CHAPTER 9

What’s the Deal Here?

 

            The boat was old and very rickety.  It turned out to be a huge brown abomination with a horrible pilot. Every single passenger and crew member was tossed from wall to wall every two seconds. Ricarde and Marlo were at Darq’s side in their tiny quarters, which they shared with two other people and Gello. They were steadily working to bring Darq to. Gello, on the other hand, was out on deck, leaning over the side of the ship, puking his guts out while the entire crew gawked and laughed at him.

            “Come on Mr. Valuere….come on!” Ricarde said rather impatiently as he desperately tried to nurse Darq back to health. Marlo was sitting beside Ricarde, sharpening his sword and ninja stars with a huge slab of black rock.

            “Why don’t we get Gello to use his healing powers and stuff? Huh huh huh?” Marlo asked. Ricarde looked at the little Klikeno and shook his head.

            “That won’t work Marlo. His slumber is natural and not caused by any foreign substance, so Gello’s magic is useless. Besides, the little land lubber is probably getting seasick and complaining and yelling at everyone!”

            “Oi….he’s not a very nice person is he huh? Nope, don’t think so!”

            “You’re a handful.”

            “HUH?”

            “Never mind, Marlo.”

            “Oh…OK!” Marlo said with a pleasant childish smile as he instinctively ruffled his feathers. Darq began to stir and Ricarde and Marlo were leaning over him, hoping for him to get up and be “all better.” Darq rolled over.

            “C’mon…….five more minutes……pleeeeeease.” Darq mumbled in his sleep.

            “WHAT! Ye Gods….he’s just been napping all this time. I should’ve known. Hahahahaha.” Ricarde laughed his hearty laugh and lied down on the floor. “I think I’ll have a nap meself!”

            “Really?!? Me too! Yippee! NAP NAP NAP!” Marlo said as he dropped to the ground and began to snooze. Gello was steadily complaining to the captain and trying to hustle the crew members out of their hard-earned gold. All-in-all, he gained 50 gold pieces. He later retired to his shared quarters, which had sprung two leaks during the course of the ship, to get some rest.

            The next morning, fog floated atop the icy blue. Ricarde opened the door to his quarters and walked out. He casually strolled down the hall and walked up the stairs which led to the deck. When he came out of the doorway leading to the ship’s halls and quarters he saw Darq. Darq stood with his hands on the ship’s side, looking out to sea.

            “It’s beautiful eh Ricarde?” Darq asked.

            “Aye….tis that friend Darq. Do you suppose we can talk about your predicament? That is, if you’re willing.” Ricarde replied.

            “Ready? I’ve been waiting all my life. I want to know. I finally have some sorts of answers here. I’ve always thought I was part of the fire crowd…now I guess I don’t know where I belong…”

            “Where?…Right here friend Darq….with us.”

            “Ha….friend. I suppose you’re right Ric.”

            “Hmmmmm. Now, let us cut to the chase. I have a feeling about your classification in the world of magic. You say that you’ve always practiced fire magic, but maybe that’s just because you never learned to harness any other kind of magic. Maybe, just maybe, you are one who can control all elements of magical property. I’ve seen quite enough to conclude this. I’ve seen you control water, the earth, and electricity. Your power is immense friend. You need to harness it, and I have a feeling that in WaiShai….we’ll learn something about this power of yours, and how to control it properly.”

            “Doesn’t it strike you as odd? I mean, I’ve never had these powers before,” Darq replied, “I’ve been frustrated before…and my hair never stood on end and electrocuted people! And, I’m quite certain I’ve never caused a rockslide before.”

            “Maybe you’re right, but maybe not. Perhaps these powers were triggered by something that man does not control. Maybe it is a gift given by mother earth at the appropriate time.”

            “Maybe means nothing to me.”

            “Maybe so…hahahaha. Good day to you Valuere.” With that, Ricarde left Darq by himself.

            The rest of the morning nothing important happened. By noon, they were docked in Nairus port and ready to be on their way. Marlo was thrilled to be off the boat, and Gello was even more enthusiastic to be off what he called “that dreadful encased floating cesspool of disease and drunkenness”.  Darq practically flew off the boat and ran down the streets of Nairus to the nearest tavern. Ricarde walked to a quaint armory and battlements shop to purchase a pair of new boots. Gello sat in the middle of town square throwing dice and gambling with the locals. Marlo flew from tree to tree, practicing his technique.

            Not a few moments later, the four met up with each other, each seeming to be content with their afternoon accomplishments. Ricarde had gathered some supplies with the money that Gello had won, Marlo had gotten in some practice time in his daily schedule, and Darq’s belly was filled to the brim with fresh, cold, Southern Kronusian ale.

            “So Ricarde…we’re prepared. Now where do we go next from here?” Gello asked rather candidly. Ricarde seemed at a loss for words, and then suddenly spoke up.

            “Ummmm…friend Gello…good point…hmmm.” Ricarde proceeded to withdraw his large map of Mooshnai from the red sash about his waste. He took a close look and traced their route with his left index finger. A look of dread came about his face as his finger stopped at a certain point. “….R’ahk…”

            “Yes? What was that Ricarde? Rocks? What the blazes are you talking about you boorish beast?” Gello asked.

            “I said R’ahk!” Ricarde yelled rather vociferously.

            Gello plugged his ears. “Oh,” he said sheepishly, “just fine by me Ricarde dearest…sheesh.”

            Ricarde nodded and put his map away. Darq and Marlo looked at him with a worried eye. “WHAT?”

            “Nothing,” the two replied in resounding unison. They soon all left Nairus and started on the short trail to R’ahk, the capital of the Demengo Kingdom.

            The scenery was placid. All around them tall grass grew and southern winds blew. The sky was a nice orange and the trail was clear. The only noises that could be heard were those of the rustling bushes in which tiny beasts called Blytes,  4 ft tall grotesque midget-like creatures with three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot. Not to mention the fact that their skin is a blackened green, they have a tails, and a weird cone shaped antenna protrudes from the top of their skulls. The entourage steered as clear as they could of the vicious pigmy beasts. Two miles down the trail Gello grabbed his money pouch in an attempt to satisfactorily jingle it, filling his mind with thoughts of money. His attempt failed however, due to the fact that his pouch was nowhere on his body. Gello continued to walk along with the others as he looked left, right, and all around himself. The only thing he saw was three disgusting blytes tossing his money pouch into the air and singing a grotesque victory hymn in their language of grunts and growls. He was outraged; who did they think they were? They were fooling with the notorious Gello Montrevere, expert treasure hunter and majestic warrior (at least in his eyes anyway). He abruptly halted and began to sprint towards the tiny monsters. “Part fools! Give me my money back, for if you do not do so, there will be hell to pay, and believe me boys, you’ve just slid your rear ends down the lava slide to the underworld!”

            Darq abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned around. “Gello! Exactly what are you doing? We’ve got tracks to make and your making with the cheesy monologue. Forget the money and catch up. Geez!”

            Having heard Darq’s counsel, Gello turned back around and caught up with the others. “Fine….But I swear I’ll shall have my revenge….revenge I tell you.” The short trail was almost over and they were nearing R’ahk. Darq caught a glimpse of a giant billboard-like sign.

            “Whoa guys…There’s something over there!” Darq made a run for it. As he neared the sign, he slowed down and eventually stopped. “Hmmmm,” he said as he read, “Welcome to R’ahk. Home of the Glorious King Terone. Toll ahead; Fee: 25 Gold Pieces. Whoa! 25 gold pieces?!? Holy Gods, what’da they think we are….magistrates or something?”

            Gello began to laugh as Darq finished reading aloud. “You should’ve let me reclaim my money….Oh you poor fool. Once again the magnificent Gello Montrovere is blinded by the brilliance of Darq Valuere’s pure stupidity!” Gello continued to laugh his haughty laugh as Darq became steamed.

            “Oh yeah Gello? Well why don’t you go back there and get your damned gold! You know, I bet you couldn’t even take a Woolov fruit from a baby blyte. Well…go get the gold!”

            The steam was passed to Gello who was now enraged by Darq’s sheer audacity. “Fine then, I will!”

            “Go ahead then.”

            “I will.”

            “Go on.”

            “I’m going….be patient impudent mule,” after the utterance of his last word, Gello backtracked several miles down the path, looking for his money. After he was gone, Ricarde and Marlo exchanged glances, then both broke out in laughter!

            “That was great Valuere!” Ricarde said as he laughed profusely. “He’ll be gone for hours! Twenty-five gold pieces…pahahaha!”

            “Well…when you’re good, you’re good. Gello tends to do before he thinks, I knew he’d never stop to actually read the sign himself, that poor buffoon!” Darq continued down the path, with Ricarde and Marlo in tow. As they drew nearer they climbed a large hill. Ricarde could feel it with every inch of his beastly body…R’ahk was near and he felt it calling to him. As they made it to the top of the hill, the city showed itself. I was a beautiful sight, one so striking that it should have been hidden from unworthy eyes, at least that is what Ricarde thought as he saw it. Almost every inch of it gold. From the dusty flat topped taverns and shops, to the glorious banner-decked pyramid-like palace. He fell to his knees and picked up clumps of the earth with his bare hands.

            “Home.” Ricarde said quietly to himself. “You two go on ahead, I am forbidden to enter, I will meet you at the port. Trust me friends, I will see you soon.” Ricarde sat down on the hilltop and motioned for Darq and Marlo to move forward, into the city. They were puzzled, but could tell that by the look on Ricarde’s face, that he was not being lighthearted with them.