Call and Answer

Ran awakened to a delicious scent drifting through the air. He sat up and glanced around, strands of crimson hair hanging in his eyes. He was still getting used to the new treatment here in the dwelling of the Caliph Drows, but hoped he didn�t have to stay in this place for long. Looking around a bit more, the redhead saw his sword, Kifukuya, and other belongings set out across the room. Through the cracked door, her saw the skirts of several female dwellers.

One of the girls, Gwaelyn, turned around, clad in pink robes, and giggled a bit upon seeing him awake. She entered the room, leaving the rest of the troupe in the hallway.

"Good morning, traveler. I am Gwaelyn, headmistress of the royal handmaids. We�re preparing you a breakfast, so I hope you�ll enjoy." Aya nodded, sensing that she wasn�t finished, as she hadn�t yet made a move to leave. "Also, when you�re finished, Polo would like to speak with you. He has some questions to ask about your venturing." Now, she was finished, and the gorgeous woman turned and left, leaving Ran in an aftershock of her flowery perfume.

"You�re� not from this place, at all?" Polo�s eyes were large with wonder, and he began to feel as though he had a lot in common with this man.

Ran sighed. "I�ve already told you. I�m from Tokyo, Japan." He growled, then added: "Planet Earth!"

Polo scratched his head, now wondering if he was getting anywhere. He glanced to his sides to make sure the two were completely alone, then spoke his next words quietly. "I am not from here, either. But� unfortunately, I don�t think I�m from your home." Ran�s face filled with curiosity, and his jaw fell a little ajar as Polo went on. "I�ve been looking for those like me� one of the handmaids, Alara, is reported to be from another place as well�"

"Why are we here?" Ran asked, his tone more excited, feeling like he may get home, after all.

Polo stood up from the oak stool he�d been sitting upon. "I don�t know. I am from a planet made up entirely of Elves-- all sorts of Elves. I am a Drow, of course. When I arrived, I looked so much like these �Caliph Drows�, that a couple began to proclaim me their savior� You see, in their legend, the one who will bring them ultimate success was to come from another world."

"�So they think that�s you," Ran added. His eyes searched the floor, as if comprehension could be found in the stone. "How do you know so much about them�? I don�t understand."

"I studied. Only a couple of these Drows thought me to be the savior. They educated me, then presented me to the people. When the others saw what I knew, they immediately exiled the king, and placed me into his position�

"Aya, we can do this! We can find out why we�re here! Please, aid me!" Polo knelt down beside Ran�s bed, a desperate look in his eyes as he pleaded.

"Yeah� I want to go home," Ran answered, affirming Polo�s question.

The king whispered in quiet excitement, "Alright� we�ll leave tonight, when the moon is high. The two of us� can find out what�s going on."