Chapter 10: New Acquaintances
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	After Palom and Seyla left, Miguel got up and announced he needed a
safe place on Mt. Zozo.  Cordain volunteered to lead him to the only safe
place he had discovered there- the room of his former master, Cyan Garamonde.
	Upon reaching it, Miguel and Porom sat down on the ledge outside to
take in the sheer beauty of the well-watered Zozoian countryside.  Cordain
stood back awhile and looked from a distance.  He then decided to reenter the
room.  Maybe he could find another of Cyan's letters to this 'Lola.'
	He had kneeled down to look in the wastepaper basket, when he heard a
noise.  Quickly, he rose and drew his rapier.  There - he heard it again.
Voices... coming from within the caves.
	He hid in the shadows until they became visible - two men, one with
black hair in dark clothes and the other with white hair wearing white.  The
historical Doman Yin and Yang came to mind.
	He stepped out of the shadows and asked, "Who are you - and how did
you find us?"
	Before they could answer, Miguel shouted, "Lahndo!  Omega!  You're
back!"  Miguel ran into the room, leaving a puzzled Porom behind.
	"You know these guys?" Cordain asked.
	"Yeah - this is Lahndo -" he pointed to the man in white, "and this
is Omega -" he then pointed to the man in black.  "Lahndo, Omega - this is
Cordain.  And her - she's Porom," he said as Porom walked into the room.
	"Pleased to make your acquaintances," she said politely.
	"The pleasure is mine," Lahndo said.
	Omega scowled for a minute.
	"What's wrong with you?" Cordain asked.
	"Perfect strangers get along better than I do with anyone..." the man
replied.
	"I know the feeling," Cordain commented.  'It gets pretty bad when
the person you're on best terms with is a 17-year-old mercenary loon who tend to
turn invisible, mimic ninjas, and float you several feet up into the air at
times..' he added to himself.

	Now five people were united on the peak of Mt. Zozo for a righteous cause-
the sorcerer Omega, the blue mage Lahndo, the mercenary Cordain, the
treasure hunter Miguel, and the white wizard Porom.  What they were going to
do, however, no one was sure of.
	Cordain sighed.  The room of his former master was beginning to depress
him.  'Too much emotion dealing with this room..'
	He decided to speak up, "So, shall we go?"
	"Anytime you guys are ready," Porom replied.
	"I'm ready," Omega said.
	"I, as well," added Lahndo.
	"So am I," Miguel said.
	"Right then - let's go.."
	They all got up and began the descent down the mount.  Not much
conversation went on the first half of the descent - Lahndo and Omega quietly
whispered to each other and to Miguel occasionally, but otherwise, it was
quiet.  But then, about halfway down, a single black rock dropped from above
and landed at Porom's feet.
	"What the - a black rock just fell from the sky."
	"Oh, really?" Omega faked genuine curiosity.  He was now only
interested in getting out of this city.  He wouldn't be so lucky.
	'Hmm...' Cordain thought, 'Black...' He turned to them, "Uhh... it
was probably the wind - coulda blown it down here."
	"Yeah - probably the wind," Omega said.
	"Oh, the wind..."  Porom sighed.  "Oh well, I'll keep it - it'll make
a good birthday present for Palom."
	"Umm..." Cordain said, "If you'll excuse me... err... nature
calls..."
	"Ahh, we shall wait for you here, then," Lahndo said.
	"No... I'll catch up."
	"Whatever you say," Omega replied.
	Cordain entered a dead-end cave with no intention of relieving
himself.  He followed it to the end, where a large hole gaped in the ceiling,
allowing light to flow through and fill up the cave.  Then, as he stepped up,
a figure in black jumped in through the hole.
	"Cordain.  I have found out what Cam is.  He - or she, possibly - is
a normal human being who came across a ring called the 'nomadic jewel'.  This
ring allows a person to disguise him or herself as any form they so desire.
It can also be used to blend the wearer so well into their surroundings that
he or she is quite literally invisible.  Finally, it allows them to mimic any
non-magical or natural energy attack they come in contact with."
	"So this ring makes its wearer into the ultimate mercenary?"
	"Yes, it does."
	"Know anything else?"
	"Not about Cam, no.  About the current situation here in Zozo, yes.
It has come to my attention that a large fraction of the sentry here has been
drawn away from the Zozoian Headquarters in the weapon shop to the base of
this mountain.  If the Imperial headquarters were to be penetrated right now,
it would easily free Zozo of Imperial command."
	"But, how?  The soldiers guarding the mountain could just as easily
take it back from any invaders."
	"By killing the base commander, it would greatly demoralize the
troops and cause them to go into disarray, if not retreat.  You, of all
people, should know how to pull off this sort of attack."
	Indeed, Cordain did know.  He had been there that day with Kindar and
Damien Regale when Cyan came up with the idea that if you killed the general,
the army would retreat.  Damien Regale was one of the only Doman casualties
that day.  He got it off easy...
	When Cordain looked up again to acknowledge his source, the man in
black was gone.
                                  *  *  *
	"Look, I'm telling you, we should attack the Zozoian headquarters
right now!"
	"Are you crazy?!" Omega asked.  "All I want to do is get out of
this... wet... town."
	"Omega's right," Lahndo said, "Although I'm not going to sit here and
beg to get out of the rain, I will say that that base is extremely well
guarded and it isn't something to be sneezed at.  On top of that, I'm not
exactly that keen on following the inspirations you get going to the
bathroom."
	"Look - I wasn't - I mean - well... I guess I'd have to tell you
anyway.  See, that black rock was from my source.  He told me that most of
the force was stationed the base of this peak, and right now the headquarters
is vulnerable.  If we could kill the leader right now, all the trouble we've
been having would be over."
	"All this while you were taking a leak?" Omega asked.
	"No... I wasn't doing that!" Cordain exclaimed.
	"Look, I agree with both Cordain and Lahndo's reasoning," Miguel
said, "If there is a sizable force there and we attack, we'd blow our cover,
and quite easily be killed.  However, there is good reason to believe that
there is not much of a force at their headquarters.  We might not get another
chance like this.  Well - I guess I don't have much of a choice but to leave
it up to you, Porom."
	The girl looked up at them and sighed.