The Note
March 12th, 2006 by Salem
Chapter 32 - The huge desk in the oak paneled room made the room look smaller than it really was. The room was so quiet; only the click clocking sound of the large redwood ancestor clock’s pendulum could be heard. Paintings of the creators of Gin’s Blade were on the walls in artists’ interpretationistic poses. A bird headed man with wings on his arms was holding them out to shade faceless people from the suns. A jackal headed man with a long stick stood at the stern of a ship, towering over a crew of faceless skeletons traveling on what is commonly known as the River of the Dead. A black cat was asleep in the middle of the room, snoring away and deep in a dream. Suddenly the only door leading into the room opened waking the cat as a burst of sound broke the silence.
As the door opened, Hoofar Isis and the sheep man entered the room followed by Salem, Selene and Christina. Selene was talking to James on her ComBlade. “Call us after your private meeting with the Hoofar, we will be busy unloading the BoltBlade onto the track way, I have to be here,” said James. “We will be OK, James. You will see us when we return to get the MobilBlade,” said Selene. James still looked concerned as he vanished from the ComBlade. Isis walked around the huge desk and even had to climb four steps to reach her chair with a very high back. The sheep man followed her up the steps and stood at her right side. The Blade Masters sat on three of the five chairs in front of Isis’ desk. Not only was Isis’ desk and chair made to make Isis appear to be taller than them, the low seats the Blade Masters had to sit on made them look even smaller. The cat jumped onto Isis’ lap and began to purr loudly as she petted it. “Now, tell me why you have to answer the question in here and not in front of my people?” asked Isis. “We are here on temple business,” said Salem, “We feel better to keep this info to ourselves when in a foreign land.” “We have had a lot of experience when it comes to traveling out of our home country,” said Selene. “I guess being as long lived as you are, you can be called experts,” said Isis.
“But this has not answered my question,” said Isis, “Why are you here in my country?” “A Blade called the KingBlade was taken from its hiding place, only one clue was left behind,” said Salem. “In order to recover the KingBlade, we need to ask an old friend what she knows about the pebble that was left behind,” said Selene, “We are hoping this will lead us to where the one who took the KingBlade came from.” “And who is this friend you are going to see?” Salem and Selene turned to look at each other. The twins seemed to be talking to each other but were not saying a thing. Salem turned and said, “We are on our way to see Terra.” “I see. Well if you are going to ask someone about a single pebble, I guess she would have to be the one to see,” said Isis, “She is much more long lived than you two, are you sure she is still around? No one has ever seen her since Lord DarkRaptor freed her and our land from the military rule of De La Groot.” “We are not really sure. That possibility had not crossed our minds,” said Salem. “Only way to know is to visit her,” said Selene, “You forget that Terra loves her solitude and would rather live alone in the mountains than among people.”
“Why is this sword so important?” asked Isis. “The KingBlade is not a sword. It is a golden crown,” said Salem. “This is what I mean, why call it a Blade when it clearly isn’t an object with a sharp edge?” said Isis. Selene began to speak but is stopped by Isis, “I know, because it is part of the Blade that created the world. Why is this king’s crown so important?” “Because the KingBlade holds the power to control all other Blades and the ones chosen to wield them,” said Selene. “And why should I care?” asked Isis. “Because you are a Blade Master, even if you refuse to call your Blade by its true name, you are still susceptible to being controlled by the one who has stolen the KingBlade as well as the rest of us the Blades had chosen,” said Salem. “I’m not refusing to call my Sun Ray Scepter what it is, this instrument has been called the Sun Ray Scepter long before you were born,” said Isis, “More importantly, why allow such an obviously dangerous object to exist? I would think you and your temple monks would have destroyed it.” “Actually, Isis, my sister and I are the ones who created the KingBlade,” said Salem. “And yet I still don’t know why,” said Isis. “The KingBlade was made to hold the power to control all of the Blades in our world,” said Selene. “You already told me,” snapped Isis. Selene continued as if she did not hear Isis, “As long as that power was held by the KingBlade, no one else could control any Blade except the people who the Blades had chosen to be their masters.” “In other words, as long as the KingBlade held that controlling power and was hidden, only you can control your RayBlade no matter what spell is used to try and control you or your Blade,” said Salem. “So this crown is more of a token to prevent and protect us from being controlled by others,” said Isis. “That is kind of the idea,” said Selene, “It was never meant to leave the hidden KingBlade’s Chamber.”
“I will grant you permission to venture into my country provided that you will let a small troop join you. This is too big to leave in the hands of heretics,” said Isis. “We will agree,” said Selene causing Salem’s jaw to drop open in disbelief. “I’m sure you’re not aware of the new laws. I expect you to abide by the laws of my lands while you’re here,” said Isis. “Of course, Isis,” said Salem sounding disappointed. Isis pulls out a sheet of papyrus and writes a note of permission and attaches a small golden scarab to it showing that it is an authentic note from the Hoofar. “This scarab is enchanted,” said Isis, “It will fly away in a month’s time and return to me, making this note worthless. You have to be out of my country by then. Do not try and detach the scarab from this note, doing so will make it fly back to me as soon as it is detached.” “We understand,” said Selene. “And now I must return to my subjects,” said Isis as she pulled on a tasseled rope to her left. Part of the wall began to slowly open as an eerie fog spreads out over the floor from behind the door. The door opened wide showing that there was no one opening it. The door kept opening on its own until it met the wall next to it. The fog had covered the floor from sight, but it did not extend very far from the door. A fiery flash of light blinded the Blade Masters for a short moment. Then their eyes adjusted to the light in the room again. A large white tiger man in wizard’s robes stood in the doorway. “Khet, our Palace Mage will give you a copy of our laws and will show you to your troop escorts,” said Isis. “But Hoofar!” said Mage Khet. “You will do what I ask Khet,” ordered Isis. “Yes my Hoofar,” said Mage Khet. Isis and the sheep man left the room leaving the Blade Masters with the very disappointed looking mage. “Follow me,” sneered Mage Khet as he turned to head into the passage way behind the wall. Selene saw the mage pick up a bucket from where the fog was coming from and guessed that there had to be dry ice inside. Mage Khet placed the bucket inside a small door and closed it stopping the fog and showing the floor again. When Christina entered the cramped hallway, Mage Khet pulled a lever causing the door to close on its own. On the wall was a rack where small glass bottles holding flash powder were stored. “Walk this way,” growled Mage Khet before heading down the hallway. “I cannot see him,” said Christina, “How is he walking?”
The Blade masters followed the white tiger man named Mage Khet through cobweb filled hallways past secret doors and peepholes and up spiral staircases until they reach their destination. The three Blade Masters find themselves in a round room full of chemist’s equipment, books stacked at odd places, and papyrus fluttering down after being kicked up by the wind blowing through a glassless window, the only window in the room. Salem cannot help but notice the low grumblings of Mage Khet as he moved about his cluttered chamber and asked, “Do you feel that Isis should not be Hoofar?” “No, she is the right Hoofar for this country. I just don’t like you very much,” said Mage Khet. “What did we do?” asked Selene. “It was your country with all of it’s philosophers that ended the age of magicianry,” said Mage Khet. “You mean Prestidigitation,” corrected Selene. “They didn’t know to leave well enough alone is what I’m getting at. There wasn’t supposed to be an explanation to a mage’s magics,” ranted Mage Khet. “People just wanted to know how it was accomplished,” said Salem. “Only the jealous wanted to know. Well, I’m determined to make new magics no know-it-all philosopher can explain,” said Mage Khet as he took a coin out from a pocket in his wizard’s robe. Mage Khet flips the coin a few times then has it flip over each of his clawed fingers. “This is a very real and very solid coin, however I can make it vanish just like that,” said Mage Khet as he clapped his hands with the coin in the palm of his right then showed the three Blade Masters that the coin was no longer there. “It is behind your right paw,” said Selene with a very indifferent look on her face. “But is it really?” asked Mage Khet. An awkward silence filled the room as Mage Khet stayed as still as a statue. “Is it?” asked Christina. “Yes it is,” said a very disappointed Mage Khet as he dropped his arms and put the coin back in his pocket.
Mage Khet turned and begins to rummage through his stuff, looking for something. “When Ted was Hoofar, he would have me perform my magics in the grand meeting room. He never wanted to know how my magics worked, he just enjoyed it,” said Mage Khet. “You mean his magic is not real?” asked Christina. “My magic is real to those who believe!” yelled Mage Khet. “Prestidigitation is a performing art that mimics magic with the use of slight of hand and rigged props,” said Selene. “Great, I have a pompous philosopher in my very home,” said Mage Khet as he turned from the large trunk he was digging in to get into Selene’s face, “Do the world a favor and stop explaining things to people.” Mage Khet returns his attention back to the dusty trunk. “What are you looking for?” asked Salem. “I suppose you want me to tell you. If you must know, I am looking for my stupid copy of the stupid laws of this stupid land as Hoofar Isis ordered. Stupid woman, ever since she took over, she’s been using me as an errand boy,” Mage Khet continued to rant. Finally, the disgruntled magician had found the thing he was looking for and pulled it out from under a box of old relighting candles. “Here we are,” said Mage Khet as he tossed a small red book in Salem’s direction. Salem caught the small book and looked at the cover. “Handbook of Laws?” asked Salem. “Yes, read it, learn it, then call me when you are done. I’ll be just behind this curtain writing a letter. Do not go anywhere and DO NOT LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN!” said Mage Khet. “I think I know what he really is going to be doing behind that curtain,” said Selene. “What?” asked Christina. The twins ignored Christina and began to read the small handbook.
A small gray haired man sneakily moves from doorway to doorway then jumps behind a pile of trash as a couple of Lysts police officers pass by. The man takes a peek around the corner to make sure the uniformed authority had not seen him and continued on. Then on his small shoulder, he feels a tap. The man quickly turned in fright, “Don’t hurt me!” “Dalton! Hush! You’ll alert those cops,” said Lady Slambrawn with Nuclear-Chipmunk at her side and the LightningBlade fluttering around. “My Lady! You’re still free!” said Dalton. “Of course I’m still free. Now Dalton, have you secured the Slambrawn Yacht?” asked Lady Slambrawn. “Yes my Lady. I thought you may want to leave the country,” said Dalton. “We are going to Cragorus,” said Lady Slambrawn. “Cragorus? But my Lady, King Abbot and Hoofar Isis have just signed a treaty. You can be captured in Cragorus and sent back here to Lysts,” said Dalton. “We are not going there to run away. I’m taking steps to become the queen of Lysts,” said Lady Slambrawn, “Now get the ship ready to go right away, I’ll go get a few friends of mine to join us. We leave the moment I arrive,” ordered Lady Slambrawn. “Yes my Lady,” responded Dalton. “Nuclear-Chipmunk and his Blade will help you,” said Lady Slambrawn. Dalton looked at the small animal and remembered just how sadistic it could get with the powerful Blade, “But my Lady, what will you do for protection?” “I have my new ThunderBlade,” said Lady Slambrawn as she turned. Dalton could see a black tube hanging from his Lady’s left shoulder and folded to hide behind her back.
The Blade Masters had finished reading the book of rules and laws. “We are done Khet,” called Salem. “My name’s Mage Khet. Mage is my title and Khet is my given name,” yelled Mage Khet. “He has quite a short fuse on him,” whispered Selene. Salem handed the book back to Mage Khet who takes it and tosses it over his shoulder, not caring where it ends up. “Now to take you back down to the courtyard to meet your escorts,” said Mage Khet. The Blade Masters followed the mage down spiral staircases to ground level. Mage Khet opens a secret door leading out into the courtyard. Automatically, a bellows is compressed by the opening door, disguising their exit through the palace wall from anyone watching. In a cloud of dust, Mage Khet and the Blade Masters emerge to find soldiers in ten groups of hundreds. “Isis has got to be kidding, we cannot travel to Cragorus and climb the mountain in a timely manner with all of these soldiers following us,” said Salem. Isis and her sheep man shadow come walking up to the Blade Masters and Mage Khet. Selene turns to Christina, “Go and find Vivien, tell her to help you find everyone else. As soon as we leave the palace, we are going back to the TidusBlade. Mal should have the MobilBlade and horses unloaded and ready to go.” Christina nodded in agreement and began to run out of the courtyard. “Christina!” called Selene causing Christina to stop and turn, “I meant for you to use your Blade.” “Oh, sorry,” said Christina as she looked up. Her GullBlade was indeed high in the sky with Rook apparently making steep dives and complex aerial maneuvers. “GullBlade! Angel Mode!” yelled Christina. The GullBlade swooped down and transformed before attaching to Christina’s back and taking her into the sky. “Funny how things worked out,” said Salem. “I agree,” said Selene, “Every time I see her fly, I can not help remember her mother flying just like that.”
“There has been a change in plans,” said Hoofar Isis when she reached the HexBlade twins and Mage Khet, “We just received news that General Carcass was seen getting off a Colloquy class pirate ship at the Dubai ship port. We can only assume that one or all of our enemies has hired the Ut army. We can’t spare a single soldier,” said Isis. “So what does this mean for us? I know you would not want us to be in your country with out an escort,” said Selene. “This is very true, that is why my advisor came up with a great idea. Mage Khet will be your escort,” said Isis. Mage Khet’s jaw almost fell off his face when he heard this. “Mage Khet is more than capable to make sure you abide by the laws of my country and make sure you are not here just to spy on us. Am I correct, Mage Khet?” asked Isis. “Yes your honored Hoofarness. I will do as you command,” said a very shocked and disappointed Mage Khet. “Very good. Now go with these women and stay with them. Do not return here until they have left the country,” said Isis as she turned to continue her inspection of her army. Mage Khet waited until Isis and her adviser were out of ear shot then said, “DAMN YOU SIEGFRIED! He will do anything to get rid of me. He just wants to have time alone with Roy!” “Roy?” asked Salem. “The extremely talented and handsome captain of the palace guard!” yelled Mage Khet. Salem leans to her sister and whispers, “Is it just me or do palace captains seem to have some form of sexual confusion?” “You are the one confused. Mage Khet is not the captain and it appears that this Roy is in a strange love triangle that he may not be aware of,” said Selene before leaving to return to the TidusBlade to meet the others with Mage Khet in tow.