CHAPTER TWELVE: PRIDE AND COURAGE

The next day proceeded as the days before had done, with the four travelers making their way across an endless snow-covered wasteland. Yet for Kyle, something was different. A weight of sorts had been lifted from his shoulders, and it energized and revitalized him - so much so that the others had to struggle to keep up.

Suddenly, Sarek stiffened and stopped in his tracks. Rayner looked at him expectantly. "What do you see?"

"Someone's coming," Sarek replied as he conjured as Seeing Circle. Nearly a dozen armed warriors were riding towards them on horses. All of them were heavily armed, and wearing unusual hauberks seemingly made of lacquered wood, adorned with ornate designed. The man who seemed to be their leader wore an elaborate helmet with a dragon-wing motif, and his dark green armor was decorated with the images of golden dragons. A simple black cloak hung from his shoulders, clasped with a silver chain.

"More bandits?" Rayner asked.

Sarek shook his head. "Not likely. They have the bearing of soldiers, not brigands."

"So how should we play this?" Kyle asked.

"Carefully," Sarek replied. "Perhaps we should greet them first, see who they are and what they want. But be ready in case they attack."

Kyle waved at the warriors, eyeing them narrowly as they began to pick up speed. Despite the bulk of their armor, their hoses moved quickly in the deep snow. Without warning, the cloaked warrior in green suddenly drew his twin swords and bellowed what must have been a battle cry. The other warriors immediately drew their own weapons and charged towards Kyle's party.

"Well, so much for diplomacy," Kyle observed as he drew his own weapons.

"Don't kill any of them," Sarek cautioned. "Those dragons on their armor may mean they're connected to the Dragon's Graveyard. Maybe they're its protectors."

Kyle glared at Sarek. "So we just let them kill us?"

Sarek gave a crooked half-smile as he readied his staff. "I didn't say we had to do that either."

Jessica readied her iron claw for battle. "Well, whatever it is you're planning, do it fast, 'cause here they are!"

"Close your eyes!" Sarek commanded, as the orb atop his staff shone with a brilliant light. The charging horses stopped in their tracks and some of them made horrified squealing noises as they reared back suddenly, throwing their riders to the ground. Rayner used low-level ice spells to dismount the riders who had managed to remain on their horses. But the fallen horsemen recovered quickly. Their green-clad leader repeated his war cry, and the dragon warriors surged forward, eager for blood.

"Remember, restrain yourself!" Sarek commanded Kyle. "Keep yourself alive, but don't kill unless we know we have to!"

Sarek fired a barrage of magic bolts from his staff, aiming at the ground before the oncoming warriors, knocking them off balance. At the same time, Rayner conjured Ice Traps to build up the snow and ice around the warriors' feet, encasing their legs in solid ice. The rest, however, were undaunted by the spells, and they continued to advance. Kyle and Jessica met them head-on, using swordsmanship and brute strength to batter their attackers aside, while Sarek and Rayner continued to pick off individual warriors with their magic.

In the midst of the fray, the leader maneuvered his way towards Kyle and slashed at him with his twin swords. Kyle blocked the attack but reluctantly remained on defense, offering no attack of his own. "Who are you?" Kyle asked.

"My name is Chunin," the man said in a smooth, accented voice. "I am the commander of the forces of Shadia, the guardians of the Dragon's Graveyard."

Kyle's heart raced with excitement. "The Dragon's Graveyard? It's really here?"

"Yes, it is here," Chunin scowled. "But you will never live to desecrate it with your unholy presence!"

"Whoa, wait a minute!" Kyle began to protest as Chunin lunged at him. The soldier's twin swords scythed through the air at Kyle, who parried each strike, although he did not counter-attack. "We're not here to desecrate anything!"

"Liar!" Chunin rasped, pressing the attack even more, his speed increasing with each furious assault. He was a formidable swordsman, and his style of swordsmanship was like nothing Kyle had ever seen before, attacking from odd angles and feinting to catch an opponent off-guard. Kyle stood his ground, finally deciding to strike back. Honoring Sarek's request - for now, anyways - he fought not to injure Chunin, but to end the duel as soon as possible. However, Chunin was determined to not make it easy for him.

Jessica and the two mages, having subdued the other Shadians, watched the battle with growing concern, hoping it would end before one of them was seriously hurt, let alone killed. Kyle and Chunin seemed to be evenly matched, and the sound of steel against steel echoed throughout the valley as the four blades careened against each other.

"C'mon, pal, we don't have to do this," Kyle said as he lunged and thrust at Chunin. "What say we call it a draw?"

Chunin sneered as he parried and riposted the attack. "Are you trying to talk your way out of this battle?"

"Nope," Kyle said. "Just trying to save you the embarrassment of getting your ass kicked."

Charging up his sword, Kyle unleashed a Power Sweep, aiming it carefully so that it only swept Chunin's swords out of his hands without killing or injuring him. Chunin's twin swords flew through the air, landing a few feet away. Before Chunin could reach his weapons, Kyle backhanded Chunin across the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Chunin wiped the blood from his lip and began to crawl towards his fallen swords, but Kyle lunged at him and pressed the tip of his own sword against Chunin's throat.

"Now, are you gonna listen or not?" Kyle said, panting for breath.

Chunin glared defiantly at Kyle, his dark eyes blazing with fury. "Kill me and be done with it. I deserve no less for failing in my sacred duty."

"Relax, pal," Kyle said, sheathing his sword and dagger. "We didn't come here to kill you, and we didn't come for treasure."

"You expect me to believe that?" Chunin snarled. "All who come here come for the sacred remains of the Dragons, their hearts laden with greed. And when they come, it is the responsibility of the Guardians of Shadia to punish them! If you kill me, others will come to avenge me!"

"You don't understand!" Jessica exclaimed marching forward. "We didn't come here to kill you or steal from the Graveyard!"

"Oh? Then why did you come?" Chunin asked, his voice laden with scorn and skepticism.

Jessica gestured to Kyle. "His father disappeared trying to find the Dragon's Graveyard four years ago. We want to know what happened to him! That's all we're here for!"

Chunin said nothing for a long moment. A sudden thought flickered in Kyle's mind, and his weapons were instantly drawn again. "You said you kill people who come here. Did you kill my father?"

"It's possible," Chunin said coldly. "I have killed many who have dared trespass on this island."

"It would have been four years ago," Kyle said, starting to give in to anger. However, he wanted to make absolutely certain before he killed Chunin. "A tall mercenary, long black hair, a beard, really strong?"

Chunin remained silent, his brow slightly furrowed. Kyle rolled up his sleeve, showing the Jor-dan family crest tattooed in purple on his arm. "He had this same tattoo! Do you remember anyone like that? Tell me what you know and we're outta here!"

Chunin stared at the tattoo, his expression revealing nothing. He then looked at Kyle and the others thoughtfully. "Maybe you are telling the truth, and maybe you're not. We'll find out for certain once we've reached Shadia."

"You're not taking us anywhere," Kyle hissed, his weapons at the ready once again. "Not unless you want to get beat a second time!"

"Easy, Kyle," Sarek cautioned. To Chunin and his men, he said, "We'll go peacefully. We're not here to fight."

"You have already told me why you are here," Chunin snapped. "Or at least why you say you are here. When we get back to Shadia, I will verify your claim soon enough – or prove you are lying."

"Big talk for someone who just got beaten," Kyle snarled. "You think we're just gonna let you take us prisoner?"

"It's either that or you die right now," Chunin replied, gesturing over his shoulder. Kyle looked to where Chunin was indicating, where forty more armed men were riding towards them, all of them holding long-bladed lances. They were waiting patiently for their leader's orders to attack. "As you can see, you only have two choices."

"You forgot one," Kyle retorted. "We can just kill you."

"You won't do that," Chunin said, smiling for the first time. "Not if you really did come here to discover your father's fate."

"What do you know about my father?" Kyle demanded. "Tell me, damn it!"

"You'll get your answers soon enough," Chunin said. "Now let's go."

They marched silently for about an hour before they came to a massive stone wall that reached across the breadth of the valley. The only entrance was a heavy iron gate, with no decorations or carvings. Armed warriors could be seen at the top, marching across the battlements on patrol.

"How could they build something like this in a winter wasteland like this?" Kyle whispered to Sarek.

"With magic, probably," Sarek said. "I can feel traces magical energies emanating from the very stones."

Chunin banged an armored fist on the iron door. A pair of sentries looked over the wall, and Chunin gave them an order in a strange language. Slowly, the gates opened, and they stepped through, where a full company of armed soldiers was waiting for them. Again Chunin gave a command, and the soldiers departed. Chunin then turned to the adventurers. "Follow me."

As the party finally entered Shadia, they were all surprised by what they saw. Behind the gated wall was an entire city, with sturdy buildings and houses made of silvery-gray stones. There were people of all ages, wearing clothing made from the hides and skins of all manner of creatures. Inexplicably, there were groves of fruit trees, rows of grain and cotton, pens of cattle and sheep, fish-laden ponds and streams, and wells of clear water. Everything a city needed to survive. Indigo banners, depicting golden shields emblazoned with azure dragons, were displayed throughout the city, and soldiers bearing arms and armor similar to Chunin's marched through the streets.

"How is all this possible?" Rayner said, awestruck by the sight.

"By the will of The Goddess herself," Chunin said proudly. "Her power created this paradise for us, to sustain us in this frozen wasteland."

"Who are you guys anyway?" Jessica asked incredulously. "Where did you come from? Are you natives of this island?"

Chunin lowered his head as if in shame. "No, we are not. We are the descendants of a group of brigands who tried to plunder the Dragon's Graveyard over a millennia ago. They reached Zerimar Island, braved the wasteland, and fought their way through the monsters that inhabit the island. But just as they were about to enter the temple, eager for plunder, the Goddess Althena herself appeared to them. She said not a word, but the sorrow in her eyes at the thought the remains of her beloved Dragons being desecrated by plunderers melted the hearts of those who had come to plunder and rob, and they abandoned their mission. As penance for the evil they came here to commit, they vowed to the Goddess that they and their descendants would forever guard the sacred resting place of the Dragons, and tend to the remains of the Dragons. With the aid of Althena herself, they constructed two walls of stone to block access by humans to the Dragon's Graveyard, and our village lies between them.

"For our service, Althena granted that this small section of this barren island could sustain us and protect us from the elements. Within the fortress-walls of our village, she caused trees to grow to give us grain and fruit to eat, and she created a well that magically replenishes itself. She created animals that can withstand the cold that we might have milk and meat, and make clothing for ourselves. Althena has blessed us with many gifts for our service and dedication, and we will not fail her while we live!"

Opposite the entrance gate was another wall, with a smaller gateway guarded by four men. Unlike the entrance gate, this gateway was adorned with sacred writings and the symbol of a dragon. "Where does that gate lead to?" Jessica asked.

"That is for the Caretakers we send to the Graveyard to tend to the Dragons' remains when they die. The Caretakers are the children of this village who cannot yet fight. They also weave the tapestries that chronicle the lives of the Dragons, and where they say prayers to the Goddess on our behalf to thank her for the many gifts she has bestowed upon us. The Caretakers are the only ones allowed to enter the Graveyard, and they do so with the blessing of Althena and the Dragons. Needless to say, that gate remains under heavy guard and is magically sealed."

"But where's the temple itself?" Kyle asked.

"See that mountain far beyond the wall? That is where the temple is found. Althena herself transformed the mountain interior into a shrine worthy of the Dragons. A cave leads to the temple's main sanctuary where the Dragons relinquish their power and their lives, and that is how our Caretakers enter as well."

"It seems that you have a lot of soldiers to deal with some would-be treasure hunters," Rayner observed. "How many people come looking for the Graveyard?"

"It's not just treasure hunters we have to worry about," Chunin growled. "You may have encountered some mountain bandits on your way here. They wear white animal hides to camouflage their movements."

"Yeah, we ran into a few," Kyle said. "We wiped 'em out easily."

"There are literally hundreds more where they came from," Chunin replied. "They're refugees and brigands from other lands who use this island as a hideout and a storage place for their plunder from the Nisab continent. They are a blight on this sacred place, and they must be purged from it! More than once have they attempted to storm our city, and so far, we have persevered. But under a new leader, a giant of a man named Wolfe, they have grown more daring, and more murderous."

"The ones we encountered mentioned Rathbone," Sarek said softly, as if he was thinking aloud. "Many of Rathbone's men still live. If they were to ally with these bandits, we'd have a whole army to deal with. Not a pleasant thought."

"How'd these bandits find your island?" Rayner asked.

"Fate always seems to bring undesirables and visitors our way, despite the long distance and nature's own safeguards," Chunin muttered. "That's why it's up to us to eradicate them. We cannot have them returning to the mainlands with the location of the Dragon's Graveyard." Kyle tensed at this, but said nothing. He began to wonder if the field of frozen corpses he'd discovered yesterday had been the work of these men.

They reached a small building, where a short, elderly man wearing a thick furred cloak over brown lacquered armor raised a curious eyebrow. He wore no helmet, and he had long gray hair and a friendly face. "Who have we got here?" he asked Chunin.

"Trespassers, Kashiro," Chunin said curtly. "Keep an eye on them."

"Where are you going?" Kyle demanded.

"I'm off to fetch someone who will determine if your story is true or not," Chunin replied. "It will determine your final fate."

Chunin stormed away, and Kashiro chuckled as he motioned for them to enter. The building consisted of a single room, which was unfurnished except for a couple of wooden tables and some chairs. "Have a seat and make yourselves comfortable. And don't worry about Chunin. He's a hot-tempered jerk at times, but he ain't all bad."

"Are you in charge of prisoners?" Rayner inquired.

Kashiro laughed. "I wouldn't put it quite like that. Let's just say I'm Shadia's welcome wagon. Every once in a while, someone actually makes it to our village, and I try to keep Chunin from eviscerating them on the spot. After all, not everyone who comes here is out for plunder. Occasionally we get shipwrecked people from all over the place who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and too stubborn to die in that goddess-forsaken wasteland out there. So I make sure anyone who comes here is protected until we've verified who they are and why they're here. Protected from Chunin especially"

"You're actually able to keep that guy in check?" Jessica remarked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm impressed."

"It's not that hard," Kashiro replied with an offhand shrug. "Officially, I'm his second-in-command, mostly because I passed on the job of taking charge myself. I'd rather support a good leader like Chunin instead of risk being a bad leader. But I'm a lot older than he is, and I've known him all his life, so he listens to me. When he was selected because of his fighting skills to lead Shadia's forces, he looked to me for guidance, and I gave it to him as best as I could."

"He could use some more, particularly in the hospitality department," Jessica murmured. "He just came out of nowhere and attacked us."

"It's not an easy job he's got. The responsibilities of protecting this city and the men under his command can be overwhelming at times, and he has to treat every stranger like an enemy. So I basically help him keep his head on his shoulders, and I know how to rein him in when his temper gets the better of him."

Kyle folded his arms. "So what's gonna happen to us now? How exactly is our story gonna be verified?"

Before Kyle's question could be answered, Chunin returned, followed by a tall, broad-shouldered warrior wearing a full helmet. His armor was dark red, and adorned with jagged blades on the gauntlets. He only carried one curved sword, longer and much heavier than any carried by the rest of the Shadians.

"So who are you supposed to be?" Kyle asked the red warrior. "We've already met the standard hard-ass and the nice guy."

Despite Kyle's bravado, there was something about the way the man in red was staring at them that made him uncomfortable. Behind the helmet, Kyle could see vibrant dark eyes staring at him - staring right through him, almost.

Finally, the red warrior sighed. "Oath or no oath, I had a feeling you'd turn up here sooner or later."

Kyle and Jessica looked at each other as they recognized the voice, not daring to believe what they'd just heard. No, it couldn't be...

The warrior removed his helmet, and Kyle gasped in shock. The hair was grayer, the beard was thinner, defiant gleam in the eyes was dimmer, and there were wrinkles on the once-smooth face, but there was no mistaking...

"Dad!"