Post by Terrasphere on Mar 11, 2003 5:43:44 GMT
Ch. 6 Too Many Disturbances
Awakening from his deep sleep, Ryu once more found himself inside a dream, lying in a plush bed within the one of the largest rooms he had ever seen. Unable to think clearly, he sat up, facing the rest of the room, contemplating the temple’s existence. Dragon statues lined the wall; all led up to a great stone tablet leaning against the wall. As he skulked nearer, however, he realized that it was the wall. There was one column of ancient text, beginning at the ceiling and trailing down to the floor. Analyzing the characters for a few minutes, Ryu found himself unable to read the mysterious symbols. Quickly discouraged, Ryu turned around to go explore his apparent accommodations.
“Please don’t do that,” Ryu said, sighing after being a little startled.
“I’m sorry,” said the cloaked woman, who although was less than ten feet away, still appeared as a silhouette.
“What is it, this time?” Ryu asked the shadowy figure, with an almost irritated tone.
“You must search out a tablet with inscriptions such as this one. It is the key to discovering the evil’s intentions.”
“Where can I find this tablet?” he asked, noticing a menacing shape move about in the shadows behind one of the dragon statues.
“You will find it—” But that’s all that escaped the figure’s mouth before she was run through with a blade. Although the killer could not be identified, Ryu recognized the shape of the dark sword as it was removed from the woman.
“That shape. That’s the Emperor Sword!” Ryu shouted out, as black blood pooled around the victim, now lying motionless on the tiled floor. Dragon powers activated, Ryu prepared to take back what was rightfully his.
Laughing loudly, the figure lifted a long slender rod up to its lips, and commenced in playing a harsh melody. Trying desperately to escape the painful song, Ryu jumped into the air and started to flap his wings. It was too late for him, however, and he fell to the floor as if he had been shot out of the sky. At that precise moment, Ryu woke up, opening his eyes to see Nina hovering over him. Morning had arrived.
Concerned greatly, Nina wondered what was wrong, “Ryu—I heard your cries, so I came in. Is there anything wrong? Were you having a nightmare?”
“Yes. At least I think I was. I’m not exactly sure if it was a nightmare. It seemed more like a message—an unfinished message.”
Extremely interested, Nina asked, “Really? What was the message?”
Perplexed because he did not even know himself, Ryu shrugged and answered, “I don’t know. Like I said before, it wasn’t completed.” Ryu continued by describing the location, the shadowy figures, the tablet, and his thoughts on whom the figures could be. He also wrote down the small portion of the tablet’s ancient writing that he could remember.
Scrutinizing it carefully, Nina eyes lit up because she had never seen anything like it. “Maybe some of the scholars at home could tell us more about it, or better yet, maybe even the teacher, Lenwë Nimue, will help us. If you return to Winlan with me, perhaps this mystery will be solved.”
“Sounds good.”
“By the way, you really think that the woman in your dreams is Sara?” Giggling slightly, Nina regained her composure when she saw Ryu’s stern face. Pausing to consider her next remark, she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Leaving Ryu to ponder, Nina walked quietly over to the door and opened it.
“Good morning Ryu,” said Bandir. Realizing his mistake, Bandir tried to resolve the issue, “Oh I’m sorry, your highness. I thought your room was across the hallway.” Risinger, who accompanied Bandir, looked angry at the situation and started to breath a little more rapidly.
“Yes. You are right, Bandir, but Ryu had a little trouble sleeping last night, so I came in to see if he was alright.” Risinger looked relieved, but just a little.
“Well, Orin has demanded our company, and I was planning to ask him for aid in Camlon’s mining situation, so please get ready as soon as possible and meet us outside Risinger’s room.”
Nina returned to her room, and she and Ryu got changed, although it took Ryu longer because he first had to overcome the daze he was in. They met with Bandir and Risinger in the hall and hurried to the extravagant throne room to see King Orin, who was silently waiting for their arrival.
“Good morning,” Orin began, welcoming them. “How was your night’s sleep here in Hizan?”
Nina and Risinger praised the comfortable beds and serene atmosphere and thanked Orin for his hospitality, but Ryu remained silent.
Orin observed this ungrateful behavior but ignored it. “Now to explain to you the situation. There have been quite a number of disturbances lately in the Barbed Coral Reef northwest of Prima. Prima has been sending a multitude of explorers in that direction, but each is never seen or heard from again. Prima has asked Hizan for aid in their dilemma. Pledging my full support, I sent Lieutenant Dalton a few weeks ago with a dozen troops, but I have received word that the few soldiers we sent have not helped the conditions in any way. While barely escaping the slaughter, Dalton glanced at the opponents, and they were lizard-like in appearance. Here is the plan. In addition to some more men, I was going to send my daughter, Tia, along, as an ambassador. Maybe she can convince the malevolent force, assuming it is in fact the Water Knights, to withhold their attacks and allow us safe passage. Knowing that you are an accomplished warrior, Ryu, I was wondering if you would like to accompany my daughter—as a favor to Hizan.”
Saddened because he could not help, Ryu answered, “I would really love to, but I must return with Nina and Risinger to Winlan. I have important matters to attend to. I wish you luck in this matter, and I am sorry I can’t be of any help.”
Troubled, Orin looked at Ryu and frowned. “We only hope we can make due without your added strength and charisma. I assume you will be leaving soon, then?”
“Yes,” answered Nina. “We must leave immediately. My father is expecting me back any time now. Thank you for inviting us for giving us the guided tour.”
“Before you leave, Bandir, I would like a word with you in the back room,” said Orin, giving the impression that it was bad news.
Bandir and Orin exited the throne room, and Nina and Ryu couldn’t help to be anxious about their discussion. After looking at the various paintings in the room to waste some time, Nina inquired, “What do you think they are talking about, Ryu?”
Risinger, feeling a little neglected, answered for him, just as Bandir strolled in through the doorway. “Probably the normal duties of a general.”
“Or not,” Bandir solemnly refuted. “I have just been dismissed from my position as a general. The king feels that I can’t do either job perfectly unless I focus on only one, so I’m to return to Camlon and stay there.”
Orin stepped into the room slowly, since Bandir had evidently left in the middle of their conversation. “I am sorry, Bandir, but I must do what I think is best for Hizan.”
“As you wish, your majesty.”
Sidestepping to get closer to Bandir, Ryu whispered, “Did you ask him about sending miners to Nanai?”
Whispering back with a frown on his face, “Thanks for being so sympathetic, Ryu. But, yes, I did. Orin said that that was my last official task as a general.”
“Great—for Camlon, that is.” Speaking again with normal volume, Ryu thanked King Orin for his hospitality, waved goodbye, and the group trekked back to the courtyard to begin their flight to Winlan.
“I will escort you to Winlan, princess, to assure your safety, but then I must return to Camlon, my new home,” Bandir said dejectedly. Nina approved of his decision, and the four morphed into their respective creatures.
Awakening from his deep sleep, Ryu once more found himself inside a dream, lying in a plush bed within the one of the largest rooms he had ever seen. Unable to think clearly, he sat up, facing the rest of the room, contemplating the temple’s existence. Dragon statues lined the wall; all led up to a great stone tablet leaning against the wall. As he skulked nearer, however, he realized that it was the wall. There was one column of ancient text, beginning at the ceiling and trailing down to the floor. Analyzing the characters for a few minutes, Ryu found himself unable to read the mysterious symbols. Quickly discouraged, Ryu turned around to go explore his apparent accommodations.
“Please don’t do that,” Ryu said, sighing after being a little startled.
“I’m sorry,” said the cloaked woman, who although was less than ten feet away, still appeared as a silhouette.
“What is it, this time?” Ryu asked the shadowy figure, with an almost irritated tone.
“You must search out a tablet with inscriptions such as this one. It is the key to discovering the evil’s intentions.”
“Where can I find this tablet?” he asked, noticing a menacing shape move about in the shadows behind one of the dragon statues.
“You will find it—” But that’s all that escaped the figure’s mouth before she was run through with a blade. Although the killer could not be identified, Ryu recognized the shape of the dark sword as it was removed from the woman.
“That shape. That’s the Emperor Sword!” Ryu shouted out, as black blood pooled around the victim, now lying motionless on the tiled floor. Dragon powers activated, Ryu prepared to take back what was rightfully his.
Laughing loudly, the figure lifted a long slender rod up to its lips, and commenced in playing a harsh melody. Trying desperately to escape the painful song, Ryu jumped into the air and started to flap his wings. It was too late for him, however, and he fell to the floor as if he had been shot out of the sky. At that precise moment, Ryu woke up, opening his eyes to see Nina hovering over him. Morning had arrived.
Concerned greatly, Nina wondered what was wrong, “Ryu—I heard your cries, so I came in. Is there anything wrong? Were you having a nightmare?”
“Yes. At least I think I was. I’m not exactly sure if it was a nightmare. It seemed more like a message—an unfinished message.”
Extremely interested, Nina asked, “Really? What was the message?”
Perplexed because he did not even know himself, Ryu shrugged and answered, “I don’t know. Like I said before, it wasn’t completed.” Ryu continued by describing the location, the shadowy figures, the tablet, and his thoughts on whom the figures could be. He also wrote down the small portion of the tablet’s ancient writing that he could remember.
Scrutinizing it carefully, Nina eyes lit up because she had never seen anything like it. “Maybe some of the scholars at home could tell us more about it, or better yet, maybe even the teacher, Lenwë Nimue, will help us. If you return to Winlan with me, perhaps this mystery will be solved.”
“Sounds good.”
“By the way, you really think that the woman in your dreams is Sara?” Giggling slightly, Nina regained her composure when she saw Ryu’s stern face. Pausing to consider her next remark, she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Leaving Ryu to ponder, Nina walked quietly over to the door and opened it.
“Good morning Ryu,” said Bandir. Realizing his mistake, Bandir tried to resolve the issue, “Oh I’m sorry, your highness. I thought your room was across the hallway.” Risinger, who accompanied Bandir, looked angry at the situation and started to breath a little more rapidly.
“Yes. You are right, Bandir, but Ryu had a little trouble sleeping last night, so I came in to see if he was alright.” Risinger looked relieved, but just a little.
“Well, Orin has demanded our company, and I was planning to ask him for aid in Camlon’s mining situation, so please get ready as soon as possible and meet us outside Risinger’s room.”
Nina returned to her room, and she and Ryu got changed, although it took Ryu longer because he first had to overcome the daze he was in. They met with Bandir and Risinger in the hall and hurried to the extravagant throne room to see King Orin, who was silently waiting for their arrival.
“Good morning,” Orin began, welcoming them. “How was your night’s sleep here in Hizan?”
Nina and Risinger praised the comfortable beds and serene atmosphere and thanked Orin for his hospitality, but Ryu remained silent.
Orin observed this ungrateful behavior but ignored it. “Now to explain to you the situation. There have been quite a number of disturbances lately in the Barbed Coral Reef northwest of Prima. Prima has been sending a multitude of explorers in that direction, but each is never seen or heard from again. Prima has asked Hizan for aid in their dilemma. Pledging my full support, I sent Lieutenant Dalton a few weeks ago with a dozen troops, but I have received word that the few soldiers we sent have not helped the conditions in any way. While barely escaping the slaughter, Dalton glanced at the opponents, and they were lizard-like in appearance. Here is the plan. In addition to some more men, I was going to send my daughter, Tia, along, as an ambassador. Maybe she can convince the malevolent force, assuming it is in fact the Water Knights, to withhold their attacks and allow us safe passage. Knowing that you are an accomplished warrior, Ryu, I was wondering if you would like to accompany my daughter—as a favor to Hizan.”
Saddened because he could not help, Ryu answered, “I would really love to, but I must return with Nina and Risinger to Winlan. I have important matters to attend to. I wish you luck in this matter, and I am sorry I can’t be of any help.”
Troubled, Orin looked at Ryu and frowned. “We only hope we can make due without your added strength and charisma. I assume you will be leaving soon, then?”
“Yes,” answered Nina. “We must leave immediately. My father is expecting me back any time now. Thank you for inviting us for giving us the guided tour.”
“Before you leave, Bandir, I would like a word with you in the back room,” said Orin, giving the impression that it was bad news.
Bandir and Orin exited the throne room, and Nina and Ryu couldn’t help to be anxious about their discussion. After looking at the various paintings in the room to waste some time, Nina inquired, “What do you think they are talking about, Ryu?”
Risinger, feeling a little neglected, answered for him, just as Bandir strolled in through the doorway. “Probably the normal duties of a general.”
“Or not,” Bandir solemnly refuted. “I have just been dismissed from my position as a general. The king feels that I can’t do either job perfectly unless I focus on only one, so I’m to return to Camlon and stay there.”
Orin stepped into the room slowly, since Bandir had evidently left in the middle of their conversation. “I am sorry, Bandir, but I must do what I think is best for Hizan.”
“As you wish, your majesty.”
Sidestepping to get closer to Bandir, Ryu whispered, “Did you ask him about sending miners to Nanai?”
Whispering back with a frown on his face, “Thanks for being so sympathetic, Ryu. But, yes, I did. Orin said that that was my last official task as a general.”
“Great—for Camlon, that is.” Speaking again with normal volume, Ryu thanked King Orin for his hospitality, waved goodbye, and the group trekked back to the courtyard to begin their flight to Winlan.
“I will escort you to Winlan, princess, to assure your safety, but then I must return to Camlon, my new home,” Bandir said dejectedly. Nina approved of his decision, and the four morphed into their respective creatures.