November 29, 2008
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YACAS 13-14
Ha! Waited a whole half an hour.
Isabelle couldn’t believe it, she just didn’t believe that this was happening to her and that she was actually being singled out like this. It all came down, her high hopes, her dreams, her euphoria, everything came down in the form of ashes. Her father had been horrified and ended up screaming that she stop this madness before other people became involved or even injured. Their possessions could be replaced, or so he kept saying, but their lives were also at stake and those wouldn’t be able to be brought back. She was ashamed that she had brought this onto her father, and perhaps tarnished the family name for the rest of time in the Eyes of the Priest as well as the rest of the world.
The house was burned to the ground, the local fire department just watching it burn as they thought it was punishment by the Priest’s decree for trying to undo what he had put into order, that slavery of the weak to the strong, was trying to be undone by not only a child but a woman. Her father had been away, and when he returned, he found Isabelle staying with the church and construction on the new house began the next day, but it would be months before either of them could move out of the church with the little belongings that they had.
She didn’t have anymore rallies, at least not in the public eye. She held them in secret behind the church, finding that if they stayed quiet for now, they would be able to regroup and then be able to create a stronger force. The lesson that she had learned was a hard one, but it wouldn’t be one that would be easily forgotten. Those that sympathized with her and those that actually supported her were doing their part in quiet ways, starting to treat their own slaves with dignity and even the more wealthy ones hiring those that did well as paid employees which increased their productions, both of which Isabelle was happy for. Change wouldn’t come as fast as she wanted it to, but at least it was happening little by little. The fire was doused, weak, and fragile, but not in the least bit dead.
It was a few weeks after the fire, the construction going as well as it could in the hot days, steadily making progress, and Isabelle was out in the back with her meeting when she first spotted an odd creature that she had never spotted before. It was one of the attendees that spotted it out first, causing the whole group to pay attention to what was going on around them, the large creature standing nearly seven feet tall, pure black eyes looked at them from the gray head with large ears and trunk, resembling an elephant that only royalty was allowed to use as modes of transportation. Large tusks protruded from its mouth, it taking one step forward, which sent Isabelle, the closest, into a panic.
The shrieks that came from the back alerted those that lived in the church for a living, as well as the priest who looked in awed horror at the beast, who was trying its best to look as non threatening as it could, which wasn’t much. Those that were there were caught between awe and the urge to run and get any sort of help that they could find, their fears doubling at the sight of the two other heads, one just as impressive as the first while the other was noticeably smaller. When they began speaking, the intrigue increased, the fear abating a little that they knew enough of their language and that they meant no harm.
“Hello fellow beings,” the first spoke, shocking the group. “I am Nukoea, descended of Elephante the great and sent as a goodwill of our kind. We mean no harm to you, as I am sure that we can learn much from each other. We know the Home like no other tribe, and you have the technology that has never been witnessed this side of The Great Water, so we like to welcome you and know of your intentions. “
“We are settlers from the other side of this world,” the priest said shakily. “We mean no harm to you or your home. Those that were here before, we have made them become our laborers as our law states that the weak will always serve the strong with the sweat of their brow and back. We are all honored that you learned our language and have observed us for this long without revealing yourselves and your information would be most appreciated.”
“We will let our young one, Kipoo, stay here as an ambassador to see what he will see of your kind and what you plan to do here,” Nukoea said, nodding to the smallest, as well as the one having the smallest tusks. “We will be back to pick him up in ten sun ups and sun downs to see what you have learned about us and what we have learned about you. Treat him with the utmost kindness that you have not shown to those you have conquered as accordance to both our law and your law.”
With that, the two left, leaving Kipoo alone as he bowed to those that would hopefully allow him to become apart of society easily and would learn a lot. The youngest bowed, grateful to the Universe for this chance to finally make a difference to his people and to the people who were from so far away. And to the Chieftain for even giving him such a chance to begin with. He would not screw this up, no matter what happened nor what obstacle came his way. He tilted his massive head to the side, listening to the mutterings of the group that they had found, not sure what to expect after this.
=I finally hit 30k. I want my reward now but I know I’m not gonna get it anytime soon. Poor me.=
Nukoea looked behind him, one last time until he and the other guard came with him back to the village which they had to reach before sundown, as they did not want to fight anything nor find themselves in too dangerous situation. Most of the larger carnivores didn’t hunt until the suns had set, preferring the cooler weather not that Nukoea blamed him. He was worried about Kipoo and leaving him there at the mercy of those outsiders, the invaders that dared to capture every forest tribe there was and make them lose their identity and long history.
“We need to hurry if we are to make it back by sundown,” the guard said, forcing his way through the underbrush at a quicker pace.
Nodding in understanding, taking one last look as he watched Kipoo being led away by the invaders, he headed off back into the underbrush, not liking this situation. He thought hat Kipoo was too young for this, and would give into deals that would hurt the tribe, however, he knew he should trust the Universe and its decisions, as it had a grand plan that he could not see, as it often did if they would just believe and see what it had in store for him.
He would definitely be checking in on the younger much more than would be necessary, although he thought it a good thing since if Kipoo needed a way out, he and whatever shaman he would bring with him would be able to make a quick escape, like they had the first time they had actually came in contact with these invaders, when they stole their brethren out of the bondage they had been put into by the outsiders.
=back with Kipoo, my adorable elephant shaman=
Kipoo had never seen such wonders in all his days, the massive inside of the buildings were enough to fit the entire tribe, how these newcomers were able to build so tall, big, and yet hollow buildings amazed him, as well as the fact that they were sturdy as any tree in the Jungle. The gizmos and gadgets that they had were nothing to shake a stick at either, as they would amaze even the old Chieftain with their complexity and yet seemed simple enough to use by anyone who had grown up with them. And they kept inventing more! It was all just so much to learn in one day, and he had met so many new people! The social structure was amazing to see in action, no matter how many times that it was explained there would be no way for him to comprehend it otherwise!
He learned how to work some simple machines, such as the can openers, and was even lucky enough to hold a gun, although his three large “fingers” weren’t able to reach the trigger, so he wasn’t able to shoot it, but that didn’t matter. It was much lighter than he thought it would be, and there were so many kinds even! And the knives and other decorative ‘weaponry’ amazed him, as their complexity and sheer beauty the way the precious gems and stone, all polished, shone in the light that were generated by candles that were much like their own torches, and even the richer homes didn’t even need the sun or fire to light them. Interior lighting was still rare and only the richest could afford it, but it no less amazed him.
“Are you impressed, “ Isabelle’s father, the town’s mayor, asked. “I hope you are, as an ambassador.”
“I am very impressed,” Kipoo said, looking at the painting. Such finer materials were used than what they used to paint their tents! He must find out what they used to create such brilliant pictures! “And the materials you use to accomplish such goals are brilliant! I have never watched trees create such houses before, to take in no shape they would ever in the Jungle and yet you craft them so masterfully to create your structures!” He wanted to learn that secret too. Anything to give him knowledge as well an edge for his kind in fighting against them if that time arose.
“That is good. Have a good rest, Kipoo, ambassador of Elephante,” he said, taking his leave.
Kipoo explored the rest of the bedroom, a bit clumsy because of his size and the fact that the trinkets were made for much smaller and more nimble hands. He was able to find books, which he figured had a hand in recording the family stories so that the next generation would be able to see what their ancestors had done and what they had accomplished before them. He nodded in approval, testing the large bed, not quite designed for him, but was supported as best as it could be in such short notice. He found it much more comfortable than his hammock, as well as bug free which was very nice. The curtains hid the window, and his view from the entire town, but that didn’t matter.
Taking in a deep breath, moving his trunk to the candle at the bedside, he blew it out as gently as he could manage, thinking that it was a good point to rest as he now had ten suns to try to figure out what their intentions were and what he had to do to counter them. Know your enemy. That was the first step in war, one that Kipoo hoped that his tribe could avoid for as long as it could. And so far, he hadn’t had any indication that they would attack them, nor do anything to harm him. He believed that his size had something to do with that fact.
Closing his eyes, he prepared himself for another busy day, one that he hoped wouldn’t be as overwhelming.
Clyde had heard the rumors about there being a strange new creature in town, the slaves a buzz with what it could be, speaking in their native tongues that annoyed him, as they thought that he was stupid enough to not to be able to understand them. As much as it irritated him, it excited him as well, especially if it was the ones that took two of his slaves at Rowan’s ‘welcome’ party. He was sure that if such things were kept up, that this place would be dubbed as cursed and they would have to pull out, which meant that he would lose whatever ground he had as he pushed closer to going home.
Rowan was up and mingling with the slaves that morning, Flay just above the horizon and Yutr hours and hours away. He was glad that the other was falling into some sort of normalcy even with the odd rules and ways of the people. He was rocking in his porch chair, watching warily the edge of the land he owned and where the forest began. Two large dragons were on patrol that morning, growling at anything that moved and they didn’t recognize as friend. The borders had been quiet the past week as well, Clyde thinking that it had something to do with the fact that those…things for the lack of better words, were lurking around and scaring them off. Where they were helping him, he was sure that they would soon become a hindrance, although there was a slim chance that they might have been helpful. Slim, but still there and he was always one to keep his options open.
“What are they so chittery about now,” Clyde asked when Rowan returned, the other sitting on the rocking chair next to Clyde’s. “They seem to be getting more excitable as the days go on.”
“I think we should head into town, since all the rumors seem to come out of there,” Rowan replied with a grin. “We haven’t terrorized that place in awhile, since before the fire at Isabelle’s place, and I’m sure that both the townspeople and Isabelle could use a visit from their most profitable plantation owner.”
With a grin, Clyde checked the sun’s location with a nod. “Find, we’ll go into town a little later. I want to take a look at this ambassador that seems to have come a calling, and by the slave’s descriptions, he seems like one of those you watched carry off two of my own slaves.”
“Today just keeps getting more and more interesting,” Rowan grinned, excitement barely contained. “And the second sun hasn’t even come up yet. Hell, the first isn’t even in it’s glory in the sky!”
They both left after Flay was rising higher in the clear skies, Yutr just breaking the horizon. They had left the house in Senkora’s care, which they both knew she would do very well at. Rowan was ever amazed at how the women could always seem to make the household run smoothly under some of the most demanding of situations with a calm stern face and a few pointed fingers and telepathic messages. The trip into town was easy, even with the crowded streets which was unusual given the time of day.
The attraction was out and about that day as well, as the slaves said they would be. The descendent of Elephante was taller than most of the crowd, although he was still young, that much Clyde could tell. Rowan confirmed that he resembled the ones that had taken the slaves at least two months ago in the field, which meant that this was one of the deeper forest tribes. One of the ones that could know the secrets of this place and perhaps give them a way back home. However, there had to be ample time to study them, and Clyde was well aware that there most likely wasn’t much time left in this young one’s visit, but he had to learn what he could before the beast left.
There was a crowd around Kipoo, however, which meant that it would be a long while, if ever, that he would be able to get him alone so that he could question him on the magic that his kind used. He was sure that if the primary relations went well, that they would be able to question one of the others that were surely planning on visiting Sheystown and maybe some of the other settlements along the coast. It was true, both societies could learn much from each other, however, it was most likely not what Clyde wanted to know, but he would find out one way or another.
He pushed his way through the crowd, Rowan right behind him as a good servant always was. He fell a bit short of the large mass of gray, but he was sure that didn’t matter and that they were only that tall because in the wilds, those that were tall and bulkier were not only harder to take down, but were feared. Almost as much as the predators themselves. He received a curious glance, or what he assumed a curious glance from the almost pure black eye, and he rewarded the beast with one of his best grins. This was already turning out to be rather interesting.
“Hello,” he greeted, the mass giving him a mix of annoyed and curious glances. “You seem to have been living here for eons before we ever thought about coming over. Mind telling me what you think so far?”
“There are so many new things to see and try out,” Kipoo replied, looking around. “It’s amazing how your tents can stay up with such little support, and be so hollow and large inside, and even be so welcoming at the same time. Your weaponry is admirable as well, and your social structure is like ours, very connect with the others.”
“I’m glad you find it to your liking,” Clyde nodded, trying to fake that he cared. “I hope to see you around then. Rowan, come along.” With that, he planted the seed of intrigue, which would hopefully to lead to a meeting in a more private setting that he would be able to exploit to his advantage.
Rowan didn’t want to leave yet, amazed at just how much and well the creature had grasped the language, and was even able to disappear so fast out of sight back into the jungle. He wanted to know what happened to the slaves that were captured and taken back into the forest, were they able to learn from them? That was what he was assuming, which seemed like the most plausible answer. He was sure that the jungle dwellers had their own common which meant that most likely, they were able to figure out how to share their language. He wanted to learn more, confirm his suspicions, but suspected that he would have to wait, much like Clyde had to so he could obtain his own answers.
“We’ll pretend to go shopping,” Clyde said as they walked the mostly empty streets, the throng of people surrounding the ambassador. “That way, if that thing wants to try to chat in private, we’ll be around. Or even just wandering around town, gathering information.”
“Good thing you have a plan,” Rowan replied, looking around at the shops, trying to see if there was anything that he wanted to try out or even just look at. “I was afraid that you were beginning to lose your touch after all these years.”
“have more faith my friend,” Clyde replied smoothly, making his way deeper into town. “After all, I am the mastermind that will get all three of us home and take back the throne. It’s been out of my hands for far too long, don’t you think? I mean, I’m sure all that hard work I done fixing it has been undone by now. As sad as that fact is.”
“We’ll just have to work just as hard to try to get it all back to the way it was,” Rowan nodded, the itch to do battle finally growing back to what it once was. He couldn’t wait until he was able to get back onto the war front, and command the armies like he once did. The thrill sent a chill down his spine, as it allowed him to fulfill his contract, which was what he existed for after all. “I’m sure that we’ll be able to do it in no time. After all, they finally have had the taste of a true dictator.”
With a wicked grin, Clyde knew that his return to power would be nothing like his first struggle, where they didn’t exactly see but instead felt the effects their previous “king” had pushed onto them, the commoners. This time, they could not only feel the tyranny, but be able to see it as well. His return would be welcomed, or so he hoped, so that he would be able to gather forces more readily and hopefully that meant that the peace would be a bit easier to keep as well. However, getting back would seem to be the hard part, which he wasn’t sure how he was going to do it yet, but if he was able to crack the secret how Faolan had opened the portal here in the first place, then he would be able to retrace the path, and get back home.
“I’m glad that they might be a little wiser this time around,” Clyde replied, looking in the window of a sweets shop. “I keep hoping that they will form their own rebellion, but then again, if only three months have passed since my exile, that isn’t much time for them to try and rise up. My reemergence into the plane will be a great feat indeed, and I’m much smarter now, living the years upon years here and watching the rise and fall of many kingdoms and empires, learning from their mistakes. Our world and country will be a much better place once I am able to get back into control.”
“I was hoping that you would feel that way,” Rowan replied, with a smirk just as cocky as Clyde’s own. “And we might even get Fairfax back on our side where he belongs.”
“Ah Fairfax, the fool,” Clyde sighed, wondering where they had gone in two different directions so quickly. “We’ll get him back and we’ll the be the trio of terrors once again.”
“And what do you want me to do for you,” the unexpected voice growled, apparently not amused with the fact that he was being talked about, especially with Clyde and Rowan holding the conversation. “I can already tell you and I am not interested in joining the losing side of this little war.”
“Then you should switch sides,” Rowan nodded. “That way, you won’t be on the losing side.”
For his efforts he received a dark glare, that he rewarded with a grin of the same fashion, both of them knowing such an argument was pointless until they were back on their home plane, which was still seemingly a very long time away. Clyde shook his head, wondering if he was dealing with fighters, warriors seasoned in battle, or children on the playground trying to settle a long dispute by themselves and not being able to get anywhere with it without the help of an adult. He would let this go on though, as it would make for a very interesting show for him to watch and enjoy.
“I was not the one who was captured and sentence to exile,” Fairfax said coolly, fixing the cuffs of his overcoat.
“No, you were the one who wasn’t trusted enough to stay with Faolan and therefore, you’re stuck here with us, with dreams of home but not being able to get back there,” Rowan growled, knowing which buttons to push.“Now now, no need for such conduct,” Clyde reprimanded, although he did so with a large smile. “We’re all stuck here now and I believe that young….whatever he is will be of a help to us all. We tried to trace their tracks, but it seems that they disappeared into the jungle, which is a distinct impossibility, especially on this rock. They may have the secret we need to be able to return home, the loophole that I have searched for years has finally decided to show itself.”
“And you’re telling me, the one who has to keep us all here this why,” Fairfax asked, clearly annoyed.
“I fully intend on dragging you along with us and making sure that you see that we are going to be the winning side yet again,” Clyde replied, still confident as ever that he was right and fully planned to prove his point. “After all, you said that Faolan would make this better, the world, the social standings, everything better. However, Rowan has seen and watched as after my exile, our exile, that is in fact not what is happening. Was I really that bad of a ruler?”
“You taxed the hell on imports and made the rest of the world hate us for it,” Fairfax growled. “you weren’t there on the borders for those conflicts! Staying cooped up in that palace like there was nothing wrong.”
“I was fully aware of that, however, they don’t have cheap taxes for us and our companies to pay either,” Clyde replied, indifferent. “I was just returning the favor, giving them a taste of their own medicine. After all, even this world has its alliances and enemies, with money being the negotiator. You’re telling me that I shouldn’t be like them and allow my country to fail even more just because I wanted to play nice with everyone? There was a lot more going on than just the border problem, Faolan was moving in and I was trying to stop it, but you just had to play double agent and look where we both ended up.”
Fairfax couldn’t deny that, he couldn’t deny the fact that it was his fault that they were there, but he believed that he had made the right choice in teaming up with Faolan, as the other promised so much and he believed that the other could deliver. He was tired of seeing the people at the borders being raided because of the higher taxes that were suddenly implemented, the talks of wars, the standoffs that they had with other countries, the bans, the protests, he wanted everything to be better. The old king had done just fine by him, although there was more economic unrest and hushed rumors that never reached his own ears to clarify them he was sure. But did that really warrant the death penalty?
“I will not take this lying down,” was all he said before he went on his way, Rowan and Clyde watching him stalk off. He knew that it was an uphill battle, but he would do his best, so that he would at least be able to protect his fragile pride. Or whatever remained of it by the time he was able to return back to his homeland.
“Well, that was an unexpected turn,” Rowan yawned, leaning against the side of a building, gaining himself a scatching glace from Clyde, which he returned with a bored one. “Although it did provide some amusement.”
“You know, that’s a very undignified stance,” Clyde said, continuing on his way, Rowan answering with a snort and followed him into one of the many shops that lined the street.
