A/N:Yey! I get yet another chapter done. I'm really, really happy. Did you like the poem at the beginning of last chapter? Well, I'm putting another poem that I made at the beginning of this chapter too! The poem is in the POV of what animals would see us as, and the chapter is in Soso's, Diana's and 3rd Person POV's.
What is Other Than
What is evil,
Other than humans' hearts?
What is destruction,
Other than humans' ways?
What is darkness,
Other than humans' actions?
What is death,
Other than human's hands?
Chapter 17: The Plan
I left notes on the instructors' doors, knowing that they would try and stop me. I then went to the stables and saddled up Midoshi. Quietly, I led him to the gates after muffling his hooves. Once there, I weaved a simple trance spell, making the guards open the gates for me, and close it after I went through. Afterwards, they would be in a trance-like spell, doing their duty but not seeing nor hearing me until I was far enough away.
My body signaled Midoshi to a full out gallop. We soon reached the forest and I felt the spell release, the energy flowing back into me. Midoshi had a better endurance and speed than any regular horse, his breed bred for both, and he was one of the best of that breed, second only to his sire, my father's mount. Even with that velocity and stamina, I pushed him to his limits through the forest and fields, past four villages and two farms. Within two candlemarks, we got to an old abandoned temple area that was falling apart; it usually too at least all daylight candlemarks to get here.
It was here that I was trying to reach before Midoshi refused to go any farther until he had rested, which he did. He was tired, hungry, and more importantly, he was thirsty. I dismounted from his back and led him to the pool of water that was just inside the ruins. When I judged that he had drunk enough, I took him away from it. I then took off the saddle and blanket to dry out in the summer air and briskly rubbed him down. I then set him loose to cool down and eat fresh grass, trusting that his training and the little bit of intelligence he gained from Daine to keep him nearby.
Once those chores were done, I lit a small fire to keep wild animals away. I took some pressed honey, nut, and fruit bars out of a pack and ate them; I also had some fruit juice and water. Thankfully I had yesterday afternoon and evening and the whole day today to think of plans of escape and rescue. All students had access to pressed bars, and as many skins of juice and water as we want. I packed a saddle pack and backpack with as many skins of fruit juice and water and pressed bars as I could. I had then tied four large water kskins of water to Midoshi's saddle horn before we left.
All I had to do after that was choose both an escape route and time of day. I had chosen the gate that led to the path of the Royal Forest. The time was easy, a couple candlemarks after "Lights Out". Then I would have less witnesses and more time to plant my notes. In the notes, I had told the truth. That Diana was kidnapped and it was my fault. So by the Code of my people and for my honor, I was going to get her back. The only things I left out were who kidnapped her, where she was taken to, and the route and how I was going.
Lying back, I looked up at the stars. Out here, where there were no people and no torchlights, they shone brightly. It was peaceful here and did not stink of close packed farm beasts and horses, of sweaty human bodies, of grime and filth of the city; it was just as nature should be. If humans were created on the earth, it would still live on. There would be no over hunted animals other than what the predators brought down, what they needed, no over crowding of people and houses or destruction of land an d animal homes, but here wouldn't have been Immortals, so this was how it must be.
"Mrow."
Looking over, I see Sakura sitting there, looking inquiringly at me. Chuckling, I reach over and rub her on the head. I then sit up youkai style and lift her into my lap. I had told her earlier where I intended to reach and rest before spelling us to where we needed to be in the morning. She had flown off ahead of me, knowing that she would not be missed.
"In the morning, I set the portal spell up that will link us to Dark territory. It will take us to a cave near the Inishi. There, I must wait for a day to recover. I will leave Midoshi there to guard the packs, he will kill anyone but children that enters the cave, the children, he will chase away. You and I will go to the temple alone and sneak in. Once we find Diana, you will be our escape route. We will ride you back to the cave then I will get us all back and we'll ride Midoshi as fast as we can back to the Palace. Does that sound all right to you?"
The cat nodded in content, then started purring as I scratched behind her ears. She looked and felt full to me, so she must have eaten before coming to meet me. I gently put her next to the fire, then called Midoshi in and told him to guard. I needed not a blanket tonight for it being summer, so I used Midoshi's blanket as a pillow instead and laid down with my back to the fire. No sooner had I laid my head down did I fall asleep.
Diana's POV
I woke up a little confused. The moon was still shinning through the window so it was still dark; I had no reason to be awake. So why was I? I soon found my answer when an arm snaked over my lower stomach and swiftly drew me to the owner. I tensed up and was about to fight back when Kakon whispered in my ear.
"I wouldn't try that Princess. You're in no position to protest."
I stayed tense long while afterwards. I was pressed up against him, yet he wasn't trying anything. Slowly I relaxed, only to tense up moments later. Kakon had pressed his face into my hair at the back of my neck and stayed there.
"You… vanilla… lavender…"
By his murmurings, I could tell that he was asleep. Sighing, I relax again. But with one arm on my stomach and the other under me, I was starting to get uncomfortable. I tried shifting, but that didn't work. I ended up flipping over.
My eyes widened a fraction as I realized that I was facing Kakon. I was about to flip back over, but he looked, well, he looked peaceful in the moonlight, childlike even. Smiling to myself, I reached out and hesitantly tucked a strand of hair from out of his face and behind his ear. Instead of turning away, I scooted down a little and laid my head in the crook of his shoulder.
I'm not good for him, but maybe… just maybe… maybe she would be perfect.
With those as my last thoughts, I slipped into slumber.
Sosonokatsu's POV
I felt something rough licking my face. Groaning, I pushed the offending beast and rolled over. It was quiet after that and I was slowly slipping back into dreamland. Then… THWAK! That hurt! I shot up to sitting position to see GinSakura in battle form glaring down at me with her paw poised to strike me on the side of the head again.
The look on her face told me, "I tried to wake you nicely, but you wouldn't get up."
Sighing, I look up at the sun. I judged it to be about a couple candlemarks after sunrise. Groaning again, I rose to my feet and look at Midoshi. I was in a light snooze, staying true to his guard command. I groomed him before loading the blanket, saddle, and packs up onto him. After that was all done I mounted up and Sakura went back to her lap cat form and leapt up onto the saddle in front of me.
I nudged Midoshi to stand before the archway of the temple. I then went into trance and drew up my power. Then gently, I weaved the portal into the archway. When I finished, I opened my eyes to see the archway slightly shimmering with a green/gold sheen. Invoking my mage sight, I could see the interior of the cave, it was still uninhabited, which made it all the easier.
I touch heels lightly to Midoshi's flanks and he calmly trotted through. Most other horses would balk at crossing such a barrier like Midoshi used to, but he had grown used to me and my magics. Once inside, I reverse the process of the spell, having to take it down slowly or it would become chaotic and possible destroy me since I was magically bound to it. Once that was done, I slumped into the saddle, making a portal like that was very draining, and even more draining the longer the distance was.
Tiredly, I get off Midoshi and lazily took off saddle, blanket, and packs. Once that was done, I told Midoshi to guard and collapsed onto the blanket to instantly fall asleep. I didn't worry about assassins or killers, for the fire cat and Midoshi were more than enough to get rid of those, and I didn't have to worry about Midoshi either, his training would keep him nearby and there was edible moss for him to eat as well as a pool of running water in the back of the cave.
3rd Person POV
She was sitting there, brushing out her glorious white hair, each coiffure making her hair smoother and silkier. Then something horrid interrupted her beautifying. The sound of her uncle yelling about… about… Deedee.
"I DON'T CARE WHERE IT HAPPENED, I WANT TO KNOW WHY! AND HOW! You better find out where the kidnappers have taken her, or you're not going to like the consequences! She came here for the peace treaty with her brother! Those were the two solely responsible for this treaty! My son was killed, now another is in his place for the throne! The only other person keeping this treaty alive is Diana! You better get her back, because if she is killed, this treaty is as well!"
Uh oh, looks as if Uncle has lost his temper. And over that… that… Deedee. Oh I can never remember her name. Oh well, I wonder where that man went. I think I'm going to go track him down.
"And who is this Soso…? Do you mean to tell me that you have been housing this… this mongrel of a prince from the Dainichi Clan? And you've allowed my daughter to entice with him?"
Oooo, Uncle has found the secret.
Ramia pouted a little, her lip sticking out. The Eiki Clan would not allow this to befall upon them.
Oh, and I wanted to have fun with them. It would've been fun.
"Lord Engetsu, we promise, we are looking for them now. Sosonokatsu left a note stating that it was his fault that she got kidnapped. What I am thinking is that another assassination attempt was put on his life and the one responsible for it grabbed Diana to use as a shield so that Sosonokatsu would not kill him."
"I don't care, you've allowed my daughter to fall in love with the very Clan that we war with."
"We do not control people's hearts here, Lord Engetsu. We do not discriminate either. Please just sit back, things are under control here."
"You better, I want a report on your progress."
Translations
Akutenshi: evil angels
Candlemark: basically and hour
Dainichi: Great Sun
Eiki: waxing and waning; phases of moon
Haku: white
Hanyou: half-breed
Inshi: shrine of evil deity
Inu: dog
Katana: a type of curved sword that Japanese samurai use, or in this case, Yamani samurai
Katsuraotoko: man in the moon
Kimono: a Japanese outfit that the girls wore
Kobodou: fighting in close combat with weapons
Leiko: arrogant child
Neko: a cat
Mata: fire
Obi: the sash around the middle of the kimono to hold it shut
Sensai: a teacher or tutor
Sensu: a flip fan used in Japan
Youkai: demon
Youkai style: basically Indian Style sitting, sitting cross-legged
Zangetsu: moon visible in the morning
Name Meanings
Akushou: evil nature
Amaterasu: sun goddess
Chinpou: sunrays
Engetsu: crescent moon
GinSakura: (silver) blossoms of a cherry tree
Jashin: evil god
Kakon: root of evil
Katsu: to convert, change, transform
Makurayami: total darkness
Midoshi: year of the snake
Soso: graceful and neat
Sosonokatsu: to instigate and/or to seduce
Tsukuyomi: moon god
A/N: Okay, I got the next chapter coming up as soon as possible. The end of the year is coming, there for the end of my computer. I am trying to wrap up this story so that I may start working on the next part of the series. My Heart to the Light is Diana's page years. Soso is already a squire; he just chose to show Diana around because… well, you know why. The reason I'm telling you know is because I am in a hurry and I don't want to go back and up date the chapters to tell you. Kel is his knight master, which is why he is at Diana's weaponry practices. I promise that I will soon do a chapter that will have a whole weaponry practice in it. Anyways, please review.
Magic Crystal: That was when there was peace, before the "Triple Element War" and they wanted to have fate bind two of the Clans first, then maybe the other Clan to make them a Whole Clan. Anyways, thank you for your support and I hope that you continue to read/review.
Tranquil-Insanity: Thank you. And I'm not te-lling. I didn't go right out and say so, but yes he is a cobra; all I said was that he was a snake.
Kristiana: It's all right. I was gone for the weekend anyways and was not able to read the reviews then. I'll be sure to try those suggestions out and see what they do to my plot. And don't worry about the Moon God, he's coming.
blue mariposa: Who are you? I check and see who has me on their author's alert. Have you read my story? Do you like it? Let me know.
Mgoddess: Who are you too? Like I mentioned before, I check who's put me on their author's alert and I check to see what type of stories they write. Have you been reading this story? Or are you reading my poems? Please tell me how you like.