Goren always knew of his fathers evil schemes. In fact Igoro didn't hide anything from his son. He always dared him to move against him. He thought Goren weak and unable to do anything to stop him. But this time time he was wrong and Goren would prove it.
With a simple firefly spell cast before them, Shauri led Goren down pass the political prisoners and into the deeper sections that lead to a place made for special prisoners. Here they found Astan Kinya sitting with his legs crossed in the lotus position deep in meditation. When Goren and Shauri came into view, Astan opened his eyes and looked up at them.
"Aiya Goren son of Igoro." Astan nodded his head. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"You know who I am?" Goren was surprised.
"Yes." Astan said. "I know the son of my captor."
"Then you know why I have come to see you." Goren took a chair from the small guard post and pulled it over and sat in front of the Tigaren Prince.
"No." Astan said. "From your aura, I know you to be Igoro's son. But I can't read your mind. I have not mastered that technique yet. Perhaps in time I will if I survive."
"I don't mean you any harm." Goren said. "In fact, I want to help you escape. I plan to get you out of here, but to do that I will need something from you."
"And what might that be?" Astan asked him as he stood and got up on his feet. "You want to take over this city from your father, is that not right?"
"Yes." Goren said. Again he was surprised the Tigaren had read him so right. "I do."
"Then I would be trading one Gorilla master for another." Astan turned and walked back to his pile of hay and sat back down. "What makes you a better ruler then your father?"
"I." Goren said. "Don't plan on joining Mulu Amin in his mad war to rule Aspana. I don't plan to send out our ships to capture more innocent people to enlarge the slave trade. In fact, I plan to tear the slave market down and free every slave there is in Domina. I would hunt down and free every slave we ever sold if I could. I want to end all the fighting and bring my people to a peaceful life. I hate what my father and the others have done to our people. This has to stop. My brother and sister died fighting my father's wars. I've had enough of war destroying my people. It's time we learn to live and stop dying."
"Well said Prince Goren."
"No." Goren shook his head. "I am no prince. I'm just a Gorilla that cares about the fate and welfare of my people. With your help, I can turn Domina into a safe place, a place that can have trade and relations with the rest of the people of Aspana."
"What if I can't help you?" Astan asked. "What if the Tigaren's refuse to help you?"
"Then I will do it on my own." Goren said. "I will still help you escape, but it will make my fight that much harder. But I promise you. I will free my people or die trying."
Astan stood up and walked to the bars and stuck out his hand.
"You will have my help." He said as he shook the Gorilla's hand. "Sakura and I will both help you."
"I thank you Prince Astan." Goren bowed to the Tigaren prince. "We will have to be very careful. Shauri or my cousin Beno will come back and lead you out of here tonight after I find a way to distract my father."
"If you can get me out of the dungeon, my magic can help."
""Be ready at midnight." Goren said. "Someone will come."
"I will be waiting." Astan said. "Bahati nzuri."
It was dark in the Domina jungle as Msia and Akani pushed their way through the thick growth of trees and bushes. They were on their way to the jungle city to free Prince Astan from the hands of the Gorillas that had captured him. Akani walked in front with his blade out slicing his way through the thick bushes and vines that blocked their path while Msia followed close behind him his every sense alert for any sign of the Gorilla's attack. The jungle was quiet, no birds sang, and there was no sounds of predators on the hunt. Msia stopped and put a hand to Akani's shoulder. He turned to see what bothered his lord.
"It's to quiet." Msia said. "Something stalks us."
"How do you know?" Akani asked.
"An old lion's instinct. We are being followed."
"There's a clearing ahead." Akani pointed. "We should wait there for whoever is behind us."
Hurrying on, Akani chopped quickly through to the clearing in the jungle. Once there, Msia sniffed at the air and found a foul smell coming from all around them.
"A Demon!" Msia growled. Akani threw down his pack to be ready for the attack. He looked everywhere turning quickly trying to protect his lord. Suddenly there was a loud burst of laughter echoing through the jungle.
"Stand back my lord!" Akani said. "I will protect you!"
"No." Msia said. "This fight is mine!"
Suddenly in a burst of smoke and brimstone, Draidor Moram appeared hovering high over their heads laughing. In a sudden move, he sent a bolt of energy down at them. Msia grabbed Akani and threw him to the side and leaped up into the air to confront his enemy.
"I know you foul beast!" Msia said as he hovered there high in the air across from the Demon. "You and your kind tortured me for years while I was Mulu's prisoner."
"All those sweet days of pain." Draidor laughed. "We had such fun, didn't we."
"Only a Demon would call pain and misery fun!"
"Of course!" Draidor said. "We live on pain and misery. The only thing better is the feeling I'll get when I strip you and your servant of your lives. But first, you have something Mulu wants. Where is it?"
"Now it is my turn to laugh." Msia said. "I know what he wants, and I don't have it. I never did. He held me all those years for nothing. I don't have the Star of Hekima!!"
"Then I guess you die for nothing." Draidor blasted Msia with his hellish bolt. Msia raised his hands and cast a shield in front of him that held strong reflecting the blast away.
"I am not the weak and tired Lion I was back in Mulu's pit." Msia raised himself up into the sunlight where he could absorb it's power. He began to glow with the energy of the sun. "Your dark god is nothing compared to Alee, the sun!"
Msia sent two blasts of pure concentrated sunlight at Draidor. The Demon shrieked and dodged out of the way then dived down towards the ground and the darkness of the jungle. If he couldn't take Msia, he would take Akani.
"NOO!!" Msia screamed. He shot down and put himself between Akani and the Demon. Draidor shot at them unable to stop before he hit the Lion king. As Draidor hit and made contact, he exploded in a great burst of shadows and a scream that tore through the jungle sending fear into every creature for miles. When the shadows faded, Msia lay still at Akani's feet and Draidor was gone.
Quickly, Akani knelt down to check Msia to see if he still lived. His breathing was shallow, but his heart was still beating. Akani lifted him and and carried him off. He knew the Gorillas had to have heard Draidor's scream and they would be coming to see what it was. He had to find somewhere safe to hide the Lion king where he could protect him until he woke up.
As the last of the Canin warriors were being swept up, King Yonas called for Sakura, Dar'yl, Quynn and Sky to attend him in his private office. A tall Tigaren officer named Hati had been sent to bring them in. He found them outside the wall helping Aggar aand Deja round up the last of the Canins. They didn't know how, but soon after Aggar and the Lycaon's arrived, the Canin's started to fall and stay down. Whatever magic that was keeping them fighting had stopped and they started to fall from there wounds.
Tired and spattered with Canin blood, Hati stepped out of Tinpa's gate to look for Sakura. He found him with Dar'yl, Aggar and Quynn separating the mortally wounded and putting them out of their misery. Sad and exhausting work he thought as he approached.
"You are Sakura Duma?"
"Yes I am." Sakura said as he put Oblivion back in its sheath on his back. "What can I do for you?"
"My king has ordered me to bring you to see him." Hati said. He looked from Sakura to Quynn and Aggar. "Will you please follow me."
"We'll wait here." Quynn said as him and Sky sat down to rest.
"No." Hati said. "The king wishes to see all of you. Please can everyone follow me."
Aggar and Deja stepped back towards Dain thinking the king was asking for Dar'yl, Quynn and Sky.
"Begging your pardon Sir." Hati stopped them. "But King Yonas asked for all our new friends. That includes you and the young lady there."
Aggar shrugged and called for his daughter to follow them into the city.
As they walked through Tinpa, the citizens were busy cleaning up after the battle. Huge boulders had been set on catapults and launched into the city. Many buildings had been hit and destroyed. Only the magic of the city's mage's kept the walls from coming down. Tigaren females swept and helped to clean up the small stuff while the stronger males did the heavy work moving the large stones and pieces of fallen masonry. The city was damaged but thanks to everyone working together, it had survived.
From the market place it was a short walk to the palace. As they entered, the courtyard was busy with warriors and palace staff hurrying around setting up tents to treat the wounded citizens and warriors of the city's army. Hati guided them through the makeshift healer units and into the palace. King Yonas was in his office going over arrangements for feeding the city and getting the repairs started to get Tinpa back int order.
As Hati approached the doors to the kings office, there was a dark furred Pantheren warrior standing guard. He snapped to attention the second he saw Hati coming. Hati whispered something to him and he quickly went in leaving Hati waiting with Sakura and his friends. Sakura whispered to Dar'yl that he didn't know any of his people were serving the Tigaren king.
"You might be surprised." Dar'yl said. "I heard he pays well. There are a few of us on his payroll."
"Not enough." Hati said. "Your people fight so bravely we are happy to hire any Pantheren we can get. The warriors we have, your father and the Regent sent to us."
In a few seconds the warrior returned.
"The king will see you now." He opened the door and waved them in. With Hati in the lead, they entered the kings office. It was a large room painted red with golden curtains, a huge liibrary that cover three of the for wall. There were racks of parchments and maps set to the side and a great oaken desk where the king sat going over different plans with one of his advisers. As they entered he looked up and smiled.
King Yonas was a big Tigaren with massive muscles, green eyes and grey hair tied back with a leather cord just like Astan wore his. He was dressed in a leather harness with the golden tiger head on the buckle in the center of his chest. Leather pants with a hold in the back for his tail and a sword strapped to his back.
"Come in." He said as he dismissed his adviser so they could talk alone. "Sakura Duma, the last time I saw you, you were a smart mouthed, over active, over confident young cub that had a habit of talking and acting before you considered what you were saying."
Sakura looked down at the floor. He knew the king was right. In his youth, he was an over indulged, pampered young fool who didn't care about anything but himself. Then he met Astan and everything in his life changed. He was like a fire that came into his life a taught him responsibility and respect. No longer did Sakura think about himself, he taught him that he was a prince and the next in line for the kingdom of Panthera and it was time he started to pay attention and think about others before himself.
"Your majesty.."
"I am talking." King Yonas said sternly. "I didn't think you could ever earn my respect. I thought you would be a lazy lay about for the rest of your life. But today you proved to me, I was wrong. You and your friends came in answer to my call when I thought all hope was lost. Your father would be so proud of the warrior you have become. You faced the enemy with your father's sword and beat them down when I thought all was lost. Astan was right about you, and he couldn't have picked a better warrior to be his mate."
Sakura 's mouth dropped open. He had no idea that the king knew about them and he sure didn't expect him to be ok with the idea.
"Yes." King Yonas smiled. "I knew all about how the two of you felt about each other."
"And your not mad?" Sakura sounded like a ten year old club who had done something wrong and expected to be punished.
"How can I be mad?" King Yonas asked. "Do you love him?"
"Yes, with all my soul." Sakura had tears of joy in his eyes.
"And I'm sure he loves you." He walked out and around the desk to stand in front of them. "Now all you have to do is go find him and bring him home. Then we'll talk about what comes next. If you want to be together, we'll find a way."
Then he turned to Quynn, Sky, Aggar and Deja.
"I want to thank you all for your help." He said. "But this is not over yet. Mulu Amin is still out there and he means to either rule us or destroy us. I don't think he cares which. Sakura will need your help to bring him down and to save Astan. Will you help us?"
"That's why we came here Sir." Sky said. "To help save Aspana."
"You know." King Yonas said. "We use to have, what are you called? Dragons? There was once Dragon's here. Maybe one day there will be again."
"That's possible." Aggar said as he patted the Star of Hekima nestled in his jacket. "I really think that's a possibility."
King Yonas looked at Aggar strangely not understanding what he was saying, then he turned back to Sakura.
"The question is." King Yonas folded his arms and scratch his chin. "Where is Astan?"
"I'm not sure where." Sakura said. But I knew who has him."
"Who?" Zakia Manzi asked as he entered the office."
"Someone named Igoro Baba. Do you know who that is?"
"No." Said King Yonas. "I never heard of him."
"I know who he is." Zakia looked at them with a grim face. "Igoro Baba is the master of the Gorilla city Domina. He is a slave trader and a dark wizard. If he has Astan, then he plans to sell him."
"To Mulu Amin." King Yonas slammed his fist down on the desk. He turned and went and pulled a rope that signaled his guards to come answer his call. "This means war!"
Seconds later, the door opened and another of his Generals call in to answer his call.
"Yes your Majesty?"
"Send out a message to Regent G'ania Gazina of Panthra and Ayad Naadu of Rhinon. The Gorillas have gone to far. I will tear their city down if I have to to get my son back!"
"Wait Majesty." Sakura pleaded. "If you charge into the city, Astan might get hurt. Let us go first. I will bring him out. I swear I'll get him out."
"You have four day." King Yonas said to them. "Then, I'm coming in and I will kill every single Gorilla in the city. Four days, not a minute more."
"We won't fail." Sakura said as everyone started to leave the office. "I'll bring him home safe and sound."
"I hope so." King Yonas looked at Sakura with sad eyes. "Astan is my heart and soul. If something happens to him, I don't know if I can survive. You have to bring him home. You and Astan are our future."
"We'll get him back." Sakura said as he opened the door to leave. "We have to."
Outside the city walls, Quynn, Sky and their friends waited for Sakura to join them. Dar'yl, Aggar and Deja sat quietly and oiled and did repairs on their on their armor and weapons. They had a feeling the next few days would be very trying and busy. Deja put down her sharping stone and turned to her father.
"So what are you going to do with it?"
"I don't know yet." He answered. "If I remember correctly, Jandar said that a Dragon picks the person it wants to merge with."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the egg will tell me who it wants." Aggar whispered as Sakura came out of the gate and headed over to join them. "I'll explain later."
"Is he really going to attack the Gorillas?" Sky asked as Sakura joined them. Dar'yl and the others came over to stand with them. "It'll only make things worse."
"If the Gorillas sell Astan to Mulu, nothing will matter anymore. I'll have lost him and so will his father. Can you imagine if someone took Quynn away from you and sold him to your worst enemy? Will anything matter to you at all except getting him back? And how would his family feel?""
Sky thought about it. What he would do if Janx Develos was still alive and Aster Telor found a way to hand Quynn over to him. Sky would go to the Underworld and back. He would even defy the Gods to find him and bring him home. Then he thought about Jandar and Rage. They would tear up the world to get him back.
"Yes." Sky agreed. He reached out and took Quynn's hand and squeezed it. Just the thought of losing Quynn sent chills through him. "You're right. What do you want to do?"
"We have to find his city and get Astan out."
"How?" Dar'yl asked. "Do you know where it is?"
"No." Sakura said. "I have no idea how to find him."
"I might." Quynn raised his hand. "Well, he's in the slave trade right? Why don't we find someone who owns a slave. I know it's legal here in Tinpa, but what about the other Aspana cities? Someone has to know right?"
"There are cities all along the coast that have a heavy slave population." Sakura said. "But we don't have time to go searching for someone on the coast. We need someone closer. Someone that knows a thing or two about slavery."
"Pardon me." Hati spoke up. Everyone turned to him. "There is the village of Basolos. Many years ago, your father saved them from slavers. They fought at his side to end the slavery in Panthera and Tigaress. They might know something."
"I remember G'ania telling my that story when I was a cub." He smiled as he remembered the stories about his father. Msia Duma was a brave king and he would never stand for someone stealing his people and selling them into slavery. He had caught the slavers and brought all the people home safely. "If I remember the stories right. Basolos is a village of Puma's He had a close friend who was their chief. I think him and his mate had been captured and my father went and got him and the rest of the Pantherens, Tigeren and Pumens free."
"Do you know where the village is?" Dar'yl asked.
"Yes." Hati said. "I know where it is. It's not far off our south border about a day and a nights travel. But it is down near the Hyenen lands. I can take you there."
"No." Sakura stopped him. "You're staying here with the king. I need you here to protect him and keep him from attacking the Gorilla's before my four days are up. Slow him down if you have to, just don't let him attack."
"You sound like you don't think we can defeat the Gorilla's I assure you, we can."
"I know you can." Sakura put a hand to his shoulder. "I just don't think that is what Astan would want. He would want us to find a peaceful way to solve this."
"What if peace is not possible?" Hati asked him. "What if we have to fight?"
"Then we fight." Sakura growled. "And by Rimnar we will win!"
"Here." Quynn took something out his pocket and handed it to Hati. "This is a message stone. We use these back home to contact people over long distances. Just hold it in your hand and concentrate on me and I will hear you. We will contact you when we have Astan back safely."
"You contact us if there is an emergency." Sakura reached out and shook Hati's hand. "I'm counting on you Hati. Keep the king safe. Myumbo."
From Tinpa, they traveled south through the Tigaren jungle all day and into the night. Dar'yl took the lead with Sakura following right behind him. Quynn and Sky were next with Deja and Aggar bringing up the rear. Dar'yl kept himself alert for anything that might be a threat to them. The Tigaress jungle was not known for its safety. Though King Yonas tried to keep it patrolled, sometimes pirates and poachers slipped in to hunt some of the exotic animals and raid the ancient ruins for the treasure in the hidden burial sites.
As they walked, Deja questioned her father about what he had told her back in Tinpa.
[Father, what did you mean about the Star?]
[Jandar once told me I would make a good candidate for a Dragon.] Aggar told her. [But he said, the egg would have to choose me. Dragons choose who they merge with.]
[Even if your the one holding the egg?]
[That's right.] He sent. [Rage explained that the Dragonet knows who it wants. I will wait until it finds the right person. Then it will call them and if they accept, it will hatch.]
[What if they don't accept?] She asked worried about the young Dragon in the Star.
[Then it will die.] He said. [But that's not for us to worry about. The Dragon knows what its doing.]
[But what about that Shadow Dragon that caused that war? It picked and evil man. Was it destined for him?]
[No.] He sent. [That was a Shadow Dragon. They are different. They have darkness in them. It takes a very strong person to merge with one and keep it from becoming evil. Don't worry, this isn't a Shadow Dragon.]
[I hope not.]
The trip had been long. They were traveling all day and far into the night and they were getting close but there were all tired. Sakura called a halt to the march and ordered them to set up camp for six hours of rest two at a time. While Quynn went out to gather wood for a fire, Dar'yl went out to do some hunting for dinner. Deja and Aggar had found a clear blue river and went to fetch them all fresh water to drink while Sakura and Sky kept watch.
"After we eat." Sakura turned to Sky. "You and Quynn should get some rest. I want you both fresh and ready to go early."
"Is something wrong?" Sky asked. "You look worried."
"I am worried." He said. "I can feel Astan. He's trying to hide it from me, but he's scared. I know what Mulu will do if he can get his hands on him."
"We're not going to let that happen Sakura." Sky said with confidence. "We'll get to him in time."
"How do you know that? Did you have another of those dreams of yours?"
"No." Sky said. "But I have to trust in us. The Regent called me here for a reason. I trust that."
Just then, Sakura heard something in the trees. A rustling of the branches and a familiar scent.
"We're being watched." Sakura reached back and pulled Oblivion free of its scabbard. "Whoever's up there better come down now."
"Peace my friend." Yas Twospears said as he swung down of of the tree. "It's only me, an old friend."
"Are you following us Yas?" Sakura put his sword away. "I smelled your scent hours ago."
"I must be slipping." The Chimp laughed. "I remember not to long ago when I could hide from you."
"That was then. This is now. Is there a reason your being evasive?"
"You have the smell of war on you Sakura." Yas said. "That's not like you. Where have you been?"
"I was in Tinpa when Mulu attacked." He said. "The fighting was fierce. We almost lost the city."
"But Tinpa still stands. That is good."
"Why are you here Yas?" Sakura was beginning too get a bad feeling. Yas Twospears was acting strange, not at all like his old friendly self. "Is there something you want?"
"More something I can do for you." The Chimpanzee smiled. "I know where Astan Kinya is."
"Where!?" Sakura almost jumped and grabbed him in excitement. "Where is he?"
"Not far from here. A Gorilla has him hold up in a cave. I can take you to him if you want."
"Show me." Sakura said eagerly. "Take me to him."
"Wait Sakura." Sky stepped in front of the Chimp. "Wait for the others to get back, then we'll all go."
"It's really not far." Yas said. "We'll be back in an hours time. We should go now, I don't know how long they'll be staying there."
"I think this is a mistake!" Sk.y said. "We shouldn't go alone!"
"Then stay here! I have to go. Tell the others where I went and I'll be back shortly"
"I'm not letting you go alone!" Sky said adamantly. "Someone has to watch your back."
"Yas will be with me. Don't worry."
[I don't trust him. This could be a trap. I'm coming with you!"
"Then lets go."
Bahati nzuri. = Good luck.
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