(A/N: Well, continuing on our merry way as I said last time! Our next stop, Vault! I just found my Golden Sun game again as well! I let my friend borrow it so he could play it, and then I got it back, and then I lost it. All of my descriptions of the entire story so far are from memory. AHH! So there might be quite a few changes.

Well, we're going to start on our journey toward the Mercury Lighthouse, but I don't know how long it will take us to get there. I know I have a stop planned in Vault and another in Bilbin, so... **looks at the GS map** If I'm standing at the mount of the Goma Range and it's off to my left, and it looks like Lunpa's to the east, which means... **glances around nervously** Uh! Vale is... south? Umm... then Tolbi... is... err...! **falls to knees in despair** I'M LOST!!!! Well, while I figure out how to get un-lost, you can read this lovely little fic! Enjoy!

... By the way, I seem to say that every time I end the Author's Note... Hmm... I think I'll make it a tradition *amen* ... FYI, it's a CHHS Drama Club tradition *amen* to say amen after you say tradition *amen*. In the words of Brett Yoder, we aren't the smallest club in the school, we're the largest cult. And why? Because it's a tradition *amen*... Enjoy!)





Part Nine: The Rod of Hesperia



Saturos, Menardi, Felix, Alex and their hostages all made it to the outskirts of Vale through the rough forest. After walking for about an hour, the little town was finally out of sight, a little spot curled under the lip of the mountain. Saturos looked back up the mountainside. The sky had gone a dark, grey as ash began to fil the air.

"It's an active volcano," Alex said softly. "We should have known taking the stars would set it off."

A bright flash of red and violet magma flying into the air from the top of the mountain shot before their eyes, large chunks of the hot liquid rock flying far off in the distance, much further than Saturos ever would have suspected. But strangely, the volcano only erupted upwards, rather than oozing down the mountain. The town of Vale remained untouched.

Saturos sighed deeply, still breathing a little hard. He looked over toward Menardi, smiling slightly. "Well, we've done it," he said, then added, "A little bit more complicated than I would have liked, but we've done it."

"Now to light those lighthouses," Menardi said, starting on the road to the small town south of them, Vault.

"They'll be coming after you, you know," Jenna said, tearing her arm away from Alex who had been escorting her down the mountain the entire time. "If you think you can just take the stars and have nothing happen to you, you're wrong."

Saturos turned around, staring at Jenna momentarily. He took in a long, calming breath of air and decided to hold his tongue. "Come," he sighed, almost to himself. "If we want to make it to Vault before sundown, we'll have to begin now. We'll stop at noon alongside the river."

"We're walking all the way to Vault?" Kraden asked, looking more demure than he had even a few minutes ago.

"Unless you have a horse on you at the moment," Menardi said dryly, tapping her foot impatiently. When Kraden said nothing, she continued, "Then we had better get a move on. The last thing we need is to be caught out on the plains after dark."

"Why is that so bad?" Jenna asked.

"If you'd like to find out, feel free to stay out here," Menardi said. "But we can't allow you to go back to Vale."

Jenna stared for a long moment at Menardi. She did not look at all happy to be here, but the one she seemed to have the most contempt for was Felix. He didn't blame her. If she had "betrayed" him, he wouldn't exactly leap with joy when he saw her again either. And it wasn't as though Saturos and the others had been cordial in asking for the Elemental Stars.

Felix doubted it would have worked anyway even if they had tried to be nice about asking for them. He had to keep reminding himself that Jenna, Isaac, and Garet were still under the impression that Alchemy was an abomination and would lead mankind to their downfall. Therefore, it was understandable that Jenna would be upset with him. He only wished he had the time to sit her down and explain why everything was happening the way it was, but he knew it would take too long. He didn't believe Saturos and Menardi when they first told him about what was happening to Weyard. How could he? It was the most unthinkable thing in the world, the thought that Vale's Elders, their teaching, everything he had ever known was wrong. But the moment Saturos had told him, he knew in his heart it was true.

He now saw the consequences of his actions all around him. He had been exiled from his people, for Vale would never take him back. He was hated by his sister. And most of all, he had officially been exiled from his family.

So has Menardi, he quietly reminded himself as they climbed over the first hill, Saturos and Felix taking up the rear while Menardi and Alex stood in the front to keep their hostages in-between them, preventing their escape. Felix looked at Menardi. It was hard for him to understand why Menardi had been cut off from her family. She had grown up in a home near Prox, a place where you could walk a few miles and see Gaia Falls, not to mention the literal ends of the earth. All the while when he'd known Menardi, she'd been a quiet, rather sober being with a dry sense of humor. She was harsh, but slow to anger, slower than Saturos, that was.

She wasn't always so quiet, Felix remembered Karst once telling him. Karst said that Menardi used to be a lot more active and closer to her family. The young Proxinian smiled as she joked, "Now that the world's about to end, she thinks she needs to grow up." But Karst expressed concern. Menardi was growing up too quickly. When she was only eighteen, she had the burden of retrieving the Elemental Stars placed wholly on hers and Saturos's shoulders, far too much for even a fully grown person, let alone a young woman, handle on their own. Felix talked to Menardi occasionally, but she was more laconic with her speech and gave him short answers to his questions. But however brief she was, her words meant worlds to Felix. She was only three years older than him, but often seemed to be much older than that.

The same was true with Saturos. He was his master, his teacher, his brother, his father, and his friend all at once. Saturos understood him better than anyone else Felix had ever known. It was with Saturos that Felix felt he could express anything he was feeling and almost every time, Saturos understood him and could help him with his problem.

And then there was Alex. Felix hadn't talked much with Alex, nor had Alex talked much with anyone other than Saturos. He was a scholar more than anything. He was a few years older than Saturos, though often, his looks made him seem much younger. Saturos and Menardi had the build and mien of a warrior, but Alex was tall and slender. His arms were no where near as toned as Saturos's, and his fair skin showed he had little training under a heavy sun as Felix had during his studies with Saturos. He respected Alex, but what lay underneath his incredibly thick skin had yet to be seen.

However, Felix did share a little of a kinship with the man. After all, he was the only other human in their group before Kraden and Jenna were forced to join them. Alex and Saturos often clashed, but the Water Adept managed to keep things light and flowing.

He's often the peace maker, Felix thought silently, not voicing his opinions aloud. He remembered how quickly Alex had pressed on them all the need to take Jenna and Kraden with them. That's not peace making, Felix thought with a grin, that's contention delaying.

Either way, Felix considered the three to be the only family he had left in the world. He looked over at Jenna, catching her looking back at him. He sighed. So she still wasn't talking to him. Well, it was a long way to Vault, and even a longer way to Imil, their first lighthouse to light. She would have to talk to him sometime.



* * *



They stopped when the sun reached the top of the sky, resting under a tree that cast no shadow. Saturos knelt by the river and splashed a bit of water on his face. After living for so long in such cold temperatures, the slightest up in heat made him break out in a sweat. He untied the sash around his head and shook loose his long aqua-silver hair. It fell just above his shoulders, cooling him considerably as beads of sweat ran upon the strands of hair.

"How much further?" Menardi asked as Alex began to fill one of the canteens they had carried with them.

"A few hours," Saturos estimated as he looked off toward the south. "Give or take."

"I'm tired," Jenna complained, leaning against the tree and still finding no shade.

Saturos grabbed his canteen. "Here," he said, throwing it to her. "Drink some water. It will help you cool."

Jenna jumped, startled as the canteen fell on her lap. Looking up darkly, she picked up the canteen with one hand. "I'm not thirsty," she said brusquely, then chucked the flask back at Saturos as hard as she could. Saturos raised his arm just in time to block the canteen from hitting his head.

He looked over at Alex who was chuckling softly. "What are you laughing about?"

"Nothing at all," Alex grinned, returning to fill a second flask.

Saturos looked over at Felix and Menardi who quickly looked away. They, too, were laughing. Saturos frowned and looked over at Jenna who was beaming proudly at him. Saturos pursed his lips and set his flask back at his side.

"Fine," he said shortly, splashing another handful of water on his face. "If you don't want any water, you won't get any water."

Jenna seemed a little stunned that Saturos would tell her such a thing. What did she expect him to do, he wondered, offer it again?

After a moment, Jenna threw her chin up high into the air, glaring at him. "Fine."

"Fine," Saturos muttered darkly and began to retie the sash around his head.

"I wouldn't mind some water," Kraden said, also leaning against the tree with Jenna.

Saturos turned and looked at him. "Sorry," he said. "She ruined it for both of you."

Kraden let out a slight groan of woe and wiped his sweaty brow. Felix walked over to Saturos, crouching near his side. "Are you sure that's fair?" Felix asked quietly.

Saturos unscrewed the top of his flask and motioned to Jenna with it. "You wouldn't be standing up for her if she weren't you sister," he said staunchly, then took a long drink.

Felix looked over at Jenna. "That's probably true, but shouldn't we be a little more kind to them."

Saturos gave him a queer look. "Felix, they're our prisoners. If they were anyone else's prisoners they wouldn't even be able to walk free, let alone drink, eat, or talk. Besides," he added before taking another sip. "Do you realize how much extra gold I'll have to pay to house these other two in the Inn as well as us?" He shook his head. "This would have been much easier if no one had seen us take the stars."

"I kind of enjoy the extra company," Felix said softly, pushing a brown lock from his eyes.

Saturos gave the boy a sidelong look. "I can't say I blame you," he sighed softly. "Even if she holds some sort of contempt for you, you are still her brother."

"Yes," Felix murmured. "I know." He looked at the river, dipping his finger into the water thoughtfully. "I just wish..."

Saturos looked at the boy sadly. He reached out a pat his shoulder softly. "She'll come around in time," he assured him quietly. "All things pass given time..."

Felix sighed deeply. "Perhaps," he murmured.

Saturos rose, looking at the group. "We'd better start moving again," he said loud enough for everyone to hear, he started back toward the road, everyone falling in line behind him again. "If we stay here any longer we may get caught in the dark."



* * *



Saturos was slightly worried. The sun had already begun to go down and they still had several miles to cover. Jenna couldn't go on much further. She wasn't used to such strenuous travel, and Kraden looked as though his heart would give out at any minute.

"What do we do?" Menardi asked Saturos quietly, the two at the head of the group again. "We won't make it to Vault until a few hours past midnight."

"I vastly underestimated our time," Saturos lamented quietly. "But there's no where to stop anywhere near here; no inns, no farms. If we camped anywhere along the road we would be targets for predators and thieves."

"Is that Vault up there?" Felix asked from behind, pointing to the distance where smoke slowly rose.

"That does not look like chimney smoke," Alex said, squinting to try to see.

"It's campfire smoke," Saturos said. "Another camp." He looked at Menardi. "Perhaps if they're big enough, they'd let us stay the night with them."

"We're sleeping outside?!" Jenna blurted out. "I thought you said we'd make it to the Inn."

Saturos turned. "If you would have walked faster, we could have," he growled. "Now, we have the option of either camping with another group or lying out in the middle of the field to be robbed and eaten. You can take your chance with the wolves if you'd like, Mistress Jenna, but we would much rather take our chances with that encampment up there."

Jenna shrunk a little under Saturos's admonishment. Finally, she spat out a small, "Fine, have it your way."



* * *



As the neared the campsite, the large forms of covered wagons and brim-filled carts with colorful designs painted on their wooden exteriors came into view.

"They're merchants," Saturos said as they approached the campsite. "They've encircled their camp with their wagons."

"A good protection," Alex noted, running his hand along the cream-white fabric of a covered wagon as they entered the circle of carts.

One of the merchants rose, hurrying toward them. "May we help you?" he asked, looking over their band with cool grey eyes.

"We are just a group of weary travelers from the North," Saturos said, bowing slightly to the man. "We were wondering if we could join your camp for the night.

The man looked doubtful. "I'm not sure Master Hammet would-"

"Would what?"

They all turned to see a short, round little man standing behind them. He was dressed in ornate robes of the finest satins and cottons in vibrant color. He had his long dark hair pulled away from his face in a pony tail and a moustache worn long in two thick brown locks. His eyes were friendly as he looked over the group.

The other man stepped forward. "Uh, Master Hammet," he said quickly. "These travelers were asking if they could join our encampment for the night. We don't have any more room, Sire, so perhaps it would be better if we should-"

"Nonsense!" the man chuckled, his round belly shaking violently. He stepped toward Saturos, extending his hand. Saturos took it, Master Hammet shaking not only Saturos's hand, it seemed, but Saturos himself. "Welcome to our camp, Master..."

"Saturos," Saturos said as the merchant clapped him on his back. "I hope we're not intruding-"

"Nonsense!" the man said as he lead them across the camp. "Bundy is just a little mistrustful toward those he doesn't know. I apologize for his demeanor."

"There's really no need," Saturos said, still being dragged along by Hammet.

"And just to prove myself, you and your party may stay in my camp with Ivan and myself."

Saturos was lead to a huge tent at the southeast end of the camp, a few fires burning the doorway. A large pot hung over one of the fires while a few rabbits on a spit were being turned by another merchant over the other fire.

Saturos felt suddenly guilty. They didn't deserve such treatment. He knew if Master Hammet knew why they were trying to travel so quickly, Saturos was sure he would not have been so hospitable. "This really isn't necessary," Saturos tried to say, but Hammet wouldn't listen.

"Nonsense," he said as the walked toward his tent. "I insist!" Lifting the flap of the doorway, he called into the room. "Ivan! Come out here! We have visitors!" He turned back toward the group, motioning to the lavish pillows that had been laid around the fires. "Sit! Sit! You must all be quite tired."

"Quite," Kraden agreed as he sat down on a pillow. Saturos took a seat on a hunter-green pillow, Menardi taking a seat beside him. Felix sat on the other side, his sister sitting between him and Kraden. Alex sat on the other side of Kraden, all forming a half-circle around the fire.

"You are being much too hospitable," Alex said as he crossed his legs.

"Too hospitable," Hammet laughed. "There's no such a thing. You are all more than welcome here. My home is your home."

"What about his food?" Jenna asked to Kraden.

As though he had heard her, Hammet turned to Saturos. "You all must be famished if you've traveled all day."

"Not all day, really, just most of it," Saturos said.

Menardi elbowed him sharply as Hammet turned to a servant. "Quiet you," she hissed. "I'm starving!"

"We'll put a few more rabbits on and add more water to the stew," Hammet announced. "We shall dine together."

A small boy peeked his head out from under the tent flap. He had a mop of dirt-blonde hair and bright, curious violet eyes that peered out from behind the hair that hung in his eyes. "You called me, Master Hammet?" he asked tinily.

"Ah, yes, Ivan," Hammet said. "Come out here and meet our guests."

The boy nodded and stepped out of the tent. He wore purple and green robes, trimmed with gold braid and lined with satin. Saturos might have mistaken the boy for the merchant's son if he had not heard what Hammet said next.

"This is my young page, Ivan," he said. "He's been with our company since he was a tiny child."

The boy nodded toward them, the hair falling into his eyes again. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said as he brushed his hair away.

"The pleasure's all ours," Saturos smiled kindly as a servant began to hand them cups and saucers of tea on the finest Kalayan china. He was about to take a sip when he realized how rude he had been. "Oh, wait, we haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we?"

"You've already told me your name, Master Saturos, but I'm afraid I don't yet know of your companions," Master Hammet said, joining them by taking a seat on a pillow in front of them. Ivan sat next to his master, thus also sitting by Menardi who smiled at both of them.

"My name is Menardi," she said, extending her hand to Hammet.

He pressed it quickly to his lips, smiling at her. "Enchanted."

"This is my apprentice, Felix," Saturos said, motioning to Felix. "Beside him is his sister, Jenna, and that is the scholar, Kraden." Hammet smiled and bowed his head toward them all cordially.

"And I am called Alexim," Alex said, nodding to Hammet.

"But we all just call him Alex," Felix added as he sipped from his cup. The group laughed lightly.

Hammet turned to Alex. "You know, I once knew a man named Alexim once," he said as his drank his tea. "Lived to the far north... Imil I believe it was."

Saturos saw Alex stiffen suddenly, nearly dropping his cup. He caught it on his saucer with a fragile clink, not meeting Hammet's gaze. "Y-yes... I, too, knew him," he murmured. "He was my grandfather."

"By the elements of alchemy!" Hammet said. "What a small world we live in! How has he been lately."

Alex stared at the fire, not speaking for a good many moments. His face was calm, Saturos noted, but his eyes gave away his pain. His lips trembled slightly as he managed to murmur, "he passed away... About a month ago."

Hammet faulted a moment. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he said, looking at Alex worriedly. "He was a good man, as long as I knew him."

"Yes," Alex said, almost to himself. "He... he was a very good man."

Saturos stared at the Water Adept over the edge of his teacup. So there was more to Alex than he would let on. Saturos wondered slightly. About a month ago Alex had joined their group. That would have meant his grandfather must have died only days before he agreed to come back to Prox with them. Why hadn't Alex said anything?

The fire popped, sending a burning ember flying and landing on the edge of Kraden's robe. "Good heavens!" the alchemist gasped, jumping up and trying to stomp out the fire. Before Alex could summon up the water to put out the flame, a small whirlwind appeared on the cape's edge, whipping it around until the fire was put out. The group turned, seeing you Ivan standing, a wooden rod in one hand, the other outstretched toward Kraden. He lowered his hand, and the wind died down, no longer tearing at Kraden's robe.

Hammet laughed softly at their shock and poured himself some more tea. "Don't mind Ivan's powers," he chuckled lightly as Ivan sat again. "He's had them since he was a baby, but don't worry... He knows perfectly well how to control them."

"How..." Saturos began, then stopped and decided to choose his word a little more carefully than ask if the boy was an Adept. "How did Ivan get his powers?"

"He was born with them, I suppose," Hammet said with a sigh. "That rod of his seems to heighten his powers considerably, though." Hammet motioned for Ivan to show it to them. It was just a long, thick wooden rod, topped with a warped knot of a branch. It looked very plain indeed, but just looking at it, Saturos could feel some sort of psynergy flowing through the stave. "They call it the Shaman Rod," he told Saturos.

"It looks like a stick," Jenna said, Felix quickly quieting her.

"I'm sorry," Saturos said. "What did you call it?"

"The Shaman Rod," Hammet repeated. "It was given to me a long time ago when I was visiting the northwestern sea near Atteka and Hesperia."

Saturos looked over at Alex. The Water Adept nodded at Hammet. "I apologize, My Lord, but would you excuse Saturos and myself for a moment?"

"Certainly," Hammet said as the two Adepts stood.

"You just reminded us of something," Alex said, explaining further.

"Yes," Saturos murmured. "Er... firewood..."

Alex and Saturos quickly stepped away from the group, standing a short distance off from them. Alex looked at Saturos quickly. "So you think so, too."

"It has to be," Saturos said urgently. "It can't be a coincidence."

"He found it in the Western Sea," Alex murmured. "That is where the two islands of the Jupiter power are. The Rod of Hesperia, the Shaman Rod: they must be the same thing."

"They are the same thing," Saturos murmured. "But how did it find it's way all they way out here to Angara from Hesperia? It's no wonder we were unable to find it when we tried to climb Jupiter Lighthouse."

"We need that stave," Alex said urgently, clasping Saturos's arm. "Without it, we won't be able to climb Jupiter Lighthouse!"

"I'll ask him for a price tomorrow morning before we head out," Saturos said. "It's doubtful he understands the sort of power it holds. To him, it's probably just a wooden stick."

"It should go for cheap," Alex said. "Unless he knows-"

"Then we'll spend all of our gold and sleep in the streets of Vault," Saturos said. "We'll steal it if we have to. This isn't some little boy's trinket, Alex. This is a powerful weapon of Alchemy!"

"I know, Saturos," Alex said calmly. "We will do what we must."

"Dinner is served!" Hammet boomed as servant set steaming plates of wild rice, vegetable stew, and rabbit meat down around the fire. "Master Saturos, Master Alex! Come! Join us!"

Saturos looked at Alex, nodding again. "We'll ask him in the morning, then."

"Right."

Then the two turned back toward the fire and the feast.



(A/N: Another fast post! Like I said, things will go a lot smoother now that the play's over, not that I'm complaining. Well, another thing I hadn't expected; Hammet and Ivan make a guest appearance! Ivan fangirls should be happy. ^_~ Hammet for some reason reminds me of those really fat hearty merchants you always see on shows. You know, the ones that are a little too happy? Oh, well. I like him a lot better now. Again, another fic I really like Alex in. This one I did the same thing that I had to do on the last one; edit it so half of what I wrote was in on, and half was in the other.

My stories are just too long! Well, I'll post it soon, before I leave for Christmas. Who knows, maybe I'll even post during my Christmas Vacation. **grabs a sun hat and one of those little pink drinks with an umbrella in it** California! Here I come! **sips at the drink** well, I'll post prolly tomorrow night.

And thanks to those who reviewed my last chapter, I can now get on at school! See, they have one of those wonderful protection programs, and it's blocked for stuff... Surprisingly, violence... not hentai... huh, what are the odds? But if I can get into someone's bio and such, I can get on the sight. I just can't type the address in and get there. But now, I can, and the school can't stop me! ^______^

BTW, congrats to our boys in Iraqi who finally got Sad"damn" Hussain! It's about time! This isn't an American/British/UN victory, this is an Iraqi victory! **flashes peace signs** Go Iraq! Whoa... I never figured I'd say that as long as Saddam was still alive. ^_~

Let's see, listed things I like, complained about stories being too long, thanked reviewers, said I could get on at school, and gave thumbs up to the troops... Yup! That sums it up! Have fun until next time, and if you're religious, keep praying for our soldiers in Iraq and everywhere else. The War on Terror is just starting and they need all the help they can get.

If you're a pacifist, go talk to Monsuier Royale on Fiction Alley. He is too. Stupid librels... JK! Love you Licorice and Rudy! ^_~



Ta ta! And Enjoy!)