Chapter 13: The Luckiest Chapter In The World
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	Xyo's eyes snapped open to the chill greeting of filtered sun 
light through a fogged window.  She lay there motionless, her eyes 
darting around taking in the ceiling's decorum.  She cautiously lifted
her arm and felt the soft felt blanket that was covering her.  The
pain was no longer there and her movement was free.
	She raised herself up from the mattress and looked around the 
room.  It seemed normal enough.  The walls and ceiling were wooden and
there were sheer curtains hanging from the window.  There was a mirror
against one of the doors.  
	Sighing she lay back down.  For the first time she noticed
that the mattress was surprisingly comfortable.  Xyo then realized
that her robe was missing.  She looked around frantically about the
room, pulling the blanket up around her.  Not seeing any sign of
clothing, she huddled uncomfortably under the bed covers, suddenly
feeling very cold. Oddly enough, she still had her talisman around her
arm.
	Soon, she heard foot steps outside the door.  She waited 
patiently as the door opened and a woman entered with a tray of tea.
Xyo regarded her cautiously, she noted the woman was dressed of high
society.  Her blonde hair was gathered into a bun and she wore a long,
light-blue kimono.  Xyo frowned; the woman's eyes did not perform the
same dance as the rest of her appearance.
	"I see you are finally awake." The woman smiled warmly.
	Xyo did not say anything, and unconsciously pulled the covers 
about her more tightly.
	The woman just smiled and walked over to the table and set the
tray down. "It's alright if you don't say anything.  After all, that
was some fall you took.  Nearly ended you!"
	"It did end me."  Xyo muttered.
	The woman looked at her critically for a second and then
smiled again. "I'm sure it must have felt like that.  Care for some
tea... um, what is you name?"
	Xyo pulled herself up to a sitting position and shook her 
head. "Xyo... Where am I?" she asked sullenly.
	"It is called the Shattered Island.  My name is Jule.  And you
have been out for three days."
	"Three?" Xyo inquired, impressed.
	Jule nodded and sat down in an easy chair that faced the bed. 
	"You were quite a mess, your clothes were pretty much
destroyed due to the many spears that were lanced through your chest."
	Xyo looked down at herself for a moment	and sighed.
	Jule got up and walked over to the other door and opened it
and pulled out a forest green jump suit and tossed it to the bed, "You
can put this on if it will make you more comfortable."
	Xyo flinched, "I can't wear that.. I'll look horrible.."
	Jule turned back surprised, "Nonsense, you'll look fine.  
Besides, it's the only thing we have that might fit you."
	Xyo sighed as she slowly struggled into the outfit.
	Jule turned away and rummaged through the closet again.  When
she turned back, Xyo had finished dressing.  She smiled and handed her
a pair of boots and gloves,"They don't match, but they will do."
	Xyo shrugged with indifference and put the items on.  She
walked over to the mirror and drew in a slight breath.  Her starved
and gaunt body of a few months ago had apparently altered itself
without her notice.  She wondered why she hadn't noticed this change
before.  
	"So, why did you fall from the sky?"
	Xyo turned away from the mirror," Hmm?"
	Jule had sat back down in the chair and motioned for Xyo to
have a seat as well.
	Xyo accepted reluctantly and took a seat on the bed.
	"I'll ask you again," Jule said evenly, "What were you doing
in the air above Shattered Island?" 
	Xyo sat there for a moment, recomposing herself.  She studied
Jule silently. This definitely was the same warrior woman who crashed 
into the armory when Xyo made her entrance.  This was no socialite.
	"I fell off a passing airship," she replied cooly.
	"You lie," Jule stated evenly. "There were no flying machines 
in the area."
	"I have no better explanation. I am just as baffled as you
are. One moment I am on an airship. the next I am crashing through
your roof." Xyo shrugged and took the cup of tea.
	Jule's eyes narrowed slightly. this woman was hiding
something.  She had to find out what. "Hrm, interesting. How did you
come to know Scarecrow? "
	"Who?" Xyo asked.  She genuinely drew a blank.
	Xyo sensed Jule's sudden irritation. "The one who gave you
the dagger around your neck."
	"Oh, him." Xyo smiled faintly. "We had a lovely evening of
fruit and thugs in Jidoor a few weeks back. "
	That was an unexpected response. 
	Jule dropped her cup in astonishment.  "Um... you mean you
went on a date with him?" she asked not quite believing her ears.
	"Oh no," Xyo said quickly," I wouldn't go that far."  Xyo put
her teacup back. "How do you know Scarecrow?"
	Jule blinked for a moment, "This is his island."
	"Really?" 
	"Really."
	Xyo shrugged, "Well then, perhaps he can help me get off this
island.  I have companions that are rushing to do battle with Akfek's
forces in Jidoor.  Plus, they probably think I have perished.  I know 
there will at least one who will miss me..." She trailed off for a
moment and then snapped back to attention. "When can I speak to him?"
	The door opened and a young man entered.  He whispered
something into Jule's ear and she nodded, and waved him off.  He left
as quickly as he came.
	"He's not here." Jule said briskly and stood up.
	"When will he return?" Xyo stood up too.
	"Who can tell?" Jule shrugged she took out a key as she opened
the door, "I will come back and see you in a while. We are not done
with our conversation, yet."
	Xyo glanced at the key and frowned. "You really think that is 
necessary?"
	Jule turned a hard gaze back at Xyo, "I think you should be
able to judge the situation."
	Xyo pondered for a second. "Indeed, this situation reminds me
of the time I once found myself enthralled by a beautiful... *sleep
flower*."
	The commanding tone took Jule by slight surprise as Xyo raised
her hand up flinging a furry of magical petals and glittery powder
into Jule's face.  Jule tried to cry out but instead collapsed forward
into Xyo's arms.  She was out cold.
	Xyo pulled Jule back into the room and hauled her onto the
bed.  Moving quickly she took the key and her dagger and headed out
into the hall.  Locking the door behind her she glanced down the
hallway.  Keeping to the shadows she made her way through the complex.
She knew that by this time the woman would have aroused and have been
calling for assistance. 
	Xyo crept up to the archway and glanced around.  She barely
had any incident in the 'holding' area and as she stared out into the
empty arena area she suspiciously wondered where everyone was.  She
pressed herself against the dark side of the arena's perimeter.  She
saw the docks at the far end and quickened her pace.  
	As she entered the dock area she realized it, too, was empty.
No matter, she looked for a ship and found that there were none in the
harbor.  Feeling defeated, she scanned the docks and beach for any
type of floatation device.
	"There she is!" 
	Xyo spun around to see an angry Jule and a generous group of
sentries behind her.  
	"Don't make this difficult," Jule said evenly. "There is no 
way off the island.  Come quietly and I'll forget your irrational 
behavior."  
	Xyo felt the woman's irritation strengthen, combined with an
undeniable thirst for knowledge which was directed solely towards
her.  A horrible thought formed in her mind.  What if she wanted 
to run tests on her?  Cut her up and watch her heal.  The had happened
to her before.  The thought petrified her and it was not something she
could rule out. 
	Like a terrified rabbit, Xyo turned and started to tear down 
the docks.  Jule and the others, after a moment of realization,
followed calling for her to come back.   As Xyo neared the end of the
pier, she stopped suddenly, staring at the murky depths of the mist
shrouded ocean.  
	"Please, Xyo," Jule coaxed to her, "the water would mean your
death.  It's not safe to swim."
	That snapped her out of paralyzation.  She grinned evilly in 
defiance.  "I can't die."
	She turned and ran the rest of the length of the pier and 
dove head first into the water.
	Jule stared into the black surface which rippled slightly.
Not even a single bubble came up. "Get the fishing nets.  At least we
can bring up what's left."  Jule sighed.  She had underestimated this
one again.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	

	Xyo didn't know how far she swam along the coast.  This seemed
to be a cliff face of sorts.  Her shoulder stung painfully as she
pulled herself along the rocky waters.  Apparently the monstrous shark
she had encountered was what Jule had meant when she mentioned that
the water was 'dangerous'.   Thankfully, the 'sleep flower' spell
worked under water as well. But, not before the creature snuck upon her
and made lunch of her upper limb.  
	As she slowly made her way in the water along the ridge, she 
began to feel a downward current pull at her legs.  She paused and 
decided to see where the water was flowing.  Holding her breath she
ducked down into the water and followed the undertow.
	Feeling along the rocks, she found herself dragged towards an
opening filled with water.  Deciding to take a chance she dove into 
the tunnel and pulled herself along the pitch blackness. 
	After a long agonizing moment of claustrophobia, she emerged 
into an open area and tried to swim to the surface.
	As Xyo cleared the top, she gasped and looked around quickly.
She was in a cavern of some sort.  Soft beams of light shone down from
small pores in the ceiling, leading to the surface.  She pulled
herself out onto the rocky shore and stood up. The cavern was not a
natural one as one would think, the walls were smoothly carved. 
	She walked over to a shelf that had been carved into the wall
and studied the contents.  A book, some rations, a small satchel,
a pair of black cotton gloves, and a black tattered old mask.  She
picked up the mask thoughtfully and turned it over.  Setting it back
down she walked over to a half-burnt torch set in the wall.  She
raised her hand and chanted, "Burst."  
	The torch crackled and exploded into flames.  She took the
torch and walked over to a pit where she assumed a fire was kept.
Sure enough wood was placed in the depression.  After lighting the
fire she wandered back over to the shelf and picked up the book and
opened it.
	It looked like an old journal in the writing fashion.  The
script was old, and the writing was in a language she had only seem
once.  She decided that it would be excellent to kill time by
deciphering it.  She might learn more about the owner of the cavern,
before she met it in the flesh.