Part 4

Argog, Lua, and Taran walked down the afternoon streets of Syth City. They were headed towards the harbor so that they could get out of the city before the Syth realized that they had escaped. At the harbor, they boarded a ship that was headed north, to Burma, where Lua's father lived. There, they would discuss how to move on with their plans to finish this 'puzzle' and expose the Syth.

While on board, Lua came to Taran's room. "Taran," she said.

"Yeah."

"I think it's time that you explain yourself to me."

"Well, I guess. A few months ago, a guy named Javen came to Syth City. He found me and insisted that I come to his Academy that was teaching about the ways of the Ta'Kor. My mother made me go, so I did."

"What exactly are the ways of the Ta'Kor?"

"Argog could probably tell you better than I could. I was only at the Academy for a little while. All I know is that it has something to do with magic."

"Magic... I thought that was what you guys had said. And you've done some pretty miraculous stuff that I could never explain with science."

"Yeah, well, he said I had great potential or something."

"Why did you leave?"

"I... I don't really want to talk about it."

"OK, I understand, personal right? I guess I'll go ask Argog about magic, I'm really curious." Lua left the cabin on the ship and went to find Argog. Taran lay back on the bed and thought. So much had happened since Javen had come. He wasn't quite sure what it was all leading to.

The boat arrived at Burma and the three of them got off. Burma was a large town, but not nearly as large as Syth. Lua led them to her old house that was towards the center of town. As they walked down the streets, Taran saw a large, flashing billboard on the side of one of the buildings. His face was on that sign, next to a wanted add.

Not wanting them to see it Taran said, "Uh, let's try to get there fast, I'm kind of tired." Lua nodded and quickened her pace, no longer able to take in the sites of her hometown, or the billboard. They arrived at a large building. Lua led them into the front door. This seemed to be an apartment of some kind. They followed her up some stairs. When they were on the fifth floor she walked down a long hall to room number 576. She knocked on the door.

An old man opened it; a smile lit up on his face. "Lua!" he exclaimed. She ran in and embraced him. "It's so good of you to come and visit. And who are your friends?"

"That's Taran, and that's Argog. Guys, this is my dad."

"Greetings." said Argog. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"They're so polite too! Now, sit down, sit down." The room was very large. It looked more like a hotel suite than an apartment room. There were sofas spanning the walls along with tables, plants, and some windows. There were several doors leading to other rooms. Lua obviously didn't come from a poor family.

"So, Lua, what brings you here?"

"Well dad, I've been fired."

"Fired!? And you were so good at your job too. How come?"

"They wouldn't say. And they didn't just fire me, they tried to kill me!"

"Kill you! I don't believe it."

"I know. That's why I'm not even going to bother bringing this up with the Unified Aceous Republic until I know what they're up to and have some hard evidence."

"That's my girl, always using her head! Whatever you need, I'm supporting you all the way. And your friends are welcome too."

"Thanks dad. I'm going to do some research at the library today. I'm not exactly sure where is this going to take us. You two can wonder around town if you want."

"OK, I think I'll do that." said Taran.

"I think I'll just stay here, for obvious reasons." Although Argog could disguise himself by using his wings as a coat, it wouldn't take long for someone to discover that he wasn't human. Of course there were monsters in Aceous but they rarely came to human towns after the age of the Ta'Kor.

Taran had come out of the building and headed to a shop. He bought some of those potions that Lua had given him earlier just incase someone needed them again . He went to a bar to get some dinner and then started back to the apartment building.

As he walked, he noticed that someone was following him. He quickened his pace and tried to lose him but the man kept coming. Taran darted around a corner and into an alley. If it was an attacker, Taran would have the advantage. He waited and waited, but no attacker came. Taran headed out of the alley, he was obviously paranoid. Just when he was returning to the main street, someone called out his name. "Taran!" Taran turned around.

Standing there was a man. He was wearing a black suit and had sunglasses on. He was holding a gun aimed at Taran. "Who are you?" Taran asked.

"I am Klusron, but that doesn't matter. The point is, I'm here to turn you in."

"I didn't kill him."

"I don't really care!" Klusron fired and Taran ducked. Then, Taran raised his arms and cast the same spell he had used on Argog. Klusron was thrown to the floor. "What was that!? Oh, well, I'll be back." He turned and ran deeper into the alley and through a secret door Taran had not seen.

Taran shrugged it off and headed towards Lua's house. It did bother him though, that someone had put a price on his head. At Lua's house, he didn't mention that someone had attacked him, he just went strait to a bed that Lua's dad had set out for him.

"Taran."

"You, again!"

"There's more than one statue."

"What statue?"

"The altar's Taran. There are three of them."

"Is this supposed to help Lua with exposing the Syth?"

"...something like that..."

"I should tell Lua."

"Good idea. You can tell her as soon as they drop you guys off at the Academy."

"What?"

The sound of the whirling helicopter's blades greeted Taran as he woke up. He was lying down, but he was handcuffed. There were several men in suits sitting by him. One of them was Klusron. Lua was standing to the side and Argog had his hands and legs chained together. Taran sat up. "Where are we?"

"Fine question for you to be asking!" snapped Lua.

"What are you talking about?"

"In the middle of the night some men bust into your room. We rushed in but they knocked us unconscious too. It turns out you're a murderer Taran. Thanks for telling me!"

"Hey, I didn't want to get you all stirred up."

"So what were you gonna do? Were you just going to wait until they were carrying out our execution, because they happen to think I had something to do with it, and then say, oh yeah, I murdered somebody!"

"I didn't kill them."

"Uh huh, I see."

Argog interrupted her. "If he says he didn't, he didn't."

"So you're on his side too?"

"My duty is to protect the Ta'Kor, and I will do just that, guilty or not. I'm also saying that Taran is a trustworthy person. He wouldn't lie to us."

"Well fine. If you didn't kill them, what are we supposed to do about it?"

"Don't worry ma'Am." said one of the men sitting by Taran. "The job was bring you all in, alive. So that they could have a trial."

"That makes me feel a lot better." she said sarcastically.

Silence came across the group. The helicopter approached the Academy and then landed. The men marched everybody out where the members of the Academy were waiting. They took Taran and the others to a large auditorium where they paid the men. The chains were removed and the three were marched to the center. One of the students stepped forward, it was Purn. "Taran, you are accused of murder. We are not cruel people, unlike you. There will be a trial. You have three days to prepare, but you may not leave the Academy."

The students filed out, except for one, Kyrin. "Hi." she said. He just hung his head low. "Look, we've got to prove that Taran is innocent. I know he didn't do it."

"Finally," Taran said looking up, "someone who believes me."

"Let's just forget the trial!" shouted Argog. "I can free Taran!"

"No Argog." Taran responded. "We've got to see this through to the end. I can't always be looking back over my shoulder."

"He's right." agreed Lua.

"OK then." Kyrin said. "We've got three days to prove that he's innocent."