The Heart of the Nile: The Calling
The ship continued to make its way to the cluster of rocks sticking out of the water. As they grew closer they noticed the rocks not only were bigger than they thought but had strange cave like holes on their peaks. The rocks were dark like volcanic matter in color and had strange lines carved into them. Some rocks even looked to have what appeared to be animals or faces carved into them. It was hard to make out the other shapes due to the weathering on the stones. It was then Sesshomaru began to hear a woman whispering in a language he did not understand. He began looking around trying to find the source of the voice calling him. Musa noticed his strange behavior and approached him.
"My Lord, are you looking for something?" Musa asked.
"Did you not hear that?" Sesshomaru asks Musa in a questioning tone.
"Hear what, Sir?" Musa asked out of concern thinking he had missed something important.
Just then the voice whispered to Sesshomaru again. Going from his right ear and then caressing his left. The pull he had been feeling grew stronger when she whispered.
"That woman's voice, you did not hear it?" Sesshomaru asked with narrowed eyes. Musa gave Sesshomaru a questioning look with confusion and concern.
"I heard nothing Sir and I'm standing right next to you. Perhaps the sun has gotten to your head? I mean no disrespect but you are not used to sailing on such extending trips. Perhaps you might want to go inside and rest Sir?" Musa suggested.
The voice again spoke to Sesshomaru. He noticed no visible reaction from Musa or the other men so he mentally agreed; perhaps the sun had gotten to him?
"Hn. This one will be in his quarters resting." Sesshomaru replied as he began making his way to his room.
"Yes, Sir." Musa smiled knowingly.
Just then a loud screech was heard from above. They looked up to see a dark silhouette circling them against the afternoon sun. Another screech sounded as it began to dive at the boat. As it grew closer the dark shape began to take form into the legendary Greek monster, the bird of paradise. It's wings were massive. It had grey feathers with black stripes and black tips. On the breast of the beast was a white face with two piercing eyes ringed with purple feathers. It had a massive mouth full of jagged teeth. On top of the breast was a blue body of a man. The man's face had pointed elf-like ears, red eyes, and long black hair. His hands matched the yellow talons on the bird body bellow. There were two taloned arms, two taloned legs and two mighty wings. A demon in the sky.
The beast dived at the boat. Musa and his men began running bellow deck to grab their spears, swords, shields, bows and arrows. As the beast began to dive towards the boat again the men threw their spears and arrows in hopes of bringing it down. As they were fighting the noises from the fight began to ring inside the holes of the rocks. More birds began taking flight and they filled the sky looking for a tasty meal to fill their empty bellies. One of the beasts came down and tore a massive hole in the foremasts sail while another snagged three men off the deck.
"Quick! Bring them down! Take caution of your spears and arrows!" Musa commanded.
There were a total of 20 birds hovering above the boat. With limited supply of arrows and spears they could not afford to miss. The birds that came close enough to the deck, the men used their swords to bring them down. One by one the birds fell leaving only three left. The ship was in great danger of sinking. Now both masts where broken, 8 men had been taken and the hull of the deck bore splintered wood that would need major repairs. If they did not kill these last three birds they would surely die.
Sesshomaru grabbed his sword and ran towards a bird that was making its way towards him. Bringing his sword in front he sliced its white face blinding it. As it staggered in the air he brought his sword back around and pierced the beast in the heart. It crashed into the water off the side of the boat making the water turn red with its blood. As he turned around he saw Musa and three of his men fighting one bird while the other bird was coming around from behind. He could see it had its talons extended preparing to snatch them.
Running as fast as he could he pulled his spear from his side and took aim. The bird behind Musa flexed his talons ready to take hold of him. Sesshomaru released his spear and hit the bird in the back between its wings. The beast let out a screech of pain as it fell forward, landing on top of Musa. It's heavy weight trapped him beneath it and caused Musa to cry out from the heavy impact. Quickly Sesshomaru ran to the fallen beast and pulled his commander out from under it. Hearing another screech they turned around just in time to see the other men finally bring down the last bird.
Looking around the boat Sesshomaru assessed the damage. The ship was a mess. Blood stained the deck and wood posts, rope and shredded sail lay everywhere. Claw marks from the beasts bore into the wood. They would not be going anywhere until the boat was repaired and cleaned up. Feeling that pull again he turns around and noticed a cave at the base of one of the rocks.
"Musa, have the men ready the ship and head towards the cave. We will rest there and repair the ship" Sesshomaru commanded.
"Yes Sir," Musa said.
"I guess we figured out that bird symbol." one of their men said as they began to clean up the ship.
"More like they figured out us!" said another sailor making the other men chuckle.
[Inside the Captains Quarters]
"Are them nasty beasts gone thy Lord Pharaoh?" asked Kaede from her seat next to the window. She had been told to stay there until the beasts had been killed.
"They are gone. We are currently making temporary repairs before moving into the rocks for safety," Sesshomaru said. All that remained of the puzzle was the black script on the back of the map, a gate and a circle. Hearing the soft female whispers again Sesshomaru froze at the sudden realization.
"It's calling to me?" he thought to himself in surprise. "So its true... it seeks its master. Have I been found worthy?"
"Lady Kaede, would you mind telling this one about your connection to the treasure? This one's half-brother informed him that you are a descendent of one of the men aboard the lost ship?" Sesshomaru inquired.
"Aye, that be true. Thy great grandfather worked as a deck mate aboard that ship. Thy mother told thee that her grandfather went to work and never returned home. It wasn't until months later thy family learned of the ship going down" said Kaede. "Having never married and all of thy family gone to the heavens it is my last wish to find the treasure and send a blessing to the gods for thy grandfather. Ye see... thy may look well but thee is dying of a failing heart. It won't be long before thy see them again" she finished sadly.
"That is very honorable of you to do that for your grandfather lady Kaede. It is this one's honor to have you aboard and join us in this journey" Sesshomaru said as he gazed out the window.
Sesshomaru then turned away from the window to look at Kaede and said, "What all do you know of the treasure? Do you know of the man your great grandfather worked for and what caused him to meet his end? This one had heard a rumor that he tried to use the power against a greater good and the treasure turned against him causing his death."
"That be what thee was told as well. Thy great grandfather worked for a king near our home. Thy am sorry but thee does not know his name," Kaede said.
"That is fine, please continue." Sesshomaru nodded.
"What thee remembers being told is this king was very wealthy. They say his city be made of gold and the gods would come and walk amongst his people. However, no matter how much gold or wealth he obtained he was never truly happy. He scoured the neighboring lands of all their riches until he came upon the wishing stone," Kaede explained.
"The wishing stone? Is this the great power everyone talks about?" Sesshomaru asked. He had also heard that the power could grant wishes but he never thought of it to be a stone.
"Aye, the Wishing Stone can grant a single wish to the master. It is said that the wish has the strength to change the universe itself if not careful. Remember the script on the lotus flower? That be the rules ye will need to follow to grant ye's wish. Thy unfortunately do not know what wish the king asked that caused his downfall but whatever it be was the cause of his death." Kaede said.
As they looked out the window the entrance of the cave began to close around the ship making the room grow dark. Sesshomaru and Kaede made their way back to the deck and looked into the mouth of the cave. The carved lines of the stones continued inside, all-leading to one point. The same direction in which Sesshomaru was feeling pulled. The boat continued into the mouth of the cave until it hit a small rocky beach. They tied off the boat and began exploring the beach making sure no other monsters would attach them.
As the men began making camp on the beach and fishing off the rocks Sesshomaru followed the lines deeper into the cave. Musa, Kaede, and three other men followed him with lit torches made from pieces of the broken ship. Climbing over a hill made of the same rocks on the beach they uncovered two large stones standing vertically in the center of the cave. They were covered in swirling lines and strange lettering. They began to walk towards the stones when Sesshomaru heard the woman's voice again. It was pulling him deeper into the cave.
They began walking around the stones when they came to a barrier. Some of the men who were walking on the outside of the stones didn't hit the barrier and continued into the cave but those who tried walking within the two stones were not able to pass through the invisible wall. As the men who had walked on the outside of the stones came back they all tried walking between the two stones together. Just as before they hit the invisible wall making it impossible to continue.
"Very strange, this one can see nothing blocking out path, can walk around it and continue into the cave yet cannot go between the stones," Sesshomaru said.
"A barrier… thy wonder if this be the gate we've been looking for? Thy Lord, please hand thee the map. Thy believe this is where thee shall be of service." Kaede said excitedly.
Sesshomaru pulled the map from his leather bag he had brought with him and gave it to Kaede. She then opened the back panel with the black script, closed her eyes, extends her right hand out towards the gate and began chanting in the same language as the voice Sesshomaru heard. The lines of the stones began to glow blue. Then the lines throughout the rest of the cave began to glow as well casting a soft blue light throughout the cave.
The barrier dropped between the stones and a rush of air hit their faces. The gate was open. After Kaede stopped chanting the glow died away. Stepping into the now open gate they continued into the new path. Once inside the gate the same blue glow surrounded them. Outside the barrier the cave would have looked normal but walking in-between the stones it was as if a vale had been lifted from their eyes. They were finally allowed to see the unseen.
As they continued walking through the cave the whispering voice would come and go. The cave floor began to gradually go downward as they went. The rocks became smooth and the lines carved into the stones almost pulsed with energy. Coming around a corner they began to see what appeared to be stars glistening off the walls of the cave. Shining stones were embedded into the rocks and were reflecting off the blue light.
"Diamonds…" whispered one of the men in wonderment.
They all stared in awe at the beautiful walls of the cave. The twinkling lights led the way like evening stars as they went deeper into the cave. As they came around a corner they were greeted by the sounds of a trickling water. Their path went to a ledge of an open cavern and they could see a waterfall on the other side of the clearing. As they looked down into the cavern their breaths caught at what they saw before them. There down bellow sitting in a shallow lagoon was a ship wrecked upon the rocks over flowing with treasure.
"We found it my Lord!" Musa shouted as he grinned from ear to ear. For the first time in a long time Sesshomaru smiled and laughed.
"Indeed, this one hear by name this treasure in honor of his departed Father, Pharaoh Inutashoutumos. Let this be a blessing from the gods for the betterment of our people!" Sesshomaru declared. "Musa see if any of the wood on that ship can be used for repairs."
"Yes, Sir!" Musa shouted joyfully as he began making his way down to the boat.
The men all began cheering as they followed after Musa. Sesshomaru stood on the ledge and watched as his men began exploring the ship. He couldn't believe it. The lost treasure had finally been found.
[End of Chapter 5]
Authors Note:
This inspiration for this chapter was a mixture of scenes from disney's movie Atlantis, the Goonies and the Pirates of the Caribbean. I'd love to hear your thoughts so far. If you have time please leave a comment in the reviews. I'm open to both good and bad feed back. This is my first Fanfic story. Thank you to everyone who has been reading and following along.