Hm. It's been a long while. A long, long, long, long while. But better late than never, they say. Anyways, I'm back with chapter seven, finally. I realize that many of you have probably a) given up hope in the fact that I'll ever update again b) remembered this story and have been really pissed at me for not updating c) both.
Anyways, I apologize, once again, for the lack in updating. But it was not laziness. I came up with such a bad case of Writer's Block on the fight with Mordoc that it was unbelievable. I managed to get through it all though and come out with a 10 3/4 page chapter. Once I get past the Chapter with rescuing Jenna, updates will be much more frequent. I've got almost everything past that point thought out.
REMEMBER TO CHECK MY BIO FOR MONTHLY UPDATES. IF YOU WONDER WHAT EXCUSE I'M USING FOR NOT UPDATING, YOU'LL FIND IT THERE. THIS PROVES I'M NOT LAZY AND I AT LEAST BOTHER TO UPDATE MY BIO.
Now, to the review responses.
Anime-Master7: I'm glad you like the flashes to Weyard. In my opinion, they make up for any crappy parts in the rest of the chapter. As for the updating part . . . cowers
Black Demon567: I'm glad it's getting interesting. It's better and better from here.
Lord isaac: I know he won't be called the Wise One for much longer. I had already considered those suggestions. I may just have to use one of them. The "wise One" defier is going to become a key character, to let you in on a little secret. gets an icicle shoved in the mouth I take it I wasn't supposed to say that . . .
Great Saiyaman: Aw, who doesn't torture the characters every now and then?
Pat Burner: No, you waited 4 damn months for me to continue. Probably pretty pissed at me, aren't you? Please don't be.
Ssonic: Three thousand dollars . . . I'd like that much money too, if I were a cab driver. I'd go across the country for that much money.
NintendoGamer: Come on. It's Alaska. But you're right, there were no problems at the airport and there should have been, even though they didn't have any luggage.
She's going to be a major character, as I told Lord isaac gets another icicle shoved in the mouth I'll shut up about this now.
Princess Viv: Hm. Haven't seen you before. Thanks for your kind reviews on both this story and its prequel! Much appreciated!
I've kept you waiting long enough. Onto chapter 7.
Chapter 7: Mordoc, The Warning Sign
This didn't look good.
The man clad in black known as Mordoc (though Garet or Solaris didn't know his name yet) stood before them formidably, blocking passage back to their gateway home. He stood there with his arms crossed, black cape and long blond hair billowing in the sea breeze. Though Garet, Piers, and Solaris thought he looked formidable for some reason, they didn't have the faintest idea what was going on.
"Just who the Hell are you?" Garet said, surveying the man up and down.
"I am called Mordoc, by both friends and foes," said the man, smiling dangerously. "I've been told you're a foe, so I've come to . . . greet you," he added, chuckling harshly.
"Who told you that?" asked Solaris.
"You'll find out sooner or later," said Mordoc, chuckling. "Things are very different back home now that you're gone."
"What's going on?" asked Solaris, sounding as though his patience was nearing its end.
Mordoc put up his gloved hands and shrugged. "Why spoil the surprise? That is . . . if you ever get to see it," he said, drawing out his weapon.
Both Garet and Solaris reached instinctively by their sides for their own weapon, but realized with sudden terror that they were far, far away on Weyard. Mordoc, on the other hand, drew out a bladed staff. The middle looked like an ordinary staff, but the ends were equipped with two-foot blades that looked like a slithering snake, as the blades were not straight, but . . . well, serpentlike. They glinted brightly in the unusual Seattle sun. The staff itself was made of what looked like polished mahogany.
"Well well, I notice that you two boys are weaponless," said Mordoc, smirking with satisfaction. "I'm glad. I want to get back to Weyard and ensure the Big Boss that I've disposed of you two."
"Just us?" asked Piers. "Why?"
"Your deaths will impact the others more significantly than if I were to attack the other two pairs," Mordoc explained. "I asked myself 'will they be the first ones back?'. And then I answered, 'Probably not. Mia and Isaac would be the first back'. But as they're not around, they will live . . . as long as they don't show up here, while we're, uh . . . taking care of business, shall I say."
"And who is the Big Boss?" asked Solaris.
"You honestly think I'm going to tell you?" Mordoc said, starting to laugh. "You're more of a fool than people make you out to be. If you want to know so badly, you will defeat me in battle."
"How?" Garet snarled. "We don't have our weapons!"
"Well now that's just too bad," Mordoc taunted. "But, none of my concern either. Now, we duel!"
Garet, Solaris, and Piers held their fists out and their arms to defend any blows from the bladed staff. Mordoc struck them hard and fast with the non-bladed part of the staff, which soon resulted in their arms becoming quite sore, even bleeding in some places. Occasionally Mordoc would swing the staff in the hopes that he could slice someone in half with the serpent blades, in which case the three had to be ready and jump out of the way just in time. They could tell that the blades were elemental; a green streak would follow every swish. They just hoped they wouldn't have to find out what it was.
"You guys are dull," Mordoc said, finally putting the staff to rest at his side. "Have it your way. Let's make this a fair fight." He tossed his staff aside, leaving him weaponless.
"What? You want us to fight without weapons?" Garet said, putting up his fists.
"Are you an Adept or not?" Mordoc cried exasperatedly. "Come on. I know you're a Mars Adept. So am I!"
Instantly after this, they felt the heat of Garet's strongest move turned on them: Pyroclasm. The hot magma blasting them from underneath Blisters and raw patched erupted on each of their skins as the Mars Psynergy singed their Earther clothes. By the time the spell dissipated, both were bleeding from the heat, and their clothes had been turned black.
Garet returned the favor with his most powerful single move: Liquefier. The beams gathered around Mordoc and then exploded. After that, pillars of raw, searing Mars energy spiked all around Mordoc, most going straight through him. It was a quick yet deadly move, though Mordoc hardly seemed affected.
"You're rough," Mordoc taunted. "That singed a bit. Oh, and do you know your friend Isaac?"
"What did you do with him?" Garet asked aggressively.
"Nothing . . . life-threatening," Mordoc chuckled. "I just wanted to see if you recognized this move," said Mordoc.
To Garet's and Solaris's complete surprise, Mordoc cast Stone Spire. But their surprise quickly turned to extreme pain when seven stone spires rained down upon them. And as they had no armor, they had to dodge all of them. They did, knowing that if they were impaled by the tips without proper armor on, it would be all over. However, the "shrapnel" from the spires collided with Solaris and Garet, so violently that a couple of pieces embedded in their skin.
Garet and Solaris pulled the pieces out of their bodies and very quickly assessed the situation. The three healers- Isaac, Mia and Lunora, were not here. They brought no potions or other items with them from Weyard. Their armor was back on Weyard. Their weapons were back on Weyard. The situation was not good at all, to put it mildly.
Mordoc was also apparently multi-elemental, and they didn't know how in the Hell that was possible. They were sure he could wield the powers of Jupiter and Mercury as well, but they didn't dare try to find out. But they knew he had a weakness. Everyone always had a weakness. . . . Didn't they?
"You must be tired of this," Mordoc said in a mock casual tone. "Stone Spire, Pyroclasm, you've seen it all already! And now you know what it feels like to have it used on you!"
"This is baby stuff!" Garet shouted back. "We've been blasted by this crap from Karst and Agatio, Saturos and Menardi from the beginning of our old journey."
"True," Mordoc thought. It was as though Garet, Solaris, Piers, and Mordoc were carrying on casual conversation. "What about this though?"
Mordoc raised his hands, and fired rays of red, orange, blue, and purple at the three. Solaris was hit by the red ray. His shirt caught on fire where the ray impacted, and it knocked the wind out of him, sending him sprawling. The orange and blue rays struck Garet, who also keeled over. He was doused in water when the blue ray impacted. Piers was hit by the purple one, and electricity surrounded him after impact. He also fell over.
They had never seen or felt anything like it. Such a large mount of Psynergy concentrated into such a small, yet powerful attack . . . and the fact that Mordoc appeared to be able to wield all four elements made him an even stranger, more dangerous adversary. The rays all made them collapse onto the ground. But a few minutes later, gasping for breath, all three stood up.
Solaris was the first one to regain enough of his breath to wheeze out one of his own attacks. "Sunbeam!" he yelled.
Green particles came floating to his fingertips from the direction of the sun. Once enough power gathered around his hand, he thrust his fingertips forward and directed for sunbeams onto Mordoc, one striking him in the face. Mordoc, though powerful enough to wield the power of all four Common Elements, was unprepared for this attack. He writhed under its power. But Sunbeam alone was not enough.
Garet got an idea. He remembered how hot the sun was in the summer, so he decided to fuel Solaris's Sunbeam attack with some of his own Psynergy. In this way, Sol and Mars sort of went hand in hand, he reasoned. He just hoped that the combined effort might bring Mordoc to his knees. He knew that one person could not take him out alone.
"It's worth a shot," he said to himself, trying to decide in a split-second what attack to use. "Liquefier!" he shouted.
It seemed to work. The heat of the Mars attack itself plus the fact that it fed Solaris's Sunbeam was too much for Mordoc to put up with. He dropped to the ground just as both attacks dissipated simultaneously. He was still conscious however; the combined effort of Garet's and Solaris's attacks probably had the same effect on Mordoc as his rays did on Garet, Solaris, and Piers.
Piers stepped forward to chip in. "Diamond Berg!" he cried. Instantly, Mordoc was encased in an iceberg. But Piers didn't move.
"Aren't you supposed to start breaking the ice to cause the damage?" Garet asked.
"I didn't do the attack to do damage," said Piers. "I did it so that he couldn't attack us for a minute, and to make him stay put."
"Great," muttered Garet. "What do we do with him when he melts?"
"Knock him out . . . that's the only thing I can think of," Piers said.
"Or . . . we could shove his ass back home and get the Hell out of here," said a voice.
All three looked up. Isaac had come through the door, rubbing his head. When he lifted his hand, they could see a lump there, protruding form the under the spiky-blond hair about half an inch. He looked miserable. And pissed.
"Isaac!" Garet said, walking forward to meet him and slapping him on the back. "What the Hell happened to you?"
"I don't know really," he said, glancing sideways at the icicle that was Mordoc. "I was knocked out by something . . . or someone, for that matter," he said. "So were Mia and Sheba. They're still out. I tried to wake them up, but . . ."
"Maybe Garet should try singing," Solaris piped up. "That would wake up my dear old grandmother from the grave, that would."
Garet chose to ignore this. "I'll bet you that Mordoc knocked you out," he said.
"Hm," said Piers, who had been thinking about this whole thing for the past few minutes. "If he just knocked you guys out, and waited for us . . . then he plainly wanted to kill me, Garet and Solaris. . . . But why?"
"I'm more worried about why he came here in the first place," Isaac said. "Something's going very wrong back home. I'm worried."
"Once Ivan and Lunora get here, we should return to Weyard immediately," said Solaris.
"I am going nowhere without Jenna, dammit!" Garet shouted. "You guys can go if you want. I'll stay here by myself if I have to."
"Sorry Garet, I completely forgot about her right there," Solaris apologized.
"Forgot?" Garet said indignantly. "How could you forget?"
"Well, it's rather easy for someone who doesn't spend every waking moment thinking about getting in bed with her," Isaac said irritably, feeling his head and wincing.
"Shut up, Isaac," Garet muttered, going red in the face. He decided to change the subject. "Okay. So Piers has a point. If someone from Weyard was sent here to kill me, Solaris and Piers, then something's definitely wrong."
"And the only way to get here through this portal is through the Sol Sanctum," said Solaris. "So the Wise One must have known about . . . this . . . . oh no . . ."
"You can't be serious!" Garet said, almost laughing. "The Wise One sent this black-clad maggot to kill us? The Wise One's supposed to be a mindful, ever-watching guardian, not a backstabbing revenge . . . person!"
"Well, he wasn't necessarily pleased with us when we got home," said Mia's voice from behind.
Mia had woken up while Isaac, Garet, Solaris, and Piers were talking. She had plainly been listening in on the conversation. Sporting a bump of similar size to Isaac's on the side of her head as well, she seemed not to be in pain. They assumed that she had dimmed the pain with her healing powers as soon as she awoke. This reminded Isaac that he had Potent Cure, and he cast it on himself right then, feeling the pain diminish slightly.
"True," said Piers. "It seemed as though he were way too eager to send us on this "world-hunt", if you want to call it that. Like he wanted to get us lost and then send you after us."
"So he could pull off whatever back home . . ." Isaac finished. "That makes sense."
"No . . . not possible!" Garet argued. "The Wise One has looked over our village since before my grandfather was born. He's looked after all Adepts, Valean or Proxian! He would never betray our kind like this!"
"I don't think he's betraying Adepts," said Mia. "The whole world changed after we lit the lighthouses. That's the only thing that's happened since we last saw the Wise One that could have possibly changed him so much."
"So what you're saying is," Solaris said hesitantly, hand in the air to stop Mia, "that the Wise One planned this from the beginning to get us out of the way while he seizes control of the lighthouses?"
"Most likely," said Isaac. "There's obviously something evil going on back home. We must head for Reno as soon as Solaris and Lunora get back."
"I can't accept this," said Garet stubbornly. "That isn't the Wise One I know."
"Look at this!" Mia snapped. "An Adept comes through the portal, in Sol Sanctum for the Gods' sake, and tries to kill you, Solaris, and Piers! How can you deny that the Wise One is plotting something, when you consider his actions before he sent us here, and now this? You'll never cease to amaze me with your stubbornness."
"Mia, you don't know the Wise One like I do," Garet shot back. "Don't talk shit about something you don't know about."
"People!" Isaac shouted. "Enough already. We don't even know what the Hell is going on and we're at each others' throats. No more talk about this until we get there. It's just as well anyway, we don't want people to notice us."
"Sorry Isaac," Garet and Mia chimed together.
"No apologies, let's just act civil for two more days," Isaac said. "We have one day until Ivan and Lunora get back."
"Wow, they had a long trip," Piers said. "Who were they going after?"
"Felix," said Isaac. "Now Garet, Solaris, and Piers, you both need new clothes. Your other ones are toast. As well, Piers, freeze Mordoc again. Then we'll send him back to Weyard. With luck, the sanctum will be cold enough that he won't thaw for a day. This should give us enough time to beat it out of Seattle and get Jenna."
"Yes sir!" said Garet enthusiastically.
"Now, I'm going to revive Sheba," said Isaac. "Let's get our bearings in Seattle for the rest of the day. That way, we'll know our way around when we have to navigate off this street. Ivan and Lunora should be back tomorrow evening."
-------
Twenty-four hours after the encounter with Mordoc, we find Ivan and Lunora in the air over
southern British Columbia, descending upon Seattle. The flight for them, although fascinating in the beginning, quickly became quite boring once they found out they had to stay in their seat for the duration. So they occupied themselves by looking at some of the magazines they found in the back of the seats, magazines such as People, 17, and Newsweek. Ivan was immersed in Newsweek, Felix had his nose buried in People, while Lunora looked at 17.
Ivan was fascinated by what he read in Newsweek. This magazine was full of facts about this world and what was happening in it. Currently, he was reading about the country Phil had mentioned in the car when he turned on the radio: Iraq. Apparently it was a war-torn area, and many people seemed to disagree around Earth about the United States invasion of the country. To hear the debates and the viewpoints of the people in the country made for a very fascinating read.
Felix looked equally fascinated. He was reading an article on the Presidential candidates for the United States Presidency. The current president, George Bush, was being challenged by John Kerry. From what Felix gathered, Bush stood for spreading freedom around the world as well as tax cuts, as well as protecting America from terrorists. Kerry was for that as well but he was also for strengthening the homeland and getting world allies back. Nevertheless, it was still extremely intersting to read about Earther politics.
Lunora was reading about something totally different. She was glad Ivan seemed interested in what he was reading; she found this magazine to be a bunch of garbage about fashion, waistline, and breast sizes. The only reason she really read it was to get an idea of teenage culture in this world. They seemed to be concerned with trivial things that would mean almost nothing five years form now.
"Look at this!" Ivan said, showing the magazine to Lunora and showing her a picture of some Iraqi insurgents holding grenade launchers and AK's. "This is what the normal people use to fight instead of axes and swords. Their culture is so much more advanced than ours."
"Also more violent," Lunora observed, looking with raised eyebrows at the casualty statistics that accompanied the photo. "It seems as if they want the United States out, though they removed their dictator."
"You should read this article," Ivan encouraged. "It's quite fascinating." He paused. "What are you reading?"
"Don't waste your time," Lunora snorted. "How about you Felix?"
"I'm reading about who's going to become the ruler of the United States," said Felix, not looking up from the article. It's pretty interesting, and it appears to be too close to call. You should-"
"Welcome to Seattle, Washington. The time is 7:27; we're arriving a few minutes ahead of schedule. Please fasten your seatbelts and put all seatbacks and tray tables in their upright and locked position. All cell phones, laptop computers, and other related electronic devices are to be turned off at this time. We hope you enjoyed your flight."
"I guess not," said Ivan, shaking his head. Lunora smiled and took the magazines, putting them back in the seat pocket.
A few minutes later, they touched down at Seattle's airport. Both felt the power needed to brake the plane, and knew that the thin strap of cloth at their waist was the only thing that kept them from flying forward and becoming plastered to the seat in front of them. Once the plane slowed down, Ivan. Felix and Lunora looked out the window, curious as ever as to how the Earthers operated something as complex as the commercial airline system.
The plane rolled slowly down the runway, and turned off onto a strip lined with gates with a letter and number on them. A few minutes later, their plane was directed to the gate D-12. The plane stopped and everyone was permitted to get up, get their stuff and depart the plane. Ivan, Felix and Lunora didn't need to do that of course, but they still had to wait for the aisles to clear up so they could get off the plane themselves.
Once off, they asked for directions on how to get out of the airport. They were directed down a wide hall bustling with people going in all directions. They followed the throng of people going the direction they were told to go. When they saw the exit, they formed a fork in the sea of people and left Seattle's busy airport.
They waited on the curb until they spotted a yellow car with black checkers on the side. One thing they did know a lot about now was the taxi system, and they hailed it. They climbed in quickly, and noticed that the cab smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. Before they had a chance to regard the rest of the cab, they were asked where they wanted to go. They looked at each other, suddenly hesitant.
"Uh . . . do you know where a golden eagle statue is?" asked Ivan.
"No man, I need something definite," said the cab driver, lighting a cigarette.
"It's overlooking a harbor," Lunora chimed in. "It's right next to a bridge, and it has a lot of shacks lined up in a row on the other side."
"Hm . . . anything more you can tell me, miss?" he asked, drawing hard on the cigarette and shrouding himself in gray smoke.
Ivan and Lunora, used to this kind of smoke from inns and bars they had traveled to on Weyard, did not mind the smoke, though they coughed. "Nothing more, that's all we can remember," said Ivan.
"Well . . . the cab driver said. "I think I remember driving across a bridge like that a few times. I'll see if I can remember how to get there."
Ivan, Felix and Lunora nodded, dread filling their hearts. They had to tell the others the news about Garet and Solaris. How their bus crashed before it even got to Alaska. That they were presumed dead by the people in charge of the corporation. Trying as hard as they could to put it out of their minds, they concentrated on the route that the cab driver took out of the airport.
They were probably in that cab for a good thirty minutes. The cab driver was mumbling to himself and smoking his cigarettes the whole time, trying to remember how he got to that bridge. Eventually, he found it. Pulling up to the side, he motioned for them to get out. Ivan handed him his money, and with a wave of farewell, the cab driver sped off down the bridge.
Ivan instantly detected that something was wrong. Though his Jupitarian powers were severely weakened here, he could still sense that something out of the ordinary was happening . . . or had already happened. He quickly crossed the street when he had the chance and waited for Lunora and Felix, who were trailing close behind. Ivan reached for the doorknob to the shack . . .
. . . when Garet opened the door.
"Garet!" Ivan shouted. "You're alive!" And to Garet's great surprise and slight discomfort, Ivan crunched him in a bear-hug.
"Uh, Ivan?" said Garet. "Did I miss something? You seem oddly . . . happy to see me."
"Where's Solaris?" Lunora asked, breathless.
"Right here," Solaris called.
She rushed forward hand hugged him as well, which left Isaac, Mia, Sheba, and Piers, as well as Garet and Solaris, extremely baffled at this more-than-warm welcome. There was a moment of silence in which all stood motionless, Felix still standing outside the door, a smile on his tired face. When both Ivan and Lunora stepped back, Garet asked Ivan his question again.
"Why are so happy to see us?" he said.
"Why not Isaac or Mia?" Solaris added.
"We . . . we thought you were dead," said Lunora in a small voice.
The rest exchanged shocked glances. "Dead?" Sheba said, bewildered. Ivan, Felix and Lunora filled them in on the story.
"Damn," was all Garet said.
"So our stop was the last one before it headed up to Alaska," said Solaris. "But it crashed before it got there. We're lucky, Garet."
"I guess so," said Garet.
Isaac them chimed in and told them about Mordoc, and about how he appeared to be able to wield all four Common Elements. After Ivan and Lunora shared their double-takes, Isaac told them what they had done with him. They also told Ivan and Lunora about their theories as to what was going on back home. By the time he was finished, both Ivan and Lunora stood, mouths slightly agape.
"The Wise One?" Ivan asked incredulously. "Why would he want to do that?"
"Fear of change," Mia said. "The lighthouses haven't been ablaze for over a thousand years, when our people were much more populous. Wars waged nonstop back then, and the whole world was chaotic. The Wise One doesn't want that to happen again."
"So he's fighting fire with fire," Sheba said wisely. "And those fires will probably merge."
"It's all bullshit," Garet muttered.
"He refuses to accept this," said Mia, glaring harshly at Garet. "Even though all the theories make sense and all are consistent with everything that's happened so far."
"It doesn't really matter who's behind it right now," said Ivan. "We still have to get Jenna. Then we can worry about this problem."
"I suggest we make the arrangements right now," said Lunora. "We can go to the airport now, and make arrangements to get the next flight to Reno."
"Right," said Sheba. "There are nine of us now. It'll be hard to get a plane out with that many seats left. Let's get moving."
-------
They had sensed something was wrong.
The citizens of Vale had recently become on edge. Rumors were flying everywhere about an uprising far to the south of a group of Adepts taking a town next to the Luna Lighthouse. And now there were rumors of an attack being planned in Contigo. The citizenry was worried about the possibility that this renegade group might come after them.
It seemed to be a group of Adepts. This had Dora in particular worried. Dora had become even more perceptive then she had been before Kyle died, noticing and assessing everything. This all seemed to start after Isaac, Garet, Ivan, Mia, Solaris and Lunora left for the new world. Like there was a conspiracy . . .
Never one to sit around and wait for something bad to come to her front door if she had a chance to stop it, she sat down at her kitchen table, a huge basket of assorted fruits in the middle of it, and wrote two identical letters, addressing one to Contigo and one to Tundris. It read:
Dear fellow citizens,
I recently have heard rumors that your town has recently come under insurgent attack, and that the group was formed of Adepts and Adepts only. As a concerned citizen, I have taken it upon myself to gather as much information as possible about anything such as this, since there have been no rumors similar to this floating around for more than a thousand years.
If in fact the rumors are true, I would like to know as soon as possible so that I and the rest of my fellow citizens can prepare for the group and even send aid and forces there to assist in your situation. I hope for a prompt response and a detailed account of what is going on.
Yours in fellowship,
A Valean citizen
Dora took the two letters and took them over to her homing pigeon, tying the letters firmly to the legs of the pigeon. She picked it up and carried it outside. The bird squawked loudly upon going outside, and Dora calmed it.
"I realize it's been a while since you went on a trip," Dora told it. "Or one such as long. But this is extremely important. If these rumors are true, time is everything. Stop only when you need to and be as quick as you can. Go to Contigo first."
The bird squawked again and spread its wings. Leaping from Dora's palm, it took off into the setting sky, heading southwest for Contigo. Dora stood there until it was out of sight, watching it intently. Then she sighed and went back into her house. She sat down with a cup of soup she had been heating over the stove and ate in silence, wondering if Isaac and the others were okay . . . and whether or not there was any hope of getting Felix or Jenna back.
-------
The arrow was pointed at a pigeon.
The pigeon had obviously come from Vale, and it was carrying what looked to be two letters. It was flying southeast from Vale, and appeared to be carrying a message to Contigo, which had already been captured and secured by the Wise One's forces. The Venusian archer pulled back on his bow, tongue stuck out slightly to the right.
It helped him aim.
The sweet twang of the string of the bow as it launched the arrow from it at lightning speed. The arrowhead sliced the air as it went whizzing at the pigeon, still flying for Contigo and not aware of the arrow heading straight for it. But soon it did become aware of the arrow, all right.
When it went straight through the pigeon.
Like a stone dropped from a cliff, the poor bird plummeted to the ground. The archer, smirking with success, tore the letters from the dead animal and opened them. It confirmed what he suspected but nobody was able to prove, due to the fact that the citizenry of Vale guarded the city so well. The only time it was vulnerable was at night, but all the residents were asleep. They knew.
But now something had to be done.
The Wise One left no holes in his plan. Three Jupiter Adepts accompanied every archer, to send a telepathic signal to the Wise One in Mt. Aleph should they find anything out from the intercepted mail. Right now, they were busy transmitting the data to other Jupiter Adepts who were closer to Vale. They could relay the signal to the Wise One.
There was definitely something to be told now.
-------
Dora awoke in the middle of the night that night. 'That's odd,' she thought to herself. She hardly ever woke up in the middle of the night. The last time she had done that was before Isaac left for his journey throughout Weyard, and that had been out of sheer worry. It felt weird.
It was oddly warm in her room though. She was sweating profusely she noticed. Peeiling off the covers, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. After sitting there for a few minutes, she got up and, intending to get a glass of water, crossed her room and opened the door, expecting to see absolutely nothing beyond the door.
She was greeted with a blast of smoke.
Coughing and gagging, she slammed the door. She staggered back to her bed, and hacked into her bed sheets for a minute or so before regaining control of her breath again. Thinking hard, she wondered what the smoke was from. Did she leave something in the oven? No, she had soup that night. And then she remembered something else.
It was extremely hot that day. There was no way she started a fire to warm the house. It was hot enough as it is. As this dawned on her, this meant only one answer was left, one that she didn't want to accept at all. Not after all her hard work to pull her life back together. There was no denying that her house was on fire.
Not risking opening her door again, she opened her window and bailed out of it onto the soft ground. Sure enough, the front of her small thatched house was ablaze, crackling flames licking the roof and smoke rising in billowing clouds to the sky. Wait . . . billowing clouds? Looking around, she realized that she didn't need her pigeon to come back to get the answer she wanted in her letters to Contigo and Tundris.
Not when the village was on fire.
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I'll try my hardest to update before Christmas. Just kidding, I'll update as soon as I can. The geckos are bored, and have an excess of icicles and flames to throw, so review if you know what's good for you!
SirGecko