Ranger24: Okay I finally got a decent length chapter ready to go!
Chapter 26: Theives in the castle.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Everyone gathered in the foyar. Ranger with all of his knives concealed in the folds of his cloak, David with an elgant rapier at his side. Ranger eyed the rapier with critizim.
Ranger: That polytoad sticker's to thin for any real fighting.
David: You should talk.
This was true as Ranger was as thin as a rail.
Ranger: What'll you do if someone comes at you with a broadsword, or a claymore, or a flamberge?
David: Be realistc! None of the gaurds has a flamberge and none of them could lift a claymore. Besides this polytoad sticker is faster than a broadsword.
Ranger shrugged.
Ranger: It's your neck.
They made they're way slowly towards the castle eyes sharp and alert. Naruto thought he heard someone scrambling on a roof. Finally after what seemed like an hour they arrived at the gat upon which David knocked. A drunk guard opened a small latch.
Guard 3: Yeah?
David: We need to get in.
Guard 3: What for?
David: The boy left something very valuable in my office we have to retreive it now.
Naruto put on a shamed face. The guard looked annoyed clearly wanting to get back to his bottle.
Guard 3: Ah whatever just give him a good beating from me.
David: Will do.
The guard unlocked the door and they strood on in. Ranger handed the guard a few coins.
Guard 3: Thank yeh.
They made their way silently through the dark halls. Naruto felt even more uncomfortable here at night than during the day. Finally they reached the door. Naruto tired the nobe but it was locked. He cursed under his breath. Ranger pushed him aside and whispered something and the door clicked open.
The room in side was filled with shelves with learther bound tombs and the windows were barred. David explained what they had to do.
David: Here way are. All of the shipping records from the last five years. You can tell by the wax seals on the sides.
Naruto: Now what?
David: Start at the top and work our way down. Most only deal with taxes you can ignore those. Look for anything that mentions sethir oil.
He pulled a bottle of ink, a pen, and a scroll of paper out of a leather pouch by his sword.
David: So we can record what we find.
Ranger nodded and pulled an arm full of scrolls from a shelve and began reading. They worked slowly and in complete silence except when somebody grabbed the quil to write something down. The racks seemed endless.
Suddenly Naruto felt as though someone was looking at him. He glanced up and saw to his suprise a small boy siting on the window sill. He had black hair and was rather short. He sat there dumb found staring at this kid who was sitting there like he didn't have a care in the world.
Spirit: Do you need help?
Naruto's eyes widened.
Naruto: Spirit?
Spirit: Who else?
Naruto: Well you look differnet.
Spirit: What I look like dosen't change who I am. You don't think I'm called a were pokemon for nothing do you?
Naruto: Well what are you doing here?
Spirit: Well that is a question I should poose to you. What are you doing here? If are reading those scrolls ti entertain yourself then I should be on my way.
Naruto: Nothing.
Naruto tried to get back to his scroll but Spirit spoke again.
Spirit: Well I suppose I could be hear to warn you that the guard you guys bribed just told his replacement about you. And that this second officer of the empire has sent soldiers to look for you.
Naruto gulped.
Naruto: Thanks for telling me.
Spirit: Told you something? I guess I did.
Spirit looked like he was ready to hop away.
Naruto: What did you mean about the tree and the rock?
Spirit: Exactly what I said.
Then he was gone. Naruto stood up.
Naruto: There are soldier's looking for us!
David looked up eyes filling with alarm!
David: What!?
Ranger: How do you know?
Naruto: I listened in on the guards, they probably already know David's office is empty!
Ranger cursed.
Ranger: No matter we have to finish this.
They all finished they're scrolls as quickly as possible then David stuffed the paper in his pouch. They rushed out of the room just as they heard the tramp of boots! Naruto was about to run but Ranger cursed.
Ranger: Damnit! The doors not locked!
He whispered a couple of words and the lock clicked just as the soldiers came around the corner.
Guard 4: Hey get away from there!
David put on a look of mock suprise. Naruto's hands began to stray for his bow.
Guard 4: Why were you trying to get into the records?
David: I'm afriad we've lost our way.
The guard seemed to be able to tell David was lying.
Guard 4: Check inside the room.
One of the guards reached for it and tried the nobe.
Guard 5: It's locked sir.
The guards seemed to relax.
Guard 4: Okay. As long as the doors still locked no harm done. Come on.
The guards lead them out into the castle courtyard.
Naruto (thinking): I can't believe it! They're helping us get away!
When they reached the gate the soldiers let them outside.
Guard 4: If you have to come back wait until morning.
David: Will do.
They walked down the street Naruto's stomach bubbling with excitment. As soon as they were out of ear shot he gave a whoop of joy but Ranger grabbed him by the shoulder and glared at him intensely.
Ranger: Walk back to the house quietly. You can celebrate there.
Naruto: Sorry.
After w forever they were back in David's study Naruto gave a cheer.
Naruto: We did it!
Ranger: Yes, but now we have to see if it was worth all the trouble.
Daivd unrolled a map of the land on the table. Naruto oked it over. On the western side of the map the sea was bordered by the spine mountains. Carvahall was a small dot on the north end of the spine. Level with Carvahall, but further east, was the city of Ceunon one of the greatest northern cities. Next to it was the endless forest du welden varden. Parts of its western edge were mapped but its heart lay in shadow. Those who ventured into its depths either came back raving map, or not at all.
South of the forest was a vast expanse of land labeled the hadarac desert. Below that was a mountain range labeled beor mountains. Naruto had heard of them in many stories. They were said to be ten times the height of those in the spine. But Naruto considered that an exageration. West of the mountains was Surda, a small nation that had succeded from the empire after its creation. It's king Randy was said to secretly support the varden.
Off the coast were several islands espacilly near Surda. The smallest of them, nein, was just an out cropping of rock, but Beirland, the largest, had a small town on it. Further north was the a small island called shark tooth. Even further north was a large island shaped like a nobby hand. Naruto knew its name with out even looking at it. That was vroenguard the ancient home of the riders with its city of Doru Areba in the center, once a place of glory but now a haunted land filled with strange mosters.
Naruto shivered as he saw Ure Bean in the center of the map. There lived king Xemnas with his black dragon Xana. Naruto pointed to it on the map.
Naruto: The Echoplasmares obviously have a base there.
Ranger: You'd better hope its not they're only hole or you'll never get near them.
David: According to the record there have been shipments of sethir oil to every major city in the empire, all of which could be wealthy jewelers. I don't see how we can narrow the feild.
Ranger: I think we can rule out some cities. The Echoplamares are Xemnas favorite servants so I'll bet he keeps them busy. They'd have to be at a cross roads from which they can easily acess the rest of the empire.
Ranger started pacing.
Ranger: This crossroads would also have to have enough trade so that any speacil requests, such as food for they're mounts, would go unnoticed.
David nodded.
David: Well then you can rule out most of the big ones in the north. The only big ones are Teirm, Gilead, Narda, and Ceunon. I know there not in Teirm, and I doubt the oil's been shipped farther up the coast to Narda. Ceunon won't do as it's on the coast and isolated. Though it is a center of trade. That leaves only gilead. Which is also a major launching area for the army.
Ranger: It would have a certain irony.
David: It would at that.
Naruto: What about southern cities?
David: Well there is obviously Ure bean, but that seems unlikely. If someone were to die in Xenmas's court it would be all to easy for and earl or some other lord to figure out the empire had been buying it large amounts. That still leave a lot of cities still.
Naruto: Yeah but the oil wasn't sent to all of them the list only reads Kuasta, Aroughs, Dras leona, and Bellotona. Kuasta wouldn't work for the echoplamares, it's on the coast. Aroughs is to small and isolated like Ceunon, though again it is a trade center. That leaves Dras Leona and Bellotona. Of the two I'd go with dras leona. It's larger and better situated.
David: And that's where nearly all of the goods of the empire pass through, at one time or another, including Teirm's!
Ranger stroked his chin.
Ranger: So, Dras leona? What do the records say?
David glanced down at the paper.
David: Here, at the begining of the month three shipment of sethir oil were sent by to dras leona, and the same thing happened the month before that, and the month before that! And they were all transported by the same merchant! I doubt any one jewler or even a group of them have enough money for so much oil!
Ranger: What about Gilead?
David: It doesn't have the same acess to the rest of the empire, and...
He checked the records.
David: They've only received it twice in the past year. Besides I think we've forgotten something... Hellgrind.
Ranger nodded.
Ranger: Ah yes, the dark gates. You're right that would make dras leona perfect.
Naruto sighed and sat back in his chair.
Naruto (thinking): I thought I'd be glad to get back to the hunt, but now that its come to it I just wish I could stay here. Life in Teirm's been so... normal.
David rolled up the map and held it out to Ranger.
David: You'll need this I'm afriad. Your little expeditions often lead to obsucre places.
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: A slit undrestatment but true.
David sighed and put on a pouting face.
David: It doesn't seem right. You leaving without me.
Ranger: I know but your getting older and you have a life here in teirm. You've done your part, and it's time for the next generation to take up the standard.
David: What about you? Does the road ever end for you.
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: I see it coming but not for a while.
Later Naruto relayed the nights events to Cortana.
Cortana: Is it just me or do things get weirder and weirder around here with every minute?
Naruto: Yeah seems like it.
Ranger24: And thats a chapter! Next time Naruto screws up!
Seamus: Thats not very surpising.
Rolo'mono: Oh come on when has he...
Seamus: Sasuke retrevial, forest of death, stealing the scroll, that milk thing, fighting Kakashi, trying to use the toad summon in an enclosed space, shall I go on?
Rolo'mono: Up yours.
Ranger24: Okay... Read and review.