"Princess of Brass …" interrupted the voice the group conversations.
Rei turned and watched as a fire knight, a salamander if she wasn't wrong, looking as a flame figure of an Arabian warrior came to rest on one knee before her. To any 'normal' human, he would look as a wisp of flame upon the stone ground of the now renewed temple. They, however, could see him as he really was.
"Yes, Guardian, what do you want?" she asked, intrigued.
"The Outer Vigil has just reported a flying object. Too large to be a bird, approaching fast from the north. What is your will, my liege?" he asked with his head bowed. His voice combined the hardness of a trained, experienced warrior, the respect to her commander similar to that between the senshi and that crackling quality that a hungry, big roaring fire had.
Rei looked at Usagi, who smiled sweetly back. "This is YOUR home Rei-chan. It would be very rude of me to order your people over your head …" she replied still smiling while she softly caressed the efreet's shoulder. "Thank you, my Princess …" she answered, before turning to the salamander knight at her feet. "First of all, Guardian … please, arise. I know you wish to honor me, but like my Princess, I rather have your honest friendship …" she spoke, her voice at the end taking that same fiery quality as she placed her hand at his shoulder.
The warrior lifted his face, surprise and delight in it. "You grant me a great honor, my liege. I'll do my best to prove myself worthy of that." He replied proudly before standing. "I am Haquim, and I once served under your father. We mourned his passing, he was an able leader and friend, but until you came to claim your birthright we could do very little on your behalf. For that I apologize …" he said.
Rei smiled back at him. "Very well then, Haquim. I … thank you for your words, they are cherished. But, as for the object, have the Vigil stay alert. If it is like our last arrival (pointing at Jon Talbain) , open an invitation, but stay prompt if it reveals to be … unfriendly." She commanded. Then her eyes narrowed as she beheld him shivering a little. "Is there something wrong? Please be true, my Guardian. Like my Princess, I do not like to see my people unwell if I can prevent it." She spoke worriedly.
The knight turned to her, surprised. "Actually, my Princess … is that this place is too _cold_ for our people. They will not desert their posts, but they ARE uncomfortable. If I may ask, HOW can you stand it?!" he asked, respect at the resistance of a fellow warrior coloring his words.
"I have been raised here Haquim. I never got to see my father's home … Never got to feel the warm fires from our kingdom … I learned to support. But my servants will NOT suffer if I can help!" she spoke with determination. "Mamoru-san?" she asked turning around.
The person in question turned from his thoughts to look at her. "Yes Rei, what is it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I need your help. Can you give me free access to the land under the temple?" she asked with a thoughtful expression.
"Sure, no problem. Something else?"
"No, that would suffice."
They all left to the temple's front courtyard. There, bending down, , Mamoru touched the earth. A slight brownish-green glow surrounded him for an instant and flowed down to the earth. "There. That should do it." He spoke, standing once more.
"Thank you." She replied. Then turning to Haquim, she asked: "Where are their posts? Show me where they stand."
The fire spirit made a gesture and a miniature of the temple grounds made of different colored fires sprung to life before them all. Some points shone brighter. "There my Princess, are the warmest points, where our soldiers gather." He answered.
"Good. That's all I needed to know." She replied before kneeling down. Then she touched the ground for a few instants.
"What are you doing Rei?" asked curiously Amy, beating Usagi, who also had a curious face, to it.
"You'll see, just about … now." She replied as suddenly from the ground some stone pillars began growing. They were cylinders of deep green jade, about a 1 ½ ft large and about 6 ft high, decorated with brass filled carvings of powerful protection wards. On their tops, a red jade chimney-like cover protected a strong, warm fire within whose heat could be felt a good distance away.To the 'normal' people, they would look like old stone lanterns, burning completely mundane fires. Turning to the surprised fire knight, she spoke smiling: "Tell then. Those fires will never get cold, as they feed on the land's lava flows. My magic keeps them under control and burning. I spread them around the temple in many more places then the ones you showed me, so our people will not have to gather like beggars around some miserable little fires, but be kept well warmed by the land fires themselves. If they wish to serve me here, they will do so with as little problem as possible!" she spoke fiercely.
The knight kneeled before her. "I … thank you, my Princess. I will tell the soldiers of your orders, my liege. We … we are lucky indeed, for our Princess is not only strong of arm but of heart as well … You have gathered powerful and trustworthy allies. You father would be very proud of you …" he spoke as he stood and turned. "By your leave, my Princess, I must fulfill my duties …" he said as he turned away.
A few moments away from the temple …
Umino flew through Tokyo's night sky, relishing the feel of the wind on his body, as well as the warmth of Naru's soft fur as he held her close. The power flowing through him had guided them here, and he could see the Hikawa temple approaching. Rather, he could see the VERY strong mystic barrier and the host of fire spirits guarding it that surrounded the whole complex. He should have expected something like it … Rei was always paranoid about supernatural security … though, with all the youma attacks around, I don't really blame her … he thought warily to himself.
"I believe we should approach carefully, slowly and _not_ threatengly at all, my love." Naru spoke worriedly at him. Even if the prospect of a fight did NOT worried her as it once did, she wasn't stupid. Taking THAT many spirits at once, not taking the barrier into account would be sheer stupidity.
"Yeah, I agree. Lets land and walk to them. Maybe we can talk our way in …" he replied.
Silently landing some yards away from the barrier, Umino and Naru slowly walked towards it, taking care not to make sudden moves and staying in plain sight of the many spirits guarding it. As they got a bit closer, he spoke: "Hum … we come in peace. We are seeking our Princess, and our guiding spells point that she's inside. May we enter?" Unless there would be no other recourse, they would first try a peaceful approach. If it didn't … well, he HAD been thinking about trying out his new abilities …
A huge fire elemental turned to them, the twin blue flames on his golem like 'face' shining brighter. "The Princess of Brass told that if you're coming in peace to grant you entry. But beware if your intentions are not, we do not take kindly oath-breakers." It spoke seriously.
"Don't bother. I meant it. We only seek our Mistress, so that we can present ourselves into her service. We have no quarrel with your kind." Umino replied. "My mate speaks true, ground-keeper. Long have we been separated from our Mistress. We only seek to meet her once more." Naru seconded.
"Then you may enter. Our Princess is with others guests in the inner courtyard. There you shall find them." He spoke as an opening in the barrier appeared.
"Well, love, so far so good …" Naru spoke.
"Hope it keeps that way …" Umino replied.
Together, they entered the temple.
See other episodes by Philodox
(Posted Tue, 25 May 2004 20:31)
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