| Kidnapped
Wrapping the cloth tightly over my face so that all
I betrayed was my eyes, I took a gulp and walked towards the large wooden tavern
that was being used as a gambling joint for all of those who didn't do exactly
as the law said. As I got closer I heard loud laughter, and the sound of dice
rolling against the wooden floor. I took the last few steps to the doors of
the tavern, and then with a deep breath, I walked inside.
Self-control was one of the few things that
kept me from reeling at the stench of the place. I quickly regained myself,
and then trying to breath more from my mouth then my nose, I started to search
for a glimpse of a green Kacheek in hopes that he would be Terlan.
"Looking for someone?"
I turned quickly to look at who had spoken,
and found myself facing a yellow Gelert. "Well, are you? I just thought that
you might have been, the way you seemed to be shifting about."
I slit my eyes at him, and then attempting to
mask my voice to sound less like that of a female's voice I said, "Yes. In fact
I am looking for someone." I said pleased that I made my voice sound more masculine.
"Have you by any chance seen a green Kacheek around here? He goes by the name
Terlan."
"Terlan, Terlan…" he muttered to himself. "I
don't know anyone by that name personally, but there is a green Kacheek who
comes in here quite often."
"Oh," I inquired raising one eyebrow. "Is he
in here right now?"
"Not yet," the Gelert said, "but he should be
in soon."
"Okay. Thanks for your help."
I quickly walked away from the Gelert and walked
over to the bartender. Taking a seat I looked up into the bar tenders eyes.
"Just a water." As I waited for him to return, I stretched out my legs, and
attempted to get as comfortable as I could in the wooden chair. I'd be waiting
for Terlan when he came.
***
The sun glinted off of the Eyrie's green wings as he plummeted down to the
earth. Taking a quick glance behind him, he saw that the Darigan Kougra was
closing in upon him its claws unsheathed. He reached to his side where his paw
found the hilt of his sword, which he clutched with an iron grip. He then tilted
his wings to a slight angle and performed a half flip in the air. Now facing
the incoming Darigan Kougra he pulled out his sword and before the Kougra had
a chance to turn he sliced his sword right through it.
The Kougra immediately disappeared in a silver
cloud. The Eyrie looked down at another large Eyrie whose feathers were pure
white except for some odd sky blue markings. A couple of stripes upon her beak,
and on her front legs, too. She also had a few lines under her eyes and on her
cheeks were two triangles of blue.
"Good job Dorono," the white Eyrie Valvex said
as she vanished the mist with a wave of her paw. "Your weaponry and flying skills
are improving. Though you should have dealt the blow sooner."
Dorono bowed to Valvex as he sheathed his sword
upon landing. "Thank you mother."
Valvex sighed as she looked at his face, which
now adorned three sky blue triangle markings with a likeness to hers. It was
the mark of an apprentice. She had never dreamed that he would find his way
to the island that she had claimed as her home, or that she would be teaching
him the ways of her long lost people. The seers of dreams. It was a very powerful
magic that she was teaching him. The magic of her people was very strong indeed,
and some who had decided to use it in the wrong way had started a war that practically
destroyed the planet. It was the main reason that she was the last of her kind.
She just hoped that Dorono would not go the way of the dark hearted ones, for
if he did, the world could go up in shambles. Valvex pushed the thought away
from her mind. If there was one thing that she felt sure of it was that Dorono
was not going to go take the wrong path. She could sense the purity of his heart,
and that was why she was training him.
Dorono walked through the forest lost in his
own mind. His thoughts were dwelling on the friends he had left behind when
he decided to train with his mother on her island. His peace didn't get to last
that long though, for from the bushes ran out Elecwator. The gray Meowclops
pranced about in front of Dorono's paws before he jumped onto his shoulder.
"What are you thinking about? Huh, tell me!"
Dorono laughed. "I'm thinking about what has
happened over the past three years; it feels more like three hundred. I've learned
so much, but still, I can't help but miss her."
"You mean Zarrel?"
"Yeah," he sighed. "I hope that she's doing
fine with Zana Taru and Kowl. Those two must be a pawfull." He laughed a bit
to himself, and then continued to walk down the path, taking in the sounds of
the forest with a smile upon his beak as he turned to head back to his mother
Valvex.
***
I grinned as I saw him walk in through the door. Terlan was quite bony for
a Kacheek, and looked to be on his wits ends. I had to wonder why Kontour would
need any help to bring down this particular creature. It didn't matter though,
since I had a job to do.
I stood up and headed over to Terlan whose eyes
were shifting about as if looking for someone. "Greetings Terlan," I said and
held back a chuckle as he jumped into the air before turning to look at me.
"Oh, I thought you were someone else…" he said
then looked into my eyes for a minute. "Who are you, anyway?"
"Name's Kanbo. I was told by a friend that you
could help me out with a little problem I have." I motioned to a couple of empty
seats in the corner. "Why don't you sit down. We can talk about that with a
few drinks."
With the thought of a free drink to cool his
suspicions, Terlan just nodded and sat down as I ordered a couple of drinks.
As I picked up the glasses, I looked to make sure that Terlan wasn't looking
when I emptied a tiny vial into the drink that would be his, it was filled with
a heavy sleeping drought.
"Here ya go," I said handing him the glass with
the stuff in it." I took a slight sip out of my glass and then grinned under
all the cloth wrapped around my face when I saw Terlan do the same. The tonic
would do its work soon.
"Okay, what do you want?" Terlan asked taking
a gulp from his glass.
"You see," I said looking over as his eyelids
started to fall. "I am curious as to how you get a Boadaisy to grow into your
garden?"
As I looked into Terlan's eyes I knew that he
would fall out cold any second. "Well you see…" He slurred each word and then
he fell face first to the table. I grinned as I stepped up, and started to drag
him from the tavern. A few creatures inquired at what I was doing, and I just
answered them that Terlan had a bit too much to drink, and needed some fresh
air. And so I was able to pull Terlan outside, and into a dark alley wile all
the other creatures were none the wiser to what I was about to do. It was good
since I just wanted to finish up my job so that I could get back to Zana Taru
and head off. I still had a bad feeling about the whole place.
***
Dsupa growled at the cowering Kontour as he roared out "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE
EYRIE WAS NOT WITH HER!!!"
"I swear it. She came on her own. The Eyrie
was not with her."
Dsupa calmed his temper. He had no intentions
of returning to Jown to report that the mission had failed. "Is it possible
that the Eyrie could just not have come with her up to you?"
Kontour just nodded dumbstruck.
Dsupa ignored the Kougra "I'll be waiting in
your manor for when she returns. If the Eyrie is not with her, well then I'll
just follow her until she leads me to him." And with a flutter of his wings,
he stormed out of Kontour's chambers to await the return of Zarrel Charmain,
and if he were lucky; the Eyrie Dorono, too.
***
I had completed the job. Terlan was really no hard match for me to go up against.
In fact, he was a quite easy target. With my job completed, I headed off for
Kontour's manor, hoping that Zana would just stay put for once. Yet again, I
pulled out the maidens dress and slipped it on over my tunic after carefully
placing my cape away. After checking to make sure that I appeared as a simple
maiden, I made my way back to get my pay from Kontour.
As I reached the front gate the two guards just
bowed their heads with a simple muttered "Milady." I grinned as they let me
pass, for most of the time I was questioned before I was allowed to gain entrance
to anyplace.
As I made my way foreword a Kacheek walked up
to me. "Allow me to escort you up to Kontour," he said taking a few glances
behind me. In a quieter voice he then added, "Are you alone?"
"Of course," I answered in confusion about why
he would ask that.
The Kacheek nodded, and then began to take my
up to Kontour, every once in awhile looking around behind me as if he expected
someone to emerge from the shadows. Finally he led me up to the entrance to
Kontour's chambers, then hastily ran off as soon as I placed a paw on the door.
I scowled at his retreat and then walked inside the room where Kontour sat in
waiting.
"I have finished my job," I said standing up
straight.
Kontour grinned. "Good, I knew that I could
count on you." He reached into his coat and pulled out a bag. "6,500 just as
we agreed. You can stay here and count it if you please."
I, not wanting to spend any more time in the
place then I had to, passed his offer by. I didn't want to have to trust him,
but I still got the feeling that I should get out of there.
"No, I have other business to attend to. I'm
going to pass up your offer Kontour." I gave a slight nod of my head. "I must
be off." And then I turned to leave the place and find Zana.
***
The Kacheek who had guided Zarrel Charmain up to Kontour's chambers bowed
on one knee before Dsupa. "The assassin has returned general."
"Good," he said. "Was the Eyrie with her?"
The Kacheek cowered slightly. "I didn't see
him anywhere."
"WHAT!" Dsupa bellowed and then he cursed under
his breath.
"M-maybe he just didn't come in. To help the
assassins disguise work better." The Kacheek trembled.
Dsupa laughed, "You serve me well." And then
he jumped out the window spreading his wings. He would follow Zarrel Charmain
after she came out, and with luck she would lead him right to the Eyrie Dorono.
***
I quickened my pace as I neared the trees where I had left Zana Taru.
"You're back," she said sticking her head from
between the bushes as I got to her.
"Yes, and we're leaving now," I said grabbing
her by one gloved hand and tugging her to her feet. "I have a bad feeling about
this place almost as if something's watching… Oof!"
I was knocked flat on my back as I heard a flurry
of wings above mingled with a deep laughter.
"Mother!" I slowly raised myself from the ground
to find Zana Taru's worried eyes staring into mine.
"Who was that!?" I growled looking for a sight
of the attacker in the air and on the ground.
"It was the one that was after Dorono, the one
who captured me. His name is…" and that loud laugh sounded again in front of
me; in the shadows of the trees. Zana's eyes held fear. "Dsupa."
"So the brat remembers who I am?" and I scowled
as a blood red Halloween Nimmo walked out from the shadows wings folded in.
Dorono had told me about this creature; a general of warlord Jown's army. He
had many large head spikes that dropped slightly over to the side with the weight
of metal rings that they were pierced with. He was wearing armor, which explained
the large muscles that pumped his wings. Several large spikes also stuck out
from his shoulder pads. His scales were the color of blood except for his wing
membrane, which was the blackest of black except for two small areas that were
pink with scar tissue. Proof of where arrows had pierced his wing in two separate
spots.
"What do you want?" I said darkly.
"It's simple really." He grinned to reveal a
row of sharpened teeth. "All you have to do is hand over Dorono to me."
"And if I refuse?" I asked.
"Then you, and your brat, shall both die."
"First of all, he's not here, and secondly even
if he was I would never give my friend and partner away to scum like you!" I
reached down to pull out my dagger, only with a gasp to realize that it wasn't
there at my side.
"You're looking for this," Dsupa said, and he
lifted up his foot revealing my dagger underneath. It must have fallen out when
he knocked me over. He quickly picked it up, and then flung it into a tree behind
him. He drew his sword. "Tell me where I can find Dorono?"
"I don't know," I said. Even if I was to be
destroyed that night, I would not let Zana have the same fate. I motioned for
her to move behind me, but her eyes were burning with a flame of hatred for
the scum Dsupa. I tried to put myself between her and he, but before I could
take another step, she unsheathed her sword and with a cry of hatred ran towards
Dsupa.
"Zana! No!" I screamed but it was too late.
Dsupa easily raised his sword up to parry Zana's attack, but then instead of
destroying her then like he easily could have done, he grabbed her, pining her
arms to her side and took into the air. One arm was wrapped over Zana, and the
other one held the swords tip to her throat.
"You will tell me where I can find him now,
or she feels the strike of my blade!"
"He is away," I said, "Training. Other then
that I don't know. You can take me instead, just let her go."
Dsupa grinned and sheathed his sword. For a
split second I thought that he was going to let her go, but then he spoke. "Apparently
the brat means a lot to you if you are willing to give your life for her. In
that case listen to this. Bring the Eyrie Dorono or let him bring himself to
Jown's fortress. If he doesn't come, well then you can never expect to see your
precious little brat ever again… alive." And he gave Zana Taru, who was screeching
loudly, a hit on the head with his fist and she fell unconscious.
Listening to the words of Dsupa I didn't hear
as the Kacheek that worked for him snuck up behind me. I did not even have a
clue that he was there until I was knocked in the head with a large rock. And
then, everything went black.
***
Dorono opened his eyes with a screech that split the night air. "Zarrel!" He
cried, and then as he dug his claws into the ground remembered that he was still
on his mothers island, and not back home with his partner.
"What is it!" Elecwator asked his one eye wide
in speculation.
"Just a dream…" Dorono sighed. "A very realistic
dream. Zarrel," he whispered her name. The dream had felt too real, the sorrow
too strong, the pain too realistic. It was then that he felt a sharp pain in
his skull, reaching one big paw up he felt a bump forming. He must have slept
on a rock.
Rock! The word rung a bell. At the end
of his dream there was a Kacheek with a rock, and it hit Zarrel with it in the
same spot that his bump was now forming.
His breaths came out in ragged spurts. Perhaps
the dream was more then a dream. He suddenly remembered a lesson he had had
with his mother.
"What is a dream?" Valvex asked Dorono, a smile
on the edge of her beak.
"It is something that you get in your sleep.
Visions," he had answered
"Perhaps that is what a dream is anywhere else, but not here. It is not
named the island of dreams for nothing. It is here and only here that dreams
can be made into a reality. Many dreams are filled with evil, and that is why
my job is to make sure that those don't blossom. If there was no one to watch
over the isle monsters and demons and many other forms of evil found only in
your dreams would come to life to terrorize."
"But what about the good dreams?" he had
asked.
"Those dreams are not as strong. They would
be overwhelmed by the nightmares. The dreams you remember are the ones filled
with shadow and hatred. My job is to watch that these never escape the island
as reality to terrorize others and create more nightmares. A tiny one escapes
every so often. They are the frightful sounds in the darkness, and the shadow
that scurries across your wall but disappears before you can see its shape.
They can scare, but do not have the power to do any serious harm. Those little
ones aren't much worry, the worry is when the large ones escape. They are made
of pure evil, and would destroy the whole world if no one opposed them. When
they escape my power is useless, and the victory has to come from others."
Dorono just nodded.
"You have the power to read dreams. The power
may not be to its full for another long while, but it will grow over time. Observing
you, it does not appear to be your strongest power, as it is mine, but you still
should be able to sense others dreams, and feelings.
Dorono shook his head bringing himself
back to the present situation. Was it possible that his dream was a mirror of
what Zarrel was feeling? He had no idea. All he could do was to ask Valvex.
***
"Valvex," Dorono said approaching his mother.
"What is it Dorono?" she asked.
"A dream," he answered her, and then went foreword
to explaining what he saw in his dream. "I think that she may be in trouble."
Valvex sighed, and then looked her son in the
eyes.
"There is something that I must tell you Dorono,
because in the time you have been here I have been watching you as your abilities,
and your magic grows. Me, I have the magic of the dream. With that, I can watch
some creatures' dreams, and send dreams to others. At the same time, I can also
make quite convincing illusions. You however, are different."
"Different?" Dorono asked. "How?"
Valvex sighed, "I thought that the trait had
died out long ago, maybe it is just your half blood that brought it out. Whatever
the cause Dorono, a dangerous magic flows through your veins. I am sure of it
now. Let me tell you a story…" She looked down at the ground for a second before
continuing.
"Long ago when I was still young, there were
more like me, the Seers of dreams. We lived in relative peace, that is until
a new breed of Seers came. These creatures magic took on a different form, it
was of the mind. Once trained, they could forge a mind link with whomever they
desired, and once that link was open they could untold damage to the people.
With that mind link, they could not only read all of that creature's thoughts,
and see all their memories, but then they could change them. They could make
you think that you did something when you really didn't, or they could make
you forget what you had done for the past week, month, however long they desired.
Most of the time, this was not permanent, and whatever was done would reverse
itself with a bit of time, but then some of them got good. Then with that power
some of them turned against us with dreams of conquest on their minds. We tried
to fight them, but there is not much you can do against a creature who could
render you a slobbering idiot with a snap of his fingers, or, as the strongest
ones could do, turn your mind do dust, destroying you.
We somehow managed to hold up against them,
attacking at sudden and unexpected areas then retreating before they can break
through the mind-shields we had learned to create. The fight rang hard on both
sides, and soon we Seers had all but died out. We managed to stop the ones with
those mind powers from taking over Neopia, but not without a horrible cost.
After destroying the last of the ones who wanted to take the world into their
own paws, the last few of the Seers of Dreams separated, going his or her own
way into the world. That was many years ago, and I believe that I am the last
full blooded Seer left in this world, and all because of a battle for power."
She turned to Dorono suddenly. "Why am I telling
you this? It is because I can sense that power in you. You have the very same
mind power that almost destroyed this world long ago. I do not know how strong
yours is, but you do have it, that is how you knew what was happening to Zana.
You watched through Zarrel's eyes, through her memory what had happened. Your
detail is too strong to be a dream from her."
Dorono gave a surprised look at his mother.
"What does that mean? The power that I have."
"It means, Dorono, that you have to take the
right path, for if you take the wrong one many may suffer at your hand." She
stared into his eyes. "To have a great power also means that you will have many
hard choices to make. You cannot hide from what you are, but at the same time,
using it in a bad way is not good either. There is one more thing that this
power should give you the ability to do. You should be able to make the most
convincing illusions possible, as tricking ones mind would be a natural thing
to you. Go Dorono. You have to save your friends, but always keep my warning
in your heart."
Dorono nodded, and jumped into the sky. "I will
never forget it," he said hovering.
"One more thing," she said. "To be able to get
by with magic is a great thing, but to be able to get by without… it even greater.
One who does not need to use their magic can accomplish much more then someone
who has to rely on magic. Even so, sometime magic is the key answer…" and with
those final words engraved into his heart, Dorono took off into the sky, and
set off in a line to find and save Zana Taru.
***
I had lost her. Zana Taru was gone. I had failed her. Twice I was too late
to realize there was someone behind me until they struck, and if I hadn't dropped
my dagger, I would have been able to fight to protect her.
With rage and tears in my eyes I walked over
to the tree, which held my dagger embedded in it and pulled it out. I would
destroy Dsupa for that, but only after I had rescued Zana.
Oblivious to the passing of time, I walked towards
home to tell Kirin of what had happened.
"Mother," Kowl said running over to me as I
stepped up, but I just walked past him without a word and over to Kirin.
"What's wrong?" he asked, and then, "Where's
Zana, she did catch up to you right?"
I kept my face devoid of emotions. "She's been
taken. Taken by that worm of a Nimmo Dsupa… to his master Jown."
As I said the last word Kirin took a step back,
aghast at what I had just said. He had been forced to work for Jown for many
years before he finally escaped and found me again. "Why?" he asked.
"He is still after Dorono. After all these years
he still won't accept that he has slid out of his grasp!"
"Something happened to Zana, didn't it?" Kowl
asked tugging on my leggings. His brown eyes held sadness in them.
I let out a sigh. It would do no good to lie
to him "Yes. You're sister is in danger."
"What's going to happen to her?"
"Nothing," I promised looking up into the sky.
"Your sister is going to be just fine. I swear my life on it." I meant every
last word of what I said. Jown had messed with those I cared about for the last
time.
"What are we going to do?" Kirin asked.
"All we can do," I replied spinning my dagger
about in my hand before placing it in my belt at my side. "We're going to get
her back, and make Jown pay for ever messing with us."
***
Zana felt a cool breeze blowing her hair back when she came back to her senses.
She held her eyes closed afraid at what she would see if they were open, and
listened to the steady flapping of large membranous wings in the dark of night.
She felt her teeth quiver as the icy air smacked her in the face.
"So you're awake now," a dark voice said calmly.
Zana held her eyes shut tight all that happened
to her would be no more as long as she didn't see it.
"Don't try and fake it girley," the voice of
Dsupa jibbed. "I know that you're awake. You keep tensing up. You didn't do
that while you were unconscious."
Zana Taru opened her eyes and looked down at
the ground miles below. Small lights showed where some of the houses still kept
a light up even through the late hour. The buildings looked like little toys
to her and the trees like small sticks and leaves. Dsupa loosened his grasp
on her slightly and she let out a small scream as she felt herself jolt downward.
Dsupa wrapped his arms over her again. "Like
I thought, you are awake girley."
"Don't call me girley," Zana growled at Dsupa.
"So she talks also! Heh, what do you want me
to call you then?" he sneered and turned his red head to look at her with one
yellow eye for a second.
"My name is Zana Taru!"
"All righty then Zana. You had better get used
to this air. I can feel you shivering under me. It's only going to get colder,
and we need you alive to serve as barter for that Eyrie Dorono. I know your
mother will come for you sometime. Though if she comes without Dorono I'll kill
her myself. I could have done so tonight, but this is easier. So much for the
famous assassin being the best swords fighter in this land; she couldn't even
protect her own back!"
"She's better then you'll ever be Dsupa!" Zana
called out.
"I doubt that." He then seemed to think for
a second. "Wait, you called me Dsupa, I don't recall ever telling you what my
name was."
"How could I ever forget a face as ugly as yours!
Heh I see that you still have scars in your wings," she said looking at his
wings.
Dsupa chuckled. It was a terrible sound filled
with evil. "So you are that purple Zafara from three years ago then. Just as
I thought. Yet again you're going to help us acquire Dorono. Perhaps once we
turn him to our side we'll go down and kill that mother of yours."
Zana scowled at him, but then suppressed a shiver
as another cold breeze washed over her. She looked ahead of her and gasped just
as Dsupa started to laugh darkly.
There in front of them was a giant wooden fortress
with guards patrolling the walls. A large army marched past the gates with many
shouts, and headed towards an outcropping of white tents. As Dsupa headed towards
the massive building a loud horn rang out across the snowy valley to mark his
arrival. Zana started to struggle in Dsupa's grasp, and he just laughed back
at her.
"Get used to this Zana! It's where you're going
to be for a long time!"
To be continued...
| 
