Sholan Alliance BK 3

Chapter 10 - What the hell Father Shion?

Billy had moved over to the other chair in his office and closed his eyes and did as Shion instructed. Suddenly he felt a shift and when he opened his eyes he found he was in a forest somewhere. There was a path leading towards a heavy wooden door that was set into a high stone wall. He had to frown in confusion since he had no idea how he had gotten here. With a slight growl of annoyance he stalked to the gate and examined it. In the center of the gate was emblazoned a symbol that resembled the triad pendant the three of them had been given, "Now what? I am so not pleased damn it."

He glowered at the gate and after an indeterminate time he spoke, "If you want me to come in open the damn gate or I will follow the path in the opposite direction. I am not in the mood for any crap at the moment and have things I need to deal with back on Shola." His voice was hard, deep, and angry as he spoke. There was no compromise in it at the moment.

As soon as he had finished speaking the gate opened and inside he could see a forest of gigantic proportions. There was a path leading inside and somewhere in the distance he could hear what sounded like a hammer hitting something metal, "God damn it I don't want to do this." He stepped into the gateway.

~~~

When Billy stepped inside the massive wall and gate he frowned since the differences between outside and in were wildly different. There was a different feel in the air since it almost seemed clearer and almost sweet as he inhaled to try and scent anything. Even with his enhances senses, he assumed he had received from Satasha, all he could really smell was the clear and crisp air. There were traces of resin as well as hints of a slightly acrid smoke. The smoke had the tang of hot metal and possibly coal or something similar.

With a great deal of trepidation, he slowly moved down the path even as his mind tried to define what had happened. One moment he was in his office working to calm down and the next he was standing in front of the gate. As he was moving down the path his mind was almost muttering about string theory, alternate dimensions, and other worlds. As hard as he tried he couldn't figure out how this might happened, to be honest it scared him. For most of his life he had been able to define his world in math and physics. This boggled Billy's mind and he had to force away thoughts of higher powers and deities.

Eventually as he was slowly moving down the path he could see some roofs though the forest and they looked rustic. What that meant he didn't know but the closer he came the more suspicious he became. The closer he came the more he could smell the smoke as well as heated metal and the sound of a hammer striking metal. Shortly before he arrived the sounds stopped. When he finally stepped out in a clearing he found a Sholan male sitting at a table sipping on something from a cup.

"Welcome Ambassador Madlax and please come and have a set. I have wanted to say hello but the time hadn't been right." The male who talked to him had wider ears such as the highlander Sholan's had. His fur was a light sandy color as well. He was wearing a blacksmiths smock and the cup in his hand was a fine grained yet plain wooden cup.

Billy narrowed his eyes slightly, "Who are you and where am I? I was talking to Father Shion moments ago. Now I am here. What do you want and I wish to go back." Even though he didn't want to admit it Billy had a feeling he knew where he was and it scared the living daylights out of him.

The male gave him a wide amused smile, "Please Yilly have a seat and relax. I just wanted to say hello to the first of the new Leska's. I don't know if you will recognize the name but I am Vartra." He wanted to wince since he had a feeling the male in front of him was rather secular. Vartra didn't think it was a lack of belief but a case of I take care of mine and the god do what they want.