Chapter Forty Six

The march took almost a month and a half. By the end of it, everyone was glad it was over. The soldiers were terrified of their captives and so maintained as little contact with them as possible. They were allowed to set up their own tents, eat their own food and chat, but their every move was monitored. After a while, that does tend to make one rather…cranky—especially a very pregnant Ba~reau Ambermist.

Phalyssa and Aruka were both shocked breathless with awe when the group topped the last hill. Even Laguna, Jea, and Ambermist were dumbstruck by its size. (Dumbugg was, well, Dumbugg.) Below them lay the largest city in the world. (Think NYC.)

Built into an enormous mountain side, the city was comprised of four large terraces. The lowest terrace was the poor quarter, housing the lower class, the slums, stinking businesses, and sewers. The second terrace held an enormous oval shaped structure, middle class homes, places for foreign merchants, and numerous small but well to do businesses. The third terrace was nothing but a merchant district. The final upper terrace was for the aristocracy—in this case, the Emperor and the other noble Houses.

Jea stared in surprise as the immenseness of the city sunk in. The soldiers has quickened their pace, eager to be rid of their prisoners at last.

As they passed through the broad avenued streets, the party members picked up snatches of local conversation. During the journey, most of them had picked up a large chunk of the local language, and now they had a vague idea just how much a stir their appearance had caused.

The soldiers led them all the way to the upper terrace and marched to the palace gates. The gate sentinel and the captain conferred briefly before the gate was raised.

The adventurers were led, horses and all, into an empty chamber containing a single, large pedestal. A large crystal in the pedestal began to glow, and they were faced with the image of a man.

He was dressed in regal golden robes with a heavy ornate crown. He peered owlishly down at them. After a long pause, he spoke in a very high voice, rattling off a long sentence which only Jea could fully understand. "Why have you invaded my country, gaijin?! And bringing your filthy oni, too!!"

Jea stepped forward. "Majesty," the ranger said carefully in his native tongue, "we are travelers. We were shipwrecked and chanced upon your shores. We mean no harm, and we have brought no—"

"Silence! What kind of barbarians are you people, letting such grungy, servant women speak out!? You! Samurai gaijin! Why do you not discipline your servant?!"

Laguna held himself stiffly, not trusting his tongue against such an ugly insult to his wife. He glared stonily at the Emperor, subconsciously shifting himself so he was slightly in front of his half elven love.

The Emperor felt the silence keenly and did not care for it. "Captain! Take them to the Arena! Let them rot in the games!"

The illusion watched them as the soldiers led them away.

* * * * * *

The soldiers escorted them to the large structure on the second terrace. Opening a large iron door, the party was forced down a narrow ramp that smelled musty and dank. At the bottom was a large, divided room.

A burly, hideous man looked them over as if studying cattle. "More fighters?" he asked the captain.

"Yes. Permanent ones. And this time you have an oni and a witch with them!"

The ugly man's eyes widened. "Good…" he drooled greedily. "Send them through!"

The party was forced through another door to the left. After it slammed shut, they descended to a large honeycombed cave with lots of rooms and hallways.

Laguna eyed Jea worriedly, but other than a slight shudder, she gave no sign of her Underdark fear. Apparently this cave didn't lead anywhere. The ranger woman scouted out several rooms before ushering them into one. It was large and empty except for large piles of clean hay and a cistern of fresh, clean water.

Ambermist immediately flopped backwards onto a haypile. "Aaahhh…." She sighed, feeling relief from the aches in her back.

Aruka practically hung from Phalyssa, scared spitless. She scratched behind his ear in an attempt to soothe him. It worked; he was soon crouched next to her, purring loudly. Jea glanced over with a chuckle. "If that wasn't so nauseatingly cute, it would be disturbing." Her daughter snorted.

Laguna settled down to clean his armor and sword as Jea saw to the animals. Dumbugg ran gleefully over to another haypile and dove in to take a nap.

That evening, the companions ate food directly from Jea's stores, using a "magic crockpot" she'd picked up "somewhere" years before. They fell into a restful slumber, happy to e off the road.