8BTFreek: Well, here I am, not even my first chapter, and I've already got reviews! Thanks, guys!
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Mesoforte: Thank you!
JokersSpecter: Thanks for the review. Things will definitely develop in more interesting ways. There will be an interesting plot device in this chapter. Oops! I've said too much!
A Christian Loser: Well, you're the second one to call it short-the first was me. And yes, this will be interesting. As I said before, plot device coming up.
EchoKazul: Yeah, it's a bit short, but that's only 'cause it's the intro. Otherwise, it would've been longer. Although I think I cheated the readers. I could've put more in, like more of an intro with spoilers for those who haven't finished TLA, but I'm not that cruel. They're coming in this chapter.
Rallalon: I mean "New Vale." It's just called Vale because I don't think they'd want to remind themselves that Vale had been destroyed. They'd just want to live their lives normally. Both of your guesses were correct! Very good.
tigerlily: I'm updating, I'm updating! See?
END RESPONSES
Nynaeve: You'd better not put in spoilers! I'm trying to finish Mars Lighthouse!
Freek: Well, don't read until you're done. There's some basic end stuff in here.
Nynaeve: Someone do the disclaimer. I've got to finish the game.
Alex: I'll do it. Golden Sun is the property of Camelot. Not 8BTFreek, Camelot. Any claims to the masterpiece by this insignificant little twerp are false. And now, on with the chapter. Freek, I'd start typing if I were you.
**Chapter 2: One Week Later**
"Ivan? Is it really you?" Garet smiled at his old friend. "What's it been? Two years? Three?"
"Almost four, Garet. What do you think?" He smiled, then leaned on the end of his staff.
"I think Isaac will flip when he sees you. You realize you missed his wedding?" The smile slid of Ivan's face. "Don't tell me you didn't know about it. It was all he talked about last time we saw you." His expression sunk further. "Oh, damn. You did forget."
"Well, I do have something good to tell you. You remember Feizhi?"
"You mean Master Hama's apprentice? What about her?" Ivan signaled to the woman standing next to him. She pulled down the hood of her cloak and smiled at him. Garet said nothing-he just stood there, his mouth hanging open. "It's... it's impossible! She was in Xian, and we haven't been there for..."
"You may not have been there, but I went back there after Vale was rebuilt. There she was, just like a few years ago. Well, I went up to her and started a conversation. Just as I was about to tell her what had happened to our little group, one of Hammet's soldiers came riding up to me. He told me that Hammet wanted me in the palace, and there was to be no questioning-just go. So I said a quick good-bye, told her I'd be back, and left. Of course, I had no idea that Master Hammet would want to re-hire me. So I stayed there, but my thoughts drifted back to Xian. I guess it sent some sort of signal to Feizhi. She came looking for me." He realized he was rambling, then grinned sheepishly and bowed out of the way. Feizhi picked up where he had left off.
"Well, I had a hard time getting into the palace, until I said I was Ivan's friend. Then they let me in. It was a very big place, but there was a nice lady who told me where to find him. She said he was in the Grand Hall. I walked around until I found it. There was Ivan, standing in a servant's uniform, serving a lord and lady. I called out his name, and his head whipped around. We went off for a while, and talked some more. We spent a few months meeting like this. Finally, we realized that we were more than just friends. I'm sorry you weren't at the wedding-it was a fine wedding, and Ivan did send out invitations." Garet reddened-he had gotten the invitations, but he didn't think they could make the deadline. "Anyway, that's not why we came here."
"Although it is nice to see you," Ivan interjected. "No, we're here because of a dream." Garet laughed. He stopped suddenly, looking at something behind Ivan.
"Sheba? Piers? What in Iris's name are you doing here?!" Ivan turned to see his friends standing there. The ship was just on top of the hill. Garet ran off, shouting, "I'm getting the others! You just wait here!" He ran off into the middle of the crowd.
"Sheba, Piers, it's great so see you again! What's been happening lately? Have you found it yet?" They both knew what he was talking about-Sheba's past was still an enigma, even after five years of searching. They shook their heads. "Tough luck. Say, Garet's just gone to get the others! This is turning into a very nice reunion." Feizhi gave a little cough. "Oh. Hey, guys. You didn't get to meet Feizhi, did you?"
Sheba walked up to her. "So you're the little girl that stole Ivan's heart, eh? Well, congratulations. I only wish I could be you."
"Yeah, he's real sweet. Except when he gets mulish, of course." The girls laughed. Piers nudged Ivan in the ribs. He pointed to the new pub and shook his coin purse. Before they could leave, though, Garet came running back. Jenna and Isaac were following with a little girl, about two years old. Mia was there, too. Felix and Hama approached, moving slowly. Ivan noticed a little boy at their feet. He was at most four years old.
When Hama saw them, she ran up to Ivan and Feizhi. "Ivan! This is quite a surprise, isn't it? Last time I saw you, you were back in Contigo!" She looked at Feizhi. "And Feizhi! Don't tell me you're married to this slacker?!" She nodded, and Hama exploded with laughter. "That's good. It's about time he settled down."
Jenna was busy with Piers. "Honestly, you still haven't found it? If I wasn't so busy with Jade, I'd be with you, making sure you searched thoroughly." She looked at Sheba again. She was busy with Felix.
"Felix, stop being overprotective. Honestly, you know Piers! He wouldn't harm a hair on my head! Stop it!" He was busy asking her what Piers had done on the trip. She knew that if he heard anything that sounded like him falling in love with her, Piers wouldn't live to see the day out. "Honestly, would I lie to you?" {Okay, so maybe I didn't tell him about the poetry or the candlelit dinners, but still, that's just him being his romantic self!}
Garet and Mia quickly said "Hello" to all of their friends, then snuck off into the pub. Isaac tried entering the conversations, failing miserably. He sat down on a rock to clear his thoughts, and by chance saw the stranger entering town. He walked over to the gate and greeted the man. "Hello, what can I do for you?"
"This is Vale, correct?" The man's accent was thick, and sounded strange. "It is the town of the Adepts on Angara?" Isaac nodded. "May I speak with your mayor? I have something urgent to tell him." Isaac nodded, but just as the man started walking, he had a sword pointed at his chest.
"I'm afraid not," came Piers's voice. "Go back to Q'tlataresh, you bastard. Go back, and don't bother these people." It was Piers. Apparently, he would have liked nothing more than to sheathe his sword in the man's stomach.
"Nothing doing, Lemurian. I have something to tell the town mayor. If he doesn't hear it, then all will go wrong!" The man spoke strangely, almost as if the language was unfamiliar to his tongue. "Lemurian, if you don't let me go... Oh, drazhd verbagya! Let me go! I must speak with the mayor! Would you have the blood of the innocent on your hands?" Piers thought for a minute, then put up his blade.
"You may explore the city. But if I hear of one murder, you will not live to see the next day." The man nodded, then ran off. Isaac turned to face his friend.
"Piers, what was that about?" Piers said nothing. He put his sword back in its scabbard, then slowly turned to face Isaac.
"Post a guard wherever that man stays. He's Q'tiil. I'll explain when everyone's been gathered." Piers walked off, his normally calm exterior disrupted by a cold fury.
***
Rhoen ran off to a secluded plateau, just above where the others were talking. {Stupid Lemurian. He thinks we're all the same, but he has no clue... Dammit. I wish I had been normal. Then I wouldn't have to be here.} He took another look at the girl the Lemurian had entered town with. {He's a hypocrite as well. Disliking me for being Q'tiil, then falling in love with one of our women without a care.} He snarled, then calmed down. {I should probably take a look at the city. That will calm me.} He walked off to a small hillside, then looked at a beautiful garden. There were beautiful flowers of all sorts blooming in it. "Whoever planted this should be commended," he remarked to no one in particular.
"Thank you, sir." A female voice caught him from behind. He spun to see a woman standing there. But she wasn't just a woman, in his eyes. To him, she seemed an angel.
"Yes, it's beautiful. Er, my name's Rhoen. Yours?"
"It's Kay." She smiled, a sad smile. She looked out and saw a young couple walking by. It was then that he noticed rage creping across her face. The smile had been abandoned, replaced by a frown. She hands were clenched, and she looked like she was about to kill if another couple walked by. She mumbled something under her breath.
***
"It's not fair," she muttered. {Why can't I find someone? Why doesn't love find me?} She shook with rage. An angry yell almost escaped her throat when she felt an arm go around her shoulder. She spun around to see Rhoen trying to calm her down.
"Listen, shouting and being angry won't do anything." He withdrew his hand from her shoulder, taking her hands in his. His hands were unusually cold. "I should know. I've been in situations like that before." His voice was calming, almost like a babbling brook. Slowly, she let go of her rage. He smiled. "That's better." He turned to walk away. She ran after him.
"Listen, do you have a place to stay?" He turned around.
"No, I don't. Why?" A look of suspicion crossed his face.
"Well, why don't you stay at my place?" He looked reprehensive. "Don't worry, we'll be with my parents." He was still a bit hesitant. "You'll have your own room, if that's what you're worried about." He sighed with relief, then nodded.
"It would be a pleasure, Madam Kay." He took her hand in his, knelt, and kissed it. She blushed. Nobody had ever said or done anything like that before.
***
Freek: Well, that's all I can think of for this chapter. Next chapter: Piers's revelation, and some other creepy things.
Nynaeve: Just review. The more reviews he gets, the sooner the next chapter comes. And, being who I am, I will like that. So if you don't review, you will get a chance to experience my anger firsthand.
Freek: Eep! *Runs and hides in a secluded corner of the FreekLair*
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Mesoforte: Thank you!
JokersSpecter: Thanks for the review. Things will definitely develop in more interesting ways. There will be an interesting plot device in this chapter. Oops! I've said too much!
A Christian Loser: Well, you're the second one to call it short-the first was me. And yes, this will be interesting. As I said before, plot device coming up.
EchoKazul: Yeah, it's a bit short, but that's only 'cause it's the intro. Otherwise, it would've been longer. Although I think I cheated the readers. I could've put more in, like more of an intro with spoilers for those who haven't finished TLA, but I'm not that cruel. They're coming in this chapter.
Rallalon: I mean "New Vale." It's just called Vale because I don't think they'd want to remind themselves that Vale had been destroyed. They'd just want to live their lives normally. Both of your guesses were correct! Very good.
tigerlily: I'm updating, I'm updating! See?
END RESPONSES
Nynaeve: You'd better not put in spoilers! I'm trying to finish Mars Lighthouse!
Freek: Well, don't read until you're done. There's some basic end stuff in here.
Nynaeve: Someone do the disclaimer. I've got to finish the game.
Alex: I'll do it. Golden Sun is the property of Camelot. Not 8BTFreek, Camelot. Any claims to the masterpiece by this insignificant little twerp are false. And now, on with the chapter. Freek, I'd start typing if I were you.
**Chapter 2: One Week Later**
"Ivan? Is it really you?" Garet smiled at his old friend. "What's it been? Two years? Three?"
"Almost four, Garet. What do you think?" He smiled, then leaned on the end of his staff.
"I think Isaac will flip when he sees you. You realize you missed his wedding?" The smile slid of Ivan's face. "Don't tell me you didn't know about it. It was all he talked about last time we saw you." His expression sunk further. "Oh, damn. You did forget."
"Well, I do have something good to tell you. You remember Feizhi?"
"You mean Master Hama's apprentice? What about her?" Ivan signaled to the woman standing next to him. She pulled down the hood of her cloak and smiled at him. Garet said nothing-he just stood there, his mouth hanging open. "It's... it's impossible! She was in Xian, and we haven't been there for..."
"You may not have been there, but I went back there after Vale was rebuilt. There she was, just like a few years ago. Well, I went up to her and started a conversation. Just as I was about to tell her what had happened to our little group, one of Hammet's soldiers came riding up to me. He told me that Hammet wanted me in the palace, and there was to be no questioning-just go. So I said a quick good-bye, told her I'd be back, and left. Of course, I had no idea that Master Hammet would want to re-hire me. So I stayed there, but my thoughts drifted back to Xian. I guess it sent some sort of signal to Feizhi. She came looking for me." He realized he was rambling, then grinned sheepishly and bowed out of the way. Feizhi picked up where he had left off.
"Well, I had a hard time getting into the palace, until I said I was Ivan's friend. Then they let me in. It was a very big place, but there was a nice lady who told me where to find him. She said he was in the Grand Hall. I walked around until I found it. There was Ivan, standing in a servant's uniform, serving a lord and lady. I called out his name, and his head whipped around. We went off for a while, and talked some more. We spent a few months meeting like this. Finally, we realized that we were more than just friends. I'm sorry you weren't at the wedding-it was a fine wedding, and Ivan did send out invitations." Garet reddened-he had gotten the invitations, but he didn't think they could make the deadline. "Anyway, that's not why we came here."
"Although it is nice to see you," Ivan interjected. "No, we're here because of a dream." Garet laughed. He stopped suddenly, looking at something behind Ivan.
"Sheba? Piers? What in Iris's name are you doing here?!" Ivan turned to see his friends standing there. The ship was just on top of the hill. Garet ran off, shouting, "I'm getting the others! You just wait here!" He ran off into the middle of the crowd.
"Sheba, Piers, it's great so see you again! What's been happening lately? Have you found it yet?" They both knew what he was talking about-Sheba's past was still an enigma, even after five years of searching. They shook their heads. "Tough luck. Say, Garet's just gone to get the others! This is turning into a very nice reunion." Feizhi gave a little cough. "Oh. Hey, guys. You didn't get to meet Feizhi, did you?"
Sheba walked up to her. "So you're the little girl that stole Ivan's heart, eh? Well, congratulations. I only wish I could be you."
"Yeah, he's real sweet. Except when he gets mulish, of course." The girls laughed. Piers nudged Ivan in the ribs. He pointed to the new pub and shook his coin purse. Before they could leave, though, Garet came running back. Jenna and Isaac were following with a little girl, about two years old. Mia was there, too. Felix and Hama approached, moving slowly. Ivan noticed a little boy at their feet. He was at most four years old.
When Hama saw them, she ran up to Ivan and Feizhi. "Ivan! This is quite a surprise, isn't it? Last time I saw you, you were back in Contigo!" She looked at Feizhi. "And Feizhi! Don't tell me you're married to this slacker?!" She nodded, and Hama exploded with laughter. "That's good. It's about time he settled down."
Jenna was busy with Piers. "Honestly, you still haven't found it? If I wasn't so busy with Jade, I'd be with you, making sure you searched thoroughly." She looked at Sheba again. She was busy with Felix.
"Felix, stop being overprotective. Honestly, you know Piers! He wouldn't harm a hair on my head! Stop it!" He was busy asking her what Piers had done on the trip. She knew that if he heard anything that sounded like him falling in love with her, Piers wouldn't live to see the day out. "Honestly, would I lie to you?" {Okay, so maybe I didn't tell him about the poetry or the candlelit dinners, but still, that's just him being his romantic self!}
Garet and Mia quickly said "Hello" to all of their friends, then snuck off into the pub. Isaac tried entering the conversations, failing miserably. He sat down on a rock to clear his thoughts, and by chance saw the stranger entering town. He walked over to the gate and greeted the man. "Hello, what can I do for you?"
"This is Vale, correct?" The man's accent was thick, and sounded strange. "It is the town of the Adepts on Angara?" Isaac nodded. "May I speak with your mayor? I have something urgent to tell him." Isaac nodded, but just as the man started walking, he had a sword pointed at his chest.
"I'm afraid not," came Piers's voice. "Go back to Q'tlataresh, you bastard. Go back, and don't bother these people." It was Piers. Apparently, he would have liked nothing more than to sheathe his sword in the man's stomach.
"Nothing doing, Lemurian. I have something to tell the town mayor. If he doesn't hear it, then all will go wrong!" The man spoke strangely, almost as if the language was unfamiliar to his tongue. "Lemurian, if you don't let me go... Oh, drazhd verbagya! Let me go! I must speak with the mayor! Would you have the blood of the innocent on your hands?" Piers thought for a minute, then put up his blade.
"You may explore the city. But if I hear of one murder, you will not live to see the next day." The man nodded, then ran off. Isaac turned to face his friend.
"Piers, what was that about?" Piers said nothing. He put his sword back in its scabbard, then slowly turned to face Isaac.
"Post a guard wherever that man stays. He's Q'tiil. I'll explain when everyone's been gathered." Piers walked off, his normally calm exterior disrupted by a cold fury.
***
Rhoen ran off to a secluded plateau, just above where the others were talking. {Stupid Lemurian. He thinks we're all the same, but he has no clue... Dammit. I wish I had been normal. Then I wouldn't have to be here.} He took another look at the girl the Lemurian had entered town with. {He's a hypocrite as well. Disliking me for being Q'tiil, then falling in love with one of our women without a care.} He snarled, then calmed down. {I should probably take a look at the city. That will calm me.} He walked off to a small hillside, then looked at a beautiful garden. There were beautiful flowers of all sorts blooming in it. "Whoever planted this should be commended," he remarked to no one in particular.
"Thank you, sir." A female voice caught him from behind. He spun to see a woman standing there. But she wasn't just a woman, in his eyes. To him, she seemed an angel.
"Yes, it's beautiful. Er, my name's Rhoen. Yours?"
"It's Kay." She smiled, a sad smile. She looked out and saw a young couple walking by. It was then that he noticed rage creping across her face. The smile had been abandoned, replaced by a frown. She hands were clenched, and she looked like she was about to kill if another couple walked by. She mumbled something under her breath.
***
"It's not fair," she muttered. {Why can't I find someone? Why doesn't love find me?} She shook with rage. An angry yell almost escaped her throat when she felt an arm go around her shoulder. She spun around to see Rhoen trying to calm her down.
"Listen, shouting and being angry won't do anything." He withdrew his hand from her shoulder, taking her hands in his. His hands were unusually cold. "I should know. I've been in situations like that before." His voice was calming, almost like a babbling brook. Slowly, she let go of her rage. He smiled. "That's better." He turned to walk away. She ran after him.
"Listen, do you have a place to stay?" He turned around.
"No, I don't. Why?" A look of suspicion crossed his face.
"Well, why don't you stay at my place?" He looked reprehensive. "Don't worry, we'll be with my parents." He was still a bit hesitant. "You'll have your own room, if that's what you're worried about." He sighed with relief, then nodded.
"It would be a pleasure, Madam Kay." He took her hand in his, knelt, and kissed it. She blushed. Nobody had ever said or done anything like that before.
***
Freek: Well, that's all I can think of for this chapter. Next chapter: Piers's revelation, and some other creepy things.
Nynaeve: Just review. The more reviews he gets, the sooner the next chapter comes. And, being who I am, I will like that. So if you don't review, you will get a chance to experience my anger firsthand.
Freek: Eep! *Runs and hides in a secluded corner of the FreekLair*