Stories and Secrets

II awoke suddenly from the same dream that had woken me earlier that day. The same hall, the same breaking glass, everything.

"Hey champ."

I turned to see Nelo seated next to my bed.

"Champ? You mean I won?"

"No," Nelo said smiling. "but you fought well. The winner was a female fighter from West Darkon by the name of Rilg. First time participant. What with you being beaten and the masked one being disqualified and all. Quite an eventful tournament this year really. A new champion, and a new enemy…"

"Just what I need. I don't know why he wanted to kill me, but it was just like before."

"Before when?"

"With the nyangs and the bangs."

"How so?"

"You remember their eyes don't you? Their red glow?"

"Of course."

"He had it too. It was a little different, but it was the same too."

"Really…"

"Wait, where is he? I want to talk to him!"

"What?"

"He must know something, I don't know why I think it really, but I know it has to be true."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Lord Ashel has him locked up. He's interrogating him personally."

"Dammit!" I yelled, hitting a small table on the other side of the bed, knocking its contents to the ground. We both sat in silence for a moment.

"Come on Chen, we have to be somewhere."

"What for?"

"A guild meeting."

"Is that why you were gone?"

"Yeah. Het wanted me to get some things arranged for her."

"Het, the guild leader Het? What could she want to discuss?"

"I don't know, she just asked me to bring my most trusted man and to arrange a few other things. Come on, we should leave now or we may be late."

We arrived at a small house on the eastern edge of town. Nelo made a series of knocks and whispered to the woman who opened the door. We entered shortly after into the common room. There were a few people already gathered. The woman who opened the door went to stand beside another who was already seated. Nelo stepped forward and bowed to the young lady who was seated.

"I've made the arrangements as you asked."

"Very good Nelo. So this is your most trusted then? You competed in the tournament did you not?" She asked looking at me.

She was younger than I had expected, still looking very much like a girl. Her light hair in tails to the sides of her thin face, showed well her blue eyes beneath a set of huge eyeglasses.

"Yes ma'am."

"You did very well. I have to say your battle with Sefton was my favorite though. You were able to adapt to him and pull out a very impressive victory. It's no wonder you and Nelo are such friends."

There was a knock at the door prompting Het's assistant to answer. I didn't turn to look until the Scavenger's commander stood from her seat. Through the door came two cloaked figures. It wasn't until the door closed that they removed their hoods and we all bowed instinctively.

"Lady Cerand, thank you for coming." Het said.

"Please Het, I was the one who requested this audience with you. Is our other guest here yet?"

"He should be along shortly."

"Excellent."

Het directed Lady Cerand and Sir Yob to some seats, and within minutes there was another knock at the door. A man emerged in full armor, and already being a large man, nearly didn't fit through the doorway. His hair was short and dark, closely matted to his head. His dark narrow eyes quickly swept over us and then focused on Het. He seemed familiar to me.

"I've come as you asked Het."

"You've got the wrong idea Sir Geiox. Lady Cerand is the one who requested your presence here. To be perfectly honest, I am just as curious as to the reason behind this meeting as you are."

He redirected his gaze toward Cerand and Yob, then bowed slightly.

"Lady Cerand, if you would be so kind as to explain yourself now. I'm sure you know what with the upstart masked man in prison, I have business to attend to for Lord Ashel."

That was where I had seen him! I only noticed him once at the pre-tournament dinner, and up on Ashel's platform during it. Out of my excitement at the mention of the masked fighter I interrupted.

"Has he said anything?"

Everyone stared at me a moment.

"The prisoner?" Geiox asked.

"Yes. Have you gotten anything from him?"

"Well, no, not as of yet. He doesn't seem to talk much, and we have yet to determine who he is so far. I'm sorry but other than that, as Lord Ashel's second, I cannot discuss this with you anymore."

"Please sir, it's important!"

"Chen, that's enough." Nelo whispered.

I became quiet and decided to remain so for the remainder of the meeting.

"Chen, I'm sorry but for now, this is the way things must be. You will have your opportunity with the stranger I'm sure. Sir Geiox may not be at liberty to say, but the fact is the stranger attacked two representatives of Flaris. It's only a matter of time before Lord Ashel must allow Lady Cerand an investigation, that is, if she pushes for one." Het smiled.

"You have my word Chen." Cerand said, pausing only a moment before continuing. "Now, to the matter at hand. I've had het arrange for this meeting, because I have received information about some ruins discovered on this continent."

"Ruins?" Nelo asked.

"Yes. My information says little other than that, but we all know the value of the ruins that are scattered across Roika. Thanks to many of these ruins, most cities are at the current economical, technological, and military levels they are today."

"That only brings more questions…" Geiox began, but was cut off.

"Why would I bring to light this discovery?"

"Yes."

"I could very well have excavated the site and taken what could help my nation grow stronger by now if I wanted. However, improving strength is not always the best path to ensuring prosperity. I may be the first to know of these ruins, but I know I wouldn't be the sole owner of the knowledge. It could possibly be viewed by some, that an increase in our military powers, could make us more of a threat, and this incident could spark war. Perhaps I'm overreacting, but I feel it is better to err on the side of prudence."

"Your point my lady?"

"My point sir, is this…the balance of power is delicate, and to avoid any shift in the scales, I ask that the Scavengers be the ones to excavate the ruins, before the discovery becomes more public."

"You'd be willing to give up the potential power?" Geiox asked.

"Power means little to me sir, but peace for my land means all."

In that instant I felt an incredible power come from that frail frame of Lady Cerand's.

"I'm still confused what my role in all this is. If your idea involves less people knowing about this, why involve me? Are you not worried I may feel obligated to report to Lord Ashel once this meeting is over?"

"No. I know how loyal you are to Lord Ashel, however, I also know that you believe as I do, and that your loyalty to Saint Morning is greater. This is the right course. I wanted you here to ensure that this project was looked after by all immediate parties. It is important to me that we have representatives of Saint Morning with the group we send."

There was silence in the room while all eyes were fixed on Geiox.

"Very well. I'll join the expedition."

"Thank you sir Geiox."

"So then, shall we discuss the plan?"

We all left for the ruins with some wagons masquerading as fellow merchants to those we traveled in convoy with during the post-tournament celebration. We split ways, claiming to be supplying the outpost further south. We arrived at the southern outpost and continued our charade there asking to stay the next two nights before returning to Saint Morning. We awaited Geiox who had to catch up from Saint Morning to avoid suspicion during the celebration.

There were five of us waiting in the hut the first night, waiting for Geiox's arrival. Two Scavengers from Saint Morning's branch with us were the twin sisters Krind and Dofo, sitting across from Nelo and I giggling quietly with each other. To my right, opposite the hut entrance, sat Lady Cerand's appointed man, Mepstet Robner. He rarely spoke, but spent most of his time stirring and staring at the small fire in the center of the hut.

"He's running a little late." Mepstet spoke abruptly, still never interrupting his activities with the fire.

"He may just have to catch up then I suppose." Nelo responded.

"As long as he comes alone."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Only that I objected to his being involved. Fair or not, we didn't need to bring him in on this. I'd much rather he know nothing, than risk him betraying Lady Cerand's trust."

"And where's your faith in that trust by the way?"

The quiet man's eyes immediately lept from the fire to Nelo's. I could feel a tension that needed to be relaxed, but didn't know how to do so.

"Now now boys, that's enough." Krind chimed in. "I have faith enough that Geiox would not betray us, and we've had far more dealings than either of you, with that man. "

"I pray that you're right. For all of our sakes." The man returned to his small fire.

"It doesn't seem likely that if he betrayed us, he would make it so obvious by bringing people with him, so as long as he didn't, what trouble would there be?" I asked.

While his face was turned down to the fire, I could still see a grin on Mepstet's face.

"Who is your friend Nelo? Do you have any idea who it is you're talking about? Geiox is the greatest single sword style fighter in all of Roika. Some would say that he is the strongest warrior as well. He has only ever been beaten in a match by his youngest brother. No, I'm afraid if he so wanted it, we would be lucky to survive, let alone win."

"I had no idea…but what about his brother then? Not that he's here, but you said he beat him?"

"Well, yes, but what good does that do anybody now?"

"What do you mean?"

The man looked at me a moment, a look of suspicion in his eyes.

"Where are you from Chen?"

I wasn't sure how to answer, but Nelo interjected.

"His brother is dead. Some say he's just missing, but I think most have given up on that idea except his brothers."

"Brothers?"

"Geiox had two younger brothers. Targos, and Argoein the youngest. Their parents died when they were all very young, leaving them to pretty much raise themselves with the help of Geiox's wife. Not only did they raise themselves, but they trained themselves as well. About eleven years ago they came up with the idea for a worldwide tournament, to test their own strengths against all others. Then, one year later it came. Geiox was then twenty, which would mean Targos was about seventeen, and Argoein would be ten. For the following three years, the Datri brothers sweeped the tournaments. More importantly, the top winner in the third tournament, was Argoein, with the two other brothers competing for runner up status."

"But he was only thirteen then!" I said astonished.

"Yes, but apparently a prodigy with a sword and shield. The three were an unstoppable trio. Unfortunately, word had spread soon after that, the brothers were fighting. Nobody knows for sure really. The only thing that is known, is that Geiox was called on by Lord Ashel shortly after the third tournament. The very day he went to meet with him apparently, Targos accompanied him, and the two of them left Argoein and Geiox's then pregnant wife at their family cabin. Word got back that the cabin was attacked. Later it was found that Geiox's wife was killed, and Argoein was missing. The only sign of him was his weapons left behind outside the cabin. After that, Geiox joined into Ashel's service, and nobody has really heard about Targos again."

"That's horrible."

"Quiet, somebody is coming." Mepstet whispered.

Krind stood and lifted the flap letting Geiox in.

"Apologies for my tardiness."

"Not a problem, but what kept you?" Nelo asked, seeing some concern on the man's face. "What did you say to get out here?"

"That I am searching for an escaped prisoner."

"Good cover."

"If it were a lie." Geiox looked at me and continued. "The masked fighter escaped custody and there are no leads as to his whereabouts. In a way this turn of events was somewhat fortuitous for me providing an alibi, however…"

"You think he might be after me?" I asked.

"I fear it is so."

"But who is he?"

"We don't know. West Darkon's leader swears she knows nothing, but just took on the man because he was such a strong fighter. We were in the process of removing his mask when he broke free. I think it best that we get as much rest as possible now, so we can set out early morning, agreed?"

We all nodded our heads and attempted rest for the night. I stayed up well through most the night. All I could do was think about the stranger. I was afraid of him, but at the same time I somewhat hoped to find him. He had answers to my past, I knew he did. When I finally began to doze off, the last thoughts I had were first of the stranger, but then of Flari's words the day before the tournament. It hadn't occurred to me until just then…he must have known something too.

Nelo woke me as the sun had just begun to cast its light over the horizon. Geiox told the guardsman at the outpost that we were volunteers to help him apprehend the escaped prisoner, and that his information said he was nearby. Under this ruse, we traveled to the west, past the trail leading into the vast desert south of us. Mepstet lead us over mountains, and through dense forests for most of the day.

"It should be close." He said at last.

We broke through the dense tree cover rather suddenly into a large clearing. There was no grass, and at the edge where the clearing met the tree line, the trees appeared to be bending away from the center. There was an odd smell here, and in the very center of the clearing, was a single petrified tree with a hole in its side. We approached slowly. It was deathly quiet, and Geiox came to a stop.

"What's wrong?" Nelo asked.

"Move!" Geiox yelled suddenly, pushing me aside.

From the ground beneath where I stood dirt flew in all directions, and the masked stranger emerged. His head immediately shot in my direction, and the twin sisters stepped between us, each drawing a pair of daggers.

"Sorry stranger," Krind said with a smile. "But if you want this guy right here you're going to have to go through…"

Within the blink of an eye the masked man was upon us, sending Krind sideways with the back of his fist. A look of pure fury overtook the other girl's face and she began an assault on her sister's attacker. The stranger avoided her strikes easily enough until Krind recovered, catching the stranger across the face with a flying kick. He staggered back and before he could react, a bold of lightning struck him from the side, sending him toward the tree line.

"I suggest, ladies, that you go with Nelo and Chen into the ruins now. Leave this criminal to me and Geiox."

I watched as Mepstet put his bow before him, then kiss his middle and forefinger of his free hand. When he pulled the string back, a line of fire materialized from his fingers. He let go and an arrow of flame flew toward the stranger as he was coming to his feet. The man seemed to catch the arrow mid air, then snuffed it out with a twist of his hand.

"Well now…" Mepstet said surprised.

The stranger then charged the bowman, throwing a punch that Mepstet narrowly sidestepped. Mepstet quickly hooked his bow over the masked one's haead and around his neck, then pivoted throwing the other man into the ground. Trying to work fast, he then drew his bow string back. Blowing on his finger, a bolt of ice formed and let it fly, striking the earth where the stranger's head had been a split second before.

The masked man picked himself up on his hands and spun his body, kicking Mepstet's feat out from beneath him. His body hadn't even hit the ground before the stranger returned to a stand and sent his opponent through the air with a kick to his abdomen. Our comrade hit the dirt and clenched his stomach, the air knocked out of him while West Darkon's fighter lept at him relentlessly.

He was nearly on top of Mepstet until Geiox stepped in, his sword drawn and his other arm lifted in the air. Starting at the middle of his forearm, a shiled of light began to form, growing outward until its diameter was the entire length of his arm. The stranger's attack was deflected easily, then Geiox attacked. It was the first time I had seen such movements nearly match the speed and ferocity of the stranger's own. A well connected swing cracked the man's mask, sending a chunk of iron into the ground. What was uncovered was a single glowing gold and red eye.

"All of you go now! We don't have time for this!" Geiox yelled.

"No!" The hollow voice from behind the mask rang out as he turned to me.

He took one step toward me when Geiox swung once more connecting with the man's face, completely shattering the mask, sending iron all over. The stranger grasped his face with one hand while holding himself with the other on one knee. A strange dark substance fell from between the man's fingers, steaming on the earth. He finally removed his hand and looked up at all of us.

"What the hell are you?" Geiox asked with a look of horror shadowing his face.

The twin sisters had begun moving, pulling me along to the hollowed tree as I looked back at my pursuer. The red glow from his eyes were now gone, showing instead two black, completely human eyes in nature. His mouth was slightly open, revealing two rows of jagged sharp teeth. The hair was patches all over the top of his head. Some pitch black, but with one or two of a light brown coloring, like that of sand. His skin was of a dark green coloring and had a harsh look of it, resembling scales of a peaky turtle.

"Wait…" I whispered as we entered the hollow, the girls almost dragging me inside. "I…know him…"

We had entered a dual path room at the bottom of the long and steep set of stairs leading from the tree hollow entrance. Between the two entrances was a stone with figures that were carved into it.

"What language is that do you think?" Krind asked.

"Never seen anything like it." Mepstet replied. "What about you Nelo?"

"No…I can't say that I have." He answered, a strange look on his face.

As I looked at the figures on the stone, they began to shift before my eyes.

"Hey!" I yelled, pointing at the stone.

"What?" Mepstet asked.

"You, didn't see that?"

"See what?"

"The runes, they shifted a little."

"What are you talking about? They haven't changed at all."

I looked again at the runes, and realized he was right. They were completely unchanged.

"Well which way then?" Krind asked.

"You two take the left. Nelo, Chen, and I will take the right."

"You think we should split up?"

"I normally wouldn't, but with that freak up there with Geiox, I'd rather just hurry this expedition along. That guy is the only one I've ever seen beside his brothers with abilities that could match Geiox's. After seeing him break Atrys' shield…come on, we better hurry."

We began a hurried pace down our path, and the sisters down their own. The tunnel was cluttered with dead brambles and vines, forcing us to cut our way through. The same smell from above ground was becoming stronger the further that we walked. We came to a single doorway at the end of the tunnel, with another runed tablet, just above the steel door. I stared at the tablet, and thought again that the figures had begun to rearrange.

"I guess, we should open it." Mepstet said reaching for the handle.

Suddenly it turned on its own, causing us all to jump back. The door slowly swung open. We breathed a sigh of relief as it was the twin sisters who greeted us.

"Hello boys." Krind said with a smirk.

"How did you get in here?" Mepstet asked.

"The other tunnel lead to a second door into this same room."

We all entered and found ourselves in a completely metallic room. On the wall opposite of us was a row of ten glass containers. Scattered about the room were strange tools, papers, and control consoles. Mepstet began walking along the row of containers starting at the left, inspecting each one only to find them empty. As he was doing this, I finally remembered the stranger. The black eyes, the sandy brown hair. I knew his face because I had looked at it almost every day.

"Nelo! It's him! The stranger, it's the missing person!"

Krind asked, "What missing person?"

Mepstet came to the final container, which unlike the others, was covered in frost. He began wiping away at it, then stopped, taking a step back. He whipped around on me and screamed.

"What the hell is going on here!?"

I looked up at him and then the capsule. Inside, what I saw, was me. Then all I could hear was a "click", like both times in the past, like the ticking of a clock, before all went dark.

Above ground, Geiox and the stranger were still locked in battle, neither gaining any real ground.

"You're a fool Geiox. You have no idea what it is you're dealing with."

"I don't need to know anything more about you."

"It's not me I'm speaking of."

The ground began to quake all about them, the trees began to uproot and the earth was cracking in places.

"Now, it's too late." The stranger said, turning his back on Geiox.

The shaking not only reached to the city of Saint Morning itself, but to every other continent as well.

"What's going on!?" Lady Cerand asked a guardsman.

"I don't know my lady."

"Look!" A shout rang out as another soldier pointed toward the river.

Everybody's gazes followed to the large cog that lay there, just as it began to turn.

"My lady! Reports are coming in from all over Flaris that all of the cogs are now turning!"

"What!?"

She looked back at the cog as it turned faster and faster, ripping itself form the ground, it took to the air and headed north.

In an observation station on a hill to the west of Flaris city, Noier watched several cogs flying toward the northern end of the continent through his telescope. When they stopped, six cogs became interconnected forming a sort of circle, and began turning in unison while standing upright, suspended in the air.

"It cannot be." Noier whispered in horror.