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As the incredibly boring ball dragged on, I called my mentor, Scottie, over, "Scottie, where is that blasted brother of mine, he promised that he would meet us here." Chuckling a bit, Scottie replied, "Yes he did my Leigh, but remember he was to be traveling by magic, and we all know how unreliable your brother, El Perro's magic is." Sighing I had to agree with Scottie's assessment, "True, but even with a fair number of backfiring spells he should have arrived by now. What was it, exactly, that he had to do before he could join us?" Scottie shrugged his reply, "I do not know my Leigh, he simply said that he was not able join us, but it seems that he had your sire's permission, so I assumed that you knew as well." Still mostly grumbling, I was a bit concerned, "Hmmm, it is not like El Perro to do something without informing either of us, even if my sire had been informed of his intent." Our conversation was cut short at this point when we heard a loud crash coming from the front of the Castle Bowrane. Before we could even think about hurrying out to investigate, a the creature we had seen earlier in our travels, (the many-bodied thing) came crashing into the ballroom creating havoc and destruction everywhere. In a rare moment of joviality, Scottie commented that maybe this wasn't such a dull party after all! As I gazed up at the creature, I noticed that it was underneath a chandelier (ever notice how there is always a good chandelier around when you need one? Maybe the are a form of magic). Acting quickly, I ripped the sleeve off of my left arm, revealing a half dozen throwing stars bound to my forearm. I tore one loose from its bindings and launched at the chandelier's support rope. The star ripped through the rope, cleanly severing the cord in two. I turned my head around just in time to watch the heavy chandelier crash down upon the creature's head. Instantly the creature became dazed and shrunk into a single Dogg. In fact, it WAS a Dogg! My infernal brother, to be precise. El Perro sat on the ground, stunned, and shook his head vigorously to clear it. Then looked up at me as I rushed over to him. He then smiled meekly as he surveyed the damage and pronounced, "Oops!" I shook my head and tried to look appropriately disgusted and upset, but somehow the pitiful condition of my brother and the innocent look he wore simply caused me to laugh out loud. Grasping his arm, I helped the ill-fated mage to his feet and proceeded to address the crowd that was reforming around us. Cringing I attempted to salvage the situtation as be I could, "My apologies dear hosts and guests. It appears my poor brother has done it once again. He was forced to do some small errand for our Sire prior to his departure and, in an effort to make it to your splendid ball, he attempted one of his transportation spells, which he seemed to have mispronounced." The crowd laughs while El Perro chuckled nervously. Then he cleared his throat, "Actually, good brother, I was attempting a "hurry-up" spell, but rather than gaining the ability to run as fast as eight Doggs, I became eight Doggs. Had it not been for your immensely splendid idea of smashing my head with a chandelier and thus disrupting the spell, I would probably still be such. However, good brother, I do believe that thou could have done something a little less painful...Hmmm?" More laughter from the crowd. I smile, happy to see that my brother was neither overly upset with me, nor going to be vilified by the court. In a short time the crowd broke up and my brother and I are shown to our quarters for the night where I ask my brother what errand he was doing, and why he did not either Scottie or myself its nature prior to our departure. El Perro looked me in the eye, and from his eye I could tell that news was not good at all. Then he said that he did not wish to worry either Scottie or myself as yet, and that our Sire had agreed that he had best wait with telling us until it such a time as El Perro's suspicions were confirmed. At this point El Perro must have placed me under a slight hypnotic spell as I remember nothing from that moment until I awoke the following dawn far too refreshed to have had an ordinary slumber. This morning the seven of us mounted our trusty steeds and headed off. As my brother had not traveled to Borwane by horse, he was riding one of Butch's fine Shires as was Butch. Now that our party was complete we headed north to Zulon, and the ancient Lhasa Dynasty. Far and away the closest towne to our own, Zulon was and ancient city. It was built once, in the time of the Giver, and then never rebuilt. Its castle is the oldest in the land and has been unimproved upon for the last ten generations. The Lhasa's are the single greatest architects of our land. What they build will last centuries before it needs to have any maintenance done for it at all. They are also skilled warriors. Back in the days of the earliest Catt wars, it was a Lhasa General by the name of Jin Gou Ren (Roughly:: Golden Dog/Person, or simply The Golden Dogg) whom led our resistance against the Catlin forces. Many ballads have been sung in her honor, and many more drinks downed in her name. Legend has it that she once destroyed and entire Catlin fortress with only a small band, twelve at the most, of hand picked Lhasas. Whether or not you believe that is up to you, and perhaps someday I shall tell a tail of her exploits more fully. As we approached the City of Zulon the first thing that appeared o'er the horizon was the were the magnificent towers of the Zulon Castle. Each tower was a perfect cylinder which were capped with spiraling cones and then a flagpole which bore the colors of Zulon (the Golden Star on a Bronze background). Each tower was one color of the rainbow. It was a beautiful sight. As we neared the gate of Castle Zulon on of their spotters must have seen us for the towers began ringing, sounding out the Doggainian Anthem in our honor. As the gates opened to allow our entrance, we were greeted by the sight of hundreds of trumpeters lining the roadside who then joined in with the bells. While we rode down the road, streamers were launched into the air, confetti was falling everywhere, and then, at the edge of courtyard we could see Lhasa Breed Leader M'Lady and her court. Standing on either side of her platform were a few hundred warriors in full dress uniforms holding their perfectly shined blades in front of them as a sign of respect. The scene was so perfect that I felt a tear trickle down my face, a sentiment that my advisor Scottie also echoed. As we reached the platform we dismounted and our steeds were escorted to the Zulon stables to be cared for. M'Lady rose from her seat and approached us. When she was standing directly in front of Butch and myself the three of straightened and simultaneously saluted each other by slapping our right hands to our left shoulders then we raised our right forearms in a gesture of friendship. And with that, the peasants started screaming and the festival M'Lady had thrown in our honor began. M'Lady Gathered Butch and I under her arms and led us into her castle with her court and my comrades in tow so we could freshen up before dinner. And here I shall end for the time being. Fare thee well. Ace Dogg of Doggainia |
