Intermission: Japan to France
A short intermission between Japan and France. Not required reading, but it sets things up for the next bit. Which should be uploaded this week.
Intermission 2
Their remaining time in Japan was brief, but eventful. With the help of the knife merchant Shin, Studley and Idesin were able to remain hidden while the search through the streets died down, the guards giving up when there was no sign of the strange creatures to be found. It was almost sad, to the Wonders. The guardians of the harbor gave up a search for someone as dangerous as them within a few days. Idesin had won that bet; Studley had thought that they'd need to wait at least a week for this to die down.
Nevertheless, the week was spent as productively as it could be. Through trial and error, the two Wonders began teaching the new kitsune how to use her powers. It was not the same as the powers of a true Wonder, like themselves, but it was still remarkably useful. Illusions, shifts, transformations; many things could be accomplished through the flames of her power, and Studley found himself shocked just how quickly she picked it up. Perhaps what they had done wasn't so useless as he had feared. Certainly, she would be able to take care of herself with her new abilities, and if needed, Shin - her brother - as well.
Still, the delay chafed at the wolf, and as soon as he was sure that the guards were too busy with their regular duties to be able to give chase, he announced that they would leave. Both he and Idesin gave thanks to their hosts for helping them remain hidden for so long, and wished them well.
They did not leave empty handed, however. The siblings wished to thank them for what they had done, and each had a gift. Chinatso, with her new powers, gave the otter a new hat. The blob that he wore on his head shifted shape, standing taller, straighter, and with a small edge around the rim. The kitsune blushed as she shifted in, saying that she had dreamed it like this upon him. It pleased the otter, and he embraced her, thanking her profusely for her gift.
Shin, without the magic that his sister could bring to bear, had only his wares to give. As the otter and the kitsune hugged and whispered to each other, the young merchant held out the knife of ivory and obsidian blade from the other day. It had been shined, polished, and sharpened to the point where Studley nearly cut his fingers taking the knife. "A gift," Shin said, "for the one that cared enough for my sister to give her dignity again." The wolf nodded his head, bowing it in appreciation. The knife was truly a great gift, considering the value it must have. He placed it at his waist without hesitation; there was a rightness to having it, something that kept him from questioning it or refusing it.
With goodbyes said and promises given to see each other again, the pair departed the island. A single ship went missing under the cover of moonlight, with rumors of a great, walking wolf having terrified the crew away, the ship sailing off on the light of the moon itself faster than any ship had ever gone before. By morning, there was no sign of it, and no sailor could be convinced to go after it.
They made landfall on the eastern coast of China, and trekked across the land. They were slow, at first; their actions frequently earned the attention of the prefects that governed the different provinces, and many wished to see them, either to see the truth of their forms and powers, or to extract vengeance at a perceived slight. The Wonders learned to run, and fly, and hide, fleeing from their pursuers. At one point, they crossed the Wall, leaping over it and hiding in the north as they steadily made their way west.
It was not much different in any of the other lands that they passed through. The desert and mountain people between China and Constantinople were friendly, until they displayed signs of what they called witchcraft; the people of Constantinople were fine with them, until Studley debated the teachers of religion in the squares and won. Their legs became strong, as did their hearts, as they ran to keep the use of their powers to a minimum. The otter laughed, and the wolf growled promises of punishment, of retribution against all of this when he returned.
Unable to take ship from Italy to try and cut off Rannoi on his way to Africa, they were forced to enter Europe. What few pagans remained turned out to be friendly to them, and they were given food, rest, and places to stay as they wandered through the countryside, ever making their way west, towards the city upon the river, towards Paris.
When they eventually set eyes upon it, things were worse than they expected. Men were camped along the banks of the river, both north and south of the city itself, and the camps raised great banners, bearing some sign of a crown. The armies were both under the same rulership, that much was clear, and seemed intent on keeping anyone from getting in or out of the great city between them. A problem for people; not one for Wonders.
On silent wings, they flew over the armies in the night, landing inside the city. They transformed back in a back alley, taking on human form, and took to the streets. Surely someone must know what was going on...