Disclaimer :I don't own FY or the FY novels.
Chapter 8:
"This place gives me the creeps!" Sotisku edged a bit closer to Keeah, nervously looking around.
They had to leave their horses outside the forest and enter on foot because of the thick undergrowth on the forest floor. Tall trees stood silently on all sides as if cordoning them in. Their foliage was indeed so dense that only a tiny amount of sunlight reached the ground .The creepers circled the thick trunk of the trees coiling their way up in a desperate bid to reach the blessed sunlight. There was only one way to describe this forest. It was dark and melancholy... And menacing...
Keeah's face was pale and set as she hacked her way through the undergrowth.
'It is almost as if this forest is dead!' Keeah pursed her lips 'Or sleeping '
She shuddered a bit. Sotisku was not exaggerating when he said that this place creeped him. The utter silence of this place was unsettling. Especially since she had a nagging suspicion that they were being watched.
"Look!"Suraco exclaimed pointing ahead.
The foliage had thinned a little and Keeah could see a flight of stairs leading up. Creepers overran it and solitary trees forced their way through the marble rocks.
"It must be the entry to the palace!" Suraco remarked.
"It certainly looks like it!"Keeah remarked dryly.
The stairs led up to a gateway, which was perhaps once quite grand, but now lay humbled in the dust, defeated by the onslaught of time.
Carefully Keeah crossed the threshold to enter into a wide courtyard that led to the main building. Here the feeling of melancholy was even more prominent and all encompassing. It was almost as if there was something in the air that sucked out their happiness leaving behind a bitter empty shell.
"The sooner we complete our task here and get out the better!"Suraco grumbled, "This place disturbs me!"
Keeah nodded in silent agreement. Most of the buildings had caved in; creepers had overrun their carcasses. These buildings were quite impossible to enter. There were others which had somewhat fared marginally better than the others. They entered some of these buildings walking through the narrow dark passageways. Keeah shivered a little.
' This place most definitely has a story to tell ' Keeah's grip on the handle of her sword tightened ' But I am not sure I want to listen to its tale!'
"Look at this ."Sotisku ran a light hand over a carved column "The design is awful! But it is inlaid with gold and rubies. This place was in its prime, richly, if not tastefully decorated."
"This part might have been the inner palace .I think it housed the emperor's quarters and probably his harem. It also usually houses the chambers of the King's closest advisors. However it is definite that it must have housed the chambers of the miko."Keeah observed.
Run down gardens surrounded these buildings. The sensation of being watched here was almost tangible as was the feeling of overwhelming sorrow .The air itself seemed poisoned with hatred and corruption. Nature had not been able to purify the air that had been corrupted by the action of man.
"Keep your eyes open "Keeah gave a low growl "I cannot shake the feeling that we are being watched!"
"We have been watched for a long time." Suraco agreed.
They walked into the garden. Suddenly Keeah felt nauseous .She blinked.
' Oh crap!'
It was the same feeling she had thismorning. Again she saw the misty outline of the figures in the garden .The garden looked transformed now. It was not run down anymore. It was covered with lush grass as soft as velvet. There was a huge umbrella in the middle of the garden and beneath it was a seat covered with silk and embroidered with gold threads.
' This is strange!' Keeah frowned ' It is almost as if I am standing by and watching an ancient drama unfold before my eyes! Am I really seeing a memory? Is this place trying to tell me its tale? But why?'
It was true .She was like a silent spectator to the events unfolding before her. Unable to do anything but watch.
A man walked into the garden .He was richly attired in a robe of the finest silk and jewels glittered on the sleeves of his cuffs and around his neck. And even though Keeah could not see his face properly, she could feel cruelty and lust etched on every wrinkle of that bloated face.
' Scum' Keeah thought contemptuously ' Could this be the emperor of Kutou before the first war?'
Solders marched out and fell in formation around him. They dragged out a small figure with them .It was surely a small child dressed in a tattered clothes with a hood drawn of the child's head. There were ten solders and when they fell in formation the prisoner was hidden behind them.
The richly attired man turned and told something to two of the awaiting solders. Keeah couldn't understand what he was saying. But it appeared like he was ordering the solders to do something .It was like watching a silent drama.
The solders departed. When they returned they had a boy with them. Again Keeah could not see the boy's face, but this time she could see his eyes. They were a dull blue, blank and lifeless. He waited quietly, the sun glinting on his golden locks.
' Could this be Nakago as a boy?' Keeah wondered.
The man turned and leered at the boy .The boy's expression remained as blank as ever. The man turned from the boy and ordered something to the soilders. The solders parted and revealed the prisoner. The hood was yanked off the child's head to reveal a girl .The girl was gagged and her small hands were tied behind her back.
The boy gave a faint start of recognition. The girl tried to run to the boy but was forcibly held back by two soilders. The boy appeared simply frozen. The man was saying something to the boy pointing at the girl.
Keeah saw one of the solders behind the girl unseath his sword and hold the cruel sharp edge at the girl's throat.
' What are they doing?' rage coursed through Keeah's veins ' What coward threatens children thus?'
The boy stared at the girl .His shoulders drooped a little in helplessness and defeat. The girl looked at the boy .It seemed that there was a silent conversation going on between them. The man spoke again to the boy.
The boy was still unmoved. For once Keeah wanted to know what they were saying.
The man turned angrily towards the soldires and ordered them to do something.
' Oh no!' Slow realization dawned on Keeah.
The solider slowly and deliberately dug the naked blade into the girls back. For a while the boy looked frozen. Then the golden hair flew off his face and a blue sign glowed hot on his forehead. There was an explosion and the two soldires who held the girl were torn to shreds!
Keeah felt and intense pain in her heart. It was almost as if somebody was squeezing it. Her legs crumpled under her and she fell on her knees clutching her heart. She was a warrior. She was the black warrior! Death was nothing new to her .Yet this memory of the bygone times made her nauseous and filled her veins with anger.
The boy walked up to the body of the girl lying as if asleep between the mutilated bodies of the two soldiers. For a while he watched her impassively and then picked up a bloodied sword that lay beside her.
When he turned Keeah gasped. His blue eyes that were dull and blank had been now replaced by something else. It was as if there werereplaced by blue chips of cold hard ice.
"Princess! Princess!"
An unusually pungent odor hit Keeah's nose. Keeah coughed and blinked away the tears that came to her eyes due to the pungent smoke. Her world slowly cameback into focus. The vision melted away...
She was on her knees in the ruined garden. Sotisku was holding a phial under her nose. The contents of the phial were giving off huge amounts of pungent smelling purple smoke that made her sneeze and cough.
Suraco was jerking her forcefully and calling her.
"Princess ...Come on! Snap out of it!" His voice was urgent.
Keeah pushed the phial out of her face "Calm down!"
Sotisku put the cork on the phial and got up "We are leaving!" His voice was forceful.
"Wait "Keeah got up
"Sotisku is correct!"Suraco said grimly "Something here is affecting you... Us ...You were totally zoned out. I called your name and shook you hard .I am convinced that if I shook you some more then your teeth would be rattled! Nothing happened indeed ! Only when Sotisku uncorked that nasty evil smelling concoction did you come around!"
"I am sorry if I worried you guys "Keeah smiled a little "But we are not going anywhere!"
"Would you order us to stay? " Sotisku's blue eyes flashed.
"Please" Keeah chewed her lips "I will explain everything later. But we need to completely search this place!"
There was a long pause. Then Suraco spoke "Fine. But I don't like this one bit!'
"Thank you!" Keeah gave him a tired smile "And what about you Sotisku?"
Sotisku's eyes were fixed on something behind her, his cheeks a little pale.
Keeah turned around slowly. It was then that she became aware that they were surrounded.
"What are those?" Sotisku gripped his staff a little harder "Looks like overgrown lizards!"
He was correct...in a way. The creature indeed looked like lizards. But they were huge compared to ordinary lizards. They hopped lightly on their hind legs circling them, yellow snake like eyes regarding them. Their front legs were a little short but equipped with nasty curved nails. Their head was flat and a forked deep plum colored tongue darted out occasionally from between sharp yellow teeth. They had a fat tail that probably helped them to hop on two legs. Their coloring was perfect for this environment as they were colored a dirty green with splashes of deeper green.
"I think this is the reason why this forest is cursed!" Suraco said between gritted teeth." But why were we not attacked in the forest?"
"I think they were rallying their troops "Keeah gave a dry chuckle watching the creatures close in on them "I think they didn't want such tasty morsels to slip away!"
They edged closer standing back to back, their weapons drawn.
"I think that this place is their breeding grounds "Sotisku remarked "Notice that some of the creatures are smaller in size than the others and their coloring is also different! I think those creatures have not yet reached maturity!"
"Sotisku " Suraco said between gritted teeth "Shut up!"
One of the creatures rushed at them its teeth bared, its tail held erect behind it .It crashed into a shimmering blue forcefeild and was flung back landing quite heavily on the ground.
"You put up a forcefeild princess?"Sotisku asked relaxing a bit.
Keeah nodded, her face pale and set.
The creature got up and shook itself out of its daze. The other creatures circled them, now a little warily. They were afraid, for now. But sooner or later blood thirst and hunger would win over fear. This much was evident.
"We have to think of a plan .I can't keep this up forever!"Keeah gritted her teeth.
"I have a plan .I think " Suraco concentrated .His eyes turned a deep mesmerizing green.
Flickering green flames sprung up around them towering as high as the sky .The flames began to move and take shape till a huge dog made of green fire towered over the creatures! The dog bent down and snatched three creatures up in its massive jaws crushing their bodies in its sharp fangs and throwing the mutilated charred bodies down.
Almost at once a hundred or so creatures flung themselves at the giant firedog sinking their fangs into its fiery hide. The dog snarled once as if irritated by this puny attempt to defeat it. Green flames shot out of its body and the creatures clinging to it fell away making piteous cries of pain. The dog turned its fiery eyes at them as they attempted to drag away their heavily charred bodies.
The creatures edged away, truly frightened this time. The dog snarled and rushed at the creatures snatching up a few more in its strong jaws and still more were crushed under its massive paws .The creatures fled into the forest. Self-preservation the first thing in their mind.
The dog did not follow them far. It stood in the middle of the yard and gave a howl before melting away in a puff of green smoke.
"That ...was brilliant!"Keeah exclaimed turning at Suraco.
Suraco was on his knees panting. His face was pale and covered by a thin film of sweat .His green eyes looked tired.
"That took a lot of your energy."Keeah's voice was worried "Are you okay?"
"I will be, in a few moments "Suraco smiled weakly.
"Was that dog an illusion?"Sotisku asked
Suraco nodded "Yes "
"Brilliant!"Sotisku said "But how did you manage to burn those creatures if there was no real fire?"
"It's complicated Sotisku "Suraco said, "I made them believe that they were being burned!"
"Come again?" Sotisku was confused.
All these years he had spend with Suraco had done nothing to make him understand the concept behind Suraco's illusions.
"Well your actions are determined by your mind. Your eyes see a particular event and your mind processes that event and tells you how to proceed .In other words your mind dictates the action of your body to a particular action "Suraco paused "If you touch something hot your mind tells you to immediately retract your hand and you do that, unless you are a complete moron .Now if I could make your mind think that you are getting burnt, you will react accordingly. If I can successfully make your mind believe that you are dead, then your body will stop functioning! You will die!"
Suraco drew in a large breath "Does that make any sense?"
"No." Sotisku replied truthfully.
"Cut it out guys. You can discuss the intricacies of weaving an illusion later." Keeah said gravely "We still have a lot to explore!"
Both Suraco and Sotisku gave a disgruntled sigh and followed after her.
"We are dead "Sotisku muttered darkly.
"Not really "Keeah grinned "Those things will not bother us for a while now .Not with the kind of feast we laid out for them!" She pointed out at the dead creatures lyingon the ground.
"Do you mean to say that they eat their own kind?" Sotisku shuddered a little.
"Well I did not see any other kind ofanimal in the jungle!"Keeah shrugged
They moved ahead deeper into the ruined palace, their weapons drawn. They emerged into another courtyard .It was once very well maintained, decorated with sparkling fountains. The fountain was now dry and choked with dried leaves.
Keeah stepped forward. There was a resounding crunch. Startled Keeah looked down. There were heaps of bones littered casually in the yard. Some were piled in the empty fountains. Keeah bend down and picked up a bone.
"Is that a human.bone?"Suraco gulped.
"Let me see!"Sotisku snatched the bone from Keeah.
"Hmm.."He examined the bone carefully turning it over "This is not a human bone !"
"It is not ? " Keeah asked curiously.
"No. I think that this particular bone belongs to the creatures we saw here ."Sotisku said.
"Are you sure ?"Keeah was not convinced.
"I know the difference between a human bone and this " Sotisku said loftily "I am after all the best doctor in Kutou !"
"Oh !"Keeah looked around uneasily." This place looks like a graveyard for those creatures !"
"Not really " Sotisku said grimly "Look at this particular bone. It has deep gauges on it !"
"So ?" Suraco questioned a little nervously.
"I would say that we have stumbled on the next leg of the food chain here."Sotisku said quietly "Something in here feeds on those creatures out there .And this place is its lair !"
"Oh joy !"Keeah gave a dry chuckle "Just what I need !"
"We could still turn back " Sotisku said hopefully.
"No" Keeah's innate stubbornness kicked into action.
"Fine !"Sotisku said angrily " But whatever feeds on those creatures is huge !this much I am telling you !"
"How can you tell that ?" Suraco asked curiously.
"Because ...There it is !"Keeah's voice was tense.
Sotisku turned around and gasped "What is that ?"
It looked like a huge snake ,with a body as thick as a oak tree .It towered over them swaying slightly on its lithe muscular body ,that glistened in the sunlight .It had skin darker than the darkest night covered with scales that gave a odd golden glow. Its silver forked eyes regarding the puny creatures in front of it with contempt ,a silver tongue darted occasionally between the drawn flat lips.
" I think this is a appropriate time for us to turn and run away screaming like frightened chickens !" Sotisku gave a small squeak .
"Stay calm " Keeah advised quietly .
At this point the snake lunged at them .For such a huge beast it moved rather fast .They barely managed to jump out of its way .
"If I ever manage to get out of here ,then I will never run out of ideas for scary illusions !"Suraco panted crouching beside a dry well.
"No wonder this place is cursed " Sotisku mumbled grasping his staff harder.
Suddenly he felt the hairs on the nape of his neck rise. Turning slowly he saw the snake hovering over him, poison forming a mist around its elongated fangs .
' Oh my God !' Sotisku froze' Someone up there hates me !'
Keeah watched the snake wave tantalizingly over Sotisku, who seemed to be frozen in terror . She frowned and concentrated .A strange glow whirled in the palm of her outstretched hands. It slowly took the form of a sizzling ball of white-hot fire that danced on her outstretched hand .
"Here ,eat this !"She snarled hurling the fireball at the snake
"Incinerate !" she yelled.
The fireball collided quite heavily with the snakes square head .It lunged blinded by the pain caused by the charred flesh .Sotisku used its momentary confusion to crawl out of harms way.
The snake turned at Keeah beside itself in rage and anger. It hurled itself at the offending human .Keeah vaulted out of the way hurling another fireball at it .But she had forgotten about the snakes tail that lashed out violently and caught her heavily in her abdomen .She was flung unceremoniously into the crumbling wall .Keeah was sure she heard something break .She crumpled on the floor panting ,a thin trail of blood making its way down her forehead .
The snake's yellow eyes were fixed on the prone human .Satisfied that it had won it lunged at Keeah .Suddenly a huge green snake rose in front of it its fiery fangs bared. The snake hissed at the intruder and attacked it .
Suraco was panting heavily his face pale from the effort of trying to keep up the illusion .The snakes charged at each other biting ...snapping .And even though the black snake was burned it was fighting lustily .Suraco started to pant ,his world wavering in and out of focus. Beads of sweat formed on his pale brow. He gasped and then suddenly the world went blank !
The green snake suddenly melted away .Sotisku looked at Suraco lying unconscious in the yard ,in full view of any predator ,especially a large snake.
' Shit !' Sotisku came out of his hiding place and stood over Suraco gripping his staff.
He did not feel confident. He could be the best doctor in Kutou ,but he was also their worst fighter .Still ,he would defend Suraco with his life ! After all what are friends for ?
The snake waved a little triumphantly in the air watching the struggling humans .It had won ! The intruder was defeated ! The prey was it's to devour !
It lunged at Sotisku who cringed instinctively. But the blow never came ! The snake crashed fruitlessly into a shimmering blue forcefeild around them .
"I am Keeah ,Princess of Kutou !" Keeah had risen from her prone position ,her eyes were cold ,and the end of her lips had curled into a small predatory smirk "Do you dare challenge me?"
She concentrated. A faint mist whirled around the snake suddenly encasing the snake in a solid coffin of ice that sparkled slightly in the sun .
"And now for the final touch "Keeah's eyes flashed . She raised her hands ,a ball of lightning began to form in her hands . She hurled the sizzling ball of energy at the frozen snake .The ball moved fast growing bigger and bigger until it collided with the ice coffin in a flash of blinding white light .
Large shards of ice flew in all directions. Sotisku flung himself over Suraco to protect him. Then the air cleared and the dust settled .
"Princess ?" Sotisku felt the forecefeild around him sizzle and disappear .
He ventured to where Keeah was .She was sitting on the ground her hand coiled around her stomach .
"Princess ?"Sotisku approached her.
Keeah looked up her face bloodless and lips blue with pain " By the Gods ,this hurts Sotisku "
"Can you walk ?" Sotisku asked .
Keeah nodded " I can "Gritting her teeth she hobbled up .
"I think that building there is quite undamaged " Sotisku pointed at a building "Go there . I will carry Suraco there "
Keeah nodded. Gathering the last vestiges of her strength she hobbled up to the building . She collapsed outside on the porch .The pain in her ribs was unbearable .She felt the world darken around her as she slipped out of consciousness .
Yusagi : Thanks for reviewing .And telling me the name of the capital of Konon .
Please review !