World of Taroo

by Jimmy Eriksson

  It looked very nice and it had a water stream going through the village, and when Jay got closer, he saw the village actually had water going around every house with bridges that were stretching to other houses and open small areas. He came close and some other soldiers were asking about his way. He still didn’t say anything about being from Grasoll since he was not sure about the relationship between Darcolia and Domoro Land. He said he wished to seek employment in the kingdom and wanted to find the quickest road. The guards were more suspicious and asked him to step off the horse. They called the head captain over and informed him about what Jay just said.

  Jay realised it might have been a mistake to mention that he was headed to the kingdom and perhaps should have stuck with the travelling story. The captain asked if Jay would want to be a soldier or work in the city. Jay said he could cook and wanted to expand his knowledge. One of the men told Jay he didn’t look like any cook and asked what else he was there for. The captain apologised for his men sounding harsh but said the soldiers were edgy and took any person under consideration for trouble makers. He told Jay he still would like to make sure he didn’t talk to a bandit in disguise.

  Jay tried to ensure them he was no bandit, but the captain asked him how they could be sure. The captain told him, with a smile, that he had the perfect test for him and called for some other men. Not knowing what he had to do, he had to wait for the captain to finish speaking quietly to one of the men that ran away again. The captain asked Jay to cook him something and if he was convinced about his talent, he could leave. Jay regretted immediately that he opened his mouth and wondered what he should do. He had seen Gon cook so many times but never really done it himself. He was shown to the kitchen of a bakery where the assistant that the captain spoke to waited and was asked to cook something.

  Jay took a deep breath and thought about the food he had seen made by Gon and tried to remember the steps with all the ingredients. He cooked for a while, and in the end, the dishes at least looked good. He hoped the flavour was there, and the assistant to the captain brought the dishes. The captain ate the food, and Jay stood silently observing as every dish was tasted. He saw the captain try the dishes but never finished them and ate maybe ¾ of the dishes. When he was done, he looked at Jay who was getting a little of a sweat running down his back. The captain called the soldiers over, and they all walked up to Jay who stood on the side of him.

  Jay felt a little nervous but kept his role as a chef. The captain looked at him and at first, said nothing but wrote down something on a paper. He then said if Jay wished to work in the land, he must improve then said he expected that next time he saw him he would have learned his county’s food. He gave Jay the paper that had a name on it that the captain said was of a restaurant in the kingdom city. He said he knew the owner so perhaps Jay could try there first. He told Jay to be on his way after he had gathered his supplies for the trip to the kingdom.

  Jay couldn’t believe that he actually was able to pull it off and walked in the village again to buy some supplies for the road. He also picked up another book about the Domoro land to learn more. He left to head off to the kingdom, and for the first time, saw something he had never seen before. There was a big machine digging in the earth, and he suspected it was making the trenches for the water to be transported. He read about machines capable of digging in the earth from the library in Grasoll, but they were only in Ocenia. He remembered when he first heard about it and thought it was made up. Perhaps, the queen had found a way to build something similar or maybe King Tambo gave her the knowledge for a price. He thought the Grasoll lands could benefit by sharing ideas and evolve better.

  The machine seemed to use steam and a massive metal tank was held on the side of it. This was the first time he had ever seen steam used together with a machine. It looked strong and he believed this would be the next step in the industrial revolution. The woods were limited in the Domoro Land and it was mostly straight land and he noticed the houses in the village were all made of hard material. On his way, he stumbled on another village and he stopped before the night. His room was white and the food they served in the house kitchen was very nice but different. He would ask Gon to travel to the land to try their cuisine because he would probably like it. He woke up and set off on the last day before he would reach the kingdom. The road took him through beautiful landscapes and flower patches. He passed a carriage full of young women that was heading to another town further away, and he was able to trade some coins for a hat to protect him from the sun because he felt it was really hot in the land.

  He thought that, for a land with so many lakes, it surely had little rain or at least that’s what he had heard. The women told him the lakes came from underneath and also from the mountains that also kept the rain out. The road towards the kingdom continued, and Jay could see the kingdom from where he was. When he finally stood before the kingdom walls, he noticed the lack of wood again and even the bridge was made of metal. He was able to enter the kingdom after he had signed in at the gate then moved straight towards the castle. The roads were shining of the beautiful carved rocks that reflected the sun and everywhere was very clean. The soldiers he saw wore nicer armour and the people were looking very sophisticated.

  He arrived at the gates of the castle that looked like it partly would be made of marble. When he came to the guards, they asked him what he wanted. He finally told the truth and showed a mark from the Grasoll land which they examined. He was asked to wait and after twenty minutes, he got called up in a room where he waited for another few minutes.

  A man who looked like a high-ranking officer was standing before him and said Queen Lisaro was ready for him. When he entered into the throne room, he saw Queen Lisaro sitting down on her throne. She watched him as he walked in, and then asked him to introduce himself. Jay informed her as to who he was then gave the scroll to the officer who gave it to Queen Lisaro. She read it and whispered to the security guard to do something. Queen Lisaro stood up and told Jay to follow her out of the throne room.

  They entered a room that looked like the one Kemi had and had tactics tables as well as maps scattered around. She asked if he had trouble with coming through to mountain and Jay told her about there being a lot of soldiers present. She looked towards the officer then said King Arobe’s cousin had already approached her about cooperation if there was a war. Jay thought maybe he might have come too late but Queen Lisaro said she hated the bratty cousin and regretted ever marrying one of her relatives to her. She said the only reason the guards were allowed in the mountain was because she was still deciding and wanted to keep up the face that she was on his side.

  Jay was relieved but she continued with that she had no interest to send her soldiers in combat for something that didn’t concern her. Jay told her it was just a matter of time until Darcolia turned its eyes towards the Domoro Land and would she have enough troops to stand against him. She looked again towards the officer and asked him if there had been any news about any movement by the Darcolia soldiers. He said they were staying still but he, as well, thought they were only waiting for the answer from Queen Lisaro. He said he believed if should the answer be no then they might shut the borders off and cut any supplies off from reaching the land. She said she needed more time and told Jay he would get an answer before the day had ended.

  Jay walked around the city and was taken by the beauty in the city and walked up to a store that sold some old paper maps of the lands around. He looked at them but didn’t recognise some of the places that were marked out and showed his map to the merchant. The shop keeper told him that the maps were from before and some of the villages might had been destroyed or moved. The maps showed something that interested Jay because it showed where the forest people lived before they were attacked by the prince. The map didn’t actually have the village on the map but said it was possible a village could lie there. He told the map seller that he met Hun, the leader of the village that truly lies there and the people living th
ere were almost killed because of a magic stone that make trees grow.

  The man was happy to hear about the village being there and asked if it was because of the magical stone that made trees grow. He asked why he thought that, and the man pointed to a few men from Darcolia then told him they were once part of Prince Theran’s soldiers but then worked for his father. He had overheard them speak about the magical stone and it being in some forest. He suspected it was there but didn’t know until Jay had confirmed it. He had also heard stories from other people that talked about the prince using a magical stone like that one but never knew he stole it from them.

  The man who was old said he used to live close to Redonia where he once heard of a similar magic that could create fire when he was young. There were supposedly more of them but he never saw one living there but remembered something about magic that made trees grow. The merchant asked how he got to meet the man he mentioned was named Hun and asked if he, as well, was with the prince. Even if Jay had already seen the queen, he still needed to get back and since the merchant was from Redonia, he could still be loyal to them. Jay said calmly that he lived close to the castle of Kiwen where Theran lived. Jay excused himself and said he still wished to see the city so the shop keeper thanked him for the information.

  The day went by and Jay got called to the castle where Queen Lisaro was waiting. She met him in the throne room again and gave him her decision. When he entered, he saw a few people were in there already with him. There were some advisors, he believed, and someone stood next to the window looking out but he couldn’t see who it would be. Some of the guards stood next to Lisaro and a servant ran to the side door to fetch her some wine. He learnt that Queen Lisaro had decided to stay out of the fight and would not support either side in the war. Jay said it was a mistake and it would be foolish to think the land would avoid conflict. He said she should really consider because King Arobe would not change and would eventually invade.

  Queen Lisaro slammed her hand on her chair and wondered who he thought he was that believed he could talk to her like that. Jay was silent but another voice was heard from the side of them. It said he was a fool but he was not a liar. Jay looked at the shadow standing next to the window. The person came out, and Jay got a surprise he did not expect. In front of him stood the young woman that he met before. The bounty hunter, he said to himself as she walked past him. She looked as beautiful as before, and Queen Lisaro asked how she knew him.

  Nami said she had met him two times before when he was younger, and he had helped her on one of the occasions. Nami said Jay was probably correct because her sources told her Arobe was moving his troops closer to Domoro every week. Queen Lisaro said her decision was final and she would not risk getting involved with a war that would possibly kill many of her soldiers. She told Jay if Arobe were to attack, he would face a strong force waiting for him in Domoro. She asked Jay to leave for his home land the very next day because his mission was done.

  He left to see Nami walk up to Queen Lisaro, and they gave each other a kiss on the cheek. He left the castle and walked down the path towards the tavern he would stay in this night. He had his room high up and looked out the city and the moon was full. He thought about what he would say to Kemi and the future as they would have to take on the king by themselves then. Even with all those men they had, they might lose towards his strong army behind the wall. He suddenly heard a voice from behind that said" cutie".

  He turned around and on the ledge sat Nami holding an apple that she cut with a knife. She told him he should lock the window in case the wind would pick up and cause him to get a cold. He asked her what she wanted and she responded with just to talk. He asked her who she really was and she said her father was the brother of Queen Lisaro. His name was Belvill of Wangoo but he died when she was five. Her grandparents took her and her brother, Char, in after they found out. Her aunt finally took over the care of them and let her choose to be a bounty hunter in the Butado clan as her father once was while her brother only wanted to be lazy at the castle.

  Jay had never been to Wangoo but knew there was not a kingdom close to the sea there. Jay wondered if there was any chance Queen Lisaro could be convinced to change her mind, but Nami said her aunty was very stubborn. Jay said Kemi would not take this well, and they had to look to other alternatives that were in short supply. Nami said the land was, indeed, threatened, and she had talked to some of the guards that were not happy to let some of the Darcolian army enter the land. Queen Lisaro was hiding from the truth because she wanted the people to be safe but didn’t realise the people would lose as soon as the King won over the Grasoll land.

  Jay looked at her and asked if that was what she thought and Nami said she was convinced. She said the Grasoll land and Domoro Land might have good hearts and wished to defend, but King Arobe had the weapons and more powerful soldiers to take anyone down. She had been at Darcolia a few times, during the last two months, she had seen the king move soldiers and building weapons that were stronger than anything she had seen on Nanta. She said her brother who lived in Redonia had told her there were much stronger powers there but he didn’t know what they were since it was just rumours.

  Jay had heard much of just rumours or people assuring him there was something they hid but never anything that could give answers. He asked if it could just possibly be stories or could they hold magic. She said she had seen much and even if magic was not one of them she knew the army in Redonia was much more dangerous to handle than just Arobe. The king of Darcolia was known for not asking for help from his brother she said, so, if Jay was lucky, he might only have to fight an impossible fight. She smiled at the same time as she said so, which didn’t make him feel calm.

  Jay remained silent and looked at the sign above the door that said “safety before all other”. He said he would leave and inform Kemi, but if they went to war, he would take as many enemies with him as possible and lie down. Nami sighed and said he was really a fool and climbed out the window, but before she jumped off the edge of the window, she said she would talk to her aunty again. He sat up and wondered how she would convince her aunt. She looked at him and said he would see and threw him a kiss from her hand before she disappeared.

  Jay was confused and was thinking about what was going to happen. He thought about the times he met her before and what she said of being of the Butado clan. He knew about them and had heard how skilful their assassins were. With another troubling night, he finally woke up and sold the two silver squares he got from the merchant at the markets to pick up some fresh supplies. He left the castle and had it behind him then so he could only hope for Nami to convince the queen. He had been riding for a while then with some speed since he wished to return home again. He was going to take the same route back and would try not to stop too much on the way. He rode for a day until he came to the mountain opening and noticed that the activity of the guards had increased. They were further down in the mountain and had set up tents where they took names of people coming through. They asked the reason for the travel between the lands, and Jay said he wanted to cross to the great city of Shetana to compete.

  The story worked out even if the tournament would not start until a few months again. He picked up a competition entry form before he left the kingdom which he thought would be useful in his story. He rode through the mountain, and he finally reached the other side. He stayed again with the priests and then headed towards the Shamo desert. He rode through the desert again and was ready for the worms but this time, he didn’t face any of them so he could cross the desert with no problem. He returned back to the town of Nara with the bathhouse in mind again, but this time, he didn’t use it. He entered the town in the morning after deciding to ride through the night and only stayed for a few hours.

  He rode through the forest that was being cleared once again by the soldiers of the Grasoll land and he finally emerged out at night. He camped for the last time and would ride the whole next day. When he woke up and was about to tra
vel, he still decided to stop in the village again, he entered first for a quick lunch and then ride back home. At the small shop, he relaxed a little and wondered what Nami would do to help him. As he ate the food, he suddenly heard something from a man who had come in and was urging everyone to listen.

  Jay ate and listened to the man who was breathing heavily from running. He said there had been an attack on a village in the land and Jay stopped eating. Jay asked what village and revealed himself as being a soldier. The man said Heiwan village that was outside of the kingdom walls and several people had died. Jay dropped the spoon and raised himself up to grab the man. He asked by whom and when did this happen with an angry voice. The man said he didn’t know so Jay ran out the door and up the horse to set off in high speed towards the kingdom.

  For all the time he was riding, he thought about his friends and all the memories about what they had experienced together came back to him. He thought what if they were hurt and he wasn’t there to help. His horse really got to work hard, and Jay pushed him to the fastest speed he had ever been up in. He reached the kingdom and rode past the village that still had some smoke coming out of it. He asked a soldier helping out to clean up if he knew where his friends were. The soldier said everyone in the village was in the big temple for the funeral of the fallen.

  It didn’t take long for Jay to reach the temple. He came in full of sweat and felt his heart pound harder than ever before. As soon as he saw his old friend standing at the podium, all the heat built up inside him from the adrenaline turned to ice. Any other noise from the temple vanished, and the people became shades of white. He only heard Gon speak then fell on his knees and only silence surrounded him. The flashes in front of his eyes were all of Senji who he would never again see. Her smile and happy spirit was forever gone from this world. From the time he was thrown out on the street, he had kept up a way to be strong and never cry. For the first time in many years, tears found their way out from his eyes to fall down his cheeks. Meeting the look on Gon’s face told him nothing would ever be the same again.