Chapter 4:
It had been almost two weeks, since Takao had left his home castle to go onto his quest for the phoenix of his vision and searching for his spirit-guardian, too. While he dearly missed his friends and family, he at the same time enjoyed wandering at a more or less leiserly pace down the Highlands into the foreign territory of the Lower Lands.
The young man knew instinctly where he would have to go to – in his vision he had seen the big town his father had spoken about when telling him of the prophecy his deceased mother had made about him and the phoenix almost fifteen years ago. Now he needed to look for this town – there he would find the person the golden firebird represented. Takao was deeply curious, what the person would be like to have such a beautiful soul-spirit. On the other hand he was determined to guard this person against whoever wanted to cause her or him harm in any way.
The prince knew that his task was dangerous – more so because he knew the people of the Lower Lands were at the verge of a war with his own kinsmen. An impending war, which Takao feared would only result in more losses – more men and women would have to bury those dear to their hearts. Sisters would cry for fallen brothers, parents for their deceased children. Fiancés would mourn the loss of a life together – a life cruelly shortened without any good reason.
During the last weeks and months he had often spoken about this theme with his father and friends, trying to distinguish, why the Clans of the Highlands and the people of the Lowlands suddenly didn't seem to be able to live peacefully together any longer. What had caused this rift between them?
The prince knew of course that there had been often little quarrels between some groups of his kinsmen and Lowland-folk – but never in the dimension it seemed to become now. Their different lifestyle suddenly posed as a point for much more arguing than ever before – the use of magic was seen as evil by the people of the Lowlands his father's scouts had told. A belief Takao couldn't understand. Why would magic in itself be evil?
He always felt as if magic was all around them – in the air, the water, the trees. Everywhere. The breeze whispered to him about old times, the gentle rustle of the leaves of the mighty cedar trees in his beloved mountains calmed him with the silent promise of protection…nature was the very definition of magic in it's purest form.
Takao believed that nature itself was a higher being, like a generous and protective grandfather or a loving, gentle grandmother – always looking out for them, giving them food, shelter and warmth. But it needed to be honoured for it's gifts in return. The gifts of generousity and love needed to be returned, and not destroyed by greed for more of nature's own magic.
His deep, instinctive understanding of the nonsubstinential ways of how everything worked together – how everything was related and how one deed caused always a reaction – set the blue-haired prince apart from other people of his age. But he never tried to impress with his knowledge, but was teaching by living.
And his magic was the most powerful even the elder people of the Dragon Clans had ever seen – Takao was destined for greatness. Storm magic – the ability to control the weather by will – was rare even among mighty magicians. It needed a temper similar to a thunderstorm, which often resulted in a volatile person. Quick tempered and strong was a dangerous connection, but in Takao it was tamed by his respect for all living beings and his warm, caring heart. He could be really dangerous when angered, but he wasn't able to harm by will or without a very good reason. His gentle soul forbade it.
Takao sighed inaudibly. He had been lost in his thoughts again. Since he left his family and friends, he had often pondered the impending war between his kinsmen and the folk he needed to go to find the phoenix. He hoped the person the firebird stood for would be able to tell him why there was suddenly so much hatred between them.
Even their different beliefs about magic couldn't be the real reason, because the Dragon-folk had never hidden the use of magic in their daily life – and nonetheless Takao's grandfather had told him that there had been times of great friendship between the Clans and the people of the Lower Lands. There had to be another cause for this sudden change and Takao was determined to find it. He hoped that by doing so he would be able to prevent a war. He had suffered too much by the sudden loss of his mother and beloved brother to wish anybody else to feel the sadness of it.
But for now the young prince resumed his wanderings. He had been standing on a big hill, which was one of the last spurs of the mountain rage he had been descending during the last days. From were he was standing he could overlook a rather big gorge, which seemed to be opening into a wide plain. This plain was where he would find the big town he had been looking for, Takao was sure.
He felt a distinct call in his soul – a call which guided his wandering into the direction where he would find the one who needed his help. The call had been getting stronger each day and the blue-haired warrior knew he was nearing the source of it.
With a small smile hovering on his face, Takao looked back for a minute, saying goodbye for now to his beloved mountains. He reached out with his heart to his family, trying to communicate his love for them. Then he took a deep breath, shouldered his backpack and bow again and descended into the gorge.
Some hours later, the sun illuminating the sky with beautiful colours of deep red and gold while sinking towards the horizon, Takao reached the end of the gorge. The wide plain he had seen in the distance from the hill now opened before his eyes – fields of waving corn and other fruits and vegetables seemed to stretch to the horizon.
The young man smiled a bit when he saw this peaceful picture – the slight breeze carried a whisper of contentment to him, an emotion emitted from the people who worked hard to let something grow on their fields. The wind told Takao even more about the men and women whom he wanted to get to know better while searching for the phoenix – how they lived and worked, how they felt for their families. Some bits of their lifestyle were confusing to the blue-haired young prince from the stories of his grandfather, but he was curious to find out, why they lived the way they did.
Letting his gaze wander, Takao's midnight-blue eyes could distinguish the shape of a town in the far west. He could barely make out their real width, but the call in his soul strengthened. Suddenly he was sure to have found the town his mother had seen in her vision long ago – the phoenix was living there.
Casting a calculating look at the now rapidly darkening sky, Takao decided to stay for the night in the gorge. There he would find shelter and would be able to use his magic without fear of horrified or angry reactions. He had decided to hide his magic until he knew why the use of – and even the fact of inhabiting it – was a sign for evilness among the Lowland-folk.
The prince looked once more in the direction of the town in the distance and let his soul call out to the phoenix in reassurance. He didn't know if the person could feel him – but he would not let her down. Tomorrow he would reach the town and the young man was sure that the call of the phoenix – even if it was unconcious – would guide him the right way. It had guided his steps down the mountains after all.
After having found a secluded spot at the entrance of the gorge, Takao used his magic to light a fire. Then he laid back after having eaten a bit and gazed at the stars above him, thinking about what he would do after having found the phoenix. Sleep claimed the young man after a while and he slept peacefully.
The next morning found Takao early on his feet, wandering towards the big town he had seen in the distance. He watched the people in their daily routine, when he passed by on his way through some of their villages – most of them working hard on the fields or looking after their cattle. The young prince smiled at the antics of their young children playing and laughing and nodded respectfully to some of the old men or women sitting in the shades telling them stories. Takao felt connected to this people in a strange way – they did live in another way than the Clans, but he could relate nonetheless. The love they expressed for their children, the respect for their elders and the contentment at the work they were doing. These feelings Takao knew quite well from watching his kinsmen at home – he had been growing up with it after all.
But because of what he saw his confusion deepened at the reason why there was this sudden animosity between this people and the Clans. Each of them only wanted to live in peace, it seemed. But something or someone – wouldn't let them.
It was nearly midday, when the blue-haired warrior finally reached the town where his destiny was waiting for him. Curiously he wandered the streets, impressed by the hectic activity he encountered inside the mighty town walls. He graciously declined the offerings of food, weapons or jewellery from the merchants. There was so much life here! The air was filled with more than a dozen voices at once, praising their goods. It was different from the quiet lifestyle Takao was used to…but he liked it very much.
Suddenly he stopped, because the call in his soul had accelerated to a kind of pull. Looking around Takao's midnight-blue eyes came to rest on very big and well-guarded building. It was standing out inmidst the town because of it's fortress-like character. The young prince frowned lightly at the impression he got from the many grim-looking guards patrolling the fortress. They seemed to be very alert, even if the bluenette couldn't really understand why. It seemed as if they were preparing for something. For war maybe?
The young warrior sighed as the peaceful view of playing children from his morning was replaced by hardened soldiers. He would have liked to go back to the villages, enjoying the normal life of the Lowland-folk. But Takao felt the pull strengthen in his soul, tugging him towards the fortress. The phoenix resided inside this forboding looking fortress – and therefore he had to find a way inside it to protect the firebird.
While pondering his situation the young man had unconciously made his way over to the entrance and was suddenly addressed by one of the guards. "What is your demand, stranger?", the blonde man asked the young prince, who snapped out of his silent musings and centered his gaze onto the guard.
Nodding slightly in greeting, Takao waved his hand towards the inner court of the fortress, because he couldn't answer the guard outright. He wouldn't be able to really speak to any of them, he realized suddenly. And even a telepathic message could be viewed as magic, so the prince instinctivly refrained from using his ability.
"You want inside? Are you a warrior looking for work?", the guard questioned further with a look at the bow and quiver strapped onto Takao's back as well as the sword attached to his side. The bluenette blinked mentally, but then smiled at the young man. Why not.
His nod caused the guard to blink, then frown lightly. At last he grinned: "You don't speak a lot, don't you?"
Seeing the young man in front of him relax a bit, Takao grinned back and shook his head no. The guard was a young man his age, perhaps a year or so younger. His skyblue eyes had a friendly expression in them and Takao felt quite at ease in his company, which assured him of the character of the blonde. His instincts never failed.
"Oh well", the guard sighed, "it's not as if I don't have friends who are like that, too. Ever the silent one…" At Takao's inquiering gaze the blonde young man smiled a bit sheepish. "But that's none of your interest, I believe", he added lightly and waved Takao to come with him. "I am Max, by the way. Welcome to Hiwa."
Takao sighed mentally. No his problems would start. He couldn't even tell his new friend his name because of his muteness. He would need to figure something out to be able to speak to the people here. But before he could think of something, a new voice got his attention, because it was calling out to Max.
"Who's the stranger in your company, Max? You should know by now, that your are not to allow anybody to enter here, blacksmith – you are endangering everyone with your thoughtlessness", a lavender-haired man said. The speaker came over to Max and Takao, who realized that his new friend wasn't a soldier, but a smith.
'Interesting', the bluenette thought. 'I was always fascinated by the work of a smith – Lee's grandfather was a master in the art of swordmaking. I was very honored to be gifted with one of his beautiful weapons. Perhaps Max will let me watch him work if I can stay here.'
"Bryan", Max sighed. "Don't be ridicolous. Even if I am only a smith, I know about the rules of security. Therefore I was going to bring my – still nameless – new friend to you for your 'examination'. But I got the feeling he is an experienced warrior and will perhaps help us. You know as well as I do that we will need more warriors, if the current quarrels with the Highland Clans will – the powers may forbid it – escalate. Ok?"
Bryan rolled his eyes, but relaxed a bit before he taxed Takao with a piercing gaze. The blue-haired prince didn't even blink at the inspection of the older man, whom he thought to be the head of the guards. Patiently he endured the critical gaze, then waited for the result of his examination.
"You are searching for work?", Bryan finally repeated Max' question and Takao mentally smiled as he nodded again. He knew he irritated both young men with his continued silence. But hey, what could he do?
The lavender-haired young man told him: "Like Max already said, my name is Bryan. I am head of the palace guards. Tell me your name and where are you coming from – then I'll consider letting you stay, stranger."
Takao grimaced slightly, then pointed with his hand towards his throat and opened his mouth as if to say something but nothing could be heard. Max blinked at him and Bryan frowned. "You can't speak?", he concluded. Takao nodded again.
The sympathetic glance Max gave him after his confirmation made the young man smile warmly at the blonde, but then he turned his attention once more towards Bryan, as the lavender-haired guard spoke thoughtfully. "That could be a hindrance in a battle."
Takao quirked an eyebrow in silent questioning and Bryan answered with a shrug: "You won't be able to call for help if you are in danger." The blue-haired prince rolled his eyes and then made a gesture as if to say: 'I am able to look after myself'.
Bryan looked unsure, eyes narrowed in thought. Then he seemd to come to a conclusion and said to Takao: "We will give it a try. But I'd like to test your abilities – everyone is able to carry a bow and a sword. That doesn't tell anything about the fact if you are able to use those weapons."
Takao smiled slightly, his midnight-blue eyes dancing with amusement. He had expected such a statement – of course Bryan would need proof of his skill before deciding whether or not making him one of the palace's warriors. But with the hard training he had gone through all his life the bluenette was sure to pass this test.
Bryan saw his acceptance and called for another guard while walking towards a more secluded area of the court with a raised podest. Takao followed him with Max in tow, who bristled a bit at seeing whom Bryan had decided to be Takao's 'enemy'.
"Woah. Bryan sure wants to test you – that's Spencer", the blonde smith told the prince. "Be careful, Spencer can be quite brutal in his fighting." Takao glanced at his new friend and filed the information away for use in the test he would be soon participating in. He nodded a silent 'Thank you' at Max, who grinned brightly in return and wished him luck.
Stepping up to the slightly higher tableau Spencer and Bryan were waiting on for him, Takao took in the burly, packed form of his contrahent. He realized that even if he had to be careful, Spencer wouldn't be much of a danger for him if he reacted quickly.
Nodding towards Bryan to show he was ready, the blue-haired prince took a fighting stance, the blade of his sword glinting in the sunlight. He heard a slight gasp from Max and knew that the smith had regocnized the work of a master. Spencer drew his broadsword too and followed suit in getting ready for their fight.
At Bryan's call Spencer attacked, but Takao was ready and dogded easily. But instead of attacking too, he waited for his contrahent to regain his footing. Spencer whirled around and charged once more. Again the bluenette avoided his attack with ease, seemingly in no hurry. The grace in which he moved showed the experience of a skilled fighter and the controlled power in his fluent motions told stories of long practise and born strength.
But Spencer became angered when not even one of his attacks found his target during the next minutes of their fight. Annoyed he challenged Takao: "Coward! Stop avoiding me and fight like a man!"
That was a big mistake. Midnight-blue eyes flashed dangerously and suddenly Takao was a rush of movement. His sword glinted steely, as he managed to draw back Spencer with powerful and skilled moves. The guard didn't even know what hit him. One moment he was desperately trying to fight back against his suddenly so forcefully attacking contrahent, the next second he felt himself lying on the ground, a sharp blade slightly grazing the skin on his throat.
The burly young man flushed in embarassment at his defeat by this seemingly easy contrahent, who had turned out to be a very skilled warrior. Spencer looked up into stormy darkblue eyes, which regarded him steadily with cold fire lightening their depths. But when Spencer confirmed his defeat by saying: "You won", the fire diminished and the blue-haired young man stepped back before extending his hand to help him up. A bit surprised at the friendly gesture, Spencer accepted the help and stood up.
Before anybody else of the audience the short fight had gained could say something a light clapping could be heard. A smooth deep voice could be heard, saying: "Impressive."
Takao turned at the sound of the clapping and the voice to bow in silent gratitude to the compliment. But he froze when he came eye to eye with the speaker. A young man about his age with a musculed, but not burly body. Obviously a warrior. Dual-shaded hair of grey and darkblue framed a handsome face. But what gained Takao's instant attention were the eyes of the newcomer. Dark crimson, intense and slightly curious. Not much emotion could be seen in those mysterious eyes, which were almost unreadable.
Takao could feel the call to his soul suddenly almost painfully clear.
'The phoenix!'
He had found the person of his vision.
And with that revelation, something in Takao relaxed. While another part of him came to life – his protective instincts. He had found the owner of the phoenix-spirit - now he had to make sure the young man would neither be harmed by the ice nor the darkness the blue-haired prince had seen in his vision.
"Prince Kai", Bryan said with a respectful bow towards the dual-haired young man.
'He is a prince? Well, why not? The owner of such a beautiful soul-spirit like a phoenix would be someone special', Takao thought to himself. 'I hope, I'll be able to help him against whatever or whoever wishes him harm.'
With that in mind, Takao smiled lightly at Kai in delayed thankfulness for his compliment. The crimson-eyed prince didn't react, but remained looking at him with that unreadable expression not only in his eyes but on his face, too.
Mentally frowning at the reaction he got from Kai, Takao sheated his sword and was in the process of leaving the podest where he had won his training fight against Spencer, when he suddenly stilled completely for a second as the atmosphere around him changed abruptely.
The wind picked up and whispered an urgent warning to the blue-haired prince. Takao whirled around, stretching all his senses to their limit, his midnight-blue eyes searching the surroundings for the sudden danger. Then he saw the reason for the warning of his element. Reaching with lightning speed for his bow, the bluenette placed himself protectively in front of Kai and let his arrow fly.
Yeah, next chapter done! I know, I know – it has been a very, very long time since I last updated. Sorry. Life got in the way and messed up my plans for writing on my stories. Next will be an update on "Web of feelings", so stay tuned!
In the meantime: R & R!
Serena: No, nobody will be allowed to go with Takao, as you could see in this chapter. The poor one will have to suffer throught this alone – more or less…(looks pointedly at Kai) Ray and Mariah will probably be mentioned as a couple once or twice in this story, but their relationship is not overly important. I just like the two of them together.
Lunar Fire: Ups. The pronounciation is Ta-kah-o. I think. And yep, Kai made his appearance in this chappie – did you like it? I know I am mean by letting this chap end with a cliffie, but please bear with me! It couldn't be helped, this was such a good point to end it till the next chapter.
MidnightRosie: Thanks! That's quite kind of you, after all English is not my native language. (hugs you)
TyKaGal: Cool, that you liked the relationship between Takao and his father. I am quite the emotional writer – therefore the romance part in this fic will be quite big! But there will be angst, too! Sorry, that I needn't such a long time to update.
Hanishi: Thanks for the compliment. But don't mess with your muse, it could have frightening consequences for further updates of your stories… (nods heavily) (huggles Kai plushie) Now I will go and charm my own muse into helping me get the inspiration needed for writing on my other stories…bye.
geministarlight