Like A Horse Before A Race

     "Kake!!?" Kucabara leaped to his feet and ran to the window. His voice cracked in his surprise. "What're you doing swinging around like a monkey [please... overlook the fact that monkeys don't exist in this world...if i keep thinking about it it'll end up in the story and things will just get even more complicated], you'll either fall or get shot!"

     "Or get you out of there. Oh--but I won't fall, I'm right above the stairs." Kake let go of the wooden support beams with one hand and leaned halfway into the cell. "Well then, shall we?"

     "What do you--do you know what they want me for?"

     "Eh? Isn't it to threaten the City with? Like any normal hostage, right?"

     "Ah...is that so...alright. What do you have in mind?"

     "We break out. Make lots of noise once you're a marksa away from this tent."

     "Tent? We're inside--"

     "On the count of three, run, 'kay?"

     "Ah--I'm sorry, but my leg was shot, remember..."

     "Figure something out. Of course, don't go ahead of me. I won't look back, so stick close behind." Kake felt around underneath the window with his free hand, eyes closed and head tilted up. It looked like he was searching for something. "You know...I was talking to Jay a while back, and he's actually pretty smart." His hand found a small loop of string, and he twisted it around his finger. "I told him the leader of the Navi was the only thing keeping you here, and he's already figured it out and on his way."

     "...What are you implying?"

     "Eh, implying? I was just telling you about Jay. You really need to work on his self-esteem." He yanked on the string, and the wall of leather slipped down with a whirring sound. Kucabara could see the inside of the tent for the first time [navi windows are either completely open or very fine nets, so you can't see properly but can hear and breathe perfectly fine]. "We're heading out the southern side--it's the furthest from where the lead Navi is, so we probably won't get caught."

     "...Right. Right, okay. Man, you're a surprisingly sharp fellow, what with the comments I'm getting from your troop." Kucabara eased himself up against a beam and tapped three times against the "M" plate on his injured thigh. Something translucent shot out and spiraled down to his feet.

     "Coool~! So now you're ready!" Kake scrambled down the beam and landed on the stairs, then started to bounce up and down excitedly.

     Kucabara poked his head outside and began calculating. They were inside a tent, but the top was open, and outside it was raining hard as ever. There wasn't even a glimmer of the sun left. "Yup. Ready like a horse before a race."

     "Alright~! Let's go!" Kake took off towards the southern exit, just like he promised. Kucabara pounced outside and quickly drummed the three other plates when he landed. Instead of turning and following Kake down the stairs, he hopped lightly off of the wooden floor and free-fell down the empty center of the tent, landing hard. Not even the only stone-and-wood building could withstand the shock of the conjured leg supports; it pancaked on itself and crumbled into pieces. Kucabara chuckled at the symbollic gesture.

     Not that he had much choice. It was the fastest way down, and all he cared about at that moment was speed. The faintly golden threads of wind shot him towards the northern exit, disregarding the ache in his leg that was growing fainter with each step. A shower of wet earth and rubble churned up behind him. He realized that, once outside, he might not be able to see Jay in the dark. But no--if Vladimier was in his right mind, every corner of the village would be lit up by the brilliant lights of the Festival of Angels.

     "I've lost my mind," the Vice Minister grumbled to himself. To think that Angel City's existence depended on the words of an outlaw-- "Ridiculous!"

     "What, if ya scared'f goin' crazy stop talkin' to yourself!" Merl [oh and the arrow was out a *long* time ago--i changed my mind] stuck his tongue out at Vladimier.

     "Merlaindalil! Please, show some respect!" Imaelka glared at her companion reproachfully. The paint on the two Navis' faces was finally washing off after a good deal of rubbing, but at the moment they made quite a horrific sight.

     "Rukamina Runo--the Organization has its heads realing over him, no doubt!"

     Merl nodded his head vigorously. "Yi, he's a fierce fella." [just what is this accent...? @ o @]

     Imaelka smiled a bit at that. "It seems we all had a negative encounter with this boy. How did you meet him?"

     "He kidnapped me, I tell ya!!" barked Merl. "Tied me up an' ever'thing! I didn' shoot anyone even, kept missin'."

     "So that was where you were--we all thought you were killed on the trip."

     "It seems at least part of that devil's story was accurate."

     "You there?" [this is merl]

     "I first saw his picture on a wanted poster--I am a former bounty hunter, you see--and it was fairly easy to detect his traces when I entered this forest looking for someone. He was sitting in a tree by the road. I don't know what he was doing, but I asked him what his business was, and we traded information; and because of that I was forced to send my troops back to the City with orders to fortify the defenses. Truly ridiculous!"

     "Troops?"

     "The child I have under my guidance disappeared. He had mentioned the Navi right before..." Something thick with dread caught in his throat, and he pressed his lips together in a thin line.

     "Really? It's a wonder he wasn't found out. How did he know?"

     Vladimier couldn't continue.

     He was saved by Imaelka toppling over a tree root. "Kshala...Stop for a moment and let me see we are." Merl brought Violet to a halt. "Rukamina said to go in this direction, but..." She climbed up a tree and disappeared beyond the lashing leaves, her voice traveling intermitently from her perch. The words could be pieced together easily, though. "I can't see anything in this storm. We might have strayed."

     "The Navi are the ones who inhabit the forest, you should know!"

     "And it's your place we're goin' tah, get your tongue strayt!"

     "I've only ever traveled by road! Why can't we walk there, it's far more convenient!"

     "Rukamina said not to." She swung down from the branch. "It would probably be dangerous. Besides, right now we couldn't find the road even if we tried."

     And now they were lost!? 

     "Well, can't blame us, blame that guy. St'ck us here without askin' firs'!"

     "Actually, he did, for me. Just the circumstances weren't exactly preferable." Vladimier glanced in her direction. "He had to put my comrades unconscious, and deal with a rather embarrassing mishap of mine. But he told me that my wish would come true if he could help it, and told me to go here." Her smile was more like a grimace. "Rather naive of me to believe him just like that, isn't it? 'Be ready to help,' he said. 'Be ready to run, be ready to fight. Be ready like a horse before a race.'"

     "Help whom? Angel City?"

     "A dear friend, I suppose. And my father."

     "Your--that guy!?"

     Imaelka passed Merl's remark by with a wave of her hand. "Now then, shall we focus on where to go? Rather odd that Rukamina got us lost, don't you think? Perhaps there was meant to be some form of marking along the way."

     "Humph...Like a horse before a race..." This boy had no idea what he was trying to do. What did he want, emergancy precautions everywhere over a petty little dispute? But it was best if the Festival of Angels was stopped this year. What could they do with their archer bedridden and no replacement?

     "Merlaindalil, have you ever been around these parts?"

     "Not even 'nce."

     The matter with the Navi would be fine; Kucabara was there, after all. Now the trouble here was finding their way to the destination and safety.

     "Laik a hos' [is that too weird...?] befo' a race? This guy doesn' even know what ho'ses are!"

     A horse?

     "I've heard that Sheemahs can tell which direction their home is. Are horses the same?"

     Imaelka clapped her hands together. "Of course! Souiryuu's legendary horse! She lives in Angel City, correct? Does she know the way?"

     "Ro...prob'ly. Ask 'er."

     "You know her better, go ahead."

     "Well, if ya want." Merl leaned over and stroked the horse's neck, whispering something in Southern.

     As if in reply, a dull drum pounded in the distance. Once. Then again, and again. It was deep and rich, the pace gradually picking up. Violet raised her head and whinnied in surprise.

     "Wha--" Merl sat up straight, then immediately slouched down again, groaning in agony. Imaelka looked worriedly back and forth from the direction of the drums to Merl.

     "What is this?"

     Vladimier's hand crawled up to the rim of his tophat in a kind of defensive impulse. "...Oh, lord, they're really doing it." He drew the hat down over his eyes, then back to his forehead. "They can't just do it, they can't just pretend that nothing's happened..." Vladimier's voice scratched in agitation. Rukamina Runo would really want to kill him now.

     The drums steadily grew louder and faster like a fighting heartbeat, rising to a deafening climax despite the distance and wind. Imaelka opened her mouth to ask the question again, but then, with a brilliant flash of light, the drums stopped. She choked on her unspoken words.

     For a few seconds there was nothing but the sound of the storm. Then there ensued a single thud and the gentle rhasping of dry willow leaves against the ground. The three stragglers [or four if you count Violet] saw something bright from the corner of their eyes and turned at the same time to see a very small light meandering up from the treetops. It was hesitating, shivering in a little cloak of yellow light blurring its lines, yet it pierced through the rain and darkness all the way to the closest town. Shakily it crawled up to the tall sky, and then--suddenly--it exploded.

Table of Contents

Chapter 25

Chapter 27