Black Hand Vacation (Neiko Adventure Saga Book #3)

Chapter 2

After the battle in the swamplands against the Damonites in the Manotee Swamp, the Attack Pack left to their base in Norak. The city elders were throwing a victory celebration because the Damonites were chased back deep into the swamplands. Damonites were pirating on the trade routes from Norak and taking hostages. The Pack had brought back the hostages to the city from where they would disperse and return home.

The High Elder of the city, who was a mouse man wearing crystal spectacles and a green habit, thanked Neiko. "How could we ever thank you? There was no way we could pay the ransom demands they wanted. My dear daughter would have died."

"Ahh, wasn't nothin'," said Neiko, waving her hand. "This is what I do at my own home. Come to find out, Skull was also waiting for me."

"Oh really? So he wanted you for ransom, too?" asked the High Elder as he adjusted his spectacles.

"Not exactly," answered Phoenix. "Those scum dwellers are still affiliated with Chrome Dome. I think he told Skull to pick up Neiko for him. The hostages and piracy raids were also done to attract attention so Neiko would dash in and help. They were also interested in the loot and killing all the hostages at some point, whether or not we intervened."

"Oh dear! How many are affiliated with the Dark Lord?" asked the High Elder. "A couple of years ago, the Dark Pharaoh was a legend!"

"We know Hannibal and his cannibal group are. Carrion and his bird bunch, the Pirates, and about half the bounty hunters that I know of..." said Neiko, rubbing her chin and pausing to think of others. When none came to mind, she added, "There could be more."

"Where is Ramses now?" asked the High Elder.

"In some cavern someplace close to the Pinnacle or another cave in Velociraptor Ravine, but then again, he could've gone somewhere else because he hasn't turned up in a while," said Neiko. "Are their any clues in the archives about Good Pharaohs?"

"Not that I recall, but I can let my historians look in the archives for you. I never knew there was such a thing, but you gave me confirmation that they exist from the wall paintings at Shadazar," said the High Elder as he fixed his spectacles again.

"I and some of my interns and apprentices would like to look at the ancient paintings," said the chief historian, a goat with a long white beard and a scribe's hat in between his two golden horns. He had a look and feel of wisdom about him.

"I could arrange that, but I will have to go in there and take photographs with my camera and make sketches. The spelunking down there is kinda dangerous for you scholarly types. Plus, Menes, his brothers, and his bunch or Ramses—which is worse—might find Geezah's ruins by following you. Then we'd all be up Shitake Creek witout a paddle," said Neiko.

"Good point," agreed the chief historian. He stroked his beard as he weighed the possibilities.

"I'll try to get them to you sometime since it will take time to make the sketches and get the pictures developed on my world while taking care not to draw attention that we're going up there," said Neiko. She twisted a tendril of her black hair around her finger as she thought about the danger and possibilities as she spoke.

"There is no hurry," said the High Elder.

"I dunnooo," said Neiko with doubtful ring to her voice and a dubious look on her face. "This is Ramses we're talkin' about here, and he has the patience of a gnat. Menes, on the other hand, ain't too bright, so we should be able to dust him. We take what we know about Ramses from the legends and put 'em together, and what do we got? How long will it be before he could be a threat to my own world? I think I'm gonna make the time and go through my logbooks from what I found during my travels, and I'm puttin' it on top of my priority list since it's too important to ignore. Everything else could be in jeopardy from Ramses' interference."