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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 1:43:00 GMT -5
Klai burst out laughing. "Not quite that way. Children by my hands, not my womb." She sobered a bit. "That's a very good question. I've been trying to trace where they're coming from for the past few days."
"Why are you here, Aunt Klai?" Sinjun frowned toward the desert. "Is there some kind of ruin out here you're looking for?"
"More like there's a ruin out here I'm trying to prevent someone else from finding." Klai's voice was serious. "Those gold bugs are only the beginning."
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 1:49:00 GMT -5
“Gold bugs?” Teru tilted his head. “Like that giant beetle with the shining eye we saw back there?” He reached out a hand and pointed in the direction they had passed.
“The ruins are nothing but dust.” Hoti frowned. “We do not go there.”
Sinjun would know it was due to superstition.
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 1:54:53 GMT -5
"Precisely, there are more of them and worse," Klai said grimly. She turned her gaze to Hoti when he spoke. Another human might have mocked him for that, but her gaze remained serious. "That's probably why they've remained undisturbed for this long, which is a good thing, there's nothing good to be found in those ruins."
"Aunt Klai..." Sinjun's voice was worried.
Klai held up a hand to forestall her, trying to find a brief way to explain. "There was an empire on this side of the world, once. You know that, Sinjun, you had lessons about it. They wielded terrible magic, these people. Their temples were where the worst of that magic was drawn and put to use....and unfortunately this place is where their largest temple was."
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 2:02:23 GMT -5
Hoti shuddered. Unknown magic naturally made him uneasy, but to know that a place such as this existed somewhere beyond, or more fearfully, in their territory made him very uneasy. He frowned all the more deeply, his eyes roaming over the sand as if he could spot the temple from here.
Teru shook his head lightly, his own face uncharacteristically sullen. “As long as they stay away from our village…”
“No, Teru.” Hoti shook his head. “If they have this magic then we will all be affected.”
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 3:02:06 GMT -5
"I'm afraid that's the truth," Klai said. She was genuinely upset and apologetic. "I can't guarantee your village will be safe. I can't guarantee that this entire region will be safe, even if they don't attack directly they could set something off..."
"But who, Aunt Klai?" Sinjun was becoming more and more distressed. "Who is digging around here?"
Klai's expression hardened, her gray eyes going flinty and for the first time she looked dangerous. "A group of arcanists. Insecure little magelings high on their own power. Not that that's anything new, but this group is looking to establish their own city to rival some of the mage cities around our land." And they didn't much mind if they had to kill everyone, yitoki and human and everything in between, to do it. Klai didn't say that out loud but Sinjun knew it.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 3:11:51 GMT -5
"We were once nomads, the Yitoki. We have dwelled near the ancient canyon for countless years. We will bring this news to the council, perhaps it would be wise to move the village to the far side of the canyon.”
“Turn tail and run?” Teru leapt to his feet, spread apart. “They are the foreigners here, they should be the ones to leave.”
“And how do you expect to convince him, Teru?” Hoti looked at him evenly. “We could not possibly match this magic of theirs. If we sent warriors, do you think they could stand up to these go-lems?” He gestured up to Janus.
Teru was by no means stupid, he simply let his natural passions overtake him. He let out a long sigh and scratched the back of his neck. “I can’t argue with that.”
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 3:18:00 GMT -5
Klai shook her head hastily. "The golems are mine. They won't harm you or your people, I promise you that. When I brought them, I commanded them not to attack without my direct order. Even if one of your people attacks them...and I wouldn't blame them if they did...the golems won't fight back." She rubbed the spot between her eyes, looking tired. "We should have sent some kind of message to your village when we came, I apologize for that. I wasn't thinking. I was so focused on getting to the entrance of the temple before those idiots got here that I wasn't thinking about anything else."
"What about the bug things?" Sinjun said, her brow furrowed.
"I haven't seen them attack anything that didn't get too close to the ruins but again I don't want to say that they won't because I'm not sure at all."
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 3:25:38 GMT -5
Both Hoti and Teru let out long, relieved sighs. At least they didn’t have to worry about the golems.
“Do not blame yourself.” Hoti shook his head. “You meant well and this matter has been cleared up between us. We will not delay you any further. We must report to our council and deliberate. You must hasten to these ruins. If we can aid you in any way, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“We’re glad you’re on our side,” Teru added with a smile.
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 3:30:54 GMT -5
Klai stepped forward and pressed a stone into Sinjun's hand, something she could use to communicate with her aunt. "Your Aunt Sapphira is here too, you can contact either of us that way." That made Sinjun feel even better. Sapphira was a powerful priestess. Klai looked from the two hunters to Sinjun. "If you would permit it, I'll send Janus back with you. He can set up a patrol around the village without getting too close and upsetting your people. Just in case."
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 3:39:53 GMT -5
Hoti nodded. “That is very generous of you. As long as he stays out of sight for a time, it will not cause panic. May the spirits speed your journey.”
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 3:46:57 GMT -5
She nodded in relief. She'd phrased it as a question to be polite but the fact of the matter was, there was going to be some kind of defense either magical or golem, between the village and the ruins no matter how much restlessness it caused. She wasn't taking the chance especially now that she knew her niece was there.
Sinjun turned to them. "You two should definitely get back to the council about this. I'll stay with my aunt for a while more so I can get the whole story about what's happening and I'll bring Janus back with me when I come back."
"Trust me, she's not going anywhere without protection," Klai said dryly to reassure them.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 20:55:20 GMT -5
"Very well, we will allow you to speak with your kin. Teru and I will return immediately to the village without delay." Hoti replied.
"Yiska will be happy to know that you have this protection, Sinjun. It did not escape our notice he was very worried for you." Teru added.
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 21:01:10 GMT -5
Klai cocked her head curiously and Sinjun smiled, though it was a trifle strained. She didn't worry about Hoti and Teru going up in arms about Yiska being so obviously worried about her. But if it was that obvious, especially with Fahla spewing venom, she worried it would cause problems for Yiska. She nodded to the two in thanks. "Be safe..."
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Post by Jenny on Aug 7, 2013 21:06:58 GMT -5
"To you too, sister." Teru said with a winning grin. Hoti shook his head a little, his mouth perking into a smile. They thanked Klai with a bow and went on their way.
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Post by KD on Aug 7, 2013 21:12:06 GMT -5
Klai and Sinjun spoke for a long while, catching up but also Klai gave her the full story of what was going on. It was late afternoon by the time Sinjun's slim, hooded figure appeared over the dunes and came back into the village. As promised, Janus hung back once she was safely in sight of the village, moving to patrol between them and the ruins.
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