AN: Thank you to my reviewers. Once again all personal review comments will be at the end of the chapter. I don't really have anything to say about this chapter… it's pretty self-explanatory. I hope you like it. Thanks for reading and please take just 10 secs. to review and say whether or not you like it ^_^ I really do have to say a gigantic thank you to everyone who has already reviewed this. If it weren't for you I don't think I would have ever continued past the first chapter. Anyway I will shut up now and let you read. Ciao and happy reading
The door opened up into the largest room she had every seen. Her quick mind calculated that it must take up at least a quarter of the mountain. Then Tanya discovered that a beam of sunlight was coming down from the ceiling and realized that the mountain must actually be an inactive volcano. Glancing around the room she saw people, men, women and children of all ages walking around, teaching new fighting techniques, both hand to hand combat and weaponry and she saw a roped off area where there was a group of healing mages.
"Why do they let mages stay here?" she asked Griffith quietly. He grimaced.
"Never ask anyone here that," he whispered back. "The new rule has only been instituted within the last 50 years and three quarters of the Shang still fight it even though three quarters of that three quarters would not be alive today if not for the 2 mages we let stay here." Tanya stored this all away in her mind with the rest of the information she was gathering about life as a Shang. She also noticed that Griffith and Kylaia steered her carefully away from the other mages. She frowned but followed them. They should know by now that she was not stupid. She had put up a shield before they had even arrived here that only some of the strongest mages and sorcerers would be able to find. Turning to Kylaia Tanya lightly tapped her shoulder. The small woman's body seemingly turned towards her, an indication that she was listening even though she continued walking at a fast pace.
"Kylaia," Tanya whispered, as close to the older woman's ear as possible. "What did you and Griffith do to the wall?" she asked hesitantly. "I could see no magic but what else could it be?" Kylaia was silent for so long that Tanya almost thought she would not answer.
"It is a gift from our gods," she answered back, nodding to the other Shang warriors who recognized her and her rank and moved aside to let her and Griffith pass, Tanya squished between them and Tarak following silently behind. He was so quiet that Tanya could not be sure he was there except for the fact that she glanced behind her shoulder every once and a while to make sure he was still there. "Ama-Tsu-Mara our god of weapons and smiths drew the fire out of what was once an active volcano, leaving us with a meeting place and school for those new to the Shang. Amarante the goddes of the forests made the jungle grow thick and heavy on our mountain, hiding the many entrances and keeping us relativly safe from invasion. Benzai-Ten, the goddess of water and wisdom put a river on our mountain giving us a constant source of water and gave a sense of wisdom to the Eldars who pass it on to the next Eldar when it is their time to go on to the next life. Hachiman our god of war put stairs leading up to the top and walkways there for us to climb so that we may be prepared for any attack." She stopped and snorted in distain. "Not that anyone has been brave enough to challenge the entire Shang community in centuries. And finally Onamuji, the god of earth who gave us triple protection against outsiders and a song spell that actually involves no magic of our own to open the secret entrances. They are our gods, we pray to them to bring us saftey and peace and the will and strength to fight." Kylaia stopped and looked down at Tanya who looked stunned. "Did you catch any of that youngling?"
Tanya nodded even though she knew she would have to ask again later. "Where are we going?" she asked softly, still avoiding looking into the eyes of any of the Shang warriors that crowded around, eager to see who the Shang Unicorn and Griffin had brought back with them. She could see that they came from all corners of the world. She recognized some K'mir from Sarain, a few Tortallans, Gallans, Carthakis, Copper Islanders, Scanrans, Tyrans, Marens, and many more. Obviously the politics of their home countries did not follow them once they left to become Shang. She was so busy staring at the many people milling around them that she bumped into Griffith when they stopped suddenly. "Ooof," she said quietly as she ran into him. Kylaia chuckled quietly as Tanya rubbed her nose and wrinkled it. Then she looked up and her eyes widened. Four people stood in front of them, two men and two women. The men were dressed in black robes that seemed weightless, moved in invisible breezes and the women wore identical white robes that boredered on opaque, hugging them in all the right places and yet loose in others. Even knowing Kylaia Tanya hadn't realized that people that beautiful could be so very dangerous.
Because for all their magesty and grace they were dangerous. Having watched many warriors come and go and having spent almost a month and a half with two Shang warriors Tanya could see the subtlties in their smal movements. The four of them stood, not speaking, just looking at Kylaia and Griffith and when one of the women glanced at Tanya she felt as though a bolt of lightning energy had hit her. The same woman lifted her arm to brush a strand of hair behind her ear and she saw a glint of metal under her robe and the strong, strong muscles in her arms when the robe slid up past her elbow. "You have come home at last Unicorn, and you too Griffin," the first man said softly, and yet Tanya was sure that everyone in the room heard it for the moment he spoke all other conversation stopped and his was the only voice echoing in the room.
"The question is," began the second man, "why have you come?" He glanced to his right and the first woman nodded.
"And when you will be leaving?" she voiced.
"And who have you brought before us?" the last woman said, a note of finality in her voice. "She is too old to be Shang." The other three nodded with her. "But we will not speak of this now," she continued. "Come with us." And suddenly every conversation that had stopped when they began started again as though they had frozen the moment in time. Tanya shivered as she followed, staying as close to Kylaia as possible. Griffith shot her a reassuring grin but Tanya could see his underlying fear…
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AN: I'm really sorry this is such a short chapter but I wanted to leave it at that small cliffhanger and I couldn't think of anything to add inbetween. But since it is short at least you get it to you sooner. J And the next chapter will be up soon…I think… Anyway thanks for reading and please review.
elvenprinzcess: Thanks for your review! ^_^ Lol, I know, I've done that too. I read two or three stories just because I was like hey I know somebody with that name. I'm ashamed. L Oh well. But I hope you liked it, even if you only began reading it for that reason. Thanks again. ^_^
kuyaga: Thank you so much. J I absolutely love to hear that people love my fics. It's the best thing you can tell an author for their self esteem. And in response to your question: If you are referring to chapter five when they ask Tanya to make a protective barrier around the camp then that is because they are in a hostile area, bandits or dangerous wild animals or thieves who probably know the jungle around them better than either Griffith or Kylaia do could come in and kill them in their sleep. When I began this story I probably would never have done that but after reading a few peoples fics I thought about it and I realized that even Shang could buy magical devices off mages and use them. Not all Shang have to be opposed to magic, even if they are not allowed to have it. If you are referring to where they opened the secret door in the rock, it wasn't exactly magic as I hope was explained in this chapter. It was but it wasn't. If you still don't understand just ask me again and I'll try to explain it further. Ttyl and thanks again for the review! J
mystic fire demon: Thanks so much for another review! And yeah I know. When I was first writing that into the story I was wondering about how I should do it and I eventually decided it was for the best. But it will make the story much more interesting… wait and see. As to your question I am probably basing it on all the books. I don't really think its based on any series in particular. I will have characters from all of them, and they will be coming in by chapter 9 like I said before. But as to time according to the books it is probably about the middle of Squire, maybe a little past there. I don't have my book with me right now but I would say it starts just after everyone returns home from touring with Shinko and Roald. So yeah, I hope that answers you question and if you are still confused say so or email me and I hope I can answer more fully. I'm really glad you like my story and I hope I updated fast enough for you! Thanks again!
kicks99: Thanks for the review! I am glad you like it so far. I hope this chapter was as good as the last ones and I also hope I updated soon enough for everyone!
Queen's Own: *Bows* Thank you, thank you for yet another review. You're my fave! Lol, and I know! I HATE WRITERS BLOCK! * Curses the evil of writers block and whoever came up with the idea* Lol, if you need any help getting started again just email me and I'll try to help you however I can! Thanks again, ttyl!