The army entered the City of Ancients at about dawn, when the
sun spilled over the horizon like honey out of a pitcher. Pinks,
purples, and oranges lit up the sky like a bonfire. Lacey sat
silently atop her chocobo, knowing where they were heading. Lacey
already knew that they were head toward the temple of the wind
goddess, and tonight the apprentice would be taken.
Lacey sighed in relief. Rufus can't have the immortality he wants
because he does not have the key to the temple. "So why are
you bothering Rufus? You don't have the key to the temple, nor
the apprentice so what's the bother?" Lacey asked.
Rufus just smiled at her. "I can get the key back from Gea
and Kristin because they will try to rescue you, and the
apprentice-well I am surprised you don't know that it is you."
Lacey's jaw dropped. She felt supremely stupid. That's why I
was drawn to the north all of this time! I was being led here
Lacey thought, and she sank in despair. If Rufus got the key then
he would have his immortality unless........
Lacey smiled. "We have yet to win this." Lacey thought
aloud, and Rufus almost over heard. Lacey quickly clamped her
mouth shut.
They had just reached the city walls when they all heard a large
howl. While the army panicked Lacey smiled-help was on the way.
* * * * * * * * *
Kristin positioned herself at the first trap. The first advance
of the army walked between two large cliff walls, and over a pile
of brownish leaves that crumpled under every step. Kristin leaned
over and picked up a small horn. She blew it, but no noise
protruded.
No noise that humans could hear anyway.
The high pitched tone startled the chocobo and they tossed off
their riders. Kristin then cut a thick rope that lay tied around
a boulder. The rope snapped and the first two lines of the army
was caught up in a large net in the middle of the cliffs. If the
soldiers cut the net they would fall to their deaths.
Kristin smiled in satisfaction and moved on to the next stage.
Chocobo ran amuck in the base of the ravine. Men ran to catch
them, while the advancing lines tried to move forward.
"Keep going, don't stop, these are only women's traps,
harmless, keep moving" Rufus shouted above all the commotion.
The small group around Lacey moved to help gather chocobo while
Lacey spotted her chance at escape. She grabbed a small dagger
that had been dropped when the net trap went off.
Lacey cut the ropes on her legs and then freed her arms. Lacey
then tucked the dagger into her belt and kicked the chocobo's
flanks.
The blue chocobo went sprinting ahead of Rufus's grasp and Lacey
was free. She galloped ahead until she saw Gea and Ayanna
positioned at the top of a ledge created by the rock walls. Lacey
waved to them, and kept riding on until she entered the village.
Once Lacey reached the village, Anya and Black Star went pouncing
up to her. Lacey bent over and untied the key from Anya's neck
and out it around hers.
"Anya, we must go to the temple, I must do something."
Lacey said into the wolf's ear, and Anya bent over to allow Lacey
room to hop on. She gracefully leaped into her position atop Anya
and directed Anya to the northwest. Lacey reached the temple in a
fluster and quickly ran up to the door. There was no key hole, or
even a door. "Strange, I was sure it was here" Lacey
said, and peered around the corner to look for a door.
Lacey was just about to give up when Shiva appeared to give Lacey
guidance.
"Strange how these things work, huh?" Shiva said, a
playful smile on her face. She pick up the key from Lacey's hand
and threw it at the door. The door burst open, and the key gently
floated back to Lacey's hand. Shiva again smiled. "Things
are never what they seem." Shiva said and turned to go, but
Lacey grabbed her shoulder.
Lacey winced in pain as flesh touched the freezing icy body.
Shiva turned around quickly. Lacey smiled, still holding her hand
on Shiva's shoulder. "Wait, I need you, as a friend, to go
with me." Lacey said. Shiva smiled and pulled away Lacey's
hand.
"I cannot enter, this place is meant only for Iris and
worshippers, I must stay out unless invited." Shiva frowned
sensing Lacey's disappointment and confusion. "Don't be
afraid of what you might find, only fear can hurt you in there,
Iris will protect you, now go, god speed, good-bye Sheyala."
Shiva disappeared.
Lacey smiled, she was lucky indeed.