Sky Army Returns - Book Three - Chapter One

          The night was heavy with activity in the old fashioned Chinese town of Gudang. Although it was well past midnight, people were up and about as though it were midday. Rain shot out of the sky, thunder sounding loudly several times a minute. People bustled down the streets all talking loudly, hurrying to get out of the rain. They all tried to speak above the loud clatter of carts and rain and thunder, all talking in Chinese.

          One man, however, remained totally silent as he trudged through the mud. His face was covered by a black cowl, the cloak wrapped tightly around him to shield him both from the rain and from view. He walked down the road with his head hidden until he came to an old inn and walked quickly inside. The plaque above the door read, ‘The Green Harper’.

          He walked in to heavy clamor. Men laughing and drinking, a small band playing in the corner, and even an arm wrestle or two displaying strength. The room was dimly lit with candles, sending a pub-like aura about the room. He walked quickly around the edge of the room and sat at a table in the corner. There he sat in silence. He got no drink and no food; he only sat there.

          And there he stayed for hours on end. What he was waiting for, no one knew. But no one paid any attention to him. Everyone else was too busy in their affairs to pay mind to the hooded figure in the corner.

          People came and went from the inn; some drunker than others, some louder than others. But the man didn’t look up until an old man walked quietly in. His head shot up and he alone watched as the old man walked quickly towards the back of the room.

          The hooded figure stood quickly and followed after him. The old man looked around quickly to see if he was being followed, then slipped through a door at the very back of the inn. The hooded figure caught the door just as it was about to close and stepped in as well without detection.

          Just before he disappeared, however, he sent a nod in the direction of a waitress standing at the bar. She sent a nod back, then looked out at a few men having a rather heated argument in Chinese at a table near the entrance to the inn. The hooded figure only just saw her pick up an empty tray and walk towards them as he shut the door silently behind him.

          The old Chinese man spun around as he heard a creak in the floorboards, and the hooded man quickly ducked out of sight. The old man turned back around once he’d stared at the door for a moment and knelt down on the ground. He kneeled there with his hands folded in prayer and his head down for a moment, then he reached up and struck a match. Without opening his eyes, he lit a candle in front of him, then lit three more rested around it. Still unable to see anything, lit a bit of what looked like incense and then blew out the match.  

          For a moment, he sat there in silence as the hooded figure watched, then he spoke. “You can sit there in the shadows all you want… But unless you ask, you will not receive an answer.” His voice was heavily accented from his Chinese origin.

          For a moment, there was no response. Then a voice came from the shadows; this one speaking in the native Minecraftian tongue. “You speak English.”

          “And you have a question.” The old man climbed slowly to his feet and looked over at the hooded figure. “You may ask it.”

          “Will you answer?” The hooded man asked.

          “Was that really your question?”

          “You know what I mean, old man.”

          The old man smirked. “If I know what you’re going to ask… And I do… Then that depends on who is asking.”

          The hooded man hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating what to do next. Then he stepped out of the shadows and pulled off his hood, revealing a shock of light brown hair and blue eyes. “My name is Adam Dahlburg. I come in search of the Black Cave.”

          “And you come here because I am the only man who knows where it is…” The old man said. “My name is Cheng-Xiao.”

          Sky nodded. “Sounds about right.” He said. “Your granddad helped build it, if I’m not wrong.”

          Cheng-Xiao nodded. “But that is a different story…” He looked up at Sky. “Adam-san, I want you to know something.” He said. “There are people who want me killed. They told me that if I told anyone the location of the Black Cave, I would be killed.” He said.

          Sky nodded. “I know that, sir.” He said. “But this is a matter of life and death.”

          The old man laughed. “Why else would you want to go to the Black Cave?” He asked. He turned and opened an old bamboo chest beside the incense. Out of it he grabbed an ancient-looking map and handed it to Adam. “This is what you need.” Suddenly there was a clatter outside of the room and a loud shout in Chinese.

          Sky and Cheng-Xiao looked up. “What’d he say?” Sky asked.

          Cheng-Xiao smirked. “He said, ‘The waitress is crazy.’”

          Sky winced. “Sorry, Sensei, gotta go.”

          “Adam-san, wait a moment.” Cheng-Xiao said. “There is something you must do to unlock many things.” He said. “Give me your hand.”

          Sky held out his arm. As soon as he had, Cheng-Xiao grabbed it and flipped him hard onto his back. He groaned and climbed to his feet. “What the hell was that?!” He shouted.

          “That, Adam-san, is the key-” He stopped abruptly as there was the sound of breaking glass and an arrow struck him in the chest. He collapsed to the ground, instantly dead. Sky spun around just in time to see an enderman bearing a crossbow and wearing a cloak to shield him from the rain flee out of sight from the shattered window.

          Sky’s eyes narrowed and he sprinted out of the room to see the waitress from before talking rather closely to a man from the table. He raised an eyebrow and stayed still, watching from a distance.

                “你不能命令我，魔鬼的女人.” The man growled.

          The waitress only smirked and leaned closer to him, her hand traveling down his arm slowly. “哦…”
She said quietly. “不过我已经有...” Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He stared at her for a moment, then gave in and kissed back as his friends laughed. A split second later, the waitress grabbed his dagger out of his sheath and held it up to his neck, slamming his back down on the table suddenly. Sky had to stifle a laugh at his fearful expression. “Do you speak English?” She demanded.

          “No, no-” She slit his throat and turned to one of his friends, pointing the dagger at his heart.

          “Do you speak English?” She demanded.

          “Yes! Yes!” He said fearfully, his voice heavily accented.

          “Then go tell the guards. This place is under attack. Endermen are here and they won’t stop at killing anything.”

          The man nodded vigorously and ran out of the inn, as did many of his friends. The waitress sighed and tossed the dagger boredly onto the body of the man she’d kissed.

          “Impressive.” She looked up as Sky spoke. “I didn’t know you knew Chinese.”

          “It’s an old hobby of mine.” Grailmore replied. “China’s kinda cool to me.”

          Suddenly the door swung open again and Dawn strode quickly in, sopping wet. “I just came from the entrance. Farlanders are attacking and the guards are being scrambled by some really scared-looking dude.” She ignored Grail’s smirk.

          Sky headed over to the two. “Any sign of Ty?” He asked Dawn.

          Dawn shook her head. “None yet.”

          “He should have been here be now!” Grail said.

          “And he will be.” Sky replied. “I’ve known him for almost ten years now and he’s never let me down.”

          All of a sudden, the door burst open again, revealing a Farlander wearing a silver helmet. “Where is your leader?” He bellowed.

          Sky stepped forward. “Me.” He said. “What do you want?”

          The Farlander smirked. “I want yours and your army’s surrender.”

          Sky crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Or what?” He asked. “You gonna teleport me to death?”

          The Farlander smirked evilly, setting Sky on unease. “Or your Minecraftian friend dies.”         

          That’s when Sky noticed a man with brown hair covering one of his red eyes being pushed forward by a somewhat smaller Farlander, an iron sword held up to his back. He stared at Sky emotionlessly, and Sky stared back for a moment before looking at the Farlander leader again.

          “Kill him.” He said.

          The Farlander’s eyes narrowed. “What?!” He shouted. “This man is your friend!”

          Sky shrugged. “Never seen him before in my life.” He said. “Must be a mistake.”

          The Farlander let a low growl escape his throat. “So be it.” He growled. He pulled a dagger out of his sheath and before Sky could react, turned and brought it down on Ty.

          Dawn let out a cry and covered her mouth, but then the Farlander turned around and grinned. Ty was fine. It had been a test. Sky sighed and closed his eyes.

          “Now, as I was saying…” The leader held his dagger up to Ty’s neck. “Surrender or your friend dies!”

          “Alright.” Sky said, unusually calmly.

          Ty and the others looked at him incredulously. “What?!” He, Dawn and Grail shouted in unison.