"We have rid ourselves of the Kings, but what have we put in their
place?  We have merely allowed those who stood behind the throne to
ascend it.  Nothing has really changed, and it will not be long before
we face war again, for the same reasons as before!"
        -An Anonymous Treatise on Government, first published shortly
after the founding of the Nation of Heresha, later banned as
subversive

--------------------
Rotnap Productions And Rocketarian Pictures
In Association With Improfanfic
Present

Suikoden: Distant Shores
Created by Illyria and Todd Harper
Part Sixteen: Gathering Shadows
By Aaron Nowack
--------------------


        And the chase was joined.

        Pane briefly wondered what he was doing, following Kyrina as she
chased after the mysterious intruder.  He was no warrior, no hero.  But,
then again the Tablets of Destiny said otherwise, didn't they?  They
said he was important.

        Pane was distracted from his musings as the intruder turned back
towards the two of them, drawing some sort of blade.  Kyrina's Wind Rune
flared once more, but this time to no apparent effect.  As Pane reached
into his bag of ground glass, the enemy darted forward, his sword
striking out towards Kyrina.

        The archer danced backward, drawing a dagger while wishing she
had thought to grab a better close combat weapon.  But, then again,
there hadn't exactly been time, had there?  Kyrina dodged once more,
cursing as the intruder's strike got a little too close for comfort.
Whoever this person was, he was good at swordplay.

        The intruder was dressed all in black, with a cloth mask
obscuring his face.  He wielded a short, straight sword, and he did so
with great speed.  He demonstrated this swiftness once again, avoiding a
quick blow from Kyrina.  A moment later his sword sliced into Kyrina's
free arm, and the archer was forced back.

        As Kyrina stumbled away from him, the intruder's free hand
reached into his clothing.  Pane reacted without thinking, hurling a
handful of ground glass at the enemy.  The intruder winced as he was
struck by a dozen shards.

        Kyrina lurched forward once more, stabbing with her dagger as
her opponent pulled a small, round object out of his clothing.  Pane
heard a grunt of pain, then his vision was filled with foul smelling
smoke.

        A few minutes later, as his vision cleared, a coughing Pane's
first sight was Kyrina leaning against the wall, clutching her wounded
arm.  "Are you all right, Kyrina?" he called out.

        "I'm fine," gasped Kyrina.  "Or, at least, I will be after a few
moments with Alyssa."

        "Who was that?" asked Pane, rubbing his eyes to clear them of
the tears caused by the acrid fumes.

        "A good question," sighed Kyrina.  "At least I managed to hit
him," she continued, pointing at the bloody dagger lying on the ground
in front of her.  "We'll send out search parties in the morning, and
they can look for someone with a fresh dagger wound.  He won't be able
to get far."

        "Come on," said Pane.  "Let's get you inside, all right?  You
can worry about all that later."  As he lead Kyrina to the nearest
building, calling for Alyssa, two questions remained in both of their
minds.  What had the intruder been after, and had he gotten it?

--------------------

        Valon Dragonslayer Tovias sighed as he stepped outside of the
Azure Moon.  He had been enjoying himself quite thoroughly... to keep up
appearances, of course... when the all too familiar signal had come.
Sometimes he wondered exactly how he had come to this point.  His once
stainless honor had become as black as the armor he sometimes wore.
But, for now, he had a job to do.

        His keen eyes quickly spotted the man who had signaled him, and
he followed him into a nearby alleyway.  "What do you want?" he asked
brusquely as soon as the two were alone.

        "An explanation," replied the man.  Valon felt a twinge of
relief.  They weren't going to kill him out of hand, at least.

        "For what?" asked Valon, smiling despite his nervousness.  How
much did the man know?  It all depended on that.

        The man smiled.  "Don't try to dissemble, Dragonslayer.  We
know.  After all, our man lived to report, yes?  Next time... let us
know when you want an attempt to fail, and we will arrange it
ourselves."  He paused.  "We do not take betrayal lightly."

        Valon's throat dried, though he showed no outward sign of
discomfort.  "I discovered that some of Serre's aides were too competent
to be allowed to take over, and it was too late to change the orders."

        "Perhaps."  The man's smile widened.  "The lure has worked, and
a good portion of the... rebels are headed for Eregon.  They should
arrive in two days, and you can help fulfill your part of the bargain."

        "I will be ready," replied Valon.  What was the meaning of that
odd pause?

        "We want the rebels, and we want them alive."  The man cocked
his head as though he were listening to something.  "The Old One wishes
to see you, Dragonslayer."

        "Not in this lifetime," was what Valon deeply desired to say,
but he couldn't alienate his... allies, could he?  Instead he responded
with, "After I leave for Eregon.  I can't simply vanish without raising
suspicion."

        The man slowly nodded.  "Of course not."  With that, the man
faded back into the shadows, and a moment later he was gone.  A moment
after that, Valon returned to the Azure Moon, and began to plan for his
imminent journey.

--------------------

        "Any luck?" asked Kyrina.

        Baren shook his head slowly.  "None of the searching parties
have found anyone out there.  We've found his trail, but it vanishes as
soon as it gets out of sight of the castle."  At his news the gathered
leaders of the rebellion sighed, almost as one.  They had been hoping
for some sort of lucky break.

        And they needed one.  The past few day had been less than
excellent for the morale of their army.  First Tavia's strange illness,
then the mysterious intruder, and now their inability to find any clues
as to his identity.  Some of the soldiers had already begun whispering
that White Cloud Castle was under a curse, and a few had already
deserted, vanishing into the wilderness around the castle.

        If they had ever needed Tavia's ability to pull inspired
speeches out of her pocket that pulled the entire army together, it was
now.  Just when she wasn't available.

        "How is Tavia?" asked Daniel.

        "The same," was the all too expected response from Alyssa.
"Hopefully Lierni and her group are well on their way."

        At this point, the conversation was interrupted as a Heimdall
cadet entered the room and quickly walked over to Daniel.  The cadet
whispered something into Daniel's ear, and the gathered leaders saw his
face pale as the cadet quickly backed away.

        "What is it?" asked Alaric simply.

        "It's the Tablets of Destiny," responded Daniel, his voice
shaking.  "They've been stolen."

        For a lingering moment, disbelieving silence filled the room.
Then, Luc shot to his feet.  "What did you say?"

        "I ordered some of my people to search the castle to try and
find out whether the intruder had taken anything," started Daniel.

        "Did anyone see anything?" interrupted Kyrina.  "After all, a
lot of people were coming in to look on them last night."

        "Nothing's turned up so far," said Daniel.

        Luc was shaking with barely contained rage.  "Whenever they were
stolen, it was after the intruder left.  They were there when I left to
see what the commotion was."

        "One thing after another," groaned Alaric.  "Was the intruder
just a decoy?"

        "I doubt this is a coincidence," replied Kyrina.  "Tavia's
sickness, the intruder, and the Tablets being stolen all at once is a
bit suspicious.  Somebody is launching some sort of attack."

        "What about Bristow?" asked Daniel.  "Could whoever it is be
plotting something there also?"

        "Somebody will need to check on that," said Kyrina grimly.

        Baren rose.  "I'll go," he stated.

        Kaleen, who had been silent for the entire meeting, yawned.
"While no doubt our good barbarian friend here would do fine against a
physical assault, but perhaps I should go along, to deal with threats
beyond our dear Baren's... comprehension."

        "Quiet!" growled Baren, figuring that, despite Kaleen's sugary
sweet tone of voice, he was being insulted.  He was about to launch into
a retort when he was silenced by a gesture from Kyrina.

        Alaric sighed.  "From the looks of it, someone will have to come
to keep you two from each other's throats.  And I guess that person's
going to have to be me."  Kyrina and Daniel obviously had to stay to
keep control of the army, while Alyssa was helping to keep Tavia
somewhat stabilized.

        "Then that's settled," said Kyrina.  "You can leave tomorrow.  I
believe we all have a lot of work to do, so let's get to it."

--------------------

        "Lieutenant Malespoir?"

        "Yes, Commander?" responded Adele, turning around to face Davon.

        "Could I see you in my office for a moment, Lieutenant?  I need
to discuss your new duties with you," said Davon.

        "Of course, Commander."  Adele followed Davon into his office
and took a seat.

        Davon sat back in his own chair and thought a moment before
beginning to speak.  "At your public appearances, you will be
representing the Hereshan government, of course.  Therefore, there are a
few... ground rules you'll have to follow."

        Adele nodded.  Of course there would be... she couldn't just go
spouting off whatever she felt if others would take it as a statement of
government policy.

        "The most important rule, I suppose, is that you are fully
supportive of all government policy, regardless of whether or not you
personally support it."  Davon smiled.  "Sometimes it can be a little
difficult to do so, but it is a price we pay."

        "I can see why," said Adele.  "It would be... less than proper
for a government representative to speak against the government."

        Davon's smile widened into a full fledged grin.  "Exactly.  And
of course, this... discretion also applies to any personal feelings you
may have about high officials."

        "Certainly," stated Adele, nodding her head once more.

        "I see I don't really need to tell you this... just what I
should have expected from a Malespoir, no?" said Davon.  "In any case,
tonight you will have to attend a dinner with some of the leading
merchants of Lindael.  General Nevenheim was supposed to be there...
obviously she can't now."

        "I will be happy to stand in her place, Commander," said Adele.

        "Oh yes," said Davon, as though he had just thought of what he
was about to say.  "It would be... embarrassing if a government official
commented on the... nastiness about General Nevenheim before a final
report on the investigation is completed.  You will not raise the
subject yourself, and if asked simply tell them that an investigation is
proceeding and you cannot comment at this time."  At this point, Davon's
voice grew a bit cold.  "Do you understand, Lieutenant Malespoir?"

        "Yes, Commander," was Adele's only reply.

--------------------

        He was sometimes called the Old One.  And, indeed, it was an
accurate description for the ninja master.  Even he was no longer sure
how long he had lived in this hidden stronghold, but it was long enough
so that all who had been there when he had first arrived were long dead.

        The Old One looked up as his assistant entered the room.  Not
through the door, of course.  The door was locked and trapped, to keep
out trespassers.  Nobody who had not learned to shadow walk had any
legitimate reason to see the Old One.

        The assistant silently seated himself on one of the chairs
scattered about the dark chamber, waiting for the Old One to speak.  The
Old One simply stated, "I assume all is going as planned."

        "Of course, master," responded the younger man.  "The
Dragonslayer remains... compliant.  He will arrive here soon.  The
Hereshans are falling apart, and Lierstam is only one hard push from
collapse."

        "Good," replied the Old One.

        "Master... I am worried about this.  Our agent in Lindael was
nearly killed, while one of the White Cloud agents had to have his arm
amputated after shadow walking with an open wound."  The assistant was
silent for a moment.  "We are not so numerous that losing two of our
number would be insignificant."

        "If we succeed, we will be returned to our rightful prominence,
and we will have more new initiates than we need," replied the Old One.
"Now, what of the Tablets, since you speak of White Cloud?"

        The assistant wordlessly gestured, and a large wrapped bundle
appeared beside the Old One's desk.  The ninja master opened the 
wrappings and smiled.  "Excellent."

        "Master..." started the assistant.  "May I ask a question?"

        The Old One, in a good mode, decided to humor him.
"Certainly."

        "Why take the Tablets?  What possible good can they do us...
master?"

        The Old One sighed.  "What do you know of the Stars of Destiny?"

        The younger man frowned.  "They are 108 people, born under the
proper stars and destined to change the course of history."

        The Old One smiled once more.  "And who controls the Stars of
Destiny?"  He did not bother to correct his student's assumption.  Just
because the Stars of Destiny gathered did not mean they would succeed.
The Old One knew that all too well...

        The assistant thought for a long moment.  "The Tenkai Star,
master."

        The Old One shook his head slowly.  "Incorrect.  The one who
controls the Stars of Destiny is the one who controls the Tenkai Star."
Another fact the Old One had learned in his distant youth.

        The assistant's eyes widened.  "Like the Seer from the legends!"

        "Exactly.  You are dismissed for now," replied the Old One.  As
soon as he was alone, he slowly traced the first name engraved on the
Tablets with one bony finger.  "Yes," hissed the Old One, long ago known
as the First Star In Heaven.  "Tavia Reinschild... you will be mine!"

--------------------

        The fishing boat quietly sailed northward on a peaceful sea.
The distant shoreline slid past rapidly as the sun descended into the
western portion of the sky.  Zeb was currently up in the rigging,
adjusting the sails to best make use of the waning breeze.  Sara was at
the steering wheel, while the three passengers were doing their best to
make themselves useful.  All in all, it was an uneventful day.

         Later that night, as the boat lay anchored in a small cove,
since Sara did not want to risk night running in the relatively
unfamiliar waters, the five of them sat down to eat.  Zeb watched
bemusedly as his wife attempted to explain the rules of Hero's Rune to
the passengers.

        "Six cards are drawn whenever a True Rune, two opposing runes,
or three Wind Runes were played in the last round," Sara said.
"Otherwise, five are drawn, except when the same player has won the past
three rounds, in which case an exception is made and six are drawn."

        Reid sighed.  "I said I wasn't much of a card player, didn't I?
I have enough trouble with simple card games, much less something this
complicated."

        "It's not really that complicated," said Alouette, who was
having little trouble picking up the rules.  "Well, at least once you
get the basic concepts down."

        Lierni frowned.  "If it's trying to represent the interactions
of Runes, its wholly inaccurate.  Why, for instance, are sets of
opposing Runes worth more than multiples of a single Rune?"

        Sara shrugged.  "It's just the way it is.  I didn't make up the
game."

        And so, the five travelers passed the evening, a restful
conclusion to a straightforward day.

--------------------

        Adele gulped nervously as she prepared to enter the dining room.
This was her first public appearance as part of her new duties, after
all.  Oh well.  It wasn't like this could be too difficult.  It was just
a simple dinner, after all.

        As Adele stepped inside, a thin old man seated at the head of
the table rose and stepped forward.  "Greetings, Lieutenant Malespoir,"
he said as he offered his hand to Adele.  "You are here as General
Nevenheim's representative?"

        "Yes, m'lord," replied Adele as she shook the man's hand.

        The man laughed, his bright blue eyes sparkling.  "I'm hardly a
lord, Lieutenant.  You can call me Samuel."

        "You would be Mister Innisbright, then?" asked Adele as the man
led her over to the vacant seat by his right.

        "That would be me," said Samuel.  He seated himself, and Adele
followed suit.  "Well," he continued, "We're all here, so let us begin."

        Servants quickly brought in salads for all the diners, and the
next few minutes passed in pointless small talk.  Adele concentrated on
her food, but she couldn't help overhearing, "...moved into White
Cloud..."

        Adele looked up as the conversation continued.  "Yes, if
Lierstam has occupied White Cloud, it could mean war," one guest, a
fairly portly man, stated.

        Another guest commented, "But would Lierstam be foolish enough
to do that?  It could just be a bandit gang, or even a false rumor."

        Samuel snorted.  "In any case, I wouldn't want to be the one
responsible for clearing whoever it is out."  He paused, then continued,
"I served under General Nevenheim during the... I believe it was the
ninth assault on White Cloud during the last war.  It was... bloody."

        "Speaking of General Nevenheim..." began the fat man, signaling
that the conversation had just taken a serious turn to his fellow
guests.  He continued, "What of that business with the assassination
attempt on Professor Serre?"

        Samuel sat back in his chair.  "I'm sure Lieutenant Malespoir
can answer that better than I.  Lieutenant?"

        Adele felt that all eyes were on her as she spoke.  "An
investigation is proceeding, and I have no doubt that the truth of the
matter will be uncovered."

        "What do you think about the matter?"  asked a woman seated
towards the far end of the table.

        "I..." began Adele, before remembering Davon's intructions.
"There is an investigation, and I am sure its results will be accurate.
That's all I can say, really."

        Samuel nearly groaned as he ran a hand through his thinning
white hair.  The situation must really be bad if even General
Nevenheim's representative wasn't willing to speak out in her defense.
Already, his guests were shooting each other loaded looks.  No doubt
before this time tomorrow, Nevenheim's faction would be all but 
abandoned, with its adherents seeking new leaders.  None of these
men were going to wish to stay on a sinking ship.

--------------------

        Valon silently stepped out of the shadows in his brother's
office, and waited for Harod to notice him.  A few moments later, his
sibling looked up and saw him.

        Harod sighed.  "You should stop doing that, brother.  What if
someone was in here?"

        Valon smirked.  "Then I wouldn't come."

        "How would you know?"  Harod sighed once more.  "Trade secret,
am I correct?"

        "That was our arrangement, was it not?" asked Valon as he pulled
his trunk out from under his brother's desk.  "I'll run your little...
operations, but only if you don't know my methods.  I won't have you
betraying me for some momentary political advantage."

        Harod chuckled mirthlessly.  "Do you really think I would do
that?"

        "Brother, I long ago decided I would never know the limits of
what you would or wouldn't do," replied Valon.

        Harod smiled.  "Is that an insult, Valon?"

        Valon flipped open the trunk and began to dress in the pitch
black armor.  "Is it?"

        Harod laughed, this time in truth.  "A point for you, my
brother."

        Valon grinned, fiddling with his breastplate.  "I can't work
with you for this long without picking up some skill at wordplay."

        Harod watched as Valon finished donning the armor.  When all that
was left to add was the helmet he asked, "Where are you going anyway?  I
thought you were going to be at Mother's banquet tonight?"

        Valon grunted, lifting the helm.  "I have to plead pressing
business.  A band from the Hereshan rebel movement are heading to
Eregon."  Valon snapped the helm into place, obscuring the last sign of
his true identity.  "I'm going to deal with them."  The armor made the
last sound hollow and inhuman.

        With that, Valon took a step back and vanished from the office.
He shadow walked as far as he could, to a grove of trees just outside
the city.  His appointed meeting place.

        As he stepped out of twilight's shadows and into the grove, he
was greeted by the man he had met earlier, who still wore the same
nondescript clothing.

        "Impressive, Dragonslayer," said the man.  "I wasn't sure you
had the strength to shadow walk that far.  You would have made a fine
initiate..."

        Valon snorted, glad his helm kept his companion from seeing his
expression of distaste.  Just because he had to work with these scum to 
help his brother didn't mean he had to like them.  "Well, I'm not.  
Let's get on with this."

        The man smiled.  "Very well.  The Old One awaits."  He extended
his arm.  "Come, Dragonslayer, and take my hand.  You wouldn't be able
the shadow walk this distance by yourself, even if you knew the
destination and were rested."

        Valon hesitated a moment, then grasped the man's hand.  For a
moment all was still, then the shadows consumed the two, pulling them
into their freezing embrace.  It was a timeless eternity to the
travelers, but only a moment as the rest of the world measured time.
Only a moment, and they were far away from where they had been.

--------------------

Author's Random Ramblings

Well, that's that.  Hopefully, this isn't too bad.  Thanks to my 
prereaders for all their help.

Since things are getting a _little_ bit complicated on the dark 
side, it's time for a patent pending Villain Status Summary!

Evenweir: Plotting away to gain power in Heresha.  Also evidently 
involved in Heresha's plot to place Matteo on the throne of Lierstam, 
in preparation for an invasion.

Davon: See Evenweir.  Goals as yet somewhat vague, but no doubt 
involving an increase in his own power (possibly using Adele as 
a figurehead).

Adele: Continuing to become unwittingly mired in webs of deceit.

Harod Tovias: Seeking to both gain control of Lierstam and conquer 
Heresha.  Part of his plan is to place Matteo on the throne, and rule 
through him.

Valon Tovias: Working with his brother.  Using his "black knight" 
identity to infiltrate Evenweir's operations as a deep agent.  Has an 
alliance of sorts with the ninjas.  Currently going to an audience with 
the Old One, and from there to Eregon to capture Lierni's group. 

The Old One and the ninjas:  Seeking to subvert the gathering of the Stars 
of Destiny for their as yet unrevealed purposes...

Hope I didn't make any mistakes with that...