Indy took Amaya and Rayla back home, meeting up with Brody, Callum, and Kazi. Brody was met with a wounded Jones, and a sweaty Amaya and Rayla. Brody helped Indy to a chair, sitting him down.
"What happened to Claudia?" Callum asked.
"She retreated," Indy answered, "And I have a feeling that will not be the last time we will see them."
"So what's the plan now?" Kazi asked.
"The plan is to pack. The faster we start our search for the maps and keys, the higher our advantage will be," Indy said.
" Are you sure it is wise to start our search now, even though you are injured?" Amaya signed.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Indy said, "Now you guys should start packing."
Amaya, Callum, Kazi, and Rayla nodded as they went to their rooms and packed whatever stuff they had. Once they left the room, Indy turned his attention to Brody.
"There's something else," Indy said, "These people, a few of them, use some kind of witchcraft. Don't know how to describe it, but the girl, Claudia, was trying to use a staff to attack me. It did not work, obviously. But it makes me wonder, what if the Yggdrasil helps fuel their magic. What if they team up with the Nazis?"
"If the Nazis and Arravos teams up, who knows what kind of hell can be brought to our world and to theirs," Brody said.
"Yeah," Indy said. He thinks for a moment. "I am going to let Sallah and Caitlin know what's going on. Then I have to figure out a plan to find those keys.'
"Where are you planning to start looking first?" Brody asked.
"South America. I have a feeling I might know where the first key is hidden," Indy answered.
"Which is?" Brody asked.
"Columbia. Coastal sea that the vikings could have landed on. Will have to take a closer look there. No one really knows where this Viking died, but they do describe a tribe of native people that are similar to the Ticuna people," Indy said.
Brody smiled. "Just be careful Indy. These people are counting on you to protect them and return them home. It also seems that they would be strangers no matter where they will go, as they do not know nor understand the dirty tricks some of these people might do."
"You know I will, Brody," Indy said.
"I do, but they don't. Just, good luck Indy, I wish I can come with you but I need to look after the repairs at the museum," Brody said.
"You are a good friend, Brody," Indy said.
The plane ride to Columbia was uneventful to say the least. Well as uneventful as introducing a group of people from the medieval era to the modern wonders of the airplane. As soon as the group came out of the car, the residents of Xadia looked on in wonder and delight, as they have never seen a mechanical beast as huge as an airplane. Indy, watching their amazement, just smiles as they enter the flying contraption.
During the flight, Indy was being asked, mainly by Kazi and Callum, on the mechanics of the plane. Indy explained to them the knowledge he has of the plane. It was not a lot, but it was sufficent enough to help the elf and human better understand how a plane works.
When they arrived to Columbia, the group felt the humidity rise as soon as they got off the plane. The airport they arrived was bustling with people bartering for goods, aromas of beef and chicken filling the air, and an overall lively feel. There were people going up to Amaya, Rayla, and Kazi, speaking in a language they do not understand. They were showing them necklaces and bracelets made from cloth.
"Um, no thank you, I do not want it," Rayla said, as she was trying to walk past the people.
One of the people, an older woman, stops Rayla and continue showing her the necklace. Rayla continue trying to get through the market place, with Kazi and Amaya following behind. The lady was still pestering the group.
"Indy!" Rayla shouted, as she started to feel like a corner animal. Her breath was slowly staggering as she started to feel small against the group of barters.
Indy turned around and saw the human and elves were stuck, being pestered by a lot of the market people. Indy made his way towards the girls, pushing through the crowd, as Callum followed behind.
The American stood in front of the elf, shielding her from the woman. Rayla listen in to what Indy was saying to the woman. She noticed that Indy was speaking the same strange language as the lady. The lady was arguing back at Indy, but Indy continued calmly talking to the woman. He then reached into his satchel and took out some coins. Indy handed the woman some coins
Rayla watched as the woman looking at the coin, biting it down, and then looking please. Indy helped Rayla get out of the crowd, with Amaya and Kazi following them.
Rayla was quiet for a bit, as they continued to move to the outside of the airport. She then asked, "Hey Indy, what language were those humans speaking?"
"Spanish," Indy replied.
"Spanish? Rayla asked.
"Yeah, it's the national language of this country," Indy explained, "The countries of this world speaks different languages, with Spanish being one of the more common languages."
"How do you know how to speak the language?" Kazi asked.
"I used to ride with this revolutionary called Pancho Villa. He and his gang mainly spoke Spanish, so I was able to pick up on the language," Indy explained.
"What other languages will we be hearing through this quest?" Kazi asked.
"Well, there is Spanish, German possibly, Italian, Icelandic, and Norwegian," Indy said, "But this world has many more languages. There is Japanese, Canotese, Mandarin, Russian, French, among other languages, some of them even being obscure."
The group made their way through the main road of the village. Taking a turn into a restaurant, Indy lifted the quilt that was being used as a door entering into a hole in wall. The restaurant was not that busy, with only one or two families sitting at separate tables, a man in a drunken sleep at the bar, the bartender, and the waiter. The group sat at a table, with Amaya and Rayla being on their guard.
Indy walks towards the bar, talking to the bartender. The elf noticed that Indy was pointing at the group, with the worker looking. The bartender nodded as he went into the back, with Indy walking back towards the group.
"We will need a guide to enter into the jungle and traverse it safely. I know someone who can help, so that is why we are here," Indy explained.
As Indy took his seat, the group heard some yelling coming from the back.
"Um, Indy, are you sure this person is a good idea?" Rayla asked, "He seems a bit…loud."
"I am sure, Josue is one of the best guides in this village, if not in Columbia. He is also a great friend of mine who has helped me on some of my greatest expeditions," Indy said.
Rayla was not pleased with the answer, but figured there was nothing she can do. A door swung open, as a portly middle aged man came out. His face was scrunch up in anger, as the elves and humans felt the heat radiating from his body.
"Dr. Jones, I thought I told you to get the hell out of here. You really do want to have a death wish!" Josue yelled.
The group felt tense, as Indy was staring there confuse, his mouth hanging wide open. The man anger lifted into a laughing fit, as he walked towards the American archeologist, hugging him.
"I got you good, didn't I gringo," Josue said, hugging Indy into a tight embrace.
"Yeah you did," Indy said, returning the hug, "It's great to see you again, Josue."
"As with you, mi amigo," Josue said.
The jolly man let go of Indy, as he looked towards the strange looking group. "And to who you senor and senorita might be?" Josue asked.
"Josue, these are the people I mentioned about in the letter," Indy said.
"The brujas y knights?" Josue asked.
"Yeah," Indy answered.
"Aye, it is nice meeting you. You guys must be famished from the flight, si?" Josue asked.
"Um, we could eat," Callum said, as he heard his stomach growling.
"Aye, my friend, food first and then talk. You definitely need to have meat on those bones," Josue said. He turned and shouted towards the kitchen, telling them to cook some food. While they were waiting for food, some children were running out of the kitchen in laughter and joy.
They looked towards the group and saw the familiar man with the fedora, leather jacket, and whip. "Tio Indy!" they shouted. They ran towards Indy, giving him a bear hug. Indy returned their hug, as he let out a jolly laugh.
"How are my favorite little ones doing?" Indy asked.
"They are doing great, Senor Jones," Josue said, chuckling, "Francesca there has already lost her final baby tooth. And Manuel has grown so much since you last saw him."
"I see, I remember him being about as tall as my legs," Indy said.
One of the kids, Mary was looking at Rayla with curiosity. "Why do you have sticks in your head?" she asked.
"Hush Mary, don't be rude to our guests," Josue stated.
"No it's fine," Rayla said. She then turned to Mary and said, "It's because I was born with antlers."
"Why?" Mary asked.
"Because I am an elf," Rayla answered, "And us elves are born with antlers."
"Do you work for Santo Nicholas?" Manuel asked.
"Um," Rayla said, not knowing the answer. She looks towards Indy for help.
"Yeah, she works for Santa Claus, and if you keep on asking her these questions, Rayla here will tell the big man that you are being naughty," Indy lied.
"No, we will be good, we promise," Mary said, her eyes wide opened.
"Look, we can show you our toys," Manuel said.
"And I can do your hair," Mary said.
Mary took Rayla and Callum by their hands and led them away from the adults. Rayla and Callum was looking at Indy for helped. Indy was looking back at the kids and nudged Josue. The man just look at his kids and laughed.
"You will be fine my friends, they are good kids, I promised. They are just full of energy, like little puppies," Josue said.
Indy just shrugged his shoulders as the kids went towards the back of the restaurant and up to their rooms. Amaya, Kazi, and Indy were staring at them as they made their way up. As soon as the kids were in their room, the three adults turned to Josue, who was just smiling a jovial smile.
"Kids, am I right Senor," Josue said, "They always ask me when you were coming back. I tell them soon, very soon. They always love hearing about your adventures."
"Are you sure Rayla and Callum will be fine?" Kazi asked.
"Si, senora, they are fine. At worst, my kids might tire them out, but they know if they misbehave then papa won't be happy," Josue said.
Josue walks towards the bar, with Indy, Kazi, and Amaya following behind. He grabs four glasses and places them on the counter. Josue then grabs a big bottle of tequuilla and pours it into each of the glass. Everyone grabbed a glass, as Josue did a salute. Kazi and Amaya did not know what the man was saying, but once he put the glass to his mouth and drink the liquid, they decided to do the same.
Unlike the scotch that Indy gave them, this drink was smooth going through the throat. Placing the glass onto the counter, the general and elf felt the environment becoming more serious, as Josue cleared his throat.
"Senor, I did some scouting on the path we will be taking to the ruins of the ancient city," Jouse said.
"And?" Indy asked.
"You were right about not being the only ones looking for this key. There was these soldiers, not Americans like you senior, who are excavating the ancient city," Josue said.
"What do they speak?" Indy asked.
"German, I believe," Josue answered, "Good news is that they did not find the key. They are not as smart as you. Well, except this one man. The workers call him Scarface. Says he was in an accident in Greece."
"Shit," Indy said, realizing who Josue might be talking about, "What do the soldiers call him?
"Herr Franz," Josue said. He then connected the dots as he asked Indy, "Tell me, senor, you did not have anything to do with him being called Scarface."
"I might have," Indy said.
Josue just laughed in joy as he said, "You will never fail to surprise me, Indy."
" Who is this Franz?" Amaya signed.
"A Nazi officer who is also interested in the occult. Hitler assigned him as one of the officers looking for these mystical artifacts and he is the one who was also after the mirror and who I thought was killed in a car accident," Indy explained.
"That's going to be an issue?" Kazi asked.
"Yeah, if they already started looking for the key here, they might know the other locations too," Indy said. Turning to Josue, Indy asked him, "How soon can we head out?"
"As soon as possible, Senor Jones, I just need to get the men," Josue answered.
"Good, the sooner we get to the ruins, the better," Indy said.
The food was brought as the adults continued to drink. Empanadas, bread with butter spread on it, fried pork bellies, and other delicious Colombian cuisine lined the tables one by one. Kazi and Amaya look on in surprise as they look at the food being served. Josue notice this and laughs loudly.
"You two have never seen this amount of food before?" Josue asked.
"Well, we have seen this much of food, but the thing is that I have never seen these types of foods before," Kazi said.
"Well, never say never my friend. Now you should eat, you will need all the energy," Josue said.
He then walked towards the back of the kitchen and shouted in Spanish up the stairs. Kazi heard footsteps running, as Josue's children came out of the kitchen, leading Rayla and Callum behind them. Indy, Amaya, and Kazi look towards the children. The Xadian residents was taken aback by Rayla's change of hairstyle. Rayla's face was red with embarrassment, as she did not know how the others would react.
"Aye, mi amor, you look beautiful," Josue said.
"Thank you, Sir Josue," Rayla said, sheepishly.
"My children did well, did they not, Senoras?" Josue continued.
"They did," Kazi said, smiling.
"Now, now, time to eat. Time to feast and celebrate as tomorrow we will be in a world of survival," Josue said.
Everyone ate the food, as the Xadian residents enjoyed the strange food they were eating. It was delicious and full of flavor. Callum reminds himself to remember this cuisine, so that he can bring it back home. He decided to ask Josue, who was happy to show how he made the food. Callum took notes as Josue showed the human the ingredients he used. The restaurant is filled with joy and livliness as people eat, drink, and party.
Later, Josue grabbed his guitar, and started to play it. Josue began to sing a Spanish ballad, as Indy, Josue's wife, and the children join in singing. Amaya, Callum, Kazi, and Rayla sat around, enjoying the small celebration.
