Later that day, Ranma was riding alongside Kasu and her men, as they were leaving the hills and went out on the open plains of Ja'an... the land of the Steppe Riders.
Uko and Ryger were coming as well, walking on foot, behind the riders. They had easily enough stamina to keep up with the horses.
They had been riding for a long time without reaching any sign of civilization, so that Ranma started to wonder where exactly the Steppe Riders would be living.
Kasu looked at him from the side. "Ranma, you have to remember one important thing: The Steppe Riders are a tribe of very proud hunters and warriors, so reasoning with them can be... tricky. Leave most of the talking to me, okay?"
Ranma nodded. "Um, okay!"
Just then, they could see four riders approaching them from straight ahead. When they came closer, Kasu ordered her men to stop and wait for them.
Ranma realized that three of the riders were men, but the fourth one was a girl that looked very familiar to him... They were all wearing special clothes made from leather, and they were riding without any saddles. Also, he realized that they weren't carrying any weapons.
The four Steppe Riders stopped their horses and looked at Kasu's travelling group suspiciously. Then, the girl came forward and raised her hand in greeting. Kasu did the same.
"Greetings, Lady Kasu!" she said in a cold voice. "What a surprise... we certainly didn't expect your visit. But ou..." She paused. "My father wants you to know that he would be happy to welcome you within our fortress... He has much to discuss with you."
She then threw Ranma a glance. "Our scouts already told us that a black rider would be riding alongside your troops. I couldn't believe it, but I see that it is true. So, he is your prisoner, then?"
Kasu smiled. "No, Naki, he is an ally. He merely wears the black armor as a disguise... he had to hide among the black riders for some time."
Nabiki's double seemed to ponder this for a while, then nodded. "My father told me that I should welcome him as well if he turns out not to be one of Ekana's men... Please, let us escort you to our fortress, Fourincan!"
Kasu nodded. "It would be our pleasure."
And as the princess and the other Steppe Riders were riding ahead, Kasu, Ranma and the other were following them.
Ranma was very curious about why they didn't carry any weapon, and so he asked Kasu about it.
"The Steppe Riders might be the best riders in Ja'an, but they also fight only with their own bodies... They are the best martial artists in our world... You might be surprised at the princess Naki's skills."
"But if they can't use any ki..." Ranma wondered.
"They don't use ki... instead they use mana, the magical essence that is flowing through our world. In a sense, their fighting style is much more a type of magic, but I believe they would easily be able to use your own fighting techniques if you would teach them... But at first, they had to teach you how to use the flow of mana instead of ki."
Ranma was excited. So, not all was lost. If he would be able to learn from the Steppe Riders, he still had a chance to save Akane from her evil double.
"I really hope they are ready to help us," Ranma murmured. As Kasu's allies, it would be much easier to convince one of them to teach him about their ways of fighting.
While Ranma was brooding, Kasu tipped him on the shoulder. "Ranma, look!"
Ranma looked up... and gasped at the incredible sight in front of him. They could finally see Fourincan...
But it almost looked like a mountain to him, a mountain that seemed to grow right out of the plains of Ja'an. It seemed to be as big as Yokot Fortress itself.
When they got closer, Ranma realized that most of the steppe fortress was made of wood... It was truly an impressive sight to behold.
When they entered through the giant gate, Ranma realized that there was an entire city within the fortress walls, wooden buildings that were all situated around the massive main building of Fourincan. Now it made sense to him: Every single member of the Steppe Rider tribe was living inside the walls of this fortress, that's the reason why they hadn't seen any other villages or towns on their way.
Kasu and her men were being lead right to the stables of the fortress, where the Steppe Riders were taking care of their horses.
Princess Naki then nodded towards Kasu. "Please, come this way... the Council of Sages is awaiting your presence." With a slightly colder gaze, she looked at Ranma. "You... are invited as well. Please come along..."
Before following Naki, Kasu looked at Uko and Ryger. "I'm sorry, you two... But I'm afraid it will be a little... difficult for you inside the building... can you wait outside?"
Uko grinned. "No problem! I would get claustrophobic inside those cramped rooms, anyways."
"Yeah," the black bear next to her nodded. "You go one ahead without us. We'll be fine!"
While they were following Naki and her men inside the main building, Ranma asked Kasu: "Say... Ryger and Uko seem to know you, is that true?"
"Oh, of course!" the High Mage of Tokoi smiled. "After all, I was the one who told them to look for you."
"Look for me?" Ranma wondered. "But I thought... I met them only by accident, did I?"
"I don't think so, Ranma... I asked them to look for you... they must have searched for you for some time before you arrived in the hills."
"Heh," Ranma grumbled. "I thought there was something odd about them... But why should you ask two squabblers like them to work together?"
"Squabblers?" Kasu wondered. "Uko and Ryger? Why, they are the best friends you could ever imagine. Although..." She smiled. "Sometimes, they can have a very weird sense of humor."
By now, Ranma was seriously debating giving the troll and the bear a serious kicking after returning from the council...
----
A servant girl was leading Ranma into a small chamber, where he could get ready until the council was ready to see him and Kasu. He also got fresh clothing... all made from leather. He wondered if he should wear the black armor again... but then he put it down in a corner of the room. Shortly after, Kasu came to pick him up, and the two of them went to the council chamber.
Two unarmed guards welcomed them in front of the big door, and lead them inside the room behind it.
It was a big, circular room with a round table in its middle. Around it, various people were sitting.
The Council of the Sages... Ranma really didn't know what to expect, but somehow, he had the image of a meeting of old men with long beards, wearing wide robes. But only some of the council's members were fitting that image. Some of their members were surprisingly young, and there was also a big number of warriors among them. To his surprise, he could also see Princess Naki sitting at the table, next to a middle-aged man with long hair and a mustache... the spitting image of Soun Tendo.
The man smiled when seeing his two guests. "I see your surprise, Ranma Saotome, and I say I can understand your confusion. But think of it: Does a human really have to be old to be wise? Very often, the forwardness and spontaneity of young people can be as efficient as the experience of the old people... But let's not digress. I welcome you to Fourincan, fortress of the Steppe Riders. I am Souvan, leader of my people, and member of the Council of Sages."
He turned to Kasu. "Welcome as well, Kasu, lady of Tokoi... It's good to see you again."
Kasu smiled and bowed. "I am happy to be home again... father!"
Ranma was surprised for a moment, but then, it all made sense, didn't it? After all, Kasumi and Nabiki were sisters in his world as well, right?
But wait a minute... did that mean that Ekana...
Before he could finish that, Souvan interrupted his thoughts: "Please, have a seat... We have much to discuss."
"That is correct," Kasu said with a nod, as she and Ranma sat down at the table. "Ekana's army has already passed the Shadow Mountains, and is on its way to this fortress."
"I know," Souvan nodded. "Our scouts have told us about how the black knights are ravaging the country and plundering the villages of the outer regions... But don't worry. Fourincan is well protected... it has never fallen before." He made a fist. "As long as I'm alive, Fourincan will never fall into the hands of evil."
"Well, that's good to hear," Kasu said. "But, I have also come to ask for your help... as you know, the forces of Tokoi aren't that numerous, so I was travelling through all of Ja'an, to find more allies. So forgive me if I have to ask this right away, father... but can we hope for your aid as well?"
The leader of Fourincan looked at his daughter with a frown. "As much as I would like to aid your city as well, daughter... I cannot! Now, as Ekana and her army are approaching, every single Steppe Rider is needed here. If we leave Fourincan, it will be doomed... and all of the kingdoms behind our lands as well. We might be able to defeat Ekana's army if we join forces with you at Tokoi, but at what price? Fourincan would fall, and that is something I just cannot allow. Do you understand?"
Ranma stood up. "Listen! I saw Ekana's army, I WAS there... and there are just too many of her men. You can't defeat her all by yourself, even within this fortress."
"Nonsense!" Naki had also stood up by now. "There had been countless attacks on our fortress, by bandits, by the northern barbarians... And in the end, we were able to defeat them all. Fourincan..."
"...will fall," Ranma said with determination. "Trust me! I've seen your fortress, and while it is impressive... Ekana's army is just too strong for you. But if you join with the men of Tokoi, and all of their allies, you have a chance."
"There hasn't been a black knight that had been able to defeat a Steppe Rider in combat," Naki claimed.
"Oh, really?" Ranma furrowed his brow. "And would you say the same about... the Black Valkyrie?"
Naki wasn't the only one to gasp upon hearing that. "W-what did you say?" Souvan finally managed to ask.
Kasu nodded. "It's true, father... I didn't want to believe it, but Ranma saw her, when he was hiding among Ekana's men. She is the gerenal of the black army."
"That... that cannot be," Naki insisted. "You know that! It has to be another warrior of Yokot. Baron Koan..."
"I know Koan," Ranma told her. "It WAS the Black Valkyrie, I'm certain of it. And I tell you this: If she attacks this fortress and you're planning to fight by yourself, you will be defeated. That's all I have to say." And he stood up and left.
After leaving the room, he groaned. Now they wouldn't ever join Tokoi's alliance... what was he thinking, talking like that to Kasu's sister?
Some time later, Kasu came out of the room. She looked at him. "They are debating about our conversation... You know, what you said has really impressed them. There still might be a chance that they will change their mind."
"And what about Naki?" Ranma asked.
Kasu gave him a sad smile. "My sister... has always been the most stubborn one. It's not your fault, Ranma... but I'm afraid we just can't wait for their decision."
"We can't?" Ranma wondered. Kasu shook her head. "No, we have to hurry and return to Tokoi... there might be the slight chance that Ekana decides to leave Fourincan alone for now and attacks Tokoi first. So, now that I have visited every kingdom I wanted... including my old home lands... I have to return to Tokoi. Father said he understands... he will send us a messenger who will tell us about his decision."
"I hope they will change their mind..." Ranma mumbled. "I didn't lie about Ekana's forces... they are more than enough to defeat the Steppe Riders if they decide to fight alone."
Kasumi sighed. "My people have always been the first to be attacked when an evil force is about to invade... and they are closer to the Shadow Mountains than every other kingdom. Ekana's influence has always been strong here..."
"Um... Kasu... About Ekana... Is she also..."
"We have to go," Kasu quickly interrupted, turning away from him. "Let's tell the others we're leaving."
Was it just Ranma's imagination... or was Kasu evading his question deliberately?
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:17)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.