"Holy crap." Pent said. "That was…No wonder you took so easily to Jack. I just happened to randomly guess it."

"Unexpected." Alexander said. "Honestly, I did not not see that one coming."

"This is like one of the books Allan likes to read." Edgar said.

"Hey! It's not like Klutz writes just romance!" Allan said.

Alexander, Pent and Jack were now in Zal's office, who had asked them and Fate to come on the account of Lucy.

"I fail to see how any of this is relevant at this moment." Zal said.

"I wasn't finished." Lucy said.

"Continue."

"Soon after that someone came to us." Lucy asked. "He asked if I wanted to learn more about magic than I had learned on my own. He said he had a school where he could and if I want to come, then I merely had to burn a staff made from the wood of a tree that was only on the island that the school was on."

"As for the reason you asked for us to come is…?" Zal asked.

"While I was there I learned of a spell that only he knew that was supposed to be able to search for a specific object if some of that object was in the casters possessions."

"I take it you have something of Fazams?" Alexander asked.

"No." Lucy said. "Have anyone been wondering where I was?"

"Not me!" Pent said,

"I'll take that as a yes." Lucy said, hearing the sarcasm in his voice. "I was there and I learned that the school had some of Fazams stuff that had been broken. It's possible that the other pieces are still in his possession."

"So you want to go back again?" Fate asked.

"Yes."

"There's a problem isn't there?" Edgar asked.

"I burned the last of MY wood." Lucy said.

"Jack?" Allan asked. "You were asked?"

"I kinda lost it a year ago." he said awkwardly.

About everyone groaned.

"So we have zero chance of getting to this school of yours." Zal said. "That was pointless."

"We still have a chance." Lucy said. "A very slim chance."

"Well?" Edgar asked.

"When you graduate," Lucy said. "You get the staff taken away. But there's a chance that a milliner still has his."

"And who is this gentlemen?" Zal asked.

"Why did you of all people come here Jane?" Kazak said gruffly .

Falloc, Zal's bodyguard, coughed.

"Apparently he did the same thing with Alexander." Edgar whispered to her. "If I had to guess, it's his thing."

"Still rude." the small but muscular Falco said.

"It is a matter of world security." Zal said.

"Yeah. As if I hadn't heard that one before." Kazak said, pulling a hat that was unfinished. "Now, if you-"

Falloc placed her hand on the counter in front of him.

"We just want to see if you have something we want." she said sweetly menacing.

"Do you think that's scaring me?" Kazak said, placing his glowing black hands on the counter.

For the first time in her career as a bodyguard, Falloc backed off.

"Honestly we just wanted to see if you had a certain kind of staff." Edgar asked.

"What kind of staff would-"

Kazak face fell.

"That one I burned a while ago."

"Great." Alexander said. "Just caijing great."

"But..." Kazak said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the counter. "I might be able to get you one."

"No games." Falloc said. "Just tell us."

"I wasn't planning on it." Kazak said. "But this person most likely will."

"Who?" Zal asked.

Kazak stepped out from behind the counter.

"He's an elusive one." he said as he walked to the door, flipping the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. "Never seen walking around rarely seen more than once, never more than twice by the same person."

"Who is the person?" Edgar asked.

"Truth be told I don't know his name." Kazak said walking back to them. "But word of him has spread through the world over the years."

"I gotta bad feeling about this guy." Falloc said.

"He's someone you could trust with your life." Kazak said, indicating for them to follow him. "He's saved my life more than once."

Alexander was the first to follow, Edgar with him.

"What choice do we have?" Zal said as she followed them.

"Still have a bad feeling." Falloc said as she followed Zal.

Kazak had led them to a staircase which led down. It led to a long corridor carved into the stone of Eali.

"In return he helped me in my ventures of hat making." Kazak said. "Most businesses fail in the first years of their life."

"Seems like an unequal exchange." Falloc said. "What's is this place doing here anyway?"

"I used to smuggle in some plants here and there." Kazak said. "But they became legal. So this place is mostly unused."

"Hemp?" Alexander asked. "But that wasn't-"

"A strain of it yes." Kazak said. "But hidden in a crevice is a room, which should be right about...Here."

Kazak stopped at a wide crack in the stone that ran from the top to the bottom.

"Councilors first?" he said.

Alexander went in, followed by Zal and Edgar.

Kazak found himself pinned against the ground.

"Listen buddy," Falloc said. "I don't want any of your games. When we reach whatever is at that crevice, you'll share what you are doing. You understand?"

"Oh definitely ma'am." Kazak said sarcastically.

"Am I clear?" Falloc said, pushing harder on Kazak's back.

"Crystal." he said in pain.

"Good."

Falloc got up, followed by Kazak, who went into the crevice. Falloc looked up and down the corridor, then followed him.

Falloc was surprised to see a bare room carved out the stone, a small pillar rising from the center of the floor. A small depression sat filled with what looked like water sat at the top.

"If you had just waited..." Kazak said.

"Yeah I get it." Falloc said. "So what is this supposed to be? A drinking fountain?"

"I wouldn't recommend drinking from here." Kazak said. "Watch."

As if on cue, a glowing blue drop fell from a stalactite into the water.

"What the hell?" Edgar asked.

"Radioactivity and magic seem to interact on some level." Kazak said. "It's a well known fact that the area around Eali is largely composed as granite, which is naturally more radioactive than other types of stone."

"Isn't that kind of stuff dangerous?" Falloc asked.

"In large amounts yes." Kazak said. "But the reason why I'm telling you this is that this water is special in that it can be used to speak to someone anywhere in the world as long as they have some of the water with them."

"How?" Alexander asked.

"Watch."

Kazak picked up a rock from the floor and went over to the pillar, dropping the rock into the water.

At first nothing happened, then Edgar realized that the waves the rock had created hadn't stopped, just shrunk. As they watched the waves grew larger, growing to the point where Zal thought it was going to splash over, but stopped before it did. It stayed as it was until a voice came.

"Kazak it's three in the morning here." it said, the water splashing in response. "What the hell's going on?"

"Well I have a few friends who want something I used to have."

"Kazak, what don't you have?"

"A staff."

A bang and cursing came from the water.

"Who the hell wants one of his staffs?"

"Surprisingly, the Council."

"WHAT!?" the water actually splashed out from the depression as the voice yelled. "WHY!?"

"World security apparently."

"I'm on my way there now. Have the Historic Chambers ready."

The water calmed down.

"Well that was unexpectedly easy." Kazak said.

Zal waited impatiently, her foot tapping incessantly on the floor.

"Just who is this person anyway?" Alexander asked, outstretched in one of the chairs. "Someone like that doesn't some sort of a name."

"Not everyone has a name like The Mysterious One." Kazak said, sitting forward in another chair. "Although I have been experiencing some instances of fictional occurrences."

"Maybe we're in a movie or something." Pent said, floating near the ceiling. "Or maybe a book."

"Didn't you already have your existential crisis?" Fate asked, leaning against the wall.

"It's stuff like that that makes me think everything is a fictional world." Pent said, floating over to Fate. "Oh crap. I think I'm going into another crisis."

"At least it'll be different this time around." Alexander groaned.

The Dracon walked silently through the tall grass of the valley floor, hunting an injured jahay.

What are jahaies? They are quite large slightly deer-like creatures with their antlers that curved downwards and upwards to protect their head and neck from predators and other jahaies. However, they differed from deer in that they were bipedal, with long sharp nails on the middle toes that curved forward, a long tail, and two short arms that were barely more than vestigial.

With a deep, slow breath in and sounds of internal organs in action, the Dracon blew a hot flame onto its target. The other jahaies ran quickly, having experience with Dracons.

"Just a snack." it thought.

It took a look at the burned corpse of the jahay. It then picked it up in its forelegs and proceeded to it tear apart with its extended claws. It felt a hand touch it on the side.

"Not many predators would allow you to touch them like you're doing." it said, swallowing a piece of the cooked jahay.

"I need you to do something for me." the cloaked figure said.

"Can it wait?"

"No."

"Fine."

The Dracon tossed the jahay into the air, catching it with in its mouth and swallowing it.

"You know we hate swallowing food whole." it said, a foul stench in the air.

"I hate the smell that comes after."

The figure climbed onto the Dracons back. With a leap forward it unfurled its wings and took off flying.

"Where to?"

"I need some goldwood."

The Dracon growled.

"You know how he feels about giving it to you." it said.

"He wouldn't give it to me if he did." the figure said.

"It does not take him this long normally." Kazak said. "Six hours?"

"At least we don't have a lot to do that needs to be done quickly." Alexander said.

"You've evidently eaten before you got here." Fate said.

"Are you kidding?" Alexander said. "I'm male. I'm always hungry."

"Hold on, where's Allan?" Edgar asked.

"Home sick." Fate said. "Had a nasty coughs and sneezing."

"Oh Chux his beak must be sure like hell." Edgar said. "Is it alright if I go check up on him, most likely get some medicine for him as well?"

"Go on ahead." Alexander said. "I'll see you soon hopefully."

Edgar quickly walked of the chambers.

"I don't like this Jane." Falloc said. "I don't like that there's three of ya and only one of me."

"Am I not trustworthy?" Kazak said.

"I think Lucy trusts you," Alexander said. "So you have that going from me."

"I don't quite know this Lucy character," Falloc said. "Can someone clue me in?"

"Without her the causalities of the terrorist attack would've been likely higher." Zal said. "This is the second time she had information that has helped us."

"Aren't we still doing the second?" Fate asked. "I would hold off until we actually get the staff."

"Which you already have."

Everyone looked to the opposite side of the room to see a cloaked figure holding a six foot tall staff of a dull yellow wood.

"Of course I haven't actually given it to you yet." he said.

"How in the sweet name of Chux did you get in here?" Falloc asked.

"I have my ways."

"What too you so long?" Kazak asked.

"I had to go get this." the figure said. "Always a long ordeal."

"So are you going to hand it to us?" Falloc asked.

"No." the figure said. "I'm going to throw it to you."

The figure toss the staff up into the air, grabbing the middle of it as it fell and threw it like a spear.

With a thud it pierced the back of the chair next to Zal.

"What the hell kind of wood is that?" Alexander asked.

"Goldwood." Kazak said.

"What?"

"I did say its rather difficult to get a hold of." the figure said.

"The conditions that allow for goldwood to grow only exists on an island near the equator." Kazak said, pulling the staff out from the chair and handing it to Zal. "The soil is exceptionally rich in nutrients. The climate is also quite cold compared to the other islands."

"Why is it called goldwood?" Fate asked.

"The island is volcanic one," Kazak said. "That's why the soil is rich. But the reason goldwood is called goldwood is due the extreme amounts of gold in the wood itself."

"Huh."

"So this staff," Alexander said. "Why burn it?"

"The gold naturally draws itself to the rest of the gold in the soil." Kazak said. "But that only happens when it's airborne, so burning it releases it, making the smoke lead you to the island."

"A lot of the seas have been mapped." Zal said,looking at the staff. "So why haven't we heard of this island?"

"The King Jon. The Kastorbony. The Yanhog." Kazak said. "All ships that have that are thought to have sunk."

"They didn't did they?" Alexander asked.

"Just landed on the shores of the island. Half the population are their descendants."

"But all three-" Pent started.

"Different routes. All crossed the equator. All landed on the same island."

"But how does an entire island do that?" Fate asked.

"Flying?" Pent asked.

"Yes." Kazak said.

"The amount of vis..." Alexander said. "Wait. The King Jon? That had thousands of magicians on board."

"Eighteen ninety-four on the way to a conference." Kazak said. "Magic is widely used on the island. Eighty-nine percent of the population in fact."

"Wow."

"But this person that's supposed the help us," Pent asked. "Who is he?"

"I don't know why the Council is seeking out the island and I would much rather not." Kazak said. "My experiences were less than pleasant."

Lucy held the staff in a defensive position. She then twirled it around, spinning around herself.

"It's the real thing." she said. "Now we need a boat."

It had been a week since the staff was given to them. Lucy, Alexander, Edgar, Fate, Allan, and two other Councilors, along with their bodyguards were on the docks of Eali Bay, where Lucy had suggested they met.

"That's going to be a toughie mate," Irwin said, a Dace from Aubuila Boragh, an island nation towards the south of Yahi. "A lot of the ships are out at sea this time of year."

The other Councilor was a Des and happened to be deaf, so his bodyguard by the name of Gavin, had to serve as a translator.

"Ricardo says that he might know someone who can help." Gavin said, a Melea.

"Sounds better than walking around," Alexander said. "Have him show us."

Gavin began to move his hands in a series of complicated movements, Rodian Sign Language.

Fate looked at the rough looking bar, the sign hanging off one a hook.

"Really?" she said as Ricardo and Gavin walked in. "A place like this?"

"You have me and you're a Mephi." Allan said. "You've got nothing to worry about."

"I hope so." she said.

She followed Alexander and Edgar into the bar, with Allan by her side and Lucy taking the rear.

Almost immediately the thick smell of cigar smoke and beer assaulted her nose, the patrons looking as unsavory as the smells.

She noticed that most of the males and some of the females looked at her with hunger, though they stayed away, some even backing up as she walked by.

"I never expected to see one of the Council in here." the bartender said in a thick Razzan accent. "Let alone four."

"Is there a, um, Phil Engiman here?" Gavin translated. "It's important."

"And why does the Council want him?"

"We need to see about getting a boat from him."

"Well in that case," the bartender said. "He's about to reach the door."

Alexander and the others looked to see a Cor in a red suit walking to the door. He looked towards them.

"Oh Chux." he said before crashing through the door.

Alexander quickly broke into a run, Edgar and Lucy following him.

He led them down the dock towards the walkway to Inner Eali, but very quickly found his legs tied by blue magic.

"P-Please," he stammered. "Whatever you thought I did, I didn't! I swear!"

"That was just..." Edgar said after they came up to him. "Why were those the first words out of your beak?"

"I've seen this guy before." Alexander said. "I know I have. But where?"

"National Searcher." Lucy said. "I've been to Takoe. Doesn't exist."

The Cor quickly sat up.

"It's a small country." he said. "Not a lot of people have heard of it."

"From being scared," Edgar said. "To being perky. What up with you?"

"He's a former student." Lucy said. "Was one of the few to be expelled."

"Not my fault the key was lying around." Phil said.

"In a safe." Lucy said. "That was locked by thirty locks."

"I was only trying to-"

"Not here." Lucy interrupted. "Not now. That goes for everyone."

"Do I want to know?" Irwin said as he jogged up to them.

"Apparently this two have history." Edgar said.

"Ah. So mate, we wanted to see about a boat."

"Ah. Well in that case..."

Phil, despite being still tied up, stood up.

"Shall we?"

Phil had taken them to a large yacht.

"Most of it is used as storage," he said as the yacht rocked gently. "So living quarters might be a little tight."

"Mate, we need something that's more used for long voyages." Irwin said.

"Aha but with this you have all the storage for ten years at sea."

"Comfortably."

"A cruise ship?" Alexander said. "Why the hell would we need one?"

"Good point." Phil said.

"A tug?" Fate asked. "WHY?"

After a few dozen boats, which included a canoe and a large ocean liner, Phil finally showed them a small yacht ship.

"One of the smallest ever built," he said as they walked through the decks. "This can do about seventy-six knots an hour, making it as one of the fastest as well. There's about fifty rooms on board, along with full amenities, you'll be comfortable for weeks."

"From what we've seen," Ricardo signed, Gavin translating. "We'll have take it."

"I was hoping you'll take it." Phil said. "Is there anything else I can do?"

"A crew and a captain." Alexander said. "You know off any?"

"Well I can't help you with that."

As Phil proceeded to leave, Lucy grabbed his arm.

"On second thought, I just thought of some."

Fortunately the crew turned out to be quite nice in their appearance, though looked to be bored and irritated.

"Well I'm sure you'll be introduced soon." Phil said, "I'll go fill out the paperwork."

He found Irwin's hand on his arm.

"Mate, I've seen how the crew responds to you," he said. "Would you serve as captain?"

"Really, you don't want me."

"Perhaps as ship's mate?"

"I'm not going to be left ashore am I?"

"Didja think we forgot how you acted?" Irwin said. "On our return, You'll be arrested."

"You don't think I know the laws? Just a matter if I can get convicted."

You know, since it's December, I think I'm going to upload the last chapters that I wrote for the next few weeks. Go follow me on Twitter to catch up on my progress on the book. Still have yet to decide on a name, though I have been leaning towards Fur and Feathers.