The Melody of a Silenced Harp
		        Chapter Six: The Long Journeys



	Kain sipped his Mysidian tea, looking at his surroundings. He was in Roland's private garden. There were white blooms everywhere, ivy running up and down the old white buildings, and a little stream gushing through. Lush green grass was everywhere. Kain still wasn't completely comfortable with being Roland's "special guest". For one, he got strange and dirty looks from the commoners whenever he went out into the city. It wasn't as if HE had raided Mysidia, but the feeling was there. It seemed as if all Mysidians had built up extra hatred for all that was Baronian. The tea's flavor was strange to him, he wasn't used to Mysidia's spices. And even though he was perfectly safe in the presence of the elder, he felt naked without his armor, which Roland had insisted he take off lest he stir up the townspeople.
	"Enjoying your tea, sir?" a little girl asked. She had bright brown eyes, and short hair tied into a pony tail. She wore a red robe with a cute green cape tied on it.
	"Umm...yeah. The tea's great." Kain said. He was unused to being waited on, especially by wizards. Of course, the wizards closest to Roland saw no resentment in him. The children loved him, always asking him to jump high and do tricks. Roland looked up at him from the book he was reading.
	"Kain's tea is fine. That will do, Porom." he said. The girl curtseyed and left the room.
	"My boy, there's something on your mind. I can sense it." Roland said, eyes shining.
	"Well............" Kain said quietly. The truth was, there WAS something on his mind, but he didn't want to talk about it for fear that even Roland would turn against him.
	"I...........was in the service of Golbez. After we attacked Mist, he took control of my mind. He made me watch as he burned Damcyan. And then at Fabul he forced me to attack my best friend...." Kain poured out, having held these feelings in for a long time.
	"I see," said Roland as if this was no surprise,"What do you plan to do about it?" Kain glanced at the elder in surprise.
	"You're not mad? You're not going to make me leave your city, even after all that??" Kain said, astonished.
	"Kain, I am not as judging of you as Garlio, or his band of black mages." Roland said simply. "I could feel this tension on your mind. Besides, though the other wizards don't know it, I do recieve news here. I know about Fabul." Kain just sat back in his chair, flabbergasted.
	"Wow....you knew the whole time?! And you let me stay..." Kain gasped.
	"I have faith in people, Kain. That is part of who I am, and why I've been Elder so long. Many people who you hurt have forgiven you. Why shouldn't I?" Roland explained. Kain nodded. This was a very forgiving man. A forgiving man involved in a holy practice....what he wouldn't give to----
	Holy practice....?? That was the answer!!
	"Roland!! Do you know of a holy place where I can repent for my sins?!" Kain asked excitedly. "Please, if anyone in this world knows, it's you!!" Roland sat there for a long time, studying Kain's face intently.
	"Hmmm....there is such a place. How willing are you?" Roland said.
	"I'd do anything." Kain said softly. Roland nodded.
	"You may have to." Roland said honestly. "East of Mysidia lies the Mount Ordeals. That mountain is sacred. A place of trials and hardships. But strong monsters inhabit it. Many people have tried to climb it, but never returned alive. The last man to climb Ordeals was a rare one. He succeeded, but died as well." Kain's eyes shone intently, taking in every word.
	"He died, but succeeded? How can such a thing be?" Kain asked.
	"I do not know, but that is what the story says." Roland said. "You must be absolutely sure you want to attempt it. My father and brother both died on the mountain..." Roland said, his face dark.
	"I'll do it. I have nothing to lose but my life. My honor was lost long ago..." Kain said noblely. "Afterwards I can find my friend Cecil. You see, he--"
	"He was lost at sea." Roland said suddenly. 
	"What?! How did you know that??" Kain exclaimed.
	"I did not tell you before. As Elder I am notified of any great magical happenings in the world. That was no ordinary shipwreck. You see, the survivors of Village Mist finally zeroed in on you. They assumed that you had kidnapped the little girl. So, they group-summoned Leviathan...." Roland said slowly. Kain's eyes widened.
	"....They did not consider that the beast would actually swallow her. Summons are hard to control, especially one of such a high level." Roland's voice was just a whisper now, and his expression was one of deep sorrow. 
	"Poor...Rydia. I...tried to save her....but..." Kain choked.
	"It isn't your fault. The people of Mist are to blame. They brought it upon themselves." Roland assured him.
	"But....if the king hadn't made us attack---" Kain began, but the Elder silenced him.
	"Now. The trials at Mount Ordeals will be very difficult. You won't be able to manage it alone. So, I will send wizards to accompany you." Roland explained.
	"B..but they all hate me..." Kain protested.
	"Not to worry, I won't send Garlio...." The Elder chuckled. He clapped his hands loudly. A servant rushed in, summoned by the clap.
	"Faye, please send for Palom, Porom, and Fiana." Roland requested. The servant nodded, and rushed out of the room.

	A moment later, Faye returned. Following her were three people. The first was the little girl from before. The second---looked exactly like her! It was a boy, with the same ponytail. Except, he had a green robe with a red cape. Then, came a beautiful woman Kain knew he had seen before...somewhere. She had curly red hair, beneath a white hood lined with red and yellow checks. Her robes were the same way. She smiled at him, her green eyes twinkling.
	"Kain, these wizards will accompany you to Mount Ordeals." Roland announced. "Introduce yourselves." 
	"Greetings, sir. I'm Porom, white mage of Mysidia." the little girl said, curtseying.
	"Hey." said her twin. She elbowed him in the stomach.
	"I'm Palom." he elaborated. She elbowed him again.
	"Stop that!!!" he snapped at her. Then he turned to Kain. "Good t' meet you." he mumbled, scowling at his sister.
	"Hello there." the beautiful white wizard said softly. "I'm Fiana."
	"Fiana..." Kain said breathlessly. "Where have I seen you before...."
	"I cured you after you arrived." she said, blushing. 
	"Fiana volunteered to help you." Roland explained. She blushed more.
	"Well then....um....let's go, huh." Kain said. He wasn't used to being in charge of people. That was Cecil's job. 
	If Cecil is alive....

	After Kain got his armor back, the elder wished them luck and the group of four walked out of Mysidia. They got many dirty looks, and many openly wished that the Dragoon would never come back. Some begged Fiana not to go. They headed east over the sprawling meadows of the Mysidian peninsula. Before long it began to get dark. Kain and Fiana pitched a tent outside of a forest to the north of them, and settled in for the night. Palom and Porom soon fell asleep inside the tent, but Kain and Fiana stayed outside by the campfire for a little while.
	"So, Kain, were you really involved in the raids like they said?" Fiana asked, her green eyes shining intently.
	"Well, I didn't raid Mysidia..." Kain said. "But....well, do you promise not to tell anyone?" Fiana nodded.
	"Golbez took control of my mind. I watched him kill everyone in Damcyan. I even saw my best friend try to stop it all. But I couldn't do anything. Then, I had to raid Fabul for the Crystal of Air..........if it wasn't for Anna, I might still be under Golbez's control." Kain whispered. Fiana's eyes were now wide, she stared intently at Kain's features, absorbing every word of his story.
	"Anna......is she your girlfriend?" Fiana asked, fearing the answer. Kain shook his head.
	"She was going to marry the Prince of Damcyan, I think. But he died...." explained Kain. He could almost hear an eerie ballad being played on a harp.
	"......I've heard horrible things about you, from Garlio and Pegid and Triwold, and all the other black wizards. They think you're a spy. But I know all that isn't true..." Fiana said, gazing at the fire.
	"...How do you know?" Kain asked curiously.
	"You aren't acting like a spy at all. I would know. My father was a spy for Mysidia." Fiana admitted.
	"But...I thought your family was all wizards!" Kain exclaimed. Fiana laughed softly.
	"They are." she whispered. "Wizards make the best spies. With spells that can speed things up, slow enemies down, cast magic walls, change sizes, all of it....it's perfect for secret missions and all that. My father was gone all the time on missions. You know, back in the Red War."
	"The Red War.......you mean when Fabul and Damcyan were fighting? They're at peace now, you know." Kain said. 
	"Yes, well, the Red War wasn't just Fabul and Damcyan. Mysidia has always been...concerned....about the other Crystals. So, we often spied on Toroia to make sure they weren't misusing it. You know, a lot of suspicious reports....it ended up they were just enhancing the aspects of their city....That's why Toroia is so beautiful." Fiana explained.
	"Have you ever been to Toroia, Fiana??" Kain asked her. Her face turned dark, and she stared at the ground.
	"No.....my father was killed at Toroia, and my mother swore never to go there." she said in a sad tone. "But it wasn't the Toroians' fault."
	"What then...?" Kain dared to ask. Her eyes teared up, and her face twisted into a look of rage.
	"Astos killed him. He killed my father...." she murmured. "I was....only ten."
	"I'm sorry I asked, Fiana. I can't stand to see you so sad." Kain apologized.
	"What about you, Kain? What about your father..??" Fiana asked, eyes glistening. Kain was taken aback.
	"Umm....well, I'm not really sure. They say he died right after I was born, but that he was a Blue Dragoon...the highest order. King Baron raised Cecil and me, and ...once I found out, I vowed to be a Dragoon too. King Baron wanted me to be a Dark Knight like Cecil. I almost did, but I changed my mind. Rosa convinced me to, actually. She told me in private that she followed in her father's footsteps, and I should too because Cecil was only being a Dark Knight because he didn't have any parents........" Kain explained.
	"Rosa.........she must be your girlfriend, then?" Fiana asserted. Kain laughed.
	"You want to know that so badly, don't you?!" he laughed. She turned red and laughed too.
	"No, I...." she stuttered.
	"Don't worry about it, Fiana. Rosa is Cecil's girlfriend. It's....always been that way..." Kain said, smiling. 
	"It's been....really great talking to you, Kain...." Fiana said. "I know I can trust you. We should go to bed, it's really late........" Kain nodded, and began to climb into the tent.
	"Kain?" Fiana said suddenly. He stopped, and turned around.
	"Yes?" he replied.
	"Kain.......let's promise each other.....someday, we'll both see Toroia together, okay?" she asked.
	"It's a promise." Kain said, going into the tent. Soon, they were all asleep.


	The next morning, they were awakened by the shouts of a young girl. Kain woke up in a cold sweat and grabbed his spear. He dashed outside.
	"Rydia!" he called without thinking. Fiana ran out after him. Porom was standing by the doused campfire, looking extremely distraught. 
	"What is it, Porom??" Fiana asked, concerned. 
	"Oh.......I told him not to go........I begged him, but he wouldn't listen to me. Not even me, his own sister!!!" Porom cried. Kain cast a quizzical look at Fiana, but she didn't reply.
	"What do you mean?" Fiana asked, her eyes darting around the campsite. "Where's Palom?" 
	Porom looked ready to cry.
	"Last night, he heard you two talking. He said that you were really a fiend, under the control of Golbez, out to kill all of us. He went back.....to Mysidia. He went to fetch Garlio to finish you off!!" Porom cried. "I tried to stop him...." Fiana gasped.
	"The Elder would never allow it! Garlio......finish Kain off?!!" Fiana choked out, astonished. "How....what..." Kain looked into Porom's brown eyes.
	"Porom," he said. "Why would your brother want to kill me?" Porom shook her head.
	"Mysidia is going to destroy itself." Porom sighed. "That's what I've heard the Elder say. The tension between White and Black wizards has almost split the city in two. Palom is my brother......but he is also a Black Mage. Therefore, he hangs out with all the other black wizards."
	She turned to Kain.
	"I'll be honest, there are very few black wizards who aren't against you, Kain..." Porom said with clarity. "Palom wants desparately to get into Garlio's highly respected group. He heard you say something about Golbez, and took off at dawn............" She hung her head. Fiana took charge.
	"Listen." she said. "Even if Garlio's on his way, we still have to go on. Let's hurry to Ordeals before them. If we get through, and complete any and all trials ahead of us, then we'll have done our duty. If Mt. Ordeals respects you, then even black wizards can't lay their hands on you. It'd be against our very religion." Kain nodded, gazing admiringly into her green eyes that shone like emeralds in the birght morning sun.
	"Let's go then. To Mount Ordeals!" he said. The two girls nodded as well. They left the campsite, grabbed their packs and hiked to the east.


	Tellah trekked higher and higher up into the Fogbound Peaks. He frowned at this labor. If that fool Cecil hadn't gotten the mountain all collapsed, he could have waltzed into Mist and on to Baron. 
	He thought to himself, making sure for the millionth time that this was the way he wanted to go. At first, he had charged south of Kaipo by pure instinct. Then he had worked out a reasoning for doing so. Golbez was surely in Baron. Everyone knew that. His precious Anna, her mind so clouded with thoughts of revenge, had surely gone to Baron. The quickest way to Baron was through the Misty Valley.
	Well, it used to be. Now travellers had to go directly into the Fogbound Peaks, which was not a journey for the weak. Legions of imps ambushed travellers at the drop of a hat. Wolves hunted for meat. Mountain Hags fed on the sick, spreading disease. But it wasn't the first time Tellah had gone through here. He remembered his first time. Leena had been pregnant, and the baby was almost due. There was a landslide and the road was blocked, so they had had to take a detour. Anna had nearly been born right there in the mountains. Tellah smiled, thinking of the joy on his wife's face after their child was born. His face darkened. Leena was gone now. And if he didn't hurry, he might lose Anna as well. He quickened his pace, leaning on his staff.

	Randy tripped over a stick and almost lost his balance completely. For one thing, his view on adventures had changed considerably after following Tellah for hours. That old goat could move! And Randy wasn't that experienced in fighting monsters. His monster-speak wasn't that good either. A translation error had almost gotten him fried up as an imp tribe's virgin sacrifice. After he had finally escaped, he had lost Tellah again. He was bruised, tired, hungry and in a foul mood. 
	Two imps jumped out at him, waving their dirks. He drew his battle staff, and swung it in a wide arc in front of him. The imps didn't take the hint and charged madly at him, spouting gibberish. He clubbed one with his staff as the other bit his ankle. He howled in pain and whacked the other one until it let go of his leg. Then he knocked it unconscious and backed up a few steps.
	He wasn't liking adventuring at ALL.

	His senses were alert, yet numb. Air whizzed past him at blinding speeds. But all Cecil knew was that he had an extreme sensation of falling. Falling, falling, falling, but never hitting the ground. 
	Suddenly, impact!! Yet Cecil could have sworn he just bounced. He stood up, and his vision returned to him. It appeared to be a cavernous place that he was standing in. The ground was surprisingly springy, and the soil was very dark. It had a burnt quality to it. Cecil looked upward. He couldn't make out any ceiling or even the hole they had fallen through. It was then that he realized....this wasn't a strange dream, but a reality. They had fallen at Agart.
	"Anna!" he called. His voice echoed throughout the cavernous waste until he could hear it no more. There was a small crash, and he saw Anna laying beside a large tree; the tree looked very out of place here. So little of her skirts were left it she might have been wearing nothing and still had the same amount of protection. He shook her gently, trying to wake her up. 
	"Mhnnnn..." she moaned, turning on her side. Her eyes opened slowly.
	".....Cecil? Are we dead?" Anna murmured, sitting up.
	"I don't think so. This place is too dreary..." Cecil said.
	"Perhaps it is the Dark World." 
	"I.....no. The stories I've heard about the Dark World sound too horrible. This place doesn't compare." 
	Anna's gaze stopped on the tree. 
	"What's that?" she pointed. A strong steady wind was around the tree, blowing straight upward. Cecil shrugged.
	"You fell out of it, don't ask me." he replied, brushing his silvery hair out of his face. Anna gasped abrubtly, and she dashed over to a prone figure.
	"Kory!" she cried, shaking him. Cecil ran over. Kory looked dead for sure. But Anna cast a few healing spells, and he looked better.
	"Ghnnngh..." he coughed. Anna looked overjoyed that he was alive. He came to and sat up.
	"So, Cecil?" he said with a smile. "Guess we lived through it." Anna looked at the surrounding area, which wasn't much. There was a circular ridge surrounding them, and they couldn't see anything else.
	"But where are we, Professor?" Cecil asked. Kory flashed a roguish grin.
	"The Underworld." 
	"The Dark World?!!" Anna screeched. Kory shook his head.
	"The Dark World is on another plane, as is the Spirit World. The Under Ground World is merely beneath the sea. The Dwarven Homeland..." the professor explained casually. "You'd have to be a very bad person to go to the Dark World. A fine woman such as yourself would surely go to the Spirit World." Anna turned a deep crimson. Cecil gestured to the ridge.
	"Shall we have a look?" he offered. Kory nodded, and got up. He, Anna and Cecil climbed the ridge and looked over it. There was a sharp intake of breath from all three when they saw the landscape stretched out before them.
	"So this is the Underground....." Anna said softly. Rich, dark soil spread out before them, with huge rocky mountains of lava rock. Oceans of magma followed, and the eye soon lost sight of the end.
	"Amazing.....all this exists underneath the ocean?" Cecil gasped. Kory nodded. Then he began to go down the other side of the ridge.
	"Where.....are you going?" Anna asked him.
	"To find some Dwarves, of course. It would be great to study their culture." said Kory simply. Cecil dashed down after him. Anna soon followed. 


	Golbez gazed calmly at the young man before him, who was accompanyed by an old chamberlain and several guards. He was clad in a loose-fitting ninja outfit, and a orange cape fluttered in the breeze behind it. He had two sheathed katanas, and a bandana tied around his head. The wind tousled his silvery-blue hair.
	He's perfect. Golbez thought with a chuckle. Rubicant spoke.
	"Chamberlain, my master is here to offer a your prince a deal." he said in his booming voice. The old man involuntarily clasped his robes tighter around him as he glanced at the hideous beasts in front of him.
	"W..what sort of d-deal?" the chamberlain asked nervously. Golbez stepped forward. The guards shoved in front of the ninja prince. Golbez laughed.
	"I'm not going to eat you, petty fools. I'm making a deal. With your prince, privately." The chamberlain and several others made loud protests. the prince stepped forward.
	"I guess I can see what you have to offer." he said coldly. 
	"I like your style, Prince...Edge, was it? Yes, Prince Edge. You'll find my deal very interesting. Step this way..." Golbez offered.
	"Now just a moment!!" the chamberlain protested, throwing cautions to the wind. "We have no guarantee that you won't just kidnap Edge as you did the King!"
	"Listen here. I have no intention of doing something like that." Golbez explained smoothly. "Merely allow the Prince and me to step over to that tree over there. My associates have cast Reflect on it. Therefore neither of us can use magic while near the tree." Golbez said.
	"Oh??" the chamberlain sneered. "And can't your 'associates' just unspell the tree and have you kill Edge? I don't trust this." 
	"Fine, we'll have it your way. I won't touch the Prince, and if I do.....you can keep her." Rosa, still tied up and looking disheveled, materialized in front of the chamberlain. A guard caught her before she fell.
	"No!! He's a doublecrossing fiend!! Don't listen to-" Rosa screamed before a gag appeared in her mouth. Golbez took Edge over behind the tree.
	"Prince Edge of Eblan. Here is my deal. I will guarantee that both your parents go free, as long as you take their place as my hostage." Golbez offered. Edge looked taken aback, then scowled.
	"How do I know you haven't killed them already?!" he shouted. Golbez made a gesture and both the king and queen appeared. They were imprisoned in a magic cube. The queen cast a sorrowful gaze at Edge, and the king was fiercely trying to break open the box, while shouting obscenities at Golbez.
	"Mom!" Edge cried, "Dad!!" Golbez smirked.
	"Well?" Golbez said. "What do you say? As my assistant, Lugae, seems to be very interested in experimenting on humans, I cannot guarantee their lives if you do not agree to my deal." Edge looked torn. 
	His parents, the ones who had raised him, would probably die if he didn't agree. Besides, they had a country to rule. They were royalty. He was just a brat prince, a young man with no knowledge of ruling Eblan. He wouldn't be missed.
	"I......" he said quietly, his gaze downcast. "I'll make the exchange. Me for them, with them unharmed." 
	The queen, Elmyra, sensed what was happening and collapsed into a sobbing heap. The king began protesting, shouting and banging on the walls. Suddenly, the walls vanished around the monarchs and reappeared around Edge, singlely.
	"GOLBEZ!!" King Hanhl raged, "I will have your head!! What have you done?!!" At the king's shouts, the three guards and the chamberlain dashed over.
	"Treachery!" the chamberlain cried. "...What?! Your highness!" 
	"What did you do, Golbez?" Elmyra sobbed, clinging to the translucent case that held Edge.
	"I did nothing. Your son traded himself for the both of you." Golbez said smugly. 
	"What?! I won't have it! You're a double-crossing fiend!" Hanhl fumed. "If I had my sword with me, you would be dead by now."
	"Be that as it may, we're leaving now." Golbez said, chanting a spell.
	"No, no!! You mustn't! You can't take my poor baby!! NOOOO!!" Elmyra pleaded.
	"Exit." Golbez said with an evil grin. He, the fiends, Rosa and Edge vanished.
	"By Odin, Golbez," Hanhl said through clenched teeth. "We will meet again, and when we do, I will see to it that my sword cuts your heart in two." 


	Kain and his party climbed ever higher on Mt. Ordeals, every few minutes casting a glance backwards to make sure they weren't being followed. It seemed like the higher the climbed, the more monsters showed up to stop them, and most were undead. Another skeleton soldier jumped out from behind a rock, along with a lamia.
	Fiana ran up to take care of the lamia. They were notorious for charming men with their beauty, and then killing them. Lamia drank blood. Of course, it wasn't to say that women couldn't be charmed too, but it just wasn't a common occurance. The fire-haired woman whispered the chant for a mute spell, while Kain and Porom were taking care of the bone soldier.
	"Look out, Porom!" Kain cried as the bone man lunged at the little girl. She defended herself with her wooden staff, but it was a clumsy move and she was knocked down anyway. Kain brought his spear down on the bone man's skull. It cracked, but still the man moved.
	"Cure Two!" Porom cried, waves of green shooting at the skeleton. It crumbled to nothingness. Fiana was glad that Porom was proud of learning Level Two Cure, but the way she was using it meant she would soon run out of power. Then she'd have to rest.
	"Porom, spare the magic! We need to be strong in case the black wizards attack us!" she cried, finally killing the Lamia. Porom nodded, slightly embarrassed to be caught overusing her spells. They went farther, by now they had almost reached the summit. They sat down on the rocky ground to rest for a moment.
	"I'm sorry I used so much cure, Mistress Fiana." Porom said solemnly. Fiana smiled kindly.
	"Don't worry about it. We needed it to kill those monsters. Besides, to tell you the truth I've used just as much magic, or more. Luckily I brought these." She pulled two bottles of a purple liquid from her robes. Kain looked at it strangely.
	"What's that stuff? Magic Tonic or something?" Fiana and Porom laughed heartily at this.
	"You didn't study magic much, I take it?" Porom giggled.
	"It's Ether, Kain..." Fiana said as she downed some of it. A sour look crossed her face. "It isn't very good, but wizards use it to recover magic power." Porom drank all of hers, and then they were on their way. They passed through a darkened cavern, and then they emerged into the golden sunlight once more.
	"The summit!" Fiana said giddily. "No one has done this in 50 or even 100 years!!" Kain nodded solemnly.
	"But so far it's just been ordinary monsters. The real test is undoubtably yet to come." he said, adjusting his dragon helmet. 
	
	"Isn't that the truth!" laughed a cold voice from behind them.
	"Time for your very painful death, Kain Highwind of Baron, Third Class Dragoon, serving under Golbez the Black and King Baron the traitor to Mysidia." Garlio sneered. They whirled around to face Garlio, Palom and two other wizards.
	"Pegid! Triwold!" Fiana gasped. "You dare go against the Elder's wishes? He means for Kain to complete this trial!!" The black wizards laughed, except for Palom. He looked extremely pale.
	"Are you so surprised, Fiana?" Triwold, a skinny man with a whiny voice and thin moustache laughed evilly. "Roland is a fool to trust this spy! He worked under Golbez!!" 
	"I know that! It wasn't his fault!" Fiana shot back.
	"You........were with Golbez?" Porom gasped.
	"That was before. Golbez used me. If he appeared here now, I'd kill him." Kain said darkly.
	"Well, none of that matters now. There will be no repentance." Pegid, a fat, short, bearded man said.
	The three wizards raised their staffs.


	A dark, stone castle rose out of the red rock ahead of Cecil and his companions.
	"Hah! That must be where the dwarves are!" Kory said triumphantly. Cecil nodded.
	"Maybe we can get some new equipment there." he said. 
	"And some clothing would be nice." Anna muttered. They walked up to the castle gates, which were surprisingly dark and brooding compared to the stories Cecil had heard about dwarves. He prayed that they were as cheerful as legends said.
	"Great Lali!!" a dwarf exclaimed. "Uppers! Humans! We got upper worlders, men!!" The dwarf was about to Cecil's shoulder in height, and he wore blue armor, and a blue horned helm out of which yellow glowing eyes shone, the only feature on his otherwise hidden face. He reminded Anna of one of those ancient black wizards she had seen in picturebooks. 
	"Excuse me, do you know where we could get some equipment?" Cecil asked slowly, gesturing to his ratty tunic.
	"Lali Ho! Equipment........we must take yeh ta see King Giott, Lali!" the dwarf decided. He led them inside the castle, where the surroundings weren't much better than the outside walls, but at least the people were friendly.
	"Hey there, human!"
	"Lali ho!"
	"Frythik, how ya been?"
	"Just fine, lali!" the dwarf leading them, Frythik, called back. They entered the majestic throne room. It seemed much more cavelike than Baron's or Fabul's. A huge burly dwarf that was surely the king sat upon the throne. He had a helmet with huge bone horns extending from it.  Next to the throne was a dwarf girl. She had a dark face and those same yellow, glowing eyes. Red hair tied in pigtails framed her face. She wore a ruby red dress, and a sparkling necklace around her neck.
	"What have we here, Frythik?" the dwarf king boomed.
	"Humans, King Giott. They want equipment." Frythik proclaimed.
	"Indeed?" Giott scoffed. "Why do they need equipment?" Kory stepped forward.
	"If you please, your Majesty, I am a leading human scientist. I would be honored to study your cultures and customs." he explained.
	"Really...." Giott said. His eyes narrowed. "And what of these rumors, that a host of monsters and fiends are trying to re-activate the Tower of Bab-il?? How do I know you aren't working with them to steal my crys---er, my treasure? I must ask you to leave this place immediately."
	"But.......wait! We aren't with them at all! We're fighting against them!" Anna protested. the dwarf girl looked at the king.
	"Father," she stated. "Could they at least have some equipment...?" Giott gave her a cold stare, then his look softened considerably.
	"Luca, my dear, we cannot trust them." Giott said simply.
	"Wait, sir...." Cecil said suddenly. "How can we get to Bab-il?"
	"Hmph! To join  your fellow monsters? I will not let you go through." King Giott said.
	"No! To fight them...." Kory began. He turned to Cecil and whispered.
	"He's hiding something. I think the only way to the Tower is through this very castle." Cecil nodded subtlely.
	"Very well then, your Highness. We'll leave your kingdom, okay!" Kory said in a loud voice, walking from the throne room. The others followed him. He walked over to a corner near a stairway. It was guarded by a dwarf.
	"Can we....go up there?" Anna asked. 
	"Authorized Dwarves Only!" he said, shaking his head.
	"Now what, Cecil?" Anna said, crestfallen. Cecil then spotted something very out of the ordinary. A dwarf was standing in the opposite corner from them. But he looked different from any other dwarves. The only way you could tell he was one was his glowing yellow eyes; otherwise every feature was hidden under tightly wrapped black cloth robes, and a hood. Cecil motioned for them to stay put as he walked over to the dark dwarf.
	"Excuse me, but can you help us?" Cecil asked in a low tone. He explained about Giott.
	"Hmmm, I think I can. I need to get to Bab-il as well." the dwarf said a rough voice. 
	"Okay, what's your name? I'm Cecil, Dark Knight." The dwarf gave him a look.
	"That's nice. Call me what you want." he said casually.
	"Don't you have a name?" asked Cecil. He shrugged, and looked to a stone he was fingering.
	"Name's Rock. Let's go then." he put simply, and walked over to Anna, Kory and the dwarf guard.
	"Let us through." he demanded. The dwarf shook his head.
	"Authorized Dwarv--ggaak!!" he choked as Rock lifted him off the ground by his neck and threw him aside.
	"Good enough for ya?" he said gruffly, walking up the stairs. The others looked taken aback.
	"....C-cecil, where'd you pick up this guy?" Anna asked nervously.
	"L-let's just go." Kory said, and they dashed up the stairs before anyone noticed the unconscious dwarf on the ground.

	Soon, they reached where Rock had told them about a secret passage. It led through the dwarf military base. On the other side was the road to Bab-il. A burly dwarf guard blocked the way.
	"Have permission?" he asked. Rock pulled a knife.
	"Let us through." he demanded. The dwarf guard back up to a lever.
	"One more step and I'll sound the alarm, you humans..." he said edgily. 
	"Wait!! Don't be so hasty!" came a high voice. From behind them, Luca the dwarf princess came up.
	"Wait. This man....is just really interested in the tour I was about to give these folk of our base." Luca lied. 
	"........Tour?" the guard asked suspiciously.
	"Of course. Let us through...please. I will be giving the tour." Luca said. The guard relcutantly opened the passage. Luca led them into it, saying in a loud voice, "Now THIS is the DWARF BASE..."
	When they got out of earshot, she turned to them and giggled.
	"Ooh, that was good, wasn't it?" she giggled.
	"Why are you helping us?" Professor Kory asked.
	"Didn't your father say..." Anna started, but stopped. She had disobeyed her own father, and had no right to preach.
	"Well, he did, but he probably didn't REALLY mean it. I can tell you guys are nice people. So I'm going with you to Bab-il." Luca announced.
	"But, it's the headquarters for a lot of bad stuff. You don't know what you're getting into..." Cecil explained.
	"Oh, I don't care. I need a little excitement. Even monsters don't scare me." Luca said with a mischievious grin.
	"It's more than a few monsters, you know. Tell her, Rock!" Cecil said, exasperated. Rock said nothing. He started walking deeper into the dwarf base. 
	And so, it seemed like Cecil's group had two new members whether they wanted them or not.