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Authors: John Faherty
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animation. Exposed from beneath his
armor his pale waxen skin appeared translucent. His naked skin
shivered as it was exposed to the chilled morning air. He
stepped carefully into the volcanic water and it warmed him.
With a sponge he brought the water to his head and face to erase
the ages of grime that had accumulated there. The water in rivulets poured down over his neck and chest. Washing away this accumulated crust he felt renewed and invigorated asif symbolically baptized to his new life. Having arisen from the bath he dried
himself and examined the clothes that were left there for him.
With decreasing hesitation he was adjusting to this new environment. He donned his vestment. Gazing into the mirror he looked
on in surprised admiration of what he saw there. He was also
pleased by the look and feel of the natural fibers as they were as
comfortable as any he had ever worn. He was refreshed. His robe
was regal and elegant and it suited him. As he stood there admiring himself, the attendant knocked again upon his chamber door
interrupting him. "Kind Sir, your guests have arrived. They are
awaiting your presence on the observation deck."
"Thank you; tell them I will be there presently."
Landaus and Grunhuf had arranged with each other to meet at the
Citadel that morning and take the trip together up to Xora's cliff
side dwelling. Since Lady Xora's invitation of the previous evening, there in they held much anticipation for the morning's meeting. She had invited them to her home above the seaso they
could examine for themselves in greater detail, their latest discovery from the sea. They would have an opportunity totalk privately with this most unusual guest. For curiosities sake, they would
not be late for this opportunity.
And so as planned the pair had met early at the citadel. From
there they walked along the well worn trail out from the town
toward where the land went vertical. They stepped up onto platform and grasped firmly onto the guard rails. Landaus selected a
button on the control mechanism and pressed it. With the clanking sound of a rotating mechanical gear, the platform beneath
them began slowly at first to rise up from underneath them. The
sound rose to a distinct rattle as the platform traveled fast up
along the edge of the rugged plateau. A moment later their vehicle, with a resounding clank came to rest at its landing.
Xora who had been patiently awaiting their arrival was there to
greet them. "Good day gentleman, you've come righton time.
Please follow me if you would." She led them through a sheltered glass portico that in turn opened into another ornately decorated room. Its barrel vaulted ceiling ran perhaps ten meters
beneath the out crop of rock above. Exiting out onto the plateau,
the ancient tile floor beneath their feet gave way to a well worn
earthen path. They followed it along as it snaked its way through
a clutch of bamboo towering over them obscuring the sky. As
the path ended, they were met there again by a great expanse as
the blue sky opened up before them. Below their feet a walled
level platform of stone a dozen meters square lay before them
perched high above the cliff face. From there the view looked
out from the far side of the island. Landaus who had never had
the privilege, had discovered there an unrivaled vista far out to
sea. Looking out over the ledge he could make out distant
shapes upon the water. There cast along the crest of the horizon
he saw the far off tops of mountains and the sun dappled mainsails of ships, billowing in the distance. The sound of Xora's
voice distracted him from his observation. "Please my friends
wait here and enjoy this view for a while as I inquire to our
guest's whereabouts. As you can see, I have taken the liberty of
preparing a small brunch for you." As she spoke these words a
pair of servants bearing trays entered into view. They laid a
spread out upon a table next to a sublime overlook. Landaus and
Grunhuf approached the comfortably appointed
armor his pale waxen skin appeared translucent. His naked skin
shivered as it was exposed to the chilled morning air. He
stepped carefully into the volcanic water and it warmed him.
With a sponge he brought the water to his head and face to erase
the ages of grime that had accumulated there. The water in rivulets poured down over his neck and chest. Washing away this accumulated crust he felt renewed and invigorated asif symbolically baptized to his new life. Having arisen from the bath he dried
himself and examined the clothes that were left there for him.
With decreasing hesitation he was adjusting to this new environment. He donned his vestment. Gazing into the mirror he looked
on in surprised admiration of what he saw there. He was also
pleased by the look and feel of the natural fibers as they were as
comfortable as any he had ever worn. He was refreshed. His robe
was regal and elegant and it suited him. As he stood there admiring himself, the attendant knocked again upon his chamber door
interrupting him. "Kind Sir, your guests have arrived. They are
awaiting your presence on the observation deck."
"Thank you; tell them I will be there presently."
Landaus and Grunhuf had arranged with each other to meet at the
Citadel that morning and take the trip together up to Xora's cliff
side dwelling. Since Lady Xora's invitation of the previous evening, there in they held much anticipation for the morning's meeting. She had invited them to her home above the seaso they
could examine for themselves in greater detail, their latest discovery from the sea. They would have an opportunity totalk privately with this most unusual guest. For curiosities sake, they would
not be late for this opportunity.
And so as planned the pair had met early at the citadel. From
there they walked along the well worn trail out from the town
toward where the land went vertical. They stepped up onto platform and grasped firmly onto the guard rails. Landaus selected a
button on the control mechanism and pressed it. With the clanking sound of a rotating mechanical gear, the platform beneath
them began slowly at first to rise up from underneath them. The
sound rose to a distinct rattle as the platform traveled fast up
along the edge of the rugged plateau. A moment later their vehicle, with a resounding clank came to rest at its landing.
Xora who had been patiently awaiting their arrival was there to
greet them. "Good day gentleman, you've come righton time.
Please follow me if you would." She led them through a sheltered glass portico that in turn opened into another ornately decorated room. Its barrel vaulted ceiling ran perhaps ten meters
beneath the out crop of rock above. Exiting out onto the plateau,
the ancient tile floor beneath their feet gave way to a well worn
earthen path. They followed it along as it snaked its way through
a clutch of bamboo towering over them obscuring the sky. As
the path ended, they were met there again by a great expanse as
the blue sky opened up before them. Below their feet a walled
level platform of stone a dozen meters square lay before them
perched high above the cliff face. From there the view looked
out from the far side of the island. Landaus who had never had
the privilege, had discovered there an unrivaled vista far out to
sea. Looking out over the ledge he could make out distant
shapes upon the water. There cast along the crest of the horizon
he saw the far off tops of mountains and the sun dappled mainsails of ships, billowing in the distance. The sound of Xora's
voice distracted him from his observation. "Please my friends
wait here and enjoy this view for a while as I inquire to our
guest's whereabouts. As you can see, I have taken the liberty of
preparing a small brunch for you." As she spoke these words a
pair of servants bearing trays entered into view. They laid a
spread out upon a table next to a sublime overlook. Landaus and
Grunhuf approached the comfortably appointed
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