, wants no more than they receive," said a feminine voice behind them. They turned around.
A woman dressed in a flowing kimono of yellow and peach colored silk stood before them. Her long trailing sleeves were embroidered with patterns of pink birds and flowers. She was of Eastern Yamani descent. It was obvious in the almond shape of her eyes and the perfect blackness of her hair, which was swept up into a loose bun. Like the Gatekeeper, she wore many thin necklaces of gold on her long pale neck and many jeweled bracelets and rings on her slender arms.
"Good evening to you, Mistress," said the Gatekeeper. "I'll be going back to my post now. Get some shut-eye perhaps."
"Pleasant dreams, Gatekeeper," the woman said. Her voice was high-pitched and musical, as if she were about to break out into song any second.
The Gatekeeper bowed to her and retreated to his place on the other side of the Second Gate. The thick metal gate lowered back into place, with less noise than before. When it was finally shut, the woman addressed her two new guests and bowed slightly to them.
"I am Lady Haname. You will stay in my home tonight. In the morning, I shall escort you to the Palace."
Neal, always courteous in the face of sophistication, bowed as well as he could, though his sore body protested much of that. "My name is Neal Queenscove, milady." He glanced warily at his partner. "And that's Joren Stone. Don't mind him. He has no concept of elegance."
Joren glared at him. He turned over a few peculiar matters in his mind before speaking. "How is it that people under Enishijirou don't feel any greed, then?"
Lady Haname sighed. "That would be better explained by His Majesty or one of his advisors. I am merely your hostess." She gestured down the street. "It would be best if we go now before all the lanterns dim."
"Yeah, what's with that anyway? Simulated day and night under here?" Neal asked. They started to walk after her.
"Many reflected beams of light actually. Only half of the Second District is under the mountain. There are many openings and mirrors that reflect light from the outside. Coupled with the magic of the stones, the light inside the caverns brightens and dims according to the time outside."
They walked along the street for a few minutes before coming to a set of stairs that led into an underground tunnel. Orange lanterns lined the passageway. They caused the gems in the passage walls to shine and glitter.
"What's this? A subway?" Neal asked as they descended into the new area.
"Similar, I believe," Lady Haname answered, though she seemed unsure of the answer.
They walked out onto a platform of white stone. Beside the platform were numerous sets of tracks, similar to that of train tracks, though smaller and thinner. A man with short dark brown hair and a bright orange tunic and pants stood up from his place behind a glass window. He exited his gilt framed booth of polished mahogany and bowed to them.
"Sorry, milady. I'm the only technician here during this shift. This way please." He led them to a stone bridge that crossed over the many tracks and branched off to different platforms between each track. He had memorized the look of many of his patrons and knew which area to transport them by heart.
"Now, he's definitely not Eastern Yamani either," Neal whispered to Joren. They exchanged suspicious looks.
They stepped down onto the fourth platform. The technician pulled a lever that stuck out from the platform. A single car rolled down the tracks and came to a stop. It resembled Cinderella's carriage rather than any sort of subway or train. It was light blue with tiny silver vines surrounding the entire exterior. Even a driver was included. Behind the pumpkin shaped carriage was a red-cushioned bench that seated a man dressed in the same orange tunic as the technician.
"Good evening, milady. Pleasant wishes for you all," the driver greeted. He was of the same ethnicity of Lady Haname, which only confused the two DJPF officers even more. A city that was supposed to have been isolated from foreigners for centuries, perhaps even millennia, happened to house many who were not of the original culture.
"Have a nice night," the technician said as he opened the small half-door to the carriage.
Lady Haname nodded to him and gracefully entered the carriage. She sat down on a seat of satin pillows and leaned back against the similarly cushioned walls of the carriage. Neal and Joren got in after her and sat on the opposite seat. Though they were loath to sit next to each other, there was a silent agreement between them that there was something about Lady Haname's elegance and, indeed, the whole City's classiness that made them suspicious.
"Are there many outsiders that have taken residence in this city?" Joren asked as they began to move down the track.
Their hostess smiled congenially. "I suppose you could say that."
"Why? I thought this place was as isolated as it gets."
"I do not possess that knowledge, sir."
"Well, you seemed pretty knowledgeable when it came to explaining the lights."
She bristled imperceptibly. "That is common knowledge that is taught to the children in our schools. Demography is not a topic taught to children. It is reserved for the people of the Palace, who are the only ones who need worry about such things."
"In other words, you don't have the class status."
Lady Haname seemed very offended. She pouted and turned to watch the passing tunnel walls.
Neal gasped. "Stone! Lay off, would you?"
"Why should I?" Joren snapped. "You were wondering, too. Admit it."
His partner sighed and shrugged apologetically. "Okay, so I was. Sorry, milady. It did seem odd."
They traveled the rest of the way in silence. Eventually, the driver announced their arrival. The carriage came to a full stop at a platform identical to the one they had been traveling in.
"Good night, milady!" the driver cried happily. As soon as they had disembarked, he closed the carriage door again, hopped on, and sped away into the tunnels.
"Is everyone this cheery?" Joren mumbled.
Neal was starting to get just as fed up with the perfectly pleasant atmosphere. He yawned. "It'd be nice to have a swearing taxi driver. I mean, not that I really want one to be here, but it'd be a change. Then again, you do enough swearing for all the taxi drivers in Tusaine."
"Only because I know it delights you," Joren sardonically replied.
Lady Haname led them up the stairs. When they were back on the streets again, they discovered themselves in a different neighborhood. The blocks were larger than before, with more elaborate houses. Everything was constructed of the same white, diamond speckled stone, but there were sometimes two or three different levels to each home. They were even surprised to see a few fenced-in gardens and water fountains resembling statues of animals.
"This way. My home is that one right over there," she said and began crossing the street to a two-story house with a short wall of stone surrounding it and its garden.
"Plant life. Underground. Well, d'uh," Neal said to Joren as they entered what they guessed was a courtyard to Lady Haname's spacious home. There was even a pond with several koi fish swimming in it.
"We are near the outside barrier. The water system works better in this area, thus allowing those who wish to grow gardens."
"Barrier, huh? Is that some kind of Third Gate?"
Lady Haname laughed as she opened her door with a touch of her hand. Blue swirls of light appeared on the door's surface in the shape of roses before the door swung open. "No. The barrier is a series of small gateways that require less security. It leads outside to the Valley, after all."
Inside Lady Haname's home, the floor was marble and the walls covered with frescoes of nature scenes. Rivers and forests, complete with woodland creatures, were painted with the utmost detail into the plaster on the walls.
Crystals and jewels of all shapes and sizes adorned the walls as well. The delicate looking furniture appeared to be made of polished wood and meticulously crafted metal of all different types of designs. Joren noticed how cushions were places all around a short table. At least the Eastern tradition of kneeling had remained intact in the City that existed outside of Time.
"Do you require any food or drink before I show you to your quarters? Tea perhaps?"
"No. We're fine," Joren answered. Neal looked like he wanted to protest so he could sample the cuisine, but one scathing look from the blond beside him told him to shut up if he wanted to survive the night.
They went up a wide staircase, covered with a plush red carpet. All the place needed was a crystal chandelier on the ceiling of the second floor to make it appear like something out of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", Neal thought.
It turned out that the chandelier was on the other side of the stairs, which the two men immediately saw when they reached the second floor and turned around. Lady Haname glided past them and down a long hallway. She stopped in front of a door at the end and opened it with a touch of her hand.
"Do you people not use doorknobs?" Neal frowned.
"Doorknobs are not necessary," the woman laughed softly. She led them inside and touched a transparent glass globe on the green marble dresser. "Touch this to activate the light."
"Aww. For a second there, I was hoping for some Clap-on, Clap-off lights," Neal complained with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"I am sorry that I have only one guest room available. My other guest rooms are being renovated." She gently touched the dresser itself. "You'll find spare clothing and personal items in the drawers. Formal wear is in the wardrobe." She pointed to a wooden door on the opposite side of the room. "The door next to it leads to the wash room. I believe most of the items in there are easy enough to operate without instruction."
"Automatic flushing toilets? Or are those crystal activated, too?"
"Queenscove, shut up."
Lady Haname bowed. "If you need help, you may touch the red rose crystal on the wall beside the door. Otherwise, I wish you gentleman pleasant dreams. I will be back in the morning to collect you."
She left the room. The door closed behind her without any push. Neal whooped and plopped down on one of the two beds in the room. Each bed was queen-sized, and covered with green satin coverlets and purple sheets. Neal sat up and tested the bounciness of the bed.
"This is too cool," Neal grinned. "Is yours as bouncy as mine? It's like going to a five star hotel!"
Joren frowned. "Except for the part where pictures of Bambi and his friends cover our walls."
"Maybe it's a personal preference of hers. It's not too bad. I liked Thumper."
"You would," Joren retorted.
Joren walked around the beds to the bathroom and touched the door. It opened automatically, with a tiny burst of blue light. The light inside the bathroom automatically illuminated, via glowing crystals in the ceiling. The sink, bathtub, and indeed, the toilet were all made of same green marble that made up the dresser.
"Not all that practical. If this stuff chips, its hard to replace." He paused. "Then again, they have millions of things here that aren't practical and seemingly impossible. Why not a marble toilet?"
Neal laughed. "Is it sensor-automatic? Or crystal activated?"
Joren moved in front of the toilet and moved away again. The water inside began to swirl around. "Does that answer your question?" He exited the bathroom. The lights turned off and the door closed by itself behind him. "Let's just change and go to bed. I have to figure out a few things."
"What's there to figure out? We don't know enough and it's not like it'll help us. These people don't want to hurt us. It's like Shinko said. They'll help us, then throw us out."
"Not before they either brainwash us or wipe our memories clean. Don't you see? All the people in this City are annoyingly perfect. They're all happy with whatever job they have—"
"The Gatekeeper might be an exception. He did seem a bit cranky. Or maybe it was the interruption of his nap…"
"Look, this city is a goldmine. More than that, it's every greedy man's dream come true. Did you notice how easily Shinkokami took us in here? Maybe others have come through here, too. So how did the City keep information from leaking out to the free world?" He pointed to the door leading out to the hallway. "They must do something to their visitors."
"What visitors? No one bothers with the Yamanis, Stone. It's been a long standing fact that there are no precious metals to be found, or wildlife, or… anything! Everyone visits the Eastern villages for cultural enlightenment from time to time, but no one actually goes into the mountain range. If it weren't for our mission, we wouldn't even be here!" Neal pulled out a drawer and grabbed a pair of red, soft cotton pajamas and tossed them to his partner. He took out a green pair for himself and closed the drawer again. "Even if they do swipe our memories, who cares? We'll have completed our mission with the help of these people. We'll go home. They wouldn't do us any harm. So what if we can't remember where we were for three or four days?"
Joren began stripping himself of layers. "Do you know why Kel's brother wanted to fly over the mountains in the first place?"
"No." Neal also began to undress. "Is it something important?"
"It must have been. It's as you said, Queenscove. No one bothers with the Yamanis. Until now."
~~
In the morning, Joren and Neal were forced to change into the formal clothing that they found in the wardrobe. During the night, their dirty clothing had been taken and a small piece of parchment left in its place, reading that their clothing was being washed.
Joren wore a mostly black tunic with red Yamani-styled embroidery covering it. It wasn't silk, but of a plain cotton material that suited him far better than the fancy cloths of the people they had met so far. Actually, all of the clothing in the wardrobe that fit Joren seemed to be of a more simple design. Most of the colors were grays or blacks, with occasional accents of red. He detested the puffiness of his white shirtsleeves, however, and detested his black leather pants even more.
No matter where I go, someone thinks it's a riot to see me in these ridiculous pants, Joren thought irritably. He found a pair of black boots that were just his size and put them on. He glanced over at Neal, who was more excited about the clothing selection in his size.
Neal had no qualms wearing a white silk shirt. He wouldn't have ever gone out of his way to purchase something so extravagant, but now that it was available to him, no strings attached, he was all too happy to put it on. He went through numerous garments before selecting a light blue tunic and a matching vest to go over it. He wore dark gray pants and picked a pair of shiny black boots similar to Joren's pair, except that these had silver buckles.
"I need a hat. A hat with a feather. And a cape! And then I'd look just like those guys in the history books. Hey, maybe I could be the next Scarlet Pimpernel."
"You should really listen to yourself sometimes. It's depressing," Joren remarked. "Besides, you've got the description all wrong. You'd need a fine red brocade jacket, more ruffles on your collar, and—" He stopped short, glared at Neal, and continued to dress.
"And?" Neal smiled widely. "You were saying Stone? Go ahead. You were on a roll."
"Just because I happen to know this thing does not mean anything but that I'm smarter than you are. Now finish dressing, you pansy ass. I want to eat breakfast." He waited beside the door, making sure that his gun was tucked into the sash around his waist. "Why did you choose those things anyway? That's Mithran oriented clothing."
"So you encourage the 'When in Rome' method? Should I look for a… what's it called? Kimono? Yukata?"
"Don't ask me. I never paid attention in World Cultures class," Joren replied.
After a couple of minutes, they opened the door and stepped out into the hallway where Lady Haname was patiently waiting.
"Ah! You look like perfect gentlemen! Nobles, even! Now you are ready to have breakfast with the King."
Joren and Neal traded suspicious glances.
The King?
~~
The Second District was bustling with activity during the daytime. Everyone had tasks to perform or chores to complete. It was a wonder that Joren and Neal didn't witness any traffic jam in any of the streets they passed.
They walked behind Lady Haname to a gate at the very edge of the underground haven. She explained that they would pass through a brightly lit tunnel that would lead them straight to the streets of the open-air part of the Second District. The Valley Plains would be just within scenic view.
"And the Palace?" Joren asked as they passed into the large tunnel amongst a crowd of citizens.
"It's on the far end of the district overlooking the rest of the valley. You'll know it when you see it." She smiled. "Look. We're almost there."
They exited the tunnel from a gate whose doors were drawn back to accommodate the many citizens in transit. All of sudden, they could hear a lot more horse whinnies and birds chirping. As soon as they were fully outside, they stopped to take it all in.
The sky bluer than they'd ever seen. It was a shade lighter than robin's eggs, but perfect in complement to the rest of the City. Enishijirou loomed behind them, a giant with mist surrounding its summit. Mist surrounded all the mountains that formed a border around the valley. Joren looked at the snow. Then, he looked down at himself. He wasn't cold at all. It seemed everything was still the same temperature as it had been underground.
"Come along. We can take a carriage from here," Lady Haname said. She walked up to an idle carriage, similar the one they had ridden underground. Horses pulled this one, however. They were beautiful white, well-groomed horses with demure countenances.
There were less ornamental gems, crystals, and precious metals in the buildings outside. The white stone, however, remained a constant element of all structures. The pagoda-styled roofs were larger than before, each showing more wear and tear on the shingles than its underground counterparts. Of course, the roofs outside actually had to deal with rain and snow, unlike those underground.
The cobblestones of the streets were a bit smoother than they had been under Enishijirou. They were slightly worn down by the constant trample of feet and hooves. As the DJPF officers rode in the carriage, they seemed to be overwhelmed by the whole new world they had the privilege to see.
Neal finally frowned and turned to Joren when he saw the Valley Plains in the distance. "Hey. Have you ever read Lost Horizon by James Hilton?"
"No. Why?"
He shook his head and stared out the window again. "No reason. Just… thinking."
"That must be a rare occurrence. A piece of advice: you—thinking too much? Bad for your health. Hell, it's bad for my health."
"You're so encouraging," Neal shot back, rolling his eyes.
The carriage came to a stop. The driver got down from his bench and opened the door, helping Lady Haname step down. Joren and Neal followed, throwing scornful looks at each other. As soon as they were out, they looked up at the castle in front of them.
It was based on a grassy hillside beside the Valley Plains. The gate was forty feet tall and twenty feet wide, shaped in an arch. It was actually an expanded version of the First Gate. Though the outer walls of the castle were made of smooth white stone, the gate was completely made of metal… iron, perhaps, with the enlarged impressions of animals wrought into the surface. Jewels were embedded in the spaces between each animal, glinting in the sun.
A man, dressed in a red tunic similar to the Gatekeeper they had met last night, stood beside the monstrous slab of metal. He held a spear proudly in one hand. He gave Joren the impression of a man well versed with all the techniques of the spear, but also a man who hadn't any opportunity to put those skills to the test.
Lady Haname approached, drawing an ivory fan from her sash and waving it prettily in front of her face. She began to speak with the smiling guard in hushed whispers.
In the meantime, Joren approached the gate. One image stood out from the rest. He slowly reached out to touch the iron surface. He traced the outline of the animal, feeling the raised ridges of the stripes and the bared teeth.
"A tiger," he said quietly.
Neal came up behind him. "Do you like tigers?"
Joren smiled crookedly. "Hate them."
The gate began to rise. Joren withdrew his hand and stepped backward, bumping into Neal. Lady Haname laughed throatily and whispered something else to the guard, who began to blush. She waited until the gate had stopped moving before stepping over the threshold.
"Well! Come along. We don't want to be late. As his breakfast guests, we're the first ones in the castle today."
She added a sway to her hips, which won appreciative looks from the guard, as well as those guards patrolling the battlements above. Absently, Joren wondered why such fortifications were necessary, since the City seemed so isolated and unknown from the whole world. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Lady Haname called to him again. He jogged to catch up with them and followed them into the courtyard.
Cherry blossom trees bloomed throughout the courtyard. A few gardeners milled about, tending to these trees as well as to the other flowers surrounding the white stoned castle. Neal whistled in appreciation.
"Is that a giant flower on the roof?" He pointed upward.
"It is a cherry blossom, not yet in full bloom. And no, it is actually the Stargazer Dome. Perhaps His Majesty will show it to you," Lady Haname answered. "Come now. You're wasting time."
They walked along a stone path through a grove of shorter trees without any flowers and came to a large set of doors. Two more guards stood here. Each had a sword in a scabbard at his waist. They touched the doors and granted the visitors entrance before a single word was spoken.
They entered what appeared to be a ballroom. The expansive room was floored with white marble. On the wall hung paintings of the Eastern style—mountains, nightingales, dragons, and phoenixes. Crystals of different sizes and shapes hung from four chandeliers that hung in a line on the ceiling.
A grand staircase was at the far end. It was twice as wide as Lady Haname's staircase, and sported wooden banisters that had red statues of Eastern lions on each end. A young boy, about the age of thirteen or fourteen, was seated on the third step of the staircase. He was dressed in a dark brown silk tunic over a white shirt. He also wore a white and green sash around his middle. A short blade—a kodachi, Joren identified—hung from his waist. Joren was almost sure that a boy of that age didn't know how to use it.
Two things stood out most from the boy's appearance. Golden slippers adorned the boy's feet, the brightest accessory in comparison with the rest of the drab colors he wore. And also, the boy's hair stood up in short, soft white spikes.
White hair. Joren suppressed a shudder.
Lady Haname bowed from the waist this time, until she formed a ninety-degree angle with her body. She did not raise herself until she had spoken, "Greetings, Prince. We have come to see His Majesty, the King."
The boy, no, the prince stood up and folded his arms over his chest like a petulant brat about to throw a tantrum. "Why should I care?"
Lady Haname lowered her eyes to the floor when she stood erect again. "I apologize. Please, may we know where he is? He is expecting us."
The prince's cheeks reddened. Joren noticed then that his eyes looked familiar. They were an odd shade of blue that he had seen only one other place before.
"Well, why should I tell you? I'd rather—"
"Yahiko! Still that impetuous mouth of yours!" a voice boomed from the top of the staircase.
All eyes darted upwards to the source of the voice. The prince trembled. He glared at Neal and Joren before running upstairs past the man who had spoken. A few seconds later, they could hear a door slam. Apparently, not everything needed to be crystal activated.
Joren stepped forward, trying his best not to bite off his tongue. He ignored Lady Haname's gestures to bow and crossed half of the ballroom before stopping. He put his hands on his hips and snorted mockingly.
"Somehow, I knew you were going to be here. As King, well, no, but at least I knew you were going to be here. You always end up in the places where I don't want to see you… Enishi."
Enishi Yukishiro laughed. He adjusted the round shaded spectacles on the bridge of his nose and descended a few steps lower. "I told you I had connections."
Neal frowned. "Am I… missing something here?"
"You always had to stand out," Joren continued, ignoring his partner. He sneered at the white-haired man before him. "Even in a City where everyone wears priceless gems and gold as if they were dime-store costume jewelry, you don't wear a single bit. And you have the audacity to continue wearing the same Armani suit."
His host pouted. "Now, now. Who said this was Armani? Believe it or not, my private seamstress made this one. The material is much finer anyway. Maybe she should go into the fashion business as well."
Lady Haname was speechless. "Your Majesty! You know this man?"
Enishi eyed the blond man in front of him with a great deal of interest. "That, I do. Oh yes. That, I do."
~~
Author's note: *GASP* Could it be? Has Enishi weaseled his way into another season of ICBW? Aww, and you thought you had been rid of him forever! Well, he was gone for the latter of ten episodes at least. That's something. Eh?
I hoped you enjoyed my lengthy descriptions. I've been crafting this place in my mind for a long time. I wasn't sure how I wanted to blend legend with reality at first. Then I said screw it all, took a few feudal European and feudal Japanese sketches (and every other epic movie I've ever seen involving some Lost City) and blended it all together! Hope I did well…
As you can see, Joren and Neal start to grow more comfortable with each other. This essentially means that their insults come more frequently and more easily than before. Aww. Our widdle Joren-pooh is making friends… No. Not really.
The crystal motif was inspired by this scene in the old movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth". There was a bunch of hot springs and this cheesy movie set where you could tell all the crystals and rocks were so fake—but it always made me smile. The book Lost Horizon by James Hilton was also a great inspiration. The book is about this place called Shangri-La, hidden in the Tibetan mountains. *sighs* Now that had my imagination going. Five years after reading the book, and it still influences the way I see "legendary cities". I dearly recommend it.
I've probably screwed up a lot of terminology and paid very little attention to my many run-on sentences. At this point, I don't care. I'll go back and edit when I have the time. I basically have a month left of summer vacation. You see, I got out from school at the end of May. Seems weird for some you, considering you just got out of school at the end of June. Anyway, I want to diversify the rest of my summer. I can alternate writing with other things. Hopefully.
Also, I broke up with my boyfriend-creature after nine months, thirteen days. Or actually, he broke up with me. The "feeling" wasn't there for him anymore, and everyone knows how unrequited love works. Dang. Oh well. Got over that rather quickly. (Too quickly. Is that bad?) On the plus side, I have more time to write now, rather than hang out with him. On the down side, there's always a part of your heart that dearly remembers that first boyfriend. Yuck. We're friends now. I think we've always worked better that way. Who needs 'im? I've got you people. I've got Caitlin, Jae, Victor, and—egads—LB of all people LB, who never seems to give up on me. LB, the only one who decides when a shindig is going to go down, because let me tell ya… he knows how to throw 'em and how to stir 'em up. Best buddies forever!
Oh! Before I forget! Yahiko is a character from Rurouni Kenshin, just as Enishi was. Yahiko Myoujin sided with the Kenshin-gumi however, and began appearing in perhaps… the third episode while we had to wait quite a few seasons before Enishi could make his wonderful appearance on the side of "evil". Aw, who cares if he was evil? He's still awesome!
Tell me what you think of the episode! Email! Review! I'll be glad to see them all!!!
-Sulia Serafine