Post by Terrasphere on Mar 2, 2003 21:25:36 GMT
Here's the long awaited Ch. 5.
Ch. 5 A Surprise Meeting
When Ryu, Bandir, and the remaining troops arrived at the outer gates of Camlon, Bandir introduced and acquainted himself with the guards, whom he had not met yet. After these pleasantries, the six rode through the outer gates of Camlon and arrived at Camlon Castle, where they were surprised to find hordes of people clustered around the main entrance, especially since so early in the morning. Ryu ran up to the doors first, but the guards, who were so kind to him the first time he arrived, now blocked any access inside.
As Bandir and Ryu made their way up the steps, the soldiers saluted and said sycophantically, “General Bandir, sir. We were not expecting you back so soon. Welcome back from your quest to the mines…”
With an unfriendly tone, Bandir asked, “What is happening here? Why is the castle entrance being blocked?”
“The king has special guests at the moment, but access to the castle is only being withheld from normal citizens. Of course you, Ryu, and the soldiers may enter.” one of the guards replied.
“I see. Thanks for informing me of the visitors. You are doing your duties well,” Bandir said, complimenting the guards. With an appreciative expression on their faces, the guards opened the doors wide for the heroes of the mines.
As the five made their way through the enormous castle to the throne room, they passed dozens of nobles, gossiping quietly about the visitors. “Who could they be?” thought Bandir to himself.
Finally reaching the doors of the throne room, Ryu was surprised to discover that he recognized one of several voices coming from inside. The six entered. The room was filled with winged men and one woman, dressed up in the diplomat garb common of the day. Luckily, stressful negotiations for military aid and more trivial subjects had just been completed, leaving the six free to disclose the occurrences at the mines.
The woman, in particular, turned around, her face glowing with happiness. “Ryu!” she exclaimed. “It’s been far too long!”
“Indeed it has, Nina,” Ryu greeted, hugging her. “Why have you come to Camlon?”
A handsome young man answered for her. “We have come to negotiate a military treaty, one explaining the exact terms of our alliance and obligations towards our countries should there be a great war.”
Nodding in approval of his description, Nina opened her mouth, but was interrupted before she could make a sound. “Where are the others?” King Fordan asked Bandir, disappointed.
With a countenance of dismay, Bandir answered, “Clavius and Melith were—struck down in battle. So were all the miners. Although we have destroyed the evil ruffians at Nanai, we have failed in our true mission, which was to rescue the miners and restore production levels in the mine.” Kneeling apologetically to the king, Bandir begged his forgiveness.
“Indeed this is great misfortune on our kingdom’s behalf, as we have relatively no other trained miners to take their places. Camlon will surely be a less prosperous nation, since our main source of income has now been threatened and perhaps cut off.”
Rising up from his lowly stance, Bandir offered, “Maybe I can ask King Orin of Hizan for possible aid in this predicament. Hizan’s laborers are highly skilled in every area, and I’m sure our gracious king will assist you. Should I ask him, King Fordan?”
Fordan considered his pride. Meanwhile, not interested in the current conversation, Nina and the others started conversing quietly amongst themselves about recent events. Ryu, however, pondered the shattering of his Emperor Sword. Why would it break on just any shield? It surely could not have been the real sword. That thieving Peridon must have passed it on and switched it with a duplicate sword of obviously less quality. Or maybe the quality of his enemy’s shield was too great for even the Emperor Sword to bear, though this scenario is very unlikely. Although he was angry about the loss, he decided to keep his feelings to himself, especially since it would do no good to question a tongue-less man to see if his original suspicions were true.
“Yes,” replied King Fordan with authority. “You may leave whenever you’re ready.”
“As you wish.”
“Now back to your rewards,” Fordan said, eyes glimmering. “Ryu, Bandir, Hilk, Rion, Xaver, and Gelu. You will each get your pick of five diamonds from the next shipment from Nanai if Bandir’s plan is a success, and we actually have a next shipment. Any five can be yours, despite the size.” The remaining members of the Royal Guard gleefully smiled at each other and then left the throne room.
“You’re rich, Ryu. How does it feel?” asked Nina semi-earnestly.
“You’ve got more money than anyone,” whispered Ryu, shaking his head. They both chuckled. “Besides, I’m not really big on material possessions. You know that already. If I was, I wouldn’t have become a farmer.”
“That’s true. I guess that’s why you turned down my offer of living in the castle at home, or was it because you had other reasons?”
His mood suddenly changing to a melancholic one, Ryu commented, “I had obligations to my clan, and although I couldn’t save my sister, I wanted to honor her memory by helping rebuild Drogen. She would have wanted me to help rebuild our home.”
“I guess so. Look, I’m sorry I got into that, but you have to let your sister go. She was brave, and from your description of the incident, she saved your whole village from the Dark Dragons.” Ryu and Nina continued on talking about Ryu’s recent dreams, what they could possibly mean, and feelings about them.
Listening intently, the young man’s piercing gaze became fixed on Ryu, along with a face filled with contempt.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation,” said Bandir, “but we should get going, Ryu.”
“We?”
“Yes. I was going to offer you a trip to visit Hizan, and since I have business there now anyway, I would like it if you came along.”
“Of course, Bandir. It would be great seeing a floating kingdom, particularly after all of the magnificent stories Sara and Gorle used to tell me when I was younger.”
“May I come as well?” Nina asked politely. “I am finished with my business here, and I am not expected to return to Winlan until tomorrow. I have never been to Hizan, and I’ve heard only compliments about King Orin.”
Taking a while to consider this request, Bandir finally gave an answer. “As you wish, Princess Nina. Shall we go?”
After saying farewell to Fordan for the time being, Nina told the other ambassadors that they could depart for Winlan and tell her father that she would return home soon. It was not often that you would get a chance to visit a city soaring with the clouds. The young man and the others nodded reluctantly, respecting the princess’s wishes. The three then left the glorious throne room and set out for the castle courtyard.
While walking down the hall, Bandir described the location of the soaring city. “Do you two know where we are going exactly? I’ll explain it then. We must travel to the northeast, slightly northeast of Ryng Lake. Then we must go to the great north until we get to Hizan.”
“Sounds good,” they answered.
Finally arriving in the courtyard, Nina offered a ride to Bandir, since he seemed to be lacking any mode of transportation.
“What? Why? I have my own transportation.”
Ch. 5 A Surprise Meeting
When Ryu, Bandir, and the remaining troops arrived at the outer gates of Camlon, Bandir introduced and acquainted himself with the guards, whom he had not met yet. After these pleasantries, the six rode through the outer gates of Camlon and arrived at Camlon Castle, where they were surprised to find hordes of people clustered around the main entrance, especially since so early in the morning. Ryu ran up to the doors first, but the guards, who were so kind to him the first time he arrived, now blocked any access inside.
As Bandir and Ryu made their way up the steps, the soldiers saluted and said sycophantically, “General Bandir, sir. We were not expecting you back so soon. Welcome back from your quest to the mines…”
With an unfriendly tone, Bandir asked, “What is happening here? Why is the castle entrance being blocked?”
“The king has special guests at the moment, but access to the castle is only being withheld from normal citizens. Of course you, Ryu, and the soldiers may enter.” one of the guards replied.
“I see. Thanks for informing me of the visitors. You are doing your duties well,” Bandir said, complimenting the guards. With an appreciative expression on their faces, the guards opened the doors wide for the heroes of the mines.
As the five made their way through the enormous castle to the throne room, they passed dozens of nobles, gossiping quietly about the visitors. “Who could they be?” thought Bandir to himself.
Finally reaching the doors of the throne room, Ryu was surprised to discover that he recognized one of several voices coming from inside. The six entered. The room was filled with winged men and one woman, dressed up in the diplomat garb common of the day. Luckily, stressful negotiations for military aid and more trivial subjects had just been completed, leaving the six free to disclose the occurrences at the mines.
The woman, in particular, turned around, her face glowing with happiness. “Ryu!” she exclaimed. “It’s been far too long!”
“Indeed it has, Nina,” Ryu greeted, hugging her. “Why have you come to Camlon?”
A handsome young man answered for her. “We have come to negotiate a military treaty, one explaining the exact terms of our alliance and obligations towards our countries should there be a great war.”
Nodding in approval of his description, Nina opened her mouth, but was interrupted before she could make a sound. “Where are the others?” King Fordan asked Bandir, disappointed.
With a countenance of dismay, Bandir answered, “Clavius and Melith were—struck down in battle. So were all the miners. Although we have destroyed the evil ruffians at Nanai, we have failed in our true mission, which was to rescue the miners and restore production levels in the mine.” Kneeling apologetically to the king, Bandir begged his forgiveness.
“Indeed this is great misfortune on our kingdom’s behalf, as we have relatively no other trained miners to take their places. Camlon will surely be a less prosperous nation, since our main source of income has now been threatened and perhaps cut off.”
Rising up from his lowly stance, Bandir offered, “Maybe I can ask King Orin of Hizan for possible aid in this predicament. Hizan’s laborers are highly skilled in every area, and I’m sure our gracious king will assist you. Should I ask him, King Fordan?”
Fordan considered his pride. Meanwhile, not interested in the current conversation, Nina and the others started conversing quietly amongst themselves about recent events. Ryu, however, pondered the shattering of his Emperor Sword. Why would it break on just any shield? It surely could not have been the real sword. That thieving Peridon must have passed it on and switched it with a duplicate sword of obviously less quality. Or maybe the quality of his enemy’s shield was too great for even the Emperor Sword to bear, though this scenario is very unlikely. Although he was angry about the loss, he decided to keep his feelings to himself, especially since it would do no good to question a tongue-less man to see if his original suspicions were true.
“Yes,” replied King Fordan with authority. “You may leave whenever you’re ready.”
“As you wish.”
“Now back to your rewards,” Fordan said, eyes glimmering. “Ryu, Bandir, Hilk, Rion, Xaver, and Gelu. You will each get your pick of five diamonds from the next shipment from Nanai if Bandir’s plan is a success, and we actually have a next shipment. Any five can be yours, despite the size.” The remaining members of the Royal Guard gleefully smiled at each other and then left the throne room.
“You’re rich, Ryu. How does it feel?” asked Nina semi-earnestly.
“You’ve got more money than anyone,” whispered Ryu, shaking his head. They both chuckled. “Besides, I’m not really big on material possessions. You know that already. If I was, I wouldn’t have become a farmer.”
“That’s true. I guess that’s why you turned down my offer of living in the castle at home, or was it because you had other reasons?”
His mood suddenly changing to a melancholic one, Ryu commented, “I had obligations to my clan, and although I couldn’t save my sister, I wanted to honor her memory by helping rebuild Drogen. She would have wanted me to help rebuild our home.”
“I guess so. Look, I’m sorry I got into that, but you have to let your sister go. She was brave, and from your description of the incident, she saved your whole village from the Dark Dragons.” Ryu and Nina continued on talking about Ryu’s recent dreams, what they could possibly mean, and feelings about them.
Listening intently, the young man’s piercing gaze became fixed on Ryu, along with a face filled with contempt.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation,” said Bandir, “but we should get going, Ryu.”
“We?”
“Yes. I was going to offer you a trip to visit Hizan, and since I have business there now anyway, I would like it if you came along.”
“Of course, Bandir. It would be great seeing a floating kingdom, particularly after all of the magnificent stories Sara and Gorle used to tell me when I was younger.”
“May I come as well?” Nina asked politely. “I am finished with my business here, and I am not expected to return to Winlan until tomorrow. I have never been to Hizan, and I’ve heard only compliments about King Orin.”
Taking a while to consider this request, Bandir finally gave an answer. “As you wish, Princess Nina. Shall we go?”
After saying farewell to Fordan for the time being, Nina told the other ambassadors that they could depart for Winlan and tell her father that she would return home soon. It was not often that you would get a chance to visit a city soaring with the clouds. The young man and the others nodded reluctantly, respecting the princess’s wishes. The three then left the glorious throne room and set out for the castle courtyard.
While walking down the hall, Bandir described the location of the soaring city. “Do you two know where we are going exactly? I’ll explain it then. We must travel to the northeast, slightly northeast of Ryng Lake. Then we must go to the great north until we get to Hizan.”
“Sounds good,” they answered.
Finally arriving in the courtyard, Nina offered a ride to Bandir, since he seemed to be lacking any mode of transportation.
“What? Why? I have my own transportation.”