After All This: Chapter eleven
Two day's had past since the meeting up with Marik in the Palace. The group had a trouble free last day in the Palace on Wednesday and then spent the Thursday, gathering supplies for their trip to the caves. They had all agreed, Wednesday evening that they would go to the cave's on Friday and then stay there until Monday and then walk back to the place they were staying in. The bought enough food supplies to last them a good two weeks, just in case something happen. Some water was packed, but Bakura told them all that the cave was filled with natural spring water, that was safe to drink and they didn't have to worry about it too much. So it was early Friday morning when the group set out to the caves. Bakura and Danu went up ahead of the group, Bakura was telling Danu about the caves and most of its secrets.
"So, the cave of the Thieves is indeed the one with were the water fall cover's the entrance." Danu said, as he glanced at Bakura.
"Yeah, that is the one." Bakura nodded. "How far have you gotten anyways? Have you gotten to the stables yet?"
"Stables? There's stable under there!" Danu said, rather shocked.
"Of course. This cave had everything the Palace had, minus the game room and a place for prisoners, but of course we never had any." Bakura told him.
Danu wrote this down and re-read it. "Why didn't you have prisoners?"
Bakura looked at him, like he had asked the stupidest question.
"Right, your the kind who doesn't take prisoners right?" Danu said.
"Quite right." Bakura nodded. "That's what the Pharaoh told his men when they attacked my village and killed everyone. So when I became the King of Thieves, I took no prisoners."
"I see." Danu said. "So tell me more of this cave. How many thieves did it hold during your time?"
"Uh, well... not really sure on that one." Bakura said, as he scratched the back of his head. "I did know the stables housed over fifty hundred horses and we had a few more horses then men... so around I guess forty-five hundred men."
"Well, wow! That is a fairly large number." Danu said shocked, as he wrote down some more things. "So you ruled over that many people?"
"Well yes, but that number is not even close to the amount of people Yami ruled over." Bakura said.
"Say Yami, come up here will you." Danu called back, as he and Bakura stopped walking for a moment to all Yami to catch up.
"What is it?" Yami asked.
"How old were you when you began to rule over the Palace and Kingdom?" Danu asked.
"Well, I wasn't that old... I do believe it was just before I turned seventeen." Yami answered.
"What about you Bakura?" Danu asked, as he turned to face the other.
"Fifteen." Bakura answered.
"Interesting..." Danu said. "So I take it you two met just before the Pharaoh died? Am I not correct?"
"Yes, we did." Yami answered.
"How old were the both of you then?" Danu asked.
"Well, I was seventeen at the time." Yami answered. "I'm pretty sure; Bakura was shy of his seventeen birthdays."
Bakura nodded.
"Okay, but you ruled for a while and I'm pretty sure both of you said, you were nineteen when you were locked into your items." Danu said, as he glanced at all he had written down.
"Yes." Bakura answered.
"Hmm... when were you two born anyways?" Danu asked.
"I was born during the celebration of the beginning of the harvest." Yami answered.
"While I was born during the end of the harvest." Bakura answered.
"So, it would have been around November when you two were locked in the items." Danu said.
"Well, that makes sense." Yugi said, as he and Ryou came up beside them. "Ryou got his Ring on his birthday, November eleventh and that is the same day I solved the puzzle."
"Really?" Danu said, with quick movement's he wrote some more stuff down. "So Bakura, I take it you were captured twice? Or were you stuck in the Palace for three years?"
"No, I was re-captured." Bakura answered. "This of course was the time I stole the ring."
Danu nodded, and wrote some more stuff down.
Ryou shook his head at his father. "When he gets excited about something, boy I tell you... he could be talking our ears off for hours tonight."
"Oh joy." Yugi said, and then he glanced ahead at the caves that were appearing. He quickly spotted one the stood out over the other's, the same one Bakura was leading them to.
Bakura stopped at the entrance of the cave and smiled. "Welcome to the cave of thieves!" Bakura swept his arm across the entrance as he did this. With a grin he stepped inside the cave.
The group gasped in amazement at the waterfall that was before them.
"So, do we set up camp here? Or continue on inside?" Bakura asked.
"Continue of course!" Danu said, as he walked towards the water. "Is it possible to reach the stables?"
"Of course, if you know where you're going it would only take you a day to walk in and out of this place." Bakura smiled. "Follow me." He said, as he went thought the waterfall. The others were quick to follow.
Only Yami stopped before going through, something felt wrong. Turning his head he glanced around behind him. He was sure someone was watching him, but he couldn't see a thing. Shrugging, he stepped through the waterfall to join the others.
Seconds after the Pharaoh disappeared, a cloaked man holding a torch and leading a horse stepped into the mouth of the cave. A frown set upon his face. Not wishing to call attention to himself, he put out the torch and placed it away in one of the bag's his horse carried. With soft words he lead his horse thought the water and under the fall. Spotting the light from the group ahead he stayed back so he wouldn't be too close behind, when he was sure he was a good enough distance behind he started after them.