<h1><center>Chapter 6</center></h1>
It is assumed to be a widely known fact that the world is round, possibly because it is, in truth, a fact known to most of the populace of the world. And, when you think about it, this must be true, because the moon would be hard pressed to orbit around a pizza. This would be all the more difficult because, although we all love the moon dearly (except perhaps the werewolves among us), we must admit that it has never been noted for its intelligence. It prefers to hang around lazily in the night sky than to think.
<center>~~~</center>
The moon hung around lazily in the night sky, and made a point of not thinking at all. It wasn’t the only thing hanging around lazily, of course – mortals have been following the moon’s lead since they first crawled out of the sea and worked out how to evolve<font size=1>[url=#1>1[/url]</font>.]~~~</center>
Twenty-five minutes later, and halfway across the city, Deinar reappeared in a tiny back alley. He began to laugh.
‘Oh, you find it funny, do you?’
Deinar spun on his heel, drawing one of his sabres from its sheath at his left thigh in the same movement.
‘!Xiaman!’ Deinar sheathed his sword as he recognised the ebony skinned child.
‘Deinar, your situation is far from amusing. Those were no mere cutthroats. Somebody wants you dead enough to hire mercenaries and assassins. They’re hidden well enough to confuse even the Warden as to their identity. That suggests a magic user of immense power, a daemon, or even a deity, Deinar.’
‘Those mercenaries and assassins you talk about are bunglers, one and all, !Xiaman. Three out of three attempts so far have failed miserably, as you can see.’ Replied Deinar, amusement still in his tone.
‘Sooner or later, they’ll send one who’ll be your match. Either that or they’ll come for you themselves. Then it won’t be you that will laugh.’
‘Alright, alright. I know. Was there something else, or can Igo?’
‘The Warden wishes to speak to you. Immediately.’ As !Xiaman spoke a glowing white portal formed behind Deinar in the centre of the alleyway. ‘After you.’
Deinar stepped through, and !Xiaman followed. Immediately the portal closed, leaving no trace that it ever existed.
<center>~~~</center>
‘Damn, damn, damnitall!’
Once again, his efforts had failed. The one they called Deinar, instrumental as he was to many of the Warden’s efforts, had been a thorn in his side for far too long. And yet he could not eliminate him!
Calm. Think about this rationally.
It was vital that the prophecy came to pass unhindered. The wardens must never discover the key to preventing it, and eliminating Deinar would at least hinder that discovery, if not prevent it. Perhaps he was going about this the wrong way.... Maybe he could instead eliminate the warden that guarded the catalyst, and take the prophecy into his own hands...
The idea definitely had the right kind of fiendishness to it...
Well, it was worth a shot, at the very least.
He waved a hand and out of the shadows appeared Aigun, his elderly retainer.
‘Aigun, please fetch me some paper and a pen. I have a letter to write.’
‘At once, sir.’
<center>~~~</center>
In the very centre of a swirling maelstrom of colour and noise was a cylindrical chamber where complete and utter silence reigned. Here, on a plane detached from all other planes save at the whim of its master, the Warden made his home.
In the centre of the chamber, atop a raised platform, a white portal formed. Out of it stepped Deinar and !Xiaman, and then it dissipated.
‘Now this is the bit I always hate.’ Deinar said, grinning. ‘Which set of stairs to choose, eh?’
They were indeed spoiled for choice – no fewer than eight set of spiral stairs led down from the large circular platform. No sooner had he spoken however, than seven disappeared, leaving the one directly ahead of him.
Shrugging, Deinar began walking down, followed by !Xiaman.
‘I always think it’d be more fun to have a slide, don’t you?’ Commented Deinar.
Immediately the steps beneath their feet disappeared, replaced by a smooth ramp. Deinar fell heavily onto his backside and slid all the rest of the way down. ‘!Xiaman, after a moment of unbalance, levitated himself down in a dignified manner
‘Warden!’ !Xiaman called. ‘I really think you should make an appearance before Deinar cripples himself.’
In the blink of an eye a shadowy cowled figure, wreathed in mist, stood before Deinar, who raised the index and middle fingers of his right hand to his left breast, in the warden’s salute.
‘Deinar. It is good that you live, despite the assassination attempts. I confess I worried about the last one.’ The Warden’s voice was at once like the sighing of the wind and the spitting of fire, like the calm of the earth and the franticness of the sea, as soothing as silk and as grating as sandpaper. It echoed as though within a cavern, and seemed to originate not from the Warden, but within Deinar’s head.
‘I saw the dragonkin following me by air. Well, more correctly I saw when his shadow blocked some of the moon’s light.’
‘Good. Alert as always. Thankfully, you are alive, so proceedings should now go quite smoothly.’
‘May I ask what proceedings these might be?’
‘A prophecy has been set in motion. We seek to prevent it. I need you to go over the prophecy to see if it mentions a means of doing so.’
‘Sure thing. What’s the prophecy?’
‘I’ll tell you the first part.
“Two who come from the US of A,
Will find and open a portal door,
And twilight daemons once bound by the fey,
Will rule this planet ever more.â€â€™
The hair’s at the back of Deinar’s neck stood on end.
‘That’s one of Zutriev’s!’
‘Indeed.’
‘But they were thought to be the babbling of a madman. If this one is a true prophecy, then...damn! Compared to the others, this one is positively pleasant!’
‘And yet,’ said !Xiaman, ‘it is still something we cannot let come to pass, Deinar.’
‘You’re right. I’ll begin immediately. Have you got anyone looking for the catalysts?’
‘Blaze has already found them.’ Replied the Warden. ‘His wife is with him.’
‘Good. They’re both quite capable of holding their own. It might be wise to consider sending them a little backup, though. Just in case.’
Edited by: Blaze Yamato Spirit at: 1/24/03 5:19:16 pm