Chapter 30: The Race Begins
"Wake up!" Tobi was shaken out of his slumber as Iris slung the bag he was in onto her shoulder. "Tobi, look alive!" She walked over to Waka. "Up and at'em, Waka! C'mon, we need to hurry!" She clapped her hand in front of him, and Waka blinked wearily.
"Ma cherie, the sun's not up…"
"No time to wait for the sun, Waka! This curse is gone, and we need to see the Queen right now!" She pulled him up. "C'mon, bud, get up! Tobi, you too!"
"Iris, this is insane…" Tobi muttered as he flew out. "What could possibly be so urgent…"
"Ayame was murdered," Iris said, and they both looked at her, "by one of the tube foxes. The other two in that set are here in the palace, and they're trying to get the comb back."
"Why do you think that?" Tobi asked as they followed Iris out of the room.
"It's just like Waka said – three groups, three artifacts, nine faces of one small problem. There are three sets of tube foxes guarding the treasures, and one of them is here, in the Palace. They were supposed to keep me from getting the robe and gown, but I got past them on that thanks to Waka, so I suspect they either want the comb or my life."
"How do you know all this so suddenly, ma cherie?" Waka asked as Iris turned a corner, and Tobi flew back in the bag.
"One of them tried to kill me last night. I suspect it was the one who was trying to give me tea – the same one who killed Ayame." Iris glanced back at Waka's shocked expression. "So no, I'm not having any tea this morning."
"Did you just wake up the minute you felt better?" Waka asked. They stopped at the elevator, and Waka set down another tiny explosive.
"Pretty much."
"Ma cherie, you could have hurt yourself!" The elevator went shooting up. Iris was out the door the instant it opened, and stopped in front of the pools of lava blocking the Queen's room. Waka lifted her up. "I'll take care of this."
"That's another thing," Iris muttered as Waka strode across like it was solid stone beneath them, "How do you keep walking on lava?"
"Old trinket I picked up a few years back. It's inside my sleeve," Waka responded, setting Iris down once they reached the floor. Queen Himiko turned to face them.
"Thank goodness you've recovered," she said as Iris and Waka approached, and knelt down. "I saw your battle with the tube fox was already here, then there are still two more in Sei-An City. And if that one was able to breach our defenses so well…"
"Imagine where the other two could be," Waka and Iris finished.
"Precisely. With two demon foxes in the City alone… and we have another problem." Queen Himiko turned to the crystal ball. "Waka mentioned earlier that aside from the two foxes running loose in the City, there are two groups of three remaining in other parts of Ryoshima Coast. I have been searching for them, and found their hideouts – the Dojo offshore from here, and Rao's temple. The problem is," she looked at them again, "that only one of these two sets has one of the tools – the sword. The possessed Prayer Ribbon – it is nowhere to be seen."
"You can't find it?" Iris frowned, and Tobi retreated into the bag. The Prayer Ribbon… he felt himself shaking. He'd seen that ribbon… but where, he couldn't remember.
A dark place, with nothing but the prayers and the wishes…
"No," Himiko shook her head, "I cannot. I need you to find the sword while I search for the ribbon – I fear the worst if we cannot retrieve it."
"Why? What's "the worst"?" Iris stood up.
"The sword was forged to fight evil and protect the good, imbued with Rao's prayers. If that sword spills innocent blood, it will break and become useless to us." Himiko sighed. "If the demons discover that…"
"Got it. I'll head to the dojo right away." Waka said. There was a loud rumble. "…As soon as I eat something."
"I'll stay here for now," Iris added, "and take care of the other two."
"Thank you, Iris, Waka. I wish you the best of luck."