BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!1





Chapter 2: Two Questors Go Forth



Nightshade explained quietly to Kahn from behind a boulder.

"Y'see, sah, I was hired to get rid of Deatheye the Talon, a huge bird. My fee was two hundred gold pieces."

Rapha Kahn stared. "Two hundred gold pieces! Och, they must 'ave been really desperate- that's like, like a mini fortune, ye ken!"

"Yes, and I guess it was stupid to take the offer. Killing the Talon of the Forest, the very idea! But I've got the two hundred gold chunks, and now I've got to go back and slay Deatheye."

"Ach, how big are those gold pieces?"

"Um, I think they're square, an inch by an inch."

"Ho-ly!" Kahn whistled quietly. "But why you, lass? Why didn't they choose, say. . . Coppertop the Mercenary or someone?"

Nightshade smiled bitterly. "Haven't you heard? Ever since I discouraged the turtle bunch single handed- I think they called themselves the 'Dark Threat' or something- they think I'm the best. But, I'm avowed to go back- shhhhh!"

She broke off in midsentance, putting a finger to her lips. Moments later, a turtle patrol passed by. They could hear snatches of conversation echoing between the guards.

"Yah, go boil yore head. Go tell th'Fang that! How d'yew think he'll react, knowing that a guard has turned rebellious? Yew dont wanna patrol, go tell him that- aye, and spend the rest of yore days in the dungeons, with rats. . . and bugs. . ."

"Aye, and with half bread and water, or less-"

"-But- but-"

"Owww, shut yore scringin' gob! 'Oo asked yew, ennyway, Sliteye!"

"I'm with Humpback, we should escape while we can!"

"Yeah? Well I'm with Spotty! I say we stay on the winners side!"

Many voices rang out in support for the last speaker, and a dispute rose between them. Then the voices died away, and all was silence once more.



Sunrise was setting on the horizon, and streaks of red and gold flashed through the air, leaving their brilliance on the highest mountains. The clouds were on fire with color, as was the sky, and as the sun rose it looked down on Lahi, and everything seemed to brighten. Shadows died away from even the darkest forests, and small birds sang their morning song. The same sun was shining over the Lahi Sale, as three foreign creatures strode boldly foreward. One wore a cloak, and it was plainly a female, forbidding looking and deadly from the leather boots to the sword on her hip. Her eyes were alight with the joy of morning as she approached the Sale. Behind her was a dark ship, and the name was plainly engraved. Many beasts laid eyes on the Assassin that day, and the three beasts approaching. The other two were female, as well, and they walked alongside the cloaked one. They approached one beast and then another, their range knew no bounds. A silent fourth stalked them quietly and finally materialized infront of the cloaked female and raised a foreboding looking dagger. . .

Coppertop awoke, shivering and panting. She was aboard the Assassin, not at Lahi. . . not yet.

It had seemed so real, so alive. . . the sun rising, the three figures, the silent stalker. . .

She pulled herself together. She had a ship to pilot and business to tend to, not to mention two newfound allies. Ducky and Wildie had proved to be useful, they knew the way to Lahi, they knew how much she could sell the cloak for, what it was worth, and it's powers. She had taken the Crystal Key, she might need it. But she definitely did not need the cloak. She had washed it, for it had been soiled and dirty, and it's color was a silver shine. In the sun it sparkled, but there was no sun in Outer Space. No sun at all.









Tha's all for now.