Ranger24: I'm sorry for the long, long wait. I was finishing darkness unleashed. But now I'm back to working on the other stories. And this one is dangerously close to hitting 100 reviews! That means gift baskets! Plus the art contset will be closed on firday. All artwork must be presented by saturday.
Chapter 29: Dras Leona
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A week the later they were in the midst of a mess of mud and ruined roads. Ranger cursed few minutes as mud from a wagon splattered against his cloak. Cortana was hidden a few miles away. Naruto could now just see Dras Leona as a city surrounded with a mud brick wall.
In the distances close to the city was a massive pillar of rock with four peaks. It was dark black and Naruto stared at it speechless as they drew nearer to the city.
Ranger: That is hellgrind. It's the reason the city was first built. People are facinated by it. Even though it's a cruel and malevolent thing.
Naruto glanced back at the city and saw that the tallest building was a black cathedral that looked a lot like Hellgrind.
Naruto: Who do they worship?
Ranger scowled at the cathedral.
Ranger: Their prayiers go to hellgrind. It's a cruel religon they practice. One of blood sacrifices, amputation, and torture. The priests lack body parts because they feel the less fleash and sinew you have the less conected to the physical world you are.
Naruto: Thats horrible.
Ranger: I know but don't say that to a believer. You'll quickly lose a hand in penainice
Naruto: Yeah good idea.
Ranger: Good you remeber the three things you never frak with. Mother nature...
Naruto: Mother in laws, and mother fraking religous nuts.
Ranger: Good.
They rode into the city. At the gate deformed beggers tried to shake them down for cash, pregnant teenagers beg for food, and ragged children fought like dogs over scraps of bread while a dozen soldiers stood idly by drinking mugs of beer. Naruto scowled at the sight disgusted.
Naruto: We don't even treat animals like this.
Ranger: Come on lets get to the merchant district. Thats always a little better and we will have a better chance of getting information about the oil there.
Naruto: Right.
They found a cheap inn near the merchant district. It's name was the seventh circle and it looked like the seventh circle of hell. Naruto frowned at the one bed in their room. It was ragged and Naruto was sure he saw something crawling on it.
Naruto: I'm sleeping on the floor.
Ranger took one look at it.
Ranger: Same here.
They set their bags down and Naruto glanced at Ranger.
Naruto: What do we do now?
Ranger: Find booze and food.
Naruto: Right.
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Naruto frowned at the dagger scuffed bar and tables. Ranger glanced at a group of thugs.
Ranger: Keep a knife handy.
They sat down at a table and a waitress with red hair and freckles came over to them his name tag said, Hello my name is Kakaniya Grif (just call me Sister).
Sister: So what can I get you guys?
Ranger: Gold Ambrosia.
Naruto: Light sake.
Ranger: Two ramens also.
Sister: Got it. One Gold, one light, plus two ramens. I'll get you that.
About a second after she walked towards the kitchen three thugs walked over two them. One of them set his arm on the table. Naruto could smell the strong brew of ambrosia on the mans breath which was already repulsive.
Thug 2: Hey meat, you buying the next round of beers.
Ranger: Right, maybe next year.
Thug 2: I don't think you get it. You pay for our drinks or we kill you and the runt.
Ranger sighed.
Ranger: You don't want to fight me kid. No point you getting killed.
Thug 2: My ass!
The thug yanked out a knife and threw a stroke at Ranger! Ranger ducked the blow and punched the thug in the gut with his fist the knocked him to the ground! One of the thugs two men grabbed a chair but Ranger caught it and kicked the man in the groin. The last thug pulled out his knife and tried to stab Ranger but the old man caught the man by the arm and brought his arm up into the mans armpit snapping the mans arm!
The waitress came out of the kitchen.
Sister: Okay got one gold ambrosia, one light sake, and two bowls of...
She spotted the three moaning thugs.
Sister: You guys went over the top without me didn't you?
Ranger: I belive they'll be paying.
About six hours later Ranger and Naruto stumbled back up to their room both heavily ineberated. Naruto's head buzzed pleasantly. The inn's food had been barely adaquate but its beer was awesome. Ranger flopped down on his bed roll with out a word or a noote in his little book. Naruto flopped down on his mat and contacted Cortana.
Naruto: We're going to be here a while so get comfortable. I'm going to sleep now. I'm feeling a bit fuzzy.
Cortana: You've been drinking haven't you.
Naruto: Maybe.
Cortana: I won't envy you in the morning.
Naruto groaned.
Naruto: Ranger will, he drank three times as much as I did. Who knew thugs had so much cash on them?
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Naruto: What the hell was I thinking?
It was morning and Naruto's head felt like he'd been hit over the head with a rock. The sun light coming through the windows hurt his eyes. Ranger to say the least looked even more irritated than usual.
Cortana: How or you feeling?
Naruto: Not so loud. My head hurts.
Cortana: Thank god you didn't do drugs just imagen a high crash.
Naruto: Yeah.
Ranger pulled on his hood.
Naruto: Where are you going?
Ranger: To recover.
In the bar Naruto found out recovering meant drinking large amounts of water, taking an asprin, and having a pound of bacon. After their breakfast Ranger lead him out into the city streets. Naruto's head was hurting a lot less and he could think clearly again.
Naruto: What do we do?
Ranger: Well we need to start looking for information. That includes informants, interogating through violence, and pick pocketing. Those are the three rules of investigation. Oh and don't reveal your name to any strangers.
Naruto: Got it.
They walked out of the Inn towards the city center where a building only a few feet shorter than the cathedral. It's wall was lined with statues bearing sticks of inscents. Behind the wall was amassive house.
Naruto: Who lives there?
Ranger: Willaim of Monfreiate, ruler of this city. He listens to only two things. His own concious and Xemnas. The first of which has been rather lacking of late.
Six hours later they had nothing and it was looking like it was going to rain. Naruto was looking rather cross.
Naruto: Now what?
Ranger: We have to split up now. I think some of the guards think I'm some pedophile hanging around you.
Naruto inched away from Ranger.
Ranger: Oh come on! Remeber those fangirls near Teirm?
Naruto: Well you can never tell.
Ranger: Just go.
Naruto started looking around some warehouses and after employing interogation by violence he'd found out where the oil had been delivered. After that he went there to investigate. But he couldn't find any way to enter without a key. So he returned to the inn. Back at the inn he waited an three hours before Ranger returned.
Naruto: Hey I found some!
Ranger threw his hand over Naruto's mouth a scowl on his face.
Ranger: What have I told you about stealth?
Naruto: Sorry.
Ranger: Up to the room.
In their room Ranger locked the door before turning to face Naruto.
Ranger: Okay you first.
Naruto: Well I found some guys who shipped the crates and interogated the and found out where the oil was shipped. Then I came back here.
Ranger shrugged.
Ranger: Well you got one third of the way I got. Not bad for your first time.
Naruto: Thanks.
Ranger: I went to the same warehouse and listened in on some of the workers and found out where the oil is sent from the warehouse. To the palace.
Naruto: And then you came back here?
Ranger: No now stop interupting. I got myself invited into the servants quarters as a Bard. For two hours a wandered about amusing the maids and butlers with songs and peoms.
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: You wouldn't' believe all the things Servants hear. Did you know one of the earls has three misteress and they all live in the same wing of the palace. Not least of the most important is that Xenmas will be here within the week.
Naruto: What?
Ranger: Yes, its the first time he's left Ure'bean in ten years. Apperantly Willaim's upset him some how so he's doing a little hands on management.
Naruto: Oh crap. We're going to be in trouble! Xenmas'll ripe me to peices!
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: Very good caution you are learning. And you're right you wouldn't stand a chance against him. We'll have to be out of the city during his visit.
He sighed and sat down on his mat.
Ranger: Any who, I found out that the barrels are sent to hellgrind every month at the full moon with supplies and two slaves.
Naruto: I thought the slave trade was gone?
Ranger: The riders wiped it out but under Xenmas the slave trade has thrived. The slaves never return.
Naruto: Which means the Echoplasmares are in hellgrind!
Ranger: Yes.
Naruto: What if we take the place of the two slaves? The full moons three days from now.
Ranger frowned.
Ranger: If the slaves are killed at a distance then well be introuble.
Naruto: We don't even know if they are killed at all.
Ranger: I'm sure they are. But if we followed the slaves, we could get to the Echoplamare's and attack.
Naruto: Alright!
Ranger: I'll get more intel at the palace tommorrow. For now let's get some sleep.
He flopped down on his mat and pulled his little book out of his pack and began writing. Naruto walked over to the window and watched as the rain began to fall on the city. In the distance he could see hellgrind the layer of the Echoplasmares. He contacted Cortana.
Naruto: We've found them!
Cortana: Where?
Naruto quickly relayed the intel of the day to her.
Cortana: Hellgrind, a fitting name. For their roost.
Naruto: Maybe after they're dead we can go back to the valley.
Cortana: What is it that you want? If we kill the Echoplasmares Xemnas will hunt us down for vengance.
Naruto: Well at least I can explain things to Edward.
Cortana: Naruto you're going to have to commit yourself to something soon. And if you must choose I will not allow you to surrender yourself over to the king. Which is something I cannot and will not accept!
Naruto: If I must choose...
He sighed thinking about what Ranger had said on the road from Teirm.
Naruto: I cast my fate with the Varden.
Ranger24: And thats the chapter. Next time bad stuff is going to go down. The question is can our heroes and heroin escape from the wrath of their enemies? Read and review!