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By Lamp Genie
A light twinkled on in the valley, the first light of a large city in the growing dark of the afternoon. The light came from one of the outer settlements of the walled city of Bizantine. It was a farmer's house, and it overlooked the Desert Road, the great road that stretched from Litz, Portugal to an unknown distance in the east. He had been outside on his front porch, watching the sun set over the high mountains to the west. When it occured to him that he had work to do, he got up, stretched, and entered his house to get busy with the situation on his hands. He had recieved a call earlier that day when the city guard had called with information of an unusual sighting on the road leading into town. A group of boys had been playing near one of their farms. They had just been in the middle of a wrestling match when two horsemen had torn around the corner, narrowly avoiding them. Shaken up, yet believing that the road was still safe to play in, they had gone back to rough-housing. Warned by loud hoofbeats, they had leaped off the road just as a larger troop of horsemen had rounded the corner. These horsemen, they said, had born the symbol of a green tiger on a red background. They had told their parents, who had called up the city guard, who had in turn called this man. His name was Ged, and he was a farmer who doubled as a investigator for the city of Bizantine. He now got out a small sheaf of paper and a quill pen, from a drawer by his bedside table. He walked outside again, grabbing his camera on the way, and in the light from the window, started writing down everything he had heard. When he was done, he got up and approached the Desert Road.
Elle tore around a corner, the enemy in easy sight on the sraight stretch that followed. They had almost caught up with Ark and Elle's pursuers, but their surprise had been ruined by their speed. The enemy had heard their approach and had sped up considerably. Now the group was catching up. Elle let out a yell to alert those behind her of her sighting. A burst of speed put her on a supposedly winning stretch, as Royd, Ordel and Perel rocketed around the corner after her. They followed a trail along the side of a mountain. The forest here was replaced by a large, fertile valley, filled with the patchwork of farmer's crops. A small river ran through the center. In the still increasing dark, the shadows kept this enclosed valley as dark as night. Lights flickered here and there, on the scattered islands of life amid the crops. Many reflected the water, making the river stand out. Elle payed little attention to this, her main attention focused on the outlines of the figures against the faintly lit eastern horizon. Suddenly, a flash of light caused one of their horses to rear, almost falling off the trail. They kept their speed. As Elle approached, there was another flash of light, startling and blinding her. Some idiot was taking pictures. Trying to ignore the now present blind spots, she kept charging. A corner was approaching. The horsemen were just around it. Head close to her horse's neck, she was almost at the corner. She rounded it. There it was, Bizantine. A glorious city indeed. Three sets of walls, larger than any Elle had seen or imagined, surrounded it, and it was built on a small peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water. It's western wall faintly lit by the rising sun, the city seemed to fountain light. But the road in front of it was empty. No sign at all of Ark and Elle, or their pursuers. She sighed glumly as Royd pulled up behind her. When he spoke, his voice was grim.
"It is not to late.", he said.
"That darn photographer!", was all that Elle could mutter.
Royd seemed to be containing laughter, when Ordel and Perel came around the corner, in a similar mood to Elle's.
"Ooooh, the IDIOT!", hissed Ordel.
Royd slammed his fist into his hand, determined yet not particularly upset. "Well, he got pictures of them. The King of Bizantine will probably be able to identify them."
"So we'll continue then?", asked Elle.
Royd laughed, his voice touched with impatience, "Of course we'll continue! What else do we do when our friends are in danger!"
Without saying another word, Royd kicked his horse to a trot. By now the sun had dissapeared and a blanket of clouds obscured the stars. As the group approached the non-electric glow of Bizantine, Elle thought about the events that had occured over the last few weeks. She was not scared anymore. No, she had never been scared. At first she was worried she would never see home again. Now she was worried that Ark and Elle would never see home again. She laughed quietly at the obvious changes that were coming over her.
"What is it?", asked Ordel.
"Have you ever been away from home on a journey this long before?"
"I have no permanent home."
"I see. But was there a time in your past that looking back on it, you feel like you've changed a whole lot?"
Though the darkness hid his face from Elle, the sudden silence from him indicated a moment of thoughtfulness. Then he laughed.
"Yes, now that I think about it!"
"Well, that's what's funny! Just 3 or 4 weeks ago, I was strong and brave, yet overly concerned about myself."
"And now?"
"I'm overly concerned about others!"
Ordel laughed again. "Well, we're never perfect!"
"Nope! Guess not!"
The two laughed, drowning out Royd and Perel's hushed conversation.
At the outer gates of Bizantine, the party was brought to a halt. Torches lit the gate, and torchlit streets could be seen stretching their way beyond it. A finely dressed young man came out from the gate, escorted by about 6 armed guards. He eyed the party carefully.
"We've been expecting you.", he said
Royd, taking on a polite, formal manner, spoke for the others. "We suspected as much. A man with a camera got pictures of us and those we were pursuing."
"Yes, that was one of our spies outside the city walls. We keep a close watch on anyone who travels the desert road."
"Then did you see who it was we were chasing? Or who they were chasing in turn?"
"Yes, but both groups seemed to dissapear after a while. I don't know who you were chasing, but the captain of the guard does. He would like to speak with you, I'm sure. But for now, I'll give you directions to a place to stay."
This 'place to stay' was a small inn known as the Raging Hueball. It was located in a somewhat undeveloped part of the fortress city, near the north, away from all the marketplaces, temples and government buildings. It consisted of a small common room on the first floor, and about 4 rooms above. Elle and Ordel were to stay in one room, Perel and Royd in another. As soon as everyone had sprawled out on their straw matresses, and the last torch was blown out, Ordel chuckled noisily.
"Your father's really pissed!"
Elle grinned into the darkness, "I know! He tries to hide it, though!"
"Jeez, no offense, but the guy's a total mercenary!"
Elle's voice took on a more thoughtful tone, "Or he used to be. My mother changed that."
"He seems to be one still. Yet I wonder why he brought me!"
"He and mother have had some very strange dealings in the past. Whatever reason he brought you, though, is yet another mistery to be solved."
Ordel never responded. The two of them lay awake for a while then gradually dozed off.
That night, Elle had a strange dream. She was looking floating in a clear blue bubble over a landscape of lava and crystals. The land seemed like the inside of a sphere, the ground turning up in all directions. It was barren aside from about 5 mysterious looking towers that sprung up on all horizons. The bubble continued floating, and eventually a small town appeared. It seemed to have a life of its own. While the surrounding landscape retained a constant light, the town had changing light, as if it was a different time in the town as it was outside. As if she controlled the bubble, Elle drifted down above the town. She could see people milling about in the clump of houses. But one figure caught her eye. It was a boy, about 17. He was walking about the street, a solemn expression on his face. His unkempt blonde hair was tied up by a bandanna, and he was clearly dressed for danger, with a large spear and armor. She could not see the features of his face, yet he looked somehow familiar. He walked along a path to a house atop a bluff. At this house, a door lay open from which light drifted. There was a dark sillhouette against the light in the doorway. The house, being in an elevated area, was in the path of Elle's bubble. She drifted along towards the open doorway, neck to neck with the young warrior. Yet as she grew closer, the darkening world around her, in its small bubble of time, seemed to be growing dimmer as well as darker. It may have just been her imagination, but Elle swore she saw a tree disappear. Then she was past the house, hearing only the words, "We'll meet again...".
"Very well! We'll meet again!", Royd saluted the guard that had come to give him directions to the palace gates. It was still in the dark hours of the day and torches shown in niches along the wall of the main hallway. Royd and Perel were standing outside of Elle and Ordel's room alongside a young squire in lively colors. Royd turned towards the door and leaned in.
"Wake up, you two!", he shouted.
Ordel's voice groaned inside. "What time is it? I feel like I've gotten about an hour's worth of sleep..."
"It's 5 AM and you've gotten about 8 hours of sleep. Now get out of bed and get Elle with you. We have an appointment."
Ordel made a disgusted noise. The sound of two feet hitting the floor followed, and soon two people were climbing into their traveling clothes. Elle was the first out of the shadow of their room, energetic with a serious expression on her face. She stepped aside as Ordel exited the room after her, slouching and half asleep.
Perel smiled, "Morning, you two! Slept well?"
Ordel glared at him, then pointed to Elle, "She snores!"
Elle lost her serious composure and outright glared at Ordel. Then, as a wicked idea came over her, she responded, "I got it from my father!"
Perel broke out laughing and Ordel seemed to wake up. Royd, who was busy reading something off a parchment, looked up. "What's funny?"
Elle began to snigger. Ordel opened his mouth to say something, but a warning stare from Perel shut him up. Perel took charge, "I'm not sure you'd want to know."
He walked over to Royd and whispered something in his ear.
Royd smiled and nodded before addressing the issue at hand, "Well, we were expecting a meeting with the captain of the guard. That we're getting, except we're also getting an audience with the king. Apparently he has some stuff he needs to tell us about!"
Elle and Perel nodded. Ordel seemed a bit more impressed.
Royd continued, "This parchment here includes direction to the palace and a writ of permission to see the king. He says that he'll only take two of us, so two of you will have to find a way to kill time."
Perel grinned wickedly, "Looks like the kids will have all the more time to... get to know each other!"
Ordel and Elle both groaned noisily and hid their intensely blushing faces. Royd was clearly hiding his annoyance as he said, "No, Elle will come with me. She needs the experience."
Elle and Ordel, still quite embarassed and somewhat uncomfortable, looked up. Royd had an expression of determination, the face he always got when trying to hide his feelings, and Perel had an extremely strained expression on his face, obviously trying not to laugh.
Royd grunted, "Get your stuff, Elle. We need to be there soon."
The Raging Hueball was located in a large residential zone of Bizantine, so when Elle and Ordel emerged onto the street, rows of houses and inns could be seen in all directions. Bizantine was by far the most primative city Elle had ever been in. Electricity was used scarcely, being most commonly used for the telephone system. However, there were no TVs, computers or even electric lights to be seen. It seemed to be a friendly enough place, though, and the king was becoming a bit of an emperor, controlling not only the Balkans, but quite a bit of Little Asia as well. Rounding a corner, Elle and Ordel found them in a large square full of market stalls. The noises of people going about their everyday lives filled the air, combined with the calling of the merchants selling their wares. About 5 streets led off on all sides, and a fountain in the shape of an eagle graced the center of the square.
Royd stopped and turned to Elle, "Time to consult the map!"
He opened up the parchment and read out loud, "Take Baker Way from Eagle Square. In the government district, turn left on Main Street."
As Royd looked up from the parchment, Elle began to notice something. There was something wrong.
Royd noticed her expression, "Elle. What's wrong."
Elle thought for a moment, "Nothing, dad. It just seems like.... oh no... my pouch is missing!"
Royd swore, "Oh no, I was afraid of that! Were you carrying anything valuable in it?"
Elle nodded grimly, "A jewel I found. Listen, we have to find it. Are we really late for this appointment?"
"No we aren't, but you won't find your pouch."
"Are you so sure about that? This is really important!"
"Pretty sure. Just how valuable do you think that this jewel was?"
"As valuable as any fist sized, blue diamond!"
Royd nodded reluctantly, "Very well. Let's try to find it, but we'd better not take to long."
"How are we going to find it?"
"Well, first of all, the thief most likely took it while I was reading the map, so he could very well be somewhere in this square.Try looking around for unusually suspicious people."
Elle nodded, and the search began.
The three mercenaries sat around an oblong table. All were dressed, like everyone on the streets of Bizantine, in togas, yet these wore armor underneath the gowns. The leader, at the end of the table, had a particularly ornate helmet on, and all three were regarding the strange man who had just entered.
"So, you need an escort to Taklama. That's a really long way."
The stranger looked urgent, "This is very important and I'd be willing to pay a lot."
"Going to an uncrossable desert is urgent? It's just a simple escort job, just a several thousand mile simple escort job!"
"Listen, those that I mentioned before are in the city now. All of them. If I don't hurry up, time could run out. Just name the price and I'll pay before hand."
"Very well. 3000. And you have until tomorrow to get me the money. Otherwise you can just forget it."
The stranger looked back at the mercenary, "And you know who my enemies would be?"
"Yes. And we'll kill them if we see them."