---o--o--o---

Slayers: Clouds!

Chapter 8:

Tests! The Tribulations of a Sorcerer!

---o--o--o---

"Your highness. You called for me?" It was already dark when the captain of the guards was relieved of his shift by his lieutenant.

"Kerchef. Good." The voice was coming from the other side of the velvety curtain, where the Sheik was being tendered by his servants. The Sheik did not usually welcome visitors inside of his private courtyard except for his most trusted of colleagues, and only in daytime.

"The time has come, Kerchef. Maximilian has seen that Lina Inverse will be here within a day's time. Please prepare for her."

"I understand," said Kerchef, bowing politely to the open doorway. "I assume that she is here to see the City of the Clouds?"

"Hai," said the Sheik. "We don't have a choice in the matter. You know what there is to do."

Water splashed from the sounds of a body hitting a pool of water. Most people might have been concerned for the Sheik, of an elderly drowning man swimming so late at night. But as captain of the guards Kerchef sighed at the sound and resumed back to his duties.

"Time, Lina Inverse. The time is now."

---o--o--o---

Desert. Lots of Desert. Not a stick of green in sight.

"You know," said Lina, "I'm sure glad Jocko gave us all these supplies for tracking down his brother's murderer." She bit into her apple again, polishing off the ruby-reddish snack. "You know, I would have to say that Aermark was a very kind gentleman."

"And," added Filia, "his brother included directions to the Sheik's city." The shrine dragon had her trusty map out again, tracing an outlined route through the desert. "Supposedly, this route runs right through the middle of a wasteland." Filia's eyes glazed over in excitement. "To the Sheik's city, a center of endless riches beyond the wildest of dreams."

"Hai," said Sylphiel, to the left of the chaotic sorcerer, "it will be a beautiful city. But Lina, it might not have been a good idea to accept Jocko's offer under such circumstances, especially since we're already on a mission to find the City of the Clouds."

"Aremark was going to show us something that morning. If he were alive, I would feel a bit better about what's going on," said Lina. "However, I'm sure that whoever is trying to stop our progress along the way is also responsible for Aermark's death. We already know where and when the City of the Clouds is to appear, I'm sure we'll be able to unravel our mysterious nemesis along the way."

Lina took a second to look back at her loaded camel. "Beside, there was no way that I going to turn down such a job for nothing! Look at all this food Jocko gave us!"

The shrine maidens froze in their tracks and sweat dropped.

Lina stopped for a second, scurrying through one of the many burlap sacks that was tied to her camel. "Hey, you know where my other bag of apples are? I could swear they were here. And that water skein, I know it was full a few hours ago…"

"Maybe you should ration your foodstuff a bit better," said Filia. "After all, we wouldn't want you to waste away to nothing!"

With her own supplies ransacked, Lina was already over to the dragon shrine's camel. "Maybe, I put them here, or possibility in here. Gee, I don't know where they could be…"

"Yea, go ahead…its not like you're going to find anything," said Filia, clearly unhappy at the redhead's searching. "Should I mention that I also don't have any food or drink?"

"But why?" Lina continued to look through the burlap bags of her companion's possessions. "Where's that food that you been hiding!" The redhead started chanting obsessively. "Come out! Come out, wherever you are!"

"Don't you see? There isn't any!" answered Filia. "Because someone ate all of it already."

Lina gulped. "Well…err…I guess I was hungry!" The sorcerer lightly tugged at her small waist in her defense. "Its not my fault that I'm a growing woman!"

The sorcerer was searching one the last bags for food, a light-tanned leather satchel. The bag was very old., It's softened yet unrefined lines were clearly a couple of generations out of date. "Ah-hah! Now I know where you've been hiding!"

"Wait a minute!" interrupted Filia, "Don't go in there! I've got…" The blond reached out, pulling the sorcerer away from the satchel. During the unexpected tumble, out tumbled a matching leather-bound book.

"Aack!" Filia tried to catch the falling book, but she misjudging the timing as it tumbled out of her hands to the ground.

"Anno…how clumsy of me!" Lina reached down to pick up the fallen book from the dusty soil, cleaning off the cover with the back of her fingers.

Filia turned as white as a ghost, prying the leather volume from Lina's arms. A worn leather strap was buckled down, keeping the ancient book from flying apart or from unwanted eyes. "Here, let me get that for you. It's quite a dirty little thing and I wouldn't want for you to get your hands dirty…"

However, Lina's grip was rock solid as she stared at the cover. Noticing the familiar image from before, she rubbed years of soil away with her forefinger. The leather cover had darkened from the years of wear, inlayed with small greased-over oil picture.

"Can't tell what this blasted thing is, maybe…" said the sorcerer, continuing to wipe at the palm-sized picture with her moistened finger, removing years of grime. At last truth revealed itself, the discovery only made her blink in surprise. "Oh my…"

"Lina? What is it?" asked Sylphiel while coming closer. "Did you find something?"

"I think," answered Lina, turning the front of the leather book over for Sylphiel to see. "That I found something quite interesting. Very interesting, indeed."

The sorcerer had removed years of black soot, illuminating the rich colors of a minutely detailed oil-painted inset. It was aerial view from a high point, possibly from some mountaintop peek or bridge. Taking up the right side was the unmistakable image of a dragon -- to be precise a golden dragon, his pike weapon out as he readied for an attack. The golden dragon was at attention, snarling as if battle were to start, fulfilling the wishes of its superior. Those were Details that Lina would always remember from not too long ago.

Behind the golden dragon, yet farther away and to the left was the magnificent city, a floating city. The City of the Clouds to be precise, there in the sky…

Filia almost fell over her own prevention was to lean onto a rock for support. She spun her head around at the two other ladies, almost immediately in sorrow. "Lina…Sylphiel…I know that you're wondering…" Other words came to mind, but she stood there agape, other words never leaving her mouth.

Sylphiel pointed to the dragon book. "Wow, it looks like a golden dragon defending the castle…"

"Hmmm…could be." The sorcerer thumbed the leather strap, prying the volume open. "But then you can never tell a book by its cover."

"No! Don't!" Filia raced towards Lina almost immediately, but she was too far away as the sorcerer opened the dragon book open for her eyes to see.

Lina sweat dropped. "Is this some kind of joke!" The sorcerer pointed within the pages of the book, clearly disturbed by its contents. Even Sylphiel, who was standing behind Lina, was staring down in contempt at the contents of the volume.

"You don't understand, Lina," pleaded Filia, holding her hands up in defense. She cleared didn't embellish her begging at the moment. "There are certain…things involved!"

The redheaded one pondered loudly, turning the open book around for Filia to see. The rune writing that had once been so prominently written was now unreadable; its ink run amuck because of water damage.

"WHAT!!" If Filia was aghast before, now she was in total shock. "How did it…?"

Lina flipped the open book to Filia, bemused with the whole lot. "I have no idea why you're carrying around such a useless relic, Filia. We know the City of the Clouds is connected with dragons somehow…but, really now. You could have left this silly thing at home." The sorcerer turned to Sylphiel. "Time to get going?"

"Hai." The purple shrine maiden nodded as they packed Filia's camel back up in an organized manner.

The dragon maiden stared into the open book in disbelief. "But…how? I could swear…" She was looking slightly down the road at Lina and Sylphiel when her tail shot straight up from underneath her shirt.

"Namagomi!" A feeling swept over Filia as she turned her head around. "Where are you!"

---o--o--o---

"Did someone call?" A cloaked figure behind a boulder grinned. "Now, you didn't think I'd let the cat out of the bag just yet, would I? How careless of my little dragon to do such a thing."

He patted himself on the back, congratulating himself. "Now Lina, this all is…a secret. Its not the right time now," he said to himself, disappearing back into the ethereal plane. "Soon...I shall say…soon."

---o--o--o---

A few hours later of the scorching desert, and everyone was at wits end…

"Uuugggghhh…" moaned a certain well-known sorcerer, the moisture unable to pour out of her body since she could sweat no more.

"You know, Lina," said Filia, "A little bit more conservation with the food, and I'm sure we could have made it to the Sheik's city with supplies to spare. Just because you ate all our supplies-"

Lina's stomach growled.

Filia's eyebrow twitched as she turned around, walking backwards along the dusty path. "As I was saying," she scolded, "just because you ate all the food and drank all of our water…"

"Did you mention water?" responded Lina, panting like an exhausted dog. "Because I could really go for a really nice large glass of the stuff right now." She suddenly took listen to something in the distance. "You know, I'm sure I could hear the sound of water falling in the distance.

"Actually," said Sylphiel, "I hear the sounds of water as well. It's like a lot of water, falling from some immense height…" The shrine princess took a second to suddenly wipe away the moisture that had landed on her face.

"My, my," said Filia, rather speculative. "So, you've both joined together on a hallucination trip. That's just great."

Lina's eyes were looking up. "Yea…yea, you can tell me that all later…how about if we walk to that waterfall sound, I'm buying a drink." The sorcerer seemed more under an enchantment than anything.

"Sounds good. I'm almost excited." Sylphiel was equally tuned out, her sight glued to the sky, looking around for rain clouds or other sources of water.

The two of them stopped in their tracks, each with eyes the size of saucers. It wouldn't have gotten Lina or Sylphiel's interest even if a naked Gourry had dropped between the two of them.

"What in the world has your attention, bakas…" Still backpedaling, this only made the shrine dragon lady to turn around towards their destination. "Oh my Cepheid…"

It indeed was a gigantic waterfall that stretched for miles and miles to the very edge of the horizon. First, its height was amazing -- the waterfall was at least a thousand feet high. Huge amounts of water were gushing over, the resulting misting from such a great height was enough to saturate miles and miles around. But it wasn't the sheer height of the waterfall that dwarfed their eyes but the very width of it as well, running miles and miles to the left and right far over the horizon.

Smack dab in the center of their view was an enormous city, lush in greenery and water. Supporting buildings were simple square rectangular structures, capped with a curved tower or two, their walls covered with healthy crawling vines. Tan color walls matched the sand almost perfectly, occasionally the towers were inlayed with a shade of red and yellow, their bottoms lined with huge shrubs of the same greenery.

But at the very center of the city held a magnificent central building, so high that it almost climbed the waterfall behind it. Many of its terraces supported gardens of their own, covering the huge exterior of the tower. Its main spire leaned over the waterfall so much that it eventually arched over the top of the waterfall to dry land above the waterfall, to another higher palace of glory, a magnificent round golden dome.

Water was spraying off everywhere: off of cliffs, other buildings, and other high points, misting the view of the magical city with a glimpse or two of a rainbow, as well as a pond or two. In fact, the entire area was surrounded by a series of manmade canals, whereas lakes of water created a boundary for the outer edges of the city, protecting it so.

---o--o--o---

"Water! I see water," said Lina, dashing unexpectedly forward, leaving her traveling companions behind. "That means it's time to get down there now!"

"Wait! It could be dangerous!" shouted Sylphiel, running after her friend.

Filia didn't know what to make of the whole matter. "Of all the things I do…" She sighed, running after the two other crazy ladies. "Hey, wait up!"

The sorcerer found it immediately, the fountain by the entrance of the city. It could only be made by the most skilled of craftsmen, for it was three tiered, like mushrooms on top of mushrooms, spraying its precious water everywhere. The fountain looked so inviting that Lina had to cup her hand, reaching out and drinking its precious liquid…

"Lina, what are you doing?" Sylphiel looked at her apprehensively. "You really shouldn't be drinking their water, it may not be a good idea."

"PWWWFFFFTT! Salty! This stuff is horrible!" Lina sprayed the fountain water out her mouth, wiping away the foul traces of salt. "I think its sea water!"

A crowd of the locals formed around the strangers, pointing and motioning at the ladies. "She drank from the eternally cursed spring," said one of the locals. "Oh dear, why would that crazy young girl to do such a thing…" Clearly the whispers were getting louder, as the news traveled fast in the Sheik's city.

Lina was still spitting the salt out of her mouth when Sylphiel came to her side. "Are you ok?" She took a second to look over Lina's disgust in the water. Satisfied that she was ok, Sylphiel let out a little sigh.

A curious commotion from the crowd suddenly hushed the group. A few of the Sheik's guards appeared, armed with pikes and other lengthy weapons. They were simply dressed with light one-piece tunics and running moccasins for footwear. Tied at their waists were scimitar swords, their huge blades quite menacing.

Tailing the guards into the fountain area was Filia, with a look of grave concern on her face. "Anno, Lina, you really shouldn't run off like that." It was a slight scolding from the dragon, but anyone would think that Filia was more relieved that Lina was OK.

The Sheik's guards motioned to Lina with their hands to move away from the edge of the fountain. The sorcerer was still playing a bit, examining the purity of the salty water. Which to her magical touch seemed like seawater to her.

Lina turned around to her new company. "Oh, hi guys. Care to join me here for a drink?"

"You are the one who has drank from the springs of mortality?" asked the closest guard.

Lina swore. She just remembered one of her outset adventures with Naga, how she had almost taken a dip into another cursed spring. Luckily, a local pointed out the harm from bathing in such waters. But this fountain wasn't labeled with any warning signs, guarded, or anything. Just like the other one, it seemed like a typical normal spring. Man-made, however…

"Yep, that's me," she stuttered. Well, this didn't sound like too much a pleasant conversation was going to happen. "But it doesn't look like I've turned into a toad or anything, have I?"

"No, not yet." The other guards giggled at Lina's comment. "But, you and your traveling companions will have to come with us. You are required to see the Sheik."

Suddenly frightened, Sylphiel clasped her hands together. "Oh Lina, what kind of trouble have you gotten involved in now?"

"Whatever it is," said Lina as she rubbed her knuckles together in earnest, "I'm sure that I'll be able to take care of it rather easily." If the guards were going to attack, they would have done so already. Instead, they seemed to be mostly amused by Lina drinking the fountain water, as if she were a fool.

The purple shrine maiden turned back to the Sheik's guards, pleading for leniency. "Couldn't you just make an exception for her at the moment? I mean, there's no reason to harm Lina, is there?"

The guards laughed. "Us? Harm her? You've got to be kidding." They waved their hands in jest. "We have no intention of harming any of you. But those who drink from the sacred fountain are given a banquet of their choosing before their sentence is carried out."

"A banquet!" Lina grabbed one of the guards by the arm and cozied up to the poor guard like a best friend. "I like banquets…a lot!"

"Um, miss." The guard sweat dropped. "Perhaps if you didn't look at me like a turkey sandwich, I would very much appreciate it," he said. "Are you ready to come to the Forbidden Palace?"

Lina nodded an affirmative, dragging the Sheik's guard towards the palace. "Uh-huh, I want to eat!"

"Lina?" asked Filia, coming around from the side. "Where do you think you're going? Without us?"

"Oh." The sorcerer stopped in her tracks. "Hey, buddy? How about if we bring those two along?" She looked back at her starving travel companions. "You know, maybe your Sheik could use a few more harem girls?"

The lead guard eyed the ladies for a bit, causing both of them to blush. Filia was so flushed over with embarrassment that her tail stuck out, her pink bow flapping on the ground. Sylphiel was quick to see the tail, and moved over a foot to hide the view.

"You two also want to attend the royal palace?" said the lead guard. The girls smiled a kawaii look while tilting their heads a bit. "I believe the Sheik will have use for you ladies, I'm sure about that."

The shine maidens did not look all that happy as more guards escorted them to the palace. "Keep your shirts on boys," said Filia, "we're going…"

With the all of the ladies and guards leaving, the crowd talked among themselves. "Why, why would they ever want to go to the royal palace?" said one of the townspeople.

"You know the story, my friend. Whoever goes to the Forbidden Palace gives up their will, never to return. For they must live the rest of their lives by the sea."

"Aye, I've heard of that fish story…"

---o--o--o---

Zelas Metalium was an unusual higher Mazoku. She actually, on occasion, left her homeland and went to the land of humans. After all, as a Mazoku, she liked to feed on fear of humans -- in places other than her home island.

But in turn, being cooped on Wolfpack Island had its advantages. She was safe to rule of an area of land and ocean, which would scare the jeepers out of travelers alike. To say that the land was gloomy would be an understatement. Thus, it was quite easy to scare up an appetite.

But she wasn't home now but out and about in the desert, in the human world. She was overlooking human souls by a cliff side opposite of the Sheik's city. Yes, this was quite unique way to enjoy the desert.

The greater beast was laid out in a summer lounge chair, watching through a thick pair of eyeshades. Most of her body was covered in a sexy black one-piece suit that showed of plenty of leg, a wide brimmed sunhat to keep her head out of the sun. Her minor minions were feverishly working her over, the shapeless creatures were like little black clouds, still too young to fight and be part of any battle, but old enough to obey her simple orders of comfort.

For being in a treeless wasteland, the sun's rays were never going to reach Zelas. Above her head was a large black umbrella, blocking most of the sun's rays. Beyond that, a huge pentagon tent covered four of the five sides with immoveable walls, so even if she could see out into the sunny city below, it was still quite dark inside of her cave.

"Keep it going," said Zelas to her minions. "I'm almost comfortable…"

One of the shapeless black morphs was busy tugging a rope up and down, spinning a fan above its master's head. Another unnamed one was busy painting Zelas' nails a nice ruby color that clashed with the rest of the greater beast's outfit. Zelas didn't actually mind the Shabby color, even if it didn't match the rest of her dreary avant-garde complexion.

With little to do but sit there, Zelas thought about the previous events. It was this cloud business, and she knew how much of a pain it was to the Mazoku. Philbrizzo's mess and plaything, Zelas had called it. He had told her the details some years back during an unusual meeting on the Astral plane. It was a meeting that she didn't even care for, but as a lower member had to attend. Not that she could blow off such a thing before, but she could easily qualify the situation as not her problem.

But then Philbrizzo was out of commission. And as the date approached for the re-appearing of the Cloudminders, she knew that it could have the recuperations. Only if she had not taken the proper steps to keep it in check.

Zelas knew that Xellos had uncovered the rest of the secrets of the Cloudminders already -- he was there during their initial encounter, right after the war of the Monster's Fall. And, so far, her priest-general had followed her details precisely with dealing with the humans.

And speaking of her minion, Xellos appeared on the rocky ledge and walked into the shaded pentagram tent. "Good afternoon, my lord," as he bowed slightly in a sign of respect. "You have requested my appearance?"

"I did." She held out her hand as a minor minion took to it with a final round of nail polish. "I assume you are still tracking Lina and her companions?"

"I am, my lord. Lina approaches this location as we speak."

"Fine. Do what is necessary to complete our objectives."

Xellos sneered. "Oh, so the Cloudminders-"

"You were not supposed to open the can of worms." Zelas tapped the edge of her lounge chair with the tip of her nails. "Their interference has lead to…complications."

"I do have some leeway in the situation, don't you think so?"

Zelas turned her head away from looking at her subordinate, disgusted with the whole matter. "You are dismissed."

"Hai." Xellos nodded and disappeared into the Astral plane.

The shapeless figures got back to work on pleasing Zelas, like nothing had happened. He knows, surmised Zelas, he's on to something after all…

The minor minions suddenly stopped their work, dropping their attention to Zelas. They raced across the room settling into a perfect row, as if getting ready for an inspection. The greater beastmaster herself sighed, lowering the sunglasses from her face, not at all happy to hear from her second visitor of the hour.

"You really shouldn't be here. I'm always flabbergasted by your timing, in fact."

"And your actions are complicating matters." The deep voice shook from the back of the tent, its glowing red energy rather apparent. "This is a simple assignment. I would have sent Xellos to attack Lina Inverse immediately."

Zelas sighed. "I'm not surprised you think that way with my priest-general. Xellos is best utilized when he uses his own methods. A direct approach is a desperate course of action, even to order it to him is a useless command." She turned back around. "One does not use a knife blade showing, to stab someone in the back. It should come rather…unexpectedly."

The voice came forward as it rumbled on a bit more. As it did, the minor minions shook. "My forces are coming in as well. Some are already here and I have assisted in other diversions already."

"I know." She picked up the file from the table and did her own nails out of boredom. "Xellos knows of your actions by now. There is no use hiding from him."

The voice chose to ignore Zelas' objections. "Do not forget our intention here and the necessary course of action. The Cloudminders already know that Philbrizzo and his powers are no longer here. Do not forget that."

Zelas glared into the back of her tent, wordlessly.

"The task at hand is your only objective, Zelas. I am asking you much more than suggesting you stop them."

"And, what else are you in turn going to do about it?"

"Very well. I will have someone attend to the matter as well. But this is the last time I interfere. The next time, it is your own sacrifice that will be next." The glow of red eyes that had come out of the darkness finally faded back into nothingness. "Do not disappoint me."

Zelas' minions finally stopped shaking, choosing to return to their servant duties in taking care of Zelas. "It appears," she mumbled, "that we are heading for a showdown. Either way, it spells the demise of one Lina Inverse."

---o--o--o---

Lina and her escorted company walked along the streets of the Sheik's city, amazed by its wealth and prosperity. A marketplace was on every block, a restaurant and inn at every intersection. As they progressed through the city, the people looked out from their windows and doors, taking peeps at the strangers before disappearing back into their homes.

"They are sure curious of us," commented Sylphiel. "I have to wonder why."

"It's a thriving city, with plenty of food and water," said Filia, "Not too many civil problems in my opinion." The shrine dragon sighed. "I so envy a place like this."

Lina scanned the marketplace to her left as they walked escorted toward the waterfall cliffs. The crowd hushed as they walked on by, peeking away from their daily business. "I can usually smell when something is up. Call it a hunch. And my hunches are up placing a bet right now, even stronger than what happened at Turnip's casino."

The other ladies nodded, as they continued their walk toward the waterfall cliffs.

"Over there," pointed the guard, "by the lift." His direction was to a box that was like a large basket, well able to hoist a large cache of supplies. The ancient cable car was more than large enough to hold the ladies and their escorts. Attached to the sides of the car were many long lines, strung up straight into the sky to a hole right into the bottom seemingly floating path to the Sheik's palace.

A more distinguished guard came over to meet the guests of the Sheik as they all entered the open cable car. "I am Kerchef, the captain of the Sheik's guards. By our order of royal laws, you have been asked as our distinguished guests to join the Royal Highness this evening at dinner. We have already been preparing your quarters for some time."

Kerchef was dressed no different than the other guards, except for a fist-sized red jewel that shone in the front of floppy hat. His physical appearance was a bit older, his goatee grayer but short. His skin weathered like fine leather from the endless sunny days. But Lina could tell it by Kerchef's demeanor and how his men listened to every word from the captain's mouth that he was the leader of the Sheik's troops.

"So," asked Lina, "the Sheik has been expecting us?"

Kerchef sweat dropped. "Hardly," answered the captain. "Strangers are exceptionally rare in these parts, even if there has been a recent 'influx' of them in the last few days. Many of the nobles are concerned over the rumors of legends and lies, but that is expected every sixty years or so. Such foolish tales."

"So," asked Filia, "you don't believe in such fairy tales?"

"Hardly," said Kerchef. "I have never seen the golden snakes of the sea, nor floating cities. It's all a bunch of hogwash." The captain watched as his men finished loading a couple of baskets of supplies, thus cupping his mouth and turning his head upwards.

"LIFT!"

The basket jerked a bit as the thin lines tightened. The uneven swaying turned into a steady pace as the basket went up into the air.

"Why couldn't the Sheik live down here with his people?" asked Lina, looking out onto his grand city.

Kerchef nodded. "The Sheik prefers his privacy from other. Only the royal guards come down from above the waterfalls and rule. If there are any problems to be decided, they are handled by me."

"By you?" snickered Lina, mocking at Kerchef a bit. "Why is that?"

The captain grinned. "You will learn that in good time, Ms. Inverse."

The sorcerer sweat dropped. "Huh…how do you know my name? I haven't told anyone about our identities." Behind her, Filia and Sylphiel shrugged their shoulders.

"Ahhh, that is the work of the Regent, Maximilian. Our wizard and second in ruling has known for some time about your arrival. He has informed the Sheik and myself of your timely visit."

Filia rubbed her chin for good measure. "Is that so…"

The lift finally finished its ascent into the air, leveling to the outside ground floor. The cable car had taken them most of the way up the waterfall. A wide path that snaked up the rest of the floating path to the upper palace. The lower palace was now behind them, its roof just below their feet.

"We use the lower palace as an administration center, and to store supplies for our city garrison." Kerchef pointed to a highest spire among the lower palace towers. "Maximilian's laboratory is up in that tower."

"I thought sorcerer's have their laboratories underground," said Sylphiel, looking at the gleaming spire. "You know, because of dangerous things like legacies."

"True," answered Lina, "But sometimes they have high locations. You didn't see Rezo's grand tower, his very last home before he released Shabranigudo. Not much is left of it, I'm afraid."

"Well, some humans are more foolish than others," said Filia. "Having such a laboratory so close to his city, I would think that Maximilian would know better."

Kerchef did not want to start an argument with his guests, preferring to keep his mouth shut. He led them up the rest of the path with a couple of other guards, to the entrance of the domed palace.

"Please, this way." It took all of Kerchef's strength and his two underlings to swing up in the double-set of swinging doors to the Forbidden Palace. Once the golden doors budged, they swung suddenly inward, revealing the spender of wealth inside.

"Magnificent…" Sylphiel and the others were struck dumb by the sheer grandeur of the dome's interior. The palace was completely hollow, its walls were framed with gilded gold and ornate white trim, with colored cut glass filling the rest of the interior. Most of the cut glass was opaque blue or green, with an occasional splash or red or orange.

"It feels like…I'm under the water," said Filia.

"How can this view be so realistic," followed Sylphiel. "It would have taken the artisan years to complete such a work."

Kerchef looked up. "This is the illusion I bring to you, those who dwell on the surface…" A double set of guards emerged out from the far velvet-curtained entrance, surrounding the outer walls of the dome. Their stoic nature gave all signs that they were loyal to Kerchef and the Sheik. "This is a place visited by few individuals. Those who visit the Forbidden Palace are esteemed ones, indeed."

Lina tapped her foot impatiently. "Come on, boys. I haven't got all day here." She could just imagine the pompous Sheik, dressed head to toe in the most lavish of silk robes, adorned by countless rubies and diamonds. He was probably a well-mannered individual of lust, the desert years had given him the countless knowledge of the lands, the high level of royalty had supplied him with the manliness of looks.

A guard near the far entrance spoke up so everyone could hear. "I present our royal one, known as the fairest ruler among the lands, king of the water and those who see it as it sparkles in the light, Sheik Uzumara!"

The red velvet curtains pardoned and out stepped a fishman.

"WAHH!!" Lina's chin seemed to hit the ground as she turned to Kerchef. "Is this some kind of joke!"

"Why, no!"

"You've got a fishman," exclaimed Lina, "running one of the richest kingdoms in the world. Are you…crazy! Nuts! On the Mazoku's payroll!"

The Sheik cross his human-like arms yet didn't answer to the accusations. For a Sheik, he was taking everything in stride.

"Ahh, Lina? I don't think this is a joke…" said Filia.

"A Sheik…" said Sylphiel, unable to help herself from pointing, "is suppose to be an aged gentle old man…with a white beard, with…whiskers…" Her body gave out as she collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

"Sylphiel!" Filia ran over to the passed out shrine maiden to revive her.

"Are you kidding me!" Lina pouted with both her hands glued to her waist. "I grilled some dried fish over a campfire a few days ago. The only thing that guy is good for is dinner! And on my plate, if he wasn't so old!"

Kerchef looked down on the petite redhead. "It would be wise if you addresses the Royal One properly, Ms. Inverse."

The Sheik was indeed an elder fishman, with white beard and whiskers that matched his lack of head hair. Around his wrists and wide neck hung exquisite jewelry of rubies and treasure of the sea -- black pearls the size of small fists that spoke of immense wealth, all laced with extra splashes of gold.

Uzumara coughed ever so politely. "Lina Inverse and companions to the great sorceress…" he spoke, his voice dark, deep, and very serious.

Filia stepped forward, politely bowing to the leader. "Thank you for having us in your home, Sheik Uzumara. We hope that you are pleased with our presence."

Uzumara pondered a bit at the shrine's dragon's introduction. "Hmmm, very well…and you are?"

With Filia's help, the purple-haired one managed to regain her composure. "Syphiel Nels Lahda, shrine maiden." She neatly bowed.

"OK buddy," said Lina, clearly thankful that the introductions were over. "How about some information."

"Very well, my short tempered friend." The Sheik clapped his human-like hands together, motioning the velvet curtain to open behind him. "Please come with me," said Uzumara. "I promise to explain all that is here."

Lina shrugged her shoulders, turning to her companions. "Oh, I can't wait to hear this fish story."

---o--o--o---

The Sheik escorted Lina and her guests outside of the Forbidden Dome, with Kerchef following in the rear. The five of them were on Uzumara's private landing, a balcony of sorts. A small wading pool took up the center of the marble balcony; it looked important that the Sheik was close to water with the hot desert sun beating down on them. Around the edge of the balcony were potted tropical plants, built into exquisitely carved gold-leafed planters that also served as railing for the landing.

The private balcony was above one of the largest dockyards and cities that Lina Inverse had ever seen. This island of the Forbidden Palace was small at best, the golden dome took up most of the land. To either side were the waterfalls, of seawater falling off into the dry desert.

But facing her beyond the island of the golden palace, were countless grounded dockyards and ships from around the world. The docks were manned -- no, they were run by fishman, the men of the sea. Trade, in all its glory, was fast as furious, as one ship traded barter supplies; other ships traded with the fishman themselves. It was nothing more than a trading post, multiplied a dizzying amount of times. All run by dedicated fishman, all guarded by the Sheik's men.

A trading ship was coming in fast. It was caught in the grip of the water, its very currents racing over the waterfalls. Just before the point of no return, an army of swimming fishman ensnared the trading ship in a web of line. With perfect precision, the ship was ensnared and brought safety into the docks by the Sheik's men.

Who says you can't sail off the sea, were the stories that made legends. The land was flat, they say. And if you sailed far enough, you would eventually fall right off into the sea of chaos. But in this instance, if you missed the dock city of the Sheik Uzumara, you would surely lose your ship, your cargo, as well as your precious life.

And if an enemy ship came lo and behold, the fishmen would suddenly wait on dry land. The enemy vessel had no choice but to drift swiftly towards the waterfall. Lina could just imagine the crew on those ships, unable to attack or even dock with the Sheik's city, swearing at first, then later praying to the fishman for their lives.

---o--o--o---

"Please, have a seat." A few chairs were scattered around while the Sheik walked back into his wading pool. "I need the water, Ms. Inverse. I am an old fishman, and it does help." The sheik watched as the ladies took their seats around the wading pool. "Not many people have been to this private landing, the fewer the better."

"Ah, I see…" said Sylphiel. The other girls waited for Uzumara to start his story.

"It all started a long time ago. My mother was a widowed fishwoman in her own right. She lived along the upper cliffs of the waterfall, among the great many treasures collected over time. One day, she rescued two young sibling boys and their father. You know one of those boys as Kerchef, the royal captain to our guards. The other is Maximilian, our trusted Regent and wizard."

Kerchef was next. "Myself and Maximilian had been lost in the watercliffs, as we were stranded on top of an island where the golden palace is today. Our Mother was gone and our Father was weakened."

Uzumara looked out. "And my mother appeared. She took care of the weakened man and his two very young sons, capturing them food and supplies in the ravenous rocks. It took quite a while, but my mother was finally able to retrieve enough supplies to fashion a rope from the top of the waterfall to the bottom."

Kerchef continued. "My father was finally rested enough to plan a life for us. But we were penniless and without our home, so we began to live at the bottom of the waterfall, at first growing crops and then setting up an inn and finally a small village. When we were little, I used to play with Uzumara almost every day, climbing the rope to the island and playing among t