During the following hours, Ranma and his new friends walked through the streets of Tokoi, taking a good look at the majestic buildings, the busy people and the everyday life of the residents. They visited the market, city hall and the harbor, until it was finally time to go to Kasu's meeting.
"I think I'll stay outside again," Ryger grumbled when they were standing in front of the beautiful palace. "I don't like going in buildings..."
"Okay, catch ya later then," Ranma nodded and followed Uko inside.
A guard welcomed them and lead them to the big meeting room within the middle tower of the palace. When Uko and Ranma entered the big, rectangular room, they realized that they were the only ones that had arrived.
"They should be here pretty soon," the guard said. "Please, be patient and wait." And then he closed the door.
Ranma looked around. The walls of the room were as white as in every building in Tokoi. There was an enormous table in the middle of the room, with many chairs standing around it. Numerous high archways lead outside on a big balcony. On the opposite side of that balcony, he could see an impressive podium that was covered with a colorful carpet. A set of marmoreal stairs led up to the podium, and in its middle, there was a wooden chair.
Standing up there, it almost looked like a throne. But, unlike the massive, black throne in Yokot Fortress, it looked kinda plain. Its seating place as well as its backrest were cushioned with red pads. On the left and right side of the backseat, two wooden raven heads were crafted inside the polished wood.
"The Throne of Ja'an..." Uko murmured. Ranma walked up the stairs and inspected the piece of furniture
"So, this is Kasu's throne?" he asked.
Uko shook her head. "You didn't listen... I said: 'The Throne of Ja'an', not 'The Throne of Kasu'!"
"But, isn't Kasu your..."
"Our queen?" Uko chuckled. "Sure, we call her 'Lady of Tokoi', but she really isn't our ruler. Fact is, we don't really have a true ruler, even if we call ourselves a 'kingdom'. Kasu may be a leader of some sorts, but actually no one is compelled to listen to her. There are some laws, and the soldiers of Tokoi make sure that the people listen to them... but Kasu wasn't the person who made the laws... The residents are coming up with them themselves, the ideas are discussed, and if most of the members of the town committee agree, it will be declared a new law."
Interesting way to govern a country, Ranma thought. But, if it works out, why not?
He looked down at the cushioned seat of the throne. "Can I... can I sit down here for a while?"
Uko nodded. "Sure! The throne isn't really the seat for a certain person... all citizens of Tokoi can make the laws, so somehow, everyone is the ruler. So I guess no one would complain if you sit down there for a second." She grinned.
Ranma sat down on Ja'an's throne and leaned back with a sigh. An empty chair... Yes, that's really a good symbol for a country whose residents make their own decisions...
Just then, the door to the room opened and Kasu entered, followed by several other people. She walked over to the table, but stopped when she saw Ranma sitting on the throne.
Nervously, Ranma stood up again. "I just... wanted to sit down for a while..."
Kasumi shrugged and smiled. "Of course, why not? I think that's no problem... but now the meeting is about to start, so perhaps you should sit down with us at the table..."
"Yeah, okay," he nodded and joined Kasu and the others. Uko just sat down in a comfy corner of the room.
Kasu introduced Ranma to her companions... noblemen, tribe leaders and important representatives of other kingdoms.
Just as Kasu was about to start the meeting, something that made the impression of a golden waterfall descended outside and landed on the big balcony.
Kasu looked outside and smiled. "Shamu! How nice of you to come! I hope you're not too uncomfortable out there..."
The golden dragon shrugged. "No worries! If is too cramped, Shamu can always make some room." And she giggled.
The crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling swayed lightly at the voice of the dragon. Kasu frowned.
"Careful, Shamu, this building has been made for humans, not dragons."
Shamu giggled even louder, so that the table began to shake lightly. A painting that was hanging at one wall fell down to the floor.
Kasu sighed. "I believe you're the only living being in Ja'an that is able to laugh its opponents to death..." she murmured, but made sure that Shamu didn't hear it.
She coughed. "Well then, let's begin... Messengers have informed us that Ekana's army has split up. One half is approaching the land of the Steppe Riders, while the other half is coming our way..."
"That's not too bad," the chief of a northern tribe who was clothed in fur and leather pointed out. "If she only sends one half of her army, we can defeat her more easily."
The high mage of Tokoi sighed. "Well, that's exactly our problem... Ekana has so many knights within her army that splitting her forces up like this won't be a big problem for her. As far as we know, she has brought every single resident of the Shadow Realm that is under her control."
Multiple gasps. "Goodness..." a count whispered. "All of them..."
"You see our problem," Kasu nodded. "Even if we take all of our forces, and even if the Steppe Riders had decided to join us, we won't have enough to defeat her."
"But, hey..." Ranma spoke up. "Didn't you tell me that Na'aj isn't bigger than Ja'an? So how come she has so much more warriors in her army?"
"I already told you, Ranma... Most of Ja'ans residents don't know how to fight. Ekana has forced every single man and woman within her realm to enter her army... and do you really want to force the peaceful farmers, workers and other citizens of Ja'an to fight as soldiers?"
Ranma lowered his head. "No... of course not..."
"But... but... can't we at least negotiate with the dark mistress?" one of the noblemen asked with desperation. "What are her demands for capitulation?"
"She has none!"
"Beg your pardon?"
"It's true," Kasu sighed. "Ekana doesn't make any demands... she just wants to conquer this country, and every living human in Ja'an has to join her side as a dark slave or will be killed. There is no bargaining with her..." She shrugged. "I think we should get used to the idea that our country is doomed..."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Ranma stood up. "You just want to give up?"
"Well, what choice do we have? If you have a good idea, we would be glad to hear it."
Ranma just wanted to answer, when suddenly, a strange sound echoed through the room... It almost sounded like the ringing of a big bell... and it came from the throne.
Ranma suddenly turned around and walked to the podium. Standing in front of the throne, he began talking in a strange, emotionless voice:
"When all hope is gone
and Ja'an meets its demise
the shadows will rule
and dark mistress Ekana will rise.
But even in those dark times,
when evil will bloom,
an outsider hero will come
to save Ja'an from its doom.
He will take lead
as his courage glows
and he will find the way
to the master... the King of the Rainbows!"
The strange sound went still again and Ranma staggered forward with a groan. He blinked multiple times. "What... what happened?"
"The Oracle..." Kasu said in awe. "It spoke through your mouth."
"The Oracle?"
Uko nodded from her sitting space. "A legend says that in dark times, the two raven heads will speak and tell us how to save Ja'an."
"A legend?" Ranma asked. "Like the Black Valkyrie?"
Kasu didn't answer. "The King of the Rainbows..." she murmured.
"Who is that?" Ranma wanted to know.
"They say that he is the most powerful sorcerer of Ja'an, living at the edge of the world, in a castle that is even more gorgeous than Tokoi itself. They also say that he has sworn to grant anyone who manages to reach his castle a wish."
"But then... then..." Ranma was ecstatic. "Then we're saved. If he is really as powerful as you say... We can ask him to free us from Ekana's army... and he also can save Akane!"
"There's just one problem, Ranma..." Uko pointed out.
"What? You don't know where to find his castle?"
"No, the path is known to us," Kasu explained. "But... no one has ever managed to reach his castle. Everyone who tried it failed, or didn't even return. So, we don't even know if his castle exists... or if it is another legend. Also, the way is much too dangerous... and long. Even if we would reach him, it would be too late."
"But it's our last chance," Ranma said impatiently. "Even if it is dangerous, it's a risk we have to take."
Kasu thought about it, but then shook her head. "No, Ranma... it would take many brave men to overcome the obstacles on the way... and we just cannot give up valuable soldiers when Ekana is that close to our capital. And I really doubt that this king actually exists..."
"Well, Kasu..." Shamu called from outside. "You have to remember: Every legend has to come from somewhere, right? And you said that there is no other way to save Tokoi, yes? So, why not try to go?"
"I know you dragons are ready to believe in prophecies," Kasu said. "But don't you see the big risk?"
"Well, what kind of obstacles are there anyway?" Ranma wanted to know.
"First, there's the long way... and Ekana's knights could ambush you any time... You have to go to the Gorge of Souls, then follow the Lost River, at it's most torrential point... and even then you have to cross the Solitude of Ice, and meet with the Frost Giants at their castle..."
"The Gorge of Souls?" Ranma asked. "What's that?"
"It is an enormous and very deep canyon in the northern part of our world, so deep that you can't see it's bottom. Inside this canyon lives a horrible creature..."
"He not thaaat horrible," Shamu muttered.
Kasu ignored that remark. "The creature that lives within the Gorge of Souls is the Tatzelwurm, the most dangerous creature that lives within Ja'an..."
"What's a Tatzelwurm?" Ranma asked.
"Is too too imbecile member of Shamu's species," the golden dragon hissed.
"A dragon," Kasu explained. "An enormous monster that will eat anyone who is reckless enough to enter his domain... And he knows no mercy."
"Well, Shamu has defeated him once..." Shamu pointed out.
"No!" Kasu said with determination. "I forbid it! It's too dangerous! And I don't want to hear anything of it anymore, you hear me?"
"Hey!" Uko suddenly said as she looked out of the windows. "Would you take a look at that?"
Ranma and Kasu came over and looked outside as well. Uko gestured towards the river. "You see that?"
Ranma only saw a number of dark spots that were coming down the river. "I think those are... boats. Many, many boats!"
"Dragons can see much better than humans," Shamu said. "Is fleet of Steppe Riders. Very big fleet, right?"
"Yes," Kasu murmured. "I wonder what has happened..."
"Lets go to the harbor and find out," Ranma said and ran for the door.
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(Posted Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:59)
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