The Burning Rose (Chapter Nine)
Despite the urgency of arriving in Igniton the travelers save for Malcome who was still recovering from the sonic assault on him all listened to Blovas regale them of the Rain- Men of the Mystic Mountains.
"My friends!", a verbose Blovas began, "I have traded with many a people along my travels! Though no other people save perhaps the Rain-Men of the Mystic Mountains carried such splendor. The Rain-Men are pleasant as well as accepting of others along the shores as well as the rivers all throughout the Mystic Mountains. Though let me just say that there pleasant demeaner is transient when it comes to protecting their state of being. What the Rain-Men value the most is their state of mind which must abide by the rules of reality or the so-called real world. A state of splender may only last for so long in a hunting expedition or when spear fishing. The Rain-Men only know that while reward, excitement, celebration can increase splendor it cannot sustain it forever. The only way to taste true splendor is when falling asleep at night for then the unconscious mind enters into the dream time. The Rain-Men call this stage of being the true state of splendor that flows along the river of the unconscious mind in the dream. "
Blovas took a deep breath before continuing, "I am of course referring to the state where the Rain-Men dream all things. You see the Rain-Men are highly proficient sailors as well as fishermen in all manner of bodies of water. The Rain-Men throughout the days are hardy yet serious when they sail or fish. The Rain-Men have families to feed as well as protect so they desire a large catch of fish inside their nets. I will refer to this as a Rains-Men's gain benefits from a high success rate. Though even when they have a poor yield of fish the Rain-Man must always appear content in the eyes of their gods."
" Jenku a good friend of mine who is a Rain-Man always told me when I could not offer what he wanted to simply smile today for tomorrow you will cast your net wider in order to catch what you want.", Blovas related
"Simply enjoy each day in order to live for tomorrow.", Blovas continued, "This statement is the Rain-Mans belief that life is but a shell. The Rain -Man does not fear death they actually embrace a time when the real world's problems become but memories to them. Which brings me to what the Rain-Men believe happens to the body in a state of death. Mind you to the Rain-Men death is only part of a journey that will last forevormore. When someone dies in a Rain-Man community they are first stripped naked, then wrapped in flaxen fairy silk until they are mummified in it, then they are laid inside a hermetically sealed wooden coffin in the shape of a human body. Then the word gets out of a celebration along the Majestic River where they along with many hundreds of onlookers as well as boats ride along until they reach Mystic Falls. The deceased person inside their casket is then cast away until it goes over the Mystic Falls."
"This is why we do not cross over Mystic River at this most somber time. For the Rain-Men are celebrating taking their dead along an important journey. If we should cross the rivers path right now would surely mean our own lives.", Blovas concluded
"How long will the Rain-Men's celebration of death along the river last?", Plodok withdrawing his pipe asked
"It never ends my friend. The Rain-Man see the trip over the falls as the first half of the journey. The next half of the journey takes the deceased person up to the Northern Mountains where the casket is frozen in ice along with the rest. Then the departed's mind enters into the Dream Realm where it truly awakens. Much later during the hot spring will an expedition of Rain-Men usually composed of family and friends travel up North to collect the casket along with the in bloom Blue Morphosis Rose as mementos. In fact, you will find many adorned with the Blue Rose during the celebration.", Blovas explained to Plodok in greater detail while actually failing to address his question
"Let me guess, the Blue Rose is a way for the loved ones to commune with the deceased.", Plodok surmised
"The Blue Rose is the embodiment of the dream it represents the eternal state that the deceased have journeyed which is to the Rain-Man the Dream Realm.", Blovas emphasized to Plodok
"As a former Padwa I know the Dream Realm as the Lake of Lucidia. It is the place which taps into all consciousness which is omnipresent in time as well as space. Though to us it is a peaceful place a place of reflection of all knowing what does the Dream Realm mean to the Rain-Men?"
"Uninterrupted splendor.", Blovias imparted
"I am beginning to understand that for the Rain-Men that chance for the departed along the river of consciousness to the Dream realm must in no way be interrupted. For to so would be a literal death to their loved ones.", Plodok pointed out
Blovas smiled to say, "Not quite Inspector for you see that is why the bodies of the deceased are entwined in fairy silk. The fairy silk is an insurance policy provided to them in case of misfortune by Fortunos the God of chance and good fortune. If there is a storm or flood which cause the casket to misdirect from its journey to the Northern Mountains, the Fairy twine can re-connect the body towards its destination."
"Yet despite the insurance policy the Rain-Men's entranced state only sees the celebration or interruption of it. Fascinating.", Plodok states
"The celebration could last days my friend.", Blovias soberly said
"You could get word to Igniton of our predicament if you used cloud cover. The Rain-Men would never suspect you as you silently flew over their heads.", Plodok stated with a broad smile
"Go for it! We are wasting too much time here as it is!", It was Malcome who had become sick of being idle encouraging Blovas to accept Podoks plan of action.
Blovas simply bowed to Malcome before saying, "As you wish, I will take my leave towards Igniton."
The something occurred to Malcome that he mentioned quickly to Blovas,"Though before you do take along Styx and Zoomy...I mean Zoomer...they performed so spectacularly in helping our escape."
A concerned Styx asked, "What about you two?"
"We'll be fine the important thing is that you get word to Lord Tyr of our whereabouts.", Malcome insisted giving a thin smile
Unexpectedly, Styx lunged at Malcome with both her arms to embrace him with a warm hug to which was lovingly accepted.
"This will be the first time we'll have been separated on our long journey. I will miss you....", Styx said in a muffled voice her head was buried in Malcom's arms.
Malcome patted the back of Styx's head inside her red hood to softly say," We will be following right behind you don't you worry."
Blovas proudly held out his arms to accept the lady and the lizard archer for the ride up to his balloon. Once the two were tucked inside Blovas arms squished between them and his large belly they were hoisted up to the balloon like unto one themselves.
Malcome and Plodok waved to them once safely inside the balloons basket. Styx's horse Clapper became anxious while Stridor rubbed his face against which calmed it down some.
As Blovas prepared his air balloon for the ride both Zoomer and Styx waved while shouting their goodbyes for a long while. Both parties waved their goodbyes before the air balloon finally rose higher above them until it started to fade away in the wind.
As Malcome checked on the horses Plodok mentioned to him, "I can keep tabs on the activity along the river with my Radar scope. We will know when it is safe to move out."
A concerned Malcome replied," What of us? Considering your cargo will the ones who kidnapped you not eventually find us?"
"I am not for certain we have destroyed their transport. I was inside as it happened the ship was rippling with this burning energy! It was like an inferno inside!", Plodok revealed
"It was an amazing feat between Zoomer and Lady Styx. Though from what I can tell it was Zoomers concern for you which provided the powerful transformation of his arrow if not for that you may not be here with me now.", Malcome addressed
"As well as our mysterious friend pressing us on to find the Lost Valley.", Malcome also addressed
Plodok after a long sigh of relief admitted, "Is it not grand to have such good friends?"
Malcome gave back a surreptitious wink to Plodok before saying," You know it."
The basket being lifted by the air balloon was not so roomy for three passengers though it would suffice.
As Blovas blew puffs of cloud from his long-curved pipe to enshroud the balloon his other two passengers reacted in different ways.
Zoomer was unaffected by the circumstance for this was his second go around inside Blovas air balloon. Furthermore, Zoomer was used to climbing great heights in the mountain fortress of Soros. However, Zoomer could tell that for his lady companion who stood as stiff as a rail while holding onto the sides of the basket that she was not at ease as he was.
The inside of the basket was becoming darker as the clouds being blown around it by Blovas was reflecting the suns light away.
"Are you alright?", Zoomer asked Styx who now had her eyes shut
"I'm fine.", Styx curtly told Zoomer
"Zoomer, I need your help!", Blovas called over way to loudly as they were so near one another
As Zoomer went over to assist Blovas he looked back at Styx for a second feeling sorry there wasn't more he could do for her fright at being so high up.
"Wind this up!", Blovas demonstrated for Zoomer on a small fan attached to a framework above them by winding it clockwise a couple of rotations. Zoomer pulled a crate over to gain a little more height as he stood on it, he began to wind a lever attached to the box where the fan was inside of. As Zoomer tried he could only wind it so fast until he could not wind it anymore.
"It's stopped.", Zoomer said as the fan began to oscillate inside the box.
"Good. When it stops, I need to keep winding it up. You see the fan is making a window for me to see out of.", Blovas said as the fan made a small torrent of air which blew out a section of the cloud to let the sky in.
The air balloon slowly drifted over the forest towards the river appearing as but another of many.
A long way off on the other side of the river away from the celebration of the Rain-Men along the shorelines for miles as they celebrated the passing of many boats where the ground became less dense with forest were a band of riders. Of the riders there were four of them seated on saddles across the bodies of four red dragons. Of the four riders only one of them was wearing a red helmet in the shape of a dragon's mouth where inside it was a blue visor that covered the wearers entire face while the others chose to remove there's for the time being.
One of the riders near what appeared a female inside the helmet asked, "Do you see an end to them yet?"
"From what I am seeing through the eyes of my minion shows me that you would not like the answer.", the lady said
"Our dragons alerted us to the Rain-Men way before you let lose your little toy to go spy on them.", an older rider said on the lady's other side.
"Why don't we just go already? If those fish heads give us any problems, we'll just straighten them out.", said a younger rider in the back as he cleaned his blaster.
"That would be a declaration of war. Igniton is the ally of a greater kingdom which wishes to maintain a peaceful co-existence with our neighbors. I am not about to lose my rank as captain for your recklessness rookie.", the lady says as she continues her scanning of the river as well as the people currently in it.
Suddenly the dragons start shifting their bodies as well as looking up to the sky. The female captain's dragon seems to pay particular attention to a certain cloud above them.
"Return to me!", the lady captain tells the device that she used to scan with as she takes off her helmet only to reveal a rugged beauty with trim black hair beneath the cold exterior.
"I trust the scents of our dragons; there's something inside that cloud.", the lady captain concedes
"What of it, Captain Ravana?", the slightly older rider besides her askes
"I do not know Gavan though I will find out.", Captain Ravana says before putting her helmet back on.
"Wait look!", the older rider tells the as he peers from inside his own visored helmet," I see something coming out the top of the cloud."
"The cloud is also breaking apart in smaller pieces. There is some large round thing inside of it.", Captain Ravana says before she orders her riders. "Done your helmets once more as we ride in formation to greet whoever is up there!"
The other two Dragon riders proceed to place their red dragon mouthed helmets on as they yanked the long leather straps around each one's crimson scaled neck to get each dragon to rise up off there undersides! Captain Ravanas dragon was the first to spread out its vectored wings before sweeping it into the air as one by one each dragon rider followed suit!
Zoomer was looking outside as the clouds broke away around the balloon to see all four dragon riders approaching them!
"We've got company!", Zoomer said as he reached for an arrow to place inside of his bow.
"Don't be foolish!", Blovas told Zoomer. "Do you want us all deep fried? As good as you are those are four dragon riders!"
"They were most likely scouting the area for our return.", Styx said with her eyes still shut as she clung to the side of the air basket of the balloon.
Then two of the Dragon riders came beside of the balloon!
Captain Ravana addressed Blovas party inside of the balloon as her helmet amplified her voice," What is your business crossing into Igniton?"
Blovas bellowed a reply, "I carry one of your own, a witch of fire! I am returning Lady Styx to Igniton!"
"Then you are Malcome of Eternos?", Captain Ravana asked
"No, no! I am Blovas a world traveler who has visited your towering city many times. We seek an audience with Lord Tyr!", Blovas hastily explained
"Wind-Blow is that you?", the other rider asked
"I do go by that title...who are you?",Blovas asked
"You may remember me as Pyrok though I was a novice rider back then hailing from the cluster fields of the greater expanse.", the older rider disclosed
"I vaguely remember a very determined young man in a village called Skorch wanting to become a Dragon Rider....the name Pyrok rings familiar.", Blovias said with a creased brow
"So, you know this traveler, Pyrok?", Captain Ravana asked the older rider for confirmation
"Yes, he referred a dragon rider recruiter to visit with me upon paying him a weeks' worth of scalding rock. I knew him as Wind-Blow then.", Pyrok told Ravana
"Who is the Golden Tongued archer?", Ravana then asked about the only passenger not identified.
"My name is Zoomer!", the archer declared proudly
"Let us convene with Armatura in the ruins to confirm everything!", Ravana ordered
"Armatura?", Styx shouted in disbelief
"Surly we don't have to answer to her! We are still an independent force answering only to Lord Tyr who first ordered the search!", Pyrok commented
"I am afraid that it is protocol so long as Armatura is supplying our latest rider tech such as our minion dragon scouts.", Captain Ravana revealed
Ravana then held out her armored arm where a small glistening dragon flew into perch upon it!
Ravana then declared, "Stay in formation we ride to the ruins outside the vault once belonging to Warlock Yn!"
"I am afraid we will be veering past Titan Tower to the ruins where we will confirm your story!", Ravana directly informed the passengers inside the air balloon.
"Very well though I do not remember such strict formalities last I was here.", Blovas stated wearily
Pyrok then told Blovas, "Things have changed with the collaboration between Igniton and the far Eastern Kingdom of Bashido. There has been an weapons trade going on between our two kingdoms which is changing our military for better as well as the worse."
"Nothing good can come of this.", Lady Styx lamented to herself as the balloon proceeded in a darkening sky towards not to visit with Lord Tyr in a foreboding detour instead to an enemy who may not have their best interests in mind.