The Burning Rose (Chapter Four)

A spectacle was ensuing in the air as a bombastic Blovas blew smoked rings from his long wooden pipe! The minors gathered round to poke fun at the folly being had by Blovas who's belly continually expanded with each lungful of air that he blew into the long shaft of his pipe!

As the Eternians being led by Trekkor exited the mine they too bared witness to the air show of clouded rings flowing in the wind all being blown from Blovas out his pipe.

"This looks like good sport!", Zoomer said as he saw an opportunity to shoot his arrows through the smoked rings.

"Go on Zoomer, tell Blovas that you want to try your aim at those rings!", Malcome said upon seeing another kind of opportunity.

After Plodok gulped he asked Malcome, "What are you playing at?"

"You will see my friend.", Malcome teased

"Ho-Ho!", Blovas announced as he spotted the game anthropomorphic lizard archer Zoomer train his bow at the smoky rings above.

"Those rings would make for great bullseyes! Would you care to test your aim my golden tongued archer?", Blovas asked Zoomer

"Wind Blow!", Blovas spun round after hearing Malcome call out his other monicker!

A proud Malcome stood before Blovas to make him an offer," My archer would happily test his aim against your floating hoop rings though how about we make a wager on how many he can tag?"

"Unfair my friend your archer is one of the best in the world as he's a golden archer from Soros. I am no fool you plan to rob me blind!", Blovas refuted

"I plan nothing of the sort of my windy friend. Though there is much more to you than meets the eyes for I never knew of your wind-swept talents.", Malcome said trying to persuade Blovas to reconsider.

"What's your wager then, friend?", Blovas asked

"I will wager that Zoomer the golden tongued archer can hit five rings in a row.", Malcome said as Zoomer flicked not a golden tongue but his blue one at Blovas.

"Hmmm...", Blovas said as he thought out the offer then he replied, "What do I get if blue tongue fails in his assignment?"

"You get to join along with my crew as we ride to Igniton!", Malcome tells Blovas who does not seem impressed in the slightest.

Upon seeing Blovas' disinterest Malcome then tells him," I will pay you of course for the journey in addition to any information at your disposal of which you will be honor bound to share along the way."

"Then what do you ger in return?", Blovas asked plainly

"The same thing except without a price tag. Though only a day's journey to Igniton then you are free to be on your way to wherever.", Malcome replied

Blovas kind of mumbled to himself before he told Malcome, "I agree to see if your lizard can get five of my smoke rings in a row though after that I challenge him to get just one more!"

Malcome proceeded to walk over to Blovas where he lent out his hand in order to seal the deal. Though just as Blovas was about to clasp Malcom's hand he recoiled it like a snake to say, "I dont go to Igniton if the archer fails to hit through the last ring, though ask me anything you want for the same fee. Though before you either accept or decline do tell me what your payment to me is in both cases."

"One royal Eternian Dollar. Now do we have a deal?", Malcome said with his hand still held out.

"Make it two Royal Eternian Dollars...then we do.", Blovas said

"I accept!", Malcome replied with confidence

"Then I accept as well.", Blovas said as he shook Malcom's bandaged hand in order to finally seal the wager.

The frumpy Blovas began to rub his belly with both his hands in some kind of ritualistic manner.

Zoomer shouted, "When will you be ready to start?"

"I am just warming my tummy for more fuel!", Blovas stated to an anxious Zoomer who wanted to take his shot.

Plodok who now stood beside Malcome with his own pipe out blowing bubbles studied Blovas intently. The minors who all made wagers themselves on the outcome wanted things to get started so they can could set off to work.

Blovas then jumped in the air though he did not come back down. Instead, like a cloud himself Blovas began to rise into the air himself like a living balloon.

"Ha! Look at me I can float like a cloud myself!", Blovas noted as he lay on his back blowing a stream of smoke through his pipe like a train. As Blovas floated around in the air the minors grumbled.

"Everyone is getting restless, are you ready to begin?", Malcome asked a blissful Blovas

Blovas while in the air took a deep breath before he blew into his longe pipe to burst the stream of smoke he left behind to create a shower of small rings! Blovas floated amongst the rings to breath a number of them to then start blowing them as if they were a wheel spinning in the air! Surprisingly the wheel of rings was fairly fast as well the clouds making up the wheel soon dissipated.

Zoomer who was training his arrow in the sky was unsure of where to take his first shot had not capitalized on any of his opportunities.

Blovas shouted down at Zoomer, "Hidy Ho you had better hurry up my friend this next batch of rings will be much harder to hit!"

Zoomer quickly as well as adeptly replaced the arrow in his bow with another.

Blovas was perhaps too overconfident to note Zoomer decision to use another of his arrows continued unabated.

Then with the same tactic as before Blovas blew himself across the air to again leave behind a trail of smoke though this time he burst it quicker as well as harder in order to create not one but two bigger spinning wheels of smoke simultaneously in the air!

Zoomer shot his one arrow in-between the spinning smokey wheels! Then just before the arrow burst in-between both wheels of smoke, Zoomer placed three arrows in his bow. The blast from Zoomers first shot created a freezing effect which broke the smoke wheels apart! Then just before the remaining smoke wheels lost their shape three arrows were placed into them!

Three free floating smoked wheels were picked off with precision which left Blovas steaming!

Malcome shouted at Blovas,"Zoomer only needs two and a half rings more my friend for the win!"

Blovas who was very aware of his plight took a very long deep breath before unveiling a very large ring which would be easy for Zoomer to shoot through. Blovas then produced cloud pillows of smoke in order to blow his large ring around in like a pinball!

Zoomer kept his arrow trained on the bouncing ring seeking a pattern before attempting a shot. Blovas blew out another large smoked ring to then blow in with the other one. Zoomer added another arrow in his bow sensing a double opportunity.

The two large rings eventually bounced into each other to repel one another out of the clouded arena!

Zoomer then released both arrows at just the right moment to strike through them before they were two far apart from one another!

The crowd of minors that bet on Zoomer cheered while the others sulked to themselves for there was only one last shot left.

"It would seem that the reputation of the golden archers of Soros was not exaggerated! I applaud your skill as well as cunning! Though let us see you prevail against my last volley of rings!", Blovas announced before right away inhaling for another round of cloud rings to be tossed from his pipe.

It was now down to one arrow for Zoomer to use for his last shot.

Unimpressively, Zoomer noted Blovas create just one of his simple smoke rings. Zoomer watched patiently as the smoke ring floated further away from Blovas. What trick did the cloud maker have up his sleeve, Zoomer was not for sure.

Then just before the cloud dissipated, Blovas shot out another one. Zoomer watched the cloud ring float along until it to dissipated.

Plodok gave a gulp before telling Malcome," I think Blovas is goading Zoomy into taking the shot. There is a method to his predictability."

"If your archer does not take the next shot then you forfeit this game!", Blovas announced

"There is no rule as to say when Zoomer has to shoot!", Malcome contested

"Well, how many attempts is he going to pass up? We do not have all day!", Blovas haughtily stated

"Two more attempts!", Malcome told Blovas in an attempt to bide a sparing amount of time for his archer.

"Very well two more attempts for your archer it is!", A cocky Bovas conceded

Zoomer decided to pass up on his second shot as he watched the third smoke ring drift along until something of note was observed. The smoke ring was slightly faster as it moved along. This effect made it clear to Zoomer that Blovas could push the cloud along faster which could also mean that he could also pull it back. It was a hunch that Zoomer had to counter for his last as well final shot.

An overconfident Blovas predicated on the release of his final smoke ring," I hope that you at least make the attempt on this last one. Though either way you will lose!"

Zoomer said nothing as his kept his arrow trained on whatever Blovas produced from his long pipe this time. Fortunately, or not for Zoomer it was another of Blovas slow moving smoke rings which was released. Zoomer waited until the smoke ring was at the mid-point before it began to crumble before firing his arrow at it. That was when about the time in which Blovas pushed the last smoke ring farther along.

Zoomer shot his arrow a little ahead of the ring then quickly snatched another arrow from his quiver. In the blink of an eye Zoomer shot his second arrow just as Blovas inhaled into his long pipe which pulled the ring cloud back to him! Zoomers response was correct as his second shot thrust past his first more wide shot to strike threw the ring cloud like a lightning strike!

The crowd cheered at the clever shot whereas a deflated Blovas gradually came down from the air.

To Blovas credit he accepted his loss graciously before coming into the Lion Carrier in order to depart from the mining camp. However, Malcome had to have an overdue debriefing with the Royal Palace as it had been far too long. So, with everyone going to Igniton present in the upper deck cock pit of the carrier the tele-screen was lowered from its hidden compartment for the debriefing.

The rectangular screen was activated immediately by Malcome as the signal was sent over. The hailing frequency was not only immediately received but it was accepted in due fashion.

The welcoming face of Prince Randor became visible on the screen along with Lt Glenn from Earth.

"Greetings Malcome it has been a while since you reported. I as well as Glenn were getting concerned.", Randor distinctly stated

Malcome could have contacted the military dispatch, but he needed to communicate freely with his longtime friend. A lot had happened during his to mission Pacwad some good with what was remaining mostly uncertain.

Glenn was incredibly curious as to whom Malcome had in his company when she asked," You know that I am not from this world, so I have to ask who are your adorable friends."

Of course, Lt. Glenns curiosity was normal for someone in her situation so before things got properly underway Malcome had to introduce everyone aboard the Lion Carrier.

Malcome mentioned Trekkor first before going over who was present with quick introductions.

Without going too far in depth, Malcome introduced first Styx who was the reason for the journey in the first place though made sure not to mention Trace yet. Then Malcome introduced both Plodok and Zoomer since they knew each other already. Lastly though not in the least Malcome introduced Blovas who was very full of himself being in the presence of the King of Eternias own son.

Glenn was going to excuse herself until Randor suggested that she stay since she was already in the thick of things on their end.

Malcome began with the most obvious issue first which was the kidnapping of prince Trace as well as the seeming betrayal of Rotar. Then Malcome brought up the stolen Eyes of the Salamander which was a completely new issue to Randor as well foreign one as he had no idea about these artifacts or there hiding places. However, Randor would most assuredly follow up with his father who would most likely contact the kingdoms of Pacwad and Soros. That when Malcome told him not to tell his father about the stolen Eyes as Plodok as well as the King of Soros swore to keep it secret for the time being.

"How long do you expect me to withhold such a detail?", Randor concernedly asked

"At least another day, then do what you must. That was the allotted time the King of Soros allowed us to retrieve the Eyes.", Malcome mentioned

"I must know who kidnapped the prince, did you recognize anyone of them?", Randor pleaded as the terrible news he was hearing concerned him immensely.

Malcome went on to explain how Inspector Plodok thought that the prince's abduction was a conspiracy orchestrated from within Igniton by a former Witch of Fire named Armatura along with her accomplices Lord Komodo and another witch who was invisible to technological surveillance.

"As bad as all that is...", Randor began, "The embassador from Igniton has been placed in a commotose state. We suspect it was done intentionally...perhaps your invisible witch was able to do it.", Randor speculated

"The same thing happened to my Padwa in Lucid under similar circumstances. Is your ambassador to Igniton still alive?", Plodok asked

"Yes, he is being fed nutrient fluids into him which keep his body alive. We have monitored his brain only to find it is in operating in a dream state.", Randor explained

"My Padwa is also in this deep hypnosis as well alive because he can absorb the water of the pond he lays upon in Lucida.", Plodok confirms

"I must put forth my belief that the attacks on both the Ambassador as well as my Padwa were performed by high frequency sonics. The same sonics that led prince Trace into the Desert of Fire in his chase of his twin flame.", Inspector Plodok deduced

"So, what is your status now?", Randor asked Malcome

"We are in search of Lord Tyr's former Warlock, whom Plodok thinks holds the key to the culprits behind Ignitons conspiracy.", Malcome confirmed

"If you're leaving now then I will have my father reach out to Lord Tyr. You already know that he won't the circumstances of all this. My father does not like keeping secrets from him. If you are unsuccessful in retrieving the Eyes, then I have no recourse then to inform my father about them. As for your finding out Traces whereabouts...keep going it sounds as if you're on the right track. Though above anything if it becomes too dangerous, please just come home. There is no shame in t, you're doing all that you can.", Randor told Malcome

"Please be careful Malcome!", Glenn said as she expressed her concern.

"We will, though for now we will be in touch, good journey.", Malcome just before shutting off the transmission. Then Malcome fired up the engines of the Lion Carrier before putting in in drive.

Of all the things Malcome mentioned to Randor the one he regrated not telling him the most was the breach in the roof of his Lion Carrier.