Ancient Ruins.
The group of Zootopians searching the wilds of Pachydermia slowly made its way through the dense undergrowth. Team Bravo and Lima were ahead and behind Oracle Paulina and Clare. Grand Tracker Marquis had his team with him, as he said back in the meeting this was a perfect opportunity to sharpen his skills. It also was an excellent opportunity to train and certify a new group of trackers, hence why Kimberly Canter was with him. Amanda Grays and Charlene Snowshoe were along to provide first aid, although the GSD teams questioned the wisdom of bringing them along. The tracker group didn't care either way; it was additional training in their eyes. Amanda and Charlene were still in training to become nurses but had qualified to wear the medic badge and thus had field packs with them.
Earlier they met with the Matriarch of Pachydermia and left behind Colonel Kohle, High Priestess Ishanah, and High Priest Aaron. These were enjoying a banquet the empress said was needed to start restoring proper relations with the Zootopians. It was also suspected she wanted these to be nearby in case the searching party found something and needed guidance on further actions. While the elephant cow genuinely enjoyed the priests, it was suspected she tolerated the dog because she wanted to keep the GSD on a short leash.
Reports were sketchy at best but a sole survivor from a recent event was delirious and he kept making incoherent statements that suggested he suffered some sort of trauma. Government Office of Mammalian Affairs identified his home village but the group sent to inform his family and the local council has yet to return and now grossly overdue. If the Empress and her court were not informed about the crone earlier, another group would have been sent and most likely suffered the same fate as the first. Thus an emergency was sent to the neighboring villages to stay clear and report immediately any unusual activity, they were also told of a special task force that would head there and handle the unknown situation.
Paulina and Clare kept their guard up; each summoned an orb to protect them from psychic attack as they slept. Hilda taught them this tactic and in these previous nights proved valuable. The element of surprise had long been lost; their opponent only had to search the ethereal plane to locate any nearby priest. Such happened soon as they started the trek towards the mountain. The oracles had to admit their opponent was highly skilled; the training they received in the Oracle Sanctum now seemed grossly inferior to what they now experienced. The ancient mammal taunted them at irregular intervals each day, only when Paulina conjured a specific orb did the taunts stop. She wrote down the spell for Clare to read and memorize, then shredded and burnt the remainder as was the ancient practice.
It was decided to travel with two orbs cast and following them, each for a different purpose. These glowed and were an obvious giveaway to anyone that cared to track them, certainly gave away their position at night. Each night their elephant escorts decided to fabricate a covering made from large leaves which seemed to be from banana plants. They were surprised how many it took to adequately block the glow, to all but Grand Tracker Marquis. The elder wolf snickered: he was better prepared and set up a tent sufficient in keeping the glow within. Most of the GSD team members were impressed, obviously not the more experienced.
Team Bravo and Lima were slightly annoyed with their Pachydermian escort. These insisted several walked ahead of the group and no matter how the Zootopians explained they could read the signs better the pachyderms *pffed* and walked ahead anyway. The elephants tolerated the four Zootopians of agents riding on their backs as they walked in their normal manner. Even though elephants evolved to walk upright, they still preferred to walk on all fours most of the day. The remainder of the Pachydermian escorts walked behind the group and was annoyed as the other GSD agents rode on their backs. The two nurses rode with the rear group where they could see everyone slightly better and more than likely be outside the ambush should one present itself. Everyone soon learned to listen to Grand Tracker Marquis as he quizzed his trainees throughout the walk. Agent Savage was interested as what the questions and answers indicated the Dark Underground Trackers were nearly as good if not better in some things as any training the GSD teams went through.
The first days of traveling was grating on the nerves. The oracle priestesses kept their eyes and senses peeled, especially after they effectively cut off the harassment from the ethereal plane. Agent Minksin tried in vain to assure them everything was being handled, but nothing says potential death awaited them quite like a purplish bolt announcing its arrival. Thankfully it didn't happen here but the memory of that first morning back at the Oracle Library was a reminder their foe was clever.
Every once and a while one of the oracles would catch a sense of their quarry then it would vanish. Paulina remembered the crone was wearing the Headmaster's necklace, such a powerful piece of jewelry would allow the wearer to use the arcane to mask its presence as well as search the ethereal plane without detection. She was thankful the crone did not have the tiara; having both pieces of jewelry would have the crone powers beyond many oracle priests. Where the Headmaster hid the tiara she only hoped Hilda could find it before the Dark Priesthood did.
Agent Ricardo was finding it difficult not to be concerned; the pika was watching the oracle priestesses and could tell they were overexerting themselves. He figured if he dedicated his scanner unit to sense for energy signatures, like the ones of the purplish bolts that nearly killed him back in that arena those foul monsters used, the chances of finding the crone would greatly increase. He admitted to himself it was fascinating how a living being could wield energy without becoming fried in the process. Every now and then his unit would beep, signaling it detected something. He sent the information to Agent Rogers asking the mink to set her unit to scan for same signature, and Stella sent back a small program that linked their units as a modified triangulation system saying that between both units hopefully they could tell an approximate direction of the signature.
The day wore on with minimal break of the endless walking. Those that rode switched places with those that walked, including the Trackers.
Hilda normally enjoyed a good challenge but today was proving frustrating. The technicians back in the Valley of the Oracles had limited success finding information. Historical records said little about the Headmasters and their tiara other than they always wore it. But the computer system over on the Headmaster's study, which they soon learned was actually called the Headmaster's Sanctum, told them he didn't always wear the tiara; he or she only wore it when required to be over at the Oracle Library to teach classes in advanced arcane or when he received visitors. Hilda found this interesting because like the necklaces she thought it was a normal part of the attire.
"Records indicate the tiara was needed only to perform certain duties. It was worn when hosting guests or travelling through the Oracle Sanctum and beyond."
"Well... guess you can color me impressed."
The elder vixen grinned to herself; it was pleasing that these citizens from the Valley of the Oracles never heard of certain phrases. But they had certain phrases she didn't know and was busy trying to learn as much about their culture. Thankfully the two mammals that were assigned to assist back of that day so many weeks ago: Maximillian Laslo and Nathan Swift, was scheduled to be here this afternoon. She wished the pair were here now; their ability to know what she wanted was impeccable.
As if on cue a soft cough was heard from the doorway and as she looked up the very mammals she wished for strode into the room. After exchanging the proper greetings Maximillian and Nathan listened as she explained what she and the technicians were trying to accomplish.
"We heard. Technician Minkowski was given assistance from your GSD and after explaining what the tiara was made of; the Zootopians are using their satellite system to do a search. They say currently a drone is flying overhead and scanning, nothing conclusive yet; it was hypothesized the Headmaster might have been warned the sanctum been breached and decided to throw the tiara over the cliff. Maybe he handed it to a trusted servant who knew of a secret way off the mountain or maybe the storage device had a fail-safe mechanism that would open only when the computer at the Oracle Sanctum sent a new Headmaster. Perhaps you might try searching for a hidden room or tunnel since surface scans have drawn a blank. Try using this."
The lynx handed her a small device easily held in one paw. She never used a scanner before and found the device interesting.
"Grand Technician Beverton thought this device might be able to better penetrate the material these walls are made of. The technician next to you knows how to use it, so when you're ready off you go on your search. As you probably suspect by now not everything about this Sanctum was kept back in the valley, unless on hidden files accessible only by specific mammals. Since you obviously have tried a visual search and your priestly spidy-senses and have come up emptied pawed, this is the next step. Not counting taking the whole complex apart or the satellite and drone finding it."
Hilda hugged both and waved goodbye as they departed. The technician had already turned on the device and started walking down the corridor. She hurried to catch up and as they walked she took turns watching the device between her stretching her mind to sense anything out of the ordinary. As they continued through the hallways she found herself thinking about how all this have been avoided; she could go back and explain to the computer at the Oracle Sanctum what was already known and show the pictures of the Headmaster's corps, but having the tiara and the necklace of the Headmaster would be better. Maybe bring back the robed skeleton might be convincing evidence...
She slapped her forehead. "Of course! How could I have forgotten?"
The technician stopped walking and looked at her. "Pardon?"
Hilda smiled as she realized a reddish hue showed on her face.
"The computer back at the Oracle Sanctum said if the Headmaster locked himself in a stasis chamber your fellow technicians would know how to open it. We just gotta find the chamber!"
The technician adjusted his device. He seemed to be entering more than a simple search perimeter.
"I'm having the device search for any power signature as well as doing deep scan through these walls. This consumes more power and we'll have to go slower so it can properly process what it's receiving. You might have just as much success using your priestly senses as I am this device."
They continued walking and both remained silent; he watching the screen and she concentrating using her priestly senses. She only hoped this wouldn't take very much longer. Unfortunately considering the centuries the Dark Priesthood had been stranded here, it wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination theorizing they themselves had searched for the tiara. Since the body of the headmaster still lay in the chair it was obvious they failed in convincing him to reveal the tiara's location. If he had, it was obvious their remaining trapped here was proof they couldn't retrieve it.
"What do you suppose might this be?"
The expedition stumbled into these ruins just minutes ago, surprised the energy given off certain stones seemed familiar, seemed like they had been near them recently. Whatever the pictograph cravings on certain large carved rocks seemed to be telling a story both priestesses should know their meaning. Agent Rogers and Ricardo were busy video recording many of these and stopping to run the video through a translation program. It was a long shot and as usual the laptop computers came up empty. After collecting a few video files they sent them off the GSD HQ via satellite uplink hoping someone back there was alert and would get busy translating them.
The two oracles noticed something else was odd about this place. It was scary how the statues moved, pointed directly at the oracles regardless where they moved including when the pair split apart and each circling around separate statues. Paulina noticed only those carved in a feline shape followed her while those carved in a squat-mammalian shape followed Clare.
Something Hilda told them at the meeting with the governor troubled Paulina. An old wolf made a serious challenge about how the priesthood got their technology. He made a subtle claim it was from a previous civilization that was no longer around; actually his words could be interpreted from several viewpoints. But at first glance one would assume it was stolen. She agreed with Hilda and didn't like the implied interpretation. Still, why was the advanced technology in the paws of the oracle priesthood? Why was it not shared with the general population? Those questions bothered her most and she wasn't entirely certain what to think about it.
She grinned. Hilda told her shortly before this trip something the old wolf had said. Those words got her thinking; if the wolf intended to plant doubt in their minds, what about the reversal? He admitted his ancient pact that lived in the caverns below Zootopia had similar technology. Why didn't they share it? With it they could have easily run throughout the world after the Oracle Council had been decimated, putting the entire world under control of their paws. What prevented them?
She shook her head and was immediately approached by a GSD agent who inquired if she sensed something. After briefly explaining the conflicting thoughts inside her head she thanked the agent, who called a halt and asked for a medical mammal to examine the lioness. Paulina endured her protégé's not so subtle grin as the honey badger enjoyed the lioness being the unwanted center of attention.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, maybe stress levels higher due to something; probably missing her husband. Was it the last night the Zootopia Charity Ball that the mayor was supposed to host?" Amanda asked the lioness.
Charlene grinned as her fellow medic endured a paw cuffing her ear; obviously the lioness indeed was missing her husband. It was obvious Pauline had been entertaining thoughts of moving across the dance floor in an elegant gown; enjoying the orchestra as she was held in the paws of the powerful mammal. It was unusual for a priestess to marry, but once done it was for a lifetime. No divorce, no living separately, no having a suitor on the side. If love left the relationship it became a marriage of convenience.
Paulina glanced over to Clare; she hoped they could find the male honey badger before the abominations could convert him into one of them. In her opinion they made for a lovely couple, and she was looking forward to their cubs playing with hers.
Paulina pushed the thoughts out of her mind and returned her attention back to the ruins. Something was nagging at the back of her mind; there must be a link between these old stones and oracle history. She was certain of it and thus decided to endure the strange sculptures that followed her every move. Why did they only follow priestesses and no others? As her own mentor, High Priestess Ishanah was fond of saying *All things will be revealed in proper time*.
The lioness wished it would be sooner than later.
The ancient priestess cackled. It was cubs play tracking these young oracles. The orbs each summoned may prevent her from attacking them directly, but these also were a dead giveaway to their location. The old crone didn't need to see their actual location, the energies given off the orbs was enough to one attuned to the ethereal plane. She merely had to keep away from the direction they were headed. But when the group entered the ancient ruins she had been using for her base of operation, High Priestess Ganieda had to leave before these newcomers discovered what was hidden here eons ago.
These ruins were neither built nor claimed by any priest faction. When she first stumbled upon these a few years before the attack against the oracles eons ago, the purpose was difficult to comprehend. The priesthood was the most intelligent mammals and if anyone could figure this out it they stood the better chance. But when several of these were discovered around the world their purpose was made clear. These were transportation hub left behind by an ancient civilization; she surmised one of these must have been discovered by the oracles centuries ago. It must have been these ruins the oracles studied and reversed engineered to suit their travel needs. The secrets of these transporters also allowed the oracles to hide their primary center of operations known as the Valley of the Oracles and Oracle Sanctum; both located in remote places. The Headmaster chose his operation center on the mountain nearby. Never did he know this transporter was within sight of the mountain his sanctum was located.
Ganieda learned something from these ruins that enabled the dark priesthood to make their surprise attack; a master code. She assumed whatever civilization created this network must have had a civil war; the end result was a near elimination of their civilization. These ruins appeared to have been a master hub, and she found a chipset that her computer could read.
A snap of a twig or some other vegetation caught her attention and she turned swiftly towards the sound, and then relaxed as she recognized the several mammals.
"High Priestess... apologies for the delay. We were thwarted in our attempt to gain access to the Oracle Library. Whoever controls it had a barrier erected thus preventing us from getting off the pad. So to prevent them from tracking our getaway we made an untargeted transport; thankfully by chance we transported to a pad on the other side of this land. We travelled here living off the natives and planned to use this transporter to get back to the Headmaster's Sanctum."
She cackled.
"Apology not necessary bishop. But beware... nearby is a group of oracles new to their order. Although few in number they are supported by powerful allies and the ruler of this land."
The small group walked and stood nearby the high priestess, and each started looking at the various plants and shrubbery around them. A small non-sentient mammal found itself levitated out of its hiding place; it squealed as its life-force was ripped from its body and the husk dropped unceremoniously after the deed was done.
"I wish to let these young ones remain clueless of our presence, I had been taunting them but for now perhaps giving them a few hours of relief may allow us to figure out what has them fascinated with these ruins."
"High priestess, isn't this your personal study?"
"True, it was eons ago before our attack on the Headmaster. None of these transporter pads are operational, I've removed the master key thus only the focusing units still operate. This should provide us hours of entertainment as they attempt to figure out the how's-n-whys the stonework moves like they do."
The dark priests stood in silence just watching the going on in the ruins.
Two figures were seen inside the cab as the sedan drove erratically through the back roads. The passenger swore under her breath; it was obvious this one wondered why she let the other drive. If one stopped to ask the other mammals whose vehicles were forced off the road, these would probably ask the same question. Now the swine had enough; her foot stomped on the brake pedal and her hooves pulled on the steering wheel. When the sedan came to a stop the swine faced the ewe.
"Where did you get your driver's license, from a Cracker Jacks box?"
The ewe returned the glare in equal measure. "I thought someone said we needed to get there quickly. Oh and who was it that kept calling out the minutes?"
The sow narrowed her eyes. "It didn't mean discard the rules of the road. There's a reason lines are painted."
"You are welcome."
Hillary blinked her eyes. "You are welcome?! What is that about?"
Dawn grinned. "See? It doesn't kill you to be more appreciative. By the way, who was it that saved your bacon back in that cave?"
"Only to nearly get me killed on this road."
Dawn *Pffted*. "We are still in one piece. Now, unless you want to be further late for our appointment I suggest buckle-up and put on sleep eye mask. Scotch or whisky might be advisable. Save some for me, please."
The wheels spun as the sedan careened back onto the road. Hillary took the words literally and chugged half a Fifth of her favorite sipping scotch. It was going to be a ride she wished she could drive herself, but the ewe had some electronics installed that allowed only her to control this vehicle. If the sheep only drove normal the swine could spend time using her sharp mind to formulate their next plan. There is something to be said for the creativity of the unconscious mind, assuming the erratic motion of the sedan allowed such sleep to be reached.
Their escape from the cave was mostly one of fate. When both regained consciousness from whatever that priestess-thing did, they walked the tunnels following the sounds of a loudspeaker. They arrived on a balcony just moments before the raid. Both enjoyed the bunny being led on a choker chain and dressed in a Play Bunny outfit. Within moments all hell broke loose: explosions rocked the cavern and weapons fire rained everywhere. Then the priests let loose with whatever it was they did. Flechettes, bullets, and purple energy bolts flew everywhere. Body parts were everywhere as the mayhem continued for seemingly forever.
They witnessed the rescue of the bunny, cursing and admiring the gutsiness of it. While the rescuers succeeded in removing the bunny they failed in making their retreat. Those priest-things made interrogation the worst she ever witnessed; it also taught her new tricks that effectively reduced time necessary to get the crux who they worked for, not that the ewe and swine didn't already know. Hillary could identify a GSD agent from a mile away; she knew their tactics from far too many raids they did on her own projects. But these mammals were also from the king that ruled Vulpinstan, and she marveled how the Zootopians got his cooperation. Last she knew the king had banished the multi-species mammals and forbid all but close family members from crossing the border.
In due time they arrived back at their home, parking in their hidden cavern to avoid unnecessary detection. Dawn struggled to get her drunken companion out the sedan and into the doorway, finally resorting to having to use an appliance dolly. Last time she used it the swine squealed about waking up still strapped to the device. Now the ewe was contemplating leaving the sow strapped to it while she went and made dinner. She opted leaving her companion strapped in; the swine had a nasty habit of snacking as dinner was being cooked on the stove.
Later after releasing the squealing sow and dinner was eaten, they went to the study and turned on the communication device.
"You're late." Empress Whitefang, ruler of the Lupusdon Empire said in a menacing tone.
"Have you heard what happened at the hidden cove?"
"News reached my ears. Your failure demands that I seriously reevaluate our agreement."
"Not so fast. High Priestess Greta Daperclaw interfered. Fortunately her minions captured many of the rescuers; we should know how the Zootopians found out where the auction was being held."
"My husband's hide remains in danger, the bunny was to be the lure to wrest the traitor out in the open. Need I remind you the importance of accomplishing this?"
Dawn looked at her with eyes showing authority. "We are well aware what is at stake and what the risk for each of us are. When our next part of your plan is completed we will inform you."
Without waiting for the empress to respond Hillary turned off the device, and then walked past the wide-eyed ewe and stopped at the table. The last piece of pie was wolfed down in record time before she went off to her favorite chair and sat down.
"It was our plan" Dawn said with eyes narrowed and glaring towards the sow.
"A small concession to buy some time. We'll make certain to hide away some of the spoils before handling over the bunny."
It was obvious the ewe didn't buy it, but neither did she say anything further. This next abduction was targeted towards the two young vixens which careful reading of newspapers told them the bunny was attached. How was it possible for a prey to think itself the mother or step-mother was almost beyond reason. All these two cared for was her attachment was sufficient to throw caution to the wind and enter their trap.
"Aunty!"
Marilyn and Caroline broke free of Nick's grasp and raced towards the elder vixen. They stopped just short of their usual leaping distance, curtsied towards the old vixen, and then ran until they could wrap their paws around her legs, one on each leg.
Margret was thankful for her habit of wearing mid-calf length dresses in her golden years. Outline of her legs could clearly be seen as both vixens held them tight. A small coaxing from the elder convinced the two younger vixens to release their grip so each could receive her matriarch marking, once her old bone allowed her to rest on her knees. It was debatable just who actually helped her to stand up; her husband or the two vixens.
Nathan and Vickey were here as was John and Jackie. Audrey was tied up in the operation searching for the escaped priests and the oracle's new search in Pachydermia. Nathan hugged his sister and shook paws with Clifford. After Judy and Nick gave their proper acknowledgements everyone got into the limousine and enjoyed the ride back to the estate. This time the young vixens dominated the conversation as they told the elder foxes what happened in their lives since last they met. By the time the vehicle rolled to a stop outside the main entrance the vixens had exhausted their story; now they had started on the detective series they were excited reading.
Instead of handing the vixens into the care of nannies, Clifford and Margret brought everyone into the small dining hall where dinner was waiting. Jackie and Vickie helped Judy prepare the vixens into chairs meant for young foxes. The Wilde-Hopps couple tried not to show their surprise at the improved quality of the meal.
"Once the circumstance of where the family fortune went and its return, most of it as well as the king's portion he gave us, we have been able to enjoy more than gruel most days."
Clifford enjoyed the look of surprise upon Judy's face.
"Sir... had I only known..."
He waved her concern aside. "It's nothing if not it's taught us the value of what we once had. Before I forget... thank both of you for your efforts in searching down the culprits; and bringing in experts who tirelessly tracked down the falsehood. While the swine and ewe remain somewhere in the wind, we are content those who primarily involved have been punished. The end they sought for us instead has been visited upon them."
As the guest looked around the room they noticed Jeeves as well as butlers and maids wore better quality, or at least better cared for clothes. The Wilde-Hopps also noticed there were more servants. As they whispered among themselves it was concluded that they had also noticed more servants throughout the manor as they walked here, they simply did not immediately recognized it. Jeeves walked over and said what everyone was thinking.
"As the master and missus fortune rises, so does ours. It never was a hardship to suffer through the difficult times they went through, we all here knew their character and willingly chose to remain here. Therefore we learned the value of what we lost, and now proudly serve their needs. The baron married a high quality vixen; and through her bloodline the family fortune was restored. We suspect their many litters will be making hard choices, especially since they have been locked out of the family coffers."
Clifford coughed softly.
"Your Arctic shrew friend gave us a transcript of every financial transaction each of our cubs have done since leaving this manor and striking out on their own. Vulpinstan law allows me to review such transaction and if proven incompetence or being inept, allows such mammal be removed from authorized transactions. We, Margret and I, have removed a great many of our young from such authorization. They howled and threatened, but once shown proof and forced to explain themselves before the magistrate they relented. If they did not then the next step would have been to the king himself. Such appeals rarely result in mammals being spared the guillotine."
Margret placed her cup of Earl Grey down. "Rhon was one of few that were not cut out. As we told you earlier he never fails an audit, thus we gave him authority to act on your behalf; he is now your steward. It is he that everyone must go through to have their fiscal bills paid. He has authority to deny payment if in his judgement said bill is questionable. Needless to say old habits die hard and many of our young now find themselves having to pay their bills out of their own pockets."
Judy's ears flew up. "Margret, pardon my inquisitiveness; don't each of your cubs receive a certain portion monthly from the family coffer?"
Margret smiled. "Yes they do. Hence now they find themselves in an uncomfortable position: they must manage their allowance carefully. No longer can they go to the bank and remove any amount they wish from the family coffers, no longer can their business deals be paid for out of these coffers. But on the flip side, any money they earn now they can place in their own bank accounts. In this they can build their own wealth and as their descendants grow further away from the crown, no longer will they fear the break line. Vulpine law does not allow generations beyond the Baron's grandcubs to receive fiscal support. I suspect they will follow similar suit."
John must have sensed Judy's next question because he quickly spoke up.
"When the day comes that Clifford and Margret pass beyond the grave, and assuming both of you remain in the position of control family coffers, it will be both of you that will become the new Baron of Vulpinstan. Thus your litters will automatically become the ones getting the family fortune; the current ones will automatically stop receiving money twenty years after you become baron and baroness. It will be your grandkits and grandcubs that are last to receive the monies, not counting if any of them become the new baron or baroness."
Margret spoke up quickly.
"If this comes to pass both of you must put any restrictions in writing according to Vulpinstan law, and this minimum no later than one year before our passing. This was our failure and thus allowed our young to do as they wished. I suspect you may decide to use your Arctic shrew friend to write up an iron-clad document that no lawyer can tear apart."
Judy was struggling not to bust a gut and laugh out loud. This was noticed by the elder foxes, and before either of them could ask Nick quickly spoke up.
"One of Judy's sisters is an attorney hence she had access to legal advice and services. But we will consult our *friend* just to get his unique perspective."
Judy raised a paw and spoke when Clifford nodded his head.
"Why? Why do your cubs and grandcubs stop receiving an allowance? Seems to me that's awfully harsh, not to mention unfair."
Clifford smiled then spoke. "It is the way Vulpinstan law has been practiced since the founding of this nation. By our nature Vulpes are sly and cunning therefore rare is it that we become beggars. We scheme and come up with any number of methods to earn money, just as your husband was when you first met him. You also got a taste of it when you questioned every family member about their finances; you saw for yourself the many schemes they tried to make money. If the previous members were not removed when you become the new baron, there simply would be too many receiving money and the coffers would collapse. A collapse just as you saw happen by the deeds of our young."
Margret placed a paw on Judy's.
"If you decide sometime in the future to relinquish control of the family finances, it must be done not only in writing but in the flesh before the whole family. If you are wise you will send us a sealed envelope via courier containing legal document stating your intention to relinquish control and stating the name of the mammal to which you are relinquishing control to. Full name without punctuation errors or misspelling, even the most minor of mistakes will allow everyone to contest it and thus a struggle will ensue for the strongest to wrest control. Remember: both of you must die before another can claim control, or you must forcibly kill or force every mammal to submit. Not counting relinquishing control."
Nick cleared his throat. "I think we get the gist. Now, shall we turn the conversation to something more pleasant? Blueberries for instance?"
Everyone agreed and the remainder of the afternoon was spent on that subject. Marilyn and Caroline had fallen asleep sometime during the conversation and Judy started to remove them from their chairs. Jackie and Vickie carried the napping vixens up to the bedroom where they tucked them in bed. These returned and joined the conversation on the many topics as it twisted and turned.
Hilda grew increasingly frustrated as the hours wore on. She never allowed it to show upon her muzzle but the technician wasn't fooled.
"Patience, High Priestess. The difficulty in finding the missing tiara is a testament to the cleverness and foresight of the ancients."
Hilda was mildly comforted by those words, still she wished something about being an oracle... a genuine oracle... would have signaled the hiding spot to open. She also was having a hard time adjusting to being called high priestess. Once upon a time she dreamed about being called that; now that the duties required of such rested upon her shoulders she sometimes wished she wasn't one.
As they travelled down corridors and through outdoor places filled with vegetation of all types she found it increasingly difficult to keep focused on sensing the missing item. Then something happened. An opening in the wall was exposed by a mechanism tripped by the turning of a torch sconce. It was by accident; they had walked this hallway untold number of times and she had inadvertently hit this sconce with the same paw numerous times.
But this time it turned when her paw grasped it as she stumbled.
The technician moved his scanner over the sconce, a grin crossed his muzzle.
"Something in the wall is preventing deep scans, but I can read a few inches into this wall. I also noticed that odd stone in the floor; this is the first time I've noticed it slightly thrusted up. Perhaps one must be here at a specific time of the day, step on that stone then turn this sconce."
Hilda was standing in the new doorway as if her body was preventing it from closing. The technician scanned where she stood and looked her in the eyes.
"There's an energy source that you are blocking its beam, probably meant to sense when someone has passed through the door and automatically closes the door. It's close to what we use in certain government buildings in our villages. Let's test my theory."
Both walked a few feet into the room and the door closed remarkably quickly and silently. Immediately lights turned on just bright enough to mark the floor as it headed off into the distance. They walked down the hallway that was wide and high enough for an elephant; something Hilda had watched and noticed in a few movies about tomb robbers. This hallway angled downwards and turned in a rightward spiral. It was a long walk and both mammals noticed their ears popped in an equalizing nature.
"You aren't imagining it. We have been going down quite a good distance. Whatever these walls are made of my scanning unit can't penetrate it, at least not beyond a few inches. What I can tell you is this, don't stop. My scans have detected a self-defense mechanism that most likely will trigger something most unpleasant. Like what happened to that fellow."
A skeleton wearing the ragged and tattered robes of a dark priest hung from the wall, impaled upon something that resembled a trident. As they walked by the technician did a quick scan and mumbled something.
"Whatever the metal it's made of is similar yet different from what your GSD agents use. They gave me this dagger just in case we ran unexpectantly into such a priest."
"Are you sure you're not telling me a story? Did your scanner detect that body and you decided to pull my leg?"
The technician almost stopped but forced himself to keep moving. He jumped in a twisting motion, as if he was a figure skater on an Olympic team. Where he was just standing suddenly a swinging axe flew out of the ceiling and impaled itself against the wall. It stayed there for a moment and the retracted from where it came. Hilda didn't need to be told to keep moving.
"My apologies a thousand times. I won't doubt you again while we are here."
"You are welcome and I'll try to include a little more information next time. Need water?"
"No but thanks, I've got plenty. Trail Mix? It'll give you energy for this walk we're doing."
It was a long walk that seemed not to end. As each munched on the fruit-nut-grain mixture and took sips on their canteen, they noticed more bodies impaled against the wall wearing the robes of their nemesis. Hilda asked the technician to record as much details about each body as he could without stopping. At one point they passed approximately a couple dozen skeletons impaled against the wall. These were close enough that it became obvious the builders of this stairway had thought of practically everything. Some of these were impaled as if one of them had stopped, got impaled, and his buddy paused to attempt to help his friend before getting impaled himself.
"Same strange metal alloy?"
"Yes. Your GSD agent said this metal reacts violently with creatures that live through energy means, like a living generator. It short-circuits them he said."
"How much further you think this goes?"
"We've travelled down approximately halfway down the mountain. I suspect it goes all the way to the mountain's base."
Hilda was about to say something else but a strange voice appeared in her head.
"Greetings, oracle priest."
She stopped momentarily then quickly resumed her walk.
"Rest your weary feet about little ways from here. There's a bench suitable for the two of you."
"Technician, are you talking to me?"
"High priestess, I haven't said a thing since you asked how much further we got to go."
A shimmering in the air before them revealed a hologram of an elder mammal; it looked like a panther but wore robes somewhat like Hilda wore. It also spoke so the non-priest could hear it clearly.
"I bid you both greetings. Pause your feet, no harm shall befall you now that I have determined you are friendly and the Oracle Priesthood has returned."
"Am I seeing things?" The technician asked as his paws automatically scanned the see-through thing before him.
"You are certainly not, young one. I am the visual representation of this complex's computer. Oracle Hilda der Fuchs, your control crystal tells me much about you. It also relays a message from my counterpart, of which I must admit I am sad that your travels ended in such a tragic revelation; the Headmaster was killed by the high priestess from the dark priesthood. I also know what you seek and can confirm it is in my possession."
Hilda and the technician found the bench where the hologram said it would be; only it was on the outward side of the stairway. The two mammals sat down and answered questions the hologram asked politely, itself answering questions either mammal asked in return. It revealed that when the first oracle priest first stood here eons ago it was he that taught the secrets of the transporters, and it also taught how the necklace worked. While the necklace amplified the priest's abilities, to his creators it was merely a key to operate the transporters without having to physically move buttons or switches. His creators used the power of the mind to do practically everything; levitation did all the physical labors from writing to moving objects including misbehaving cubs. Some even preferred to levitate instead of walking, which itself soon became the proper form in almost all government places.
"I am told these ruins above were intentionally left as they were, except a few converted for the Headmaster's use." Hilda said to the hologram.
The hologram nodded its head in the affirmative. "Yes. Those that visitors would be able to see were allowed to be repurposed. The remainder was carefully preserved so future generations of yours would see what continued strife would eventually lead to. It was my careful guidance that kept your priesthood whole nearly as long as my creators' civilization. When the dark priesthood attacked I urged the Headmaster to seek safety inside the sanctum. Those bodies you passed along the way here were the invaders; these were chasing the Headmaster as he battled his way down to his usual transporter site. I eliminated them all and the Headmaster entrusted to my care his tiara, itself originally belonging to my creators."
The technician waved a paw and waited for recognition before speaking.
"If the headmaster was safe within his... your... sanctum, why did he leave?"
"Because he said it was important to disable the transporter system and shear off the cliff-face to strand these abominations here. He recognized the high priestess via my monitor and asked me to guide him to the control room. I sent one of my security bots to kill the caretaker, since it became obvious he had been turned as evidence by him disabling the security systems and assisting the abominations with their invasion of the Oracle Library. The droid killed him and disabled the transporter, moments later was it was destroyed. The Headmaster succeeded in maneuvering a guardian droid to the bridge at the gorge and detonating it. He was captured moments later when the dark bishop cornered him."
Hilda waved a paw. "If your security bots were effective against the dark priests, why didn't you use them to kill them?"
"I did. All but a couple pawfull of the dark priests were killed and heads removed, my droids were soon destroyed. After the Headmaster was captured it was I that comforted him through the many years he endured captivity. But even I can't replace a soul once death claims him."
Hilda scratched her chin. "You have his tiara; did he leave behind his necklace?"
"Yes. I have both in a secure locker. Just as I fabricated a necklace for your non-priest companion, so too did I fabricate one for the Headmaster. He asked for one less-powerful but sufficient for most tasks. The one that High Priestess Ganieda took from him is only as strong as those issued to high priests, such as your own."
The hologram looked into Hilda's eyes.
"With a little more training you will become equal in ability as my creators, thus you will become holder of the title Headmaster. I will become your new Instructor, but first you must help me solve a problem."
Before either could say a word a flash of light occurred right where they were sitting. If one was watching it had to wait for its eyes to readjust. Neither mammal was sitting on the bench, itself appearing as if no one had sat upon it.
The hologram dispersed into thin air with a smile upon its fading face.
Tracker Kimberly Canter was keeping her eyes on Grand Tracker Marquis. The elder wolf was acting too pleased as he looked at the ancient stone-carved statue as if it were a long lost lover. Other than a few of these strange statues turning on their base following the direction of the oracle priests wherever they walked, these ruins were simply too mangled to be interesting to anything except old mammals that enjoyed doing nothing but look at old deteriorating statues. To Kimberly it seemed as if something about the priestesses attracted these stones.
"Hey Savage... do you have those strange roundish stones you found at the Oracle Library?" the doe asked the hare, her words just loud enough to be heard.
Jack looked at Kimberly, a slight grin upon his muzzle. "Sorry, gave them to Paulina shortly after I found them. She said they once were part of a necklace and should be returned to the Oracle Sanctum."
Kimberly walked over to the lioness and asked to borrow them for a theory she wanted to prove. Paulina and Clara both were interested and stood by the tracker. Kimberly put the small stones on two flat boards and had two of her fellow trackers walk a few feet in opposite directions for a few feet away. Everyone was surprised these statues followed the trackers, but only the feline-shaped ones and these seemed to follow the board that was closest to it. The trackers returned to previous position and Kimberly removed the stones and gave them back to the lioness.
"The stones must have some property these statues are attuned to" the doe said puzzled.
"Strange. What do you suppose this means?" Clare asked to no one in particular.
Agent Ricardo and Agent Rodgers were using their equipment to study the priest's necklaces and the lose stones on the flat board.
Agent Rodgers was first to speak. "It's obvious the necklaces and the stones share very similar properties close enough to practically be made from the same material. Still, something about them is attuned to these statues or vice versa."
Agent Ricardo examined one of the lose stones and walked a short distance, the closest statues followed his direction. He looked at the ground, noticing a large round metallic pad that was free of dirt and foliage covering it. He put the lose stone with the others and went to a spot that seemed to be center point of all these statues. He took out an awl and a brush then began to clear dirt and grime from what lay beneath. What he uncovered appeared to be something that looked vaguely familiar. Moments later he exclaimed with a happy shout and danced a gig.
"Transporter. It seems these statues are simple tracking devices. I bet if we carefully excavate this entire area, at least a few spots, we'll find a few more of these pads. I'd recommend our oracle priestesses stay away from any of these pads, no telling if they still work or where they might transport you someplace we don't have friendly forces."
With everyone pitching in except the oracles and whoever was standing guard, several pads were now exposed and looking as if ready to be used as intended. Agent Ricardo opened a video chat with his counterpart Technician Minkowski. The mink technician was overjoyed at what the laptop screen was showing him, taking time to send a screenshot to his workstation computer and having it analyze the image. For good measure he had Agent Ricardo take several pics at different magnifications and at different angles.
This seemed to do the trick because an ancient data file that seemed to be from someone's diary was displayed on his screen. The entry was several pages and covered many weeks and months. After quickly glancing through the pages it became clear that someone in ancient times had come across these ruins or another that was eerily similar. Something else that became quite clear; whoever was doing this research used the knowledge gained to create an early prototype of the transporters the oracles now used. This ancient researcher had noticed the stones used in oracles necklaces in his time had an effect on this strange device, and when holding a stone and standing on a pad the mammal would be transported to a faraway place. Once returned to original pad, usually after months of travel, it learned that by holding the stone against a certain pictogram he would be transported to a specific pad. It took many months of trial and error, but soon he had a working map of which pictogram would send him to which location.
Technician Minkowski sent a copy of all data to Agent Ricardo, with a note asking him not to share it with anyone else not currently at his location. Agent Rodgers after looking at the data returned his message saying the GSD had located most of these ancient transporter pads and was already working with other technicians from the Valley of the Oracles.
Agent Ricardo and Agent Rodgers were looking at a file that Agent Rodgers had noticed near the end of the data file they received. After running this through one of their wrist-mounted computers they were surprised that a master key was identified by the ancient researcher. While he was unable to decipher the then-ancient code to him, these modern day agents were able to succeed where the ancient researcher had failed. These agents also made a startling discovery; this master code worked with the oracle transporters because theirs was simply a reengineered copy of these ancient transporters. Putting this new information together with the recent failed attempt to invade the Oracle Library, these agents figured out this was the key the Dark Priesthood used to successfully invade the Headmaster's Sanctum.
Agent Ricardo and Agent Rodgers searched the ruins for something they figured would be a control or maintenance center. This took longer than they anticipated but the large block covering a hole they deduced was someone's effort in the distant past to hide it. Once inside it became clear someone other than the original builders had made some kind of attempt to repair the machine. After scanning and studying it for an hour or so they deduced the repairs, while unorthodox did restore functionality. Technician Minkowski was impressed when they set up a video link to see if he and his fellow technicians could determine if the machine would operate properly.
It took a couple hours but GSD headquarters sent a few agents to all known transporter pads, since these were previously inspected and to make sure the power pacts were still unplugged. It was also a concern about the disappearance of those dark priests that tried transporting into the new transporter at the Oracle Library; nobody knew where they went since it was obvious they didn't return to the Headmaster's Sanctum. It was obvious there must be a few transporters that remain unidentified and these needed to be found pronto. Currently everyone was waiting for these teams to get into place. Meanwhile the technicians at both GSD headquarters and the Valley of the Oracles were studying the pictograms to determine where they sent someone. It was obvious this was a language and they only need time to figure it out; or simply send someone through and hope they didn't materialize with some debris going through their body.
These agents sent this discovery to Colonel Kohle and to Grand Technician Beverton. Someone more knowledgeable with code writing could create a firewall that would effectively prevent any unwanted or unauthorized transport into a specific transporter.
High Priestess Ganieda was getting impatient. These oracles, now that she knew they were from someplace she once knew was a former watering hole, were being annoyingly stubborn. She figured like most mammals they would grow tired of old broken stone walls and leave. Instead they were preoccupied with dirt-covered floors. Then it hit her; the ancient transporter pads were on the ground. She had cleared one pad to use because it would keep the others hidden and by past experience she knew the system would automatically divert incoming transport to the cleared pad. Now these foolish mammals had gone cleared the remaining pads.
She decided before they learned anything more about this system she needed to drive them away.
The bishop and his crew listened to her plan and decided it was risky but if they used the element of surprise they just might succeed in driving them away. It was the elephant guards that would be the wild card; these could withstand a barrage and keep coming towards you. Ganiea held the control crystal in her paw, without it required someone to be in the pit room to make the physical connection, this was a so-called manual override feature built-into the system. If these couldn't be driven away, then it was going to be a long walk to the pads the bishop's group just used.
She positioned her priests so each could hurl their bolts at a singular target; they must knock out many on the first salvo just as they did when battling experience oracles. She took aim at the lioness, the bishop at the honey badger and the remainder at those that were obviously Zootopian warriors.
An elder wolf was wearing garments of what she knew were servants of her order; mammals given authority to keep those that served her faction properly motivated. Why was he here?
She was uncertain; she had just recently learned of her ancient assault against the Oracle Priesthood had succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. The Dark Priesthood had eliminated to the last mammal every oracle priest, only recently did new priests been inducted into that ancient order and then only a pawfull. She wondered why this wolf was among these oracles.
Geoffrey was once again in the rarely-visited archives somewhere in a remote corner of the underground library. The elder scholar was growing tired of being called by the high priestess, each time he responded to her hail she had gotten friendlier. She was more inquisitive on his research for the Headmaster's necklace, and more rubbing his body with her paw. They both were hares, but only he was flesh and blood that required food. It was obvious her affections were solely towards getting her paws on the necklace, the one that hinted at total control of the arcane. But his studies was starting to paint a very bleak picture, one that pointed towards why the Oracle Priesthood was very cautious in selecting the mammal that wore it.
One had to be in total control of his or her mind and emotions, a slight variance in either could result in cataclysmic destruction. In his opinion the high priestess was certainly not stable in any of these; her outbursts were legendary throughout the caverns hence why everyone especially her minions followed her wishes even when they knew what the results would be. Except one.
The elder scholar smiled. High Priest Billie, the undead male goat that a century ago once held Greta's title, had shown the upstart her arrogance. His offer to help attack the nature priest's stronghold was rebuffed, and her attempt to subjugate him resulted in her own humiliation. Nobody dared moved a hair nor say a word mostly out of self-preservation. The undead goat departed the caverns and was followed closely by Bishop Gandoff, a male sheep who was their impostor within the Order of Mother Nature. Geoffrey had to admit; with the undead high priest helping him their chances of gaining control of that priest's faction was greatly enhanced.
The elder scholar turned his focus back on his task. Currently the buck was studying an old book. He was frustrated, whoever wrote the book either had a personal code or wrote it in a foreign language. At least the scribble was interrupted by pictures of globes, each one different from the previous and the next. He closed the book and put it in his carrying bag which always went inside a box. This was his preferred method of getting books out of this area and into his room. Except for today.
He walked the cavern pathways as they twisted and turned, passing by shops and taverns he usually paused to take a look inside or sit down for a pint of grog. But not today. He kept moving until he reached his destination, it was one of those stairs that led up towards the topside world. He entered the alcove between two shops, through the beaded-curtain and walked through the long narrow hallway. At the end he unlocked a door whose lock was cleverly hidden, entered quickly then closed and locked behind him. He pushed a few bricks into the wall in a specific sequence and waited for the panel on the ceiling to swing down and a short ladder lower, stopping a foot above the floor. He got on then started up, pausing to pull the lever that reset the bricks and retract the ladder followed by the panel. After pulling on the panel to ensure it locked back into place he resumed his trek. After climbing a few hundred feet it opened into what once was an old burrow that was abandoned a few centuries ago. As he walked towards a small portion where he had set up a workshop, he had to go around large beams that had been allowed to fall down to the bottom and the earth above pushed into the void.
When he first discovered this topside access tunnel it became clear why it was abandoned; the dirt was still unstable and early efforts to find stable dirt resulted in upper floors collapsing thus more dirt falling down. Whoever kept making the attempt resulted in nearly the entire bottom of the ancient burrow becoming filled, thus it was assumed the entire burrow had collapsed in upon itself. All but a small portion and even then this was nearly filled by collapsed dirt. Geoffrey spent months moving dirt and using the old timbers to reinforce the ceiling like miners did. He bartered with one of the engineers to fabricate several droids for purpose; afterwards they were programed to clean floors and walls on a set routine. Now months later he was satisfied that several rooms were clean enough to live in without worrying about mold and mildew.
The room he entered had power and fresh air, the power was brought up from below and the air via a carefully dug shaft up towards the topside world; another barter that he had made for a few droids that slowly dug and fabricated the ductwork. It cost him nearly his life's savings but getting the materials and his engineer friend entering the transaction under an assumed project code proved worthwhile. Power and air ducts were spread through the remaining rooms on this level but this room was his favorite.
It must have been a recreation room because it was quite large with plenty of headroom and seemed itself to be a small cavern. This burrow was located a good distance from his assigned home, and he found the many rooms refreshingly delightful. Cavern homes were small and cramped, needlessly so after they perfected their excavation machines, or mechano-droid as they were commonly referred to. But at the moment those machines were busy reclaiming ancient rooms that had collapsed due to voids underneath them that had given way. Perhaps soon the chancellor would authorize new rooms for each family that were as spacious as these.
But he didn't come up here to ponder home improvements.
He opened the box and bag and removed the old book. Thumbing through the pages gave him an idea what this information was about. The writing may have been indecipherable but the pictures clearly were easy to interpret. This was a spellbook and considering it originally came from the Oracle Library it obviously was meant to teach how to conjure these orbs. This was something he knew the dark priesthood was desperately trying to learn. Since he knew they no longer were living, he had long ago decided to withhold anything that could benefit these abominations. And these orbs most definitely would benefit them; they just might make them invulnerable. That was something he never wanted to see, and certainly didn't want to be responsible for.
This abandoned burrow would be an excellent hiding place for this book, and any other book that could benefit the dark priesthood. He paused for a moment; by collecting these from the ancient mostly-abandoned pile of books and putting them together, he just might actually be putting everything conveniently in one spot for easy discovery. But here they were actually behind several locked doors and away from anyone's ability to walk right up to them, unlike in the great library where anyone could walk right up to them... if they knew about the strange out-of-the-way rooms these were hidden in.
There were rumors going about saying something terrible had befallen the Dark Council of the Twelve. The chancellor seemed to be in a foul mood nearly every second of the hour, striking out at the nearest citizen that happened to be within reach, stopping only when a dark priest used its unseen ability to strangle the lion to unconsciousness. The priest departed and the chancellor's guards removed him back to his home.
Geoffrey never saw such animosity occur between the priesthood and the chancellor, he rarely saw the priests stand on behalf of the citizenry and this had him curious. It also had many of the citizenry curious as well. Latest rumors going around in the taverns told of a female Scavenger that had successfully escaped to the Topside world. While no name was given many mammals were convinced it was the rabbit the chancellor had proclaimed had died while out on a mission that ended tragically. Shortly afterwards he had proclaimed her remaining sibling and mother as traitors. Everyone was puzzled why her husband's family were not in the traditional mourning clothes, such refusal to observer the tradition of mourning was the heights of disrespect.
The taverns also had rumors going on about the missing nursemaid and other missing mammals. Many of the patrons simply did not believe the explanation given by the chancellor, at least not allowing their disbelief to show to anyone outside their immediate group. But anyone with a sharp eye and keep wit could see it plain as day. Geoffrey had a friend in the Tracker Guild; this mammal let the bookworm as he was called, know about a group of trusted Trackers that had gone missing and this had the whole guild in an uproar.
Geoffrey shook his head. If missing mammals could have the citizenry in such an uproar, he wondered what effect his discovery of this spell-book would have. More importantly, what would the priesthood do to him? Somehow he doubt they would reward him handsomely, he saw how they treated the raccoon that brought them a fully intact paper that taught them the only orb spell they knew. But he supposed the raccoon's demand for a larger reward justified their killing him. The foolish mammal should have realized what they could do and how they would be offended by his demands.
Geoffrey closed the book and locked it into a cupboard. He went into a bathroom, took a shower for as long as he wanted, got into fresh clean clothes, and went into the kitchen. It was his hobby to cook meals from scratch and this kitchen allowed him to make anything as long as he had the ingredients. After his meal was finished he put the leftovers into the fridge and the cookware and dishes into the dishwasher; the droid would remove them when finished and put them away. He went into his new bedroom and hopped on the bed, pulled the covers over him and went to sleep. The droid turned off the light and made sure the nightlight was on so the room would be lit just enough so he wouldn't stub his toes.
Tomorrow Geoffrey would go back down and start another day in the library. He hoped the high priestess would leave him alone; he genuinely hadn't found anything useful for her and it was getting difficult to convince her to leave him be so he could finish going through the pile of old books. He also hoped she didn't discover the necklace he wore around his neck; it was the only thing keeping her from feeding on him. Now he wondered if she suspected something about him was preventing her from feeding on his life-force. He patted the dagger that lay under his pillow; it was made from a strange alloy and the book he found the dagger hidden inside told of its ability to kill a dark priest. The dagger was small enough that could be held concealed in his paw, this he carried in his jacket for emergency. An emergency such as a high priestess's paw discovering the necklace around his neck.
Tonight he slept peacefully and without the drunken neighbor pounding on his door, obviously mistaken the wrong door for his own home.
M.