The Board (3)

Rae tells IQ #4. "We could get in a lot of trouble if we get caught together again, even with Ghost. So you take some of the books to your room and I'll take some to mine. Ghost, could you make sure he doesn't fall asleep?"

Rae paces around the room until almost dawn, searching the books endlessly for a way to prevent the impending duel. "Frell, frell, frell." she mutters. At least IQ #4 has Ghost to keep him awake. Rae has only her own troubles.

"BOTH OF YOU LISTEN!!!" Rae shouts in a magically amplified voice that can be heard throughout the castle. "Thankyou." she says more quietly as they both turn to gape at her. "You will not do this."

"No, mother, I must have my say. If you both truly wished to maintain the family honor, you would not go forward with this ridiculous duel! If word spreads that one of you has been killed in a duel, there will be no doubt but that there was a breach of our honor! You will have caused what you sought to prevent!"

"A chess match." Rae says at random, knowing full well that, when two IQ's play chess, the result will always be a draw. "Let the gods decide. If father wins, then he is in the right. If our honorable neighbor wins, then he is in the right. If you draw, then it has clearly been a misunderstanding. Is that fair?"

Rae and IQ #4 set up a table in the center of the room, and the two begin playing. As predicted, the result is a draw. Three more games are played to the same result, though the two seem less angry with each other with every move.

...the scoobs began to straighten out everything that had happened. Rae and IQ#4 went straight to bed. There was a knock at the front door of the tower. #7 went to the door and found that Echo had come back. Echo was ready to lead them onward as soon as they were ready. The scoobs decided it would be best to set out early the next morning, and began making preparations for their journey.

Jila goes exploring. Things seem just slightly different around the tower today, as if in solving the mystery, breaking the curse, items have been put away just a little differently, packed away properly this time. Jila can't remember everything that has happened to her over that time but she can feel in her heart a difference. As she looked at her friends over breakfast this morning she looked at them in almost a new light.

She has been walking through the tower in no particular direction for some time until she finds herself at a bedroom door, the same bedroom where she and IQ slept the night before. Going into the room is almost like a compulsion, something there is calling to her and she feels the need to find it. Walking around the perimeter of the room, Jila brushes her fingertips across each item in turn, the bed, the bedclothes, the chairs, the table, the armoire. It is at the armoire that the compulsion becomes stronger. Not wanting to damage the items stored there, Jila softly moves each dress skirt, each pair of shoes. Then she starts opening the drawers. And that's when she finds it. Hidden beneath a pile scarves, lacings, and gloves Jila feels it, a tingling almost as sharp as an electric shock. Pushing aside the various items and looking in the bottom of the drawer Jila sees two items which explain many things.

The first is a hand written letter, the second is a small but very Nasty looking dagger. Jila takes the letter out of the drawer and carefully unfolds it. In careful manuscript was written:

*So,* Jila sighs refolding the letter and placing it back in the drawer. *The family fell apart when the duel happened. Thank the Gods we were able to help them.* Just as she was about to close the drawer another metallic glint is seen. Carefully, so as not to get cut by the knife, Jila moves another scarf out of the way. Beneath this scarf is a silver circlet that Jila knew the Lady had worn on her head. Picking the circlet out of the draw, Jila feels a breath of fresh air blow through the room. A message? Please take this as my gift to you? Feeling as though it is the proper thing to do, Jila takes the circlet and places it on her own head so that the beautiful moonstone sits on her forehead.

"But I feel much better now about finding this place and why everything was the way it was," says Chryse as the Scoobs pack food and supplies for their journey. "The duel and the deaths of the 2 fathers must have put a curse on this tower and its inhabitants. Their ghosts were doomed to try and fix things anyway they could, so they made the place as inviting as possible. What a tragedy that was. Too bad we couldn't really fix anything, just give the ghosts some peace of mind." Chryse shook her head in wonder.

Afterwards, Chryse went back to the room that she had slept in the night before, that she still felt was hers. She went around the room straightening things up, the way she knew they were supposed to be arranged. Looking out the window, she thought that it was a beautiful night and wondered what had happened to the rest of the family. Then she decided that she didn't really want to know at all. Going to bed, she whispered softly, "I hope you are all ok now." A gentle gust of wind blew through the room, as if to say that, yes, they are ok. Comforted, she fell asleep.

In the morning, she woke to remember dreams about what had happened to the sisters and the families. After the duel, the du Maurier family had immediately left, and nothing had been heard from them since. The 3 sisters had left the tower as soon as they had found their mother's body. They had traveled for months, eventually finding a home together in a small village near the sea. All 3 remained spinsters until their deaths, but took comfort in taking care of each other. They had made a small living by gathering food from the surrouding land, embroidery work, and teaching the village children how to read and write and do math. They lived a comfortable life amongst these strangers and died there peacefully.

With a smile on her face, Chryse cleaned the room one last time. As she passed the chest, she felt a compulsion to open it. Inside,she found a beautifully carven instrument. Like the piano like instrument they had found earlier, she didn't recognize it but knew that it had been given to her from another musician. With a whisper of thanks, she took the flute like wooden instrument and carefully wrapped it with a silk scarf that was also in the chest. Under the scarf were pages of music and Chryse knew that the young girl who had lived here heard no music after her father died. Carefully, she gathered the papers and put them into her pack and resolved to learn to play the instrument and play the music that a young girl had once written in her days of innosence.

Kay also saw the changes in the room she had slept in with IQ#7. The room, as well as the entire tower, looked much more happy and cheerful. Hoping that no one would mind, she took a beautiful silk scarf to remember the place and it's families. She knew that they had changed history, and that now, the fate of the two families had changed completely. Feeling totally happy and carefree with a joy of a good ending, Kay joined the others when it was time to leave, knowing they had done good. Where was Echo going to lead them to now?

Raegun produces a sound that he knows will wake her, in a pitch that only a Sebacian could possibly hear so as not to alarm the others. "They're getting ready to leave." he informs Rae.

"Of course I am." Rae smiles firmly. "Lady Raven's ghost and I had a nice discussion last night in which she told me I could have them. All." Rae begins stuffing the other dresses and scarves into her bags.

Raegun shouts an unintelligable response that shuts Rae up. Moments later, she comes walking out in leather leggings and a green tunic, neither of which are her own. Her face, worn from her poor sleep, is set in a wide grin. Her bag is slung over one shoulder, Raegun over her other.

"I think we should all take it a little easy today." Rae adds. "Gods only know what kind of physical effect the curse had on you all, and Four and I are pretty tired and... cranky." Rae smiles at the word. "Cranky." she repeats, grinning at both of them. "Did you... save any breakfast? I am starved!"

...the scoobs made sure they hadn't forgotten anything. Everyone had the various weapons they had taken from the armoury. A few scoobs had changed what they were wearing. #7 had found a large brown cloak, and #1 had found a large cape. #4 decided to stay with his white lab coat (which somehow never seemed to get dirty). Just before setting out IQ#1 checked to make sure.

to take a few items from the armory also, and heads for the closet to see what will fit on her. But as she gets some clothes out, she feels like she's invading someone's private space, so decides to leave them there and continue on with what she has. She can always borrow from her "sister", right?

IQ explains to Echo that they're not going to follow his directions after all. They head out in an easterly direction. A short time later they come to a path that leads in the direction they are going.

The Scoobs are reminded of a hundred child-hood fairy-tales, and why not, in this particular dimension. Tree branches hang low over the path, blocking out most of the sunlight, but allowing enough to filter in to give the path itself a dappled appearance. The path itself is of perfectly smooth dirt, without a single rock or rough patch.

She can't help but thinking that everything in this fairy-tale world is a little too in keeping with expectation. As a Peacekeeper, she's been trained to be wary of such perfection. Part of her, though, wants very much to just give over and ENJOY this glorious and magical land. She ruthlessly smothers those thoughts in favor of the suspicious ones which are, at least, easier to adapt to.

"Sorry!" Rae calls back, realizing that the Scoobs have made considerable progress down the path as she has stood reflecting over it. "Just admiring the view!" Waving reassuringly, Rae starts down the path.

After walking for some time the scoobs came to a fork in the road. On the right the path continued on as it had been. On the left the path was overgrown, rocky, and covered with weeds.

"Especially in a place like this," says Chryse. "I'd much rather stick together. We have better chance of defeating whatever comes our way. But, I'm feeling adventurous. Lets's take the road less traveled. What do you say guys?"

Now, which way, right or left? The easy straight path or "the road less traveled by"? Each had there own good and bad qualities. If something surprised them on the well traveled they could spread out and fight it, but the other road looked safer Because of the lack of traffic on it. On the other hand you could see if anything was coming on the traveled road where you couldn't on the other because of the overgrowth.

It must have just been the fresh air or the great night's sleep that the group had in the tower last night as they all decided to be adventuresome this day and take the less traveled path.

It was decided that they would take the path in a double row, one side keeping an eye on the left, the other watching the right. IQ#1 with Kara leading, followed by Mouse and #4, then Chryse and Kaybe, #7 with Jila, and Rae and Raegun watching the rear.

The walking wasn't too bad, just slow from having to walk through the calf-high grass that grew through the stones on the path. Thank The Powers That Be for the wide bowed trees, the sun was directly overhead and the afternoon was going to be a Hot one.

...morning at an incredably slow pace, the scoobs sat down to have some lunch. The food they had brought taste exceptionally good. Having walked all day in the hot sun they passed the water bottle around. They had just finished lunch and were about start off again, then it began to sprinkle. The small drops of water felt good, cooling the scoobs off. Then, it began to rain. The scoobs continued on, trudging through the small puddles. Then, it began to pour.

"We need to get to higher ground!" The scoobs were ankle deep with water by now, and headed up a nearby hill to look for shelter. After a few moments they found the mouth of a cave, and went inside. The cave enterance had looked rather forboding. The stalagtites and stalagmites looked like teeth in the massive opening.

The Scoobs started shivering from the immediate lack of sun and the drenching they took. Rae digs around in her back pack. "Well, I guess now, you will thank me for taking some of these clothes." She said, to the females in the group. Thanking Rae, Kaybe gratefully took an outfit to change in to. Slipping behind a huge boulder, she quickly changed into the dry clothes. The outfit must have been a riding outfit of sorts. It was a long tunik wish matching trousers underneath. Comfortable and dry. Kay felt better immediately. IQ started a fire and they made some hot coffee and tea to warm their insides. Feeling somewhat better, they looked around the cave. It was certainly gruesome looking. The guys were looking around also, but, they were grinning, as there were girls clothing on every available rock drying out.

Just as they were about to start teasing the girls, they noticed something. The water was starting to seap into the cave. Did the dark sinster corridors lead to higher ground? Or should they stay where they were, and hope it didn't continue to climb at such an alarming rate?

Chryse got up from near the fire and suggested that she and Echo have a look around the cave and see if there was a drier spot. Echo refused. He had been edgy ever since entering the cave, but wouldn't say anything. "Come on Echo, what's going on? What's the matter here?" asked Chryse.

that something was wrong? Huh?" Rae demands, rising. It's been a hot day, and she's... cranky. "Just... hang on." She picks up Raegun and begins tracing the perimiter of the cave. "Light please."

"Nothing. Yet." Rae tilts her head and walks farther into the dark cavern. "It's really a very large cave. The area you're in looks like just a little..." There was a very long pause.

sprang into action. They seemed to be in unspoken agreement that they weren't going to let Rae face that thing alone. Several weapons were unsheathed. #1 pulled several torches out of his bag. He handed one to #7, and the other to #4. At the head of the group was #4 who held the torch in his good hand, and his scimitar in the bad one. #7 brought up the rear.

Soon, the scoobs caught up with Rae. Luckily Fluffy's light was quite bright and they were able to follow it deeper into the cave. Thankfully, the cave itself was getting drier, but they soon, they all felt lost in the winding tunnels they ran through. The scoobs went faster, not wanting to lose the light and get lost in the dark.

The scoobs entered a large empty cavern. After a few seconds fluffies light blinked off. After a few seconds of confusion, the light came back on, and the scoobs were shocked to find they had been completely surrounded by a group of strange creatures. The creatures were short, and furry. They had one big eye, and a long horn on their forhead. They were all dressed tattered old armor.

Well, she hopes she sounds confident. When she played Cribbage with her brother he always said: "Even when you're unsure of what you've got, say it with confidence." So, okay, stand tall and look directly at the probable leader, and speak with confidence.

"Our intentions are only good ones. We didn't not come here to bother or harm anyone." Jila looks around at the Scoobs and sees them nodding in agreement. "We are merely travelers trying to stay dry from the storm."

By this time the whispers among the furred ones had gotten rather frantic. One of the others approaches the leader and whispers in his ear. Suddenly, the leaders eyes grow wide and he kneels and bows his head, the rest of the furred ones following his example.

"I must apologize for our actions." He says walking through the group and stopping in front of IQ#1. "My troop has noticed what I had not." IQ looks down at the furred commander, still with a puzzled look on his face. "A story has been handed down through generations about a day when 3 humans who were the same would come to our community and bring a change to us. It seems this is the day. Come."

Lazily sitting in a throne was one of the creatures. He was wearing large kingly robes. On his head was a crown which slanted slightly to the side. There was only one major difference between him and the other creatures, He was Ten feet tall!

"It is my duty to protect them!" Rae snaps. "What I was bred to do! I was trained for it all my life! And I WILL protect them, but how can I do so when they are not in my sight?" Rae does her best to make her voice sound reasonable. It doesn't come naturally.

"Being a good body-guard. Duh!" Rae pushes his around to face the king again. She whispers in his ear, "Rule one for protecting your body, NEVER turn your back on ANYthing that size."

"Milord." Rae bows, stomping IQ #4's foot again just on principle. "I am Rivyn Katlyn of Terra and Sebacia. I have been charged on my life to protect these men, and it is a duty that I plan on discharging."

"We do need to stay and eat," said Kay. "We don't know how long our own food supply will last, and besides, it would be rude and potentially dangerous to turn down the invitation now. Even though it sounded more like an order."

"I can tell you that this is not the kind of all this land." said Jila thoughtfully. "That is what is so confusing." "What makes you say that Jila?" asked Mouse. "Well, these people are not human as we know them. And, we have encountered other humans. They didn't act like a people who were controlled by creatures." "So, what you are saying is that this king is really the king of nothing?"asked Kara. "No." I Q answered. "He does control something allright, but, the question is, what?"

"Aw, mom, do I hafta?" Rae groans, climbing to her feet. She pulls the others into a tight circle. "I don't like it here, and I don't think you guys should either, but it doesn't necessarily follow from that that we want to be asking all kinds of dangerous questions."

"Simple, the people are talking about you three as some kind of saviors, which is just dandy, but it's always been my experience that people are never quite as receptive to change as they'd have you believe they are."

"Furthermore..." Rae continues in a softer voice, "The ruling class likes the status-quo. They don't like people who they think are going to change it. And, um, that would be you guys." She points to the three IQ's.

Scoobies to the waiting room the tunnel thinned. They were obliged to go in single file. Somehow, Kara found herself at the end of the line. Thus, when someone grabbed her and spirited her off somewhere the others didn't notice right away...

As Kara walked along, someone put a hand over her mouth and pulled her backwards through a hidden doorway. She said "MMPH!" but the door closed before the others noticed. She struggled and bit the hand.

The narrow passageway made twists and turns, went up and down, and seemed to be following a very cicuitous route. It was obviously a secret passage and the only light came from the young man's lantern. If Kara lost him she would be alone in the dark. Finally the young man stopped and opened another hidden doorway, emerging into a lavishly furnished room from underneath a tapestry. A well dressed elderly lady was waiting for them.

pretty comfortable cavern. It was fairly well lit, dry, and had comfortable chairs and cushions. The little guy showed them a little tunnel that led only to a washroom. Then, he left the scoobs alone.

"This is going to take a bit longer than before." Raegun says as he clicks his trackers on. "It's not like scanning one cave. I've got to scan the whole Mountain this time." A couple of minutes goes by "The rock is very thick and there are metals in the rock that are actually bouncing my scans around."

*Great thinking* Everybody pulls their comms out and turns them on at the same time. Not a good idea. Because of the closeness of all of the comms a staticy squeal runs through the air.

"Um, well, their name is IQ." Kara said. She tried to stall for time by putting milk and sugar into the tea she didn't intend to drink and making a fuss stirring it around. *How much should I tell her?* Kara thought to herself. *Who is this woman and is she an ally or an enemy?*

Lady Honeydew gasped and seemed to turn pale, if someone with fur on her face could be said to pale. She drew back and stared at Kara in shock. Meanwhile, the comm badge in Kara's pocket had begun to vibrate. The others had missed her and were trying to get in touch. But she could hardly pull it out and talk to them in front of Lady Honeydew. And if she turned it on in her pocket so they could hear the conversation they might talk and Lady Honeydew would hear them. Kara decided that she would just as soon Lady H didn't know she could communicate with them through the com so she didn't turn it on. Eventually it stopped vibrating as the others gave up.

"It's not exactly sorcery. It's science. At least, that's what IQ would say. Personally, I'm not so sure. The more advanced both science and scorcery get, the closer they become. I think IQ has crossed the line a couple of times but exactly where the line is is a subject of debate."

"So tell me about this IQ. What element was he born under the influence of? Does he descend from his father's line or his mother's? Has he ever been in love? Does he take silver as his totemic element?"

He grabbed Kara out of her seat and practicly threw her into a large wooden wardrobe and shut the door. Kara retreated to the back of the wardrobe and tried to hide behind Lady H's ball gowns as the King's guards burst into the chamber.

"Our orders come from the King m'lady." the guard said. "If the spy is not found 100 of the guard, chosen at random, will be skinned alive and then, still living, roasted on a spit. The spy WILL be found. She will not escape. You may make any complaints you want to the Chamberlin but this chamber must be searched."

room where's Kara's signals came from, the guards tried to stop them. IQ caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of a reflection in the mirror. It was of the wardrobe door opening slightly. Hoping he was guessing correctly, he grabbed Chryse and Jila, who grabbed Mouse with her, as they made a big production of accidently slipping and tripping all over each other. Kay almost laughed at the show, but, then realized this much clumsiness had to be a ploy, she made sure all of the guards eyes were on the group as she quikly glanced around.

"What do you mean?" asked Rae innocently. "Please, feel free to count us. We have no reason to dissapear, IF we are supposed to be guests here, and unless I am mistaken, we are the same number here, that we came here with. You must be mistaken."

The confused Guards count the Scoobs and grumbling turn to escort them back to the chamber. Kara grabs the boy and whispers for him to come to the as soon as it is clear. They need to finish the discussion they had started.